WEBVTT - Champion Sharon Lokedi is ready for the Mastercard Mini 10k 0:00:00.510 --> 0:00:03.630 It's a race where women really are genuinely supporting one 0:00:03.630 --> 0:00:05.970 another. I'll never forget one of the years I ran, 0:00:06.720 --> 0:00:09.210 two women were talking to each other. One said, " Hey, 0:00:09.210 --> 0:00:11.670 it's my first." They didn't know each other. One said, " 0:00:11.910 --> 0:00:14.069 It's my first time. I'm really nervous. I heard it's 0:00:14.070 --> 0:00:16.470 very hilly. I don't know the course at all." The 0:00:16.470 --> 0:00:19.200 other one said, " Hey, what pace are you planning to 0:00:19.200 --> 0:00:21.780 run? I'm happy to run with you and I'll give 0:00:21.780 --> 0:00:23.550 you guidance all along the way and I'll tell you 0:00:23.550 --> 0:00:28.110 what to expect." They instantly had this bond and this support 0:00:28.110 --> 0:00:31.320 and it's really incredible to watch. I think it's very special. 0:00:35.729 --> 0:00:38.820 Hey, everybody and welcome to Set the Pace, the official 0:00:38.820 --> 0:00:43.350 podcast of New York Roadrunners presented by Peloton. I'm your 0:00:43.350 --> 0:00:46.650 host, Rob Simmelkjaer, the CEO of New York Roadrunners. We 0:00:46.650 --> 0:00:48.930 are live and I'm going to make you guys make 0:00:48.930 --> 0:00:52.170 some noise. We're live from our annual TCS New York 0:00:52.170 --> 0:00:56.370 City Marathon Partner Forum. Can you make some noise so 0:00:56.370 --> 0:01:01.200 that people can hear you? That's right. This is a 0:01:01.200 --> 0:01:05.970 very exclusive crowd of New York City Marathon partners and 0:01:05.970 --> 0:01:08.910 sponsors. We bring them all together once a year in 0:01:08.910 --> 0:01:11.940 New York City to talk about this incredible event, the 0:01:11.940 --> 0:01:15.330 TCS New York City Marathon and all that our partners 0:01:15.330 --> 0:01:19.440 do to make that experience possible for our runners and 0:01:19.440 --> 0:01:23.039 our members. So it's a really special day. Part of 0:01:23.100 --> 0:01:25.860 what makes it special is I don't have my usual co- 0:01:25.860 --> 0:01:28.560 host with me today. Becs Gentry couldn't be with us 0:01:28.560 --> 0:01:31.080 today. So we've got someone from another one of our 0:01:31.080 --> 0:01:35.490 partners, Mastercard's Anne Valentzas is here in her place. Give 0:01:35.490 --> 0:01:41.490 it up for Anne. Did you ever think you'd be 0:01:41.490 --> 0:01:42.690 hosting a podcast, Anne? 0:01:43.080 --> 0:01:45.360 No. This is a first. I thought I was in 0:01:45.360 --> 0:01:46.890 marketing, but I guess I'm a podcaster. 0:01:47.490 --> 0:01:50.040 Well now you're talent. So welcome to the world of 0:01:50.040 --> 0:01:53.040 podcast talent. For those who don't know, can I tell 0:01:53.040 --> 0:01:54.270 a little bit about you? I want to tell your 0:01:54.270 --> 0:01:55.050 story a little bit. 0:01:55.080 --> 0:01:55.500 Sure. 0:01:55.500 --> 0:01:58.980 Anne's title is Senior Vice President of Consumer Marketing and 0:01:58.980 --> 0:02:03.240 Sponsorships at Mastercard. She spearheads the Global Priceless program, which 0:02:03.240 --> 0:02:08.040 is iconic. Everybody knows about Priceless and Mastercard, experiences that 0:02:08.040 --> 0:02:13.620 connect cardholders to culture, sport, and sustainability initiatives. A champion 0:02:13.620 --> 0:02:18.510 for entrepreneurs and also leads Mastercard's small business marketing portfolio, 0:02:18.840 --> 0:02:23.820 delivering resources and exposure that help local merchants thrive. Here 0:02:23.820 --> 0:02:27.810 at Roadrunners, we get to work closely with you through 0:02:27.810 --> 0:02:31.290 flagship races like the Mastercard Mini 10K, which is coming 0:02:31.290 --> 0:02:33.750 up this weekend, and of course the TCS New York 0:02:33.750 --> 0:02:36.630 City Marathon. Here's a fun fact about Anne. We were 0:02:36.630 --> 0:02:39.000 talking about it a little bit earlier. Anne ran her 0:02:39.000 --> 0:02:42.630 first Mini 10K. Was it your first race? 0:02:42.690 --> 0:02:43.710 No, it was not my first race. 0:02:43.740 --> 0:02:44.251 Okay, but your first... 