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Peloton, the official 10 00:00:32,700 --> 00:00:35,010 Becs Gentry: digital fitness partner for New York Road Runners. 11 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:43,409 Speaker 2: Thank you, New York. Today we're reminded of the power 12 00:00:43,409 --> 00:00:48,839 Speaker 2: of community and the power of coming together. Athletes, on your mark. 13 00:00:50,970 --> 00:00:54,540 Speaker 3: The first woman to finish for the second straight year here 14 00:00:54,750 --> 00:00:58,410 Speaker 3: in the New York City Marathon is Miki Gorman, a smiling Miki 15 00:00:58,410 --> 00:01:01,590 Speaker 3: Gorman, and why not? 2: 29:30 it's time for Grete Waitz. 16 00:01:02,910 --> 00:01:05,580 Speaker 4: Look at the emotion of Shalane Flanagan as she comes 17 00:01:05,580 --> 00:01:08,850 Speaker 4: to the line. Pointing to his chest, pointing to the 18 00:01:08,850 --> 00:01:12,720 Speaker 4: USA he so proudly wears across his chest. A great 19 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:18,990 Speaker 4: day for Meb Keflezighi. 20 00:01:19,230 --> 00:01:22,230 Rob Simmelkjaer: Hey, everybody, and welcome to another episode of Set the 21 00:01:22,230 --> 00:01:25,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: Pace presented by Peloton. It's the official podcast of New 22 00:01:25,980 --> 00:01:27,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: York Road Runners. Great to have you with us. I'm 23 00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:30,870 Rob Simmelkjaer: Rob Simmelkjaer, the CEO of New York Road Runners joined 24 00:01:30,870 --> 00:01:33,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: as always by the one and only Becs Gentry of 25 00:01:33,900 --> 00:01:39,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: Peloton fame and also of sore foot suffering. The last 26 00:01:39,660 --> 00:01:42,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: time we checked in, Becs, I know you stubbed that 27 00:01:42,750 --> 00:01:44,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: toe on the bed... 28 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:45,002 Becs Gentry: Ah, (inaudible) . 29 00:01:45,002 --> 00:01:47,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... as you're trying to get ready for this seven 30 00:01:47,220 --> 00:01:51,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: marathons on seven continents in seven days extravaganza in November. 31 00:01:52,110 --> 00:01:54,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: Have you been able to get a little recovery? How 32 00:01:54,840 --> 00:01:56,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: are you doing? Are you back on the road? 33 00:01:56,670 --> 00:01:59,640 Becs Gentry: Yeah, yeah. Listen, I don't like the end of my bed. 34 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:01,890 Becs Gentry: You should see how wide I take those corners now, 35 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:05,490 Becs Gentry: and I haven't put the blinds up or down in 36 00:02:05,490 --> 00:02:09,720 Becs Gentry: a week, but I... Yeah, you know what? It's taken 37 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:13,919 Becs Gentry: its sweet time to heal. I'm very impatient. I'm very 38 00:02:13,919 --> 00:02:17,040 Becs Gentry: Aries. I want it to be overnight. I'm like, cool, I did 39 00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:19,650 Becs Gentry: it, and tomorrow it's going to be fine, that, it 40 00:02:19,650 --> 00:02:23,520 Becs Gentry: doesn't happen. So I'm back on the road. I have 41 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:27,780 Becs Gentry: been running. I've said to my coach, " Let's go on 42 00:02:27,780 --> 00:02:30,060 Becs Gentry: Sunday." And so the past two days I've got my 43 00:02:30,060 --> 00:02:33,240 Becs Gentry: miles in, and it's okay. I'm not saying it's healed, 44 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:37,080 Becs Gentry: it's not great, but it's okay. And I'm going to 45 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:40,110 Becs Gentry: get so much more uncomfortable, Rob. These seven marathons, I'm 46 00:02:40,110 --> 00:02:43,740 Becs Gentry: going to be so uncomfortable that this is a little 47 00:02:43,740 --> 00:02:46,710 Becs Gentry: taste, I think, of what's to come. I can get 48 00:02:46,710 --> 00:02:50,550 Becs Gentry: it done. I'm pain- free enough that eight hours is 49 00:02:50,730 --> 00:02:54,720 Becs Gentry: ample for 26.2. So yeah. 50 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:57,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: I can't think of anything more uncomfortable than what you're 51 00:02:57,600 --> 00:03:01,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: going to do, seven marathons on seven continents in seven 52 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:03,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: days. So yeah, a little toe pain as you're going 53 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:06,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: through these training miles. You're right, that probably is some 54 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:09,360 Rob Simmelkjaer: good mental preparation for you, and so good. I'm glad 55 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:12,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: you're back out running and feeling good out there. And Becs, 56 00:03:13,410 --> 00:03:16,829 Rob Simmelkjaer: a lot of people were running and feeling really good 57 00:03:16,830 --> 00:03:19,441 Rob Simmelkjaer: at the Chicago Marathon this past weekend. 58 00:03:19,441 --> 00:03:20,041 Becs Gentry: What a weekend. 59 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:23,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: Congratulations to everybody who ran. We had so many New 60 00:03:23,460 --> 00:03:26,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: York Road Runners members out there running. Of course, a 61 00:03:26,100 --> 00:03:28,860 Rob Simmelkjaer: lot of people use Chicago, those who are into this 62 00:03:29,130 --> 00:03:33,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: multiple marathons in a fall season, folks will use Chicago 63 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:35,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: as a training run for New York in some cases, 64 00:03:35,730 --> 00:03:38,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: or maybe they run hard in Chicago and then run 65 00:03:38,490 --> 00:03:40,590 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York as more of a fun pace. But it 66 00:03:40,590 --> 00:03:43,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: was a great day out there. I wasn't there, but 67 00:03:43,260 --> 00:03:46,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: I saw so much on social, and of course, Becs, 68 00:03:46,620 --> 00:03:50,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: the big story out of Chicago, a new world record 69 00:03:50,820 --> 00:04:00,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: on the women's side. Ruth Chepngetich, 2: 09:56, shattering the 70 00:04:00,090 --> 00:04:03,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: previous world record by more than two minutes. This was 71 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:06,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: incredible. What an accomplishment there. 72 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:11,820 Becs Gentry: What an accomplishment to see her smooth sail. And I 73 00:04:11,820 --> 00:04:14,550 Becs Gentry: mean, this is an outsider. I have no idea, and I don't 74 00:04:14,550 --> 00:04:17,159 Becs Gentry: think anyone other than Ruth will ever know what was 75 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:22,680 Becs Gentry: going on inside her, but she looked like she happily 76 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:27,300 Becs Gentry: ran over that finish line, and all of the press interviews, 77 00:04:27,300 --> 00:04:29,670 Becs Gentry: all the other moments that I saw her be present 78 00:04:29,730 --> 00:04:32,040 Becs Gentry: for the rest of the world for the rest of 79 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:36,900 Becs Gentry: Sunday, she was vibrant, and I didn't see her hobbling. 80 00:04:38,339 --> 00:04:41,820 Becs Gentry: It was just mind- blowing to take those two minutes 81 00:04:41,820 --> 00:04:45,000 Becs Gentry: off the time and just to see the power that 82 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:52,200 Becs Gentry: is within humans. Last year, the record was broken last 83 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:55,200 Becs Gentry: year at Berlin for the women's marathon of 2: 11: 84 00:04:55,560 --> 00:05:00,450 Becs Gentry: 53. So it's just, yeah, my brain cannot get around 85 00:05:00,450 --> 00:05:03,240 Becs Gentry: it yet. I'm still in awe of this fabulous human. 86 00:05:03,930 --> 00:05:07,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: Just to see the clips at which these records are 87 00:05:07,140 --> 00:05:09,989 Rob Simmelkjaer: being broken these days, and who knows, is it the 88 00:05:09,990 --> 00:05:13,739 Rob Simmelkjaer: shoes? But it's just incredible. I mean, just looking at 89 00:05:13,740 --> 00:05:17,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: these results in Chicago, the previous course record was just 90 00:05:17,130 --> 00:05:20,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: set there last year by Sifan Hassan at three hour, 91 00:05:20,670 --> 00:05:26,550 Rob Simmelkjaer: sorry, 2: 13. 44. So Ruth beat that by four 92 00:05:26,550 --> 00:05:29,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: minutes, sets a new world record, and of course this 93 00:05:29,460 --> 00:05:32,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: is a year after the men's world record was set 94 00:05:32,730 --> 00:05:36,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: in Chicago a year ago by Kelvin Kiptum. So Chicago 95 00:05:36,630 --> 00:05:40,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: turning into the place where records fall, and it was 96 00:05:40,650 --> 00:05:41,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: just really something to see. 97 00:05:41,460 --> 00:05:41,610 Becs Gentry: Spectacular. 98 00:05:42,270 --> 00:05:47,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: So congratulations to everybody in Chicago, to Ruth obviously such 99 00:05:47,010 --> 00:05:49,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: a special thing for them to be a part of. 100 00:05:49,260 --> 00:05:51,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: I was also want to give congrats to Carey Pinkowski, 101 00:05:51,990 --> 00:05:54,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: the race director out there in Chicago who, for the 102 00:05:54,270 --> 00:05:57,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: second straight year, had a chance to embrace a world 103 00:05:57,330 --> 00:06:00,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: record holder. Of course, we're all thinking of Kelvin Kiptum 104 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:02,489 Rob Simmelkjaer: at this time as well who set it, and of 105 00:06:02,490 --> 00:06:05,640 Rob Simmelkjaer: course we lost him since that happened. But an incredible 106 00:06:05,640 --> 00:06:08,640 Rob Simmelkjaer: day in Chicago. On the men's side, Becs, it was 107 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:12,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: John Korir of Kenya finishing at 2: 02:44 for the 108 00:06:12,750 --> 00:06:16,470 Rob Simmelkjaer: win, and on the wheelchair races, Marcel Hug of course getting 109 00:06:16,470 --> 00:06:20,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: it done, 1: 25:54 as he continues to dominate. 110 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:20,880 Becs Gentry: What a champ. 111 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:24,301 Rob Simmelkjaer: And it was Catherine Debrunner on the women's side, a course record of 1:36:12. 112 00:06:24,301 --> 00:06:31,890 Becs Gentry: Another record. Just phenomenal, everybody, absolutely phenomenal. But we can't forget 113 00:06:31,980 --> 00:06:33,750 Becs Gentry: what happened here as well. 114 00:06:34,620 --> 00:06:39,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: That's right. As we now are getting so perfectly focused 115 00:06:39,270 --> 00:06:42,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: on the TCS New York City Marathon coming up in 116 00:06:42,060 --> 00:06:44,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: just over two weeks from the day that this podcast 117 00:06:44,700 --> 00:06:48,779 Rob Simmelkjaer: debuts, we had our last big race of the Five 118 00:06:48,779 --> 00:06:53,339 Rob Simmelkjaer: Borough Series this past weekend, the Staten Island half, always 119 00:06:53,339 --> 00:06:55,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: a great day, and it was a picture perfect weather 120 00:06:55,920 --> 00:07:01,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: day on Staten Island. Over 9, 000 runners toed the line. 121 00:07:01,020 --> 00:07:01,859 Becs Gentry: Wow. 122 00:07:02,010 --> 00:07:04,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: And it was great. If you haven't run this race, 123 00:07:04,260 --> 00:07:06,810 Rob Simmelkjaer: it's such a special race. I ran it last year. 124 00:07:07,260 --> 00:07:10,590 Rob Simmelkjaer: The views, the vibe, it's so much fun, especially that 125 00:07:10,590 --> 00:07:12,360 Rob Simmelkjaer: second half of the race, the views you get in 126 00:07:12,360 --> 00:07:16,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: Manhattan are really spectacular. Such a fun race, and some 127 00:07:16,500 --> 00:07:19,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: great results from all the runners there. The winners, it 128 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:21,391 Rob Simmelkjaer: was Roberta Groner, the legendary. 