1 00:00:00,420 --> 00:00:03,990 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: One of the things that Tunde kept repeating to me 2 00:00:04,410 --> 00:00:07,410 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: while on this course was, " Pick your head up. I 3 00:00:07,410 --> 00:00:10,289 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: want you to see the beauty around you." Every time 4 00:00:10,289 --> 00:00:12,270 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: she said that, it took my mind off of the 5 00:00:12,270 --> 00:00:15,570 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: pain and on the moment that I was actually doing 6 00:00:15,570 --> 00:00:19,290 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: something that I never imagined for myself. I never saw 7 00:00:19,290 --> 00:00:21,480 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: myself running 13. 1 miles. 8 00:00:24,420 --> 00:00:27,390 Becs Gentry: Welcome to Set the Pace, the official podcast of New 9 00:00:27,390 --> 00:00:31,950 Becs Gentry: York Roadrunners presented by Peloton. I'm your host, Peloton instructor, 10 00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:35,310 Becs Gentry: Becs Gentry, and I am here today doing the show 11 00:00:35,310 --> 00:00:41,790 Becs Gentry: solo while Rob is busy CEOing. Yep. Well, I think 12 00:00:41,790 --> 00:00:44,669 Becs Gentry: it is kind of payback because I sort of left 13 00:00:44,670 --> 00:00:47,610 Becs Gentry: him solo for a couple of weeks there whilst I 14 00:00:47,610 --> 00:00:52,019 Becs Gentry: was busy vacationing and visiting my family in the Canary 15 00:00:52,020 --> 00:00:54,900 Becs Gentry: Islands and having some, I'm going to say it, self- 16 00:00:54,900 --> 00:00:59,070 Becs Gentry: professed, well- deserved time away from New York City. I 17 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:03,150 Becs Gentry: have to say, the running there was absolutely phenomenal. I've been 18 00:01:03,150 --> 00:01:04,860 Becs Gentry: going there since I'm two years old. It looks like 19 00:01:04,860 --> 00:01:07,920 Becs Gentry: Mars when you land. Okay, I'm going to tell you 20 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:10,350 Becs Gentry: that because if anyone ever chooses to go to Fuerteventura 21 00:01:10,350 --> 00:01:12,630 Becs Gentry: in the Canary Islands, as you come in to land, 22 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:16,200 Becs Gentry: it is like the scape of Mars that you see 23 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:22,260 Becs Gentry: in movies. The running is dry, windy; terrain is trail, 24 00:01:22,260 --> 00:01:30,929 Becs Gentry: sand, rocks, volcanic lava. It is challenging and divine. It 25 00:01:30,930 --> 00:01:35,068 Becs Gentry: threw everything my way, from tantrums and tears to absolutely 26 00:01:35,069 --> 00:01:39,840 Becs Gentry: fantastic strong runs on rolling hills, and most of them 27 00:01:40,110 --> 00:01:43,500 Becs Gentry: ended up either at my favorite juice bar or in 28 00:01:43,590 --> 00:01:47,460 Becs Gentry: the ocean with Tallulah. It was what the soul needed. 29 00:01:47,460 --> 00:01:50,610 Becs Gentry: And now we're back in New York and busy trying 30 00:01:50,610 --> 00:01:52,890 Becs Gentry: to crack away at a few more weeks of training, 31 00:01:53,190 --> 00:01:56,580 Becs Gentry: before Grandma's, which is going okay. I'm not going to 32 00:01:56,580 --> 00:01:58,380 Becs Gentry: go into it. It's going okay. It's not going as 33 00:01:58,380 --> 00:02:00,240 Becs Gentry: well as I'd like it to be going, so we 34 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:03,630 Becs Gentry: might have to readdress some goals, but that's okay, because 35 00:02:03,630 --> 00:02:06,750 Becs Gentry: that's what goals are. You can address them, you can 36 00:02:06,750 --> 00:02:11,010 Becs Gentry: assess them, and you can reset them. Anyway, enough about me. 37 00:02:11,010 --> 00:02:16,020 Becs Gentry: We have a fantastic show here today. We have a 38 00:02:16,020 --> 00:02:22,230 Becs Gentry: lot of emotion and a lot of information for all 39 00:02:22,590 --> 00:02:27,030 Becs Gentry: humans on today's show. First up, we are going to 40 00:02:27,030 --> 00:02:31,740 Becs Gentry: hear the incredible story of Shaunta- Mae Alexander. She's an 41 00:02:31,740 --> 00:02:35,820 Becs Gentry: athlete, author, and speaker who has relearned how to walk 42 00:02:35,910 --> 00:02:41,010 Becs Gentry: and then run after being paralyzed twice. Yeah, I'll let 43 00:02:41,010 --> 00:02:44,280 Becs Gentry: that settle in. If you want to check out her 44 00:02:44,310 --> 00:02:48,330 Becs Gentry: Instagram and see a deep dive detail on her life 45 00:02:48,330 --> 00:02:52,889 Becs Gentry: story, please do so after the show. It will just 46 00:02:52,980 --> 00:02:58,590 Becs Gentry: enlighten you and a hundred percent it will inspire you 47 00:02:58,590 --> 00:03:04,290 Becs Gentry: in whatever you are doing in your life. After Shaunta- 48 00:03:04,290 --> 00:03:08,970 Becs Gentry: Mae, we have the dual board- certified dermatologist, Jane Yoo. 49 00:03:09,540 --> 00:03:11,220 Becs Gentry: She's going to be here to talk with Rob about 50 00:03:11,220 --> 00:03:15,810 Becs Gentry: everything you didn't know you needed to know about skincare 51 00:03:16,020 --> 00:03:19,650 Becs Gentry: for runners. Yeah, there's a lot there. A lot to 52 00:03:19,650 --> 00:03:23,549 Becs Gentry: unpack there, and critical information, as we said. You all 53 00:03:23,610 --> 00:03:25,620 Becs Gentry: need to be looking after your skin when we're doing 54 00:03:25,620 --> 00:03:29,790 Becs Gentry: those miles. Okay? So take notes. And then for those 55 00:03:29,790 --> 00:03:33,540 Becs Gentry: of you who might be coming off a recent marathon 56 00:03:33,540 --> 00:03:37,020 Becs Gentry: or half- marathon, Meb will be here with some advice 57 00:03:37,020 --> 00:03:42,570 Becs Gentry: on how to overcome your post- race blues, specifically half- 58 00:03:42,660 --> 00:03:46,890 Becs Gentry: marathon blues. I know, from coming back from London, there's 59 00:03:46,890 --> 00:03:51,990 Becs Gentry: definitely some post- marathon blues for Austin, although he didn't 60 00:03:51,990 --> 00:03:54,630 Becs Gentry: have the greatest of races; the weather, he had a 61 00:03:54,630 --> 00:03:58,140 Becs Gentry: back injury that sparked the night before the race, so 62 00:03:58,140 --> 00:04:02,400 Becs Gentry: he's definitely got some post- marathon redemption blues coming his 63 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:05,280 Becs Gentry: way. So I cannot wait to listen to that part 64 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:08,790 Becs Gentry: of the show myself as well. Try the Peloton app 65 00:04:08,790 --> 00:04:11,880 Becs Gentry: for free and access classes for every type of runner, 66 00:04:12,090 --> 00:04:14,880 Becs Gentry: whether you're training for your first race or you're a seasoned 67 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:19,080 Becs Gentry: pro. From outdoor runs and intervals to strength yoga and 68 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:22,860 Becs Gentry: stretching, you'll find the perfect fit for every part of 69 00:04:22,860 --> 00:04:25,950 Becs Gentry: your routine. Whether it's a long run day or you 70 00:04:25,950 --> 00:04:29,339 Becs Gentry: just need a quick five- minute reset, the Peloton app 71 00:04:29,430 --> 00:04:31,830 Becs Gentry: meets you where you are and helps you become a 72 00:04:31,830 --> 00:04:36,300 Becs Gentry: stronger, faster runner, because it's designed for someone like you. 73 00:04:36,930 --> 00:04:39,839 Becs Gentry: Try the app free for 30 days and download it 74 00:04:39,839 --> 00:04:44,310 Becs Gentry: now from App Store or Google Play. Terms apply. Peloton, 75 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:48,750 Becs Gentry: the official digital fitness partner for New York Roadrunners. Shaunta- 76 00:04:48,750 --> 00:04:53,100 Becs Gentry: Mae Alexander is a disabled adaptive athlete. She is also 77 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:59,040 Becs Gentry: a children's book author, an actress, and an advocate. Diagnosed 78 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:02,250 Becs Gentry: with Crohn's disease as a teenager, she has survived countless 79 00:05:02,250 --> 00:05:06,720 Becs Gentry: medical setbacks including two episodes of paralysis, and now uses 80 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:10,050 Becs Gentry: a feeding tube to stay alive. But this past March, 81 00:05:10,050 --> 00:05:15,450 Becs Gentry: a mere two years after relearning how to walk, she 82 00:05:15,450 --> 00:05:21,060 Becs Gentry: completed the United Airlines NYC Half with my fellow Peloton 83 00:05:21,060 --> 00:05:26,670 Becs Gentry: instructor, Tunde Oyeneyin, by her side. Shaunta- Mae is the embodiment 84 00:05:26,790 --> 00:05:31,020 Becs Gentry: of purpose and perseverance, and she is here today to 85 00:05:31,020 --> 00:05:34,740 Becs Gentry: talk to us about what is possible when you run 86 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:40,680 Becs Gentry: your own race. Shaunta- Mae, I am beyond honored to 87 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:43,740 Becs Gentry: have you here as a guest on Set the Pace 88 00:05:43,740 --> 00:05:47,130 Becs Gentry: today. Thank you for sharing your time with us and 89 00:05:47,490 --> 00:05:51,839 Becs Gentry: for sharing your story with us. You are unbelievable. I 90 00:05:51,839 --> 00:05:54,870 Becs Gentry: love seeing your smiling face in the studio. I love 91 00:05:55,020 --> 00:05:59,370 Becs Gentry: seeing Tunde coming in after class saying, " That girl does 92 00:05:59,370 --> 00:06:05,610 Becs Gentry: not know chill." How are you today? 93 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:08,940 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: I am well. I'm well. I'm feeling good. Yeah, I'm 94 00:06:08,940 --> 00:06:12,029 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: grateful to be here. I'm grateful to share space with 95 00:06:12,029 --> 00:06:16,620 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: you all and to continue to share my story and 96 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:19,320 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: encourage so many people. 97 00:06:20,849 --> 00:06:24,720 Becs Gentry: You do. You truly, truly do with everything you do, 98 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:27,930 Becs Gentry: and I'm sure there's been many times in your life 99 00:06:27,930 --> 00:06:31,830 Becs Gentry: where you have thought, " There's no way anyone else is 100 00:06:31,830 --> 00:06:35,490 Becs Gentry: going through this. There's no way my story can help 101 00:06:35,490 --> 00:06:38,969 Becs Gentry: anyone else." And then you come to another part in 102 00:06:38,970 --> 00:06:42,960 Becs Gentry: your journey and realize that there are hundreds and thousands 103 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:47,850 Becs Gentry: and more faces who are watching out for you, to 104 00:06:47,850 --> 00:06:52,529 Becs Gentry: see your smile, to see you get through. Let's dive 105 00:06:52,529 --> 00:06:56,370 Becs Gentry: into that. Let's dive into you. Who is Shaunta- Mae 106 00:06:56,460 --> 00:07:02,640 Becs Gentry: Alexander and what was your relationship to moving, in any 107 00:07:02,640 --> 00:07:07,020 Becs Gentry: capacity that you desire to talk about. As a kid, 108 00:07:07,050 --> 00:07:09,360 Becs Gentry: you grew up in foster care. Is that correct? 109 00:07:09,630 --> 00:07:09,870 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: Yes. 110 00:07:10,530 --> 00:07:14,070 Becs Gentry: Yeah. Was there movement in your life? What was it like? 111 00:07:15,570 --> 00:07:19,530 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: Growing up in foster care was not easy at all. 112 00:07:19,530 --> 00:07:26,130 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: I had a very, very rough childhood. My foster homes 113 00:07:26,130 --> 00:07:33,120 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: were not the best, and that's putting it lightly. I used 114 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:37,680 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: movement as it related to sports as one of my 115 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:42,480 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: outlets. I also used acting as one of my outlets. 116 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:47,370 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: I started acting when I was about five years old in little 117 00:07:47,370 --> 00:07:53,250 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: school plays and things, and running, probably around the same 118 00:07:53,250 --> 00:07:57,690 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: time. As a kid, running was a way for me 119 00:07:57,690 --> 00:08:02,760 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: to ... Running and playing basketball was a way for me to just expel all of 120 00:08:02,790 --> 00:08:07,050 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: the negative energy and all of the trauma and pain 121 00:08:07,050 --> 00:08:09,780 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: that I was enduring in these homes that I could 122 00:08:09,780 --> 00:08:15,030 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: not express inside the home. So being viewed at school, 123 00:08:15,090 --> 00:08:18,810 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: on the playground with other kids sometimes and then other times 124 00:08:18,810 --> 00:08:22,320 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: just by myself, I was able to run and get 125 00:08:22,320 --> 00:08:24,900 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: that all out. I was able to do the same 126 00:08:24,900 --> 00:08:30,960 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: thing with acting. Acting was a way for me to take on another person, 127 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:34,860 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: another character's life as my own. It was a way for me to escape 128 00:08:34,860 --> 00:08:38,670 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: my own reality. And so I fell in love with 129 00:08:39,510 --> 00:08:44,220 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: all of it. Basketball as well. Basketball, I like to 130 00:08:44,220 --> 00:08:50,880 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: say basketball was my first taste of self- advocacy as 131 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:54,569 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: a kid, because growing up as a little girl, especially 132 00:08:54,570 --> 00:09:00,660 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: back in the nineties, playing basketball was technically a boys 133 00:09:00,660 --> 00:09:03,630 