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Peloton, the official digital 9 00:00:33,990 --> 00:00:35,970 Becs Gentry: fitness partner for New York Road Runners. 10 00:00:39,990 --> 00:00:44,400 Intro: Thank you, New York. Today we're reminded of the power 11 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:49,260 Intro: of community and the power of coming together. Athletes, on 12 00:00:49,260 --> 00:00:54,750 Intro: your mark. The first woman to finish for the second 13 00:00:54,750 --> 00:00:58,500 Intro: straight year here in the New York City Marathon is Miki Gorman, 14 00:00:58,500 --> 00:01:02,010 Intro: a smiling Miki Gorman, and why not. 2: 29:30 is 15 00:01:02,250 --> 00:01:06,540 Intro: the time for Grete Waitz. Look at the emotion of Shalane Flanagan as she comes 16 00:01:06,540 --> 00:01:11,459 Intro: to the line. Pointing to his chest, pointed to the USA he so proudly 17 00:01:11,459 --> 00:01:20,160 Intro: wears across his chest. A great day for Meb Keflezighi. 18 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:24,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: Hey, everybody, happy New Year, and welcome to the first 19 00:01:24,060 --> 00:01:28,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: Set the Pace of 2025. We are presented by Peloton, 20 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:31,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: as we are each and every week. I'm the host 21 00:01:31,110 --> 00:01:33,360 Rob Simmelkjaer: of Set the Pace and CEO of New York Road 22 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:37,080 Rob Simmelkjaer: Runners, Rob Simmelkjaer, and with me, my lovely co- host 23 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:41,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: from Peloton, Becs Gentry. Happy New Year, Becs. How are you? 24 00:01:41,190 --> 00:01:44,700 Becs Gentry: Hi. Happy New Year. I'm great, thank you. I think 25 00:01:45,090 --> 00:01:47,880 Becs Gentry: we were both just discussing how much of a break 26 00:01:47,940 --> 00:01:49,710 Becs Gentry: it actually felt like this year. 27 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:53,820 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, it was amazing. We had a really nice quiet 28 00:01:53,820 --> 00:01:56,970 Rob Simmelkjaer: period at New York Road Runners, fairly quiet on the 29 00:01:56,970 --> 00:01:59,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: race front. I'll talk about that in a second. But 30 00:01:59,700 --> 00:02:04,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: it was really quiet, really restful. I got away for 31 00:02:04,140 --> 00:02:06,510 Rob Simmelkjaer: a little bit with my girls, did a little skiing 32 00:02:06,510 --> 00:02:08,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: up in Vermont. That was nice. 33 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:08,790 Becs Gentry: Wow. 34 00:02:09,930 --> 00:02:12,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: And it was just a really, really nice break. What about you? What'd you 35 00:02:12,210 --> 00:02:12,720 Rob Simmelkjaer: guys do? 36 00:02:12,810 --> 00:02:17,790 Becs Gentry: We did a very quick weekend before Christmas down at 37 00:02:17,790 --> 00:02:21,450 Becs Gentry: the Jersey Shore with family, and then everybody was scattering 38 00:02:21,450 --> 00:02:25,530 Becs Gentry: to different places for actual Christmas this year, so we had 39 00:02:25,530 --> 00:02:30,600 Becs Gentry: our first Christmas just the three of us in our home in Brooklyn 40 00:02:30,690 --> 00:02:32,040 Becs Gentry: which was wonderful. 41 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:32,070 Rob Simmelkjaer: Oh my gosh. 42 00:02:32,190 --> 00:02:36,090 Becs Gentry: We created memories. Tallulah had her first coming down the 43 00:02:36,090 --> 00:02:40,440 Becs Gentry: stairs on Christmas morning and Santi Claus as she calls 44 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:43,740 Becs Gentry: him. So it was very wonderful, and we have some 45 00:02:43,740 --> 00:02:47,399 Becs Gentry: great neighbors and good friends, so it was a big 46 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:49,799 Becs Gentry: family local affair which was great. 47 00:02:49,799 --> 00:02:55,168 Rob Simmelkjaer: There is nothing like a kid's first Santa, Christmas, and the magic 48 00:02:55,169 --> 00:02:58,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: of that. It brings back all of the magic that 49 00:02:58,380 --> 00:02:59,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: we felt as kids- 50 00:02:59,940 --> 00:03:00,091 Becs Gentry: It does, yeah. 51 00:03:00,091 --> 00:03:03,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... when you have a kid who's experienced that. It's 52 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:04,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: just amazing, so I'm sure. 53 00:03:04,110 --> 00:03:09,210 Becs Gentry: She doesn't quite grasp it just yet. She loves Santa Claus, 54 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:12,870 Becs Gentry: the lights, but she doesn't understand the concept yet. So 55 00:03:13,500 --> 00:03:15,960 Becs Gentry: the presents were just, the fun was opening them and 56 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:18,450 Becs Gentry: then it was like shove it aside, next one, okay. 57 00:03:18,750 --> 00:03:21,750 Becs Gentry: So I think next year when she's three, four, that's sort 58 00:03:21,750 --> 00:03:24,570 Becs Gentry: of when the real magic and all of that comes 59 00:03:24,570 --> 00:03:27,180 Becs Gentry: is going to be... just judging by her excitement this 60 00:03:27,180 --> 00:03:28,950 Becs Gentry: year for something she doesn't quite understand. 61 00:03:29,070 --> 00:03:29,579 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah. 62 00:03:29,669 --> 00:03:31,380 Becs Gentry: Oh, it's going to be so good. I can't wait. 63 00:03:31,380 --> 00:03:36,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: You've got so much to look forward to with that. That's awesome. I'm glad you had a great time. 64 00:03:36,450 --> 00:03:38,761 Rob Simmelkjaer: Did you do much running or were you kind of on the shelf? 65 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:38,761 Becs Gentry: I did not. 66 00:03:38,761 --> 00:03:39,181 Rob Simmelkjaer: Good for you. 67 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:42,330 Becs Gentry: I was on the shelf. It was divine. My body 68 00:03:42,330 --> 00:03:45,210 Becs Gentry: was like, " Thank you. My goodness me. What a great 69 00:03:45,210 --> 00:03:46,740 Becs Gentry: Christmas present you can give me after this year." 70 00:03:46,740 --> 00:03:48,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: You belong on the shelf, like an elf on the 71 00:03:48,690 --> 00:03:51,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: shelf, Becs. You needed to sit still for a while 72 00:03:51,630 --> 00:03:52,621 Rob Simmelkjaer: after what you did in 2024. 73 00:03:52,621 --> 00:03:57,480 Becs Gentry: I did. Yeah, I really did. I really did take time off. 74 00:03:57,810 --> 00:04:00,180 Becs Gentry: We worked up until the wire here at Peloton. We 75 00:04:00,180 --> 00:04:04,140 Becs Gentry: were in until the Saturday, and Sunday there was classes, 76 00:04:04,140 --> 00:04:06,150 Becs Gentry: but I went to the Jersey Shore from the studio 77 00:04:06,150 --> 00:04:10,080 Becs Gentry: on Saturday, and then I didn't run for about a 78 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:14,040 Becs Gentry: week until after Christmas which is unheard of for me. 79 00:04:15,090 --> 00:04:17,580 Becs Gentry: But I loved every second, and now I'm back on 80 00:04:18,450 --> 00:04:22,440 Becs Gentry: it but in the gym. I'm in the strength, I'm in the building phase. 81 00:04:22,770 --> 00:04:23,070 Rob Simmelkjaer: I love it, I love it. 82 00:04:23,070 --> 00:04:23,220 Becs Gentry: It's great. 83 00:04:23,820 --> 00:04:25,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: Well, that's great. Glad you had a break. I did 84 00:04:25,890 --> 00:04:30,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: some running with some local friends up here in Connecticut. 85 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:31,560 Becs Gentry: Great. Oh, gorgeous. 86 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:35,880 Rob Simmelkjaer: One thing I did not run unfortunately was the New 87 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:38,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: York Road Runners Midnight Run on New Year's Eve. 88 00:04:38,340 --> 00:04:43,200 Becs Gentry: Yeah, for good reason, for good... I was standing outside on 89 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:45,750 Becs Gentry: our way to our friend, our neighbor's house on New 90 00:04:45,750 --> 00:04:49,200 Becs Gentry: Year's Eve, and I thought it was fireworks going off, 91 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:52,860 Becs Gentry: and Austin just turned and looked at me and went, " No, no, that is 92 00:04:52,860 --> 00:04:55,890 Becs Gentry: thunder and lightning." And I said to him, " I'm so 93 00:04:55,890 --> 00:04:58,170 Becs Gentry: happy I didn't go and run because I would've been 94 00:04:58,170 --> 00:05:00,630 Becs Gentry: scared." And then you guys had to cancel it. 95 00:05:00,630 --> 00:05:04,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: It was crazy. The Midnight Run which is a four- 96 00:05:04,110 --> 00:05:08,219 Rob Simmelkjaer: miler on New Year's Eve, yeah, we just could not 97 00:05:08,220 --> 00:05:11,550 Rob Simmelkjaer: put it on. Obviously it's crazy to see that kind 98 00:05:11,550 --> 00:05:14,221 Rob Simmelkjaer: of weather on New Year's Eve in New York City. 99 00:05:14,221 --> 00:05:14,731 Becs Gentry: It's wild. 100 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:18,659 Rob Simmelkjaer: Thunder and lightning. I was actually in Connecticut. I wasn't 101 00:05:18,660 --> 00:05:20,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: there for the race this year, hadn't planned to be, 102 00:05:20,850 --> 00:05:25,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: but yeah, Ted Metellus, our chief of event operations and 103 00:05:25,980 --> 00:05:30,810 Rob Simmelkjaer: race director called me around nine o'clock and said, " Listen, 104 00:05:30,810 --> 00:05:32,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: there's a lot of thunder and lightning in the forecast." 105 00:05:33,089 --> 00:05:35,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: I was like, " What? Really?" I mean, I couldn't really 106 00:05:35,610 --> 00:05:38,940 Rob Simmelkjaer: believe it in late December, and sure enough, a little 107 00:05:38,940 --> 00:05:41,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: while later the skies in New York just lit up, 108 00:05:41,700 --> 00:05:44,640 Rob Simmelkjaer: and we had no choice but to cancel that event 109 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:47,219 Rob Simmelkjaer: which was of course disappointing, although I think most runners 110 00:05:47,220 --> 00:05:50,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: were kind of relieved because the weather was brutal. Who 111 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:53,849 Rob Simmelkjaer: wants to be out in the pouring rain on New 112 00:05:53,850 --> 00:05:55,589 Rob Simmelkjaer: Year's Eve with lightning overhead? 113 00:05:55,830 --> 00:05:56,070 Becs Gentry: Yeah. 114 00:05:56,070 --> 00:05:58,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: It had been a weird year. We had had to 115 00:05:58,140 --> 00:06:01,230 Rob Simmelkjaer: cancel the fireworks because of the drought that existed. Then 116 00:06:01,230 --> 00:06:02,221 Rob Simmelkjaer: all the rain came so- 117 00:06:02,221 --> 00:06:03,390 Becs Gentry: Kind of was irony, wasn't it? 118 00:06:03,390 --> 00:06:05,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: But it was too late to have the fireworks. Then we tried to put on 119 00:06:05,490 --> 00:06:08,339 Rob Simmelkjaer: a drone show and then we had to cancel that 120 00:06:08,339 --> 00:06:12,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: because of some issues with drones around the country. So 121 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:15,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: there were all kinds of backs and forths and it just seemed like 122 00:06:15,630 --> 00:06:17,159 Rob Simmelkjaer: it wasn't meant to be this year. 123 00:06:17,160 --> 00:06:19,800 Becs Gentry: Exactly. But you know what we can take away from 124 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:22,680 Becs Gentry: this is that New York Road Runners puts the safety 125 00:06:22,770 --> 00:06:27,270 Becs Gentry: of their people first, and as disappointing as it can be 126 00:06:27,270 --> 00:06:29,339 Becs Gentry: to have to cancel things we know that that's the 127 00:06:29,339 --> 00:06:33,690 Becs Gentry: best decision and there will always be other runs. I mean, 128 00:06:33,750 --> 00:06:35,550 Becs Gentry: I can tell you a pretty cool four- mile run 129 00:06:35,550 --> 00:06:38,760 Becs Gentry: that's coming up in spring this year that you convinced 130 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:39,720 Becs Gentry: me to do last year. 131 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:39,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah. 132 00:06:40,290 --> 00:06:42,750 Becs Gentry: So there's always more races, people. 133 00:06:42,750 --> 00:06:45,870 Rob Simmelkjaer: There's so many. Very well said, I couldn't agree more. Thank 134 00:06:45,870 --> 00:06:47,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: you. I can tell you've been hanging out with me 135 00:06:47,310 --> 00:06:50,880 Rob Simmelkjaer: for a while. You're speaking my language a hundred percent. 136 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:51,330 Becs Gentry: Exactly. 