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San Francisco Marathon #64

Training for the San Francisco Marathon in the peaceful hills of Norfolk, CT, was both beautiful and challenging. Norfolk’s endless elevation gains make for a perfect training ground—every long run felt like a series of “bitch-slaps,” as we’d call the relentless hills. By the time we finished each run, we’d laugh and count down how many “slaps” we had left. Those grueling training days prepared us for the iconic hills of San Francisco, and I couldn’t be more grateful.


Jeanne Corey Marchand, San Francisco Marathon, 2019 - Jeanne Runs

This year’s race felt extra special as I had the privilege of serving as an ambassador for The San Francisco Marathon (TSFM). My role involved promoting the race via social media and encouraging others to sign up. Working with Elysha Omoomy, TSFM’s Social Media Marketing Manager, was a highlight of the experience. Despite being on the East Coast and missing out on the California group runs,

Elysha fostered a strong, inclusive community among the ambassadors, even adding Kim to our group photo! It was such an amazing experience that I’m now trying to persuade Elysha and my new West Coast friends to come run Hartford!


The Weekend Marathon Madness: We arrived in San Francisco knowing it would be a packed weekend. Between volunteering at the expo on Friday, running the inaugural 5K shakeout on Saturday, and gearing up for the marathon on Sunday, there was little downtime—but every moment was memorable.


Expo Adventures: At the expo, we volunteered at the booth customizing race shirts with iron-on flags and sayings. While it seemed simple, things quickly got chaotic when the Apple Pay card readers failed two minutes before the doors opened. With “cash only” as our fallback, we faced lines, questions, special requests, and a “loyal runner” incident that brought some angry customers our way. Eventually, race staff clarified that loyal runners received free flags, but the miscommunication kept us on our toes.


Despite the frenzy, we made lasting friendships with the crew pressing t-shirt transfers and reconnected with familiar faces, including Les Wright (Maui Marathon), Thompson Lange (Big Sur), Katie from UCAN, and MaryAnn from West Hartford. It’s funny how we seem to run into her more at out-of-state races than at home! After exploring the expo and indulging in Normatec leg compressions, we left with a set of compression sleeves and high hopes for race day.


Race Morning: Marathon day started early—3:00 a.m. to be exact. After a series of breakfasts and bathroom trips, we headed out by 4:45 a.m., arriving with plenty of time to find our 3:40 pacer and strategize. The weather was noticeably warmer than usual, so we packed extra nutrition and salt to stay ahead of the heat.


The race began in the dark at 5:30 a.m. Within 50 feet, the start-and-stop crowd shuffle brought a laugh. As the miles rolled on, we tackled the first major hill—one of the infamous “bitch-slaps”—and made our way to Fisherman’s Wharf. Running past landmarks we’d usually walk to felt surreal and much faster than expected!


The Golden Gate Bridge was breathtaking this year without its usual fog. We soaked in the views, high-fived friends on the course, and powered through steep climbs and descents on the Vista Point turnaround. Each hill was a challenge, but the tailwind on the return leg carried us effortlessly toward mile 11.


Rolling Hills, Golden Gate Park & Nutrition Lessons: The coastal trail offered stunning views, but its relentless hills tested our endurance. Rolling into Golden Gate Park brought back memories of past races and a reminder that the park’s hills are no joke. By this point, we had our fueling strategy locked in. Though we missed our first planned nutrition break, the GU Chews and UCAN hydration worked wonders, keeping nausea and fatigue at bay.

Exiting the park, we merged with the half marathoners—a tricky section with unpredictable walkers. Despite the congestion, we powered through and reached the final downhill stretch. As we approached AT&T Park, Kim kept checking in: “Jeanne, how are you doing?” His encouragement kept me smiling, and I stayed on “auto-pilot,” fueled and focused.


The Finish Line: The final .2 miles felt endless, but the drummers near the BioFreeze cheer section gave us a much-needed boost. Finally, we spotted the finish line. Kim grabbed my hand, and we crossed together, smiling and proud. Marathon #64 for me, #78 for Kim, and 142 marathons together. ❤


Later, we celebrated with post-race beers and photos. I discovered I’d placed 2nd in my age group—2nd out of 64 women. Marathon #64, born in ’64—how’s that for a full-circle moment? Kim joked that running together meant he sacrificed placing in his division, but his response melted my heart: “It wouldn’t be fun without you.”


San Francisco Marathon #5 is in the books, and while we may not return next year due to rising travel costs, this race will always hold a special place in my heart. And who knows? Maybe I’ll win one of those raffles for a comp entry!

Until next time, TSFM!




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