Sofia Marathon 2018 - People and Causes

To me, marathon means celebration. Of life. Of energy and of human will. Of beautiful mornings and of open skies.

This is why I could not turn down an invitation. From a friend and an ex-colleague. To serve a cause. Well, what I said was: 'You know what, I was going there anyway.'

...

Early October morning in Sofia, capital of Bulgaria. Still cold. But then I reach the marathon grounds and I see people warming up all around me. I know it is a good time to approach and make a few easy portraits of guest athletes who will be harder to observe once the race starts.

And then there was the Panda Team of the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) I was invited to support with my photos of their participation. The cause, printed on the back of their T-shirts, translates as 'I preserve the centuries old forests of Bulgaria. You should do it, too.'

A few separate starts were given to groups running various distances - the classical marathon distance of 42.195 km - people with red starting numbers or red names in the case of star athletes; half marathon - people with blue starting numbers; 10 km - people with green starting numbers; and a mass start of 3 km.

While I was still photographing the last people to leave the start line, the pro runners had already made a full lap - one of four in total.

Well, it is awkward to try and organize a marathon in Sofia. You know why? Not everybody feels the same way that I do about such events.

Self-conscious as we are, there are those of us who would always complain of 'the whole city being closed because of some idle runners who should go back to Africa.' Even if Bulgarian, I guess. Runners would reply: 'Learn some culture! Go visit any Western European capital where the whole city is indeed locked up during marathon events...', etc.

Our inner cold war goes on. People run for supplies even if they have to cross the track in danger of being hit by a speeding African...

... or some idle white man or woman...

... or a spartan...

... or a Mad Max fan...

... or...

... well, somebody scary in one way or another...

I had my fun. Now it is time to leave you to some more images of people with their own causes and goals, running for hours.

There. That was some small part of the event by a single photographer - me. I am looking for ways to clone myself and cover a bit more each time. But that will have to wait.

Meanwhile, there is a reward for those of you who find a certain cameo appearance of a character already on my blog among the photos I now post. I hope you have fun.

Don't forget to go outside when you can!

Yours,

Manol