Yesterday I thought it might be interesting to haul the old Nikon brick downtown to see what I could photograph at the 19th running of the Pearl Street Mile. This kind of “sport photography” is not something I usually do, so I was curious to see how I would “see” things and what images I would come away with. Would the pictures match the style and vision I seem to be developing in the rest of my art?
And…I also thought the event itself sounded quite intriguing and worth a visit (I had never been).
This might be something you could try as well–throw yourself at a minor little photo project that has nothing at all to do with the current direction of your art. You might find it a nice change of pace and you could even learn something while you are at it–I certainly did!
Things kicked off at 6p.m. with the kids racing with tremendous enthusiasm around a shortened (1/2 mile) course. Talk about the unleashed, unbridled, pent-up energy of youth as the starter pistol fired! The winner was 12-year-old Harrison Freis-Levy of Superior, CO at 2:45 (#90 below). In second place was the first girl–Ella Wolf of Ft. Collins, CO at 2:56:
The Kids Race, Pearl Street Mile. Boulder, Colorado, 2016
A few of the kids got a little guiding hand or two (or a bit of levitation?) from their parents–as did two-year-old Valentine in this image. Watch for her in the 2036 Olympics in the 3000m steeplechase!
Future Olympian, Pearl Street Mile. Boulder, Colorado, 2016
Who says these amateur runners in the “Open ” class aren’t damn serious about what they do! I loved the myriad different expressions in this image which was made just as the starting gun went off. Thirty-three-year-old Tyler Butterfield of Boulder, CO, a two-time Olympian in triathlon, was the winner at 4:47.
Expressions at the Gun, Pearl Street Mile. Boulder, Colorado, 2016
War stories after the race…
Legs and Shoes, Pearl Street Mile. Boulder, Colorado, 2016
A door prize maybe??? I have no idea. You never know what you’ll see down on the Pearl Street Mall:
Pearl Street Mile Door Prize? Boulder, Colorado, 2016
In the picture below, the small lead pack of Elite Women fly by the Boulder Theater. The race was close with first through third basically all together at the finish: 1st – Elise Cranny of Niwot, CO at 4:49. 2nd – Katie McMenamin of Lafayette, CO at 4:49, and Mara Olson of Boulder, CO at 4:51. Fourth place came in some ten seconds later.
And who is Pokey Lafarge you might ask? If you haven’t heard his unique music–or seen him perform with your own eyeballs–you are missing out on a real sweet and strange treat. For a short sample, try this link: Pokey Lafarge: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert.
Elite Women and Pokey Lafarge, Pearl Street Mile. Boulder, Colorado, 2016
The Elite Men blur their way past the Boulder Theater. Mirroring the women’s race, the top three elite men also finished nearly shoulder to shoulder: 1st – Blake Theroux of Boulder, CO at 4:11. 2nd – Kevin Kochei of Iten, Kenya at 4:12, and Stephen Pifer of Louisville, CO also at 4:12. Fourth place came in a full six seconds later.
As the course is ran on city streets, with corners, slight uphill and downhill grades, and usually a bit of wind, the times are not nearly as fast as you might see on the track. Still, 4:11 is a pretty fast mile! For the full 2016 results, see THIS LINK.
Elite Men and Pokey Lafarge, Pearl Street Mile. Boulder, Colorado, 2016
You might also like
Leave a reply