Jesse Liriano

Consistency gets tested the most during the hardest seasons. Some days it’s progress, some days it’s just showing up — but either way, keep going. The struggles won’t last forever, and the version of you that refuses to quit will thank you later. Better days come when you stay the course. 💪🏾 #Consistency #Discipline #TrustTheProcess #StayTheCourse #FitnessMotivation

Thank you all for joining us for a special shakeout run in preparation for tomorrow’s @brooklynexperiencehalf . If you missed out on your opportunity to test out the @oakleymeta Vanguard sunglasses, stop by the Meta Lab NYC store at 697 5th Ave. • • • #HarlemRun #WeRunHarlem #TheMVMT #MetaLab #OakleyMeta 📹: @jesseeeee23

When Jesse Liriano first started running, he didn’t see the need to do so with a group.
 He says he wanted to run at his own pace and continue with his own routine. But eventually he tried out some of @harlemrun ’s speed workouts, and through that started seeing the value of what they were doing in the community. Over time Jesse just kept showing up to Harlem Run, working his way up in the group as a pacer and now one of its captains.
 That’s not the only way Jesse’s relationship with running has evolved over the last decade, however.
 He actually got into running initially in 2014 to try and improve his performance in obstacle course races. By the winter of 2022, he dialed in his training with the goal of qualifying for the Boston Marathon, doing so with a 3:03 PR at the Brooklyn Marathon that year. Now, though, the Harlem native says he’s mostly focused on being a role model for the youth in his community and in general helping ‘change the narrative of how people see my neighborhood.’
 We spoke with Jesse to discuss his introduction to and growth within Harlem Run, his work and fundraising supporting @odysseyhouseny and @nextpageworkshop , the journey of qualifying for Boston, the legacy he hopes to leave in the community and more.

Read the full interview at the link in bio.

📸: @thisisdizzle

This year taught me who I am when no one is watching—and who I need to be when everyone is. I’ve grown as an individual and stepped deeper into my role as a leader for my community. Heading into 2026 with gratitude, discipline, and a clear vision of what’s next. #YearInReview #EvolvingLeader #GrowthMindset #CommunityLeadership #LeadWithPurpose 2026Vision Photo by 📸 @sebastiangollings

Life’s too short to play it safe. I’m choosing the path that scares me a little, excites me a lot, and sets my soul on fire every single day. Here’s to taking risks, chasing what feels right, and living life with no regrets. 🔥✨ #LiveLifeFully #ChaseYourFire #DoItScared #NoRegretsLifestyle #RiskTakerEnergy #SoulOnFire #LifeIsTooShort #FearlessLiving #ElevateYourLife #PurposeAndPassion #KeepRising #UnapologeticallyYou Photos by 📸 @thisisdizzle @flimediainc @sestafford B/w by Jose Bautista

In a world that moves fast, I’m grateful for the chance to slow down, show up, and pour back into the place that raised me. Harlem built my confidence, shaped my hustle, and taught me what real community looks like. If my journey can inspire even one person to push a little harder, dream a little bigger, or believe in themselves a little more—then I’m doing my part. Here’s to being a light, staying grounded, and uplifting the block that made me. ✨🖤 #Harlem #HarlemStrong #CommunityFirst #InspireTheCulture #BeaconOfHope #NYCCommunity #UpliftTheBlock #PurposeDriven #LeadWithLov 📸 by @flimediainc @amafariah

Still in awe of the energy, the crowds, and the magic of the TCS New York City Marathon. Ran with zero pressure and all the joy—plus got to experience it all through the Oakley Vanguard Meta AI. Wow. Just… wow. #TCSNYCMarathon #NYCMarathon #OakleyVanguardMetaAI #OakleyMeta #RunNYC #MarathonMagic #RunForFun #MilesOfSmiles #NYCRunning #FinishLineFeels #harlemrun #werunharlem #jessdoit #running #instarunners