0:02:44.251 --> 0:02:45.149 First time that I ran the Mini 10K. 0:02:45.150 --> 0:02:50.100 The Mini 10K, she ran it back in 1996. What 0:02:50.100 --> 0:02:51.390 do you remember about running it in 1996? 0:02:51.390 --> 0:02:56.850 I don't remember a lot other than I had a 0:02:56.850 --> 0:02:59.549 good time. I really enjoyed it. It's a special event. 0:02:59.610 --> 0:03:02.160 Obviously we're all very excited here at New York Roadrunners 0:03:02.160 --> 0:03:06.330 with the Mastercard Mini 10K coming up. Anne, we have an 0:03:06.330 --> 0:03:10.380 incredible pro field in this year's race. We've got Olympians and 0:03:10.380 --> 0:03:14.820 World Champions, including former TCS New York City Marathon winners, 0:03:15.330 --> 0:03:19.470 Hellen Obiri, and our guest today, which I'll introduce in 0:03:19.470 --> 0:03:24.030 a second, Sharon Lokedi, fresh off of her Boston Marathon 0:03:24.030 --> 0:03:26.700 win. She'll be joining us at the Mastercard Mini 10K. 0:03:26.700 --> 0:03:29.040 I cannot wait to see Sharon. I haven't seen her 0:03:29.040 --> 0:03:31.889 in person since she won that race in Boston. It 0:03:31.889 --> 0:03:34.530 was such a great moment to see that. We've got 0:03:34.530 --> 0:03:39.570 some other amazing champions. World Champion Gotytom Gebreslase will be 0:03:39.570 --> 0:03:46.140 there. US Olympians, Kim Conley, Emily Infeld, Weini Kelati, Dakotah Popehn, and Emily 0:03:46.140 --> 0:03:49.830 Sisson will all be in the field, and Paralympic medalist 0:03:49.830 --> 0:03:54.450 and defending TCS New York City Marathon Wheelchair champion Susannah 0:03:54.450 --> 0:03:58.530 Scaroni racing for her sixth consecutive event title. So, Anne, 0:03:58.530 --> 0:04:01.380 it's an amazing pro field. Not only do we have 0:04:01.380 --> 0:04:05.070 these amazing folks at the front, we've also got obviously 0:04:05.070 --> 0:04:06.960 a huge field behind them. We're going to have more 0:04:06.960 --> 0:04:10.890 than a thousand kids participating in a girls' run as 0:04:10.890 --> 0:04:13.770 well as 10, 000 runners in the main field. So it 0:04:13.770 --> 0:04:14.850 should be an amazing day. 0:04:15.300 --> 0:04:17.490 Really looking forward to it. I hope the weather holds 0:04:17.490 --> 0:04:18.300 out for us. 0:04:18.750 --> 0:04:20.609 Well, not only do we have all that going on, 0:04:20.610 --> 0:04:23.550 but also a first, this is going to be a 0:04:23.550 --> 0:04:26.580 broadcast race. We're going to have the opportunity for people 0:04:26.580 --> 0:04:29.670 to watch this race through all kinds of amazing channels. 0:04:29.670 --> 0:04:33.330 So for the first time, our New York Roadrunners app, 0:04:33.630 --> 0:04:36.480 which if you haven't downloaded already, you should be downloading 0:04:36.480 --> 0:04:39.930 right away because we're going to have live, uninterrupted feeds 0:04:40.170 --> 0:04:43.890 of the Mastercard New York Mini 10K professional athlete field 0:04:44.070 --> 0:04:47.310 live on the app as it happens. The event's also 0:04:47.310 --> 0:04:49.529 going to be covered locally in the tri- state New York 0:04:49.529 --> 0:04:53.969 City area by WABC TV with live news cut- ins 0:04:54.150 --> 0:04:57.270 from 6 AM to 10 AM. Then beginning at 7: 0:04:57.270 --> 0:05:00.300 45 AM the professional race will be covered by a 0:05:00.300 --> 0:05:04.380 live stream distributed not only in the app but domestically by 0:05:04.380 --> 0:05:10.529 ESPN Plus and ABC7newyork. com. So Anne, this race is getting 0:05:10.529 --> 0:05:13.529 bigger. We're also going to have international coverage as well. 0:05:13.529 --> 0:05:16.710 New York Roadrunners YouTube channel will cover the live stream. 