Philly Marathon Expo

It's Marathon Weekend here in Philly, and that means a trip to the expo with Suze.

On the count of three, say "we're not running it!"

The expo has come a long way since the first time I ran this marathon in 2005.  Back then it was a small tent set up at Eakins Oval just outside the art museum.  It was so small that people had to wait in a line outside to get in.  Nowadays the expo takes up an entire hall of the Philadelphia Convention Center, and seems to get bigger every year.

Suze signed up awhile ago but since had to drop out due to injuries.  She still wanted to pick up her race packet though, figuring that she had paid for it and might as well.

Sad to not be using the bib tomorrow.

At least she had something to pick up.  Which prompted this picture:

After packet pick up, we walked around and checked out the many vendors; everyone from shoe companies to headphones that don't come out when running, to ING Financial Services, to Volkswagen,  to other races all over the country promoting their events, to a kitchen renovation company - everyone wants in on the running boom.

On the one hand, I'm tempted to turn my nose up at the commercialism heaped on such a simple sport, but on the other hand, I have to admit that it gets me excited again and has made me want to sign up for another major race as soon as possible.