WEBVTT - Tiki Barber Talks Marathons, Motivation, and What’s Next 0:00:11.250 --> 0:00:14.430 Hey everybody, and welcome to Set the Pace, the official 0:00:14.430 --> 0:00:17.669 podcast of New York Road Runners. We are presented by 0:00:17.670 --> 0:00:20.100 Peloton. I'm your host and the CEO of New York 0:00:20.100 --> 0:00:23.430 Road Runners, Rob Simmelkjaer. And with me this week and 0:00:23.430 --> 0:00:27.240 just about every week, my lovely co- host, a Peloton 0:00:27.240 --> 0:00:30.030 running instructor, and an incredible runner in her own right, 0:00:30.450 --> 0:00:32.580 Becs Gentry. Hey Becs, nice to see you. 0:00:32.580 --> 0:00:36.120 Hello. Hi, I missed you. It's been a couple of 0:00:36.120 --> 0:00:38.550 weeks while I was having a bit of family time, 0:00:38.820 --> 0:00:40.830 but I missed having our chats. 0:00:40.890 --> 0:00:43.920 I know. It's always hard, but we knew you were 0:00:43.920 --> 0:00:46.680 coming back and I follow you on your Instagram and 0:00:46.680 --> 0:00:48.750 all the places so it sounds like you guys had 0:00:48.750 --> 0:00:50.190 a great, great time and Becs- 0:00:50.190 --> 0:00:50.191 We did. 0:00:50.191 --> 0:00:53.850 ... this is exciting. We are joined today by a 0:00:53.850 --> 0:00:57.570 whole new audience. We've got now a new partner in 0:00:57.570 --> 0:01:01.920 iHeartMedia, and for the first time this week, our podcast 0:01:01.920 --> 0:01:07.319 is being broadcast over the airwaves of WOR 710 AM here 0:01:07.319 --> 0:01:09.390 in New York City, so welcome to all of our 0:01:09.390 --> 0:01:09.631 new listeners- 0:01:09.631 --> 0:01:09.632 What's up? 0:01:09.632 --> 0:01:14.310 ... on WOR with iHeart. It's super exciting to welcome 0:01:14.310 --> 0:01:17.220 a whole new group of people to this podcast. And 0:01:17.400 --> 0:01:19.380 for those who don't know what they're listening to right 0:01:19.380 --> 0:01:23.520 now, this podcast is all about running. We are New 0:01:23.520 --> 0:01:26.190 York Road Runners, which of course is the nonprofit organization 0:01:26.190 --> 0:01:28.890 in New York that puts on the TCS New York 0:01:28.890 --> 0:01:32.280 City Marathon and many, many other races. And so every 0:01:32.280 --> 0:01:35.399 single week, Becs and I get together, we talk a little 0:01:35.400 --> 0:01:37.650 running, and then we always bring in a guest sometimes 0:01:37.650 --> 0:01:40.800 too, to talk about what running has done for their 0:01:40.800 --> 0:01:44.310 lives. And we've had so many different kinds of people 0:01:44.310 --> 0:01:46.980 over the years who have been runners and have had 0:01:46.980 --> 0:01:51.360 their lives really transformed by running. And so we like 0:01:51.360 --> 0:01:53.461 to talk to those people, and that's what we do here on Set the Pace, Becs. 0:01:53.461 --> 0:01:58.830 Exactly. And it is so awesome to have all these new ears listening 0:01:58.830 --> 0:02:03.420 and maybe getting inspired to come along to their first 0:02:03.420 --> 0:02:06.000 New York Road Runners event in the future. 0:02:06.240 --> 0:02:09.900 That's the idea. And you don't have to see yourself 0:02:09.900 --> 0:02:10.291 running a marathon- 0:02:10.291 --> 0:02:10.292 No. 0:02:10.292 --> 0:02:13.470 ... to just go for a run. You can go 0:02:13.470 --> 0:02:17.160 outside and run a mile, find a track nearby, run 0:02:17.160 --> 0:02:20.040 a couple laps, and guess what? You've started to run. 0:02:20.040 --> 0:02:22.200 And then we've talked to so many people on this 0:02:22.200 --> 0:02:26.400 show over the 100- plus episodes we've now done who 0:02:26.400 --> 0:02:28.710 said they never thought they would run and then they 0:02:28.919 --> 0:02:32.070 something or someone inspired them to give it a try, 0:02:32.190 --> 0:02:34.830 and they took that first little jog and that turned 0:02:34.830 --> 0:02:37.680 into a longer one and a longer one. And some 0:02:37.680 --> 0:02:39.570 of those people end up at the starting line of 0:02:39.570 --> 0:02:41.850 the New York City Marathon. Some of them don't, and 0:02:41.850 --> 0:02:45.990 that's okay because it doesn't mean you have to run a marathon just when 0:02:45.990 --> 0:02:49.380 you start running, you can just love running and get 0:02:49.380 --> 0:02:51.510 something from it at any distance. 