WEBVTT - Live From the BMW Berlin Marathon With Catherine Debrunner- (Show Notes Are A Must Read On This One) 0:00:03.990 --> 0:00:08.340 Thank you, New York. Today we're reminded of the power 0:00:08.340 --> 0:00:13.170 of community and the power of coming together. Athletes, on 0:00:13.170 --> 0:00:13.770 your mark. 0:00:15.900 --> 0:00:19.440 The first woman to finish for the second straight year 0:00:19.440 --> 0:00:23.040 here in the New York City Marathon is Miki Gorman, a smiling 0:00:23.040 --> 0:00:24.270 Miki Gorman. And why not? 0:00:24.570 --> 0:00:27.002 2: 29:30 the time for (inaudible) . 0:00:27.002 --> 0:00:30.570 Look at the emotion of Shalane Flanagan as she comes to 0:00:30.570 --> 0:00:31.230 the line. 0:00:31.230 --> 0:00:35.400 Pointing to his chest, pointing to the USA he so proudly 0:00:35.400 --> 0:00:44.001 wears across his chest. A great day for Matt (inaudible) . 0:00:44.220 --> 0:00:47.699 Hey everybody out there and welcome to Set the Pace 0:00:47.700 --> 0:00:51.510 presented by Peloton. It is the official podcast of New 0:00:51.510 --> 0:00:54.810 York Road Runners and it's a special live show here 0:00:54.810 --> 0:00:57.510 today. I'm your host, Rob Simmelkjaer, the CEO of New 0:00:57.510 --> 0:01:00.180 York Road Runners, and we are so thrilled to be 0:01:00.180 --> 0:01:04.950 here live in Berlin, Germany at the New Balance Center 0:01:04.950 --> 0:01:08.910 for Modern Running. As we get set for the 50th 0:01:08.910 --> 0:01:13.050 running of the BMW Berlin Marathon. We got a nice 0:01:13.050 --> 0:01:15.479 crowd here joining us. Make some noise out there for 0:01:16.140 --> 0:01:21.240 all of our listeners. All right, we're fired up. This 0:01:21.240 --> 0:01:24.119 is a really cool space that New Balance has in 0:01:24.120 --> 0:01:28.530 Berlin. It's multiple floors. They've got obviously amazing running technology 0:01:28.530 --> 0:01:30.840 here. I just had a chance to hang out in 0:01:30.840 --> 0:01:33.840 some of the compression boots. I needed a little compression 0:01:33.840 --> 0:01:37.380 because I am getting ready for my first marathon run 0:01:37.380 --> 0:01:44.160 in 11 years on Sunday at the BMW Berlin Marathon. I'm 0:01:44.160 --> 0:01:47.610 incredibly excited. I've been here since yesterday. I've had a 0:01:47.610 --> 0:01:50.820 chance to go around town, just get a vibe of 0:01:50.820 --> 0:01:55.530 the city. You are obviously a great athlete, you're great on the track, 0:01:55.950 --> 0:01:59.730 but being the best successful at the marathon distance both 0:01:59.730 --> 0:02:03.210 that day and then so many days since then, how 0:02:03.210 --> 0:02:04.140 has it changed your life? 0:02:07.170 --> 0:02:10.679 I think what's changed the most is that I actually 0:02:10.680 --> 0:02:16.620 realized how big the marathon community is and what it brings 0:02:16.620 --> 0:02:20.490 to us wheelchair racer. I remember I also talked with 0:02:20.490 --> 0:02:23.970 Manuela and she always said to me that it's something 0:02:23.970 --> 0:02:29.610 so different than the track races because there normally we 0:02:29.610 --> 0:02:35.100 have not many spectators. It's really small and unfortunately not 0:02:35.100 --> 0:02:38.760 many people see our races. So when I saw this 0:02:38.760 --> 0:02:41.550 year (inaudible) , I was completely flushed and I was 0:02:41.550 --> 0:02:46.350 so happy to see how far inclusion is here. We are 0:02:46.440 --> 0:02:52.830 really equally treated. We have press conference with the top 0:02:52.830 --> 0:02:57.329 athletes from Olympics and that was for me reading something 0:02:57.330 --> 0:02:59.700 new and I was so happy to see this. 0:02:59.700 --> 0:03:05.370 It's something about you're on the same course as the 0:03:05.370 --> 0:03:08.520 male and the female runners and then of course the 0:03:08.520 --> 0:03:13.350 same course as the 40 or 50, 000 athletes coming behind you, 0:03:13.350 --> 0:03:16.620 all the runners. There's something about being in that common 0:03:16.860 --> 0:03:19.889 field on that same day, your daily television coverage, you 0:03:19.889 --> 0:03:23.850 get crowds that is different than anything else you really experienced. 