0:05:17.130 --> 0:05:20.040 Reporting live from the event will be an all- women 0:05:20.279 --> 0:05:25.380 broadcast team, WABC sports anchor, Sam Ryan, WABC reporter, Nina 0:05:25.380 --> 0:05:30.510 Pineda, and US Olympians, Carrie Tollefson and Alysia Montano. So 0:05:30.690 --> 0:05:33.180 that's going to be pretty cool to watch that race 0:05:33.180 --> 0:05:37.260 live. It's great to shine a light on these incredible 0:05:37.260 --> 0:05:40.229 female athletes and give women everywhere a chance to watch 0:05:40.230 --> 0:05:41.070 this great race. 0:05:41.460 --> 0:05:45.060 Yeah, I'm really excited about that and I'm excited to be participating 0:05:45.060 --> 0:05:45.839 this year as well. 0:05:46.290 --> 0:05:47.430 You're back. Taking it... 0:05:47.430 --> 0:05:47.520 I'm back. 0:05:47.520 --> 0:05:49.741 Are you going to try to take that PR down again? 0:05:49.741 --> 0:05:52.140 I've got to keep on beating the last one. 0:05:52.140 --> 0:05:54.390 All right, pressure's on now. We'll all be tracking you 0:05:54.390 --> 0:05:56.640 in the app. So I'm putting you in right now. 0:05:56.640 --> 0:06:00.659 Anne Valentzas. That's with a Z. Okay. So we have 0:06:00.690 --> 0:06:03.510 a tradition at Set the Pace Partner Forum live episodes, 0:06:04.260 --> 0:06:08.010 and so we're going to have another superstar live runner 0:06:08.010 --> 0:06:11.850 join us today. Today it's going to be an incredible 0:06:11.850 --> 0:06:16.710 athlete and an incredible person. The newly crowned 2025 Boston 0:06:16.710 --> 0:06:21.960 Marathon champion and course record holder, the 2022 TCS New York 0:06:21.960 --> 0:06:26.940 City Marathon winner, and the 2025 United Airlines NYC Half Champion, 0:06:27.180 --> 0:06:29.789 the great Sharon Lokedi. She's going to be up here in 0:06:30.150 --> 0:06:32.610 just a minute and we're so excited to talk to 0:06:32.610 --> 0:06:35.310 her fresh off of her Boston win. First before we 0:06:35.310 --> 0:06:37.890 get to Sharon, we're going to talk a little more 0:06:37.890 --> 0:06:41.339 with you about Mastercard and the Mini 10K. I guess, 0:06:41.339 --> 0:06:43.770 Anne, I'll start just by asking you the question because 0:06:44.010 --> 0:06:45.450 a lot of folks out there, they may not understand 0:06:45.450 --> 0:06:49.799 the world of sports sponsorship. Why does a company like 0:06:49.800 --> 0:06:53.099 Mastercard want to put its name on an event like 0:06:53.100 --> 0:06:54.360 the Mastercard Mini 10K? 0:06:54.870 --> 0:06:58.170 Well, Mastercard Mini 10K is a special event. It is 0:06:58.170 --> 0:07:02.339 about bringing community together. It's about women supporting women, it's 0:07:02.339 --> 0:07:08.610 about women's empowerment. We as Mastercard are all about bringing 0:07:08.610 --> 0:07:13.500 people together through passions. Those runners are celebrating their passions 0:07:13.500 --> 0:07:18.090 together and this is an opportunity for us to enable 0:07:18.090 --> 0:07:21.300 that, enable that through our card holders and our employees 0:07:21.930 --> 0:07:24.180 and to be part of a very special event. 0:07:25.500 --> 0:07:30.240 What is the emotional power of an event like this? I 0:07:30.240 --> 0:07:32.730 always talk about the finish line of one of our 0:07:32.730 --> 0:07:35.910 races being, apologies to our friends and partners at the 0:07:35.910 --> 0:07:38.340 Walt Disney Company, but the finish line of one of 0:07:38.340 --> 0:07:40.800 our races is the happiest place on earth, I really 0:07:40.800 --> 0:07:45.540 believe. What does it mean for a brand like Mastercard 0:07:45.540 --> 0:07:50.610 for your priceless experiences to be a part of that emotional 0:07:50.610 --> 0:07:51.750 power of the finish line? 0:07:52.530 --> 0:07:57.420 Yeah, the finish line for a runner is about so 0:07:57.420 --> 0:08:01.410 much more than the race itself. It's about the journey 0:08:01.800 --> 0:08:05.880 that you took to get there. It's about setting those 0:08:06.300 --> 0:08:10.380 goals. It's about overcoming challenges. It's about the perseverance, the 0:08:10.380 --> 0:08:13.950 determination, what you're giving up in order to get to 0:08:13.950 --> 0:08:17.130 that point. When you do get to that point, that 0:08:17.130 --> 0:08:22.110 joy that you're celebrating is what we would call priceless. 