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Bay to Breakers 2013

The best places to watch the wacky annual costumed race
By - posted 5/15/2013 No Comment

Bring your tortillas (stale preferred), your costumed, your semi-naked and your beer (try to be discreet) and participate in one of the largest races in America, and also one of the most strange and “San Francentric.”

The third Sunday in May (May 19th in 2013) sees the 102nd edition of “Bay to Breakers,” the crown jewel of SF events where over 70,000+ people race/walk/stroll 7.46 miles from Bay (Howard St./Beale St.) to Breakers (the western end of Golden Gate Park) in a costumed mass of people. Leave your backpacks at home – there’s new security measures for 2013, understandably.

Bay to Breakers
Sunday, May 19, 2013 (7a-Noon)
Howard St. / Hayes St. Hill / Golden Gate Park
FREE to Watch

Best Places to Watch Bay to Breakers 2013:
Spectators line the entire course, but some of the best viewing spots are:

  • Pre-race: climb atop a trash can near Embarcadero Station to get an over-the-top view of everyone in costume racing to the event.
  • Along Alamo Square at the top of Hayes Street Hill – amazing view of 70,000 people, all climbing Hayes Street.
  • In front of the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park
  • Finish Line on the Great Highway
  • Free concerts – There 10 official bands/DJs along the course – including The Godfather of Skate at JFK & 10th Ave in Golden Gate Park, a taiko performance at JFK and Stow Lake, and Stung – an excellent Police tribute band at JFK and 30th, and – see the full music lineup

Where’s your favorite place to watch? Leave us a comment below and let us know.

Race Registration:
To participate in the race, technically you have to register (the fee is $63 for 2013), but many people just show up and race anyway, as long as you avoid the Howard Street starting point. We won’t tell anyone. The event is free to watch and is almost, just as fun. Please note that supposedly more cops will be on hand to remove unregistered runners and hassle spectators for drinking in public and kicking out naked people and floats. Use your brain out there.

2013 Course Map