Jon Suckling

TL;DR: 6 Stars. 3 Years. 1 Very Expensive Paperweight. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 6 majors later, I don’t remember my splits, my times, or my race-day fits. I couldn’t tell you how many gels I took or what free merch I grabbed at pop-ups. But I do remember training through ice storms and heat waves. I remember calling out @blacktoerunning long runs and @paddybirch ’s crate full of water bottles. I remember standing on the start line of the six most iconic marathons in the world, heart pounding, thinking this is epic. Running through beautiful cities, cheered on by millions. Meeting lifelong friends. Celebrating every finish with my incredible family. I remember getting passed by @dphiz at the Brandenburg Gate and the roar of Central Park. Debut marathons with my sister @meaganamy in London and my brother-in-law @golfwithbigal in Chicago. Conquering Heartbreak Hill with my dad and pooping during Tokyo. — Truly, I’ve never cared about the medal or the “achievement”, but the moments along the way meant everything to me. Even the painful ones. Thank you to everyone who I shared a mile with on this epic journey. I feel so incredibly fortunate to have been able to have experience with all of you. ❤️ — Also @wmmajors I graciously accept your offer for an all expense paid retreat to Sydney and complementary entry to the marathon along with coverage of the past three years of therapy bills. 💸 — Onto the next chapter. 📸 2: @andreasendregaard

BlackToe’s Almost Elite Invitational 🔥 A massive thank you to @newbalance and @blacktoerunning for letting us try out the all new SC Elite v5 . Honestly this shoe is light, snappy, extremely fast and aesthetically beautiful. All things that I aspire to be. 📸 @johnwithlenses

@riotrelays 2025 was a blur 🌫️ ••• Running from Toronto to Blue Mountain with @soberstridersrunclub was emotional, real, and left me wanting more. Our team started largely as strangers, we finished as a delirious, sweaty, sleepless family. Shoutout to @marathon2sobriety —the kind of guy who’ll casually change your life by just being himself. Racing up country roads at 3am with him, @jg_runz , @agara95 , @haylesrg , @meghanahoward , @gabrieljarquin , @mr.ceo1994 , and @kalilruns reminded me why I love this sport. Would absolutely do it again. Probably. Also, @grahambaird_photo might actually be a photo wizard 📸

Fluffy Egg Hot Sand

“I am ready to get hurt again.” But seriously, this one is different. I’m not expecting a breakthrough race—my training cycle doesn’t set me up for that and it looks like a hot one. The goal this time is discipline. Tomorrow I’m going to run smart, stay controlled, and race within myself. Over the last few months, running has taken a backseat, and it’s been humbling. Getting into the lottery for Tokyo caught me off guard. I’m far from my best form, but I can’t toe the start line without giving it everything I have. I could still blow up, but I’ll run with my whole heart and soak in every moment of this electric city. Tokyo, let’s do this. Also, egg sandwiches.

I started leading BT Sunday Long Runs at @blacktoerunning in the fall of 2022. For over three years as Community Manager, I poured my whole self into it. I strived to create a training environment that balanced fun and performance—a place where people could chase their best selves. During the “running boom,” our Sunday runs grew from 20 runners to over 200, and I got to witness lifelong friendships form along the way. I’m so grateful to @blacktoemike for giving me the opportunity to be in a leadership position during such an exciting time. With the new year, it’s the perfect time to pass the megaphone to a new voice. I’ll be stepping back into the pack with #1 Leafs fan @ckusnierczyk leading the charge - you can bet that I’ll be a regular at the KW BT Winter Warriors 2025 marathon build (kicking off tomorrow at 8:30am)! From post-run brunches to Strava art, awards shows, and programs like Winter Warriors and Road2Waterfront, I’ve truly enjoyed every moment. If you’ve joined us for a run over the past few years, thank you. I hope you had fun, felt welcomed, and found a community you could call your own. See you tomorrow! 📸: @johnwithlenses

New York City Marathon 2024 🗽 (2:52:57) ••• First and foremost, I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to run this race. I’m not an “influencer” and I’m certainly not an “elite”. I’m just a guy loves to run and to bring people together through running. To receive a bib for the @nycmarathon and to have this whole incredible experience is so humbling. There are so many other people just as worthy. I hope you all get to experience something like this. ••• This isn’t a sponsored post, just my honest thoughts. The New Balance team places incredible emphasis on the grassroots of the sport. They’re out there demo’ing shoes with us at BlackToe at 9pm in the pouring rain, spending time asking questions about our pain points, and moving mountains to make every running experience special and inclusive to all. I hope everyone reading this considers which brands actually walk the walk when it comes to embracing community when they buy their next pair of shoes. The proof is really in the product. ••• The race itself was obviously a fucking battle and I’m not going to pretend I’m not extremely frustrated with my result. I put a lot of effort into this sport and I expect performance to follow. I’m done with lessons and moral victories. I’m done with hearing “way to fight out there”, “tough course”, etc. I’m straight up better than this. I put my heart and soul into this sport and this community. Believe me, I’ve learned that it doesn’t always love you back. So to those who continue to put in the work, who put in more than they take, who proudly show support for one another, our day will come. Keep showing up. ••• To @carl.sta who has come back through 2 major injuries and numerous setbacks over the past year, I’m so goddamn proud of you. ❤️ To my coach @bryan.rusche and team @blacktoerunning , thank you for getting me to the start line. I’m always so proud to represent this team and community. 🖤 And finally to @davekorell and the @newbalance Canada team - thank you doesn’t come close to enough. Race results are fleeting, but this was one of the most special weekends of my life and a perfect reminder of why I love this sport. Onwards… 🇯🇵 👀 #RunYourWay #BT2NYC

It’s time. #BT2NYC

Thousands of km’s down, 10 days to go. #BT2NYC 🗽 ••• It’s been such an electric build. I’ve never been more excited to run a marathon. MAJOR props to the @newbalance performance running lineup for keeping my legs fresh and fast this whole build and to the team for making this experience possible. And shoutout to all my @blacktoerunning teammates who have CRUSHED their fall races! 🔥 ••• Will document the race weekend in all its star spangled glory … stay tuned! @nycmarathon

In my full Funcle era ✨

“Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. Say you’re running and you think, ‘Man, this hurts, I can’t take it anymore. The ‘hurt’ part is an unavoidable reality, but whether or not you can stand anymore is up to you.” -Murakami … Anyway, here’s me nearly 💩ing my pants at a recreational track meet for 7th place. … 📸: @johnwithlenses 👟: @newbalance MD-X v3 🏟️ : @blacktoerunning #NightOfPBs

New Balance has partnered with BlackToe to send 3 of our athletes to race in the upcoming New York City Marathon! If you’re also training for an upcoming race, what are you most excited for? #BT2NYC #newbalance #nycmarathontraining #nycmarathon #marathon #runningmotivation #runningcommunity