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Rob Simmelkjaer: New  York  Roadrunners  is  a  nonprofit  organization  with  a  vision 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: to  build  healthier  lives  and  stronger  communities  through  the  transformative 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: power  of  running.  The  support  of  members  and  donors  like 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: you  helps  us  achieve  our  mission  to  transform  the  health 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: and  wellbeing  of  our  communities  through  inclusive  and  accessible  running 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: experiences,  empowering  all  to  achieve  their  potential.  Learn  more  and 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: contribute  at  nyrr. org/ donate.

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Speaker 2: Thank  you,  New  York.  Today  we're  reminded  of  the  power 

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Speaker 2: of  community  and  the  power  of  coming  together.  Athletes,  on 

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Speaker 2: your  mark.

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Speaker 3: The  first  woman  to  finish  for  the  second  straight  year 

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Speaker 3: here  in  the  New  York City Marathon  is  Mickey  Gorman,  a  smiling 

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Speaker 3: Mickey  Gorman  and  why  not?  229.30 the time  for  (inaudible) .

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Speaker 4: Look  at  the  emotion  of  Shalane  Flanagan  as  she  comes 

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Speaker 4: to  the  line,  pointing  to  his  chest,  pointing  to  the 

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Speaker 4: USA. He's  so  proudly  wears  across  his  chest.  A  great  day 

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Speaker 4: for  Matt  (inaudible) .

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Rob Simmelkjaer: Hey  everybody  and  welcome  to  Set  the  Pace,  the  official 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: podcast  of  New  York  Road  Runners.  We  are  presented  by 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: Peloton.  I'm  Rob  Simmelkjaer,  your  host  and  the  CEO  of 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: New  York  Road  Runners  and  with  me  from  Peloton,  my  co-

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Rob Simmelkjaer: host,  Becs  Gentry.  Becs,  it  is  great  to  see  you. 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: Are  you  enjoying  the  Olympics?  We're  talking  here  in  week 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: one  of  the  Olympics  and  I've  been  watching  the  beautiful 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: opening  ceremony  and  the  competition.  Have  you  been  watching  much?

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Becs Gentry: I have  been  glued  to  it,  absolutely  glued.  The  opening  ceremony 

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Becs Gentry: was  magical.  Something  about  the  rain  in  Paris  made  it 

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Becs Gentry: even  more  romantic.  I  think  just  Celine  Dion  wowed  me, 

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Becs Gentry: floored  me,  made  me  cry.  I  think  it  was  the 

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Becs Gentry: oldest  Olympian  or  the  oldest  French  Olympian,  one  of  the 

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Becs Gentry: last  torch- bearers  before  it  got  lit.  Oh  my  goodness. 

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Becs Gentry: I  was  gone.  I  was  a  complete  mess.  It  just 

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Becs Gentry: feels  like  it's  been  a  celebration.  I  think  there's  always 

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Becs Gentry: going  to  be  things  that  are  mishaps  that  happen  in 

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Becs Gentry: a  big  city  when  thousands  more  tourists  than  normal,  as 

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Becs Gentry: well  as  athletes  are  welcomed  in.  But  I  think we are  all 

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Becs Gentry: doing  a  very  good  job  of  looking  past  that  and 

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Becs Gentry: seeing  the  beauty,  the  inclusion  and  the  joy  that  this 

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Becs Gentry: is  bringing.  Because  I  think  we  forget  quite  quickly  that 

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Becs Gentry: Tokyo  was  expectator- less.  Is  that  the  right  word?  Is that a word? I made  that up.

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Rob Simmelkjaer: It  is  now.  Yeah.

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Becs Gentry: It  is  now. I  just  remember  seeing  those  cardboard  cutouts  or 

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Becs Gentry: maybe  even  avatar  sort  of  things  in  the  stands  and 

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Becs Gentry: just  hearing  the  crowds.  Either  the  silence  or  the  roar 

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Becs Gentry: is,  oh,  it  just  sends  tingles.  I  love  it.

