1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:04,080 Becs Gentry: You're really in this huge pack of women and there's 2 00:00:04,769 --> 00:00:08,459 Becs Gentry: this camaraderie and this spirit of we're in it together 3 00:00:08,460 --> 00:00:11,190 Becs Gentry: and we're all working towards the same goal. It's such 4 00:00:11,190 --> 00:00:14,190 Becs Gentry: a good vibe and I think, if you approach it 5 00:00:14,190 --> 00:00:18,420 Becs Gentry: with the right mindset, it really takes a lot of the 6 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:22,529 Becs Gentry: hard effort out of running really hard for 26 miles. 7 00:00:27,210 --> 00:00:30,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: Hey, everybody, and welcome to Set the Pace, the official 8 00:00:30,420 --> 00:00:34,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: podcast of New York Road Runners presented by Peloton. I'm 9 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:37,050 Rob Simmelkjaer: your host, Rob Simmelkjaer, the CEO of New York Road 10 00:00:37,050 --> 00:00:41,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: Runners, and Becs Gentry from Peloton fame joins me this week 11 00:00:41,850 --> 00:00:44,159 Rob Simmelkjaer: as she does just about every week. Hey, Becs, what's up? 12 00:00:44,190 --> 00:00:50,729 Becs Gentry: Hi. Hi, good. Freezing like Frosty the Snowman right now, 13 00:00:51,180 --> 00:00:54,540 Becs Gentry: but you know what? The sky is blue, so I 14 00:00:54,540 --> 00:00:57,990 Becs Gentry: can't help but just feel that it's perfect timing for 15 00:00:57,990 --> 00:01:01,500 Becs Gentry: the festive holiday period to kick off. 16 00:01:01,830 --> 00:01:04,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: It's definitely a good way to get into the holiday 17 00:01:04,020 --> 00:01:07,949 Rob Simmelkjaer: spirit if you want that feeling of cold and that 18 00:01:07,950 --> 00:01:09,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: biting nip in the air. 19 00:01:09,540 --> 00:01:10,050 Becs Gentry: Boom chilling. 20 00:01:10,050 --> 00:01:12,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: We've got that. We don't have the snow yet. No 21 00:01:12,660 --> 00:01:14,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: white Christmas on tap here yet, but- 22 00:01:14,370 --> 00:01:17,160 Becs Gentry: It was white for me this whole weekend up at 23 00:01:17,160 --> 00:01:18,000 Becs Gentry: the lake house. 24 00:01:18,060 --> 00:01:19,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: Oh, snow up there, beautiful. 25 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:22,440 Becs Gentry: It's been white since last Wednesday. 26 00:01:22,709 --> 00:01:22,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: Wow. 27 00:01:22,770 --> 00:01:27,990 Becs Gentry: And it's not thawed out and it keeps sprinkling every night, 28 00:01:28,050 --> 00:01:31,590 Becs Gentry: so it's just more and more. The ski mountain is open, so- 29 00:01:31,590 --> 00:01:31,651 Rob Simmelkjaer: Wow, that's very New York, right? 30 00:01:31,651 --> 00:01:34,080 Becs Gentry: ... it felt very festive this weekend. 31 00:01:34,380 --> 00:01:38,819 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, that's beautiful. Those places where it snows and it 32 00:01:38,819 --> 00:01:42,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: just stays white all winter up in the northern climbs, 33 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:45,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: but here in New York, it's just cold and it's 34 00:01:45,030 --> 00:01:48,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: been cold and it can be challenging for folks to 35 00:01:48,900 --> 00:01:50,371 Rob Simmelkjaer: run in some of this. We've talked about- 36 00:01:50,371 --> 00:01:50,372 Becs Gentry: Sure, it can. 37 00:01:50,372 --> 00:01:52,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... it before, but some people love it. You've got 38 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:55,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: that dichotomy of folks who love going out in the 39 00:01:55,740 --> 00:01:57,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: cold weather and there's a lot to be said for 40 00:01:57,990 --> 00:02:00,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: it obviously. It's certainly refreshing. 41 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:00,210 Becs Gentry: Right. It is. 42 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:02,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: But you want to cover up when it's this morning, 43 00:02:02,850 --> 00:02:06,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: we're talking Tuesday, it was 15 degrees in Central Park 44 00:02:06,630 --> 00:02:07,681 Rob Simmelkjaer: this morning. So when it's that cold- 45 00:02:07,681 --> 00:02:08,431 Becs Gentry: Yeah, that wind chill. 46 00:02:08,431 --> 00:02:10,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... you got to cover up, you got to deal 47 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:12,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: with the extremities that are going to freeze. 48 00:02:12,930 --> 00:02:17,489 Becs Gentry: The lotion on the face, the thick Vaseline, Aquaphor, whatever 49 00:02:17,490 --> 00:02:20,610 Becs Gentry: you want to use, has to be on your nose 50 00:02:20,610 --> 00:02:25,110 Becs Gentry: and your face. Ooh, yeah. It definitely gives you the 51 00:02:25,110 --> 00:02:29,910 Becs Gentry: glow though. I did a little run on Thanksgiving Day 52 00:02:29,910 --> 00:02:33,450 Becs Gentry: actually and it was freezing, but I had rosy cheeks 53 00:02:33,450 --> 00:02:35,280 Becs Gentry: and the glow on the skin for the rest of 54 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:37,351 Becs Gentry: the day, which looked good. So we'll take it. 55 00:02:37,351 --> 00:02:40,169 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, it feels good. I want to talk about your running actually, Becs, 56 00:02:40,169 --> 00:02:44,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: a little bit. We talked a lot about me and my running in the fall. I'm 57 00:02:44,220 --> 00:02:46,951 Rob Simmelkjaer: not running much now because I'm really recovering from- 58 00:02:46,950 --> 00:02:47,430 Becs Gentry: You had a good year. 59 00:02:48,300 --> 00:02:50,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: I had a good year, but I'm taking a break 60 00:02:50,220 --> 00:02:53,339 Rob Simmelkjaer: now. My body has told me in no uncertain terms 61 00:02:53,340 --> 00:02:55,080 Rob Simmelkjaer: that it's ready for a break. So we're taking some 62 00:02:55,470 --> 00:02:58,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: downtime from much running, a lot of cross- training now, 63 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:02,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: but I want to talk about you and your running. Obviously, a year ago 64 00:03:02,160 --> 00:03:05,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: this time, you were still in the afterglow, if you 65 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:10,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: will, of that incredible Great World Race, which is such an undertaking. 66 00:03:10,020 --> 00:03:15,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: I can only imagine the " hangover" from that could easily 67 00:03:15,270 --> 00:03:18,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: last you a year plus. You're obviously still running for 68 00:03:18,570 --> 00:03:21,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: Peloton on the treadmill with your instructing, but where are 69 00:03:21,570 --> 00:03:23,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: you with your running right now and what are you thinking about 70 00:03:25,050 --> 00:03:25,860 Rob Simmelkjaer: for the year ahead? 71 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:30,090 Becs Gentry: Good question. The running hangover from The Great World Race 72 00:03:30,090 --> 00:03:32,760 Becs Gentry: was long. It was like one of those delayed hangovers. 73 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:34,770 Becs Gentry: If you've had one too many drinks, you wake up and you're like, " 74 00:03:35,070 --> 00:03:38,040 Becs Gentry: I feel fine," and then mid afternoon hits, you're like, " 75 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:39,120 Becs Gentry: Oh God." 76 00:03:40,290 --> 00:03:40,681 Rob Simmelkjaer: Not so fine. 77 00:03:40,681 --> 00:03:43,380 Becs Gentry: Not so fine anymore. That was me midway through the year of like, " 78 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:45,900 Becs Gentry: I'm not good. I'm not good. I need to slow 79 00:03:45,900 --> 00:03:48,300 Becs Gentry: down here." So I'd say the last six months have 80 00:03:48,300 --> 00:03:53,430 Becs Gentry: been about regenerating my body. And as I'm approaching 40, 81 00:03:53,430 --> 00:03:58,440 Becs Gentry: just lucky enough to have access to some great healthcare 82 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:01,230 Becs Gentry: providers here in New York and through my job and 83 00:04:01,230 --> 00:04:06,420 Becs Gentry: my role, just get those biomarkers back to where my 84 00:04:06,420 --> 00:04:09,450 Becs Gentry: body's happy. So I say I'm lucky enough because I 85 00:04:09,450 --> 00:04:11,490 Becs Gentry: know not everyone has access to that, but I personally 86 00:04:12,030 --> 00:04:15,300 Becs Gentry: have always been very interested. I like that Frankenstein side 87 00:04:15,300 --> 00:04:18,630 Becs Gentry: of things of like, " Okay, if I need to manipulate 88 00:04:18,630 --> 00:04:21,089 Becs Gentry: certain things to be healthier, I will do my best." 89 00:04:22,830 --> 00:04:28,200 Becs Gentry: And it's been eye- opening and refreshing to not be 90 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:30,930 Becs Gentry: running all the time, running when I want to, when 91 00:04:30,930 --> 00:04:34,260 Becs Gentry: I feel like it. And some days where I don't 92 00:04:34,260 --> 00:04:38,070 Becs Gentry: even know (inaudible) , it's nice to do that, but 93 00:04:38,670 --> 00:04:42,839 Becs Gentry: I do like goals. I do like to challenge myself 94 00:04:42,900 --> 00:04:49,320 Becs Gentry: and I am ruminating on whether after this past weekend, 95 00:04:49,350 --> 00:04:54,300 Becs Gentry: watching the incredible California International Marathon, which we're going to 96 00:04:54,300 --> 00:04:58,650 Becs Gentry: talk about more with our guests, but watching that finish 97 00:04:58,650 --> 00:05:03,960 Becs Gentry: line celebration of so many women of similar age to 98 00:05:04,050 --> 00:05:07,830 Becs Gentry: myself, full- time jobs, quite a lot of moms in 99 00:05:07,830 --> 00:05:12,180 Becs Gentry: there who qualified for the Olympic trials, just in my 100 00:05:12,180 --> 00:05:16,950 Becs Gentry: mind, I'm like, " Can I do it again? Can I 101 00:05:16,950 --> 00:05:23,250 Becs Gentry: try again?" or my flipside is I started out racing 102 00:05:23,250 --> 00:05:27,330 Becs Gentry: the trails and I'm also very, very compelled to go 103 00:05:27,330 --> 00:05:34,380 Becs Gentry: back to adventure racing. So I'm in two minds. I'm 104 00:05:34,380 --> 00:05:37,770 Becs Gentry: going to start training in the new year and see 105 00:05:37,770 --> 00:05:41,700 Becs Gentry: where my body guides me to go because I think, 106 00:05:41,700 --> 00:05:46,650 Becs Gentry: for me, it will all depend on how I feel 107 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:50,400 Becs Gentry: training at those speeds again. And I have to give 108 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:53,820 Becs Gentry: myself the time and the grace to adapt to that 109 00:05:53,820 --> 00:05:55,320 Becs Gentry: because it's been a minute and I know it's going 110 00:05:55,320 --> 00:05:57,930 Becs Gentry: to take a good couple of months of like, " Ooh, 111 00:05:57,930 --> 00:05:59,970 Becs Gentry: I hate this. It's horrible and it's painful," because it 112 00:05:59,970 --> 00:06:02,490 Becs Gentry: is, but then if my body doesn't react well to 113 00:06:02,490 --> 00:06:06,359 Becs Gentry: it, then maybe it will be trails. So we'll see. 114 00:06:06,359 --> 00:06:06,750 Becs Gentry: I think- 115 00:06:06,870 --> 00:06:06,929 Rob Simmelkjaer: All right. 116 00:06:06,930 --> 00:06:09,720 Becs Gentry: ... by the time I turn 40, I'll have an answer for you. 117 00:06:09,960 --> 00:06:11,909 Rob Simmelkjaer: Okay. When's that again? I forget. When's your birthday? 118 00:06:11,910 --> 00:06:11,911 Becs Gentry: March. 119 00:06:11,911 --> 00:06:11,912 Rob Simmelkjaer: March, okay, so- 120 00:06:11,912 --> 00:06:11,913 Becs Gentry: End of March. 121 00:06:11,913 --> 00:06:15,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... putting that on my calendar (inaudible) birthday anyway, 122 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:18,359 Rob Simmelkjaer: but we'll come back to this in March and see 123 00:06:19,020 --> 00:06:22,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: where 40- year- old Becs is thinking, what she's thinking 124 00:06:22,500 --> 00:06:26,609 Rob Simmelkjaer: about her next adventure. But yes, the Olympic trials are 125 00:06:26,610 --> 00:06:29,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: out there and they're certainly there for you. And we 126 00:06:29,100 --> 00:06:33,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: are speaking of Olympic trials talking to an American who 127 00:06:33,420 --> 00:06:37,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: qualified for the 2028 Olympic trials run- 128 00:06:37,380 --> 00:06:37,469 Becs Gentry: Yes, she did. 129 00:06:37,469 --> 00:06:40,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... a little bit later on in the show and 130 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:43,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: it's a great story. Caitlin Phillips, she's a New Yorker. 