So my very first weekend in living in San Francisco for the summer of 2008 happened to be Bay to Breakers. Of course, I had never heard of this event, but everyone at the office was talking about how it was a must-see San Francisco experience! So, four of us summer associates decided to meet up and head out to Golden Gate Park to take part of the festivities.
Bay to Breakers is a race that's been held since 1912. It is a run from the west side of the city (the bay) to the east side of the city, finishing up at the Pacific Ocean (the breakers). I figured we'd see some people running and call it a day. Apparently there is some running....the actual runners get at the front of the line. Everyone else, well, let's just say little did I know what I was in for.
There were people EVERYWHERE in the streets--they closed down Hayes street through the city for the race. I'm talking tens of thousands of folks.
There were people dressed in costumes. (the top one was oil executives wearing undewear with money all over them carryin their briefcases)
There were some people wearing nothing at all. (notice dirty man in botton right corner with the censoring box).
There were crazy floats being pushed all the way across the city. (we had the love boat, dudes in a shopping cart, and a tent on roller skates)
There were guys running with torches of fire (his broke so they kept kicking it along the ground).
There were people relieving themselves in the bushes.
There were multiple keg stands going on at 10 in the morning!
As a country kid, everyone warned me about how crazy San Francisco would be with all the "crazy California hippies." And while for the most part, I didn't notice anything much different than anywhere else in America, Bay to Breakers was the one exception! This day is what some people think San Francisco is like every day......but, fortunately, it's only like that once a year.
This year will be the 99th Bay to Breakers. To commemorate and remember the fun of my first experience---I'm going back! This year, I won't just be spectating, I'll be running the 7.5 mile race and plan to come home sporting my "I survived Bay to Breakers!" t-shirt. And, no, I will not be wearing a costume. And yes, I will be wearing something. :)
As a country kid, everyone warned me about how crazy San Francisco would be with all the "crazy California hippies." And while for the most part, I didn't notice anything much different than anywhere else in America, Bay to Breakers was the one exception! This day is what some people think San Francisco is like every day......but, fortunately, it's only like that once a year.This year will be the 99th Bay to Breakers. To commemorate and remember the fun of my first experience---I'm going back! This year, I won't just be spectating, I'll be running the 7.5 mile race and plan to come home sporting my "I survived Bay to Breakers!" t-shirt. And, no, I will not be wearing a costume. And yes, I will be wearing something. :)
2 comments:
Kudos to you for running! Let me know how it goes. I run four miles tomorrow for the first time....I know it doesn't sound far to an experienced runner like you, but for me...it sounds like 40! I'll be anxious to hear about it again! I've heard those California people are crazy!
Oh honey...I had stopped running for a while and now I'm trying to build back up, so I feel you on the 4 feeling like 40! Let's just hope I don't die at about mile 3!
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