1 00:00:00,510 --> 00:00:03,390 Ali Truwit: The biggest game changer for me was recognizing I'm probably 2 00:00:03,390 --> 00:00:04,650 Ali Truwit: not going to get to a place where I'm not 3 00:00:04,650 --> 00:00:06,149 Ali Truwit: going to have fear. Most of what I'm doing right 4 00:00:06,150 --> 00:00:08,369 Ali Truwit: now, I have fear but can I look at it 5 00:00:08,369 --> 00:00:10,350 Ali Truwit: and say, instead of letting it stand in my way, 6 00:00:10,500 --> 00:00:12,780 Ali Truwit: it's going to walk beside me. It'll be there, I 7 00:00:12,780 --> 00:00:14,340 Ali Truwit: know it's going to be there. It's not helpful for 8 00:00:14,340 --> 00:00:15,960 Ali Truwit: me but we're going to do it together, I'm not 9 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:16,861 Ali Truwit: going to let it stop me. 10 00:00:16,861 --> 00:00:23,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: Hey, everybody, and welcome to Set the Pace, the official 11 00:00:23,100 --> 00:00:27,510 Rob Simmelkjaer: podcast of New York Road Runners presented by Peloton. I'm 12 00:00:27,510 --> 00:00:29,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: your host, Rob Simmelkjaer, the CEO of New York Road 13 00:00:29,730 --> 00:00:33,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: Runners and I'm thrilled to be reunited this week with 14 00:00:33,300 --> 00:00:37,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: my co- host and coach Becs Gentry who's been on 15 00:00:37,110 --> 00:00:40,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: vacation the last couple of weeks. Welcome back, Becs. How 16 00:00:40,140 --> 00:00:40,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: was your break? 17 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:45,240 Becs Gentry: Thanks. Oh, it was a staycation here in the city, 18 00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:48,180 Becs Gentry: lots and lots of stuff to do. Sometimes you just 19 00:00:48,180 --> 00:00:52,320 Becs Gentry: have to cut yourself off from everything because you get 20 00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:55,680 Becs Gentry: nothing done unless you're like, " Oh, okay, yeah, I'll do 21 00:00:55,680 --> 00:00:58,500 Becs Gentry: that," and then next thing comes along. So, it was 22 00:00:58,650 --> 00:01:03,209 Becs Gentry: very good to be home clearing stuff out, reorganizing closets. 23 00:01:03,450 --> 00:01:06,660 Becs Gentry: It's season ... Well, it was seasons roll over and now 24 00:01:06,660 --> 00:01:09,780 Becs Gentry: we're back in our third summer in New York but 25 00:01:09,780 --> 00:01:12,450 Becs Gentry: it will soon be autumn and we need some layers. 26 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:15,540 Becs Gentry: So, as a mom, it was time to get through 27 00:01:15,540 --> 00:01:19,319 Becs Gentry: everybody's closets and we had to go to Vermont and 28 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:20,370 Becs Gentry: our dogs came back. 29 00:01:20,370 --> 00:01:20,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: Aww. 30 00:01:21,870 --> 00:01:24,391 Becs Gentry: We missed them, kind of. 31 00:01:24,390 --> 00:01:24,392 Rob Simmelkjaer: That's beautiful, yeah. 32 00:01:24,391 --> 00:01:25,081 Becs Gentry: Kind of. We missed them. 33 00:01:25,081 --> 00:01:25,082 Rob Simmelkjaer: The family's- 34 00:01:25,082 --> 00:01:26,940 Becs Gentry: They were gone for six months. 35 00:01:26,970 --> 00:01:27,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: Oh, wow. 36 00:01:27,569 --> 00:01:29,940 Becs Gentry: So, yeah, they went to summer camp up at a 37 00:01:29,940 --> 00:01:32,790 Becs Gentry: family friend's house where they had 69 acres of land 38 00:01:32,790 --> 00:01:35,250 Becs Gentry: to run around, they didn't wear their leashes for six 39 00:01:35,250 --> 00:01:38,789 Becs Gentry: months so right now they're depressed. 40 00:01:42,330 --> 00:01:42,841 Rob Simmelkjaer: Back in the city, back on the leash. 41 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:42,842 Becs Gentry: Yeah. 42 00:01:42,841 --> 00:01:42,842 Rob Simmelkjaer: Wow. 43 00:01:42,842 --> 00:01:43,110 Becs Gentry: Back on the leash, yeah. 44 00:01:43,110 --> 00:01:44,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: It sounds like your dog had a great summer. 45 00:01:44,670 --> 00:01:45,000 Becs Gentry: They really did. 46 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:49,111 Rob Simmelkjaer: I think I want your dog's summer, that sounds like a really good time. 47 00:01:49,111 --> 00:01:49,112 Becs Gentry: I agree. 48 00:01:49,112 --> 00:01:51,059 Rob Simmelkjaer: Well, that's awesome. Glad the family's reunited. 49 00:01:51,060 --> 00:01:51,120 Becs Gentry: Yeah, exactly. 50 00:01:51,180 --> 00:01:53,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: And how's Austin recovering from his- 51 00:01:54,330 --> 00:01:54,331 Becs Gentry: Fantastic. 52 00:01:54,331 --> 00:01:56,161 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... accomplishment in Berlin on a very hot day over there? 53 00:01:56,161 --> 00:01:59,550 Becs Gentry: Exactly, yeah. Part of the vacation was hopping over to 54 00:01:59,790 --> 00:02:02,460 Becs Gentry: Berlin for a few hours to watch Austin claim his 55 00:02:02,730 --> 00:02:07,800 Becs Gentry: Six Star Medal of the Abbott World Marathon Majors and 56 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:12,150 Becs Gentry: he ran really sensibly, I'm so proud of him. He 57 00:02:12,150 --> 00:02:14,460 Becs Gentry: started out, the first 15 kilometers, he was on for 58 00:02:14,460 --> 00:02:18,179 Becs Gentry: about a 303, really crushing it and then the heat 59 00:02:18,330 --> 00:02:21,989 Becs Gentry: just ... I saw him at the 15K mark, I saw everyone 60 00:02:21,990 --> 00:02:25,020 Becs Gentry: there and people looked like they'd had a shower, Rob. 61 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:30,060 Becs Gentry: I was so concerned for every single runner. I was like, " Oh, 62 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:32,250 Becs Gentry: people are losing too many fluids here, this isn't good." 63 00:02:33,510 --> 00:02:36,720 Becs Gentry: But yeah, he ran for about another 5K and sent 64 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:39,060 Becs Gentry: me a voice note and said, " I got to pull 65 00:02:39,060 --> 00:02:44,580 Becs Gentry: this back. I just don't want to feel awful coming 66 00:02:44,580 --> 00:02:46,260 Becs Gentry: over the finish line of this race." And I was 67 00:02:46,260 --> 00:02:51,120 Becs Gentry: so proud of him to have the grace within himself 68 00:02:51,150 --> 00:02:55,139 Becs Gentry: to scale his pace back in order to enjoy this 69 00:02:55,139 --> 00:02:58,139 Becs Gentry: huge moment. It's a huge moment getting six stars, it's 70 00:02:58,139 --> 00:03:01,320 Becs Gentry: a huge moment getting one marathon major under your belt. 71 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:04,350 Becs Gentry: So, to have six, he wanted to remember it and he didn't 72 00:03:04,350 --> 00:03:06,180 Becs Gentry: want to be throwing up all over the finish line. 73 00:03:06,630 --> 00:03:09,120 Becs Gentry: And I'll be honest with you, there was a lot 74 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:11,820 Becs Gentry: of people on the floor in Berlin. I saw far 75 00:03:11,820 --> 00:03:15,359 Becs Gentry: too many people than I'd like to just drop down 76 00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:19,650 Becs Gentry: midstride and that was just on the sidelines. So, as 77 00:03:19,650 --> 00:03:22,680 Becs Gentry: a runner, Austin saw too many as well and so 78 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:26,100 Becs Gentry: that helped him just be like, " Hey, you know what, A, I'm a dad. 79 00:03:26,490 --> 00:03:30,120 Becs Gentry: B, I've got nothing to prove. C, I want to 80 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:32,490 Becs Gentry: enjoy. I feel this in a good way not in 81 00:03:33,150 --> 00:03:35,160 Becs Gentry: a bad way." So, he loved it. 82 00:03:35,430 --> 00:03:38,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: It's a great message. Thank you for sharing that because 83 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:42,870 Rob Simmelkjaer: it's a great message for people to hear that self- 84 00:03:42,870 --> 00:03:46,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: dialogue that Austin had saying this is not the day 85 00:03:47,010 --> 00:03:49,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: to be a hero, this is the day to pull back 86 00:03:50,100 --> 00:03:52,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: and enjoy this because that's what we're all doing this 87 00:03:52,890 --> 00:03:55,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: for. We're doing this to enjoy it, none of us 88 00:03:55,350 --> 00:03:57,961 Rob Simmelkjaer: are getting paid to do this for the most part. 89 00:03:57,961 --> 00:04:01,110 Becs Gentry: Yeah. A teeny tiny percentage of those professional athletes at 90 00:04:01,110 --> 00:04:03,540 Becs Gentry: the front, they're the ones who get the paychecks and 91 00:04:03,540 --> 00:04:05,850 Becs Gentry: they're the ones who have a full team of people 92 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:08,730 Becs Gentry: who can look after them when they come over that 93 00:04:08,730 --> 00:04:12,630 Becs Gentry: finish line. But for the masses of us, 55, 000 94 00:04:12,750 --> 00:04:15,900 Becs Gentry: for most of these races now of us, we've got 95 00:04:15,900 --> 00:04:20,250 Becs Gentry: nothing to prove. And I'm sorry, but dropping down and 96 00:04:20,970 --> 00:04:23,310 Becs Gentry: pushing yourself to that level when it's very easy to 97 00:04:23,310 --> 00:04:27,990 Becs Gentry: scale back is a big one. And we've still got 98 00:04:27,990 --> 00:04:30,479 Becs Gentry: some warm days coming up, New York probably is going 99 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:34,589 Becs Gentry: to be the first fall race in many ways but 100 00:04:35,250 --> 00:04:37,589 Becs Gentry: that's a long day, it's a long day in New 101 00:04:37,589 --> 00:04:41,550 Becs Gentry: York. We have corals and waves starting into the morning 102 00:04:41,610 --> 00:04:44,159 Becs Gentry: up until pretty much lunchtime, people are coming over the 103 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:49,350 Becs Gentry: start line. So, my message to you is understand how 104 00:04:49,350 --> 00:04:56,039 Becs Gentry: to hydrate either way the weather goes, okay? Because over- 105 00:04:56,040 --> 00:05:01,560 Becs Gentry: hydration is almost more dangerous than under- hydration and it's 106 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:04,349 Becs Gentry: not talked about enough. I feel that people just talk 107 00:05:04,350 --> 00:05:05,880 Becs Gentry: about hydrate and make sure you've got your salts in, 108 00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:08,220 Becs Gentry: blah, blah, blah, blah but then I'm seeing people at aid 109 00:05:08,220 --> 00:05:11,339 Becs Gentry: stations in Berlin and London, the same thing happened, where 110 00:05:11,339 --> 00:05:15,330 Becs Gentry: they're chugging four cups of water, that's too much. You're 111 00:05:15,330 --> 00:05:19,350 Becs Gentry: rinsing yourself out and you're flushing out all of your 112 00:05:19,350 --> 00:05:24,120 Becs Gentry: electrolytes and the things that you need. And hyponatremia, I 113 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:26,490 Becs Gentry: talk about this passionately because I suffered from it in 114 00:05:26,490 --> 00:05:31,469 Becs Gentry: the past and your brain swells, you cannot function, it 115 00:05:31,470 --> 00:05:32,400 Becs Gentry: is absolutely debilitating. 116 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:33,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: It's dangerous, yes. 117 00:05:34,470 --> 00:05:37,920 Becs Gentry: It's so, so dangerous. So, I think that more runners 118 00:05:37,920 --> 00:05:42,060 Becs Gentry: need to understand both ends of the spectrum because you 119 00:05:42,060 --> 00:05:43,890 Becs Gentry: can't control the weather, it's going to be what is 120 00:05:43,890 --> 00:05:46,680 Becs Gentry: going to be on the day and so you have to be in 121 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:51,690 Becs Gentry: control of understanding where you are at. I've got plenty 122 00:05:51,690 --> 00:05:54,540 Becs Gentry: of tips on that. Come my way if you want 123 00:05:54,540 --> 00:05:55,200 Becs Gentry: some tips. 124 00:05:55,469 --> 00:06:00,510 Rob Simmelkjaer: Well, obviously, this week is a big week for myself 125 00:06:00,750 --> 00:06:02,339 Rob Simmelkjaer: and many others who are getting ready- 126 00:06:02,339 --> 00:06:02,940 Becs Gentry: Really? Why? What are you doing? 127 00:06:02,940 --> 00:06:07,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... for a little thing called the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. 128 00:06:07,470 --> 00:06:15,360 Rob Simmelkjaer: Becs and I are here talking on Tuesday and this 129 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:17,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: comes out Thursday. By the time many of you listen 130 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:19,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: to this, I will be in Chicago, I head out 131 00:06:19,350 --> 00:06:24,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: Friday for my big day. I'm going for star number 132 00:06:24,330 --> 00:06:25,469 Rob Simmelkjaer: four and ... 