131 00:06:43,770 --> 00:06:47,339 Rob Simmelkjaer: She's qualified now for the fourth time for the Olympic 132 00:06:47,339 --> 00:06:49,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: trials, but this was the first time she's done it 133 00:06:50,130 --> 00:06:54,720 Rob Simmelkjaer: since having a child. So 43- year- old mother running 134 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:56,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: this kind of a time to qualify for the Olympic 135 00:06:56,580 --> 00:06:59,549 Rob Simmelkjaer: trials, it always amazes me and I can't wait to 136 00:06:59,550 --> 00:07:02,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: talk to Caitlin about her experience and how she does 137 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:04,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: it. I know that there's so many women who listen 138 00:07:04,770 --> 00:07:08,099 Rob Simmelkjaer: to this podcast who find those conversations inspiring, not because 139 00:07:08,100 --> 00:07:10,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: they're going for the Olympics maybe, but because they're going 140 00:07:10,950 --> 00:07:14,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: for their PR or whatever it is that they're trying 141 00:07:14,310 --> 00:07:17,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: to achieve post- 40, maybe post- motherhood, whatever it might 142 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:22,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: be. So Caitlin's conversation will definitely get you fired up, 143 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:24,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: no doubt about it. Speaking of fired up, we had 144 00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:29,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: over 4, 000 fired- up runners out at the Ted Corbitt 145 00:07:29,130 --> 00:07:33,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: 15K this past Saturday. They needed to be fired up 146 00:07:33,030 --> 00:07:36,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: because it was cold as the theme of our conversation 147 00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:40,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: has been this morning and we had ... That's a race 148 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:43,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: that we expect to have in the neighborhood of 5, 000. 149 00:07:43,380 --> 00:07:45,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: So we had a lot of folks not make it 150 00:07:45,450 --> 00:07:48,510 Rob Simmelkjaer: to the starting line on Saturday, which was not surprising, because 151 00:07:48,510 --> 00:07:51,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: when I walked out of my apartment on Saturday morning 152 00:07:51,660 --> 00:07:54,360 Rob Simmelkjaer: to walk up to that race, it was snowing. It 153 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:57,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: was actively snowing in the city. There was a little 154 00:07:57,990 --> 00:08:00,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: glaze of snow on the ground and it actually- 155 00:08:00,450 --> 00:08:00,511 Becs Gentry: It was. 156 00:08:00,511 --> 00:08:02,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... worked out fairly well with the timing of that. 157 00:08:02,580 --> 00:08:04,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: The roads were in pretty good shape by the time 158 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:08,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: we started, but it was definitely a chilly run to 159 00:08:08,130 --> 00:08:11,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: run in honor of Ted Corbitt, of course, one of 160 00:08:11,100 --> 00:08:14,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: our real heroes at New York Road Runners, the Father 161 00:08:14,580 --> 00:08:17,550 Rob Simmelkjaer: of Long- Distance Running, the founding president of New York 162 00:08:17,550 --> 00:08:21,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: Road Runners, the first African American to compete in the 163 00:08:21,060 --> 00:08:25,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: Olympic Marathon and an incredible legend and one of the 164 00:08:25,710 --> 00:08:28,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: real founding fathers of New York Road Runners. So always 165 00:08:28,620 --> 00:08:31,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: a great event and it was great to have that 166 00:08:32,460 --> 00:08:34,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: crowd out there. And I think people at the finish 167 00:08:34,890 --> 00:08:37,050 Rob Simmelkjaer: line felt good, Becs. They felt happy to have gotten- 168 00:08:37,050 --> 00:08:37,530 Becs Gentry: I'm sure. 169 00:08:37,530 --> 00:08:39,929 Rob Simmelkjaer: .... themselves out there and covered that 15K- 170 00:08:39,929 --> 00:08:44,130 Becs Gentry: Hot chocolate in hand, warming up, putting those layers back 171 00:08:44,220 --> 00:08:48,480 Becs Gentry: on. I saw some fantastic pictures, Rob, I will say. 172 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:54,210 Becs Gentry: There was, whether it was from our Ted, our current Ted. 173 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:55,559 Rob Simmelkjaer: Ted Metellus. 174 00:08:55,559 --> 00:09:00,120 Becs Gentry: Ted Metellus, whether it was from his Instagram when he arrived 175 00:09:00,870 --> 00:09:02,880 Becs Gentry: in the wee hours of the morning for the setup 176 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:07,350 Becs Gentry: in the snow to the runners. And the smiles on 177 00:09:07,350 --> 00:09:10,020 Becs Gentry: everyone's faces in their little bobble hats and their gloves, 178 00:09:10,020 --> 00:09:13,949 Becs Gentry: just getting it done, it truly looked like a wonderful 179 00:09:13,950 --> 00:09:16,020 Becs Gentry: morning. And if you listened to the podcast last week, 180 00:09:16,020 --> 00:09:19,620 Becs Gentry: everyone, you know how envious I am of everybody running 181 00:09:19,620 --> 00:09:22,410 Becs Gentry: this race regardless of the weather. So it made me 182 00:09:22,770 --> 00:09:26,010 Becs Gentry: very happy to see the smiles and the joy and 183 00:09:26,010 --> 00:09:27,570 Becs Gentry: the medals and the hot chocolates. 184 00:09:29,429 --> 00:09:36,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, absolutely. And the results on the women's side, Felicia Pasadyn won the race. 49:49 was 185 00:09:36,150 --> 00:09:37,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: her time and I was holding the- 186 00:09:37,710 --> 00:09:37,711 Becs Gentry: Wow. 187 00:09:37,711 --> 00:09:41,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... tape for all the winners on Saturday, Becs. Felicia 188 00:09:41,370 --> 00:09:44,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: was like running her own race. She was so far ahead- 189 00:09:44,370 --> 00:09:45,391 Becs Gentry: With that time, no surprise. 190 00:09:45,391 --> 00:09:48,510 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... of the other women. There was no one close. 191 00:09:48,510 --> 00:09:50,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: I think she won by a minute. At least it 192 00:09:50,250 --> 00:09:50,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: felt like that. 193 00:09:50,670 --> 00:09:50,940 Becs Gentry: Wow. 194 00:09:50,940 --> 00:09:52,679 Rob Simmelkjaer: She was way, way out in front. 195 00:09:52,890 --> 00:09:52,891 Becs Gentry: Good for her. 196 00:09:52,891 --> 00:09:54,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: We'd have to confirm that if we look at the results, 197 00:09:54,750 --> 00:09:57,089 Rob Simmelkjaer: but she had a big win. The Nonbinary winner was 198 00:09:57,090 --> 00:10:00,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: Charlie Hoskins, 56: 14. And on the men's side, it 199 00:10:00,390 --> 00:10:05,221 Rob Simmelkjaer: was Issame El jazouli, 47:02 for United Mexican Runners of New York. 200 00:10:05,221 --> 00:10:05,222 Becs Gentry: Brilliant. 201 00:10:05,222 --> 00:10:10,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: So congratulations to all of them. You mentioned CIM, Becs, and that was 202 00:10:10,980 --> 00:10:14,219 Rob Simmelkjaer: this past Sunday, the California International Marathon. And it was 203 00:10:14,220 --> 00:10:17,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: a record number of men and women qualifying for the 204 00:10:17,490 --> 00:10:21,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: Olympic trials. 55 women ran under the Olympic qualifying standard 205 00:10:21,780 --> 00:10:26,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: of two hours and 37 minutes. 52 men ran under that 206 00:10:26,130 --> 00:10:30,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: Olympic qualifying standard of two hours, 16 minutes flat. 207 00:10:32,370 --> 00:10:32,371 Becs Gentry: These times. 208 00:10:32,371 --> 00:10:34,230 Rob Simmelkjaer: The times just keep getting faster. 209 00:10:34,230 --> 00:10:34,380 Becs Gentry: They did. 210 00:10:34,380 --> 00:10:39,179 Rob Simmelkjaer: And last year, there were 173 women qualified for the 211 00:10:39,179 --> 00:10:41,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: trials, 227 men overall. 212 00:10:41,610 --> 00:10:41,611 Becs Gentry: Total. 213 00:10:41,611 --> 00:10:42,001 Rob Simmelkjaer: Overall, from all races. 214 00:10:44,190 --> 00:10:47,130 Becs Gentry: That's at how many races? That's at a handful of races. 215 00:10:47,130 --> 00:10:49,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, not more than a handful. A lot of races 216 00:10:49,770 --> 00:10:54,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: over multiple years. So to have that many qualify only 217 00:10:54,540 --> 00:10:55,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: one race. 218 00:10:56,609 --> 00:10:56,670 Becs Gentry: Yeah, we're already- 219 00:10:56,670 --> 00:10:59,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: I know CIM is a popular race for qualifying, but pretty impressive. And it just shows, Becs, 220 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:02,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: how people are just getting faster and faster. 221 00:11:02,940 --> 00:11:07,559 Becs Gentry: Truly, it's inspirational, when you watch people around you doing 222 00:11:07,559 --> 00:11:12,120 Becs Gentry: certain things, you are compelled to try. And I think 223 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:15,449 Becs Gentry: that is it. I think it is a huge testament 224 00:11:15,450 --> 00:11:19,079 Becs Gentry: to representation. There are more people who see people who 225 00:11:19,080 --> 00:11:22,230 Becs Gentry: look like them doing these things. So there's more people 226 00:11:22,230 --> 00:11:25,230 Becs Gentry: being drawn to the sport because they feel like they 227 00:11:25,230 --> 00:11:29,700 Becs Gentry: can succeed. So to every single person who is lacing 228 00:11:29,700 --> 00:11:33,179 Becs Gentry: up to run whatever your race, whatever your distance, whatever 229 00:11:33,179 --> 00:11:36,960 Becs Gentry: your time, you're not just doing it for you. You're 230 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:39,059 Becs Gentry: doing it for so many other people. And this is what is 231 00:11:39,510 --> 00:11:44,520 Becs Gentry: so wonderful about this sport is, it is bringing strengths 232 00:11:44,520 --> 00:11:48,179 Becs Gentry: out and we love to see it shine. And I 233 00:11:48,179 --> 00:11:51,630 Becs Gentry: can't wait for you all to hear Caitlin's story, our guest today, on 234 00:11:51,630 --> 00:11:57,959 Becs Gentry: her experience of this weekend as well. But those winner 235 00:11:58,500 --> 00:12:02,790 Becs Gentry: times, I was on the floor seeing some of these 236 00:12:02,790 --> 00:12:08,250 Becs Gentry: winning times and it doubled down as the 2025 USATF Marathon 237 00:12:08,250 --> 00:12:14,520 Becs Gentry: Championships and you've got a debut on the women's side 238 00:12:15,059 --> 00:12:17,760 Becs Gentry: from Molly Born and she came in with a 2: 239 00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:24,059 Becs Gentry: 24:09, her first marathon and she just cracks out this 240 00:12:24,059 --> 00:12:26,309 Becs Gentry: time. I think I looked on her Instagram. I swear 241 00:12:26,309 --> 00:12:30,120 Becs Gentry: she had like 1, 134 followers and I think she's a 242 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:34,860 Becs Gentry: Puma Elite athlete and I was like, " Oh my goodness, 243 00:12:35,070 --> 00:12:39,960 Becs Gentry: this girl's life has just changed exponentially in this effort 244 00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:43,650 Becs Gentry: and power that she put in." And- 245 00:12:43,650 --> 00:12:45,121 Rob Simmelkjaer: You got to get her on Set the Pace by the way. 246 00:12:45,121 --> 00:12:45,210 Becs Gentry: 100%. Molly, if you're listening, please come on. 247 00:12:45,001 --> 00:12:50,189 Rob Simmelkjaer: (inaudible) our notes to Matt Singer, Kathryn Jones, our team to 248 00:12:50,190 --> 00:12:52,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: get Molly Born on Set the Pace because I can't 249 00:12:52,770 --> 00:12:54,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: wait to hear her story of having- 250 00:12:54,900 --> 00:12:54,901 Becs Gentry: Absolutely. 251 00:12:54,901 --> 00:12:57,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... that success in her marathon debut. 252 00:12:57,720 --> 00:13:05,670 Becs Gentry: Yeah, 100%. And men's winner, Futsum Zienasellassie with a 2:09: 29, which is 253 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:13,110 Becs Gentry: just jaw- on- the- floor inspiring. You have to look at 254 00:13:13,620 --> 00:13:19,001 Becs Gentry: the UK time as well. Alexi, the triathlete guy (inaudible) 255 00:13:19,001 --> 00:13:25,440 Becs Gentry: ... He broke the marathon record for ... No, sorry. He's 256 00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:28,350 Becs Gentry: the second fastest now. He's second fastest of all time 257 00:13:28,350 --> 00:13:31,679 Becs Gentry: over the marathon, but he is a triathlete. So it's 258 00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:32,580 Becs Gentry: just to see- 259 00:13:32,700 --> 00:13:32,701 Rob Simmelkjaer: Wow. 260 00:13:32,701 --> 00:13:38,460 Becs Gentry: ... all of these changes and these people just trying 261 00:13:38,760 --> 00:13:42,390 Becs Gentry: these different things and excelling. It was such a great 262 00:13:42,390 --> 00:13:42,959 Becs Gentry: weekend for it. 263 00:13:43,380 --> 00:13:45,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: We know the shoes are fast and we know that's 264 00:13:45,690 --> 00:13:47,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: part of the story, but I don't think it's the 265 00:13:47,580 --> 00:13:52,470 Rob Simmelkjaer: whole story, because as we talk about actually with Caitlin, there's so 266 00:13:52,470 --> 00:13:54,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: much more knowledge out there about how to attack the 267 00:13:54,900 --> 00:13:59,189 Rob Simmelkjaer: marathon distance and we're seeing people really start to excel 268 00:13:59,190 --> 00:14:01,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: because of that knowledge. And yes, a little bit because 269 00:14:01,650 --> 00:14:03,720 Rob Simmelkjaer: of the shoes as well, but it's certainly inspiring to 270 00:14:03,720 --> 00:14:07,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: see what people are capable of. All right, so Caitlin 271 00:14:07,410 --> 00:14:09,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: Phillips, coming up in just a minute. And then today's 272 00:14:09,990 --> 00:14:14,069 Rob Simmelkjaer: member moment is with Dr. Melissa Melkonian, the founder of 273 00:14:14,070 --> 00:14:17,070 Rob Simmelkjaer: the American Dream School in the Bronx, who not only 274 00:14:17,070 --> 00:14:19,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: uses marathon running as a tool to foster her own 275 00:14:19,650 --> 00:14:23,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: personal empowerment, but also has been the impetus for many 276 00:14:23,130 --> 00:14:26,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: of her school's staff and parents to run their first 277 00:14:26,190 --> 00:14:30,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: marathons as well. So she's coming up with Meb. And then are you 278 00:14:30,060 --> 00:14:32,729 Rob Simmelkjaer: having a hard time hitting your speed goals in this 279 00:14:32,730 --> 00:14:36,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: cold December weather? That might be a good thing, because 280 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:38,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: on today's Meb Minute, Meb's going to talk about how 281 00:14:39,030 --> 00:14:42,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: to benefit from going slow. That's coming up in just 282 00:14:42,900 --> 00:14:43,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: a little while. 