129 00:07:21,391 --> 00:07:22,200 Becs Gentry: Legend, legend. 130 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:26,430 Rob Simmelkjaer: And ageless, Roberta Groner with a win at 1: 14: 131 00:07:26,430 --> 00:07:30,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: 14 for Central Park Track Club. The non- binary winner 132 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:34,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: was Elijah Taylor at 1:16: 40. And for the men, it 133 00:07:34,350 --> 00:07:39,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: was Sisay Fekadu Berhanu with 1:06: 48 for West Side Runners. 134 00:07:39,750 --> 00:07:39,811 Becs Gentry: Oh, my gosh. 135 00:07:39,811 --> 00:07:43,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: Just a great day, and a lot of folks there getting 136 00:07:43,740 --> 00:07:47,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: ready, that's maybe their last long run or their tacking 137 00:07:47,580 --> 00:07:50,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: on some miles after Staten Island, so you saw a 138 00:07:50,700 --> 00:07:53,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: lot of people running the marathon using Staten Island to 139 00:07:53,370 --> 00:07:54,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: start to get ready. 140 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:57,270 Becs Gentry: So I'm going to have to sign up for it next 141 00:07:57,270 --> 00:08:00,240 Becs Gentry: year. It's one every year that I want to do, 142 00:08:00,450 --> 00:08:04,890 Becs Gentry: but there's always something else like this year, but next 143 00:08:04,890 --> 00:08:06,420 Becs Gentry: year, Rob, I'm going to do it because it looks 144 00:08:06,420 --> 00:08:09,330 Becs Gentry: so much fun. All of the pictures I saw people were 145 00:08:09,330 --> 00:08:11,250 Becs Gentry: having such a beautiful day, and as you said, the 146 00:08:11,250 --> 00:08:14,580 Becs Gentry: sun was shining, the weather was picture perfect for running. 147 00:08:14,970 --> 00:08:19,920 Becs Gentry: So congrats, everyone, and then here we are, here we go. It's literally 148 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:22,770 Becs Gentry: a matter of days now until the TCS New York City Marathon. 149 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:27,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: It's right there, Becs. Our staff is so focused on it. 150 00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:29,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: Obviously the runners are so focused on it. We are 151 00:08:29,700 --> 00:08:33,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: in crunch time. And speaking of that, we've got a 152 00:08:33,150 --> 00:08:36,240 Rob Simmelkjaer: great conversation coming up with one of your fellow runners 153 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:40,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: if you are running on November 3rd, Matt James. Now, 154 00:08:40,140 --> 00:08:43,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: you might know Matt because he was of course The 155 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:47,189 Rob Simmelkjaer: Bachelor. He was the first African- American ever to be 156 00:08:47,340 --> 00:08:50,820 Rob Simmelkjaer: The Bachelor on that long- running hit reality show on 157 00:08:50,820 --> 00:08:54,870 Rob Simmelkjaer: ABC. Also, he was a former NCAA football player, and 158 00:08:54,870 --> 00:08:57,719 Rob Simmelkjaer: now he's preparing to run his fourth TCS New York 159 00:08:57,720 --> 00:09:01,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: City Marathon, shooting to go sub- three hours for the 160 00:09:01,320 --> 00:09:04,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: first time. So we got a really fun conversation with 161 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:07,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: Matt coming up about his time both as a bachelor 162 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:10,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: and now as a marathoner as well. So that's coming up in 163 00:09:10,620 --> 00:09:12,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: just a minute. And then for our second week in 164 00:09:12,570 --> 00:09:14,970 Rob Simmelkjaer: a row, our member moment will feature one of this 165 00:09:14,970 --> 00:09:18,479 Rob Simmelkjaer: year's Team Inspire runners. Of course, Team Inspire is a 166 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:22,590 Rob Simmelkjaer: group of 26 runners with inspirational stories that we feature 167 00:09:22,590 --> 00:09:27,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: here leading into the marathon. Sovena Ngeth is a Cambodian- 168 00:09:27,150 --> 00:09:30,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: American runner from Union City, New Jersey, and she will 169 00:09:30,660 --> 00:09:34,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: be running her first ever marathon on November 3rd. She's 170 00:09:34,650 --> 00:09:36,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: got an interesting story. She was raised in a family 171 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:40,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: that really didn't think sports were safe. They did not 172 00:09:40,710 --> 00:09:45,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: really encourage her running at all, but Sovena discovered it 173 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:47,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: during the pandemic, and now here she is running her 174 00:09:47,790 --> 00:09:51,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: first marathon to support Apex for Youth, which is an 175 00:09:51,270 --> 00:09:56,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: organization that empowers underserved Asian and immigrant youth. So Meb 176 00:09:56,160 --> 00:09:59,429 Rob Simmelkjaer: will be here to speak with Sovena, and then of 177 00:09:59,429 --> 00:10:02,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: course, since we're almost there, Meb will be right back with 178 00:10:02,460 --> 00:10:04,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: this week's Meb Minute where we're going to get his 179 00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:09,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: tips for week 14 of training for the TCS New 180 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:10,050 Rob Simmelkjaer: York City Marathon. 181 00:10:10,650 --> 00:10:13,620 Becs Gentry: It takes a lot to grow your business, a lot 182 00:10:13,620 --> 00:10:17,250 Becs Gentry: of audience attracting, a lot of lead scoring, and all 183 00:10:17,250 --> 00:10:20,429 Becs Gentry: the channel managing you can manage, plus a lot of 184 00:10:20,429 --> 00:10:24,300 Becs Gentry: long days, late nights and weekends, a lot of wishing 185 00:10:24,300 --> 00:10:27,540 Becs Gentry: there was an easier way, but with HubSpot's new collection 186 00:10:27,540 --> 00:10:31,050 Becs Gentry: of AI tools, Breeze, it's easier than ever for marketers 187 00:10:31,050 --> 00:10:36,000 Becs Gentry: to attract audiences, increase leads, and score customers fast, which 188 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:39,090 Becs Gentry: means pretty soon your company will have a lot to 189 00:10:39,090 --> 00:10:43,500 Becs Gentry: celebrate. Visit hubspot. com/ marketers to learn more. 190 00:10:44,100 --> 00:10:46,589 Rob Simmelkjaer: Today we have a guest who is not just a 191 00:10:46,590 --> 00:10:51,089 Rob Simmelkjaer: reality TV star, but also a legitimate athlete and a 192 00:10:51,090 --> 00:10:54,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: very fast runner who's on a long- term quest for 193 00:10:54,090 --> 00:10:58,230 Rob Simmelkjaer: marathon glory. Matt James, known for his unforgettable season as 194 00:10:58,230 --> 00:11:01,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: The Bachelor has traded roses for running shoes as he 195 00:11:01,650 --> 00:11:06,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: gears up for the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon. Matt's not just 196 00:11:06,540 --> 00:11:09,929 Rob Simmelkjaer: a very fast runner, he's a football player. He played 197 00:11:09,929 --> 00:11:13,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: division one football at Wake Forest, and now has turned 198 00:11:13,920 --> 00:11:17,040 Rob Simmelkjaer: into an endurance sports athlete, and he is here to 199 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:20,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: share his journey as he tries to chase down that 200 00:11:20,010 --> 00:11:25,439 Rob Simmelkjaer: ever elusive sub- three hour marathon finish. Matt James, you 201 00:11:25,679 --> 00:11:30,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: do not lack talent, speed, athletic, you're a reality star. 202 00:11:30,330 --> 00:11:32,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: I mean, what do you not do? Welcome to Set the 203 00:11:32,760 --> 00:11:33,959 Rob Simmelkjaer: Pace. Great to have you here. 204 00:11:35,280 --> 00:11:37,230 Matt James: It's good to be here. What's up? What's up, Rob? 205 00:11:37,230 --> 00:11:37,770 Matt James: What's up, Becs? 206 00:11:38,250 --> 00:11:42,900 Becs Gentry: It is so fun to have you here. Seriously, that was the best introduction 207 00:11:42,900 --> 00:11:45,002 Becs Gentry: I've had in a while there, Rob. That was (inaudible) . 208 00:11:45,270 --> 00:11:47,700 Matt James: Yeah, that was nice. I need to bring Rob around 209 00:11:47,700 --> 00:11:50,640 Matt James: more often. This is great. Any room I enter into, 210 00:11:50,640 --> 00:11:51,660 Matt James: I need Rob there with me. 211 00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:54,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: I mean, come on. He's got the looks, he's got 212 00:11:54,780 --> 00:11:57,960 Rob Simmelkjaer: the talent, he's got the fame, he's got it all, 213 00:11:57,960 --> 00:12:00,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: and he's bringing it to the starting line of our 214 00:12:00,390 --> 00:12:04,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: marathon this year, which we are so excited about. I 215 00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:07,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: guess I have to start by asking you, Matt, okay, you were a 216 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:11,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: wide receiver, obviously a very talented athlete. You don't see 217 00:12:11,790 --> 00:12:15,479 Rob Simmelkjaer: too many folks going from the football field to the 218 00:12:15,480 --> 00:12:19,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: marathon. What was it that even got you thinking about 219 00:12:19,830 --> 00:12:20,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: running marathons? 220 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:26,640 Matt James: Well, yeah, that's a great question. I think that it started out with 221 00:12:26,640 --> 00:12:31,679 Matt James: I've always ran track. When I was little, I ran 222 00:12:32,250 --> 00:12:34,890 Matt James: for the Durham Eagles, I ran for the Junior Striders, 223 00:12:35,429 --> 00:12:39,600 Matt James: and as football and basketball started to pick up, I 224 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:41,910 Matt James: started to take those a little bit more serious, and 225 00:12:41,910 --> 00:12:43,740 Matt James: I was trying to put on weight so I couldn't 226 00:12:43,950 --> 00:12:47,940 Matt James: run the 400 and the 800 I had been doing my whole life. 227 00:12:48,900 --> 00:12:52,410 Matt James: Then when I got to high school, I actually trained 228 00:12:52,410 --> 00:12:57,209 Matt James: with our cross country team in the summer, and my 229 00:12:57,210 --> 00:13:02,670 Matt James: coach put it into that once my role started to 230 00:13:02,670 --> 00:13:04,500 Matt James: pick up on the football team. So I've always had 231 00:13:04,500 --> 00:13:07,260 Matt James: a love for running and an appreciation for track and 232 00:13:07,260 --> 00:13:10,260 Matt James: field field. I was fortunate enough to get out to 233 00:13:10,260 --> 00:13:16,350 Matt James: the 2024 Paris Olympics and the Paralympics. I just have 234 00:13:16,380 --> 00:13:20,760 Matt James: such an admiration for those type of athletes, and I 235 00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:23,340 Matt James: love to compete, I love to watch people compete, so 236 00:13:23,730 --> 00:13:26,579 Matt James: when that football journey was over, I needed a new 237 00:13:26,580 --> 00:13:29,220 Matt James: avenue to push myself and compete. 238 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:33,179 Becs Gentry: Wow. But the crossover is real, right? I think once 239 00:13:33,179 --> 00:13:36,030 Becs Gentry: you love the sport, especially football, and I'm not going 240 00:13:36,030 --> 00:13:40,230 Becs Gentry: to pretend to know too much about American football, British football. 241 00:13:40,290 --> 00:13:42,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: What we here in America call football. Yes. 242 00:13:42,600 --> 00:13:46,500 Becs Gentry: Football, yes. I can talk about what you guys call 243 00:13:46,500 --> 00:13:52,559 Becs Gentry: soccer, but it's a foot sport, so you are running 244 00:13:52,620 --> 00:13:56,189 Becs Gentry: a lot. Those pitches are... Are they called pitches? Yeah, huge. 245 00:13:56,190 --> 00:13:56,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: Fields. 