Race day

Yesterday I accompanied several friends to a race - a huge event that attracts runners and athletes from many states away.  I had signed on to compete along with the rest of them last fall, but I didn't train enough, and didn't feel ready to run 8+ miles and tackle grueling obstacles.  So I elected to sit it out along with a couple of other less-athletic buds; we formed our own little cheering section and were the official photographers for the group.  Of course, I took plenty of pictures of other participants as well, whether they were aware of it or not. 

Like I said, this event is huge - thousands of hardcore jocks (both male and female) turn up for it.  I don't remember the last time I saw so many shirtless men in one place, and most of them were astonishingly fit and buff.  It was gratifying (and a little exciting) seeing them all milling about, enjoying the day, eating, drinking, shopping, and socializing without shirts as if it were the most natural thing in the world (which of course it is).  The ones who had finished the course were covered in mud, and many didn't even bother to wash it off - they just remained bare-chested and filthy, wearing the muck like a badge of honor.

I used to be that fit.  Seeing all those spectacular specimens of manhood strengthened my resolve to get into that kind of shape again.