New sponsorship will bring real-time participant and media feedback to San Francisco’s iconic footrace
6 May 2026 – San Francisco, CA: Bay to Breakers has always been known for its unmistakably San Francisco blend of fitness, costumes, community, and chaos — along with its beloved big pink gorilla mascot, Ape Hashbury. This year, the iconic footrace welcomes SurveyMonkey as a major sponsor and its official Curiosity Partner, bringing a fresh way to make race day smarter, more connected, and more responsive to the thousands of runners taking to the streets on Sunday, May 17.
“Welcoming SurveyMonkey as our Official Curiosity Partner gives us a meaningful new way to listen to, understand, and amplify the voices of our participants in real time,” said Phyllis Blanchard, Bay to Breakers / Motiv Sports. “Every runner has a story, and the fact that their CEO will be running alongside our participants speaks volumes about their commitment to showing up, engaging directly, and connecting with the community they serve.”
Through the partnership, Bay Area-based SurveyMonkey will help Bay to Breakers collect real-time feedback from participants, media, and stakeholders throughout race weekend — offering fresh insight into the participant experience and helping organizers continue to elevate one of San Francisco’s most beloved events.
Widely recognized as one of the country’s most iconic sporting events, Bay to Breakers brings together elite athletes, everyday runners, corporate teams, families, costumed participants, and generations of San Franciscans for a citywide celebration that stretches from the bay through the heart of San Francisco. New this year, the race will finish inside Golden Gate Park, giving participants a fresh finale to one of the city’s most cherished traditions.
“Bay to Breakers is iconic, and I’m looking forward to running it this year,” said Eric Johnson, CEO, SurveyMonkey. “At SurveyMonkey, we believe nothing gets better until you get curious. This partnership brings that belief to life, supporting Bay to Breakers’ continued investment in improving the race for participants, partners, media, and the broader San Francisco community.
SurveyMonkey is the world’s most popular platform for surveys and forms, helping organizations collect, analyze, and act on insights from customers, employees, and communities. For events like Bay to Breakers, the platform offers solutions across the full event experience — from registration and payment forms to post-event feedback — helping organizers deliver better experiences, identify opportunities for improvement, and make more informed decisions over time.
“SurveyMonkey gives us a powerful new platform to hear directly from the people who make this event so special,” noted Blanchard of Motiv Sports. “That feedback will help us continue building an event that honors the history of Bay to Breakers while making it more accessible, engaging, and responsive for the future.”
Since 1912, Bay to Breakers has been a defining part of San Francisco’s civic and cultural identity. Known for its cross-city course, festive atmosphere, creative costumes, elite competition, and unmatched community energy, the race continues to attract participants from across the Bay Area and around the world.
About Bay to Breakers:
Bay to Breakers is San Francisco’s world-famous footrace and a one-of-a-kind 12K celebration that has been woven into the city’s culture since 1912. Known for its iconic cross-city course, inclusive spirit, creative costumes, elite competition, and unforgettable community energy, Bay to Breakers welcomes runners, walkers, corporate teams, families, and fans from across the Bay Area and around the world. For more information and to register, visit baytobreakers.com
About SurveyMonkey
SurveyMonkey is the world’s most popular platform for surveys and forms, built for businesses and loved by users. The platform combines powerful capabilities with intuitive design, supporting a wide range of use cases — from customer experience and employee engagement to market research, payment forms, and event registration. With built-in research expertise and AI-powered technology, SurveyMonkey helps teams gather insights faster, make better decisions, create experiences people love, and drive business growth. Learn more at surveymonkey.com.
About Motiv Sports
Motiv Sports is a leading producer of active lifestyle events across the United States, creating memorable race experiences that connect participants, communities and brand partners through running, celebration and endurance. Its portfolio includes some of the country’s most distinctive endurance events, including Bay to Breakers and Surf City Marathon.
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