Bay to Breakers

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Journaling
San Francisco’s Bay to Breakers, established in May of 1912, is touted to be one of the oldest consecutively run annual footraces in the world. Participants often dress in costumes for the event, and it is common to see Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and even Spider-Man amongst the runners, as well as a plethora of more unique costumes. The Blues Brothers were a popular theme in 1985 and at least 40 pairs raced for the breakers. Then there is the yearly spectacle of runners dressed as salmon and running "upstream" from the breakers to the Bay. Yet another novelty seen along the route are the "centipedes" - 13-person teams who run while tethered together.
 

The contestants begin their trek at Howard Street, turn west along Hayes Street, and then ascend the Hayes Street Hill (the only major incline in the race) near Alamo Square. After the hill, they run along the panhandle, then west through Golden Gate Park and past the Conservatory of Flowers, all the way to the Great Highway and Ocean Beach, where a Finish Line Festival waits for them. The colorful characters, combined with various local bands performing along the route and the Finish Line Festival, give the whole event a kind of party atmosphere.
 

As a fitness nut (and once Olympic hopeful) and a resident of the City by the Bay, my niece, Krista, was excited to participate in the crazy 12K race in 2009. It was a grueling and exhilarating experience, and it gave her immense satisfaction to reach the finish line.