Home | Steady Archives

Documenting Running Culture in L.A.

MERRELL

PELOTON

AG1

Serving the Los Angeles community since 2017.

Steady Archives started as a passion project to document the running space in Los Angeles. It has since become a creative media company that seeks to tell unique stories within the space of the running industry.

WAYLAN CHOI_01_KODAK 200_214_Original.jpg

Sunsets on Sunset
.
Nothing beats a gradient orange sky and running in good company

NIKE VICTORY RELAY 2.0
.
Had the opportunity to participate in the Victory Relay with the Renegade team. Grateful I got to run alongside some dope individuals. Nothing beats the feeling of camaraderie formed from these types of races. It was an incredible experience getting to run inside the coliseum and watching everyone pour their energy into their individual legs. My teammates all crushed it and some walked away with mile PRs! Congrats to everyone on their efforts - RUN IT BACK!
.
More to come with the @renegade_running team

running is the REMEDY
.
Always a pleasure to visit the homies over at KRSA. They had a demo run with Adidas and folks got to try on the Evo SL. One of the most in demand shoes this year. The run was hosted out of @remedyhairshoppe and they provided ice baths, music, coffee, and good vibes. Stay tuned for the next one

BOYLE HEIGHTS BRIDGE RUNNERS
.
Tap in with them next week for their anniversary! Always a good time getting to run by Boyle Heights. The views from Mariachi Plaza and the 6th St Bridge never disappoint. Summer sunsets around the area are some of the best 🤌🏼

Union Los Angeles held a launch event for the Nike Vomero Plus this past week. Got to try on the max cushioned version of the Vomero and man is it cushioned haha. Solid shoe if you’re looking for something with a lot of plush. Good for those folks that heel strike or have a low cadence. Ended the 4 mile run with some juice from @cosmosjuice_tomigaya

AC100 THREE POINTS
.
Dawn turns to dusk. Night time is a whole different beast and many runners will spend the rest of the night trudging through the mountains searching for the next checkpoint. First female has made her way past Three Points and so have some other friends. The night continues.

AC100 - Three Points Aid Station

The leaders of the race have been steadily moving throughout the course. @woah_max holds a strong lead over Peter Davidson. @dchongerz has also come through and is on course out by Chilao and Shortcut. Not sure what’ll happen towards the end but stay tuned with some more updates as folks pass through Three Points.

Moments from a trail run with @on and @earnednotgivenclub this past weekend. Such a fun time getting to hit the trails with this group. The energy was high and everyone looked strong on those hills. Shout out to @nicolescruggs_ for having me.

Scenes from the Loyal Always Forum a couple of weeks ago. I was finally able to get around to going through what I captured. It was a hectic week for me between a few sudden gigs that popped up and getting ready for our trip to Japan.

While looking through the video footage and the photos I couldn’t help but feel a great amount of guilt about leaving the city at such an important time. Leaving my parents to go on vacation. In Japan those feelings kept nagging at me. I felt I wasn’t allowed to be happy or take up space elsewhere. It felt like I was running away and turning my back on my family.

As I edited, it felt a bit like a form of meditation and reflection. My mind wandered thinking about what I wanted to create next. Questions about what do I want to show to others. How do I want to show up as an artist and as a person. Ultimately I couldn’t arrive at an answer but I do know this - I want to feel grounded in my identity as a Mexican-American. I want to be purposeful and intentional with my art and I want to help people see themselves in what I do. To feel inspired. To feel empowered in some way. So this is my promise to myself. As I navigate through this I hope y’all will enjoy what I create. Staring with these clips and photos.

F*CK I.C.E
.
Whether you show up in person or you show up for your friends continue to voice your concerns and continue to support undocumented folks all throughout LA. Donate, share information, be present however you can. This doesn’t end until we’re all safe! El Pueblo Unido Nunca Será Vencido!

STAND TOGETHER

The running space in Los Angeles has given so much to me and today I’m asking for more because I’m a bit selfish that way.