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Rob Simmelkjaer: I  agree.  It  does  feel  like  we  haven't  seen  this 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: for  a  while.  Because  we  haven't  seen  this  for  a 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: while,  a  summer  games  with  crowds  with  the  energy  that 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: you  get  from  that.  It's  been  since  Rio  2016,  so 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: it's  been  a  long  time.  It's  been  beautiful  to  watch. 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: I  agree,  Becs  the  opening  ceremony  was  just  so  French. 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: It  was  so  Parisian.  I'm  someone  who  loves  Paris.  I'm 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: so  excited  to  be  going  over  there.  You  and  I 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: will  both  be  making  our  way  across  the  pond  to 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: Paris  next  week.
 I  couldn't  be  more  excited  to  see 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: how  I  think  it's  going,  which  is  not  flawless,  it 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: never  is,  but  it's  going  really  well  so  far.  I'm 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: really  excited  of  course  for  week  two  when  the  athletics 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: gets  underway  and  we  start  to  see  action  on  the 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: track  at  Stade  de  France.  But  the  first  week's  been 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: great  too.  My  favorite  story  I  think  so  far  has 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: been  the  US  men's  gymnastics  team.  We  don't  talk  about 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: men's  gymnastics  that  much.  But  to  see  them  break  through 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: and  get  a  bronze  medal.
 First  time  the  US  has 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: medaled  in  gymnastics  since  2008.  My  favorite  Becs,  if  you 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: watched  it,  the  young  man,  Stephen  Nedoroscik,  he is  a  pommel 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: horse  specialist.  All  he  does  is  the  pommel  horse  and it 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: just  so  happened  that  in  the  finals,  the  US  drew 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: the  spot  where  pommel  horse  was  literally  the  last  rotation. 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: This  guy  had  to  sit  and  watch  all  of  his 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: teammates  compete  for  the  entire  meet,  and  he  goes  last 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: in  pommel  horse.  The  first  time  he  gets  out  there 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: is  the  very  last  routine  of  the  entire  competition  and 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: it's  all  on  his  shoulders.
 The  whole  thing. Are they  going  to 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: get  a  medal  or  not?  It's  all  on  him.  He 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: takes  off  his  glasses,  which  he  has  to  wear  all 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: the  time  because  of  a  sight  issue  he  has.  Does 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: the  pommel  horse  without  the  glasses  because  he  can  feel 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: the  whole  thing  and  he  nails  it.  Gets  a  bronze 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: medal  for  the  US.  It  was  such  a  great  moment 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: and  it's  the  kind  of  thing  that  makes  the  Olympics 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: so  special,  Becs.  I  know  there'll  be  so  many  more 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: moments  like  that  over  the next week and a half.

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Becs Gentry: I  will  tell  you  my  in- law  family  group  chat, 

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Becs Gentry: I  was  in  meetings  yesterday  whilst  the  men's  gymnastics  was 

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Becs Gentry: going  on  and  I  looked  down  and  I  had  a 

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Becs Gentry: hundred  plus  text  messages.  They're  a  gymnastics  family  and  I'm 

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Becs Gentry: glad  that  my  partner,  I  was  like, just stop.  I  need  to 

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Becs Gentry: work  right  now.  But  it  was  amazing.  My  favorite  was 

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Becs Gentry: Frederick  from  the  team.  His  floor  routine  and  his  composure 

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Becs Gentry: threw  my  world  because  he  was  suffering  a  minor  Achilles 

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Becs Gentry: soreness.
 I  think  he  said,  bless  him. I was like, you're  in  agony.  He, 

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Becs Gentry: oh  my  gosh,  his  floor  routine  was  just  unreal.  But 

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Becs Gentry: I  got  to  say  I  am  trending  because  I'm  Gen 

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Becs Gentry: Z  apparently.  But  I  love  the  fencing  in  the  Grand 

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Becs Gentry: Palais.  Oh  my  gosh.  I  was  just  watching,  I  think 

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Becs Gentry: it  was  Poland  versus  USA  women's  fencing.  It  was  like 

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Becs Gentry: chest  pounding  fun.  The  two  women  were  like,  rah,  and 

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Becs Gentry: oh  my god, I  think  it  was  Holmes  from  the  USA  and 

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Becs Gentry: she  just  went  flying  off.  I  don't  know  what  it's 

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Becs Gentry: called  because  I  don't  know  that  much  about  fencing.  But 

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Becs Gentry: the  strip  that  they  duel  on,  she  just  went  off 

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Becs Gentry: because  there  was  so  much  passion  and  power  behind  her. 

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Becs Gentry: Oh  yeah,  we  all  love  it.  But  that  setting  is 

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Becs Gentry: just  something  out  of  a  fairytale.

