Bay to Breakers

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

The third Sunday in May brings us “Bay to Breakers,” the crown jewel of San Francisco events since 1912 with over 30,000+ people racing (and 100,000+ watching) from the Bay to the Breakers at the western end of Golden Gate Park in a costumed mass of everything we love about San Francisco.

 Bay to Breakers is the oldest consecutively-run annual footrace in the world. 

Patriot Photo: roadtrippers.com
Birds-eye Starting Line Photo: Jay Graham

104th Annual Bay to Breakers
Sunday, May 17, 2015 | 8 am to 12:30 pm
Howard St. / Hayes St. Hill / Golden Gate Park / Ocean Beach
FREE to Watch; $64 to Race

Where to pick up your racing packet – It’s too late to have your bib mailed, so racing packets must be picked up at the Bay to Breakers Expo at the Fort Mason Center either Friday 11 am to 7 pm, or Saturday 9 am to 5 pm. The expo is free and open to the public.

WANT TO WATCH? Best Places to Watch Bay to Breakers 2015:
Spectators line the entire course, but some of the best viewing spots are:

Photo: Huffington Post via foundsf.org

• Pre-race: Climb atop a trash can near Embarcadero Station to get an over-the-top view of everyone in costume racing to the starting line.
• Rival house parties with DJs and dancing typically line Hayes Street before the hill and Fell Street near Ashbury across from the Panhandle.
• There’s an awesome Super Mario Bloco Party starting at Patricia’s Green at 10am for 2015. Dress up like Yoshi and join the fun.
• Along Alamo Square at the top of Hayes Street Hill: Amazing view of 30,000 people, all climbing Hayes Street.
• Finish Line on the Great Highway
• Free concerts: There are typically bands and DJs set up along the course – bands and locations will be announced closer to the race date.

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

Photo: Seattle Man / Flickr

WANT TO RACE? Race Registration:
To participate in the race, technically you have to register. But many people just show up anyway and become bandit racers. We won’t tell anyone. As long as you avoid the Howard Street starting area or the finish line, your chances of getting pulled out by the cops are probably slim.  The event is free to watch and is almost just as fun.

What’s allowed / What’s not allowed
Please note that supposedly more cops will be on hand to remove unregistered runners and hassle spectators for drinking in public and kicking out floats. Use your brain out there. Read the FAQ.

– No Tortillas – The starting line tradition of tossing stale tortillas in the air is not allowed. Clearly, tortillas are a civic menace.
– No Booze / Beer – Bay to Breakers says they have a “zero tolerance” policy for runners and spectators.
– No Floats & Carts – Sadly no more floats are allowed – no more strollers, skateboards, roller blades or bicycles either.
– No Racing without an official bib – We’re not sure exactly how they’ll enforce this, but organizers say they’ll try to boot everyone from the course who hasn’t paid to reigster.
– No Backpacks – For obvious security reasons, unless it’s tiny and clear plastic, no backpacks are allowed on the course
– Yes to Nudity? – There doesn’t seem to be any official Bay to Breakers policy for 2015 regarding nudity on the course. And the city’s public nudity ban has a special exemption for “appropriate venues” just like Bay to Breakers.

2015 Course Map
The 12K race runs west through the city and finishes at the Great Highway along the Pacific Coast’s Ocean Beach. Participants run up the iconic Hayes Street Hill, along the Panhandle and through Golden Gate Park, while the city of San Francisco cheers them on.

> Full list of street closures for 2015

The 2015 “Finish Line Festival”
The Zappos.com Bay to Breakers Finish Line Festival comes to life as runners cross the finish line alongside Ocean Beach following the race. Runners celebrate in front of this iconic backdrop, while connecting with thousands of other finishers enjoying live entertainment and food and beverages.
– Finish Line Festival Concert 

Want to Volunteer?
Get a T-shirt and snacks for helping out with Bay to Breakers as an official volunteer whether it’s helping hand out water to runners, distributing t-shirts at the expo, or distributing medals to finishers. Apply to be a volunteer.

Photo: Bhautik Joshi

Photo: Gareth / tourist2townie.com

Photo: Phloating Man / Wikipedia

Photo: Kendrick Hang

Photo: Bhautik Joshi

Photo: Owen Byrne