Zach McCurdy can be forgiven if he appears occasionally distracted in his quest to smash his PB at the TCS New York City Marathon next Sunday.
While the keen runner is dialled in to go sub-2.50 in his home marathon, he will have something else on his mind as he pounds the New York streets alongside 50,000 other people.
As well as looking out for friends and family – plus members of his Team WEPA NYC run club – McCurdy will be keeping an eye out for bright blue T-shirts, grey hoodies, colorful trail hats and more.
Why? Because he helped design them.
The passionate runner is an illustrator by trade and has meshed his two passions together to help create this year’s AbbottWMM MTT Age Group World Championship merchandise range.
“This is sort of wild,” said McCurdy, who ran New York last year.
“I was just in the details of the project and then all of a sudden I’m holding the products in my hand. It’s crazy to think thousands of people are going to wearing them.
“For me it was a perfect project to take these two worlds - illustration and running – and make a sandwich with them.”
Formerly of central Pennsylvania, McCurdy moved to New York 10 years ago and through running has grown to love the city.
He hopes his design captures the spirit of New York on marathon day, both for natives and visitors alike.
“It’s the best city in the world,” he said.
“I tried to take identifying objects from each borough, like Broadway, the amazing jazz history of Queens and the baseball history of the Bronx – everything that makes up the cultural fabric of the city.
“I wanted it to also feel authentic to those people outside of the city, but also those that live here.”
What can first-timers expect on Sunday?
“It’s one massive block party,” he added.
“There are seas of people cheering you on. People are handing out beers and shots. There are bands, music and there's confetti. It’s electric, exciting and emotional.”