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Rob Simmelkjaer: Paris  has  so  many  amazing  settings.  I  can't  wait  to 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: go  over.  I'm  going  to  watch  beach  volleyball  right  in 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: the  shadow  of  the  Eiffel  Tower.  Then  of  course  the 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: Marathon  Becs,  which  you'll  be  broadcasting,  I'll  be  there  as 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: well.  That  finishes  at  a  beautiful  spot  in  Paris,  the 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: Hotel  (foreign language) .  It's  just  a  beautiful,  beautiful  city.  Of 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: course,  it's  a  beautiful  games.  Hope  everyone  out  there  is 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: enjoying  watching  it  as  much  as  we  are.
 It's  getting 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: me  excited  of  course  for  more  running  here  in  New 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: York.  By  the  way,  speaking  of  the  Olympics,  we've  got 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: an  Olympic  couple  who  is  beyond  compare  joining  us  here 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: on  Set  the  Pace.  A  Paralympic  sports  duo  that  you 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: just  can't  believe  it's  real.  Oksana  Masters  and  Aaron  Pike. 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: They  are  both  winter  and  summer  Paralympians.  They're  both  headed 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: to  Paris  to  compete.  Both  powerhouses  in  their  sports  and 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: a  great  love  story  as  well.
 I  can't  wait  to 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: have  them  join  us.  Oksana  and  Aaron  just  around  the 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: bend  here  on  Set  the  Pace,  so  stay  tuned  for 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: that.  Such  a  fun  conversation  with  them.  Becs,  of  course, 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: we're  getting  there.  We're  now  inside  of  100  days  of the 2024 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: TCS  New  York  City  Marathon.  I  can  tell  you  the 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: anticipation  here  at  Roadrunners  is  building.  We're  starting  to  really 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: get  focused  and  ready  for  our  big  day  here  as 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: so  many  of  you  are  now  starting  to  get  your 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: training  going  as  well.
 I  love  it  when  folks  come 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: up  to  me  and  ask  questions  about  the  podcast.  Maybe 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: they've  got  questions  for you  Becs  or  Meb  about  training.  Or 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: a  question  for  me  about  organizing  the  event.  You  can 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: ask  those  questions  right  on  the  Apple  Podcast  app.  Go 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: ahead  and  check  it  out.  Leave  us  a  question  there 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: as  a  review.  We'd  love  to  answer  your  question  as 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: we  go  further  on  here,  Becs.  Then  of  course  Meb's 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: always  happy  to  answer  questions  about  training  as  well.
 There's 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: no  one  better  to  ask  than  the  great  Meb  Keflezighi 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: when  it  comes  to  getting  ready  for  your  marathon.  Another 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: thing,  of  course,  on the  running  front,  Becs,  we  had  just 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: this  past  weekend,  the 2024  NYRR  team  championship  five  mile  race. 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: This  is  a  big  race  for  all of  our  club  runners, 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: Becs,  a  great  tradition.  The  capstone  to  our  club  point 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: series.  This  dates  back  to  the 1980s and  Becs,  the  winners  were 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: some  legends  we've  had  here  on  Set the Pace  on  the  female 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: side  especially.

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Becs Gentry: Yeah,  I  was  watching  through  Instagram  and  I  was  absolutely 

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Becs Gentry: in  awe  of  Roberta's  finish.  Roberta  Groner,  oh  my  gosh. 

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Becs Gentry: She  runs  for  Central  Park  Track  Club- Tracksmith.  Top  woman 

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Becs Gentry: finisher  with  the  time of 26: 51.  What  performance.  Again,  the  weather 

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Becs Gentry: has  been  not  friendly  to  running  still.  Still,  yes,  this 

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Becs Gentry: is  what,  the  fourth  or  fifth  week  we've  been  saying 

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Becs Gentry: this  now  Rob?  But  it  was  a  incredible  performance  as 

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Becs Gentry: well.  Brooklyn  Track  Club  came  in  with  Sophia  Farrell  on 

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Becs Gentry: the  top,  non- binary  finisher  with the 26th,  27.  Unreal  for  them. 

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Becs Gentry: Congratulations.  We've  got  many  more  as  well.  We've got a long list of amazing.

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Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah,  we  got  a  new  name  actually  for  the  show. 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: On  the  men's  side,  it  was  Liam  Dee  running  for 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: a  Brooklyn  Track  Club.  Congratulations  to  Liam,  the  top  finisher 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: in  the  men's  division.  A  time  of  23:36.

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Becs Gentry: Congrats Liam.