133 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:27,480 Becs Gentry: Oh, my gosh, it's racking up. 134 00:06:27,570 --> 00:06:31,289 Rob Simmelkjaer: It's here, they are racking up. This will be my 135 00:06:31,290 --> 00:06:34,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: third marathon in just over a year which is insane to 136 00:06:34,020 --> 00:06:37,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: me. But I have to say this one feels ... It 137 00:06:37,950 --> 00:06:40,589 Rob Simmelkjaer: feels different going in, it feels different and I think in 138 00:06:40,589 --> 00:06:44,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: a good way, Becs. I feel more prepared for this marathon 139 00:06:44,790 --> 00:06:48,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: than I have ever felt, really, at least since maybe 140 00:06:48,210 --> 00:06:51,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: 2013 when I ran New York the last time, a 141 00:06:51,570 --> 00:06:55,589 Rob Simmelkjaer: long time ago. I feel really good. I think, first 142 00:06:55,589 --> 00:06:57,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: of all, thanks to you Becs, I feel I've had a 143 00:06:57,750 --> 00:07:01,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: really good training block. It was not perfect, there were 144 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:05,820 Rob Simmelkjaer: a lot of hot days during this block. Everybody training 145 00:07:05,820 --> 00:07:07,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: for these fall races, if they've been around the New 146 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:10,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: York area, can relate to some days that were just 147 00:07:10,500 --> 00:07:14,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: brutal. And I know you say it to yourself in 148 00:07:14,190 --> 00:07:17,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: those moments that those days make you stronger but it 149 00:07:17,190 --> 00:07:19,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: can be hard in the moment to realize that it 150 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:22,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: really is happening and then you get a cool day 151 00:07:22,290 --> 00:07:24,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: to do a long run and I've had a couple 152 00:07:24,030 --> 00:07:27,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: of nice cool long runs in the last few weeks 153 00:07:27,030 --> 00:07:30,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: and I ran 15 a week ago Saturday and I thought, " 154 00:07:30,270 --> 00:07:34,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: Oh, my goodness, this fell short." I've never had a 15- 155 00:07:34,320 --> 00:07:37,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: mile run and I'd be like, " It's over already?" So, 156 00:07:37,770 --> 00:07:41,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: I feel, between the work I put on on hot 157 00:07:41,190 --> 00:07:45,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: weather, the speed work, I just feel coming in I 158 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:48,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: know the pace I want to run and it feels attainable 159 00:07:48,900 --> 00:07:51,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: to me, it feels doable what I want to do. 160 00:07:51,330 --> 00:07:51,631 Becs Gentry: Yeah. Great, yes. 161 00:07:51,631 --> 00:07:55,050 Rob Simmelkjaer: And the weather, obviously, is a big factor. The forecast 162 00:07:55,050 --> 00:07:56,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: as we sit here, and I know all of you folks 163 00:07:56,760 --> 00:07:58,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: out there running Chicago, I know you're waking up every 164 00:07:58,890 --> 00:08:01,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: morning and going right to that app to look and 165 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:05,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: see what the latest is, it looks pretty good right 166 00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:08,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: now. It looks like a sunny day, no clouds. I'd 167 00:08:08,490 --> 00:08:10,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: like to see a little cloud in that little picture, 168 00:08:10,440 --> 00:08:11,131 Rob Simmelkjaer: right now there's nothing but- 169 00:08:11,131 --> 00:08:11,132 Becs Gentry: Yeah, same. 170 00:08:11,132 --> 00:08:13,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... a big, full sun in that picture but that 171 00:08:13,830 --> 00:08:16,230 Rob Simmelkjaer: is what it is. But it looks like you'll start 172 00:08:16,230 --> 00:08:19,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: the race in the 50s and get up into the upper 173 00:08:19,110 --> 00:08:22,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: 60s maybe in the late part of the morning so 174 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:23,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: not too bad. 175 00:08:23,730 --> 00:08:23,821 Becs Gentry: Not too bad. 176 00:08:23,821 --> 00:08:27,510 Rob Simmelkjaer: You can't, in this day and age, ask for much better than that. Yeah, 177 00:08:27,510 --> 00:08:28,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: of course, I'd love to have a day with a 178 00:08:28,740 --> 00:08:32,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: high of a 62 but we'll take a day in the 179 00:08:32,370 --> 00:08:35,429 Rob Simmelkjaer: 60s, maybe high in the low 70s in the afternoon. 180 00:08:35,790 --> 00:08:39,240 Rob Simmelkjaer: But it feels good, it looks good and I'm so, 181 00:08:39,270 --> 00:08:43,351 Rob Simmelkjaer: Becs, I'm so excited also just to experience this marathon because- 182 00:08:43,351 --> 00:08:43,352 Becs Gentry: Yeah, it's great. 183 00:08:43,352 --> 00:08:47,550 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... everybody says such great things about this- 184 00:08:47,550 --> 00:08:47,550 Becs Gentry: We love a loop, yeah. 185 00:08:47,550 --> 00:08:54,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... marathon, the city of Chicago, the crowd, the energy, the course. Everything about 186 00:08:54,750 --> 00:08:57,929 Rob Simmelkjaer: Chicago just sounds amazing to me and I'm so excited. 187 00:08:58,530 --> 00:09:02,640 Becs Gentry: Yeah. The course is really fun. I do remember that 188 00:09:02,970 --> 00:09:09,450 Becs Gentry: being, okay, you never feel like you leave the city very 189 00:09:09,450 --> 00:09:12,420 Becs Gentry: far which is very cool. There's parts of Boston where 190 00:09:12,420 --> 00:09:16,439 Becs Gentry: you're like, " Where am I and where is the center of 191 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:19,679 Becs Gentry: Boston?" And that's just the nature of a point to 192 00:09:19,679 --> 00:09:21,660 Becs Gentry: point race, you have to go through some of the 193 00:09:21,660 --> 00:09:25,740 Becs Gentry: small towns but I think, yeah, Chicago is very cool. 194 00:09:26,250 --> 00:09:27,990 Becs Gentry: I've got a good tip for anyone coming to cheer 195 00:09:27,990 --> 00:09:33,120 Becs Gentry: you on though, Rob. The public transport, the train system 196 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:38,130 Becs Gentry: in Chicago is also overground and the overground stations and- 197 00:09:38,130 --> 00:09:39,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: The L as they call it. You know they call 198 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:39,689 Rob Simmelkjaer: it the L? 199 00:09:39,689 --> 00:09:39,959 Becs Gentry: The L, the L. 200 00:09:40,290 --> 00:09:43,050 Rob Simmelkjaer: Because it's elevated that's why they call it that. 201 00:09:43,050 --> 00:09:43,051 Becs Gentry: Elevated. 202 00:09:43,051 --> 00:09:43,052 Rob Simmelkjaer: Exactly. 203 00:09:43,052 --> 00:09:47,880 Becs Gentry: Oh, I love those Chicago accents, the L. But go up 204 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:50,910 Becs Gentry: there. Go up, ride the train and you will get some 205 00:09:50,910 --> 00:09:55,110 Becs Gentry: of the best views of the course and runners coming 206 00:09:55,110 --> 00:09:57,690 Becs Gentry: through. Probably not your favorite runner because you want to be 207 00:09:57,690 --> 00:10:00,540 Becs Gentry: near the course to high five them but it's magnificent 208 00:10:00,540 --> 00:10:03,390 Becs Gentry: to be up there and see it happen. So, good 209 00:10:03,390 --> 00:10:05,069 Becs Gentry: tip and also easiest way to get around. 210 00:10:05,309 --> 00:10:09,179 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, it just seems like it's a very runner- friendly 211 00:10:09,179 --> 00:10:13,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: marathon. I want to thank Carey Pinkowski and everybody with 212 00:10:13,890 --> 00:10:18,720 Rob Simmelkjaer: the Chicago Marathon team out there for all the help 213 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:21,510 Rob Simmelkjaer: and all the encouragement and I just can't wait to 214 00:10:21,510 --> 00:10:24,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: experience it. And we'll be doing a podcast out there, 215 00:10:24,660 --> 00:10:29,550 Rob Simmelkjaer: by the way, a live podcast on Friday from Chicago. 216 00:10:29,550 --> 00:10:31,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: I land and I think they're taking me right to 217 00:10:31,650 --> 00:10:35,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: the studio or wherever we're recording this podcast so we'll 218 00:10:35,910 --> 00:10:38,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: get the word out about where that live podcast is 219 00:10:38,220 --> 00:10:38,429 Rob Simmelkjaer: going to be. 220 00:10:38,429 --> 00:10:38,430 Becs Gentry: Amazing. 221 00:10:38,430 --> 00:10:39,929 Rob Simmelkjaer: I'm excited about that. 222 00:10:39,929 --> 00:10:41,339 Becs Gentry: Well, I'm sad not to be there. 223 00:10:41,370 --> 00:10:44,880 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, we'll miss you, we'll miss you. But I'm super excited to 224 00:10:45,450 --> 00:10:47,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: experience Chicago this way and I will- 225 00:10:47,670 --> 00:10:48,809 Becs Gentry: You're going to crush it. 226 00:10:49,080 --> 00:10:51,179 Rob Simmelkjaer: I feel great, Becs. We'll have a debrief. 227 00:10:51,180 --> 00:10:51,181 Becs Gentry: We will. 228 00:10:51,181 --> 00:10:53,429 Rob Simmelkjaer: A long debrief after its over but- 229 00:10:53,430 --> 00:10:53,431 Becs Gentry: Next week's debrief is going to be great. 230 00:10:53,431 --> 00:10:57,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... I want to thank you for all your encouragement, you've been a 231 00:10:57,660 --> 00:10:59,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: great ... You set me up with a really good plan. 232 00:10:59,160 --> 00:10:59,161 Becs Gentry: Of course, anytime. 233 00:10:59,161 --> 00:11:02,069 Rob Simmelkjaer: So, we'll see how it goes on game day in Chicago October 12. 234 00:11:02,070 --> 00:11:02,280 Becs Gentry: We will. Whoo. 235 00:11:05,070 --> 00:11:09,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: Becs, meanwhile, back here in the New York City area, 236 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:12,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: we had more than 7, 000 runners at the New 237 00:11:12,150 --> 00:11:16,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: York Road Runners Jersey City 5K this past weekend. It 238 00:11:16,170 --> 00:11:19,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: was our biggest ever Jersey City 5K and that's speaking 239 00:11:19,620 --> 00:11:22,319 Rob Simmelkjaer: of flat fast courses. A lot of people love that 240 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:25,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: course, Becs. It is flat, it is fast, it was a beautiful day out 241 00:11:25,770 --> 00:11:26,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: in Jersey City. 242 00:11:26,460 --> 00:11:26,490 Becs Gentry: Oh, yeah. It was stunning, yeah. 243 00:11:27,150 --> 00:11:31,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, gorgeous day and some really fast times from a 244 00:11:31,020 --> 00:11:33,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: lot of folks out there. Congrats to everybody who ran. 245 00:11:34,170 --> 00:11:36,721 Rob Simmelkjaer: The Dashing Whippets had a good day on the club side. 246 00:11:36,721 --> 00:11:37,111 Becs Gentry: Took it, yeah. 247 00:11:37,320 --> 00:11:41,640 Rob Simmelkjaer: They swept the three genders that we recognize at New 248 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:46,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: York Road Runners. On the female side, Abigail Shoemaker, 16:33, 249 00:11:46,650 --> 00:11:46,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: was the winner. 250 00:11:47,309 --> 00:11:48,689 Becs Gentry: Come on, Abigail. 251 00:11:48,750 --> 00:11:49,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: Man, oh, man, blazing time. 252 00:11:49,110 --> 00:11:49,590 Becs Gentry: Wow, speedy. 253 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:56,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: The men's winner was Jared Moore at 15: 37, the non- 254 00:11:56,190 --> 00:12:00,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: binary winner Sean Rankin, 19:13. So, congrats to those winners. 255 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:03,179 Rob Simmelkjaer: And Becs, we also had a cross country race up in 256 00:12:03,179 --> 00:12:07,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: Van Cortlandt Park. The winners there, on the non- binary 257 00:12:07,110 --> 00:12:12,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: side, Gem Sorenson, 28:51. Declan Dwyer- Mcnulty, the men's winner, 17: 258 00:12:12,540 --> 00:12:15,809 Rob Simmelkjaer: 30, from Hellsgate Road Runners. And on the women's side, 259 00:12:15,809 --> 00:12:20,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: Olivia Johnson, 21: 39. So, congrats to everybody who ran 260 00:12:20,250 --> 00:12:24,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: on a busy, busy weekend here in New York. Becs, 261 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:27,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: we have some exciting news on the Road Runner side 262 00:12:27,630 --> 00:12:30,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: of things, a couple of updates. First of all, it's 263 00:12:30,630 --> 00:12:32,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: been a couple years since we had an official water 264 00:12:32,790 --> 00:12:37,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: sponsor. Water, you and I were just talking about fluids and how important fluids 265 00:12:37,620 --> 00:12:40,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: are, an important thing when you're running a marathon to 266 00:12:40,110 --> 00:12:43,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: have a great water partner. Well, we're excited to announce 267 00:12:43,350 --> 00:12:46,470 Rob Simmelkjaer: that Culligan has joined New York Road Runners as the 268 00:12:46,470 --> 00:12:51,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: official water solutions partner of the TCS New York City Marathon. 