How do you recap a event like the 100th Zazzle Bay to Breakers? What words express the uniqueness, creativity, and shear awesomeness of this San Francisco tradition? Maybe I should just make a few up…. While I think about that for a much longer post (ZOMG Week/The Greater Body Expo/Zazzle Bay to Breakers/Zazzle Footstock), I thought I’d share some quick thoughts and pictures from today. Video, audio, and more pictures to come soon.
The Weather
Fear of rain may have kept a few people away from the race. But it was a perfect day for a wild and wacky footrace and the SF crowds were out in full force.
The Race/The People
San Francisco once again proved itself to be a fun, friendly, creative, and happy place with the 100th. Look at all those people and costumes. Special thanks to the “People Wash,” for helping keep this blogger fresh and clean. So awesome.
Potty Hero Power!
Zazzle passed out thousands of Potty Hero wristbands to racers and revelers to encourage the use of port-o-potties on race day instead of…something else. Thanks to all the heroes out there that helped to keep the race as clean, as it was fun.
After the Race at Zazzle Footstock
Zazzle Footstock was the after race stop for great music (Geographer killed it), official Zazzle Bay to Breaker merchandise, and the Zazzle Costume Contest. Congrats to Techno Man and the Royal Wedding for their costume wins. Also, nobody could forget the Zazzle T-Shirt Cannon. Did you get blasted by the Zazzle Cannon?
How many times did I use awesome in the post? I’ll probably use it many more times tomorrow. Thank you San Francisco for joining Zazzle in 100 years of celebration! What’s your 2011 Zazzle Bay to Breakers story? Share it in the comments!
May 16, 2011 at 3:46 am |
Congratulationssssssssss ZAZZLE for sponsoring such a successful event!!!! your hard work payed off! Congrats to everyone!!!
<3
Proud to be a part of Zazzle , Thanks for giving us a Bragging Opportunity
Maria.G
May 16, 2011 at 10:12 am |
I am someone who has lived on the Panhandle of San Francisco for over 16 years, and who has adored the Bay to Breakers and its wackiness and the “let’s-have-some-mimosas-in-the-morning” fun every year. But, it has lost that wacky charm. And no fence and float-free run can reclaim that. Sadly, the tipping point has been reached. This year’s race, even with all of Zazzle’s efforts (and thanks for that), showed that an event that used to make me gleeful to be a San Franciscan has been forever taken over by a frat boy mentality that feels entitled to do absolutely whatever they want, and anything less is somehow oppression or “no fun” or “moderation.”
The fence along the Panhandle was very helpful, and was key up until about 11am to keep people from using the Panhandle as another running lane. (I saw several groups trying to push the fence over.) Yes, not having floats helped – mostly reducing the sea of red plastic cups found post-race. There absolutely needed to be many more port-o-potties as the trees once again became urinals for both men and women. And countless folks were bragging about their fake race numbers. And those are the people who don’t plan to run the whole race, but to stop at the Panhandle and make it a standing frat party, which they did. A party in the Panhandle could be great fun, but not with these folks.
There was the same overt, in-your-face, fall-down-dead drunkenness everywhere. In front of the cops. During the run. On the Panhandle. Up and down the side streets. During the run. After the run. This went on until nearly 4pm. Then their were the after parties with the same blind-drunk, entitled people who have been drinking since 7am. I talked to many friends who live along the race root (age ranges – early 20s to 50s, many who love to party themselves) and they all experienced the same get-out-of-my-way, drink-’til-you-puke drunkenness everywhere. We just all did our best to steer clear of it, missing the truly fun B2B’s of years past.
Thanks for trying, but it’s an event whose charm has been usurped and fun has passed. Still a real misery for those of us along the route.