A Field Guide to Bay to Breakers
Of all the races I did during my five-year blogging hiatus, none left as big of an impression as Bay to Breakers. This storied run from the bay to ocean through San Francisco is distinct, and not just because of the high nudity quotient or people passing the time throwing tortillas at the start. It’s more than 100 years old (ancient by West Coast standards) and in the Guinness Book of World Records for holding 110,000 participants in 1986. It remains one of the largest fields in the world, ranging from 40,000 to 100,000 on average.
Bay to Breakers, to me, embodies San Francisco. There are crazy-ass costumes and plenty of people wearing nothing but their birthday suits. There are spectators drunk at 8 a.m. on a Sunday, hosting raves on the toughest part of the course, and cheering on the teams of salmon “swimming” against the endless current of runners and walkers going the other way.
On a good year, there are upwards of 100,000 people moving along the 12k course. We did the race on a bad year, in that the Boston Marathon bombing had just happened and rumors ran rampant the same could happen at this famous footrace. There was a bomb squad on site, and a much stronger police presence. Backpacks weren't allowed and motorized kegs were pulled off the course. Still, we were blessed with great weather and great crowds. (And the rumor about switching up the finish line location turned out to be true.)
On a good year, there are upwards of 100,000 people moving along the 12k course. We did the race on a bad year, in that the Boston Marathon bombing had just happened and rumors ran rampant the same could happen at this famous footrace. There was a bomb squad on site, and a much stronger police presence. Backpacks weren't allowed and motorized kegs were pulled off the course. Still, we were blessed with great weather and great crowds. (And the rumor about switching up the finish line location turned out to be true.)
My daughter and son-in-law do Bay to Breakers annually, which is easy since they live in the Bay Area. Me, not so much. It always falls on a weekend I can’t get away.
Here are some tips for first-timers, based on my limited observations and others’ far more broad experiences.
Getting there: Goes without saying you want to take public transportation to the start near the Embarcadero. You will not be alone no matter what mode – BART, Muni, ferry, cab/Lyft – since everyone’s going to the same place. Leave with plenty of time because you may have to wait for a second train or bus. If you do drive from out of town, I’d recommend parking within easy walking distance of a bus stop not near the route because parking will be tough no matter where you are.
The start: We did the race with veteran B2Bers from Noe Valley and when I saw the first corrals start to inch forward, and we were still in line at a Starbucks, I thought we might miss our opening. Our friends assured us we had plenty of time and they were right. You’re assigned a corral and there are places to drop off any outer layers of clothing you no longer need. Be careful because all those discarded tortillas make the start area slick.
Early corral runners will move quickly—some very quickly. This race attracts the elites. Mid-packers will begin the eventual bifurcation of runners on the roads' left and walkers on the right. Then the walkers pretty much take over all lanes. The best costumes will be on the walkers’ side because it’s hard to run fast in the elaborate getups.
The course: The first couple of miles are flat, moving from downtown to the bottom of the Hayes Street Hill. People will blare music to help move you along that steep climb. We stopped at every mile marker for a picture and, well, we weren’t the only ones. By the time we crested the big hill, lined with house parties and impromptu dance-offs, the lines for pictures at mile markers had grown. We weren’t running for time, but if you are, skip the photos.
I personally loved the Hayes Street Hill, the most congested part of the race. But, as I said, I was walking. If you are running for a fast time, here’s where you’ll likely hit a holdup. Once you crest the hill, expect to start seeing more police. Booze enforcement was in full swing our year, and I remember a slight guy dressed as a Joker being pulled over and asked to “show his six-pack,” which turned out to be exactly that: six cans of beer taped around his waist. You can understand why the police were not as amused as we were.
The remainder of time you are moving through Golden Gate Park, where you will see plenty of nakedness – both participants and spectators – and some great bands dressed for the occasion. Taiko drummers help keep you going. You might catch grazing buffalo, though we didn’t. This section is a little more quiet, just because it’s in a park with plenty of open space. If you felt previously closed in, this is where you can finally breathe.
Before you know it (or maybe not) you’ll hit the 7-mile marker and turn a corner and realize you are almost done. The finish line along Ocean Beach is wide and wonderful, especially if you finish in the thick of things. We were laggards but loved all the selfie videos we took because no one around us was impacted.
Swag: We didn’t go to the expo, so I can’t comment on that or what the goodie bags may have entailed. We did pick up our cotton T-shirts at the end of the finish line. I still wear mine, several years and hundreds of washings later, so it’s good quality. This year I noticed they'd switched to technical fabric.
Afterward, you have a couple of major choices: Head back into Golden Gate Park to listen (and dance) to live music and grab some grub at the post-race festival. Or head home via a fleet of buses that will be packed. Bring your patience if opting for the latter.
Medals: I personally do not do races for medals, but some people do. They may run out, so plan to finish in plenty of time to grab one. Last year they also introduced a “bonus” that adds 3k to make it a 15k race, and there’s a medal for that distance too.
There you have it. I loved the video I made, even if I just realized I never corrected Jeanine's name in the closing credits. Hope you enjoy it too.
