WEBVTT - Top American Marathoner Susanna Sullivan Talks Balancing Teaching and Training 0:00:00.450 --> 0:00:02.940 I didn't actually realize that I was in the lead 0:00:02.940 --> 0:00:06.029 American spot until very, very late in the race, maybe 0:00:06.030 --> 0:00:09.210 a mile ago. I started to have suspicions of it 0:00:09.210 --> 0:00:12.600 at about the halfway because I feel like I heard somebody say 0:00:12.600 --> 0:00:17.700 top American, and I was like, " No, surely I must 0:00:17.700 --> 0:00:19.680 have missed somebody with all the chaos at the start, 0:00:20.370 --> 0:00:23.670 somebody must be still further ahead." But then with about 0:00:23.670 --> 0:00:26.550 a mile to go in Chicago, one of the motorcycles 0:00:26.550 --> 0:00:30.150 pulled up alongside me and was yelling to other people like, " 0:00:30.150 --> 0:00:31.020 lead American." 0:00:35.400 --> 0:00:38.790 Hello everybody, and welcome to Set the Pace, the official 0:00:38.790 --> 0:00:43.229 podcast of New York Roadrunners presented by Peloton. I'm your 0:00:43.229 --> 0:00:45.960 host, Rob Simmelkjaer, the CEO of New York Roadrunners back 0:00:45.960 --> 0:00:48.690 on video for a second week in a row with 0:00:49.020 --> 0:00:53.190 Becs Gentry who's joining us from her homeland in London, 0:00:53.190 --> 0:00:56.850 England, United Kingdom. Becs, it's great to see you. We're 0:00:56.850 --> 0:00:59.010 not in person this week, we're separated by a little 0:00:59.010 --> 0:01:00.781 ocean, but it's great to see your face. 0:01:00.781 --> 0:01:05.250 It's very different. Yes, side by side, literally in person last week 0:01:05.250 --> 0:01:08.310 to being separated by the Atlantic Ocean. But we're here. 0:01:08.310 --> 0:01:11.729 I'm back home for a couple of weeks in London. 0:01:11.730 --> 0:01:13.709 Well, I can't really call it home anymore. My original 0:01:13.709 --> 0:01:17.790 home here with Peloton whilst our studios are having a 0:01:17.790 --> 0:01:21.420 little bit of a revamp in New York and then, yeah, it's 0:01:21.420 --> 0:01:22.770 fun. It's great to be back. 0:01:23.190 --> 0:01:25.770 So they sent you to London to teach because there's 0:01:25.770 --> 0:01:28.740 a studio over there and you're using that and getting 0:01:28.740 --> 0:01:30.301 a little trip home as well out of it. Not bad. 0:01:30.301 --> 0:01:30.691 Yeah. Yeah. No one's here. Well, my sister is here. Well, she's in Norfolk. 0:01:36.510 --> 0:01:38.551 Yeah, because your parents moved, right? 0:01:38.551 --> 0:01:38.819 Yeah. 0:01:38.819 --> 0:01:41.700 So you're kind of like a Londoner without family in 0:01:41.700 --> 0:01:46.860 London anymore, but of course Austin and your child are 0:01:46.860 --> 0:01:49.950 back in the States, Tallulah. What's it feel like to 0:01:49.950 --> 0:01:53.730 be home, but maybe not feeling so at home with 0:01:53.730 --> 0:01:55.440 all your family in different places? 0:01:56.010 --> 0:01:58.020 Yeah, it's strange. I think once I see my sister 0:01:58.020 --> 0:01:59.730 in a couple of days, I'm going to go to 0:01:59.730 --> 0:02:04.440 Norfolk, which is the east coast of England, to see her 0:02:04.770 --> 0:02:07.890 for 24 hours or so, and I think I'll feel 0:02:07.890 --> 0:02:11.400 more like I'm home in that respect. But yeah, right 0:02:11.400 --> 0:02:14.970 now I do feel a little bit like an American 0:02:15.120 --> 0:02:17.790 in New York walking around like, " Ooh, this is such 0:02:17.790 --> 0:02:21.870 a sweet city. It's so small." And I just walked 0:02:21.870 --> 0:02:24.990 across London. You don't just do that in New York, you don't 0:02:25.440 --> 0:02:27.870 just hop out of your house and you walk everywhere. 0:02:29.100 --> 0:02:33.030 So it's been very nice, very, very fun. But I'm 0:02:33.360 --> 0:02:35.070 definitely going to be missing my little family by the 0:02:35.070 --> 0:02:37.830 time I get home. Right now I'm still like, " Mom's having 0:02:37.830 --> 0:02:38.191 a bit of a break." 