246 00:13:56,580 --> 00:13:57,510 Becs Gentry: Fields, there you go. 247 00:13:57,510 --> 00:13:58,199 Matt James: Yeah, yeah. We'll take it. 248 00:13:58,199 --> 00:14:02,340 Becs Gentry: See, know nothing. They're huge, they're really, really big. So 249 00:14:02,340 --> 00:14:06,390 Becs Gentry: you've got that sort of endurance for, again, I don't 250 00:14:06,390 --> 00:14:08,040 Becs Gentry: know how long those games are because I swear every 251 00:14:08,040 --> 00:14:09,750 Becs Gentry: time I watch one it goes on longer than the 252 00:14:09,750 --> 00:14:10,231 Becs Gentry: last one I watched. 253 00:14:10,231 --> 00:14:10,741 Matt James: Right? 254 00:14:11,010 --> 00:14:14,699 Becs Gentry: But it's a lot, so I can imagine, and I 255 00:14:14,700 --> 00:14:18,480 Becs Gentry: want to ask you when you decided to run a 256 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:21,810 Becs Gentry: marathon, and just so everyone knows, this is your fourth 257 00:14:22,350 --> 00:14:23,790 Becs Gentry: TCS New York City Marathon? 258 00:14:25,350 --> 00:14:28,950 Matt James: I'm going to have to defer to Rob. I don't remember. They all 259 00:14:28,950 --> 00:14:33,510 Matt James: kind of flow together after a while. I know that... 260 00:14:34,290 --> 00:14:36,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: It is his fourth. I'm looking it up right now. 261 00:14:37,710 --> 00:14:37,801 Becs Gentry: There we go. 262 00:14:37,801 --> 00:14:40,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: His first was in '21. Not only is it his fourth, but it's 263 00:14:40,380 --> 00:14:42,001 Rob Simmelkjaer: actually his fourth in a row. 264 00:14:42,001 --> 00:14:42,002 Becs Gentry: Fourth consecutive? 265 00:14:42,002 --> 00:14:47,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: So '21, '22, '23. This will be four in a row 266 00:14:47,130 --> 00:14:48,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: for Mr. James. 267 00:14:48,150 --> 00:14:52,650 Becs Gentry: Wow. So what made you think, okay, I'm going to 268 00:14:52,650 --> 00:14:59,370 Becs Gentry: go from football to marathon? Where was the 5K, 10K half- marathon? 269 00:14:59,460 --> 00:15:05,460 Matt James: Right. I ran a marathon before I ran a 10K or 270 00:15:05,460 --> 00:15:09,359 Matt James: a half- marathon. One of my buddies was going to 271 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:12,630 Matt James: run, and I think that the idea of running 26 272 00:15:12,630 --> 00:15:16,770 Matt James: miles to anyone is very daunting, especially my buddy. And 273 00:15:17,700 --> 00:15:21,060 Matt James: when he signed up, he's like, " You should do this 274 00:15:21,060 --> 00:15:25,260 Matt James: with me." And I was crazy enough to say yes. 275 00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:28,620 Matt James: And I think a lot of first time marathon runners under- 276 00:15:28,620 --> 00:15:32,100 Matt James: trained, didn't really know what I was getting myself into, 277 00:15:32,460 --> 00:15:37,890 Matt James: and it was one of the hardest, dumbest things I 278 00:15:37,890 --> 00:15:40,350 Matt James: ever did. And I told myself I'd never do it 279 00:15:40,350 --> 00:15:42,030 Matt James: again. And here we are. 280 00:15:43,230 --> 00:15:43,441 Becs Gentry: Four times later. 281 00:15:43,441 --> 00:15:48,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: Becs, when you listen to Matt tell this story and then 282 00:15:48,270 --> 00:15:51,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: you look at his times, they really do align with 283 00:15:51,300 --> 00:15:55,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: what he's saying, okay, because the first time Matt James 284 00:15:55,440 --> 00:15:59,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: ran the TCS New York City Marathon in 2021, his 285 00:15:59,670 --> 00:16:02,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: time was 5: 02: 23. 286 00:16:02,310 --> 00:16:02,489 Becs Gentry: Stop. 287 00:16:03,180 --> 00:16:05,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: Respectable for a first time marathoner... 288 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:05,641 Becs Gentry: Very good. 289 00:16:05,641 --> 00:16:06,031 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... who hadn't trained... 290 00:16:06,031 --> 00:16:06,032 Becs Gentry: Absolutely. 291 00:16:06,032 --> 00:16:09,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... with his athletic ability, very respectable, right? 292 00:16:09,570 --> 00:16:09,900 Becs Gentry: Fits the bill, fits the bill. Yeah. 293 00:16:10,260 --> 00:16:14,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: A year later, Becs, he shaves off an hour and 294 00:16:14,250 --> 00:16:17,609 Rob Simmelkjaer: 15 minutes from that time. He went from an 11:32 295 00:16:17,610 --> 00:16:20,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: pace to an 8: 39 pace, comes in at 3: 296 00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:25,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: 46, and then a year after that, 3: 04 at 7: 297 00:16:25,530 --> 00:16:28,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: 03 per mile. So I mean, I've looked at some marathon results 298 00:16:28,830 --> 00:16:31,470 Rob Simmelkjaer: in my life, I have never seen somebody shave two 299 00:16:31,470 --> 00:16:36,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: hours off of a marathon time in two years. 300 00:16:36,270 --> 00:16:36,271 Becs Gentry: Wow. 301 00:16:36,271 --> 00:16:41,430 Rob Simmelkjaer: It just shows you the athletic ability that is there and 302 00:16:41,970 --> 00:16:45,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: that really needed to be untapped through learning how to 303 00:16:45,270 --> 00:16:47,820 Rob Simmelkjaer: train for a marathon, Matt. So I mean, the results are 304 00:16:47,820 --> 00:16:50,070 Rob Simmelkjaer: kind of shocking when you really look at them. 305 00:16:50,700 --> 00:16:58,500 Matt James: Rob, Becs, peer pressure is a very strong motivator, and 306 00:16:59,520 --> 00:17:03,930 Matt James: when you go out and... I was embarrassed because I set 307 00:17:03,930 --> 00:17:07,080 Matt James: a bar for myself athletically at a certain rate. Not 308 00:17:07,080 --> 00:17:11,280 Matt James: that my time was embarrassing. It's just a lot of 309 00:17:11,820 --> 00:17:15,570 Matt James: running to not be satisfied with the outcome. And I 310 00:17:15,570 --> 00:17:18,450 Matt James: told myself after that first one, I'm like, " Man, I 311 00:17:18,450 --> 00:17:21,630 Matt James: cannot do this to my body again and not be 312 00:17:21,930 --> 00:17:25,619 Matt James: proud of the product that I put forward." So you 313 00:17:25,619 --> 00:17:30,119 Matt James: learn a little bit more with every year, and here 314 00:17:30,119 --> 00:17:32,850 Matt James: we are trying to go under three hours this year. 315 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:39,900 Becs Gentry: Whoa. I mean, going back to Rob's digging here as 316 00:17:39,900 --> 00:17:45,179 Becs Gentry: a CEO, he's allowed to do that, that two hour 317 00:17:45,180 --> 00:17:48,929 Becs Gentry: difference is huge. And as you said, I love what 318 00:17:49,050 --> 00:17:51,780 Becs Gentry: said that there's a lot of running to not be proud 319 00:17:51,840 --> 00:17:54,540 Becs Gentry: of it, and I know a lot of our listeners out 320 00:17:54,540 --> 00:17:57,449 Becs Gentry: there will run that time and are very proud of 321 00:17:57,450 --> 00:18:03,119 Becs Gentry: it, but I think from an individual standpoint, you've kind 322 00:18:03,119 --> 00:18:05,879 Becs Gentry: of just taken away the time element there by saying 323 00:18:05,940 --> 00:18:07,500 Becs Gentry: it's a lot of running to not be proud of. So 324 00:18:07,619 --> 00:18:10,350 Becs Gentry: it doesn't matter what your time actually is, it's whether 325 00:18:10,350 --> 00:18:13,290 Becs Gentry: you're proud of the time that it took you to 326 00:18:13,290 --> 00:18:20,400 Becs Gentry: run 26.2 miles, and it's crazy, two hours, so now, 327 00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:21,301 Becs Gentry: the 3: 04 you're proud of. 328 00:18:21,301 --> 00:18:25,800 Matt James: Yes, and I think you made a great point, and I think that, 329 00:18:26,070 --> 00:18:28,590 Matt James: not to put myself in this class, but when you 330 00:18:28,590 --> 00:18:33,000 Matt James: think about elite marathon runners, and we just had the 331 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:38,580 Matt James: Chicago Marathon last weekend, you had men and women running 332 00:18:39,869 --> 00:18:42,960 Matt James: two hours and nine minute marathons and going to social 333 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:47,190 Matt James: media and talking about how disappointed they were, and as 334 00:18:47,190 --> 00:18:49,649 Matt James: someone outside looking in, you're like, how could you possibly 335 00:18:49,650 --> 00:18:51,810 Matt James: be disappointed with that? And that goes back to what 336 00:18:51,810 --> 00:18:54,840 Matt James: my example of running a five- hour marathon, for a 337 00:18:54,840 --> 00:18:58,920 Matt James: lot of people, it just matters what your benchmark is 338 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:01,230 Matt James: and what your goal is and what your expectations are. 339 00:19:01,650 --> 00:19:07,830 Matt James: And when you set goals and expectations for yourself, that's 340 00:19:07,830 --> 00:19:10,950 Matt James: the type of standard that you hold yourself to. And 341 00:19:13,740 --> 00:19:18,629 Matt James: it's scary every year, every year before the marathon, I 342 00:19:18,630 --> 00:19:24,869 Matt James: get nervous because the benchmark continues to move forward in 343 00:19:24,869 --> 00:19:28,140 Matt James: terms of wanting to run a faster time because you're 344 00:19:28,140 --> 00:19:32,909 Matt James: more knowledgeable about the course, you have a better idea of 345 00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:36,630 Matt James: the fueling process, just everything that goes into running a marathon 346 00:19:36,630 --> 00:19:40,560 Matt James: and preparing. So by default, you're going to want to 347 00:19:40,590 --> 00:19:43,619 Matt James: run faster and expect to run faster. So yeah, that's 348 00:19:43,619 --> 00:19:47,490 Matt James: not to take anything away from anybody, it's just me 349 00:19:47,490 --> 00:19:52,290 Matt James: personally on that quest for under three hours. 350 00:19:52,500 --> 00:19:55,889 Rob Simmelkjaer: It's all completely relative. That's just the way it is. 351 00:19:56,609 --> 00:19:59,189 Rob Simmelkjaer: In New York, we keep our finish line open later 352 00:19:59,190 --> 00:20:02,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: than any other major marathon because we love celebrating people 353 00:20:02,940 --> 00:20:07,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: coming in at 9, 10 hours, and for them it's a 354 00:20:07,020 --> 00:20:10,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: huge accomplishment because that's what their goal was, to finish, 355 00:20:11,220 --> 00:20:13,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: and so it's all relative. That's one of the things that's so 356 00:20:13,440 --> 00:20:15,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: great about this sport is that we can all have 357 00:20:15,330 --> 00:20:19,709 Rob Simmelkjaer: our own goals, our own wins, our own challenges. Sometimes 358 00:20:19,710 --> 00:20:22,379 Rob Simmelkjaer: even when you don't meet the goal, that's part of 359 00:20:22,380 --> 00:20:25,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: what's great about it because now you've got something to 360 00:20:25,320 --> 00:20:28,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: fuel you and fire you for the next time, and 361 00:20:28,320 --> 00:20:31,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: you have used that fuel and that fire for some 362 00:20:31,290 --> 00:20:35,430 Rob Simmelkjaer: very dramatic improvements in your times, and we can't wait 363 00:20:35,430 --> 00:20:38,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: to see where it goes from here. Okay Matt, I've 364 00:20:38,100 --> 00:20:40,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: been trying in getting ready for this interview, trying to 365 00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:45,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: find a good metaphor between being The Bachelor and running 366 00:20:45,420 --> 00:20:48,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: marathons, right? I'm trying to figure out what is the 367 00:20:48,150 --> 00:20:54,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: crossover between being The Bachelor and having dozens of women 368 00:20:54,660 --> 00:21:00,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: competing essentially to be your choice and then running a 369 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:02,940 Rob Simmelkjaer: marathon, and I can't come up with one, I've got nothing. Can 370 00:21:03,270 --> 00:21:05,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: you come up with something that you feel the two 371 00:21:05,700 --> 00:21:06,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: things have in common? 