Racers, Revelers Hit San Francisco Streets for 107th Bay to Breakers
By Brendan Weber and Anser Hassan ••
The 107th running of Bay to Breakers featuring well-conditioned athletes as well as those fixed on flashing their creative costumes is slated to fire off in San Francisco this Sunday. Sergio Quintana reports.
The famous day of running and revelry once again returned to the streets of San Francisco Sunday morning.
Racers of all levels, from the fine-tuned athletes to the costume-wearing average Joes, hit the pavement in the city by the bay to take part in the 107th running of the annual Bay to Breakers footrace.
As runners broke through the finish line after dashing across the rolling San Francisco landscape, it seemed at though few were actually worried about their times. It was more about who wore what.
One competitor ditched a traditional T-shirt and running shorts for a full body giraffe costume. Another broke out a banana suit and captured the finish line with a post-race selfie. People dressed as fruits — watermelon, kiwi and grapes to name a few — breathed a sweet sigh of relief after conquering the streets of San Francisco.
"It wasn't a 'grape' idea, but I 'pressed' through," Henry Patricio joked after completing the course in a grape costume. "No 'wine-ing' at all until here."
NBC Bay Area/Rick Boone
Creatively-dressed folks take part in the 2017 Bay to Breakers race. (May 20, 2017)
Rick Boone/ NBC Bay Area
Women tout Starbucks-themed costumes before Bay to Breakers in San Francisco. (May 21, 2017)
Rick Boone/ NBC Bay Area
Runners gear up for the Bay to Breakers race in San Francisco while flaunting their wacky costumes. (May 21, 2017)
Rick Boone/ NBC Bay Area
Two participants show off their bridge costume before Bay to Breakers in San Francisco. (May 21, 2017).
Rick Boone/ NBC Bay Area
Among other creative costumes, a hot dog is spotted before Bay to Breakers in San Francisco. (May 21, 2017)
Rick Boone/ NBC Bay Area
Two fitness aficionados gear up for Bay to Breakers in San Francisco. (May 21, 2017)
Rick Boone/ NBC Bay Area
A character from "Avatar" makes an appearance at Bay to Breakers in San Francisco. (May 21, 2017)
Rick Boone/ NBC Bay Area
A host of characters show off their wacky costumes before Bay to Breakers in San Francisco. (May 21, 2017)
Rick Boone/ NBC Bay area
Characters from Dr. Seuss pop up before Bay to Breakers in San Francisco. (May 21, 2017)
Rick Boone/ NBC Bay Area
A jester-for-a-day brings jokes to Bay to Breakers in San Francisco. (May 21, 2017)
Rick Boone/ NBC Bay Area
Superman flaunts his muscles during Bay to Breakers in San Francisco. (May 21, 2017)
Rick Boone/ NBC Bay Area
A man flaunts his costume before Bay to Breakers in San Francisco. (May 21, 2017)
Rick Boone/ NBC Bay Area
These folks decided to go with car-themed costumes for Bay to Breakers in San Francisco. (May 21, 2017)
Rick Boone/ NBC Bay Area
Runners gear up for the Bay to Breakers race in San Francisco. (May 21, 2017)
Rick Boone/ NBC Bay Area
A woman shows off her headpiece during Bay to Breakers in San Francisco. (May 21, 2017)
Rick Boone/ NBC Bay Area
Runners flaunt a wide array of outfits during Bay to Breakers in San Francisco. (May 21, 2017)
Rick Boone/ NBC Bay Area
A group displays their outfits during Bay to Breakers in San Francisco. (May 21, 2017)
Rick Boone/ NBC Bay Area
A man dressed as Evel Knievel appears at Bay to Breakers in San Francisco. (May 21, 2017)
Riya Bhattacharjee/NBC Bay Area
Characters from "The Simpsons" show up at Bay to Breakers in San Francisco. (May 21, 2017)
Riya Bhattacharjee/NBC Bay Area
"Next year," this man said during Bay to Breakers in San Francisco. (May 21, 2017)
Riya Bhattacharjee/NBC Bay Area
Two people show off some creativity with their unique costume choices for Bay to Breakers in San Francisco. (May 21, 2017)
Superheroes also came out in full force. While keeping a watchful eye on the safety of the city, The Flash and Batman duked it out for bragging rights on the course. The Flash, tapping into his lightning-quick speed, came out on top, but it wasn't all bad news for Batman. He trounced Superman.