0:02:38.191 --> 0:02:42.090 Yeah, yeah. Well, I'm sure it's nice, but I'm sure 0:02:42.090 --> 0:02:45.630 they miss you and we get a little time with you, which 0:02:45.630 --> 0:02:50.250 is awesome. So Becs, we have some excitement to announce 0:02:50.250 --> 0:02:57.000 this week. It's crazy, Becs, I really don't consider myself 0:02:57.419 --> 0:03:00.960 a marathoner. I ran the New York City Marathon as 0:03:00.960 --> 0:03:04.919 you know when I was graduating from law school back 0:03:04.919 --> 0:03:08.790 in 1997 to date myself a little bit here, and that 0:03:08.790 --> 0:03:11.638 was going to be kind of like a bucket list experience, 0:03:11.639 --> 0:03:14.760 and it was incredible. And then something got in me 0:03:14.760 --> 0:03:18.540 to do it again 16 years later in 2013 when 0:03:18.540 --> 0:03:20.100 I was just about to move out of the city 0:03:20.100 --> 0:03:24.450 with our family, and that was incredible, a beautiful day 0:03:24.450 --> 0:03:27.240 and achieve my goals and all that. And then I was pretty 0:03:27.240 --> 0:03:30.150 sure I was done running marathons, of course, getting back 0:03:30.150 --> 0:03:33.419 to New York Roadrunners now and working around them all 0:03:33.419 --> 0:03:37.560 the time, something has happened to me and I find myself 0:03:37.860 --> 0:03:41.430 doing this now, running marathons over and over. And I 0:03:41.430 --> 0:03:45.150 think what it is that I go to these marathons. 0:03:45.150 --> 0:03:48.000 I went to the London Marathon the first year I 0:03:48.000 --> 0:03:49.890 was here at Roadrunners and I wasn't running it. I just 0:03:49.890 --> 0:03:53.220 went to be there. I'm on board of the Abbott World Marathon 0:03:53.220 --> 0:03:56.490 Majors, so of course I go to a lot of the other majors, and 0:03:56.490 --> 0:03:59.760 I found that being at a marathon, I wasn't running. 0:03:59.940 --> 0:04:02.610 I just didn't enjoy that. It was hard for me 0:04:02.610 --> 0:04:05.580 to be in the scene and in the mix and 0:04:05.580 --> 0:04:08.190 not run it. And so other than New York, which 0:04:08.190 --> 0:04:10.680 of course I'm around every year, but don't run it, 0:04:10.710 --> 0:04:12.930 can't run it because I've got way too much going 0:04:12.960 --> 0:04:15.390 on. I'm way too busy. But other than that, I 0:04:15.390 --> 0:04:18.300 haven't been to a major since then that I haven't run. 0:04:18.630 --> 0:04:22.320 So as you all know, I ran Berlin last fall. 0:04:22.320 --> 0:04:26.669 I ran Tokyo in March, that left me halfway to 0:04:26.670 --> 0:04:30.870 the six stars of the Abbott World Marathon Majors. And so 0:04:31.050 --> 0:04:34.410 I've just decided to keep this party going, Becs, and I'm going 0:04:34.410 --> 0:04:39.240 to run the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon on 0:04:39.240 --> 0:04:42.240 October 12. So excited. 0:04:42.779 --> 0:04:47.490 Yay. That is incredible. Well, congratulations first of all on 0:04:48.029 --> 0:04:52.350 taking the hardest step, which I think is committing to 0:04:53.220 --> 0:04:56.760 doing well, not the hardest, but it is very daunting for 0:04:56.760 --> 0:05:01.380 most people to commit to a marathon, any race, knowing 0:05:01.380 --> 0:05:04.380 that you've got a big bulk of training between you and 0:05:04.920 --> 0:05:07.919 the race day, and then tough run between you and 0:05:07.920 --> 0:05:11.250 the finish line. But how wonderful, because you get to 0:05:11.250 --> 0:05:17.609 take yourself on another adventure, both physically, mentally, and you 0:05:17.610 --> 0:05:19.380 get a nice big shiny medal at the end of 0:05:19.380 --> 0:05:21.990 it. And as you say, you're one step closer to 0:05:22.020 --> 0:05:25.859 that elusive six star of the World Marathon Majors medal. 