372 00:21:07,109 --> 00:21:12,060 Matt James: You know what, Rob, I think that there actually couldn't 373 00:21:12,060 --> 00:21:16,650 Matt James: be a better comparison between being The Bachelor and running the 374 00:21:16,740 --> 00:21:20,820 Matt James: marathon from multiple aspects, and we'll walk through three of 375 00:21:20,820 --> 00:21:24,600 Matt James: them. The first one being that I don't think anyone 376 00:21:24,600 --> 00:21:29,220 Matt James: ever knows what to expect, that's being The Bachelor, that's 377 00:21:29,280 --> 00:21:32,520 Matt James: running a marathon. You have an idea from what previous people 378 00:21:32,520 --> 00:21:34,830 Matt James: have run a marathon, previous people who have been The 379 00:21:34,830 --> 00:21:37,410 Matt James: Bachelor or The Bachelorette or a lead told you what 380 00:21:37,410 --> 00:21:40,380 Matt James: to expect, but ultimately you just have to go out 381 00:21:40,380 --> 00:21:42,390 Matt James: there and do it and be your own... run your 382 00:21:42,390 --> 00:21:45,480 Matt James: own race, be that person, and it's never what anyone 383 00:21:45,540 --> 00:21:49,680 Matt James: told you how it was going to go. And there's 384 00:21:49,800 --> 00:21:51,900 Matt James: hurdles that come along the way that you've just got 385 00:21:51,900 --> 00:21:55,140 Matt James: to deal with. It's never going to be a perfect 386 00:21:55,140 --> 00:21:58,139 Matt James: race. I'd say very rarely, it's never going to be 387 00:21:59,010 --> 00:22:08,369 Matt James: the perfect scenario with maybe falling for somebody that you 388 00:22:08,369 --> 00:22:11,280 Matt James: never thought you'd see yourself with or telling multiple... not 389 00:22:11,280 --> 00:22:14,399 Matt James: in my situation, but you have bachelors telling multiple people 390 00:22:16,020 --> 00:22:21,930 Matt James: they love them. Just things that could be problematic, always 391 00:22:21,930 --> 00:22:24,300 Matt James: tend to pop up. Same with the marathon. So that's the first thing. 392 00:22:24,300 --> 00:22:25,141 Matt James: The second thing is that- 393 00:22:25,141 --> 00:22:26,641 Rob Simmelkjaer: Expect the unexpected, Matt, is really what you're saying. 394 00:22:26,641 --> 00:22:28,080 Matt James: Expect the unexpected. 395 00:22:28,980 --> 00:22:30,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: Okay, that makes sense. 396 00:22:30,570 --> 00:22:33,540 Matt James: Yeah, I would say the second thing, I guess, I'd 397 00:22:33,540 --> 00:22:35,490 Matt James: say two things. The first one and then the second 398 00:22:35,490 --> 00:22:39,929 Matt James: thing is that it's a marathon. It literally is a 399 00:22:39,930 --> 00:22:46,139 Matt James: marathon. You start out that process, and you have, again, 400 00:22:46,140 --> 00:22:50,340 Matt James: you have people who jumped the gun and may express 401 00:22:50,490 --> 00:22:53,820 Matt James: strong feelings for multiple people very quickly, that can end 402 00:22:53,820 --> 00:22:56,160 Matt James: up being problematic. Same thing with the marathon. If you start 403 00:22:56,160 --> 00:22:59,159 Matt James: out too quickly, it's going to end up biting you 404 00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:00,450 Matt James: in the butt at the end when you don't have 405 00:23:00,450 --> 00:23:04,140 Matt James: the legs to finish the race. So you've just got 406 00:23:04,140 --> 00:23:06,150 Matt James: to take your time. I had to take my time 407 00:23:06,150 --> 00:23:10,020 Matt James: in that process and make sure that I was doing 408 00:23:10,350 --> 00:23:12,659 Matt James: all the right vetting because you don't have access to 409 00:23:12,660 --> 00:23:14,940 Matt James: your phone or the computer or friends or family, so 410 00:23:14,940 --> 00:23:19,320 Matt James: you're just kind of in this bubble trying to figure 411 00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:23,070 Matt James: out if how you feel is real and just assess 412 00:23:23,070 --> 00:23:26,460 Matt James: what's going on because it's foreign. Again, same with the 413 00:23:26,460 --> 00:23:31,139 Matt James: marathon. Once you're in that situation, there's no going back, 414 00:23:31,140 --> 00:23:36,659 Matt James: and you've got to make real time adjustments, and yeah, 415 00:23:36,660 --> 00:23:38,820 Matt James: I would say they're both pretty similar. It's actually a 416 00:23:38,820 --> 00:23:39,658 Matt James: great comparison. 417 00:23:40,138 --> 00:23:43,560 Becs Gentry: Wow. I love that, how you've just linked that together because all those 418 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:47,430 Becs Gentry: things you just said are so true, the don't jump in too 419 00:23:47,430 --> 00:23:53,460 Becs Gentry: soon, great, greatest analogy ever, especially for TCS New York 420 00:23:53,460 --> 00:23:57,270 Becs Gentry: City Marathon. Don't go down that Verrazano Bridge off ramp 421 00:23:57,359 --> 00:23:58,002 Becs Gentry: too fast (inaudible) . 422 00:23:58,109 --> 00:23:58,229 Matt James: Oh, yeah. 423 00:24:00,000 --> 00:24:03,720 Becs Gentry: Oh, my gosh, that's perfect. Okay, before we talk more, 424 00:24:03,720 --> 00:24:06,750 Becs Gentry: more about marathons, I'm going to hold us here on 425 00:24:06,750 --> 00:24:09,630 Becs Gentry: The Bachelor side of things. Now, when I first met 426 00:24:09,630 --> 00:24:12,990 Becs Gentry: you, Matt, I think was earlier this year when we 427 00:24:12,990 --> 00:24:16,020 Becs Gentry: first met properly at the Olympic trials. 428 00:24:16,050 --> 00:24:17,369 Matt James: Yeah, in Orlando. 429 00:24:17,369 --> 00:24:22,530 Becs Gentry: In Orlando, that was it. And yeah, I was like, " Oh, 430 00:24:22,530 --> 00:24:25,859 Becs Gentry: yeah, I think I know him." I wasn't necessarily here 431 00:24:26,130 --> 00:24:28,109 Becs Gentry: when your... No, I was here when you were on 432 00:24:28,109 --> 00:24:30,660 Becs Gentry: The Bachelor, but it wasn't a show that I watched, 433 00:24:30,660 --> 00:24:32,280 Becs Gentry: but I was like, " Yeah, I think I know him. Isn't 434 00:24:32,280 --> 00:24:34,380 Becs Gentry: he a Lululemon runner?" And all my friends just fell 435 00:24:34,380 --> 00:24:36,990 Becs Gentry: about laughing. They were like, " That's met James from The Bachelor." 436 00:24:37,020 --> 00:24:41,490 Becs Gentry: I was like, " English, don't really know." So yeah, I was like, " Yeah, 437 00:24:41,490 --> 00:24:43,890 Becs Gentry: he's a Lulu runner. (inaudible) , he ran the marathon 438 00:24:43,890 --> 00:24:45,810 Becs Gentry: last year," and I was lucky enough to be at the 439 00:24:45,810 --> 00:24:48,869 Becs Gentry: finish line when you and Shalane came over last year. 440 00:24:48,869 --> 00:24:50,551 Becs Gentry: It was fantastic to see. But we'll get to that. 441 00:24:50,551 --> 00:24:52,002 Rob Simmelkjaer: Shalane Flanagan who paced (inaudible) . 442 00:24:52,680 --> 00:24:55,169 Becs Gentry: Just cash, just cash. We're going to dive into that 443 00:24:55,170 --> 00:24:57,300 Becs Gentry: guys, don't worry, don't worry. I'm not going to miss a chance to 444 00:24:57,300 --> 00:25:01,320 Becs Gentry: talk about Shalane, but I want to talk about your 445 00:25:01,320 --> 00:25:07,290 Becs Gentry: life since The Bachelor is food. And I would say 446 00:25:07,710 --> 00:25:11,820 Becs Gentry: I have asked you so many times via Instagram. Now I'm like, yeah, 447 00:25:12,420 --> 00:25:15,359 Becs Gentry: now Matt's my buddy, Matt's my friend. I am constantly, " 448 00:25:16,050 --> 00:25:18,480 Becs Gentry: Where is that place? What is that place called?" I'm like, " I'm in 449 00:25:18,480 --> 00:25:20,939 Becs Gentry: Tokyo." I'm like, " Hey, Matt, what was that sushi place 450 00:25:20,940 --> 00:25:25,410 Becs Gentry: that you and Rachel went to?" Just like he's now my food guru. 451 00:25:25,890 --> 00:25:30,810 Becs Gentry: And your YouTube is huge, your social is huge, and 452 00:25:30,810 --> 00:25:34,770 Becs Gentry: it is not like gratuitous pictures of you without clothes 453 00:25:34,770 --> 00:25:39,869 Becs Gentry: on. It is you and Rachel around the world eating 454 00:25:40,470 --> 00:25:44,760 Becs Gentry: some of the most amazing food, and just so cute 455 00:25:44,760 --> 00:25:48,690 Becs Gentry: and honest, and what's next for you on that level? 456 00:25:49,290 --> 00:25:53,820 Matt James: Yeah, that's funny. I don't think a lot of people 457 00:25:53,820 --> 00:26:00,630 Matt James: know this, but before I was on The Bachelor, or 458 00:26:00,630 --> 00:26:04,260 Matt James: I guess I was The Bachelor, I've always had a 459 00:26:04,260 --> 00:26:08,130 Matt James: love for food, and I actually started a nonprofit in 460 00:26:08,130 --> 00:26:12,959 Matt James: New York City called ABC Food Tours to bring underprivileged 461 00:26:13,230 --> 00:26:17,850 Matt James: students in the city to restaurants across New York City 462 00:26:17,850 --> 00:26:22,770 Matt James: that I love. And I didn't grow up in a strong 463 00:26:22,770 --> 00:26:25,889 Matt James: financial situation, so eating out to me was a treat. 464 00:26:25,980 --> 00:26:27,810 Matt James: And the older I got, the more I got to 465 00:26:27,810 --> 00:26:31,350 Matt James: experience that, and it changed my outlook on travel and 466 00:26:32,130 --> 00:26:34,409 Matt James: on being able to relate to people, and I wanted 467 00:26:34,410 --> 00:26:39,150 Matt James: to provide that experience for kids. And so that's where 468 00:26:39,150 --> 00:26:42,720 Matt James: ABC Food Tours was founded. We work students all over 469 00:26:42,720 --> 00:26:45,420 Matt James: the city. We've gone to different countries, different states, and 470 00:26:45,990 --> 00:26:51,690 Matt James: we bridge that gap between students in underserved communities and 471 00:26:51,720 --> 00:26:55,710 Matt James: fine dining. And they're meeting these restaurateurs that have similar 472 00:26:55,710 --> 00:26:59,670 Matt James: backgrounds to theirs, whether they're immigrants, whether they came from 473 00:27:00,330 --> 00:27:07,199 Matt James: low socioeconomic situations, didn't graduate. Just it's an amazing way 474 00:27:07,200 --> 00:27:13,380 Matt James: to educate students on culture and cuisine. So that was 475 00:27:13,410 --> 00:27:17,010 Matt James: before The Bachelor. And so I've always loved food. I've always 476 00:27:17,010 --> 00:27:20,820 Matt James: had an appreciation for food, admiration for food, restaurateurs. And 477 00:27:20,820 --> 00:27:22,770 Matt James: I'd say that when you get to do something like 478 00:27:22,980 --> 00:27:27,090 Matt James: be The Bachelor, it does change your life, but in 479 00:27:27,090 --> 00:27:30,810 Matt James: ways that you let it, in terms of it amplifies 480 00:27:31,109 --> 00:27:33,540 Matt James: the person that you are or the person that you 481 00:27:33,540 --> 00:27:36,570 Matt James: want to be, whether that's you want to go do 482 00:27:36,570 --> 00:27:40,080 Matt James: more reality TV shows and go on Survivor, who knows, 483 00:27:40,080 --> 00:27:43,020 Matt James: do whatever you want to do, or it gives you 484 00:27:43,020 --> 00:27:48,330 Matt James: the opportunity, i. e., if you're in food to open 485 00:27:48,330 --> 00:27:54,330 Matt James: more doors to travel and share your food journey with 486 00:27:54,330 --> 00:28:00,899 Matt James: other people, or the opportunity to participate in marathons and 487 00:28:00,900 --> 00:28:04,409 Matt James: run with former New York City Marathon winners like Shalane 488 00:28:04,410 --> 00:28:09,420 Matt James: Flanagan. It's opened up so many doors and places that 489 00:28:09,420 --> 00:28:13,650 Matt James: you let it do that. And for me, it's shown 490 00:28:13,650 --> 00:28:16,230 Matt James: itself the most in my life from a food and 491 00:28:16,230 --> 00:28:17,550 Matt James: fitness standpoint, so. 492 00:28:18,629 --> 00:28:20,490 Becs Gentry: So well, there's going to be more, there's going to 493 00:28:20,490 --> 00:28:20,609 Becs Gentry: be more, people, watch out. 494 00:28:20,609 --> 00:28:25,470 Matt James: There's going to be more, especially after the marathon, that's when I really go 495 00:28:25,470 --> 00:28:28,740 Matt James: in, that's when I really get to... There's certain things 496 00:28:28,740 --> 00:28:30,690 Matt James: that I've cut out of the diet right now because 497 00:28:32,010 --> 00:28:35,430 Matt James: it just, certain foods... I don't know. When I get 498 00:28:35,430 --> 00:28:40,500 Matt James: into that training regimen, certain foods sit on my stomach 499 00:28:40,500 --> 00:28:43,080 Matt James: differently, and I just cut a lot of things out of my diet. 500 00:28:44,070 --> 00:28:49,620 Matt James: My body doesn't respond well to it. So come day 501 00:28:49,620 --> 00:28:52,320 Matt James: after marathon, that is when the feasting begins. 502 00:28:54,450 --> 00:28:54,480 Becs Gentry: Oh, my gosh. Can't wait. 503 00:28:54,660 --> 00:28:57,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: For some of us, it goes all through marathon training 504 00:28:57,780 --> 00:29:01,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: and beyond. There's a lot of opportunities for eating during 505 00:29:01,890 --> 00:29:05,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: a marathon training block, so I'm sure you're bringing in 506 00:29:05,670 --> 00:29:08,489 Rob Simmelkjaer: the calories you need. But it is interesting when you 507 00:29:08,490 --> 00:29:11,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: talked about as a football player, you did need to 508 00:29:11,370 --> 00:29:14,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: put on weight, right? I mean, you're out there with 509 00:29:14,010 --> 00:29:16,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: some big guys, you got to be able to take 510 00:29:16,170 --> 00:29:19,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: a hit, make a block, things like that. Bulk and 511 00:29:19,110 --> 00:29:21,930 Rob Simmelkjaer: weight really does matter on a football field, even for 512 00:29:21,930 --> 00:29:27,240 Rob Simmelkjaer: a receiver, right? And now in a marathon situation, that 513 00:29:27,240 --> 00:29:31,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: extra weight isn't necessarily something that you're looking to have. 514 00:29:32,040 --> 00:29:35,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: How have you noticed your body responding differently, Matt? And 515 00:29:35,790 --> 00:29:39,479 Rob Simmelkjaer: how do you feel differently between your time as an 516 00:29:39,480 --> 00:29:42,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: athlete on the football field and your time as an 517 00:29:42,570 --> 00:29:45,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: athlete on the road running 26.2? 