Bay to Breakers
Bay to Breakers is a folk and road race over 12 km of San Francisco. It is organized annually since 1912. The run goes from the Bay of San Francisco (English Bay ) through the city to the Pacific Ocean, where the breakwater (English breakers ) rebound on the ocean beach.
History
In order to raise the morale of the city after the devastating San Francisco earthquake of 1906, was on 1 January 1912, the first annual Cross - City Race organized, which took place since then without interruption. The first edition was won by students Robert Jackson Vlught with a time of 44:10 minutes. The name of the running event was changed in 1964 in Bay to Breakers.
1940 ran with Bobbie Burke for the first time with a woman. She had dressed as a man.
In 1963, the number of participants was reduced to 25. The following year, the race in Bay to Breakers has been renamed. Since 1966, the San Francisco Examiner is sponsoring the event. 1971 women were officially allowed to start.
With 110,000 participants, the host was officially recognized on 18 May 1986 as the world's greatest road race from the Guinness Book of World Records. Currently, the average attendance is about 70,000 to 80,000, almost half of which are registered. 2010 32,000 participants were registered.
A large number of participants running the route costumed, body-painted or with varying degrees of nudity. A group of participants has annually disguised as salmon against the current toward the Bay. The less ambitious sports participants follow one of around 50 floats, which are usually loaded with powerful sound systems and a DJ ( comparable to a Lovemobile ). Popular gathering spots are the Alamo Square Park and the Panhandle. In addition to the floats, numerous local bands and DJs playing along the route and give the event a hard character. The regulations prohibited in 2012 the consumption of alcohol and the floats.
Route
The 12- kilometer run starts in the city center, near The Embarcadero ( across the bay from San Francisco) and performs on the Howard Street through the SoMa district. At the height of 9th Street you go north to the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, and from there along the Hayes Street a little ascent to Alamo Square. Then you continue on past Fell Street along the panhandles and eventually through the entire Golden Gate Park, the Conservatory of Flowers, to the finish at the Great Highway along Ocean Beach.
Statistics
Track records
- Men: 33:31 min, Sammy Kirop Kitwara (KEN ), 2009
- Women: 38:07 min, Lineth Chepkurui (KEN ), 2010
List of winners
Sources: ARRS, Running Encyclopedia