269 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:53,880 Rob Simmelkjaer: And what I'm most excited about with this partnership, Becs, 270 00:12:53,880 --> 00:12:59,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: is that we are replacing 200,000 single use plastic bottle, 271 00:12:59,160 --> 00:13:02,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: plastic bottles that we've been giving out at the finish 272 00:13:02,130 --> 00:13:07,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: line much to my sustainability chagrin because it ... Not something 273 00:13:07,140 --> 00:13:08,939 Rob Simmelkjaer: that we liked but it was something that we were in a 274 00:13:08,940 --> 00:13:11,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: position where we had to do that for a little 275 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:16,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: bit. But now we're replacing that with infinitely recyclable aluminum 276 00:13:16,470 --> 00:13:19,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: bottles for all finishers of the marathon. We are so 277 00:13:19,830 --> 00:13:23,309 Rob Simmelkjaer: excited about that and that's going to help reinforce our net- 278 00:13:23,309 --> 00:13:27,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: zero commitment to be a net- zero event with the TCS 279 00:13:27,390 --> 00:13:30,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York City Marathon in terms of our impact on 280 00:13:30,300 --> 00:13:33,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: the earth. We're trying to do that by 2040 and so 281 00:13:33,480 --> 00:13:36,059 Rob Simmelkjaer: this will step our efforts up in a big way 282 00:13:36,059 --> 00:13:39,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: there. So, welcome Culligan to the New York Road Runners 283 00:13:39,030 --> 00:13:42,809 Rob Simmelkjaer: family and we're excited to see all those Culligan aluminum 284 00:13:42,809 --> 00:13:46,050 Rob Simmelkjaer: water bottles at the finish line. And then another big 285 00:13:46,050 --> 00:13:49,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: thing this week, Becs, with 26 days to go before 286 00:13:49,650 --> 00:13:54,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: the marathon, we just revealed this year's Team Inspire which 287 00:13:54,570 --> 00:13:59,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: is a group of 26 incredibly inspiring athletes who are 288 00:13:59,250 --> 00:14:01,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: running the marathon this year, one for every mile. And 289 00:14:02,010 --> 00:14:06,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: these folks, their stories, their journeys really capture the spirit 290 00:14:06,360 --> 00:14:09,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: of the event. They're a great cross section of the 55, 291 00:14:09,120 --> 00:14:13,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: 000 plus runners in the field and the group includes 292 00:14:13,500 --> 00:14:17,880 Rob Simmelkjaer: first time marathoners, long- time veterans of the marathon, charity 293 00:14:17,880 --> 00:14:22,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: runners, New York Road Runners, program participants, it's a great, 294 00:14:22,290 --> 00:14:25,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: great group of runners and we're so excited to have 295 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:27,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: everybody out there get a chance to get to know 296 00:14:27,780 --> 00:14:30,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: them. You'll be seeing stories about them on our social 297 00:14:30,300 --> 00:14:34,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: media channels, on all kinds of media channels and right 298 00:14:34,500 --> 00:14:36,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: here on Set the Pace because we're going to have 299 00:14:36,270 --> 00:14:39,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: a member of Team Inspire as our guest today, Becs, 300 00:14:39,570 --> 00:14:43,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: and she is incredible. Ali Truwit will be joining us 301 00:14:43,950 --> 00:14:47,940 Rob Simmelkjaer: in just a few minutes. Becs, her story is incredible. 302 00:14:47,940 --> 00:14:52,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: If you don't know about Ali, she was a collegiate 303 00:14:52,770 --> 00:14:57,930 Rob Simmelkjaer: swimmer at Yale, an incredibly accomplished athlete and, in 2023, 304 00:14:58,140 --> 00:15:02,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: she suffered a shark attack. She was in the water, 305 00:15:02,370 --> 00:15:05,430 Rob Simmelkjaer: was attacked by a shark, nearly lost her life, was 306 00:15:05,430 --> 00:15:08,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: able to fight off the shark and able to escape 307 00:15:08,970 --> 00:15:12,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: with the loss of one of her legs, the lower 308 00:15:12,180 --> 00:15:14,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: part of one of her legs. She was able to 309 00:15:14,700 --> 00:15:19,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: overcome incredible pain and fear from that moment to, just 310 00:15:19,530 --> 00:15:23,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: a year or so later, managed to swim for Team 311 00:15:23,100 --> 00:15:28,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: USA at the 2024 Paris Paralympic games and she was 312 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:32,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: able to win two silver medals at those games which 313 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:36,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: is unbelievable. Now, only two years after the attack, she 314 00:15:36,780 --> 00:15:39,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: and her family, her team, are taking on the 26. 315 00:15:39,630 --> 00:15:42,989 Rob Simmelkjaer: 2 miles of the TCS New York City Marathon to 316 00:15:42,990 --> 00:15:46,860 Rob Simmelkjaer: raise funds for her foundation which is called Stronger Than 317 00:15:46,860 --> 00:15:50,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: You Think, a charity that raises money to help people 318 00:15:50,850 --> 00:15:53,070 Rob Simmelkjaer: get prosthetics. So, Ali's going to join us in just 319 00:15:53,070 --> 00:15:56,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: a little bit and, Becs, what more can we say 320 00:15:56,460 --> 00:15:58,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: but Ali Truwit is, I think, one of the most 321 00:15:58,590 --> 00:16:03,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: inspiring stories that I personally have ever seen at the TCS New York City Marathon. 322 00:16:03,630 --> 00:16:11,520 Becs Gentry: I agree. She is going to literally glow and emanate 323 00:16:11,550 --> 00:16:17,790 Becs Gentry: this joy and calmness. She's just so focused and calm 324 00:16:17,910 --> 00:16:21,420 Becs Gentry: and I think it's going to be really, really truly 325 00:16:21,420 --> 00:16:25,470 Becs Gentry: wonderful to see her cross that finish line on the 2nd 326 00:16:25,470 --> 00:16:30,510 Becs Gentry: of November this year with a big, big support crew 327 00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:31,410 Becs Gentry: along her side. 328 00:16:31,920 --> 00:16:34,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: Absolutely. So, make sure you stay tuned, we're coming up in 329 00:16:34,620 --> 00:16:36,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: just a minute with our conversation with Ali Truwit, an 330 00:16:36,900 --> 00:16:39,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: incredible person. Then a little bit later on in today's 331 00:16:39,900 --> 00:16:43,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: show, our member of moment will feature Meb Keflezighi with New 332 00:16:43,350 --> 00:16:48,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: York Road Runner's member Amina Garau. Amina moved from Sardinia 333 00:16:48,510 --> 00:16:51,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: to New York in 2017 and discovered a new life 334 00:16:51,450 --> 00:16:54,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: here through running, one that led her to co- found 335 00:16:54,900 --> 00:16:58,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: the New York World Runners Club with her friends Paola 336 00:16:58,770 --> 00:17:03,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: and Valeria, they built lasting friendships and they completed eight 337 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:06,629 Rob Simmelkjaer: marathons along the way. So, Meb and Amina will be 338 00:17:06,630 --> 00:17:09,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: coming up in a little bit and then Meb will be back with his mile by 339 00:17:09,420 --> 00:17:15,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: mile countdown of the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon. Today, Meb 340 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:20,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: will break down miles 22 and 23 of the marathon so stay 341 00:17:20,490 --> 00:17:24,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: tuned for that. Imagine being one of the first runners 342 00:17:24,150 --> 00:17:27,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: to touch the starting line, cross the bridge and feel 343 00:17:27,300 --> 00:17:31,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: the energy of thousands behind you. This year, MasterCard, a 344 00:17:31,350 --> 00:17:35,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: proud sponsor of the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon gave 345 00:17:35,700 --> 00:17:39,659 Rob Simmelkjaer: three card holders something unforgettable, a marathon bib and a 346 00:17:39,660 --> 00:17:44,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: priceless start. How? Runners share their best hacks from training 347 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:47,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: tips to race day rituals reminding us that the ultimate 348 00:17:47,850 --> 00:17:51,240 Rob Simmelkjaer: hack is coming together to unlock a better race day. 349 00:17:51,690 --> 00:17:56,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: Knowing you're never alone in the race, priceless. Today on 350 00:17:56,790 --> 00:18:00,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: Set the Pace, we are joined by Paralympic silver medalist 351 00:18:00,330 --> 00:18:05,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: and newly announced 2025 TCS New York City Marathon Team Inspire 352 00:18:05,790 --> 00:18:10,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: runner Ali Truwit. Ali is a former Yale swimmer, she 353 00:18:10,740 --> 00:18:14,369 Rob Simmelkjaer: survived a shark attack in 2023 that led to the 354 00:18:14,369 --> 00:18:18,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: devastating loss of her left foot but, amazingly, less than 355 00:18:18,060 --> 00:18:21,659 Rob Simmelkjaer: a year later, Ali qualified for Team USA winning two 356 00:18:21,660 --> 00:18:25,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: silver medals and setting American records at the 2024 Paris 357 00:18:25,980 --> 00:18:29,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: Paralympics and she just keeps going. This November, she's lacing 358 00:18:29,850 --> 00:18:33,629 Rob Simmelkjaer: up for her first ever TCS New York City Marathon, 359 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:36,419 Rob Simmelkjaer: she'll be running on a running blade. Ali and her 360 00:18:36,450 --> 00:18:39,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: team will be running to support her foundation Stronger Than 361 00:18:39,630 --> 00:18:44,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: You Think which helps young girls access prosthetics. And, Ali, 362 00:18:44,940 --> 00:18:48,810 Rob Simmelkjaer: we are so thrilled to have you running the TCS 363 00:18:48,810 --> 00:18:51,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York City Marathon this year, so excited to have 364 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:54,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: you as a member of Team Inspire. If there ever 365 00:18:54,210 --> 00:18:57,960 Rob Simmelkjaer: was someone who should be in Team Inspire, you are 366 00:18:58,080 --> 00:19:00,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: that person. This is exactly why we have that team. 367 00:19:00,690 --> 00:19:02,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: So, it's a pleasure to have you here on Set 368 00:19:02,250 --> 00:19:03,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: the Pace. Welcome. 369 00:19:03,510 --> 00:19:06,179 Ali Truwit: Oh, thank you. I'm so excited to be talking with you 370 00:19:06,180 --> 00:19:07,890 Ali Truwit: guys and to be running the marathon. 371 00:19:08,190 --> 00:19:10,980 Becs Gentry: Oh, my gosh. It's amazing, Ali. 372 00:19:11,010 --> 00:19:11,070 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah. 373 00:19:11,070 --> 00:19:16,020 Becs Gentry: It's so, so awesome to see you. Obviously, people can 374 00:19:16,020 --> 00:19:18,480 Becs Gentry: see you on social and I'm sure have read your 375 00:19:18,480 --> 00:19:21,300 Becs Gentry: story but to actually be in your presence, you are 376 00:19:21,300 --> 00:19:26,520 Becs Gentry: truly ... You radiate joy and just your smile is so 377 00:19:26,520 --> 00:19:30,450 Becs Gentry: beautiful and inspiring. I can see why people flood to 378 00:19:30,450 --> 00:19:32,790 Becs Gentry: you to be like, " Okay, help me get through this." 379 00:19:32,790 --> 00:19:33,000 Ali Truwit: Thank you. 380 00:19:35,430 --> 00:19:39,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: So, what Ali led ... I want to ask, Becs, the question I always 381 00:19:39,540 --> 00:19:42,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: ask people when they're running the TCS New York City 382 00:19:42,570 --> 00:19:48,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: Marathon is why. What was it that led you to 383 00:19:48,450 --> 00:19:52,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: deciding that you wanted to run? And I heard from some folks 384 00:19:52,260 --> 00:19:55,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: who work with you who I know, Allison Davis, a 385 00:19:55,980 --> 00:19:58,919 Rob Simmelkjaer: while back that you were interested in running it and 386 00:19:58,920 --> 00:20:00,659 Rob Simmelkjaer: so I was like, " God, yeah, we would love to 387 00:20:00,660 --> 00:20:03,510 Rob Simmelkjaer: have Ali Truwit run our marathon." But what was it 388 00:20:03,510 --> 00:20:06,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: in your mind that made you want to run New York? 389 00:20:06,960 --> 00:20:08,909 Ali Truwit: Yeah, I think there's actually a lot of things for 390 00:20:08,910 --> 00:20:11,760 Ali Truwit: me and I feel really grateful to have so many 391 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:16,020 Ali Truwit: strong whys because, when the training does get tough, it's 392 00:20:16,020 --> 00:20:18,119 Ali Truwit: really nice to be able to come back to those 393 00:20:18,119 --> 00:20:23,220 Ali Truwit: whys. Personally, I think having run a marathon 10 days 394 00:20:23,220 --> 00:20:26,369 Ali Truwit: before losing my leg in the shark attack, it was 395 00:20:26,369 --> 00:20:28,350 Ali Truwit: top of mind for me that that was something I 396 00:20:28,350 --> 00:20:30,780 Ali Truwit: had always loved that I felt like I had lost. 397 00:20:31,170 --> 00:20:34,170 Ali Truwit: And the things that are on the table for me 398 00:20:34,170 --> 00:20:36,600 Ali Truwit: to reclaim coming out of this attack, I want to 399 00:20:36,600 --> 00:20:39,270 Ali Truwit: fight to reclaim and swimming was first and now running 400 00:20:39,270 --> 00:20:43,230 Ali Truwit: is up next for me. And I think I view 401 00:20:43,230 --> 00:20:46,500 Ali Truwit: these first few years post attack as an opportunity for 402 00:20:46,500 --> 00:20:50,130 Ali Truwit: me to set the precedent for myself that what just 403 00:20:50,130 --> 00:20:52,710 Ali Truwit: happened to me isn't going to stop me from going 404 00:20:52,710 --> 00:20:55,290 Ali Truwit: for things that I think I'm capable of and that 405 00:20:55,290 --> 00:20:57,359 Ali Truwit: was through the Paralympics and now that's through the marathon. 