0:03:24.930 --> 0:03:28.050 Yeah, it was just amazing to be here on the 0:03:28.050 --> 0:03:32.400 same course as Olympic athletes to be cheered from so 0:03:32.400 --> 0:03:36.180 many people on the road from home. We are tracking. 0:03:36.540 --> 0:03:41.130 There's just such big community who watch marathon and I 0:03:41.130 --> 0:03:42.480 love to be part of this. 0:03:43.740 --> 0:03:48.480 Catherine, you were the most successful para- athlete in the 0:03:48.480 --> 0:03:53.850 Paris 2024 games. You won gold in the 400 meters, the 0:03:53.850 --> 0:03:59.190 800 meters, the 1,500 meters and the 5, 000 meters on the track. And then 0:03:59.190 --> 0:04:01.620 of course your goal in marathon. I was like, you 0:04:01.620 --> 0:04:03.660 and (inaudible) , I bet if you guys should get 0:04:03.660 --> 0:04:07.530 together and have a meal and talk about how you 0:04:07.530 --> 0:04:12.120 could succeed at so many different distances at the same 0:04:12.480 --> 0:04:17.250 Olympics. How can you do that and do it all 0:04:17.250 --> 0:04:19.289 that well, but in such a short period of time? 0:04:21.540 --> 0:04:23.640 Well, I cannot tell you our secret because it's not a secret, 0:04:24.660 --> 0:04:30.360 but I think it's a lot of things who actually 0:04:30.510 --> 0:04:33.690 came together. I have been doing the sport now for 0:04:33.690 --> 0:04:37.380 21 years. I think I really learned a lot. I've 0:04:37.380 --> 0:04:40.589 made a lot of experiences, good ones and bad ones, 0:04:40.589 --> 0:04:44.279 and I think both are really important to become a 0:04:44.370 --> 0:04:50.250 top athlete. I had really good role models in Switzerland, 0:04:50.580 --> 0:04:56.370 but also a crowd and I have a really amazing environment in 0:04:56.370 --> 0:04:59.640 sport, but also (inaudible) to really helps me every 0:04:59.640 --> 0:05:04.890 day to achieve my goals. And I think I made the right 0:05:05.010 --> 0:05:08.250 decisions the last couple of years. I changed a lot 0:05:08.250 --> 0:05:12.330 in my life and I had the courage to dream 0:05:12.330 --> 0:05:14.310 big and to work hard for them. 0:05:14.580 --> 0:05:17.010 What kind of things did you have to change? What 0:05:17.010 --> 0:05:19.110 were some of the biggest changes you had to make 0:05:19.560 --> 0:05:21.930 in your life to get this kind of success? 0:05:23.250 --> 0:05:28.440 One big change was that I stopped working as a 0:05:28.440 --> 0:05:33.330 primary teacher and honestly I was quite afraid of that 0:05:33.330 --> 0:05:38.490 step because in Switzerland it's not easy to live from 0:05:38.550 --> 0:05:43.080 our sport, especially when you are not a successful marathoner 0:05:43.380 --> 0:05:46.500 then it's super, super hard to live from it. So 0:05:46.500 --> 0:05:50.160 I was really scared if it's going to work out. 0:05:50.160 --> 0:05:54.570 So it was quite a risk and I think that was the 0:05:54.570 --> 0:05:55.710 biggest step actually. 0:05:56.700 --> 0:05:59.310 You were teaching, at what age levels were you teaching? 0:06:00.540 --> 0:06:02.250 6 to 8 year old kids. 0:06:02.339 --> 0:06:07.710 Yeah. Do you miss that much or now being full- 0:06:07.710 --> 0:06:11.339 time athlete, is it enough? Are you fulfilled as a full- 0:06:11.339 --> 0:06:12.750 time athlete as you were as a teacher? 