I was raised by immigrant parents who gave me everything I could growing up. My mom worked in a sweat shop earning cents per hour but she never failed to put food on the table. She never failed to be there for parent teacher conferences. I never knew what it felt like to be poor because we were rich with laughter and love. She worked a job nobody wanted. Tell me if she deserves to be sent away? My father who works in construction is one of the hardest working people I know. He’s always told me how lucky we are to be in America the land of opportunity and freedom. He pays his taxes every year because he feels indebted to a country that gave him a job that nobody else wants to do. Does he deserve to be sent away?

Why does our country turn its back on people like them. I hope that the running community in LA won’t turn its back on people like my parents.

Running is so many things to me. There have been moments of joy and moments of pain but I continue to do the damn thing bc it’s connected me with some incredible individuals. Running has helped me find my community of people and for that I’ll always be grateful. Thank you to this sport and to all the folks I’ve shared miles with. Enjoy these snippets of moments in running. Happy Global Running Day!

SUNSETS ON SUNSET with @renegade_running and @banditrunning
.
No better way to kick off the summer vibes than with some easy miles down Sunset Boulevard and around Echo Park Lake. Bandit Running debuted their summer collection and served up some tasty meats from @chainsaw.la . Can’t wait for more summer kickbacks!

Consistency and Repetition. A short video and nod to the daily hustle.
.
As the summer weather brings about some intense heat, we still keep at it. Building and staying committed when others gradually fall off.

Runner: @_illmalec

TRACK SESSION w/ @allimary_

Short session with Allison during her track workout. Track photos can be kind of repetitive so I’ve been trying to figure out what are some things that allude to the idea of the workout and the intensity of a track workout without being too obvious. If that makes sense haha. We spent a bit of time after Allison’s workout finding some ways to incorporate some editorial style photos as well. Playing with the bench and the concrete wall with electrical boxes.

Shout to @_itsjesus for assisting with the light for some of the shots

Community Run with @drinkmagna
.
Covered this fun activation with @nocoffeenorun and @littletokyorunclub . Runners got to try out the new Blood Orange flavor along with some treats from @almondmilkmaiden.
.
It was a hot one but everyone crushed it and enjoyed some chill miles throughout Echo Park

BLOOM 💐
.
Had been wanting to do a shoot based around the use of flowers and so I approached @emilyeahh_ with the idea. Scheduling conflicts made things difficult but I was happy to have finally been able to get together for this one.

It was a good way to practice poses, direction, lighting, and styling. I had been saving up various instagram posts for inspiration and reference which helped a lot. I know my ability to direct folks in front of my camera is sometimes lacking so I forced myself to get out of my comfort zone and try to really bring to life what I had imagined.

Though not at all about running we did use running clothes as the initial idea haha. Hoping to continue to explore more ideas like this with friends.

Also if you need a florist go support local and shop Latina with @bloomsonbeverly . Emily is one of the best out there

ALTADENA TO PASADENA
.
Congrats to @silverlaketrackclub on such a successful fundraiser and event! The running community in Los Angeles is truly incredible! It was amazing to see so many friends from various running groups show out. Sharing miles in solidarity for one purpose. Altadena and the Palisades will stay strong and rebuild. If you’d like to donate check out the Silverlake Track Club page to find the link for their fundraiser.

Blood Orange Summer
.
Recent shoot with @drinkmagna . Images and video captured for the release of their new flavor Blood Orange. I’m already a big fan of their other flavors but this one is definitely my favorite. Had a fun time shooting with @nolannnj @keatonkustler and @markbartling .

Snaps from a shoot with @goodvibes_tc . Documenting the debut of their Spring Racing Kit! Always a pleasure getting to shoot these. The design by @kariweis_ was dope. Shout out to @wavyymarv for tapping me in for this.

