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RACE DAY GUIDE
It’s almost race day! Thank you for joining us at the 2024 Golden Gate Half Marathon & 5K in San Francisco, CA. Please read the information below to answer your questions about race weekend. Safe travels to San Francisco and we look forward to hosting you at the race!
RACE WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Location: Van Ness Ave adjacent to Aquatic Park
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST
3:00PM - 7:00PM
Packet Pick-Up &
Race Expo
10:00AM - 5:00PM
Packet Pick-Up & Race Expo
SUNDAy, NOVEMBER 3RD
6:50AM**
Half Marathon
Race Start
Bring your confirmation email with your unique QR code and your ID to expedite the pick-up process. Pick-Up location at Sports Basement Presidio, 610 Old Mason St, San Francisco, CA 94129
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2ND
**Daylight Savings Time ends at 2:00am on Sunday, November 3rd. Please plan accordingly.
Bring your confirmation email with your unique QR code and your ID to expedite the pick-up process. Pick-Up location at Sports Basement Presidio, 610 Old Mason St, San Francisco, CA 94129
5K Race Start
8:00AM - 11:00AM*
Location: Van Ness Ave adjacent to Aquatic Park
7:15AM**
BEER GARDEN
Location: SF Brew Co in Ghirardelli Square
PRE-RACE INFO
All participants are required to pick up their race packets at the Race Expo which is free and open to the public. Participants will pick up their race bib, event shirt, race tote bag, and other goodies.
VENDORS
Visit and browse an array of running product vendors.
ACTIVATIONS
Engage with various partner activations.
MERCH
Grab exclusive Golden Gate Half merch from our pop-up product store.
Receive an exclusive in-store discount with proof of your bib at checkout! Basementeers receive 20% OFF and Non-Basementeers receive 11% OFF purchases!
Stock up on all your running needs.
Join us at 5:00pm Friday, November 1st for a pre-race shakeout run lead by the Sports Basement Running Community. This warmup run will start from Sports Basement, Presidio in the Lodge section of the store.
Plan to stick around after the shakeout run to put your feet up and enjoy a complimentary beverage from San Francisco Brew Co.
RACE EXPO LOCATION
Sports Basement Presidio
610 Old Mason St, San Francisco, CA 94129
Participants are required to pick up their race bib during one of the Packet Pick-up days above unless you have pre-purchased race day packet pick-up. Race day packet pick-up instructions will be emailed on Wednesday, October 30th for those that purchased this service.
Bring your QR code confirmation email (to be sent Wednesday, October 30th) to expedite the pick-up process.
Please note: Sports Basement Presidio is open for hours beyond our packet pick up times. Packets will not be available for pick up beyond the hours listed above.
Due to construction at the Sports Basement store, there will be no event parking for race participants. Please plan to park at one of the lots listed below for the Packet Pickup/Expo. Please also consider carpooling or taking public transportation to the Race Expo to pick-up your packet.
Please plan on parking at one of the lots listed below to avoid parking congestion at the store while picking up your race packet. Please note that all parking rates are set by lot operators, not the race organizers or Sports Basement.
Presidio Tunnel Tops (603 Mason St, San Francisco, CA) – 5 minute walk to Expo
Main Post Lot (122 Anza Ave, San Francisco, CA) – 7 minute walk to Expo
Girard Lot (201 Lundeen St, San Francisco, CA) – 11 minute walk to Expo
East Beach Lot (1199 E Beach, San Francisco, CA) – 12 minute walk to Expo
Palace of the Fine Arts Lot (3381 Lyon St, San Francisco, CA) – 16 minute walk to ExpoIf you are unable to attend the Race Expo, you may send a proxy to pick up your race packet on your behalf.
You must have signed the digital event waivers when registering for the event otherwise your proxy will not be able to pick up on your behalf. To verify if you've signed your waivers, please visit your ACTIVE MyEvents account and locate your Golden Gate Half Marathon entry. If you have not signed your waiver yet, you will see a large red message that your waivers have not yet been signed.
Please send your proxy with a copy of driver's license (digital picture is OK) and your QR code confirmation email to expedite the pick-up process. Confirmation emails are sent the week of the race. Proxies may only pick up packets for up to 3 people.
The 30 bus line has a stop conveniently in front of Sports Basement Presidio. You can use the Trip Planner to find the correct public transportation plan for your trip to the Race Expo.
PACKET PICK-UP & RACE EXPO
10:00AM - 5:00PM
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2
3:00PM - 7:00PM
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1
GETTING TO THE START ON SUNDAY
Make sure you leave ample time to get to the start on race day morning. Anticipate heavy traffic and be aware of road closures. Review our FAQs for information on getting dropped off, parking, or taking public transportation to the start of your race.
