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Bay to Breakers Banning Booze
Posted on Jul 16th 2010 2:00PM by Kristen SeymourFiled Under: Fitness
For nearly a century, San Francisco has played host to one of the most colorful races in the world, the Bay to Breakers 12K (originally called the Cross City Race). Always held on the third Sunday in May, the 7.46-mile race brings out everyone from world class runners to philanthropic walkers to the crazily costumed. It was recognized by the Guinness Book of World of World Records in 1986 as the largest footrace in the world with over 110,000 participates. And, as everybody knows, it's one heck of a party.
Or at least, it always was -- the 2011 Bay to Breakers, taking place on May 15, will be dry. As in, alcohol will be banned, reports the San Francisco Chronicle.
Race organizers made this major decision after more than 30 participants in the 2010 race had to be taken to the hospital via ambulance, mainly for reasons related to alcohol, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Also a possible factor: the main financial sponsor, ING, dropped the race after five booze-soaked years.
Banning the hooch from most races probably wouldn't be a big deal -- after all, at many events, runners enjoy a post-race beer or two and then head home. However, B2B is different, and although race organizer Sam Singer said, "It's been a positive response," not everyone thinks the ban is in the best interest of the race.
Carl from San Francisco has participated in Bay to Breakers for the past two years. "I was part of the party, not a serious runner," he said. "Banning alcohol will do nothing to stop people from drinking. The race is 100,000 people, 90 percent of which are partying. The more restrictions you put on an event the more people will rebel. The best move would be to lift the ban, and instead of banning alcohol, instill more checkpoints, more portable toilets and have more clean up."
"People have been drinking at B2B since its inception. It's no mystery," he added. "A controlled party is a better idea than a banned party."
Michael Kellner lives in a part of San Francisco that Bay to Breakers runs through. "On the morning of the race, for the past seven years I have lived there, I've been woken up at 7:30 a.m. by blaring disco music and screaming participants in the B2B race. I've never participated as a runner; however, I have enjoyed the raucous festivities each year and from my experience it would be next to impossible to ban alcohol from the event."
Even if it is possible to enforce the ban, Kellner feels it takes away from the spirit of the race. "Bay to Breakers is a San Francisco institution and race-goers look forward to the opportunity to let their hair down (and often take their clothes off) and participate in what has become one of the most recognizable races on the West Coast. Alcohol has become as much a part of the race as the runners. People work on their elaborate costumes and floats months in advance of the race, much to the many onlookers' delight," he said.
"If the ban on alcohol is indeed enforced, it will forever change the complexion of the race and the participants who run it. Without alcohol, B2B will cease to be the carnival-like event is has become and turn into just another foot race snarling traffic in the city."
However, when the news broke plenty of comments on SF Weekly agreed that over the years, the race had gotten out out of control, which ruined the experience for others.
Do you agree? Should B2B be allowed to be more crazy, drunken carnival than race?
And running in costume isn't just about partying. Read about a group of people who are running a 56-mile race in a rhino suit to raise awareness.
Or at least, it always was -- the 2011 Bay to Breakers, taking place on May 15, will be dry. As in, alcohol will be banned, reports the San Francisco Chronicle.
Race organizers made this major decision after more than 30 participants in the 2010 race had to be taken to the hospital via ambulance, mainly for reasons related to alcohol, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Also a possible factor: the main financial sponsor, ING, dropped the race after five booze-soaked years.
Banning the hooch from most races probably wouldn't be a big deal -- after all, at many events, runners enjoy a post-race beer or two and then head home. However, B2B is different, and although race organizer Sam Singer said, "It's been a positive response," not everyone thinks the ban is in the best interest of the race.
Carl from San Francisco has participated in Bay to Breakers for the past two years. "I was part of the party, not a serious runner," he said. "Banning alcohol will do nothing to stop people from drinking. The race is 100,000 people, 90 percent of which are partying. The more restrictions you put on an event the more people will rebel. The best move would be to lift the ban, and instead of banning alcohol, instill more checkpoints, more portable toilets and have more clean up."
"People have been drinking at B2B since its inception. It's no mystery," he added. "A controlled party is a better idea than a banned party."
Michael Kellner lives in a part of San Francisco that Bay to Breakers runs through. "On the morning of the race, for the past seven years I have lived there, I've been woken up at 7:30 a.m. by blaring disco music and screaming participants in the B2B race. I've never participated as a runner; however, I have enjoyed the raucous festivities each year and from my experience it would be next to impossible to ban alcohol from the event."
Even if it is possible to enforce the ban, Kellner feels it takes away from the spirit of the race. "Bay to Breakers is a San Francisco institution and race-goers look forward to the opportunity to let their hair down (and often take their clothes off) and participate in what has become one of the most recognizable races on the West Coast. Alcohol has become as much a part of the race as the runners. People work on their elaborate costumes and floats months in advance of the race, much to the many onlookers' delight," he said.
"If the ban on alcohol is indeed enforced, it will forever change the complexion of the race and the participants who run it. Without alcohol, B2B will cease to be the carnival-like event is has become and turn into just another foot race snarling traffic in the city."
However, when the news broke plenty of comments on SF Weekly agreed that over the years, the race had gotten out out of control, which ruined the experience for others.
Do you agree? Should B2B be allowed to be more crazy, drunken carnival than race?
And running in costume isn't just about partying. Read about a group of people who are running a 56-mile race in a rhino suit to raise awareness.