Runners
@jsh.prtz
@amanda_sunmi
@pardz

ROSE BOWL HALF SHAKEOUT
.
Lil shakeout before race day. Testing out the @361usa Elios in this dope all black and gum sole color way. Thanks @behindtherun for the shoes. Stable ride and cushioned throughout. They are a bit on the bulkier side but I can def see myself using these on my longer and slower recovery miles.

Excited to pace some folks tomorrow as well. Who is else is gonna be out there? I’ll have my lil point and shoot camera on me 📸

TSP SOLO

THE JOB IS DONE

144 HRS AND 13 MIN

SOUTH CENTRAL TO VEGAS

MILE 233

56 MILES LEFT TO GO. One more 20 mile segment on powerline and then straight to Vegas on the road 🚀

MILES 106-156

We entered the first segment of powerline rd. and trekked through the night to make up for some lost time in the earlier stages of the race. It was difficult navigating the sandy terrain and the gusts of wind that would continually blow gravel at us. It took a lot to power through and to believe that the end was near. Well the end for this stretch at least. Ozzie is currently in the second stretch of powerline rd. A segment that spans 26 miles.

MILE 120-136

Conditions were tough with a late start but Ozzie kept chipping away at the miles. After toughing it out in the heat , he was greeted by the cool winds of the night and reached the outskirts of Barstow. He decided to call it a night in order to recover from the intense pain on his shins and knees. The goal now is to reach power line and conquer 65 miles for the day.

TSP SOLO WITH @trainwithozzie

Headed to the desert once again to capture the energy of TSP 🫡. See y’all out there and head to Ozzie’s page to stay up to date with his journey!

Running is such a beautiful sport. From the changing scenery with each step you take ; to the sounds of breathing and feet hitting the concrete. It’s definitely a privilege to be able to capture so many small moments of bliss, energy, and joy.

Images from a long run with KRSA

LAM 2025

Scenes from Mile 19/25

Favorite little snippets and moments that I caught along the course. Was happy to see so many friends and familiar faces out on the course. Inspired by everyone who showed up for themselves and ran their hearts out. Also amazed by the incredible art being put out by so many creatives/photographers/videographers. The bar is raised every year and it elevates this thing we call run culture. I can’t wait to see what next year holds . I love this city #iloveLA #losangelesmarathon #runculture

Been a minute since I shared some work! With so much going on I haven’t had a chance to look back on some stuff and reflect. So here’s some favorites from a trail run into Griffith Park with Usal and LSD.

I thought we got pretty lucky with the weather that day. The sun rays sneaking in between the trees. The shadows spreading across the ground. Everything was beautiful.

This year can be summed up by these words that I hold close. A year filled with repetition and consistency in various aspects of my life. Whether that was in running or my career. And although my consistent and repetitive efforts haven’t always yielded fruitful results , I remind myself that the traces of what I’ve done live on as experiences in me and in others. As I continue to navigate this life, my efforts and struggles will remain in some shape or form. And I’ll look back on those moments and think that there’s is still so much more to be done and I have more to give.

End ramble

Over the weekend I got to run and chat with @dchongerz about her attempt at the Javelina Jundred. We got around to shooting some photos at Griffith Park on what was honestly one of the clearest days I’ve seen. After that I was inspired to bring back the series I’d started during my LA Marathon training - Push the Pace. This time, recognizing Dani and her ability to push her boundaries; digging into the uncomfortable in the pursuit of something bigger than herself. Whether that’s meaning, purpose, or whatever else , you’ll have to tap in with her to find out more. For now enjoy these photos and wish Dani luck. Stay tuned for more updates as race day approaches 🏁

Aside from capturing the elite my other goal was to document my partner @go_kimm .

This Chicago Marathon was special because it was a redemption for her that was long overdue. She did Chicago Marathon in 2019 and had a really great training block up until a couple of weeks out from race day. She ended up getting injured and all her hard work went out the window. Though she still raced that year, it wasn’t the outcome she wanted. Fast forward to this year - having become a property owner and balancing work with training, she had a lot of self doubts about keeping up with everything. Coupled with thoughts about her progress and seeing others hit huge PRs and continually improving while she remained the same, it took a toll on her confidence.

