5-15-2011 SAN FRANCISCO — Tens of thousands of runners and walkers, some in shirts and shorts, some in costume and some in nothing at all, set out across San Francisco this morning in the centennial edition of the Bay to Breakers race.
Those who lined up for the staggered start at 7 a.m. were treated to a spectacular dawn, the overnight rain having moved east. A group of elite runners was the first pack to head west from Howard and Beale streets toward Ocean Beach, but the real attraction was what followed.
Serious weekend runners, men in tutus, women in gold spandex and a few hardy souls in their birthday suits set out to the whoops and cheers of themselves and thousands more who lined the streets for the 7.46-mile race.
Organizers sought to keep the party atmosphere that has made Bay to Breakers one of the most famous races in the world, while cutting back on the excesses that at times have cast its future into doubt.