The New York City Marathon is one of those must-do events. I don't mean running, necessarily. All who train and undertake this race embody excellence. It does not matter whether they compete on legs or wheels, how old they are -- not even whether they win, or even finish. The 55,000-plus participants who attempt this race are heroes.
They give the rest of us -- the observers, the cheerer-onners, a gift. They bring the city together. Gone for the day are thoughts of a divisive election that would make steam pour out of our ears later that week. Gone are thoughts of traffic jams, neighborhood squabbles, rat infestations, and that pervasive cultural thread that truly unifies us all: cynicism. The day imparts a glow of love and appreciation for the participants. Shared wonderment at the human spirit.
The photos tell the story of those qualities I admire most about New Yorkers: Grit, mental toughness, tenacity. Maybe even a touch of lunacy, which is the engine of all who move or stay here to pursue our dreams. And they spotlight another benchmark of the city, our love of canines.
To the woman forming a heart with her hands as she prepares to cross the Queensboro Bridge... back at you.
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