0:06:14.640 --> 0:06:20.969 That's a difficult question. It's just two completely different worlds 0:06:21.630 --> 0:06:27.000 and I love both. I mean, being a primary teacher 0:06:28.080 --> 0:06:31.350 every day is so different. Even if you teach the same 0:06:31.350 --> 0:06:37.349 topics, (inaudible) day so diverse and I really loved 0:06:37.350 --> 0:06:40.800 the way also they treated me with my wheelchair. For the 0:06:41.010 --> 0:06:45.089 kids the wheelchair was never a problem. They just treated 0:06:45.089 --> 0:06:50.250 me like every other teacher. And once I had an 0:06:51.240 --> 0:06:55.710 evening with parents, I remember that very well. And when 0:06:55.710 --> 0:06:59.370 the parents came I realized that they looked at me 0:06:59.370 --> 0:07:03.060 really weird and then I felt little uncomfortable and then 0:07:03.060 --> 0:07:06.870 I asked the parents if there's something wrong and then 0:07:06.870 --> 0:07:10.739 one parent said, " Well, her kids did not tell that 0:07:10.740 --> 0:07:16.001 I was in a wheelchair," and they were just surprised. And that (inaudible) 0:07:16.001 --> 0:07:20.310 , had goosebumps and I really liked it. And I'm 0:07:20.310 --> 0:07:25.500 sure I do go back after my career, but right now I live a really 0:07:25.920 --> 0:07:29.340 privilege life. I love what I do and I can 0:07:29.340 --> 0:07:30.810 do my passion every day. 0:07:33.030 --> 0:07:36.840 That makes me think back to you at the age 0:07:36.840 --> 0:07:41.190 of eight, when you first started competing in a wheelchair. 0:07:41.880 --> 0:07:45.150 What started that for you? What was it that showed 0:07:45.150 --> 0:07:48.690 you this path toward competing as an athlete in a 0:07:48.690 --> 0:07:50.040 wheelchair? How did it all start? 0:07:52.680 --> 0:07:56.370 I was always someone who would like to move. In German, 0:07:56.370 --> 0:07:59.010 we say (foreign language) . I don't know the word in 0:07:59.010 --> 0:08:03.720 English, but just I cannot do nothing. And my parents 0:08:03.720 --> 0:08:08.160 saw that kids camp in Nottwil, that's our paraplegic center 0:08:09.720 --> 0:08:13.080 and there we could try a lot of different sports 0:08:13.680 --> 0:08:18.450 and it was love at first sight with wheelchair racing. 0:08:19.080 --> 0:08:22.920 And I think Marcel Hug played a really big role 0:08:22.920 --> 0:08:26.340 for me because he was born just a village next 0:08:26.340 --> 0:08:30.390 to mine and at that time he also still trained 0:08:30.390 --> 0:08:35.640 there with my former coach, Paul Udernacht. And Paul came 0:08:35.640 --> 0:08:38.190 to me when I was eight and showed me that 0:08:38.340 --> 0:08:42.990 chair and I knew that's my thing. So I started 0:08:42.990 --> 0:08:46.410 training with Paul and also Marcel and that's where it 0:08:46.410 --> 0:08:46.950 all begun. 0:08:48.059 --> 0:08:52.200 Why does Switzerland have so much success in this sport? 0:08:52.230 --> 0:08:56.970 You, Marcel, Manuela, what's happening there? Is there a lot 0:08:56.970 --> 0:09:00.001 of support being given to Switzerland? Is it just a (inaudible) 0:09:00.001 --> 0:09:01.500 that's been created? What do you think it is? 0:09:03.179 --> 0:09:06.840 Yeah, that's true. We have great wheelchair racers in Switzerland 0:09:06.840 --> 0:09:11.309 and I get this question quite often. I think especially 0:09:11.309 --> 0:09:15.030 Nottwil is a perfect place for us to train. We 0:09:15.030 --> 0:09:19.470 have a really fast track. That's also why many athletes from 0:09:19.470 --> 0:09:24.450 abroad come always to the races we have in Switzerland. We have the 0:09:24.929 --> 0:09:30.150 Paraplegic Foundation who helps us a lot also financially. And 0:09:30.150 --> 0:09:34.050 we have the sports mix, we have the chains there. We have 0:09:34.260 --> 0:09:39.030 a lot of experts who actually helps us perform. So 0:09:39.300 --> 0:09:42.002 it's all together in one place and that's (inaudible) . 0:09:43.650 --> 0:09:47.939 I wonder, you mentioned the kids you taught and we 0:09:47.940 --> 0:09:51.328 had our own in New York Road Runners wheelchair, where 0:09:51.328 --> 0:09:53.850 you were saying trade program. You may be familiar with 0:09:53.850 --> 0:09:57.690 that. We're training young kids to raise some big chairs. 