Created by
Converse, American, founded 1908
Subject of
National Black Marathoners Association, American, born 2001
Worn by
Reed, Tony, American, born 1956
Date
2007
Medium
polyester and elastomer with metal and enamel
Dimensions
H x W (shirt): 27 x 22 in. (68.6 x 55.9 cm)
H x W (Kenya flag pin): 1 x 1 x 3/8 in. (2.5 x 2.5 x 1 cm)
H x W (Africa pin): 1 x 7/8 x 3/8 in. (2.5 x 2.2 x 1 cm)
Caption
With the completion of the 2007 Safaricom marathon in Nairobi, Kenya, long distance runner Tony Reed became the first Black person to complete a marathon on all seven continents. He has also completed marathons in each of the 50 states, known as the "marathon hat trick."
Growing up in St. Louis, Missouri, Reed first became interested in health in fitness when he was diagnosed with a pre-diabetic condition at the age of eight. He began long distance running in 1979 while working as a computer programmer in Texas. He has since completed 132 marathons, including winning ten age group and weight division trophies.
Reed co-founded and is executive director of the National Black Marathoners Association and has written several books and articles about distance running. In 2022, he wrote and directed the award winning documentary Breaking Three Hours: Trailblazing African American Women Marathoners.
Description
White sleeveless National Black Marathoners Association shirt worn by Tony Reed while running the 2007 Safaricom marathon in Nairobi, Kenya. Logos have been applied to the front and back of the shirt, most likely as iron on transfers. On the chest is a black rounded rectangular border with the text “NBMA/ 1865/ Free to Run” inside. A small grey and red Champion logo is present on the shirt’s proper left side in the lower corner near the waist. On the back of the shirt is a smaller red rounded rectangular border with the text “NBMA / 1865 / Free to Run” and with black text with a URL, “www.BlackMarathoners.org” underneath. The majority of the shirt resembles a cotton texture, but there are areas of mesh present in the arm pits and below the nape of the neck. The shirt originally had two pins, 2012.69.1b and 2012.69.1c, attached to the chest.
The Kenya flag pin (2012.69.1b) has the Kenya flag in black, red, and green enamel with the word “KENYA” in black enamel running up the flagpole. The Africa pin (2012.69.1c) is in the shape of Africa and is filled with black enamel, with the word “AFRICA” in metal in the center of the continent. Both pins have a metal butterfly clutch as a pin backing.
Place used
Nairobi, Kenya, East Africa, Africa
Classification
Clothing - Sports Uniforms
Type
jerseys
Topic
Associations and institutions
Athletes
Clothing and dress
Sports
Track and field
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Anthony and Deborah Reed
Object number
2012.69.1abc
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd586d5a203-b3b6-4049-a4eb-9736f9ff185d

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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