Editor’s note: New Balance is proud to continue its commitment to lifting up the Australian and New Zealand running communities. The brand is giving four amateur runners, chosen from grassroots crews from our two countries, the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to run the TCS New York City Marathon. This time – following successful campaigns to send groups to the NYC Marathon last year and the London Marathon in April this year – New Balance is celebrating the community builders who do so much for those around them. They’re crew founders or integral components of the inclusive clubs that power running in our countries. Day in and day out, these four runners are out there giving back to those who run beside them.

Tempo is thrilled to partner with New Balance to share these runners’ narratives, as we follow them through the trials of training to the elation of the finish line and onwards. Along the way, our runners will be in caring hands, receiving support, apparel and the latest footwear from New Balance. Olympian and New Balance athlete Ellie Pashley is there to mentor them, sharing elite-level wisdom and experience, as they prepare for the task ahead. As they've stack the kilometres, they were given early access to the Fresh Foam X 1080v14 for their daily training. Featuring a new engineered mesh upper, it offers the perfect combination of stability, lightness, comfort and cushioning. On race day they’ll stride out in the newly released NYC Marathon colourway of New Balance’s most advanced carbon plate super shoe, the FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4.

Each of these runners has found their own path, and they’ve found others to run beside them. Whether you run alone or with a club, there are only right ways to run. That’s the beauty of this sport. However you come to it, you are perfect. That’s the New Balance message we’re sharing, and we hope you’ll be inspired by these four stories to Run Your Way.

A gold medallist forging a new, communal relationship with running; an emergency responder helping vulnerable youth; the co-founder of a female-led club encouraging beginners; and a male runner helping women reclaim public space.

Meet four incredible amateur runners who, in unique ways, are channelling the power of community. Four thoroughly deserving individuals from Australia and New Zealand who, with a big hand from New Balance, will live the near-impossible dream of running the TCS New York City Marathon.

New Balance’s support for these runners builds on successful campaigns that helped earlier groups reach the 2023 NYC Marathon and this year’s London Marathon in April.

This time out, we’re celebrating community builders. These runners are doing great things for the people around them, especially when it comes to helping others discover the joy of movement and the mental health benefits of running. They’re all leaders, founders or simply integral components of the crews they belong to or run with.

New Balance is giving these four runners the maximum possible support, including flights and accommodation, and making sure they have world-best apparel and shoes to meet the challenges of training and racing. For their day-to-day training, they’ve been given early access to the new Fresh Foam X 1080v14, ensuring an ultra-comfortable, stable and well-cushioned ride as they build their distances and endurance. On race day, they’ll be right at home in the NYC Marathon colourway of New Balance’s most advanced carbon plate running shoe, the FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4. The SC Elite v4 is the result of years of research with some of the fastest athletes in the world, resulting in a responsive, snappy ride that delivers energy return with every stride.

Tempo loves to recognise and support run crews – Down Under and around the world – so we’re thrilled to partner once again with New Balance as we follow these runners on their journey. Together, we’ll be with them every step of the way.

Heading for New York are Keely Small (Byron Run Club), Connor Sahely (Olivers Hill Run Club), Meg Marshall (Jog On) and Josh Foo (Hunter Athletics). Let’s go!

KEELY SMALL, BYRON RUN CLUB

Keely Small's running journey has been a rollercoaster of triumphs, setbacks and rediscovery.

A competitive swimmer and track prodigy from an early age, Keely was still in high school, just 16 years old, when she made her international debut, in open competition, in the 800 metres at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. That same year, the 800m specialist would go on to win gold at the 2018 Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, where she was chosen to carry the Australian flag in the opening ceremony.

“Honestly, it was the best thing in my career,” Keely says of the Buenos Aires Games. “Being the flag bearer really was an honour – to be chosen for that from all our sports was pretty special. And it was amazing to stand up on the podium, with the national anthem, and receive an Olympic gold medal.” But the path from youth phenom to adult athlete proved far more challenging than anyone expected as a series of injuries and struggles changed Keely’s relationship with her sport. It’s only more recently that she’s found enjoyment in long distance running and the community that comes with it.

