1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:04,360 Speaker 1: This is a podcast from WOR. Here's Larry Mente with 2 00:00:04,559 --> 00:00:09,560 Speaker 1: more of the WR Saturday morning show. The TCS New 3 00:00:09,600 --> 00:00:13,160 Speaker 1: York City Marathon is this Sunday and you can listen 4 00:00:13,200 --> 00:00:16,439 Speaker 1: to it right here on seven to ten WOR from 5 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:20,040 Speaker 1: eight until noon. And for that honor, we want to 6 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:25,760 Speaker 1: thank Rob Sibilcare, chief executive Officer of the Roadrunners, also 7 00:00:25,840 --> 00:00:28,840 Speaker 1: the host of Set the Pace podcast with co host 8 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:32,280 Speaker 1: Bex Gentry, which you can hear right here on seven 9 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 1: ten WR Sundays from eight to nine am, but this 10 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:41,040 Speaker 1: Sunday it will be on seven am leading into our 11 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:44,880 Speaker 1: live TCS New York City Marathon broadcast. 12 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:47,599 Speaker 2: Yes, Larry, nice to hear from you again, and we're 13 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:50,120 Speaker 2: very excited. We really believe and I've never had a 14 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:52,360 Speaker 2: New Yorker disagree with me when I say it's the 15 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 2: best day of the year in New York City, and 16 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:59,240 Speaker 2: so we're so excited to have WR and iHeart Media 17 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:02,040 Speaker 2: a part of it to help more New Yorkers experience 18 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:05,920 Speaker 2: it from their cars or their kitchens or wherever they 19 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:07,840 Speaker 2: might be. But of course we'd love to see as 20 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:09,520 Speaker 2: many of them out on the race course cheering on 21 00:01:09,560 --> 00:01:10,640 Speaker 2: the runners as possible. 22 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:13,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, That's what I like so much about the New 23 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 1: York City Marathon. I know it's this massive, global event. 24 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:20,720 Speaker 1: I know it is one of the most iconic marathons 25 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:24,880 Speaker 1: in the world, but it really is a neighborhood experience 26 00:01:24,920 --> 00:01:27,679 Speaker 1: because you go through all the five burrows and people 27 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:31,199 Speaker 1: get to cheer on the runners from everywhere and take 28 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:34,840 Speaker 1: part from everywhere. It is very special for that reason, 29 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:35,280 Speaker 1: isn't it. 30 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:39,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, it really is. Larry. I say all the time 31 00:01:39,120 --> 00:01:42,720 Speaker 2: that I think the TCS New York City Marathon is 32 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:47,240 Speaker 2: the only event that really takes over the city. You know, 33 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:50,720 Speaker 2: this is such a big city, it's such a diverse city. 34 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 2: Everybody's living their lives, and we have people who are 35 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 2: doing incredible things in all walks of life in New 36 00:01:57,080 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 2: York City, from business to education, to the arts to sports, 37 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:07,240 Speaker 2: whatever it is, public service of various kinds, finance, and 38 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:10,280 Speaker 2: this is the one day that no matter what their 39 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:12,840 Speaker 2: background is, no matter what neighborhood they live in, no 40 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:15,720 Speaker 2: matter what borough they live in, whether they're a runner 41 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:18,040 Speaker 2: or not a runner, or whether they are an athlete 42 00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:20,600 Speaker 2: or not an athlete, we all kind of come together, 43 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:23,400 Speaker 2: you know, because this is an event that comes through 44 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:26,480 Speaker 2: our neighborhoods. You know, for so many New Yorkers, they 45 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:30,359 Speaker 2: are looking out their windows, they are walking down their blocks, 46 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:34,120 Speaker 2: and they are seeing these fifty five thousand plus runners 47 00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:37,919 Speaker 2: from all over the world run right through their neighborhood. 48 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:41,400 Speaker 2: And it's so exciting for all of us to go 49 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:44,880 Speaker 2: out and support those runners, whether we know someone in 50 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:48,320 Speaker 2: the race or they're just total strangers. Right, there's something 51 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:52,400 Speaker 2: so perfect about New Yorkers coming out to cheer on 52 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 2: these people as they transverse our city. And I think 53 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 2: it's the day of the year where New York really 54 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:00,960 Speaker 2: gets at its best in a lot. 55 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:03,680 Speaker 1: Right, So the crowd, it's inclusive for the crowd, but 56 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:07,400 Speaker 1: it's also inclusive for the runners because the runners come 57 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:10,520 Speaker 1: from everywhere, and there are novices and there are pros, 58 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:15,120 Speaker 1: and so you get to experience every type of running. 59 00:03:15,160 --> 00:03:17,080 Speaker 1: And I guess a lot of people are standing there 60 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:19,720 Speaker 1: just waiting for the person they know to come along, 61 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:22,839 Speaker 1: as well as watching the people that are in the lead. 62 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:25,520 Speaker 2: That's exactly right. You know, you can have so many 63 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:30,200 Speaker 2: different experiences in this marathon as a spectator, as you say, 64 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:32,600 Speaker 2: you can come out early and watch the elite runners 65 00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:34,920 Speaker 2: come by and see who's got a chance to win 66 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:37,600 Speaker 2: at whatever point you're at. But yeah, so many people 67 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:40,840 Speaker 2: are out there just to find that one or two 68 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 2: you know, people that they know running and they've got 69 00:03:44,040 --> 00:03:46,440 Speaker 2: their signs ready for them. And then so many others 70 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:48,120 Speaker 2: come out of they don't know anyone, but they just 71 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:51,440 Speaker 2: they create a you know, maybe it's a great funny sign. 72 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:53,800 Speaker 2: And by the way, I'm a huge fan of those 73 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 2: funny signs because as someone who's run five marathons myself, 74 00:03:57,520 --> 00:04:00,600 Speaker 2: I can tell you that some comic relief is really needed, 75 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:04,520 Speaker 2: especially when you