0:09:58.140 --> 0:10:00.300 It's been incredible. We added that as the kids go 0:10:00.300 --> 0:10:03.330 to Nationals in the United States this past year in 0:10:03.330 --> 0:10:06.870 Alabama. So it's something we're very proud of. And what from 0:10:06.870 --> 0:10:09.570 your point of view is impact you're making? Do you 0:10:09.570 --> 0:10:13.439 hear from kids whether they're in Switzerland or in other 0:10:13.440 --> 0:10:17.880 places when you're competing that are in wheelchairs that are 0:10:18.000 --> 0:10:20.699 trying to understand how they can do what you've done? 0:10:21.450 --> 0:10:25.800 I don't know if that's so actually, but I really 0:10:25.800 --> 0:10:28.770 hope that I can be a role model for the new 0:10:29.130 --> 0:10:33.870 generation. If they are in that wheelchair or not, just in general, 0:10:34.320 --> 0:10:36.599 my goal is to be a role model to show 0:10:36.600 --> 0:10:38.550 the world that if you have a dream or if 0:10:38.550 --> 0:10:42.719 you have passion, it does not matter if it's in music or 0:10:42.720 --> 0:10:46.470 art or whatever, just follow your dreams and work hard 0:10:46.890 --> 0:10:52.170 because so much is possible and sometimes unbelievable things happens. 0:10:53.340 --> 0:10:58.140 Absolutely. Of course in Berlin, everyone's excited about running on 0:10:58.140 --> 0:11:00.300 the flat course. That is a big part of why I 0:11:00.300 --> 0:11:03.359 decided to run this. I'm wondering for you being in 0:11:04.020 --> 0:11:08.490 the wheelchair of racing sport, what is it like? Does that make 0:11:08.490 --> 0:11:11.002 it easier as it does for runners to (inaudible) 0:11:10.710 --> 0:11:13.979 such a flat surface? How does it change? And being 0:11:13.980 --> 0:11:16.260 a track athlete where you're first running always on a flat 0:11:16.260 --> 0:11:18.870 surface, maybe that is a bit of an advantage for 0:11:18.870 --> 0:11:21.840 you here. Talk about the tactics of running a flat 0:11:21.840 --> 0:11:22.800 course here in Berlin. 0:11:24.450 --> 0:11:27.000 The really nice thing about Berlin is because it's so 0:11:27.000 --> 0:11:31.078 flat, we have really high speeds and you can just 0:11:31.620 --> 0:11:36.240 go in the flow and go fast. And there are not 0:11:36.390 --> 0:11:41.040 so many difficult turns like on other courses or hills 0:11:41.040 --> 0:11:47.670 where you really need a lot of energy. So it's much more steady. And 0:11:48.420 --> 0:11:53.460 the last time I was here it was super exciting races, all 0:11:53.460 --> 0:11:57.300 very fast, and we have a really great spirit in our 0:11:57.300 --> 0:12:01.350 women's fields. We work really hard together because we all 0:12:01.350 --> 0:12:04.890 want to go for fast time. And last year we 0:12:04.890 --> 0:12:08.190 worked together and we made the time. We probably all 0:12:08.190 --> 0:12:12.840 never thought it's possible for us. (inaudible) so fast 0:12:13.230 --> 0:12:15.270 and I'm so proud of what we did last year here. 0:12:19.530 --> 0:12:22.260 You do well on flat courses. You do well on hilly courses. You obviously had an 0:12:22.260 --> 0:12:26.130 incredible race in New York last year. Do you feel 0:12:26.130 --> 0:12:28.439 that one suits you more than the other? Do you 0:12:28.440 --> 0:12:31.199 like the hills? Do you feel that you compete well at 0:12:31.770 --> 0:12:34.470 the hills or would you rather stay on the flat? If you 0:12:35.190 --> 0:12:37.740 have that one race to win, which would you prefer? Flat or 0:12:38.220 --> 0:12:39.030 with some hills? 