“I had a lot of success in running when I was younger," Keely reflects. “I was so lucky that I had a great training group and a support network that was never pushy. It was me doing it because I loved it.”

That early success put Keely on track for the Tokyo Olympics. But just as her dreams seemed within reach, disaster struck. “I got a stress fracture in my L5 vertebrae,” she explains. The injury not only derailed her Olympic hopes but also marked the beginning of a difficult period in her relationship with running.

“I gave up so much. Every Olympic athlete, any athlete really, knows how much you give up for making a team that only happens every four years. I think to miss out on that was maybe the start of my relationship with running going a little bit downhill,” Keely says.

The recovery process was long and complicated, stretching to nearly 18 months. During this time, Keely lost access to training facilities and found herself adrift, searching for a way to continue her career as a professional runner. This led her to the US college system, the NCAA, and the University of Oregon, a move that proved short-lived and ultimately detrimental.

“After I missed out on Tokyo and was trying to make it as a professional runner, I had to go through a lot of environments that, in the end, definitely did not suit me. Looking back, I don't think environments like that are sustainable for any athlete, and I had to make the best decision for myself and move back to Canberra.

“It took me a long time to come back to where I am now, where I’ve gone back to my old training group, where I had that support in the first place. But it took a lot of years to try and make it professionally, which never really clicked.”

The toll wasn't just physical. Keely found herself grappling with mental health challenges that bled into her personal life. “I battled a lot with, and I don't think this gets talked about enough, the mental health side of sport,” she says. “I suffered with a fair bit of anxiety and depression in those two, three years, and that added to losing my love for the sport and affecting a lot of aspects of my life.”

For a time, Keely thought her competitive running days were behind her. “I was so adamant that that's gone, that's done,” she recalls. But she has gradually regained her passion for running. It began with a running retreat called The Sessions, where Keely connected with like-minded individuals who introduced her to a more social, enjoyment-focused approach to running. This led her to Byron Run Club, where she found a supportive community that embraced running for the sheer joy of it. The fact that Keely is based in Canberra doesn’t seem to matter, as she loves hitting the road in her van for camping and running expeditions.

A turning point came when Keely participated in Red Bull's Race the Sun, a 24-hour team relay covering 345 kilometres from the Gold Coast to Tenterfield. “The connections and relationships you build in 24 hours of pure hectic running and supporting each other are unmatched,” Keely says. The experience solidified her bond with Byron Run Club and rekindled her love for the sport. Now, she finds herself in a place she never expected: training for her first marathon. After everything she’s been through, she was surprised and grateful to get the offer from New Balance.

“Honestly, when it first came up, I was a little bit shocked and I was like, ‘Wow, me, really?’ I’ve always said I wanted to do a marathon and, if I did, I'd want it to be one of the majors. So to get this opportunity to do New York is amazing,” she says.

“The timing of it, with me falling back in love with running, is pretty cool. I think being able to experience it from a different angle that's not necessarily ‘you're there to win’ will be quite important for me,” she reflects.

While the competitive fire still burns – Keely says she would love to run a three-hour marathon in New York – her approach is markedly different from her track days. While Keely hasn't ruled out a return to competitive track running – she continues to train with renowned coach Philo Saunders – she's content to let things unfold naturally. “I’m enjoying going with the flow a little bit and seeing where I fall into it and having the supportive environment with Philo and the crew in Canberra,” she explains.

And as she looks for a more relaxed way of running, it helps that her new companion Kola, a rescue Kelpie, is always keen to hit the trails. “She got me through a lot of those tough moments. She’s now one and a half and she's loving marathon training too,” Keely says. “She goes everywhere with me.”

Keely has been doing those training runs with Kola in New Balance’s brand-new Fresh Foam X 1080v14.

“I’ve worn a lot of brands in my running career and back when I was about 15, 16 – before I had any sponsor – I always wore New Balance. They always just fit and work with my feet perfectly. Honestly, they’re the comfiest shoes I’ve ever worn in my life.”

Outside of running, Keely has found a new passion as a wildlife ranger, working to protect and reintroduce threatened species. “This job has allowed me to do my part in conservation and I’ve found my passion working with native wildlife,” she says. “I love it. I will do this sort of job in conservation for the rest of my life. A hundred percent.”

