NYC Marathon 2008

Out on the fire escape in El Barrio (110th Street) at the 19th mile, the shouting begins as the first runners, the women come by. We watch on TV as they get closer and then I climb out on the fire escape with my bare feet cold on the metal slats and my camera in my hand, and look down First Avenue. The sirens sound as the escorting cars approach in a V-shape. The shadows are so long and dark that each runner looks like two, legs spinning so fast they look like the spokes of a bicycle. I took this photo of the frontrunners but, by the time the camera focused and clicked, the lead runner's upper body was out of the frame. Ooops! What an incredible feat to do a run like that! So many thousands after the first ones just run for some reason I don't understand, just to finish, to keep a promise to themselves. I couldn't do it myself. That isn't where my passion lies but certainly it shows what people can do if their passion and commitment are engaged and there are things, people and causes I DO CARE ABOUT that much. YES!