Strap on your tennies, throw on your gorilla suit and get ready to hit the street for the 2015 San Francisco Bay to Breakers. Thousands of costumed participants will be making their way through the heart of San Francisco on May 17th, energized by continuous bursts of live music and cheered on by oodles of spectators lining the route.
People who reside in the Bay Area are likely familiar with this festive footrace, although few know about the rich history behind it. Formally coined as the Cross City Race, it kicked off as a precursor to the world-class athletic event for the 1915 Pan Pacific International Exposition. Now spanning over 100 years, Bay to Breakers is the oldest consecutively run annual footrace in the world, a staple to the City by the Bay since May 1912.
Bay to Breakers garners national attention not only for the number of participants, but also for the zany and frivolous attire that come along with it. As the longest consecutively run race in the world, Bay to Breakers attracts 50,000+ participants and 100,000+ spectators, annually. The 7.46 mile (12k) route weaves through iconic San Francisco sights across town from the Bay Bridge to the breakers hitting Ocean Beach.
Throughout its long history, Bay to Breakers has been a showcase for San Francisco’s effervescent color and its affection for eclectic traditions. Although runners come from across the country and around the globe, the race is still a quintessential San Francisco experience and a true reflection of life between the breakers and the Bay.
