Hot but Calm Bay to Breakers This Year

City officials and Bay to Breakers organizers appeared satisfied  this morning that Sunday's race marked a significant improvement over recent  years.

"We're pleased with the way it turned out," said Nathan Ballard,  spokesman for Mayor Gavin Newsom. "Overall, it was peaceful, most people had  a great time, and there was only a handful of arrests."

After widespread complaints about garbage and drunkenness in  neighborhoods along the 12-kilometer route last year, officials this year  tried to balance the free-spirited, only-in-San Francisco brand of fun for  which the race is known with measures to alleviate the concerns of residents  and businesses.

Race organizers initially banned floats and alcohol outright, but  relented after an uproar from some in the community.

Kegs and bottles of alcohol were banned, and floats had to be  registered, could not have wheels, and could only join the race at the start  line. Police said they would have zero tolerance for public drunkenness and  public urination. About 700 portable toilets lined this year's route, 150  more than last year.

On Sunday, an estimated 62,000 participants, including both  serious runners and partiers, braved hot weather for the 98th annual run.

"It was a fantastic success," said Sam Singer, spokesman for the  race organizers. "The real spirit of Bay to Breakers, which is a serious race  combined with serious fun, was in full force yesterday."

Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, whose district includes part of the  route and who had encouraged a cleaner, more responsible race, while  maintaining its uniqueness, said this morning that this year "was a step in  the right direction."

"The vibe was really good, and I was glad to see that," Mirkarimi  said.

Mirkarimi suggested there was still confusion about race rules,  and that organizers needed to make the guidelines clearer; and that more  portable toilets and water stations were still needed in some areas.

He also suggested considering another organized party closer to  the middle of the race to prevent stragglers from littering the Panhandle,  and said organizers needed to find a better way to convince all participants  to register for the race.

Only about half of the participants registered this year,  according to race organizers.

"There were considerable improvements this year, compared to the  last two years, but there still is significant room for improvement,"  Mirkarimi said.

Police spokeswoman Sgt. Lyn Tomioka said six people were detained  Sunday, but not actually arrested, for being drunk in public, and were later  released from holding cells when they sobered up.

Tomioka said there may have been one arrest related to the race,  but that had not yet been confirmed this morning.

Police also confiscated keg taps, poured out open containers of  alcohol, denied some floats from entering because they had wheels, and  prevented others from entering along the race route.

"And we know some snuck in, but for the most part, people followed  the new rules," Tomioka said.

Additionally, 159 cars were towed for parking along the race  route, as opposed to 270 towed last year, Tomioka said.

Police are still waiting to learn the total amount of garbage that  had to be cleaned up, but the amount "appeared to be significantly down from  last year," Tomioka said.

"There was a lot less public urination, there was much less  garbage," said Singer.

"If we can continue to encourage respectful behavior, and moderate  alcohol consumption, then we're going to continue to have success like this  year's race," he said.

The official race winner Sunday was Sammy Kitwara, 22, of Kenya,  who broke the race record by running the course in 33 minutes and 31 seconds.

Teyba Erkesso, 26, of Ethiopia, ran the race in 38 minutes and 29  seconds and placed first among the women.

Copyright Bay City News / NBC Bay Area

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