Kaiser Permanente SF Half Marathon Training
Run through iconic Golden Gate Park with optimal training. Get VO₂ max tested in Santa Cruz and prepare for San Francisco's premier half marathon with precise training zones.
The Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Half Marathon takes you through the heart of Golden Gate Park, past the de Young Museum, around Stow Lake, and along the Great Highway. It's one of the Bay Area's most scenic and popular half marathons.
The course is relatively flat but features rolling hills within the park and typical San Francisco wind conditions. VO₂ max testing helps you prepare for sustained efforts with variable wind resistance.
February timing means training through winter-having precise zones keeps your training effective even when outdoor conditions vary.
Half Marathon Pace: Your target pace for the 13.1-mile course through the park.
Tempo Runs: Threshold work for maintaining speed over rolling terrain.
Hill Adaptation: Zone-based hill repeats for the park's rolling sections.
Wind Training: Heart rate-based pacing for running in coastal wind.
The Kaiser SF Half typically occurs in early February:
Late October/November: Initial test to establish zones for your 12-week training plan.
Mid-January: Optional mid-training test to verify progress and adjust zones.
Holiday Training Tip: Having clear zones keeps you on track through the holiday season when motivation can wane.
Many SF and Peninsula runners choose to test in Santa Cruz:
- Easy Highway 17 or Highway 1 access from the Bay Area
- Natural sea-level testing environment
- Similar coastal conditions to SF
- Weekend appointments to combine with Santa Cruz training runs
NOHRd SprintBok Treadmill: Self-powered curved design for natural running biomechanics assessment.
Wahoo KICKR Bike: If you're cross-training or coming back from running injury.
All testing uses the Korr CardioCoach metabolic analyzer for research-grade accuracy.
After testing, you'll know:
- Your optimal half marathon race pace
- Training zones for all workout types
- How to pace through Golden Gate Park's rolling terrain
- Heart rate targets for variable conditions
- Whether your current goal time is realistic
Fit Evaluations
311 Soquel Ave
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Contact:
Phone: 831-400-9227
Email: info@fitevals.com
Test in Santa Cruz, race in San Francisco. Convenient training location for Kaiser Permanente Half Marathon preparation.
Run Your Best Kaiser SF Half
Get tested in Santa Cruz and train smart for San Francisco race day.
Book VO₂ Max Test🌁 SF Weather Prep
February in San Francisco can bring anything from sunshine to rain to wind. Having solid training zones means you can train effectively indoors or out, and pace properly on race day regardless of conditions. Heart rate zones are particularly useful when wind makes pace unreliable.