0:02:51.870 --> 0:02:56.520 Exactly. And even if you do one, that's it, one 0:02:56.520 --> 0:02:59.280 and done of any distance. The other thing you do though, 0:02:59.430 --> 0:03:02.580 once you're in the running world, is you come and cheer for all 0:03:02.580 --> 0:03:04.710 of your friends in the running world. So if you've never 0:03:04.710 --> 0:03:06.960 come down to a New York Road Runners event in either 0:03:06.960 --> 0:03:10.380 capacity, we can't wait to welcome you down however you 0:03:10.380 --> 0:03:10.950 choose to be there. 0:03:11.580 --> 0:03:14.070 That's right, that's a huge part of our community. It's 0:03:14.070 --> 0:03:16.110 a huge part of what we do and talk about here 0:03:16.110 --> 0:03:19.470 as well as all the support that runners need from 0:03:19.470 --> 0:03:22.230 folks. So hey, the New York City Marathon, we call 0:03:22.230 --> 0:03:24.299 it the best day of the year in New York City. 0:03:24.300 --> 0:03:24.390 True. 0:03:24.660 --> 0:03:26.820 But it's just one day of the year in New York 0:03:26.820 --> 0:03:29.730 because New York Road Runners is putting on running events 0:03:30.030 --> 0:03:33.030 just, well, not just about every single week and weekend 0:03:33.030 --> 0:03:36.090 of the year, whether it's one of our 40 races 0:03:36.090 --> 0:03:39.300 or our open run, which are free races and free 0:03:39.300 --> 0:03:42.330 runs, 5K runs in New York City parks, our rising 0:03:42.330 --> 0:03:45.780 New York Road Runners program where we've got over 100,000 0:03:45.780 --> 0:03:49.170 kids in schools running. So there's so much we're doing 0:03:49.470 --> 0:03:51.900 and you can be a part of it. So if you are new 0:03:51.900 --> 0:03:55.170 to us, you can check everything out at nyrr. org 0:03:55.470 --> 0:03:59.460 and come join the party. Well, Becs, the running community did 0:03:59.460 --> 0:04:01.980 get some sad news this week we have to talk 0:04:01.980 --> 0:04:05.760 about. New York Road Runners Hall of Fame member Nina 0:04:05.820 --> 0:04:10.140 Kuscsik, a legend in women's distance running and a lifelong 0:04:10.140 --> 0:04:14.400 advocate for women's participation in sports died this week at 0:04:14.400 --> 0:04:19.469 the age of 86. Becs, Nina was the first official 0:04:19.470 --> 0:04:23.070 woman finisher in the history of the New York City 0:04:23.070 --> 0:04:26.640 Marathon. In 1970, she was the only woman to participate. 0:04:26.970 --> 0:04:30.390 She had to drop out due to illness that year in 1970. 0:04:30.990 --> 0:04:36.060 In 1969, she ran the Boston Marathon unofficially as the 0:04:36.060 --> 0:04:39.390 race didn't even recognize women finishers at the time. And 0:04:39.390 --> 0:04:43.320 then in 1972, of course she was famously part of 0:04:43.320 --> 0:04:47.070 the Six Who Sat. Those were six women who showed 0:04:47.070 --> 0:04:49.589 up at the starting line of the marathon in Central 0:04:49.589 --> 0:04:53.040 Park. But when the gun went off, they sat down 0:04:53.220 --> 0:04:55.680 because they were protesting the fact that women had a 0:04:55.680 --> 0:04:57.930 separate start and they thought they should be able to 0:04:57.930 --> 0:05:00.930 start with the men. After the press got a hold 0:05:00.930 --> 0:05:03.450 of that story, the women stood up and they started 0:05:03.450 --> 0:05:06.990 running. And Nina, she won that race in three hours 0:05:07.260 --> 0:05:11.400 and eight minutes. She was, Becs, a real legend in 0:05:11.400 --> 0:05:11.790 the sport of running. 