Pbenjay's Blog

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

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