General Information

May 17, 2009 Start Time: 8:00 am
USA Track & Field Certified 12K
Always the Third Sunday in May

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE INFORMATON

New Improvements & Policies (updated: 02/27/09)

We have listened closely to concerns from race participants, residents along the course, and civic leaders, and in response to safety, logistical, and trash issues, we are instituting new improvements and policies to enhance the race experience for everyone involved. ING Bay to Breakers is about promoting community and giving athletes and fitness enthusiasts the chance to compete in and enjoy one of the most exhilarating and scenic footraces in the world. We're still focused on the fun, vitality and unique culture of the race--we're just streamlining the course and removing the hazards in order to enhance the race experience for everyone involved.

What to expect:

New corral system at the start line. The start line will be organized using corrals that are designated starting areas for participants with similar estimated finishing times. More details about the corral system are listed below.
Shared enforcement of city ordinances regarding alcohol. Anyone publicly drinking alcohol or displaying public drunkenness on or along the racecourse will be subject to fines and prosecution. Race organizers will coordinate with the San Francisco Police Department to proactively remove kegs and glass bottles of alcohol from the racecourse.
Wheeled objects and floats will be permitted on the course, with new provisions for safety. Participants with wheeled objects and floats must be registered to participate. Wheeled objects and floats must enter the race at the starting line in designated corrals outlined below. Wheeled objects and floats cannot be motorized or taller than 9 feet; and may not be used to transport or store alcohol. Float owners are directed to act responsibly toward the environment and other participants, and to dispose of their floats in dumpsters provided along the course and at the Finish Line.
Leave no trace. Help us keep the city clean by placing your garbage and recycling in one of the many dumpsters placed along the course.

Startline Instructions (updated April 3, 2009)

New corral system instituted for 2009. The Start Line will be organized using corrals. Start corrals are designated starting areas for participants with similar estimated finishing times. You selected your start corral when you registered. Each start corral will have a designated number of runners. The corrals will all begin the race at 8:00 am, although your timing tag will not begin timing until the moment you cross the Start Line. Corrals help provide a safe, fluid, and less congested start of the race. Entry points to the Start area will be determined by your assigned corral. Only registered participants will be admitted to the Start and Finish areas.

Start Area Map

RUNNER AND WALKER ENTRY POINTS (no wheeled objects):

Seeded Divisions (blue) enter at Beale and Mission
Corrals A and B (orange) enter at Main and Mission
Corrals C and D (green) enter at Spear and Mission
Corral E (yellow) enter at Steuart and Mission - no wheeled objects

WHEELED OBJECTS/FLOATS

Wheeled objects and floats (Corral E, yellow) enter at Spear and Folsom. This area will be available to receive floats beginning at 5:00 am and will be loaded on a first come first served basis. When this area fills up a second area will be loaded at Main and Folsom, again on a first come, first served basis. Floats will be released AFTER the runners and walkers clear the Spear Street intersection. Spear Street floats will be allowed on the course first. Floats staged on Main Street will not be allowed on the course until after the Spear Street floats have cleared the Main Street intersection.

Wheeled objects and floats cannot be motorized.
Wheeled objects and floats may not be used to transport or store alcohol.
Wheeled objects and floats cannot be taller than 9 feet off the ground or they will not clear the Start structure. Floats taller than 9 feet will not be allowed on the course.
Owners of floats are responsible for the removal or disassembly and disposal of their floats.
Recycling and waste facilities will be available at JFK and Transverse Drive, just past the overhead bridge in Golden Gate Park. Floats need to be disassembled and placed in the proper containers.
For those floats between the Transverse and 36th Avenue when the course closes at 11:30 am, there will be recycling and waste containers at 36th and Fulton, JFK near 30th Ave, and JFK and Marx Meadow.
If you plan to retrieve your float after the event please call 415-935-7501 to make arrangements.
Floats will be allowed restricted access to ING Footstock; see the ING Footstock page for details.

