Bay to Breakers!

What makes people want to run long distances?  I've often wondered that, and still do after today's seven-and-a-half miles.  But here's the thing... if you're not Kenyan, you don't need to actually run.  Granted, a guy from Oakland came in 6th place today (a really good effort, I have to admit), but the rest of us knew better.  We pretty much just shuffled our feet a little more than usual, and tried not to stop.  I just happened to be 17,213 of 43,403 (which is only the number of people who crossed the finish line before the close of the race course.... Based on some things we witnessed I'm sure there were plenty who got too drunk to make it even half way).  Yes, it was a good race.

By the numbers, here are the stats:

Balloon Hats: 3

Jess, Damon, and James, 5:39am on Bart

Monkeys with Bananas: 13

These are the only photos I got that are publishable.  I took photos of a few more later in the race, 

and wow, these guys just took the whole monkey/banana concept to a whole new place.

Pirate Swords: 2

This is actually the same sword. Someone  must have passed it
along to Captain America thinking his outfit wasn't complete...

Balloon Motorcycles: 12

They're easier to wear on a hat than to carry...

Balloon Dogs: 3

She knew how to make them herself!

Giant Squid: 1

This was my celebratory balloon for having run the entire six blocks of the 11% grade...
Jess requested it special for Mama Mann.

Cinnamon-sugar donuts from random onlookers (in my right hand),
eaten while running next to a guy wearing 35 pounds of homemade Roman armor: 1

I bet a donut would have given him the energy he needed at the end of the race.
When we saw him getting on Bart he was barely moving...


Scary gangs of Oompa Loompas: 1

They don't look scary here, but there were at least twice as many who weren't in the picture...

Herds of Cows: 1

There were probably twenty other herds of cows in the race... Bee swarms were popular too.

People Pretending to be Scantily Clad but Actually Wearing Tattoo Tights: 2

Hey, at least they're clothed.

Balloon Lady Bugs for the Youngest Kid in the Race: 1

Super cute.

Herds of ACTUAL Bison: 1

Yes, there's a herd of bison in Golden Gate Park.

Runners happy to finally reach the Ocean: 1 (out of 43,402 others)

The wind nearly knocked my hat off!

Dollars Raised for Breathe California: $1040! 
AWESOME!


THANK YOU TO ALL OF MY SPONSORS!!!
Mama Mann & Dean, Smith, Damon, Joan Grabowski, Addi, Kim, Erika, Rocco, Charlie, Ilana, Cindy, Renee, Two-a-Tara, Sky & Seti, Emily & Chip, CD, Kai, Kevin, Denise, Val, Craig, Sarah, Noah, Adam, Adrian, Ginny... Did I miss anyone???

Epilogue: 

Wifey and Damon were there to cheer me on and enjoy the freak parade (do an image search on Google of "Bay to Breakers" and you'll see what I mean).  Wifey said she'd do a 10k with me before the next B2B.  We'll likely be putting a team together for next year...  Who's in?!!