On race day she executed a perfect plan that blew away all those negative thoughts and came through with a huge PR! As we watched her estimated time stay at 4:21 we knew she had it but what was unexpected was that she pushed even harder and dropped down to 4:18!

I’m extremely proud of her and how hard she pushed herself throughout this year to get to this point. So congrats my love. This is only the beginning, can’t wait to see what’s ahead for you. 💐

Chicago Marathon 2024
.
A beautiful city and a beautiful race to witness. Heading to Chicago I knew I wanted to capture more of the elite and sub-elite folks racing. I especially wanted to be at Mile 3 and Mile 13 of the race to capture the runners crossing the bridges over the Chicago river. I did my best to incorporate the structures and environment in Chicago as a nod to its strong architectural history. Grateful to have been able to be out there cheering runners on and capturing some small moments.
.
Capture on Sony A7IV
Sony G 24-105 F4.0
ISO 3200

Chicago Marathon Ready!
.
Ready to support @go_kimm out in Chicago as she takes on the marathon this upcoming weekend! It’s been a tough journey for her and seeing first hand the frustrations and struggles she had throughout this training block makes this weekend all the more special. Because despite the hardships, she continued to put in the work day in and day out in order to realize her goal. Proud of how far she’s come and I can’t wait to see it all go down! Time to race! 🏁🫶🏼

TL;DR
Ran my first 50k this past weekend. It kicked my ass. Mammoth Trailfest is tough and I’m definitely training next time.

Recap:
I wasn’t sure about doing this race. I wasn’t able to train for it the way I wanted. I originally thought my fitness from LAM training would help me continue on to the trails but I emerged from LAM with an injury that persisted for about 5 months. Combine that with a rolled ankle that took a month to heal followed by knee issues from overcompensating bc of said ankle and you have a sure fire recipe on how not to tackle your first ultra.

I decided to go ahead with this race for various reasons but the one that stands out among them all is how I really wanted to show my mom the views on top of Mammoth Summit. I held on to this one thought and it helped me push through any pains, and any doubts I had. My mom doesn’t get to travel a lot not bc she doesn’t want to but bc she can’t. As an immigrant parent she sacrificed so much for me to enjoy views like this. She’s given me so much, one of those things being the opportunity to travel and see the world. So it’s only right I do my best to show her and tell her about all the things I get to experience. I value time spent with her so much. Even more so with all her recent health scares that make me realize our parents won’t always be here. So when it came time to decide if I was going to DNF or not I knew I had to just do damn thing. I wanted to cross that finish line so I could go back home to her house and re-count this adventure with her. So that she could berate me over doing something stupid. “Pinche pata de perro, no te cansas de andar corriendo “ she usually says affectionately. I know she’s proud.

Grateful to @heybrybry for doing this stupid thing with me. @aztitlan for the sports massage that got me to the start line.

My partner @go_kimm for her endless support
And the friends that I got to be out there with
@gravemind_ @tempo_with_jess

Stills from an AG1 shoot with @r_willms and @ninasieh
.
I remember for those indoor shots we had to fake the sun coming through the windows. That morning ended up being completely overcast and even drizzling slightly. All I had was my MolusX100 and that ended up being enough.
.
The cycling images reveal what the outside actually looked like haha. It was a fun day and always grateful to work with my friend Ryan.

Shot some images of the Adidas Ultraboost 5X at the @runnerslosangeles community run out of Santa Monica. Folks got to try out the shoe ahead of its release. Dope colorway of the shoe and definitely an improvement with the removal of the cage that previous versions had.
.
Always dope to see the different folks that come out to these ARLA runs.

