This photo album was the creation of Bola Awofeso, all done with tender loving care.  On previous occasions, we have criticized his photographic work as 'microscopic'.  As this album shows, that reputation is largely unjustified.   Now, Bola, but where are those pictures of David Newcomb, Randy Ehrlich and Steve Eick ... ?  You did know that they were there, didn't you?  And it really isn't easy to miss Randy, huh?

For his part, Bola is somewhat ambivalent about running the race.  On one hand, he was disappointed in missing the qualifying time by just a couple of minutes in last year's Philadelphia Marathon.  On the other hand, he thought that given the hot conditions of this day, he would have suffered horribly.

EIGHT MILE MARK (Bola Awofeso: "If I were running this race, this is where I would have dropped out.")

• Photo 1: This is Alan Ruben running without any women around him.  The inexperience of a young Chinese woman, who ran the first 5K in 15:59, ruined any major media opportunities he might have had.
• Photo 2: As spectators relaxed in their lounge chairs, Peter Allen and Ramon Bermo rolled on.
• Photo 3: This is a closeup of those two guys, who can still afford to smile at this point.
• Photo 4: Now here is Thomas Pennell, who would have the last laugh after running nearly even splits.
• Photo 5: Tyronne Culpepper was doing his 'going out too fast' thing and refusing water from the young volunteer.
• Photo 6: Audrey Kingsley gave the thumbs-up sign.  Where is that computer chip, Audrey?
• Photo 7: Fasil Yilma can afford to clown around, since he has no expected goal time for this race.  He is running it for the experience this 'mother of all marathons', having already had a sub-3 hour marathon last year.
• Photo 8:  Julie Denney also had fairly even splits.  Yes, there is something about these endurance multisport athletes.
• Photo 9: Aubin Sullivan running tall here.
• Photo 10: Could Maureen Dooley-Elmaleh be overdressed for this day?

22nd MILE MARK (Bola Awofeso: "If I were in this race, it would have taken me four hours to get here.")

• Photo 21: At this point in the race, the runners in the front have thinned out considerably.  Here is Peter Allen with just a couple of runners around him.  Teammate Alan Ruben was long gone already.  Ramon Bermo was also long ago too, back at the hotel already.
• Photo 22: Thomas Pennell did not look as if he needed a gas refill.
• Photo 23: Tyronne Culpepper looked quite lively at this point.  A short while later, he would really die.
• Photo 24: Tyronne's worst nightmare, Audrey Kingsley, is making up ground rapidly in the company of Stuart Calderwood.   Audrey said, "I was getting worried about not seeing Tyronne.  When I finally saw him walking, I thought, 'There you are!'"
• Photo 25: When you are as relaxed as Fasil Yilma, marathoning can even be fun.
• Photo 26: Ladies and gentlemen, we present to you the winners of the 1998 Survival of the Shawangunks --- Scott Willett and Julie Denney.  When Julie saw the picture, she said, "Oh, that was when I was still running 7:10 min/mile."
• Photo 27: In this closeup of Scott Willett, we want you to note that he is not carrying a backpack full of bricks like some other macho people on the club.  Rather, this is a special hydration pack with a feeding tube.  This is why triathletes are called trigeeks.  As for Julie, she said, "I was really angry at that  point!  But things got better after that point."
• Photo 28: Here is another couple of triathletes, Aubin Sullivan and Ross Galitsky.
• Photo 29: Hey, Ross, maybe this is not the right time to tell those Polish jokes?
• Photo 30: Here is yet another duo, Paul Sternberger and Craig Buckbee.  Hey, we thought the twosome race was next Saturday!
• Photo 31: Paul Sternberger does his blind man act, "Which way to the finish, please?"
• Photo 32: While we are onto couples, how about Stacy Creamer and Blair Boyer (partially obscured)?
• Photo 33: This decapitated picture of Kim Mannen would have been a great photo, but for some dude with very big shoulders.
• Photo 34: Here is an alternate view of Kim Mannen.
• Photo 35: Harry Morales is about to embark on his 40:44 5K between 35K and 40K, adding even more to his legendary reputation.
• Photo 36: Nicole Begin ran with bare midriff.  But can you reading the handwriting there?  It says, "It's my birthday!"
• Photo 37: Birthday girl Nicole Begin rolled by with a handwave and a smile.
• Photo 38: Maureen Dooley-Elmaleh ran a evenly paced race.
• Photo 39: Margarita Cabrera's photo op was also ruined by some unobliging big guy.
• Photo 40: This is our marathoner Jiyon Lee.