BAY TO BREAKERS 12K
3rd Sunday in May
San Francisco, CaliforniaCelebrating its 100th anniversary in 2011, Bay to Breakers is one of the world’s largest and oldest footraces, held annually in San Francisco.
Photo: Bay to Breakers 12K
The name reflects the traditional course which takes tens of thousands of participants from the northeast end of the downtown area near The Embarcadero (the "bay" side of the city) to the west end of the city and the "breakers" of Ocean Beach. The 7.46 mile (12 kilometer) race features world-class athletes in addition to costumed runners and 'fun-loving' folks out for a great day of running and walking through San Francisco.
Originally called the Cross City Race, Bay to Breakers was created to lift the spirits of the people of San Francisco during the reconstruction following the 1906 earthquake. Bay to Breakers was the first run in 1912 as a precursor to the world-class athletic events planned for the 1915 Pan Pacific International Exposition.
Since then, Bay to Breakers has prevailed as a testament to San Francisco's uniqueness and audacity. Each year the race is a glorious celebration of the human spirit – a giant wave of athleticism, fun, frivolity, and determination flowing across the City from the bay to the ocean. It is one of the largest footraces in the world with 65,000+ participants and spectators annually. As the race grew in size it even set a Guinness Book record, with 110,000 participants in 1986. The course is challenging and beautiful, and consistently attracts world class competitors. (The 2009 race was won by Kenyan Sammy Kitwara in a world record breaking time of 33:31) But it isn't just a race for the serious runner.
In the true spirit of San Francisco the race is a celebration for everyone. Thousands of costumed participants join with families, and weekend runners and walkers. As they make their way through the heart of San Francisco, energized by continuous bursts of live music, they are cheered on by thousands of spectators lining the route. They also have to make way for the groups of "centipedes" runners, or 13 runners connected as a unit, that race to the Finish Line each year.
Throughout its long history Bay to Breakers has been a showcase for the City's irrepressible color and its affection for eclectic traditions. While professional runners come from across the country and around the globe, the race is still a quintessential San Francisco experience and a true reflection of life between the breakers and the Bay.
For more information on the Bay to Breakers footrace visit: www.baytobreakers.com
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