Editorial style shoot with @johannarw_
.
Styled in @banditrunning and @newbalancerunning
.
Shot on Sony A7IV, Sony 24-105 f4.0, Sigma 35mm 1.4
.
Two of my favorite lenses bc they’re budget friendly and deliver on performance

Finally had the chance to drop by @trophiesburgerclub
.
Stop number one on the quest to taste some of the best burgers in LA. I’ve known about this spot for a while but never got around to making the trek to this area. Luckily @go_kimm showed me a list from @infatuation_la that ranked the best burger spots in LA and sparked my curiosity enough to get me out there. So here we are on a quest to taste and photograph all the spots.
.
We ordered the trophies double, a hot dog, some curly fries, fountain drink, and a strawberry shake.
.
Burger didn’t disappoint and neither did the hot dog. That dijonnaise hit and those pickles were something else. The shake was the surprise hitter. Thought it had like a waffle cone flavor mixed into it which was 🤌🏼. Gotta return for whatever specials @chefgeodla cooks up.

Approaching the end of the summer but not quite ready to let these sunny days go. Throwback to this dope run with @blacklistla.
.
Took a stroll through Elysian and Echo Park. I’ve really enjoyed getting to run around this area lately. I remember as a kid I often visited echo park with my mom. So getting to run through these streets takes me back.

Digging into the archives and posting some work I haven’t gotten to share.

Some stills featuring @arbyisabelle styled in @on and @banditrunning

Santa Monica Classic 5k
.
Stills from the Santa Monica Classic this morning. Saw a good amount of friends and folks from other run crews. The sun was out and temps were higher than normal but everyone still looked strong.
.
Congrats to everyone who went all out and pushed themselves out on the course! If I spotted you I prob have a photo of you. Link in bio

###
GVTC VERSUS HOOD TO COAST

CURRENTLY: 58.8MI
WE WORKIN’

VAN [A] SET THE PACE AND SWAPPED WITH VAN [B] AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. HEADING INTO THE NIGHT SEGMENTS

#HTC

#GoodVibesTC
#WeAllWeNeed

Got to create these dope shots out in Angeles National Forest with @brooksbash. Always grateful for the trust @ct_corp_ and @sarahtaverniti have in me when we shoot. Looking forward to more shoots in the outdoors 🍃

Hardest part about being a freelancer is being your own marketing team. I enjoy sharing my work, I just don’t always have the time to sort through and pick out what I like. Working on it though.

That being said, I was particularly happy with this set of photos from an @runnerslosangeles community run out of Loqui Culver City. The sunset was beautiful and I took full advantage of its colors

ARLA Community Run
Sony A7IV // Sigma 35mm
Godox AD200

GVTC 5k TIME TRIAL
.
Tonight 7.6.24
at Rancho Cienega Sports Complex
7pm meet up

Tap in with @goodvibes_tc for all the info or head on over to @strava and search for the GVTC group page.
.
Ready to capture all the effort, grit, and sweat 📸

Chasing y’all down with my camera this entire summer 📸. Post run sweat captured by @dells_g

Tomorrow, Project Women’s Trail will culminate at the @socaltrail Tough Mugu 10k where these ladies will tackle their first trail race. Trail running is dominated by male participants so to see a project like this unfold is definitely special. These ladies come from various backgrounds and help to demonstrate that trail running is for everybody and that with the proper access to tools and training we can make a direct impact in this sport. This is just the first step for Project Women’s Trail ⛰️

Project Women’s Trail by ARLA
.
Excited to capture these ladies on Saturday as they take on their first trail race with @runnerslosangeles . They’ll be running the @socaltrail Tough Mugu 10k. A classic race in the Santa Monica Mountains. For most of them it’ll be there first race in general and for all of them, their first trail race. The program is a way to get more ladies on the trails and to help diversify the sport. Statistics show that less than 1/4 of participants in trail races are women and even less than that are women of color. It’s dope to see initiatives like this which aim to change the narrative.

.pro-gallery-wix-wrapper {display: block !important;} .pro-gallery-wix-wrapper .gallery-item-container {opacity: 1 !important; display: block !important;}

Get In Touch

Los Angeles, CA, 90015

213-268-9598

steven@steadyarchives.com

MERRELL

PELOTON

AG1

​

Get In Touch