0:08:22.140 --> 0:08:25.110 It is something, it's an emotion that money can't buy. 0:08:26.550 --> 0:08:29.790 How does a relationship like the one that Mastercard and 0:08:29.790 --> 0:08:33.480 New York Roadrunners has? How does it evolve over years? 0:08:35.640 --> 0:08:38.970 I always talk with our team about never standing still. 0:08:39.150 --> 0:08:42.090 You can't just keep doing the same thing over and 0:08:42.090 --> 0:08:44.790 over again. Even if it appears to be working, you 0:08:44.790 --> 0:08:47.550 can't keep doing it because what works today will not 0:08:47.550 --> 0:08:50.550 work in two years, five years because people are always 0:08:50.550 --> 0:08:54.090 looking for something new. This is really part of what 0:08:54.090 --> 0:08:56.940 marketers have to do. How do you manage to evolve 0:08:56.940 --> 0:09:00.809 the relationship and keep bringing people something new to excite them? 0:09:01.530 --> 0:09:05.700 Yeah, over the years we've really evolved this partnership to 0:09:05.760 --> 0:09:11.910 a very purpose- driven collaboration that has helped us bring 0:09:11.910 --> 0:09:16.620 our brand values to life through experiences. We do that 0:09:16.679 --> 0:09:20.189 through employees. We have the Mastercard Run Club, we do 0:09:20.190 --> 0:09:25.140 this through our small business activations at races. We do 0:09:25.140 --> 0:09:28.439 it for card holders. We offer card holders access to 0:09:28.440 --> 0:09:32.670 bibs at hard to get into races. We also do 0:09:32.670 --> 0:09:38.069 something very special. When we talk about priceless experiences, we're 0:09:38.070 --> 0:09:42.360 talking about these once- in- a- lifetime opportunities that literally 0:09:42.360 --> 0:09:45.510 you cannot buy anywhere. One of the things that we 0:09:45.510 --> 0:09:48.689 do at the TCS New York City Marathon is something 0:09:48.690 --> 0:09:52.380 we call the Priceless Start. What we do is enable 0:09:52.380 --> 0:09:56.729 our card holders to start the race in advance of 0:09:56.730 --> 0:09:59.640 the professional field. So they're the first ones to go 0:09:59.640 --> 0:10:03.030 over that Verrazzano- Narrows bridge. They're the first ones to 0:10:03.030 --> 0:10:06.179 hear the roar of the crowd, and they're the ones 0:10:06.240 --> 0:10:09.390 that are going to be experiencing firsthand what it feels 0:10:09.390 --> 0:10:12.720 like for those professionals to run past you. You get 0:10:12.720 --> 0:10:17.370 a real sense of the speed of these incredible athletes. It 0:10:17.370 --> 0:10:21.510 is just a remarkable, truly once- in- a- lifetime and 0:10:21.660 --> 0:10:23.070 priceless experience. 0:10:23.760 --> 0:10:25.890 I've stood at the starting line now for a few 0:10:25.890 --> 0:10:29.850 years and watched those runners get that start, that incredible 0:10:29.850 --> 0:10:34.170 experience. I always think two things. I think, well, how 0:10:34.170 --> 0:10:37.470 cool for them to get that opportunity. Then I always 0:10:37.470 --> 0:10:41.460 think, slow down. I'm like, you cannot chase those pro 0:10:41.460 --> 0:10:44.939 athletes. You've got to mind your pace. Just because you're 0:10:44.940 --> 0:10:47.011 up there with them doesn't mean you can keep up with them. 0:10:47.011 --> 0:10:50.429 That's a challenge. We have people tell us, I just want to 0:10:50.429 --> 0:10:51.750 keep up for a little bit. I want to see 0:10:51.750 --> 0:10:54.330 how long I can keep up with them. 0:10:54.390 --> 0:10:57.210 Yeah, if you start that way, good luck getting to 0:10:57.210 --> 0:11:00.540 Central Park. It may take you out, but it is 0:11:00.540 --> 0:11:05.220 an incredible experience for all of them. Another thing that 0:11:05.220 --> 0:11:07.500 I think is special about what you guys at Mastercard 