Thousands of runners will take to the streets of San Francisco on Sunday morning during the Giant Race.
About 20,000 runners are expected to attend the sixth annual event, which features a half-marathon, a 10K race, a 5K race and a kids race and family relay run, according to organizers.
All races will start at the corner of Second and King streets, with runners heading north along The Embarcadero, some continuing west through Fisherman’s Wharf and Crissy Field, reaching as far as the Golden Gate Bridge, and then returning back to AT&T Park, where the races will end.
Both the half-marathon and the 10K will start at 7 a.m. Sunday, and the 5K will start after that at 10:50 a.m.
On Friday and Saturday, AT&T Park will hold an exposition and check-in event, where participants can pick-up their race bibs, timing chips, technical tees and a Hunter Pence bobblehead.
The number of registered runners is the event’s largest-ever and includes runners between 4 years old and 80-plus, according to event organizers.
Additionally, more than 1,000 volunteers will be on hand to assist runners and event organizers.
During the event, many streets and lanes in the area will be closed off to vehicles.
From 11 p.m. Saturday to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, eastbound King Street between Second and Third streets will be closed, as well as northbound The Embarcadero between Second and Townsend streets, northbound Third Street between King and Channel streets, and Terry A. Francois Boulevard between Third and Mission Rock streets.
Some San Francisco Municipal Railway lines will also be affected, according to Muni officials.
The Giant Race benefits the San Francisco-based non-profit organization Project Open Hand, which provides meals to senior citizens and critically ill people throughout San Francisco and Alameda counties.
Last year, race participants raised more than $320,000 for Project Open Hand, organizers said.
This year, organizers hope to raise $400,000 via the race.
Project Open Hand was originally founded in 1985 and engages more than 125 volunteers on a daily basis to prepare 2,500 meals and provide 200 bags of healthy groceries to clients, according to event organizers.
Daniel Montes, Bay City News