0:12:40.140 --> 0:12:42.358 Well, there are a lot of New York people here, so I need 0:12:42.359 --> 0:12:48.270 to (inaudible) I guess, not that much. Now of course Europe 0:12:48.270 --> 0:12:52.260 is much more challenging because of the hill and especially the 0:12:52.260 --> 0:13:00.719 start on this big bridge. But it's everywhere amazing to 0:13:00.720 --> 0:13:03.120 win if it's a flat course or if it's a 0:13:03.120 --> 0:13:07.559 hilly course. But New York, I definitely had to prepare 0:13:07.559 --> 0:13:10.829 really well with the hills. We found a hill in 0:13:10.830 --> 0:13:14.970 the Netherlands, which is pretty similar to the bridge in New York. 0:13:15.510 --> 0:13:18.030 And I remember the first time I went up this 0:13:18.030 --> 0:13:21.030 hill and said to my coach, " You are crazy to let me 0:13:21.030 --> 0:13:25.200 up there." And that I was suffering and I was complaining 0:13:25.200 --> 0:13:29.309 a lot, but every time it went better. And I'm 0:13:30.840 --> 0:13:32.910 so proud that I could win that race. 0:13:35.010 --> 0:13:36.929 They say you can make it there, you can make 0:13:36.929 --> 0:13:39.660 it anywhere in New York. So apparently you've done that 0:13:39.660 --> 0:13:42.839 and you're continuing to do it here as well. You 0:13:42.840 --> 0:13:47.579 must be exhausted after Paris doing everything you did. So 0:13:47.580 --> 0:13:50.459 you've got Berlin, you've got Chicago coming up, is that 0:13:50.460 --> 0:13:52.500 right? And then you're going to take a break for 0:13:52.500 --> 0:13:52.860 a while? 0:13:53.670 --> 0:13:57.570 Exactly. It has been a super intense time. I did 0:13:57.570 --> 0:14:00.300 my first races this year already at the end of 0:14:00.780 --> 0:14:06.179 January (inaudible) and now actually we went all till 0:14:06.750 --> 0:14:11.790 now and as we were... Yeah, this marathon only three weeks after 0:14:11.790 --> 0:14:16.320 the really tough course in Paris, which was actually even tougher 0:14:16.320 --> 0:14:16.920 than New York. 0:14:16.979 --> 0:14:20.730 And this was at the course that the runners were on in 0:14:20.730 --> 0:14:22.620 the Olympics, but still very difficult course. 0:14:23.250 --> 0:14:28.680 Yeah, it was a different course and especially the last from 0:14:28.680 --> 0:14:37.800 36K to 41, it was 5. 2K cobblestones, and really 0:14:37.800 --> 0:14:41.820 hard cobblestones. So we were shaking around that race and 0:14:41.910 --> 0:14:46.140 I did not realize how steep it goes actually uphill 0:14:46.140 --> 0:14:47.610 up the Arc de Triomphe. 0:14:50.580 --> 0:14:50.581 On the Champs-Élysées. 0:14:50.581 --> 0:14:53.700 Yes. I think we both had really mixed feelings about 0:14:53.700 --> 0:14:59.490 that course because it was just not accessible for us 0:14:59.490 --> 0:15:03.960 and it was all about the monuments and seeing nice 0:15:03.960 --> 0:15:07.002 pictures maybe, but I think it was really at (inaudible) . 0:15:07.002 --> 0:15:11.940 I mean had you ever raced on cobblestones before? Do you have 0:15:11.940 --> 0:15:15.060 that experience before? And as you said, those are big 0:15:15.060 --> 0:15:18.810 cobblestones on the Champs-Élysées. Had you ever experienced anything like that? 0:15:19.740 --> 0:15:23.310 No, never like this kind of cobblestones. I mean here in Berlin 0:15:23.700 --> 0:15:28.859 we have also about two and half meters cobblestones, but 0:15:28.860 --> 0:15:33.750 they are really easy ones and the last 200 to 0:15:33.750 --> 0:15:37.620 go anyway (inaudible) so you don't feel it anymore. But I 0:15:37.620 --> 0:15:42.870 think what we experienced in Paris was something what we all never 0:15:42.870 --> 0:15:44.160 experienced before. 0:15:45.630 --> 0:15:49.140 Something new. We got flats, you've got hills, you've got cobblestones 0:15:49.170 --> 0:15:51.510 in your repertoire so you can do it all. 0:15:51.660 --> 0:15:52.500 But what's the next? 0:15:52.500 --> 0:15:56.002 Maybe on a beach? I don't know. That would be about (inaudible) . 