0:11:07.500 --> 0:11:10.559 do around our events with the Roadrunners is you've got 0:11:10.559 --> 0:11:14.280 this incredible reach into small businesses. That's a huge focus 0:11:14.280 --> 0:11:17.880 of what you guys do. We've had small businesses featured 0:11:17.880 --> 0:11:22.590 at the Marathon Expo and in other places. Why is 0:11:22.590 --> 0:11:26.280 it so important for you, this big, global company to 0:11:26.280 --> 0:11:29.760 invest in and partner with small businesses and tell stories 0:11:29.760 --> 0:11:31.559 of all of these little mom and pops? 0:11:31.890 --> 0:11:35.520 Yeah. Well, I'll tell you, small businesses and runners have 0:11:35.520 --> 0:11:39.030 a lot in common. It is all about setting your 0:11:39.030 --> 0:11:43.290 personal goals. You've got to have determination, you've got to 0:11:43.290 --> 0:11:48.689 overcome adversity. You're in this on your own for a 0:11:48.690 --> 0:11:53.189 sense of personal achievement, but it's hard work. So we 0:11:53.190 --> 0:11:55.740 want to be out there and support these small businesses. 0:11:56.070 --> 0:11:58.949 It's a great opportunity to do this when we're at 0:11:58.950 --> 0:12:01.469 a race like the Mastercard Mini 10K, where it's all 0:12:01.470 --> 0:12:03.840 part of the local community and there are these local 0:12:03.840 --> 0:12:08.219 small businesses that really help us all help the city 0:12:08.220 --> 0:12:11.699 run, help us all as runners. This year we're going 0:12:11.700 --> 0:12:15.480 to have a number of small businesses with us throughout 0:12:15.480 --> 0:12:17.429 the race and at the end of the race, at 0:12:17.429 --> 0:12:21.990 the Mastercard Mini 10K. We've got Baz Bagels who's going 0:12:21.990 --> 0:12:26.100 to be with us. They are a small business down 0:12:26.100 --> 0:12:30.059 on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, started by a 0:12:30.059 --> 0:12:34.380 couple of founders. We've got Hometown Flowers with us. It's 0:12:34.380 --> 0:12:39.030 a really special group of people who are bringing you 0:12:39.030 --> 0:12:45.209 closer to the farmers who actually grow the flowers for 0:12:45.210 --> 0:12:49.679 your special events. A company called Fausel who can help 0:12:50.040 --> 0:12:54.840 support at events providing photography that can be loaded real 0:12:54.840 --> 0:12:59.309 time into social media. Once again, we have Face Art 0:12:59.309 --> 0:13:02.460 by Melissa who has been with us in the past. 0:13:02.940 --> 0:13:05.550 She has done Face Art for the New York Yankees, 0:13:05.550 --> 0:13:09.600 for the New York Rangers, for the New York Knicks, 0:13:09.809 --> 0:13:12.510 and for the New York Roadrunners and our very own 0:13:12.510 --> 0:13:16.559 Rob Simmelkjaer was decorated not maybe last year or the 0:13:16.559 --> 0:13:17.100 year before. 0:13:17.100 --> 0:13:19.710 I think it was two years ago. They managed to put the 0:13:19.710 --> 0:13:23.550 Mastercard colors on my cheek. It worked. 0:13:23.610 --> 0:13:26.730 That's right. We wanted our brand everywhere at that race, 0:13:26.730 --> 0:13:27.990 including on Rob. 0:13:31.260 --> 0:13:35.100 Another thing that I love about Mastercard and our partnership 0:13:35.100 --> 0:13:38.010 is you also have made it a big part of 0:13:38.070 --> 0:13:40.710 what it means to be an employee at Mastercard. You 0:13:40.710 --> 0:13:45.420 guys have a run club, an internal run club. How 0:13:45.420 --> 0:13:48.480 has that run club shaped the culture at Mastercard? 0:13:49.559 --> 0:13:53.100 Yeah, well at Mastercard we have a strong belief in supporting 0:13:53.100 --> 0:13:57.449 our employees' health and well- being. That is physical, mental well- 0:13:57.450 --> 0:14:03.240 being. Our run club, we started in partnership with this, 0:14:03.300 --> 0:14:06.270 when we started this partnership in 2020, it has grown 0:14:06.270 --> 0:14:10.469 to over 600 members. We are able to give our 0:14:10.470 --> 0:14:16.860 employees access to things like the bibs, to priceless experiences. 