So some of you probably know that I ran the Big Sur Marathon a couple weeks ago and couldn’t stop talking about it (recap here).
What most of you probably DON’T know is that today I participated in a race that was even more epic in its own right. And for the runners today, clothing (and sobriety) was optional.
Bay to Breakers is one of San Francisco’s great traditions. Basically, it’s a 12K footrace from the Embarcadero area (the SF Bay) to the Pacific Ocean (the “Breakers”). Though, being in San Francisco, the event is much more than a footrace. Sure, there are “legit runners” who chug their way across those 7.4 miles like champions, but they must do it by weaving through a massive crowd of up to a hundred thousand people, many of them drunk (yes, at 7AM) and many of them wearing costumes or perhaps nothing at all. In addition to that, large chunks of the rest of the city’s dwellers come out to the race route to watch the madness and party all day and then end up in bed passed out at 3PM. Some people love it, others hate it. But regardless, you can’t deny the power of the Bay to Breakers.
This was the 100th running and I signed up to actually participate in the race (rather than just getting wasted and partying) with my sister. I headed to the Expo yesterday to pick up tshirts, some drinking paraphernalia and to meet Dean Karnazes. I love living in a city like this. I can just meet people like Dean on the weekends. Now if only I could sublime the ability to run 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days from him…
Costumes were readied. I decided to go cheap and easy and wear my dance team (aka cheerleader, by all appearances’ sake) uniform from HS. It doesn’t fit quite as well as it did when I was 14, but I was still just happy that I could wear it at all… I just couldn’t breathe TOO much. And that’s fine, because I wasn’t exactly going to be getting an aerobic workout.
Part of the deal with my sis was that I would walk and drink, embracing that aspect of the race, rather than go all runner-ape-ish on it and actually attempt to navigate the swirling, cavorting crowd at any more than a 20 minute mile pace. I may or may not have taken a shot at 6:30am on the way out to kick off the day. I’m too old for this, but hey, it’s B2B.
The mood in the morning was pretty much exuberant, not just because of the excitement of the day, but also because of the blue sky over us. See, SF weather kind of sucks even when it’s sunny. It looks nice out your office window, and when you run outside to enjoy it, you’re immediately shivering slash being bowled over by hurricane winds. On top of that, until late the night before B2B, the forecast was rain, thunderstorms, and/or hail. We woke up to a sunny day. For once, the SF weather gods had provided.
The start line was covered with tortillas which were flung about like frisbees in a festive manner for about the first mile. (This was a B2B tradition I didn’t know about). Being back in Corral D, we got to see a LOT of costumes.
The most common costumes of the day were superhero variations and crayons, but my personal favorite was the school of salmon “swimming upstream” (aka running through the beginning of the race… the wrong way).
We got to see a lot of birthday suits, too. B2B is also known for the runners who occasionally come out wearing nothing but running shoes and a hat to attach their bib to. Fun Fact: It’s not illegal to be naked in public in this city. Caitlin and I started a dicks/boobies count. At the end of the day I had counted 50 of the former (MY EYEEES!! They’re scarred for life!) and only 11 pairs of the latter. Where the women at? Well, that’s just uncomfortable, let’s be honest. I need my sports bra.
After walking through SOMA (the district where I work) and then down Market Street (SF’s main drag), we headed up the Hayes Street Hill. This is a typical SF hill of about 11% grade which would be grueling for a runner but as one of a mass of walkers and after a vodka cranberry or two it didn’t seem so bad. It also started raining on us, but it was only about 15 minutes and it wasn’t too bad.
After Hayes Valley and the hill, we started moving into my neighborhood, what I consider to be in some ways the heart of the city–the Haight/Ashbury area. We walked on until we entered Golden Gate Park, where I run in the mornings before work (when I can drag my lazy ass out of bed).
The walk was basically me and my sister trodding along, starting random conversations, counting naked men and trying not to actually see their genitalia, and taking pictures with random people in cool costume and/or mounted cops.