0:05:26.159 --> 0:05:26.251 I mean, so cool. So cool. 0:05:26.251 --> 0:05:31.020 Becs know, listen, I'm super lucky. I realize how lucky 0:05:31.020 --> 0:05:34.229 I am because of my role I get to get 0:05:34.230 --> 0:05:37.200 into these marathons. It's a lot easier for me than 0:05:37.200 --> 0:05:38.940 it is for the average person to get in, and 0:05:38.940 --> 0:05:41.279 I am very appreciative of that. And I want to thank 0:05:41.610 --> 0:05:46.080 Carey Pinkowski, Mike Nishi, the amazing team out in Chicago 0:05:46.080 --> 0:05:49.529 for inviting me to run this year. So Chicago is 0:05:49.529 --> 0:05:52.470 such a beautiful city and I'm just excited to be 0:05:52.470 --> 0:05:55.260 a part of it. In addition to it being my 0:05:55.260 --> 0:05:59.520 four star, I also really decided, Becs, that if I'm 0:05:59.520 --> 0:06:02.730 going to go for this sixth thing, it lines up 0:06:02.730 --> 0:06:06.450 well schedule- wise for me because London is next spring. 0:06:06.660 --> 0:06:08.220 If I come out of this feeling, well, that would 0:06:08.220 --> 0:06:10.020 be a good time to go for that. And then 0:06:10.020 --> 0:06:15.390 of course there's Boston and I can run Boston, of 0:06:15.390 --> 0:06:18.960 course I can get a bib. I know I can 0:06:18.960 --> 0:06:21.900 get a bib and they'll kindly give me one. But 0:06:21.900 --> 0:06:26.430 there's something about Boston, Becs, that makes me want to 0:06:26.430 --> 0:06:30.659 take on the challenge of qualifying. And it just turns out 0:06:31.020 --> 0:06:34.560 that the way that the Boston Marathon qualifying cycle works, 0:06:34.920 --> 0:06:37.380 when you qualify for the Boston Marathon, the time that 0:06:37.380 --> 0:06:41.220 counts, it's not the age that you are when you 0:06:41.220 --> 0:06:45.089 run the qualifying race. It's the age you are on 0:06:45.089 --> 0:06:48.360 the day of the Boston Marathon that you're qualifying for. 0:06:48.870 --> 0:06:51.240 I just learned this by talking to my friend Jack 0:06:51.240 --> 0:06:54.540 Fleming, the race director of the Boston Marathon. So it 0:06:54.540 --> 0:07:00.810 turns out Becs that I can qualify for the 2027 Boston 0:07:00.810 --> 0:07:03.210 Marathon, which is the cycle that we would be in 0:07:03.690 --> 0:07:06.870 in October for the Chicago Marathon. And I will be, 0:07:06.960 --> 0:07:08.820 I'm just going to put my ages out there. I'll 0:07:08.820 --> 0:07:12.510 be 55 on the day of that Boston Marathon, but 0:07:12.510 --> 0:07:15.690 I'll only be 53 on the day of the Chicago 0:07:15.690 --> 0:07:18.630 Marathon that I would be running to try to qualify for. 0:07:18.930 --> 0:07:20.131 Is it a different qualifying time bracket? 0:07:20.131 --> 0:07:28.200 It's a different bracket. So I, at the age of 53, which I will be on October 12th because my 0:07:28.200 --> 0:07:31.860 birthday is October 21st, I will be 53 trying to 0:07:31.860 --> 0:07:37.471 qualify for the 55 to 59 age bracket at the Boston Marathon. 0:07:37.471 --> 0:07:38.131 Fantastic. 0:07:38.460 --> 0:07:41.520 And for me, that's a good thing because I'm not 0:07:41.520 --> 0:07:46.020 getting a lot faster. The magic of my running career, Becs, is that 0:07:46.470 --> 0:07:49.290 I've managed not to get slower, but I also haven't 0:07:49.290 --> 0:07:52.590 gotten a lot faster. But the qualifying times are getting 0:07:52.590 --> 0:07:55.380 slower, so that time to hit for me will be 0:07:55.380 --> 0:07:58.950 three hours and 30 minutes. As you know, I ran 327 0:07:58.950 --> 0:08:02.910 in Berlin last year, so I clearly got that in me. 0:08:02.910 --> 0:08:05.760 I'd like to run a couple minutes faster to create 0:08:05.760 --> 0:08:07.739 a little bit more buffer. Because everybody knows you need 0:08:07.740 --> 0:08:10.320 that buffer time a lot of the time to actually 0:08:10.320 --> 0:08:13.530 get into Boston. So yeah, that's my goal. Becs, is to 0:08:13.530 --> 0:08:17.790 run 325 or better to try to qualify for Boston 0:08:17.790 --> 0:08:19.440 in 2027. 0:08:20.460 --> 0:08:24.810 So many twists, so many wonderful, wonderful things that you 0:08:24.810 --> 0:08:25.860 will be able to celebrate. 