0:14:16.860 --> 0:14:20.580 Like we've had some incredible one- on- one sessions with 0:14:20.670 --> 0:14:24.900 our ambassadors. We obviously can give them access to the 0:14:24.900 --> 0:14:30.510 Priceless Start and events like the Mastercard Mini 10K, where 0:14:30.510 --> 0:14:34.260 we'll have a very large group of Mastercard employees running 0:14:34.260 --> 0:14:35.280 with us on Saturday. 0:14:36.420 --> 0:14:39.450 All right, I'm excited to interview our guest. Will you 0:14:39.450 --> 0:14:39.990 join me? 0:14:40.200 --> 0:14:41.100 I would love to. 0:14:41.130 --> 0:14:45.600 All right. We are so thrilled to welcome Sharon Lokedi 0:14:45.600 --> 0:14:47.910 back to Set the Pace. She was on the show 0:14:47.910 --> 0:14:51.540 actually this past February and we talked in that episode 0:14:51.540 --> 0:14:55.590 about her childhood and her family and her evolution from 0:14:55.590 --> 0:14:59.880 a college athlete in Kansas to a champion marathoner. So 0:15:00.120 --> 0:15:03.210 you should go back and find that show. We'll put 0:15:03.210 --> 0:15:05.940 in the show notes to listen to that. Since that 0:15:05.940 --> 0:15:09.870 conversation just 13 weeks ago, Sharon has won the United 0:15:09.870 --> 0:15:14.130 Airlines NYC half in an event record, one hour, seven 0:15:14.160 --> 0:15:17.910 minutes and four seconds. Then in April, she not only 0:15:17.910 --> 0:15:22.260 won the Boston Marathon, but she shattered the course record 0:15:22.470 --> 0:15:26.820 with a two hour, 17 minute and 22 second finish 0:15:26.820 --> 0:15:29.910 in Boston. This coming weekend, Sharon will once again be 0:15:29.910 --> 0:15:34.380 racing her friend and her fierce competitor and countrywoman Hellen 0:15:34.380 --> 0:15:38.100 Obiri in the Mastercard New York Mini 10K. So we 0:15:38.100 --> 0:15:41.040 have a lot to catch up on. Try the Peloton 0:15:41.040 --> 0:15:43.980 app for free and access classes for every type of 0:15:43.980 --> 0:15:46.920 runner. Whether you're training for your first race or you're 0:15:46.920 --> 0:15:50.850 a seasoned pro. From outdoor runs and intervals to strength, 0:15:51.090 --> 0:15:54.420 yoga, and stretching, you'll find a perfect fit for every 0:15:54.450 --> 0:15:57.570 part of your routine. Whether it's long run day or 0:15:57.780 --> 0:16:00.690 you just need a quick five- minute reset. The Peloton 0:16:00.690 --> 0:16:03.060 app meets you where you are and helps you become 0:16:03.060 --> 0:16:07.170 a stronger, faster runner because it's designed for someone like 0:16:07.170 --> 0:16:10.050 you. Try the app for free for 30 days and 0:16:10.050 --> 0:16:12.810 download it now from the App Store or Google Play. 0:16:13.020 --> 0:16:17.130 Terms apply. Peloton, the official digital fitness partner of New 0:16:17.130 --> 0:16:20.250 York Roadrunners. Can we get Sharon Lokedi up here? Where 0:16:20.250 --> 0:16:32.640 is Sharon? There she is. Sharon, I have to give you 0:16:32.640 --> 0:16:40.950 a hug. Great to see you. Great. How are you? It is so great to see 0:16:40.950 --> 0:16:47.400 Sharon. Sharon, I haven't seen you since Boston. I saw 0:16:47.400 --> 0:16:51.030 you a little bit before the race. It was so 0:16:51.030 --> 0:16:56.760 amazing to watch you cross that finish line, the battle 0:16:57.000 --> 0:17:00.660 between you and Hellen, those last couple of miles. We'll 0:17:00.660 --> 0:17:02.940 talk about that in a second because it was an 0:17:02.940 --> 0:17:09.060 unbelievable battle. To see you and there was a moment 0:17:09.060 --> 0:17:12.300 where you clearly had it, and then to watch you 0:17:12.450 --> 0:17:16.619 come down Boylston Street, cross that finish line and go 0:17:16.619 --> 0:17:22.830 right into your mother's arms was a beautiful, beautiful thing 0:17:22.830 --> 0:17:25.350 to see. Congratulations. 