1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,880 Speaker 1: This is a podcast from wor Now more of the 2 00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:08,840 Speaker 1: WR Saturday Morning Show and Larry Mente Welcome back. The 3 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:13,119 Speaker 1: TCS New York City Marathon is tomorrow, when tens of 4 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:17,080 Speaker 1: thousands of runners who trained all year will descend on 5 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 1: the city to run through all five boroughs. It's a 6 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 1: monumental task for New York Road Runners. Race director Ted mittellis, Ted, 7 00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 1: I got to hear you a little bit beforehand. I 8 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:33,959 Speaker 1: would be exhausted at this point, but you sound exuberant 9 00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:34,800 Speaker 1: and buoyant. 10 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:37,440 Speaker 2: How do you do it? Well? You know it's equal 11 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:41,800 Speaker 2: to what our runners are feeling right about now. So first, 12 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:43,519 Speaker 2: thank you so very much. It's great to be on 13 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:46,680 Speaker 2: and excited to lead into what would be an amazing day, 14 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:48,760 Speaker 2: the best day in New York City on November two. 15 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:51,600 Speaker 2: So many of our runners have been training and preparing 16 00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 2: themselves for anywhere between six to eight months, depending on 17 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 2: where they are state like basically feeling, and we've been 18 00:00:59,880 --> 00:01:01,760 Speaker 2: in that same place. You know, we've been planning and 19 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:07,600 Speaker 2: preparing this coming marathon since last marathon, and we are 20 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:10,319 Speaker 2: now in the tapering stage. Just like our runners, we 21 00:01:10,400 --> 00:01:13,200 Speaker 2: are feeling good and getting ready for a good day 22 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:16,039 Speaker 2: getting our last minute things prepped and ready to go 23 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:18,520 Speaker 2: for a great Sunday November second. 24 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:20,760 Speaker 1: Now you're an old hand at this, Are there any 25 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:24,240 Speaker 1: new obstacles for you? Or is it the same old, 26 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 1: same mold like you thought like, Okay, I got this down, 27 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:27,880 Speaker 1: I know what to do now. 28 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:31,080 Speaker 2: Well, it's always a dance between the nones versus the unknowns. 29 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:33,400 Speaker 2: You plan for the nones and you prepare for the unknowns, 30 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:35,039 Speaker 2: and there's always going to be some new things that 31 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:38,680 Speaker 2: get thrown at us, whether it's different runners, different runner needs, 32 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:42,760 Speaker 2: different activations we have on the course, different partnership components, 33 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 2: different messages we want to amplify. So there's always something 34 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:48,120 Speaker 2: that's going to be new and different. Goodness, we have 35 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:50,960 Speaker 2: probably one of the most incredible professional fields to date 36 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 2: that will be running this year, one of which is 37 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 2: Iliot Kochogi, who is recognized as bringing one of the 38 00:01:56,840 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 2: greatest runners of all times, who's run a sub to 39 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 2: are a marathon. Well, he's going to be gracing our race. 40 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:06,000 Speaker 2: And there's always always something new and different, But the 41 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:08,799 Speaker 2: big big things are still there. We still start in 42 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 2: Staten Island, we still traverse five boroughs, and we still 43 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:12,760 Speaker 2: finish in Central Park. 44 00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:16,240 Speaker 1: Well, you said there's always something new and different, and 45 00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:19,160 Speaker 1: you mentioned one thing. What else is new and different 46 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:21,240 Speaker 1: this year? What else are people going to see that 47 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:22,240 Speaker 1: they haven't seen before? 48 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:25,639 Speaker 2: Well, I think what's really amazing that we'll see that 49 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:29,519 Speaker 2: is new and different. Well, one some of the channels 50 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:31,480 Speaker 2: by which we're telling our story, I mean here through 51 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:36,000 Speaker 2: iHeart again, we're sharing the race experience through that channel, 52 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 2: streaming the race through our ny our app, which is 53 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:41,080 Speaker 2: a year round app. That's a new component that we 54 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:46,400 Speaker 2: have this year. We have twenty five one hundred runners 55 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:49,160 Speaker 2: forty plus that are the fastest in the world that 56 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:52,760 Speaker 2: are participating in the Age Group World Championship and that's 57 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:54,880 Speaker 2: going to be a race within itself as well. So 58 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:58,520 Speaker 2: we have some new transportation components that we've elevated. We 59 00:02:58,560 --> 00:03:02,280 Speaker 2: have the Good Morning America Talent Relay that's happening celebrating 60 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:05,880 Speaker 2: fifty years of that program. So yeah, a couple of things. 