137 00:06:51,570 --> 00:06:54,930 Rob Simmelkjaer: We obviously put safety first. So happy New Year. Sorry 138 00:06:54,930 --> 00:06:56,969 Rob Simmelkjaer: we didn't get a chance to see you all on 139 00:06:56,970 --> 00:06:59,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: New Year's Eve, but we know we'll see all of 140 00:06:59,490 --> 00:07:02,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: you out there running one way or another in the 141 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:06,419 Rob Simmelkjaer: coming weeks. So, Becs, we have a fun thing we're 142 00:07:06,420 --> 00:07:09,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: going to do this year. For the first show of 143 00:07:09,300 --> 00:07:12,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: the year, a little bit different, we're calling it New 144 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:14,940 Rob Simmelkjaer: York Road Runners State of the Union. We're going to 145 00:07:14,940 --> 00:07:18,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: talk a little bit about where New York Road Runners 146 00:07:18,030 --> 00:07:22,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: is as an organization, where we are with our running 147 00:07:22,170 --> 00:07:26,040 Rob Simmelkjaer: community, with our mission, our vision, all the things that 148 00:07:26,340 --> 00:07:29,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: we care about to let you, our listeners, our community, 149 00:07:29,490 --> 00:07:33,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: know what our plans are, what our priorities are for 150 00:07:33,030 --> 00:07:36,720 Rob Simmelkjaer: the year ahead. Becs, we got a lot of great questions from 151 00:07:37,140 --> 00:07:38,011 Rob Simmelkjaer: listeners and members. 152 00:07:38,011 --> 00:07:39,270 Becs Gentry: We do. Yeah, thank you, everyone. 153 00:07:39,450 --> 00:07:41,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, thank you so much for all the questions. We're 154 00:07:41,370 --> 00:07:43,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: going to run through those questions. Becs, you're going to 155 00:07:43,890 --> 00:07:45,571 Rob Simmelkjaer: grill me on all the questions that we got. 156 00:07:45,571 --> 00:07:48,180 Becs Gentry: I am. I know. It sounds so serious, but it's not. It's going 157 00:07:48,180 --> 00:07:49,680 Becs Gentry: to be informative and wonderful. 158 00:07:49,770 --> 00:07:51,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: A hundred percent. We're going to make it fun. We're 159 00:07:51,660 --> 00:07:52,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: going to make it fun because that's what we do. 160 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:56,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: And Becs, we can start a little bit with just 161 00:07:56,610 --> 00:07:59,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: some highlights from the last year. We had so much 162 00:07:59,100 --> 00:08:02,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: happen at New York Road Runners. We issued a new 163 00:08:02,670 --> 00:08:08,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: reimagined mission statement and vision statement which is a huge deal for 164 00:08:08,310 --> 00:08:11,880 Rob Simmelkjaer: the organization and really kind of is a north star, 165 00:08:11,880 --> 00:08:14,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: as I like to call it, for what we're doing 166 00:08:14,790 --> 00:08:18,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: in the coming years. Our vision statement is to build 167 00:08:18,630 --> 00:08:23,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: healthier lives and stronger communities through the transformative power of 168 00:08:23,280 --> 00:08:26,640 Rob Simmelkjaer: running, and that's really what we're all about. We know 169 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:29,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: that running makes us healthier as individuals, it makes our 170 00:08:29,700 --> 00:08:33,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: communities stronger, and it transforms us. You and I can 171 00:08:33,900 --> 00:08:35,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: speak about that, we speak about it every week and 172 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:37,860 Rob Simmelkjaer: we speak about it with amazing people who have had 173 00:08:37,860 --> 00:08:41,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: their lives transformed by running. So we know that's what 174 00:08:41,190 --> 00:08:43,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: this organization's all about, but to put those words to 175 00:08:43,530 --> 00:08:47,189 Rob Simmelkjaer: paper really helped. Our mission statement, we talk about being a 176 00:08:47,190 --> 00:08:49,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York City- based nonprofit which is really important that 177 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:55,230 Rob Simmelkjaer: people understand. We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming 178 00:08:55,230 --> 00:08:58,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: the health and the wellbeing of our communities through inclusive 179 00:08:58,620 --> 00:09:03,179 Rob Simmelkjaer: and accessible running experiences, empowering all to achieve their potential. 180 00:09:03,179 --> 00:09:05,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: So that's what we're all about and that gives us 181 00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:07,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: a sense of what we do and what we are. 182 00:09:08,010 --> 00:09:11,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: Becs, we had an incredible year in terms of racing 183 00:09:11,340 --> 00:09:15,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: and record numbers of finishers at the TCS New York City Marathon, 55, 184 00:09:15,450 --> 00:09:24,240 Rob Simmelkjaer: 646. We also saw records at the United Airlines NYC Half with 27, 843- 185 00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:24,420 Becs Gentry: One of my favorite races. 186 00:09:24,420 --> 00:09:28,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... and the MasterCard. Yeah, amazing race, and the MasterCard Mini 10K- 187 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:29,611 Becs Gentry: Yeah, another. 188 00:09:29,611 --> 00:09:35,040 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... was also a record with 9, 694 finishers as 189 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:36,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: well. So it was a big year for racing. 190 00:09:37,439 --> 00:09:39,660 Becs Gentry: Do you think we can get over 10K this year 191 00:09:39,660 --> 00:09:40,530 Becs Gentry: at the 10K? 192 00:09:40,860 --> 00:09:43,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: I think we got a shot the way things are 193 00:09:43,110 --> 00:09:46,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: going. It definitely is a good goal. So you're right. 10K for the 194 00:09:47,190 --> 00:09:48,510 Rob Simmelkjaer: 10K, let's make that a goal. 195 00:09:48,570 --> 00:09:51,240 Becs Gentry: Let's make it a goal. We should get that on New York 196 00:09:51,240 --> 00:09:53,819 Becs Gentry: Road Runner social. Come on, 10K for the 10K. 197 00:09:53,850 --> 00:09:55,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: Okay, we're going to do it. We're going to make 198 00:09:55,350 --> 00:09:57,059 Rob Simmelkjaer: that happen. We'll get some good weather in June (inaudible) do that, Becs. 199 00:09:57,060 --> 00:09:58,290 Becs Gentry: Everybody in your office hates me now. 200 00:09:58,290 --> 00:09:58,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: Exactly. 201 00:09:58,530 --> 00:09:58,770 Becs Gentry: They're like, " Ugh." 202 00:09:59,820 --> 00:10:02,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: A memo to staff. Sorry, Becs made me do it. 203 00:10:02,520 --> 00:10:04,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: But no, I think it's a good idea. 204 00:10:04,140 --> 00:10:04,230 Becs Gentry: It's fun. 205 00:10:04,290 --> 00:10:05,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: So let's put that down. 206 00:10:05,550 --> 00:10:06,150 Becs Gentry: I'll run it. 207 00:10:06,660 --> 00:10:07,981 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah. Okay, good, we've got one. 208 00:10:07,981 --> 00:10:07,982 Becs Gentry: Got one. 209 00:10:07,982 --> 00:10:10,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: Just need 9, 999. 210 00:10:10,650 --> 00:10:11,130 Becs Gentry: We can do this. 211 00:10:11,130 --> 00:10:11,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: I think we can do this. Okay. 212 00:10:11,790 --> 00:10:11,819 Becs Gentry: We can do it. 213 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:15,449 Rob Simmelkjaer: We have a record number of New York Road Runners 214 00:10:15,450 --> 00:10:19,230 Rob Simmelkjaer: members right now. We have new member exclusive events for 215 00:10:19,230 --> 00:10:23,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: the first time. We had a first member- only race 216 00:10:23,250 --> 00:10:26,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: this year. Grete's Great Gallop last year was a member- 217 00:10:26,700 --> 00:10:30,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: only race for the first time, a part of Member 218 00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:31,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: Week, which was awesome. And of course we had a 219 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:34,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: lot of great live episodes of Set the Pace, Becs, 220 00:10:34,410 --> 00:10:36,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: where you and I got a chance to meet members 221 00:10:36,780 --> 00:10:38,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: face to face. Love that. 222 00:10:38,490 --> 00:10:39,240 Becs Gentry: Yeah, me too. 223 00:10:39,870 --> 00:10:42,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: We've also, Becs, as you know, had a big focus on mental 224 00:10:42,630 --> 00:10:45,179 Rob Simmelkjaer: health and mental well- being over the last couple of years. 225 00:10:45,510 --> 00:10:48,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: We launched a new event, the New York Road Runners 226 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:52,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: Mindful 5K, a new race out in Queens which had 227 00:10:52,260 --> 00:10:55,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: a mental health focus and a lot of great activations 228 00:10:55,500 --> 00:10:59,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: around that, lots of new online resources and in- person 229 00:10:59,340 --> 00:11:02,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: resources at the marathon for people to have a good 230 00:11:02,850 --> 00:11:05,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: experience both with their mental health as well as their 231 00:11:05,190 --> 00:11:08,820 Rob Simmelkjaer: physical health. And Becs, I'm super proud of one additional 232 00:11:08,820 --> 00:11:13,829 Rob Simmelkjaer: thing we did in 2024, a really expanded commitment to 233 00:11:13,830 --> 00:11:17,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: sustainability at New York Road Runners. We launched our Team 234 00:11:17,850 --> 00:11:22,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: for Climate which was incredible. We had 250 runners run 235 00:11:22,260 --> 00:11:25,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: the TCS New York City Marathon to help us raise 236 00:11:25,290 --> 00:11:29,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: money to offset the carbon footprint of the marathon, and 237 00:11:29,220 --> 00:11:30,691 Rob Simmelkjaer: that team crushed it. 238 00:11:30,691 --> 00:11:30,810 Becs Gentry: Wow, yeah. 239 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:36,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: They raised over $ 600,000, nearly 800, 000 actually. The goal was 240 00:11:36,900 --> 00:11:41,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: 600, they raised almost $ 800,000. So it was a great 241 00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:43,979 Rob Simmelkjaer: year, Becs, and we're excited about so many things in 2025. 242 00:11:45,300 --> 00:11:49,559 Becs Gentry: And rightly so, and congratulations to everybody who came over 243 00:11:49,559 --> 00:11:51,660 Becs Gentry: the finish lines of one of the New York Road 244 00:11:51,660 --> 00:11:55,319 Becs Gentry: Runners races for the first time or hundredth time. Wherever 245 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:58,979 Becs Gentry: you're at, congratulations. It was amazing, and obviously thank you 246 00:11:58,980 --> 00:12:03,510 Becs Gentry: to all of the volunteers who help make the events go 247 00:12:03,510 --> 00:12:07,530 Becs Gentry: as smoothly and smilily... that's not a word, but I'm going 248 00:12:07,530 --> 00:12:09,480 Becs Gentry: to go with it... smilily as possible. 249 00:12:13,110 --> 00:12:16,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: It is now. I love it. I love it. And one other thing that I want to mention about '24 and then we'll get into some of the '25 priorities 250 00:12:16,260 --> 00:12:18,929 Rob Simmelkjaer: is our Rising New York Road Runners program- 251 00:12:18,929 --> 00:12:18,961 Becs Gentry: Oh, the best. 252 00:12:18,961 --> 00:12:21,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... which is our program for New York City public 253 00:12:21,900 --> 00:12:27,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: school kids that introduces them to physical fitness and running. 254 00:12:27,390 --> 00:12:32,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: We are now at 100, 000 kids in New York City 255 00:12:32,790 --> 00:12:35,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: who are a part of that program, and we're just 256 00:12:35,340 --> 00:12:38,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: so thrilled to see the growth of that because that's 257 00:12:38,520 --> 00:12:41,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: fundamental to our mission is getting young people active. Those 258 00:12:41,850 --> 00:12:43,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: are the runners of the future here in New York 259 00:12:43,950 --> 00:12:46,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: City. So we're very proud of that as well. Now 260 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:50,970 Rob Simmelkjaer: what we're thinking about for 2025 already, well, obviously we 261 00:12:50,970 --> 00:12:54,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: want to continue our focus on mental wellbeing and sustainability. 