July 13, 2025 Photography/film TSP

TSP: LALV GRANT – the creators

words x dan marrett

photos x axel rosas villaseñor, andrew figueroa, alif ghifari

we were the founding partner of the speed project’s LALV GRANT in 2022; borne from a mutual desire to create a longstanding commitment to the global running community to expand access to the LALV experience. in 2024, three content creators had their journey through the desert catalyzed by the GRANT, to documents the perspectives, stories and efforts put in by the solo runners and teams. below are their favourite images, mixed in with some thoughts on what they captured – and what they didn’t. the three GRANT creator recipients were axel rosas villaseñor from mexico, andrew figueroa from chile, and alif ghifari from indonesia.

what was your favourite photo and why?

Andrew: Hard task, but I think the first one, it has a little bit of everything I like, a beautiful natural environment, morning colors, and that camaraderie that tsp has, without stealing all the limelight, I feel that it has those subtleties of TSP, which incidentally leads us to explore a unique environment/space.

Axel: My favorite photo is the one where the runner is alone on the highway. TSP is a group experience but I have found that the runners can be by themselves for long periods of time. I find that duality about teamwork and being able to keep going by yourself pretty interesting. I’m cheating a little bit but also the photo of the DJ at Adelanto, you just don’t expect a party in that place!

Alif: This photo holds a special place in my heart because it was a moment of perfect timing—being in the right place at just the right time. Without being able to track where the runners were, capturing this stunning scene with a runner passing through felt like pure serendipity. I loved it so much, I had it printed and proudly displayed in my office.

what was your favourite moment that you didn’t capture on photo?

Andrew: Especially for those of us who were in secrets, getting together when we arrived in las vegas, between tsp staff/crew, people who run LALV, that moment of family reunion.

Axel: The day that it snowed we weren’t able to catch any runners on the spot. It was still pretty exciting for me because I have never experienced a snowfall, and I didn’t even get to shoot any runners. Where I live we have snow and ice on the glaciers but it is not something common.

Alif: I think one of the moments I regret missing the most, besides the activities inside the van that I couldn’t capture, is the Double Down Invitational in Las Vegas. I was so exhausted that I completely forgot about this incredible part of TSP that I wasn’t there to witness or document. If I ever get another chance to go to TSP, the Double Down Invitational is definitely at the top of my wishlist.

axel’s favourite images

what makes TSP so special to capture from your point of view?

Andrew: I think there are many things, but from emotions, to the out of context of a runner in the middle of nowhere. Those two faces are part of my favorites, for me TSP generates that beauty of sport, of running, of its environment and extreme emotions. But always with a very positive character.

Axel: The diversity of people who run it! There are people from all over the world with totally different backgrounds, all of them united by their passion for running, you never know who you are going to talk to next and that is pretty exciting, tsp provides a platform for people to be very open to each other. I find that pretty punk. Other than that, all the bizarre stuff like the adelanto beach club and running late night in the streets of Vegas is not only special to shoot but fun to experience.

Alif: The journey itself. Getting to TSP and finally capturing it firsthand was truly a dream come true. I know about TSP in 2018, and it immediately became my ultimate goal as a running photographer. Every year, I followed TSP through Instagram. In 2020, I joined their photo contest and won. By 2021, I was photographing BR20, a running crew from Bandung, Indonesia, participating in TSP DIY . Then, in 2023, I received a grant, and in 2024, I finally made it to TSP. Hard to believe, but it happened. Thanks to Ciele too!

andrew’s favourite images