406 00:20:57,359 --> 00:21:00,660 Ali Truwit: And so, those are ways for me, really, to continue 407 00:21:00,660 --> 00:21:04,740 Ali Truwit: showing myself this joyful, hopeful, beautiful life that's still there 408 00:21:04,740 --> 00:21:09,090 Ali Truwit: post amputation. I also just enjoy pushing myself physically and 409 00:21:09,090 --> 00:21:11,490 Ali Truwit: seeing what I can do. I think the opportunity to 410 00:21:11,490 --> 00:21:15,000 Ali Truwit: continue showing the world what people with disabilities are capable 411 00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:18,119 Ali Truwit: of is an exciting one for me. And then, of 412 00:21:18,119 --> 00:21:21,990 Ali Truwit: course, founding my non- profit Stronger Than You Think. Knowing 413 00:21:21,990 --> 00:21:24,240 Ali Truwit: what it means to not have a prosthetic and then 414 00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:28,230 Ali Truwit: get one and feel the freedom, the independence, the joy 415 00:21:28,260 --> 00:21:32,280 Ali Truwit: that comes from mobility, the quality of life that's improved 416 00:21:32,550 --> 00:21:34,740 Ali Truwit: when we're able to move again, I really want to 417 00:21:34,740 --> 00:21:37,230 Ali Truwit: be able to help other young women and girls get 418 00:21:37,230 --> 00:21:40,919 Ali Truwit: that access. And so, that's deeply motivating for me to 419 00:21:40,920 --> 00:21:43,050 Ali Truwit: run and know that I'm fundraising so that we can 420 00:21:43,050 --> 00:21:45,090 Ali Truwit: help other young women and girls run too. 421 00:21:46,230 --> 00:21:51,570 Becs Gentry: That's just incredible. I would say the vast majority of 422 00:21:51,570 --> 00:21:55,800 Becs Gentry: the population probably just go through what you experienced and 423 00:21:56,640 --> 00:22:00,510 Becs Gentry: just settle it down to that's just luck, my luck 424 00:22:00,540 --> 00:22:02,970 Becs Gentry: and I'm just going to get on with it in 425 00:22:02,970 --> 00:22:06,660 Becs Gentry: my way. But the fact that you've not just risen 426 00:22:06,660 --> 00:22:09,570 Becs Gentry: up for yourself but to include other people in that 427 00:22:09,570 --> 00:22:13,949 Becs Gentry: is super cool. You've said you always love a comeback 428 00:22:13,950 --> 00:22:17,129 Becs Gentry: story. So, you've just talked a little bit about the 429 00:22:17,280 --> 00:22:20,040 Becs Gentry: 10 days before you ran Copenhagen Marathon with your mom 430 00:22:20,760 --> 00:22:26,640 Becs Gentry: and then, 10 days later, you experienced this tragic attack 431 00:22:27,359 --> 00:22:32,040 Becs Gentry: while you were in the water. How did you think 432 00:22:32,040 --> 00:22:35,880 Becs Gentry: about this good comeback story when you were literally in 433 00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:38,189 Becs Gentry: the middle of your own worst nightmare? 434 00:22:39,750 --> 00:22:44,460 Ali Truwit: I think it was a real mix and I try 435 00:22:44,460 --> 00:22:46,950 Ali Truwit: to be really authentic about that that I had those 436 00:22:46,950 --> 00:22:49,680 Ali Truwit: incredibly low lows. I was crying on couches, I was 437 00:22:49,680 --> 00:22:52,619 Ali Truwit: telling myself I'm never going to wear short skirts again 438 00:22:52,619 --> 00:22:53,880 Ali Truwit: or I don't know if I'm ever going to run 439 00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:57,869 Ali Truwit: again. I had those moments but I also had small 440 00:22:57,869 --> 00:23:01,050 Ali Truwit: moments of hope and I clung to that hope and, 441 00:23:01,050 --> 00:23:03,690 Ali Truwit: when I felt that, I worked to let it build. 442 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:08,459 Ali Truwit: And I think coupling both of those, knowing that they 443 00:23:08,460 --> 00:23:11,580 Ali Truwit: can both exist, I can feel completely ridden with grief 444 00:23:11,580 --> 00:23:13,530 Ali Truwit: and feel like I've lost a lot and I can 445 00:23:13,530 --> 00:23:16,770 Ali Truwit: also find those moments of hope, those glimmers, cling and 446 00:23:16,770 --> 00:23:19,290 Ali Truwit: work at it and let it grow, that helped me 447 00:23:19,290 --> 00:23:22,560 Ali Truwit: on my own comeback. But I also look to a 448 00:23:22,560 --> 00:23:26,369 Ali Truwit: lot of other people and their comeback stories to help me 449 00:23:26,550 --> 00:23:28,500 Ali Truwit: get that confidence that it could happen for me and 450 00:23:28,500 --> 00:23:31,020 Ali Truwit: that's some names you'd know and some names people will 451 00:23:31,020 --> 00:23:33,869 Ali Truwit: never know that are personal friends or family. I think 452 00:23:33,869 --> 00:23:36,060 Ali Truwit: there's so many people out there fighting for their own 453 00:23:36,060 --> 00:23:38,940 Ali Truwit: comebacks that we'll never know all the stories but they 454 00:23:38,940 --> 00:23:41,730 Ali Truwit: are all around us. And of course, as a female 455 00:23:41,730 --> 00:23:46,230 Ali Truwit: athlete too, there's so many great examples of ... Simone Biles 456 00:23:46,230 --> 00:23:49,200 Ali Truwit: with the twisties, having the courage to stop and take 457 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:51,990 Ali Truwit: that time and then come back and compete and overcome 458 00:23:51,990 --> 00:23:54,629 Ali Truwit: that fear of knowing that she might experience it again, 459 00:23:54,630 --> 00:23:57,090 Ali Truwit: and Lindsey Vonn. I think there's so many great examples 460 00:23:57,090 --> 00:23:59,790 Ali Truwit: to attack too of watching people fight for their own 461 00:23:59,790 --> 00:24:04,470 Ali Truwit: comeback so, when my confidence faltered during that journey, really 462 00:24:04,470 --> 00:24:08,040 Ali Truwit: clinging to that hope through them. And also looking at 463 00:24:08,040 --> 00:24:11,100 Ali Truwit: the fact that, amidst this terrible thing, I was given 464 00:24:11,100 --> 00:24:13,320 Ali Truwit: a second chance at life and I was face to 465 00:24:13,320 --> 00:24:17,639 Ali Truwit: face with almost not surviving. And so, really wanting to 466 00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:20,010 Ali Truwit: make the most of that and fight to get back 467 00:24:20,010 --> 00:24:23,220 Ali Truwit: to that joyful, beautiful life was a big motivator to 468 00:24:23,220 --> 00:24:24,959 Ali Truwit: know that I almost didn't have that. 469 00:24:25,920 --> 00:24:30,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: Ali, I've never been through anything like what you went 470 00:24:30,900 --> 00:24:34,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: through, I can only imagine what it's like to be 471 00:24:34,290 --> 00:24:38,669 Rob Simmelkjaer: in those moments. One of the things I have to imagine is 472 00:24:39,180 --> 00:24:42,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: a struggle when you go through a traumatic event like 473 00:24:42,210 --> 00:24:48,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: that is redefining your identity of yourself to a degree. 474 00:24:48,480 --> 00:24:51,720 Rob Simmelkjaer: And you had a very clear identity as an athlete, 475 00:24:52,020 --> 00:24:56,369 Rob Simmelkjaer: you were an accomplished swimmer at Yale, e being athletic was 476 00:24:56,369 --> 00:25:00,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: a huge part of what you were. And for something 477 00:25:00,750 --> 00:25:04,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: like that to happen, was that part of your struggle 478 00:25:04,290 --> 00:25:07,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: and, clearly, it looks to me like part of your 479 00:25:07,770 --> 00:25:10,080 Rob Simmelkjaer: recovery. A big part of it was saying, " Wait a 480 00:25:10,080 --> 00:25:13,649 Rob Simmelkjaer: second, I'm still an athlete," and just redefining what it 481 00:25:13,650 --> 00:25:17,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: meant to be an athlete and turning around not very 482 00:25:17,460 --> 00:25:21,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: long after this incident and ending up in the Paralympic games. 483 00:25:22,320 --> 00:25:25,590 Ali Truwit: Yes, definitely, I think ... And I'm two years in right now 484 00:25:25,590 --> 00:25:29,220 Ali Truwit: so it's still a struggle. I still have those days, 485 00:25:29,220 --> 00:25:32,550 Ali Truwit: I'm learning this new identity and, in so many ways, 486 00:25:32,550 --> 00:25:34,439 Ali Truwit: I'm learning to love a new body. I became an 487 00:25:34,440 --> 00:25:38,040 Ali Truwit: amputee, I was 23 years old. I had just graduated college 488 00:25:38,040 --> 00:25:40,050 Ali Truwit: and I was like, " I don't want anyone to ever 489 00:25:40,050 --> 00:25:42,480 Ali Truwit: see my prosthetic leg. I don't love my body, I 490 00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:45,300 Ali Truwit: don't feel beautiful. I've never seen my body look like 491 00:25:45,300 --> 00:25:48,570 Ali Truwit: this, it looks foreign." And so, it was a struggle 492 00:25:48,570 --> 00:25:51,000 Ali Truwit: there to learn to see beauty and strength and look 493 00:25:51,000 --> 00:25:52,950 Ali Truwit: at that leg and say, " That leg saved me. That 494 00:25:52,950 --> 00:25:56,399 Ali Truwit: leg fought a shark," and it still is a struggle that 495 00:25:56,400 --> 00:25:58,590 Ali Truwit: I work at to get there. And then, of course, 496 00:25:59,700 --> 00:26:02,040 Ali Truwit: I guess, through who I am to other people, learning 497 00:26:02,040 --> 00:26:05,430 Ali Truwit: to take on a more vulnerable role in friendships and 498 00:26:05,430 --> 00:26:08,790 Ali Truwit: receive that support was a completely new space in my 499 00:26:08,790 --> 00:26:11,369 Ali Truwit: identity for me. And then, as an athlete, that was 500 00:26:11,369 --> 00:26:15,359 Ali Truwit: something I completely worried I'd lost. So many of my 501 00:26:15,359 --> 00:26:17,490 Ali Truwit: early fears were like am I ever going to run 502 00:26:17,490 --> 00:26:19,469 Ali Truwit: again, am I ever going to walk again, I didn't 503 00:26:19,470 --> 00:26:21,869 Ali Truwit: even know how I was taking my next step. There were 504 00:26:21,869 --> 00:26:25,290 Ali Truwit: so many fears around my identity as an athlete and 505 00:26:25,290 --> 00:26:28,140 Ali Truwit: would I be able to reclaim that and really mostly 506 00:26:28,140 --> 00:26:31,800 Ali Truwit: because ... I wasn't too worried about who I was outside 507 00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:34,109 Ali Truwit: of athletics but I was worried about the joy that 508 00:26:34,109 --> 00:26:37,200 Ali Truwit: sport has always brought me. Exercise has always been a 509 00:26:37,200 --> 00:26:40,260 Ali Truwit: mood booster for me and to have that and to love 510 00:26:40,260 --> 00:26:41,850 Ali Truwit: that and then feel like it was gone in the 511 00:26:41,850 --> 00:26:44,850 Ali Truwit: blink of an eye was so scary. And, as you 512 00:26:44,850 --> 00:26:49,169 Ali Truwit: mentioned, I have worked to show myself that that is 513 00:26:49,170 --> 00:26:51,960 Ali Truwit: still a possibility even with one leg and that started 514 00:26:51,990 --> 00:26:55,500 Ali Truwit: early in recovery. I started a one- legged plank challenge 515 00:26:55,500 --> 00:26:57,359 Ali Truwit: with my friends and family to see who could hold 516 00:26:57,359 --> 00:27:01,109 Ali Truwit: the longest plank and I was working to show myself 517 00:27:01,109 --> 00:27:05,400 Ali Truwit: I could still feel strong and athletic and competitive. And 518 00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:07,500 Ali Truwit: it's one of the reasons that I say that, going 519 00:27:07,500 --> 00:27:10,949 Ali Truwit: for the Paralympics in my first year of recovery, even 520 00:27:10,950 --> 00:27:13,409 Ali Truwit: just with the goal of it was the most healing 521 00:27:13,410 --> 00:27:16,830 Ali Truwit: thing I could have done. It really enabled me to 522 00:27:16,830 --> 00:27:19,350 Ali Truwit: focus on all that I still had as opposed to 523 00:27:19,350 --> 00:27:21,990 Ali Truwit: wallowing in what I'd lost and all that I could 524 00:27:21,990 --> 00:27:24,900 Ali Truwit: still do. And so, I'm so grateful to that movement 525 00:27:24,900 --> 00:27:26,670 Ali Truwit: and excited to be a part of it because of 526 00:27:26,940 --> 00:27:29,640 Ali Truwit: how much hope and strength it gave me to know 527 00:27:29,640 --> 00:27:31,980 Ali Truwit: that that was still something that I had and could 528 00:27:31,980 --> 00:27:32,760 Ali Truwit: get back to. 529 00:27:33,390 --> 00:27:37,770 Becs Gentry: Absolutely. And you didn't just go on in the Paralympics 530 00:27:37,770 --> 00:27:42,090 Becs Gentry: to show up which is already an astonishing feat to 531 00:27:42,090 --> 00:27:45,659 Becs Gentry: any athlete out there who gets the chance to compete 532 00:27:46,050 --> 00:27:51,480 Becs Gentry: in their country's whole fit is just super cool but 533 00:27:51,480 --> 00:27:56,670 Becs Gentry: you went even further beyond that and you earned two 534 00:27:56,730 --> 00:28:02,820 Becs Gentry: silver medals and you set the American records in Paris. 535 00:28:03,330 --> 00:28:07,320 Becs Gentry: So, how did that feel just, A, doing it and, 536 00:28:07,320 --> 00:28:09,419 Becs Gentry: B, in reflection afterwards? 