Brooklyn Half Marathon: The Salis Recap
No voice. Full send.
A week in the life of a founder who had no business being on that course — and showed up anyway.
By Friday morning I had no voice. Three full days talking to athletes at the RBC Brooklyn Half expo will do that to you — especially when you’re the kind of person who treats every conversation at the booth like it matters. Because it does.
I want to tell you this week went perfectly. It didn’t. I slept poorly, ate minimally, didn’t run a single mile, and by race day I was running on fumes. But I was there. On the course. Chasing down runners I recognized, shouting words of encouragement with a voice that had nothing left to give.
That’s the part they don’t put in the highlight reel. That’s also the part I want you to know about.
It started earlier in the week with a Back on My Feet run. If you are not familiar with BomF — they empower people experiencing homelessness and addiction to transform their lives through the power of running. You show up at 5:30 am and you run alongside people who are fighting for something much bigger than a PR. Every time I run with that group I leave feeling like I haven’t done enough. It’s a good kind of humbling.
Then a run commute home, a quick shower, and straight to the expo. Three days side-by-side with the Fleet Feet team at one of the biggest half marathons in the country.
Here’s what I didn’t expect: people found me. Runners who had picked up Salis at the NYC Half expo six weeks ago walked up to the booth specifically to tell me what happened. Not a handful. Easily close to 100. For three straight days, one after another, telling me their race went well, that they felt different, that they want more.
“I dropped my water bottle at mile one. No cramps. No dehydration. Third fastest half ever — on my lowest training block in months.”
That message came in after the race. A runner named Tiffany, who hadn’t planned on using Salis as her sole hydration source, ended up doing exactly that. The product worked in conditions I couldn’t have scripted. In heat. Without her usual routine. On a lighter training block than she’d had in years.
That’s not a testimonial. That’s Salis doing its job.
Race day was electric. Salis race kits all over the course. A mid-race shoutout from Rob Dalto. I was on the course with the incredible Drew Reynolds capturing some amazing shots that made me realize this brand has a visual story I haven’t fully told yet.
I made connections this week that I’ll be thinking about for months. The running community is smaller and more generous than people realize. Show up consistently, serve the athlete first, and the right doors open.
What I was reminded of again this week is that all work is cumulative. Every expo, every conversation, every sample handed to the right person at the right moment — it compounds. The 100+ people who sought me out at the Brooklyn Half Expo? They originated six weeks ago while working the NYC Half Marathon Expo. I don’t fully know yet where last week’s conversations lead. But I know they matter.
Just 24 hours after the BK Half Marathon ended, I was on a plane to Texas where I am at the tail end of a 10-day road show, supporting Salis. New market. New rooms. Same mission.
It’s about what happens when you make the commitment to Finish What You Start.
See you on the roads!
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