Armed with this puppy I headed to the Media Tent to meet up with the elite runners and see what their heads were going through, just because I can never figure out my own…

I am so sorry for this picture Kim. I am never this stooopid. she’s SO sweet. Somehow she always remembers me, congratulated me, and asked me to see my ring… We chatted for a bit about how strange it all felt after last year’s cancellation and how ready she was feeling.

Wesley Korir had us all with our mouths open… Read about him and you won’t believe the man. He works in the parliament and was discussing how he trained and worked as a politicians as well. He said not so nice things about his kenyan colleagues (mostly about how greedy and corrupt they are!) and how much he gets paid and all that. It was pretty amazing. Read more in always amazing Peter Gambaccini’s story: http://www.runnersworld.com/elite-runners/wesley-korir-the-politician-as-elite-marathoner

Kebede talked mostly about his training and how he tried to mimic the hill. He seemed to be ready to tackle anything. More video and story here http://www.runnersworld.com/new-york-city-marathon/kebede-ready-for-the-new-york-city-marathons-last-miles

Ah, I had been really rooting for Stephen, his last year has been amazing and to see someone from Uganda win the gold at the Olympics, in such a fantastic race… I was excited to hear him talk! He was telling us about his family, how he trained in Kenya, and the politics that brings into racing…

Carrie Tollefson and Karla Brunning doing On The Run. Have you seen the show? well, get to it! http://www.nyrr.org/newsroom/on-the-run

The Media Tent is right by the finish. This is what we had going on Thursday morning…

FRED!!! WE miss you at Engineers Gate! Hello!

Bill Rodgers and Frank Shorter were around being interviewed informally. They were being inducted to the NYRR Hall of Fame this year! Congrats! Plus, Frank Shorter was turning 66 right that day… Amazingness in one room!

too many cool people to name: Scott Douglas, Peter Gambaccini and… ooops. Peter, you know Peter… he writes the first thing I read every morning, the RW news! http://www.runnersworld.com/person/peter-gambaccini Check his blogs out. it’s ALL you need to know as a runner. Scott… amazing stuff too!!!!!! He is the RW Editor and writes great pieces too, check them out (and ADD to your RSS NOW) http://www.runnersworld.com/person/scott-douglas

On race morning and after that, the media events get moved to the Mandarin Oriental, right on Columbus Circle. quite convenient.

I am blurry because this is post marathon and I was tired.

From left to right: Mary Wittenberg, Geoffrey Mutai, Priscah Jeptoo, Marcel Hug and Tayana McFadden

Answering questions, mostly about tactics, the wind, what they’d done after the race, goals, the world majors, etc.

Geoffrey Mutai and I, no big deal.

Priscah Jepto signing a LOT of things… among their many duties as winners… this.

and this.

Tatyana and Juan had an interesting convo about the sidewind and why the thick profile of the bike cause it’s carbon and something like that. Anyway, she eats candy like the rest of us (only AFTER the race…) so we also had things in common to discuss. PS: she had to leave as she had an exam to do. She’s a full time student WHILE she wins every single race she enters. Just because.