A few days before the race, there was a note on this website to the effect that the web photographer regrets not being able to cover this race.  That was a lawyer's ruse.  Every word was true, but not to the point.  Just because this guy wasn't going to be there doesn't mean that the camera could not be there in someone else's hands.  On this day, the runners would find Bola Awofeso snapping pictures.

PRELIMINARIES

• Photo 01: Just to show how the camera works, Bola Awofeso is shown with a gorgeous background of the New York City skyline.  This is what city living is about, and this ain't exactly Oshkosh.
• Photo 02: A Staten Island race usually means taking the free ferry from Manhattan.  Here are Joey Ruben, Sammy Ruben and Gordon Bakoulis.

FOUR MILE MARK

• Photo 03: This was a humid and foggy morning.  Through the morning fog, our photographer finds another photographer (Stacy Creamer) happily snapping pictures.  Hey, guys, while you are indulging yourselves, there is a race going on ...!
• Photo 04: Craig Chilton leads a pack, with eyes wide shut.
• Photo 05: Erik Goetze leads another pack, including Rasheed Azim.
• Photo 06: Rick Shaver and Rick Piccirillo are in a pack with some of the top women: Kari Proffit, Jeanne Pare and Jean Chodnicki.
• Photo 07: Jose Lasalle is too tall to fit completely into the photo frame.
• Photo 08: Audrey Kingsley gets a large escort around her.  Please note that everybody seems to be aware that she is the center of attention for a photographer and they make way accordingly.  In appreciation for their cooperation, we will not crop them out of the picture.
• Photo 09: By contrast, the man on the this photo got right in between Sarah Gross and Sandra Olivo.  So we have blurred his face out.
• Photo 10: J.R. Mojica gets a reminder to call home.
• Photo 11: Michael Rosenthal runs in a pack.  Look at the people carefully.  This is going to be tough, because they are already soaked in sweat after just 4 miles.

MILE 13

Although the most favorable position for the photographer should have been the top of the hill just after the 12th mile mark, there was too much fog to see through. 

• Photo 21: As is often the case this year, Alan Ruben was our top finisher.
• Photo 22: Stuart Calderwood is the next finisher.
• Photo 23: After the two masters runners came the 'kids': Paul Stuart-Smith, Erik Goetze and Craig Chilton.  The last two set PR's today, showing how well they have improved under the inspiring examples of the team leaders.
• Photo 24: Under normal circumstances, we would have cropped that New York Harrier right out of this picture.  But we are leaving him in to give Craig Chilton some motivation --- yes, he passed the NYH guy later!
• Photo 25: This may be our first running photo of Charles Allard, and this is a damn good picture!
• Photo 26: Rick Piccirillo runs with his head down, looking none too happy.
• Photo 27: Rich Shaver runs with his head up, looking none too happy.
• Photo 28: What is Sandra Olivo holding in her right hand?
• Photo 29: Sarah Gross is holding nothing in her right hand, as she uses that open palm to wave at the photographer.
• Photo 30: How can you tell that John Gleason is completely airborne in this photo?  His right foot is disconnnected from his shadow, that's how.
• Photo 31: Unfortunately, there was no audio recording because Monica Bonamego must have said something funny to cause the other runner to turn around to look at her.
• Photo 32: Michael Rosenthal must surely be our happiest-looking runner of the day.
• Photo 33: Our photographer is trying to take a photo of his friend Adrienne, but ... would you know it? ... Herbie Medina has to show up.
• Photo 34: J.R. Mojica must surely be our dreamiest-looking runner of the day.
• Photo 35: Connie Kim also looks quite happy.
• Photo 36: David Blackstone wears a retro singlet.  WE can't even name the vintage.

POST-RACE ACTIVITIES

• Photo 41: After the race, the photographer roams around to surpise people.  Here are the topless Alan Ruben, the cyclist-photographer Stacy Creamer, the spectator Victor Osayi and the finger-pointing Stuart Calderwood.
• Photo 42: Here are Craig Chilton, Sarah Gross, Charles Allard and the always glum-looking Paul Stuart-Smith.
• Photo 43: A surprise attack catches Sandra Olivo.  In the background are Gordon Bakoulis, Sammy Ruben and Joey Ruben.
• Photo 45: Joey Ruben exclaims, "Look what I found! It's a baby!"
• Photo 44: Finally, a couple who don't mind being photographed --- Mary Messite and Erik Goetze.
• Photo 46: ... and Sarah Gross and Sandra Olivo are extremely happy to be photographed with the remarkable Dr. Kim Griffin.
• Photo 47: A friendly hand points Victor Osayi in the right direction.
• Photo 48: Of course, we must not forget the inevitable Audrey Kingsley.
• Photo 49: Here, Audrey Kingsley has recruited two accomplices, Erik Goetze and Craig Chilton, to help her pile up some more gratuitous mileage in a cooldown run.

RETURN TRIP

• Photo 51: If you go there by ferry, then you would have to come back by ferry too.  But you might as well as recharge your energy first.  Here, Alan Ruben displays a plate full of food from a Chinese restaurant.
• Photo 52: In fact, the food looks so good that Gordon Bakoulis could not help herself from grabbing a piece of broccoli. 
• Photo 53: The captive photographic subjects --- Part 1.
• Photo 54: The captive phorographic subjects --- Part 2.
• Photo 55: Now a trip to Staten Island always involves an intimate encounter with this famous lady ...

TECHNICAL NOTE: People have commented on how bright the orange singlets look in our photos.  Well, let us reveal a secret --- we used the 'sponge' tool in Adobe Photoshop to saturate that orange color!  Furthermore, we are not above dimming down other teams' colors ...