518 00:29:45,480 --> 00:29:54,090 Matt James: That's a great question, Rob. You know how you can 519 00:29:54,090 --> 00:29:59,610 Matt James: go, I don't know, six months at times without seeing 520 00:29:59,670 --> 00:30:02,729 Matt James: extended friends and family the older you get. When you're 521 00:30:02,730 --> 00:30:05,310 Matt James: younger, I feel like you see all your friends every 522 00:30:05,310 --> 00:30:07,890 Matt James: holiday. You're making a lot of time for those type 523 00:30:07,890 --> 00:30:09,960 Matt James: of connections. And the older you get, life comes at 524 00:30:09,960 --> 00:30:14,160 Matt James: you, and you go four months, six months at a 525 00:30:14,160 --> 00:30:16,350 Matt James: time without seeing some of those close people in your 526 00:30:16,350 --> 00:30:22,080 Matt James: life. I use that as an example because when I 527 00:30:22,080 --> 00:30:25,920 Matt James: have those interactions with people after those long extended periods, 528 00:30:26,190 --> 00:30:29,970 Matt James: people are looking at me like something's wrong with me 529 00:30:29,970 --> 00:30:32,730 Matt James: because of the changes that my body's made. They're like, " 530 00:30:32,730 --> 00:30:35,190 Matt James: Matt, are you okay? Are you sick? What's going on with 531 00:30:35,190 --> 00:30:39,090 Matt James: your body?" Because when I played football, when I played 532 00:30:39,090 --> 00:30:44,040 Matt James: collegiate football, my weight fluctuated from... I was 205. No, 533 00:30:44,040 --> 00:30:46,860 Matt James: I was 195 pounds as a freshman, and then at 534 00:30:46,860 --> 00:30:50,370 Matt James: my peak as a senior, I was 265 pounds. 535 00:30:50,580 --> 00:30:51,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: Wow. 536 00:30:51,540 --> 00:30:54,750 Matt James: That's like a 70 pound, I think, yeah, that's around 70 537 00:30:54,750 --> 00:31:03,660 Matt James: pounds of fluctuation in there. That mold is there, it 538 00:31:03,660 --> 00:31:06,870 Matt James: hasn't gone anywhere. So my body's capable of carrying that 539 00:31:06,870 --> 00:31:10,020 Matt James: weight if I fuel it in that way and train 540 00:31:10,020 --> 00:31:15,030 Matt James: in that way. So I'm susceptible to gain 20, 30 pounds 541 00:31:15,030 --> 00:31:19,770 Matt James: in a month, and I'm susceptible to lose it, but 542 00:31:19,770 --> 00:31:22,950 Matt James: with the running, I consistently keep that weight off, and 543 00:31:22,950 --> 00:31:26,220 Matt James: I'm back down to the weight I was as a 544 00:31:26,220 --> 00:31:30,630 Matt James: freshman from my freshman year of college to senior year 545 00:31:30,630 --> 00:31:32,880 Matt James: of high school. So I kind of fluctuate around that 195, 546 00:31:32,910 --> 00:31:37,710 Matt James: 205 range. And when people see me who haven't seen 547 00:31:37,710 --> 00:31:41,220 Matt James: me in years, they look at me like something's wrong 548 00:31:41,220 --> 00:31:44,490 Matt James: with me because they're used to... The training's changed. I'm not 549 00:31:44,490 --> 00:31:49,590 Matt James: lifting weights anymore. For five and a half years I 550 00:31:49,590 --> 00:31:52,410 Matt James: was power cleaning, I was heavy squatting, I was deadlifting. 551 00:31:54,420 --> 00:31:58,290 Matt James: We had college training table where you're eating four meals 552 00:31:58,290 --> 00:32:03,690 Matt James: a day. My lifestyle has changed. I've replaced the heavy 553 00:32:03,690 --> 00:32:08,040 Matt James: lifting with running, and my body's made adjustments accordingly, and 554 00:32:09,090 --> 00:32:11,940 Matt James: it's all in an effort to be the most efficient 555 00:32:11,970 --> 00:32:15,720 Matt James: runner that Matt is trying to be, not the strongest, 556 00:32:16,320 --> 00:32:21,600 Matt James: most durable football player. And I've embraced that. There are 557 00:32:21,600 --> 00:32:25,950 Matt James: different aches and pains, but it's nice to have something, 558 00:32:25,950 --> 00:32:29,940 Matt James: a goal to work towards and to train for as 559 00:32:29,940 --> 00:32:35,040 Matt James: you come out of being a collegiate athlete. It's nice. 560 00:32:35,670 --> 00:32:38,670 Becs Gentry: Wow, I love that. The fluctuation is huge, like your 561 00:32:38,670 --> 00:32:39,450 Becs Gentry: marathon times. 562 00:32:42,270 --> 00:32:42,360 Matt James: For sure. 563 00:32:42,630 --> 00:32:48,240 Becs Gentry: So talk us through your marathon training now. We've got, 564 00:32:49,440 --> 00:32:52,620 Becs Gentry: what is it, two weeks, just over two weeks when this 565 00:32:52,620 --> 00:32:55,830 Becs Gentry: episode drops until the race. What has your training been 566 00:32:55,830 --> 00:32:58,620 Becs Gentry: like for this, your fourth TCS New York City Marathon? 567 00:32:58,620 --> 00:33:03,810 Matt James: The training block has been phenomenal. I've got the best 568 00:33:03,810 --> 00:33:08,100 Matt James: coach in Julia Lucas who is or was a Lululemon 569 00:33:08,100 --> 00:33:14,880 Matt James: ambassador and is the coach of a Lululemon running training 570 00:33:14,880 --> 00:33:18,060 Matt James: program for the New York City Marathon along with other 571 00:33:18,060 --> 00:33:21,390 Matt James: marathons. It's called the No Name Program. And her and 572 00:33:21,390 --> 00:33:26,730 Matt James: another Lululemon ambassador, Coffey, do a fantastic job training mostly 573 00:33:26,730 --> 00:33:31,530 Matt James: first time runners of all pace groups to be ready 574 00:33:31,530 --> 00:33:35,520 Matt James: for a marathon. And that's from people who might be some 575 00:33:35,520 --> 00:33:39,750 Matt James: of those last finishers when the finish line's open super 576 00:33:39,750 --> 00:33:41,220 Matt James: late to some of those people who are trying to 577 00:33:41,220 --> 00:33:44,400 Matt James: break sub- three. And she, in her own right, is 578 00:33:44,850 --> 00:33:47,670 Matt James: a fantastic runner, has competed against some of the best 579 00:33:47,670 --> 00:33:50,760 Matt James: runners in the world. So having a coach has been 580 00:33:50,820 --> 00:33:53,340 Matt James: the game changer for me. Just having someone who you 581 00:33:53,340 --> 00:33:55,920 Matt James: can text, reach out to and be like, " Is it 582 00:33:55,920 --> 00:34:00,300 Matt James: normal to hurt?" They're like, " Yeah, marathons are hard. You're 583 00:34:00,300 --> 00:34:03,480 Matt James: going to hurt." " Hey, is it normal that my hamstrings 584 00:34:03,480 --> 00:34:05,970 Matt James: are sore? What should I do? Why do I hate 585 00:34:05,970 --> 00:34:08,879 Matt James: running three weeks out from the marathon?" " Hey, I don't 586 00:34:08,880 --> 00:34:11,069 Matt James: think I've done enough to prepare." All the things we 587 00:34:11,070 --> 00:34:13,364 Matt James: think about as runners and people getting ready for a 588 00:34:13,364 --> 00:34:18,660 Matt James: marathon, having that coach to bounce those scary thoughts off 589 00:34:18,660 --> 00:34:21,930 Matt James: of and have them talk you back down off the 590 00:34:21,930 --> 00:34:28,319 Matt James: ledge is been, for my mental health, so beyond liberating 591 00:34:28,320 --> 00:34:33,779 Matt James: and just amazing, as well as the physical aspect of 592 00:34:33,780 --> 00:34:36,480 Matt James: someone who can put together and structure a training program 593 00:34:36,480 --> 00:34:39,060 Matt James: to put you in a position to be competitive, to 594 00:34:39,060 --> 00:34:42,810 Matt James: hit your goal more so than something that you generate 595 00:34:42,810 --> 00:34:47,460 Matt James: off of a Google website that you found about how 596 00:34:47,460 --> 00:34:50,969 Matt James: to run fast. It's like that human element of coaching, 597 00:34:51,150 --> 00:34:54,420 Matt James: making real- time adjustments to your training based off your 598 00:34:54,420 --> 00:34:59,040 Matt James: health, how you feel. It's just been a game changer. 599 00:34:59,190 --> 00:35:03,750 Matt James: And when, not if, when I go sub- three, she 600 00:35:03,750 --> 00:35:06,900 Matt James: will be, Julia, one of the biggest people to credit 601 00:35:08,340 --> 00:35:11,100 Matt James: in the doing of that. So I'm very fortunate to 602 00:35:11,100 --> 00:35:12,420 Matt James: have coaching like that. 603 00:35:13,230 --> 00:35:16,739 Rob Simmelkjaer: It makes sense, Matt, to me that coaching would be 604 00:35:16,739 --> 00:35:20,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: a big game changer for you because you were a 605 00:35:20,310 --> 00:35:24,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: football player, you're used to being coached, you had head 606 00:35:24,180 --> 00:35:28,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: coaches and offensive coordinators and wide receiver coaches and coaches 607 00:35:28,170 --> 00:35:31,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: your whole life, so coaching, you're coachable, right? I mean, 608 00:35:31,680 --> 00:35:34,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: you get what it means to have a coach and 609 00:35:34,950 --> 00:35:37,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: know how to respond to what a coach says, so 610 00:35:37,770 --> 00:35:39,509 Rob Simmelkjaer: it makes a lot of sense. One thing I'm really 611 00:35:39,510 --> 00:35:43,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: curious about, I play team sports, I play baseball, not 612 00:35:43,680 --> 00:35:45,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: at the level you played football, but I play baseball, 613 00:35:45,570 --> 00:35:49,590 Rob Simmelkjaer: and it's such a different thing as a team sport 614 00:35:49,590 --> 00:35:52,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: athlete in a sport like football where you're always around 615 00:35:52,710 --> 00:35:56,879 Rob Simmelkjaer: other people, your practices are a lot of short bursts, 616 00:35:56,880 --> 00:36:01,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: right? You're running short bursts, you're catching, you're doing sprints, 617 00:36:01,200 --> 00:36:04,860 Rob Simmelkjaer: you're in the weight room, whereas with marathons, okay, you 618 00:36:04,860 --> 00:36:06,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: are with a coach, but I mean, there's a lot 619 00:36:06,780 --> 00:36:09,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: of time where you're just there and you're just in 620 00:36:09,900 --> 00:36:12,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: your head and you are just going and going. It 621 00:36:12,660 --> 00:36:14,880 Rob Simmelkjaer: is not short bursts at all. It is these long, 622 00:36:15,239 --> 00:36:19,230 Rob Simmelkjaer: long runs. Has it been a challenge to make that 623 00:36:19,230 --> 00:36:23,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: adjustment from the kind of practice and work you had 624 00:36:23,520 --> 00:36:25,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: to do then to what you have to do now? 625 00:36:25,680 --> 00:36:29,910 Matt James: Rob, it's the biggest adjustment because you have to remind 626 00:36:29,910 --> 00:36:32,850 Matt James: yourself why you do it. I have to remind myself 627 00:36:32,850 --> 00:36:35,130 Matt James: why I do it. I'm a very logical person, and 628 00:36:35,130 --> 00:36:37,890 Matt James: if there's ever a point when I'm doing something and 629 00:36:37,890 --> 00:36:40,469 Matt James: I don't feel like I have a logical reason or 630 00:36:40,469 --> 00:36:42,930 Matt James: explanation for doing it, then I'm not going to do 631 00:36:42,930 --> 00:36:45,780 Matt James: it anymore. So when I'm running, I'm like, " Why am 632 00:36:45,780 --> 00:36:48,569 Matt James: I doing this? Why am I forcing myself? No one's 633 00:36:48,570 --> 00:36:54,150 Matt James: paying me to be out here." People have jobs, obligations 634 00:36:54,450 --> 00:36:58,560 Matt James: for life, and that we consciously make this effort to 635 00:36:58,560 --> 00:37:02,520 Matt James: torture ourselves for 26 miles and for months leading up to 636 00:37:02,520 --> 00:37:07,020 Matt James: this. But I love the community aspect of it. I love 637 00:37:07,290 --> 00:37:11,190 Matt James: being able to be social and build community around things 638 00:37:11,190 --> 00:37:15,930 Matt James: outside of going to a bar, drinking, those type of 639 00:37:15,930 --> 00:37:24,450 Matt James: activities. I love the idea of building friend groups, networks 640 00:37:24,450 --> 00:37:29,190 Matt James: around those type of activities, and some of my best 641 00:37:29,190 --> 00:37:30,930 Matt James: friendships... And you spend a lot of time with these 642 00:37:30,930 --> 00:37:36,239 Matt James: people when you're training. And it's what I look forward 643 00:37:36,239 --> 00:37:39,359 Matt James: to most when I have someone like a Shalane that's going 644 00:37:39,360 --> 00:37:42,780 Matt James: to selflessly decide to pace me. One of the coolest 645 00:37:42,780 --> 00:37:45,540 Matt James: things that's ever happened to me since I've become a 646 00:37:45,540 --> 00:37:50,940 Matt James: runner or self- proclaimed runner is the London Marathon this 647 00:37:50,940 --> 00:37:54,000 Matt James: year. I had a goal of going under three hours, 648 00:37:54,330 --> 00:38:00,660 Matt James: and I had no pacer. This was my first time 649 00:38:00,660 --> 00:38:05,610 Matt James: running a marathon without a pacer, and I didn't know 650 00:38:05,610 --> 00:38:07,770 Matt James: anybody running the race. I didn't know anybody out there. 