61 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:08,919 Speaker 1: So what do you now on race day? So you've 62 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:12,239 Speaker 1: prepared for this all year long, right, and you're still 63 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:14,800 Speaker 1: preparing and you're still putting things together up to the 64 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:18,440 Speaker 1: last minute. What are your concerns on race day or 65 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:20,760 Speaker 1: is that a day to rest for you and say Okay, 66 00:03:20,919 --> 00:03:21,360 Speaker 1: I'm done. 67 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 2: This is good, this is gonna be great. No, there 68 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:30,000 Speaker 2: is no resting on race day for me. And again 69 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 2: similar to our runners, Yes you've been putting in the training, 70 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:37,040 Speaker 2: Yes you've done all the preparation. Yes you have envisioned 71 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:39,680 Speaker 2: what your race day will be. But then the work 72 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:41,960 Speaker 2: is on race day, you know, getting out there at 73 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:44,280 Speaker 2: the start line. For me, I get there Saturday night 74 00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:47,000 Speaker 2: to Staten Island, and i'm there tonight before My day 75 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:49,800 Speaker 2: starts at about two thirty three a m. Where I 76 00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:51,800 Speaker 2: walk around, check in on some of the areas, checking 77 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:54,240 Speaker 2: in our command center there, and then make my way 78 00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:56,640 Speaker 2: over to the bridge where the team's building and getting 79 00:03:56,680 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 2: everything set for the start line. I traverse the entire court. 80 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:02,640 Speaker 2: This would be something that's new. I've not done this 81 00:04:02,680 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 2: since twenty nineteen, where I get to see the entire route. 82 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:07,840 Speaker 2: I usually cut out on about seventy second Street in 83 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 2: First Avenue, but this year I'll be able to do 84 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:11,760 Speaker 2: the entire route and then I'm at the finish and 85 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 2: I stay at the finish for a good chunk of 86 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:17,360 Speaker 2: the day. We have a couple of marathon after parties 87 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:20,640 Speaker 2: and celebrations that I pop into for literally five minutes, wave, 88 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:22,839 Speaker 2: say hello and thank you, and then make my way 89 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:26,320 Speaker 2: back to the marathon finish line for our final finishers. 90 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:29,839 Speaker 2: So it's a long day for me, usually around around 91 00:04:29,839 --> 00:04:33,719 Speaker 2: twenty twenty one hour day, but it's an amazing, amazing day, 92 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:37,960 Speaker 2: and I'm powered through the finish just like our runners 93 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:39,240 Speaker 2: are by the people around me. 94 00:04:39,480 --> 00:04:42,240 Speaker 1: Right, and we're gonna be broadcasting from the finish line. 95 00:04:42,839 --> 00:04:45,679 Speaker 1: So when you go from the start of the race 96 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 1: all the way to the finish line, what exactly are 97 00:04:49,960 --> 00:04:53,880 Speaker 1: you looking for you Well, I mean, are there problems 98 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:55,680 Speaker 1: that could arise if you don't check it at the 99 00:04:55,760 --> 00:04:56,400 Speaker 1: last minute. 100 00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 2: Well, fortunately for me, you know, we have a MANTO, 101 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:02,360 Speaker 2: which is total team effort. You know, no task has 102 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 2: done alone. Many hands made for light work. So we 103 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:07,840 Speaker 2: have an amazing team that's out there and has been 104 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:11,719 Speaker 2: out there working alongside our incredible city agency partners. You know, 105 00:05:11,839 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 2: huge shout out to the Department of Transportation NYPD, the 106 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:18,880 Speaker 2: Marriage Office, Special Events MTA. These are just some of 107 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:22,479 Speaker 2: the agencies that work alongside the Parks Department to ensure 108 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:25,080 Speaker 2: we have a safe and secure route. So our teams 109 00:05:25,080 --> 00:05:29,000 Speaker 2: are out there at midnight on Sunday getting everything set. 110 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:31,880 Speaker 2: My job is to ride the course wave and say 111 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:33,080 Speaker 2: thank you to the crowds. 