0:05:12.630 --> 0:05:18.960 She truly, truly was. And also that year, 1972, she was 0:05:18.960 --> 0:05:21.660 a Boston Marathon champion, and that was the first year 0:05:21.660 --> 0:05:25.170 that women were officially able to actually run the Boston 0:05:25.170 --> 0:05:30.089 Marathon, which is just wild. She's worked with other friends 0:05:30.089 --> 0:05:33.900 of New York Road Runners, Fred Lebow, Kathrine Switzer, and 0:05:34.050 --> 0:05:38.550 together the three of them actually co- founded Crazylegs Mini 0:05:38.610 --> 0:05:44.279 Marathon. Have a Google of it, it is amazing. And 0:05:44.580 --> 0:05:48.570 she worked tirelessly alongside Kathrine Switzer to bring the women's 0:05:48.570 --> 0:05:51.180 marathon to the Olympics, which we all know finally did 0:05:51.180 --> 0:05:56.550 happen in 1984. Go JBS for winning that one. And in 0:05:56.550 --> 0:06:03.089 2022, so relatively recently, Nina received the Abebe Bikila Award 0:06:03.089 --> 0:06:05.760 presented annually by New York Road Runners to an individual 0:06:05.760 --> 0:06:09.089 who has made an outstanding contribution to the sport of 0:06:09.089 --> 0:06:15.420 distance running. I think that is really, really just the 0:06:15.420 --> 0:06:18.240 icing on the cake of how she will be remembered 0:06:18.300 --> 0:06:22.740 and celebrated forevermore in the world of running. 0:06:22.770 --> 0:06:28.230 Becs, it is hard to imagine running and distance running 0:06:28.230 --> 0:06:33.990 and marathons without women today in 2025, just about half 0:06:33.990 --> 0:06:37.320 of our finishers are women these days. They've made such 0:06:37.320 --> 0:06:41.670 huge contributions at the professional level, at the amateur level. 0:06:41.670 --> 0:06:46.950 I just can't imagine this sport without the incredible gender 0:06:47.190 --> 0:06:51.359 equity that we have, and Nina was a trailblazer in 0:06:51.360 --> 0:06:54.539 making all of that happen. I mean, she was running at 0:06:54.540 --> 0:06:59.460 a time when there was a widespread belief by the 0:06:59.460 --> 0:07:02.910 powers that be in the sport that distance running was not 0:07:02.910 --> 0:07:06.659 something that was appropriate for girls and women. And she 0:07:06.810 --> 0:07:10.740 realized that was hogwash and she stood up and sat 0:07:10.740 --> 0:07:13.710 down and did all the things that make the world 0:07:13.710 --> 0:07:18.780 that we have today possible. So she just was a huge force for change in the sport 0:07:19.530 --> 0:07:22.440 She was, and as a female in the sport of 0:07:22.440 --> 0:07:27.660 running, I will be forever in her debt for allowing 0:07:27.660 --> 0:07:31.380 us to be here and doing all the things that 0:07:31.410 --> 0:07:34.710 we get to do today. So guys, if you want 0:07:34.710 --> 0:07:38.700 to learn more about Nina's incredible legacy, head to the 0:07:38.700 --> 0:07:42.300 link in today's show notes and deep dive and learn 0:07:42.300 --> 0:07:46.050 more and more will help widen your mind, which she's 0:07:46.050 --> 0:07:47.070 always a bonus. 0:07:47.190 --> 0:07:50.940 That's right. You can find out more about her at nyrr. org as 0:07:50.940 --> 0:07:52.770 well. We had a great blog post about her and 0:07:52.770 --> 0:07:55.890 our social media as well. So rest in peace, Nina 0:07:55.890 --> 0:08:00.780 Kuscsik. Well, Becs, last Saturday was a little bit rainy. 0:08:00.780 --> 0:08:04.260 We had some wetness, but luckily no thunder, no lightning. 