Part 6
I’ve no doubt that mounting a 26.2 mile race through the five boroughs of New York City is an expensive proposition. Flags are put up (and latter taken down) all along the route, police barricades are erected (latter taken down), police man the route, traffic is re-routed, there’s world wide advertising, port-a johns, three days at the Javits Center to give out numbers, transportation to the start and logistical planning of mounting an event for thirty-eight thousand participants, thousands of workers and volunteers and hundreds of thousands of viewers. With all of this I’m certain I’ve overlooked a few thousand details large and small any one of which if missed by the marathon folks could seriously derail the event.
There are many sponsors and even more promotions, sales and marketing tie-ins. One of these is a picture offered for sale of the runners as they cross under the finish line. The first time I ran I only became aware of this offer when a sample arrived in the mail. There I was bedraggled and wrung out, with little visible glory, looking completely disoriented dragging myself under the clock. The next time around I planned to raise my arms in victory as I passed under. But I have to tell you, at 26.1999 miles, even that takes a Herculean effort. I raised my arms once but was unsure if I was at the right spot for the picture. Taking a few more steps I attempted to raise them once more. But after all the training, calories burnt, time spent in an effort to reach the finish line, I really couldn’t summon the necessary energy to raise a salute for a picture. I just went for the final yards and checked the clock.
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