A ‘What if?’ that became a ‘Why not?’: NYC’s $1 Ultra Marathon
On the morning of June 13, about 160 runners set off to run as many miles as they possibly could. Thirty-three laps and 137.61 miles later, only one was still running.
New York City’s $1 Ultra started as a scribble on a napkin. The owners of the napkin, Victor Zeitoune and Austin Lo, met and became friends through New York City’s running scene. And about a year ago, while at dinner at a bar, they decided they wanted to organize their own backyard ultramarathon — a race where participants run 4.167 miles every hour on the hour until they can’t complete another lap. In Zeitoune and Lo’s version of the event, each runner places $1 in a jar every time they complete a lap, and the winner gets to take home the jar.
“(The first one) went well; there was a lot of demand for a second one,” Zeitoune said. “I figured ‘Why not?’ And so, here we are.”
This year, a lot more planning went into the ultra.
“When we saw the demand for this year, I mean, we had hundreds of applications off the bat — more than we could field responsibly,” Lo said. “A guiding light for both of us, in this and in how we craft a business, is ‘What would we want as runners? What is our dream, as runners, for a format or a race?’ … Or, as a spectator, what have we always wanted when spectating a race?”
Lo and Zeitoune wanted to curate an experience. They wanted to create a space for people to come together as a community, to challenge themselves and each other while having fun along the way. In order to do that, Lo and Zeitoune said they spent a lot more time organizing than it might seem like on the surface.
“We created chaos,” Zeitoune said. “For chaos to work, people don't realize how much organization needs to happen. Chaos doesn’t just happen. Because when chaos just happens, things fall apart.”
The first order of business was to create an application, on which the only question was “Who hurt you?” And, because they wanted to make the event as accessible as possible, they did not outright reject anyone who applied. Instead, they waitlisted people, and gave everyone on the waitlist a chance to earn their spot by completing a virtual ultra — pressing a button once an hour, on the hour, for 24 hours. In the end, about 200 runners registered for the race.
Zeitoune and Lo were also very intentional in planning which brands they would partner with to avoid the event feeling like a marketing campaign. In contrast to the constant presence of advertising and consumer culture of New York City, their priority was to create a race that highlighted the most important parts of humanity: community, connection, and pure grit.
“A big intent of the $1 Ultra was to go against this corporatization of running,” Lo said. “This is a labor of love for both of us, in that we’re not doing this to try to make a career out of it. We’re intentionally not trying to take money for it.”
“We won't compromise the essence of this race for dollars,” Zeitoune added.
Each runner paid $24 to secure their spot in the race, and the morning of the race, runners were given their $24 back in $1 bills. They pinned one of them to their clothes in lieu of a bib, and could use the rest as their contributions to the jar each time they completed a lap. As the race progressed throughout the day, organized chaos ensued, as Zeitoune and Lo knew that it would. Between Game 5 of the NBA finals, a FIFA World Cup match, a safety concern in Times Square, and regular New York City happenings, there was a lot going on. Zeitoune and Lo were constantly having to adapt, changing race routes on the fly and communicating with city police. At one point, they had to limit runners to running up and down the same block in a .12-mile loop.
“I don't think I've ever talked to the police so much in my life,” Lo said. “Everybody rolled with the punches. They understood that we were doing our best to keep them safe.”
Surprisingly, those five hours ended up being the most exciting ones of the race. Runners were running together, high-fiving each other, and asking for updates on the Knicks game as they ran by race volunteers who were watching.
“I think after the first lap (the runners) realized it was much more fun than running through Times Square,” Zeitoune said. “Across the city, the camaraderie was pretty cool, and that moment on that block just brought it all together.”
It was in those quiet moments, Zeitoune said, where runners were more than 70 miles into the race, that became the most impactful.
“Those are the moments you’ll remember,” Zeitoune said. “Yes, you’ll remember getting a sick pair of sunglasses, yes, you’ll remember getting the T-shirt when you wear it. And everyone, depending on how late they went, has a moment. But for the people that made it to the night, I can’t imagine, when they look back, that they’re not going to think about those dark night hours where it was quiet.”
By the time they were able to reestablish their previous route, it was almost 4 a.m., and the number of runners was dwindling. Seven runners made it to 24 hours — 100 miles of running. Each of the seven received a shirt with a $1 bill sewn on, creating a keepsake to commemorate their achievement and remind them of the experience. On hour 33, Vincent Kennedy ran his last lap to win the race, completing 137.61 miles.
Looking ahead to next year, Zeitoune and Lo say there are already plans in motion.
“However grand this gets … I don’t see why we can’t do that,” Zeitoune said. “We are already scheming.”
Words by Alena Miklosovic
Images and videos courtesy of Victor Zeitoune