0:08:04.260 --> 0:08:07.140 And so that allowed the show to go on at 0:08:07.170 --> 0:08:11.850 the Citizens Queens 10K. A giant field turned out at 0:08:11.850 --> 0:08:16.020 Flushing Meadows Park right there between Citi Field and the 0:08:16.020 --> 0:08:19.500 US Open National Tennis Center and the Hemisphere. It's such 0:08:19.500 --> 0:08:24.090 a great environment where the old 1964 World's Fair took 0:08:24.090 --> 0:08:30.690 place and the rain did not hold 10,997 runners back. 0:08:30.690 --> 0:08:31.050 So good. 0:08:31.170 --> 0:08:32.491 Including yours truly by the way. 0:08:32.491 --> 0:08:32.821 Well done. 0:08:32.880 --> 0:08:34.980 Running that race for the second year in a row. 0:08:35.820 --> 0:08:40.020 It was a great day and luckily the rain eased 0:08:40.020 --> 0:08:42.000 up. By the time the race really got going, there 0:08:42.000 --> 0:08:45.120 weren't too many raindrops and it was such a fun 0:08:45.210 --> 0:08:48.450 day out there in Queens for the Citizens Queens 10K. It's 0:08:48.450 --> 0:08:52.170 one of our Five- Borough race series. It's the fourth 0:08:52.170 --> 0:08:55.800 Race of the year in that Five- Borough series. And 0:08:55.920 --> 0:08:59.130 the winners this year for the women it was Khia Kurtenbach 0:08:59.130 --> 0:09:02.429 with a time of 34: 33. She's with Central Park 0:09:02.429 --> 0:09:06.150 Track Club. The non- binary winner was Pierce Lydon at 0:09:06.150 --> 0:09:13.230 36:44. And for the men it was Bekele Shiferaw Agunafr, hopefully 0:09:13.230 --> 0:09:15.870 I pronounced that correctly, with a time of 30 minutes 0:09:15.870 --> 0:09:20.160 and 52 seconds from West Side Runners. Becs, this is a 0:09:20.160 --> 0:09:20.611 fun race. 0:09:20.611 --> 0:09:20.612 So fun. 0:09:20.612 --> 0:09:24.150 And having Citizens on board as our partner has made 0:09:24.150 --> 0:09:27.270 it even more fun because there's just this giant festival 0:09:27.270 --> 0:09:30.750 that goes on a big stage and music and giveaways 0:09:30.750 --> 0:09:33.958 and it's just a fun spot to be. And you 0:09:33.958 --> 0:09:37.140 know what, there was one really big piece of news 0:09:37.140 --> 0:09:40.350 actually, Becs, out of the Citizens Queens 10K, speaking of 0:09:40.350 --> 0:09:43.711 the marathon, are you familiar with the rapper named Nore? 0:09:43.711 --> 0:09:43.712 Yes. And I follow him and it was all over Instagram, yes. 0:09:43.712 --> 0:09:43.713 That's right. 0:09:43.713 --> 0:09:43.713 So cool. 0:09:43.713 --> 0:09:52.740 Nore, who is a native of Queens and has had 0:09:52.740 --> 0:09:55.229 a very successful hip- hop careers, had a couple of 0:09:55.230 --> 0:09:58.410 big hits, Nore with his whole crew, he's got a 0:09:58.410 --> 0:10:00.900 run club that he runs with, and they get to 0:10:00.900 --> 0:10:04.620 the finish line of the Queens 10K, and then Nore drops 0:10:04.620 --> 0:10:07.380 the big news that he is going to run the 0:10:07.380 --> 0:10:11.309 TCS New York City Marathon this fall, first marathon of 0:10:11.309 --> 0:10:15.059 his life, and yeah, the internet went crazy when he 0:10:15.059 --> 0:10:15.720 announced that. 0:10:16.080 --> 0:10:16.081 Yeah. 0:10:16.081 --> 0:10:19.890 But yeah, we love it when someone who has a huge 0:10:19.890 --> 0:10:22.770 fan base like Nore and think about it, a guy like 0:10:22.770 --> 0:10:26.400 that who's got this huge number of fans, many of 0:10:26.400 --> 0:10:29.250 whom probably most of whom are maybe not runners, and 0:10:29.250 --> 0:10:32.910 they see him taking on this challenge. And I love 0:10:32.910 --> 0:10:36.900 this announcement because he said, " Running makes me happy." That's 0:10:36.900 --> 0:10:39.090 what he said when he announced that he's running the 0:10:39.090 --> 0:10:41.309 marathon. I'm like, " That's a beautiful thing to hear." It's 0:10:41.309 --> 0:10:44.400 not the kind of sentiment that we maybe expect to 0:10:44.400 --> 0:10:48.630 hear from rappers like hip- hop guys running makes me 0:10:48.630 --> 0:10:51.240 happy and I love that. And that was the reason 0:10:51.240 --> 0:10:53.190 why he said he's going to take on the marathon. 