0:15:55.830 --> 0:15:57.930 But you could try anything I guess, there's a lot 0:15:57.930 --> 0:16:02.070 of different things you can try. So anybody who's been 0:16:02.070 --> 0:16:06.270 around Berlin this week will see your picture. You are now everywhere 0:16:06.270 --> 0:16:10.410 thanks to your partnership with New Balance as a part of this 0:16:10.410 --> 0:16:15.180 Run Your Way campaign. Talk about that, the campaign with 0:16:15.180 --> 0:16:17.850 New Balance, how it all came about and what does it mean for you 0:16:17.850 --> 0:16:18.780 to be a part of this? 0:16:19.530 --> 0:16:23.310 It's quite a long story actually. I had this dream 0:16:23.370 --> 0:16:27.930 really long already to be ambassador of a clothing brand 0:16:28.440 --> 0:16:32.700 and I realized quick that as a para- athlete, but 0:16:32.700 --> 0:16:36.780 most especially as an athlete in a wheelchair, it's super, 0:16:36.780 --> 0:16:41.280 super difficult to get sponsored by a clothing brand. And 0:16:41.700 --> 0:16:44.340 I had talks to a lot of different brands and 0:16:44.730 --> 0:16:48.540 some of them gave me really honest answers and said, " 0:16:48.540 --> 0:16:52.530 Sorry, but we cannot take someone who cannot stand because 0:16:52.890 --> 0:16:56.400 for the campaign or photo shootings you need to be 0:16:56.400 --> 0:17:02.010 able to walk or stand." So it was tough, that 0:17:02.010 --> 0:17:06.390 answer, but I was grateful that I actually knew what 0:17:06.390 --> 0:17:09.720 the problem was because I did not really understand what 0:17:09.720 --> 0:17:14.670 the issue was. So by a coincidence I met a 0:17:14.670 --> 0:17:19.020 friend and she told me try New Balance Switzerland. And 0:17:19.020 --> 0:17:22.050 at that point I did not really know that brand 0:17:22.050 --> 0:17:25.830 so well and I contacted them on Instagram and it 0:17:26.310 --> 0:17:30.900 didn't take half a day and I already got an 0:17:30.900 --> 0:17:34.830 answer and they said, " Yeah, please join us." And there 0:17:34.830 --> 0:17:38.159 it all started and I always felt so welcome in 0:17:38.340 --> 0:17:43.470 team New Balance Switzerland and step by step I worked 0:17:43.470 --> 0:17:48.990 forward and now seeing here running this campaign in the 0:17:48.990 --> 0:17:52.859 whole city of Berlin but worldwide that makes me so 0:17:52.859 --> 0:17:55.889 proud and I actually have not the words for it. 0:17:56.820 --> 0:18:01.350 That's amazing. And by the way, I think you'll all agree that 0:18:01.380 --> 0:18:03.450 you look great in the New Balance sneakers that you're 0:18:03.450 --> 0:18:10.080 wearing. They look absolutely fantastic on you. So congratulations to 0:18:10.080 --> 0:18:14.250 you and congratulations to New Balance Switzerland for seeing that 0:18:14.580 --> 0:18:20.850 possibility and putting the investment behind an athlete like you. 0:18:21.119 --> 0:18:25.830 Have you started to sense the impact from being featured 0:18:25.830 --> 0:18:29.490 in this? Are you being recognized more? Is it changing 0:18:29.490 --> 0:18:31.740 anything for you being a part of a campaign like this? 0:18:33.240 --> 0:18:36.030 I think you should ask me the question maybe in 0:18:36.030 --> 0:18:40.410 half a year because the campaign just started some days 0:18:40.410 --> 0:18:44.880 ago, but I'm sure that there will be a lot 0:18:44.880 --> 0:18:51.480 of great opportunities thanks to this campaign and I'm just 0:18:51.480 --> 0:18:57.660 so grateful for New Balance that they include everyone. For 0:18:57.660 --> 0:19:04.800 them, every person is unique and they don't care if 0:19:04.830 --> 0:19:09.330 it's someone who's blind or in a wheelchair or who runs 0:19:09.390 --> 0:19:12.210 just for fun. I mean also here in Berlin, there 0:19:12.210 --> 0:19:14.910 are so many people running just for fun. It's not 0:19:14.910 --> 0:19:18.840 all about top athletes and I think that's a great 0:19:18.840 --> 0:19:23.760 spirit New Balance has that running is universal like music 0:19:24.240 --> 0:19:28.260 and that should be the goal I think to include everybody. 