Iron Pol

While looking at options for a new clothes dryer (long story, don't ask), I took the time to dig up pictures from the Fox Cities Marathon.  As usual, I got a couple decent shots in the midst of lots of brutal pictures.  This first ones is actually near the end of the race.  For me, it was about 38 miles into the day.

As I came down the bridge and saw the photographer, I decided to kill two birds with one stone.  By "throwing the deuce," I avoided the limp armed pose that plagues me in endurance events AND paid tribute to George Schweitzer.  Incidentally, George paid a return visit to his blog.  He's been gone a while, with good reason.  Something about training for and racing two Ironman events all while working on his PHD.  And I thought racing while raising kids was a juggle!  To top it off, he finished IM Lake Placid in an amazing 10:18.

I think this was a pretty good picture, and that's one more "lesson" learned from George (though he admits he needs help after an entire summer of peace sign pictures).

As I neared the finish, I was thinking how it would be nice to show some energy rather than my usual dull plod down the chute.  I had "One Step Beyond" by Madness playing, and considered doing the Madness Shuffle across the finish line.  Figuring that would look pretty odd WITHOUT the music, I just ran back and forth encouraging the crowd to cheer.  There were a lot of people coming after me, and the spectators were pretty lifeless.  I'm amazed anyone was able to get a picture of me as I was running back and forth.

I'm also amazed that I look as decent as I do in this picture.  This was just over 40 miles, and I was beat.  Don't believe me?  I have proof.  And just enough humility to laugh at myself.  So, one of the "brutal" pictures.

No, wait.  That's "BRUTAL!"

Allow me to present "Death Warmed Over."  I love the snarl.  Oddly enough, this is also in the finish chute.  I went from cheerleading the crowd to an apparently whiny "Are we there, yet?" in just a few feet.  Oh well, it keeps me humble.

The series of pictures I have from this race help demonstrate one thing very well.  People go through a wide range of emotions and outward appearances during extreme endurance events.  Well, that and the fact that I'm just never going to "smile" when I'm racing.

Somebody's just going to have to find a way to snap a picture of me when I'm laughing about something.

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