0:10:54.120 --> 0:11:00.929 That sentiment is really permeating all of the world right now. As you say, you 0:11:00.929 --> 0:11:03.990 don't expect to hear it from certain types of people, 0:11:04.260 --> 0:11:09.179 but it really is coming through with musicians, actors, business 0:11:09.179 --> 0:11:11.969 people, whoever. Oh, it makes my heart sing, I was 0:11:11.970 --> 0:11:13.829 so happy to see that. And then I went on 0:11:13.830 --> 0:11:16.740 a deep dive on his Instagram and yeah, great. We 0:11:16.740 --> 0:11:17.849 can't wait to see you crush it, Nore. 0:11:18.390 --> 0:11:19.800 Something to look forward to this fall. 0:11:19.800 --> 0:11:19.801 Absolutely. 0:11:19.801 --> 0:11:25.559 All right, Becs. Coming up on the show, it's a great show. We have an amazing guest 0:11:25.590 --> 0:11:29.250 today, a New York City sports legend, a longtime friend 0:11:29.250 --> 0:11:32.400 of New York Road Runners Tiki Barber will join us 0:11:32.400 --> 0:11:34.830 to talk about his running journey and how he went 0:11:35.040 --> 0:11:38.130 from running back to runner. And then later on you 0:11:38.130 --> 0:11:41.429 can check in for today's Meb Minute. Meb Keflezighi, if 0:11:41.429 --> 0:11:43.920 you don't know him, of course, a legendary runner in 0:11:43.920 --> 0:11:47.070 his own right, New York City Marathon and Boston Marathon 0:11:47.070 --> 0:11:49.410 champion. He joins us every week to give us a 0:11:49.410 --> 0:11:51.480 little bit of a running tip. And this week, Meb's 0:11:51.480 --> 0:11:54.150 here to remind us of what we should be thinking 0:11:54.150 --> 0:11:57.839 about as we begin summer training for fall marathons. 0:11:58.050 --> 0:12:00.750 And before we go into too many more marathons, Rob, 0:12:01.110 --> 0:12:03.689 I just want to tell everybody a little bit of 0:12:03.690 --> 0:12:05.760 my marathon news if that's okay. 0:12:05.760 --> 0:12:10.950 Absolutely. Now, we knew that you were planning to run the Grandma's Marathon 0:12:11.010 --> 0:12:11.820 out in Minnesota. 0:12:11.970 --> 0:12:18.150 Yeah, this coming Saturday. And unfortunately, but fortunately in many 0:12:18.150 --> 0:12:22.710 ways, I have decided to withdraw from the race because 0:12:22.770 --> 0:12:26.939 I talk a lot about mental health and enjoying running 0:12:27.150 --> 0:12:29.940 and the love of running. And if you followed me 0:12:29.940 --> 0:12:32.760 during this training, you know it's been a strange one 0:12:32.760 --> 0:12:35.040 for me, Rob, to be quite honest, I thought I 0:12:35.040 --> 0:12:39.090 was ready to go after 777, ready to push it. I 0:12:39.090 --> 0:12:43.080 was invited to run this race as an elite. My 0:12:43.080 --> 0:12:46.650 body just was giving me so many signs that it 0:12:46.650 --> 0:12:49.500 wasn't the right time to do this. There's no injury, 0:12:49.590 --> 0:12:54.660 I'm absolutely fine, I'm running every day, but my heart 0:12:54.690 --> 0:12:59.490 was not in it to race the marathon distance this 0:12:59.490 --> 0:13:02.910 Saturday. And sometimes you've just got to put your gut 0:13:02.910 --> 0:13:06.210 instinct first and look after yourself. And I thought long 0:13:06.210 --> 0:13:09.150 and hard about why am I putting my body through 0:13:09.150 --> 0:13:12.360 this stress? What was the reason? And I live by 0:13:12.360 --> 0:13:14.190 the mantra forward is a pace, and I know I 0:13:14.190 --> 0:13:16.380 could have run it at any pace and finished in 0:13:16.380 --> 0:13:19.559 any time and been proud of it. But alongside that, 0:13:19.770 --> 0:13:22.890 I have to remember, and I always remind people that 0:13:23.130 --> 0:13:26.309 26.2 miles is a lot of cortisol on the body. 0:13:26.730 --> 0:13:31.290 And oftentimes you have to just say, " Hey, you know 0:13:31.290 --> 0:13:34.199 what? My body doesn't need that right now," and that's 0:13:34.200 --> 0:13:40.470 where I was. And serendipitously, alongside that, I am hosting 0:13:40.470 --> 0:13:45.030 my first ever run event alongside the actress Jennifer Garner 0:13:45.570 --> 0:13:47.581 this weekend in Los Angeles. 