The year before I left for the Peace Corps, I photographed a little triathlon in San Francisco which about 300 contestants that took place on the same landscape on which the famous Escape from Alcatraz is run. It prepared me in no way for the crowds of people, the teeming masses of athletes and the crush of the media that I expericened on Sunday.

I had two assignments. The first was to shoot the running transition from the swim to the bike. The second was to shoot the finish line. I don't know why we shot the transition, but it's not for me to question, just to shoot. So another photpgrapher, Alex, and I set up on the sidewalk of Marina Blvd. and shot some of the 1400 runners that passed us by. I say some because there were so many in such a tiny space that it was impossible to get even half of them. I think I maybe got a 1/3. Probably more likely a 1/5.

That done I headed to the finish line and took up the best spot in the media well right behind the finishing arch under which the runners pass. Under normal circumstances, it would have been simple. The runners cross the line. I shot them with the clock above. Easy. But this event was televised, and there were 1400 participants. And the area right behind the finish line was tiny.

Hasein, the team leader and my old buddy who happens to owe me 500 bucks, told me to just continue shooting no matter what and do my best, which is all I could do. The runners started coming. TV crews, news crews, guys handing out medals and athletes started piling up in the finish area. It was next to impossible to get a clean shot. Some of the athletes came through along the side so that the clock wasn't above them or stopped in the shade of the arch as the crossed the line or looked down to stop their watches right at the time that would have made the best photo. I did my best, but I doubt I made many sellable photos. It was just impossible.