0:08:25.890 --> 0:08:28.200 Well, I need one thing though, Becs, if I'm going 0:08:28.200 --> 0:08:31.680 to accomplish this and I want to run a good time in Chicago, 0:08:32.130 --> 0:08:35.429 I need a coach. I need some help. I've had 0:08:35.730 --> 0:08:37.589 some great help along the way the last couple of 0:08:37.590 --> 0:08:40.620 years I've used Runna, the terrific app that we have at 0:08:40.620 --> 0:08:42.660 New York Roadrunners and I continue to use that. I've been 0:08:42.660 --> 0:08:45.209 using that to build my base. This summer I used 0:08:45.210 --> 0:08:48.449 that for Berlin. Of course, I've had Roberto Mandje who 0:08:48.450 --> 0:08:51.300 people know paced me and helped coach me in Berlin, and he 0:08:51.300 --> 0:08:54.599 was amazing. But I was thinking, Becs, who do I 0:08:54.600 --> 0:08:58.830 know who's really good at running marathons, who's got an 0:08:58.830 --> 0:09:03.120 incredible track record, who's a teacher who could help me 0:09:03.420 --> 0:09:06.840 get ready for Chicago? And I thought, " Gee, there's somebody I 0:09:06.840 --> 0:09:10.110 speak to just about every week who I know is 0:09:10.110 --> 0:09:13.709 really good at this." And so I thought maybe Becs 0:09:14.010 --> 0:09:16.860 would help me. So, Becs, I'm here to ask, would 0:09:16.860 --> 0:09:19.380 you consider coaching me to get me ready for the 0:09:19.410 --> 0:09:23.370 Chicago Marathon because I think it'd be great for me to have 0:09:23.370 --> 0:09:26.130 your help. I know you're not a coach in this 0:09:26.130 --> 0:09:29.610 way, you're obviously an incredible coach for all your Peloton 0:09:29.610 --> 0:09:31.620 followers, but this is not really what you do. But 0:09:31.620 --> 0:09:32.701 I know you know what to do. 0:09:32.701 --> 0:09:32.911 I do. 0:09:33.210 --> 0:09:35.970 So would you help get me ready for this and 0:09:35.970 --> 0:09:38.819 maybe our listeners can go along for the ride as 0:09:38.820 --> 0:09:41.819 you coach and hopefully don't torture me too much to 0:09:41.819 --> 0:09:44.040 get ready for the marathon this October? 0:09:45.420 --> 0:09:49.440 I would be honored too. I'd absolutely be honored too. 0:09:50.400 --> 0:09:53.520 I think that will be very funny. And if it's 0:09:53.520 --> 0:09:55.140 okay with you, I think we should talk about it 0:09:55.140 --> 0:09:59.641 on a weekly basis how I'm not torturing you. I know a lot of my- 0:09:59.641 --> 0:10:02.040 You can torture me a little if it's going to make me you faster. 0:10:03.270 --> 0:10:03.660 Yeah, just a look. 0:10:03.660 --> 0:10:05.939 I will. You know I will. All of our listeners who know me know I will. And 0:10:08.910 --> 0:10:10.770 that will be awesome and we should definitely make sure 0:10:10.770 --> 0:10:13.620 we get you into a Peloton class at some point 0:10:13.890 --> 0:10:16.980 during this time period as well. So I can actually see you 0:10:16.980 --> 0:10:19.860 running and check it out, but I'd be honored to 0:10:19.860 --> 0:10:21.569 come on this journey with you. 0:10:21.780 --> 0:10:24.210 Check on my form a little bit because you and I, as 0:10:24.210 --> 0:10:26.040 much as we've talked about running, you and I have 0:10:26.040 --> 0:10:29.130 actually never run together. There's a good reason for that, 0:10:29.309 --> 0:10:31.949 which is that I can't stay anywhere near you. 0:10:31.949 --> 0:10:32.881 We're both normally working with these races. 0:10:32.881 --> 0:10:35.040 Yes, there's the work thing, but there's also the fact 0:10:35.040 --> 0:10:37.290 that you would be walking and I'd be running. But 0:10:37.290 --> 0:10:40.140 other than that, we just haven't had a chance to 0:10:40.140 --> 0:10:42.000 do it. But yes, that would be great if I came 0:10:42.000 --> 0:10:44.339 to one of your classes and you can yell at 0:10:44.340 --> 0:10:46.290 me for not picking up my knees and that sort 0:10:46.290 --> 0:10:46.530 of thing. 