Friday, November 25, 2016

Runfessions - race photo edition

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!! I enjoyed spending the time with family and friends yesterday, including running my fifth consecutive rendition of the PNC YMCA Turkey Trot. More on the race to come.

I am linking up with Marcia for Runfessions, as well as with Fairytales and Fitness and Running on Happy for the Friday Five.
Today we are doing a special race photo edition of Runfessions.

As I previously mentioned here, I have been trying to up my race photo body spasm game. My recent focus has been to achieve a cool jumping pose, e.g.:
At the Rock N Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon two weekends ago, I made some valiant attempts. Any time I passed a photographer on course, I hurled myself into the air with as much energy, effort, and gusto as I could possibly muster! 

We all do these things on a random basis, right?
Yes, Chicago Blackhawks fans, this is Artemi Panarin during his KHL days!
I only wish I knew the story behind this snapshot...
Today I went to look at the results of my race photo poses. I runfess that in summary, things didn't turn out quite the way I hoped. 

Here are five examples:

1) Stumbling on the dismount
This photo was taken immediately post-jump just as I was landing. Unfortunately, it looks more like I am stumbling forward and about to fall flat onto my face. (Feel free to reference the runner next to me for a postural comparison.)
DERP!!!
2) Winding up
I think this one was taken right as I was awkwardly preparing to jump. The closed eyes make it look even worse.
DERP!!!
3) To jump or not to jump???
That is the question. I'm not sure what I was focused on, but the facial expression definitely doesn't match everything else.
4) Uncategorized
Yeah, I honestly don't even know where to go with this one.
TOTAL DERP!!!
5) I'm a maniac, maniac on the floor...
... and I'm posing like I've never posed before!
(Extra credit to those of you who recognized the musical reference! 🎶)
In summary...
Clearly I have an uphill battle to fight with my jumping poses! 

To paraquote all the star athletes: It's time for me to get back to the drawing board and focus on working hard, simplifying the poses, and just taking it one jump at a time. ;-P

30 comments:

  1. Hahahaha! Love this! Last week I tried to get a pic of me jumping off the picnic table but my timing was off. The outtakes were hilarious! I'm sure my neighbors thought I was a lunatic.

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    1. LOLOLOLOL - I'd love to see those outtakes! I always love all of your yoga pose outtakes!

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  2. I can honestly say I have never tried jumping for a race picture (on purpose). First reason being that in most races I am either injured or recovering from an injury and I wouldn't want to attempt a failed landing..lol. I will admit though that those that can get a great jumping pic (especially in front of the castle at disney) do look cool!

    Keep trying!

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    1. I am pretty injury prone, too, so I totally hear you on the risks of the jumping photo! A failed landing would be disastrous! I'm starting to think that it's tough to coordinate the timing with race photographers since they don't know in advance what you're plotting to do. Ahhhh, I'd love to get a jumping photo in front of a Disney castle - that would become my new profile picture immediately!

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  3. Love your photos!! And I am jealous of your muscular legs!!! I am honestly afraid of jumping for any photos because I am afraid I am going to fall.

    I love the color of your shoes. Mizuno?

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    1. Thank you so much, Zenaida!!! Appreciate the kind words. I've been doing a lot of strength-training! Believe me, I get nervous about falling, too, especially amidst thick crowds, and since I'm injury prone. So I totally hear you!

      Thank you on the shoes! Yes - the Mizuno Wave Rider 18! You always wear beautifully-colored shoes, too. =)

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  4. I don't try anymore with the photographers because I never like my in-race photos. I can take pictures before and after, but during is just bad. I don't even look anymore when the email notices come out saying the pictures are ready.

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    1. It's rare for me to like my in-race photos, too! I'd say my success ratio is usually about 1 out of every 8. I often cringe when I see the picture selections but the good photos make it worth it. =)

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  5. OMG you are a maniac! What better place to behave this way than Vegas? Hahaha!

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    1. LOLOLOLOLOL - you are right!!! Considering so many other runners in Vegas had been drinking the same day, and/or had gotten minimal sleep, all bets are off the table (not literally). =)

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  6. Hahaha, this post wins the internet today! You're the best. Have a great weekend!

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    1. LOL - thank you so much, Rachel! You rock, too!!! Have a great weekend, as well!!!!!!!!!

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  7. Fun post! My race pictures look absolutely horrible. I usually have a horrible look on my face and just generally look slow. Not sure how else to describe it. I've not even attempted the jumping pose though so my hat is off to you there!

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    1. Thank you, Lindsay! I have a low success ratio with my race photos, too. I would say it's about 1 in 8. YES on the awkward expressions and looking like I'm plodding along. It's amazing how different things can look and feel in real life versus when captured in photos, right???

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  8. Love this! You are a boss for trying the jump. I've thought about it but I'm scared I'd fall since I feel so spent. Think about the photogs on the course. I bet they could tell some great stories about the things runners attempt to do! LOL.

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    1. Thank you so much, HoHo! Likewise - I tend to be injury prone so I know it's risky to attempt the jumps. OMG - I can only imagine what kind of things the race photographers have seen over the years! Note to self to ask some of them for their stories at my next race. =)

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  9. I have no idea how people do jumping poses....especially after running. My jumping poses always look like crap. LOL

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    1. OMG, yes - I've seen some folks do jumping poses at the finish line of a marathon, and I have NO IDEA how they have the energy to do so! It's really incredible!!!

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  10. I love all those pictures. I never look good in them not matter how hard I try.

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    1. Thank you, Nicole!!! I hear you - I have a pretty low success ratio with my photos. Usually I only like about 1 out of every 8!!!

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  11. This is fantastic. I once read that racing is one of the few times that we are photographed during and near the end of a workout which makes for some hilarious pics! Anyway, I love the "Maniac" pic. Looks like you are having a blast! :)

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    1. Thanks Pete!!! Right on with the photographs during and near the end of a workout with the hilarious results. Incidentally, do you remember there was a race you ran a year or two ago where your photos made you look purple? I think you shared it in one of your end-of-year "lowlight" posts. That was one of the most comical photos I've ever seen. =)

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  12. OMG you make me laugh so hard! Way to go on those attempts!

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  13. Hahahaha I love this. MarathonFoto has a very unique talent for catching everyone at their absolute worst. A for effort, and hopefully in a race sometime soon they'll catch you in all your jumping glory!

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    1. Thank you so much, Bethany!!! MarathonFoto does have mad talents for those split-second moments of antiglory, it's like they intuitively KNOW!!! LOL. Here is hoping for better results someday, indeed. =)

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  14. Forget the jumping pose! you are totally rocking those muscular legs!!

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  15. The jump is darned near impossible to master, right? Especially since the photographers don't know it's coming and by the time they figure it out it's too late! Thank you so much, Karen. =)

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  16. LOL - thank you so much, Kelly! #3 is a really subtly weird one, yes? =)

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