Run For Fun?

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Run For Fun?

When a friend told me that the Bay to Breakers race would be on Sunday May 21st, I decided to get there, not to run, but just to take photos. In the morning I got up with a pain in my lower back, and in my left knee, which requires surgery, but nothing could stop me from getting a few images for a story. This was the 106th race, which was first held on January 1, 1912. It was intended as a prelude to the world-class athletic events being planned for the 1915 Pan Pacific International Exposition. There were 218 registrants, 186 starters and 121 finishers.

Many things have changed since. Bay to Breakers is one of the largest foot races in the world with 50,000+ participants and 100,000+ spectators. I took Muni to Howard and Main Street, right on time to catch the first group of runners. Then someone told me that the best photo opportunity is in the Hayes Valley. I could take Muni again to get there, but I decided to walk instead. The runners had all passed through, and the swelling crowd was mainly walkers like myself. Starting on Octavia, Hayes Valley is a hill, and is considered the most difficult part of the 7.46-mile race route. Along the way streets were filled with people who were dressed in funny looking costumes and having a good time drinking, smoking and laughing. It was getting warmer and the crowd was filling the road. I decided not to quit, my pain had dissipated and I kept going. We reached the panhandle part of Golden Gate Park where people were having picnics along the way.

In Golden Gate Park the crowd thinned. As we progressed, some of the runners were already returning back, some even kept running in the opposite direction. People were wearing many creative costumes, which I imagine made walking in the warm day quite challenging. Some chose not to wear any clothes at all. Some carried dogs, some children. The majority of the crowd was made up of young people. I only noticed a few middle-aged people like myself (I am 70).

The winner of the race was Philemon Chabai, age 23, from Kenya. It took him 34 minutes, 48 seconds to reach the Finish. Exactly five minutes later, 23 year old Buze Diriba of Ethiopia was the first female finisher.

It took me 3 hours and 27 minutes from the moment I photographed the first runner until I took an image of the Finish Line, which I decided to cross running, after all, besides taking photos I had great fun. Enjoy and Share.

P.S. Since a lot of people came to the event to have a good time, it was easy to choose four images. In a few weeks I will share with you more images and a different running story.

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Cheers,

Manny<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Signature