NYC Marathon Team Spot Check In: Thomas Knight
Tell us a little bit about how you came to be involved with NBR. What was your first run? How long have you been involved?
Ten years ago I moved from Los Angeles to Williamsburg and started looking for a local running group in New York. I don't remember when or where I did my first run with NBR, but as soon as I met the people in the club I knew I would stay involved for a long time.
How is marathon training going? Are there any specific workouts that are really moving things along for you? Tell the world a good NBR long run story.I spent the first nine months of the year training for two Half Ironmans, so I didn't start proper marathon training until early September. My overall fitness at that point was good, but my run-specific fitness was mediocre, especially for the marathon distance. Over the last month I've built up a good base and gained a lot of confidence from some quality long runs.
As for memorable NBR long runs, here are a few that came to mind:
Five or six winters ago, it snowed two feet on a Saturday night. Two of us showed up for the Sunday Funday run and spent three hours trudging through fresh snow. It wasn't the most effective workout, but it was an incredible adventure.
Leading into the 2019 NYC Half Marathon, I got into a great training rhythm with Stephane Albert. Every Saturday we were putting in really hard efforts at distances of 18-20 miles. I remember one morning where we ran into a headwind for 10 miles. Turning around and getting a tailwind for the second half of the run felt incredible.
In my build up to the 2014 NYC Marathon, I joined a group run to Ikea where I had to use the bathroom with an increasing sense of urgency. As we got close to Ikea, I spotted a porta potty that thankfully turned out to be unlocked. One of the highlights of my running career.
I remember a long run about 10 years where we ran out to The Hole. I love a run with a good destination, and this was one of the strangest and most rewarding.
Last year I ran 31 miles on McCarren park track. Not sure I'll do that again.
Which NBR runs are you attending regularly to train? Are there any NBR members who inspire you to train hard(er)?
There was a time when I was regularly doing four NBR runs a week. Now that I have two kids, I'm happy to make 1-2 NBR runs a week. So far during this training block I've joined a Doves run and a couple Saturday LC runs and Sunday Funday runs.
Whenever I need to feel inspired I usually turn to this race report from Ben Leese about his 2013 Brooklyn Marathon. I also ran Brooklyn that day (much more slowly), and I regularly do training runs with Ben's nemesis Oz, so I have a strong personal connection to this race report which makes the incredible story that much better.
What does it mean to be chosen by your peers for a coveted NBR marathon team spot? What does it mean to you to be running the 50th anniversary NYC Marathon?
Being selected to represent NBR in the marathon this year is such an honor. The NYC Marathon is the most important day on the calendar for our club, and there is a special significance to participating in the first big race back after Covid and on the 50th anniversary of the marathon. I'm so grateful for this opportunity, and I hope that I can remember to enjoy the moment as I inevitably push myself into a state of true suffering.
What do you plan on eating post-marathon? What about the night before?
My night-before meal is super boring and predictable: spaghetti with tomato sauce. This year, maybe I'll mix things up and have a slice of bread.
After the 2014 marathon I had a memorable post-race meal at Rosa Mexicana near Central Park, and I'll probably keep the tradition going this year.
What inspires and motivates you to run this year's NYC marathon?
Running is the way that I convince myself that I'm not mediocre. I'm not setting any world records, but I've run races that I'm proud of. I've never had a good marathon, though. Since my first marathon in Brooklyn in 2013, I've struggled to get a good result. So, I'm motivated to finish in a time that will prove to myself and the world that I am a worthwhile human being.
In your head, what animal (real or fictional) do you think you most resemble when you're running?
Probably a Lar Gibbon monkey.