283 00:14:43,830 --> 00:14:46,530 Becs Gentry: Peloton is taking running and race tech to the next 284 00:14:46,530 --> 00:14:51,030 Becs Gentry: level with the new Peloton cross- training series, Tread+, powered 285 00:14:51,060 --> 00:14:54,390 Becs Gentry: by Peloton IQ. Built for runners who want top- tier 286 00:14:54,390 --> 00:14:58,200 Becs Gentry: performance, the Tread+ helps you train smarter and get race 287 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:03,150 Becs Gentry: ready with precision. Peloton IQ offers personalized insights that evolve 288 00:15:03,150 --> 00:15:06,480 Becs Gentry: as you progress, so you can fine tune your pacing 289 00:15:06,600 --> 00:15:10,500 Becs Gentry: and peak at the right moment. And with strength workouts 290 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:13,170 Becs Gentry: designed to build the muscle you need to support every 291 00:15:13,170 --> 00:15:17,100 Becs Gentry: mile, your training goes beyond the run, plus pace target 292 00:15:17,100 --> 00:15:20,760 Becs Gentry: classes designed to build consistency, boost speed and improve your 293 00:15:20,760 --> 00:15:24,810 Becs Gentry: splits. Every single run supports your full training cycle, from 294 00:15:24,810 --> 00:15:29,190 Becs Gentry: recovery miles to challenging race pace intervals. Experience our most 295 00:15:29,190 --> 00:15:34,410 Becs Gentry: advanced Tread yet at onepeloton. com. Peloton, the official digital 296 00:15:34,410 --> 00:15:36,450 Becs Gentry: fitness partner of New York Road Runners. 297 00:15:36,810 --> 00:15:40,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: Today's guest is another one of these super marathon moms 298 00:15:40,830 --> 00:15:42,870 Rob Simmelkjaer: that we've been meeting a lot of on Set the 299 00:15:42,870 --> 00:15:46,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: Pace over the last couple of years. Caitlin Phillips is 300 00:15:46,290 --> 00:15:50,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: 43 years old and this past Sunday she ran a 2: 301 00:15:50,460 --> 00:15:55,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: 36:07 at the California International Marathon, fast enough to qualify 302 00:15:55,320 --> 00:16:00,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: for the 2028 US Olympic Trials Marathon. Sunday's run marks 303 00:16:00,840 --> 00:16:04,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: her fourth time hitting the Olympic trial standard and achievement 304 00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:06,960 Rob Simmelkjaer: she's reached while holding down a full- time job in 305 00:16:06,960 --> 00:16:11,640 Rob Simmelkjaer: the beauty industry and returning to competition after giving birth. 306 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:15,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: And these are accomplishments that I will never be able 307 00:16:15,750 --> 00:16:20,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: to understand. I will certainly never obviously achieve them and 308 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:25,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: let alone even fathom them, but, Caitlin Phillips, welcome to 309 00:16:25,710 --> 00:16:27,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: Set the Pace and congratulations- 310 00:16:27,630 --> 00:16:27,631 Becs Gentry: Woo. 311 00:16:27,631 --> 00:16:30,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... on a spectacular time at CIM. 312 00:16:31,740 --> 00:16:34,410 Caitlin Phillips: Thank you so much and thanks for having me. Very 313 00:16:34,740 --> 00:16:38,460 Caitlin Phillips: flattered by the intro. So super happy to be here. 314 00:16:39,300 --> 00:16:43,950 Becs Gentry: We are so happy to have you here. We've known 315 00:16:43,950 --> 00:16:46,140 Becs Gentry: each other nearly nine years. 316 00:16:46,230 --> 00:16:46,741 Caitlin Phillips: I was just trying to remember ... Yeah, yeah. 317 00:16:46,741 --> 00:16:52,050 Becs Gentry: Yeah. On and off through the running world, New York 318 00:16:52,050 --> 00:16:55,110 Becs Gentry: City, I always say that New York City brought out 319 00:16:55,110 --> 00:16:58,650 Becs Gentry: the runner in me because of being around women like 320 00:16:58,650 --> 00:17:03,360 Becs Gentry: you who were just so fierce, still are and just had 321 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:07,560 Becs Gentry: this drive to achieve in everything that you do. And as 322 00:17:07,560 --> 00:17:10,859 Becs Gentry: Rob has pointed out, your resume both personally and professionally 323 00:17:10,859 --> 00:17:17,910 Becs Gentry: is incredible, but it's astounding to look at Sunday's starting 324 00:17:17,910 --> 00:17:22,950 Becs Gentry: line and finishing line and see so many women with 325 00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:27,150 Becs Gentry: personal and professional resumes just like you, moms, full- time 326 00:17:27,150 --> 00:17:31,920 Becs Gentry: jobs and kickass runners. What was it like showing up 327 00:17:31,920 --> 00:17:33,750 Becs Gentry: on Sunday and feeling that energy? 328 00:17:35,670 --> 00:17:40,440 Caitlin Phillips: I think CIM is an incredible race. There's not really 329 00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:43,650 Caitlin Phillips: another race like it. And I think I have to shout out 330 00:17:44,250 --> 00:17:50,190 Caitlin Phillips: Danielle Domenichelli, who runs the elite field at CIM for 331 00:17:50,190 --> 00:17:55,050 Caitlin Phillips: just setting athletes up to have the best possible race 332 00:17:55,050 --> 00:18:02,760 Caitlin Phillips: experience. And she's just really great. And I think, yeah, 333 00:18:02,760 --> 00:18:06,840 Caitlin Phillips: there's no other races where you have this focus around 334 00:18:06,840 --> 00:18:11,310 Caitlin Phillips: the sub- elites as much as CIM does. So yeah, 335 00:18:11,310 --> 00:18:15,480 Caitlin Phillips: I'm really grateful for her and for the opportunity to 336 00:18:15,480 --> 00:18:20,160 Caitlin Phillips: have been a part of the field. It's just such 337 00:18:20,160 --> 00:18:24,450 Caitlin Phillips: a different type of race where you're really in this 338 00:18:24,450 --> 00:18:28,230 Caitlin Phillips: huge pack of women and there's like this camaraderie and 339 00:18:28,230 --> 00:18:31,379 Caitlin Phillips: this spirit of we're in it together and we're all 340 00:18:31,680 --> 00:18:37,800 Caitlin Phillips: working towards the same goal. So yeah, it's such a 341 00:18:37,800 --> 00:18:40,890 Caitlin Phillips: good vibe. And I think, if you approach it with 342 00:18:40,890 --> 00:18:45,630 Caitlin Phillips: the right mindset, it really takes a lot of the hard 343 00:18:45,630 --> 00:18:49,409 Caitlin Phillips: effort out of running really hard for 26 miles. 344 00:18:49,410 --> 00:18:55,679 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah. 55 women, Caitlin, ran under the Olympic standards, so 345 00:18:56,040 --> 00:18:59,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: it speaks to what you're saying. Can you talk about 346 00:18:59,369 --> 00:19:02,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: the experience? You're saying CIM's different and it sounds like 347 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:05,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: it ... What makes it special and what was it like 348 00:19:05,790 --> 00:19:08,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: to run with that kind of crowd and that kind 349 00:19:08,760 --> 00:19:11,398 Rob Simmelkjaer: of pack of sub- elite, as you call them, it's 350 00:19:12,300 --> 00:19:14,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: pretty elite to me if you're qualifying for the Olympic 351 00:19:14,460 --> 00:19:17,940 Rob Simmelkjaer: trials, but what's it like running with a field like that? 352 00:19:18,810 --> 00:19:24,270 Caitlin Phillips: It's pretty wild. So there were two pacers for the 353 00:19:24,270 --> 00:19:29,190 Caitlin Phillips: OTQ standard at this race, and essentially, I was just like, " 354 00:19:29,190 --> 00:19:31,440 Caitlin Phillips: I'm going to throw myself in the back of this pack and 355 00:19:31,440 --> 00:19:35,939 Caitlin Phillips: just see how long I can hang on." But the 356 00:19:36,510 --> 00:19:41,609 Caitlin Phillips: pack is just endless. You're just surrounded. And again, it's 357 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:45,990 Caitlin Phillips: pretty incredible energy just being in a race like that 358 00:19:46,050 --> 00:19:50,160 Caitlin Phillips: versus, let's say, if you're in an elite field in 359 00:19:50,250 --> 00:19:54,990 Caitlin Phillips: New York or Boston, chances are if you're in the 2: 360 00:19:55,020 --> 00:19:57,000 Caitlin Phillips: 30s, you're going to spend a lot of the race 361 00:19:57,000 --> 00:20:01,320 Caitlin Phillips: solo, which can be a really hard way to run. 362 00:20:02,520 --> 00:20:04,890 Caitlin Phillips: So again, I think, if you can really use this 363 00:20:05,430 --> 00:20:10,080 Caitlin Phillips: pack energy, it really takes a lot of the mental 364 00:20:10,080 --> 00:20:14,820 Caitlin Phillips: effort that you're using up during the race and you're 365 00:20:15,300 --> 00:20:21,119 Caitlin Phillips: able to just go with the flow, and then eventually, 366 00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:22,619 Caitlin Phillips: it's going to get hard. You know it's going to 367 00:20:22,619 --> 00:20:26,670 Caitlin Phillips: get hard, but I think sticking with that pack mentality 368 00:20:26,670 --> 00:20:30,750 Caitlin Phillips: for the first 20, 21 was incredibly helpful and took 369 00:20:30,750 --> 00:20:33,900 Caitlin Phillips: a lot of the stress out of, " Am I where 370 00:20:33,900 --> 00:20:37,320 Caitlin Phillips: I need to be?" But yeah, and I think Danielle 371 00:20:37,320 --> 00:20:39,930 Caitlin Phillips: and the whole team at CIM does such a good 372 00:20:39,930 --> 00:20:43,560 Caitlin Phillips: job of making sure that sub- elites want to run 373 00:20:43,560 --> 00:20:49,590 Caitlin Phillips: their race and they have a pretty good setup in 374 00:20:49,590 --> 00:20:56,460 Caitlin Phillips: terms of athlete fluids and hotel support. And aside from 375 00:20:56,460 --> 00:20:59,520 Caitlin Phillips: all those things, there's usually really optimal weather at CIM. 376 00:21:00,480 --> 00:21:05,189 Caitlin Phillips: It's a net downhill course. It's a hard course or 377 00:21:05,640 --> 00:21:09,629 Caitlin Phillips: I wouldn't say it's a hard course, but it's a 378 00:21:09,630 --> 00:21:12,330 Caitlin Phillips: lot hillier than I think a lot of people anticipate too. 379 00:21:12,359 --> 00:21:13,859 Becs Gentry: It's undulating, isn't it? 380 00:21:13,859 --> 00:21:16,530 Caitlin Phillips: Exactly. And then you get to the later stage of 381 00:21:16,530 --> 00:21:19,619 Caitlin Phillips: the race where it's like down and flat, but yeah, 382 00:21:19,680 --> 00:21:22,890 Caitlin Phillips: the beginning I would say is quite rolling. 383 00:21:24,300 --> 00:21:27,119 Becs Gentry: Oh my gosh. Okay, so let's roll it back. This 384 00:21:27,119 --> 00:21:33,869 Becs Gentry: is the fourth time you've qualified, which is unreal. This 385 00:21:33,869 --> 00:21:37,560 Becs Gentry: will be, if all goes well, your third time running 386 00:21:37,619 --> 00:21:41,790 Becs Gentry: in the Olympic trials. First of all, it was back 387 00:21:41,790 --> 00:21:46,919 Becs Gentry: in 2016 and you ran the trials in LA, right? 388 00:21:47,280 --> 00:21:48,270 Caitlin Phillips: Yeah, mm-hmm. 389 00:21:50,460 --> 00:21:59,100 Becs Gentry: Let's think about mentality, 2016 versus two days ago, what 390 00:21:59,100 --> 00:22:02,369 Becs Gentry: was going through your mind? Did you pull from all of 391 00:22:02,369 --> 00:22:06,480 Becs Gentry: that experience on Sunday or are you in a completely different mindset? 392 00:22:07,920 --> 00:22:11,700 Caitlin Phillips: A little bit of both, I guess. This was ... Well, 393 00:22:12,750 --> 00:22:16,920 Caitlin Phillips: to preface, I ran Chicago or I started Chicago in 394 00:22:16,920 --> 00:22:20,010 Caitlin Phillips: October of this year, but prior to that, I hadn't 395 00:22:20,010 --> 00:22:25,800 Caitlin Phillips: raced since 2022 before I had a baby. And CIM 2022 396 00:22:25,800 --> 00:22:29,070 Caitlin Phillips: was my last marathon. So I feel like I was 397 00:22:29,070 --> 00:22:31,530 Caitlin Phillips: a little bit out of racing shape, if that makes 398 00:22:31,530 --> 00:22:36,270 Caitlin Phillips: sense, but I think all of these key things with 399 00:22:36,270 --> 00:22:40,170 Caitlin Phillips: having a pack, having pacers, having bottles, that was a 400 00:22:40,170 --> 00:22:42,660 Caitlin Phillips: little bit of a, " Okay, I'm back in a groove 401 00:22:42,660 --> 00:22:46,200 Caitlin Phillips: here and I know how to do this." But yeah, 402 00:22:46,230 --> 00:22:55,020 Caitlin Phillips: 2016 trials, I guess I was 33- ish at the 403 00:22:55,020 --> 00:22:59,520 Caitlin Phillips: time. And I felt like a baby in terms of 404 00:22:59,609 --> 00:23:04,200 Caitlin Phillips: my marathoning experience. So it was very much a like, " 405 00:23:04,260 --> 00:23:09,090 Caitlin Phillips: Oh, wow, I'm here and so is Kara Goucher and 406 00:23:09,090 --> 00:23:13,920 Caitlin Phillips: Shalane Flan ..." And at that time, I was just very 407 00:23:13,920 --> 00:23:18,150 Caitlin Phillips: much in shock and awe of the whole thing and 408 00:23:19,410 --> 00:23:26,399 Caitlin Phillips: going into a race on Sunday, it's great, because honestly, 409 00:23:26,640 --> 00:23:29,760 Caitlin Phillips: so many people from so many eras of my running 410 00:23:29,760 --> 00:23:34,500 Caitlin Phillips: life were there and it's just really nice to be like, " 411 00:23:34,890 --> 00:23:38,160 Caitlin Phillips: I had my friends from Boston. I have my friends 412 00:23:38,160 --> 00:23:44,429 Caitlin Phillips: from New York," and it was just a really nice community- 413 00:23:44,490 --> 00:23:48,030 Caitlin Phillips: type experience where ... And a lot of us were going 414 00:23:48,030 --> 00:23:52,560 Caitlin Phillips: for the trial standard, so it was nice to just be ... We're 415 00:23:52,560 --> 00:23:56,550 Caitlin Phillips: all in this together, trying to work together during the 416 00:23:56,550 --> 00:23:58,050 Caitlin Phillips: race to make it happen. 