The 125th running of the Boston Marathon was today. This was the first time the race was held in October, it is traditionally an April event, and will go back to its regular schedule next year.
The elite runners are the least interesting part of the race for me. I find the "event", the back of the pack runners, and the fans to be much more exciting to shoot. All photos are from Hopkinton/Ashland, about 1-3 miles from the start.
"The elite runners are the least interesting part of the race for me. I find the "event", the back of the pack runners, and the fans to be much more exciting to shoot."
Jeff, once upon a time a long time ago in a land far, far away, I used to be an elite runner.
Once when going to an, "all comers" race as they were called I had car trouble and started at the back of the pack. I started passing dozens of people and I was pleasantly shocked that there were a lot of very good looking girls back there. I was kinda enjoying the view as I had no Idea there were even that many girls in those races, I'd never seen them before, wow!! LoL
So I guess I kinda have to agree with ya on that one!!!
John
Doc25 wrote:
Nice images! One thing missing is the agony of defeat and those that push through that to success.
I was shooting about a mile from the start where everyone was still happy and enjoying the race. Some year I'll head over to "Heartbreak Hill" and the finish for the agony shots.
That sounds like the place to be. Although I'm pretty sure I would already be in agony by the first mile.
jeffslov wrote:
I was shooting about a mile from the start where everyone was still happy and enjoying the race. Some year I'll head over to "Heartbreak Hill" and the finish for the agony shots.
Jeff REALLY nice work. For me, #7 for sure!!!! Golden Retievers. Not an elite runner here by any means. 1980 - 3 hrs 27' and change. Heartbreak Hill (?) somewhere adjacent to BC did me in, no never mind that the water buffalo at the first rehydrate station was missing. Got perked up, so to speak, at Wellesley, however, IIRC, because there was a loonnggggg - line of very beautiful young women, many of whom were willing to raise their T-shirts for us, ya know, to inspire us.
anthonysemone wrote:
Jeff REALLY nice work. For me, #7 for sure!!!! Golden Retievers. Not an elite runner here by any means. 1980 - 3 hrs 27' and change. Heartbreak Hill (?) somewhere adjacent to BC did me in, no never mind that the water buffalo at the first rehydrate station was missing. Got perked up, so to speak, at Wellesley, however, IIRC, because there was a loonnggggg - line of very beautiful young women, many of whom were willing to raise their T-shirts for us, ya know, to inspire us.
Dismayed wrote:
I ran the Boston Marathon once when I was young. It's still a mystery that anyone would ever run a second one. The first 21 miles were easy . . .
LoL, Dismayed, maybe you were to out of it to have noticed but did you realize that the Marathon Gods erect a WALL at 21 miles...., did you find ?!?
There's a big difference between running a Marathon to see how fast you can run one vs to see if you can finish one!!!
John
JohnSil wrote:
LoL, Dismayed, maybe you were to out of it to have noticed but did you realize that the Marathon Gods erect a WALL at 21 miles...., did you find ?!?
There's a big difference between running a Marathon to see how fast you can run one vs to see if you can finish one!!!
John
Yes, I found the wall. I ran with friends for the first 10 miles, but their pace was a bit too slow for me. I ended up at 3:34. Pretty slow when I used to run 5 mile races right around 30 minutes flat. But that was long ago!
Really nice reportage work, especially of the spectators. The only little point I'd ask is about photo #1. Do you have a frame where #563 is in the 'float phase' with both feet off the ground? If you do it might transform the feel coming from the shot. He's the focus point and if he's 'floating' it gives a sense of power, control, and sort of determination to the whole frame. That float phase is typically the first thing I look for when culling and cropping. But, that's a really minor quibble on a really nice set telling the story of the race.
Not an elite runner here by any means. 1980 - 3 hrs 27' and change. Heartbreak Hill (?) somewhere adjacent to BC did me in, no never mind that the water buffalo at the first rehydrate station was missing. Got perked up, so to speak, at Wellesley, however, IIRC, because there was a loonnggggg - line of very beautiful young women, many of whom were willing to raise their T-shirts for us, ya know, to inspire us. 