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: sport. Girls can't play basketball. They don't know how to 134 00:09:03,630 --> 00:09:07,650 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: play basketball. And so for me, I was like, " That's 135 00:09:07,650 --> 00:09:10,590 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: fine. I'll show you." And so I would sit and I would 136 00:09:10,590 --> 00:09:13,260 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: watch the boys play basketball and I would play the 137 00:09:13,260 --> 00:09:16,710 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: little games on the Sega Genesis and all of that, so 138 00:09:16,710 --> 00:09:19,620 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: that I could learn the techniques. And then I'd get back 139 00:09:19,620 --> 00:09:22,230 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: out there and I'd ball out and I'd hoop and 140 00:09:23,250 --> 00:09:26,100 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: they'd have no choice but to accept me. So that 141 00:09:26,100 --> 00:09:29,670 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: was a way for me to not only advocate for 142 00:09:29,670 --> 00:09:34,469 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: myself and make space and have a voice for myself 143 00:09:34,470 --> 00:09:37,530 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: that I didn't have within these homes, but it was also 144 00:09:37,530 --> 00:09:39,690 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: a way to show other girls. I didn't know it 145 00:09:39,690 --> 00:09:42,600 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: then, but it gave other girls at the time permission 146 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:45,540 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: to do the same, " Well, if she's out there playing 147 00:09:45,929 --> 00:09:49,740 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: basketball when all these boys say it's not for girls, 148 00:09:49,740 --> 00:09:51,690 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: then I want to do it too." So that was 149 00:09:51,690 --> 00:09:56,640 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: my first taste, first taste in that. Movement has always 150 00:09:56,640 --> 00:10:02,309 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: been a part of my life. As far as the 151 00:10:02,309 --> 00:10:06,510 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: actual fitness aspect and weight training and lifting and all 152 00:10:06,510 --> 00:10:09,930 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: of those things, I was not a fan of that. I was not a fan of that. 153 00:10:11,700 --> 00:10:13,140 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: Just give me the ball so I can shoot it, so I can 154 00:10:13,860 --> 00:10:16,590 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: run up and down the court. Just give me my 100- 155 00:10:16,590 --> 00:10:20,189 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: meter hurdles, my 200s, my 400s, my long jumps, just 156 00:10:20,190 --> 00:10:22,229 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: give me that and I'm good. All of this weight 157 00:10:22,230 --> 00:10:26,220 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: training stuff, I'm not interested. Distance running, I'm not interested. 158 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:32,550 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: Just give me the meat. But it wasn't until I 159 00:10:32,550 --> 00:10:39,630 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: lost my mobility, after having a colonoscopy for severe Crohn's 160 00:10:39,630 --> 00:10:44,729 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: flare that I was in and developed a rare reaction 161 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:52,500 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: to the anesthesia that was used, that I found a 162 00:10:52,500 --> 00:10:57,900 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: new respect, a new, I guess you could say, gratitude 163 00:10:57,900 --> 00:11:01,980 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: for movement. When we have the ability of our limbs 164 00:11:01,980 --> 00:11:07,110 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: and the ability to speak and to think in our 165 00:11:07,110 --> 00:11:09,240 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: right minds and be able to do little things like 166 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:13,020 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: picking things up and setting things down, tying your shoes, 167 00:11:13,230 --> 00:11:17,160 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: you take all of that for granted and you don't 168 00:11:17,160 --> 00:11:21,900 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: realize how special that really is, how privileged you really 169 00:11:21,900 --> 00:11:24,870 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: are to have those movements and those abilities until it's 170 00:11:24,870 --> 00:11:29,460 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: taken from you. And so when I lost my movement 171 00:11:29,460 --> 00:11:31,829 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: and I lost my ability to speak, and I lost 172 00:11:31,830 --> 00:11:37,410 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: my ability to form real tangible thoughts and not be 173 00:11:37,410 --> 00:11:40,050 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: able to articulate those the way that I wanted to, 174 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:46,860 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: I just developed this gratitude. Specifically when it came to 175 00:11:46,890 --> 00:11:50,370 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: walking, I made a promise to God. I said, " God, 176 00:11:50,370 --> 00:11:53,670 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: if you restore my walking, if you restore my movement, 177 00:11:53,730 --> 00:11:56,250 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: I'll run like I've never ran before, I'll walk like 178 00:11:56,250 --> 00:11:58,679 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: I've never walked before, and I will dance like I've 179 00:11:58,679 --> 00:12:02,189 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: never danced before." That was the bow that I made 180 00:12:02,190 --> 00:12:05,490 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: to God, and He kept his end of the bargain 181 00:12:05,490 --> 00:12:11,189 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: and I kept mine. But what I was not ready 182 00:12:11,190 --> 00:12:14,400 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: for, what I was not prepared for, was falling in 183 00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:17,400 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: love with the sport and the process. This was just 184 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:20,250 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: a vow that I originally made. I was just going to 185 00:12:20,250 --> 00:12:23,160 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: do that, but I actually fell in love with movement. 186 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:25,260 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: I fell in love with running. I fell in love 187 00:12:25,260 --> 00:12:31,620 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: with cycling, which I didn't even know existed until 2022. 188 00:12:31,740 --> 00:12:33,300 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: And picking up weights? 189 00:12:34,110 --> 00:12:34,590 Becs Gentry: Nah. 190 00:12:37,290 --> 00:12:38,939 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: You couldn't get me to do it. You couldn't get 191 00:12:38,940 --> 00:12:43,319 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: me to do it. You couldn't bribe me. So this is 192 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:48,000 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: not just a vow to God, it's a vow to myself. It's 193 00:12:48,270 --> 00:12:51,360 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: a way of saying thanks to my body every single 194 00:12:51,360 --> 00:12:58,319 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: day. It's a way for me to be the voice 195 00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:02,460 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: for so many people who are out there with disabilities 196 00:13:02,460 --> 00:13:07,380 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: and different abilities and children all over the world who have 197 00:13:07,380 --> 00:13:10,001 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: also had hard lives, whether in foster care, battered (inaudible) 198 00:13:10,001 --> 00:13:13,110 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: , being sick themselves. This is just a way for 199 00:13:13,110 --> 00:13:16,949 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: me to say, " Hey, you're not in this alone. I'm 200 00:13:16,950 --> 00:13:24,750 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: here with you." It's just a sum of everything working 201 00:13:24,750 --> 00:13:25,800 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: together for my good. 202 00:13:26,970 --> 00:13:31,140 Becs Gentry: Everything coming together and it all being sealed with that 203 00:13:31,140 --> 00:13:36,360 Becs Gentry: vow is so beautiful and so strong. Shaunta- Mae, just 204 00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:41,969 Becs Gentry: for our listeners who may not understand the severity of 205 00:13:42,480 --> 00:13:46,800 Becs Gentry: Crohn's and Crohn's disease, I feel like in this transient 206 00:13:46,800 --> 00:13:51,450 Becs Gentry: world we live in, many disease names are thrown around 207 00:13:51,450 --> 00:13:53,820 Becs Gentry: and people nod their heads as though they know exactly 208 00:13:53,820 --> 00:13:57,030 Becs Gentry: what it is. And then it doesn't affect them, so 209 00:13:57,030 --> 00:14:00,240 Becs Gentry: they don't really know what it is. Just explain to 210 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:06,030 Becs Gentry: our audience quickly what Crohn's disease is and how your 211 00:14:06,870 --> 00:14:11,940 Becs Gentry: situation took the turn, not how but why, let's say, 212 00:14:11,940 --> 00:14:15,150 Becs Gentry: why it took the turn it did. Do you mind 213 00:14:15,150 --> 00:14:15,780 Becs Gentry: going into that? 214 00:14:15,780 --> 00:14:21,330 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: Sure, yeah. Crohn's disease is an autoimmune disease under the umbrella called 215 00:14:21,390 --> 00:14:25,500 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: IBD, which stands for inflammatory bowel disease. That is Crohn's 216 00:14:25,500 --> 00:14:32,910 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: disease, ulcerative colitis. Those are the sister conditions. Basically what 217 00:14:33,450 --> 00:14:38,250 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: Crohn's disease does is, your immune system attacks your digestive 218 00:14:38,250 --> 00:14:43,860 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: system anywhere from your mouth to your behind. Everything attached to 219 00:14:43,860 --> 00:14:48,390 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: your digestive system is attacked. So it causes stomach pain, 220 00:14:48,750 --> 00:15:01,350 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: internal bleeding, ulcers, nausea, malnutrition, lack of bowel control, all 221 00:15:01,350 --> 00:15:08,280 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: kinds of different nitty- gritty symptoms that basically aren't fun. 222 00:15:09,390 --> 00:15:14,160 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: It is debilitating. It's not fun. It's very excruciating. I 223 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:23,700 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: got sick at the age of nine, but wasn't diagnosed 224 00:15:23,700 --> 00:15:28,740 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: until, I believe, I was 14 or 15 years old. 225 00:15:29,580 --> 00:15:29,581 Becs Gentry: Oh my gosh. 226 00:15:29,581 --> 00:15:33,960 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: So I went through middle school and high school sick. 227 00:15:35,130 --> 00:15:35,430 Becs Gentry: Oh my God. 228 00:15:35,970 --> 00:15:38,700 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: At that time, I didn't have the support, which is 229 00:15:38,700 --> 00:15:42,270 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: another reason why I advocate and do what I do 230 00:15:42,270 --> 00:15:46,320 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: now, because I felt alone in my process, as a 231 00:15:46,320 --> 00:15:49,050 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: kid, as a teen, in middle school and high school. 232 00:15:49,050 --> 00:15:52,050 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: You can only imagine how hard that can be, especially 233 00:15:52,050 --> 00:15:55,000 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: when kids don't understand. 234 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:55,710 Becs Gentry: (inaudible) the pain and- 235 00:15:55,740 --> 00:16:00,570 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: Yeah. And so for me, what that looked like for 236 00:16:00,570 --> 00:16:06,570 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: me was having to bring an extra bag of clothes 237 00:16:07,770 --> 00:16:11,880 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: in case I used the bathroom on myself. I was 238 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:17,280 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: in diapers in middle school and high school. Medication, having 239 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:25,110 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: to pack my own food and then having to deal with 240 00:16:26,040 --> 00:16:31,920 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: the questions and the jokes and all the things about 241 00:16:31,920 --> 00:16:35,250 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: being small. I was very tiny, and at the time 242 00:16:35,250 --> 00:16:40,260 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: I didn't know it, but I was severely malnourished. And so, 243 00:16:42,030 --> 00:16:48,780 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: again, I just wish I'd had the me that I 244 00:16:48,780 --> 00:16:56,130 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: am now when I was going through this process. I 245 00:16:56,130 --> 00:17:00,330 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: think it's a beautiful time to share this and to 246 00:17:00,330 --> 00:17:03,570 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: share this journey and to share about Crohn's disease, especially 247 00:17:03,630 --> 00:17:09,840 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: because yesterday was World International IBD Day, Crohn's Disease Day, 248 00:17:10,710 --> 00:17:13,709 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: which I think is also crazy as well because it 249 00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:17,160 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: was also my birthday. I think it was kind of kismet. 