Bay to Breakers brings bananas, astronauts, and faux crossing guards to San Francisco’s streets

San Francisco’s Bay to Breakers race brought tens of thousands of runners, walkers, and onlookers to the city on Sunday, with many wearing more than just athletic attire.

The 12k race, which has cut across the city for 111 years, is one of the longest running in the world. It began after an earthquake – and a resulting fire – devastated San Francisco in 1906. Six years later, the race was created to lift the spirits of a city still in recovery.

Though initially launched as a true athletic competition, today, Bay to Breakers has taken on a life of its own.

“It’s a cultural experience, and it’s just so San Francisco,” said Winnie Zhao, a 27-year-old onlooker dressed as an elderly crossing guard. “As San Franciscans, we felt a call to be here to support the community in the capacity we were able to.”

That capacity – however jokingly described – meant Zhao and 14 friends were clad in grey wigs, yellow vests, and whistles. They’d stationed themselves at the base of The Panhandle to cheer on those walking the route, which went from the eastern edge of the Embarcadero to the western edge of Ocean Beach.

It was the group’s fourth time participating in the event. Last year, Zhao said, they dressed as dads on vacation. Bay to Breakers was cancelled in both 2020 and 2021 – but in 2019, Zhao’s group dressed as mustard, vehemently calling out anyone dressed in ketchup-red.

“It seems we’ve gotten more sophisticated over time,” added one of Zhao’s friends before heading back into the crowd.

From 8 a.m. onward, runners mixed with astronauts, giant watermelons, walkers covered entirely in gold paint and hundreds of other costumed attendees – some wearing little clothing at all. Those who finished the race crossed through nine of the city’s most iconic neighborhoods, including Golden Gate Park, before reaching the Pacific Ocean.

But with many runners holding beer cans and hot dogs available en-route, by mid-morning, the city’s parks were already filling up with walkers who were entering stage two of the race: celebrating.

Aleeya and Lyssa Ortega, 16-year-old twins from San Francisco, were dressed as sunflowers to walk alongside their aunt, Bridget Sandoval. Sandoval was dressed in bridal attire to commemorate her engagement just last month, while her groom-to-be wore a tuxedo t-shirt.

“It’s just so much fun,” said Sandoval, who lives in Santa Barbara. “I’m a Bay Area girl, and I’ve never actually done this before. So, we drove up to be a part of it.”

Sandoval’s sister walked alongside the group with a poster around her neck, which announced – in all caps – that she was still on the market.

“It’s representative of all San Francisco is about,” said Mark Mac Manus, 31, who watched the race from his friend’s apartment nearby. “You can be anyone you want, and no one cares. That guy over there, for example – he’s butt naked.”

According to Mac Manus, who has lived in the city for years, the race’s return to San Francisco after two years of pandemic cancellations was reminiscent of its original purpose in the early 1900s. Bay to Breakers makes the city feel normal again – and just like in 1912, it’s a morale booster.

“Last year, it felt like the city was coming back to life,” agreed his friend, 31-year-old Joseph Caputo. “And to see it again this year – it’s just a beautiful thing to embrace.”