112 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 1: All right, so the race is over right, and you 113 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:38,279 Speaker 1: say you start working on the next race right away. 114 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 1: There must be a time when you can celebrate. How 115 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 1: long is that time? 116 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 2: And what do you do? I, Larry, I celebrate. There's 117 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:49,599 Speaker 2: a couple of moments that I celebrate on race day. First, 118 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 2: I celebrate the second I start the first wave of runners. 119 00:05:53,839 --> 00:05:55,880 Speaker 2: I have a lot of pre race jitters, just like 120 00:05:55,920 --> 00:05:58,880 Speaker 2: our runners. My mind is going one hundred and ten 121 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:00,560 Speaker 2: miles a minute. And as soon as I get that 122 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:03,279 Speaker 2: first group of runners off the chart, which is our 123 00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:07,480 Speaker 2: professional wheelchair men's wheelchair athletes at eight am, that's when 124 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:10,159 Speaker 2: the nerves go and calm down, and that's when I 125 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:13,040 Speaker 2: start feeling really good, and I rode through and continue 126 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:15,520 Speaker 2: making all my announcements for all of the starts up 127 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:17,600 Speaker 2: till about wave one at nine to ten, and then 128 00:06:17,640 --> 00:06:21,280 Speaker 2: that's when I leave. My second celebration is when those 129 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:23,960 Speaker 2: top athletes cross that finish line and we welcome and 130 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:28,200 Speaker 2: celebrate them and they're tremendous accomplishment. And then my final 131 00:06:28,279 --> 00:06:31,360 Speaker 2: celebration is when that final finisher crosses that finish line, 132 00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:34,400 Speaker 2: when we welcome them in open arms and celebrate their 133 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:38,479 Speaker 2: tremendous accomplishment and what they just did in really inspiring 134 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:40,000 Speaker 2: the city and the world around them. 135 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 1: Now, do you pop champagne or you go to sleep? 136 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:47,200 Speaker 2: I'm a classic New Yorker here, Larry, So I walk 137 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:49,760 Speaker 2: out the park. This has been a traditional mine forever. 138 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:52,560 Speaker 2: I walk out the park, I make my way down 139 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:55,320 Speaker 2: to Midtown, where I stay because it's closer to where 140 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:59,200 Speaker 2: all the operations components are. I either grab a slice 141 00:06:59,240 --> 00:07:01,719 Speaker 2: of pizza or stop by the Halal guys. I grab 142 00:07:01,760 --> 00:07:03,880 Speaker 2: a bite to eat because it's probably the first time 143 00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:06,839 Speaker 2: I ate all day. I take a little disco nap, 144 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:09,560 Speaker 2: and then I'm up early on Monday morning to do 145 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:13,200 Speaker 2: our pro celebration and media events. So that's when I 146 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:15,080 Speaker 2: give my team a big hug and they say thank 147 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 2: you to all of them. I take a little nap 148 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:19,040 Speaker 2: and then do it all over again the next day. 149 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:22,440 Speaker 2: Did you say disco nap? Yes, I take a disco nap. 150 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:26,239 Speaker 2: That's like, you know, a little less than a full nap, 151 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:28,480 Speaker 2: but it's enough to power you through for the next 152 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:29,520 Speaker 2: couple of hours. 153 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:33,720 Speaker 1: That's great. Great to talk to you, the racers and 154 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:38,320 Speaker 1: great hands. Ted Mittellis, New York road Runners, Chief Event 155 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:43,640 Speaker 1: production Officer and Race director of the TCS New York 156 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:46,760 Speaker 1: City Marathon. Wonderful job in the past. I'm sure this 157 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:49,280 Speaker 1: is going to be wonderful again and I can't wait 158 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:50,520 Speaker 1: to be there to broadcast it. 159 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:53,040 Speaker 2: Thank you, Thank you so much. Looking forward to having 160 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:55,520 Speaker 2: millions of people out there celebrating the runners as they 161 00:07:55,560 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 2: make their way through New York City. 162 00:07:57,200 --> 00:08:01,640 Speaker 1: Ted Mittellus, New York road Runners, Chief Event Production Officer 163 00:08:01,960 --> 00:08:06,000 Speaker 1: and Race Director of the TCS New York City Marathon. 164 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:08,800 Speaker 2: This has been a podcast from wor