250 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:17,940 Becs Gentry: No. 251 00:17:17,970 --> 00:17:18,270 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: Yeah. 252 00:17:18,270 --> 00:17:20,070 Becs Gentry: Happy belated birthday. 253 00:17:20,100 --> 00:17:25,740 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: Thank you. Thank you. I think it was kismet. I think this was just part of something 254 00:17:25,740 --> 00:17:27,359 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: that was always going to be a part of my journey. 255 00:17:27,359 --> 00:17:33,659 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: But for those of you that are dealing with the symptoms and dealing 256 00:17:34,109 --> 00:17:38,190 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: with family members or friends or just know somebody that 257 00:17:38,190 --> 00:17:42,090 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: struggles with stomach issues, I just implore you, one, to 258 00:17:42,090 --> 00:17:45,600 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: make sure that you're advocating for yourself. Make sure that 259 00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:49,619 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: you're getting in with a GI team, not accepting no for 260 00:17:49,619 --> 00:17:54,720 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: an answer. That was a big part of my process 261 00:17:54,720 --> 00:17:57,210 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: because it took so long for me to be diagnosed. 262 00:17:57,630 --> 00:18:01,273 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: And that affected my mental state. There was a lot 263 00:18:01,275 --> 00:18:03,510 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: of times when these doctors would say that it was 264 00:18:03,840 --> 00:18:07,020 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: in my head or that it was stress related, and that's 265 00:18:07,080 --> 00:18:14,100 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: daunting, especially as a kid who is suffering. So I 266 00:18:14,100 --> 00:18:17,310 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: want you guys to advocate for yourselves. Don't give up. 267 00:18:18,720 --> 00:18:21,240 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: Know that this is not the end of your journey 268 00:18:22,230 --> 00:18:25,709 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: and that you can still have a beautiful and meaningful 269 00:18:25,709 --> 00:18:27,240 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: life with this condition. 270 00:18:27,540 --> 00:18:30,450 Becs Gentry: Absolutely. Look at your story. 271 00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:30,840 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: Yeah. 272 00:18:32,220 --> 00:18:37,169 Becs Gentry: So you had this terrible flare- up that ended up 273 00:18:37,170 --> 00:18:46,500 Becs Gentry: with you being hospitalized. Let's fast- forward a little bit 274 00:18:46,500 --> 00:18:53,129 Becs Gentry: to January 1st, 2022. That was after your second paralysis, 275 00:18:54,330 --> 00:18:58,650 Becs Gentry: and you've already kind of fought for your life. You've 276 00:18:58,650 --> 00:19:04,859 Becs Gentry: already fought to restart, to reset, to put every teeny 277 00:19:04,859 --> 00:19:13,230 Becs Gentry: tiny teeniest tiniest ounce of energy into standing up and 278 00:19:14,070 --> 00:19:17,640 Becs Gentry: saying no, or being like, "Uh- uh. I've got this. I've 279 00:19:17,640 --> 00:19:20,790 Becs Gentry: got this back." And then that's taken away from you 280 00:19:20,790 --> 00:19:26,100 Becs Gentry: again. What was going through your mind? You've already said 281 00:19:26,100 --> 00:19:31,080 Becs Gentry: it was so hard for you to talk, to explain 282 00:19:31,080 --> 00:19:34,770 Becs Gentry: your thoughts in your head. When you were alone in 283 00:19:34,770 --> 00:19:38,550 Becs Gentry: those moments of thinking, like, " Please God, this is the 284 00:19:38,550 --> 00:19:43,320 Becs Gentry: second time I'm going through this," how? How did you 285 00:19:43,320 --> 00:19:46,470 Becs Gentry: get that strength to just say, " I'm going to do 286 00:19:46,470 --> 00:19:47,129 Becs Gentry: this again"? 287 00:19:49,230 --> 00:19:53,790 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: It was extremely difficult. I went through ... especially the second 288 00:19:53,790 --> 00:19:58,440 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: time, I went through this deep, deep depression. At this 289 00:19:58,440 --> 00:20:05,700 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: point, I'm not quite 33 yet, and all I've known was 290 00:20:05,700 --> 00:20:12,930 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: trauma and pain and sickness and illness. When I relapsed 291 00:20:12,930 --> 00:20:16,080 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: with this condition for the second time, and I did 292 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:20,159 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: not recover as quickly as I did the first time, 293 00:20:20,369 --> 00:20:22,770 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: I didn't get to my baseline as quickly as I 294 00:20:22,770 --> 00:20:26,820 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: did the first time, I was ready to fold in the towel. 295 00:20:27,929 --> 00:20:30,990 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: I was like, " I don't want this anymore. I don't 296 00:20:30,990 --> 00:20:36,540 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: want to fight anymore." I say often that people make 297 00:20:36,540 --> 00:20:40,709 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: New Year's resolutions and they declare new things for their 298 00:20:40,710 --> 00:20:44,670 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: new year and all of this, and I think that's 299 00:20:44,670 --> 00:20:48,660 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: beautiful. I love that people set intentions for themselves ahead 300 00:20:48,660 --> 00:20:50,820 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: of time. They see something and they want to go 301 00:20:50,820 --> 00:20:53,730 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: for it, and they do the work to make those 302 00:20:53,880 --> 00:21:00,270 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: intentions happen. For myself, I don't want to say I've 303 00:21:00,300 --> 00:21:04,380 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: never done it, but I don't necessarily subscribe to New 304 00:21:04,380 --> 00:21:07,409 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: Year's resolutions. For me, if I want to make a 305 00:21:07,410 --> 00:21:09,000 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: change, I'm going to make it now. As soon as 306 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:11,490 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: I think it and I say I want to do something different, 307 00:21:11,490 --> 00:21:15,630 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: immediately I'm going into action on how I can put 308 00:21:15,630 --> 00:21:18,990 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: this forward, how I can set this forward. It just 309 00:21:18,990 --> 00:21:25,890 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: so happened that this thought process of, " I'm done allowing 310 00:21:25,890 --> 00:21:30,389 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: my disabilities to determine my quality of life. I'm done 311 00:21:30,630 --> 00:21:33,330 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: allowing my disabilities to rule my life for me," it 312 00:21:33,330 --> 00:21:38,489 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: just so happened that it happened to fall on January 1st of 2022. 313 00:21:38,550 --> 00:21:39,030 Becs Gentry: Wow. 314 00:21:41,010 --> 00:21:42,780 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: Crazy. I was, " Okay, well." 315 00:21:43,199 --> 00:21:43,200 Becs Gentry: Crazy. 316 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:44,760 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: " Let's do it." 317 00:21:44,790 --> 00:21:44,938 Becs Gentry: Yeah. 318 00:21:45,119 --> 00:21:45,840 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: So I had- 319 00:21:45,959 --> 00:21:49,138 Becs Gentry: 33 years of, " No, I'm not doing that." And then all of a sudden 320 00:21:49,650 --> 00:21:51,630 Becs Gentry: you're like, " Oh, this is the biggest one yet." 321 00:21:51,630 --> 00:21:57,240 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: Yeah. This is enough. Enough. Enough. I want to make my dreams a 322 00:21:57,240 --> 00:22:01,890 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: reality. I want to enjoy my life. I don't want 323 00:22:01,890 --> 00:22:06,510 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: to live suffering anymore. I don't want that anymore. So 324 00:22:07,350 --> 00:22:10,500 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: if that means that I have to act from my wheelchair, 325 00:22:10,530 --> 00:22:13,980 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: then I will act from my wheelchair. If that means 326 00:22:13,980 --> 00:22:17,040 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: that I am going to be on big stages and I have to do 327 00:22:17,520 --> 00:22:19,800 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: that from my wheelchair, I will do that. If that 328 00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:21,540 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: means I have to be an author from my chair, 329 00:22:21,540 --> 00:22:23,940 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: I'm going to do that. I'm going to be the 330 00:22:23,940 --> 00:22:30,990 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: strongest actress, author, motivational speaker from my wheelchair. Let's do 331 00:22:30,990 --> 00:22:34,980 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: it. I'm done. My disabilities ... And that is my motto. 332 00:22:34,980 --> 00:22:38,220 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: I live by it daily. I profess it daily. My 333 00:22:38,220 --> 00:22:43,800 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: disabilities do not disqualify me for my purpose. They don't. 334 00:22:46,020 --> 00:22:48,240 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: I have to do things differently, and that's okay. And 335 00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:53,490 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: I think when people begin to understand that there are 336 00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:57,660 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: different ways and different avenues to getting to your goals, to reaching 337 00:22:57,660 --> 00:23:03,750 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: your dreams, and knowing that your possibilities are endless despite 338 00:23:03,750 --> 00:23:07,709 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: what you're going through, despite your conditions, despite your life's 339 00:23:07,710 --> 00:23:15,359 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: circumstances, you really become unstoppable. And so I was doing 340 00:23:15,359 --> 00:23:19,290 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: this search on how I can become stronger, and I'm 341 00:23:19,290 --> 00:23:23,430 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: a huge fan of Cynthia Erivo. I've been a fan 342 00:23:23,430 --> 00:23:26,939 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: of hers since The Color Purple on Broadway, and I 343 00:23:26,940 --> 00:23:29,670 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: would see her getting on this thing called a Peloton 344 00:23:29,670 --> 00:23:41,280 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: bike. I'm like, " What is that? I want to do it. I want to do that. I like that. I like that. I 345 00:23:41,280 --> 00:23:45,419 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: want it. I need it." And so I did all the 346 00:23:45,420 --> 00:23:50,970 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: research and finding out what this thing called Peloton was and 347 00:23:51,450 --> 00:23:55,379 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: what it does and how I can use it to 348 00:23:55,590 --> 00:23:59,939 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: become a better, stronger version of myself, disabled and all. 349 00:24:00,660 --> 00:24:03,869 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: My god- sister had a Peloton as well. So I 350 00:24:03,869 --> 00:24:05,459 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: reached out to her and I was like, " Okay, so 351 00:24:05,459 --> 00:24:07,830 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: you have a Peloton. Tell me all about it. I'm 352 00:24:07,830 --> 00:24:09,540 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: thinking about getting one." She was just like, " Do it." 353 00:24:10,140 --> 00:24:10,949 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: That was all I needed. 354 00:24:12,210 --> 00:24:12,929 Becs Gentry: Without a thought. 