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OAKLAND — Bay to Breakers has its “heartbreak hill.” This year, the Oakland Marathon included a similarly daunting uphill climb — the Bay Bridge.
An estimated 10,000 runners pounded the pavement Sunday during the 10th annual Oakland Running Festival, a yearly tradition that includes marathon, half-marathon, relay and 5K races. About a quarter of them were there for the marathon — a gruelling 26.2-mile route that takes runners around Lake Merritt, through downtown Oakland, past Chinatown, into West Oakland and under a flaming arch outside The Crucible industrial arts school.
To mark its 10th anniversary, this year’s marathon had a special twist — participants ran along the Bay Bridge. They traversed the bridge to Yerba Buena Island, turned around and then headed back toward Oakland. Those that did it said the new route was a blessing and a curse.
“Painful, but gorgeous,” said 21-year-old UC Berkeley student Sid Bagga, who ran the westbound span as part of a four-person marathon relay team. That part of the bridge is “surprisingly uphill. You wouldn’t guess by driving on it,” he said.
Even the most competitive marathon runners agreed.
“It was tough,” said 38-year-old Jonathan Kimura, who finished third in the men’s marathon. “There’s a good three-mile up. And then it’s not easy on the way back down, pounding your legs.”
Semereab Gebrekidan, 34, of Berkeley, won the men’s marathon with a time of just under 2 hours and 24 minutes, followed by Kosuke Amano, 34 of Oakland in second, and Kimura in third. In the women’s marathon, Devon Yanko, 36, of San Anselmo took first place with a time of 2 hours and 42 minutes, followed by Kristyn Kadala, 26, of Berkeley in second, and Katie Moran, 26, in third.
One of the most high-fived and photographed marathon runners was Chad Kempel of Mountain House, who ran the whole race while pushing his 1-year-old quintuplets in a custom stroller.
Lake Merritt was packed after Sunday’s races with runners enjoying celebratory beers, snacks, live music and massages, and spending time with their families, friends, children and dogs. While many runners staggered to the finish line, appearing on the verge of collapse, the mood in the post-race “Celebration Village” was festive.
For Margaret Vance of Napa, the 5K race was a family affair. She did the event with her husband and two children, ages 16 and 20.
“It was great. It’s a lovely course, to see the lake,” she said. “And there’s a lot of spirit here. So I think we’ll do it again.”
Vance, a former marathon runner, had to walk the 5K because of prior injuries and surgeries. Her son, 16-year-old Sebastian Vance, who runs for the Vintage High School track and cross-country teams, ran the race.
“It was fun,” he said. “A couple hills. But it was nice overall.”