Photo Challenge

Achievement

Have you just run 26.2 miles, finished a long-term project, or met a personal goal? This week, show us an achievement.

I’ve achieved a lot of personal goals in my lifetime. Running 26.2 miles through a windstorm hasn’t been one of them (and probably never will be!) but there are now 50,000 people who can claim it — they ran this year’s New York City Marathon in terrible weather conditions.

I headed out last Sunday hoping to catch a glimpse of a runner friend. I missed him at every viewing point I tried, and eventually found myself in upper Manhattan at the point where the course makes a final right turn, leaving the runners with a long straightway down Fifth Avenue to the finish line. Hauling myself as far as I could up nearby a fence for a better vantage point, I snapped a shot of this mass of people — who by this point, have run 23 miles or so — heading down the homestretch.

Not a single person stopped for this red light. Anarchy!

Not a single person stopped for this red light. Anarchy! (“Last Leg” photo by Michelle W. (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Most of them were exhausted but jubilant. Spectators lined the length of Fifth Avenue, calling out encouragement or offering water, snacks, and high-fives. Few of them — nor I — knew any of these runners personally, but that didn’t matter. These athletes had achieved something huge, something that took training, dedication, and a not insignificant amount of pain. The least we could offer in the face of their achievement were some kind words and bananas.

This week, show us a photo that says “achievement” to you: people meeting a long-worked-for goal. Something tangible you’ve created. A view from a journey you’ve completed, or the stating point of a journey not yet made or a project you hope to finish. We look forward to being inspired!

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    1. I recently reached +16,000 km of walking distance, just a couple of days ago, which equals a trip around the earth on foot 😉 That’s awesome achievement… need to buy another runners 🙂

      My entry for this week is a little bit cheeky because it also covers the themes of Photography 101, Class of September, which I truly recommend 🙂

      http://wp.me/p4mUeK-sc and also http://wp.me/p4mUeK-rz

      Cheers,

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    1. aside from being technically perfect, you also captured the priceless expression on his face as he finds his balance on the skateboard — exquisite!
      inspired by your post, here is my entry for the Weekly Photo Challenge: Achievement, to the tune of the iconic theme song that could be on your playlist when you’re running 10k or more, pumping iron 5 hours or more, swimming 10 laps or more, Mysoring ashtanga beyond 3rd series (beyond 3rd series is like balancing and carrying your entire body weight not using any limb … but just the tip of your nose… and nothing else …hovering three inches off the earth 🙂 ) … here it is at:

      http://marichulambino.com/2014/11/15/weekly-photo-challenge-achievement/

      Happy weekend!

      Like

      Reply

  11. I really want to do the challenge but I do not understand ho to do the pingbacks. I read up on it and the instructions but still do not understand. Do i start a new post and hit text than past it in my post? Im sorry I am trying to figure this whole site out but is not easy.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  24. Michelle, why my post doesn’t show up on the list of responses? I had the same problem with the daily prompt yesterday. I tried and tried but until now it is not showing. I link the way I always did in the past and it worked till yesterday. What I am doing wrong? Can you please help me?

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      1. Hi Michelle, glad you are looking into it. I never had this problem before. From the five entries I did three did not result in a update of the theme page with a link. Just one time I was not able to reply to comment. Not much to go on I am afraid. On my page i have trackbacks and comments checked standard. Hope this helps

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  27. Love this post! im doing my first 5k run tomorrow morning which doesn’t seem like anything compared to this, but hopefully I will achieve this distance myself one day.

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