262 00:12:54,150 --> 00:12:56,880 Rob Simmelkjaer: We're going to continue to have resources at events. The 263 00:12:56,880 --> 00:12:59,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: Mindful 5K will come back. Team for Climate is going 264 00:12:59,910 --> 00:13:02,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: to expand not only to the marathon but also the 265 00:13:02,460 --> 00:13:05,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: United Airlines NYC Half and the RBC Brooklyn Half, so 266 00:13:05,370 --> 00:13:10,050 Rob Simmelkjaer: we're excited about that. Technology is a huge focus, Becs, of 267 00:13:10,050 --> 00:13:13,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: what we want to do, and so everybody in our 268 00:13:13,380 --> 00:13:16,229 Rob Simmelkjaer: running community is soon going to start to see the 269 00:13:16,230 --> 00:13:19,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: impact of some of these technology initiatives. We're going to 270 00:13:19,890 --> 00:13:24,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: be launching a new registration platform in 2025. This is 271 00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:27,719 Rob Simmelkjaer: coming soon, and so people can start to get ready 272 00:13:27,720 --> 00:13:30,809 Rob Simmelkjaer: to see this. One of my goals, I joke around 273 00:13:30,809 --> 00:13:33,089 Rob Simmelkjaer: about this, Becs, as CEO of New York Road Runners. 274 00:13:33,300 --> 00:13:35,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: You know that little walking man that you see sometimes 275 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:38,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: when you're go on our website and you have to wait and wait 276 00:13:38,910 --> 00:13:41,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: and wait to get on the website to register for 277 00:13:41,340 --> 00:13:43,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: a race? My goal is to kill that walking man. 278 00:13:44,850 --> 00:13:48,328 Rob Simmelkjaer: I want him dead, seriously. 279 00:13:48,420 --> 00:13:48,780 Becs Gentry: Sinister. 280 00:13:49,230 --> 00:13:50,341 Rob Simmelkjaer: I know. So that's the evil side of Rob Simmelkjaer. 281 00:13:50,341 --> 00:13:50,342 Becs Gentry: He's gone. 282 00:13:50,342 --> 00:13:56,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: I want that to go away because I want people to 283 00:13:56,010 --> 00:13:59,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: have a much cleaner, more efficient experience of signing up 284 00:13:59,520 --> 00:13:59,761 Rob Simmelkjaer: for our races. 285 00:13:59,761 --> 00:14:00,240 Becs Gentry: I would agree with that. 286 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:05,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: So we're partnering with a platform called haku and soon 287 00:14:05,280 --> 00:14:08,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: everybody out there will be getting some messaging around that. 288 00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:12,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: So keep your eyes peeled on your email because that 289 00:14:12,570 --> 00:14:15,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: is coming very, very soon at New York Road Runners. 290 00:14:15,690 --> 00:14:18,569 Rob Simmelkjaer: Speaking of technology, Becs, we're also working closely with our 291 00:14:18,570 --> 00:14:23,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: partners at TCS to launch a new app for New 292 00:14:23,010 --> 00:14:26,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: York Road Runners. Many of you have used the kind 293 00:14:26,340 --> 00:14:29,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: of one- off apps that we have for the TCS New 294 00:14:29,130 --> 00:14:32,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: York City Marathon and the United Airlines NYC Half. We 295 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:35,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: are going to create a new year- round app that 296 00:14:35,670 --> 00:14:38,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: will allow you to track runners at all the races 297 00:14:38,910 --> 00:14:41,369 Rob Simmelkjaer: with one app no matter what, and it's going to 298 00:14:41,370 --> 00:14:43,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: have lots of other great bells and whistles as well. 299 00:14:43,350 --> 00:14:47,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: So that's coming also in 2025. So tech is a 300 00:14:47,220 --> 00:14:51,510 Rob Simmelkjaer: big, big focus. Other things, Becs, programming, we're going to 301 00:14:51,510 --> 00:14:55,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: bring more programming back to the RUNCENTER in Manhattan over 302 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:59,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: on 57 Street, fitness classes coming back, more panels and 303 00:14:59,520 --> 00:15:02,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: discussions and things like that. We're going to expand the 304 00:15:02,670 --> 00:15:06,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: Race Week programming during our big race weekends like the 305 00:15:06,450 --> 00:15:09,720 Rob Simmelkjaer: United Airlines NYC Half, the Brooklyn Half, and the New 306 00:15:09,720 --> 00:15:13,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: Balance 5th Avenue Mile. So more coming up, more member- 307 00:15:13,110 --> 00:15:17,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: only events at RUNCENTER and more live podcasts both at the 308 00:15:17,100 --> 00:15:19,860 Rob Simmelkjaer: RUNCENTER and around New York City. So, Becs, I'll get 309 00:15:19,860 --> 00:15:21,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: to see you in person even more- 310 00:15:21,210 --> 00:15:21,211 Becs Gentry: Yay. 311 00:15:21,211 --> 00:15:21,271 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... which I'm excited about because we spend so much time looking at each other on these screens. So that'll be fun. 312 00:15:21,271 --> 00:15:21,272 Becs Gentry: Yes. Absolutely. 313 00:15:21,272 --> 00:15:30,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: And some new stuff from Peloton coming as well. 314 00:15:31,230 --> 00:15:31,950 Becs Gentry: Oh my gosh. 315 00:15:33,150 --> 00:15:33,151 Rob Simmelkjaer: Do you know about this? 316 00:15:33,151 --> 00:15:33,330 Becs Gentry: I do. 317 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:34,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: New classes with you guys. 318 00:15:35,460 --> 00:15:38,520 Becs Gentry: I'm very, very excited for this. I was part of the filming 319 00:15:38,520 --> 00:15:41,400 Becs Gentry: of the first one I think that will be dropped 320 00:15:41,400 --> 00:15:44,760 Becs Gentry: and we cannot wait to share that with the world. 321 00:15:45,780 --> 00:15:48,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: I get so many great comments from Peloton members about 322 00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:52,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: the new video and the footage and the things we 323 00:15:52,260 --> 00:15:56,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: do on Peloton for runners. People love it. You're a 324 00:15:56,340 --> 00:15:59,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: big part of that, Becs. And so we're going to continue to 325 00:15:59,010 --> 00:16:02,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: expand what has been an awesome partnership with New York 326 00:16:02,370 --> 00:16:05,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: Road Runners and Peloton. So we're excited about that. 327 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:05,550 Becs Gentry: Absolutely. 328 00:16:05,970 --> 00:16:09,720 Rob Simmelkjaer: So those are some highlights. And, Becs, we got so many 329 00:16:09,720 --> 00:16:10,590 Rob Simmelkjaer: great questions. 330 00:16:10,590 --> 00:16:10,740 Becs Gentry: We did. 331 00:16:10,740 --> 00:16:12,360 Rob Simmelkjaer: So I'm going to put you in the seat of the 332 00:16:12,360 --> 00:16:14,609 Rob Simmelkjaer: interviewer here and you can fire off some of the 333 00:16:14,610 --> 00:16:18,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: questions that our members and our listeners asked of me, and 334 00:16:18,060 --> 00:16:19,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: we'll go through some of those. 335 00:16:19,260 --> 00:16:23,790 Becs Gentry: Absolutely. So as Rob said, we put it out there, we 336 00:16:23,790 --> 00:16:28,560 Becs Gentry: got all of your inputs, and we were inundated with 337 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:31,830 Becs Gentry: the amount of questions that you had for Rob, for 338 00:16:31,830 --> 00:16:37,140 Becs Gentry: New York Road Runners as a general organization. So we've 339 00:16:37,140 --> 00:16:40,380 Becs Gentry: sifted through them and we could do multiple podcasts getting 340 00:16:40,380 --> 00:16:45,300 Becs Gentry: these questions out, but we've put together a handful here. 341 00:16:45,390 --> 00:16:49,140 Becs Gentry: So Rob is in the hot seat, the CEO of 342 00:16:49,350 --> 00:16:52,860 Becs Gentry: New York Road Runners is ready to answer some questions. 343 00:16:52,860 --> 00:16:52,979 Rob Simmelkjaer: Oh boy. 344 00:16:52,980 --> 00:16:56,940 Becs Gentry: Here we go. We're going to kick off with a very 345 00:16:56,940 --> 00:17:03,390 Becs Gentry: popular theme and that was capacity and number of races. 346 00:17:03,390 --> 00:17:05,609 Becs Gentry: So capacity being how many people can run each race 347 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:08,160 Becs Gentry: and number of races being how many races of held 348 00:17:08,160 --> 00:17:11,670 Becs Gentry: throughout the year. So the first question comes from William D. 349 00:17:11,670 --> 00:17:16,350 Becs Gentry: S. and he says, " Why are you not allowing more 350 00:17:16,350 --> 00:17:21,359 Becs Gentry: runners at sold- out races, especially the NYC Marathon?" 351 00:17:22,170 --> 00:17:26,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: All right, so the first thing that people should know about 352 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:29,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: how many runners are allowed in our races, Becs, is that 353 00:17:29,550 --> 00:17:32,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: we have an agreement with the City of New York. 354 00:17:32,580 --> 00:17:35,970 Rob Simmelkjaer: Depending on the race, it's either with the City or 355 00:17:36,030 --> 00:17:38,369 Rob Simmelkjaer: with the Parks Department. All of our races that take 356 00:17:38,369 --> 00:17:42,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: place in parks like Central Park or Prospect Park or 357 00:17:42,030 --> 00:17:45,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: Flushing Meadows, we have an agreement how many runners can 358 00:17:45,540 --> 00:17:48,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: be in that race. So we have a limit to 359 00:17:48,420 --> 00:17:50,699 Rob Simmelkjaer: each race in terms of how many we can have. 360 00:17:51,150 --> 00:17:53,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: The Parks care about that because they want to make 361 00:17:53,220 --> 00:17:56,609 Rob Simmelkjaer: sure that the park isn't overcrowded and that they have 362 00:17:56,609 --> 00:17:58,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: time to clean up and let others use the parks. 363 00:17:59,130 --> 00:18:01,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: So each race has what we call a cap and 364 00:18:01,560 --> 00:18:04,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: that's what we're allowed to have. Now if we have 365 00:18:04,350 --> 00:18:07,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: a cap of say 5, 000 runners for a race 366 00:18:08,130 --> 00:18:11,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: in Central Park, we have an estimate, we kind of 367 00:18:11,850 --> 00:18:15,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: know how many people are likely to show up at 368 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:17,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: a race. We don't know exactly, but we know for 369 00:18:17,130 --> 00:18:20,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: any given race there's typically a no- show rate. We 370 00:18:20,190 --> 00:18:22,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: do a great job, we have a team at Runners 371 00:18:22,290 --> 00:18:25,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: that does a great job figuring out how many people to 372 00:18:25,320 --> 00:18:29,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: let in to races. So we are focused on getting 373 00:18:29,190 --> 00:18:32,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: as many people in to every race as we can, 374 00:18:32,730 --> 00:18:35,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: but there's only so much we can do. We can't 375 00:18:35,250 --> 00:18:38,369 Rob Simmelkjaer: overfill. We can't go way above our numbers because that 376 00:18:38,580 --> 00:18:41,430 Rob Simmelkjaer: is not what's in our agreement with the city. And 377 00:18:41,430 --> 00:18:44,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: so, yeah, we wish we could let everyone into every 378 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:46,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: race, but that's just not the way it is, and 379 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:51,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: so we're doing our best to accommodate the incredible demand 380 00:18:51,030 --> 00:18:53,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: that exists for our races right now. 381 00:18:54,359 --> 00:18:58,379 Becs Gentry: Wonderful answer. Well done. First one, whew. Wipe that sweat 382 00:18:58,380 --> 00:18:59,070 Becs Gentry: from your brow. 383 00:18:59,970 --> 00:19:02,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: It's the number one question I get so I'm so 384 00:19:02,010 --> 00:19:03,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: used to answering it. 385 00:19:03,060 --> 00:19:03,720 Becs Gentry: Exactly. 