Priorities

I've run in every Rock and Roll since the inaugural race in 2004... until this year when, at 5 am, I realized that my puppy, Sophie, would have to sit in her crate for too many hours while I carved another notch on my running belt. So, we decided to play spectators instead. Here she is chilling out on some pompoms.

Cheer

Cheerleaders at the 2010 PF Chang's Rock and Roll Marathon

PF Chang's Marathon

Mile 1 of the 2010 PF Chang's Marathon

Eyes

Superheroes

Showing off superpowers at the 12k's of Christmas: Speed (left) and strentgh (right)

2009 12k's of Christmas - Gilbert

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR A GOOD TIME.  I am in love with this race! It is a relatively new 12k with carolers along the course. Runners get Santa hats instead of race shirts - advertised as "running in a sea of Santas". The best part... the event benefits Maricopa County Animal Care and Control. So,all of the booths are dog/pet related. Dogs, costumes, ice cream and Santa all add up to great fun. BRING YOUR DOG.

Happy Family

Post-race ice cream at the 12k of Christmas

Tour de Scottsdale

I felt like the entire course was uphill. It was a windy day. Too blustery to enjoy the race. I hopped on a support vehicle at mile 57.

Tour de Scottsdale

Early morning prep at DC Ranch in Scottsdale

Ducks

Picking up ducks at the AFLAC Iron Girl 5K and 10 miler

One of my favorite races, the AFLAC Iron Girl 5k or 10 miler is held at Tempe Town Lake. It's a medium- sized, well-organized race. There are plenty of mother/daughter teams (I've seen 5 year olds on the course), and breakfast is served after the race. The technical shirts and plush ducks are a plus.

Races

Races are perfect venues for people watching and portrait taking.  Between the crazy rush at the start and the slow flurry at the finish, there are miles of really intense people taking it one step, one stroke or one pedal at a time.  Endurance sports are one of my few remaining vices... not because I'm good (I usually finish in the bottom 10%), but because they're fun social events populated by healthy people all madly driven towards a common end.  Also, snacks are often provided - it's all about the snacking.  In the next few days I'll post my small collection of portraits from some fall events. 

Little girl waits for her mom at the AFLAC Iron Girl 10-miler.

Portrait - Noon

I LOVE JAM!

Portrait - 7am

Homeless man in downtown Phoenix on a summer Sunday.

Portraits

Of the 50 photos I've posted since July, only one features people - and that photo was a guest contribution. Portraits aren't my strength mostly because people shots are all about catching the perfect moment, which requires mind-numbing patience and luck.  However, I can't continue to deny the fact that wherever I find myself, people define the place as much as, if not more than, landmarks, food and scenery.  If I'm to do a city photo blog justice, I need to post people pics. 

For inspiration, I'll be hitting Phoenix Art Museum's newest exhibit "Face to Face: 150 Years of Photographic Portraiture". The exhibit runs from September 19, 2009 to January 10, 2010.  In honor of the exhibit, and as a tool to force myself to sit still and try people pics for a change, I'll post only portraits through November. 

For more information, see http://www.phxart.org/exhibition/exhibitionfacetoface.php.

Ugly Duckling

Little camera for little hands - Guest photographer, Colin (age 11), handled the micro four thirds body  nicely.  This picture of his sister, Kennedy (center), playing the mother swan in Desert Stage's production of "The Ugly Duckling" was taken with steady hands and no flash.