Marek Sthalekar - Creative Projects

Ladybower Reservoir Trails Festival

Clients: RunThrough Trails / (Indirect) The North Face & Sportsshoes

As Social Media Executive, I managed the end-to-end social media strategy, posting and publishing for the Ladybower Reservoir Trails Festival, presented by The North Face and Sportsshoes.

I coordinated with a team of freelancers and videographers to receive, review and post content throughout the day, maintaining a steady flow of engaging updates across RunThrough Trails’ channels. I also worked directly with professional athletes to capture short-form content, oversaw editing of rushes from videographers, and ensured all partner content requirements were delivered to a high standard.

My work ensured cohesive coverage and authentic storytelling, capturing the energy of the festival and amplifying the event’s visibility within the UK trail running community.

UTMB CAMPAIGN 2025

Client: Nike Running /Youth Beyond Borders

I led the social media strategy and content execution for the Alpine Run Project during the 2025 UTMB in Chamonix, working with a small team of freelancers and serving as the sole on-ground photographer throughout the week.

Working closely with the participants, I developed authentic storytelling that captured both the emotion and energy of their journey, translating it into engaging social content for Nike Running and Youth Beyond Borders channels. I also coordinated collaborative content with campaign partners including Sportsshoes and Precision Fuel & Hydration, ensuring brand alignment and consistent messaging across platforms.

Using my initiative, I secured organic media support from @acgdaily and other aggregator accounts on Instagram, extending the campaign’s reach and cultural relevance.

The campaign delivered strong engagement and growth across platforms, driving community connection and visibility for the Alpine Run Project.

Results: 430.5K views | 101K reach | 12.2K interactions | 5.5K profile visits | +480 followers

NIKE PLAYERS CUP 2025

Client: Nike Football / Doodle Development
Role: Event Coordinator – Nike Players Cup 2025, St George’s Park

As Event Coordinator for the Nike Players Cup 2025, I was part of a core five-person production team responsible for delivering a large-scale youth football tournament at the England National Team Training Centre, hosting 1,000+ attendees and 48 grassroots U14 and U16 girls’ teams from across the UK, over 2 days.

I led key operational areas with a team of 30 on-site staff, coordinating logistics, match scheduling, client employees and branded activations across multiple pitches and event zones. I also managed talent logistics and worked closely with event host and former Lionesses captain Faye White to ensure all appearances, presentations and core moments ran seamlessly.

The event celebrated and elevated the women’s grassroots game, combining professional-level organisation with an inspiring, high-energy atmosphere that showcased Nike’s commitment to empowering the next generation of female footballers.

Scale: 1,000+ attendees | 48 grassroots teams | 30 staff | 5 core management

NIKE RACE FORMATS + RUN CLUB ID

Client: Nike Running / Nike London
Project: Nike Race Formats + Run Club ID

As part of a strategic insights project for Nike Running, I was tasked with analysing the UK running landscape to identify new ways Nike London could engage runners through innovative race formats and community partnerships.

I conducted comparative research into global and local running event formats, including relay, Ekiden, ultra and trail races to evaluate how different organisations build participation, community and are able to story tell around their events. My work distilled these insights into actionable recommendations for Nike, highlighting opportunities to adapt culturally resonant race concepts for the London market.

Alongside this, I developed a Run Club ID report, mapping culturally relevant and emerging UK run communities with strong brand alignment and influence potential. This provided Nike London with a list of potential partners for future brand activations, collaborations and events, supporting their ongoing mission to connect authentically with diverse running audiences.

Focus Areas: Market insight | Community mapping | Brand partnerships | Event strategy

JD SPORTS SHOTLIST CREATION

Client: Youth Beyond Borders / JD Sports France / Nike Paris
Project: Aubervilliers Football Culture: Short-Form Social Content

As part of a collaborative campaign celebrating local football culture in Aubervilliers, Paris, I supported the production of a short-form social piece spotlighting grassroots creativity, energy and community pride.

I developed the shot list and for the content creator, ensuring each moment captured reflected the authentic street football spirit and storytelling focus of the campaign.