0:19:29.100 --> 0:19:32.100 100%. We couldn't agree more at New York Road Runners 0:19:32.100 --> 0:19:36.689 and that's what we've seen in the sport, the explosion 0:19:36.690 --> 0:19:41.010 of popularity, the fact that Berlin is expecting over 50,000 0:19:41.010 --> 0:19:44.700 finishers this Sunday, most of those folks are running well 0:19:44.700 --> 0:19:48.480 over three hours. So it's that everyday runner that is 0:19:48.480 --> 0:19:51.179 making the sport as exciting and as popular as it 0:19:51.180 --> 0:19:53.520 is right now in the everyday athlete. And you are 0:19:53.520 --> 0:19:57.270 obviously an elite athlete of a type that people are 0:19:57.270 --> 0:19:59.700 now starting to understand it's part of this as well, 0:19:59.700 --> 0:20:03.030 so congratulations. So I'm curious for the future Catherine, for 0:20:03.030 --> 0:20:06.179 you and for the sport of wheelchair racing, what are you 0:20:06.390 --> 0:20:10.080 hoping to see? Is it new technology with chairs that 0:20:10.080 --> 0:20:12.780 you think will continue to see new records? I mean 0:20:12.930 --> 0:20:15.330 the runners are seeing it with the shoes, obviously the 0:20:15.330 --> 0:20:17.970 shoes are making a huge difference. What's the technology in 0:20:17.970 --> 0:20:20.790 wheelchair racing that is going to keep pushing the envelope? 0:20:23.280 --> 0:20:26.790 I think our sport is still quite young and we 0:20:26.790 --> 0:20:31.380 just started and I'm sure that the times will go 0:20:31.380 --> 0:20:35.280 down a lot and I really hope for our sport 0:20:35.280 --> 0:20:39.810 that the professionality, how it has been the last years 0:20:39.810 --> 0:20:45.270 now, that it goes further in everything from material to 0:20:45.600 --> 0:20:52.169 nutrition, in literally everything and that we really can reach 0:20:52.170 --> 0:20:56.220 the limits. I think they are most of the time 0:20:56.220 --> 0:20:59.880 in our head, but there is so much more possible than 0:20:59.880 --> 0:21:03.900 we think. And also what I see now in the 0:21:04.170 --> 0:21:08.399 women's field, we push each other to new limits and 0:21:08.400 --> 0:21:09.450 that's so amazing. 0:21:10.530 --> 0:21:12.810 And for you, after this break you're going to take, 0:21:12.810 --> 0:21:16.020 after Chicago, have you set any goals in your mind 0:21:16.020 --> 0:21:21.750 for 2025? You obviously had this 2024 that is going 0:21:21.750 --> 0:21:23.880 to be unforgettable for anyone for the rest of their 0:21:23.880 --> 0:21:27.030 lives, but for you, have you thought about 2025 and 0:21:27.030 --> 0:21:27.660 any goals? 0:21:28.680 --> 0:21:34.950 Not yet. 24 has been so amazing and I really need 0:21:34.950 --> 0:21:39.720 a break and then I will realize it all and 0:21:39.720 --> 0:21:43.500 then make new goals for the next year. But what 0:21:43.500 --> 0:21:46.139 I know I will not stop next year for sure. 0:21:46.290 --> 0:21:49.230 Yeah. Well we know that you're going to take a 0:21:49.230 --> 0:21:52.050 break from New York this year and we understand that 0:21:52.050 --> 0:21:54.720 of course, you need a break, but we still owe 0:21:54.720 --> 0:21:58.889 you a little something from your incredible day in 2023 0:21:58.890 --> 0:22:01.290 in New York. And so to help deliver a piece 0:22:01.290 --> 0:22:04.440 of hardware that we still owe you from last year, 0:22:04.440 --> 0:22:07.050 I'm going to invite our race director of the TCS New 0:22:07.050 --> 0:22:09.929 York City Marathon, Ted Metellus up to the stage and 0:22:09.930 --> 0:22:12.750 Ted has a little something for you here. Ted. 0:22:13.800 --> 0:22:16.619 All right Rob, I might need your help here because 0:22:16.619 --> 0:22:19.379 I'm holding and speaking all at the same time and 0:22:19.380 --> 0:22:21.810 I have some talking points that I want to hit here 0:22:22.020 --> 0:22:24.150 for you. Catherine, thank you so very much for being 0:22:24.150 --> 0:22:26.790 a part of the New York Road Runners community and 0:22:26.790 --> 0:22:29.700 the TCS New York City Marathon your very first time. We 0:22:29.700 --> 0:22:33.510 have a very special gift for you here. We get 0:22:33.510 --> 0:22:36.899 this set. So here we go. We have this lovely 0:22:36.930 --> 0:22:40.440 Tiffany plate brought to you here and this is your 0:22:40.440 --> 0:22:46.500 presentation of the (inaudible) Trophy here. So on behalf 0:22:46.500 --> 0:22:48.390 of New York Road Runners, the TCS New York City 0:22:48.390 --> 0:22:52.020 Marathon and our team here, congratulations and thank you for the 0:22:52.020 --> 0:22:54.899 amazing work that you have done, not just in New 0:22:54.900 --> 0:22:56.820 York, but what you've done globally in the sport. 