Through the course of 1999, our photographers were present at over forty events, running and otherwise, and took over 1,500 photos for the website.  At the end of 1999, this web site has more than 2,700 photos.  Probably no other running club has such a vast collection posted on the web.  On this page, we have selected ten of our favorite photos of the year.  There are no exact criteria for their selection.  Certainly, the visual quality of these photos was important.  But, above all, we felt that these photos conveyed some essential qualities of the subjects.  When we look at these photos, now and later, they remind us fondly of these people who have made running so much more enjoyable for us.  In return, we would also like to think that we have made them happier as these pictures (or, at least, most of them) suggest.

Photo  Audrey Kingsley  This was taken before the race at the Fred Lebow Cross Country 5K in Van Cortlandt Park.  This photo conveys perfectly her ambivalence about being photographed.  On one hand, she seems to say, "Oh, I can't believe that you are here taking photos again.  I just can't get away from you!"  On the other hand, she also seems to say, "Right!  What did I expect anyway!?   I would have been really disappointed if you didn't show up here to take photos."  So we ask, as Sigmund Freud did, "What does a woman really want?"  Answer: That's only for her to know and for us to never find out ...

Photo  Tyronne Culpepper   This photo was taken at the ice storm of the Frostbite 10 Miler.  In the background, the sleet is tumbling down from the sky to form ice on the ground.  In the foreground, Tyronne grimaces in agony.  Why do people do this?  Why?  Why?  Why?  This is the central mystery of this sport, for which no simple-minded explanation suffices.

Photo  Spring Couples Race  This is a photo from the rowing portion of the race, as the leader team of Randy Ehrlich-Sonya Witt is followed by Stuart Calderwood-Stacy Creamer.  In this picture, the people are insignificant against the cityscape.  This is Central Park, this is New York City, this is what city living is about.  Next time that you run in this park, take a look around you and be glad that you are here ...

Photo  John Gleason  This photo was taken at the New York City Marathon.  As we told John, "You absolutely sparkle in this picture."  In truth, we have no idea how we did this; it is just that sometimes things come out wonderfully and we don't know how to repeat that effort.  Apart from any technical legerdemain, it is obviously important that the subject is in a state of self-illumination.  In this case, John's sparkling happiness may have something to do with the specifics of the race: He was participating as a member of the New York Fire Department team.  For US $25, this is what he got --- breakfast at a suite in the Mayfair Hotel on Central Park South, a luxury bus ride to the start with a police escort (no traffic stops!), a special waiting area at the Fort, an escort to the start right behind the elite runners and with the local seeded runners, attendants at the starting line to put away his warm-ups into his personal bag right at the start, special exit at the finish line to go straight for a shower at the Mayfair Hotel where his personal bag has already been delivered (no fumbling around in those baggage buses), free food, free drinks and a big post-marathon party into the evening.  Wow!

Photo  Eve Kaplan  What made Eve smile at the Hot Chocolate 10 Miler?  Just a couple of seconds ago, she went by a teammate (Bola Awofeso) who was waving his hands frantically to the cameraperson further down that she was approaching.  So she might as well as make the best of the situation by keeping good form and smiling a lot.

Photo  Sid Howard demonstrates the proper technique for scouting his competition --- just a peek-a-boo without letting them aware that you are looking.  (Is Audrey Kingsley reading this?)

Photo  David Diviney, David Pullman & Erik Goetze  This photo was taken at the start of the NYRRC Cross-Country Championships.  These three were attentive and focused for the signal to start.  If all of us are like that when our coaches give out the workout instructions, we would be so much better off.  There would be no more "What is the workout tonight?  I wasn't listening ..." ever again.

Photos  Stacy Creamer  This is not a single photo, but a set of four collages that received high praises from many people.  Collectively, these photos inform us about the many aspects of this multidimensional personality.  The subject herself could only say, "I blushed when I saw this page."  Technically, this work was made possible by the existence of a large number of photos to choose from.  Why was she photographed so frequently?  Because she runs every scoring race (except the longer distance stuff) and shows up to cheer her teammates and everybody else at races that she doesn't run in.  That, too, is part of her (effervescence) essence.

Photo  Alayne Adams  This photo was taken at the Fred Lebow Cross Country 5K, which was her first excursion to Van Cortlandt Park.  Here, she looks a little bit dreamy in her stroll in the countryside.  This year, she was the team leader in every race that she ran.  Obviously, she is reverentially spoken of as a great runner.  But, in truth, we found that she is more often spoken of as a great person first and foremost.  And she'll probably blush when she reads this ...

POSTSCRIPT: We can see the complaints coming in about the absence of those wonderful children.  To quote Susan Sontag, "Not to take pictures of one's children, particularly when they are small, is a sign of parental indifference, just as not turning up for one's graduation picture is a gesture of adolescent rebellion."  Okay, so here are 

• Joey Ruben
• Sammy and Joey Ruben
• Pat Tuz & Sasha Weilbaker
• Charlotte Evans
• Isabella and Michele Tagliati
• Ellen & Will Wallop
• Peter, Robby, Matt and Rhonda Allen
• Colleen and Sharon Gleason
• Kyra and Eden Weiss
• Sid Howard and family
• Jackie Cortes and son Matthew
• an unknown loved one

So, pray tell, is thy heart melting ... ?

A READER'S COMMENT: "Speaking of adolescent rebellion, there is one person whose picture never appears ..."

COMMENTS

Michele Tagliati wrote: "I reviewed with great pleasure the - now traditional - 'Top 10 Favorite Photos of 1999'. The pleasure obviously comes from the quality of the pictures and the nice memories they bring back, but also and more importantly from the quality of the legends. You've been able to summarize in ten short paragraphs the quintessence (I'm sure that Aristotle did jog sometimes with his peripatetic students) of the CPTC. Talented runners, good people, great team spirit, with Central Park and New York City patiently providing a never-boring background. Thank you for reminding us how lucky we are."

Stuart Calderwood wrote: "The year-end wrap-up sections are really impressive  --- even for the CPTC Web site.  And thank you for the gift that you give me (and anyone) every day of my life; you've given us an anti-Warholian 24 hours a day of available fame."