417 00:23:58,890 --> 00:24:02,430 Rob Simmelkjaer: It's pretty incredible. So you ran in college as well, 418 00:24:02,430 --> 00:24:04,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: right, Caitlin? Was that the beginning? 419 00:24:04,260 --> 00:24:04,678 Caitlin Phillips: I did. Yeah. 420 00:24:04,800 --> 00:24:08,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: I'm sure you ran before that, but what distance did you run in college? 421 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:17,730 Caitlin Phillips: I ran the 5K. I ran cross country. I would run the mile leg 422 00:24:17,730 --> 00:24:22,050 Caitlin Phillips: of our DMR, so a little bit of everything. I 423 00:24:22,050 --> 00:24:26,550 Caitlin Phillips: never tried the 10K in college. My team was primarily 424 00:24:27,450 --> 00:24:30,180 Caitlin Phillips: a lot of 800 milers on my team. So I 425 00:24:30,180 --> 00:24:31,469 Caitlin Phillips: was the long- distance person. 426 00:24:32,490 --> 00:24:37,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah. Going beyond 5K was not your thing and then you took 427 00:24:37,200 --> 00:24:39,689 Rob Simmelkjaer: a break from running, I'm told after college, which is 428 00:24:39,690 --> 00:24:42,629 Rob Simmelkjaer: normal. A lot of people are ready for a break. 429 00:24:42,630 --> 00:24:47,879 Rob Simmelkjaer: And then I heard a story that, in 2009, you 430 00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:51,869 Rob Simmelkjaer: went out to a track in Brooklyn and you ran a 431 00:24:51,869 --> 00:24:55,050 Rob Simmelkjaer: couple of miles and you ran barefoot. This is the 432 00:24:55,050 --> 00:24:58,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: Caitlin Phillips lore. You ran barefoot because you didn't have 433 00:24:58,770 --> 00:25:03,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: any running shoes. And what was that about? And I 434 00:25:03,060 --> 00:25:06,179 Rob Simmelkjaer: guess what moved you to start running on that track 435 00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:08,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: without shoes in 2009? 436 00:25:10,830 --> 00:25:16,200 Caitlin Phillips: Very dramatic of me. Look, I think ... I can't remember. 437 00:25:16,200 --> 00:25:19,350 Caitlin Phillips: I had had a long break. I had moved to 438 00:25:19,350 --> 00:25:22,619 Caitlin Phillips: New York I think a couple years before that. I 439 00:25:22,619 --> 00:25:26,970 Caitlin Phillips: was primarily focused on work and going to grad school 440 00:25:26,970 --> 00:25:31,500 Caitlin Phillips: and I wasn't in the best place mentally speaking. And 441 00:25:31,500 --> 00:25:34,770 Caitlin Phillips: I think running throughout my life has always been something 442 00:25:34,770 --> 00:25:38,070 Caitlin Phillips: that grounded me. And at that point, I really needed 443 00:25:38,070 --> 00:25:44,340 Caitlin Phillips: some grounding. So yeah, I went to the track and 444 00:25:44,340 --> 00:25:45,600 Caitlin Phillips: I started running again. 445 00:25:45,990 --> 00:25:49,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: What better way to get grounding than to run barefoot where you're actually 446 00:25:49,410 --> 00:25:51,899 Rob Simmelkjaer: touching the ground with your bare feet? 447 00:25:51,900 --> 00:25:52,410 Caitlin Phillips: Exactly. 448 00:25:52,410 --> 00:25:54,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: That seems like a good way to do it. 449 00:25:54,210 --> 00:25:56,340 Becs Gentry: Scares the living day that's out of me though that 450 00:25:56,340 --> 00:25:59,220 Becs Gentry: it was McCarren Park of all the places that you could be barefoot. I'm like, " 451 00:26:01,619 --> 00:26:03,481 Becs Gentry: Oh my gosh, wow." 452 00:26:03,481 --> 00:26:06,090 Caitlin Phillips: Very, very traumatic. 453 00:26:06,090 --> 00:26:08,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: It's a great park. It's a great track, but you're right. There 454 00:26:08,520 --> 00:26:09,811 Rob Simmelkjaer: are things over- 455 00:26:09,811 --> 00:26:10,350 Becs Gentry: It's a great track now. 456 00:26:10,350 --> 00:26:13,619 Rob Simmelkjaer: Right. Seriously in 2009, there are things you could have stepped on. 457 00:26:14,070 --> 00:26:17,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: It's good that didn't happen to you. And then your 458 00:26:17,190 --> 00:26:20,159 Rob Simmelkjaer: first attempt at the marathon distance was about a year 459 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:24,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: later in New York in 2010 and that didn't go 460 00:26:24,300 --> 00:26:25,921 Rob Simmelkjaer: so well, we're told. 461 00:26:25,921 --> 00:26:25,922 Caitlin Phillips: No, no. 462 00:26:25,922 --> 00:26:25,923 Rob Simmelkjaer: Tell us about that a little bit. 463 00:26:25,923 --> 00:26:33,960 Caitlin Phillips: Well, I think I had no idea what I was 464 00:26:33,960 --> 00:26:38,820 Caitlin Phillips: doing. I had signed up as a marathon originally like, " 465 00:26:38,850 --> 00:26:43,050 Caitlin Phillips: Oh, I just want to run and finish," and running is something that 466 00:26:43,050 --> 00:26:45,750 Caitlin Phillips: I used to do," and then as I started getting 467 00:26:45,750 --> 00:26:48,600 Caitlin Phillips: back into it and training a bit, I must have 468 00:26:48,600 --> 00:26:53,130 Caitlin Phillips: been running maybe, I don't know, 50, 60 miles a week, 469 00:26:53,130 --> 00:26:59,970 Caitlin Phillips: nothing crazy. I started getting that mental like, " Oh, I 470 00:26:59,970 --> 00:27:01,350 Caitlin Phillips: want to see what I can do. I want to 471 00:27:01,350 --> 00:27:03,359 Caitlin Phillips: see if I can break three hours," kind of thing. 472 00:27:04,830 --> 00:27:06,810 Caitlin Phillips: But yeah, I had no clue what I was doing. 473 00:27:07,500 --> 00:27:10,080 Caitlin Phillips: I didn't consume a single calorie during the race. 474 00:27:10,290 --> 00:27:10,291 Becs Gentry: Oh my gosh. 475 00:27:10,291 --> 00:27:15,869 Caitlin Phillips: And I know I will sound like a thousand years old when I 476 00:27:15,869 --> 00:27:21,720 Caitlin Phillips: say this, but in 2010, there wasn't the access to 477 00:27:21,990 --> 00:27:27,720 Caitlin Phillips: coaching and just marathon knowledge in general was like, yeah, 478 00:27:27,720 --> 00:27:29,429 Caitlin Phillips: you could pick up a book of course and I 479 00:27:29,430 --> 00:27:31,859 Caitlin Phillips: was probably too lazy and busy at the time to 480 00:27:31,859 --> 00:27:35,520 Caitlin Phillips: do that, but yeah, I just didn't really know what 481 00:27:35,520 --> 00:27:36,090 Caitlin Phillips: I was doing. 482 00:27:37,050 --> 00:27:39,119 Becs Gentry: Yeah. And running wasn't as in vogue as it is 483 00:27:39,119 --> 00:27:42,390 Becs Gentry: now where everyone and their mother is talking about how 484 00:27:42,390 --> 00:27:46,020 Becs Gentry: to fuel and there's not 500 brands that you can try. 485 00:27:46,020 --> 00:27:46,109 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, so tell us- 486 00:27:46,740 --> 00:27:50,700 Caitlin Phillips: No super shoes, no coaches, no nothing. I barely had 487 00:27:52,230 --> 00:27:52,919 Caitlin Phillips: a garment at the time. I think I got a garment for the race. 488 00:27:53,490 --> 00:27:55,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: So what happened in the race? I know, but tell 489 00:27:55,560 --> 00:27:58,139 Rob Simmelkjaer: the listeners what happened in that 2010 marathon. 490 00:27:59,580 --> 00:28:04,169 Caitlin Phillips: So yeah, I think I went through halfway, probably, I 491 00:28:04,170 --> 00:28:08,040 Caitlin Phillips: want to say it was around 125 ... I mean, I made 492 00:28:08,220 --> 00:28:10,590 Caitlin Phillips: a lot of stupid first- timer mistakes. I went out 493 00:28:10,590 --> 00:28:13,920 Caitlin Phillips: too hard. I didn't fuel. I didn't have any fluid. 494 00:28:14,940 --> 00:28:19,200 Caitlin Phillips: At 18, I was like ... Maybe at 16, I started getting 495 00:28:19,200 --> 00:28:23,010 Caitlin Phillips: a little woozy, blackout, and then by 18, I was 496 00:28:23,010 --> 00:28:23,369 Caitlin Phillips: done. 497 00:28:23,640 --> 00:28:24,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, the old DNF- 498 00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:24,211 Caitlin Phillips: So I (inaudible) for a while. 499 00:28:24,211 --> 00:28:30,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... which is not unheard of to not finish one's first marathon, especially when you 500 00:28:31,470 --> 00:28:33,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: weren't just out there for a stroll. You were out 501 00:28:33,570 --> 00:28:36,869 Rob Simmelkjaer: there trying to run a time and a fast time because that's what 502 00:28:36,869 --> 00:28:40,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: you had done in your career as a runner before. 503 00:28:40,110 --> 00:28:40,531 Caitlin Phillips: That's what I knew. 504 00:28:40,531 --> 00:28:40,532 Rob Simmelkjaer: Exactly. 505 00:28:40,532 --> 00:28:40,533 Caitlin Phillips: Yeah. 506 00:28:40,533 --> 00:28:51,150 Becs Gentry: So how did you go from there, those first- timer mistakes, which are fantastic learnings, to 507 00:28:51,150 --> 00:28:56,010 Becs Gentry: with six years, less than six years, qualifying for the 508 00:28:56,010 --> 00:28:57,150 Becs Gentry: Olympic trials? 509 00:28:58,500 --> 00:29:01,110 Caitlin Phillips: Well, I think, at the time, I was part of 510 00:29:01,110 --> 00:29:05,700 Caitlin Phillips: a team, New York Athletic Club and there were a 511 00:29:05,700 --> 00:29:07,980 Caitlin Phillips: lot of post- collegiate athletes running for NYAC at the 512 00:29:07,980 --> 00:29:16,800 Caitlin Phillips: time and I was inspired by the ... I didn't necessarily 513 00:29:16,800 --> 00:29:19,920 Caitlin Phillips: ever think that I would qualify for trials, but I 514 00:29:19,920 --> 00:29:24,060 Caitlin Phillips: thought it was cool and I got reengaged in running again 515 00:29:24,060 --> 00:29:26,640 Caitlin Phillips: and it was really nice to be around people that 516 00:29:28,200 --> 00:29:33,030 Caitlin Phillips: had goals around running amongst all the other life things 517 00:29:33,030 --> 00:29:38,100 Caitlin Phillips: that people were doing. So yeah, I think that was 518 00:29:38,100 --> 00:29:43,200 Caitlin Phillips: kind of a big motivator. And then eventually, I met 519 00:29:43,230 --> 00:29:46,980 Caitlin Phillips: my coach, Terry Shea, through one of my NYAC teammates, 520 00:29:46,980 --> 00:29:54,060 Caitlin Phillips: Sarah Cummings. And not to say that coaching is everything, 521 00:29:54,060 --> 00:29:57,150 Caitlin Phillips: but I think Terry was a big piece of the 522 00:29:57,150 --> 00:30:01,200 Caitlin Phillips: puzzle for me because I didn't really understand a lot 523 00:30:01,200 --> 00:30:07,709 Caitlin Phillips: about the distance and how to do it. I was 524 00:30:07,710 --> 00:30:11,850 Caitlin Phillips: ready to execute, but I didn't really have a framework 525 00:30:11,850 --> 00:30:16,470 Caitlin Phillips: for how to make it happen. So Terry was really, 526 00:30:16,500 --> 00:30:19,080 Caitlin Phillips: really crucial for me there. 527 00:30:20,130 --> 00:30:23,970 Becs Gentry: That's awesome, giving you the guidance and how to get 528 00:30:24,150 --> 00:30:25,440 Becs Gentry: through, the fueling. 529 00:30:26,250 --> 00:30:27,900 Caitlin Phillips: Exactly. Exactly. Yeah. 530 00:30:27,930 --> 00:30:31,230 Becs Gentry: That's awesome. That is awesome. So that led you on 531 00:30:31,500 --> 00:30:38,370 Becs Gentry: to this climb in your personal running. And even though 532 00:30:38,910 --> 00:30:42,060 Becs Gentry: this sub- elite is the way, as Rob said, it's 533 00:30:42,060 --> 00:30:47,040 Becs Gentry: still pretty darn elite these times that technically named sub- 534 00:30:47,040 --> 00:30:52,740 Becs Gentry: elite. And then in 2022, you ran Boston Marathon, right? 535 00:30:53,520 --> 00:31:01,440 Becs Gentry: And that was a big time for you. That was 2:37:01, which 536 00:31:02,130 --> 00:31:04,380 Becs Gentry: that was my New York City Marathon time as well. 537 00:31:04,590 --> 00:31:05,070 Caitlin Phillips: Oh, yes. 538 00:31:05,070 --> 00:31:05,430 Becs Gentry: So I feel your pain- 539 00:31:08,670 --> 00:31:11,130 Caitlin Phillips: I would say New York City is a bit of 540 00:31:11,130 --> 00:31:12,630 Caitlin Phillips: a harder course than Boston. 541 00:31:13,200 --> 00:31:18,840 Becs Gentry: Yeah. But I didn't have the anger around that one 542 00:31:18,870 --> 00:31:20,550 Becs Gentry: second, I think. 543 00:31:20,550 --> 00:31:29,460 Caitlin Phillips: Well, okay. So that 2:37: 01 is actually from the October 21 Boston Marathon. 544 00:31:30,600 --> 00:31:32,002 Caitlin Phillips: I don't know if you all remember, but the (inaudible) - 545 00:31:32,220 --> 00:31:32,700 Becs Gentry: Oh, yeah, because of COVID, yeah. 546 00:31:32,700 --> 00:31:35,521 Rob Simmelkjaer: Because of COVID, they ran it in October. That's right. 547 00:31:35,521 --> 00:31:41,760 Caitlin Phillips: And they ran it in October. And I was relieved that the trials window 548 00:31:41,760 --> 00:31:46,590 Caitlin Phillips: wasn't open at that time because I had taken some 549 00:31:46,590 --> 00:31:50,700 Caitlin Phillips: time away from running in 2020 and 2021. And I 550 00:31:51,660 --> 00:31:55,320 Caitlin Phillips: felt like I was rebuilding from scratch for that race. 551 00:31:56,820 --> 00:32:01,650 Caitlin Phillips: And yeah, I was just so stoked to be back 552 00:32:01,650 --> 00:32:04,830 Caitlin Phillips: on a starting line. I love Boston. They offered me 553 00:32:04,830 --> 00:32:09,990 Caitlin Phillips: a spot in the elite field. It was just the 554 00:32:09,990 --> 00:32:13,920 Caitlin Phillips: perfect race in that, like I said earlier, where Boston, 555 00:32:13,920 --> 00:32:15,390 Caitlin Phillips: a lot of times if you're in the elite field, 556 00:32:15,390 --> 00:32:17,370 Caitlin Phillips: you're running by yourself, but I happened to have this 557 00:32:17,610 --> 00:32:20,370 Caitlin Phillips: crazy little pack of women that I ended up running 558 00:32:20,370 --> 00:32:26,430 Caitlin Phillips: the whole race with and ran just over 2: 37. And 559 00:32:27,690 --> 00:32:29,550 Caitlin Phillips: I did go back to Boston in the spring of 560 00:32:29,550 --> 00:32:34,290 Caitlin Phillips: 2022 shortly thereafter and I really didn't have a great 561 00:32:34,290 --> 00:32:38,670 Caitlin Phillips: race. I think I ran around 2: 40 flat, but 562 00:32:40,050 --> 00:32:43,680 Caitlin Phillips: yeah, much tougher race, very much on the opposite end 563 00:32:43,680 --> 00:32:46,230 Caitlin Phillips: of the spectrum of the race from the previous fall. 564 00:32:47,040 --> 00:32:47,340 Becs Gentry: Right. 