Course description

The Fog City Ultra takes place on one of San Francisco’s most beloved running routes: a loop around the scenic shores of Lake Merced. Each loop measures approximately 4.1 miles — and you’ll get to know every inch of it.
The course follows a primarily paved path with a packed dirt shoulder, giving runners the option to soften the impact on their feet as the hours (and laps) stack up. It’s a small mercy you’ll come to appreciate around hour 12.
Elevation gain and loss per loop sits at a modest 156 feet — flat enough to feel fast early, deceptive enough to remind you it’s still there when your legs are tired. Don’t let the profile fool you: in a backyard ultra, every foot of climb compounds.
The highlight of each loop comes at roughly the halfway point, where runners cross a bridge before continuing along the lake back to the start/finish. It’s a small but welcome change of scenery — a moment to reset your mind and click back into your rhythm.

Course Map

https://caltopo.com/m/94B8NKB

Schedule

6:30 AM
Arrive at Lake Merced
Head to the check-in table to collect your bib and sign your waiver. A QR code will be available on-site if you haven't signed yet.


6:30–6:50 AM
Set up your camp
Find your spot near the base camp area. Drop your gear, set up your chair, canopy, and get settled in — this is home for the next however-many-hours.


6:50 AM
Mandatory pre-race briefing
All runners must attend. We'll cover the course, loop rules, corral check-in process, aid station, and what happens if you drop.

7:00 AM
Start of the first yard -- In backyard ultras, each loop is referred to as a yard

Event's current local time: 12:18 PM PT