355 00:24:14,040 --> 00:24:18,600 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: Without a second thought. Okay. So I downloaded the app and 356 00:24:18,780 --> 00:24:22,740 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: I was like, "Okay. So I don't have the bike. I can't 357 00:24:23,670 --> 00:24:27,090 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: do heavy weights or anything like that. I can't run. 358 00:24:27,090 --> 00:24:30,510 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: What can I do that's going to help build my 359 00:24:30,510 --> 00:24:35,820 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: strength?" Light weights. I can do those. I can do 360 00:24:35,820 --> 00:24:37,950 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: those from my chair. I can do a couple one, 361 00:24:37,950 --> 00:24:42,090 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: two, three pounds from my wheelchair. And so I went 362 00:24:42,090 --> 00:24:45,150 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: through the instructor list, all the instructors, and I said, " 363 00:24:45,150 --> 00:24:49,619 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: I want somebody that looks like me, that looks like 364 00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:53,070 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: they've been through some things and have come out on the other 365 00:24:53,070 --> 00:24:57,359 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: side." And I saw Tunde's picture and I was like, " 366 00:24:58,050 --> 00:25:02,250 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: Her." It was something about the light in her eyes. 367 00:25:02,790 --> 00:25:05,250 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: You could just see it. You could just see it. 368 00:25:05,250 --> 00:25:12,179 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: And so I hit start on that app and I 369 00:25:12,180 --> 00:25:16,680 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: would train every day. I would literally take three to 370 00:25:16,680 --> 00:25:20,429 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: five arms and lightweight classes a day. 371 00:25:23,100 --> 00:25:26,640 Becs Gentry: We know those are not easy classes from Ms. Oyeneyin. Thank you. 372 00:25:26,640 --> 00:25:29,550 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: They're not. They're not. I don't know. 373 00:25:29,850 --> 00:25:30,090 Becs Gentry: Uh-uh. 374 00:25:31,230 --> 00:25:31,650 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: I don't know. 375 00:25:32,460 --> 00:25:33,000 Becs Gentry: How she does it? 376 00:25:33,030 --> 00:25:36,690 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: I have no idea. I don't know. But I knew 377 00:25:36,900 --> 00:25:40,170 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: that every time I got into this class, her words 378 00:25:40,170 --> 00:25:46,140 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: were encouraging, and it just encouraged me to continue the fight. 379 00:25:47,940 --> 00:25:50,400 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: I felt stronger doing it. I felt the strongest I've 380 00:25:50,400 --> 00:25:51,030 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: ever felt. 381 00:25:51,030 --> 00:25:51,300 Becs Gentry: Absolutely. 382 00:25:52,859 --> 00:25:53,880 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: I haven't turned back since. 383 00:25:56,220 --> 00:25:59,580 Becs Gentry: We love it. We love it. Okay, but tell me 384 00:25:59,580 --> 00:26:04,050 Becs Gentry: though, with no matter what, no matter how many steps 385 00:26:04,050 --> 00:26:08,730 Becs Gentry: forward you get to take, you know, as a human, 386 00:26:08,760 --> 00:26:14,550 Becs Gentry: that your health is fragile. We all do. I hope 387 00:26:14,609 --> 00:26:18,570 Becs Gentry: that we all understand life is fragile, and from having 388 00:26:18,570 --> 00:26:20,850 Becs Gentry: the setbacks that you had with your health, I'm sure 389 00:26:20,850 --> 00:26:23,940 Becs Gentry: in the back of your mind you were thinking, " My 390 00:26:23,940 --> 00:26:27,359 Becs Gentry: health is more fragile than some other people, so I 391 00:26:27,359 --> 00:26:31,740 Becs Gentry: have to protect my power as it grows." How did 392 00:26:31,740 --> 00:26:37,409 Becs Gentry: you know that it was the right time to take 393 00:26:37,410 --> 00:26:39,960 Becs Gentry: all the steps you did? So you just talked about 394 00:26:39,960 --> 00:26:42,450 Becs Gentry: the steps with Tunde that encouraged you to do the arms 395 00:26:42,450 --> 00:26:45,510 Becs Gentry: and lightweights from your chair, and then the next step 396 00:26:45,510 --> 00:26:48,720 Becs Gentry: for you, well, not the next step, but a few 397 00:26:48,720 --> 00:26:52,408 Becs Gentry: steps later, but the next really big one was ... Shaunta- Mae, 398 00:26:53,520 --> 00:26:59,790 Becs Gentry: you decided to run. You believed you could and you 399 00:26:59,790 --> 00:27:05,700 Becs Gentry: did. But talk us through how you, not just physically, 400 00:27:05,700 --> 00:27:09,540 Becs Gentry: but mentally got to a place where you believed so 401 00:27:09,540 --> 00:27:19,020 Becs Gentry: powerfully that you could trust your body again to do this. 402 00:27:20,730 --> 00:27:25,650 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: There's this feeling that I get right before a big leap 403 00:27:25,650 --> 00:27:32,490 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: in my movement and my life. It's hard to describe, but 404 00:27:32,490 --> 00:27:36,629 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: it's just this inkling that I get inside. Every time 405 00:27:36,630 --> 00:27:42,000 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: I make a huge leap, I feel it, not days, 406 00:27:42,000 --> 00:27:50,130 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: not weeks, literally moments before I do it. I received my tread in 407 00:27:50,130 --> 00:27:56,129 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: December of 2023, so I started learning how to walk 408 00:27:57,090 --> 00:28:08,310 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: December 12th of ... Nope, I'm lying. December 2022. I started learning 409 00:28:08,310 --> 00:28:12,661 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: how to walk on the tread December 12th, 2022. Beautiful numbers. 410 00:28:12,661 --> 00:28:16,050 Becs Gentry: I was going to say I remember as well. I was away on maternity 411 00:28:16,050 --> 00:28:18,990 Becs Gentry: leave and I came back, and I'd seen you take 412 00:28:18,990 --> 00:28:22,800 Becs Gentry: some of my classes while I was away on maternity. And then we connected when 413 00:28:22,800 --> 00:28:24,869 Becs Gentry: I came back. So I was like, " It must've been 2022." 414 00:28:26,010 --> 00:28:33,600 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: Absolutely. Yeah. And so this specific day, I want to 415 00:28:33,600 --> 00:28:36,750 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: say it was in February, I was on the tread 416 00:28:37,440 --> 00:28:41,880 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: and I was walking. And I got that same feeling. I said, " 417 00:28:43,620 --> 00:28:48,330 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: I think I can run. I'm going to try it. I'm 418 00:28:48,330 --> 00:28:52,979 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: going to try it." Now, as I'm learning how to 419 00:28:52,980 --> 00:28:56,640 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: walk, my speeds are very, very slow on the tread. 1.5 to 2.0 420 00:28:56,640 --> 00:29:10,530 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: speed. So for me, a run was literally 2. 7, 3. 0. 421 00:29:12,990 --> 00:29:15,900 Becs Gentry: Speed is irrelevant, isn't it? It's the movement. 422 00:29:15,900 --> 00:29:16,141 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: It's the movement. 423 00:29:16,141 --> 00:29:16,142 Becs Gentry: Mm-hmm. 424 00:29:16,142 --> 00:29:21,540 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: And so I hit that button. I hit it twice. And 425 00:29:21,540 --> 00:29:25,950 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: I'm getting faster. My legs are moving a little bit 426 00:29:25,950 --> 00:29:29,460 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: faster. I'm like, " Oh my God." I have the post 427 00:29:29,460 --> 00:29:35,459 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: somewhere on my Instagram page where I'm actually doing it. 428 00:29:35,460 --> 00:29:35,940 Becs Gentry: Hang on, I can see it. 429 00:29:35,940 --> 00:29:41,910 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: This is literally what happens every time. The same with the 430 00:29:41,910 --> 00:29:44,160 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: bike. I got on the bike and I was training 431 00:29:44,160 --> 00:29:48,690 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: every day for anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours. But there was 432 00:29:48,690 --> 00:29:51,840 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: this specific day. When I was on my bike, I'd 433 00:29:51,840 --> 00:29:55,410 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: have to use my hands to pedal my legs. That's 434 00:29:55,410 --> 00:29:56,610 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: how I'd be able to move my legs. And I 435 00:29:56,610 --> 00:30:00,270 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: did this daily until one day I was like, " I 436 00:30:00,270 --> 00:30:08,790 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: think I'm going to take my hands off. I just want to see." The same feeling. "I just want to see if I can do it." And I pedaled. And I was like, " 437 00:30:08,790 --> 00:30:14,220 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: Wait a minute." And I did it again, and again, and again. It's 438 00:30:14,220 --> 00:30:14,430 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: just this- 439 00:30:14,430 --> 00:30:14,460 Becs Gentry: Oh, I have chills. 440 00:30:14,520 --> 00:30:20,760 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: It's just this God wink, I'll call it a God 441 00:30:20,760 --> 00:30:27,870 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: wink, that says, " Mae, you're ready. Mae, you're ready. Mae, 442 00:30:27,870 --> 00:30:31,080 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: you're ready." I think the hardest part in that is 443 00:30:31,440 --> 00:30:35,640 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: trusting that God wink while denouncing the doubt that you 444 00:30:35,640 --> 00:30:44,040 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: have in your head. It's a balance being like, what 445 00:30:44,040 --> 00:30:45,840 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: are you going to trust more? Are you going to trust 446 00:30:45,840 --> 00:30:48,600 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: the doubt or are you going to trust the God wink that 447 00:30:48,600 --> 00:30:51,060 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: has never felt you? Every time you lean into that 448 00:30:51,060 --> 00:30:54,720 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: God wink, it happens for you. That's just been my 449 00:30:54,720 --> 00:30:57,870 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: journey. I trust the God wink every time. 450 00:30:59,550 --> 00:31:02,760 Becs Gentry: So strongly. From the minute, I'm sure, that you stood 451 00:31:02,760 --> 00:31:08,010 Becs Gentry: up for the first time after paralysis to taking those 452 00:31:08,310 --> 00:31:13,410 Becs Gentry: steps of running on your tread, hands off the thighs 453 00:31:13,830 --> 00:31:17,610 Becs Gentry: on the bike, lifting those heavier weights, to crossing the 454 00:31:17,610 --> 00:31:22,230 Becs Gentry: finish line at the United Airlines NYC Half, every God 455 00:31:22,230 --> 00:31:27,690 Becs Gentry: wink has been a really, really beautiful one with a 456 00:31:27,690 --> 00:31:31,440 Becs Gentry: big smile as well. It's like a cheeky wink. It's 457 00:31:31,440 --> 00:31:31,950 Becs Gentry: not just- 458 00:31:32,760 --> 00:31:33,240 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. 459 00:31:35,880 --> 00:31:40,650 Becs Gentry: Okay. Let's have a look at the adaptive training that 460 00:31:40,650 --> 00:31:45,330 Becs Gentry: you've gone through, because I think it's so important for 461 00:31:45,330 --> 00:31:49,770 Becs Gentry: people, you said this earlier, to understand that ... You said, " 462 00:31:49,950 --> 00:31:57,300 Becs Gentry: Your disabilities does not disqualify you." And it needs to 463 00:31:57,300 --> 00:31:59,160 Becs Gentry: be said louder. It needs to be said louder every 464 00:31:59,160 --> 00:32:02,910 Becs Gentry: single day in every single way that people are training 465 00:32:02,910 --> 00:32:06,240 Becs Gentry: around the world, that there are multiple ways of doing 466 00:32:06,240 --> 00:32:08,910 Becs Gentry: things; though, the way, the one way, is not the 467 00:32:08,910 --> 00:32:12,510 Becs Gentry: right way at all, because it's not right for everybody. 468 00:32:12,660 --> 00:32:14,730 Becs Gentry: It might be right for that person. It's just not 469 00:32:14,880 --> 00:32:16,680 Becs Gentry: right, period. 470 00:32:16,770 --> 00:32:16,920 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: Yeah. 471 00:32:20,220 --> 00:32:23,310 Becs Gentry: When we look at all of the adaptive training that 472 00:32:23,310 --> 00:32:24,870 Becs Gentry: you've done, it's vast. 473 00:32:24,930 --> 00:32:25,170 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: Yeah. 474 00:32:25,740 --> 00:32:31,020 Becs Gentry: So where are you at now? You're obviously not just doing 475 00:32:31,140 --> 00:32:36,060 Becs Gentry: one, two, three- pound weights from your chair. Where are 476 00:32:36,060 --> 00:32:37,950 Becs Gentry: we now? What's your training like now? 477 00:32:39,600 --> 00:32:45,780 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: Actually, I just finished week three of Tunde's upper body program. 478 00:32:46,470 --> 00:32:47,310 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: So I'm lifting. 479 00:32:47,370 --> 00:32:49,410 Becs Gentry: Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry for you. Do you 480 00:32:49,410 --> 00:32:52,560 Becs Gentry: need me to send a masseuse or something for you? 481 00:32:52,890 --> 00:32:55,381 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: All of the things. Because the woman is nuts. 482 00:32:55,381 --> 00:32:55,621 Becs Gentry: The woman is just nuts. 483 00:32:57,810 --> 00:32:59,551 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: And this is my second time going through the program. 484 00:32:59,551 --> 00:32:59,611 Becs Gentry: Okay. 485 00:33:01,680 --> 00:33:02,610 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: I'm a glutton for growth. 