Joe Greer Crafts Balance In A Sub 2:40 Marathon, Photography and Fatherhood
“No man has the right to dictate what other men should perceive, create or produce, but all should be encouraged to reveal themselves, their perceptions and emotions, and to build confidence in the creative spirit.”
All images from Joe Greer’s Instagram page and property of Joe Greer. The art of balance. Beautiful balance in art, work, family and sport. It’s rarefied air. To create, compete and parent is a worthy pursuit, and it’s a pursuit that Joe Greer has taken on with humility and vulnerability. Art is sport, and sport is art. The way in which Kobe Bryant drove and shot with a basketball is a painting he could only paint. Tiger Wood’s golf swing is pure athletic violence that shook the world in 1997.
The running and photography of Joe Greer is inspirational. He’s a powerful example to the runner, the artistic and the father. You can discover balance, create great art and run your personal best. Learn more in the documentary below by Eric Floberg.
“The real purpose of running isn’t to win a race. It’s to test the limits of the human heart”
Adopted by his aunt and uncle at an early age, Joe found the courage to be vulnerable in his teens. Growing up without a father and then the death of his mother developed his character and determined to succeed. He found solace in his high school. His high school running coach became a strong father figure and his mentor. In the documentary “Moving Still,” the scenes with his high school coach are moving to core, especially when Joe shares the impact made on his life by coach Tim Byrne at Crystal River High School in Florida.
Joe Greer with his high school coach Tim Byrne.
Often you never know how much of an impact you’ve had on someone. People shape other artists and athletes. It’s crucial to development and maturity. Following college, Joe moved to Spokane Washington, downloaded Instagram and gave his life to photography. Through time and persistence and consistent development of true talent, Joe became a high successful commercial photographer shooting for clients such Apple, Adidas, Land Rover, Harley Davidson, JW Marriott, Ralph Lauren, Starbucks and Cadillac.
His personal work focused on landscapes and then moved to street photography in New York City. He’s a diverse photographer that shines in “documenting life to it’s purest form.”
“My philosophy is that I’m an artist. I perform an art not with a paint brush or a camera. I perform with bodily movement. Instead of exhibiting my art in a museum or a book or on canvas, I exhibit my art in front of the multitudes.”
Following an 8 year hiatus from running and a diehard focus on his photography career, Joe returned to running during the pandemic in 2020. He then dropped a 2:49 marathon at the 2021 NYC marathon and followed that up with a sub 2:40. He hit a wall trying to drop below 2:30 and picked up a bad hamstring injury that limited his performance. Currently, he’s obsessively determined to go sub 2:30. It’s only a matter of time.
Joe and his wife Madison made the transition to parenthood and have a son Oliver. In “Moving Still,” the conversations on fatherhood focus on Joe’s resolve to be everything he can for his son despite Joe’s lack of a father growing up. There are some tense scenes in the documentary when Joe is driving past a church where his biological father is working. He’s between two minds about approaching his father, and it’s riveting to see first-hand. Loving parents are a gift.
“My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me.”
Currently, Joe is still chasing that sub 2:30 marathon with ultimate passion and sacrifice. What are you pursuing? What do you want? Take it all on and find balance like Joe Greer.
You can read more about Joe Greer at Bandit Running and Tracksmith.