651 00:38:08,520 --> 00:38:12,719 Matt James: And it's the day of the race. I just am 652 00:38:12,719 --> 00:38:14,940 Matt James: going to try to pace myself. I'm just going to 653 00:38:15,120 --> 00:38:17,009 Matt James: hold myself to whatever time I need to hold myself 654 00:38:17,010 --> 00:38:21,480 Matt James: to. And I'm on a bus headed to the starting 655 00:38:21,480 --> 00:38:25,410 Matt James: line of the marathon, and I meet the most amazing 656 00:38:26,130 --> 00:38:38,700 Matt James: people ever. Tommy, Mikey Kratzer, he's a Berlin- based marathon 657 00:38:38,700 --> 00:38:41,910 Matt James: runner, and we just get to talking about running, and 658 00:38:41,910 --> 00:38:43,319 Matt James: he's like, " What's your goal for the day?" And I'm 659 00:38:43,320 --> 00:38:45,630 Matt James: like, "Oh, I want to try to go under three hours. 660 00:38:45,630 --> 00:38:48,330 Matt James: I've never done it." And I've never met this guy 661 00:38:48,330 --> 00:38:50,700 Matt James: in my life, and he's like, " Matt, I'm, I'm going 662 00:38:50,700 --> 00:38:52,739 Matt James: to pace you." He's like, " I'm going to get you 663 00:38:52,739 --> 00:38:57,060 Matt James: to that goal." And I almost brought me to tears 664 00:38:57,060 --> 00:39:00,450 Matt James: on the bus, these random strangers from all over the 665 00:39:00,450 --> 00:39:05,460 Matt James: world, Tommy's from Detroit, Mikey's from Berlin, and they're just 666 00:39:05,460 --> 00:39:09,509 Matt James: like, yeah, we got you. And they made it about pacing me. 667 00:39:10,050 --> 00:39:13,650 Matt James: And that's what the running community is. It's such a 668 00:39:13,650 --> 00:39:17,040 Matt James: selfless place to be. And there's been so many instances 669 00:39:17,040 --> 00:39:19,440 Matt James: I've seen that with other people on the course. It's 670 00:39:19,440 --> 00:39:23,130 Matt James: like if someone's hurting, if someone needs that extra motivation, 671 00:39:23,910 --> 00:39:28,200 Matt James: race day stories of complete strangers motivating and pushing people 672 00:39:28,200 --> 00:39:34,379 Matt James: to the finish. And that's to answer your question, those 673 00:39:34,380 --> 00:39:40,620 Matt James: type of interactions keep my mind off of going from 674 00:39:40,650 --> 00:39:43,650 Matt James: these short wind sprints to being able to endure a 675 00:39:43,650 --> 00:39:50,340 Matt James: long, treacherous route is having an amazing community, amazing people 676 00:39:50,700 --> 00:39:55,260 Matt James: who decide to uplift you and make a race day 677 00:39:55,260 --> 00:39:59,219 Matt James: experience the best. And that's why I look forward to New York every year. 678 00:39:59,520 --> 00:40:01,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, Matt, I know exactly what you're talking about. I 679 00:40:01,920 --> 00:40:04,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: had a similar experience in Berlin I've talked about on 680 00:40:04,200 --> 00:40:07,259 Rob Simmelkjaer: the podcast. I ran Berlin, was struggling the last few 681 00:40:07,260 --> 00:40:09,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: miles, and a New York Road Runners member who just 682 00:40:09,900 --> 00:40:13,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: recognized me came along with me and Roberto, we were 683 00:40:13,530 --> 00:40:16,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: running together, and helped me get through the finish line 684 00:40:16,530 --> 00:40:19,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: as well. So it's amazing how people want to help 685 00:40:19,410 --> 00:40:22,469 Rob Simmelkjaer: each other out there. Okay, I have to ask, since 686 00:40:22,469 --> 00:40:25,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: you're talking about who you run with, Rachel, is she 687 00:40:25,980 --> 00:40:29,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: a runner? Is she getting into running at all? Do we have 688 00:40:29,160 --> 00:40:32,070 Rob Simmelkjaer: a potential running partner in Rachel? And I have to 689 00:40:32,070 --> 00:40:34,860 Rob Simmelkjaer: ask for all The Bachelor fans out there. How's it going? 690 00:40:35,730 --> 00:40:43,260 Matt James: Oh, that's funny. Rachel... So I'll say this, Rachel, every 691 00:40:43,260 --> 00:40:46,890 Matt James: year after the marathon, she's like a lot of other 692 00:40:46,890 --> 00:40:49,770 Matt James: spectators is so inspired, and they're like, " I'm going to 693 00:40:49,770 --> 00:40:53,250 Matt James: sign up for the marathon. This was so beautiful to 694 00:40:53,250 --> 00:40:55,710 Matt James: watch. I want to be a part of this. I 695 00:40:55,710 --> 00:40:58,140 Matt James: want to participate." And if you haven't watched a marathon and 696 00:40:58,200 --> 00:41:02,790 Matt James: you're listening, I highly recommend you just go for five 697 00:41:02,790 --> 00:41:04,200 Matt James: minutes, and you're going to end up staying for an 698 00:41:04,200 --> 00:41:07,200 Matt James: hour. You're going to see people who are old, people 699 00:41:07,200 --> 00:41:09,299 Matt James: who are young, people who are tall, small. You're going 700 00:41:09,300 --> 00:41:12,870 Matt James: to see everybody. Everybody's a runner, and everyone has representation 701 00:41:12,870 --> 00:41:19,560 Matt James: out there on race day. So Rachel, my girlfriend, one 702 00:41:19,560 --> 00:41:19,920 Matt James: of those people- 703 00:41:19,920 --> 00:41:20,281 Rob Simmelkjaer: From The Bachelor, by the way, for those who don't know, yes. 704 00:41:20,281 --> 00:41:25,320 Matt James: Yes, from The Bachelor, we met on The Bachelor. She's like, " I'm 705 00:41:25,320 --> 00:41:27,120 Matt James: going to run a marathon. I want to do this," after 706 00:41:27,120 --> 00:41:30,299 Matt James: seeing me, and every single year after the marathon, I'm 707 00:41:30,300 --> 00:41:36,300 Matt James: laying in the medical tent just sprawled out, hurting, just like, " 708 00:41:36,300 --> 00:41:39,120 Matt James: Baby, you don't want to do this, don't put yourself 709 00:41:39,120 --> 00:41:41,520 Matt James: through this. This is so dumb. I'm not going to 710 00:41:41,520 --> 00:41:44,040 Matt James: do this again." And then every year I sign up 711 00:41:44,040 --> 00:41:46,530 Matt James: to run again because you know what? I can't stay 712 00:41:46,530 --> 00:41:49,560 Matt James: away from it. It's addicting. It's so much fun. It's 713 00:41:49,560 --> 00:41:51,600 Matt James: something that I want to be able to do as 714 00:41:51,600 --> 00:41:56,219 Matt James: long as my body will will itself to move, I 715 00:41:56,219 --> 00:41:57,540 Matt James: want to be able to run the New York City 716 00:41:57,540 --> 00:42:02,219 Matt James: Marathon every year. And with Rachel, I think that we 717 00:42:02,219 --> 00:42:04,620 Matt James: got to start with something that's a little bit more 718 00:42:04,620 --> 00:42:07,440 Matt James: palatable. So hopefully we'll get her in the Fifth Avenue 719 00:42:07,440 --> 00:42:10,350 Matt James: Mile next year, and then we'll go from the Fifth Ave 720 00:42:10,620 --> 00:42:14,310 Matt James: Mile to a fun 5K something in Central Park. I 721 00:42:14,310 --> 00:42:19,739 Matt James: think the 10K in the Central Park is all women. 722 00:42:20,700 --> 00:42:21,150 Matt James: There's a... Yes. 723 00:42:21,360 --> 00:42:22,411 Rob Simmelkjaer: The Mastercard Mini 10K. Absolutely. 724 00:42:22,410 --> 00:42:22,411 Becs Gentry: The Mastercard Mini 10K. 725 00:42:22,411 --> 00:42:22,412 Matt James: Yes, the Mastercard Mini 10K. 726 00:42:22,412 --> 00:42:27,960 Rob Simmelkjaer: It's a great first race, great first kind of endurance race. 727 00:42:28,110 --> 00:42:30,002 Becs Gentry: The half the year after as well. (inaudible) . 728 00:42:29,790 --> 00:42:33,600 Matt James: So there we go. We're going to usher Rachel into 729 00:42:33,600 --> 00:42:36,180 Matt James: her running era through a series of New York Road 730 00:42:36,180 --> 00:42:36,840 Matt James: Runner events. 731 00:42:36,840 --> 00:42:38,190 Becs Gentry: Yes. I also feel like the... 732 00:42:38,190 --> 00:42:38,191 Matt James: We've got the mile. 733 00:42:38,191 --> 00:42:41,730 Becs Gentry: ... the festive ones as well around the holiday season 734 00:42:41,760 --> 00:42:45,510 Becs Gentry: are so cute as well. You can come in your ugly 735 00:42:45,510 --> 00:42:49,020 Becs Gentry: festive jumper and a big bubble hat and get some 736 00:42:49,020 --> 00:42:51,149 Becs Gentry: hot chocolate at the end. That's kind of like... I 737 00:42:51,149 --> 00:42:54,660 Becs Gentry: don't know, I feel like that's a really nice excuse 738 00:42:54,719 --> 00:42:57,930 Becs Gentry: to get moving when it's cold and gross here in 739 00:42:57,930 --> 00:42:58,469 Becs Gentry: New York. 740 00:42:59,520 --> 00:43:02,730 Matt James: Yes. And she has a bunch of friends that have participated 741 00:43:02,730 --> 00:43:08,010 Matt James: in those events. So I think that the more we've 742 00:43:08,010 --> 00:43:14,250 Matt James: seen this influx of new runners into the running space post- 743 00:43:14,370 --> 00:43:20,010 Matt James: pandemic. I think the more inclusive it's become and she 744 00:43:20,010 --> 00:43:24,210 Matt James: sees more representation from people who are not typical runners 745 00:43:24,210 --> 00:43:27,510 Matt James: and people who fit an idea of what a runner 746 00:43:27,510 --> 00:43:32,070 Matt James: should be and look like, gives her more confidence in 747 00:43:32,070 --> 00:43:34,350 Matt James: terms of wanting to participate and be a part of 748 00:43:34,350 --> 00:43:35,850 Matt James: that space, which is fun to see. 749 00:43:36,060 --> 00:43:37,620 Becs Gentry: Yeah, absolutely. 750 00:43:38,969 --> 00:43:43,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: Well, Matt, we're certainly rooting for you to accomplish your goal 751 00:43:43,110 --> 00:43:46,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: on November 3rd. By the way, that London time, just 752 00:43:46,620 --> 00:43:49,529 Rob Simmelkjaer: 40 seconds over three hours. I think it was three hours 753 00:43:49,530 --> 00:43:52,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: and 40 seconds or 41 seconds, so you're right there. 754 00:43:53,000 --> 00:43:53,002 Becs Gentry: (inaudible) . 755 00:43:53,130 --> 00:43:56,009 Rob Simmelkjaer: But of course that was London and this is New 756 00:43:56,010 --> 00:43:58,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: York, and you know New York is not the easiest 757 00:43:58,980 --> 00:44:03,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: course to set that PR on. How confident are you 758 00:44:03,900 --> 00:44:08,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: feeling, Mr. James, in your attempt at under three hours coming up 759 00:44:08,520 --> 00:44:09,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: in a couple of weeks? 760 00:44:09,719 --> 00:44:15,090 Matt James: Rob, the confidence waivers day by day. You know you 761 00:44:15,090 --> 00:44:17,910 Matt James: have a good run and you're like, " Ah, man, these 762 00:44:17,910 --> 00:44:20,370 Matt James: are sub- three legs right here." And then you'll go 763 00:44:20,370 --> 00:44:23,160 Matt James: out and you'll have a 10- mile run that's supposed 764 00:44:23,160 --> 00:44:24,989 Matt James: to be at race pace and you can barely run 765 00:44:24,989 --> 00:44:27,480 Matt James: race pace, and you're like, " Man, I should drop out 766 00:44:27,480 --> 00:44:30,690 Matt James: and just never run again. I'm not equipped for this." 767 00:44:31,050 --> 00:44:34,380 Matt James: It's such a mental battle. But I think that for 768 00:44:34,380 --> 00:44:38,700 Matt James: me, what prepares me to run that sub- three time 769 00:44:38,700 --> 00:44:42,180 Matt James: in New York this year is the tough training blocks 770 00:44:42,180 --> 00:44:45,060 Matt James: that I put myself through, and being able to look 771 00:44:45,060 --> 00:44:48,090 Matt James: back on that body of work that I put together 772 00:44:48,090 --> 00:44:51,570 Matt James: and be confident in that work. And that's what my 773 00:44:51,570 --> 00:44:54,719 Matt James: coach reminds me of. She's like, " Listen, look back on 774 00:44:54,719 --> 00:44:57,960 Matt James: your training, go back to your Strava, go back to your Coros data and look 775 00:44:57,960 --> 00:45:00,090 Matt James: at all the miles you've put on your legs. Look 776 00:45:00,090 --> 00:45:03,180 Matt James: at how well you've performed in these workouts. It's there 777 00:45:03,180 --> 00:45:05,910 Matt James: for you to take. You just got to show up 778 00:45:05,910 --> 00:45:10,620 Matt James: on race day and do it." And every training run, 779 00:45:10,620 --> 00:45:13,350 Matt James: every training session builds that confidence, and that's why I 780 00:45:13,350 --> 00:45:16,469 Matt James: take my training so serious now because that's all I 781 00:45:16,469 --> 00:45:18,630 Matt James: have to rely on when it gets to the race 782 00:45:18,630 --> 00:45:24,090 Matt James: and I'm dying and I'm hurting and I'm running that 783 00:45:24,090 --> 00:45:28,470 Matt James: mile up... I don't know what avenue that is... 784 00:45:28,469 --> 00:45:28,471 Becs Gentry: 1st Ave? 785 00:45:28,470 --> 00:45:31,002 Matt James: ... when you were about to head into Central Park (inaudible) . 786 00:45:30,600 --> 00:45:33,420 Becs Gentry: Off the Queensboro. 787 00:45:33,420 --> 00:45:34,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: Coming down Fifth Avenue. 788 00:45:36,930 --> 00:45:37,261 Becs Gentry: Yeah, up First Ave, down Fifth Ave. 789 00:45:37,261 --> 00:45:37,262 Matt James: Yeah, coming down Fifth Avenue. 