get into those later miles. It really 76 00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:06,920 Speaker 2: helps to be able to get a laugh because your 77 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:09,280 Speaker 2: mind starts to play tricks on you. But you know, 78 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:14,960 Speaker 2: everybody can experience this marathon in different ways. Whether they're 79 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 2: trying to set a personal record in the marathon, whether 80 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:20,840 Speaker 2: they are running for the very first time and this 81 00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:23,880 Speaker 2: is a bucket list item for them, whether it's a 82 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:26,720 Speaker 2: rite of passage for you know, a young person who 83 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 2: maybe just graduated college or or graduate school and this 84 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:32,880 Speaker 2: is like their big moment before they go off to 85 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 2: start their careers. There are so many different types of 86 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:39,159 Speaker 2: people and so many reasons that people come to the 87 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:41,920 Speaker 2: starting line of the marathon, and I think that's what 88 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:42,839 Speaker 2: makes it so special. 89 00:04:43,279 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, I do too. What are some of the funny 90 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:48,040 Speaker 1: signs there? Any to stick out from past years because 91 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 1: people are gonna have it's gonna be a high bar 92 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:51,680 Speaker 1: that people are going to have to pass this year. 93 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:54,960 Speaker 2: I just ran a marathon myself a couple of weeks 94 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 2: ago in Chicago, so I saw a lot of grade 95 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:00,480 Speaker 2: signs and the one it's a very you hear a 96 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 2: lot of variations of it, but the one I always 97 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:06,360 Speaker 2: like the most is therapy was an option too, you know, 98 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:09,400 Speaker 2: as if to say, if you're doing all this running 99 00:05:09,440 --> 00:05:11,360 Speaker 2: for your mental health, you could just go to therapy. 100 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 2: That always cracks me up. But you know, there's a 101 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 2: lot of great ones. A lot of them have a 102 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:19,400 Speaker 2: little bit of a naughty angle to them, and that's great. 103 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:22,599 Speaker 2: That's part of the humor of New York. But you know, 104 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:25,920 Speaker 2: the signs are are everywhere, and they're great and they're 105 00:05:25,920 --> 00:05:28,520 Speaker 2: they're a big part of what make this event special. 106 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:31,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's like a big party, except for the elite runners. 107 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:34,520 Speaker 1: They're really trying to win it. What should we be 108 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:37,200 Speaker 1: looking for this year when it comes to the elite runners. 109 00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:40,320 Speaker 2: Well, we have an unbelievable elite field this year, maybe 110 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:43,000 Speaker 2: one of the best that we've had at New York Roadrunners. 111 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 2: You know, we've got some legends. Elliot kipchoge I got 112 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 2: to start with him. He is probably most people would 113 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 2: consider him the greatest marathon or of all time. He 114 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:57,640 Speaker 2: has run all of the other major marathons in the 115 00:05:57,640 --> 00:06:00,480 Speaker 2: world except New York. So this is gonna be kind 116 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:03,320 Speaker 2: of a capstone in his career running the New York 117 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:07,640 Speaker 2: City Marathon for the first time. He's over forty years old. Now, 118 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 2: maybe a bit of a long shot to actually win 119 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:13,880 Speaker 2: the race, but there are going to be crowds upon 120 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:18,239 Speaker 2: crowds piled up to see Elliott kipchoke because he's widely 121 00:06:18,279 --> 00:06:20,400 Speaker 2: known as really the best of all time. He's held 122 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:23,600 Speaker 2: the world record for years, not anymore, but did hold 123 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:26,839 Speaker 2: it for years. He's you know, won everywhere. He's he's 124 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:29,800 Speaker 2: just an incredible ambassador for the sport of running, and 125 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:31,880 Speaker 2: so he's someone that I think people are going to 126 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:34,640 Speaker 2: be excited to see take to the streets. On the 127 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:38,440 Speaker 2: female side, I'll point out, you know, one highlight, which 128 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:43,080 Speaker 2: is Safan Hassan, who's from the Netherlands. She is an 129 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:47,800 Speaker 2: unbelievable runner. She has done things at various distances. In Paris, 130 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:51,880 Speaker 2: she got medals in the five thousand, ten thousand and 131 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:54,960 Speaker 2: won the gold medal in the marathon all in the 132 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:58,359 Speaker 2: same year, which was unheard of, And so she's a 133 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:00,800 Speaker 2: real contender. She just ran in the World Championships in 134 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:03,800 Speaker 2: Tokyo not long ago. But she's definitely someone that a 135 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:05,599 Speaker 2: lot of people will be looking out for. But we've 136 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 2: got to you know, former champions. We've got incredible runners 137 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 2: on both sides, as well as in the wheelchair division. 138 00:07:11,160 --> 00:07:15,240 Speaker 2: So the pro athletes are always really inspirational, and I 139 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:17,679 Speaker 2: know a lot of the other fifty five thousand plus 140 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:20,800 Speaker 2: running love the fact that they get to run in 141 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:22,800 Speaker 2: the footsteps of these great athletes. 142 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 1: Well, I'll tell you what, Rob, congratulations on the success 143 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:28,240 Speaker 1: of the marathon. It has grown to be the largest 144 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:32,040 Speaker 1: and most iconic marathon in the world. Rob Simulcair, Chief 145 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:36,640 Speaker 1: executive Officer of the New York City road Runners. Thanks again, Rob, 146 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 1: I appreciate your time. 147 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:38,640 Speaker 2: Thanks Larry. 148 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:43,400 Speaker 1: Check out Rob's podcast Set the Pace, airing on seven 149 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:47,920 Speaker 1: to ten WOR. This has been a podcast from WOR