Details, Details

So yesterday, my apartment mate, Fresh Samantha, whom I shall henceforth refer to as FS, ran the New York City Marathon. She finished with a time of 6 hours and 20 minutes. She is amazing.

I met FS at Mile 23, with much help from her brothers, who called me to update me after FS's cell-phone got waterlogged (water, not sweat - so don't get grossed out) and stopped working. I should also thank mysticengineer for having a phone number so that I could reach the aforementioned siblings - otherwise, I would never have been able to meet up with them at all.

At any rate, around 3:45 PM, there she came, jogging down the street, a brother on each side. I gave her a big (wet) hug. Then, instead of just cheering and letting her pass, I ended up joining up with the FS team, "Go FS" sign and all (of course, it said her real name). What's really fun about the marathon is that the crowd is so encouraging. One of the things they do is read names off of runners' shirts and call out individualized encouragement. So as I walked and ran beside (and often behind) Yehudit, people could see the sign and cheer her on by name.

It's amazing how hard it was to keep up with her. Granted, I was wearing jeans, carrying a bag with books in it (silly me thought I might read in the park before waiting for her), and holding up the sign - but FS had already run 23 miles, and she was still giving me a run for my money. (Groan away - it was the best way I could think of to put it.) Not only that, but my muscles have been protesting all day - from just three miles.

It gives me a fresh respect for marathoners. It feels like I am sharing an apartment with a (tired and achey) celebrity. It was so exciting to run beside her.

It was also pretty cool to see her run with three siblings (her sister showed up a mile or two later) running alongside her, cheering her on.

And after the marathon, I met up with some friends for dinner, after which we went to see "Good Night and Good Luck." the film about Edward R. Murrow. Murrow's name is one that, until this movie, I had only heard at all because it is the name of daphster's high school - and now one of the schools where I work. It was pretty cool to learn more about him, because it makes me feel like the school has such a special name, and it makes me feel even more honored to work there - not that names really mean anything when it comes to public schools. But still...

Anyway, it was a very low-key, sedate movie. More about education than excitement, but in a good way. Seeing the real footage of McCarthy was also fascinating - I learned about him in high school, but to see the actual face on the screen was a new experience for me. It was, I thought, very well done, and also a story worth telling.

Then I watched West Wing - live debate. Not that we actually watched it live... but it was a very different viewing experience. I thought it was an innovative idea - and I was rooting for the Democrat. Maybe that's why I liked his answers better? It may also be that I just don't like Alan Alda's style - I feel like he talks down to the audience - more like a politician. But whatever.

I also heard that they did another live debate for the West Coast - which means they actually aired two different episodes, because two live performances means two different performances. mbarr said he might try to get the California one. I don't know that I'd watch another hour of it, but I am just a bit curious...