Tens of thousands hit the pavement Sunday for 107th Bay to Breakers
SAN FRANCISCO (KTVU) - More than 40,000 people are expected to hit the pavement Sunday for the annual Bay to Breakers. The 12K or 7.5 mile race begins by the Bay Bridge and ends at Ocean Beach. More than 100,000 people are expected to watch.
MOBILE USERS WATCH THE RACE HERE
At San Francisco’s Panhandle, crews spent the evening putting the finishing touches together setting up fencing and porta-potties for this year's annual Bay to Breakers.
“It’s an event that can only be here in San Francisco and it's world-renowned because of that. People just want to come and experience it,” said Bay to Breakers General Manager Chris Holmes. “It’s a bucket list race for a lot of people.”
Now in its 107th year, the race begins near the Bay Bridge and takes runners through Alamo Square, the Panhandle and Golden Gate Park before ending at Ocean Beach. New this year, for the first time, runners can extend their run an extra three kilometers on the Great Highway to earn a bonus medal.
At Pier 35, a group came across their picture from when they ran last year dressed as chickens. They plan to do that again.
“It’s pretty much like a parade especially when you dress up,” said Cindy Brittenhouse of San Jose. “You get a lot of positive feedback from the whole crowd.”
“You see friends you don't see all year,” said Flora Ballard of San Francisco. “We make new friends every year.”
While it's fun for them, it’s not so much for residents who live along the race route.
“Not everyone wants to line up where the toilets are and so you got people running into the bushes so it's not ideal,” said Joe Nicholson of San Francisco.
Nicholson lives on Oak Street. He doesn't like the unintended problems of parking, traffic, garbage and other waste associated with the big crowds. He said it's gotten better through the years.
“Sometimes you get a whole group of nudes carrying something, they don't allow that much anymore,” said Nicholson. “The guys running down the road while drinking a beer, they don't allow that anymore.”
"We expect to see weird costumes. a bunch of naked people running around that shouldn't be naked,” said Brett Vetorino of San Francisco. “I’m looking forward to it. It will be another great memory of this fantastic city.”
Major streets along the race route will be shut down. Crossover routes include the Embacadero and 19th Avenue. Cars parked in no parking zones will be towed. The race starts at 8 a.m.