As she prepares for New York, Keely carries with her the wisdom gained from her tumultuous journey. For her, the marathon isn’t just a race – it’s a celebration of rediscovery, resilience and the pure joy of running.

CONNOR SAHELY, OLIVERS HILL RUN CLUB

For Connor Sahely, running began as a solitary pursuit during the depths of Melbourne's Covid lockdowns. Now, it’s become a powerful tool for community building and mental health awareness.

“During the lockdowns, when we lost all gym access and sports shut down, I found myself running and walking up and down Olivers Hill, which is this big 600-metre hill within my 5K radius of Mount Eliza,” Connor recalls. Those early morning solo expeditions became a refuge from the stress and uncertainty of the pandemic.

But as he built resilience through his daily climbs, Connor realised that not everyone had the same opportunity. “I very quickly understood that they didn't have that same possibility to get up early in the morning and exercise,” he says, referring to conversations with his partner and other women in his life. “That’s often due to a fear of being out in the dark and being alone.”

This sparked the idea for Olivers Hill Run Club, which Connor founded in 2023. The club meets four days a week – at the crack of dawn, 5.15am, on weekdays and at a slightly more civilised 7am on Saturdays. But it’s not just about logging miles; it’s about creating a safe, supportive environment for all runners, especially those who might feel vulnerable exercising alone.

“I think the unique thing about our club would be the conversations that we have around violence against women. On social media, sometimes there’s this hookup culture of meeting your new love at run clubs. And while that has its place, I wanted to be different. I wanted Olivers Hill Run Club to be a place where there was a real openness and awareness from the get-go that we're here to make one another feel safe.”

This mission extends to recent events the run club has put on to raise funds for the Man Cave. “They’re a Melbourne organisation that does a lot of work educating young boys on consent, respect and positive masculinity,” Connor explains.

This emphasis on community and care extends beyond the runs themselves. After each session, the group takes part in what Connor calls the Cold Water Club, where members spend nine minutes in the ocean. The duration is symbolic, representing the nine lives lost to suicide each day in Australia.

“It’s our way of going through a bit of suffering,” Connor says. Keep in mind that the winter air temperature in Frankston early in the morning can be around 3ºC, while in the water it might get to 9–10ºC. “Considering the fact that there are nine people each day that don't make it through from losing their life to suicide, on the really hard days in the water when I’m really struggling – when it's really cold, the waves are high and it’s dark – I can go, ‘Well, at least this is my version of suffering for today compared to what nine other people won't be able to overcome.’”

Mental health awareness and suicide prevention have become central themes in Connor's running journey. He’s organised several fundraising events, pushing himself to extreme physical limits to raise both money and awareness. These challenges have included a 24-hour walk covering 111 kilometres, swimming nine kilometres each day for nine straight days, and an attempt at 3,139 pull-ups in a single day (representing the number of suicides in Australia that year). That last one was too challenging even for Connor; he reached over 1,500 pull-ups before his kidneys threatened to go into acute failure, which resulted in him being hospitalised to restore his fluids. Even though he missed his target, he’s justifiably proud of the $53,000 he raised for mental health advocacy group It’s Okay Not To Be Okay.

“I want to make sure that when I die, whether that’s at 25 or 95, in another 70 years, I can go up to that higher power and I can stand there like, ‘I did absolutely everything that I was supposed to do – it’s the responsibility that I have to myself as a human to be my best and to try my hardest,’” Connor reflects.

This drive to make a difference extends to his professional life as well. Connor owns a sports recovery clinic on the Mornington Peninsula, where he helps people manage injuries and stay active.

Now, Connor is gearing up for the New York City Marathon. Remarkably, he’s never entered a race before now. “I’ve literally never run an event in my life. I’ve never done a 5K, a 10K or anything. I’ve never stood at the start line or crossed the finish line,” he admits.

Despite his lack of race experience, Connor is approaching New York with a mix of excitement and determination. He’s aiming for a time between 3:45 and 4:15 but is more focused on balancing competitiveness with enjoying the experience. “I still want to push myself and have a strong performance,” he says. “But it’s more about balancing that enjoyment with the competitive side of me.”

