The thunder of 10,000 runners rocked every single street and piazza of Florence today with an energy that was felt from Piazzale Michelangelo to Santa Croce. This spectacle distracted every pedestrian, every tourist, every resident, and overwhelmed the city with thousands of cheering spectators who were eager to catch glimpses of this dynamic event which flaunted the very best of Florence's monuments, art and culture in the background. If I were a runner, today would have been a dramatic event for me. I can't imagine what an emotional stimulation it is to be inspired by the great history and architecture and natural beauty of this stunning historical city and to draw your adrenaline from such powerful images as the Palazzo Vecchio and its scupltures and the many spectacular monuments and 
basilicas that deck every square inch of this city-My idea of watching the marathon worked perfectly for me. I was able to observe many diverse perspectives by following the marathon as I rode my bike from piazza to piazza, following the marathon throughout it's whole 42k course, catching the best glimpses of the runners as they journeyed through this fascinating city until reaching their arrival at Piazza Santa Croce.
I would love to be able to run a marathon, and can imagine the high sensation that runners experience being a part of a an energy greater than themselves, as I have experienced on a bike, but it would be wonderful to be able to do it on my own 2 feet.
