Mermaid San Francisco Run – 5K & 10K

The 10 mile race was OK overall. I had just run the Nike Women’s Half Marathon 2 wks earlier, which was exceptionally well-​organized. This race should have been better organized since it’s much smaller — but it wasn’t. Still, if you’re looking for a 10 miler in the fall and can get a good price on this (I paid full, last minute price — about $ 90 — I wish I’d checked Groupon — I could have saved a lot), it’s worth considering.
Pros:
Plenty of parking at the start line (Crissy Field, near the Yacht Club), fun to cross the Golden Gate Bridge (you go out on the west span and come back on the east), a manageable field (about 600 ran the 10 mile; there’s also a 5K and 10K race), and a great T-​shirt (I run a lot of these races and this was one of the more attractive shirts). The 10 mile course is certainly hilly but not terrible.
Cons:
No goody bag and the people at the packet pickup that I interacted with were kind of snarky. The «medal» is a cheap-​looking necklace. Also, the start line was strange. There was a 5 min delay «so that more people could sign up» (hey, at least lie and say that you’re doing final course checks for traffic control, not inconveniencing 500 runners so that people who waited until the last minute can join in); the announcers seemed nervous and led a Stuart Smalley-​type chant (I’m good enough, I’m smart enough).
The worst part was that at about mile 8, the 10-​milers merged with the 10K runners — including baby joggers (!) — for about a mile on the out/​back to Ft. Point — NOT GOOD. It was very congested so you can kiss that PR goodbye. And WHY would you station photographers on uphills? That’s where we feel our least strong, our most tired and are least likely to want to smile (or buy that photo of us looking like we’re in a lot of pain). Finally, they charged $ for online runner tracking (!). I’ve never seen a race charge for that before. It seemed cheap.

This was my second mermaid run this year. This race offered a 10 miler, 10k, 5k, and mini-​mermaid run for girls. I did the half marathon in May at Quarry Lakes in Fremont and signed up for the Sirena 10 Miler run this past weekend.
Since I’m from the south bay, I appreciated that they had a packet pick up location in Sunnyvale. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to make it to that one or the second pick up day the following day in San Francisco. I ended up picking up my packet on race day.
The mermaids series does a great job informing runners on race day information, including where to park. I do love races that offer free parking too. I arrived with 10 minutes before starting time and barely got my bib in time before the race began.
The packet pick up lines could be more efficient… maybe more volunteers helping with the Sirena 10 miler would have been better since that race started first.
The race itself was 100x better than the race I ran earlier in Fremont. It was great just being able to run across the Golden Gate Bridge. Just be prepared for some fog. Since it’s a race in San Francisco, be prepared for some hills… It’s not too bad. It’s definitely easier than the hills we encountered during the Nike Women’s Half Marathon last month.
Overall, I enjoyed the race and the scenery. I got a cute necklace at the end with the same «Run Strong» theme as the tech shirt. After the race, you’ll be in line for the post-​race food that included bagels, Clementine, and juice. The expo is a bit small and crowded. Don’t forget to join others at the photo booth area afterwards.

#178. A well-​organized race for the most part. Love the intimacy and girl power of Mermaid Runs.
Packet pickup: Really hard to find, I’m not gonna lie. I almost ended up driving across the Golden Gate! I’m pretty good with my GPS, but it failed me miserably this time. The destination of the packet pickup is very similar to another address in the heart of the city, so there were other runners who got lost as well. Maybe some special map instructions next time?
Race Day: Parking wasn’t hard to find for this race, but I did get there earlier. Ran the 5K. The race started promptly and the course was pretty flat and open– lovelovelove these types of races. Towards the end, I noticed there were people walking against runner traffic. Excuse me. That’s a safety hazard right there.
Post-​race: There was plenty of food to refuel myself after the race. Loved the endless supply of Zico coconut water and Luna bars– a runner’s best friends!
I ended up placing 3^rd in my age division. Say what?! I never win anything!