0:10:47.730 --> 0:10:50.731 Absolutely. Oh my gosh, this is so exciting. Well, thank you for picking me. 0:10:50.731 --> 0:10:57.150 Coach Becs. Great. So we'll keep everybody in the loop. This'll be 0:10:57.150 --> 0:11:00.870 fun. The next 12 weeks or so, we'll do some 0:11:00.870 --> 0:11:06.360 updates. You know what I'll do? Maybe we'll put on social some of the things, Becs, that you're asking me to do every week 0:11:06.720 --> 0:11:08.790 and then I can come back and report on how 0:11:09.870 --> 0:11:11.851 that went, how the workouts went, how I felt- 0:11:11.851 --> 0:11:11.852 Sounds good. 0:11:11.852 --> 0:11:16.920 ... what Becs asked me to do. So thank you very much, Rebecca. 0:11:16.920 --> 0:11:20.730 I appreciate that and I'm excited to run Chicago with you 0:11:20.730 --> 0:11:23.309 as my coach. So should be a lot of fun. 0:11:23.700 --> 0:11:25.800 Well, looking back to New York for a second, Becs, 0:11:25.800 --> 0:11:29.040 we've got a couple races coming up this weekend. We 0:11:29.040 --> 0:11:31.110 have a new event coming up in New York this 0:11:31.110 --> 0:11:34.559 Saturday. It's the first time event, it's called the Start 0:11:34.559 --> 0:11:38.280 Line Series, and this is a brand new two and 0:11:38.280 --> 0:11:41.550 a half mile fun run. It's going to be out 0:11:41.550 --> 0:11:44.520 in Queens and it's part of New York City's Department 0:11:44.520 --> 0:11:48.449 of Transportation summer streets. So New Yorkers know that the 0:11:48.450 --> 0:11:52.770 city's been shutting down streets around the city during the summer 0:11:52.770 --> 0:11:55.740 on weekends to give people a chance to just walk 0:11:55.740 --> 0:11:58.530 and enjoy the streets. And so we're getting a chance 0:11:58.530 --> 0:12:01.230 to run a little bit of a race early on 0:12:01.230 --> 0:12:05.250 those closed streets. And so it's really for beginners, it's going 0:12:05.250 --> 0:12:08.069 to be a lot of fun. It's not competitive, it's 0:12:08.070 --> 0:12:10.770 not a nine plus one. It's not all of the 0:12:10.770 --> 0:12:13.500 kind of challenge that so many people have getting into our 0:12:13.500 --> 0:12:17.910 races. It's open, it's free, it is unscored, it's untimed. 0:12:17.910 --> 0:12:21.450 And so it's a great opportunity for anyone out there 0:12:21.450 --> 0:12:23.790 listening or if you know someone who just wants to 0:12:23.790 --> 0:12:26.699 get into running, to come out and feel a little 0:12:26.700 --> 0:12:28.890 bit of what it's like to run a race. So 0:12:28.890 --> 0:12:31.170 come join us. We still have spots left as we 0:12:31.410 --> 0:12:34.710 tape our podcast today. You can go to nyrr. org, 0:12:34.860 --> 0:12:37.320 create an account, sign up, you can even sign up 0:12:37.320 --> 0:12:38.640 on the day of the race, by the way. So 0:12:38.640 --> 0:12:41.459 there's that opportunity as well. But hopefully folks will come 0:12:41.460 --> 0:12:43.860 out and join us at the Start Line Series. Hope 0:12:43.860 --> 0:12:47.010 to see some new runners out there on Saturday. And then, Becs, 0:12:47.610 --> 0:12:50.189 on Sunday we are back in Central Park for one 0:12:50.190 --> 0:12:52.350 of my favorite events of the year, the New York 0:12:52.350 --> 0:12:57.090 Roadrunners Team Championships event. It's a five miler, super competitive, 0:12:57.300 --> 0:13:00.300 runner favorite for all those club runners out there. The 0:13:00.300 --> 0:13:03.270 clubs are super competitive trying to get their team points 0:13:03.270 --> 0:13:06.961 and all that, and it's double the point for the team championships. 0:13:06.961 --> 0:13:06.962 Oh, it's exciting. Very exciting. 0:13:06.962 --> 0:13:12.900 Absolutely. Oh, so we have the men, the women, non- binary club points, races, 0:13:12.900 --> 0:13:15.570 all worth double and, Becs, I don't know if you've been to 0:13:15.570 --> 0:13:18.360 that event. The best thing about it, the food. The 0:13:18.360 --> 0:13:20.640 food is incredible. So many of the clubs come out 0:13:20.640 --> 0:13:23.400 and bring picnics and they party after the race. So 0:13:24.150 --> 0:13:26.550 unfortunately I'll miss it this year, but I wish everybody 0:13:26.550 --> 0:13:27.720 a great time on Sunday. 