A gang of Storm Troopers? A giant jogging crayon? Scores of drinking smurfs? It must be that time of the year again: Bay to Breakers.

Despite months of drama, including everything from a ban on alcohol to benefit concerts pushing to allow alcohol, the 12-kilometer trip from Embarcadero to the Pacific Ocean will be happening again this year.

The 98th annual race was on the verge of going sterile after neighborhood complaints led the event's organizers to ban alcohol, floats and nudity back in February, catching many participants by surprise.

The event has been overwhelmed by "knuckleheads and drunken louts who misbehave and endanger themselves or other race participants," Sam Singer, race organizer AEG Worldwide spokesman, told the LA Times amid the controversy.

Last year's Bay to Breakers left 35 tons of trash for the City to pick up. Most of it was picked up directly behind the parade, however, allowing regular traffic to resume by early afternoon. This year's parade is requiring all floats to be registered and disposed of in a float corral toward the end of the race. Alcohol has also been subject to scrutiny.

"Anyone publicly drinking alcohol or displaying public drunkenness on or along the racecourse will be subject to fines and prosecution," the Bay to Breakers Web site stated. "Race organizers will coordinate with the San Francisco Police Department to be proactive in the removal of kegs and glass bottles of alcohol from the racecourse."

Not everyone is happy with the rules announced, however, and a large public outcry ensued after race organizers first publicly banned alcohol and nudity.

"The heart and soul of San Francisco is under attack," savebay2breakers.org, one of several Web sites created to help keep the race/parade a San Franciscan version of Mardi Gras following the New York City Marathon, stated.

The race was originally created to lift the spirits of San Franciscans during the 1906 earthquake reconstruction and now attracts 65,000 participants and 100,000 spectators, organizers said. In recent years, people have come from all over the country to participate in the one-of-a-kind event.

Defenders of the alcohol-influenced part of the race say last year's participants dressed from the most obscure costumes to nothing at all and continue to uphold the City's prided freedom of expression. Gentrification and snootiness is what many see taking over their once-a-year moving frat party.

"It (Bay to Breakers) doesn't bother us at all," Lower Haight resident Nate Loya, 25, said on behalf of his roommates despite only living two blocks from the route. "In fact, we encourage it."

But some residents living along the route complain of the pubic urination, noise and trash left behind in recent years.

Many partiers agree that the race can have a more civilized approach. A recent benefit party and Web sites asking for donations have been raising money to rent bigger numbers of Porta Potties. Last year, organizers installed 500, which proved to be far too few, leaving many to urinate wherever they could (be it toilet, bush or curb).

But while alcohol is the root of most complaints, many participants don't believe the authorities can realistically put a stop to the drinking.

"I look forward to the same thing that happened last year happening this year," Loya, said. "It was one of the most insane things I've ever seen."

On Friday May 8, Citizens for the Preservation of Bay2Breakers's 18,000 strong Facebook page stated, "Many, many people in the streets still seem to be unaware that all zero-tolerance restrictions on nudity, alcohol and floats have been lifted."

It looks as if San Franciscans will once again be up to their trouble-making ways come May 17.

"I'm going to start drinking at 10 o'clock in the morning," Loya said. "Jameson and Pabst Blue Ribbon."