Overall Rating
Overall Rating (50 Reviews)
4.1
(50 Ratings)  (50 Reviews)
DIFFICULTY
3.2
SCENERY
4.1
PRODUCTION
4
SWAG
3.5
Bay to Breakers, San Francisco’s celebrated 12K race, returns this May! And if you’re new here, you should know we do things a little differently. Throw on a costume (the more bizarre, the better), take in the atmosphere, and prepare for a running experience like no other. It’s So Pretty! … MORE
Local Historical Weather (May 19):
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L (°F)  55  55  52  57  51
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Recent reviews

    kenkubey REPEAT RUNNER '23

    The corrals really help with the start. Good water stations along the course. Some good music and fans along the way. Minor complaints: Bib numbers hard to read. Black numbers … MORE

    The corrals really help with the start.
    Good water stations along the course.
    Some good music and fans along the way.

    Minor complaints:
    Bib numbers hard to read. Black numbers on white background is best.
    T-shirt color is not good.

    DIFFICULTY
    4
    PRODUCTION
    4
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    2
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    gpruns REPEAT RUNNER '23

    If you have to do one race in SF this will be the one. It’s a 12k race where most wear a costume (a few don’t wear anything at all). … MORE

    If you have to do one race in SF this will be the one. It’s a 12k race where most wear a costume (a few don’t wear anything at all). There is an additional 3k option for runners who wants the extra challenge. You get an additional finisher metal for running the extra 3k. Not a lot of people (at least the ones wearing extravagant costumes) actually does the bonus. The 3k is mainly around great highway and surprisingly isn’t exactly flat. The race itself is moderate because of Hayes hill around the 2/3 mile mark. So practice on hills!

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    4
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    3
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    haleyannesawho REPEAT RUNNER '23

    This is not a serious race, but it's a lot of fun. I'm an 8x runner and I always have a blast. Is way more fun if you don't care … MORE

    This is not a serious race, but it’s a lot of fun. I’m an 8x runner and I always have a blast. Is way more fun if you don’t care about your time or performance and focus on the party

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    2
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    1

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    daniel FIRST-TIMER '22

    Bay to Breakers is a 12km party race. You really have to be there to experience it. It's not really a race to be taken seriously. Right from the beginning, … MORE

    Bay to Breakers is a 12km party race. You really have to be there to experience it. It’s not really a race to be taken seriously. Right from the beginning, it was one giant celebration of running and the bay area’s quirky residents. Tortilla fights, tons of ridiculous costumes, naked people, centipede teams, people chugging copious amounts of alcohol. You will never be bored on this race. It’s technically a difficult course for the distance because SF is hilly, but you will barely notice the hills since you will be so entertained. It’s definitely a bucket list race and something every runner should experience.

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    4

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    jkentris REPEAT RUNNER '19

    Such a fun event that it has become a must doin our household. You never know what or who you will see along the beautiful course. The race itself is … MORE

    Such a fun event that it has become a must doin our household. You never know what or who you will see along the beautiful course. The race itself is exceptionally well run. Plenty of security, water stations, and porta potties along the route. The infamous Hayes Street Hill greets you at about mile 2.5. Once you finish off that beauty it’s pretty much a decline to the finish line on the Great Highway. Plenty of post race festivities for all!

    DIFFICULTY
    4
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    1

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    edmoyactor REPEAT RUNNER '18

    This is San Francisco's most famous foot race. I've probably ran it about 3 or 4 times now. Well organized but crowded. Absolutely packed at the start line and along … MORE

    This is San Francisco’s most famous foot race. I’ve probably ran it about 3 or 4 times now. Well organized but crowded. Absolutely packed at the start line and along the route. Some of the best swag at the finish was the giveaway food and drinks from sponsors. The expo is also a fun one to attend.

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    5
    My Report
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    5

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    RacerKN REPEAT RUNNER '18

    It's funny when you see serious runners at this race. Or families who bring their little kids. This race was meant to be an expression of San Francisco with all … MORE

    It’s funny when you see serious runners at this race. Or families who bring their little kids. This race was meant to be an expression of San Francisco with all it’s strangeness. If you don’t like drunk people, or naked people, or people acting wildly, don’t run this race. If you want to PR, don’t run this race. If you want to participate in a unique foot race where coming in costume is a must, then run Bay to Breakers.
    Price is good. You can pay to have your bib mailed to you which is always an awesome option. And it’s so big and important that BART starts early for this race – SF Marathon doesn’t get this kind of treatment!

