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9 Selfies and a Personal Best: How Kelly Roberts Made the NYC Marathon Her Own

Written by 
Matteo Sargenti

Published on January 12, 2025

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Running a marathon can be grueling, but Kelly Roberts found a way to add fun and motivation to her journey at the NYC Marathon.

9 Selfies and a Personal Best: How Kelly Roberts Made the NYC Marathon Her Own

Running a marathon is often seen as a solitary test of endurance, but Kelly Roberts, creator of Run, Selfie, Repeat, has turned the experience into a social and entertaining adventure.

Known for her creative approach to running, Kelly made headlines last year when she captured over 20 selfies during the 2015 NYC Marathon, documenting her journey in a lighthearted yet inspiring way.

She returned to the iconic race with the same upbeat energy but with an added twist: snapping photos with some of the race’s strongest (and, let’s admit, most attractive) male runners.

Kelly’s lighthearted pursuit not only brought a smile to her face but also provided a motivational boost as she worked toward a goal she had been chasing for years—breaking the elusive 4-hour marathon mark.

Kelly’s final selfie from the race encapsulated her journey perfectly: “It’s been my goal since my first marathon back in 2013 to break 4 hours, and it just happened… I did it. I fucking did it. Screw looking for a boyfriend; I’ll take this PB any day.”

Her words resonate deeply with runners and non-runners alike. Marathon training requires grit, patience, and resilience.

For Kelly, the added layer of humor and connection through her selfies transformed the challenging 26.2 miles into an empowering experience.

Follow Kelly's race from start to finish, and be prepared to laugh — and cry — as she undertakes her epic journey.

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