Walking a Marathon Around San Francisco

Summary: Walking a Marathon Around San Francisco

Trip concept / route planning

• This was a very long “no camping” walking day in San Francisco, planned to reach at least a marathon distance (26+ miles).
• They considered the Crosstown Trail, but instead designed a loop path based on their own mapped route.
• They brought their dog, Tonkins (Tonks / Tonka’s), and planned the loop so they could return to their van at the end of the day.

Sponsor / digital health routine

• The trip was sponsored by Norton VPN.
• They used it as part of everyday van life because they often relied on coffee shops and random/public Wi‑Fi.
• Noted practical usage:
  • Norton VPN runs in the background, letting them keep working and checking emails without thinking about it.
  • Discount callout: “up to 70% off your first year.”

Gear + hydration + readiness checklist

They packed fairly light for the trek:

• Backpack with a water bladder (~1 liter)
• Water bottle (~1 liter)
• Tripod
• Battery charger
• Phone (noted as draining quickly due to constant video recording)
• Sunscreen
• Chapstick
• Layers, since San Francisco can be cold/gloomy

Dog-related prep:

• A collapsible water bowl for Tonkins

Other readiness notes:

• The day began gloomy/cold, but they expected to warm up while moving continuously.
• They also mention securing van parking with a parking attendant (paid parking in SF).

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Step-by-step day highlights (key stops)

Start: Ferry Building

• They started at the Ferry Building, recalling they had started a prior trip there last year.
• Early on, they grabbed a coffee / matcha flat white.

Breakfast + early miles

• Around mile 5: Dolores Park
  • Off-leash dog moment: Tonks roamed, sniffed, and ate grass.
• Around mile 6: Alamo Square Park
  • They took in the view of the Painted Ladies.

Nature shift + mid-journey landmarks

• Around mile 10: Golden Gate Park
  • More nature and some quirky/scenic stops (including a dragon feature/figure mentioned).
• Around mile 12: Leaving Golden Gate Park
  • They headed toward another coffee/food stop.

Lunch + beach leg

• Lunch included options like tacos / fish, plus they ate a burrito and continued with matcha/coffee.
• After lunch, they walked toward the waterfront and beach for about ~3 miles along the coast.
• A standout stop: a fish place + coffee shop across the street from each other—called a “10 out of 10”.
  • They enjoyed ceviche, noting a sweetness to it.
• They also did some work/emails, using Norton VPN for privacy on public Wi‑Fi.

Cliffs + coastal route

• They took the Lands End Trail.
• Around mile 14: Sutro Baths
• They continued through areas with views of the Golden Gate Bridge from residential overlooks.
• They passed the Battery area / historic remnants where there had been big guns.

The “finish stretch”

• Around mile 20
  • They saw landmarks including the Palace of Fine Arts in the background.
  • Their feet were feeling it, along with a recurring blister they always get on their pinky toe.
  • They took a thirst/break moment.
• Marathon upgrade decision
  • At about mile 24, they realized they hadn’t fully reached 26 yet when they reached the van area.
  • To add distance, they included Lombard Street (steep hill) and walked/descended the “Whirly Burly” section.
• Near the end:
  • They reached Fisherman’s Wharf for the final push.

Wrap-up

• They officially hit the marathon distance at about 9:00 p.m.
• They returned to the van:
  • Tonks got dinner and rested
• They then headed off to find a place to sleep.
• The video ended with thanks for watching.

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Food/coffee themes (what they focused on)

Frequent stops for:

• Coffee
• Matcha (including matcha flat whites multiple times)
• Meals across the route:
  • Breakfast
  • Tacos / fish
  • A burrito
  • Ceviche
• After the long walk, they chose tacos again for dinner.

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Notable locations / products mentioned

• Ferry Building
• Dolores Park
• Alamo Square Park (Painted Ladies)
• Golden Gate Park
• Lands End Trail
• Sutro Baths
• Coastal viewpoints / neighborhoods with Golden Gate Bridge views
• Battery site (historic big guns)
• Palace of Fine Arts
• Marina Park
• Lombard Street (“Whirly Burly”)
• Fisherman’s Wharf
• Norton VPN (sponsor)