When I first started bf running around here I was super selfconscious about that aspect of it. The town I live in is super uppity. Its uppity even for Orange County, which is really saying something. People are rich and conservative and the whole place has a plesantville attitude about it. Also we deport our homeless people to the next town over, so it was really important to me to not have to have that conversation with a police officer. I made a point to wear my nicer running clothes when I was bf, and also always wear my garmin, and bring my ipod touch rather than the mp3 player that was small and I actually liked running with. Now I don't care and don't worry about it. But I think that clothes go a really long way in showing people that you aren't some sort of bum. If you look like your outfit cost more than their shoes, well then whos really going to hassle you.
Sounds like Fabulous Newport Beach (they don't like fat folks either - I learned that the hard way...)
So far, I've only been running in the early morning (still dark) so not encountering anyone...even if I did, I think folks in The Bay Area in general handle out of the ordinary things a little better than folks in, say, Fresno. I still expect comments, but I would think those would be out of shock or surprise (or awe) rather than degradation.
RP