537 00:28:09,510 --> 00:28:14,790 Ali Truwit: It was so cool. I feel like, this whole journey, 538 00:28:14,790 --> 00:28:18,750 Ali Truwit: I have definitely surprised myself and that's a big reason 539 00:28:19,050 --> 00:28:22,320 Ali Truwit: my non- profit is called Stronger Than You Think. I was 540 00:28:22,320 --> 00:28:24,600 Ali Truwit: not expecting this to be the way that I recovered 541 00:28:24,600 --> 00:28:27,270 Ali Truwit: either and I feel like Paris was such an example 542 00:28:27,270 --> 00:28:30,030 Ali Truwit: of that. I had worked really hard but you never 543 00:28:30,030 --> 00:28:32,460 Ali Truwit: know how it's going to go. So, that was so 544 00:28:32,460 --> 00:28:34,230 Ali Truwit: cool to touch the wall and see what I had 545 00:28:34,230 --> 00:28:37,409 Ali Truwit: done and to have so much support in the stands 546 00:28:37,410 --> 00:28:43,170 Ali Truwit: meant just the world. And in reflection, I think it's 547 00:28:43,170 --> 00:28:45,210 Ali Truwit: really healing for me to think that I could take 548 00:28:45,210 --> 00:28:48,510 Ali Truwit: this bad thing and use it for good and spread 549 00:28:48,510 --> 00:28:52,170 Ali Truwit: that message that we can come back stronger. Life can 550 00:28:52,170 --> 00:28:54,810 Ali Truwit: knock us down and we will rise back up, that 551 00:28:54,810 --> 00:28:57,270 Ali Truwit: we can take trauma and turn it into hope and 552 00:28:57,270 --> 00:28:59,580 Ali Truwit: I feel like that was just the cherry on top 553 00:28:59,580 --> 00:29:03,420 Ali Truwit: of that message so it was really special. And I 554 00:29:03,420 --> 00:29:05,910 Ali Truwit: think also, like you said, the feeling of getting to 555 00:29:06,210 --> 00:29:09,660 Ali Truwit: compete with your country on your shirt, on your cap, 556 00:29:09,840 --> 00:29:13,110 Ali Truwit: there is really nothing like it. And for me it 557 00:29:13,110 --> 00:29:16,620 Ali Truwit: was so many American heroes stepped up and saved my 558 00:29:16,620 --> 00:29:18,900 Ali Truwit: life and helped me rebuild it. And so, getting to 559 00:29:18,900 --> 00:29:22,020 Ali Truwit: race with the American flag on my cap, my races 560 00:29:22,020 --> 00:29:24,360 Ali Truwit: were a thank you to them and that just felt 561 00:29:24,360 --> 00:29:26,850 Ali Truwit: like the most special way. There will never be an 562 00:29:26,850 --> 00:29:29,580 Ali Truwit: adequate way to thank all those people but it was 563 00:29:29,580 --> 00:29:32,310 Ali Truwit: a nice way to try and to have those American records 564 00:29:32,310 --> 00:29:34,080 Ali Truwit: too and just feel like I could get to thank 565 00:29:34,080 --> 00:29:37,500 Ali Truwit: them for all of their efforts and their heroism. 566 00:29:38,220 --> 00:29:40,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: Ali, what was the adjustment like? You obviously were no 567 00:29:40,560 --> 00:29:43,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: stranger to the pool as a college swimmer. What was 568 00:29:43,530 --> 00:29:46,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: the adjustment like as you started training for a Paralympic 569 00:29:46,950 --> 00:29:51,810 Rob Simmelkjaer: games now with your body in this different form? How 570 00:29:51,810 --> 00:29:53,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: did you adjust to that and how were you able 571 00:29:53,370 --> 00:29:54,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: to be successful so quickly? 572 00:29:55,800 --> 00:29:59,730 Ali Truwit: Yeah, it was a big adjustment. I was having to relearn a 573 00:29:59,730 --> 00:30:02,370 Ali Truwit: sport I had known since I was seven years old 574 00:30:02,490 --> 00:30:06,390 Ali Truwit: and your whole balance is different with one leg instead 575 00:30:06,390 --> 00:30:08,610 Ali Truwit: of two, your buoyancy is different. I had to change up 576 00:30:08,610 --> 00:30:11,459 Ali Truwit: my breathing pattern and learn how to account for the 577 00:30:11,460 --> 00:30:13,950 Ali Truwit: fact that I was only using and only had one 578 00:30:13,950 --> 00:30:18,120 Ali Truwit: leg. And so, I really had to relearn. You get 579 00:30:18,120 --> 00:30:19,800 Ali Truwit: up on ... You're not allowed to compete with a prosthetic 580 00:30:19,800 --> 00:30:21,840 Ali Truwit: so I do my starts. I get up on the 581 00:30:21,840 --> 00:30:24,660 Ali Truwit: blocks on one leg, take my marks on one leg, 582 00:30:24,660 --> 00:30:26,580 Ali Truwit: push off on one leg, flip turn on one leg, 583 00:30:26,580 --> 00:30:28,710 Ali Truwit: it's all on this one leg. And so, that was a 584 00:30:28,710 --> 00:30:31,830 Ali Truwit: lot of relearning how to do things with that new 585 00:30:31,830 --> 00:30:35,550 Ali Truwit: body that took a lot of patience and grace and 586 00:30:35,550 --> 00:30:38,790 Ali Truwit: a great coach and great support. And it was also, 587 00:30:39,210 --> 00:30:40,920 Ali Truwit: like you said, I'm no stranger to a pool but 588 00:30:40,920 --> 00:30:43,710 Ali Truwit: also, at the same time, I did feel like a 589 00:30:43,710 --> 00:30:47,190 Ali Truwit: stranger when I first got back in because, at that 590 00:30:47,190 --> 00:30:50,070 Ali Truwit: point, the last time that I had heard the sound 591 00:30:50,070 --> 00:30:51,600 Ali Truwit: of water, that I had been in that body of 592 00:30:51,600 --> 00:30:54,690 Ali Truwit: water, not a pool but just generally water, I was 593 00:30:54,690 --> 00:30:58,440 Ali Truwit: swimming for my life. And so, getting back in was 594 00:30:58,440 --> 00:31:00,959 Ali Truwit: filled with a lot of flashbacks to the attack, a 595 00:31:00,960 --> 00:31:03,630 Ali Truwit: lot of physical pain because I had new nerve endings 596 00:31:03,630 --> 00:31:06,960 Ali Truwit: that were sensitive to the cold water and practically every 597 00:31:06,960 --> 00:31:10,380 Ali Truwit: sensation. And so, it took a lot of overcoming a 598 00:31:10,380 --> 00:31:13,080 Ali Truwit: lot of those challenges to get back to a space 599 00:31:13,080 --> 00:31:15,210 Ali Truwit: where I was feeling comfortable and happy in the water 600 00:31:15,210 --> 00:31:19,170 Ali Truwit: again and, from there, really putting in the work and 601 00:31:19,170 --> 00:31:22,590 Ali Truwit: building back. And I credit my coach for ... I think 602 00:31:22,590 --> 00:31:24,690 Ali Truwit: I have a great work ethic, I'll give myself that 603 00:31:24,690 --> 00:31:27,989 Ali Truwit: credit but he is also so talented in helping me 604 00:31:27,990 --> 00:31:30,510 Ali Truwit: basically pull a rabbit out of a hat and be 605 00:31:30,510 --> 00:31:33,120 Ali Truwit: able to qualify and medal at the Paralympics within a year 606 00:31:33,120 --> 00:31:35,640 Ali Truwit: of a shark attack and an amputation. 607 00:31:36,270 --> 00:31:39,660 Becs Gentry: Yeah. You are a dream team together, let's put it that 608 00:31:39,660 --> 00:31:42,720 Becs Gentry: way. You're a dream team together. I want to talk 609 00:31:42,720 --> 00:31:49,230 Becs Gentry: a little bit about fear because everybody has fear spanning 610 00:31:49,590 --> 00:31:53,730 Becs Gentry: a whole huge spectrum. Whether it's fear of starting to 611 00:31:53,730 --> 00:31:57,180 Becs Gentry: run because you've never run before and you're scared how 612 00:31:57,210 --> 00:32:01,229 Becs Gentry: tired you'll be, whether it's fear of getting back in 613 00:32:01,230 --> 00:32:06,720 Becs Gentry: the water for you, for example. What was your level 614 00:32:06,720 --> 00:32:12,120 Becs Gentry: of fear for your future, let's say, when you came 615 00:32:12,120 --> 00:32:16,200 Becs Gentry: back to training and when you got back in the 616 00:32:16,200 --> 00:32:21,330 Becs Gentry: water? Obviously, different water but was there things about your life 617 00:32:21,330 --> 00:32:25,680 Becs Gentry: that suddenly became more fearful when you had made the 618 00:32:25,680 --> 00:32:29,550 Becs Gentry: adaptation to becoming an amputee and using a prosthetic? 619 00:32:30,180 --> 00:32:33,390 Ali Truwit: Absolutely. My fear was through the roof and I love 620 00:32:33,390 --> 00:32:36,570 Ali Truwit: this question because, a lot of times, people hear my 621 00:32:36,570 --> 00:32:39,630 Ali Truwit: story that I fought a shark, that I swam to 622 00:32:39,630 --> 00:32:43,170 Ali Truwit: safety with one foot, that I then got back in 623 00:32:43,170 --> 00:32:45,720 Ali Truwit: the space that was so triggering and then ended up making 624 00:32:45,720 --> 00:32:48,060 Ali Truwit: a medal at Paralympics and they look at me and 625 00:32:48,060 --> 00:32:51,900 Ali Truwit: they're like, " You're fearless," and that could not be further 626 00:32:51,900 --> 00:32:55,320 Ali Truwit: from the truth. Everything I do, I'm riddled with fear. 627 00:32:55,440 --> 00:32:59,370 Ali Truwit: Taking a step was so much fear because I couldn't 628 00:32:59,370 --> 00:33:01,110 Ali Truwit: even recognize a foot was on the ground, it's not 629 00:33:01,110 --> 00:33:04,380 Ali Truwit: attached to my body. Every part of my journey has 630 00:33:04,380 --> 00:33:08,400 Ali Truwit: been filled with fear and I think what I've gotten 631 00:33:08,400 --> 00:33:11,729 Ali Truwit: to is this place of ... First of all, I'm lucky 632 00:33:11,730 --> 00:33:13,740 Ali Truwit: that I have a second chance at life and I 633 00:33:13,740 --> 00:33:16,380 Ali Truwit: don't want to live it ruled by fear and that's 634 00:33:16,380 --> 00:33:19,350 Ali Truwit: easier said than done but, ultimately, the only way that 635 00:33:19,410 --> 00:33:22,200 Ali Truwit: my whole life that I've known through fear is through 636 00:33:22,200 --> 00:33:27,600 Ali Truwit: facing it and so really, really working on fear's going 637 00:33:27,600 --> 00:33:29,910 Ali Truwit: to be there. The biggest game changer for me was 638 00:33:29,910 --> 00:33:33,240 Ali Truwit: recognizing I'm probably not going to get to a place 639 00:33:33,240 --> 00:33:35,370 Ali Truwit: where I'm not going to have fear. Most of what 640 00:33:35,370 --> 00:33:38,370 Ali Truwit: I'm doing right now, I have fear. But can I 641 00:33:38,370 --> 00:33:40,110 Ali Truwit: look at it and say, instead of letting it stand 642 00:33:40,110 --> 00:33:42,510 Ali Truwit: in my way, it's going to walk beside me. It'll 643 00:33:42,510 --> 00:33:44,040 Ali Truwit: be there, I know it's going to be there. It's 644 00:33:44,040 --> 00:33:46,260 Ali Truwit: not helpful for me but we're going to do it 645 00:33:46,260 --> 00:33:48,900 Ali Truwit: together, I'm not going to let it stop me. And 646 00:33:48,900 --> 00:33:52,020 Ali Truwit: that's hard but that is ultimately what I've really worked 647 00:33:52,020 --> 00:33:54,719 Ali Truwit: to do through getting back in the pool, through running, 648 00:33:54,720 --> 00:33:57,300 Ali Truwit: through learning how to use a prosthetic, through showing my 649 00:33:57,300 --> 00:34:00,840 Ali Truwit: prosthetic in public, all of these fearful things for me 650 00:34:00,840 --> 00:34:05,940 Ali Truwit: about my future post- amputation really is can I just 651 00:34:05,940 --> 00:34:09,120 Ali Truwit: work to live alongside the fear and still go for 652 00:34:09,120 --> 00:34:12,540 Ali Truwit: this. And I think what's also helped is a partial 653 00:34:12,540 --> 00:34:15,480 Ali Truwit: success mindset. So, when I first got back in the 654 00:34:15,480 --> 00:34:17,370 Ali Truwit: pool, I started by just putting my foot in and 655 00:34:17,370 --> 00:34:20,279 Ali Truwit: then dipping into my waist and then getting into my 656 00:34:20,280 --> 00:34:22,200 Ali Truwit: chest and I didn't even put my face in for 657 00:34:22,200 --> 00:34:25,410 Ali Truwit: a long time. And so, I think building in that 658 00:34:25,410 --> 00:34:28,049 Ali Truwit: way and celebrating the successes on the road as you 659 00:34:28,050 --> 00:34:32,218 Ali Truwit: conquer fear also really helped me as I was going 660 00:34:32,219 --> 00:34:34,800 Ali Truwit: through facing those fears and continue to also. 661 00:34:35,340 --> 00:34:39,300 Becs Gentry: Okay. So, you call that ... That's partial success where, body part by 662 00:34:39,300 --> 00:34:42,719 Becs Gentry: body part, as you submerge them into the water, you 663 00:34:42,719 --> 00:34:46,380 Becs Gentry: celebrated the success of each one, it wasn't just ... Success 664 00:34:46,380 --> 00:34:48,900 Becs Gentry: wasn't just going to be getting your full body in 665 00:34:48,900 --> 00:34:49,410 Becs Gentry: the water. 666 00:34:49,980 --> 00:34:52,380 Ali Truwit: Right. Each step was a success. And I do the 667 00:34:52,380 --> 00:34:54,719 Ali Truwit: same with running. It's not always body part by body 668 00:34:54,719 --> 00:34:58,020 Ali Truwit: part but running was, okay, first I can put on 669 00:34:58,020 --> 00:34:59,610 Ali Truwit: a blade and I can jump in the blade and 670 00:34:59,610 --> 00:35:01,410 Ali Truwit: trust that the leg will be there even though I 671 00:35:01,410 --> 00:35:04,320 Ali Truwit: can't feel it. And then, okay, I can run half 672 00:35:04,320 --> 00:35:06,810 Ali Truwit: a mile, okay, I can run a mile and building 673 00:35:06,810 --> 00:35:09,180 Ali Truwit: on it, celebrating the success on the way to the 674 00:35:09,180 --> 00:35:11,790 Ali Truwit: larger goal, I feel like, for me, has helped me 675 00:35:11,790 --> 00:35:14,670 Ali Truwit: conquer those fears and continue to show myself I'm okay 676 00:35:14,670 --> 00:35:15,750 Ali Truwit: as I grow through it. 677 00:35:16,260 --> 00:35:19,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: I love the way you talk about letting the fear 678 00:35:19,410 --> 00:35:24,239 Rob Simmelkjaer: walk beside you and everybody can relate to that. Every 679 00:35:24,239 --> 00:35:29,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: single person has their own set of fears so thinking 680 00:35:29,250 --> 00:35:33,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: of it that way, I think, is really powerful, it's 681 00:35:33,660 --> 00:35:37,469 Rob Simmelkjaer: incredible. And by the way, 26. 2 miles will put 682 00:35:37,469 --> 00:35:38,341 Rob Simmelkjaer: a bit of fear into everyone. 683 00:35:38,341 --> 00:35:38,821 Ali Truwit: Exactly. 684 00:35:39,090 --> 00:35:43,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: So, when there's 50, 000 people running, really, they're each running 685 00:35:43,500 --> 00:35:46,921 Rob Simmelkjaer: with their little fear person right alongside them. 686 00:35:46,921 --> 00:35:46,922 Ali Truwit: Exactly. 687 00:35:46,921 --> 00:35:50,730 Becs Gentry: Yeah, exactly. There's actually 110,000 people this year. 688 00:35:50,730 --> 00:35:53,430 Rob Simmelkjaer: That's right, that's right. Yeah, we probably should get more 689 00:35:53,430 --> 00:35:57,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: water for the fear, the little fear phantoms running alongside 690 00:35:57,330 --> 00:36:02,040 Rob Simmelkjaer: our runners. Ali, I want to talk about training for 691 00:36:02,040 --> 00:36:05,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: a marathon now for the first time with your prosthetic 692 00:36:06,060 --> 00:36:10,230 Rob Simmelkjaer: and what that has been like. How has training for 26. 