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The Academy of Country Music Awards 2008 were held last night. It was a great the finest country artists and greatest country songs of the past year. It was the 43rd Academy of Country Music Awards and, as ever, it honored and showcasing the biggest names and emerging talent in the country music industry. However, the show was not without controversy.

Keith Urban no ACM Award

The big news was that Keith Urban missed out on any award at all. He was expected to win the Entertainer of the Year award, but that was picked up by Kenny Chesney. However, Urban (with his wife Nicole Kidman) left empty handed and unhappy. He complained that the result of the award was, for the first time this year, chosen by fans via a phone poll rather than ACM Award judges. For some reason, Urban thought this was unfair.

Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood

Garth Brooks received the first ever Crystal Milestone Award at the 2008 ACM Awards. He was given it to remark his achievement of being the US biggest selling solo artist in ever. He and his wife, Trisha Yearwood, celebrated by performing together at the ACM Awards to a highly appreciative crowd.

Brooks and Dunn

By picking up the 2008 ACM Award for Top Vocal Duo. This takes their number of wins in this category up to fifteen and it is their record breaking sixth win in succession.

ACM Awards 2008 Winners

Entertainer of the year: Kenny Chesney
Top male vocalist: Brad Paisley
Top female vocalist: Carrie Underwood
Top vocal group: Rascal Flatts
Top vocal duo: Brooks & Dunn
Top new male vocalist: Jack Ingram
Top new female vocalist: Taylor Swift
Top new duo or vocal group: Lady Antebellum
Album of the year: “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” Miranda Lambert
Single record of the year: “Stay,” Sugarland
Song of the year: “Stay,” Sugarland
Video of the year: “Online,” Brad Paisley
Vocal event of the year: “Find Out Who Your Friends Are,” Tracy Lawrence with Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney

This roster of winners really goes to show how healthy the country music scene in America is. So strong that someone as great as Keith Urban can go home empty handed. Highlight of the evening had to be watching Garth Brookes Trisha Yearwood singing together at the ACM Awards 2008.

The Bay to Breakers 2008 starts today.

In San Francisco this morning, upwards of 70,000 people will be taking part in a seven and a half mile race from The Embarcadero to the Great Highway. Bay to Breakers is one of the world’s largest foot races and made it into the Guiness Book of World Records in 1986 when 110,000 people took part. The race is also the longest consecutively held footrace in the world - having been run every year since 1912 on exactly the same route.

As well as professional athletes, there will be thousands of fun runners. Many families take part in the run and there will be no shortage of people taking part in costumes giving the race more of a feel of a festival rather than a race. There is also a tradition of “centipede racers”: a team of thirteen or more runners tethered together. Originally, this was part of the fun of the race, which it still is for most competitors, but many of the teams take this aspect very seriously and train hard in order to win this section.

Bay to Breakers Weather

One concern this year is for the weather. San Francisco has had a heatwave recently and organizers are concerned that the heat may cause problems for some of the competitors. However, meteorologists are saying that the heatwave has now come to an end and there will be a nice breeze this morning, creating perfect running conditions. The forcast for the Bay to Breakers race is highs in the 70s and mid-80s.

Bay to Breakers Traffic

With the number of participants taking part, traveling to Bay to Breakers can be tricky. Rather than taking the car which will be caught up by many street closures, it’s much better to use the train: the Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BARRT). Many extra trains are put on specially for the event. Trains will be running from 6am from all East Bay stations. If you are taking part in the race, take the BARRT to Embarcadero, San Francisco.