0:13:47.581 --> 0:13:48.001 Wow. 0:13:48.059 --> 0:13:51.480 So logistically, it would've been really difficult for me to 0:13:51.480 --> 0:13:54.630 do both getting from New York to Duluth to Los 0:13:54.630 --> 0:13:59.550 Angeles all within 72 hours. But if you have followed 0:13:59.550 --> 0:14:03.630 mine and Jennifer's Instagram, Jennifer decided to run a mile 0:14:03.630 --> 0:14:08.910 a day for 67 days for Save the Children. And 0:14:08.910 --> 0:14:11.309 I had this harebrained idea a few weeks ago. I 0:14:11.309 --> 0:14:14.220 said to her, " Hey, we should do a run on 0:14:14.220 --> 0:14:19.050 day 67 as a finale," and it's spiraled into an 0:14:19.050 --> 0:14:21.690 event that will be held in West Los Angeles on 0:14:21.690 --> 0:14:26.130 Sunday. Event details will have dropped when we air this. 0:14:26.820 --> 0:14:31.770 We're really, really excited to just help spread this radical 0:14:31.770 --> 0:14:35.070 love that we're trying to get around the world to 0:14:35.070 --> 0:14:38.130 help save as many children as possible from the brink 0:14:38.130 --> 0:14:42.840 of starvation to help improve their nutrition and health because $ 0:14:42.930 --> 0:14:47.160 67 is all it takes to help that journey kickstart. 0:14:48.000 --> 0:14:51.990 We've already helped just over 6, 000 children since this hashtag 0:14:51.990 --> 0:14:55.350 has been rolling 67 strong for kids, so we're hoping 0:14:55.350 --> 0:14:57.690 it's going to at least double it. So if you're 0:14:57.690 --> 0:14:59.730 interested, check it out on my Instagram, check it out 0:14:59.730 --> 0:15:03.390 on Jennifer Garner's Instagram and on Save the Children. And if 0:15:03.390 --> 0:15:05.520 you're in the West Los Angeles area, look out for 0:15:05.520 --> 0:15:06.420 us on Sunday. 0:15:07.170 --> 0:15:13.500 That is amazing. Absolutely a phenomenal reason to change your 0:15:13.500 --> 0:15:18.000 running plans and an incredible cause as well, so congratulations 0:15:18.000 --> 0:15:21.240 to you to Jennifer Garner as well. So cool that 0:15:21.240 --> 0:15:24.810 I know someone who knows Jennifer Garner. That's the headline 0:15:24.810 --> 0:15:28.830 for me to this entire conversation, but it sounds really cool. 0:15:29.130 --> 0:15:32.520 And for those who don't know or who are new 0:15:32.520 --> 0:15:37.620 to the podcast, Becks referred to 777. That was seven 0:15:37.620 --> 0:15:40.920 marathons on seven continents in seven days that she took 0:15:40.920 --> 0:15:43.830 on back in November, so yeah, I guess I could 0:15:43.830 --> 0:15:46.890 see how your body might still be in recovery mode. 0:15:47.070 --> 0:15:49.440 I think I'd be in recovery mode for the rest 0:15:49.440 --> 0:15:52.740 of my natural life if I did what you did. I 0:15:52.740 --> 0:15:55.620 think that you're owed as much time as you want 0:15:55.620 --> 0:15:58.920 before you decide to race the marathon distance again. 0:15:58.920 --> 0:15:59.041 Thank you. 0:15:59.041 --> 0:16:04.260 And I think people talk about running marathons, but you just can't 0:16:04.260 --> 0:16:09.030 overstate the physical toll that a marathon, especially when you're 0:16:09.030 --> 0:16:12.240 going all out and racing a marathon, takes on your 0:16:12.240 --> 0:16:12.930 body. It is really a hard thing to do. 0:16:12.930 --> 0:16:18.570 It is, so we have to listen to those signs and 0:16:18.570 --> 0:16:20.580 as joyful as it can be to get out there 0:16:20.580 --> 0:16:24.600 and get those medals, I'll be cheering from afar with 0:16:24.810 --> 0:16:28.770 our podcast friend Carrie Tollefson will be there. Dick Beardsley, 0:16:28.770 --> 0:16:31.860 their amazing panel that they host out there, and my 0:16:31.860 --> 0:16:35.250 girls from the 777 race, Ash, Hillary, and Chirine will 0:16:35.250 --> 0:16:38.520 be there still competing so I'm definitely going to be 0:16:38.550 --> 0:16:42.060 cheering so loudly for everybody running that race this weekend. 