How are the starting corrals assigned?

Participants choose a starting corral at the time of registration. Corral selections are based on your estimated finishing time. Corrals will have limited space and will be assigned on a first come, first serve basis. If you register for a corral and it is sold out, you will be moved to the next fastest available corral.

Corral	Bib Color	Estimated Finishing Time
A	Orange	under 59:00 (8:00 per mile)
B	Orange	under 1:15:00 (10:00 per mile)
C	Lime Green	under 1:30:00 (12:00 per mile)
D	Lime Green	under 2:00:00 (16:00 per mile)
E	Yellow	over 2 hours (walkers)

When should I arrive at my assigned corral?

It is recommended you arrive at your assigned corral no later than 7:15 am.

How do I find my start corral?

The entrance to your corral matches the color of your racing bib. The corral name is on the bottom left corner of your racing bib - A, B, C, D, or E. Signs will be posted indicating the entrance to each corral.

Can I run with friends in a corral other than my assigned corral?

You can run in a SLOWER corral than the one assigned, but you may not move into a faster corral.

Do seeded and sub-seeded runners need to select a corral?

No. Sub-seeded and seeded runners must submit a qualifying time and follow the instructions listed here.

Course Description

ING Bay to Breakers is a USA Track and Field certified 12K (7.46 miles). From sea level at the Embarcadero the course rises steeply along Hayes Street Hill. Around the 2.5-mile mark runners climb an 11.15% grade between Fillmore and Steiner, bringing them to the highest point in the race, approximately 215 feet above sea level. The remainder of the course gradually flows alongside the Panhandle and through Golden Gate Park.

Click on the map above for a larger image of the course.

Restrictions (updated March 10, 2009)

For everyone's safety and enjoyment, race organizers and the San Francisco Police Department will enforce City ordinances regarding alcohol. Kegs and glass bottles will be removed from the racecourse. Anyone publicly drinking or displaying public drunkenness on or along the racecourse will be subject to fines and prosecution. Participants with floats and wheeled objects must be registered and enter the race via the Start area. Floats or wheeled objects may not be used to transport or store alcohol. Floats may not be motorized. Oversized costumes and floats must enter the Start area via designated entry points at Folsom/Spear and Folsom/Main. Additionally no grocery carts, pets, roller blades, skateboards, bicycles, or plastic bags for warm-ups are allowed on the course; it is strongly recommended that you leave your headphones at home.

COURSE CLOSURE @ 11:30 AM

To accommodate City requirements regarding the opening of the Great Highway to vehicular traffic, the Finish Line will close promptly at Noon. The course will be diverted to ING Footstock (at Spreckels Lake/36th Ave) beginning at 11:30 am. Runners who do not reach Spreckels Lake/36th Avenue by 11:30 am will not have an opportunity to finish the course or cross the Finish Line.

Race Packets

There is no packet pick-up or registration on race day. Race packets include your timing tag, runner number and instructions.

Mailing Option

Participants who register prior to May 1st can opt to have their race packets mailed to them for an additional fee. We will begin mailing packets on April 17, 2009.

Packet Pick Up

There is no packet pick up on race day.

Those who register after May 1st (or who did not purchase the mailing option) must pick up their race packet at the ING Greater Body Expo. The Expo is located at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, 99 Grove Street, San Francisco. Expo hours are from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm on Friday, May 15th and from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm on Saturday, May 16th.

DON'T FORGET YOUR TIMING TAG.

Your timing tag is included in your race packet and must be attached securely to the top of your shoe. In order to receive an official time for the race you must be wearing the tag as you cross both the Start and Finish lines.