386 00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:05,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: And I get it. It's what we call a good 387 00:19:05,790 --> 00:19:08,369 Rob Simmelkjaer: problem to have because so many people are passionate about 388 00:19:08,369 --> 00:19:10,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: running, but of course we want everyone running, so we'll 389 00:19:10,770 --> 00:19:11,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: talk more about that as we go. 390 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:16,320 Becs Gentry: Exactly. And I think, Willie, as you will find, there are 391 00:19:16,320 --> 00:19:19,050 Becs Gentry: a lot of races, not a lot of marathons, but 392 00:19:19,050 --> 00:19:24,000 Becs Gentry: that's what makes it so unique. And so, as Rob 393 00:19:24,270 --> 00:19:27,000 Becs Gentry: will talk about, there are other things we can do to help people 394 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:27,151 Becs Gentry: get in. 395 00:19:27,151 --> 00:19:30,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: And by the way, the Marathon, as I've just mentioned, all these races 396 00:19:30,270 --> 00:19:31,109 Rob Simmelkjaer: had a record number of finishes. 397 00:19:31,109 --> 00:19:31,200 Becs Gentry: They did. 398 00:19:31,710 --> 00:19:34,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: The big ones, Marathon, the Half, Brooklyn, so we did 399 00:19:34,770 --> 00:19:37,470 Rob Simmelkjaer: let in more people, right, and we actually have seen 400 00:19:37,470 --> 00:19:39,960 Rob Simmelkjaer: the number of finishers go up in these races, but 401 00:19:39,960 --> 00:19:42,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: there are limits to how many we can let in. We had 160, 402 00:19:42,750 --> 00:19:46,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: 000 applications to the Marathon, Becs. Trust me, if we 403 00:19:46,290 --> 00:19:46,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: let in- 404 00:19:46,500 --> 00:19:49,200 Becs Gentry: So that is three times as many that are allowed in nearly. 405 00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:53,820 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, exactly. And if we let in 75,000, well, not only would 406 00:19:53,820 --> 00:19:56,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: that be a problem with the City, but trust me, 407 00:19:56,280 --> 00:20:01,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: you don't want to run the New York Marathon with 75, 000 runners in it. 408 00:20:01,530 --> 00:20:01,889 Becs Gentry: I was going to say. 409 00:20:01,890 --> 00:20:02,070 Rob Simmelkjaer: That would not be a good time. 410 00:20:03,119 --> 00:20:05,040 Becs Gentry: You're stuck between a rock and a hard place in that 411 00:20:05,040 --> 00:20:09,240 Becs Gentry: situation because, yes, we want to have as much happiness 412 00:20:09,240 --> 00:20:13,590 Becs Gentry: and as little disappointment as possible when it comes to the 160, 000- 413 00:20:13,590 --> 00:20:18,000 Becs Gentry: plus people who entered. But think about it. On that 414 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:20,700 Becs Gentry: course, these are still New York streets, some of them 415 00:20:20,700 --> 00:20:22,889 Becs Gentry: are narrow, some of them are wide. Some of the 416 00:20:22,890 --> 00:20:25,590 Becs Gentry: bridges are long, some of them are short. That finish 417 00:20:25,590 --> 00:20:27,959 Becs Gentry: line, the final turn into Central Park, you guys, if 418 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:31,050 Becs Gentry: you've never run it, it is narrow. So you do not 419 00:20:31,050 --> 00:20:33,359 Becs Gentry: want to be battling for your spot at the finish 420 00:20:33,359 --> 00:20:37,260 Becs Gentry: line with a bunch of people, let alone toilets, water, 421 00:20:37,560 --> 00:20:42,750 Becs Gentry: hydration, fuel, all of those things. So the numbers are not there 422 00:20:42,750 --> 00:20:46,140 Becs Gentry: to disappoint. The numbers are there again for safety first 423 00:20:46,500 --> 00:20:48,690 Becs Gentry: and enjoyment levels of it. 424 00:20:49,170 --> 00:20:49,619 Rob Simmelkjaer: Bingo. 425 00:20:49,920 --> 00:20:49,921 Becs Gentry: Yeah. 426 00:20:49,921 --> 00:20:55,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: You could do this. You answer these questions. All right? No, we'll go 427 00:20:55,530 --> 00:20:55,859 Rob Simmelkjaer: to next one. 428 00:20:55,859 --> 00:20:56,010 Becs Gentry: Next one. 429 00:20:56,010 --> 00:20:56,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: What's your next question for me, Becs? 430 00:20:56,190 --> 00:21:01,290 Becs Gentry: Okay. A couple of people have asked this question, so Tellami 431 00:21:01,830 --> 00:21:06,330 Becs Gentry: and Jay Elewan. Will there be more races coming or 432 00:21:06,420 --> 00:21:10,470 Becs Gentry: added in the next foreseeable future, let's say? 433 00:21:11,130 --> 00:21:14,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, good question. So we did add one race last 434 00:21:14,520 --> 00:21:19,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: year, as I mentioned, the Mindful 5K. We are currently 435 00:21:19,740 --> 00:21:23,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: putting on 40 races a year for adults. 436 00:21:24,300 --> 00:21:24,359 Becs Gentry: Wow. 437 00:21:24,450 --> 00:21:29,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: There are 52 weeks in a year. So there's not 438 00:21:29,280 --> 00:21:32,940 Rob Simmelkjaer: a whole lot of room for more races, but that 439 00:21:32,940 --> 00:21:37,859 Rob Simmelkjaer: said, we are looking for opportunities to add here and 440 00:21:37,859 --> 00:21:42,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: there and ways that we can add not only races, and this is 441 00:21:42,750 --> 00:21:45,929 Rob Simmelkjaer: I think an important point. It doesn't all have to 442 00:21:45,930 --> 00:21:47,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: be a race. Right? It doesn't all have to be 443 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:52,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: a 9+ 1 official race that counts toward your credit 444 00:21:52,770 --> 00:21:55,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: to get into the Marathon the following year. We want 445 00:21:55,740 --> 00:21:59,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: people running in different ways. So we are definitely looking 446 00:21:59,100 --> 00:22:03,240 Rob Simmelkjaer: to add " running experiences," quote, unquote. They may not all 447 00:22:03,240 --> 00:22:05,640 Rob Simmelkjaer: be official races in the way that you're thinking of 448 00:22:05,640 --> 00:22:09,240 Rob Simmelkjaer: them, but we are looking to add opportunities for people 449 00:22:09,240 --> 00:22:11,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: to run, and there will be more coming out about that 450 00:22:11,820 --> 00:22:14,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: as the year goes on, no question about it. So 451 00:22:14,730 --> 00:22:18,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: yeah, we're looking to grow, but we definitely are at 452 00:22:18,660 --> 00:22:20,640 Rob Simmelkjaer: a pretty high point already in terms of how many 453 00:22:20,640 --> 00:22:24,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: races we have. So the answer is yes, but slowly 454 00:22:24,780 --> 00:22:27,931 Rob Simmelkjaer: and very deliberately because we already have 40 races on the calendar for adults. 455 00:22:27,931 --> 00:22:33,090 Becs Gentry: Oh my gosh. It's so many. For adults, so you know, the kids' races are there as well. 456 00:22:33,090 --> 00:22:33,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yes. 457 00:22:33,090 --> 00:22:36,480 Becs Gentry: Okay, so let's keep this vein going and we go 458 00:22:36,480 --> 00:22:40,950 Becs Gentry: into race accessibility, but also membership. So I've added membership 459 00:22:40,950 --> 00:22:42,930 Becs Gentry: here because this is something that you're going to talk 460 00:22:42,930 --> 00:22:47,700 Becs Gentry: about more in order to further explain the decisions about 461 00:22:47,700 --> 00:22:53,310 Becs Gentry: numbers. So similar questions from Shani Weiner asks and Jenny 462 00:22:53,310 --> 00:22:57,840 Becs Gentry: Dujour, amongst other people, and it is about how New 463 00:22:57,840 --> 00:23:01,200 Becs Gentry: York Road Runners is managing the increased popularity of the 464 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:03,990 Becs Gentry: races. Most of these questions are focused on the big 465 00:23:03,990 --> 00:23:09,480 Becs Gentry: race, TCS New York City Marathon, and how race accessibility 466 00:23:09,510 --> 00:23:12,030 Becs Gentry: is going to be balanced in the face of increasing 467 00:23:12,030 --> 00:23:15,240 Becs Gentry: running popularity. So I think the bulk of the question 468 00:23:15,240 --> 00:23:20,369 Becs Gentry: is how can more people run the TCS New York 469 00:23:20,369 --> 00:23:25,800 Becs Gentry: City Marathon for the first time, how are you going to do that or how can they do that. 470 00:23:27,030 --> 00:23:31,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: It's an excellent question. So what I would start by 471 00:23:31,200 --> 00:23:34,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: saying is that if you live in the New York 472 00:23:34,320 --> 00:23:36,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: City area, and I don't know if the people asking 473 00:23:36,600 --> 00:23:39,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: these questions live in the New York City area, there is 474 00:23:39,480 --> 00:23:42,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: a guaranteed way to run the Marathon. We have the 475 00:23:42,780 --> 00:23:45,960 Rob Simmelkjaer: 9+ 1 program. If you run nine of our races 476 00:23:46,500 --> 00:23:48,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: and volunteer at one in the course of a year, 477 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:52,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: you will run the Marathon the following year. So it's 478 00:23:52,680 --> 00:23:56,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: available to anybody who's willing to make that commitment. It's 479 00:23:56,100 --> 00:23:58,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: a really smart way to get in because you're also 480 00:23:58,380 --> 00:24:01,619 Rob Simmelkjaer: working on your running as part of that. And so 481 00:24:01,619 --> 00:24:04,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: I really encourage anybody who is in this area who 482 00:24:04,320 --> 00:24:07,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: wants to run the Marathon to explore doing it through 483 00:24:07,530 --> 00:24:10,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: that program. There are obviously other ways for first- time 484 00:24:10,710 --> 00:24:15,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: runners to get in. The drawing is a hard way 485 00:24:15,900 --> 00:24:18,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: to get in, but I meet people all the time 486 00:24:18,330 --> 00:24:20,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: who say they entered the drawing and got in their 487 00:24:20,850 --> 00:24:24,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: first time, first time trying. Right? So it happens all 488 00:24:24,420 --> 00:24:27,240 Rob Simmelkjaer: the time. We don't have any particular advantage for first- 489 00:24:27,240 --> 00:24:31,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: time people applying for the drawing, but you can definitely 490 00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:33,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: get in that way. Obviously you got to get a little 491 00:24:33,030 --> 00:24:35,879 Rob Simmelkjaer: bit lucky. And then of course there's the charity route, 492 00:24:35,880 --> 00:24:38,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: and again, I know that's competitive right now between Team 493 00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:41,970 Rob Simmelkjaer: for Kids and other charities. There are ways to get 494 00:24:41,970 --> 00:24:44,940 Rob Simmelkjaer: in. So I would start by saying that. Now another 495 00:24:44,940 --> 00:24:47,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: thing I would say is make sure you're a New 496 00:24:47,280 --> 00:24:50,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: York Road Runners member because if you're a member your 497 00:24:50,730 --> 00:24:54,810 Rob Simmelkjaer: chances of getting into these races is better because we 498 00:24:54,810 --> 00:24:59,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: introduced in 2024, something I didn't mention before, the first ever Second- 499 00:24:59,700 --> 00:25:02,909 Rob Simmelkjaer: Chance Drawing for all these big races for members. So 500 00:25:02,910 --> 00:25:06,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: if you don't get in through the regular drawing and 501 00:25:06,060 --> 00:25:09,720 Rob Simmelkjaer: you're a member, you're entered into a pool automatically without 502 00:25:09,720 --> 00:25:13,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: doing anything for a second drawing that's only for members 503 00:25:13,890 --> 00:25:15,929 Rob Simmelkjaer: that gives you another chance to get in. So it 504 00:25:15,930 --> 00:25:18,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: increases your chance of getting in. I had such a 505 00:25:18,090 --> 00:25:21,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: great time calling members last year, Becs, who got in 506 00:25:21,090 --> 00:25:24,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: through that Second- Chance Drawing and they were thrilled. So 507 00:25:24,540 --> 00:25:27,869 Rob Simmelkjaer: that's another way to do it. When it comes to 508 00:25:27,900 --> 00:25:32,430 Rob Simmelkjaer: races, we also introduced something new in 2024 called the Member- 509 00:25:32,430 --> 00:25:36,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: