Coming up in mid May is the 98th running of the famous BAY TO BREAKERS run in San Francisco. This awesome event brings tens of thousands of runners, joggers, walkers, centipede runners, nudists, drunks, and more nudists and drunks through the city every year. The course is 12K (more than 7 miles), starting from the bay, through town, to end at the breakers at Ocean Park. Along the way, you’re bound to run into 50+ naked men and women, spiderman, spongebob squarepants, salmon swimming upstream, floats, and frat boys pushing along a keg.
Or so it’s been in the previous years. One of the best annual events in all of the US caved in to local residents who have complained that the event has gotten out of hand and has imposed new restrictions. These restrictions include no floats, no drinking, and no nudity. What gives? Now it’s just a 12K that you can do in any city.
Fans of the event have protested to defend the sanctity of the Bay to Breakers. Really, what would it be this year without nudists, drunks, and costumed freaks? In response to the public upheaval, the city and race organizers have lifted a few restrictions. Kegs and bottles are banned, floats must be registered, and there is now no mention of nudity in the language. Still, some people hold that consumption of alcohol will still be allowed as long as you don’t give them a reason to stop you from enjoying your fun and look the other way.
Still, the race is still always a fun spectacle, starting with the tortilla chip toss at the beginning, dodging water balloons in the middle of the race, to the “footstock” music perfomance at the end. Run to achieve a personal best time, to dress up in something goofy, or just to get crunk. Make your way to the Bay to Breakers.
Bay to Breakers
Sunday, May 17th 2009
$44 registration (until April 30th)
San Francisco, CA
Recent Comments