Here on the Hill, the crowds of spectators lining both sides of the street must wait patiently, gather what details they can from the radio and visualize the race in their minds. They chew sandwiches, sip soft drinks and debate who's going to win this year. Applause crackles up Heartbreak like electricity. Forty minutes later the first men come through, led by Cosmas Ndeti, and the crowd erupts with whoops and whistles. Fans of Kim Jae-Ryong wave South Korean flags.
More marathoners follow.
A boy perched on his dad's shoulder reaches out, offering a section of orange. They're running powerfully, steadily. But behind them, many marathoners will not ascend so smoothly. The first hint of Heartbreak Hill occurs at the 20-mile mark. Runners take a drink of water and marshal their energy over the last 100 yards of flat going.