Runners and their families and friends come from all over the world to run in this great marathon event. Since we live along the route at Mile 18, over the years we have seen them all; world class lean running machines from Kenya, Spain, Russia, New Zealand and our own United States. After the elite have zipped past us, surge after surge of hopeful runners race up First Avenue and they still have 8 agonizing miles to go. Some are literally half-naked, some in colorful and bright running shorts, the women often in what looks like a bathing suit to me and of course the runners who are wearing tee shirts with their names and encouraging words on them and then we have the dress-up runners; Bunny rabbits, Super Heroes, clowns, funny hats. props of all sorts and as silly as they may look, I always remind myself that they’re still running 26 miles and I’m standing on the side lines drinking Starbucks.
Some years have been dangerously hot and others so cold I have no idea how they ran with not much on. Also I’ve noticed there’s like a theme each year, not a real theme but a style or look which consistently shows up. One year it seemed like half the runner had bright yellow sneakers on, this year it was pull on sleeves – maybe because it was cool this year.
Elite Women Runners
Encouraging Words
Warm Arms Bare Belly
Running Strong
I Know I Can Make It
The Aftermath
All photos by Murray Head
Bill Ding and his band of clowns are the security patrol for this blog site. He is a favorite toy from the 50*s. By the way sometimes a blog is just an ego-maniacal stream of conscience.
Pbenjay's Blog 
I tip my hat off to people who do marathons.
It takes more than being fit to do so. Like you mention encouragement and self purpose. I took a look at all the photos and was intrigue. Ripple Muscles is a nice cup of hot chocolate, Encouraging words is great for I can do it..is face say it all, The Aftermath is the day that people can get away with littering, lol, (thats a lot of cups), and Warm Arm Bare Belly is a tiger. She is so rip! I don’t understand the arm sleeves though. I understand no shirt. When the shirt is all sweaty it start to stick to the body and feel disgusting. This is why when I go to the gym I wear only tight tank feel like a long bra, lol, plus the short sleeve rubbing against my arm annoy the dickens out of me..
And this year was unique because the Chilean miner remarkably finished the race not long after his incredible ordeal.
i love those pics my son will be going next year .
Oh WOW! will he be running? Because if so, at mile 18 we will cheer him on. Thanks Esther