For Connor, the opportunity to run New York with New Balance feels like a validation of the community he’s built and the personal growth he’s achieved.

“It’s going to be an experience I’ll remember forever and one I don’t want to take for granted at all," he says. “New York has always been the number one city that I've wanted to visit. I’m a big New York Knicks basketball fan, so I've already extended my trip after the marathon and hope to catch a game or two.”

“I want to make sure I run this race and make my family proud and make New Balance proud. I want to make my run club proud and obviously myself as well.”

As he prepares to take on the five boroughs, Connor Sahely carries with him the spirit of Olivers Hill – a commitment to personal growth, community support and bringing everyone along on every step.

MEG MARSHALL, JOG ON

For Meg Marshall, running has been a journey of rediscovery and transformation. Growing up in the small New Zealand sheep-farming town of Hunterville, population around 400, Meg thought it was normal for kids to run up hills so steep they had to go on all fours. “It became pretty clear when the other schools would come to the inter-school cross country and were crying and begging not to go that that wasn't the case,” she recalls with a laugh.

But as often happens, the joy of childhood running gave way to adolescent self-consciousness. It wasn’t until university that Meg reconnected with the sport. “I was sort of having a moment with my mental health and not feeling so flash,” she says. “So I leaned back into something I knew that worked.”

Initially, Meg approached running with grim determination. “I took on that mentality of running as something you do alone. It’s super serious and your times are really important, and you just have to go out and do it. It's all headphones in, head down.”

This attitude led her to complete her first half marathon in Christchurch in 2020, but it also pushed her too far when training for her first full marathon in Queenstown. “I was doing great and training super hard; I think my last run was 32 Ks, so I was very much ready to go. But I was training so hard that I gave myself a stress fracture,” she says.

That setback forced Meg to reassess her relationship with running. Her physiotherapist encouraged her to slow down and run with other people – ideas that initially seemed alien. But when she joined a local run club, something clicked. “I ran faster than I thought I was, but I was chatting to people. And so my cardio fitness got better really fast,” she says. “It changed the whole way I thought about running.”

Running has become a constant, positive force in Meg's life, something she relies on for her mental wellbeing. “I have a pretty busy mind,” she reflects. “Being able to get out and run is one of those few times that I feel my mind is kind of calm and I can make sense of things. I often run if I have a really big decision to make.”

After graduating, Meg moved to Wellington for work and was searching to recreate the positive run club experience she’d discovered in Christchurch. This led her to co-found Jog On, a run club that started with a handful of friends in its first iteration before the club’s co-founder moved overseas. Meg then relaunched the club with two new co-leaders she met at work, Jacqui and Nikita, who brought social media and design skills to the team. In just a few months they’ve now grown to have 140–150 people turn up for their weekly session.

The club meets at 6.20am every Friday on Wellington’s waterfront, near the national museum Te Papa Tongarewa, and everyone runs 15 minutes out and 15 minutes back at their own pace before grabbing a coffee together at a local cafe.

“We’re super big on protecting that beginner runner,” is how Meg explains the distance, pace and structure of their morning meet-ups.

“We think about it in the copy we write and the decisions we make. We always try not to use the word ‘run’ because it freaks people out. So we use the word ‘jog’.”

This inclusive approach has resonated with the Wellington community. “We often hear stories of people who have made friends at Jog On who never met each other before,” Meg says proudly. “A lot of people now carpool together, or they go to a different cafe [than the one the crew regularly goes to after their runs] and get coffee together now.”

Meg’s friendly and easy going, and she brings her people skills to Jog On, where she handles the welcoming duties at each run. “Greeting a hundred new people every day – that’s why I'm here,” she laughs.

Now, she’s facing her biggest running challenge yet: the New York City Marathon. It’s a redemption arc of sorts, coming full circle from that stress fracture that derailed her first marathon attempt. “It feels like perfect timing for this to come in at a point where I love running and it’s something I enjoy and it’s just part of my life,” she says.

The opportunity to run New York with New Balance feels particularly special to Meg as she believes the brand shares the Jog On ethos. The Run Your Way message is real for a crew that encourages every member to find their pace, the distance they’re comfortable with and, only then, carefully, caringly build from there.