    DIFFICULTY
    1
    PRODUCTION
    3
    SCENERY
    3
    SWAG
    3

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    Great for my first time. Wasn’t too sure what to expect but it was an awesome race. The only part that made me dislike the event was the difficulty in … MORE

    Great for my first time. Wasn’t too sure what to expect but it was an awesome race. The only part that made me dislike the event was the difficulty in getting back to the starting line. Didn’t like that they wanted to charge you to take you back. I think that should’ve been included. I thought they had partnered with lyft to make it easier but with so many streets blocked off lyft couldn’t even get into the area to pick us up.

    DIFFICULTY
    5
    PRODUCTION
    4
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    4

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    akira.inamori REPEAT RUNNER '18

    This is one of the funnest race in the world. It's a not running race, but a festival. So, you can run, walk, and drink! I highly recommend you if … MORE

    This is one of the funnest race in the world.
    It’s a not running race, but a festival.
    So, you can run, walk, and drink!
    I highly recommend you if you want to have a fun during running.
    You’ll be sure to want to join the race again !

    DIFFICULTY
    2
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    5

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    dsnyrunner REPEAT RUNNER '18

    Bay to Breakers is a great way to celebrate. He course runs straight through the city from the Embarcadero to the Ocean. Great sites to see along the way. Residents … MORE

    Bay to Breakers is a great way to celebrate. He course runs straight through the city from the Embarcadero to the Ocean. Great sites to see along the way. Residents come out to support runners. The costumes are great.
    A

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    4
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    3

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    cyap69 REPEAT RUNNER '18

    This is only my third time doing the Bay to Breakers. It's always fun! I enjoy seeing all the costumes (or lack thereof). I also like all the giveaways at … MORE

    This is only my third time doing the Bay to Breakers. It’s always fun! I enjoy seeing all the costumes (or lack thereof). I also like all the giveaways at the expo and at the end of the race. I’ll definitely consider doing it again.

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    3
    SCENERY
    3
    SWAG
    4

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    johnruns FIRST-TIMER '18

    This race is more about the journey than the finish line. It's people watching, crazy costumes, and the pure joy of a 12K long party! Highly recommended for the experience … MORE

    This race is more about the journey than the finish line. It’s people watching, crazy costumes, and the pure joy of a 12K long party! Highly recommended for the experience and memories!

    DIFFICULTY
    4
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    4

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    bmwmunk FIRST-TIMER '18

    By far this has been my favorite race I’ve done! Bay to Breakers has it all. The runners are there to party and have a great time start to finish. … MORE

    By far this has been my favorite race I’ve done! Bay to Breakers has it all. The runners are there to party and have a great time start to finish. The shirt is great, the medals are fantastic. Hayes hill is no joke. But the crowds along the course cheered everyone on. It was so much fun. Well organized, fun course. This race is a must!

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    5
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    carijyao FIRST-TIMER '18

    I entered the race as part of the centipede, which was a unique experience in its own way. I really like how the course goes from east side of the … MORE

    I entered the race as part of the centipede, which was a unique experience in its own way. I really like how the course goes from east side of the city all the way to the beach, which covers almost all the. iconic parts of San Francisco. Although mostly flat, the Hayes St hill climb still gave runners some margins to improve and challenge themselves. Did I mention the costumes? It was indeed a party for the city of San Francisco.

    DIFFICULTY
    4
    PRODUCTION
    4
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    3

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    It’s pretty fun with all the music - the city cheers you on and parties as you fly by. Of course you will see a naked man or two along … MORE

    It’s pretty fun with all the music – the city cheers you on and parties as you fly by. Of course you will see a naked man or two along the way but it’s good fun (maybe not child appropriate)

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    3
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    kenkubey REPEAT RUNNER '18

    The good: Corrals were well organized. The start went well. Mile markers were better this year. Water stops were good-sized and well staffed. Lots of good music along the course. … MORE

    The good: Corrals were well organized. The start went well.
    Mile markers were better this year. Water stops were good-sized and
    well staffed. Lots of good music along the course. Lots of clever costumes.
    Beautiful course.

    The bad: The finish area was very crowded and disorganized. I got a bottle of water and banana without much trouble. Found people giving out finisher medals quickly. Couldn’t find the t-shirt area easily. When I finally found it, the poor kids were holding up hand-printed signs on cardboard to show the different sizes (SM, M, L, XL.) DISORGANIZED!!!

    Saw many people with sealed 6 -pack or 12-pack boxes of the Peet’s coffee samples. It would have been nice if each runner could get one can. Was no one handing out samples? Did people just grab boxes? Something was really screwy.

    Please spend some money on a HUGE sign to show where the t-shirt distribution is and spend some money on t-shirt size signs also.

    Overall, the race was a lot of fun. I’ll be back next year.