790 00:45:37,261 --> 00:45:37,321 Becs Gentry: Yeah. 791 00:45:41,430 --> 00:45:44,850 Matt James: These training blocks prepare me, the laps that I've done 792 00:45:44,850 --> 00:45:49,230 Matt James: in Central Park, the hills, it pays off on marathon 793 00:45:49,230 --> 00:45:52,020 Matt James: day, so I'd rather punish myself now than have to 794 00:45:52,020 --> 00:45:53,129 Matt James: pay for it on race day. 795 00:45:53,790 --> 00:45:56,640 Becs Gentry: Yeah, absolutely. And that's a fantastic way to look at 796 00:45:56,640 --> 00:45:59,250 Becs Gentry: it, and you know that the crowds in this incredible 797 00:45:59,250 --> 00:46:04,590 Becs Gentry: city get you through. It's just, I mean, when we 798 00:46:04,590 --> 00:46:08,370 Becs Gentry: ran, what was it, Summer Streets earlier this year, and 799 00:46:09,090 --> 00:46:14,730 Becs Gentry: we shared a few very hot, very tough miles together 800 00:46:14,730 --> 00:46:17,640 Becs Gentry: that day. I think both of us were around the 16 801 00:46:18,180 --> 00:46:22,710 Becs Gentry: plus mileage and getting it done. But even then, days 802 00:46:22,710 --> 00:46:25,110 Becs Gentry: like that give you a taster of the vibrancy at 803 00:46:25,110 --> 00:46:27,570 Becs Gentry: the TCS New York City Marathon, and it lifts you even 804 00:46:27,570 --> 00:46:31,469 Becs Gentry: when you've had a tough run, it gets you through. So 805 00:46:32,130 --> 00:46:35,100 Becs Gentry: I know there's going to be 26.2 miles of people screaming 806 00:46:35,100 --> 00:46:39,239 Becs Gentry: your name and supporting you all the way, including Rachel 807 00:46:39,239 --> 00:46:41,010 Becs Gentry: and your family and friends for sure. 808 00:46:42,330 --> 00:46:49,290 Matt James: Yeah, Becs, I mean, that's the training block stories that I'm 809 00:46:49,290 --> 00:46:51,570 Matt James: referring to when I say I'm going to look back 810 00:46:51,570 --> 00:46:53,190 Matt James: on these moments and they're going to push me through 811 00:46:53,190 --> 00:46:56,489 Matt James: the marathon. That specific run that Becs is referring to, 812 00:46:56,489 --> 00:47:00,060 Matt James: I had 16 miles, six of those miles were a warm- 813 00:47:00,060 --> 00:47:03,150 Matt James: up, seven of those miles were to be at a 814 00:47:05,280 --> 00:47:09,000 Matt James: 10K pace, so that's even faster than our marathon pace, 815 00:47:09,300 --> 00:47:13,650 Matt James: and then my last three miles were kind of supposed 816 00:47:13,650 --> 00:47:16,530 Matt James: to be recovery. They were open to interpretation if I 817 00:47:16,530 --> 00:47:19,110 Matt James: had the legs to just continue at that pace, and 818 00:47:19,110 --> 00:47:22,050 Matt James: I was dead. I wanted to walk. I had nothing 819 00:47:22,050 --> 00:47:25,260 Matt James: left in the tank after those first 14 miles. I 820 00:47:25,260 --> 00:47:30,840 Matt James: had three left. I saw Becs coming down, what is 821 00:47:30,840 --> 00:47:31,920 Matt James: that, Lexington Avenue? 822 00:47:31,920 --> 00:47:32,730 Becs Gentry: I think so, yeah. 823 00:47:32,730 --> 00:47:34,830 Matt James: And it's wide open. Summer Streets in New York, they 824 00:47:34,830 --> 00:47:37,710 Matt James: have it blocked off for miles, so you can just 825 00:47:37,710 --> 00:47:39,630 Matt James: run down the middle of the street with no cars, 826 00:47:39,630 --> 00:47:40,259 Matt James: no traffic. 827 00:47:40,560 --> 00:47:40,710 Becs Gentry: Cycle. 828 00:47:40,770 --> 00:47:46,170 Matt James: And those miles that I split out with Becs, those 829 00:47:46,170 --> 00:47:51,090 Matt James: last three miles were some of the faster miles I 830 00:47:51,090 --> 00:47:55,710 Matt James: ran that day because it was the peer pressure of 831 00:47:55,710 --> 00:47:59,910 Matt James: being around another runner. It was the sense of community 832 00:48:00,060 --> 00:48:04,710 Matt James: and just having someone there, a familiar face around you, 833 00:48:05,160 --> 00:48:08,790 Matt James: and it reminded me that, again, like I've said so 834 00:48:08,790 --> 00:48:11,879 Matt James: many times during the podcast, running is so mental. I 835 00:48:11,880 --> 00:48:13,799 Matt James: mentally took myself out of the run. I'm like, I 836 00:48:13,800 --> 00:48:17,400 Matt James: can't go any faster than I'm going. I was practically 837 00:48:17,400 --> 00:48:21,210 Matt James: walking, trotting, and I saw Becs, and we started going seven- 838 00:48:21,210 --> 00:48:25,560 Matt James: minute pace, and that's fast for me. We were moving, 839 00:48:25,980 --> 00:48:29,430 Matt James: and we're having conversation, we're talking while we're keeping this 840 00:48:29,430 --> 00:48:31,620 Matt James: pace, and I'm like, man, if I can just pull 841 00:48:31,620 --> 00:48:33,719 Matt James: this out of nowhere, that means that it's in me. 842 00:48:34,020 --> 00:48:37,350 Matt James: It's in there somewhere, and I need to garner that 843 00:48:38,010 --> 00:48:41,069 Matt James: Becs energy during my race whenever I'm feeling bad or 844 00:48:41,070 --> 00:48:45,630 Matt James: down and feeling sorry for myself knowing that you're capable 845 00:48:45,630 --> 00:48:47,670 Matt James: of doing this. You just have to remind yourself of it. 846 00:48:48,930 --> 00:48:52,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: Well, Matt, you're clearly capable. We can't wait to see 847 00:48:52,980 --> 00:48:54,839 Rob Simmelkjaer: what kind of day you have, whether you break three 848 00:48:54,840 --> 00:48:58,649 Rob Simmelkjaer: hours or not, it doesn't matter. You have turned yourself 849 00:48:58,650 --> 00:49:01,739 Rob Simmelkjaer: into a great runner. You're obviously such a great ambassador 850 00:49:02,130 --> 00:49:06,089 Rob Simmelkjaer: for the sport, and so we wish you a great day 851 00:49:06,120 --> 00:49:08,279 Rob Simmelkjaer: no matter what your time. And not to put any 852 00:49:08,280 --> 00:49:10,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: pressure on you, but anybody out there who wants to 853 00:49:10,440 --> 00:49:14,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: follow this gentleman, it's Matthew James, male, 32 years old, 854 00:49:14,790 --> 00:49:19,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: running for Lululemon, trackable from New York, New York on 855 00:49:19,260 --> 00:49:21,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: the app. So check him out. 856 00:49:21,000 --> 00:49:21,480 Becs Gentry: Oh, my gosh. 857 00:49:22,590 --> 00:49:23,460 Matt James: Gee, thanks, Rob. 858 00:49:24,120 --> 00:49:25,621 Becs Gentry: Completely just outed your whole race there. 859 00:49:25,621 --> 00:49:30,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: He's The Bachelor, he's got almost a million followers on 860 00:49:30,540 --> 00:49:34,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: Instagram. He's used to the attention. And Matt, you're going 861 00:49:34,410 --> 00:49:35,011 Rob Simmelkjaer: to have a great day. 862 00:49:35,011 --> 00:49:35,281 Becs Gentry: You are. 863 00:49:35,340 --> 00:49:37,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: We wish you luck. Thank you for hanging out with 864 00:49:37,830 --> 00:49:39,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: us for a little while here, and I can't wait 865 00:49:39,570 --> 00:49:41,550 Rob Simmelkjaer: to see you at the finish line on November 3rd. 866 00:49:41,550 --> 00:49:41,610 Becs Gentry: Yay. 867 00:49:41,610 --> 00:49:44,400 Matt James: And I'm looking forward to it. And good luck to all of 868 00:49:44,520 --> 00:49:47,460 Matt James: the other New York City Marathon runners out there. I'm 869 00:49:47,460 --> 00:49:50,400 Matt James: excited to share the New York City streets with y'all 870 00:49:50,400 --> 00:49:51,029 Matt James: in a few weeks. 871 00:49:51,270 --> 00:50:08,218 Rob Simmelkjaer: All right, Matt James from bachelor to marathoner. This week's 872 00:50:08,219 --> 00:50:13,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: member moment features another member of 2024's Team Inspire, Sovena Ngeth, 873 00:50:13,890 --> 00:50:16,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: a Cambodian- American runner preparing to take on her first 874 00:50:16,800 --> 00:50:21,779 Rob Simmelkjaer: marathon at the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon. Sovena's family 875 00:50:21,780 --> 00:50:25,860 Rob Simmelkjaer: journey from surviving genocide in Cambodia to building a new 876 00:50:25,860 --> 00:50:29,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: life in America deeply influenced her life. And this November 877 00:50:29,700 --> 00:50:33,810 Rob Simmelkjaer: 3rd, she's running to honor her family's bravery and sacrifice. 878 00:50:34,080 --> 00:50:37,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: Sovena is also a mentor with Apex for Youth, an 879 00:50:37,530 --> 00:50:42,360 Rob Simmelkjaer: organization that supports underserved Asian and immigrant youth. Here's Meb 880 00:50:42,360 --> 00:50:43,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: to introduce us to Sovena. 881 00:50:44,130 --> 00:50:46,860 Meb Keflezighi: Thanks, Rob. Sovena, welcome to the show. 882 00:50:49,590 --> 00:50:49,711 Sovena Ngeth: Thank you so much, Meb. 883 00:50:49,711 --> 00:50:53,759 Meb Keflezighi: Good to be with you. Growing up with the family, sports were considered unsafe. 884 00:50:53,790 --> 00:50:56,910 Meb Keflezighi: How did starting to run during the pandemic help you 885 00:50:56,910 --> 00:51:00,450 Meb Keflezighi: deal with mental health challenge and change your life? 886 00:51:01,680 --> 00:51:05,400 Sovena Ngeth: Yeah, so just to touch on the first part a bit more, 887 00:51:05,430 --> 00:51:08,550 Sovena Ngeth: my family never really encouraged my sisters and I to 888 00:51:08,550 --> 00:51:11,820 Sovena Ngeth: play or participate in sports because they were really afraid 889 00:51:11,820 --> 00:51:14,430 Sovena Ngeth: that we would get hurt. I think this all comes 890 00:51:14,430 --> 00:51:19,110 Sovena Ngeth: from what happened with them during the Cambodian genocide, but 891 00:51:19,110 --> 00:51:21,330 Sovena Ngeth: we all found our own paths to sports with my 892 00:51:21,330 --> 00:51:24,090 Sovena Ngeth: sisters playing lacrosse. And eventually we started to go to 893 00:51:24,090 --> 00:51:26,610 Sovena Ngeth: the gym together, and it was a good little way to bond, 894 00:51:27,150 --> 00:51:29,730 Sovena Ngeth: but when the pandemic hit, all the gyms were shut 895 00:51:29,730 --> 00:51:33,750 Sovena Ngeth: down. And during that time, I was in my senior 896 00:51:33,750 --> 00:51:37,469 Sovena Ngeth: year of college, and I remember literally waking up and 897 00:51:37,650 --> 00:51:41,640 Sovena Ngeth: everything was shut down. We had no more in- person 898 00:51:41,640 --> 00:51:45,330 Sovena Ngeth: classes, no social events to go to, no graduation, and 899 00:51:45,570 --> 00:51:48,900 Sovena Ngeth: not even the gym at the bare minimum. And that's 900 00:51:48,900 --> 00:51:51,900 Sovena Ngeth: when I got introduced to running. At that time, my 901 00:51:52,230 --> 00:51:55,920 Sovena Ngeth: boyfriend was training for a half- marathon that unfortunately got 902 00:51:55,920 --> 00:51:59,250 Sovena Ngeth: canceled because of the pandemic. And I just remember thinking 903 00:51:59,250 --> 00:52:03,540 Sovena Ngeth: to myself for the first time, are humans really capable of running 904 00:52:03,570 --> 00:52:06,989 Sovena Ngeth: 13 miles? Keep in mind, I was super new to 905 00:52:06,989 --> 00:52:10,050 Sovena Ngeth: running, so I couldn't even wrap my head around what 906 00:52:10,140 --> 00:52:14,129 Sovena Ngeth: a half- marathon was. And then a couple of years 907 00:52:14,130 --> 00:52:16,140 Sovena Ngeth: later, I watched my boyfriend and two of our friends 908 00:52:16,140 --> 00:52:19,710 Sovena Ngeth: complete their first half- marathon. And there's something about seeing 909 00:52:19,710 --> 00:52:23,040 Sovena Ngeth: your peers accomplish something that kind of makes it more 910 00:52:23,790 --> 00:52:28,140 Sovena Ngeth: achievable for you to do. So I feel like running 911 00:52:28,140 --> 00:52:30,840 Sovena Ngeth: was like learning a new language for me. It was 912 00:52:30,840 --> 00:52:33,780 Sovena Ngeth: something super brand new, but it was something that helped 913 00:52:33,780 --> 00:52:37,950 Sovena Ngeth: me beat the overwhelming sense of depression and anxiety that 914 00:52:37,950 --> 00:52:40,980 Sovena Ngeth: the pandemic had caused. Again, I was a senior in 915 00:52:40,980 --> 00:52:44,280 Sovena Ngeth: college who didn't get to walk for graduation. And as 916 00:52:44,280 --> 00:52:46,770 Sovena Ngeth: a first generation student, that really hurt because I really 917 00:52:46,770 --> 00:52:51,480 Sovena Ngeth: wanted to celebrate that with my family. But yeah, I 918 00:52:51,480 --> 00:52:54,270 Sovena Ngeth: think that something I definitely learned about myself with running 919 00:52:54,270 --> 00:52:57,570 Sovena Ngeth: was that I'm so capable of anything that I put 920 00:52:57,570 --> 00:53:00,180 Sovena Ngeth: my mind to. And signing up for the New York City 921 00:53:00,180 --> 00:53:03,540 Sovena Ngeth: Marathon was the first step in this long training block 922 00:53:03,540 --> 00:53:06,930 Sovena Ngeth: and just being able to accomplish my crazy goals. I 923 00:53:06,930 --> 00:53:10,529 Sovena Ngeth: just did a 19- mile run on Saturday, and just 924 00:53:10,530 --> 00:53:12,900 Sovena Ngeth: even doing that, I was shocked at myself and my 925 00:53:12,900 --> 00:53:17,969 Sovena Ngeth: body, especially also with just the New York City running community. 926 00:53:18,300 --> 00:53:21,450 Sovena Ngeth: It's so inclusive, and just seeing people run at Central 927 00:53:21,450 --> 00:53:24,900 Sovena Ngeth: Park at the New York Road Runner races, there's such 928 00:53:24,900 --> 00:53:27,570 Sovena Ngeth: a sense of belonging and a sense of community in that. 929 00:53:27,870 --> 00:53:30,630 Meb Keflezighi: So how was that though from not being able to 930 00:53:30,630 --> 00:53:32,250 Meb Keflezighi: run, I don't know if I could do this, to run in 931 00:53:32,520 --> 00:53:34,650 Meb Keflezighi: 19 miles? How's your mental status now, do you think? 