0:13:28.410 --> 0:13:31.980 Yeah, absolutely. Best of luck to all of them and all the teams because 0:13:31.980 --> 0:13:35.460 I know how much this community will come together and 0:13:35.460 --> 0:13:38.070 just have a lot of fun. And also, I just 0:13:38.070 --> 0:13:42.030 have to say I do love the NYC Department of 0:13:42.090 --> 0:13:45.120 Transport Summer Streets. It is one of my most favorite 0:13:45.120 --> 0:13:49.830 times of the year. I adore the fact that the streets are 0:13:49.920 --> 0:13:53.730 just closed and people can move, ride their bikes, walk, 0:13:54.150 --> 0:13:58.410 run, whatever you want, and in the different locations around, 0:13:58.620 --> 0:14:03.570 it's not just Manhattan, it's everywhere. So if you can't make 0:14:03.570 --> 0:14:06.870 it to Long Island, then don't fear. There are other places 0:14:06.870 --> 0:14:12.689 you can do this. So thank you to the city of New York to doing this because 0:14:12.689 --> 0:14:16.020 it really does entice people to move and that's what 0:14:16.620 --> 0:14:18.660 we're here for. That is what we're all here for. 0:14:18.990 --> 0:14:21.180 Yeah, it's a special thing. It's been a really nice 0:14:21.180 --> 0:14:24.180 initiative in New York over the last few summers. Well, Becs, 0:14:24.450 --> 0:14:27.990 we've been talking about Chicago and my run though. We're 0:14:27.990 --> 0:14:31.710 going to talk to someone today who ran Chicago just 0:14:31.710 --> 0:14:34.050 a little bit faster than I am going to be 0:14:34.050 --> 0:14:39.120 running Chicago this fall. Susanna Sullivan, who was the top 0:14:39.120 --> 0:14:45.120 American finisher in Chicago last year, ran a blazing personal 0:14:45.120 --> 0:14:50.040 record time of just over 221 and she will be 0:14:50.040 --> 0:14:54.930 representing the United at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo 0:14:55.200 --> 0:14:59.280 this summer. She's an incredible runner. She's also a school 0:14:59.280 --> 0:15:03.000 teacher. She's a sixth grade math teacher. It's actually to 0:15:03.000 --> 0:15:06.390 me, the perfect combination of being a teacher and being 0:15:06.390 --> 0:15:08.670 a runner. She's going to talk to us about how 0:15:08.670 --> 0:15:11.790 she did what she did in Chicago last year, how 0:15:11.790 --> 0:15:15.630 she's planning to attack the world Championships in Tokyo, which 0:15:15.630 --> 0:15:19.050 promises to be hot and hilly this summer, and how 0:15:19.050 --> 0:15:23.250 she balances all that with teaching sixth graders pre- algebra. 0:15:23.250 --> 0:15:26.160 So Susanna's coming up in just a minute. So excited for 0:15:26.160 --> 0:15:29.430 that conversation. And then later on today's member moment, our 0:15:29.430 --> 0:15:31.979 friend Meb Keflezighi will be here with a runner who 0:15:32.250 --> 0:15:36.420 after two knee replacements ran his first marathon at the 0:15:36.450 --> 0:15:37.530 age of 75. 0:15:38.550 --> 0:15:38.910 Wow. 0:15:39.360 --> 0:15:43.590 Incredible. That's unbelievable. So that will put all of our 0:15:43.590 --> 0:15:46.830 complaints right where they belong, which is in a basket 0:15:46.830 --> 0:15:50.370 far, far away because that's an incredible achievement. So we'll 0:15:50.370 --> 0:15:53.400 hear about that. And then today's Meb minute, we'll be 0:15:53.400 --> 0:15:56.100 here to help those of you who are training for 0:15:56.100 --> 0:16:00.300 fall races and that includes me, stay in shape, beat 0:16:00.300 --> 0:16:03.240 the heat. It's been a struggle, Becs, the last couple 0:16:03.240 --> 0:16:06.810 of weeks and get ready for running in the fall 0:16:06.810 --> 0:16:09.540 even if you're taking some vacation time. So stay tuned 0:16:09.540 --> 0:16:09.960 for that. 0:16:10.770 --> 0:16:13.650 Try the Peloton app for free and access classes for 0:16:13.680 --> 0:16:16.410 