0:16:42.480 --> 0:16:45.359 Try the Peloton app for free and access classes for 0:16:45.360 --> 0:16:48.090 every type of runner. Whether you're training for your first 0:16:48.090 --> 0:16:51.510 race or you're a seasoned pro. From outdoor runs and 0:16:51.510 --> 0:16:55.650 intervals to strength yoga and stretching, you'll find the perfect 0:16:55.650 --> 0:16:59.100 fit for every part of your routine. Whether it's a 0:16:59.100 --> 0:17:01.800 long run day or you just need a quick five- 0:17:01.800 --> 0:17:05.550 minute reset, the Peloton app meets you where you are and 0:17:05.550 --> 0:17:09.899 helps you become a stronger, faster runner because it's designed 0:17:09.930 --> 0:17:13.199 for someone like you. Try the app free for 30 0:17:13.200 --> 0:17:15.900 days and download it now from the app store or 0:17:15.900 --> 0:17:20.460 Google Play. Terms apply. Peloton, the official digital fitness partner 0:17:20.580 --> 0:17:21.390 for New York Road Runners. 0:17:22.350 --> 0:17:25.830 Our guest today is a New York sports legend and 0:17:25.890 --> 0:17:28.020 one of my heroes as a lifelong New York Giants 0:17:28.020 --> 0:17:31.649 fan. Tiki Barber spent 10 seasons as a running back for 0:17:31.650 --> 0:17:36.420 the Giants before retiring from the NFL in 2006. In 2014, he 0:17:36.420 --> 0:17:40.140 ran his first New York City Marathon and he was 0:17:40.140 --> 0:17:42.930 hooked. And over the next decade, Tiki completed more than 0:17:43.260 --> 0:17:49.050 15 marathons including Boston, Chicago, Big Sur, and Jerusalem. He's 0:17:49.050 --> 0:17:51.270 been a regular in New York Road Runners events, and 0:17:51.270 --> 0:17:54.450 also served as an ambassador for Team for Kids raising 0:17:54.450 --> 0:17:58.260 money to support youth fitness programs. His last official race 0:17:58.440 --> 0:18:02.939 with New York Road Runners was the 2023 Achilles Hope and Possibility 0:18:02.940 --> 0:18:05.910 four miler, where he served as a guide runner, and 0:18:05.910 --> 0:18:08.310 so Tiki is here to talk a little running and 0:18:08.310 --> 0:18:10.709 maybe a little football. This is an honor, my man. 0:18:10.710 --> 0:18:12.960 I've seen you around in races a lot. You're such 0:18:12.960 --> 0:18:15.780 a great part of our running community, but to me 0:18:15.780 --> 0:18:18.300 you'll always be one of the best running backs in 0:18:18.300 --> 0:18:20.429 New York Giants history. I think the best, I'm not even going 0:18:20.430 --> 0:18:22.679 to say one of, the best running back in the 0:18:22.680 --> 0:18:24.420 history of the Giants. So it is great to have 0:18:24.420 --> 0:18:25.619 you on. How are you? 0:18:26.040 --> 0:18:28.710 I'm doing fantastic. It's great to see you Rob. And Becs, 0:18:29.640 --> 0:18:32.400 I run with you daily on Peloton, so I feel 0:18:32.400 --> 0:18:34.920 like I know you even though I don't actually have 0:18:34.920 --> 0:18:38.460 met you yet, but this is exciting for me. Yeah, 0:18:38.460 --> 0:18:41.129 I'm a different kind of runner these days. And you 0:18:41.130 --> 0:18:45.750 talked about that first marathon in 2014, I sucked so bad. 0:18:46.950 --> 0:18:50.970 I basically walked the last 10 miles, but I finished 0:18:50.970 --> 0:18:51.660 and then I was hooked. 0:18:51.960 --> 0:18:55.080 Yes, but you know what? Getting to the finish line, Tiki, that's 0:18:55.080 --> 0:18:57.330 what we always talk about. It doesn't matter. Forward is 0:18:57.330 --> 0:19:01.410 a pace. You get there and it's learning, it's all 0:19:01.410 --> 0:19:04.680 learning. And the most beautiful thing is, as you say, 0:19:04.680 --> 0:19:05.850 you were hooked from that. 0:19:05.850 --> 0:19:06.180 Yeah. 0:19:06.240 --> 0:19:10.680 That sucky 26. 