932 00:53:36,600 --> 00:53:37,230 Meb Keflezighi: You still got seven miles to go, but how do you feel now? 933 00:53:38,130 --> 00:53:41,850 Sovena Ngeth: Oh, my God, I genuinely was shocked that I was 934 00:53:41,850 --> 00:53:47,700 Sovena Ngeth: able to do the 19 miles. I feel like I am genuinely 935 00:53:47,700 --> 00:53:51,780 Sovena Ngeth: capable of anything. This might be a little crazy, but 936 00:53:51,780 --> 00:53:54,900 Sovena Ngeth: now I'm looking into ultra marathons because I'm like, I 937 00:53:54,900 --> 00:53:55,589 Sovena Ngeth: can do that. 938 00:53:57,239 --> 00:54:01,380 Meb Keflezighi: That's awesome. Your family survived the Cambodian genocide before come 939 00:54:01,380 --> 00:54:05,489 Meb Keflezighi: to the United States. What does running your first marathon 940 00:54:05,489 --> 00:54:08,580 Meb Keflezighi: for Apex for Youth means to you, and how does 941 00:54:08,580 --> 00:54:10,770 Meb Keflezighi: it connect to your family's history? 942 00:54:12,060 --> 00:54:15,570 Sovena Ngeth: Yeah, so my mom and my grandma, they immigrated to 943 00:54:15,570 --> 00:54:21,030 Sovena Ngeth: America in 1994. They wanted to seek freedom and a new 944 00:54:21,030 --> 00:54:24,810 Sovena Ngeth: beginning after unsuccessfully trying to rebuild their life in Cambodia. 945 00:54:25,980 --> 00:54:30,180 Sovena Ngeth: They endured a full duration of the genocide from 1975 946 00:54:30,180 --> 00:54:34,260 Sovena Ngeth: until 1979. And they lost so many loved ones. They lost 947 00:54:34,560 --> 00:54:38,969 Sovena Ngeth: all their possessions, they lost everything, even documents. They don't 948 00:54:38,969 --> 00:54:42,000 Sovena Ngeth: even know their real birthdays. And I think that's why 949 00:54:42,000 --> 00:54:45,029 Sovena Ngeth: they raised my sisters and I with such fear of 950 00:54:46,170 --> 00:54:51,120 Sovena Ngeth: hurting us or us getting hurt. And they're genuinely terrified 951 00:54:51,120 --> 00:54:54,330 Sovena Ngeth: I'm running long distances. It's kind of hard. 952 00:54:55,560 --> 00:54:56,790 Meb Keflezighi: I mean, I was just going to ask you that. 953 00:54:56,790 --> 00:54:59,940 Meb Keflezighi: How do your parents take it, your mom to be 954 00:54:59,940 --> 00:55:02,399 Meb Keflezighi: able to say, " Hey, I'm gone for 19 miles," for 955 00:55:02,610 --> 00:55:05,370 Meb Keflezighi: not being used to unsafe sports and things like that? 956 00:55:06,210 --> 00:55:07,500 Meb Keflezighi: How are they taking it all in now? 957 00:55:07,890 --> 00:55:10,200 Sovena Ngeth: Oh, my gosh, I wish you could see their faces 958 00:55:10,200 --> 00:55:13,980 Sovena Ngeth: when I tell them like, "Hey, mom, I just did a long 959 00:55:13,980 --> 00:55:15,540 Sovena Ngeth: run." And she's like, " Oh, how long did you do it?" " 960 00:55:15,540 --> 00:55:17,550 Sovena Ngeth: Like 19 miles?" She's like, " Why would you do that?" 961 00:55:17,550 --> 00:55:24,540 Sovena Ngeth: So yeah, I feel like just going through something as traumatic as that 962 00:55:24,540 --> 00:55:27,750 Sovena Ngeth: really does affect the way that they raised us and 963 00:55:27,750 --> 00:55:34,020 Sovena Ngeth: how they view the marathon. But I want to run 964 00:55:34,020 --> 00:55:36,299 Sovena Ngeth: this marathon to show my family that I can do 965 00:55:36,300 --> 00:55:38,790 Sovena Ngeth: this and that it is okay to push our bodies. 966 00:55:39,719 --> 00:55:42,600 Sovena Ngeth: I want to show them that also the human body is 967 00:55:42,660 --> 00:55:46,920 Sovena Ngeth: truly resilient and we can overcome physical and mental barriers. 968 00:55:46,920 --> 00:55:49,320 Sovena Ngeth: I feel like my mom and my grandma kind of 969 00:55:49,560 --> 00:55:54,480 Sovena Ngeth: live with a survival mentality, and I just want them 970 00:55:54,480 --> 00:55:58,830 Sovena Ngeth: to be free of that. And just to go back 971 00:55:58,830 --> 00:56:04,020 Sovena Ngeth: on Apex for Youth, they are an organization based in 972 00:56:04,020 --> 00:56:08,400 Sovena Ngeth: New York City that empowers low income, underserved Asian and 973 00:56:08,400 --> 00:56:12,510 Sovena Ngeth: immigrant youth to unlock their full potentials, and they connect 974 00:56:12,510 --> 00:56:15,359 Sovena Ngeth: them with a one- on- one mentor who knows what 975 00:56:15,360 --> 00:56:17,550 Sovena Ngeth: it's like to grow up in their shoes. And as 976 00:56:17,550 --> 00:56:21,360 Sovena Ngeth: someone who comes from a low income Asian immigrant family, 977 00:56:21,719 --> 00:56:24,900 Sovena Ngeth: the mission just spoke to me. And just being a 978 00:56:24,900 --> 00:56:30,360 Sovena Ngeth: part of the mentoring program, I was just so proud 979 00:56:30,360 --> 00:56:32,700 Sovena Ngeth: to be a part of an organization that is doing 980 00:56:32,700 --> 00:56:35,580 Sovena Ngeth: so much for our Asian community, and running the marathon 981 00:56:35,580 --> 00:56:38,940 Sovena Ngeth: and fundraising for them is just the perfect opportunity to combine 982 00:56:38,940 --> 00:56:40,049 Sovena Ngeth: both of my passions. 983 00:56:41,010 --> 00:56:44,609 Meb Keflezighi: That's awesome. You've been a trailblazer and a mentor for 984 00:56:44,610 --> 00:56:49,170 Meb Keflezighi: that group, Apex, but training with Run for Chinatown has 985 00:56:49,170 --> 00:56:53,070 Meb Keflezighi: connected you with the running community. How has this experience impacted 986 00:56:53,070 --> 00:56:55,799 Meb Keflezighi: you and how do you hope to be a role 987 00:56:55,800 --> 00:56:59,700 Meb Keflezighi: model for your sisters and others by running the marathon, 988 00:56:59,700 --> 00:57:01,469 Meb Keflezighi: especially the TCS New York City Marathon? 989 00:57:02,550 --> 00:57:06,239 Sovena Ngeth: Yeah. Training with Run for Chinatown has been such an 990 00:57:06,239 --> 00:57:10,799 Sovena Ngeth: amazing opportunity. A lot of the Apex mentors also run 991 00:57:10,800 --> 00:57:13,560 Sovena Ngeth: with Run for Chinatown, and just being able to be 992 00:57:13,560 --> 00:57:17,490 Sovena Ngeth: in an inclusive space for both Asian and Pacific Islanders, 993 00:57:18,870 --> 00:57:21,540 Sovena Ngeth: it's just you get such a sense of belonging and 994 00:57:21,540 --> 00:57:24,240 Sovena Ngeth: a sense of community that makes such a big city 995 00:57:24,240 --> 00:57:28,020 Sovena Ngeth: like New York feel so small. I've also found other 996 00:57:28,020 --> 00:57:30,750 Sovena Ngeth: Cambodian runners through the group, and it's just really nice 997 00:57:30,750 --> 00:57:33,000 Sovena Ngeth: to be able to connect with people whose families went 998 00:57:33,000 --> 00:57:35,640 Sovena Ngeth: through the same thing. And then we're all just picking up 999 00:57:35,640 --> 00:57:42,270 Sovena Ngeth: and sharing our sport, our love for running. Running the 1000 00:57:42,270 --> 00:57:44,610 Sovena Ngeth: New York City Marathon means a lot to me because 1001 00:57:44,610 --> 00:57:49,380 Sovena Ngeth: it's not just the physical aspect of it. It takes a 1002 00:57:49,380 --> 00:57:54,420 Sovena Ngeth: lot of sacrifice, it takes a lot of dedication. I'm 1003 00:57:54,420 --> 00:57:57,570 Sovena Ngeth: sure you know this, but running long, long hours and 1004 00:57:57,570 --> 00:58:00,780 Sovena Ngeth: just having to say no to social commitments and stuff 1005 00:58:00,780 --> 00:58:04,560 Sovena Ngeth: sometimes. Yeah, I just want to show not only my 1006 00:58:04,560 --> 00:58:09,030 Sovena Ngeth: sisters, but all the youth that I mentor that no 1007 00:58:09,030 --> 00:58:12,000 Sovena Ngeth: goal is too big and we just need to approach 1008 00:58:12,000 --> 00:58:17,010 Sovena Ngeth: it with a sense of commitment, determination, and resilience. And 1009 00:58:17,010 --> 00:58:20,070 Sovena Ngeth: my hope for them is that I'm not trying to 1010 00:58:20,070 --> 00:58:23,100 Sovena Ngeth: push all my youth or them to run a marathon, but 1011 00:58:23,310 --> 00:58:25,620 Sovena Ngeth: I hope that they will be inspired to tackle their 1012 00:58:25,620 --> 00:58:29,521 Sovena Ngeth: own challenges and create big crazy goals like this as well. 1013 00:58:29,521 --> 00:58:33,330 Meb Keflezighi: Well, you just doing that. As a immigrant who came 1014 00:58:33,330 --> 00:58:36,120 Meb Keflezighi: here, and I thought running was weird because I don't 1015 00:58:36,120 --> 00:58:38,430 Meb Keflezighi: know what they were chasing. So now you are a 1016 00:58:38,430 --> 00:58:41,040 Meb Keflezighi: trailblazer to be able to help others accomplish their own 1017 00:58:41,040 --> 00:58:43,380 Meb Keflezighi: individual goal. And I know you did not get the 1018 00:58:43,380 --> 00:58:47,160 Meb Keflezighi: opportunity to walk in your graduation through the pandemic, but 1019 00:58:47,160 --> 00:58:49,650 Meb Keflezighi: now you're going to go to the five pros of the TCS New York 1020 00:58:49,650 --> 00:58:53,310 Meb Keflezighi: City Marathon with 50, 000 plus others. And I'm pretty sure 1021 00:58:53,310 --> 00:58:55,590 Meb Keflezighi: your community or family is going to be so proud 1022 00:58:55,590 --> 00:58:58,350 Meb Keflezighi: of you. Congratulations and job well done, and look forward to seeing you soon. 1023 00:58:58,830 --> 00:59:00,630 Sovena Ngeth: Oh, my gosh, thank you so much. That means so 1024 00:59:00,630 --> 00:59:01,260 Sovena Ngeth: much. Yeah. 1025 00:59:01,710 --> 00:59:03,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: Sovena, thank you so much for joining us and for 1026 00:59:03,600 --> 00:59:06,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: being a member of New York Road Runners. Now it's 1027 00:59:06,030 --> 00:59:07,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: time for today's Meb Minutes. 1028 00:59:07,950 --> 00:59:12,240 Meb Keflezighi: Week 14, visualize winning, why the ever winning means to 1029 00:59:12,240 --> 00:59:16,350 Meb Keflezighi: you. Visualizing was a powerful tool for me. I would 1030 00:59:16,350 --> 00:59:19,830 Meb Keflezighi: imagine the race, my strategy, and crossing the finish line. 1031 00:59:19,920 --> 00:59:23,160 Meb Keflezighi: It helped me boost my confidence and focus. Spend time 1032 00:59:23,160 --> 00:59:27,360 Meb Keflezighi: to visualize your success, to reinforce the positive mindset. This 1033 00:59:27,360 --> 00:59:32,010 Meb Keflezighi: is huge. For me, I visualize getting to that finish 1034 00:59:32,010 --> 00:59:35,100 Meb Keflezighi: line. I visualize myself winning the race. For example, in 1035 00:59:35,100 --> 00:59:39,150 Meb Keflezighi: September of 2009, I woke up and had a dream 1036 00:59:39,150 --> 00:59:42,480 Meb Keflezighi: that I won the New York City Marathon. And I went upstairs 1037 00:59:42,480 --> 00:59:44,640 Meb Keflezighi: to tell my wife, and she says, because there was a 1038 00:59:44,640 --> 00:59:47,190 Meb Keflezighi: race that was going on that weekend. And she's like, "Do you know what happened in 1039 00:59:47,190 --> 00:59:51,990 Meb Keflezighi: the race?" I'm like, "No. What happened?" She's like, " They ran 59 minutes and something 1040 00:59:52,020 --> 00:59:54,450 Meb Keflezighi: for the half- marathon." I said, " Well, I guess I 1041 00:59:54,450 --> 00:59:57,120 Meb Keflezighi: should say goodbye to that dream." But then I realized 1042 00:59:57,120 --> 01:00:00,090 Meb Keflezighi: after 30 seconds or so saying, " You know what, I 1043 01:00:00,090 --> 01:00:03,450 Meb Keflezighi: am peaking at the right time." So visualization is important. 1044 01:00:03,750 --> 01:00:05,940 Meb Keflezighi: You have to do what you can to be the 1045 01:00:05,940 --> 01:00:09,540 Meb Keflezighi: best version of yourself. And winning doesn't always mean getting 1046 01:00:10,050 --> 01:00:12,840 Meb Keflezighi: first place, but getting the best out of yourself. So you 1047 01:00:12,840 --> 01:00:17,100 Meb Keflezighi: have done that now by visualizing the travel, by visualizing 1048 01:00:17,100 --> 01:00:19,290 Meb Keflezighi: the starting line, by visualizing in the middle of the 1049 01:00:19,290 --> 01:00:23,310 Meb Keflezighi: race, and visualize yourself getting to that finish line and earn 1050 01:00:23,310 --> 01:00:24,600 Meb Keflezighi: that well deserved medal. 1051 01:00:25,110 --> 01:00:27,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: That does it for another episode of Set the Pace. 1052 01:00:27,660 --> 01:00:30,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: We want to thank our guest today, Matt James, and 1053 01:00:30,630 --> 01:00:35,070 Rob Simmelkjaer: Team Inspire's Sovena Ngeth. If you like this episode, please make sure you 1054 01:00:35,070 --> 01:00:38,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: subscribe. Leave us a rating or a comment so others 1055 01:00:38,130 --> 01:00:41,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: can find the show as well. Great talking to you 1056 01:00:41,610 --> 01:00:44,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: guys today. Good luck with the rest of your training 1057 01:00:44,160 --> 01:00:47,970 Rob Simmelkjaer: for everybody getting ready for November 3rd. Enjoy those miles, 1058 01:00:47,970 --> 01:01:02,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: and we'll see you next week. New York Road Runners 1059 01:01:02,730 --> 01:01:06,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: is a nonprofit organization with a vision to build healthier 1060 01:01:06,150 --> 01:01:09,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: lives and stronger communities through the transformative power of running. 1061 01:01:10,470 --> 01:01:13,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: The support of members and donors like you helps us 1062 01:01:13,320 --> 01:01:16,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: achieve our mission to transform the health and wellbeing of 1063 01:01:16,680 --> 01:01:21,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: our communities through inclusive and accessible running experiences, empowering all 1064 01:01:21,750 --> 01:01:27,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: to achieve their potential. Learn more and contribute at nyrr. org/ donate.