every type of runner. Whether you're training for your first 0:16:16.410 --> 0:16:19.830 race or you're a seasoned pro. From outdoor runs and 0:16:19.830 --> 0:16:23.940 intervals to strength, yoga and stretching, you'll find the perfect 0:16:23.940 --> 0:16:27.420 fit for every part of your routine. Whether it's a 0:16:27.420 --> 0:16:30.120 long run day or you just need a quick five- 0:16:30.120 --> 0:16:33.870 minute reset, the Peloton app meets you where you are and 0:16:33.870 --> 0:16:38.220 helps you become a stronger, faster runner because it's designed 0:16:38.250 --> 0:16:41.520 for someone like you. Try the app free for 30 0:16:41.520 --> 0:16:44.250 days and download it now from the app store or 0:16:44.250 --> 0:16:49.200 Google Play. Terms apply. Peloton, the official digital fitness partner 0:16:49.320 --> 0:16:50.460 for New York Roadrunners. 0:16:51.030 --> 0:16:54.960 On weekdays she's Ms. Sullivan, a sixth- grade math teacher 0:16:54.960 --> 0:16:58.740 in Virginia. But on race day, Susanna Sullivan has proven 0:16:58.740 --> 0:17:02.040 herself to be one of the fastest American women on 0:17:02.040 --> 0:17:04.859 the roads. Sullivan was the top American finisher at the 0:17:04.859 --> 0:17:11.580 2024 Chicago Marathon, a blazing 221 56, making her the 0:17:11.640 --> 0:17:15.780 10th fastest US woman in history for the marathon. She 0:17:15.780 --> 0:17:18.270 then went on to be the top American finisher at the 0:17:18.270 --> 0:17:24.000 2025 London Marathon, all while juggling lesson plans and grading 0:17:24.000 --> 0:17:26.910 homework. And Susanna Sullivan is here to tell us what 0:17:26.910 --> 0:17:30.450 it's like to go from teaching pre- algebra on Friday 0:17:30.450 --> 0:17:34.889 to competing against world- class runners on a Sunday. Susanna 0:17:34.890 --> 0:17:37.080 Sullivan, it is great to see you and great to 0:17:37.080 --> 0:17:38.609 have you on Set the Pace. Welcome. 0:17:39.270 --> 0:17:40.470 Thank you so much for having me. 0:17:41.550 --> 0:17:43.889 I've had a chance to see you from time to 0:17:43.890 --> 0:17:46.770 time around events, but we've never really had a chance 0:17:46.770 --> 0:17:48.750 to chat. I know you're meeting Becs for the first 0:17:48.750 --> 0:17:52.230 time, but it's really great to have you. And I 0:17:52.230 --> 0:17:56.399 guess I would start by asking you how you got 0:17:56.400 --> 0:18:00.270 here, how did you get to this point, Susanna, of 0:18:00.420 --> 0:18:05.070 being a competitor at this level at the marathon distance? 0:18:05.070 --> 0:18:08.010 Is this where you thought you'd find yourself at 35 0:18:08.010 --> 0:18:08.460 years old? 0:18:10.109 --> 0:18:12.900 Not at all. The last several years have really just 0:18:12.900 --> 0:18:19.830 been such a dream. I mean, as many distance runners 0:18:19.890 --> 0:18:23.010 do. I started out in soccer as a little kid 0:18:24.090 --> 0:18:26.940 and got involved in cross country and track when I was 0:18:26.940 --> 0:18:30.780 in middle school. My sister is two years older and 0:18:30.960 --> 0:18:34.560 she showed some promise in cross country, in track. And so 0:18:36.030 --> 0:18:39.090 with sibling rivalry, I wanted a shot at it and 0:18:39.090 --> 0:18:44.429 I just really enjoyed it. I love that there's always 0:18:46.260 --> 0:18:49.830 something you can do better to improve. There's something you 0:18:49.830 --> 0:18:52.889 can focus on whether that's strength work or nutrition or 0:18:52.890 --> 0:18:56.700 hydration. And I just found that showing up every day 0:18:56.700 --> 0:19:00.540 and putting forth my best effort was resulting in me 0:19:00.660 --> 0:19:04.230 making progress. And so I just loved that about the 0:19:04.230 --> 0:19:08.429 sport and so headed off to Notre Dame for college, 0:19:08.880 --> 0:19:14.850 had a kind of underwhelming college career. I've learned so much 0:19:15.570 --> 0:19:18.180 about the mental side of the sport in the year 0:19:18.180 --> 0:19:20.250 