693 00:36:10,230 --> 00:36:15,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: 2 miles changed your relationship with your prosthetic since you 694 00:36:15,690 --> 00:36:18,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: weren't able to compete with that at the Paralympics? This 695 00:36:18,150 --> 00:36:21,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: is really going to be your first, I believe, big 696 00:36:21,690 --> 00:36:26,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: sporting event with a prosthetic. How has that changed the way 697 00:36:26,010 --> 00:36:27,510 Rob Simmelkjaer: you see the prosthetic? 698 00:36:28,710 --> 00:36:31,560 Ali Truwit: Yes. So, with the Paralympics, I didn't really have to 699 00:36:31,560 --> 00:36:34,020 Ali Truwit: think about how I was going to use my prosthetic 700 00:36:34,020 --> 00:36:35,910 Ali Truwit: to achieve what I wanted to achieve, it was a 701 00:36:35,910 --> 00:36:39,210 Ali Truwit: space where I didn't need my leg. And with the 702 00:36:39,210 --> 00:36:42,270 Ali Truwit: marathon, that's completely different because I now need to learn 703 00:36:42,270 --> 00:36:44,310 Ali Truwit: how to use this tool to help me achieve my 704 00:36:44,310 --> 00:36:48,300 Ali Truwit: goal. So, you're right, that has been a journey, a 705 00:36:48,300 --> 00:36:51,150 Ali Truwit: roller coaster for sure. I think it's changed my relationship 706 00:36:51,150 --> 00:36:54,870 Ali Truwit: in many ways, it's definitely come with its fair share 707 00:36:54,870 --> 00:36:59,280 Ali Truwit: of frustrations and challenges. It's hard to be running on 708 00:36:59,280 --> 00:37:03,060 Ali Truwit: something that you can't feel. Training your brain to trust 709 00:37:03,060 --> 00:37:05,430 Ali Truwit: that it will be there even though you can't grip 710 00:37:05,430 --> 00:37:07,830 Ali Truwit: the ground with it, you can't feel that your foot's 711 00:37:07,830 --> 00:37:11,130 Ali Truwit: there and you need to let your body go and 712 00:37:11,130 --> 00:37:13,440 Ali Truwit: let your brain let your body go and, every other 713 00:37:13,440 --> 00:37:16,170 Ali Truwit: step, it's only on that blade. So, that was a 714 00:37:16,170 --> 00:37:20,790 Ali Truwit: whole process and then, of course, learning limb management. Being 715 00:37:20,790 --> 00:37:23,400 Ali Truwit: just two years into the amputation and just one year 716 00:37:23,400 --> 00:37:25,860 Ali Truwit: into having a bleed, there's a lot to manage with 717 00:37:26,400 --> 00:37:29,219 Ali Truwit: swelling overnight because I'm still in those early years post- 718 00:37:29,219 --> 00:37:33,060 Ali Truwit: trauma, with blistering of a leg inside a socket, with 719 00:37:33,060 --> 00:37:36,120 Ali Truwit: learning the right fit because, if not, your leg is 720 00:37:36,600 --> 00:37:39,390 Ali Truwit: jamming into the blade over and over again and painful 721 00:37:39,390 --> 00:37:42,150 Ali Truwit: and with how to do hills without an ankle to 722 00:37:42,150 --> 00:37:46,290 Ali Truwit: adjust for incline and decline. There's all these nuances of 723 00:37:46,290 --> 00:37:49,469 Ali Truwit: using a blade and running that I never really thought 724 00:37:49,469 --> 00:37:52,290 Ali Truwit: about until I was in this situation. So, in that 725 00:37:52,290 --> 00:37:55,230 Ali Truwit: way, it's definitely come with a lot of new challenges 726 00:37:55,500 --> 00:37:59,640 Ali Truwit: but also I look down and I am constantly reminded 727 00:38:00,120 --> 00:38:02,820 Ali Truwit: how lucky I am to have access to a running 728 00:38:02,820 --> 00:38:05,280 Ali Truwit: blade and to be able to have that freedom and 729 00:38:05,280 --> 00:38:07,500 Ali Truwit: that joy to run and I know that's not the case 730 00:38:07,500 --> 00:38:12,660 Ali Truwit: for everyone and prosthetics are wildly expensive. And so, I 731 00:38:12,660 --> 00:38:16,259 Ali Truwit: think it's been this journey of, yes, challenge and hardship 732 00:38:16,260 --> 00:38:20,130 Ali Truwit: and having to overcome a lot of new obstacles and, 733 00:38:20,130 --> 00:38:22,680 Ali Truwit: at the same time, so much gratitude for the fact 734 00:38:22,680 --> 00:38:24,900 Ali Truwit: that I am reclaiming one of my life loves, that 735 00:38:24,900 --> 00:38:27,180 Ali Truwit: I have access to a tool that's letting me do 736 00:38:27,180 --> 00:38:29,640 Ali Truwit: that. So, it's changed my relationship in a lot of 737 00:38:29,640 --> 00:38:33,419 Ali Truwit: ways and I think it also, like I mentioned, really deepened 738 00:38:33,780 --> 00:38:36,150 Ali Truwit: my motivation to fundraise as much as I can through 739 00:38:36,150 --> 00:38:38,759 Ali Truwit: running this so that I can give that freedom and 740 00:38:38,760 --> 00:38:42,270 Ali Truwit: joy of running back to other young women and girls 741 00:38:42,270 --> 00:38:43,680 Ali Truwit: who need those prosthetics. 742 00:38:43,860 --> 00:38:47,640 Becs Gentry: Okay. What are you most excited and most nervous about for 743 00:38:47,640 --> 00:38:50,759 Becs Gentry: the day of the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon? 744 00:38:52,140 --> 00:38:58,020 Ali Truwit: Most excited, probably ... I think, most excited, the support. I'm 745 00:38:58,020 --> 00:39:00,180 Ali Truwit: running with a team of 12. I'm running with my 746 00:39:00,239 --> 00:39:02,250 Ali Truwit: mom, my dad, my uncle- 747 00:39:02,430 --> 00:39:02,730 Becs Gentry: No way. 748 00:39:03,360 --> 00:39:06,989 Ali Truwit: Yeah. College teammates, two of my college teammates who were 749 00:39:06,989 --> 00:39:09,180 Ali Truwit: pivotal in saving my life, one of whom was in 750 00:39:09,180 --> 00:39:11,520 Ali Truwit: the water with me during the attack. So, to be 751 00:39:11,520 --> 00:39:13,410 Ali Truwit: able to do it with them and have their support, 752 00:39:13,440 --> 00:39:15,630 Ali Truwit: they've been with me on the marathon of my recovery 753 00:39:15,630 --> 00:39:18,719 Ali Truwit: and now to run the actual marathon just feels so 754 00:39:18,719 --> 00:39:22,469 Ali Truwit: special. And also the support of New York City, I 755 00:39:22,469 --> 00:39:25,110 Ali Truwit: think the energy of the New York City Marathon is 756 00:39:25,110 --> 00:39:29,969 Ali Truwit: just unmatched. Everyone comes out, it's just ... It really is 757 00:39:29,969 --> 00:39:32,850 Ali Truwit: a marathon ... The New York City Marathon is for everyone, 758 00:39:32,850 --> 00:39:37,080 Ali Truwit: I feel like. Whatever you have to give, whether that's 759 00:39:37,080 --> 00:39:40,290 Ali Truwit: cheering, fundraising, running, it's an opportunity for everyone to come 760 00:39:40,290 --> 00:39:44,640 Ali Truwit: together and celebrate the human spirit so I'm really excited 761 00:39:44,640 --> 00:39:48,540 Ali Truwit: for that support. And then, in terms of nervous, I 762 00:39:48,540 --> 00:39:52,860 Ali Truwit: would say am nervous for the hills because that's been 763 00:39:52,860 --> 00:39:55,530 Ali Truwit: something that I'm continuing to learn is just incline on 764 00:39:55,530 --> 00:39:58,620 Ali Truwit: the blade. And I'm also nervous for, and this makes 765 00:39:58,620 --> 00:40:00,960 Ali Truwit: sense, I think this has been the case my entire 766 00:40:00,960 --> 00:40:04,620 Ali Truwit: athletic career, but unknowns and uncontrollables, things like humidity and 767 00:40:04,620 --> 00:40:07,890 Ali Truwit: weather really affect my prosthetic fit and that's something you 768 00:40:07,890 --> 00:40:09,450 Ali Truwit: can't control and you don't know what it's going to 769 00:40:09,450 --> 00:40:12,600 Ali Truwit: be until right before race day. So, I'm really leaning 770 00:40:12,600 --> 00:40:15,149 Ali Truwit: into trying to focus on the knowns of the work 771 00:40:15,150 --> 00:40:17,790 Ali Truwit: that I put in day to day and the fact 772 00:40:17,790 --> 00:40:19,860 Ali Truwit: that I'm adaptable and I'm willing to fight for what 773 00:40:19,860 --> 00:40:22,890 Ali Truwit: I want and remind myself of the knowns when those 774 00:40:22,920 --> 00:40:26,190 Ali Truwit: unknowns get loud but that's easy to get nervous about too. 775 00:40:26,370 --> 00:40:31,290 Becs Gentry: Yeah. They feel like normal things and individual things combined, yeah. 776 00:40:31,290 --> 00:40:31,529 Ali Truwit: Yes, yeah. 777 00:40:33,630 --> 00:40:35,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: Those fears are so universal, right, Becs? 778 00:40:35,730 --> 00:40:35,820 Becs Gentry: They are. 779 00:40:36,750 --> 00:40:40,469 Rob Simmelkjaer: As anybody who's training for a marathon can think about, 780 00:40:40,650 --> 00:40:42,930 Rob Simmelkjaer: they're all worried about those unknowns. They're all worried about 781 00:40:42,930 --> 00:40:46,589 Rob Simmelkjaer: weather, about things that can happen out of their control 782 00:40:46,590 --> 00:40:50,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: that can then ruin the day. But I have so 783 00:40:50,400 --> 00:40:54,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: much respect for you, Ali, for taking this on and 784 00:40:54,150 --> 00:40:56,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: taking on a hard marathon too. 785 00:40:57,180 --> 00:40:57,181 Becs Gentry: Yes. It's not just a flat one. 786 00:40:57,180 --> 00:41:00,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: You didn't just pick any marathon to try for your first 787 00:41:00,450 --> 00:41:04,230 Rob Simmelkjaer: time with a prosthetic, you tried a pretty hard one but also 788 00:41:04,230 --> 00:41:06,719 Rob Simmelkjaer: one that, as you say, is going to help you 789 00:41:06,719 --> 00:41:11,911 Rob Simmelkjaer: with that energy of New York behind you. And you're- 790 00:41:11,910 --> 00:41:11,911 Ali Truwit: If I'm doing one, it's going to be New York. 791 00:41:11,911 --> 00:41:14,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: Right. And you're a New York area person. You grew up in the 792 00:41:14,310 --> 00:41:16,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: area so this had to be the one, right? 793 00:41:17,460 --> 00:41:17,940 Ali Truwit: Yes. 794 00:41:18,359 --> 00:41:22,380 Becs Gentry: That's amazing. Your group of 12 with you, are you all running together? 795 00:41:22,800 --> 00:41:23,250 Ali Truwit: Yes. 796 00:41:23,310 --> 00:41:24,719 Becs Gentry: Oh, my gosh. Okay, great. 797 00:41:24,719 --> 00:41:24,779 Ali Truwit: Yeah. 798 00:41:24,779 --> 00:41:28,049 Becs Gentry: So, you have people right there as your support network. 799 00:41:28,050 --> 00:41:30,810 Becs Gentry: The minute those fears try and kick in, there's going 800 00:41:30,810 --> 00:41:33,660 Becs Gentry: to be 12 people to help talk you down and bring you 801 00:41:33,960 --> 00:41:35,580 Becs Gentry: back to enjoying the moment. 802 00:41:35,969 --> 00:41:35,970 Ali Truwit: Yes. 803 00:41:35,969 --> 00:41:39,570 Becs Gentry: Oh, the most amazing thing. Okay. So, we've heard that 804 00:41:39,570 --> 00:41:44,790 Becs Gentry: your family motto is work works. So, we're going to 805 00:41:44,790 --> 00:41:48,840 Becs Gentry: be hearing this, I'm sure, chanted along the streets of 806 00:41:48,840 --> 00:41:51,960 Becs Gentry: the five boroughs in a few weeks' time. But just 807 00:41:51,960 --> 00:41:54,960 Becs Gentry: talk to us about how you carry that phrase with 808 00:41:54,960 --> 00:41:56,910 Becs Gentry: you on the day- to- day and when you're training. 809 00:41:57,239 --> 00:42:00,719 Ali Truwit: Yeah. My family is a big mantra family and one 810 00:42:00,719 --> 00:42:02,880 Ali Truwit: of them is work works. I love it because it's 811 00:42:02,880 --> 00:42:05,820 Ali Truwit: so simple but it's true and makes sense. And so, 812 00:42:06,989 --> 00:42:09,090 Ali Truwit: my whole life, my mom has said to me and 813 00:42:09,090 --> 00:42:12,779 Ali Truwit: my three brothers, work works. It doesn't always work exactly 814 00:42:12,780 --> 00:42:15,120 Ali Truwit: on your timeline or exactly in the way that you 815 00:42:15,120 --> 00:42:18,630 Ali Truwit: hope it will but, sooner or later, it works. And 816 00:42:18,630 --> 00:42:21,480 Ali Truwit: so, take pride in the day- to- day work, have 817 00:42:21,480 --> 00:42:24,750 Ali Truwit: confidence in it and let it give you that confidence 818 00:42:24,750 --> 00:42:29,700 Ali Truwit: when those high- pressure performance moments come. And so, through 819 00:42:29,700 --> 00:42:31,650 Ali Truwit: the Paralympics, that was the case for me of really 820 00:42:31,650 --> 00:42:34,620 Ali Truwit: focusing on the process and the journey there and giving 821 00:42:34,620 --> 00:42:37,350 Ali Truwit: my all every day. And now with the marathon, it's 822 00:42:37,350 --> 00:42:40,350 Ali Truwit: been the same but really focusing on, through my running 823 00:42:40,350 --> 00:42:44,370 Ali Truwit: training, through my strength training, through physical therapy, through mental 824 00:42:44,370 --> 00:42:47,700 Ali Truwit: training, am I putting in the work day to day 825 00:42:47,700 --> 00:42:50,580 Ali Truwit: so that, come race day, I know the work works 826 00:42:50,580 --> 00:42:52,920 Ali Truwit: and that work is going to be there for me 827 00:42:52,920 --> 00:42:54,719 Ali Truwit: when I call on it and when I need it. 828 00:42:55,469 --> 00:42:59,430 Rob Simmelkjaer: Ali, your foundation sounds amazing. I would just love for 829 00:42:59,430 --> 00:43:01,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: folks out there listening to give them a little more 830 00:43:01,950 --> 00:43:04,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: about what you do, how you do it, how you 831 00:43:04,950 --> 00:43:09,360 Rob Simmelkjaer: go about helping people get prosthetics who need them. And 832 00:43:09,360 --> 00:43:11,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: I don't know if you have a story or someone 833 00:43:11,370 --> 00:43:14,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: you can talk about who's actually benefited from the work of what 834 00:43:14,160 --> 00:43:14,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: you guys do. 835 00:43:15,210 --> 00:43:19,589 Ali Truwit: Yeah, thank you. It has been such healing work for 836 00:43:19,590 --> 00:43:22,650 Ali Truwit: me to do the work of this non- profit. I 837 00:43:22,650 --> 00:43:25,230 Ali Truwit: think, for me, I realized early on in my recovery 838 00:43:25,590 --> 00:43:28,020 Ali Truwit: what a game changer it was to have the support 839 00:43:28,020 --> 00:43:31,320 Ali Truwit: that I had and I could not wait until I could 840 00:43:31,320 --> 00:43:34,500 Ali Truwit: pay it forward. And so, I founded my non- profit 841 00:43:34,500 --> 00:43:37,650 Ali Truwit: Stronger Than You Think, focused on I say the three 842 00:43:37,650 --> 00:43:40,230 Ali Truwit: