The TCS New York City Marathon has inspired countless films, photos, and social posts over the years. Still, few capture its soul quite like 26.2, a new short directed by Nicolas Heller, better known to his millions of followers as NewYorkNico.
Co-produced by m ss ng p eces and New York Road Runners’ in-house studio East 89th St Productions, 26.2 follows four determined New Yorkers training for the 2024 marathon. Each runner is part of NYRR’s Team Inspire — a group hand-selected each year for stories defined by grit, courage, and flat-out heart.
Heller has long been a superfan of Marathon Sunday. In 2023, NYRR tapped him to cover the finish line. Those candid videos racked up more than ten million views and — as Heller says — lit the spark for something deeper. He pitched a film. NYRR said yes.
Four New Yorkers. Four Extraordinary Paths to 26.2 Miles
The runners Heller chose are anything but typical:
Joel “Whammy” Kaufman – A Queens math teacher walking his seventh marathon, inspired by a friend battling leukemia. He proudly finished dead last in 2023 — and embraced every minute of it.
Johnny Pye – A Bronx stroke survivor running his first marathon to prove recovery doesn’t end at the hospital door — and to represent survivors everywhere.
LaDawn Jefferson – A breast cancer survivor, mother, and NYPD Police Administrative Aide running toward life after diagnosis.
Shaquille “Shaq” Roberts – A house-fire survivor with burns covering more than 40 percent of his body and founder of the Bronx Burners Run Club.
Their stories intertwine into a portrait of resilience — proof that the marathon isn’t just a race, but a city-wide act of collective will. Watch the film below:
A Premiere for the People Who Power the Race
26.2 premiered at AMC Lincoln Square near the marathon finish line, co-hosted by Tribeca Membership. More than 200 guests — including the cast, their families, producers, NYRR staff, and press — packed the theater. Ben Thompson, Tribeca Festival’s VP of Shorts Programming, introduced the film, and a conversation with Heller and the runners followed, moderated by NYRR CEO Rob Simmelkjaer.
“The marathon is my favorite day in New York City,” Heller said. “I’ve been going for years, filming anyone and everyone who embodies the city. This film was my chance to go deeper — to honor what drives people to take on those miles and celebrate the community this race creates.”
Simmelkjaer added, “These four stories are just a snapshot of the more than 55,000 journeys that make Marathon Sunday the best day of the year. We’re thrilled to partner with Nicolas and m ss ng p eces to share these stories and highlight the transformative power of running.”
Hellen Obiri, Benson Kipruto, Marcel Hug, and Susannah Scaroni won the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon
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