Focus Areas: Creative production | Shot planning | Social publishing | Cultural storytelling

NIKE RUN CLUB IDENTIFICATION

Client: Nike Running / Nike London
Project: Run Club Partnerships, Cultural Insights & Community Mapping

I conducted research and insight development for Nike London, focusing on identifying culturally relevant and brand-aligned run clubs that could strengthen Nike’s connection to the city’s diverse running communities.

Through community mapping and cultural analysis, I highlighted key groups whose ethos and audience resonated with Nike’s brand values and consumer focus. This work directly supported Nike’s partnership strategy, leading to the identification of RUNNPAC, a collective whose authenticity and influence made them an ideal collaborator.

My insights supported Nike in signing RUNNPAC’s co-founder as a Nike Coach and integrate the club into multiple Nike London activations, reinforcing Nike’s commitment to amplifying voices within the city’s running scene.

Focus Areas: Community research | Cultural insights | Partnership strategy | Brand activation support

UTMB CAMPAIGN 2024

Client: Youth Beyond Borders / Strava
Project: UTMB Campaign 2024

For the 2024 UTMB (Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc), I led the campaign strategy and content output for a collaboration between Youth Beyond Borders and Strava, celebrating young, diverse runners taking on the world’s most iconic trail race.

I developed and produced a multi-post Instagram campaign that followed the runners’ journey from city streets to Chamonix, crafting storytelling that blended personal narratives, training insights and race reflections. The creative direction focused on making trail running feel more relatable, inclusive and visible to a new generation of athletes and outdoor enthusiasts.

The campaign achieved strong organic engagement and community response, reaching 420K+ users and generating 10.3K+ interactions across Strava, Youth Beyond Borders and Alpine Run Project platforms.

Focus Areas: Campaign leadership | Social storytelling | Creative strategy | Community engagement

Results: 420K+ reach | 10.3K+ interactions

JD SPORTS INFLUENCER ENGAGEMENT

Client: Youth Beyond Borders / JD Sports / Nike Running
Project: JD Sports Influencer Engagement, Alpine Run Project

For the JD Sports Hammersmith takeover, the Alpine Run Project send-off event before Chamonix 2023, I led influencer engagement and talent strategy as part of our wider campaign pitch to JD Sports and partners.

I identified and shortlisted influencers whose values and audiences aligned with the Alpine Run Project’s themes of adventure, diversity and community. I also supported the outreach process and pitch, helping secure influencer attendance at the London event and facilitating their travel to Chamonix to capture and share the experience.

Their participation brought visibility and energy to the campaign, amplifying reach both on the ground and across social platforms, and contributing to a highly engaged online response.

Focus Areas: Influencer strategy | Talent sourcing | Partnership outreach | Campaign amplification

Results: 256K+ views | 4.6K+ interactions

JD SPORTS STORE TAKEOVER

Client: Youth Beyond Borders / JD Sports / Nike Running
Project: JD Sports Store Takeover, Alpine Run Project

I supported the full lifecycle of the event, from pitching through to production. The in-store takeover at JD Sports Hammersmith served as a high-energy send-off for the Alpine Run Project athletes ahead of UTMB Mont Blanc.

My role included supporting on production, influencer engagement, logistics, running order and guest experience. I also collaborated with partner agencies to help shape an activation that felt authentic and community-led, bringing together athletes, creatives and supporters in a space that celebrated movement and connection.

Focus Areas: Event production | Influencer engagement | Logistics | Guest experience | Community activation

PUMA R-CITY

Client: Youth Beyond Borders / PUMA
Project: PUMA R-City

As Digital Engagement Officer for PUMA R-City, I managed the event’s Heylo community platform, overseeing participant onboarding and ensuring a smooth digital experience from sign-up through to event day.

I created visual assets for Instagram Stories, designed to engage audiences across both PUMA and partner channels, building anticipation and encouraging interaction. My work maintained consistent branding and tone across platforms while keeping participants connected and informed before, during and after the event.

Focus Areas: Digital engagement | Community management | Content creation | Platform strategy

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