2 wasn't enough to make you go, " 0:19:10.830 --> 0:19:13.138 Nope, not doing that again." It made you go, " Ah, 0:19:13.138 --> 0:19:13.770 how do I do this better?" 0:19:14.190 --> 0:19:18.210 Well, my body said, " Don't ever do this again." And 0:19:18.210 --> 0:19:20.880 then about a week later my mindset said, " You can't 0:19:20.880 --> 0:19:24.330 be that bad as a runner." I also had to 0:19:24.330 --> 0:19:26.580 change my body. I mean, I still had a little 0:19:26.580 --> 0:19:29.850 bit of a football body in 2014, I was weighing 0:19:29.880 --> 0:19:32.159 over 205 pounds or so. 0:19:32.520 --> 0:19:32.790 Wow. 0:19:34.020 --> 0:19:37.770 I couldn't push my muscles for 26.2 miles. And so 0:19:37.770 --> 0:19:39.780 over the next couple of years I got down to 0:19:40.020 --> 0:19:41.969 more of my natural weight. You guys know I have 0:19:41.970 --> 0:19:43.020 an identical twin brother. 0:19:43.710 --> 0:19:43.918 Ronde, yeah. 0:19:45.570 --> 0:19:49.320 Yeah, Ronde. Our natural weight is about 185 to 190. 0:19:50.160 --> 0:19:52.980 And so now I weigh about 190, so I'm back 0:19:52.980 --> 0:19:56.669 to a natural weight as opposed to wearing shield of 0:19:56.670 --> 0:19:57.900 muscle to play football. 0:19:58.290 --> 0:20:01.830 How does that feel different, Tiki? Just walking around day 0:20:01.830 --> 0:20:04.350 to day must feel a lot different. You must feel 0:20:04.350 --> 0:20:07.859 so much lighter just going up and down stairs and 0:20:07.859 --> 0:20:10.710 doing your day- to- day stuff versus all that mass 0:20:10.710 --> 0:20:13.950 you had to carry to take and sometimes deliver a 0:20:13.950 --> 0:20:15.090 hit on the football field. 0:20:15.240 --> 0:20:19.440 I'd say, Rob, it's freeing in a way. There was 0:20:19.440 --> 0:20:23.070 a point in my life where I had to have this 0:20:23.070 --> 0:20:25.440 padding on me because I'm getting hit 30 times a 0:20:25.440 --> 0:20:28.560 game, and it became natural for me even after I 0:20:28.560 --> 0:20:33.720 retired to want to lift weights, power lift, dead lift, 0:20:33.990 --> 0:20:36.869 bench press 300 pounds, all the stuff that was just 0:20:36.869 --> 0:20:41.399 part of my existence for two decades. But I realized 0:20:41.400 --> 0:20:45.600 that once you get older, once you hit 35, your 0:20:45.600 --> 0:20:49.560 body doesn't respond to things anymore and you actually started 0:20:49.560 --> 0:20:52.410 doing yourself damage, and so I just started to feel heavy 0:20:52.770 --> 0:20:54.840 and once I lost a lot of weight, I actually 0:20:54.840 --> 0:20:58.770 got down in one year because I ran three marathons. 0:20:59.550 --> 0:21:02.880 I was down to 178, which was a little bit too skinny. 0:21:03.240 --> 0:21:03.241 Wow. 0:21:03.241 --> 0:21:03.242 Yeah. 0:21:03.242 --> 0:21:06.060 You could really see it. But I feel so much 0:21:06.060 --> 0:21:09.510 better. I changed my diet and I'm not as much 0:21:09.510 --> 0:21:13.320 of a carnivore as I used to be, but I 0:21:13.320 --> 0:21:15.869 feel so much better as of now, a 50 year 0:21:15.869 --> 0:21:18.240 old than I did when I had all that weight 0:21:18.240 --> 0:21:18.450 on me. 0:21:19.290 --> 0:21:22.440 Isn't that just incredible that you at 50 can say 0:21:22.440 --> 0:21:28.830 that and having such a massively successful sports career before 0:21:28.890 --> 0:21:31.890 you turn to running that you feel better now? I 0:21:31.890 --> 0:21:34.649 think most people would just be like, " That's unfair, man. 0:21:34.650 --> 0:21:38.459 That is so unfair," because you were the top of the world 0:21:38.640 --> 0:21:41.760 in football and now you are saying how incredible it 0:21:41.760 --> 0:21:41.940