“We love working with New Balance and feel connected to them. We feel like they have the same message and share the same goals that we do,” Meg says.

As for goals, Meg is keeping it simple: “It’s about getting to race day injury free and as fit as I can be. And then making the day about soaking up the run and trying to take it in and remember it. No specific time, just get myself over the line and enjoy the day.”

For a runner who has learned to embrace the joy of the journey, that sounds like the perfect approach to a 42.2 kilometre traverse through the Big Apple.

JOSH FOO, HUNTER ATHLETICS

Josh Foo’s running journey is inextricably linked with his commitment to community service. As a first responder with emergency services in Melbourne, Josh has found that running not only keeps him fit for his demanding job but also provides a powerful tool for connecting with and helping others.

Josh's serious running began in 2018 when a friend invited him to join Hunter Athletics for a track session. “I was just blown away by how incredible that was,” he recalls. “When you've got 80 to 100 people running around the track at 6am on a Tuesday, it’s really motivating and inspiring.”

That experience kickstarted a passion that has led Josh to complete six marathons, with a personal best under the coveted three-hour mark. When he reaches the start line for the New York City Marathon, he’ll be building on two other marathons he’ll have run this year: Gold Coast in July and Melbourne just three weeks beforehand in mid-October. But for Josh, running isn’t just about personal achievement. It’s about the power of community and the potential for positive change.

This belief led Josh to start a community initiative using running to help vulnerable young people. “I feel really privileged that I’ve been able to play an important role in having a positive impact in their lives,” he says. “Running was the catalyst for this change. It’s helped them transform their personal lives for the better.”

The program works by engaging at-risk youths, who often have excess energy and spare time that just needs a positive outlet. “Running provided that pull for them,” Josh explains. “You’re burning off energy, and then, as we know, you get the run bug. You can use that momentum, and it transitions from just starting out to getting a bit more into it.”

Josh has seen firsthand how running can be a powerful tool for personal growth and community building. “Everyone's facing a diverse range of challenges,” he reflects. “And what we’re able to achieve in our own right just shows that everyone’s got the dedication and commitment. And not only that, but the support that we receive from people around us is really important.”

This community-minded approach aligns perfectly with the culture at Hunter Athletics. “The culture is very inclusive,” Josh says. “It brings everyone together through running. It provides an opportunity for me to meet a diverse range of people that I might not have ordinarily connected with or crossed paths with.”

Josh particularly appreciates how Hunter focuses on the individual journey rather than just times or paces. “It's not about how fast you can run, whether you're doing three-minute Ks or six-minute Ks. Everyone’s still encouraging each other, supporting each other through their own journey.”

Now, Josh is excited to be heading to the New York City Marathon. “I see it as the biggest running event in the world,” he says with excitement.

Despite his impressive marathon resume, Josh is approaching New York with a mix of ambition and appreciation for the experience. “I still want to push myself and have a strong performance,” he says, “but it’s more about balancing that competitive side with enjoyment of the whole experience.”

Josh says he’s humbled by the opportunity New Balance has offered him. “It represents for me that discipline, commitment. It’s a huge honour to go there and represent New Balance and be part of it.”

In his training, Josh is taking a methodical approach, using a variety of New Balance shoes for different types of runs. “I currently rotate through the Fresh Foam 1080v14, the Rebel, the new SuperComp Trainer, and the Elites for those faster tempo long runs," he explains.

As race day approaches, Josh is juggling the demands of his job, his community work, and his training. But he’s driven by the knowledge that running has the power to change lives – his own and others. When he takes to the streets of New York, he'll be carrying with him the spirit of Melbourne’s running community and the hopes of the young people he’s inspired along the way.

Now that you’ve met them, we hope you’ll agree this is an astounding group of people. Stick with us as over the next few weeks we dig deeper into their progression and meet the crews standing behind them. Follow us on Instagram and YouTube as we trace their paths to New York and back home, and let yourself be inspired by their stories to Run Your Way.

The New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v14 is available now. Australians can head here for men’s and here for women’s. If you’re in New Zealand, head here for men’s and here for women’s.