keithrunsny

Often thought of as a solitary sport, distance running thrives on community. This is my personal visual diary leading up to the 2013 NYC Marathon. My hope is that this body of work may inspire someone else to lace up and achieve goals once perceived as impossible.

[keithrunsny]

NYC Marathon: Day 20 Training - A 7 mile run from the LES, over to the East River, around the Seaport, up the West Side Highway, and back to Lost Weekend. Finally a non-rainy Tuesday night run with @Orcharstreetrunners.

[keithrunsny]

NYC Marathon: Day 19 Training - A solo 8.2 mile run from Bedstuy, over the Manhattan Bridge, into Chinatown, and back. Pace stayed around 10K the entire time and the legs/feet felt amazing with the new footwear. Thanks for the supporting yell as you passed by @aestheticallyspeaking! This has been my first full week of training and I cannot wait to keep it going!

[keithrunsny]

The Pegasus 29+ have been my go to shoe for longer distances; while I'd love to creep into the world of racing flats they don't seen to cater to my legs/form all that well at the current point. With that being said, I've since ran my current Pegs into the ground and have no welcomed the newest addition to the Pegasus family into my life. Cannot wait to spank 26.2 miles with these kicks come November 3rd!

[keithrunsny]

A short piece highlighting a collection of Team USA Minnesota runners as they prepared for the Olympic Trials of 2012. While none of the runners made it to the team their heart and drive warrant admiration and praise. A few choice quotes of the piece really resonated with me. Most importantly, "The key is to get to the finish line as fast as you can without dying...you can die directly on the finish line but you have to make it there first."

[keithrunsny]

NYC Marathon: Day 18 Training - 6.0 mile track workout with @FredGoris, @ReginaDaley, and @Quacktieu on the East River. 3 lap warmup, 1 mile hard, 4x400m all with 200m cooldowns. Soaked head to toe with sweat and loving it. Bring it on #nyc!

[keithrunsny]

NYC Marathon: Day 17 Training - Yet another 5 mile run...the heat won't stop and nor will I. Bridgerunners taking a route leading us over the Manhattan, repeats of killer hill with @FredGoris and @arunninglifetc, making our way across the Williamsburg Bridge with the US #Wolfpack and bolting down Bowery. Just another day and another run down.

[keithrunsny]

We may not all be competing for medals or world records but we all share the common theme of pushing ourselves beyond our perceived limits. The film, tRANscend, follows 2012 Boston Marathon winner Wesley Korir on his journey from the concrete to the podium and back again. I've sadly earned myself the title of the "King of Undertraining" in the past but the tale of Korir takes the nickname to an entirely different level as he competes again those whom he has over 50% less training than on the 2013 circuit.

[keithrunsny]

NYC Marathon: Day 16 Training - Searching for shade on yet another summer run. 5.75 miles from the LES, over the Manhattan Bridge, to the Williamsburg Bridge and back home. While these bridges won't all be on the marathon course they'll surely help get my legs prepared for what November 3rd may have in store. Thank you, as alway, to Orchard Street Runners for playing host.

[keithrunsny]

NYC Marathon: Day 15 Training - A very sweaty 4.7 mile run after trying to convince myself to be lazy and stay in bed for the majority of the morning. Got dressed, got out there, and put in work despite the blistering heat. Thanks to Go! City Runners for the constant Instagram motivation...I needed it this A.M.

[keithrunsny]

NYC Marathon: Day 14 Training - Oddly enough my first 5k race ever. Rain..to no surprise but tons of familiar faces as Bridgerunners, Black Roses, and Team RUN NYC were in abundance. Despite my nerves I managed to muscle out a 20:31 race; although I was shooting for a sub 20 I was quite happy, as most importantly, the legs felt strong for the first time in a while.

[keithrunsny]

NYC Marathon: Day 13 Training - 5 miles with the crew that got me started in the running game to begin with. The @Bridgerunners always keep things fun even when your legs are too sore to move and you have to do a repeat of the Williamsburg Bridge; it was my first bridge and regardless of how many times I cross it, the incline going into Brooklyn still gets me every time.

[keithrunsny]

NYC Marathon: Day 12 Training - A hazy morning in Brooklyn reflecting on what was intended to be a 7 mile run that became a 9 mile run due to not "knowing the route" but we made the best of it even in the rain...AGAIN! Such a great night on the concrete and across bridges with @reginadaley @matthewdivita @wh0die @midnite_marauder and the whole @Orchardstreetrunners family.

[keithrunsny]

NYC Marathon: Day 11 Training - A fast 8.25 mile run along the West Side Highway in the rain...soaked. Sometimes the best runs are the ones you want to do the least. Thank you @orchardstreetrunners for holding me accountable to this marathon...you guys are the best.

[keithrunsny]

NYC Marathon: Day 10 Training - A 4 mile sprint with a lower loop of Central Park down to #Nike Flatiron to celebrate their one year anniversary. Hot, humid, and fast was the name of this run.

[keithrunsny]

NYC Marathon: Day 9 Training - A 5 mile run through the streets of the LES, over the Manhattan Bridge, and then the Brooklyn Bridge all in deathly humidity. I really forgot what it was like to be breathless on a run until today. Lesson learned: hydrate like it’s your job. Thank you to @OrchardStreetRunners for not backing down and for leading the way.

[keithrunsny]

NYC Marathon: Day 8 Training - First race in what feels like the while. Speed took the back seat to friends on this one as I paced two friends on their road to a marathon themselves through their first 10K after only collecting 3 hours of sleep due to a good friends' birthday festivities. Words cannot describe the feeling of seeing people you care about take such triumphant strides toward infinite possibilities.

[keithrunsny]

NYC Marathon: Day 7 Training - A 4.2 mile run over the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges making a return to the asphalt after a brief hiatus. While I felt the need to hold back there was a moment where I let go and began hauling down the declines and did it feel good. Thank you to the @Bridgerunners for always having room for one more on the route.