New York City Marathon 2013
It's 9:00 AM on Central Park South about half mile from the finish. The first runners (Pro Women) are just about to start. So it's going to be a long wait just to see the winners. As 10:00 AM rolls around and I'm feeling the wind and cold, I'm thinking about taking my street photography to another location. As I turn to leave, I look back and something streaks by.
Whoosh! It's the first wave of the Wheelchair Division. They start about half hour before the Pro Women. The first group of men are just flying by! The men's winner Marcel Hug of Switzerlnd (not shown here) posts a time of 1:40:14!!
Riders and machines are one entity. The motion of arms and upper body are fluid and majestic.
The competition is fierce!!
With fanfare and media coverage, Tatyana McFadden is on her way to becoming the first to win in London, Chicago, Boston and New York in the same year. Her time, an amazing 1:59:13.
Rider gets a "toot" of support from a pint sized spectator who now dreams of her own marathon.
It's a ballet on wheels!
It's 11:38 AM and finally the first runner appears. It's Kenya's Priscah Jeptoo nearing her win as women's champion. Winning is even more impressive in that she was 3 and 1/2 minutes behind at the halfway point. She wins with a time of 2:25:07... Her furrowed brow shows tension and focus.
And at 11:51 AM Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya is about to defend his title as men's champion with a time of 2:08:24. His steely eyed gaze and clenched hands show his determination.
Most competitors pass by with little awareness of their surroundings- not surprising after almost 26 miles of sprinting. But something breaks this runner's spell.
Little by little, other runners appear. The front runners are absolutely dominant. Behind... way behind, are another 50,000 runners!
And a very special shout out to New York's Finest who kept us safe!