565 00:32:48,990 --> 00:32:49,231 Caitlin Phillips: And then fall of 2022- 566 00:32:49,231 --> 00:32:52,831 Becs Gentry: Exactly, then she got- 567 00:32:52,831 --> 00:32:53,340 Caitlin Phillips: ... I went to Berlin. Well, I went to Berlin, I got sick. 568 00:32:55,950 --> 00:32:56,940 Becs Gentry: Oh, yeah, you got sick. 569 00:32:56,940 --> 00:33:01,380 Caitlin Phillips: I dropped out and then I had this other little mini build for CIM and then 570 00:33:01,380 --> 00:33:01,471 Caitlin Phillips: did it at CIM. 571 00:33:01,471 --> 00:33:01,472 Becs Gentry: 2:35:07, so CIM? 572 00:33:01,472 --> 00:33:09,930 Caitlin Phillips: Something around there. Yeah, yeah, yeah. 573 00:33:11,610 --> 00:33:17,100 Becs Gentry: I vividly remember those races because I think we were 574 00:33:17,640 --> 00:33:20,550 Becs Gentry: running in the same groups around that time. 575 00:33:20,550 --> 00:33:21,000 Caitlin Phillips: Yes, yeah, yeah. 576 00:33:21,420 --> 00:33:25,500 Becs Gentry: You, funnily enough, are the last person I remember seeing 577 00:33:26,010 --> 00:33:29,070 Becs Gentry: on the 20 ... When did I run New York, Rob, 578 00:33:29,340 --> 00:33:31,051 Becs Gentry: 2019, something like that? Yes, 2019. 579 00:33:31,051 --> 00:33:31,052 Caitlin Phillips: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, mm-hmm. 580 00:33:31,052 --> 00:33:36,180 Becs Gentry: The 2019 TCS New York City Marathon. You were the last 581 00:33:36,180 --> 00:33:38,791 Becs Gentry: person, I think I completely blacked out after I saw you. 582 00:33:38,791 --> 00:33:39,571 Caitlin Phillips: I remember seeing you. Yeah, I've been there. 583 00:33:39,571 --> 00:33:47,790 Becs Gentry: I was seeing you on 5th Ave. and you literally were like, "You're going to do it. You're 584 00:33:47,790 --> 00:33:54,270 Becs Gentry: first." You were like, "Just go for it." And I just always find it so funny 585 00:33:54,270 --> 00:33:56,850 Becs Gentry: that we had the same times in there and we 586 00:33:56,850 --> 00:33:59,670 Becs Gentry: had that, but for you ... And then I remember the 587 00:33:59,670 --> 00:34:03,090 Becs Gentry: group of you going to Berlin for that year and there was so 588 00:34:03,090 --> 00:34:05,460 Becs Gentry: many of the New York girls that we were just like, " 589 00:34:05,760 --> 00:34:09,600 Becs Gentry: Everyone's going out to qualify," and everyone had such different 590 00:34:09,600 --> 00:34:15,870 Becs Gentry: races. But then CIM, that was the flyer three years 591 00:34:15,870 --> 00:34:21,000 Becs Gentry: ago, so you got it again. But for you, knowing 592 00:34:21,000 --> 00:34:25,049 Becs Gentry: that in 2022 for CIM, you qualified and you would 593 00:34:25,049 --> 00:34:27,450 Becs Gentry: be 40 for 2024. 594 00:34:28,350 --> 00:34:30,239 Caitlin Phillips: And I was 40 at the time actually. 595 00:34:30,600 --> 00:34:30,601 Becs Gentry: You were 40 at the time? 596 00:34:30,601 --> 00:34:30,602 Caitlin Phillips: Yeah, yeah. 597 00:34:30,602 --> 00:34:36,840 Becs Gentry: Yeah. So how did that feel as a woman? Because over 598 00:34:36,840 --> 00:34:40,980 Becs Gentry: the past few years, it's become so much more common 599 00:34:41,400 --> 00:34:47,730 Becs Gentry: for women over 35- 40 to be throwing down these 600 00:34:47,730 --> 00:34:50,910 Becs Gentry: insane times. But even three years ago, I feel like 601 00:34:50,910 --> 00:34:56,130 Becs Gentry: it wasn't that much of a commonality. So how did it 602 00:34:56,130 --> 00:34:58,440 Becs Gentry: feel for you to just be like, " Yeah, I'm 40 603 00:34:58,800 --> 00:34:59,759 Becs Gentry: and I did this. Thank you"? 604 00:34:59,760 --> 00:35:06,810 Caitlin Phillips: Yeah, yeah, I was definitely super stoked. In some ways, 605 00:35:06,930 --> 00:35:09,300 Caitlin Phillips: I don't know, I probably wasn't thinking that much about 606 00:35:09,300 --> 00:35:12,690 Caitlin Phillips: it, but I think, after the fact, after the race, 607 00:35:12,690 --> 00:35:19,710 Caitlin Phillips: I was reflecting on, " Oh, it's crazy. I'm 40." I 608 00:35:19,710 --> 00:35:27,569 Caitlin Phillips: had run 2: 40 or what's my time? 2: 34: 609 00:35:28,260 --> 00:35:32,040 Caitlin Phillips: 40 something in 2019, but to come back in 2022 610 00:35:32,040 --> 00:35:33,779 Caitlin Phillips: and do it as a 40- year- old on a 611 00:35:34,140 --> 00:35:42,030 Caitlin Phillips: slightly harder course maybe, that felt nice. And maybe there's 612 00:35:42,030 --> 00:35:42,690 Caitlin Phillips: more to come. 613 00:35:43,800 --> 00:35:48,810 Becs Gentry: Yeah, absolutely. And when did you have your child? When 614 00:35:48,810 --> 00:35:49,350 Becs Gentry: was Tava born? 615 00:35:49,350 --> 00:35:53,670 Caitlin Phillips: So essentially right after that race, I got pregnant, so 616 00:35:53,670 --> 00:35:57,810 Caitlin Phillips: December of 2022 and then had a baby in September, 617 00:35:57,810 --> 00:36:03,660 Caitlin Phillips: end of September 2023. And then I had a long 618 00:36:03,660 --> 00:36:06,810 Caitlin Phillips: rebuild back from that. 619 00:36:08,310 --> 00:36:11,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: I can only imagine. And that's what I want to 620 00:36:11,219 --> 00:36:15,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: focus on a little bit, is that process, and, Becs, 621 00:36:15,450 --> 00:36:18,509 Rob Simmelkjaer: you can speak to it too, of course, of having 622 00:36:18,510 --> 00:36:22,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: a child and coming back to run at that level, 623 00:36:22,739 --> 00:36:29,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: it's incredible. What is the biggest challenge, Caitlin, there and 624 00:36:30,540 --> 00:36:34,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: what are the potential benefits maybe that you might have 625 00:36:35,489 --> 00:36:39,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: from being a mother and trying to achieve a success 626 00:36:39,450 --> 00:36:42,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: at a distance that is painful no matter who you 627 00:36:42,900 --> 00:36:45,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: are or how fast you run or how well you're 628 00:36:45,000 --> 00:36:48,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: trained. And when you've given birth, you know a little 629 00:36:48,030 --> 00:36:50,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: bit more about pain perhaps than you did before, but 630 00:36:50,400 --> 00:36:55,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: talk a bit about that process and how a human 631 00:36:55,020 --> 00:36:55,589 Rob Simmelkjaer: can do that. 632 00:36:55,589 --> 00:37:05,310 Caitlin Phillips: Well, I think I had ... Oh, geez. Yeah, it's a 633 00:37:05,310 --> 00:37:11,820 Caitlin Phillips: lot. So I had a long recovery. I eventually just 634 00:37:12,270 --> 00:37:16,350 Caitlin Phillips: for lack of an official, official diagnosis, started referring to 635 00:37:16,350 --> 00:37:21,810 Caitlin Phillips: whatever I was going through as a birth injury and 636 00:37:21,870 --> 00:37:26,610 Caitlin Phillips: I visited a handful of physical therapists, couldn't really figure 637 00:37:26,610 --> 00:37:28,980 Caitlin Phillips: out what was going on exactly. Eventually, I went to 638 00:37:28,980 --> 00:37:33,870 Caitlin Phillips: a physical therapist, an orthopedic doctor who gave me a 639 00:37:33,870 --> 00:37:39,090 Caitlin Phillips: sense of what was going on, but I had a 640 00:37:39,210 --> 00:37:45,480 Caitlin Phillips: sulcus internal tear in my pelvic floor. And then I 641 00:37:45,480 --> 00:37:48,120 Caitlin Phillips: think some of ... Because I had a lot of interior 642 00:37:48,120 --> 00:37:53,370 Caitlin Phillips: stitches and scar tissue that was sitting probably too close 643 00:37:53,370 --> 00:37:56,820 Caitlin Phillips: to a nerve, it was just kind of making me 644 00:37:56,820 --> 00:38:02,730 Caitlin Phillips: feel inflamed and running and walking exacerbated that exponentially. So 645 00:38:03,270 --> 00:38:07,680 Caitlin Phillips: I really had quite a long break. I wasn't able 646 00:38:07,680 --> 00:38:14,489 Caitlin Phillips: to run at all from September 2023 until July 2024 and 647 00:38:14,489 --> 00:38:19,320 Caitlin Phillips: then I was inching back very slowly. And then after 648 00:38:19,320 --> 00:38:21,600 Caitlin Phillips: running for a month and a half, I got a 649 00:38:21,600 --> 00:38:25,620 Caitlin Phillips: stress fracture. So 2024 was a bit of a bust 650 00:38:25,620 --> 00:38:35,460 Caitlin Phillips: for me, but yeah, I think part of ... It's in 651 00:38:35,460 --> 00:38:39,660 Caitlin Phillips: a way, when you become a parent, I can say 652 00:38:39,660 --> 00:38:42,150 Caitlin Phillips: all of the ... Everything I'm going to say is going to 653 00:38:42,150 --> 00:38:44,700 Caitlin Phillips: sound like a cliche, but I think it's such an 654 00:38:44,700 --> 00:38:50,010 Caitlin Phillips: immense shift in your perspective and your life that you have 655 00:38:50,010 --> 00:38:58,260 Caitlin Phillips: to recalibrate a little bit and figure out, " Oh, am 656 00:38:58,260 --> 00:39:01,890 Caitlin Phillips: I going to still ... For a long time, like I 657 00:39:01,890 --> 00:39:05,940 Caitlin Phillips: said, to me, I didn't know if running was even 658 00:39:05,940 --> 00:39:08,040 Caitlin Phillips: going to be a possibility, running at all, much less 659 00:39:08,040 --> 00:39:11,130 Caitlin Phillips: running at a high level, running more than 50 miles 660 00:39:11,130 --> 00:39:14,460 Caitlin Phillips: away. So I think I spent a lot of that 661 00:39:14,460 --> 00:39:18,750 Caitlin Phillips: first year being like, " Well, I don't know. We'll see," 662 00:39:20,730 --> 00:39:24,210 Caitlin Phillips: and just staying hopeful that I could get back to 663 00:39:24,210 --> 00:39:32,310 Caitlin Phillips: some level of running. And then I think just recalibrating 664 00:39:32,310 --> 00:39:35,370 Caitlin Phillips: and figuring out, " Oh, if I can do this, do 665 00:39:35,370 --> 00:39:38,910 Caitlin Phillips: I still care about this in the same way that I 666 00:39:39,090 --> 00:39:44,730 Caitlin Phillips: did before?" because I think I was always a person 667 00:39:44,730 --> 00:39:46,920 Caitlin Phillips: that was like, " Oh, I don't feel like I'm making 668 00:39:46,920 --> 00:39:50,580 Caitlin Phillips: sacrifices to train or do running at this level." And 669 00:39:50,580 --> 00:39:53,880 Caitlin Phillips: I think as a parent, you're like, " I'm making sacrifices. 670 00:39:54,690 --> 00:39:59,340 Caitlin Phillips: I'm putting strain on my relationship at times." Luckily, I 671 00:39:59,340 --> 00:40:01,890 Caitlin Phillips: have a very supportive partner, but it's like, yeah, you 672 00:40:01,890 --> 00:40:05,759 Caitlin Phillips: just have to think about a lot. There's just a lot 673 00:40:05,760 --> 00:40:14,670 Caitlin Phillips: more to think about. And yeah, ultimately, I've had ... I 674 00:40:14,670 --> 00:40:17,279 Caitlin Phillips: don't know, part of this whole process for me has 675 00:40:17,280 --> 00:40:22,440 Caitlin Phillips: been the excitement of figuring out if I can do 676 00:40:22,440 --> 00:40:26,850 Caitlin Phillips: it again, especially at the level that I've been able 677 00:40:26,850 --> 00:40:30,060 Caitlin Phillips: to for the last five or six ... Just the level 678 00:40:30,060 --> 00:40:31,500 Caitlin Phillips: of training I've been able to do in the last 679 00:40:31,500 --> 00:40:34,710 Caitlin Phillips: five or six months, everything has been like, " Oh, that's 680 00:40:34,710 --> 00:40:41,370 Caitlin Phillips: exciting. Oh, I'm kind of getting back to somewhere, I think," and 681 00:40:41,370 --> 00:40:42,540 Caitlin Phillips: especially at my age too. 682 00:40:42,930 --> 00:40:45,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: So are there other moms who are doing what you're 683 00:40:45,900 --> 00:40:49,590 Rob Simmelkjaer: doing, running these races, qualifying with these times that you 684 00:40:50,100 --> 00:40:53,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: talk to about all this and the challenges that I'm 685 00:40:53,340 --> 00:40:55,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: sure you all have? Talk about that. Who are some 686 00:40:55,710 --> 00:41:00,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: of the other moms that you talk to about this incredible journey? 687 00:41:02,160 --> 00:41:07,830 Caitlin Phillips: Well, I think, yeah, it is really cool and it's not just moms. I have dad friends 688 00:41:07,830 --> 00:41:10,620 Caitlin Phillips: too that are dealing with some of the same issues 689 00:41:10,620 --> 00:41:17,400 Caitlin Phillips: like juggling, but yeah, I think fresh in my mind, 690 00:41:18,239 --> 00:41:22,440 Caitlin Phillips: Rachel Hyland and Veronica Jackson are two people that I've 691 00:41:22,440 --> 00:41:26,580 Caitlin Phillips: known for a long time. We all share same coach, 692 00:41:26,580 --> 00:41:29,969 Caitlin Phillips: Terry Shea. So in the lead up to CIM, which we 693 00:41:29,969 --> 00:41:33,390 Caitlin Phillips: were all running together, we were texting just being like, " 694 00:41:33,600 --> 00:41:38,279 Caitlin Phillips: Oh my God, my kid's sick." Just all of the things 695 00:41:38,280 --> 00:41:41,280 Caitlin Phillips: that you're stressing about as a parent on top of, " 696 00:41:41,760 --> 00:41:45,570 Caitlin Phillips: Oh, and by the way, we have this race coming 697 00:41:45,570 --> 00:41:50,489 Caitlin Phillips: up that we've all worked really hard for." So yeah. 698 00:41:50,489 --> 00:41:54,390 Caitlin Phillips: And then on my friend Jeanne Mack had a baby 699 00:41:54,390 --> 00:41:56,969 Caitlin Phillips: around the same time, so we've really been in the 700 00:41:56,969 --> 00:42:01,140 Caitlin Phillips: thick of it together, just texting away and running together and 701 00:42:01,590 --> 00:42:05,640 Caitlin Phillips: just being like ... It's really fun to see your friends 702 00:42:07,440 --> 00:42:09,930 Caitlin Phillips: and not just friends that have kids, but just all of 703 00:42:10,469 --> 00:42:13,859 Caitlin Phillips: my friends in running that are doing really exciting life 704 00:42:13,860 --> 00:42:18,839 Caitlin Phillips: stuff or having kids and are still doing the running 705 00:42:18,840 --> 00:42:22,650 Caitlin Phillips: thing and committed to doing it at a high level. 706 00:42:24,000 --> 00:42:29,700 Caitlin Phillips: So yeah, yeah, really grateful to have such a good 707 00:42:29,700 --> 00:42:35,310 Caitlin Phillips: community present in New York and then also my friends 708 00:42:35,310 --> 00:42:38,819 Caitlin Phillips: that are spread out and still doing it. Yeah. 709 00:42:38,880 --> 00:42:40,231 Becs Gentry: There's so many and it is such- 710 00:42:40,230 --> 00:42:40,232 Caitlin Phillips: Yeah, so many. 711 00:42:40,231 --> 00:42:44,700 Becs Gentry: ... a beautiful community. Just even seeing Sara Hall crushing 712 00:42:44,700 --> 00:42:45,750 Becs Gentry: it as well- 713 00:42:45,750 --> 00:42:45,751 Caitlin Phillips: Incredible. 