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,

      Like

      Reply

    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

        Like

  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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