Half Marathon begins at 6:50am
5K begins at 7:15am
Located on Van Ness Ave adjacent to Aquatic Park
800 Beach Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
GETTING TO THE RACE FAQS
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PARKINGParking options in San Francisco are limited but there are a handful of parking lots and garages that are conveniently located within walking distance of the start/finish line area at Aquatic Park. Parking rates, rules and open/close times are set by lot operators, not the race organizers. 24 hours Anchorage Square Garage (542 Beach St, San Francisco, CA 94133) Opens 6:00am Ace Parking (350 Beach Street, San Francisco, CA 94133) 24 hours Northpoint Center Garage – Lot #19 (350 Bay St, San Francisco, CA 94133) Opens 5:00am Longshoremen Lot – Lot #341 (400 North Point St, San Francisco, CA 94133) Opens 6:00am 2300 Lot (2300 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA 94133) Opens 6:30am C Garage Lot #20 (2210 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA 94133) 24 hours Reserve Early Pier 39 Garage (2550 Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94133) Impark (2552 Taylor St, San Francisco, CA 94133) Ghirardelli Square – Lot #347 Parking (900 North Point St, San Francisco, CA 94109)
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GETTING DROPPED OFFParticipants getting dropped or using rideshare should use the following address: 800 North Point St, San Francisco, CA 94109 After getting dropped off, participants can walk down Hyde Street toward Beach Street to access the start area.
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PUBLIC TRANSPORTATIONThere are various transit lines that pass close to Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco including bus lines 19, 28, 30, and 49. Use this guide to help plan your trip to the start of the race. You can also use the Trip Planner to find the correct public transportation plan for you on race morning.
HALF & 5K FAQS
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PARKINGParking options in San Francisco are limited but there are a handful of parking lots and garages that are conveniently located within walking distance of the start/finish line area at Aquatic Park. Parking rates, rules and open/close times are set by lot operators, not the race organizers. 24 hours Anchorage Square Garage (542 Beach St, San Francisco, CA 94133) Opens 6:00am Ace Parking (350 Beach Street, San Francisco, CA 94133) 24 hours Northpoint Center Garage – Lot #19 (350 Bay St, San Francisco, CA 94133) Opens 5:00am Longshoremen Lot – Lot #341 (400 North Point St, San Francisco, CA 94133) Opens 6:00am 2300 Lot (2300 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA 94133) Opens 6:30am C Garage Lot #20 (2210 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA 94133) 24 hours Reserve Early Pier 39 Garage (2550 Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94133) Impark (2552 Taylor St, San Francisco, CA 94133) Ghirardelli Square – Lot #347 Parking (900 North Point St, San Francisco, CA 94109)
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GETTING DROPPED OFFParticipants getting dropped or using rideshare should use the following address: 800 North Point St, San Francisco, CA 94109 After getting dropped off, participants can walk down Hyde Street toward Beach Street to access the start area.
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PUBLIC TRANSPORTATIONThere are various transit lines that pass close to Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco including bus lines 19, 28, 30, and 49. Use this guide to help plan your trip to the start of the race. You can also use the Trip Planner to find the correct public transportation plan for you on race morning.
OFFICIAL MERCH
Participants that are completing their fourth Golden State Challenge race are eligible to pick-up their challenge medal at the Golden Gate Half Marathon. Eligible participants will receive an email with further instructions and can pick-up their medal at the Golden State Challenge tent in Race Expo. To be eligible for the Golden State Challenge medal participants must have already completed a 5K or longer distance at (4) of the following events: Surf City Marathon, Santa Barbara Wine Country Half Marathon, Bay to Breakers, Long Beach Marathon, Run Malibu, Napa to Sonoma Wine Country Half Marathon, and/or Surf City 10.
POST-RACE INFO
San Francisco Brewing Co.
BEER GARDEN
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3
8:00am - 11:00am
Located on the upper levels of Ghirardelli Square
Participants over the age of 21 must present a valid ID to receive a complimentary beer from San Francisco Brewing Co. after the race.
Given that San Francisco Brewing Co. is a restaurant establishment, there are NO exceptions to this. Please plan accordingly. Additional beverages and food can be purchased at San Francisco Brewing Co.
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DINE AT GHIRARDELLI SQUARE
Be sure to checkout Ghirardelli Square after your big finish! In addition to San Francisco Brewing Co, the following shops and restaurants will be available for all your foodie needs
Foghorn Coffee – Opening at 8:00am
Barrio – Opening at 11:00am
Palette Tea House – Opening at 11:30am
McCormick & Kuleto’s – Opening at 11:30am
Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop – Opening at 9:00am
Tea Square Boba – Opening at 11:00am
Square Pie Guys – Opening at 11:30am
Broad Street Oyster - opens at 11:00am
COMMEMORATE YOUR RACE
REGISTER FOR 2025
SPECIAL PRICING
Register for next year at the LOWEST pricing! The 2025 Golden Gate Half will take place on November 2nd, 2025. Those who register on-site at race expo will have access to the lowest pricing of the year and automatically enter a drawing for a free 2025 Bay to Breakers race entry!
Come visit us at the expo for more info!
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR PARTNERS
