A businessman looks at share prices on an electronic board outside a brokerage in Tokyo
A businessman looks at share prices displayed outside a brokerage in Tokyo December 11, 2009. REUTERS

Tens of thousands of people in San Francisco braved wind and rain on Sunday to take part in the centennial edition of the annual Bay To Breakers footrace, donning colorful costumes and even the new zero-tolerance alcohol policy could not subdue the party spirit.

The official race - a 7.46-mile run from the city's Embarcadero to the sea - was won on Sunday by Moroccan Ridouane Harroufi (34:26). Last year's winner was Sammy Kitwara from Kenya. Kenyan Lineth Chepkurui won the women's race this year, completing it in 39:12. Chepkurui was the winner last year too.

But Bay to Breakers is more than just a race - it has come to embody the free spirit of the city over the years.

However, this year, organizers and the police were determined on cracking down on crack down on excessive drinking and banning floats that often housed kegs of beer.

Compared to past years, only a handful of people were detained or arrested on Sunday for being drunk and behaving disorderly, the San Francisco Police Department told International Business Times. Last year, there were more naked and drunk people. The revelers were more mellowed this year, a police officer patrolling the streets said, on condition of anonymity.

Police Cmdr. James Dudley said the crowd this year was generally well-behaved though a few of the revelers were arrested for various reasons, including public intoxication, assault and car burglary along the route.

Mellowed the revelers may be but not less colorful.

Check out the photos below to know why San Francisco is the place to be if you're looking for fun:

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