pillars that saved my life and helped me rebuild it. 843 00:43:40,290 --> 00:43:44,940 Ali Truwit: So, water safety, the Paralympic movement and funding for prosthetics 844 00:43:44,940 --> 00:43:48,000 Ali Truwit: for young women and girls. And becoming an amputee, I 845 00:43:48,000 --> 00:43:51,120 Ali Truwit: was just shocked at how expensive prosthetics are, how little 846 00:43:51,120 --> 00:43:54,510 Ali Truwit: insurance covers relative to what's needed and I felt like 847 00:43:55,080 --> 00:43:57,509 Ali Truwit: life as an amputee was hard enough that we shouldn't 848 00:43:57,510 --> 00:44:00,750 Ali Truwit: also have to be concerned with how to afford part 849 00:44:00,750 --> 00:44:03,690 Ali Truwit: of our body that we need just to live. And 850 00:44:03,690 --> 00:44:05,790 Ali Truwit: it is our mobility, our quality of life, our ability 851 00:44:05,790 --> 00:44:08,580 Ali Truwit: to go reclaim our life joys and our careers and 852 00:44:08,580 --> 00:44:12,480 Ali Truwit: so I really wanted to do something about that and 853 00:44:12,510 --> 00:44:15,630 Ali Truwit: it has just been the most healing work. I think, 854 00:44:16,230 --> 00:44:18,930 Ali Truwit: whether you're a recipient or not, whether you fall under 855 00:44:18,930 --> 00:44:21,989 Ali Truwit: those three pillars or not, the message is for everyone 856 00:44:21,989 --> 00:44:24,300 Ali Truwit: that we're stronger than we think, that we have more 857 00:44:24,330 --> 00:44:26,819 Ali Truwit: in us than our minds tell us at times and, 858 00:44:26,820 --> 00:44:28,950 Ali Truwit: if we can open our minds to that, we will 859 00:44:28,950 --> 00:44:32,040 Ali Truwit: surprise ourselves. And so, that's been really great to be 860 00:44:32,040 --> 00:44:35,399 Ali Truwit: able to continue spreading that message. And then, specifically with 861 00:44:35,400 --> 00:44:37,500 Ali Truwit: the three pillars and the impact that we've had, it's 862 00:44:37,500 --> 00:44:40,620 Ali Truwit: just then, it really feels like a hug to my heart. We 863 00:44:40,620 --> 00:44:44,218 Ali Truwit: have so many incredible recipients. I think about our first 864 00:44:44,219 --> 00:44:47,880 Ali Truwit: prosthetic recipient as a seven- year- old Talia and she 865 00:44:47,880 --> 00:44:54,600 Ali Truwit: just is the most beautiful, joyful little girl and we 866 00:44:54,600 --> 00:44:57,060 Ali Truwit: were able to provide her with a high- functioning leg 867 00:44:57,060 --> 00:44:58,650 Ali Truwit: so that she can go play in the park and 868 00:44:58,650 --> 00:45:00,540 Ali Truwit: dance with her friends like a seven- year- old should 869 00:45:00,540 --> 00:45:02,340 Ali Truwit: and we were also able to give her a running 870 00:45:02,340 --> 00:45:05,250 Ali Truwit: blade. And her family sent us a video a few 871 00:45:05,250 --> 00:45:07,770 Ali Truwit: weeks ago of her getting to run the bases at 872 00:45:07,770 --> 00:45:10,140 Ali Truwit: the baseball game at summer camp with her friends. And 873 00:45:10,140 --> 00:45:15,600 Ali Truwit: you just think about those quintessential younger child experiences that 874 00:45:15,840 --> 00:45:18,540 Ali Truwit: now are made possible because she has the right tools 875 00:45:18,540 --> 00:45:20,279 Ali Truwit: to let her do them and to grow up and 876 00:45:20,280 --> 00:45:23,190 Ali Truwit: live this healthy and active lifestyle because we can get 877 00:45:23,190 --> 00:45:26,550 Ali Truwit: her in the right prosthetic. I think about Natalie, another 878 00:45:26,550 --> 00:45:29,460 Ali Truwit: example, this mother who lost her foot last year to 879 00:45:29,460 --> 00:45:33,750 Ali Truwit: cancer. Coming out of her amputation, was unable to do 880 00:45:33,780 --> 00:45:36,719 Ali Truwit: the stairs and she had 16 steps or whatever it 881 00:45:36,719 --> 00:45:39,030 Ali Truwit: was up to her front door to get home to 882 00:45:39,030 --> 00:45:41,460 Ali Truwit: her three children. So, she was living not at home, 883 00:45:41,850 --> 00:45:44,580 Ali Truwit: unable to go home to her three children. We got 884 00:45:44,580 --> 00:45:47,520 Ali Truwit: her to the prosthetist, in a high- quality, good- fitting 885 00:45:47,520 --> 00:45:50,670 Ali Truwit: prosthetic leg, she's now doing stairs, back with her three 886 00:45:50,670 --> 00:45:53,489 Ali Truwit: children and back at school as a school principal. So, 887 00:45:53,489 --> 00:45:57,300 Ali Truwit: it's just been amazing to be able to help in 888 00:45:57,300 --> 00:46:00,150 Ali Truwit: that way and pay forward that support and these are 889 00:46:00,150 --> 00:46:03,660 Ali Truwit: just incredible, incredible people who give you hope and motivation 890 00:46:03,660 --> 00:46:07,050 Ali Truwit: so it really is such a mutually beneficial thing. But 891 00:46:07,680 --> 00:46:11,670 Ali Truwit: we get a lot of applications for support and it's 892 00:46:11,820 --> 00:46:14,400 Ali Truwit: so motivating for me to do everything I can to 893 00:46:14,400 --> 00:46:17,250 Ali Truwit: fundraise. So, to be running the New York City Marathon, 894 00:46:17,250 --> 00:46:19,830 Ali Truwit: to be a part of Team Inspire, to be able 895 00:46:19,830 --> 00:46:24,270 Ali Truwit: to continue that fundraising effort, I have a big $ 100,000 896 00:46:24,270 --> 00:46:27,750 Ali Truwit: fundraising goal for the marathon so that we can help 897 00:46:27,750 --> 00:46:30,930 Ali Truwit: those girls and women get back to their mobility and the 898 00:46:30,930 --> 00:46:34,080 Ali Truwit: things they love in life and it's a really big 899 00:46:34,080 --> 00:46:36,239 Ali Truwit: motivator for me and my training and I'm sure on 900 00:46:36,239 --> 00:46:36,989 Ali Truwit: race day too. 901 00:46:37,320 --> 00:46:41,190 Becs Gentry: Yeah, absolutely. And just to hear these stories, it's like 902 00:46:41,190 --> 00:46:47,040 Becs Gentry: anything, it makes it real, it makes it understandable. Someone 903 00:46:47,040 --> 00:46:50,520 Becs Gentry: may look at you and think, oh, she's young, of 904 00:46:50,520 --> 00:46:52,560 Becs Gentry: course she can get back to it but then you 905 00:46:52,560 --> 00:46:56,730 Becs Gentry: tell the story of the mom who had three children 906 00:46:56,730 --> 00:46:58,890 Becs Gentry: who she was away from and her job, all of 907 00:46:58,890 --> 00:47:04,080 Becs Gentry: her heart's love was taken from her but, because of 908 00:47:04,080 --> 00:47:07,380 Becs Gentry: your foundation, she was able to go and reclaim her family, 909 00:47:07,380 --> 00:47:12,600 Becs Gentry: her passions and just lift her life up. So, tell 910 00:47:12,600 --> 00:47:17,730 Becs Gentry: us just quickly, what is one thing that you would 911 00:47:17,730 --> 00:47:21,960 Becs Gentry: say, people who don't have prosthetics, what would you like 912 00:47:21,960 --> 00:47:26,910 Becs Gentry: them to understand about living with prosthetics? Something that you 913 00:47:26,910 --> 00:47:30,360 Becs Gentry: think people who don't have a prosthetic may have no 914 00:47:30,360 --> 00:47:32,069 Becs Gentry: idea about? 915 00:47:32,940 --> 00:47:37,140 Ali Truwit: Yeah. I think there's probably so many things probably. That 916 00:47:37,140 --> 00:47:40,530 Ali Truwit: prosthetics are so expensive and that often insurance isn't covering 917 00:47:40,530 --> 00:47:44,280 Ali Truwit: what's needed. I would say that we need different prosthetics to do different 918 00:47:44,280 --> 00:47:47,400 Ali Truwit: things. I need a different prosthetic to run or to walk 919 00:47:48,210 --> 00:47:50,610 Ali Truwit: and I think it is a big reason that I 920 00:47:50,610 --> 00:47:52,890 Ali Truwit: founded Stronger Than You Think learning those things but a 921 00:47:52,890 --> 00:47:55,350 Ali Truwit: lot of people don't know and would be surprised to 922 00:47:55,350 --> 00:47:59,190 Ali Truwit: know how many different tools and how expensive it is 923 00:47:59,190 --> 00:48:04,290 Ali Truwit: to live a full and healthy life needing a prosthetic. 924 00:48:04,529 --> 00:48:06,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, absolutely. 925 00:48:06,870 --> 00:48:06,989 Becs Gentry: Yeah. 926 00:48:07,200 --> 00:48:11,820 Rob Simmelkjaer: Well, I always say, Ali, that there are 50, 000 some 927 00:48:11,820 --> 00:48:15,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: odd stories at the starting line of the TCS New 928 00:48:15,390 --> 00:48:19,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: York City Marathon every year and that thousands of them 929 00:48:19,110 --> 00:48:24,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: could be feature films and then probably 10 of them would 930 00:48:24,390 --> 00:48:28,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: win an Oscar and I think, Ali, you're on that 931 00:48:28,020 --> 00:48:32,219 Rob Simmelkjaer: list. You're on that Oscar list because it's an incredible 932 00:48:32,219 --> 00:48:35,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: thing. Do you have any goals? And I always ask 933 00:48:35,370 --> 00:48:39,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: people goals for the marathon. And you're a competitive person 934 00:48:39,450 --> 00:48:43,319 Rob Simmelkjaer: so I don't know if you're thinking about goals or ... 935 00:48:43,890 --> 00:48:46,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: For me, geez, just showing up at the starting line 936 00:48:46,950 --> 00:48:49,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: is an incredible accomplishment for you, I'm sure finishing is 937 00:48:49,890 --> 00:48:52,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: obviously a big one for you. But how are you thinking 938 00:48:52,620 --> 00:48:53,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: about the day? 939 00:48:54,150 --> 00:48:57,660 Ali Truwit: Yeah, I have a fundraising goal, that's how I'm thinking 940 00:48:57,660 --> 00:48:57,839 Ali Truwit: about it. 941 00:48:57,839 --> 00:48:58,171 Rob Simmelkjaer: That's the right goal to have. 942 00:48:58,171 --> 00:49:02,940 Ali Truwit: Yeah. And then I think I have the goal to show the world what people with 943 00:49:02,940 --> 00:49:08,760 Ali Truwit: disabilities can do and, hopefully, to show other amputees I 944 00:49:08,760 --> 00:49:11,010 Ali Truwit: was in that boat of being a young female amputee 945 00:49:11,010 --> 00:49:14,040 Ali Truwit: and wondering what I could do and feeling like I 946 00:49:14,040 --> 00:49:16,830 Ali Truwit: was sitting in those I can'ts. And so, I have the goal 947 00:49:16,830 --> 00:49:18,719 Ali Truwit: of how special would it be if I could be 948 00:49:18,719 --> 00:49:21,390 Ali Truwit: that for someone. I looked to so many other female 949 00:49:21,390 --> 00:49:24,060 Ali Truwit: athletes who were amputees and paralympians to give me that 950 00:49:24,060 --> 00:49:27,029 Ali Truwit: hope. And so, I hope that me crossing the finish 951 00:49:27,030 --> 00:49:30,989 Ali Truwit: line, which of course is the ultimate goal, gives them hope 952 00:49:30,989 --> 00:49:33,000 Ali Truwit: that they can do it too. I think it really 953 00:49:33,000 --> 00:49:34,680 Ali Truwit: is, if you can see it, you can be it 954 00:49:34,710 --> 00:49:38,190 Ali Truwit: and the representation matters. And I'm so grateful to you 955 00:49:38,190 --> 00:49:41,250 Ali Truwit: both because things like what we're doing today, this coverage 956 00:49:41,250 --> 00:49:45,390 Ali Truwit: matters. Getting that word out, getting that exposure really to 957 00:49:45,390 --> 00:49:48,000 Ali Truwit: give other people that hope, that's a big goal of mine. 958 00:49:48,000 --> 00:49:48,121 Becs Gentry: Thank you. 959 00:49:48,120 --> 00:49:52,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: All right, Ali, where does someone go to support your run? 960 00:49:52,170 --> 00:49:52,260 Becs Gentry: Yes. 961 00:49:53,070 --> 00:49:55,860 Ali Truwit: Oh, we have a RallyUp page which I can send 962 00:49:55,860 --> 00:50:00,299 Ali Truwit: you, it's in my Instagram bio and we also have strongerthanyouthink. 963 00:50:00,299 --> 00:50:01,049 Ali Truwit: org which is the- 964 00:50:01,110 --> 00:50:04,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: Fantastic. We will put that RallyUp page in the show 965 00:50:04,290 --> 00:50:07,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: notes of this podcast so anybody who wants to can 966 00:50:07,500 --> 00:50:11,820 Rob Simmelkjaer: support Ali Truwit and everyone listening should want to support Ali 967 00:50:11,850 --> 00:50:16,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: Truwit on this run and her amazing cause, her non- 968 00:50:16,650 --> 00:50:21,239 Rob Simmelkjaer: profit Stronger Than You Think. It's an incredibly inspiring story, 969 00:50:21,239 --> 00:50:24,810 Rob Simmelkjaer: Ali, you're an incredibly inspiring person and I can't wait 970 00:50:24,810 --> 00:50:27,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: to see you at the starting line and at the 971 00:50:27,300 --> 00:50:29,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: finish line of the TCS New York City Marathon. 972 00:50:30,030 --> 00:50:30,360 Ali Truwit: Yeah. 973 00:50:30,360 --> 00:50:33,090 Becs Gentry: Absolutely. Wish you the best of luck, Ali. Enjoy the 974 00:50:33,090 --> 00:50:35,910 Becs Gentry: day because people are going to be screaming for you 975 00:50:35,910 --> 00:50:39,210 Becs Gentry: all the way through all of the boroughs, for sure. 976 00:50:39,210 --> 00:50:42,930 Ali Truwit: Thank you. I'm excited for it. Thank you, guys. 977 00:50:42,989 --> 00:50:46,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: Good luck, Ali. Thanks for being with us. Peloton is 978 00:50:46,350 --> 00:50:49,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: levelling up. With the launch of their Peloton cross- training 979 00:50:49,680 --> 00:50:54,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: series, they're redefining what race training can look like. Personalized 980 00:50:54,180 --> 00:50:57,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: cardio and strength, it makes it easier than ever to 981 00:50:57,330 --> 00:51:01,049 Rob Simmelkjaer: achieve real results. Whether runners are building a base or 982 00:51:01,050 --> 00:51:04,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: pushing for a PR, Peloton meets them where they are 983 00:51:04,320 --> 00:51:08,940 Rob Simmelkjaer: then helps them go further. Smarter training, stronger outcomes all 984 00:51:08,940 --> 00:51:13,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: backed by expert instruction and performance insights. Ready to elevate 985 00:51:13,620 --> 00:51:18,239 Rob Simmelkjaer: your race game with Peloton? Head to onepeloton.com to learn 986 00:51:18,270 --> 00:51:23,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: more. Peloton, an official partner of the 2025 TCS New York City 987 00:51:23,730 --> 00:51:28,860 Rob Simmelkjaer: Marathon. Amina Garau joined New York Road Runners in 2018 988 00:51:28,860 --> 00:51:31,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: after moving to New York City from Sardinia with her 989 00:51:31,560 --> 00:51:35,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: husband and stepdaughter. Her first race, the Italy Run, sparked 990 00:51:35,460 --> 00:51:38,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: a love for racing and set them on a path 991 00:51:38,370 --> 00:51:42,360 Rob Simmelkjaer: that now includes eight marathons. Along with two close friends, 992 00:51:42,360 --> 00:51:46,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: Amina co- founded the New York World Runners Club, organizing 993 00:51:46,350 --> 00:51:50,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: runs and even course walkthrough webinars to prepare teammates for 994 00:51:50,370 --> 00:51:53,968 Rob Simmelkjaer: their first TCS New York City Marathon after COVID. Whether 995 00:51:53,969 --> 00:51:57,629 Rob Simmelkjaer: commuting from Queens to Central Park for small group runs 996 00:51:57,630 --> 00:52:00,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: or sharing her training plans with others, she's become a 997 00:52:00,900 --> 00:52:04,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: cornerstone for her club and a model of commitment to 998 00:52:04,530 --> 00:52:05,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: community racing. 