LEAVE NO TRACE (Recycling and Trash)

Be kind to our hosts and our neighbors and clean up after yourself. Don't abandon your floats, costumes, or trash. Please use the designated dumpsters along the course and help us to keep the City clean. There will be containers for recycling and debris at numerous locations along the course, including the following locations:

At each Water Station
JFK and Conservatory West
JFK and Transverse Drive, just past the overhead bridge in Golden Gate Park
JFK and Marx Meadow
JFK near 30th
36th and Fulton
Final Mile just off of Lincoln

Safety & Courtesy

Once the race begins runners should stay to the left of the course and walkers to the right.
Line up behind the Start line and do not run in from the sides; it endangers you and other runners.
Stay on the roadbed. Sidewalks, adjacent streets and parks are not a part of the course and are not monitored for the safety of our runners

Course Directions

Start at the intersection of Howard & Main
Proceed on Howard to Ninth
Turn right on Ninth
Continue to Market
Cross Market and veer left onto Hayes
Continue on Hayes until Divisadero
Turn left onto Divisadero
Turn right onto Fell
Continue on Fell to Golden Gate Park
Take JFK Dr into the Park
Follow JFK Dr through the Park until the Great Highway
Turn left on Great Highway into the Finish Line

Water Stops

Keeping yourself properly hydrated is one of the most important things you can do to ensure you have a safe and pleasant experience at the race. Check out the USA Track & Field Training Library on Hydration for the latest recommendations. Water stops are located at the following locations:

Polk and Hayes Streets (2-mile mark)
Scott and Hayes Streets (just past the top of Hayes Street Hill)
West of McLaren Lodge in Golden Gate Park (4-mile mark)
Finish line at the Great Highway

Port-A-Johns

Portable toilets are located in various locations along the course; see course map for details.

Race Photos - Smile

Sport Photo will be in several locations. Wear your bib high on your chest for visibility.

Race photos at the 6-mile mark in Golden Gate Park
Finish Line photos on the Great Highway
Just beyond the finish line for posed finishing photos

First Aid

The Bay Area Chapter of the American Red Cross provides First Aid for the race. In addition to mobile teams, stations are also located at:

Moscone Center (Howard between 3rd and 4th)
Alamo Square (Hayes/Scott)
JFK at Conservatory Drive West
JFK at Transverse
JFK at 36th Avenue (Spreckels Lake)
JFK at Chain of Lakes Drive
JFK at Bernice Rogers Drive
The Finish Line

FIRST AID SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE RED CROSS

Finish Line Instructions

Once you have crossed the Finish Line please keep moving past the water station and keep the area clear for other finishers.

Timing Results

You must cross the timing mats at both the Start and Finish lines in order to get your official time.
Results will be posted on our website.
Official Finishers Certificates will be available on our website approximately one week after the race.
The top 10,000 timed finishers will be published in a special souvenir edition of the San Francisco Examiner on the Monday following the race. You can order a copy by sending a check for $5.00 payable to "The Examiner," along with your name and address, to The Examiner, Attn: ING Bay to Breakers Souvenir Edition, 1213 Evans Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94124. Availability is limited. Please allow 2-4 weeks for delivery.

Participant T-Shirts

Participant T-shirts can be picked up before the Race at the ING Greater Body Expo or after the Race at ING Footstock. You MUST have your runner bib with you in order to receive your shirt. A limited number of youth-size shirts are available.

How To Get Your Shirt After The Race

For a $6.00 shipping and handling your shirt can be mailed to you after the race. Send your runner number, mailing address, shirt size and payment to ING Bay to Breakers, 600 Townsend Street, Suite 410, San Francisco, CA 94103. Your runner number will be returned with your shirt. Make check payable to Bay to Breakers. Allow 2-4 weeks for delivery. All shirts must be claimed by June 8, 2009.

Exhibitor & Vendor Opportunities

For information contact katie@ingbaytobreakers.com

Exhibitor Opportunities Overview

Goodie Bags

ING Bay to Breakers distributes 20,000 goodie bags. In the past we have distributed these bags at the ING Greater Body Expo, but this year we will be distributing them near the finish line. For more information on bag insert pricing, please contact Matt Nolin at (366) 688-3886 or matt@sampleguy.com.