Eventually we hit mile 7 and soon thereafter could see the ocean. At this point it has been over two hours and I start thinking that if I had run a half marathon instead this morning I would have been done already. In fact, I haven’t gone on a long walk for a while, and by mile 5 my feet were actually tired! I guess you just don’t notice when you’re running because you have worse problems.
We finally arrive at Ocean Beach and the Great Highway and head to the finish line. My sister even wanted to jog the last 0.1! Okay, maybe it was the last 0.05… she beat me across the finish line. I wore a D-tag but I don’t know what my time was and I don’t really care to look it up. We crossed the start at 7:30 and I think we finished at about 9:45 or so.
Pace: (just barely) under 20 minutes/mile! YEAH! New PR for the 12k! 
After getting through the finish line, the organizers had this great idea of putting Footstock, the celebration/afterparty, en route to which you could get snacks and your coveted medal, about 1.25 miles away from the finish line. Maybe farther. We passed it before mile 6 on the way out. And then after finishing the 7.4 had to walk all the way back. I was tired, man! Whatever. We got our medals (special for the 100th–they usually don’t have them!) and our bags of potato chips and pouches of chocolate milk and headed up.
Once at the thing, I put away a protein bar and a plate of chow mein noodles. It’s crazy how hungry walking 9 miles can make you. Okay, and consuming alcohol before 7am probably didn’t help either, but who’s counting?
After hanging out there for a bit, I headed back to my hood, the Panhandle area of Golden Gate Park, which at this point was completely taken over by roudy revelers. I grabbed a patch of grass and hung out with some friends and enjoyed the afternoon.
I think it was around 3PM that I started to fade. The day had been fun, but just a bit overwhelming. I figured it was time to head home and take a nap.
When I woke up at 7, I felt like I’d just gotten up from a night at the bars where I stayed out a few hours too late and had a few too many drinks. But it was 7PM on a Sunday, and I’d had about… two drinks. Epic tolerance fail.
I was so glad I got to actually participate in B2B. It really made me feel more like a part of the SF community. It was really cool to see people coming together to do something like this. Also, it was a great day for self-acceptance, too. Everywhere I looked, there were people in skimpy costumes, weird clothes, just letting it all hang out (sometimes literally) and there was really no shame. Everyone was owning it. I love that about this city.
Sure, there’s the public drunkenness and the ridiculous trash and the traffic gridlock which give this race some enemies, but I don’t think you can deny the awesome feeling of community celebration that was going on.
My medal’s hanging up next to my Big Sur one. This was my afterparty.
Thanks for giving me a fun and occasionally eye-scarring walk, Bay to Breakers. Starting tomorrow, it’s time to start training again.
Hope everyone had a great weekend! Stay tuned this week for a product review and to hear about my new project. 
Have you ever participated in a “silly” race? If you ran in a costume, what would it be? Or, would you EVER run naked?
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Aw man! I was thinking of going last night but I wasn’t up to braving the cold. Now I kinda wish I had gone…and I totally just shouted OH MY GOD when I saw the pic of you and Dean Karnazes. I can’t believe he was right there. I am insanely jealous and kicking myself for not knowing this. He is my IDOL, I am seriously obsessed with him, you’d think I’d keep tab of his whereabouts. I even have my uncle and my dad hooked on him- they’re doing an ultramarathon after reading his books. Glad you had so much fun. Now you’re even more San Franciscan!
You and your sister are beautiful btw!
Dude. I’m so sad that you missed him!! But hey, he lives here. I’m sure there will be another chance soon. And I’ll keep you updated if I hear anything
That looks like so much fun! Awesome!
Looks like you had an awesome time!
In college I ran naked, but it wasn’t for more than a mile (probably because it was 18 degrees out). This year for DwD I ran in a “hillbilly” costume with jorts and a wife beater. If I get to do B2B next year, I’ll have to be more creative. Did you see many centipedes?
