The Washington, DC area is currently resembling Hoth, and it has me dreaming of warmer days when running is plentiful and delightful. I’ve been running since about April of 2020 (thanks, pandemic anxiety), and I’ve run a bunch of races over the years – the [now former] Parkway Classic 5K and 10 Mile, the Cherry Blossom 5K and 10 Miler, the Army 10 Miler, a trail race at Fountainhead, and my very first half marathon at the Rehoboth Marathon. But a cascade of injuries, starting with a dog bite and ending with a concussion from a baseball to the head, has kept me off the starting line for a while.

Enter Swim Bike Run Photo, run by an old friend. Brian’s race coverage isn’t just “get every racer” like the Big Companies Who Shall Not Be Named, but embraces the art of sports photography and journalism while capturing the joy of running. In late 2024, I was in the dumps about running, and he popped in and inquired about possibly helping his team out for the DC Half. I figured, “if I can’t run the race, I could totally get my race energy fix covering it!” And I was right. Sports photography is incredibly challenging, and covering a sport you love makes it wildly fun.

I’ve done a number of races for Swim Bike Run in this last year, and each one has been an incredible adventure. Pouring rain, check. Muddy hills, check. Too hot temperatures and gross finish lines, check. (And I never need to do that position again, thanks.) Making images that bring incredible joy to the runners and sharing in their joy when they repost the photos on social media, check. While I hope to return to the starting line myself this spring, I’m also excited about what the next race may look like through my lens.