The extraordinary exclusionary history of San Francisco's Bay to Breakers

"“At that time women were not allowed to run with men,” Edward's son James Preston told SFGATE in an interview."

"“While participation in the race, which began in 1912, was free, you had to be registered with the Pacific Athletic Association as an amateur athlete to run. This attracted ‘only serious runners with intentions of racing to win,’ as St Mary's College of California kinesiology professor Claire M. Williams wrote in her chapter on Bay to Breakers in ‘San Francisco Bay Area Sports.’”"

"“Professionals were completely banned from participating, as it was ‘believed they did so with impure motivations’ - meaning prize money.”"

"“But on March 10, 1940, that's what was done by Barbara J. Burke, who posed as a man to participate.”"

Barbara J. Burke participated in the yearly bay-to-ocean fun run on March 10, 1940 by posing as a man. The previous year she met runner Edward Preston at the World’s Fair on Treasure Island, and they became a couple. Edward wanted her to join him in the race, then called the Cross City Race, but women were not allowed to run with men. Participation was also restricted: runners had to be registered with the Pacific Athletic Association as amateur athletes, and professionals were banned. The race attracted serious competitors aiming to win rather than prize money.

Read at SFGATE