0:22:58.500 --> 0:22:59.609 Thank you so much. 0:23:05.310 --> 0:23:09.030 It's a beautiful plate for a beautiful champion from last 0:23:09.030 --> 0:23:12.119 year and we're happy for you. We wish you luck 0:23:12.330 --> 0:23:15.210 on Sunday and wish you luck for the rest of 0:23:15.210 --> 0:23:18.270 the year and just thank you for everything and for 0:23:18.270 --> 0:23:20.580 being an amazing champion. We'll miss you this year, but 0:23:20.580 --> 0:23:23.160 can't wait to hopefully have you back in 2025. 0:23:23.580 --> 0:23:26.580 Thank you so much for this lovely podcast and I wish you 0:23:26.580 --> 0:23:28.230 all the best for Sunday as well. 0:23:28.320 --> 0:23:36.720 Thank you Catherine Debrunner. All right, so terrific having Catherine 0:23:36.720 --> 0:23:38.460 join us and I'm going to keep Ted up here 0:23:38.460 --> 0:23:41.460 for a minute to talk a little Berlin. Oh, Ted's 0:23:41.460 --> 0:23:44.970 got a mic. Great. So hello Mr. Metellus. It's not 0:23:45.030 --> 0:23:48.900 our race this weekend, so you can relax a little 0:23:48.900 --> 0:23:51.810 bit for at least another weekend before we get back 0:23:51.810 --> 0:23:54.359 to the grind in New York. But what are you 0:23:54.359 --> 0:23:55.710 thinking about Berlin this weekend? 0:23:57.210 --> 0:23:59.639 A lot of things. First and foremost, a huge happy 0:23:59.640 --> 0:24:02.790 50th to them. Every time I see a member of 0:24:02.910 --> 0:24:06.030 the Berlin Marathon team, I greet them with a happy 0:24:06.030 --> 0:24:09.929 50th. With great pride, the energy, it's been amazing here. 0:24:09.930 --> 0:24:13.199 The city's truly embraced it. Lots of the athletes are 0:24:13.200 --> 0:24:16.710 super excited for this, so it's front of mind. And 0:24:16.890 --> 0:24:20.520 also thinking in 37 days we'll be having our own 0:24:20.550 --> 0:24:24.210 little party with over 50,000 athletes that'll be running through 0:24:24.210 --> 0:24:27.540 the city of New York. So it's been a great, 0:24:27.540 --> 0:24:29.760 great welcoming weekend. Lots of love here. 0:24:30.570 --> 0:24:34.200 Absolutely. And we're excited. So we're going to get ourselves 0:24:34.200 --> 0:24:36.750 through this weekend and then it's right back to work 0:24:36.750 --> 0:24:38.820 and Ted, you'll be back on a podcast I'm sure 0:24:38.820 --> 0:24:42.840 before New York to take everybody through all the ins 0:24:42.840 --> 0:24:46.410 and outs of running the 2024 TCS New York City 0:24:46.410 --> 0:24:48.780 Marathon. So you've got that to look forward to, but 0:24:48.780 --> 0:24:50.909 in the meantime, I've got a little work to do 0:24:50.910 --> 0:24:51.810 this Sunday myself. 0:24:51.840 --> 0:24:54.240 Yes, what a perfect segue. It's like you've done this 0:24:54.240 --> 0:24:57.030 before. When you were talking about the work that we 0:24:57.030 --> 0:24:59.280 have to do leading up to our TCS New York City 0:24:59.400 --> 0:25:02.879 Marathon. We are two days away from the BMW Berlin 0:25:02.880 --> 0:25:06.210 Marathon. You mentioned just briefly that it's been 11 years 0:25:06.210 --> 0:25:10.980 since your last marathon and in preparation for this, the 0:25:10.980 --> 0:25:13.020 one question that I wanted to ask you is really 0:25:13.020 --> 0:25:16.170 kick this thing off is, it's been 11 years, what 0:25:16.200 --> 0:25:21.660 would Rob Simmelkjaer say to Rob Simmelkjaer 11 years ago getting 0:25:21.660 --> 0:25:25.290 ready to run their second New York City Marathon? 0:25:26.580 --> 0:25:27.690 That's a good question. 0:25:30.000 --> 0:25:30.002 (inaudible) . 0:25:30.119 --> 0:25:32.670 When I ran back in 2013, I was running with 0:25:32.670 --> 0:25:35.939