0:17:26.070 --> 0:17:26.699 Thank you. Thank you. 0:17:31.500 --> 0:17:38.700 What, Sharon, do you most remember now? It was obviously 0:17:38.700 --> 0:17:42.540 such a huge moment, it's so recent and fresh, but 0:17:42.540 --> 0:17:47.970 when you think about it now, what's the first image 0:17:48.330 --> 0:17:49.290 that comes to mind? 0:17:50.400 --> 0:17:54.930 I think it was honestly just like you turn and 0:17:54.930 --> 0:17:57.660 you could see the finish line, but it seems so 0:17:57.660 --> 0:18:01.230 close, but it's so far away. At that time you're 0:18:01.230 --> 0:18:05.010 just so tired. I'm like, I remember I kept telling 0:18:05.010 --> 0:18:07.830 myself just one step at a time, you can do 0:18:07.830 --> 0:18:11.190 this, you can do this. Then just seeing that guide 0:18:11.190 --> 0:18:16.380 just go, " Oh, go right." I'm like, oh, thank God. So 0:18:16.470 --> 0:18:21.150 yeah, it definitely was one of those that you just cross 0:18:21.150 --> 0:18:25.290 the finish line and you're like, this is what I've been 0:18:25.290 --> 0:18:26.879 working for, for a very long time. 0:18:27.119 --> 0:18:31.950 How many miles were you and Hellen just kind of 0:18:31.980 --> 0:18:35.580 going head- to- head? I remember just in watching it, 0:18:35.580 --> 0:18:38.580 I feel like it was quite a while. It was 0:18:38.580 --> 0:18:41.190 just the two of you and it was like mano 0:18:41.190 --> 0:18:47.460 a mano, woman against woman battle all along that route. 0:18:47.550 --> 0:18:50.790 When was the moment that you thought you had it, 0:18:50.790 --> 0:18:53.189 that you were going to be able to overcome Hellen 0:18:53.190 --> 0:18:53.850 and win this? 0:18:54.600 --> 0:18:58.080 Honestly, not until late because as you know, Hellen is 0:18:58.080 --> 0:19:01.980 such a tough competitor and also a tough athlete. So 0:19:02.700 --> 0:19:07.560 going through those maybe five miles of the race was 0:19:07.560 --> 0:19:10.800 pretty... I think I was just thinking, I'm like, okay, how 0:19:10.800 --> 0:19:12.600 am I going to get it today? How am I going 0:19:12.600 --> 0:19:16.619 to be able to defeat her today? In a way 0:19:17.369 --> 0:19:19.500 it was just in a nice way, but still I'm 0:19:19.500 --> 0:19:23.310 like, okay, I need this. I think it was right 0:19:23.369 --> 0:19:29.280 before, I think 800 meters. Sometimes you make moves and 0:19:29.280 --> 0:19:32.550 you don't really look back and you just expect it to be 0:19:32.550 --> 0:19:35.010 okay and you just expect for the best. For me, in 0:19:35.010 --> 0:19:38.340 my head, I was like, okay, don't look back. Just 0:19:38.430 --> 0:19:41.820 keep working hard and keep pushing. I think if you 0:19:41.820 --> 0:19:45.810 just believe in it, you're just going to go. Yeah, I just kept 0:19:45.810 --> 0:19:50.310 going and kept praying. Yeah. 0:19:51.270 --> 0:19:53.580 Well, Sharon, it is such an honor to be sitting 0:19:53.580 --> 0:19:57.420 here next to you. I am such a big admirer. 0:19:57.420 --> 0:20:01.200 I watched you win the New York Marathon in 2022. 0:20:01.200 --> 0:20:03.690 I was in the women's lead vehicle as a sponsor, 0:20:04.140 --> 0:20:07.260 so we watched the whole race firsthand and I was 0:20:07.260 --> 0:20:11.490 cheering for you. So it was just super exciting, very 0:20:11.490 --> 0:20:15.630 exciting to see you win Boston this year. I hear 0:20:15.630 --> 0:20:19.470 you talk about this and you seem so calm, and 0:20:19.470 --> 0:20:21.629 I just wonder how do you mentally prepare for a 0:20:21.630 --> 0:20:22.830 race of that magnitude? 0:20:23.340 --> 0:20:29.459 Oh, first of all, it's a pleasure to meet you. I think it's just during 0:20:29.460 --> 0:20:34.080 training, I just try to visualize the race and everything. 