"Man of steel ran out of gas," runner Rafael Amezcua said. "But it was a fun race. It's one of the funnest ones that's offered around here."
While much of the race remained the same — 12km course spanning from the edge of the Bay Bridge to Ocean Beach — this year's event featured an added 3km stretch along the Great Highway for those runners interested in pushing the envelope.
Runners started to hit the pavement at 8 a.m. from the intersection of Main and Howard streets. From there, they ran west along Howard Street, attempted to defeat Hayes Hill and its steepest grade of 11 percent, snaked through Golden Gate Park and finished with a sprint to the Ocean Beach parking lot.
Riya Bhattacharjee
Bay to Breakers
NBC Bay Area
NBC Bay Area
NBC Bay Area
NBC Bay Area
Riya Bhattacharjee
Riya Bhattacharjee
Riya Bhattacharjee
Riya Bhattacharjee
Riya Bhattacharjee
Riya Bhattacharjee
Riya Bhattacharjee
Riya Bhattacharjee
Riya Bhattacharjee
Riya Bhattacharjee
Riya Bhattacharjee
Riya Bhattacharjee
Riya Bhattacharjee
Aside from receiving cheers at the finish line, Beth Goya and her group representing Lady Liberty said they were showered with praise as they ran embracing the #MeToo movement.
"It was super fun," Goya said. "We got a lot of cheers along the course that we were inspiring their daughters."
For the second year in a row, Philemon Cheboi broke the tape first for the men, finishing this year's race with a time of 35:41, according to event organizers. Jane Kibii crossed the finish line first on the female side, ending her race at the 40:27 mark.
Ian Cull
@warriors via Twitter
Dub Nation was well represented at Bay to Breakers.
@StacyBeckley via Twitter
Unicorns at Bay to Breakers
NBC Bay Area
A Bay To Breakers participant (left) dressed up as the fictional Pied Piper startup from the HBO show "Silicon Valley" at the finish line in Ocean Beach.
Theodore Ellington @theoellingtonSF via Twitter
Bay to Breakers doubled up as a celebration for Golden State Warriors fans.
Johnny @WhoosJohnny Via Twitter
Can you spot the salmon in the picture?
@Solenastyy via Twitter
Wonderwomen at Bay to Breakers.
Vanessa Victoria Smith via Facebook
A giant foot takes part in Bay to Breakers.
Ian Cull
Participants get ready for the race.
NBC Bay Area
And they are off!
Riya Bhattacharjee
Right before the start of the race.
Riya Bhattacharjee
Participants warming up before the race.
NBC Bay Area
The finish line looked crowded half an hour into the race.
Johnny @WhoosJohnny via Twitter
Participants take over 9th and Howard.
NBC Bay Area
NBC Bay Area
Mile 3
NBC Bay Area
Bay to Breakers at Golden Gate Park. The route passes the De Young museum.
NBC Bay Area
Bay to Breakers passes through downtown San Francisco.
NBC Bay Area
Participants get ready at the start line.
NBC Bay Area
NBC Bay Area
Runners near Golden Gate Park.
NBC Bay Area
More Bay to Breakers runners.
NBC Bay Area
Celeste Perez-Palma
Contributed photo
In-N-Out at Bay to Breakers
Jason Lehrbaum
Anthony
Bay to Breakers participants
Anthony
Bay to Breakers
Jason Lehrbaum
Racers were not allowed to run with any bags, backpacks or containers. The only exception was if the bag, backpack or container was clear and smaller than 8.5 x 11 x 4 inches.
Participants were able to wear running belts and fanny packs, but they were not allowed to bring CamelBak hydration backpacks or hydration vests that could be worn over the shoulder.
Alcohol and any illegal substances were also forbidden on the race course.
