Bay to Breakers 2023: Route, Course Map, Times, Road Closures and Event Details

Every year on the third Sunday in May, the streets of San Francisco are filled with runners. Some are top competitors. Others are donning costumes and jogging for fun. There are even groups of people tied together by bungee cords.

No race is quite like the Bay to Breakers event. And the 2023 edition is sure to bring plenty more fun to the Bay Area when it takes place Sunday morning.

This race has a ton of history, as it was first held in 1912. Since the beginning, the event was all about having fun. That continues to hold true to this day.

Here's everything you need to know about the 2023 Bay to Breakers 12-kilometer race.

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2023 Bay to Breakers Information

When: Sunday, May 21

Start Time: 8 a.m. PT

Course Map: Available on SFChronicle.com

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

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Anybody who takes part in Bay to Breakers gets a great taste of San Francisco. That's because the race course goes through nine neighborhoods, beginning in Embarcadero and ending at the Great Highway.

Many of the people running/jogging/walking the 12K will be donning costumes. There's also the centipede format, allowing 13-15 people to band together and compete in the race as a conjoined team.

Kyle Meyers, the organizer of the race, told Zak Sos of KTVU that this year's Bay to Breakers event is expected to feature more than 17,000 participants. That's an increase from last year, when there were about 12,000.

Not everybody will be concerned with finishing in the best possible time. But others will be.

For those who are, there are some course records to aim for. The men's record belongs to Sammy Kitwara, who finished in 33 minutes and 31 seconds in 2009, while the women's mark was set in 2010 by Lineth Chepkurui, who posted a time of 38:07.

Many will be focused on having fun. After all, they'll be donning costumes normally suited for Halloween. Some will be superheroes, others will be food items. There will be a wide range of apparel during the morning.

"The Bay To Breakers race is a San Francisco institution, and we're thrilled to be producing the event again this year," Meyers said, per SFWeekly. "We're particularly excited to announce the return of the beloved finish line party, which promises to be a fantastic way to celebrate the race's triumphant return."

The honorary starter for this year's race will be Suzanne Ford, the transgender CEO of SF Pride who will be participating in the event.

"I'm proud to run," Ford said, per SFWeekly. "Bay to Breakers represents the celebration of diversity that makes San Francisco San Francisco. Here we don't run away from our challenges, we rush forward to meet them head on."

The Bay to Breakers race is a staple of San Francisco, and it should again be an enjoyable event for all those who attend or participate.