The modern marathon runner needs a mess of accoutrement to compete.

Along with this sneaker, I photographed a pedometer, a belt to hold bottles of energy fluid, and organic electrolyte chews.  The art director's vision for the layout called for the items to be floating in the text, so I isolated the sneaker's outline to facilitate stripping out the background.

For historical contrast I went to the Boston Athletic Association.  There I found a gem: The 99-cent sneakers worn by Johnny Miles when he set a world record in the 1926 Boston Marathon. 

Out of its display case – and backed by a white cloth I brought with me – one of the pair sits on a teleconverter from my camera bag.  I carefully tied the laces to approximate my previous knot.

I faced multiple restrictions on photography, including placing a filter over my flash to protect art, when I recently photographed a curator at the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum.  So I was delighted and amazed when I was allowed to handle the historic sneakers.