I watched the Bay-to-Breakers last weekend. It was my first
– which is quite a feat for a native San Franciscan.
I don’t know why I never got down to the park to watch the
racers running (or walking or stumbling) by. At various points in
my life I could have easily run the Bay-to-Breakers, but I never
did.
I watched the Bay-to-Breakers last weekend. It was my first – which is quite a feat for a native San Franciscan.
I don’t know why I never got down to the park to watch the racers running (or walking or stumbling) by. At various points in my life I could have easily run the Bay-to-Breakers, but I never did.
In my teens, I would regularly run the length of Golden Gate Park to the ocean and back to Stanyan Street, which is roughly the length of the Bay-to-Breakers. In my early 20’s, I’d knock off work on a construction site in Sausalito and run up the hill, across the Golden Gate Bridge, up Park Presidio and into the Sunset, where I lived.
I knew I could do the distance. But for some reason, the Bay-to-Breakers intimidated me.
It was a world-class race back then. It still attracts top runners, but the run from wharfs to waves is officially a party now.
I guess I didn’t just want to run my hometown race, I wanted to run it in a respectable time.
I can’t believe how much fun I missed all those years of avoiding the Bay-to-Breakers.
What a blast. Sure, the serious runners are still there – including Mayor Gavin Newsom. But the bulk of the “athletes” are dressed as caterpillars, pirates, bees and Jedi Knights.
Or not dressed at all, which is an eye-opener (and an eye-closer, in most cases).
A moving break dance showdown makes its way to the Great Highway, with dancers tossing down a piece of linoleum, popping off a few moves and then picking it up and joining the “race” again. A pirate ship rolls by, armed with beer kegs instead of cannon.
People covered in gauze, tinfoil and spilled drinks saunter by endlessly, most looking as though the last bit of exercise they got was the last Bay-to-Breakers.
I’m going to run that race next year. Preferably clothed.
And then I’m going to visit Alcatraz – another San Francisco landmark this native has never seen up close.
