Race Photos: the Good, the Bad, the UGLY

Have you ever seen a picture of yourself where you thought OMG! Do I really look that bad? Wow... Well, that's basically how I feel 85% of the time when I see one of my race photos. Scary! I don't think I'm particularly hideous or non-photogenic, but every time I see a race photo of myself I think wow,  I look like crap running! I look like a fat, miserable, dying creature!
 

A few years ago I read an article on the Runner's World website that had me almost peeing in my pants laughing. One of their writers wrote an article titled "Why does MarathonFoto Hate Me?" This article was focused on the terrible race photos that this author and runner had taken. I laughed my a** off. I too have taken many similar horrible race photos, and aligned with his sentiment that it was incredible that such pain and misery could be caught on your face while running.

This author soon wrote a follow-up called "Brightroom Hates Me Too". Equally hilarious. Being someone who enjoys chronicling my life (whether good or bad), I've saved thumbnails of my bad race pictures over the years. I've purchased the good pix to proudly display, and I've saved the bad ones for who knows what reason.
 

This past week I received a link to my race photos from the Mermaid Run a few weekends ago. As I clicked through the pictures I thought okay, okay, ACK!?! Another hideous race photo. I of course had to save it ... and then started searching through other race pictures I've saved over the years to compare this monstrosity to the others. Its a good thing I can laugh at myself, and now you can too!

Here I am running the Mermaid Half Marathon and about to PR!

Upon closer inspection you'll see that its my
THREE chins that help me run faster!

 

The week before I had also PR'd in Surf City.
Look how happy I am!

Unfortunately though I must have PR'd at
the expense of this woman next to me.
Looks like I'm knocking her over!

A few weeks prior to Surf City I ran the Carlsbad Half
Feeling good here!

I had a pretty bad race though as you can tell in this picture.
It looks like a battle of me versus my quads

Late last year I did my first triathlon - and came in first overall female! Happy me!

 

The secret to my success? Must have been those extra chins!

One of my favorite distances is a 15K.
They make me feel strong as you can see here!
Ignore the stomach fat please.

Soon after though it looks like an invisible
person punched me in the stomach. OOF!

Back in 2009 I ran the Rock N Roll San Antonio. Great Race!

Although it doesn't look like a great race for me here.
Am I crying??

 

You know how department store perfume counters keep containers of coffee beans to clear your nose of the last scent so you can smell the next one refreshed? I think its time we do that as well. You've seen enough horrible pictures of me, lets look at some where I don't look too bad.

Here I am at my cousin Jennifer's Wedding
the night before the Long Beach Half Marathon

 

Here I am with my cousin Heidi & her fiance Chuck Liddell

 

Did that distract you enough? 

Okay, now here I am looking off into who knows what
the next day running the Long Beach Half with my man-legs. Ewe. 

And now, I've saved the best for last.


I call this one crying, sad, melting baby.

But wait, we can't end on that note. Let's look at one more picture I love. Me with my buddies Ryan Hall and Josh Cox. You don't think I photoshopped this do you? You're right, I ghetto-shopped it together in Microsoft Paint. Not a bad job I'd say!

So I can't be the only one with a collection of horrible race photos. Please tell me you have some too! I'd love to see them!