Dude, your college self is my hero. Saw a bunch of centipedes–well, a handful! The salmon swimming backwards was the best though. The rest I mostly just felt bad for–that did NOT look comfortable.
This is awesome. If I visit CA, I would totally want to come when this race was happening so I could partake. I’ve never run neked (nor would I!), but I’d be all for wearing a costume!!
How fuN!
DUDE! I’ve always wanted to do B2B!!!!!! The past few years I was living in NorCal, my baseball team was always playing on that day, so I had to work
Boo! One day, for sure, I’ll do it. Love the recap. Just not the gaggle of naked men holding that little girl’s hand. That just seems… wrong.
I know right?? But I guess it was a family affair… thank goodness my parents aren’t into that.
“My medal’s hanging up next to my Big Sur one. This was my afterparty.”
I really like that. I’ve never heard of the race, so i really enjoyed the recap
That looks like so much fun!!!! I’ve always wanted to participate in a costume race, walk, or just parade. It’d be fun to be around all those people, whatever the reason may be!
Haha! That’s hilarious, but it sounds awesome! I’ve never participated in anything like that, although I’ve never seen an opportunity come up either. What a great race to run after Big Sur!!
So fun! I hate it when I see my old high school friends who live in the city bitching about B2B- it’s one day a year, people!
This looks amazing! Congrats on such a great event. I’ve participated in the Underwear Affair but don’t worry – the underwear was over my regular clothes. I’m not that brave….yet.
That is an AWESOME race!
Any excuse to get into costume….
We saw Dean running through St. Louis last month. My friend, who is an avid watcher of Regis and Kelly who are promoting him, about passed out. For real.
That looks like SO much fun! I’m kind of over distance running at the moment. But I think I could really enjoy a race like this!
Just stumbled upon your blog…I’m a big fan of Donna’s (Love, Run &Travel) and found you there!
That race looked SUPER fun…I was taken back at the naked walkers/runners though…You’ve got to be pretty OK with your self image to be running around like that….
There would be too much flip floppage if I ever dared to go int he nude…EEK!
I just found my way to you from Amber (Girl With The Red Hair) and oh my goodness! I live near SF! And I’ve never done B2B so it was fun to see your photos
Love it. Also: Peace Corps! One of my secret dreams. So glad I found your blog.
I just saw this!
I epically fail at comments. And blogging in general.
Want to join a foodie book club slash a group of girls who will probably gather in the bay area once in a while and bake or go to a fun restaurant? Let me know
If I commenced drinking that early in the day, odds are excellent I’d be running naked too. Excellent blog!
This was my third year in a row to do the Bay to Breakers. I’ve flown in from Texas all three years just do the race. And yes, I have done it naked all three years, and it is an incredible, liberating experience. I can’t tell you how many photos I’ve posed for. Seems like there are thousands of women who want their picture taken in public with a naked man. Maybe they want them just to prove to their friends that people do walk/run the race naked…
O-M-G Why have I never heard of this reace?!?!!? How flippin hilarious I love it!
I would love to do that race! Sounds like so much fun. When I did the Warrior Dash last weekend, my friends and I said that we were going to dress up in costume next year for it. There were some good costumes.
OH MY GOD! This looks like so much fun! I just found your blog and love it! I live in L.A. and travel a lot and have ALWAYS wanted to do B2B but missed it again. I still can’t believe people actually get naked! And, I’m with you- running without a sports bra- no thanks!
Omg that is awesome and looks like SO MUCH FUN! I cannot believe the people in their birthday suit – whoa! Hahaha!
Wow! That sounds/looks like so much fun! I’d totally be up for it…minus the naked thing=/ Honestly running naked sounds awful! And what gives guys the idea that anyone wants to see their penis…no thanks!
I was there too! And I totally have almost the exact same pictures of the bananas on my blog
It was a blast!
Running it naked is pretty liberating and fun, from my experience. I did it again this year, 2012 B2B naked.
The coolest thing is you see everything from A-Z in terms of costumes and everybody just having fun!