Only Standby List. So you can put yourself, if you're 510 00:25:36,390 --> 00:25:40,080 Rob Simmelkjaer: a member, on a list for a race and say, " 511 00:25:40,080 --> 00:25:42,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: Hey, if spots open up in this race, I'd like 512 00:25:42,780 --> 00:25:45,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: to run it," and we did a lot of that. 513 00:25:45,390 --> 00:25:49,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: In fact, 4, 000, about 4, 000 members gained access 514 00:25:49,920 --> 00:25:55,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: to sold- out races in 2024 through the Members- Only 515 00:25:55,260 --> 00:25:59,369 Rob Simmelkjaer: Standby List. So it's another great way to get into 516 00:25:59,369 --> 00:26:02,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: races by being a member. And then lastly, Becs, I 517 00:26:02,580 --> 00:26:05,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: want to talk about a level of membership that is a 518 00:26:05,190 --> 00:26:09,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: huge help. It's more money, but it is not that 519 00:26:09,180 --> 00:26:13,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: much more money considering the benefit that you get. If 520 00:26:13,200 --> 00:26:16,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: you join not just as a basic member but as 521 00:26:16,140 --> 00:26:20,369 Rob Simmelkjaer: a Member Plus member of New York Road Runners, you 522 00:26:20,369 --> 00:26:25,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: get additional time ahead of everybody else registering for races 523 00:26:26,130 --> 00:26:29,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: to sign up. It's a two- day window that is 524 00:26:29,580 --> 00:26:33,389 Rob Simmelkjaer: available only for Member Plus members to sign up for 525 00:26:33,480 --> 00:26:36,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: all the races that are going on sale in a 526 00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:40,619 Rob Simmelkjaer: given period. And so it's basically a guarantee, Becs, that 527 00:26:40,619 --> 00:26:42,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: you're going to get into these races as long as 528 00:26:42,480 --> 00:26:45,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: you make sure you set your calendar, remind yourself to 529 00:26:45,630 --> 00:26:49,050 Rob Simmelkjaer: get on the website and register during that two- day 530 00:26:49,050 --> 00:26:52,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: window. The races do not sell out during the Member 531 00:26:52,290 --> 00:26:56,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: Plus period. Again, it's a bit more money, but not 532 00:26:56,940 --> 00:26:59,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: a huge amount more. I think it's, I'm going to 533 00:26:59,010 --> 00:27:01,050 Rob Simmelkjaer: be corrected on this if I get it wrong, but 534 00:27:01,050 --> 00:27:05,970 Rob Simmelkjaer: I think it's about another 60, $ 65 to be a Member 535 00:27:05,970 --> 00:27:09,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: Plus member versus the $ 60 to be a basic member. 536 00:27:09,780 --> 00:27:13,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: So when you think about how much you're getting in 537 00:27:13,830 --> 00:27:16,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: having that access to races, it's well worth it, and 538 00:27:16,920 --> 00:27:20,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: I encourage anybody who is really focused on getting into 539 00:27:20,100 --> 00:27:23,429 Rob Simmelkjaer: races to upgrade their membership to Member Plus because it 540 00:27:23,430 --> 00:27:24,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: makes a huge difference. 541 00:27:25,230 --> 00:27:29,010 Becs Gentry: Absolutely, agreed. I mean, get in on that, everyone. Come 542 00:27:29,010 --> 00:27:32,550 Becs Gentry: on. Start the new year strong with a little gift 543 00:27:32,550 --> 00:27:33,359 Becs Gentry: to yourself there. 544 00:27:33,840 --> 00:27:34,470 Rob Simmelkjaer: A hundred percent. 545 00:27:34,890 --> 00:27:39,390 Becs Gentry: Okay. So I think you sort of answered this question in your last 546 00:27:39,480 --> 00:27:41,700 Becs Gentry: answer there, but I think we could dive a little 547 00:27:41,700 --> 00:27:45,420 Becs Gentry: bit deeper into it because this question is from SD5289NY, 548 00:27:48,840 --> 00:27:51,720 Becs Gentry: and they have asked what your plans are to make membership 549 00:27:51,720 --> 00:27:56,609 Becs Gentry: worth it for 15- plus year members getting shut out of 550 00:27:56,609 --> 00:27:59,639 Becs Gentry: races. So I think we can go a bit deeper 551 00:27:59,970 --> 00:28:01,709 Becs Gentry: on that membership and what's happening there. 552 00:28:01,710 --> 00:28:04,470 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, a hundred percent. I mean, first of all, I 553 00:28:04,470 --> 00:28:09,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: want to say that I have no higher priority as 554 00:28:09,090 --> 00:28:12,720 Rob Simmelkjaer: CEO of New York Road Runners than to make membership 555 00:28:12,780 --> 00:28:16,919 Rob Simmelkjaer: a great experience for our members, and when I first 556 00:28:16,920 --> 00:28:20,550 Rob Simmelkjaer: came a couple years ago what I saw was membership 557 00:28:20,550 --> 00:28:24,930 Rob Simmelkjaer: that basically was a discount. What you really got for 558 00:28:24,930 --> 00:28:27,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: being a member two years ago was a discount on 559 00:28:27,300 --> 00:28:31,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: races, if you got into the races. What we want 560 00:28:31,290 --> 00:28:33,119 Rob Simmelkjaer: to do is make it about a lot more than 561 00:28:33,119 --> 00:28:36,119 Rob Simmelkjaer: that. We want to obviously emphasize the community side of 562 00:28:36,119 --> 00:28:39,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: it, but create a whole new set of benefits for 563 00:28:39,660 --> 00:28:42,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: members of New York Road Runners. And so that is why 564 00:28:42,060 --> 00:28:44,940 Rob Simmelkjaer: you've seen us add some of these things in the 565 00:28:44,940 --> 00:28:48,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: last year that I just mentioned, the Second- Chance Drawing, 566 00:28:48,330 --> 00:28:52,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: the Members- Only Standby List, the members- only race that 567 00:28:52,440 --> 00:28:56,640 Rob Simmelkjaer: we had last summer and we'll have again. Members also 568 00:28:56,640 --> 00:28:59,970 Rob Simmelkjaer: get access to exclusive non- race events we have at 569 00:28:59,970 --> 00:29:05,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: our expos, during Member Week, throughout the year, exclusive experiences 570 00:29:05,910 --> 00:29:08,489 Rob Simmelkjaer: for members, members swag that we give out to our 571 00:29:08,490 --> 00:29:13,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: members, and we're thinking about these things all the time. 572 00:29:13,980 --> 00:29:17,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: So we will be announcing more member- only perks in 573 00:29:17,400 --> 00:29:21,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: 2025. I mentioned the app earlier, Becs, and I think the 574 00:29:21,480 --> 00:29:24,810 Rob Simmelkjaer: app is also going to give us more opportunities over 575 00:29:24,810 --> 00:29:29,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: time to give our members exclusive access to things that 576 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:33,510 Rob Simmelkjaer: live in the digital sphere, and so that's a big 577 00:29:33,510 --> 00:29:37,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: focus. So understand the question. Get it. Members, we love 578 00:29:37,830 --> 00:29:40,230 Rob Simmelkjaer: you, we care about you, and we want to make 579 00:29:40,230 --> 00:29:44,459 Rob Simmelkjaer: sure that this membership is worth it because even if 580 00:29:44,460 --> 00:29:46,590 Rob Simmelkjaer: you're struggling to get into races, we want to make 581 00:29:46,590 --> 00:29:49,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: sure you're getting a great experience. And again, not to 582 00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:52,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: wear out that point, but if you're a Member Plus 583 00:29:52,320 --> 00:29:55,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: member, well, then the race experience, getting into races becomes 584 00:29:55,620 --> 00:29:58,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: a lot easier as well. So that's the message to 585 00:29:58,890 --> 00:29:59,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: all the members out there. 586 00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:05,010 Becs Gentry: Exactly. We love that and we love our members. Okay, so 587 00:30:05,910 --> 00:30:08,790 Becs Gentry: here's one that is big in the running community and 588 00:30:08,790 --> 00:30:11,640 Becs Gentry: it's called entry swapping. So it's a little bit of 589 00:30:11,640 --> 00:30:15,870 Becs Gentry: a touchy subject, but let's get into it. This might 590 00:30:16,260 --> 00:30:17,790 Becs Gentry: get you a little bit hotter under the collar, Rob. 591 00:30:18,360 --> 00:30:24,120 Becs Gentry: Okay, so ValBrecht4 has asked, " With races filling up instantly after 592 00:30:24,120 --> 00:30:27,540 Becs Gentry: registration opens, what is New York Road Runners plans to 593 00:30:27,540 --> 00:30:31,530 Becs Gentry: make sure slots don't go unused on race day?" 594 00:30:32,310 --> 00:30:34,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: All right, thank you, Val, for the question. So I 595 00:30:34,350 --> 00:30:37,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: answered this in a couple of different ways by talking 596 00:30:37,020 --> 00:30:40,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: about the fact that we sell a number of slots 597 00:30:40,620 --> 00:30:44,970 Rob Simmelkjaer: that takes into account people not coming. Right? So that 598 00:30:45,060 --> 00:30:48,209 Rob Simmelkjaer: is a way that we try to ensure that slots 599 00:30:48,210 --> 00:30:52,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: don't go unused because we're selling more slots than there 600 00:30:52,290 --> 00:30:54,930 Rob Simmelkjaer: are actually available in the race. So that's the first 601 00:30:54,930 --> 00:30:57,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: thing we were already doing that you may not know 602 00:30:57,480 --> 00:31:00,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: about if you're just a member kind of paying attention 603 00:31:00,450 --> 00:31:03,240 Rob Simmelkjaer: to what's happening. So that's number one. All right, second 604 00:31:03,240 --> 00:31:06,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: is about the member standby list. I mentioned again, the Member- 605 00:31:06,750 --> 00:31:09,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: Only Standby List which is important as part of this 606 00:31:09,870 --> 00:31:12,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: and how many people got in through that. So we 607 00:31:12,030 --> 00:31:16,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: talked about that already. Now what I think you mentioned 608 00:31:16,530 --> 00:31:20,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: is the swapping of bibs, and that is essentially a, 609 00:31:20,790 --> 00:31:24,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: hey, I can't run this race, but my friend, Becs, 610 00:31:24,120 --> 00:31:27,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: would like to run. Can I give Becs my bib? 611 00:31:27,630 --> 00:31:31,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: Now just handing somebody else your bib right now is 612 00:31:31,890 --> 00:31:33,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: very, very, very much against the rules. 613 00:31:33,930 --> 00:31:34,230 Becs Gentry: Yes. 614 00:31:34,650 --> 00:31:38,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: You cannot run a race with somebody else's bib and 615 00:31:39,360 --> 00:31:42,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: can't emphasize that enough because if you do that there's 616 00:31:42,840 --> 00:31:45,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: a chance, a good chance in fact, that it's going 617 00:31:45,450 --> 00:31:48,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: to be noticed because you'll run a time that's a 618 00:31:48,570 --> 00:31:53,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: little unusual maybe for that person or we'll just... listen, 619 00:31:53,580 --> 00:31:56,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: it's a good chance that we'll see that, and we 620 00:31:56,610 --> 00:31:59,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: don't want that for a lot of reasons. It's not just because 621 00:31:59,760 --> 00:32:02,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: of selling these bibs, it's because there's a safety issue. 