714 00:42:45,751 --> 00:42:52,890 Becs Gentry: ... out there. But on top of that for you, you're not a full- time athlete. You're 715 00:42:52,890 --> 00:42:57,810 Becs Gentry: not somebody who is paid full- time by a brand 716 00:42:57,810 --> 00:43:01,560 Becs Gentry: to train all day, eat well, nap on top of 717 00:43:01,560 --> 00:43:05,940 Becs Gentry: being a mom of a toddler in New York. You are 718 00:43:06,540 --> 00:43:11,670 Becs Gentry: the executive art director at MAC Cosmetics, so not a 719 00:43:11,670 --> 00:43:19,080 Becs Gentry: small brand, rather large, rather well known. So what did 720 00:43:19,080 --> 00:43:22,620 Becs Gentry: the past four to five months of life look like 721 00:43:22,710 --> 00:43:24,600 Becs Gentry: for you to get this level in? 722 00:43:25,680 --> 00:43:32,160 Caitlin Phillips: So ultimately, I think there are some positive to the post- 723 00:43:32,190 --> 00:43:36,420 Caitlin Phillips: COVID work life in that I work from home a 724 00:43:36,420 --> 00:43:37,830 Caitlin Phillips: couple of days a week and I go to the 725 00:43:37,830 --> 00:43:40,950 Caitlin Phillips: office three days a week. But yeah, days that I'm 726 00:43:40,950 --> 00:43:44,100 Caitlin Phillips: going to the office, I'm getting up at 5: 00 and going 727 00:43:44,100 --> 00:43:46,980 Caitlin Phillips: to run and then coming back and then starting my 728 00:43:46,980 --> 00:43:50,250 Caitlin Phillips: next race of making sure my kid is fed and 729 00:43:50,250 --> 00:43:53,910 Caitlin Phillips: dressed and ready to go to daycare and I'm dressed and ready 730 00:43:53,910 --> 00:43:58,860 Caitlin Phillips: to go to the office. And then weekends too, a lot 731 00:43:58,860 --> 00:44:02,219 Caitlin Phillips: of this build my long runs, I would just start 732 00:44:02,219 --> 00:44:06,510 Caitlin Phillips: at 5: 30, just so I could get back and 733 00:44:06,510 --> 00:44:09,900 Caitlin Phillips: be like, " Okay, and now we're doing weekend stuff." 734 00:44:09,960 --> 00:44:10,950 Becs Gentry: Yes, mom time. 735 00:44:11,219 --> 00:44:14,910 Caitlin Phillips: Yeah, exactly. So yeah, it's a little bit of a 736 00:44:14,910 --> 00:44:18,150 Caitlin Phillips: shift. It's like getting up a little bit earlier, but 737 00:44:18,150 --> 00:44:22,380 Caitlin Phillips: it's not ... Yeah, it's just holding a lot of things 738 00:44:22,920 --> 00:44:27,779 Caitlin Phillips: at once. And also giving myself a little bit more 739 00:44:27,780 --> 00:44:31,380 Caitlin Phillips: grace in terms of ... I'm very much a creature of 740 00:44:31,380 --> 00:44:35,550 Caitlin Phillips: habit and I love my little routines, but being a 741 00:44:35,550 --> 00:44:38,730 Caitlin Phillips: little bit more like, " Okay, that week wasn't perfect, but 742 00:44:38,730 --> 00:44:42,420 Caitlin Phillips: it was good enough. It was good enough." And there 743 00:44:42,420 --> 00:44:44,760 Caitlin Phillips: are a lot of things that I just have to 744 00:44:44,760 --> 00:44:47,790 Caitlin Phillips: be like, " Well, didn't do much strength training this build, 745 00:44:47,790 --> 00:44:50,250 Caitlin Phillips: but there was no time." 746 00:44:51,029 --> 00:44:51,030 Becs Gentry: Yes, that's it. You've got to take the wins. 747 00:44:51,029 --> 00:44:57,511 Caitlin Phillips: I don't want to discourage anyone from doing training because it's really important, but I was like, "Well." 748 00:44:57,511 --> 00:45:00,180 Becs Gentry: No, but it's focusing on the priority. 749 00:45:00,600 --> 00:45:02,160 Caitlin Phillips: Yeah, yeah, yeah. 750 00:45:02,430 --> 00:45:07,440 Becs Gentry: One random question for you though, for me personally, I 751 00:45:07,440 --> 00:45:10,560 Becs Gentry: find that that kind of training now as a mom 752 00:45:10,830 --> 00:45:15,779 Becs Gentry: with a job easier to do in summer because I 753 00:45:15,780 --> 00:45:19,320 Becs Gentry: feel safer because it's light going out at 5: 00 in 754 00:45:19,320 --> 00:45:22,230 Becs Gentry: the morning. I feel now for the past three years 755 00:45:22,230 --> 00:45:25,500 Becs Gentry: since I've had Tallulah that the though of doing a spring 756 00:45:25,500 --> 00:45:30,600 Becs Gentry: race, I'm like, " No, I can't because I'm not going to 757 00:45:30,600 --> 00:45:33,390 Becs Gentry: go and do my long run on a treadmill every 758 00:45:33,390 --> 00:45:39,390 Becs Gentry: week." And I'm scared to go out and run at 5:00 759 00:45:39,930 --> 00:45:43,320 Becs Gentry: in the morning in winter. And I don't always want 760 00:45:43,320 --> 00:45:46,379 Becs Gentry: to rely on a group of other people because that's just- 761 00:45:46,379 --> 00:45:47,130 Caitlin Phillips: Totally. Sometimes you can't- 762 00:45:47,130 --> 00:45:47,730 Becs Gentry: You can't. Yeah. 763 00:45:48,839 --> 00:45:51,660 Caitlin Phillips: You're like, "I have this window and it has to happen now." 764 00:45:52,200 --> 00:45:52,201 Becs Gentry: Exactly. 765 00:45:52,200 --> 00:45:55,350 Caitlin Phillips: Yeah, I totally get that. Yeah, yeah. 766 00:45:55,350 --> 00:45:56,400 Becs Gentry: It's such a strange one- 767 00:46:01,680 --> 00:46:01,681 Rob Simmelkjaer: It's- 768 00:46:01,680 --> 00:46:01,681 Becs Gentry: ... where I'm like, "All right, so from here on in, am I just running fall races?" 769 00:46:01,681 --> 00:46:05,040 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yup, it's sad to hear, first of all, that calculus, that 770 00:46:05,040 --> 00:46:08,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: you have to go through that thinking. I get it. 771 00:46:08,670 --> 00:46:12,359 Rob Simmelkjaer: It makes perfect sense, right? But it's unfortunate that that 772 00:46:12,360 --> 00:46:15,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: has to be part of the calculus of women training 773 00:46:15,540 --> 00:46:16,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: to run marathons. 774 00:46:17,670 --> 00:46:18,210 Caitlin Phillips: Yeah. 775 00:46:19,320 --> 00:46:22,080 Rob Simmelkjaer: The world, the world, but it won't put us off. We find 776 00:46:22,080 --> 00:46:22,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: always around it. 777 00:46:24,000 --> 00:46:28,890 Caitlin Phillips: Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I do feel like I've found that 778 00:46:29,250 --> 00:46:33,180 Caitlin Phillips: my other parent ... I'm very, very fortunate to have other 779 00:46:33,270 --> 00:46:36,900 Caitlin Phillips: parent friends that are always like, " Okay, should we set 780 00:46:36,900 --> 00:46:41,160 Caitlin Phillips: our alarms for 4: 50 today?" and I'm like, " Okay, 781 00:46:41,160 --> 00:46:41,371 Caitlin Phillips: yeah, sure." 782 00:46:41,370 --> 00:46:46,200 Becs Gentry: Brilliant. I need to crack into your speeds and then 783 00:46:46,200 --> 00:46:47,820 Becs Gentry: I'll be coming to run with you guys. I need 784 00:46:47,820 --> 00:46:48,359 Becs Gentry: some time though. 785 00:46:48,360 --> 00:46:48,660 Caitlin Phillips: Girl- 786 00:46:48,660 --> 00:46:48,871 Becs Gentry: I need some time. 787 00:46:48,870 --> 00:46:51,930 Caitlin Phillips: ... please. I see those runs on Strava. 788 00:46:51,930 --> 00:46:55,469 Becs Gentry: They're short. They're short, Caitlin. 789 00:46:56,160 --> 00:46:58,170 Caitlin Phillips: Yeah, but you're running a lot faster than we are. 790 00:46:58,170 --> 00:46:58,621 Caitlin Phillips: Let me tell you. 791 00:46:58,621 --> 00:47:04,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: So, Caitlin, I'm just curious, when you qualify in the fall of 792 00:47:04,170 --> 00:47:11,339 Rob Simmelkjaer: 2025 for a race in 2028, great, you did it, check, what 793 00:47:11,340 --> 00:47:15,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: do you do? How do you plan those two years? What are you going to do 794 00:47:15,000 --> 00:47:17,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: for '26 and '27? 795 00:47:17,250 --> 00:47:21,360 Caitlin Phillips: I have not thought past this week. 796 00:47:21,360 --> 00:47:24,810 Becs Gentry: Great. That's how it should be. Reveling in it. 797 00:47:25,860 --> 00:47:29,009 Caitlin Phillips: It's really, really hard to think about a race that's figures 798 00:47:29,010 --> 00:47:33,600 Caitlin Phillips: away. I think, I don't know, my mentality for this build was 799 00:47:33,600 --> 00:47:36,510 Caitlin Phillips: very much like get to the race and see what 800 00:47:36,510 --> 00:47:40,950 Caitlin Phillips: happens and who knows? I feel like I'm at an era 801 00:47:40,950 --> 00:47:44,250 Caitlin Phillips: in my career where it's like you don't know. This 802 00:47:44,250 --> 00:47:49,950 Caitlin Phillips: could be the last one. So yeah, I think I'm 803 00:47:50,040 --> 00:47:58,620 Caitlin Phillips: just really excited that this went well. And I definitely 804 00:47:58,620 --> 00:48:02,850 Caitlin Phillips: think that there's something now that's like, " Oh, okay, maybe 805 00:48:02,850 --> 00:48:07,620 Caitlin Phillips: there's still a lot more left." I don't necessarily think 806 00:48:07,620 --> 00:48:10,440 Caitlin Phillips: I had a perfect build and I didn't go into 807 00:48:10,440 --> 00:48:12,390 Caitlin Phillips: it thinking that I was definitely going to qualify, I 808 00:48:12,390 --> 00:48:17,940 Caitlin Phillips: wanted to try, but yeah, I don't think I had 809 00:48:17,940 --> 00:48:21,330 Caitlin Phillips: a build that overwhelmingly illustrated that like, " Oh, you're in sub- 2: 810 00:48:21,330 --> 00:48:27,390 Caitlin Phillips: 37 shape." And then I was shocked as hell when 811 00:48:27,390 --> 00:48:29,940 Caitlin Phillips: I turned to the corner and saw the ... I was like, " 812 00:48:29,940 --> 00:48:33,811 Caitlin Phillips: Wait, what is that? No." 813 00:48:33,811 --> 00:48:35,281 Rob Simmelkjaer: What did you see? You mean the finish line or your time? 814 00:48:35,281 --> 00:48:38,190 Caitlin Phillips: The finish line and the clock and I was like, " 815 00:48:38,190 --> 00:48:38,851 Caitlin Phillips: Does that say 2:30-" 816 00:48:38,851 --> 00:48:43,500 Becs Gentry: If I stop further back, then I saw. 817 00:48:44,070 --> 00:48:48,090 Caitlin Phillips: Yeah, yeah, exactly. So yeah. 818 00:48:48,090 --> 00:48:48,480 Becs Gentry: The truth is that- 819 00:48:48,810 --> 00:48:51,239 Rob Simmelkjaer: Do you think you'll run a marathon between now and then or do 820 00:48:51,239 --> 00:48:53,549 Rob Simmelkjaer: you think you'll just maintain? 821 00:48:54,600 --> 00:48:59,640 Caitlin Phillips: I'm sure. I'd love to. I think having the experience 822 00:48:59,640 --> 00:49:04,560 Caitlin Phillips: of last weekend where it's such a fun weekend where 823 00:49:04,560 --> 00:49:07,770 Caitlin Phillips: it's like you're seeing friends, you're doing a shakeout with 824 00:49:08,700 --> 00:49:10,860 Caitlin Phillips: people that you don't get to see that often, but you 825 00:49:10,860 --> 00:49:15,570 Caitlin Phillips: know really well just even just through their training log 826 00:49:15,570 --> 00:49:20,940 Caitlin Phillips: or their Strava. So it's just marathoning is still really 827 00:49:20,940 --> 00:49:27,779 Caitlin Phillips: fun, I think. And then sharing that experience, especially with 828 00:49:27,780 --> 00:49:33,000 Caitlin Phillips: somebody like Leanne who qualified, had a huge breakthrough. We've 829 00:49:33,120 --> 00:49:36,750 Caitlin Phillips: trained together. We've known each other for, again, more than 830 00:49:36,750 --> 00:49:42,390 Caitlin Phillips: 10 years now. It's so fun and exciting to be 831 00:49:42,390 --> 00:49:45,540 Caitlin Phillips: a part of that energy. So I'm definitely hopeful that 832 00:49:45,540 --> 00:49:50,001 Caitlin Phillips: there'll be another one. A spring one, probably not (inaudible) 833 00:49:50,001 --> 00:49:53,640 Caitlin Phillips: for me. I'm going to give my husband a 834 00:49:53,640 --> 00:49:57,570 Caitlin Phillips: break for a minute, and yeah, we'll see. 835 00:49:58,140 --> 00:50:01,261 Rob Simmelkjaer: Well, Caitlin, congratulations, an- 836 00:50:01,261 --> 00:50:01,262 Becs Gentry: Yeah, huge congrats. 837 00:50:01,262 --> 00:50:05,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... incredible accomplishment. Thank you for joining us and sharing 838 00:50:05,460 --> 00:50:07,739 Rob Simmelkjaer: a bit of your journey and we look forward to 839 00:50:07,739 --> 00:50:12,239 Rob Simmelkjaer: seeing what you do between now and 2028 and can't 840 00:50:12,239 --> 00:50:12,511 Rob Simmelkjaer: wait to see- 841 00:50:12,511 --> 00:50:12,512 Caitlin Phillips: Thank you so much. 842 00:50:12,512 --> 00:50:15,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... what you do then. New York Road Runners is 843 00:50:15,750 --> 00:50:19,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: a nonprofit organization with a vision to build healthier lives 844 00:50:19,500 --> 00:50:23,430 Rob Simmelkjaer: and stronger communities through the transformative power of running. The 845 00:50:23,430 --> 00:50:26,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: support of members and donors like you helps us achieve 846 00:50:26,580 --> 00:50:29,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: our mission to transform the health and wellbeing of our 847 00:50:29,730 --> 00:50:34,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: communities through inclusive and accessible running experiences, empowering all to 848 00:50:34,770 --> 00:50:40,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: achieve their potential. Learn more and contribute at nyrr. org/ 849 00:50:40,020 --> 00:50:44,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: donate. Our member moment guest today, Dr. Melissa Melkonian, is 850 00:50:44,310 --> 00:50:47,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: the founder and head of the American Dream School in 851 00:50:47,370 --> 00:50:50,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: the Bronx, a dual language charter school she created to 852 00:50:50,520 --> 00:50:53,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: help students and families achieve their own version of the 853 00:50:53,580 --> 00:50:56,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: American dream. A dedicated runner and New York Road Runners 854 00:50:56,580 --> 00:51:00,870 Rob Simmelkjaer: member, she's inspired dozens of teachers, parents and staff to 855 00:51:00,870 --> 00:51:04,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: take on their first marathons using running as a tool 856 00:51:04,140 --> 00:51:08,489 Rob Simmelkjaer: for empowerment and community building. Today, she joins Meb Keflezighi to 857 00:51:08,489 --> 00:51:11,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: share how her passion for running has shaped both her 858 00:51:11,520 --> 00:51:13,529 Rob Simmelkjaer: life and her school's culture. 