Running News Daily

Golden Gate Double 8K Showcases Speed and Scenery in San Francisco

August 3, 2025 – San Francisco, CA

Over 400 runners gathered in San Francisco on a stunning summer morning to compete in the Golden Gate Double 8K, along with an Open 10K and 5K. With the iconic Golden Gate Bridge visible throughout the entire course, runners were treated to not only fast racing but also unforgettable views.

The highlight of the day was the Double 8K (5K + Break + 3K) event. Anthony Cortes, 31, of the 30–39 age group, claimed a commanding victory with a combined time of 26:56. Cortes blazed through the 5K in 17:07, then returned after the recovery break to cover the 3K in 9:49, holding off all challengers.

Behind him, a competitive men’s field included Colin Kennedy and Charles Hudson, both 47, who finished second and third with times of 34:08 and 34:56, respectively. Among the top women, Betty G, 58, ran a strong combined time of 40:30, followed closely by Cordelia McGee-Tubb (40:54) and Ruben Romero (42:23).

Open 10K Results

In the Open 10K, 22-year-old Noah Sauer led the charge with a time of 38:57, followed by Mark Speets (41:17) and Cole Ryan (41:49). The top five men all broke the 45-minute mark, with performances from runners in both the 20–29 and 50–59 age groups.

Open 5K Highlights

The Open 5K was equally exciting. Barrett Wade, 49, won in 18:31, just holding off 15-year-old Taylor Synnott, who finished only three seconds back in 18:34. Rounding out the podium was Kris Croome, 45, in 18:46. The youth field was especially deep, with impressive times from runners under 19, including Sofia Kiyama (21:48), Kiki Boukas (21:57), and Amina Zegar (22:44).

A Day to Remember

With ideal weather and the Golden Gate Bridge in full view from start to finish, this year’s Golden Gate Double and Open Races offered the perfect blend of competitive racing and scenic beauty. Enthusiastic spectators lined the course, and the atmosphere was electric from the first gun to the final finisher.

Runners gathered at the scenic Brisbane, California Marina March 22 for the annual Marina Double 15K, a one-of-a-kind event featuring a two-stage race: a 10K followed by a 5K, with combined times determining the overall results. In true Double Racing fashion, the 5K starts exactly 1 hour and 45 minutes after the start of the 10K, putting athletes to the test both physically and mentally.

The Marina Double 15K is an official event of the Double Road Race Federation (DRRF), the governing body of the sport of Double Racing. The sport was created by Bob Anderson, founder of Runner’s World magazine. The first official Double race was held in Mexico in 2010, and the format has since grown internationally.

In this unique format, the top honor—the Double Victory Cup—is awarded to the runner with the best age-graded score over the full 15K. This year, 19-year-old Jackie Holman earned the top distinction with an age-graded score of 83.48%. She ran the 10K in 37:49 and the 5K in 17:46, giving her a combined time of 55:35 and the overall win.  This shattered the best time ever for females 19 and under.  The previous record was 57:22 set Dec 22, 2013 in Pleasanton, ca by 19 year old Natalie Dimits.  

Anthony Cortes posted the fastest overall time of the day with a 33:23 in the 10K and a 16:46 in the 5K, totaling 50:09. His age-graded score was 82.12%.

Other Race Highlights

The Marina event also featured three additional races open to the public.

In the 10K Open, Andrew Elder (age 31) finished first among the men with a time of 36:46, and Maya Rossin-Slater (age 38) led the women with a time of 41:47.

In the 5K Run/Walk, Joji Morikawa (age 21) won the men’s division with a time of 18:04, and Yannan Xi (age 38) was the first female finisher in 21:02.

The Bob Anderson’s Kids Mile, open to children 13 and under, brought smiles and strong performances. Dylan Nichol (age 11) was the fastest boy with a time of 6:43, and Nadia Slater (age 9) finished first among the girls in 7:54.

Held along the waterfront paths of Harbor Park in Brisbane, California, the Marina Double featured stunning views of the bay, mild spring weather, and a welcoming, community-driven atmosphere that brought together competitive runners and families alike.

World Records for the Double 15K

• Men’s Record: Shadrack Kendulywo – 42:34 (10K: 28:33, 5K: 13:59), set in Thika, Kenya on September 14, 2024

• Women’s Record: Risper Gesabwa – 48:45 (10K: 32:55, 5K: 15:49), set on December 21, 2014

Save the Date

The next Marina Double 15K and companion events will return to Brisbane on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Whether you’re racing both legs or cheering on your kids in Bob Anderson’s Kids Mile, there’s something for everyone at this one-of-a-kind running festival.

We had an amazing morning in San Francisco for our 9th annual Golden Gate Double 8k (5k+break+3k) and our Golden Gate 10k/5k.   We had 452 registered runners.  The weather was perfect.  Like in the 50-60’s with hardly any wind.  And we could see the GG bridge the whole time.  

Congrats to our Double winners: the current king of the Double Anthony Cortes clocked 25:20 (15:52 + 9:28) for the win.  14-yearly-old Caroline Chang did her first double today and won clocking 32:03.

There were two world bests set today.  71-year-old Suzanne Koonce (second photo) from Menlo Park, California smashed the current 70  plus record set by Sharlet Gilbert of 43:38.  Suzanne clocked 41:48 today.  

Bobby Hastings of Chico, California set the record for 60-69 a couple of years back of 31:39, a time that was nearly two minutes ahead of everyone else.  Today he focused on beating that time and he did clocking 31:29.