486 00:33:03,960 --> 00:33:06,540 Becs Gentry: Yes. I've done it once and that was fine. Thank 487 00:33:06,540 --> 00:33:07,230 Becs Gentry: you very much. 488 00:33:09,870 --> 00:33:14,460 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: So I'm definitely lifting a lot heavier. I find so 489 00:33:14,460 --> 00:33:19,290 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: much joy in doing lower body, and that may just 490 00:33:19,470 --> 00:33:24,900 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: be because I didn't have the functionality of my lower 491 00:33:24,900 --> 00:33:28,110 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: body for quite some time, and so being able to use 492 00:33:28,110 --> 00:33:31,950 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: those same legs and those same muscles and joints that 493 00:33:31,950 --> 00:33:35,790 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: were immobile at one point, and being able to press 494 00:33:35,790 --> 00:33:40,140 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: heavy weights is just something that just rocks my mind 495 00:33:40,140 --> 00:33:44,880 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: every time. I feel so strong doing it. I'm just 496 00:33:45,630 --> 00:33:49,020 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: getting back into running again. I was sick for some 497 00:33:49,020 --> 00:33:53,730 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: time, which kind of comes with the territory. I have 498 00:33:54,660 --> 00:33:57,630 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: a suppressed immune system, so things take much longer. But 499 00:33:57,630 --> 00:34:00,930 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: I'm getting back into running. I have my next race 500 00:34:00,960 --> 00:34:02,190 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: on the 1st. 501 00:34:04,709 --> 00:34:05,459 Becs Gentry: Which race? What? 502 00:34:07,230 --> 00:34:10,980 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: It is the Women's Fitness Festival that I do every 503 00:34:10,980 --> 00:34:13,800 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: year. This is actually the very first race that I 504 00:34:13,800 --> 00:34:18,480 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: did back in 2023, so this is a way that 505 00:34:18,570 --> 00:34:21,779 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: I pay homage. I do this every year. This year, 506 00:34:21,780 --> 00:34:26,219 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: I will be running the 10K, so I'm playing catch- 507 00:34:26,219 --> 00:34:28,469 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: up with training for that, and then also doing a 508 00:34:28,469 --> 00:34:34,770 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: lot of cycling. As far as having to adapt, I 509 00:34:34,770 --> 00:34:38,910 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: adapt a lot. A lot of the things that I have to do, 510 00:34:39,719 --> 00:34:41,820 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: I pay attention a lot to my body. I just 511 00:34:42,060 --> 00:34:44,190 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: have to. As someone who- 512 00:34:44,670 --> 00:34:44,761 Becs Gentry: Of course. 513 00:34:44,761 --> 00:34:49,230 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: ... lives with multiple conditions and disabilities, I have to 514 00:34:49,230 --> 00:34:54,000 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: pay attention. Because the moment I choose not to pay 515 00:34:54,000 --> 00:34:58,500 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: attention can be the defining moment of whether I go 516 00:34:58,500 --> 00:35:03,780 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: from being in a stable condition to making myself critically 517 00:35:03,780 --> 00:35:10,170 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: sick, or in an emergency situation, life- threatening situation. For 518 00:35:10,170 --> 00:35:13,320 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: me, the way I care for myself when I get 519 00:35:13,320 --> 00:35:16,350 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: into any workout is making sure that my heart meds 520 00:35:16,350 --> 00:35:20,430 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: are on deck. I have to make sure that my 521 00:35:20,430 --> 00:35:23,279 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: heart rate is at a pretty low level before I 522 00:35:23,280 --> 00:35:28,650 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: get into my exercises, my routine, my training. Because if 523 00:35:28,650 --> 00:35:35,130 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: I don't, I get really sick. At times, if I'm 524 00:35:35,130 --> 00:35:39,540 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: flaring with Crohn's disease or the gastroparesis, I have to 525 00:35:39,540 --> 00:35:43,680 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: do my workouts on all my feeds, which you guys 526 00:35:43,680 --> 00:35:51,570 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: have probably seen a few times. Managing to spin or 527 00:35:51,570 --> 00:35:55,529 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: lift weights or run attached to my feeding tube is 528 00:35:55,800 --> 00:36:00,300 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: an adjustment, but it's something I need to do. And 529 00:36:00,300 --> 00:36:03,960 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: the days that I'm flaring from my neurological condition, what 530 00:36:03,960 --> 00:36:06,630 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: does that look like in my training? That means I 531 00:36:06,630 --> 00:36:08,910 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: may have to slow down. That means I may have 532 00:36:08,910 --> 00:36:13,020 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: to do workouts from my floor. That means instead of 533 00:36:13,920 --> 00:36:18,569 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: running, I may have to walk. It means no inclines 534 00:36:18,570 --> 00:36:21,930 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: at times. It means having to go at a much slower pace. 535 00:36:24,180 --> 00:36:28,739 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: But all of this, all of this is just an indicator 536 00:36:28,739 --> 00:36:32,550 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: that things may just have to be different. It doesn't 537 00:36:32,550 --> 00:36:35,280 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: mean that you can't do them. It doesn't mean that 538 00:36:35,280 --> 00:36:38,130 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: you're less qualified to do them. It doesn't mean that you're 539 00:36:38,130 --> 00:36:41,460 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: not worthy of doing them. It just means that you 540 00:36:41,460 --> 00:36:43,200 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: have to lean into the pivot a little bit. When 541 00:36:45,030 --> 00:36:48,870 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: you lean into the pivot, you realize that you're not 542 00:36:48,870 --> 00:36:52,739 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: limited. You're not limited. You can do it all. 543 00:36:52,800 --> 00:36:58,169 Becs Gentry: Absolutely. You can. You can. Doing it all for you, 544 00:36:58,530 --> 00:37:03,239 Becs Gentry: recently, or this year let's say, culminated in such a 545 00:37:03,239 --> 00:37:08,160 Becs Gentry: magical day in March where ... I mean, I saw you, 546 00:37:08,610 --> 00:37:10,770 Becs Gentry: was it the day before or two days before? I 547 00:37:10,770 --> 00:37:12,780 Becs Gentry: don't remember whether it was the Friday or the Saturday. 548 00:37:12,960 --> 00:37:15,630 Becs Gentry: You were in studio. You took a cycling class with 549 00:37:15,660 --> 00:37:18,900 Becs Gentry: Tundes. You were exhausted. You said to me like, "Becs, I'm 550 00:37:18,900 --> 00:37:23,370 Becs Gentry: tired. I'm really tired. I'm not feeling a hundred percent." 551 00:37:23,790 --> 00:37:26,700 Becs Gentry: Tunde and I were like, " Chill. Just take this class 552 00:37:26,700 --> 00:37:32,070 Becs Gentry: as easy as you want. This is your shakeout moment." And 553 00:37:32,070 --> 00:37:36,390 Becs Gentry: then the next morning, there you were, shining so bright 554 00:37:36,660 --> 00:37:40,410 Becs Gentry: with the biggest smile. I'm not going to take away 555 00:37:40,410 --> 00:37:42,270 Becs Gentry: from the fact that I know it was ... You had 556 00:37:42,270 --> 00:37:45,719 Becs Gentry: some tough moments. Every single runner has tough moments when 557 00:37:45,719 --> 00:37:49,680 Becs Gentry: they go through race day. It's not just you. But 558 00:37:49,860 --> 00:37:52,920 Becs Gentry: let's think about the positives and the amazingness. Is there a 559 00:37:52,920 --> 00:37:57,450 Becs Gentry: moment from that day that you still think back to 560 00:37:57,480 --> 00:38:01,500 Becs Gentry: that gives you the chills of like, " Oh my gosh. Wow." 561 00:38:02,400 --> 00:38:09,600 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: There's a couple of them for me. Yeah. I'd probably 562 00:38:09,600 --> 00:38:15,870 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: say one of the biggest ones for me, and I'd 563 00:38:15,870 --> 00:38:21,600 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: say maybe for Tunde as well, we're on the FDR and 564 00:38:21,690 --> 00:38:29,520 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: we see a runner who's not looking the best. Tunde 565 00:38:29,640 --> 00:38:33,180 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: spots her first, and she grabbed my attention, and I 566 00:38:33,180 --> 00:38:38,130 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: noticed her as well. We're just watching to see how 567 00:38:38,130 --> 00:38:40,290 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: she's doing, see if she kind of picks things up. 568 00:38:41,969 --> 00:38:51,150 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: Tunde is fine, I'm fighting for my life, but seeing 569 00:38:51,150 --> 00:38:56,700 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: her kind of took my mind off of the pain 570 00:38:56,700 --> 00:38:59,129 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: that I was experiencing, right? 571 00:38:59,130 --> 00:39:00,795 Becs Gentry: Distraction. Right. Mm- hmm. 572 00:39:00,795 --> 00:39:04,529 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: Her wellbeing, her safety became a priority for the both 573 00:39:04,530 --> 00:39:08,009 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: of us. So we continued to watch her, and she 574 00:39:08,010 --> 00:39:12,150 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: just continued to go downhill, and at one point, she 575 00:39:12,150 --> 00:39:16,140 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: had gone off to the side and it wasn't good. 576 00:39:16,140 --> 00:39:20,669 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: It looked like she was going to topple over. We 577 00:39:20,670 --> 00:39:22,920 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: ran over and we grabbed her and we got her 578 00:39:23,010 --> 00:39:27,930 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: to safety. We got her to the medics. I think 579 00:39:28,080 --> 00:39:31,290 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: the beautiful thing about that that I love so much 580 00:39:31,290 --> 00:39:37,890 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: is, it is a reflection of what the running community looks like. 581 00:39:42,000 --> 00:39:47,730 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: It's selfless. You want to see everybody win. You want 582 00:39:47,730 --> 00:39:53,670 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: to see everybody well. And to be able to take 583 00:39:54,030 --> 00:39:58,560 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: not necessarily the pressure off of ourselves and our race, 584 00:39:58,560 --> 00:40:02,010 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: but to take our thoughts out of doing our own 585 00:40:02,010 --> 00:40:05,820 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: thing, to lend a hand, to help somebody else in 586 00:40:05,820 --> 00:40:09,570 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: need more than wanting to finish this race at a 587 00:40:09,570 --> 00:40:14,550 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: certain time or in whatever capacity, was just a beautiful 588 00:40:14,550 --> 00:40:21,270 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: moment. That's one I will never forget. She did end 589 00:40:21,270 --> 00:40:24,780 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: up reaching out to us after the race and said 590 00:40:24,780 --> 00:40:26,340 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: that she got the help that she needed, and she 591 00:40:26,340 --> 00:40:28,320 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: was actually able to get back on the course and 592 00:40:28,320 --> 00:40:29,130 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: finish the race. 593 00:40:29,130 --> 00:40:29,370 Becs Gentry: Yay. Perfect. 594 00:40:30,810 --> 00:40:33,150 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: So that was absolutely beautiful. 595 00:40:34,260 --> 00:40:34,830 Becs Gentry: Yes. 596 00:40:36,210 --> 00:40:42,570 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: Another, which actually happened a lot. One of the things 597 00:40:42,719 --> 00:40:46,920 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: that Tunde kept repeating to me while on this course was, " 598 00:40:47,340 --> 00:40:50,640 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: Pick your head up. I want you to see the 599 00:40:50,640 --> 00:40:55,140 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: beauty around you." Every time she said that, it took 600 00:40:55,140 --> 00:40:58,799 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: my mind off of the pain and on the moment 601 00:40:58,800 --> 00:41:02,219 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: that I was actually doing something that I never imagined for 602 00:41:02,219 --> 00:41:07,890 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: myself. I never saw myself running 13. 