The San Francisco Bay to Breakers is one of the oldest and largest footraces in the United States and it has over 100,000 "runners" in its past years. It takes place in April each year in San Francisco. The distance is twelve kilometers (about 7.44 miles). The entry fee is relatively cheap (I believe around $20.00).

The race starts in downtown San Francisco at the foot of the San Francisco - Oakland Bay Bridge. The start consumes tens of city blocks. There are basically 2 starts. The professional and seeded runners (these are runners who qualify with certain times - see the website for exact times) are in the front. They are the only runners who can officially win the race. They are separated from the rest of the runners behind them by a human wall - volunteers with interlocked arms. Right behind the professional/seeded runners are the sub-seeded runners (these are runners who also qualify with certain times - see the website for exact times).

Behind the sub-seeded runners is a group of a couple hundred runners who won a front-position on a local radio show. Behind them are corporate teams. Then everyone else - and I mean everyone else.

The Bay to Breakers pulls in the fast runners, the slow runners, and the wackos. You will see a runner wearing a 15 foot Leaning Tower of Pizza (yes, pizza) costume. Another runner will be dressed as Monica Lewinsky - complete with knee pads. Scattered among the tens of thousands will be a couple dozen naked runners. Tortillas will be flying around like frisbees and beach balls will bounce off your head.

This race also has a centipede division. This consists of teams of runners connected by a rope. I believe the number of runners per centipede is somewhere between 8 and 12 runners (they are all the same number, I just don't know it off the top of my head). Some centipedes consist of very fast runners. The top centipede always tries to beat the top female runner (sometimes they do it, sometime the top 3 female runners beat the centipede).

When the gun goes off, the seeded and professional runners leave. The human wall stays interlocked for one minute, before letting everyone else go. Unless you are at the front, you will not run a fast race (heck, you may not run at all. In the pack of 100,000 runners its a walk). Also, once the lead runners pass, the side streets are opened up and they flood the street interfering with everybody except the top hundred people. You will run a mile from side to side weaving through people for every mile you actually run forward. It's dangerous (you can easily trip) and tiresome and if you have any competitive spirit its very frustrating. Unless you get at least sub-seeded absolutely do not plan on running this for a fast time.

The race leaves downtown south of Market. This is relatively flat. Then runners make a right turn and pass near the Civic Center. Then it heads up the Hayes Street Hill. This is not a huge hill, but it will slow you down. It is long and definitely qualifies as a hill and your legs feel it. I was running it a year or so ago and to my right was this guy wearing nothing but running shoes and a smile.

Down the other side, runners flow onto the panhandle (Fell Street) and run into Golden Gate Park. The 10K point is near the San Francisco Polo Fields, before the buffalo pasture. (here is where the race photographers snap the official race photos). There are only a couple of water stops along the way and if its hot, this can be felt. The runners continue down a fast and downhill road to the great highway where the finish is less than a half mile away.

This is a true party event. As I said before, do not plan on a fast time unless you qualify for a sub-seeded/seeded spot. Even then, numerous complete A-holes will still jump in from the sides and interfere with your run - even within the last mile! One race when I was shooting for the top 100 spots, I literally saw 15 people jump in within the last 3/4 mile (thanks to these great athletes, I finished 103). But that's enough of my bitter ranting.

After the finish, walk about a mile to the Polo Fields where Footstock is taking place. This has food, drinks and music. Also, you pick up your t-shirt here. For you, the party continues - for about 20,000 other runners, they are just crossing the start line and have 7.44 miles to walk/run.