The NYC Marathon is over. Our mission is not. Help us build restorative creative writing programs for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated youth across NYC. 📝 So far we’ve raised $9,136.51 to launch our first creative writing workshop in East Harlem— and we’re aiming to reach $10,000 by the end of the month as we expand into the South Bronx and Brownsville. 📢 Share this reel with someone who believes in second chances— and the power of storytelling. Thanks to @harlemrun and @brooksrunningnyc for housing our team and to photographers @thisisdizzle , @afariahshotit and @flimediainc and videographers @amirmfigueroa , @sta.siaaa and @thisguyben_ for capturing our runners. #TCSNYCMarathon #MedalMonday #RunWithPurpose #RunningForChange #LiteracyIsFreedom #writetoheal

It’s all thanks to YOU! Together, our team of five @nycmarathon runners — Jesse Liriano (@jesseeeee23 ), Descendent (@descendent__ ), Taryn Finley (@_tarynitup ), LeNard Pitts, and founder Emily Palmer (@emilyepalmer ) — raised $9,036.51 to launch @nextpageworkshop ’s pilot restorative creative writing workshop for formerly incarcerated youth in East Harlem this fall. Your donations make our mission possible. On Sunday, we ran the #TCSNYCMarathon— a combined 131 miles because we believe that literacy is a right that should be extended to all our children. For some of us, it was a repeat journey through the five boroughs. For Descendent and Taryn, their very first time. Many more of you were a part of our journey— dozens of friends and family cheering us on, along with our nearly 80 seed donors many of whom believed in @nextpageworkshop and the impact we could make on students while the program was still just an idea. On Wednesday, we shared our journey with the very students we had run for: telling the same story from different perspectives, complete with printed photographs of our race and a finisher medal engraved to our inaugural class. Now, we continue the work, with new programs soon beginning inside juvenile detention centers in the South Bronx and Brownsville. How to get involved: 📣 Amplify @nextpageworkshop ’s mission by reposting, sharing posts to Stories and tagging friends interested in the cause 🧩 Stay connected with our newsletter— just DM @nextpageworkshop with your email 💸 Help us reach our goal of $10k by the end of November by donating at the link in any of our runner’s profiles A huge thank you to @harlemrun for housing our team and to photographers David Jaewon Oh (@thisisdizzle ) and @flimediainc for capturing our runners at Mile 22– the first miles of a much larger journey. #NextPAGEWorkshop #whywerun #HarlemRun #WeRunHarlem #LiteracyIsFreedom

SEE YOU TOMORROW! We can’t wait to have you with us this weekend. We got all kinds of fun surprises and moments planned. Check our feed for the full schedule or join us on Heylo (link in bio). Thank you to the brands who help us continue to bring people UPTOWN - to where it all started. While everyone heads downtown, just know that we got you covered right here in Harlem. We set the blueprint ✊🏾 #HarlemRun #WeRunHarlem #NYCMarathon #RunningWhileBlack

The @nycmarathon  is just 5 days away— and this year, every mile we run supports @nextpageworkshop , a new literacy nonprofit serving incarcerated and formerly incarcerated youth in East Harlem, and soon, the South Bronx and Brownsville. 🗓️ Follow our journey across the 5 boroughs this Sunday, Nov. 2 💸 Support the mission by donating at the link in our bios Let’s turn the page! #TCSNYCMarathon #NextPAGEWorkshop #whyirun

Grateful to be invited to the Oakley Meta AI Vanguard event — an inspiring look at how innovation and performance come together. Excited to put this technology to the test at this Sunday’s @nycmarathon . The future of running is here, and I’m ready to be part of it. 👓🏃🏽‍♂️💨 #OakleyMetaAI #OakleyVanguard #OakleyRunning #NYCMarathon #MarathonReady #RunYourVision #InnovationInMotion #MarathonMindset #RunnersOfIG #RunningCommunity #NYCRunning #FutureOfPerformance #OakleyAthlete