1 miles. Even 603 00:41:07,950 --> 00:41:10,890 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: up to the beginning of starting the race, I was like, " 604 00:41:10,890 --> 00:41:13,860 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: I'm really about to do this? This doesn't feel real." 605 00:41:15,270 --> 00:41:16,950 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: So every time she told me to " pick my head 606 00:41:16,950 --> 00:41:19,020 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: up, I want you to see the beauty around you," 607 00:41:19,620 --> 00:41:23,100 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: it gave a new perspective. It gave a new light 608 00:41:24,660 --> 00:41:28,109 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: about running this race, and I got to see so 609 00:41:28,110 --> 00:41:33,600 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: many people on their own journeys running their own race 610 00:41:33,600 --> 00:41:40,200 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: at their own pace. It was absolutely beautiful. Running with 611 00:41:40,200 --> 00:41:43,980 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: Team for Kids, so that the kids could see somebody 612 00:41:43,980 --> 00:41:46,350 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: like myself and so many other people that are out 613 00:41:46,350 --> 00:41:49,440 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: there running the race, disabled and all, in pain and 614 00:41:49,440 --> 00:41:55,140 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: all, was absolutely beautiful. And had she not taken me 615 00:41:55,140 --> 00:41:57,359 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: out of my pain by telling me to simply pick 616 00:41:57,360 --> 00:42:01,140 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: my head up and see all the beauty around me, 617 00:42:01,140 --> 00:42:07,770 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: I would've missed it. Those are probably the two most pivotal 618 00:42:07,770 --> 00:42:11,370 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: moments for me in that race. Oh, wait, one more. 619 00:42:12,000 --> 00:42:13,230 Becs Gentry: (inaudible) . Of course, please. 620 00:42:13,230 --> 00:42:16,920 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: Finish the race. Finishing. 621 00:42:17,430 --> 00:42:17,671 Becs Gentry: Well, yes. 622 00:42:17,671 --> 00:42:22,799 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: Finishing the race. Crossing that finish line. Crossing that finish 623 00:42:22,799 --> 00:42:28,830 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: line was ... yeah. I came home from that and I've 624 00:42:28,890 --> 00:42:32,069 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: literally been living like this ever since. You really can't 625 00:42:32,070 --> 00:42:33,000 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: tell me anything now. 626 00:42:35,100 --> 00:42:35,101 Becs Gentry: Yeah, you can't. I'm fine. 627 00:42:35,101 --> 00:42:35,102 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: If I want to do it, I'm going to do it. 628 00:42:35,102 --> 00:42:43,050 Becs Gentry: Yes, you are. You are. I'm sure every step of that 13.1, 629 00:42:44,760 --> 00:42:49,860 Becs Gentry: that young, tiny nine- year- old girl in you who 630 00:42:49,860 --> 00:42:57,450 Becs Gentry: struggled for five years, feeling alone, suddenly had this joyous 631 00:42:57,450 --> 00:43:04,170 Becs Gentry: moment of love, of understanding, of probably a ton of 632 00:43:04,170 --> 00:43:11,790 Becs Gentry: frustration and anger, but release. And you used the word 633 00:43:11,790 --> 00:43:15,570 Becs Gentry: reclamation, reclamation, however you want to pronounce it, English versus American. 634 00:43:17,040 --> 00:43:23,640 Becs Gentry: But it's true. And it takes ... I'm sure. Two paralyses, 635 00:43:23,880 --> 00:43:27,570 Becs Gentry: years of fighting for your life, not just in the 636 00:43:27,570 --> 00:43:32,100 Becs Gentry: hospital, literally before; living your life day to day, fighting 637 00:43:32,100 --> 00:43:39,120 Becs Gentry: for yourself. It takes someone, in your instance, Tunde, to 638 00:43:39,120 --> 00:43:42,360 Becs Gentry: take you out of a tough moment, to distract you, 639 00:43:42,900 --> 00:43:47,640 Becs Gentry: to let all of those things for a moment just 640 00:43:47,640 --> 00:43:53,760 Becs Gentry: be reclaimed by beauty and love and allow you to 641 00:43:53,760 --> 00:43:56,730 Becs Gentry: see through, and a door that is just there for 642 00:43:56,730 --> 00:44:04,680 Becs Gentry: you of goals and strength and inspiration because you share 643 00:44:04,680 --> 00:44:07,230 Becs Gentry: it. I see another book coming for you because, I 644 00:44:07,230 --> 00:44:12,480 Becs Gentry: mean, oh my gosh. How many kids out there who ... 645 00:44:12,510 --> 00:44:19,860 Becs Gentry: Yeah, she's looking at me like, " Yes, Becs. You know." I mean, you 646 00:44:19,860 --> 00:44:21,509 Becs Gentry: know I have a two and a half year old, 647 00:44:21,510 --> 00:44:23,759 Becs Gentry: and it shocks me every single day the things that 648 00:44:23,760 --> 00:44:29,310 Becs Gentry: she picks up in my words, of course, but my 649 00:44:29,310 --> 00:44:38,219 Becs Gentry: mannerisms. And to have somebody like you inspire a kid 650 00:44:38,219 --> 00:44:43,469 Becs Gentry: who was you? You know? That child needs you. That 651 00:44:43,469 --> 00:44:47,130 Becs Gentry: child needs to see this beautiful smile that you have, 652 00:44:47,130 --> 00:44:52,800 Becs Gentry: this strength upon strength upon strength that you have held 653 00:44:52,800 --> 00:44:58,920 Becs Gentry: on to. So thank you for inspiring. Not just inspiring 654 00:44:59,100 --> 00:45:02,310 Becs Gentry: kids like you, but you will inspire Tallulah to be 655 00:45:02,640 --> 00:45:07,410 Becs Gentry: a stronger and more beautiful human in what you do. 656 00:45:07,410 --> 00:45:13,560 Becs Gentry: So take those challenges, everybody. Take them, because life is 657 00:45:13,560 --> 00:45:18,029 Becs Gentry: precious, but boy, can we? Can we? Because as you 658 00:45:18,030 --> 00:45:20,669 Becs Gentry: said to those boys, " Who can't? Who can't? Uh- uh." 659 00:45:22,500 --> 00:45:23,010 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: I'm going to show you. 660 00:45:23,009 --> 00:45:28,560 Becs Gentry: "Not me. I can. Thank you." And here you are today, 661 00:45:28,560 --> 00:45:31,560 Becs Gentry: still, taking the hoops and shooting your shot, my girl. 662 00:45:33,900 --> 00:45:39,839 Becs Gentry: You're utterly astounding. You're awe- inspiring. All of the brain 663 00:45:40,050 --> 00:45:42,839 Becs Gentry: people, doctors out there, tell you to find awe in 664 00:45:42,840 --> 00:45:45,989 Becs Gentry: life every day. So today, my friends, if you are 665 00:45:46,020 --> 00:45:50,040 Becs Gentry: struggling to find awe, go on Shaunta- Mae's page, see 666 00:45:50,040 --> 00:45:54,870 Becs Gentry: her face, and there's your awe, inspiration for today. Thank 667 00:45:54,870 --> 00:45:57,570 Becs Gentry: you so much for sharing your story. Thank you for 668 00:45:57,570 --> 00:46:00,420 Becs Gentry: sharing it with us, with the world. I can't wait to 669 00:46:00,420 --> 00:46:03,630 Becs Gentry: see what ... You're giving me the winks and the nods 670 00:46:03,630 --> 00:46:06,390 Becs Gentry: of what's coming for you. I can't wait to see 671 00:46:06,390 --> 00:46:08,400 Becs Gentry: you and squeeze you in the studio when you're next 672 00:46:08,400 --> 00:46:14,070 Becs Gentry: here. But thank you for being you, and just everything 673 00:46:14,070 --> 00:46:14,400 Becs Gentry: you do. 674 00:46:14,460 --> 00:46:19,080 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: Thank you. Also, I'd be remiss if I didn't thank 675 00:46:19,080 --> 00:46:23,190 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: you also because you've played a pivotal role in my 676 00:46:23,190 --> 00:46:30,359 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: journey as well. When I started taking your classes on 677 00:46:30,360 --> 00:46:33,480 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: the tread, when I first started, I was so intimidated. 678 00:46:34,469 --> 00:46:36,239 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: I was so intimidated because I was like, " Do y'all 679 00:46:36,239 --> 00:46:45,630 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: know who Becs is? Do y'all know? Do y'all know who this woman is? She's a beast. She's a beast on the track. I don't know if I can do this." But getting 680 00:46:45,630 --> 00:46:50,190 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: into your classes, honestly, I think you're one of the 681 00:46:50,520 --> 00:46:57,120 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: most challenging tread instructors there is. Because, one, again, you 682 00:46:57,120 --> 00:47:02,100 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: know who Becs is. But because you challenge us to 683 00:47:03,030 --> 00:47:07,620 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: push ourselves past our limits, but you inspire us in 684 00:47:07,620 --> 00:47:14,310 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: the process, which I think is beautiful because oftentimes, especially 685 00:47:14,610 --> 00:47:18,000 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: when it comes to me, being on the tread is 686 00:47:18,540 --> 00:47:22,500 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: hard. Running is hard for me daily. It is a 687 00:47:22,500 --> 00:47:26,969 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: constant battle in my head of, if I can actually 688 00:47:26,969 --> 00:47:31,890 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: do this still. I've run a half- marathon. But when 689 00:47:31,890 --> 00:47:34,380 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: I get in your classes and I choose these hard 690 00:47:35,250 --> 00:47:40,140 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: classes, knowing that you're there and that you're inspiring, and you're doing 691 00:47:40,140 --> 00:47:43,140 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: it with such love and compassion and empathy for the 692 00:47:43,140 --> 00:47:46,920 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: people that you are instructing and teaching, not just on 693 00:47:46,920 --> 00:47:51,750 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: the tread, but off the tread as well, is something 694 00:47:51,750 --> 00:47:57,270 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: that I'll hold dear to. I absolutely adore you. I 695 00:47:57,270 --> 00:48:03,300 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: do. You're so special to me. I did not forget 696 00:48:03,300 --> 00:48:06,239 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: the message that you sent to Tunde, while I was 697 00:48:06,239 --> 00:48:09,060 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: on the course, for me, as I was fighting the 698 00:48:09,060 --> 00:48:13,380 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: last, I think it was like the last 5K. I think it was the last 699 00:48:13,380 --> 00:48:17,610 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: three miles. And that helped me run a little bit 700 00:48:17,610 --> 00:48:21,000 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: faster. It actually brought me to tears. So I want to say 701 00:48:21,030 --> 00:48:23,700 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: thank you for all that you do. Thank you for 702 00:48:24,150 --> 00:48:27,090 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: inspiring so many of us. Thank you for your love 703 00:48:27,090 --> 00:48:30,719 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: and your heart, not just for the sport, but for the 704 00:48:30,719 --> 00:48:35,219 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: people. I'm glad I get to experience you in this 705 00:48:35,219 --> 00:48:37,830 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: way, and I definitely can't wait to get back to 706 00:48:37,830 --> 00:48:41,100 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: New York to hug your face again. And hopefully be 707 00:48:41,100 --> 00:48:44,191 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: in your classes, because I need that. I need to have no chill in your class. 708 00:48:44,190 --> 00:48:51,390 Becs Gentry: You better. You better. You better. We're getting you in. Amazing. 709 00:48:51,570 --> 00:48:53,910 Becs Gentry: All right, lots of love, and I will see you soon. 710 00:48:54,390 --> 00:48:55,259 Shaunta-Mae Alexander: Thank you so much. 711 00:49:07,800 --> 00:49:11,280 Rob: New York Roadrunners is a nonprofit organization with a vision 712 00:49:11,280 --> 00:49:15,120 Rob: to build healthier lives and stronger communities through the transformative 713 00:49:15,120 --> 00:49:18,600 Rob: power of running. The support of members and donors like 714 00:49:18,600 --> 00:49:21,900 Rob: you helps us achieve our mission to transform the health 715 00:49:21,900 --> 00:49:25,440 Rob: and well- being of our communities through inclusive and accessible 716 00:49:25,440 --> 00:49:30,030 Rob: running experiences, empowering all to achieve their potential. Learn more 717 00:49:30,030 --> 00:49:35,489 Rob: and contribute at nyrr. org/ donate. Dr. Jane Yoo is 718 00:49:35,489 --> 00:49:39,300 Rob: a dual board- certified dermatologist, a surgeon and an assistant 719 00:49:39,300 --> 00:49:43,469 Rob: professor at Mount Sinai, and she wants every runner, especially 720 00:49:43,469 --> 00:49:47,279 Rob: runners of color, to take sun protection seriously. A decades- 721 00:49:47,280 --> 00:49:50,460 Rob: long New York Roadrunners member, Jane just completed her Abbott 722 00:49:50,460 --> 00:49:54,900 Rob: Six Star Journey at the 2024 Berlin Marathon, and she's 723 00:49:54,900 --> 00:49:57,839 Rob: in training now for Sydney. In addition to her work 724 00:49:57,840 --> 00:50:01,080 Rob: as a researcher and a public policy advocate, Jane is 725 00:50:01,080 --> 00:50:05,160 Rob: a spokesperson for the Skin Cancer Foundation helping shape national 726 00:50:05,160 --> 00:50:08,280 Rob: sun protection standards. She joins us today to share her 727 00:50:08,280 --> 00:50:12,540 Rob: practical advice for fall marathon training, especially when it comes 728 00:50:12,540 --> 00:50:16,860 Rob: to sunscreen and skin health. Dr. Yoo, it is great 729 00:50:16,860 --> 00:50:19,230 Rob: to see you. You and I have had a chance to chat a couple 730 00:50:19,230 --> 00:50:22,560 Rob: of times in the past about your passion on this 731 00:50:22,560 --> 00:50:24,420 Rob: topic, so thank you so much for joining us. 732 00:50:24,839 --> 00:50:25,141 Dr. Jane Yoo: Thank you. 733 00:50:25,141 --> 00:50:28,680 Rob: Okay. I have a lot of questions about this. Let's 734 00:50:28,680 --> 00:50:32,969 Rob: just start with the basics. When a runner is out 735 00:50:32,969 --> 00:50:37,469 Rob: there training through the spring and the summer months, getting 736 00:50:37,469 --> 00:50:39,570 Rob: ready for whatever their race is, a half- marathon, a 737 00:50:39,570 --> 00:50:43,830 Rob: marathon, maybe they're in races over the summer, how much 738 00:50:43,860 --> 00:50:46,860 Rob: is sun protection a factor they should be thinking about? 