| Bay To Breakers |
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. This is the only major incline in the surprisingly flat (considering it runs through San Francisco) race. After the hill, the race runs along the panhandle and then west through Golden Gate Park , past the Conservatory Of Flowers , all the way to Great Highway and Ocean Beach .]] Bare to Breakers participants.]] Started in 1912 as a way to lift the city's spirits after the disastrous 1906 San Francisco Earthquake , it is the longest ''consecutively'' running footrace in the world (other races' courses and lengths have changed over time). During World War II participation sometimes slipped below 50 registrants, but the tradition carried on and the race now also holds the Guinness World Record for the highest participation footrace with 110,000 runners in 1986 . This record number was partly the product of the Running fad of the 1980s ; more recently the average participation is between 70,000 and 80,000. The '' San Francisco Examiner '' annually publishes a list of the first 10,000 finishers the day after the race. Large numbers of participants walk the route behind the runners. Many participants dress in elaborate costumes or, in some cases, Wear Nothing At All , thus lending a party atmosphere to the event. Bay to Breakers is also the world's premiere event for "centipede racers," a team of runners tied together, usually in some artistic fashion. The route is typically dotted with various unknown bands performing. At the end of the race is Footstock, a gathering where tired participants can enjoy a performance by a nationally known act such as Bonnie Raitt, Smash Mouth or Better Than Ezra. MORE OBSCURE TRADITIONS
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