since graduating. And I really do think I just put 0:19:20.250 --> 0:19:24.209 a lot of pressure on myself and I didn't think 0:19:24.210 --> 0:19:26.400 I communicated with my coaches as well as I could 0:19:26.400 --> 0:19:30.000 have about how much the training day in and day 0:19:30.000 --> 0:19:33.659 out was beating me up. So when I graduated, I 0:19:33.660 --> 0:19:35.850 headed back to the DC area, that's where I went to 0:19:35.850 --> 0:19:40.649 high school and linked up with a running club there 0:19:40.650 --> 0:19:43.590 and was on that team for eight years and made 0:19:43.590 --> 0:19:47.550 some progress. I qualified for two Olympic trials with capital 0:19:47.550 --> 0:19:53.490 area runners. And then during the pandemic when I was 0:19:53.490 --> 0:19:59.670 teaching into my computer, I was slipping out at lunchtime 0:19:59.670 --> 0:20:02.790 and I didn't have a commute on either end and 0:20:02.790 --> 0:20:06.090 I was just finding pockets of time to get outside 0:20:06.090 --> 0:20:10.200 and get really active. And I think that being able 0:20:10.200 --> 0:20:16.619 to increase my mileage in a deliberate way 2020, 2021 0:20:18.570 --> 0:20:21.030 kind of just really helped me to see that if 0:20:21.030 --> 0:20:24.359 I could stay healthy, I actually could put together, string 0:20:24.359 --> 0:20:26.340 together a lot of good workouts. And I started to make 0:20:26.340 --> 0:20:30.240 a lot of progress in 2020 after I started working 0:20:30.240 --> 0:20:32.970 with my current coach, Andrew Gerard. He's at George Mason 0:20:32.970 --> 0:20:36.630 University. And since working with him, I went from running 0:20:36.630 --> 0:20:38.520 235 in the marathon, was my PR when we first 0:20:38.520 --> 0:20:41.700 started working together and now it's 221. So working with 0:20:41.700 --> 0:20:44.430 him really I think has been the catalyst for so 0:20:44.430 --> 0:20:48.990 much of the progress that I've made in the last 0:20:49.800 --> 0:20:55.440 five years or so. We didn't completely revamp my training, 0:20:55.470 --> 0:20:58.950 but I feel like the communication, the trust there is 0:20:58.950 --> 0:21:03.300 just like I couldn't ask for more. We've really increased 0:21:03.300 --> 0:21:05.910 my strength training. So that is one element of things 0:21:05.910 --> 0:21:11.310 that I think was a big change from what I 0:21:11.310 --> 0:21:12.300 was doing before. 0:21:12.359 --> 0:21:16.590 That's so interesting to hear that, Becs, to make that 0:21:16.590 --> 0:21:21.629 big of a jump that is no joke, 235 to 221 and, Becs, to 0:21:21.630 --> 0:21:24.690 hear the strength component of that and what that's done as well. 0:21:25.680 --> 0:21:31.020 It's so true, isn't it? I mean you see these big jumps throughout professional 0:21:31.020 --> 0:21:34.649 and non- professional careers, but the more people I talk 0:21:34.650 --> 0:21:39.540 to, the more people who honestly say, " Yes, I was running a 0:21:39.540 --> 0:21:42.330 lot more. Yes, I was doing some slightly different speed 0:21:42.330 --> 0:21:46.080 work," for example, but the vast majority of people really 0:21:46.080 --> 0:21:50.970 do contribute that big change in PR time to strengthening 0:21:51.000 --> 0:21:53.730 their body, their bones, their muscles, their joints. And just 0:21:54.119 --> 0:21:58.050 feeling strong, especially over the marathon distance because boy do 0:21:58.050 --> 0:22:02.550 we all know that we need that support for 26. 2, right? 0:22:03.000 --> 0:22:06.390 Right. I mean, I think we've all known it for 0:22:06.390 --> 0:22:10.170 a while that consistency is so critical and I think 0:22:10.170 --> 0:22:13.080 for me, having that strength training base so that I 0:22:13.080 --> 0:22:16.770 can stay healthy so that I can string together weeks 0:22:16.770 --> 0:22:19.800 and months of training has just been huge. And I 0:22:20.640 --> 0:22:26.460 really credit my coach in figuring out how to gradually 0:22:26.850 --> 0:22:29.340