739 00:50:47,250 --> 00:50:51,540 Rob: How much time in the sun does it require to 740 00:50:51,540 --> 00:50:54,180 Rob: really potentially do damage to your skin? 741 00:50:55,110 --> 00:50:57,930 Dr. Jane Yoo: Well, that's a great question because I think when we 742 00:50:58,020 --> 00:51:01,080 Dr. Jane Yoo: think about running marathons, we're thinking about the long game. 743 00:51:01,260 --> 00:51:06,540 Dr. Jane Yoo: Our training typically starts in the summer, goes through November, 744 00:51:06,570 --> 00:51:11,250 Dr. Jane Yoo: and so we see all different seasons. We should be 745 00:51:11,250 --> 00:51:15,150 Dr. Jane Yoo: thinking about sunscreen actually every single day of the year 746 00:51:15,210 --> 00:51:18,480 Dr. Jane Yoo: because we have sun exposure that comes from two different 747 00:51:18,480 --> 00:51:22,710 Dr. Jane Yoo: types of rays; the UVA rays, which cause premature skin 748 00:51:22,710 --> 00:51:26,219 Dr. Jane Yoo: aging, as well as the UVB rays or burning. But we 749 00:51:26,219 --> 00:51:30,000 Dr. Jane Yoo: still also have visible light that affects us, so every 750 00:51:30,000 --> 00:51:32,070 Dr. Jane Yoo: day, we should be thinking about sun protection. 751 00:51:33,989 --> 00:51:36,330 Rob: Jane, if I can call you Jane, you and I know 752 00:51:36,360 --> 00:51:38,549 Rob: each other, I should call you Dr. Yoo. Dr. Yoo, 753 00:51:40,800 --> 00:51:42,330 Rob: we run in the morning a lot of the time. 754 00:51:42,719 --> 00:51:46,710 Rob: Oftentimes our races are at 8: 00 a. m. sometimes 7: 755 00:51:46,710 --> 00:51:50,100 Rob: 00 a. m. How big a factor is that? I'm 756 00:51:50,100 --> 00:51:52,800 Rob: not often going out for a run at noon or 2:00 in 757 00:51:53,160 --> 00:51:56,129 Rob: the afternoon. I'm usually early in the morning, sometimes late 758 00:51:56,130 --> 00:51:59,640 Rob: in the evening. Does that matter a lot? If you're 759 00:51:59,640 --> 00:52:02,759 Rob: running before 9: 00 a.m., do you have to worry about this 760 00:52:02,760 --> 00:52:05,939 Rob: less or is the sun really dangerous any time of day? 761 00:52:06,540 --> 00:52:09,780 Dr. Jane Yoo: I think you really have to worry about the sun during the 762 00:52:09,780 --> 00:52:13,680 Dr. Jane Yoo: prime times, during noon and when it's really, really hot 763 00:52:13,680 --> 00:52:17,760 Dr. Jane Yoo: out, but I would recommend folks to run either early 764 00:52:17,760 --> 00:52:20,880 Dr. Jane Yoo: in the morning or in the evening, so they get 765 00:52:21,239 --> 00:52:24,540 Dr. Jane Yoo: less of that exposure and less of the burning. I 766 00:52:24,540 --> 00:52:29,489 Dr. Jane Yoo: have to say that most people think that skin cancer 767 00:52:29,489 --> 00:52:33,000 Dr. Jane Yoo: is caused by just the sun, but there's genetic and 768 00:52:33,000 --> 00:52:37,230 Dr. Jane Yoo: there's environmental factors that play a role. The most important 769 00:52:37,230 --> 00:52:39,719 Dr. Jane Yoo: thing that we can do is protect ourselves and make 770 00:52:39,719 --> 00:52:43,500 Dr. Jane Yoo: sure that we have hats as well as sunglasses and 771 00:52:44,310 --> 00:52:45,180 Dr. Jane Yoo: UV clothing. 772 00:52:46,020 --> 00:52:48,480 Rob: So it's not just about sunscreen. It's obviously about the 773 00:52:48,480 --> 00:52:50,790 Rob: things, the physical things that block the sun. I'm a 774 00:52:50,790 --> 00:52:54,180 Rob: huge fan of running with a hat on, baseball cap 775 00:52:54,180 --> 00:52:56,670 Rob: sort of thing when the sun's out, and sunglasses to 776 00:52:56,670 --> 00:52:58,320 Rob: protect the eyes as well, right? 777 00:52:58,800 --> 00:53:02,310 Dr. Jane Yoo: Exactly. The more you can protect yourself on sun exposed 778 00:53:02,310 --> 00:53:06,570 Dr. Jane Yoo: areas, the better. If you want to get into sun protection, 779 00:53:06,810 --> 00:53:09,719 Dr. Jane Yoo: well, first of all, this is May, Skin Cancer Awareness 780 00:53:09,719 --> 00:53:12,300 Dr. Jane Yoo: Month. Let me start off with that. Skin cancer is the 781 00:53:12,390 --> 00:53:15,060 Dr. Jane Yoo: most common form of cancer in the US, and one 782 00:53:15,060 --> 00:53:18,690 Dr. Jane Yoo: in five people will be diagnosed by age 70. So 783 00:53:18,690 --> 00:53:21,870 Dr. Jane Yoo: everyone needs sunscreen and everyone is at risk regardless of 784 00:53:21,870 --> 00:53:26,339 Dr. Jane Yoo: their skin color. What the American Academy of Dermatology recommends 785 00:53:26,340 --> 00:53:30,810 Dr. Jane Yoo: is that everyone wear sunscreen that's broad spectrum, protecting you 786 00:53:30,810 --> 00:53:35,430 Dr. Jane Yoo: against the UVA as well as UVB rays, SPF30 or higher, as 787 00:53:35,430 --> 00:53:39,569 Dr. Jane Yoo: well as something that's water resistant. Most people ask, " Well, 788 00:53:39,570 --> 00:53:42,450 Dr. Jane Yoo: what is SPF?" That's the number that just tells you 789 00:53:42,450 --> 00:53:46,529 Dr. Jane Yoo: how long the sun's UVB rays would take to redden 790 00:53:46,530 --> 00:53:49,980 Dr. Jane Yoo: the skin when you're using a particular sunscreen compared to 791 00:53:49,980 --> 00:53:53,310 Dr. Jane Yoo: the amount of time without the sunscreen. Basically, using a 792 00:53:53,310 --> 00:53:58,230 Dr. Jane Yoo: sunscreen with SPF30 blocks 97% of the sun's UVB rays. 793 00:53:58,560 --> 00:54:03,089 Dr. Jane Yoo: The higher number SPFs block slightly more of the sun's 794 00:54:03,090 --> 00:54:06,600 Dr. Jane Yoo: UVB rays, but no sunscreen can block a hundred percent 795 00:54:06,960 --> 00:54:11,489 Dr. Jane Yoo: of the sun's UVB rays. Again, it's really, really important 796 00:54:11,489 --> 00:54:14,910 Dr. Jane Yoo: to reapply, and what I recommend is reapplying every two hours. 797 00:54:15,330 --> 00:54:19,050 Rob: What about sunblocks, Dr. Yoo? Those are different because they're, 798 00:54:19,050 --> 00:54:22,890 Rob: as I understand, you tell me, are they physical blocks? 799 00:54:23,489 --> 00:54:26,399 Rob: Zinc and things like that, that actually you can still 800 00:54:26,400 --> 00:54:28,650 Rob: see on someone's face, they don't rub in the same way? 801 00:54:29,130 --> 00:54:34,530 Dr. Jane Yoo: There's two different types of sun protectors. There's the chemical 802 00:54:34,530 --> 00:54:38,279 Dr. Jane Yoo: as well as physical sunscreens. The primary difference between the 803 00:54:38,280 --> 00:54:42,420 Dr. Jane Yoo: sunscreens is the active ingredients that they contain. If the 804 00:54:42,420 --> 00:54:45,330 Dr. Jane Yoo: active ingredient in your sunscreen is titanium dioxide or zinc 805 00:54:45,330 --> 00:54:48,510 Dr. Jane Yoo: oxide or both, you have a physical sunscreen. That basically 806 00:54:48,719 --> 00:54:53,340 Dr. Jane Yoo: consists of a layer that's on your skin. Dermatologists often 807 00:54:53,430 --> 00:54:55,920 Dr. Jane Yoo: will recommend this for people with sensitive skin or people 808 00:54:55,920 --> 00:55:00,390 Dr. Jane Yoo: with acne. If the sunscreen doesn't contain the titanium dioxide 809 00:55:00,390 --> 00:55:03,810 Dr. Jane Yoo: or zinc oxide, you have a chemical sunscreen. Some sunscreens 810 00:55:03,810 --> 00:55:07,050 Dr. Jane Yoo: can even be hybrid of them, so they contain something 811 00:55:07,080 --> 00:55:10,050 Dr. Jane Yoo: that is a chemical as well as a physical sunscreen, and so 812 00:55:10,800 --> 00:55:13,710 Dr. Jane Yoo: they will be labeled that way. 813 00:55:14,070 --> 00:55:16,860 Rob: Unless someone has a sensitivity, do you recommend the physical 814 00:55:16,860 --> 00:55:17,610 Rob: over the chemical? 815 00:55:18,390 --> 00:55:22,410 Dr. Jane Yoo: Well, if they have a sensitivity, they're more likely to 816 00:55:23,489 --> 00:55:27,719 Dr. Jane Yoo: be utilizing a physical sunscreen because they'll be less reactive 817 00:55:27,719 --> 00:55:28,710 Dr. Jane Yoo: to the chemicals. 818 00:55:29,130 --> 00:55:31,770 Rob: Got it. But is one more effective than the other, Dr. 819 00:55:31,770 --> 00:55:33,090 Rob: Yoo, or they're both as effective? 820 00:55:33,090 --> 00:55:38,190 Dr. Jane Yoo: Well, the physical sunscreens will protect against UVA as well as 821 00:55:38,190 --> 00:55:42,390 Dr. Jane Yoo: UVB, so you're guaranteed by that. I would go with 822 00:55:42,390 --> 00:55:46,170 Dr. Jane Yoo: a physical sunscreen if you're always on the fence. 823 00:55:46,469 --> 00:55:50,010 Rob: Got it. Got it. Now, what about the factor, obviously, 824 00:55:50,010 --> 00:55:52,650 Rob: that a runner's dealing with, Dr. Yoo, of the sweating? 825 00:55:52,890 --> 00:55:57,989 Rob: You're out there, you're running with the sunscreen on, and 826 00:55:58,140 --> 00:56:00,509 Rob: a lot of the time you'll sweat. I've had experiences 827 00:56:00,510 --> 00:56:04,830 Rob: where I can feel the sweat dripping into my eyes 828 00:56:05,070 --> 00:56:07,440 Rob: after putting on a sunscreen and it stings a little 829 00:56:07,440 --> 00:56:11,280 Rob: bit. Are there either certain types of sunscreens or certain 830 00:56:11,700 --> 00:56:15,000 Rob: ways to apply them or times to apply them that 831 00:56:15,000 --> 00:56:18,960 Rob: might make it easier for a runner to run and 832 00:56:18,960 --> 00:56:21,060 Rob: sweat and still tolerate having sunscreen on? 833 00:56:21,690 --> 00:56:25,860 Dr. Jane Yoo: Definitely. I think the best sunscreen is the one that you're 834 00:56:25,860 --> 00:56:28,799 Dr. Jane Yoo: going to use every day. That being said, try out 835 00:56:28,800 --> 00:56:32,130 Dr. Jane Yoo: a lot of different sunscreens, and I've tried many, and 836 00:56:32,130 --> 00:56:33,630 Dr. Jane Yoo: so I know which ones are going to sting and 837 00:56:33,630 --> 00:56:36,330 Dr. Jane Yoo: burn in my eyes. I typically like to go for 838 00:56:36,330 --> 00:56:38,910 Dr. Jane Yoo: a stick because the stick is easy to carry. It's 839 00:56:38,910 --> 00:56:42,989 Dr. Jane Yoo: portable. Creams are best for people who have dry skin 840 00:56:42,989 --> 00:56:45,630 Dr. Jane Yoo: and applying around the face. Gels are good for people 841 00:56:45,630 --> 00:56:48,630 Dr. Jane Yoo: who have oily complexion and hairy areas such as the 842 00:56:48,630 --> 00:56:52,560 Dr. Jane Yoo: scalp, or the males and the chest. Spray, this is 843 00:56:52,560 --> 00:56:54,390 Dr. Jane Yoo: the thing that I have to say about sprays. You 844 00:56:54,390 --> 00:56:56,790 Dr. Jane Yoo: really have to rub it in. If you just let 845 00:56:56,790 --> 00:56:58,649 Dr. Jane Yoo: it aerosolize, it's just going to go in the air. 846 00:56:58,650 --> 00:57:01,860 Dr. Jane Yoo: It's not going to protect you. I always tend to just 847 00:57:02,340 --> 00:57:06,180 Dr. Jane Yoo: keep the stick on hand and reapply every hour just 848 00:57:06,180 --> 00:57:08,549 Dr. Jane Yoo: to make it easier. Basically when I take a gel, 849 00:57:09,089 --> 00:57:11,940 Dr. Jane Yoo: I'll also do the sunscreen stick. 850 00:57:13,140 --> 00:57:15,930 Rob: Got it. Now I'm really interested in what you say 851 00:57:15,930 --> 00:57:18,930 Rob: about people of color because, okay, I, as an African- 852 00:57:18,930 --> 00:57:23,220 Rob: American, I will be perfectly honest in this conversation. I 853 00:57:23,610 --> 00:57:27,360 Rob: have always believed that while it's good to wear sunscreen, 854 00:57:27,360 --> 00:57:28,680 Rob: especially if I know I'm going to be in the 855 00:57:28,680 --> 00:57:31,530 Rob: sun for long periods of time, that I don't need 856 00:57:31,530 --> 00:57:34,950 Rob: it as much because I have melanin in my skin 857 00:57:34,950 --> 00:57:38,250 Rob: that is kind of serving as a natural sunscreen and 858 00:57:38,250 --> 00:57:41,820 Rob: that I'm less susceptible to skin cancer. Tell me why 859 00:57:41,820 --> 00:57:45,360 Rob: this is wrong, why I've been laboring under this false 860 00:57:45,360 --> 00:57:46,500 Rob: belief all these years. 861 00:57:47,190 --> 00:57:50,669 Dr. Jane Yoo: All skin tones have melanin, not only dark skin. There 862 00:57:50,670 --> 00:57:55,080 Dr. Jane Yoo: is a misconception that darker skin tones provide natural sun 863 00:57:55,080 --> 00:57:59,250 Dr. Jane Yoo: protection, but that's not actually true. The darkest skin tone 864 00:57:59,250 --> 00:58:03,330 Dr. Jane Yoo: only provides up to an equivalent of SPF13. Since skin 865 00:58:03,330 --> 00:58:08,280 Dr. Jane Yoo: cancer happens to everyone, right? Typically, skin cancer in skin 866 00:58:08,280 --> 00:58:12,270 Dr. Jane Yoo: of color happens where the sun don't shine and areas 867 00:58:12,270 --> 00:58:15,210 Dr. Jane Yoo: where you get very little sun exposure. So skin cancer, 868 00:58:15,210 --> 00:58:18,330 Dr. Jane Yoo: like melanoma in African- Americans as well as Asians, happens 869 00:58:18,330 --> 00:58:20,670 Dr. Jane Yoo: on the hands and feet; basically on the palms of 870 00:58:20,670 --> 00:58:23,550 Dr. Jane Yoo: the hands, the soles of the feet, under the nail 871 00:58:23,550 --> 00:58:28,560 Dr. Jane Yoo: areas. Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common in Black people, 872 00:58:29,310 --> 00:58:33,180 Dr. Jane Yoo: and 1 to 2% of all cancers happen in African- Americans, 873 00:58:33,180 --> 00:58:36,510 Dr. Jane Yoo: 2 to 4% in Asians, and 4 to 5% of skin cancers in 874 00:58:36,510 --> 00:58:39,390 Dr. Jane Yoo: Hispanic people. So it could happen, and I've seen it 875 00:58:39,390 --> 00:58:40,350 Dr. Jane Yoo: in my office. 876 00:58:40,890 --> 00:58:46,080 Rob: That's really interesting. So really, your advice applies to everyone 877 00:58:46,140 --> 00:58:47,250 Rob: no matter who they are. 878 00:58:47,280 --> 00:58:52,140 Dr. Jane Yoo: And you can get a sunburn. Just don't think that 879 00:58:52,140 --> 00:58:55,140 Dr. Jane Yoo: because you're darker skinned, you can't get a sunburn. People 880 00:58:55,140 --> 00:58:58,230 Dr. Jane Yoo: of color may not show the visible redness that other 881 00:58:58,230 --> 00:59:01,680 Dr. Jane Yoo: people do, like our Caucasian counterparts, but in fact, our 882 00:59:01,680 --> 00:59:04,110 Dr. Jane Yoo: skin can also burn in the sun, and the skin 883 00:59:04,110 --> 00:59:06,330 Dr. Jane Yoo: can darken and feel warm to the touch and crack 884 00:59:06,330 --> 00:59:07,320 Dr. Jane Yoo: and eventually blister. 885 00:59:07,320 --> 00:59:09,540 Rob: That is true. I have had that experience. When I 886 00:59:09,540 --> 00:59:13,230 Rob: was younger especially, getting way too much sun in hot 887 00:59:13,230 --> 00:59:16,979 Rob: places like the Caribbean and feeling the burn, both in 888 00:59:16,980 --> 00:59:18,480 Rob: terms of the way I felt and then how hot 889 00:59:18,480 --> 00:59:21,810 Rob: it was to the touch. So that's true. Really interesting. 890 00:59:21,930 --> 00:59:26,100 Rob: Another thing that's interesting to me, as a person of 891 00:59:26,100 --> 00:59:30,270 Rob: color in particular, is this balance between protecting my skin 892 00:59:30,270 --> 00:59:32,970 Rob: and protecting from skin cancer, but also getting enough vitamin 893 00:59:32,970 --> 00:59:37,770 Rob: D, Dr. Yoo, because it's very common for people of 894 00:59:37,770 --> 00:59:42,360 Rob: color to have vitamin D deficiencies because they don't process 895 00:59:42,360 --> 00:59:45,360 Rob: the sun the same way that someone who's lighter skinned does. 896 00:59:45,450 --> 00:59:48,270 Rob: I've actually had that myself and have to take vitamin 897 00:59:48,270 --> 00:59:49,620 Rob: D supplements because of that. 898 00:59:50,010 --> 00:59:53,310 Dr. Jane Yoo: Yeah, I think that's also a fallacy. I think we all get 899 00:59:53,310 --> 00:59:56,490 Dr. Jane Yoo: enough of vitamin D from our natural exposure, just like walking 900 00:59:56,490 --> 00:59:59,520 Dr. Jane Yoo: outdoors. I don't think that you can say like, " Oh, 901 00:59:59,520 --> 01:00:04,410 Dr. Jane Yoo: I need more sun exposure for vitamin D purposes," is 902 01:00:04,410 --> 01:00:08,130 Dr. Jane Yoo: necessarily the truth. In all reality, most of us are 903 01:00:08,130 --> 01:00:13,320 Dr. Jane Yoo: not construction workers. We get enough sun exposure just ambiently. So 904 01:00:13,320 --> 01:00:16,290 Dr. Jane Yoo: I would say that's definitely false. 