2009 Boston Marathon

Over 26,000 runners, aged 18 to over 80 years old, ran the 26.2 miles from Hopkinton, MA to downtown Boston's Copley Square on Monday, April 20, 2009 for the 113th Boston Marathon. The course is speckled with hotspots from the starting line, Heartbreak Hill, Kenmore Square, all the way to the finish line, but I cherished the most arduous and perhaps most fascinating leg of the race - the last mile. People walk, stumble, jog, sprint, laugh, get sick... it's a messy but miraculous affair, the last mile of the Boston Marathon.

Kenmore Square was packed with spectators lining Commonwealth Avenue. I photographed and talked to fans and runners as thousands of marathoners turned the corner and pushed through the last mile to the finish line on Boylston Street.



A few of my photos were picked up by NowPublic and included in its coverage of the 2009 Boston Marathon. Look for kristine.c.sherred on the right-hand side of the page under "Crowd Power." NowPublic is a "crowd powered media" group that gives every citizen a voice, covering local, national, and international news and events.

For all of my Boston Marathon photos, visit my Flickr page.

Following the Path to Englightenment

Amidst the religious turmoil that has engulfed the classic and contemporary worlds stands a peaceful philosophy, a way of life inherent to human nature. Though the history of Buddhism strings together intricate stories of Buddhist monks to the Buddha himself, its story can, in fact, be relatively simple. At the Shambhala Meditation Center of Boston, community members share their practice with visitors and prospective Buddhist followers.

I have been working with the Boston Center for over a month, photographing and recording meditation sessions and the Center itself. My relationship with Shambhala extends past merely documenting the impetus for and mission of meditation: I have received meditation instruction myself and have joined the under-30 and community sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday nights... it really opens up your mind.

The Shambhala Boston website offers detailed information on upcoming events, guest instructors, and meditation groups.

Meditating in a Modern World from kristine on Vimeo.