859 00:51:14,430 --> 00:51:18,750 Meb Keflezighi: Thanks, Rob. Dr. Melkonian, welcome to Set the Pace Podcast. How 860 00:51:18,750 --> 00:51:19,440 Meb Keflezighi: are you doing today? 861 00:51:19,739 --> 00:51:22,259 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: Hi, Meb. I'm doing great. Thank you for having me. 862 00:51:22,890 --> 00:51:26,880 Meb Keflezighi: Great to have you. You have inspired many school staff 863 00:51:26,880 --> 00:51:30,210 Meb Keflezighi: and parents to run their first marathon. What made you want 864 00:51:30,210 --> 00:51:31,140 Meb Keflezighi: to start that movement? 865 00:51:31,800 --> 00:51:36,299 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: Running is empowering. I think, for us here at our 866 00:51:36,330 --> 00:51:39,510 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: school, it's the American Dream School, a school that was 867 00:51:39,510 --> 00:51:42,870 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: founded on the principle of honoring yourself, your culture, your 868 00:51:42,870 --> 00:51:47,520 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: language, your identity, I personally have found a lot of 869 00:51:47,520 --> 00:51:51,960 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: who I was through my runs as short runs, long 870 00:51:51,960 --> 00:51:56,550 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: runs. And having completed a couple of marathons and half 871 00:51:56,550 --> 00:52:01,530 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: marathons, I think, for me, running is an ability to 872 00:52:01,530 --> 00:52:05,730 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: be able to look within yourself and be able to 873 00:52:05,730 --> 00:52:09,870 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: just empower yourself. And I wanted to share that gift 874 00:52:09,900 --> 00:52:11,880 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: with other people and there's no other way for me 875 00:52:11,880 --> 00:52:13,170 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: to do that than through running. 876 00:52:14,280 --> 00:52:16,259 Meb Keflezighi: When did you start running personally for you? 877 00:52:17,070 --> 00:52:21,120 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: I started after college. So about 25 years ago, I 878 00:52:21,120 --> 00:52:22,800 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: started running. When I moved to New York City, I'm 879 00:52:22,800 --> 00:52:25,830 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: not from New York City, I joined the New York 880 00:52:25,830 --> 00:52:29,460 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: Road Runners very early on as a recent college grad 881 00:52:29,460 --> 00:52:32,100 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: and I fell in love with it. I didn't know 882 00:52:32,100 --> 00:52:35,610 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: what running would do to me. And when I started 883 00:52:35,610 --> 00:52:39,719 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: running and participating in races, the Central Park Races, the 884 00:52:39,719 --> 00:52:43,830 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: half marathons, it was very transformative. I think the community 885 00:52:43,830 --> 00:52:48,480 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: that the Road Runners build helps us push through all of 886 00:52:48,570 --> 00:52:50,130 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: the runs that I've ever ran here. 887 00:52:50,969 --> 00:52:54,900 Meb Keflezighi: Absolutely, running is definitely very empowering. You grew up in Mexican- 888 00:52:54,900 --> 00:52:59,279 Meb Keflezighi: American family near US, Mexico border. How has your heritage 889 00:52:59,280 --> 00:53:02,911 Meb Keflezighi: and upbringing shaped the way you approached both teaching and running? 890 00:53:02,911 --> 00:53:09,000 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: So I grew up in El Paso, Texas, which borders Ciudad Juarez, Mexico 891 00:53:09,000 --> 00:53:14,759 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: and my parents are both immigrants. And part of running, 892 00:53:14,760 --> 00:53:17,370 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: while it was not something that I engaged in growing 893 00:53:17,370 --> 00:53:19,770 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: up, I was very athletic and engaged in a lot 894 00:53:19,770 --> 00:53:24,060 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: of sports, but running itself was not something that we 895 00:53:24,060 --> 00:53:28,379 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: would do as a family. But again, going back to 896 00:53:28,380 --> 00:53:32,879 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: what running is, for me personally, it's this ability to 897 00:53:33,630 --> 00:53:37,739 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: challenge yourself, to own your pace, to own who you 898 00:53:37,739 --> 00:53:42,300 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: are, be comfortable with it. Every mile run is a mile 899 00:53:42,300 --> 00:53:45,840 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: run and it's something that nobody can take away from you. 900 00:53:45,840 --> 00:53:51,840 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: And it's also being able to be okay when our 901 00:53:51,840 --> 00:53:56,219 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: runs don't feel our best because they're just part of 902 00:53:56,219 --> 00:53:58,950 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: who we are and it's part of the journey. And 903 00:53:58,950 --> 00:54:02,879 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: so our culture, it's just never give up. You work 904 00:54:02,880 --> 00:54:07,140 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: hard for what you want. And for me, what I 905 00:54:07,140 --> 00:54:09,780 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: wanted was to run a marathon. I wanted to run 906 00:54:09,780 --> 00:54:13,290 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: a marathon and finish it and I've done that. And 907 00:54:13,290 --> 00:54:15,299 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: I did it over and over and over because it 908 00:54:15,300 --> 00:54:18,840 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: became this like, " I want to do it again and 909 00:54:18,840 --> 00:54:21,180 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: I'm getting older and my body's changing and I've had 910 00:54:21,180 --> 00:54:23,400 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: children. Can I still do it?" and the answer's always 911 00:54:23,400 --> 00:54:27,330 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: yes. Just work hard for what you want. It's cultural. 912 00:54:27,330 --> 00:54:31,260 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: It's (foreign language) and we can get whatever we want. 913 00:54:31,560 --> 00:54:36,180 Meb Keflezighi: Nicely said, hard work does pay off. As an immigrant, 914 00:54:36,180 --> 00:54:39,510 Meb Keflezighi: my parents were for sports, but there's other immigrants who 915 00:54:39,510 --> 00:54:41,640 Meb Keflezighi: are not into sports because they want you to focus 916 00:54:41,640 --> 00:54:44,609 Meb Keflezighi: on academics. They didn't think running can be a profession. 917 00:54:47,160 --> 00:54:50,850 Meb Keflezighi: So I have to make phone calls to Ethiopian families 918 00:54:50,850 --> 00:54:53,310 Meb Keflezighi: to say, " Let your son or your daughter run," because 919 00:54:53,550 --> 00:54:56,670 Meb Keflezighi: they see some ... Of course, you see the talents, but as an immigrant, they don't 920 00:54:56,670 --> 00:55:00,780 Meb Keflezighi: see that as leading to being a doctor, lawyer or 921 00:55:01,170 --> 00:55:04,560 Meb Keflezighi: teacher or other venue of a career. But how does 922 00:55:04,560 --> 00:55:07,950 Meb Keflezighi: running connect to the mission and spirit of the American 923 00:55:07,950 --> 00:55:08,489 Meb Keflezighi: Dream School? 924 00:55:08,850 --> 00:55:11,219 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: So it connects in the sense that you don't want 925 00:55:11,219 --> 00:55:15,480 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: to give up, right? Because running is challenging. It doesn't matter, again like 926 00:55:15,480 --> 00:55:18,900 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: I said, you are a professional runner, I take it 927 00:55:19,620 --> 00:55:24,239 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: by hobby and I absolutely love it, but it forces 928 00:55:24,480 --> 00:55:28,650 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: your body, it forces your mind to be challenged. And 929 00:55:28,650 --> 00:55:31,680 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: there are times in life where you feel like you 930 00:55:31,680 --> 00:55:34,380 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: just can't. You can't take another step, " I can't put 931 00:55:34,380 --> 00:55:35,820 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: my shoes on today. I can't go out for a 932 00:55:35,820 --> 00:55:38,339 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: run." There may be some things that I don't find 933 00:55:38,340 --> 00:55:40,800 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: challenging, but other people might think like, " Oh my God, 934 00:55:40,800 --> 00:55:44,190 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: it's raining. Maybe I won't run today," or, " It's a 935 00:55:44,190 --> 00:55:46,590 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: little bit too cold. I don't know if it's a good 936 00:55:46,590 --> 00:55:50,129 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: day to go running," or, " I think I'm sore from 937 00:55:50,130 --> 00:55:54,270 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: yesterday's run." All of these challenges are real because people 938 00:55:54,270 --> 00:55:57,480 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: experience them, but it connects back to the American Dream 939 00:55:57,480 --> 00:56:01,230 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: School where you're going to be presented with challenges each 940 00:56:01,230 --> 00:56:04,890 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: and every day. Students come in here and the students 941 00:56:04,890 --> 00:56:07,469 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: that go to my school in particular are some of 942 00:56:07,469 --> 00:56:11,940 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: the students whose families are also immigrants, who have experienced 943 00:56:11,940 --> 00:56:15,450 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: hardships and traumas. And so they are faced with daily 944 00:56:15,450 --> 00:56:21,360 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: challenges. And very much like running, you have to push 945 00:56:21,360 --> 00:56:25,710 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: through them and there's always a finish line, but for 946 00:56:25,710 --> 00:56:28,290 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: us, it keeps going, it restarts. Once we cross that 947 00:56:28,290 --> 00:56:30,600 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: finish line, it starts over because we're going to go 948 00:56:30,600 --> 00:56:33,270 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: on to that next race and we can't give up. 949 00:56:34,290 --> 00:56:36,390 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: There is a way. There is a way to reach 950 00:56:36,390 --> 00:56:39,239 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: that finish line and there is a way to finish 951 00:56:39,330 --> 00:56:41,880 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: high school and go on to college. And a lot 952 00:56:41,880 --> 00:56:43,950 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: of our kids that go to my school in particular, 953 00:56:43,950 --> 00:56:47,489 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: their parents never finished. Some never finished high school, some 954 00:56:47,489 --> 00:56:51,270 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: never even went to college and that's okay. It doesn't 955 00:56:51,270 --> 00:56:53,850 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: have to be your reality, but it will be challenging 956 00:56:53,850 --> 00:56:56,760 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: as students and so we need to help everybody push 957 00:56:56,760 --> 00:56:59,460 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: through to their finish line. And then once they cross 958 00:56:59,460 --> 00:57:01,560 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: it, set new goals and start over. 959 00:57:02,040 --> 00:57:05,580 Meb Keflezighi: Absolutely. As a Spanish go, (foreign language) , you can't do 960 00:57:05,580 --> 00:57:09,360 Meb Keflezighi: it and I'm pretty sure you are implementing that the 961 00:57:09,360 --> 00:57:13,380 Meb Keflezighi: American Dream School. But again, when you line up in 962 00:57:13,380 --> 00:57:16,110 Meb Keflezighi: the race, what's usually going through your mind? Are you 963 00:57:16,110 --> 00:57:19,680 Meb Keflezighi: thinking about your students, your own goals or something else? 964 00:57:20,010 --> 00:57:27,180 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: I am. The New York City Marathon, the first Sunday 965 00:57:27,180 --> 00:57:30,630 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: of November is my favorite day of the year. You 966 00:57:30,630 --> 00:57:34,560 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: can ask anybody who's ever met me, they know what 967 00:57:34,560 --> 00:57:36,570 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: my favorite day of the year and it's always marathon Sunday. 