Unsanctioned Running
I started photographing these races a couple of years ago having taken up running again myself after a long time away. I was immediately drawn to the rough and tumble nature of the races – usually run at night through the back streets and bridges of downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn.
The races usually start on a pre-determined street corner with only a chalk line on the sidewalk to mark the spot. Covering distances from a few miles to a half marathon, they attract a wide array of runners – from Olympic trial hopefuls to locals of all levels who make their way by the quickest route via several designated checkpoints back to the finish line. That's where I usually set up my lights to take pictures of the runners before and after the races, hoping to capture the steady calm and determination before the race juxtaposed by the exhaustion and exhilaration at the end.
The real beauty of these races is the sense of community among the runners and a shared passion for racing in the streets of New York.