0:20:34.590 --> 0:20:38.520 Just as I trained, even if it's a workout or 0:20:38.520 --> 0:20:40.740 an easy run, I just try to think about it and 0:20:40.950 --> 0:20:44.400 just try and focus on that and how I can 0:20:44.400 --> 0:20:47.609 go through those obstacles. I can go through those tired 0:20:47.609 --> 0:20:49.709 miles where I'm like, I can't really go. Then I 0:20:51.240 --> 0:20:55.740 just try to focus on the things that I can work 0:20:55.740 --> 0:20:59.340 on and the things that I can use to help 0:20:59.340 --> 0:21:03.090 me build confidence. Sometimes it can be a run where 0:21:03.600 --> 0:21:05.939 I am doing a workout and I feel like I 0:21:05.940 --> 0:21:08.310 don't feel good, or sometimes it's a workout where I 0:21:08.310 --> 0:21:09.990 feel so good and then I'm like, okay, I need 0:21:09.990 --> 0:21:13.919 to work more on this and get stronger in this side 0:21:13.920 --> 0:21:19.439 and this. Over time I think it helps. As you 0:21:19.440 --> 0:21:25.800 go, I mean it's not easy, but it's one of those that you're like, okay, it's a progress more than anything. 0:21:27.690 --> 0:21:30.270 What did it mean for you to have your mother there at 0:21:30.270 --> 0:21:30.990 the finish line? 0:21:31.230 --> 0:21:35.609 Oh, so cool. It was just amazing. I could see 0:21:35.609 --> 0:21:37.409 her running to me and I'm like, this way, I'm 0:21:37.410 --> 0:21:40.020 so tired. I'm like, please just slow down a little. 0:21:40.230 --> 0:21:44.609 It's like, I've never seen her run that fast. It 0:21:44.609 --> 0:21:51.510 was just amazing. She gets to... She's someone that's always, 0:21:51.660 --> 0:21:56.910 she's prayerful, she's very hopeful. So she was all this 0:21:56.910 --> 0:22:00.119 time I could see even after, I could see all 0:22:00.119 --> 0:22:02.939 the videos and I could see her pacing and all. 0:22:03.420 --> 0:22:07.530 At home when she's watching, she's usually asking my sisters 0:22:07.530 --> 0:22:10.560 and my neighbor's like, " Oh, how is she doing?" She 0:22:10.560 --> 0:22:14.490 wouldn't watch, she would just ask people. This time she 0:22:14.490 --> 0:22:16.859 was there, so it was hard for her not to 0:22:16.859 --> 0:22:20.669 see it. It was just a cool experience to get to 0:22:20.670 --> 0:22:25.981 enjoy all that with her. Yeah, I hope she had a good time. I hope so. 0:22:25.981 --> 0:22:32.220 I would think she had a pretty good time watching her daughter win the thing. Probably 0:22:32.220 --> 0:22:32.909 a pretty good time. 0:22:32.910 --> 0:22:33.360 Yeah. 0:22:33.960 --> 0:22:38.430 How has life been like since Boston? I saw a 0:22:38.430 --> 0:22:41.280 lot of interviews on social media, which by the way, 0:22:41.280 --> 0:22:44.280 you still seem very calm in these interviews. I think 0:22:44.280 --> 0:22:47.850 it's so incredible. Were you prepared for all that buzz 0:22:47.850 --> 0:22:48.570 and excitement? 0:22:49.020 --> 0:22:54.660 No. When all you think about at that time is 0:22:54.660 --> 0:22:59.910 just the race. Just the race. Sometimes it's like you 0:22:59.910 --> 0:23:03.990 never know how it's going to go. Then when you 0:23:03.990 --> 0:23:06.780 win and then you're like, oh, (inaudible) everything coming. 0:23:07.590 --> 0:23:13.560 I think it helps because when you have people that 0:23:13.560 --> 0:23:16.350 are there to support you, and sometimes even with these 0:23:16.350 --> 0:23:19.830 interviews, it's just like a conversation. So when it feels 0:23:19.830 --> 0:23:22.409 like this calm and stuff, so I am also calm, 0:23:22.410 --> 0:23:27.900 so it helps. Yeah, it's been a lot of just 0:23:28.770 --> 0:23:32.070 chatting about how my training is and my runs and 0:23:32.070 --> 0:23:36.659 all that. If anything, I feel like it's a growth 0:23:36.690 --> 0:23:41.129 journey for me. Yeah, I don't know, I'll enjoy it 0:23:41.130 --> 0:23:43.500 and I'll take it in as much as I can. 0:23:44.130 --> 0:23:45.719 Good. You should enjoy it. 0:23:45.780 --> 0:23:46.260 Oh, thank you. 0:23:47.220 --> 0:23:52.500 Winning, you've won a lot of races. What's the difference 0:23:52.530 --> 0:23:57.480 when you win something like Boston? It's a global stage, 0:23:57.570 --> 0:24:01.980 New York obviously as well, these global stages that people 0:24:01.980 --> 0:24:06.240