622 00:32:02,910 --> 00:32:06,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: If something happens to a runner and you've got somebody 623 00:32:06,090 --> 00:32:10,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: else's bib on, we can't contact your emergency contact. We 624 00:32:10,110 --> 00:32:13,709 Rob Simmelkjaer: don't know who you are. We can't deal appropriately with 625 00:32:13,710 --> 00:32:17,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: any emergencies that happen. So you just can't run with somebody 626 00:32:17,160 --> 00:32:21,240 Rob Simmelkjaer: else's bib, full stop. Now we know that in some 627 00:32:21,240 --> 00:32:25,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: other race organizations you can officially transfer a bib to 628 00:32:25,200 --> 00:32:28,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: someone else. It's something that we are very much looking 629 00:32:28,290 --> 00:32:31,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: at. Our technology does not support that right now, but 630 00:32:31,740 --> 00:32:34,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: I mentioned earlier that we're going to be switching over 631 00:32:34,350 --> 00:32:39,930 Rob Simmelkjaer: to a new registration platform called haku. haku does support 632 00:32:39,930 --> 00:32:44,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: that, so we are looking at what we can do, how 633 00:32:44,010 --> 00:32:46,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: we can do it. Can't say anything about that yet 634 00:32:46,650 --> 00:32:49,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: because we're not really sure yet what makes sense, but 635 00:32:49,950 --> 00:32:53,550 Rob Simmelkjaer: it is definitely something that is on the road map. 636 00:32:53,640 --> 00:32:57,240 Becs Gentry: That's amazing. Growing a business means a lot of audience 637 00:32:57,240 --> 00:33:00,750 Becs Gentry: attracting, a lot of lead scoring, and a lot of long days. 638 00:33:01,080 --> 00:33:03,990 Becs Gentry: But with HubSpot, it's easier than ever for marketers to 639 00:33:03,990 --> 00:33:07,770 Becs Gentry: boost leads and score customers fast which means pretty soon 640 00:33:07,890 --> 00:33:12,810 Becs Gentry: your company will have a lot to celebrate. Visit hubspot. com/ 641 00:33:13,290 --> 00:33:18,360 Becs Gentry: marketers to learn more. Okay, now let's talk about race 642 00:33:18,360 --> 00:33:23,040 Becs Gentry: types, Rob, because we have at the moment everything from 643 00:33:23,310 --> 00:33:26,910 Becs Gentry: a mile, I mean excluding the kids' races, a mile 644 00:33:27,090 --> 00:33:30,660 Becs Gentry: up to the TCS New York City Marathon in distance. Historically, 645 00:33:30,660 --> 00:33:33,480 Becs Gentry: there have been other distances involved in New York Road 646 00:33:33,480 --> 00:33:37,320 Becs Gentry: Runners events and we have had a question from T. 647 00:33:37,320 --> 00:33:41,550 Becs Gentry: Y. Gellans. I'm sorry if I've mispronounced your name there. 648 00:33:41,550 --> 00:33:42,930 Becs Gentry: It looks like it might be Dutch. 649 00:33:43,860 --> 00:33:44,281 Rob Simmelkjaer: Ty, I think it's Ty. 650 00:33:44,281 --> 00:33:47,370 Becs Gentry: Ty, Ty Gellans, there we go. You wouldn't think I do this for 651 00:33:47,370 --> 00:33:54,420 Becs Gentry: a job, right, leaderboard names. Okay, Ty has asked, " Will 652 00:33:54,420 --> 00:33:57,060 Becs Gentry: there be any ultra marathons again?" 653 00:33:58,110 --> 00:34:00,930 Rob Simmelkjaer: Ty, this is one of the most frequent questions I get. 654 00:34:00,930 --> 00:34:01,800 Becs Gentry: From me too, Ty. 655 00:34:02,610 --> 00:34:06,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: Appreciate the question. We used to host an ultra marathon. 656 00:34:06,690 --> 00:34:11,219 Rob Simmelkjaer: It was called the Knickerbocker 60K, but the pandemic came 657 00:34:11,219 --> 00:34:13,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: along and that's one of the few races that we 658 00:34:13,500 --> 00:34:17,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: did not bring back post- pandemic for lots of reasons. 659 00:34:17,820 --> 00:34:20,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: Didn't have a huge amount of interest in the race, 660 00:34:21,060 --> 00:34:24,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: it's a really long and hard day for our staff 661 00:34:25,110 --> 00:34:27,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: for a relatively small number of runners. So we didn't 662 00:34:27,840 --> 00:34:30,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: bring that back and it's not currently on the roadmap. 663 00:34:30,630 --> 00:34:35,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: However, however, that doesn't mean that there aren't great ultras 664 00:34:35,310 --> 00:34:39,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: to run in the New York City area. Black men 665 00:34:39,270 --> 00:34:42,960 Rob Simmelkjaer: Run, New York City, and the NYC Way are keeping 666 00:34:42,960 --> 00:34:46,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: the ultra community in New York engaged with their annual 667 00:34:46,800 --> 00:34:50,969 Rob Simmelkjaer: Ted Corbitt 50K which is a local ultra marathon that 668 00:34:50,969 --> 00:34:53,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: will be held actually coming up on January 26th in 669 00:34:53,520 --> 00:34:56,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: Prospect Park. We're going to put a link to that 670 00:34:56,370 --> 00:34:59,819 Rob Simmelkjaer: race in our show notes. There's a virtual option for that 671 00:34:59,820 --> 00:35:03,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: race as well. So check it out. And with the new 672 00:35:03,180 --> 00:35:05,430 Rob Simmelkjaer: registration platform, one of the things we do want to 673 00:35:05,430 --> 00:35:08,819 Rob Simmelkjaer: do going forward is actually highlight some other races that 674 00:35:08,820 --> 00:35:12,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: are not Road Runners' races happening in the tri- state 675 00:35:12,180 --> 00:35:15,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: area that will give people a chance to have some 676 00:35:15,030 --> 00:35:17,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: different experiences, and ultras are a big part of that. 677 00:35:17,610 --> 00:35:20,430 Rob Simmelkjaer: So we probably will not be putting on an ultra 678 00:35:20,430 --> 00:35:24,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: ourselves anytime real soon, but others are doing it and 679 00:35:24,270 --> 00:35:27,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: we're going to make sure that we point our runners 680 00:35:27,480 --> 00:35:30,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: in the direction of those races because we want those 681 00:35:30,570 --> 00:35:34,230 Rob Simmelkjaer: races to succeed and thrive and to give runners a 682 00:35:34,230 --> 00:35:37,439 Rob Simmelkjaer: chance to experience those things with other organizers as well. 683 00:35:37,739 --> 00:35:40,650 Becs Gentry: Absolutely, and that's all part of the running community. We 684 00:35:40,650 --> 00:35:47,130 Becs Gentry: are just one vein of the heart of New York 685 00:35:47,130 --> 00:35:50,520 Becs Gentry: running being New York Road Runners, and as Rob just said, 686 00:35:50,520 --> 00:35:53,670 Becs Gentry: there's other organizations and we all work together and we all 687 00:35:53,820 --> 00:35:58,469 Becs Gentry: run together. So let's share, let's share those miles. Okay, 688 00:35:58,469 --> 00:36:03,270 Becs Gentry: Jess Gray, " Would you consider including treadmill for the virtual 689 00:36:03,270 --> 00:36:06,210 Becs Gentry: program?" Thanks, Jess. I love this question. I bet you're 690 00:36:06,210 --> 00:36:06,960 Becs Gentry: a Peloton member. 691 00:36:07,590 --> 00:36:12,870 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, that's a good question actually. Well, the question fascinates 692 00:36:12,870 --> 00:36:14,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: me a little bit. I mean, yes, if you're doing 693 00:36:14,850 --> 00:36:17,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: it on a Peloton, you're likely to have a great experience. 694 00:36:18,000 --> 00:36:20,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: I've been running on the treadmill a lot lately, Becs. 695 00:36:20,910 --> 00:36:24,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: I ran five miles this morning, we record on Tuesdays, 696 00:36:24,090 --> 00:36:26,969 Rob Simmelkjaer: on the treadmill because I have no other way to 697 00:36:26,969 --> 00:36:31,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: run right now on a weekday when it's 20 degrees 698 00:36:31,230 --> 00:36:35,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: and dark at my preferred running time. So I got 699 00:36:35,250 --> 00:36:37,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: into the gym and ran five on the treadmill. I 700 00:36:37,890 --> 00:36:42,719 Rob Simmelkjaer: just can't... I do it, Becs. I have to admit, I 701 00:36:42,719 --> 00:36:45,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: really need to start running with you and your classes 702 00:36:45,630 --> 00:36:47,551 Rob Simmelkjaer: because I just do not enjoy this, Becs. 703 00:36:47,551 --> 00:36:47,552 Becs Gentry: Yes. 704 00:36:47,551 --> 00:36:51,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: I do not enjoy running on the treadmill. I got to 705 00:36:51,390 --> 00:36:54,359 Rob Simmelkjaer: start doing these classes with you guys because maybe that 706 00:36:54,360 --> 00:36:57,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: would just make the time pass. It kills me. I'm 707 00:36:57,120 --> 00:37:01,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: just not a treadmill guy. But anyway, I digress. Obviously 708 00:37:01,200 --> 00:37:04,799 Rob Simmelkjaer: Jess is, and so first of all, we partner with 709 00:37:04,800 --> 00:37:08,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: Strava on virtual racing and the thing about those virtual 710 00:37:08,370 --> 00:37:12,419 Rob Simmelkjaer: races on Strava is we track it by GPS, right? 711 00:37:12,420 --> 00:37:16,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: So we need to see, Strava does, that you actually 712 00:37:16,110 --> 00:37:19,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: ran the distance that the virtual race was so that 713 00:37:19,890 --> 00:37:23,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: we can tell you ran, and that's why there are 714 00:37:23,370 --> 00:37:26,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: not any current options to participate in those virtual races 715 00:37:27,330 --> 00:37:30,930 Rob Simmelkjaer: on a treadmill. But I think it's an interesting question. Becs, 716 00:37:31,560 --> 00:37:36,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: let's talk about it with your colleagues at Peloton and 717 00:37:36,150 --> 00:37:37,351 Rob Simmelkjaer: see if there's a way to solve for that. 718 00:37:37,350 --> 00:37:37,590 Becs Gentry: I would agree. 719 00:37:37,590 --> 00:37:38,820 Rob Simmelkjaer: It's actually an interesting idea. 720 00:37:39,300 --> 00:37:39,630 Becs Gentry: That would be. 721 00:37:40,350 --> 00:37:44,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: Peloton users with a Peloton Tread or a Tread+ can 722 00:37:44,130 --> 00:37:48,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: already run segments of the TCS New York City Marathon with 723 00:37:48,300 --> 00:37:52,859 Rob Simmelkjaer: the incredible scenery that is recorded for those races. You 724 00:37:52,860 --> 00:37:54,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: can run the course on the Tread. We've got new 725 00:37:54,840 --> 00:37:58,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: content coming out as we mentioned. So yeah, let's have 726 00:37:58,110 --> 00:38:00,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: a conversation. So the answer for now, Jess, is no, 727 00:38:00,450 --> 00:38:03,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: but we will talk to Peloton and see what's possible. 728 00:38:03,660 --> 00:38:04,410 Becs Gentry: Yeah. But hold please. 729 00:38:04,410 --> 00:38:04,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: Maybe there is a way to solve for that. I don't know. 730 00:38:04,799 --> 00:38:09,660 Becs Gentry: Yeah, we could, we could. My brain is whirring. Let's have a chat. 731 00:38:10,140 --> 00:38:10,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: I love it. 732 00:38:11,100 --> 00:38:14,760 Becs Gentry: All right, next and final question in this category is 733 00:38:15,600 --> 00:38:20,700 Becs Gentry: RunningNYCS. Maybe more races in the afternoon and not so 734 00:38:20,910 --> 00:38:24,779 Becs Gentry: early in the... I think morning is what they meant 735 00:38:24,780 --> 00:38:27,960 Becs Gentry: here, not so early in the morning if you can, question mark. 736 00:38:28,140 --> 00:38:30,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: RunningNYCS is not a morning person apparently. 737 00:38:30,480 --> 00:38:31,529 Becs Gentry: No. Absolutely not. 738 00:38:31,590 --> 00:38:33,089 Rob Simmelkjaer: Would like races in the afternoon. And by the way, 739 00:38:33,090 --> 00:38:35,219 Rob Simmelkjaer: I get it, especially this time of year. 740 00:38:35,430 --> 00:38:35,431 Becs Gentry: Yes, the 7:00, 8:00 AM, they're hard, that time. 741 00:38:35,431 --> 00:38:42,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: I totally, yeah, I'm doing my runs right now on the weekends at noon or 1: 00 because I'm just 742 00:38:42,180 --> 00:38:45,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: trying to get as much warmth as I can. The 743 00:38:45,600 --> 00:38:49,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: issue around this, well, there's two issues. Number one, permits, 744 00:38:49,380 --> 00:38:54,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: I talked about earlier and the Parks department, and especially 745 00:38:54,420 --> 00:38:57,989 Rob Simmelkjaer: if we're closing streets, the Department of Transportation wants these 746 00:38:57,989 --> 00:39:01,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: races to happen at a time that has the lowest 747 00:39:01,290 --> 00:39:04,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: impact on others out there. So people who want to 748 00:39:04,950 --> 00:39:08,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: just use the park, the busiest times in Central Park 749 00:39:08,520 --> 00:39:10,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: or Prospect Park or wherever are going to be those 750 00:39:10,980 --> 00:39:13,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: late morning and afternoon hours where people are out and about 751 00:39:13,890 --> 00:39:16,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: with their kids or on bikes or whatever. So the 752 00:39:16,560 --> 00:39:19,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: races do disrupt the use of the park and it 753 00:39:19,950 --> 00:39:23,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: definitely is not a good thing to have races happening 754 00:39:23,969 --> 00:39:26,969 Rob Simmelkjaer: at that time. And then also afternoon races in the 755 00:39:26,969 --> 00:39:29,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: summertime obviously are a challenge when the temperatures are too 756 00:39:29,850 --> 00:39:35,759 Rob Simmelkjaer: high. So great question. It's something that actually I'll think 757 00:39:35,760 --> 00:39:37,469 Rob Simmelkjaer: about a little bit in the winter months, see if 758 00:39:37,469 --> 00:39:40,259 Rob Simmelkjaer: there's a thing we could do around afternoon races. But 759 00:39:40,650 --> 00:39:44,040 Rob Simmelkjaer: for now, based on our permits, the answer unfortunately is 760 00:39:44,370 --> 00:39:47,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: you're going to have to set that alarm, RunningNYCS, and 761 00:39:47,850 --> 00:39:49,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: get yourself up and make it to one of our 762 00:39:49,770 --> 00:39:53,009 Rob Simmelkjaer: starting lines at 8:00 or 9: 00 AM, whatever time it is. 763 00:39:53,310 --> 00:39:58,469 Becs Gentry: Absolutely. I know, it's not great, but if you're training 764 00:39:58,469 --> 00:40:01,890 Becs Gentry: for one of those marathons or longer races, you got 765 00:40:01,890 --> 00:40:03,930 Becs Gentry: to get up early because you got a long day 766 00:40:03,930 --> 00:40:06,360 Becs Gentry: ahead of you. So it gets you in the habit. Right? 