"Although some people do take the race component seriously - and were sorely disappointed by a lack of medals last year - it's the race's oddball traditions and anything-goes attitude that has made it one of San Francisco's signature events. Fantastic costumes are the hallmark of Bay to Breakers, however there's many runners who take it as an opportunity to run without any clothing at all. Iconoclasts in salmon costumes run upstream. "Centipede teams" connected by bungee cords have their own competition category. And the last liquor store along the route, New Star-Ell Liquor on Divisadero, becomes the busiest shop in town."
Bay to Breakers is a costumed street celebration that functions as a footrace, with neighborhoods turning into street parties featuring sidewalk DJs and elaborate food inspired by House of Prime Rib. The event begins with a ceremonial tortilla toss near the Embarcadero and ends at Ocean Beach. Bright, sunny conditions are often tempered by forecast high winds that can affect runners focused on times. The race peaked in the 1980s with 110,000 participants and a Guinness World Record, while recent attendance has been far lower, though many people treat it primarily as street celebration. Major traffic arteries are shut down, and the event is known for anything-goes traditions, including unusual costumes, bungee-connected centipede teams, and widespread running without clothing. The last liquor store on the route becomes especially busy.
#bay-to-breakers #san-francisco-events #costumes-and-street-parties #footrace-and-route-closures #guinness-world-record
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