More than 5,000 runners, many of them veterans of the scenic, challenging route from Sausalito to San Francisco across the Golden Gate Bridge, are expected to participate. The starting line at East Fort Baker looks across the Bay at a magnificent view of the city. As the run progresses across the Bridge, through the Presidio Forest, along Crissy Field and Marina Green and into Aquatic Park on Fisherman's Wharf, the original panorama continues to shift and focus on one inspiring version of that view after another.

While the majority of the 'Emerald Across the Bay 12K' runners will enjoy testing their personal fitness on the 7.45 mile course, hundreds of the Bay Area's best runners will challenge each other start to finish for $4,500 in prize money.

'Emerald Across The Bay 12K' is the West Coast 12K Championship, part of the USA Track & Field Grand Prix series of roadrace championships. The 12K course across the Golden Gate is home to 15 national and world 12K bests.

The men's course record 35:48 was set by Bill Donakowski in 1987; the women's course record 40:27 was set by U.S. Olympian Linda Somers-Smith in 1995 while she was tuning up for the Seoul Games. The 'world class' post-race party is such a highlight to the run it has its own name, "A Celebration of Running." And, it's perhaps the kids from the Edgewood Center for Children and Families, the long-term beneficiary of 'Emerald Across The Bay 12K', who celebrate the most at the finish line. These kids train as runners to help them set and achieve goals and to raise their self-esteem. Edgewood Center for Children and Families Edgewood helps children and families overcome severe challenges like abuse, neglect, mental illness and crisis. The oldest children's charity in the western U.S., Edgewood has evolved to meet the community?s changing needs. What began as a refuge for Gold Rush orphans more than 155 years ago is now a nationally recognized, multifaceted agency. Edgewood serves more than 5,000 children and families in the Bay Area each year through community and residential programs.

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