767 00:40:06,900 --> 00:40:09,511 Rob Simmelkjaer: A hundred percent. Win the morning, win the day, I always say. 768 00:40:09,511 --> 00:40:11,970 Becs Gentry: Oh, we like a mantra. 769 00:40:12,210 --> 00:40:12,811 Rob Simmelkjaer: Get on out there. Make it happen. 770 00:40:12,811 --> 00:40:20,279 Becs Gentry: Okay, let's talk about expanding the mission. We have C. J. 771 00:40:20,340 --> 00:40:24,510 Becs Gentry: R. Palmeiras has asked, " Why not franchise to other countries, 772 00:40:24,690 --> 00:40:26,400 Becs Gentry: Brazil, for example?" 773 00:40:27,480 --> 00:40:30,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: So as I mentioned earlier, we're a New York City 774 00:40:30,090 --> 00:40:34,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: based nonprofit. We're not a for- profit organization, and our 775 00:40:34,710 --> 00:40:38,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: mission really is focused on serving local communities here in 776 00:40:38,760 --> 00:40:41,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: the five boroughs of New York where there is so 777 00:40:41,010 --> 00:40:44,969 Rob Simmelkjaer: much need that we want to fill and have the 778 00:40:44,969 --> 00:40:47,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: impact that we have here in New York. So that 779 00:40:47,670 --> 00:40:52,080 Rob Simmelkjaer: is the primary focus of the organization. There are a 780 00:40:52,080 --> 00:40:55,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: lot of great running organizers and organizations out there around 781 00:40:55,500 --> 00:40:58,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: the world, and we love to see the international runners 782 00:40:58,680 --> 00:41:01,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: coming in to visit us for the TCS New York City 783 00:41:01,410 --> 00:41:05,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: Marathon and other races all around the year. We are 784 00:41:05,250 --> 00:41:08,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: going to start working to do a better job of 785 00:41:08,160 --> 00:41:12,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: pointing people in the direction of local running organizations where 786 00:41:12,180 --> 00:41:17,489 Rob Simmelkjaer: they can run, but right now it's not really something 787 00:41:17,489 --> 00:41:21,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: to franchise. It's an interesting question, franchising. It's not like 788 00:41:21,210 --> 00:41:25,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: we're making burgers or something that could actually really be 789 00:41:25,890 --> 00:41:28,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: franchised. I mean, it's running. Right? It's putting on racing 790 00:41:28,350 --> 00:41:32,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: events. People can do that in other places. Obviously we 791 00:41:32,310 --> 00:41:35,399 Rob Simmelkjaer: have incredible tradition in New York of putting on really high- 792 00:41:35,400 --> 00:41:39,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: quality races and other things, but I don't really think 793 00:41:39,480 --> 00:41:42,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: it's like even if we were a for- profit, like a 794 00:41:42,270 --> 00:41:46,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: franchisable thing per se. But again, as I mentioned, we're 795 00:41:46,890 --> 00:41:49,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: really focused on New York City right now. 796 00:41:49,650 --> 00:41:55,800 Becs Gentry: Amazing, and rightly so. We've got it. Okay, so Nuvoletta Italiana 797 00:41:55,800 --> 00:41:59,820 Becs Gentry: has asked, " Will the partnership with country's return? We miss 798 00:41:59,820 --> 00:42:02,130 Becs Gentry: Italy Run, Japan Run, et cetera." 799 00:42:03,239 --> 00:42:07,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: I know, Becs, that some of those previous runs were so 800 00:42:07,440 --> 00:42:12,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: popular. The Italy run was huge. The Japan Run, the 801 00:42:12,420 --> 00:42:17,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: UAE Healthy Kidney 10K, those were really popular races. They 802 00:42:17,910 --> 00:42:20,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: were all off the calendar by the time I came 803 00:42:20,610 --> 00:42:23,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: in as CEO. Now one thing people should know is 804 00:42:23,310 --> 00:42:27,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: that those were actually sponsored races. So those countries, their 805 00:42:27,420 --> 00:42:30,779 Rob Simmelkjaer: tourism boards or some other element from those countries were 806 00:42:30,780 --> 00:42:35,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: actually sponsoring those races, and just like TCS sponsors the 807 00:42:35,730 --> 00:42:38,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: Marathon or United Airlines sponsors the Half. So those were 808 00:42:38,670 --> 00:42:43,109 Rob Simmelkjaer: sponsors. Those races went away, and the thing is, it's 809 00:42:43,110 --> 00:42:47,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: challenging to bring some of them back, Becs, because it's 810 00:42:47,100 --> 00:42:49,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: kind of like hard to do it in a fair 811 00:42:49,410 --> 00:42:54,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: way. If we brought Italy Run back, let's say, right, 812 00:42:54,090 --> 00:42:57,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: well, then there'd be 20 other countries that would raise 813 00:42:57,180 --> 00:42:59,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: their hands the next day and say, " We want a 814 00:42:59,370 --> 00:43:03,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: race. We want one of those races." It would be 815 00:43:03,630 --> 00:43:09,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: hard to determine in a fair way what country should 816 00:43:09,090 --> 00:43:11,430 Rob Simmelkjaer: get a race and what country shouldn't get a race, 817 00:43:11,430 --> 00:43:17,550 Rob Simmelkjaer: and we feel really bad if we didn't represent all 818 00:43:17,550 --> 00:43:22,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: the different constituencies and nationalities that are out there. This 819 00:43:22,110 --> 00:43:25,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: is New York City, we've got the most international, diverse 820 00:43:25,710 --> 00:43:29,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: population in the world, and I would feel bad if 821 00:43:29,580 --> 00:43:33,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: we couldn't have a race for every country, but we 822 00:43:33,390 --> 00:43:37,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: can't have a race for every country. So therefore it's 823 00:43:37,170 --> 00:43:40,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: a little bit better, from my point of view, just 824 00:43:40,200 --> 00:43:42,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: not to have country races because that way we're treating 825 00:43:42,690 --> 00:43:46,469 Rob Simmelkjaer: everybody equally. So thank you for the question, but that 826 00:43:46,469 --> 00:43:52,859 Rob Simmelkjaer: is definitely not coming back. So please continue to go 827 00:43:52,860 --> 00:43:57,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: out and enjoy the Nutella and all the great stuff 828 00:43:57,060 --> 00:43:59,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: that was at the Italy Run and the other part. We 829 00:43:59,190 --> 00:44:05,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: miss having that stuff and we definitely have fond memories 830 00:44:05,100 --> 00:44:06,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: of those events and those races. 831 00:44:06,900 --> 00:44:09,690 Becs Gentry: Oh my gosh. I'm sure they were so, so fun. 832 00:44:10,469 --> 00:44:14,310 Becs Gentry: All right, let's move on to the verticals, addressing the verticals. 833 00:44:14,310 --> 00:44:17,160 Becs Gentry: These are things that kind of feed in to what 834 00:44:17,160 --> 00:44:21,239 Becs Gentry: makes New York Road Runners what it is, aside from just 835 00:44:21,239 --> 00:44:25,440 Becs Gentry: the running. So we've been asked by L. Joey, " Will 836 00:44:25,710 --> 00:44:28,379 Becs Gentry: New York Road Runners develop program for senior runners?" 837 00:44:29,550 --> 00:44:33,870 Rob Simmelkjaer: Good news, L. Joey, we have one. Absolutely, we have 838 00:44:33,870 --> 00:44:38,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: a great program for senior runners and walkers that's called 839 00:44:38,190 --> 00:44:42,569 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York Road Runners Striders' program. It was launched nearly 840 00:44:42,570 --> 00:44:46,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: 15 years ago in 2011. It is a free program 841 00:44:46,950 --> 00:44:50,880 Rob Simmelkjaer: and it offers senior adults physical activity for people who 842 00:44:50,880 --> 00:44:53,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: want to lead a more active life, and I think 843 00:44:53,760 --> 00:44:58,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: just as important, meet new people in their communities. We 844 00:44:58,110 --> 00:45:00,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: have a lot of folks who are walkers. It's called 845 00:45:00,420 --> 00:45:05,640 Rob Simmelkjaer: Striders. It's primarily but not exclusively a walking program. We 846 00:45:05,640 --> 00:45:07,739 Rob Simmelkjaer: have a lot of folks in that program who might 847 00:45:07,739 --> 00:45:11,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: start walking, but then they will graduate up to run- 848 00:45:11,370 --> 00:45:14,640 Rob Simmelkjaer: walking and then even just running. We have folks who 849 00:45:14,640 --> 00:45:17,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: walk our races, who run our races, who are all 850 00:45:17,910 --> 00:45:21,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: part of that Striders' program, and a majority of our 851 00:45:21,600 --> 00:45:25,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: Striders' coaches are seniors themselves who actually do a great 852 00:45:25,350 --> 00:45:28,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: job offering a peer- to- peer experience for these people 853 00:45:28,950 --> 00:45:33,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: in a safe setting. So any seniors out there who 854 00:45:33,270 --> 00:45:36,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: are interested should check out the Striders' program. Now if 855 00:45:36,360 --> 00:45:39,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: you don't think Striders is right for you, then I 856 00:45:39,180 --> 00:45:41,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: would really encourage you to check out all of our 857 00:45:41,610 --> 00:45:46,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: other training and programming options. Group Training is for all 858 00:45:46,980 --> 00:45:50,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: ages, and that's available in communities all around the city. 859 00:45:51,060 --> 00:45:55,109 Rob Simmelkjaer: Open Run, our weekly free running program in New York 860 00:45:55,110 --> 00:45:58,230 Rob Simmelkjaer: City Parks, again, open and accessible to runners of all 861 00:45:58,230 --> 00:46:01,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: ages and abilities. So they're there, and I think if 862 00:46:01,380 --> 00:46:04,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: you show up at one of those you'll find a 863 00:46:04,440 --> 00:46:09,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: welcoming community with people in your age cohort. I've met 864 00:46:09,000 --> 00:46:13,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: so many people, Becs, who signed up for Open Run really 865 00:46:13,680 --> 00:46:17,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: to get moving, and what happened is they made friends. 866 00:46:18,060 --> 00:46:21,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: They found a community that is so important for people 867 00:46:21,540 --> 00:46:24,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: at all ages, but I think especially for seniors, Becs, 868 00:46:24,480 --> 00:46:28,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: who sometimes become a bit more isolated. It's really important 869 00:46:28,530 --> 00:46:30,870 Rob Simmelkjaer: to have that community, and Road Runners is a great 870 00:46:30,870 --> 00:46:31,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: way to find that. 871 00:46:31,830 --> 00:46:34,140 Becs Gentry: Exactly. And if you want to find out more, we 872 00:46:34,140 --> 00:46:36,780 Becs Gentry: had a wonderful guest on the podcast last year, Dr. 873 00:46:36,780 --> 00:46:40,440 Becs Gentry: Leo Murillo, who has been a runner with New York 874 00:46:40,440 --> 00:46:45,780 Becs Gentry: Road Runners for a really long time. He's definitely one 875 00:46:45,780 --> 00:46:49,620 Becs Gentry: to talk to about the progression of running all the 876 00:46:49,620 --> 00:46:52,739 Becs Gentry: way through the life, and now as his senior running 877 00:46:52,739 --> 00:46:56,370 Becs Gentry: stage is here and blossoming, go check out that podcast 878 00:46:56,370 --> 00:46:57,421 Becs Gentry: as well if you want to find out a bit more. 879 00:46:57,421 --> 00:46:57,422 Rob Simmelkjaer: A hundred percent. 