Download our Free 8-Week Plan here →
News

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

Written by 
Matteo Sargenti

Published on January 12, 2025

0 Comments

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.

Join The Conversation

You Might Also Like

Norwegian Trail Star Ida Amelie Robsahm Dies at 30 in Fall on Romsdalseggen Ridge

Norwegian trail runner Ida Amelie Robsahm, fifth at the OCC just weeks earlier, died after a fall on the Romsdalseggen ridge in western Norway. She was 30.

nike-put-its-name-on-food

For the First Time Ever, Nike Put Its Name on Food. The Company It Chose Has Fueled 106 Olympic Medals.

Science in Sport has become the Official Performance Fuel & Hydration Partner of the Nike After Dark Tour, marking the first time Nike has ever co-branded a nutrition range with another company.

benny-blanco-signed-up-for-a-half-marathon

Selena Gomez's Husband Benny Blanco Signed Up For a Half Marathon on No Sleep. He Finished With Zero Training

Benny Blanco ran a half marathon on a few hours of sleep and zero training. Here is what actually happens to a body that runs 13.1 miles cold.

first-serving-prime-minister-to-run-great-north-run

At 55, Andy Burnham Becomes First Serving Prime Minister to Run Great North Run

Prime Minister Andy Burnham finished the 2026 Great North Run in 1:57:34, becoming the first sitting PM to race it. Here is his time, his charity, and what it took.

biggest-running-boom-in-a-decade

The Numbers Are In: We Are Living Through the Biggest Running Boom in a Decade

Marathon fields are up 14.6%, half marathons up 20.9%, and young runners are flooding back into races. The 2026 running boom is not a rebound. It is a re-founding.

he-may-never-run-again-an-ontario-doctor

Danny Grossi Was Told He May Never Run Again, an Ontario Doctor Turned His Comeback Into a Software Company

Ontario doctor Danny Grossi spent 29 days in hospital fighting a blood clot that nearly cost him his leg. Less than a year later he was Canadian masters 1,500m champion, and he had built a training AI along the way.