NBMA running jersey worn by Tony Reed worn during a marathon in Nairobi, Kenya
date: label: Date
content: 2007
name: label: Created by
content: Converse, American, founded 1908
label: Subject of
content: National Black Marathoners Association, American, born 2001
label: Worn by
content: Tony Reed, American, born 1956
notes: label: Caption
content: 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."
label: Caption
content: 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.
label: Caption
content: 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.
label: Description
content: 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.
label: Description
content: 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: label: Place used
content: Nairobi, Kenya, East Africa, Africa
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: Associations and institutions
label: Topic
content: Athletes
label: Topic
content: Clothing and dress
label: Topic
content: Sports
label: Topic
content: Track and field
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
label: Classification
content: Clothing - Sports Uniforms
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Anthony and Deborah Reed
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: 2012.69.1abc
objectType: label: Type
content: jerseys
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: No Known Copyright Restrictions
label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: polyester and elastomer with metal and enamel
label: Dimensions
content: H x W (shirt): 27 x 22 in. (68.6 x 55.9 cm)
label: Dimensions
content: H x W (Kenya flag pin): 1 x 1 x 3/8 in. (2.5 x 2.5 x 1 cm)
label: Dimensions
content: H x W (Africa pin): 1 x 7/8 x 3/8 in. (2.5 x 2.2 x 1 cm)