SAN FRANCISCO, May 18 (Xinhua) -- The annual Alaska Airlines Bay to Breakers race, which is known for its runners' colorful costumes, is going to be held here on Sunday despite anticipated rain showers, the KPIX5 TV outlet said Saturday.
The event, which has been a quintessential San Francisco experience since 1912, is a 12-km long fun-filled footrace in which many participants wear colorful costumes co-playing animals, comic characters and other figures in funny appearance.
The race, often held on the third Sunday of May, starts at the northeast end of downtown San Francisco, a few blocks away from the famous Embarcadero tourist destination in the San Francisco Bay, and ends at the Great Highway near the Pacific coast, where breakers crash onto Ocean Beach.
The TV report quoted the National Weather Service as saying that the event will have a 70 percent to 80 percent chance of showers on Sunday in San Francisco, but race officials said the event will go on rain or shine.
Race participants will run through nine neighborhoods and picturesque parts of the city with distinctive personalities, geography and landmarks, including Golden Gate Park, the Panhandle and the steep Hayes Hill.
Many fans said on social media they will be "running in thunderstorm tomorrow."
The event has been sponsored by Alaska Airlines since 2017.
More than 2 million costumed runners, walkers and centipedes have completed the iconic 12-km journey since 1912, according to the event's website.