The next double racing event is set for Dec 16th in Palo Alto California. The featured event, the Double 15k (10k+test+5k) will be run.  There will also be the Palo Alto 10k/5k and the Bob Anderson’s one mile kids run (kids 13 and under).

Ben Lipschuetz of Los Altos California hopes to clock the best time ever run for male runners 80 plus for the Double 15k on Dec 17 in Palo Alto.  

The Double 15k is a two stage race.  First runners run 10k and then take a break.  The second stage is 5k and it starts  one hour 45 minutes after the start of the 10k. Times are added together for scoring.  

The Double Road Race Federation (DRRF) is the governing body for Double Racing.  The first Double was held October 2010 in Mexico.  The first Double 15k held in the US took place Dec 2012.  The overall world record was set May 10, 2015.  Kenyan's Julian Kosgei clocked 29:11 for the 10k leg and then followed that up with a 14 minute flat 5k.  His combined 43:11 is the current world record.

The Women's record is held by Kenyan's Risper Gesabwa.  On Dec 14, 2014 in Pleasanton California she clocked 48:45 (32:55 10k followed by 15:49 5k).  The American record for men was set by Joe Moore in Manhattan, Kansas on Nov 9, 2013.  Joe clocked 44:48 (30:04/14:48).  Kim Conley set the record for women in Pleasanton, Ca Dec 21, 2014.  She clocked 49:24 (33:34/15:49).

The best time recently run is 44:40 (29:56/14:44). 4th best time ever. 18-year-old Joseph Njoroge clocked this time in Thika Kenya September 14, 2022.

The next two official DRRF Double 15k coming up are Dec 17 in Palo Alto California and March 25, 2023 in Brisbane California.  Both flat fast courses.  

The world record Ben has his eye on was run by 83-year-old Eddie Reyna Dec 22, 2013.   Eddie clocked 1:59:56 (1:23:02 for 10k followed by 36:54 for 5k leg).

Ben recently competed at the Trailblazer 10k Sept 24 in Mountain View,Ca.  He clocked 1:08:09 on the long 10k course.

"I met up with Ben after the Trailblazer race," says Double 15k director Bob Anderson (photo with Ben), "and told him he could smash the 80 plus world record.  This might even be an understatement."

The 80 plus world records for females was set August 23, 2014 in Pleasanton by 80-year-old Barbara Robben 1:57:26 (1:17:56 plus 39:30 for 5k leg).  

"Our Palo Alto event is nearly sold out but there are a few spots currently available," says race director Bob Anderson. There is also an open 10k, 5k and kids mile for 13 and under. 

(Second photo: Palo Alto 2021 winners.  Anthony Cortes clocked 49:26 (32:46/16:40) and Delaney Miller clocked 57:19 (38:36/18:43).  Both wearing the yellow jersey showing they won the first leg. 

(Third photo: 70-year-old Suzanne Koonce was the Victory Cup winner.  She clocked 1:18:49 (52:36/26:13).  The Victory Cup is awarded to the runner with the best age-graded score.

Anthony Cortes (first photo) from Half Moon Bay, California won his third straight Double Racing event August 7 in San Francisco.  He clocked 25:21 for the Double 8k.

Double racing veteran Jose Pina was just 23 seconds behind in second place.  Anthony had won the 5k (15:59)  and Jose did close the gap by four seconds running at 4:59/mile pace but not enough to over take Anthony.  Times from the two legs of a Double are added together for scoring.

Participants in the Double 8k first ran 5k at 8:20am and then 3k at 9:35am.  The runner (male and female) who wins the first leg wears the yellow jersey in the second leg so everyone knows who they need to beat in the second leg.

In the female division 14-year-old Evey Powell (second photo with her mom in red cheering her on) from England blew away the field clocking 30:31. 7th best time ever. Her 12-year-old sister won the open 5k clocking 22:05 earlier in the day.

71-year-old Sharlet Gilbert from Richmond, California clocked 44:29 to win the 70 plus division.  This is the second fastest time for this divison.  She set the record in 2021 clocking 43:38 on the same course.

The best time ever for the Double 8K was clocked Sept 6, 2015 in Nyahururu, Kenya.  17-year-old Eligah Kariuki from Kenya posted 23:33.  Kristen Rohde (USA) holds the women's record clocking 27:34 in Palo Alto, Califonria Feb 19, 2017. 

At most Double Racing events there are also open races.  At this recent event there was also the Golden Gate 10k and 5k run/walk.

Nina Zarin’s from Arlington Va was the overal winner in the Golden Gate 10k clocking a blistering 35:59. First male was Noah Gonzalez clocking a solid 37:36.

18-year-old Dominic Robles won the Golden Gate 5k clocking a fine 16:54.

"What a fun morning we had in San Francisco August 7. The weather was perfect for our sold out field," said race director Bob Anderson.

This was an official Double Racing event sanctioned by the Double Road Race Federation (DRRF) which was founded in 2010 when the sport was created.  Over 150 events have already been held in six countries.  

There are four official Double Racing events: Double 5k (3k+break+2k), Double 8k (5k+break+2k), featured event Double 15k (10k+break+5k) and Double 21k (15k+break+6k).  Stats, records and more details can be found on the website DoubleRoadRace.com 

The next Double Racing events scheduled are: Palo Alto Californiua Dec 17 (Double 15k), Brisbane California (Double 15k) March 2023 and Golden Gate August 6, 2023.

"If you would like to set up an official Double Racing event get in touch," says Double Racing creator Bob Anderson. 

My Best Runs is the official sponsor of the DRRF.