Bay to Breakers 2024: Route, Course Map, Times, Road Closures and Event Details

Jake RillMay 18, 2024

SAN FRANCISCO, UNITED STATES - MAY 19: Many people attend the San Francisco Bay to Breakers race which is the oldest consecutively run annual footrace in the world, a staple to the City by the Bay since May 1912. With a starting point near the San Francisco Bay, a few blocks from The Embarcadero, the 12K race runs west through the city and finishes at the Great Highway where breakers crash onto the Pacific Coasts Ocean Beach. Participants dressed with amazing costumes during the race in San Francisco, United States, on May 19, 2014. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

The first edition of the Bay to Breakers running event was held in San Francisco in 1912. Since then, the race has been an annual occurrence that has become synonymous with the third Sunday in May in the city.

With that day approaching this weekend, the buildup to the 2024 iteration of Bay to Breakers is underway. On Sunday morning, the streets of San Francisco will be filled with runners, many of whom will celebrate the occasion by wearing costumes during their trek.

The race is 12 kilometers long and will again feature both casual runners and strong competitors. But everybody will be there for the fun that is always had.

Here's everything else you need to know about the 2024 Bay to Breakers race.

2024 Bay to Breakers Information

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When: Sunday, May 19

Start Time: 8 a.m. PT

Course Map: Available on BaytoBreakers.com

Road Closures: A list of road closures can be found on SFGATE.com

Bay to Breakers was canceled for two consecutive years in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But the event has returned to being a staple of the spring in San Francisco, as this will be the third race since that two-year hiatus.

Some runners will be focused on the fun. Others could have records in sight.

The men's record for the race belongs to Kenya's Sammy Kitwara, who finished in 33 minutes and 31 seconds in 2009. He was a three-time winner of the event, also crossing the finish line first in 2010 and 2012 as well.

Kenya's Lineth Chepkurui set the women's mark in 2010, posting a time of 38:07. She was also a three-time winner of the race, emerging victorious in 2008 and 2011.

Of course, more notable than anything else about this event is the costumes. Many runners will not be wearing traditional racing outfits.

Over the years, people have run the race in many different appearances. That will surely be the case again in 2024.

According to race director Kyle Meyers, there will be about 20,000 participants in this year's event, as shared during an interview with Jessica Wills of KRON4.

"I like to think of it as San Francisco's running holiday," Meyers told Wills. "For me, I think Bay to Breakers is everything that makes San Francisco so special."

This year's race seems poised to carry on that tradition, especially with so many people expected to take part in the event, which has more than a century of history.