880 00:46:57,422 --> 00:47:03,930 Becs Gentry: All right. Two more questions, Rob, before you've sweated everything out again after 881 00:47:03,930 --> 00:47:07,950 Becs Gentry: your run. We've been asked by SuburbanDadRunner, " What can you 882 00:47:07,950 --> 00:47:10,980 Becs Gentry: do to better support New York City's club culture?" 883 00:47:12,180 --> 00:47:15,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: So the clubs are such a huge part of what 884 00:47:15,750 --> 00:47:18,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: we do at New York Road Runners and a huge 885 00:47:18,450 --> 00:47:20,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: part of the running community in New York City. Right? 886 00:47:20,460 --> 00:47:24,239 Rob Simmelkjaer: So many people get into running by joining a club. 887 00:47:24,660 --> 00:47:28,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: They're finding communities there. We love it. It's a huge 888 00:47:28,170 --> 00:47:31,589 Rob Simmelkjaer: part of what we are about, and we are constantly 889 00:47:31,590 --> 00:47:35,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: trying to support and nourish the club ecosystem in New 890 00:47:35,850 --> 00:47:39,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: York City and beyond. So we have something called Club 891 00:47:39,690 --> 00:47:44,279 Rob Simmelkjaer: Council which is essentially an organization that all the clubs 892 00:47:44,280 --> 00:47:49,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: join and allows these clubs to register with New York 893 00:47:49,200 --> 00:47:53,069 Rob Simmelkjaer: Road Runners on our website. People can find clubs by 894 00:47:53,070 --> 00:47:55,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: looking at that section of our website. A lot of 895 00:47:55,170 --> 00:47:58,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: folks find their club by looking at that, and we 896 00:47:58,440 --> 00:48:02,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: work daily with them. We have a small department at 897 00:48:02,100 --> 00:48:05,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York Road Runners. There's a guy named Anil Bhambhani 898 00:48:05,400 --> 00:48:08,819 Rob Simmelkjaer: whose job is supporting in the clubs. That's his full- 899 00:48:08,820 --> 00:48:10,379 Rob Simmelkjaer: time job at New York Road Runners, and so he 900 00:48:10,380 --> 00:48:13,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: is having back and forths with the clubs day in and 901 00:48:13,650 --> 00:48:17,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: day out. The Club Council also has meetings four times 902 00:48:17,520 --> 00:48:20,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: a year, quarterly, where we get together, we talk to 903 00:48:20,760 --> 00:48:22,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: the clubs about what's going on at New York Road 904 00:48:22,650 --> 00:48:26,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: Runners, we hear back from them and work with them 905 00:48:26,670 --> 00:48:28,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: on making sure it's a great experience. Now a big 906 00:48:28,710 --> 00:48:30,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: part of the club scene is what we call the 907 00:48:30,900 --> 00:48:33,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: Club Points series which is a chance for all the 908 00:48:33,660 --> 00:48:36,719 Rob Simmelkjaer: clubs to compete every year. They complete for points in 909 00:48:36,719 --> 00:48:39,719 Rob Simmelkjaer: all the different age groups and genders. And then we 910 00:48:39,719 --> 00:48:43,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: have a big gala called Club Night where we honor 911 00:48:43,800 --> 00:48:47,640 Rob Simmelkjaer: the clubs and we honor the runners who are competing 912 00:48:47,640 --> 00:48:51,360 Rob Simmelkjaer: for these awards of Runner of the Year and Runner 913 00:48:51,360 --> 00:48:53,759 Rob Simmelkjaer: of the Year at every age group and all the 914 00:48:53,760 --> 00:48:56,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: great things. So both clubs and local runners get honored 915 00:48:56,730 --> 00:49:00,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: at this. And then we also have a club- only, 916 00:49:00,120 --> 00:49:03,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: essentially, or at least club- preferred event in the summer 917 00:49:03,330 --> 00:49:08,489 Rob Simmelkjaer: called the NYRR Team Championships. That's a five- mile race that 918 00:49:08,489 --> 00:49:12,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: takes place in Central Park and it showcases all the 919 00:49:12,450 --> 00:49:17,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: clubs. Clubs are given preferred entry into that race. So 920 00:49:17,010 --> 00:49:19,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: the clubs get a lot. We also give bibs to 921 00:49:19,920 --> 00:49:22,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: every single club for each one of those Club Points 922 00:49:22,140 --> 00:49:26,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: series races. That includes the Marathon, the big Halfs. So they're getting 923 00:49:26,010 --> 00:49:29,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: entries to use as well. So it's a really deep 924 00:49:29,700 --> 00:49:32,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: connection that we have with the clubs. We're always looking 925 00:49:32,790 --> 00:49:36,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: to improve it, to deepen it. If you've got other 926 00:49:36,390 --> 00:49:39,810 Rob Simmelkjaer: ideas, ways you think we can better support and engage 927 00:49:39,810 --> 00:49:43,589 Rob Simmelkjaer: clubs, please reach out to your Club Council rep on 928 00:49:43,590 --> 00:49:46,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: your club, they'll reach out to us. We're having a 929 00:49:46,830 --> 00:49:50,430 Rob Simmelkjaer: lot of really good conversations to make sure that the clubs 930 00:49:50,430 --> 00:49:54,029 Rob Simmelkjaer: continue to thrive because they're such an important part of 931 00:49:54,029 --> 00:49:56,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: our community here in New York. 932 00:49:56,969 --> 00:50:00,270 Becs Gentry: Amazing. All right, we have one final question today from 933 00:50:00,270 --> 00:50:03,719 Becs Gentry: Michael Garofolo. " When is the next wave of races for 934 00:50:03,719 --> 00:50:06,989 Becs Gentry: the 9+ 1 program opening registrations?" 935 00:50:07,230 --> 00:50:11,640 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah. So soon, Michael. Our next set of races that 936 00:50:11,640 --> 00:50:14,880 Rob Simmelkjaer: will be open for registration will be opening in late 937 00:50:14,880 --> 00:50:19,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: January, early February. Keep an eye on your email for 938 00:50:19,770 --> 00:50:22,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: that. Okay? Very important, keep an eye on your email, 939 00:50:23,190 --> 00:50:25,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: keep an eye also on New York Road Runners' social 940 00:50:25,950 --> 00:50:31,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: channels so that you can know when it's announced that 941 00:50:31,020 --> 00:50:35,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: we are launching those races. I mentioned that we're doing 942 00:50:35,280 --> 00:50:39,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: this technical work, the new technology, new platform. So the 943 00:50:39,420 --> 00:50:42,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: reason that the date is unclear still is because of 944 00:50:42,750 --> 00:50:44,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: the work that's being done there, but it will be 945 00:50:44,250 --> 00:50:48,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: in the late January, early February period. So be patient. Watch 946 00:50:48,330 --> 00:50:49,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: your emails. 947 00:50:49,200 --> 00:50:51,120 Becs Gentry: And just keep up to date with the New York 948 00:50:51,120 --> 00:50:56,700 Becs Gentry: Road Runners' website, the race calendar. Get yourselves involved with 949 00:50:56,940 --> 00:51:00,780 Becs Gentry: any and all races you can. And don't forget that 950 00:51:00,780 --> 00:51:02,700 Becs Gentry: you can come and train as well. If you don't 951 00:51:02,700 --> 00:51:04,589 Becs Gentry: get into the races, it doesn't mean you can't come along 952 00:51:04,590 --> 00:51:07,380 Becs Gentry: for the community runs and all of the incredible training programs 953 00:51:07,680 --> 00:51:09,360 Becs Gentry: as well that New York Road Runners' offer. 954 00:51:10,080 --> 00:51:18,511 Rob Simmelkjaer: Becs, great job grilling me. Great job with those questions. Thank you for doing that. Don't you have to go to a class? 955 00:51:18,511 --> 00:51:18,512 Becs Gentry: I do. 956 00:51:18,511 --> 00:51:19,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: Aren't you supposed to teach a class? 957 00:51:19,500 --> 00:51:19,859 Becs Gentry: I do. 958 00:51:19,859 --> 00:51:19,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: Okay. 959 00:51:19,890 --> 00:51:22,081 Becs Gentry: I have to go and teach a class in about 50 minutes, yeah. 960 00:51:22,080 --> 00:51:22,082 Rob Simmelkjaer: Oh, you got plenty of time. You got plenty of time. 961 00:51:22,081 --> 00:51:22,261 Becs Gentry: Plenty time, yeah. 962 00:51:24,000 --> 00:51:26,069 Rob Simmelkjaer: Well, this was fun. Did you learn some things about 963 00:51:26,070 --> 00:51:26,731 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York Road Runners? 964 00:51:26,731 --> 00:51:30,120 Becs Gentry: I did. I really did. There's a few things I had 965 00:51:30,120 --> 00:51:35,910 Becs Gentry: no idea about. Yeah, my brain, as I said, is 966 00:51:35,910 --> 00:51:40,230 Becs Gentry: whirring on ideas of how we can get some of 967 00:51:40,230 --> 00:51:44,549 Becs Gentry: these questions answered and the world made better for some 968 00:51:44,550 --> 00:51:46,590 Becs Gentry: of our members out there as well, both on the 969 00:51:46,590 --> 00:51:48,390 Becs Gentry: New York Road Runners' side and on the Peloton side. 970 00:51:48,810 --> 00:51:52,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: There's so much opportunity, so I'm really excited about what 971 00:51:52,290 --> 00:51:56,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: 2025 has in store for Road Runners- 972 00:51:56,489 --> 00:51:56,491 Becs Gentry: Me too. 973 00:51:56,490 --> 00:52:00,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... for all of our runners and our members out 974 00:52:00,150 --> 00:52:02,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: there, for Set the Pace as well, because I'm excited 975 00:52:02,700 --> 00:52:05,550 Rob Simmelkjaer: just to get started with a whole new set of 976 00:52:05,910 --> 00:52:10,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: conversations with great people who make running a big part 977 00:52:10,350 --> 00:52:12,839 Rob Simmelkjaer: of their lives. I hope that all of our listeners 978 00:52:12,840 --> 00:52:15,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: out there are as fired up for the year as 979 00:52:15,330 --> 00:52:15,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: we are. 980 00:52:15,900 --> 00:52:16,890 Becs Gentry: Yes. 981 00:52:17,610 --> 00:52:20,040 Rob Simmelkjaer: I love it. I love it. Well, thank you, Becs. 982 00:52:20,040 --> 00:52:23,669 Rob Simmelkjaer: Thank you to all the listeners and the members who 983 00:52:23,670 --> 00:52:26,969 Rob Simmelkjaer: sent in those amazing questions. They were really good questions. 984 00:52:27,300 --> 00:52:29,640 Rob Simmelkjaer: By the way, keep the questions coming. You don't have 985 00:52:29,640 --> 00:52:31,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: to just do it when it's a special episode. You 986 00:52:31,890 --> 00:52:35,609 Rob Simmelkjaer: can always throw questions in in the comment section or 987 00:52:35,610 --> 00:52:39,870 Rob Simmelkjaer: as a review to the podcast in Apple podcast. We 988 00:52:39,870 --> 00:52:42,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: will always check them out. Remember to check the show 989 00:52:42,060 --> 00:52:44,940 Rob Simmelkjaer: notes out as we're going to have some information and 990 00:52:44,940 --> 00:52:47,820 Rob Simmelkjaer: links to some of the answers that I gave today. 991 00:52:48,150 --> 00:52:50,550 Rob Simmelkjaer: And that's it. That does it for our first episode 992 00:52:50,550 --> 00:52:54,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: of Set The Pace for 2025. Hope you enjoyed it. 993 00:52:54,450 --> 00:52:57,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: If you liked the episode, subscribe, rate it, leave a 994 00:52:57,840 --> 00:53:01,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: comment so we can continue to add listeners to our 995 00:53:01,200 --> 00:53:05,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: community here on Set the Pace in 2025. Once again, 996 00:53:05,250 --> 00:53:07,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: I want to wish you all a very happy New 997 00:53:07,770 --> 00:53:10,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: Year. Hope you guys have a great year running and 998 00:53:10,890 --> 00:53:13,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: beyond. Enjoy the miles. We'll see you next week.