905 01:00:17,070 --> 01:00:21,180 Rob: All right. So the advice is simple, Dr. Yoo. Wear sunscreen. Is 906 01:00:21,180 --> 01:00:23,610 Rob: it for any run? Is it just for longer runs? 907 01:00:24,090 --> 01:00:26,340 Rob: It sounds like you are in the camp of, if 908 01:00:26,340 --> 01:00:28,200 Rob: you're going outside and you're going to see the sun, 909 01:00:28,230 --> 01:00:28,920 Rob: have something on. 910 01:00:29,340 --> 01:00:33,120 Dr. Jane Yoo: Exactly. So every day, no matter what, rain or shine, 911 01:00:33,870 --> 01:00:37,980 Dr. Jane Yoo: you still have ambient UV exposure out there. And do 912 01:00:37,980 --> 01:00:40,500 Dr. Jane Yoo: it, if not for skin cancer, for anti- aging. You 913 01:00:40,500 --> 01:00:41,970 Dr. Jane Yoo: don't want those wrinkles and you don't want to look 914 01:00:41,970 --> 01:00:44,431 Dr. Jane Yoo: like an old person out there. You want to look nice and young. 915 01:00:44,431 --> 01:00:49,140 Rob: I think we can all agree with that. Absolutely. Speaking of looking young, 916 01:00:49,140 --> 01:00:53,460 Rob: feeling young, you must be feeling young and great after 917 01:00:53,460 --> 01:00:57,360 Rob: completing your Six Star Journey. Congratulations on getting the Six 918 01:00:57,360 --> 01:01:00,810 Rob: Stars in Berlin. That's huge. Tell us about your running 919 01:01:00,810 --> 01:01:02,430 Rob: journey. When did you first start to run? 920 01:01:03,030 --> 01:01:06,210 Dr. Jane Yoo: Oh gosh, this is probably more than 20 years ago. 921 01:01:06,480 --> 01:01:10,110 Dr. Jane Yoo: I started running because my sorority sister passed away from 922 01:01:10,110 --> 01:01:14,160 Dr. Jane Yoo: brain cancer, and so I ran for Dana- Farber. I 923 01:01:14,160 --> 01:01:17,820 Dr. Jane Yoo: ran the Boston Marathon and I was scared because I had 924 01:01:17,820 --> 01:01:21,720 Dr. Jane Yoo: never run more than three miles in my entire life. But 925 01:01:21,720 --> 01:01:27,030 Dr. Jane Yoo: through Dana- Farber's excellent training program with Jack Fultz, I 926 01:01:27,030 --> 01:01:30,120 Dr. Jane Yoo: was able to complete that marathon. I said, " Wow, this 927 01:01:30,120 --> 01:01:33,600 Dr. Jane Yoo: is incredible." It was such a great feeling, the training, 928 01:01:33,600 --> 01:01:38,220 Dr. Jane Yoo: and just having so many people around me do it 929 01:01:38,220 --> 01:01:41,730 Dr. Jane Yoo: at the time. I think it just stirred this feeling that, " 930 01:01:41,730 --> 01:01:43,560 Dr. Jane Yoo: Okay, I can do it again. And I can do it 931 01:01:43,560 --> 01:01:47,130 Dr. Jane Yoo: again." And it just became that long journey. 932 01:01:48,090 --> 01:01:50,040 Rob: How many years did it take you to get through 933 01:01:50,040 --> 01:01:50,700 Rob: all six? 934 01:01:51,240 --> 01:01:53,790 Dr. Jane Yoo: Oh gosh, it took quite a while. I'll have to 935 01:01:53,790 --> 01:01:56,760 Dr. Jane Yoo: say Berlin took a couple of tries because I had 936 01:01:56,760 --> 01:02:00,810 Dr. Jane Yoo: some injuries. First time, I had a stress fracture because 937 01:02:00,810 --> 01:02:05,310 Dr. Jane Yoo: I ramped up my training too quickly. Another time, I 938 01:02:05,640 --> 01:02:08,250 Dr. Jane Yoo: tore my medial meniscus, and so I had an injury 939 01:02:08,250 --> 01:02:12,420 Dr. Jane Yoo: there. So I'm really, really concerned about just staying healthy 940 01:02:12,420 --> 01:02:15,330 Dr. Jane Yoo: and just making sure that I train properly and get to 941 01:02:15,330 --> 01:02:18,990 Dr. Jane Yoo: the start line without any significant injuries. 942 01:02:21,150 --> 01:02:23,430 Rob: As a dermatologist, as someone who's an expert in skin, 943 01:02:23,430 --> 01:02:27,030 Rob: I'm just curious what your regimen is, Dr. Yoo. Take 944 01:02:27,030 --> 01:02:30,750 Rob: us through before a run, during a run, and then maybe 945 01:02:30,750 --> 01:02:33,540 Rob: after the run. Are there things you're doing as well 946 01:02:33,540 --> 01:02:35,640 Rob: after the run? What are all the things and the steps 947 01:02:35,640 --> 01:02:36,990 Rob: you take to keep your skin healthy? 948 01:02:37,620 --> 01:02:43,530 Dr. Jane Yoo: Just like you, Rob, I'm a normal person. I'm not 949 01:02:43,530 --> 01:02:45,360 Dr. Jane Yoo: fast. I would say I'm more of a back of 950 01:02:45,360 --> 01:02:47,521 Dr. Jane Yoo: the pack runner, so I need more sunscreen. 951 01:02:47,521 --> 01:02:53,000 Rob: Because you're out there longer, yeah. The longer you're out there. 952 01:02:53,000 --> 01:02:56,970 Dr. Jane Yoo: (inaudible) . Longer. I'm the person that they're waiting until the cows come home. 953 01:02:59,460 --> 01:03:02,700 Rob: And the later waves actually, which tend to be when 954 01:03:02,700 --> 01:03:04,980 Rob: the sun is higher in the sky. It really is 955 01:03:04,980 --> 01:03:07,920 Rob: actually a really good point that the slower runners are 956 01:03:08,190 --> 01:03:10,860 Rob: out there longer and usually when it's hotter and more 957 01:03:10,860 --> 01:03:11,490 Rob: intense sun. 958 01:03:11,850 --> 01:03:14,790 Dr. Jane Yoo: Exactly. And I'm not in my twenties anymore, like when 959 01:03:14,790 --> 01:03:20,130 Dr. Jane Yoo: I started running. As we get older, our pace also 960 01:03:20,130 --> 01:03:24,780 Dr. Jane Yoo: gets slower too. But in any case, it's just enjoying 961 01:03:24,780 --> 01:03:29,070 Dr. Jane Yoo: the process and doing everything that other people do; making 962 01:03:29,070 --> 01:03:31,320 Dr. Jane Yoo: sure you get plenty of rest, drinking plenty of fluids, 963 01:03:31,320 --> 01:03:35,370 Dr. Jane Yoo: don't do anything differently on race day, knowing what they 964 01:03:35,370 --> 01:03:39,180 Dr. Jane Yoo: have at the different fueling stations. I knew that they 965 01:03:39,180 --> 01:03:42,810 Dr. Jane Yoo: had Pocari Sweat in Japan, and I had loved that 966 01:03:42,810 --> 01:03:45,870 Dr. Jane Yoo: drink as a young child, so I was very familiar with it, 967 01:03:45,870 --> 01:03:48,419 Dr. Jane Yoo: but I was not going to take anything that didn't 968 01:03:48,420 --> 01:03:51,270 Dr. Jane Yoo: look like a banana or an orange in Tokyo. Okay? 969 01:03:51,600 --> 01:03:53,850 Dr. Jane Yoo: I know that they had some radishes and other things 970 01:03:53,850 --> 01:03:56,611 Dr. Jane Yoo: out there, but I was not about to try anything new. 971 01:03:56,611 --> 01:04:04,380 Rob: I was the exact same way, Dr. Yoo. I saw baked goods and all kinds 972 01:04:04,380 --> 01:04:07,170 Rob: of things that I had no idea what was in these 973 01:04:07,170 --> 01:04:10,140 Rob: things. I was like, " Not today. I'm curious what this 974 01:04:10,140 --> 01:04:11,430 Rob: tastes like, but not today." 975 01:04:11,430 --> 01:04:14,670 Dr. Jane Yoo: Yeah, don't do anything different. I'm a little bit of an oddball 976 01:04:14,670 --> 01:04:18,180 Dr. Jane Yoo: too. As my running coaches know, I run on the 977 01:04:18,180 --> 01:04:21,270 Dr. Jane Yoo: treadmill just so I get less sun exposure, and I like 978 01:04:21,270 --> 01:04:25,650 Dr. Jane Yoo: to have very much controlled environments. And I'm a huge 979 01:04:25,650 --> 01:04:29,790 Dr. Jane Yoo: fan of Becs Gentry. She is someone I listen to 980 01:04:30,660 --> 01:04:34,290 Dr. Jane Yoo: when I train, and I'll do some of the 30- minute, one- 981 01:04:34,290 --> 01:04:38,640 Dr. Jane Yoo: hour runs and different types of workouts listening to her. 982 01:04:38,640 --> 01:04:41,520 Dr. Jane Yoo: And forward is a pace, I have to say. She 983 01:04:41,520 --> 01:04:42,810 Dr. Jane Yoo: says that too, right? 984 01:04:42,810 --> 01:04:43,380 Rob: That's right. 985 01:04:43,380 --> 01:04:48,960 Dr. Jane Yoo: You just keep moving one foot across another and just 986 01:04:50,370 --> 01:04:50,671 Dr. Jane Yoo: doing it. 987 01:04:50,671 --> 01:04:56,820 Rob: All right. The message from Dr. Jane Yoo, wear sunscreen, reapply 988 01:04:56,820 --> 01:04:58,890 Rob: too. I know that's important. You got to bring it out there 989 01:04:58,890 --> 01:05:01,290 Rob: with you and reapply. How do you reapply in the 990 01:05:01,290 --> 01:05:03,330 Rob: middle of a race, by the way? Do you actually 991 01:05:03,330 --> 01:05:05,280 Rob: stop and go over to the side and reapply? Do 992 01:05:05,280 --> 01:05:06,421 Rob: you just try to do it while you're running? 993 01:05:06,421 --> 01:05:06,422 Dr. Jane Yoo: You have to do it a little surreptitiously, right? 994 01:05:06,422 --> 01:05:06,510 Rob: Yeah. 995 01:05:06,510 --> 01:05:16,110 Dr. Jane Yoo: You're going to attract attention. No. I actually will do 996 01:05:16,110 --> 01:05:18,060 Dr. Jane Yoo: it again, like when I'm taking in the gels. I'll 997 01:05:18,060 --> 01:05:20,340 Dr. Jane Yoo: do it at the same time. It's kind of like 998 01:05:20,340 --> 01:05:24,000 Dr. Jane Yoo: a no- brainer to me. When you look at your 999 01:05:24,270 --> 01:05:27,960 Dr. Jane Yoo: Garmin and the time is up, so you'll just reapply 1000 01:05:27,990 --> 01:05:30,510 Dr. Jane Yoo: during that time. Some people can do it when they 1001 01:05:30,510 --> 01:05:34,440 Dr. Jane Yoo: take a break getting water. So it just depends. I'll 1002 01:05:34,440 --> 01:05:38,010 Dr. Jane Yoo: say in all reality, it's not the easiest, and sometimes 1003 01:05:38,010 --> 01:05:42,660 Dr. Jane Yoo: I do forget to reapply. Or you're really thinking, " Okay, 1004 01:05:42,660 --> 01:05:45,810 Dr. Jane Yoo: is this a day for the PR? Is the sunscreen 1005 01:05:45,810 --> 01:05:48,901 Dr. Jane Yoo: going to ..." 1006 01:05:48,901 --> 01:05:51,720 Rob: Yeah, to have the sunscreen keep you from getting that 1007 01:05:51,720 --> 01:05:54,600 Rob: PR, I imagine that would be a little frustrating, but 1008 01:05:55,500 --> 01:05:57,540 Rob: not as bad as having skin cancer, I guess, right? 1009 01:05:57,870 --> 01:05:58,890 Rob: That's the message. 1010 01:05:59,520 --> 01:06:00,390 Dr. Jane Yoo: Exactly. 1011 01:06:01,020 --> 01:06:04,560 Rob: All right. Dr. Jane Yoo, I appreciate your joining us. 1012 01:06:04,560 --> 01:06:07,320 Rob: I know this is obviously your job, so you know 1013 01:06:07,320 --> 01:06:09,420 Rob: it better than anyone, and it's great advice for all 1014 01:06:09,420 --> 01:06:13,380 Rob: of our runners to hear. Congratulations on your Six Stars. 1015 01:06:13,380 --> 01:06:14,880 Rob: It's amazing. Sydney as well is coming up. So you're going to run Sydney this fall? 1016 01:06:14,880 --> 01:06:20,820 Dr. Jane Yoo: It's coming up, yes. I'm just starting off my training, 1017 01:06:20,820 --> 01:06:24,930 Dr. Jane Yoo: doing a lot of squats and all the foam rolling, 1018 01:06:24,930 --> 01:06:27,630 Dr. Jane Yoo: all the stretching and things that I'm supposed to do, 1019 01:06:28,320 --> 01:06:31,380 Dr. Jane Yoo: because otherwise, Amy Sitar would get really mad at me. 1020 01:06:32,700 --> 01:06:36,600 Dr. Jane Yoo: She's the head coach for the New York Flyers. So 1021 01:06:36,600 --> 01:06:39,300 Dr. Jane Yoo: I'm just appreciative of all of you guys. The New 1022 01:06:39,300 --> 01:06:43,230 Dr. Jane Yoo: York Roadrunners, you've been so supportive along the way during 1023 01:06:43,230 --> 01:06:47,190 Dr. Jane Yoo: this 20- plus- year- old journey. Because it's been that 1024 01:06:47,190 --> 01:06:49,860 Dr. Jane Yoo: long, and you learn along the way what to do and 1025 01:06:49,860 --> 01:06:52,710 Dr. Jane Yoo: what not to do. And listen to your body, most 1026 01:06:52,710 --> 01:06:53,160 Dr. Jane Yoo: of all. 1027 01:06:53,310 --> 01:06:54,000 Rob: Absolutely. 1028 01:06:54,000 --> 01:06:57,330 Dr. Jane Yoo: (inaudible) develop good skin habits, year long. 1029 01:06:57,660 --> 01:06:59,700 Rob: Well, thank you so much, Dr. Yoo. It's great to 1030 01:06:59,700 --> 01:07:01,980 Rob: see you. This is actually a great reminder for me 1031 01:07:01,980 --> 01:07:04,650 Rob: now going into the summer, to get a little more 1032 01:07:04,650 --> 01:07:08,310 Rob: serious about my skin regime and my protection. I've definitely 1033 01:07:08,310 --> 01:07:11,580 Rob: been just riding the dark skin thing, so I'm going 1034 01:07:11,580 --> 01:07:15,390 Rob: to stop doing that and start using more sunscreen. Dr. 1035 01:07:15,390 --> 01:07:17,970 Rob: Yoo, thank you very much. Thanks for being a member 1036 01:07:17,970 --> 01:07:19,260 Rob: of New York Roadrunners. Appreciate you. 1037 01:07:20,730 --> 01:07:21,001 Dr. Jane Yoo: Thank you. 1038 01:07:21,001 --> 01:07:23,100 Becs Gentry: Thank you for joining us, Jane, and for being a member 1039 01:07:23,100 --> 01:07:25,950 Becs Gentry: of New York Roadrunners. Now to the final part of 1040 01:07:25,950 --> 01:07:27,840 Becs Gentry: our show, our Meb Minute. 1041 01:07:28,350 --> 01:07:31,770 Meb: Marathon Blues. We all go through it. After a marathon 1042 01:07:31,770 --> 01:07:34,290 Meb: or half- marathon, it is normal to feel a sense 1043 01:07:34,290 --> 01:07:39,600 Meb: of emptiness. Set new goals and stay motivated. Prioritize recovering 1044 01:07:39,600 --> 01:07:43,200 Meb: with rest, cross- training and light running to avoid post- 1045 01:07:43,200 --> 01:07:47,280 Meb: race burnouts. Reflect on your accomplishment and find ways to 1046 01:07:47,280 --> 01:07:51,360 Meb: give back, such as mentoring new runners. Plan your next 1047 01:07:51,360 --> 01:07:57,750 Meb: race or fitness challenge to maintain momentum. For me, after 1048 01:07:57,750 --> 01:08:00,450 Meb: a race, I sometimes immediately to sign up, and other 1049 01:08:00,450 --> 01:08:02,730 Meb: times you are questioning, " Why did I do this?" But 1050 01:08:02,790 --> 01:08:05,880 Meb: give it time. Give time to recover. Three weeks later, 1051 01:08:05,880 --> 01:08:08,850 Meb: you're going to miss running. And then a month or so 1052 01:08:09,060 --> 01:08:11,250 Meb: within the race, you're going to be like, " Oh, I 1053 01:08:11,250 --> 01:08:13,740 Meb: miss running. I need to sign up for a race." 1054 01:08:13,830 --> 01:08:16,920 Meb: Just make sure you are in the right mental phase to be able 1055 01:08:16,920 --> 01:08:19,920 Meb: to just say, " Hey, I'm ready for another challenging goal," 1056 01:08:19,920 --> 01:08:21,030 Meb: and work toward that goal. 1057 01:08:21,540 --> 01:08:24,330 Becs Gentry: That does it for another episode of Set the Pace. 1058 01:08:24,600 --> 01:08:28,080 Becs Gentry: Thank you so much to today's guests, Shaunta- Mae Alexander 1059 01:08:28,110 --> 01:08:31,590 Becs Gentry: and Dr. Jane Yoo. If you like this episode, please 1060 01:08:31,590 --> 01:08:34,290 Becs Gentry: go ahead and subscribe, rate, or leave a comment for 1061 01:08:34,290 --> 01:08:37,769 Becs Gentry: the show on whatever platform you're listening on. This not 1062 01:08:37,770 --> 01:08:40,830 Becs Gentry: only helps us, but it helps others find out about 1063 01:08:40,860 --> 01:08:42,390 Becs Gentry: the show too. Take care.