Running in the Human Race

The pack at the front of the race seemingly flies by, and then about a half hour later comes the wave. Thousands of runners flow by in a giant mass, and standing alongside, amid the cheers of encouragement and waving orange balloons, two sentiments are palpable.

First: quit smoking, immediately. Second: though they're passing at perhaps a few thousand every minute, the expressions on the runners faces each stand out, even in the blur.

The Inquirer spent Sunday morning on Vernon Boulevard in Long Island City near the 13-mile marker of the 2006 New York City Marathon. (Along with the Coca-Cola sign, the white bird at right is a neighborhood staple.) Here's a slideshow, photographs by Andrew Bast.