    DIFFICULTY
    4
    PRODUCTION
    2
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    2

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    seabird78 REPEAT RUNNER '18

    This was my second time participating in Bay to Breakers, and I think I enjoyed it more than I did my first time out, because I wasn't as overwhelmed. The … MORE

    This was my second time participating in Bay to Breakers, and I think I enjoyed it more than I did my first time out, because I wasn’t as overwhelmed. The Hayes Street Hill is quite challenging, and the crowds tend to hem you in, so I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone seeking to PR. But if you want a really fun morning of zany costumes while enjoying the sights and sounds of San Francisco, this is definitely a race to try. The Golden Gate Park portion of the course was what I found most enjoyable, both for the scenic nature on display, and the relatively flat pavement that lets you make up for the time you lost on the inclines. There are also a few live bands positioned throughout the park, and they kept me going when I was starting to lose steam. You can run the whole thing straight if you keep an easy pace, and it’s really great to be rewarded with an ocean view upon finishing. Very crowded, but well run given how many participants that need managing!

    DIFFICULTY
    4
    PRODUCTION
    4
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    4

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    kalinarun FIRST-TIMER '18

    As a new resident to the Bay Area, I had no idea the type of race I signed up for. I did not expect nudity on the course. I was … MORE

    As a new resident to the Bay Area, I had no idea the type of race I signed up for. I did not expect nudity on the course. I was shocked and disgusted by it. The whole race seemed to be like one giant party. People were entering and exiting the course while I was running through. I could not race this course. It was a horrible experience. I didn’t expect it to be like this. I really wish you had stated on your website about the nude runners because I would have never signed up. It’s just not a type of race I would run.

    DIFFICULTY
    1
    PRODUCTION
    3
    SCENERY
    2
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    5

    3 members marked this review helpful. Agree?

    PeteSinCA May 21, 2018 at 5:55pm

    Re the nudity, I don't know what to say. I've lived in the Bay Are for 4 decades and knew B2B's reputation long before I started doing races. But you're… MORE

    Re the nudity, I don't know what to say. I've lived in the Bay Are for 4 decades and knew B2B's reputation long before I started doing races. But you're new here and I can see it being a very dismaying surprise. I seldom do SF races for logistical reasons, but B2B's atmosphere disinclines me toward doing it even more. I guess other reviewers were so familiar with that aspect of B2B that they didn't think it necessary to comment on it. That said, B2B is the only Bay Area race I'm aware of like that. The Bay Area has some really good local organizers, indy races, plus a couple of Rock 'n' Roll events. I think you'll find many that are more to your liking. Welcome! LESS

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    kalinarun May 21, 2018 at 6:39pm

    Thank you! Yes I’ve ran a few other races in the Bay Area and have no complaints. I’m more of a serious runner. But I don’t mind seeing costumes on… MORE

    Thank you! Yes I’ve ran a few other races in the Bay Area and have no complaints. I’m more of a serious runner. But I don’t mind seeing costumes on a course. I think it’s fun. But this type of race caught me by surprise with the nudity and it also seemed more like a party than a race. I wish they had mentioned it on their website when registering. LESS

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    PeteSinCA May 22, 2018 at 5:39am

    Yes, I saw the reviews you posted last evening. Three were of races organized by Brazen Running, one of my favorite local organizers. Coastal Trail Runs and Inside Trail Runs… MORE

    Yes, I saw the reviews you posted last evening. Three were of races organized by Brazen Running, one of my favorite local organizers. Coastal Trail Runs and Inside Trail Runs are also great organizers. Near you, Baylands Park has some nice trails, with connections to to trails that follow creeks into Sunnyvale and Santa Clara. A bit north of near Woodside is Huddart Park. It has lots of hilly trails and is used for races by several organizers, including Coastal and Inside. For my part I'm kind of a serious walker. If time endurance runs interest you, look into Brazen's "Dirty Dozen". It's like a serious trail run merged with a family picnic. LESS

    altods REPEAT RUNNER '18

    Awesome, unforgettable course! This race has everything--world class runners, 50,000+ other participants, great sites, parties and it finishes in the best park in the world!! MORE

    Awesome, unforgettable course! This race has everything–world class runners, 50,000+ other participants, great sites, parties and it finishes in the best park in the world!!

    DIFFICULTY
    4
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    4

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    RunKMacRun FIRST-TIMER '18

    This is an odd one. it's a 12K with the option to do a bonus 3K and earn a second medal. It is also a part of the SF Original … MORE

    This is an odd one. it’s a 12K with the option to do a bonus 3K and earn a second medal. It is also a part of the SF Original Race Series challenge. This race isn’t typical in a lot of ways. for 2018 there were about 35,000 participants! Bring cash for on course. People are selling food and booze the entire way. Also be prepared for nudity! Lots and lots of nudity. 😉 Everyone was super nice and a very friendly race. Plan ahead and stay for the after part at the finish line.

    DIFFICULTY
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    3
    SCENERY
    3
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