B2B

As tens of thousands of people hauled themselves up the dreaded Hayes Street Hill on Sunday - a decisive leg in the annual Bay to Breakers footrace - neighbors eased their pain by blasting DJ music, handing out free Jell-O shots and spraying water over the heads of revelers.

"I don't do it for the serious runners since I don't want to distract them, but I turn it on right after they go by," said David Minor, who's been sprinkling sweaty runners for nine years. "It cools everyone down as they're climbing this big hill."
The party atmosphere prevailed under clear skies for the 102nd Bay to Breakers, despite the watchful eyes of an expanded police presence.

From elite Ethiopian distance runners to people dressed as hot dogs, nearly 30,000 registered participants and many other unofficial entrants took off from Howard and Main streets, heading 7.46 miles to a fog-free Ocean Beach.

The first to cross the finish line was 23-year-old Tolossa Gedefa Fufi of Ethiopia, who did it in 35:01 - the slowest winning time since 2003. Ryan Hall, 30, who was trying to be the first American to win since 1986, finished second in 35:40.

The number of registered runners was down slightly from last year, yet a seemingly endless flow of racers poured through city streets.
Miles to the west, temperatures hovered in the 60s, and the beach was packed. Naked runners further communed with nature by dipping their feet in the surf.

Along the Great Highway, people stood in line for bathrooms and T-shirts. But the longest wait was for a 21-and-over wristband, a pass to drink beer in the middle of the road beside decorative shrubs and potted palms.

The place was packed by midmorning - but quickly thinned as the party moved to the Panhandle, or back home for a hot bath.