You will pay anywhere between $ 65 — $ 85 for a 10 mile mermaid run, so I expect it to be well stocked, organized and fun. They have a few things they could easily improve. Packet pick-​up the day before was tough to find (not really their fault, Google maps would not recognize «Old» Mason) and insane to get in and out of. They handed me a bib, veered me toward a giant bin of safety pins and a table of various running items. The headbands were too small for anyone but a child. Plus, I couldn’t manage to juggle safety pins, a t-​shirt, a bib, a protein bar, a tiny tattoo, and whatever else they had there in my bare hands. Why no bag mermaid? A bag would have made a huge difference.
If I were to do it over, I would just get there early on the day of to pick up what I needed for the run. Parking was free & easy, which means a lot. The sound system at the start line was muffled, it was difficult to hear anything that was being announced. The music was good and clear but I can bring my own music. The course was a bit confusing, There were clear signs at mile 1 and 2. After that, there was a mile 7 sign at mile 4, the mile 5 sign was on the ground and the 5K and 10K signs were marked as miles and mixed in throughout our course = confusing. There were people there to help direct everyone but it really mentally throws a runner off to have to continually figure out the correct path. There were plenty of water stations along the course. The ladies running were all supportive and patient with pile-​ups. Some areas of the course get pretty narrow, so be prepared to have to stop a couple of times.
There were only timing strips at the beginning and the end of the course, so they run on the honor system. They just sort of hand you the «medal» when you are finished, which is a necklace in a little pouch. I didn’t see anyone taking photographs at the finish line. really? That’s the best part! The finish area is laid out awkwardly, we had to hunt around to find the fruit & carbs. I really wanted to try the coconut water but they ran out, packed up and were leaving by the time I found the booth.
All in all, I was here to run with and support a friend I have known since childhood. She finished strong and we had fun. Running the bridge was a great experience, I already have plans to return with the Mr. and run it on our own.

I was a little bit disappointed by the organization of this ride. I should start out by saying that the course is absolutely gorgeous. You run by the water, next to Crissy Field and up to the Golden Gate bridge. Beyond the beautiful scenery there were a couple of things that irked me. If you are doing the 10K, you are basically running the same trail twice which can honestly be discouraging. I understand that logistically courses might need to loop a bit, but it seems like there is enough space around Crissy Field to run back on a different path. Secondly the signage is impossible to read. The signs are completely conflicting (probably because they apply both to the 5K and 10K). It’s never clear if the mileage indicates how far you have run or what’s left. Similarly there is no countdown to the end of the race, you basically stumble onto the end line. If you had warned me a bit earlier Dear Mermaid Run I could have sprinted a bit towards the end. Finally don’t expect any shwag or food during the race. Compared to the Nike Half Marathon that has all kinds of energy bars, chaffing wipes etc… Overall this rides feels very amateurish and that’s also what’s nice about it. If you are looking for a low pressure race to run with a couple of girlfriends this might be a good fit, if it isn’t your first race and are looking to challenge yourself, I’d suggest looking elsewhere

What a great run in SF! This year’s Mermaid Run in SF was gorgeous with perfect weather and a nice easy course. Both the 5K and 10K start next to Crissy Field and go all the way up to Fort Mason under the Golden Gate. If you run the 10K you’ll take an extra loop around Crissy Field. As you run along the water I recommend you pause your music and listen to the waves crashing up on the rocks just feet next to you. There are minimal inclines, so most of the course is flat. The shirt was one of the nicer ones I’ve gotten with a cute design in a nice aqua color. I can’t guarantee that the weather behaves this well every year, but just running with a large group of women was so fun! Just watch out for bathroom lines… what else would you expect with 100’s of women in one place. I’ll be doing this next year for sure!

this is an awesome event to participate in, whether you’re a runner, walker, veteran, 1^st timer, adult, child or infant. there are 2 distances to choose from: 10k and 5k, and you can run or walk either of these courses.
i ran the 5k in nov 2010, and i remember it being a great event. we also had terrific weather, a beautiful, clear, sunny day, to boot.
the pros:
–flat course in crissy fields with views of the golden gate bridge & bay
–women only (absolutely no men allowed in this race)
–kids only race (it’s really adorable watching the little girls race)
–strollers and dogs allowed
–easy parking in presidio/​crissy fields (esp on sunday morning)
what you get:
*packet pick-​up @ presidio sports basement the day before
*overland shoulder bag & sf mermaid run women’s cut tshirt
*silver finisher necklaces handed out as soon as you cross the finish line
*lots of post-​race food & drinks, including chocolate chip pancakes!
*cute mermaid branded merchandise for sale (adult, kids and babies’ clothing)
the cons:
a very long line of hungry women, waiting to get their hot pancakes and syrup :)
this was a terrific event, well-​organized and family friendly. if i still lived in sf, i would definitely participate again.