968 00:57:36,570 --> 00:57:39,420 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: Whether I'm running it or not, I think the way 969 00:57:39,420 --> 00:57:44,880 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: that New York City gets behind every runner is so 970 00:57:44,880 --> 00:57:49,320 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: empowering. And for me, I've had the pleasure and the 971 00:57:49,320 --> 00:57:51,750 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: honor of being able to complete five marathons here in 972 00:57:51,750 --> 00:57:55,620 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: New York City and Mile 20 is my favorite mile 973 00:57:55,620 --> 00:58:00,150 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: to cross because that is where I run into the 974 00:58:00,150 --> 00:58:02,340 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: community that I've built here at our school, at the 975 00:58:02,340 --> 00:58:05,460 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: American Dream School. They wait for the runners at Mile 976 00:58:05,490 --> 00:58:09,390 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: 20, crossover into the Bronx. You go through the Willis 977 00:58:09,390 --> 00:58:12,300 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: Avenue Bridge and then you wrap around Alexander Avenue and 978 00:58:12,300 --> 00:58:17,001 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: you have an entire community waiting there, cheering, chanting, " (foreign language) 979 00:58:17,001 --> 00:58:21,780 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: ," with signs where you have the students, you have 980 00:58:21,780 --> 00:58:25,830 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: the parents who are emotional because they've never seen anybody 981 00:58:25,830 --> 00:58:30,510 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: that they know run marathons. And then you hear students say, " 982 00:58:31,260 --> 00:58:33,360 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: I want to do that too. When can I do 983 00:58:33,360 --> 00:58:36,270 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: that? How do I do this?" And so it creates 984 00:58:36,270 --> 00:58:40,230 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: this desire to want to learn more and be inquisitive about, " 985 00:58:40,380 --> 00:58:44,130 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: Is it actually hard? How hard is it, Dr. Melkonian?" and 986 00:58:44,190 --> 00:58:47,040 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: I'm like, " It's very hard and it's a commitment. You 987 00:58:47,040 --> 00:58:49,650 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: have to train for it. You have to mentally train 988 00:58:49,650 --> 00:58:52,860 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: for it," but as long as you go through with 989 00:58:52,860 --> 00:58:53,880 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: your commitment, the world is yours." 990 00:58:55,080 --> 00:58:58,410 Meb Keflezighi: The world's yours and the finish line is there waiting 991 00:58:58,410 --> 00:58:59,002 Meb Keflezighi: for you to (inaudible) - 992 00:58:59,002 --> 00:58:59,003 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: That medal feels so good. 993 00:58:59,003 --> 00:58:59,004 Meb Keflezighi: Inspiration. 994 00:59:00,810 --> 00:59:03,300 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: That medal feels so good to wrap around our neck. 995 00:59:03,300 --> 00:59:06,330 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: At the very next day, it's wonderful. 996 00:59:07,230 --> 00:59:09,450 Meb Keflezighi: The finish line and the medal we know all about, 997 00:59:09,450 --> 00:59:12,870 Meb Keflezighi: but what lessons from marathon trainings has helped you as 998 00:59:12,870 --> 00:59:13,560 Meb Keflezighi: a school leader? 999 00:59:14,460 --> 00:59:17,610 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: That everybody has their own pace, right? So my pace 1000 00:59:17,610 --> 00:59:22,530 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: is not your pace and that's okay, right? So everybody's 1001 00:59:22,530 --> 00:59:27,780 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: goal is different. Everybody's purpose in life and in education 1002 00:59:27,780 --> 00:59:30,480 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: and in running, their why may look a little bit 1003 00:59:30,480 --> 00:59:34,710 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: differently and that's okay. And I think part of being 1004 00:59:34,710 --> 00:59:39,960 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: able to complete half marathons and I not run as 1005 00:59:39,960 --> 00:59:42,660 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: much as you have, but I think I've had about 1006 00:59:42,690 --> 00:59:47,070 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: 20 New York City half marathons that I've completed that 1007 00:59:47,490 --> 00:59:52,770 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: it has been ... Everyone was different. Everyone was different. I 1008 00:59:52,770 --> 00:59:56,700 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: had children in between. I ran one immediately after I 1009 00:59:56,700 --> 01:00:01,800 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: had my last child. And so every everything we do 1010 01:00:01,800 --> 01:00:06,060 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: is different. And so some of the lessons is just 1011 01:00:06,630 --> 01:00:10,560 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: accept where you are in this particular process of life. 1012 01:00:10,560 --> 01:00:13,650 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: Don't compare yourself to others because you see people run 1013 01:00:13,650 --> 01:00:18,720 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: past you all the time and that's okay. Just remember 1014 01:00:18,720 --> 01:00:23,100 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: why you started and be determined to finish even if 1015 01:00:23,100 --> 01:00:25,650 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: it means with support, even if it means it takes 1016 01:00:25,650 --> 01:00:27,600 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: a little bit longer or you have to walk a 1017 01:00:27,600 --> 01:00:33,390 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: couple of steps here and there. Everybody's training is different 1018 01:00:33,570 --> 01:00:34,650 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: and that's okay. 1019 01:00:35,760 --> 01:00:40,680 Meb Keflezighi: Absolutely. And being different and that's okay, like you said. And there's different 1020 01:00:40,680 --> 01:00:47,040 Meb Keflezighi: genders, different age groupers, different ... Just amazing how running unites 1021 01:00:47,040 --> 01:00:50,280 Meb Keflezighi: us all, an ability and to have a different ability, get 1022 01:00:50,280 --> 01:00:52,200 Meb Keflezighi: to the finish line from point A to point B 1023 01:00:52,200 --> 01:00:56,100 Meb Keflezighi: or from Staten Island to Central Park. Everybody have different 1024 01:00:56,100 --> 01:00:58,230 Meb Keflezighi: stories by getting to that finish line and your own pace 1025 01:00:58,230 --> 01:00:59,970 Meb Keflezighi: is just as equally important. 1026 01:01:00,180 --> 01:01:00,720 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: Yeah, I agree. 1027 01:01:01,770 --> 01:01:04,110 Meb Keflezighi: Well, thank you for being on the show and great to 1028 01:01:04,110 --> 01:01:06,990 Meb Keflezighi: have you and best wishes as you go for the future. 1029 01:01:09,060 --> 01:01:09,571 Dr. Melissa Melkonian: Thank you so much, Meb. 1030 01:01:09,571 --> 01:01:12,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: Thank you so much for joining us, Dr. Melkonian, and for being a member 1031 01:01:12,660 --> 01:01:15,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: of New York Road Runners. Now, it's time for today's 1032 01:01:15,450 --> 01:01:15,960 Rob Simmelkjaer: Meb Minute. 1033 01:01:18,480 --> 01:01:24,870 Meb Keflezighi: Long run is all about building aerobic engine, building stamina 1034 01:01:25,530 --> 01:01:31,650 Meb Keflezighi: and don't rush it. It easy runs that ... Sometimes long 1035 01:01:31,650 --> 01:01:34,110 Meb Keflezighi: run, when you start off, it might be 5 miles. 1036 01:01:34,170 --> 01:01:36,810 Meb Keflezighi: It might be 6 miles and it becomes 7, 8 1037 01:01:36,810 --> 01:01:39,780 Meb Keflezighi: miles. And then it becomes 10 miles. Or if you get in 1038 01:01:39,780 --> 01:01:44,370 Meb Keflezighi: for a marathon, then it becomes 14, 16, 18 to 1039 01:01:44,370 --> 01:01:47,340 Meb Keflezighi: 20 and so on. So don't be in a rush to 1040 01:01:47,340 --> 01:01:48,840 Meb Keflezighi: just say, " Hey, I got to get my long run 1041 01:01:48,840 --> 01:01:51,300 Meb Keflezighi: in," and get it in 12 miles when you haven't 1042 01:01:51,300 --> 01:01:54,810 Meb Keflezighi: run yet because that would lead to not a good situation, 1043 01:01:54,810 --> 01:01:57,390 Meb Keflezighi: injuries. It might even feel okay covering that day, but 1044 01:01:58,260 --> 01:02:00,210 Meb Keflezighi: eventually a week later or two weeks later or three 1045 01:02:00,210 --> 01:02:03,150 Meb Keflezighi: weeks later, you're going to be having issues. So patience 1046 01:02:03,510 --> 01:02:07,500 Meb Keflezighi: is important. Don't rush it and hold back when you 1047 01:02:07,530 --> 01:02:11,670 Meb Keflezighi: can because you don't want to say, " What can I 1048 01:02:11,670 --> 01:02:13,470 Meb Keflezighi: do today?" You got to think about tomorrow. You got 1049 01:02:13,470 --> 01:02:15,150 Meb Keflezighi: to think about next week. You got to think about 1050 01:02:15,150 --> 01:02:18,510 Meb Keflezighi: next month." Ultimately, you want to be ready on marathon 1051 01:02:18,510 --> 01:02:23,490 Meb Keflezighi: day. Don't get too excited and get burned out because 1052 01:02:23,790 --> 01:02:26,490 Meb Keflezighi: every day that happens. When you go hard, the easy 1053 01:02:26,490 --> 01:02:30,000 Meb Keflezighi: days are supposed to be easy. Recovery, they're supposed to 1054 01:02:30,000 --> 01:02:32,940 Meb Keflezighi: be a recovery. If you can make the progress to 1055 01:02:32,940 --> 01:02:36,510 Meb Keflezighi: be able to just build up each week, each month 1056 01:02:36,840 --> 01:02:41,940 Meb Keflezighi: and consistency and be able to make the progress, you know what? You're 1057 01:02:41,940 --> 01:02:44,760 Meb Keflezighi: going to be healthier, which it means consistent. Once consistent, 1058 01:02:44,760 --> 01:02:49,020 Meb Keflezighi: becomes a great results in the long run, literally and 1059 01:02:49,020 --> 01:02:51,540 Meb Keflezighi: figuratively, and get you to that finish line as strong 1060 01:02:51,540 --> 01:02:54,990 Meb Keflezighi: as you can. And it will make a lot more easier also when you 1061 01:02:54,990 --> 01:02:57,390 Meb Keflezighi: have run compete at the races. The recovery will be 1062 01:02:57,390 --> 01:03:00,990 Meb Keflezighi: easier when you have done your long run properly and manageably. 1063 01:03:01,050 --> 01:03:03,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: All right, Becs, that does it for another episode of Set 1064 01:03:03,660 --> 01:03:06,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: the Pace. We want to thank our guest today, Caitlin 1065 01:03:06,210 --> 01:03:08,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: Phillips and Dr. Melissa Melkonian. 1066 01:03:09,180 --> 01:03:14,730 Becs Gentry: Absolutely incredible stories, knowledge that we've learned in today's episodes. 1067 01:03:15,210 --> 01:03:19,590 Becs Gentry: I hope that Meb has given you all inspiration to 1068 01:03:19,920 --> 01:03:22,650 Becs Gentry: get out there, even if it is chilly, but you 1069 01:03:22,650 --> 01:03:26,190 Becs Gentry: can just get out there, take that pace down because 1070 01:03:26,430 --> 01:03:28,260 Becs Gentry: that means you can keep the layers on for a 1071 01:03:28,260 --> 01:03:28,501 Becs Gentry: bit longer. 1072 01:03:28,501 --> 01:03:32,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: So true. So true. You go fast, you got to start 1073 01:03:32,190 --> 01:03:33,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: peeling them off and the way you're going to put them. 1074 01:03:35,000 --> 01:03:35,002 Becs Gentry: (inaudible) . 1075 01:03:35,002 --> 01:03:35,003 Rob Simmelkjaer: I hate carrying gear while I run, absolutely. 1076 01:03:35,003 --> 01:03:40,890 Becs Gentry: I know. I just have them from my hips up around 1077 01:03:40,890 --> 01:03:42,960 Becs Gentry: my waist, so I come home looking like a weird 1078 01:03:42,960 --> 01:03:47,100 Becs Gentry: version of The Michelin Woman. But maybe that was some 1079 01:03:47,100 --> 01:03:49,590 Becs Gentry: good tips for people for this weekend's New York Road 1080 01:03:49,590 --> 01:03:52,380 Becs Gentry: Runners Frosty 5K. I think you're going to be there, 1081 01:03:52,380 --> 01:03:53,070 Becs Gentry: Rob, right? 1082 01:03:53,490 --> 01:03:56,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: I will not. I'm traveling this weekend. I will miss 1083 01:03:56,490 --> 01:03:59,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: the Frosty 5K, which I'm sad to miss. It's always 1084 01:03:59,130 --> 01:04:02,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: a great event. So much fun. A lot of costumes 1085 01:04:02,400 --> 01:04:02,641 Rob Simmelkjaer: out there. 1086 01:04:02,641 --> 01:04:02,642 Becs Gentry: I was going to say, I can't wait to see the costumes. 1087 01:04:02,642 --> 01:04:07,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: A lot of Santa, there's a lot of elves for the Frosty 5K. So I'll be 1088 01:04:07,980 --> 01:04:10,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: following on social. I can't wait to see it. A 1089 01:04:10,320 --> 01:04:12,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: race that always lives up to its name, by the way, 1090 01:04:12,060 --> 01:04:15,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: because there's always frosty out there at Prospect Park. So 1091 01:04:15,330 --> 01:04:18,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: hope everybody has a great time with our second to 1092 01:04:18,630 --> 01:04:20,970 Rob Simmelkjaer: last race of the year. I will be at the Midnight 1093 01:04:20,970 --> 01:04:23,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: Run on New Year's Eve this year. So I'll be 1094 01:04:23,730 --> 01:04:25,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: ringing in the New Year with our members and runners 1095 01:04:25,980 --> 01:04:27,930 Rob Simmelkjaer: out there on New Year's Eve in Central Park. So 1096 01:04:28,140 --> 01:04:30,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: that's, I guess, technically our last race of the year, 1097 01:04:30,180 --> 01:04:30,376 Rob Simmelkjaer: even though- 1098 01:04:30,376 --> 01:04:30,377 Becs Gentry: It is. 1099 01:04:30,377 --> 01:04:33,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... it starts at midnight next year. But have a 1100 01:04:33,330 --> 01:04:37,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: great weekend, everybody. Enjoy those chilly miles. Make sure you 1101 01:04:37,350 --> 01:04:39,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: subscribe to the show. Leave us a review. We want 1102 01:04:39,300 --> 01:04:41,880 Rob Simmelkjaer: to hear from folks out there. Send us a question 1103 01:04:41,880 --> 01:04:44,640 Rob Simmelkjaer: as well. Thanks for listening. We'll see you next week. 1104 01:04:44,760 --> 01:04:45,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: Enjoy the miles.