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2007 LONE PINE WILD WILD WEST MARATHON PICS

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Again, a sparse collection this year but with the help of Ben Jones, I augmented my sparse picture-taking behavior this year.

	Me in front of the famous Dow Villa Motel. I appreciate the lodging for the 8th consecutive year but it's "WILD Wild West." I know, I know, a lot of "w's" but you gotta want it, Dow Villa.
	Sir Phil doing his power pose. Why, Sir Phil, .......... why?
	Taking a gander over at The Pizza Factory. Once again, they tossed 'em, they were, indeed, awesome. Actually I have the lasagne every year so hopefully there is no "tossing" on either one of our parts.
	Two things I want to point out about this picture. 1. Lone Pine's Chamber of Commerce is represented by a barricade? Really, Lone Pine? 2. I made a conscious effort to smile since my wife tells me I never smile in pictures. There, happy?
	Oh, Frosty, you dwell in my dreams. Year after year you are there, reared up in your majestic pose. My heart swells in your presence.
	Me and Ben Jones. No, I did not get on my knees in the presence at such ultra greatness; Ben is just 9 feet 7 inches tall. I noticed this was the same shirt he was wearing in the 1999 "Running On The Sun" movie that we happened to watch AGAIN the night before the race.
	A morning shot of the Sierra Nevadas. Yes, it's THAT gorgeous! Ben Jones took this and the most of the photos that come next.
	We start in the shade and run uphill to where the sun is coming down the mountain to meet us. When we reach it, it's magical. Of course I usually can't breathe by then and am hallucinating so that might be some of the "magic" involved.
	You can see the marked trail in the foreground but the amazing part of this photo is the cloud bank that snagged on the mountains like Black Death. They threatened but dissipated before unleashing any fury on us. They were gone by mid-race.
	*The "mean clouds" shaded half the course and made the steeper mountains look even more intimidating, if that's possible.*
	This was common: the course was just fine but the background looked nasty.
	Here are the other runners at the start. I'm way back in the back where you can't see me but believe me, I'm feeling pretty much like #245.
	The moment the race starts, back when I can breathe and there is still hope that I won't feel blenderized within the next hour.
	Ben took this shot as we left the start line. Note the sun kissing the top of the mountains.
	Here I come up a fighting the wind but I always have a smile for Ben Jones. Note that I have gloves in one hand, a water bottle in the other, and a stride that barely clears the other foot.
	I am not in this shot but I thought it catches the vastness and majesty of parts of this course. This is probably between miles 15 and 20 where we run horsetrails I have dubbed the "Buttcrack." If you saw a terrain map, you'd understand. If you ran it, you'd understand even more.
	Ben stationed himself at the top of a particularly nasty hill. I can be seen in the back left, making my way up behind a trio. The yellow bib means they are running the 50 K instead of the regular old wimpy marathon (like me).
	Here we are getting closer. I didn't talk to 50K guy but the other guy told me he wanted to be the first one across the finish line with 22 screws in his knee. I told him his competition population was probably minimal and I think he had it in the bag. The woman was named Mertle and this was her first time at the Wild Wild West. She had no idea what the course had in store so I filled her in the best I could without bringing her to tears. She later ditched the Gatorade at an aide station because she was sick of carrying it which is funny because I thought it was a bad idea to try to just carry a fat Gatorade bottle on the run. Live and learn, Mertle!
	I finally made it to the top with the effects showing on my face. But I must say, I'm looking better than last year's pic.
	A bit later, Sir Phil made his way to the top asking Ben Jones to honk his horn which was confusing because Ben was not in a semi. I think Sir Phil was suffering from dementia... I mean more than normal.
	Sir Phil somewhere along the course with his un-patented "socks on the hands" approach to hand-warming. I don't know where his hat went off to but he's still rockin' the green PT shorts.
	The coveted 2007 Wild Wild West medal... or.... medallion I guess.
	After the race, I got back to my car and took a couple of photos. That kiosk was the same one I collapsed beside my second year and got pitch on the back of my shirt. It's also the same kiosk I talk about every year when I take a similar picture.
	Post-race Sierra Nevadas. Not as spooky as 2002 but still, a sight for sore eyes and sorer legs.
	Postcard quality shot of the terrain. Simply magnificent.
	OK, enough, it's gorgeous, we get it!
	It had to happen eventually. I missed the self-portrait attempt. I nailed it 2002, 2003 (although there was the spittle incident that year), 2004, and 2005, but this year, I didn't zoom back out after the last shot. But I got enough to see I needed to shave and after all, folks, isn't that the important thing?
Now That We Are On This Subject, Let's Review
2002	2003	2003 (Gone Bad)	2004	2005	2007