999 00:52:06,330 --> 00:52:07,002 Meb Keflezighi: Ciao, Amina. (foreign language) ? 1000 00:52:13,680 --> 00:52:14,002 Amina Garau: Ciao, (foreign language) . 1001 00:52:14,002 --> 00:52:14,251 Meb Keflezighi: (foreign language) Set the Pace Podcast. 1002 00:52:14,250 --> 00:52:14,910 Amina Garau: Grazie. 1003 00:52:16,770 --> 00:52:19,080 Meb Keflezighi: Okay, pleasure to meet you. There goes my little Italian. 1004 00:52:19,890 --> 00:52:23,370 Meb Keflezighi: You have said that your first NYR race, the Italy 1005 00:52:23,400 --> 00:52:26,820 Meb Keflezighi: Run in 28 changed your life. What do you remember 1006 00:52:26,820 --> 00:52:27,960 Meb Keflezighi: most about that day? 1007 00:52:28,980 --> 00:52:33,060 Amina Garau: Well, I remember crossing the finish line and thinking when 1008 00:52:33,060 --> 00:52:36,930 Amina Garau: can I do this again. I was not new to 1009 00:52:36,930 --> 00:52:40,410 Amina Garau: running but that was my first race so I felt 1010 00:52:40,410 --> 00:52:44,850 Amina Garau: so alive. And, also, I remember meeting a lot of 1011 00:52:44,850 --> 00:52:48,510 Amina Garau: people and all the connections I made that day. I 1012 00:52:48,510 --> 00:52:51,420 Amina Garau: was new in New York and I have met many 1013 00:52:51,420 --> 00:52:55,440 Amina Garau: people but not so many people I could really connect and, 1014 00:52:55,440 --> 00:53:00,060 Amina Garau: on that day, I found my people. And I remember 1015 00:53:00,060 --> 00:53:04,710 Amina Garau: in particular one friend, my brand- new friend Valeria who 1016 00:53:04,770 --> 00:53:08,040 Amina Garau: told me about the nine plus one. So, I was 1017 00:53:08,040 --> 00:53:11,040 Amina Garau: locked and, yeah, the path to the marathon was set. 1018 00:53:11,550 --> 00:53:15,090 Meb Keflezighi: Wonderful. To be able to do it in Italy and to be able to be in New York and 1019 00:53:15,090 --> 00:53:20,310 Meb Keflezighi: making camaraderie in France is amazing. But you also have, with 1020 00:53:20,310 --> 00:53:24,239 Meb Keflezighi: Paola and Valeria, you co- founded the New York World 1021 00:53:24,540 --> 00:53:28,110 Meb Keflezighi: Runners. What inspired you to take that step from being 1022 00:53:28,110 --> 00:53:30,120 Meb Keflezighi: a runner to being a community builder? 1023 00:53:31,800 --> 00:53:36,120 Amina Garau: That was a natural process. Paola, Valeria and I run 1024 00:53:36,120 --> 00:53:40,770 Amina Garau: the New York City Marathon in 2019. We trained together, 1025 00:53:40,860 --> 00:53:44,790 Amina Garau: Paola shared many tips, it was her fifth marathon. And 1026 00:53:44,790 --> 00:53:47,730 Amina Garau: after many long runs and daily chats, what should we 1027 00:53:47,730 --> 00:53:51,300 Amina Garau: wear, what should we eat and after choosing the perfect 1028 00:53:51,630 --> 00:53:56,670 Amina Garau: matching outfit for race day, we became inseparable. And people 1029 00:53:56,670 --> 00:54:00,060 Amina Garau: were asking a lot of advice, how to set up 1030 00:54:00,060 --> 00:54:02,969 Amina Garau: the Garmin, how to join a New Yorker Road Runners race 1031 00:54:02,969 --> 00:54:07,110 Amina Garau: so why not doing what we had done with a team of three 1032 00:54:07,290 --> 00:54:10,560 Amina Garau: with more people. So, Paola came up with the idea 1033 00:54:10,560 --> 00:54:13,410 Amina Garau: to found a club and she didn't have to ask 1034 00:54:13,410 --> 00:54:16,620 Amina Garau: twice so the team of three became a team of 80. 1035 00:54:17,489 --> 00:54:21,810 Meb Keflezighi: Amazing, just incredible. I understand you helped lead group training 1036 00:54:21,810 --> 00:54:26,610 Meb Keflezighi: for the first NYC Marathon after COVID, even hosting a virtual 1037 00:54:26,610 --> 00:54:30,600 Meb Keflezighi: webinar to walk runners through the course. What did that 1038 00:54:30,600 --> 00:54:32,880 Meb Keflezighi: experience means to you and your teammates? 1039 00:54:34,590 --> 00:54:39,299 Amina Garau: Well, the team was born just before COVID and we managed to keep that 1040 00:54:39,300 --> 00:54:43,739 Amina Garau: connection alive during that time. So, we organized virtual races, 1041 00:54:43,739 --> 00:54:46,350 Amina Garau: we tried to cheer people up on social media, we 1042 00:54:46,350 --> 00:54:50,010 Amina Garau: recorded a team video for the New York Road Runners 1043 00:54:50,190 --> 00:54:57,870 Amina Garau: for Global Running Day. So, there were no races, we 1044 00:54:57,870 --> 00:55:00,569 Amina Garau: couldn't meet but somehow we were there as a team. 1045 00:55:00,570 --> 00:55:03,780 Amina Garau: And after COVID, everyone was so eager to run the 1046 00:55:03,780 --> 00:55:06,120 Amina Garau: marathon and we were so thrilled there were so many 1047 00:55:06,120 --> 00:55:11,460 Amina Garau: people who were running it. So, I think it was not just 1048 00:55:11,550 --> 00:55:16,380 Amina Garau: the wonderful training plans that Valeria crafted, she's the best, 1049 00:55:17,100 --> 00:55:21,060 Amina Garau: or the tips we could give, I think people love 1050 00:55:21,060 --> 00:55:24,570 Amina Garau: doing this as a team. And I'm sure that long 1051 00:55:24,570 --> 00:55:28,260 Amina Garau: runs with breakfast on a different bakery every week help 1052 00:55:28,260 --> 00:55:32,610 Amina Garau: bonding and I know that the webinar was the highlight, 1053 00:55:32,610 --> 00:55:35,940 Amina Garau: everyone loved it and people still ask about it but 1054 00:55:35,940 --> 00:55:40,140 Amina Garau: I think the team spirit was what was most meaningful 1055 00:55:40,230 --> 00:55:40,800 Amina Garau: for everyone. 1056 00:55:44,730 --> 00:55:48,000 Meb Keflezighi: Yeah, the camaraderie of people together and unity is important. So, you have run 1057 00:55:48,150 --> 00:55:51,509 Meb Keflezighi: eight marathons now. Looking back, which one taught you the 1058 00:55:51,510 --> 00:55:52,920 Meb Keflezighi: most about yourself? 1059 00:55:54,030 --> 00:55:58,200 Amina Garau: I think it was the London Marathon not because of 1060 00:55:58,200 --> 00:56:01,830 Amina Garau: the race itself, it was more before the race. I 1061 00:56:01,830 --> 00:56:06,270 Amina Garau: tried lottery, I looked for a charity, no one would 1062 00:56:06,270 --> 00:56:11,370 Amina Garau: accept me so my last option was a tour operator. 1063 00:56:11,969 --> 00:56:16,020 Amina Garau: And I was doubtful because it was a lot of 1064 00:56:16,020 --> 00:56:19,319 Amina Garau: money and I thought it's a lot of money, it's 1065 00:56:19,320 --> 00:56:23,400 Amina Garau: just a race. Then I remember one night I woke up 1066 00:56:23,400 --> 00:56:26,759 Amina Garau: and I realized it's not just a race, it's what I love 1067 00:56:26,760 --> 00:56:29,759 Amina Garau: doing, it's important, I want to do it. So, I 1068 00:56:29,760 --> 00:56:32,640 Amina Garau: learned to embrace this love for running as something for 1069 00:56:32,640 --> 00:56:36,630 Amina Garau: myself and, by the way, so I ended up going 1070 00:56:36,630 --> 00:56:39,420 Amina Garau: to London and more people from my team joined me 1071 00:56:39,420 --> 00:56:39,989 Amina Garau: in London. 1072 00:56:41,040 --> 00:56:45,840 Meb Keflezighi: Wow. Congratulations on that, that's amazing. But you do a lot of 1073 00:56:45,840 --> 00:56:48,840 Meb Keflezighi: great work, people describe you as someone who always show 1074 00:56:48,840 --> 00:56:52,410 Meb Keflezighi: up for others, even commuting from Queens to Central Park 1075 00:56:52,410 --> 00:56:55,650 Meb Keflezighi: just to run with one person. What keeps you motivated 1076 00:56:55,650 --> 00:56:56,401 Meb Keflezighi: to lead in that way? 1077 00:56:56,401 --> 00:57:03,690 Amina Garau: Oh, people are very kind. The idea that I can help people running makes me happy. So, 1078 00:57:06,060 --> 00:57:09,060 Amina Garau: if knowing that I will be waiting at Columbus Circle 1079 00:57:09,060 --> 00:57:13,170 Amina Garau: for them help them with their motivation, well, that's good, 1080 00:57:13,230 --> 00:57:17,580 Amina Garau: that's wonderful. It's simply a pleasure sharing this with others 1081 00:57:17,610 --> 00:57:23,490 Amina Garau: and it creates incredible connections. And France, I convinced to 1082 00:57:23,490 --> 00:57:26,640 Amina Garau: join us to travel to Berlin to run the marathon, I'm 1083 00:57:27,330 --> 00:57:30,420 Amina Garau: now asking to go to Valencia Marathon. So, this is 1084 00:57:30,420 --> 00:57:32,669 Amina Garau: contagious, it's not just me, it's everyone. 1085 00:57:32,970 --> 00:57:37,320 Meb Keflezighi: Pretty incredible from just Washington, Italy and to come to New York and now 1086 00:57:37,320 --> 00:57:40,410 Meb Keflezighi: to do around the world, the camaraderie and the friendship 1087 00:57:40,410 --> 00:57:43,590 Meb Keflezighi: that you are building and encouraging people to get the best out 1088 00:57:43,590 --> 00:57:45,840 Meb Keflezighi: of themselves. So, keep up the great work, thank you for being on the 1089 00:57:46,500 --> 00:57:47,580 Meb Keflezighi: Set the Pace Podcast. 1090 00:57:47,940 --> 00:57:50,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: Thank you for joining us, Amina, and thanks for being 1091 00:57:50,160 --> 00:57:52,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: a member of New York Road Runners. Now it's time 1092 00:57:52,890 --> 00:57:54,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: for today's Meb Minute. 1093 00:57:55,320 --> 00:57:58,620 Meb Keflezighi: Thanks, Rob. Welcome back to my mile by mile countdown 1094 00:57:58,620 --> 00:58:03,060 Meb Keflezighi: to the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon. This week, we are 1095 00:58:03,060 --> 00:58:10,440 Meb Keflezighi: counting down to mile 22 to 23 back in Manhattan. Well, back in Manhattan means more 1096 00:58:10,440 --> 00:58:15,390 Meb Keflezighi: people, mile 22 of Madison Avenue Bridge back to Manhattan. 1097 00:58:16,050 --> 00:58:20,280 Meb Keflezighi: This is up and over Madison Avenue Bridge and I 1098 00:58:20,280 --> 00:58:24,840 Meb Keflezighi: have amazing stories, people watching in different segments of the TCS 1099 00:58:24,840 --> 00:58:26,820 Meb Keflezighi: New York City Marathon and I had my good friend 1100 00:58:26,820 --> 00:58:29,640 Meb Keflezighi: Johnny D meet me and this one here on mile 1101 00:58:29,700 --> 00:58:32,910 Meb Keflezighi: 22, 23 and say, " Meb, you got this, you got 1102 00:58:32,910 --> 00:58:35,940 Meb Keflezighi: this." So, people will be making, taking the subway, meeting 1103 00:58:35,940 --> 00:58:39,630 Meb Keflezighi: in different directions of the course and this is where 1104 00:58:39,870 --> 00:58:42,600 Meb Keflezighi: you let them know, hey, I'm doing it for you, 1105 00:58:42,750 --> 00:58:46,260 Meb Keflezighi: I hear you, I understand you but be focused and 1106 00:58:46,890 --> 00:58:50,730 Meb Keflezighi: four months to go is a good way to evaluate, visualize 1107 00:58:50,730 --> 00:58:54,600 Meb Keflezighi: yourself more. In your hometown, I've got four miles to go, 1108 00:58:55,470 --> 00:58:57,690 Meb Keflezighi: you've done it a hundred times, now you are in 1109 00:58:57,690 --> 00:59:01,620 Meb Keflezighi: Madison Avenue back in Manhattan saying, " Hey, I could do 1110 00:59:01,620 --> 00:59:04,710 Meb Keflezighi: this," and you are able to just make the move 1111 00:59:04,740 --> 00:59:08,310 Meb Keflezighi: when it counts. And mile 23, Harlem and Fifth Avenue, 1112 00:59:08,760 --> 00:59:12,450 Meb Keflezighi: round south of Harlem into Fifth Avenue, this is a little bit flat 1113 00:59:12,450 --> 00:59:17,670 Meb Keflezighi: hills, 25 feet or so, the iconic New York skyline 1114 00:59:17,670 --> 00:59:21,390 Meb Keflezighi: views on emerge. This is what you say, " I cannot be 1115 00:59:21,390 --> 00:59:25,770 Meb Keflezighi: anywhere else but New York." Keep it strong form, chin 1116 00:59:25,950 --> 00:59:28,980 Meb Keflezighi: upright, you don't want to be able to just ... Mechanic 1117 00:59:28,980 --> 00:59:31,590 Meb Keflezighi: sound is going to be important to just say, " Hey, 1118 00:59:31,890 --> 00:59:34,500 Meb Keflezighi: I am here running the TCS New York City Marathon. I got 1119 00:59:35,100 --> 00:59:37,229 Meb Keflezighi: 5K to go, I'm almost home." 1120 00:59:37,860 --> 00:59:40,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: And that does it for another episode of Set the 1121 00:59:40,380 --> 00:59:43,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: Pace. We want to thank our guest today, Ali Truwit and 1122 00:59:43,920 --> 00:59:47,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: Amina Garau. If you didn't like this episode, you're not 1123 00:59:47,280 --> 00:59:49,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: going to like an episode of Set the Pace. So, 1124 00:59:49,020 --> 00:59:52,590 Rob Simmelkjaer: if you did like it, please subscribe, rate it, leave 1125 00:59:52,590 --> 00:59:55,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: a comment for the show wherever you listen so others 1126 00:59:55,410 --> 00:59:58,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: can find us as well. Enjoy the miles, good luck 1127 00:59:58,320 --> 01:00:01,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: to everybody running Chicago this weekend. If you see me 1128 01:00:01,500 --> 01:00:04,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: out there, please say hello and I will see you 1129 01:00:04,620 --> 01:00:06,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: next week. Enjoy the miles.