Mile 8- Chicago Marathon

Mile 8- Chicago Marathon
Originally uploaded by -shawn-

This weekend was the 33rd running of the Chicago Marathon. Personally, I am not a runner, but as of this year, there are many people I know who are. Both those I work with and Maribel and her family.

Although I have not subscribed to this, yet, I have to say, the excitement surrounding the event is amazing. For all the years I lived in Boston, I trekked down to Copley Square but a handful of times to take in the final moments of that great cities race. But the reality is, I didn't know a single person who ran it. Thus, there really wasn't all that much excitment for me beyond that fact of that which came from the free packs of gum or new sport drinks that where being handed out as samples.

This year I attended the 33rd Annual Chicago Marathon. This Marathon is VERY different from that of Boston. First, of all, it's smaller, though not by much. Second, the race itself is confined to a very small area. There's no running 26.2 miles in almost a perfectly straight line. What that translates too is a city filled with excited spectators all during the race. Heck, you can go to Mile 8, see your favorite runner, then jump on the L and head over to mile 16 and see them again.

How cool is that?

Besides all the excitement from the race, for a photographer who likes to shoot people, its like porn. There are people EVERYWHERE doing everything.

Surprisingly, even to myself, I didn't take all that many pictures this weekend. Perhaps it's because I dabbled with video abit using Maribel's little HD Flip... Guess I better go check that out now and see what I got!