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Obviously, these were taken last week during the Philadelphia Marathon. These are the official photos from the race photographers, so clearly the lo-resolution previews are less than my usual standard.

Matt Kushner, a friend from high school who I’ve reconnected with, had himself a birthday party/engagement party. So I headed over to say hello. Didn’t take all too many photos, but it was a fine evening all the same.

Hi Lauren!

That’s what I call the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving when a serious share of Columbia High School alumni crowd into that basement-bar called Cryan’s. I go, clearly, because my friends go. It’s that whole mutually-assured awkwardness that we’ve come to cherish.

Priorly, we were at Ed’s house, catching up, chewing the fat, shooting the shit, playing beer pong, and snacking. Why didn’t we just continue doing that?

Over the years, I’ve missed a few Black Wednesdays, but I do have evidence from last year, and 2002, at least.

It was the coldest day of the year, and raining on-and-off, but I made it across the line. My first marathon: done.

The race was actually a very enjoyable experience. Everyone, runners and supporters alike, was in high spirits and there was laughter and encouraging words the entire way. Along the way, I took a few moments to observe the trees, and the river, and the general sights and sounds of the relatively tranquil Philadelphia morning in November. Those cheering us on were helpful, offering everything from gatorade and water to tissues and even brownies! I gotta say, that little cube of chocolately goodness really hit the spot at mile 21.

It seems that our family can only get together and coordinate mutual presence for something on the scale of a graduation or wedding, but magically everyone turned up — Mischa from Atlantic City, Johanna from Washington, Mum & Papi from Maplewood, and me from Brooklyn. Of course, I think my route to the finish line was somewhat more taxing than anyone else’s. Haha.

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I was in Philly this weekend. Rode the train. Watched Hamlet. Ate chili. Read a bit. Had coffee with Dave. Watched Bat Boy. Ate Pasta. Met up with parents. Ran a marathon.

These are photos of the registration and exhibition on the Saturday before the Marathon. A bit hectic, what with all the runners, but generally the race was pretty well organised — especially considering the Marathon is run by the City of Philadelphia itself, not an organisation of some kind. Luckily for us, this means that there is no corporate sponsor inserting it’s name before the “Philadelphia Marathon”.