Short version: Philanthropist, runner-author-coach. Best work experience? Building a public kids hospital in Africa.

Long version

After living in five countries on three continents, surviving two brain surgeries, on either side of the skull, Toby intends on settling down—soon. He is a philanthropist, coach, author/writer, former professional athlete, race director, and the founder of Shoe4Africa.

Profiled twice on CNN, featured as the Humanitarian of the Year for Runner’s World (USA), and named as one of Runner's World (UK) 30 Changemakers of the sport in the last 30 yrs, with commendations by the Presidents of the USA and Kenya, Toby worked—unpaid—for two decades leading charitable projects in Africa. Most memorably to construct East & Central Africa’s 1st public children’s hospital—mirroring Nelson Mandela’s South African legacy dream.*

During this period, Toby also constructed a number of free-to-attend schools, hosted AIDS awareness, hookworm, & peace events, and re-gifted thousands upon thousands of pairs of gently used running shoes at empowerment events for women and children.

Toby has authored a total of five books. The first one, titled "Train Hard, Win Easy: The Kenyan Way," was initially published in 1997 and gained significant popularity; 'Athletics Weekly,' of Great Britain stated, "The most complete look at the Kenyan Running phenomenon." The book was reprinted several times and was considered a "Cult Classic" by Running Times. Versions in languages as obscure as Polish have surfaced over the years. In 2001, an extended second edition of the book was published, which also became a bestseller. In 2018, the book's second edition was again relaunched into publication.

His third book, "The Essential Guide to Running The New York City Marathon" was published by Penguin Perigree in 2003 and provided valuable insights and advice for runners interested in participating in the prestigious world’s largest marathon.

In 2008, Toby released his fourth book titled "More Fire: How to Run the Kenyan Way," which delved deeper into the principles and techniques behind Kenyan running success and was lauded by a Runner's World Senior Editor as the "best book written on Kenyan running."

In December 2021, Toby published his memoir, "Running with Destiny: An Odyssey of Mistakes, Machetes, and Miracles." This memoir chronicles his personal journey, sharing experiences, challenges, and extraordinary moments related to both running and his extensive charity work.

Toby pledged 100% of the author royalties from the last two titles to the Shoe4Africa foundation, not taking a penny for himself.

Toby was a columnist and wrote for a variety of national, and international, magazines, journals, and online publications. He's also done online and TV commentary for running events, and he wrote and helped produce the Soundwalk Audio Running guides to NYC, Paris, London, and Berlin, which were later sold to PUMA, and he wrote and co-produced the NYC marathon’s first audio guide featuring celebrities, elite athletes, and the New York state governor.

Toby has been cited in numerous books as a running expert and has appeared in a diverse (like Vogue & Home Cooking!) array of magazine articles.

Shortly after arriving in NYC, Toby sat on the (NYRR) NYC Marathon’s Board of Directors for fifteen consecutive years and is the only non-incumbent director to be voted onto the board since 1958. Toby was elected the Chairman of the Race Quality control amongst other roles during his long tenure on the board.
Prior to these positions, Toby had been named a lifetime honorary NYRR member in 2000, the same year he was elected the PHS Elite comeback runner of the year for the New York City Marathon. The race was only nine months after his first brain surgery, and with just three months of marathon training, Toby completed the world's largest marathon placing 31st to raise $10,000 for Fred's Team, a local charity.

To serve people with disabilities, Toby worked as a Board Director for eight years, then as the Vice President for a further eight years of a disability charity—Achilles International (previously known as the Achilles Track Club) sitting alongside the founder, Dick Traum.

Toby has served on several other charitable boards, and as a member of the Runner’s World Coaches Advisory Board, and he was named as a 'Commit to Fit Ambassador' for the global food franchise giant's, SUBWAY.

Nike: for the International sports giants Toby was the inaugural and head coach of what is today recognized as the NYC Nike Running Club. In the 90's, he had ran as a professional athlete for the sports powerhouse.

Along with the Nike team, Toby coached four additional NY city running teams, numerous private individuals, and a handful of charity organizations teams. Toby also coached at the iconic Fashion Institute of Technology building their first Cross-Country, Track, and Half Marathon teams. He also coached paroled prisoners and police cadets in NYC. Today, Toby continues coaching for Team Lifeline.

For many years, Toby has experience as a Public Speaker for a diverse list of outlets in America, Europe, and Africa, and lectured for years at the NYRR's NYC marathon's official Build-Up lecture series. Other speaking clients have included brands such as ING, Land Rover, Nike, Merrill Lynch, Arthur Anderson, NYC Parks etc.

For thirteen years, he was a Race Director and developed one of NYC’s most popular events (The Hope & Possibility) inviting luminaries such as Prince Harry to attend the event and run alongside Toby in the city park. Toby has directed several other running events in Manhattan, and also over in Kenya.

Toby resides between New York City, and Eldoret, Kenya, with his wife Chelimo, and daughter Lindi.

His latest ambition is to construct sub-Saharan Africa’s 1st children’s cancer hospital and create an African Children's Health Village that will be the largest center on the continent for treating children. Construction began in January, 2024.

​Trivia? Although touted by the Scottish Balmoral Races as the fastest person ever to run a 10 km race wearing a kilt (Stockholm's Sylvesterloppet, Sweden), Toby fails to, even once, outrun Chelimo, Lindi (the house champion), or Fluffy, his pet highland sheep. Toby's wife, Chelimo, representing Kenya, won three medals at the 2023 African Master's track & field championships, ran for the national team at the 2024 World Athletic Master's Championships in Sweden, and is a former three-time national champion in field hockey. 
The title of Toby's first book—Train Hard, Win Easy—was adopted by Nike as a slogan for one of their premier T-shirt lines.

*Nelson Mandela, 2005, proclaimed, “a specialist dedicated (public) children’s hospital will be a credible demonstration of the commitment of African leaders to place the rights of children at the forefront – nothing less would be enough.” 

Articles

https://www.runnersworld.com/races-places/a20791173/shoe4africa-stages-womens-run-and-healthwalk-in-kenya/

https://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/a20830990/rw-hero-of-running-toby-tanser/

https://www.podiumrunner.com/culture/the-power-of-one-exclusive-interview-with-toby-tanser/

The Xtraordinary Toby Tanser
https://www.thextraordinary.org/toby-tanser

Running for a Greater cause https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/09/giving/beyond-competition-running-for-a-cause.html

Profile on Toby Tanser https://ideamensch.com/toby-tanser/

Go Solo https://gosolo.subkit.com/small-help-dramatic-change-toby-tanser/