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Rob Simmelkjaer: Awesome  race  for  Liam  and  Brooklyn  Track  Club.  Sure,  they're 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: super  proud  of  Liam.  Then  another  shout  out.  We've  had 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: a  member  named  Lynn  Blackstone  on  the  show.  Lynn  was 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: the  oldest  finisher  this  weekend.  Coming  in  with  a  time 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: of  one  hour,  three  minutes  and  14  seconds  running  for 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: Central  Park  Track  Club- Tracksmith.  A  club  her  husband  David 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: Blackstone,  founded  in  1972.  Of  course  we  had  Lynn  on 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: earlier  as  one  of  the  six  who  sat  in  an 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: episode  of  Set  the  Pace.
 She  just  keeps  on  doing 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: what  she  does.  Congratulations  to  her  and  everybody  at  Central 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: Park  Track  Club- Tracksmith.  By  the  way,  Becs  just  one 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: somber  note.  I  did  want  to  just  give  a  little 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: bit  of  a  recognition  to  Central  Park  Track  Club.  They 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: had  a  real  tragedy  on  that  team.  A  young  woman, 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: a  mother  by  the  name  of  Marissa  Galloway.  She  just 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: lost  her  life  in  the  most  tragic  circumstances  last  week 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: in  New  York  City.  Those  of  you  in  the  New 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: York  area  may  be  familiar  with  what  happened.
 We  recognized 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: them  and  the  difficult  time  that  they're  going  through. I  just 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: wanted  to  recognize  Marissa,  her  family  and  everybody  at  Central 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: Park  Track  Club  for  their  loss  and  offer  our  condolences 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: here  at  New  York  Roadrunners.  A  real  tragedy  for  them. 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: But  hopefully  they  had  a  good  day  together  to  be 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: together  on  Sunday  as  they  came  together  with  all  the 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: other  clubs  that  day  at  our  team  championships.  They  had 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: a  great  day  on  the  running  side  of  things  as 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: they  were  on  the  podium  in  the  open  division.  They 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: led  things  off  with  Brooklyn  Track  Club,  the  dashing  Whippets 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: and  West  Side  Runners  and  also  Front  Runners  New  York 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: for  winning  their  third  consecutive  non- binary  category  championship  as 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: well.  Congrats  to  all of  them.  Best  of  luck  to  all 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: our  clubs  for  the  2024  Club  Point  series.

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Becs Gentry: Looking  to  up  your  running  game  this  summer?  Go  check 

196
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Becs Gentry: out  the  Peloton  Tread  Plus.  Its  rubberized  shock  absorbing  slap 

197
00:12:18,059 --> 00:12:21,270
Becs Gentry: belt  allows  you  to  run,  walk,  and  train  comfortably  with 

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Becs Gentry: a  lower  impact  step.  Plus  you  get  access  to  world-

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Becs Gentry: class  instructors  guiding  you  through  every  step.  Why  wait?  Embrace 

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Becs Gentry: the  journey  and  feel  Peloton  Tread  Plus  help  you  advance 

201
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Becs Gentry: towards  your  goals  and  continue  growing  stronger  each  day.  All 

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Becs Gentry: access  membership  separate.  Shop  the  Peloton  Tread  Plus  at  onepeloton. com/

203
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Becs Gentry: running.  Peloton,  the  official  digital  fitness  partner  for  New  York  Roadrunners.

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Rob Simmelkjaer: Before  we  get  to  Oksana  Masters  and  Aaron  Pike,  I 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: want  to  mention  that  our  member  moment  today  is  really 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: a  special  one  from  me.  Dr.  Arnold  Weg  actually  personally 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: reached  out  to  me  after  we  met  at  a  race 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: to  talk  about  how  running  has  changed  his  life.  Perhaps 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: even  saved  his  life,  and  to  talk  about  how  New 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: York  Roadrunners  has  played  such  a  big  part  in  his 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: personal  transformation.  Dr.  Weg  is  a  big  believer  in  the 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: power  of  running  to  help  us  age  more  gracefully.
 He 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: knows  because  he's  a  doctor  along  with  his  son.  Looking 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: forward  to  hearing  from  Dr.  Arnold  Weg.  He  will  join Meb. 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: Meb  will  be  of  course  back  later  in  the  show 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: to  talk  about  his  Meb  minute.  That'll  be  a  focus 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: on  what  you  should  be  thinking  about  14  weeks  before 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: the  TCS  New  York  City  Marathon.  Stay  tuned  for  Meb's 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: little  nugget  of  wisdom.  Well  it  is  not  every  day 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: that  we  get  to  have  not  one  but  two  Paralympians 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: with  us  here  on  Set  the  Pace.
 Not  only  are 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: they  remarkable  athletes,  but  they  are  also  a  couple.  We're 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: happy  to  have  Oksana  Masters  and  Aaron  Pike  joining  us 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: here  on  the  show.  They're  both  incredible.  Oksana  born  in 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: Ukraine,  adopted  by  an  American  mother.  She  has  become  the 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: most  decorated  US  winter  para- Olympian  of  all  time.  17 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: Paralympic  medals  across  four  winter  and  summer  sports,  rowing,  cycling, 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: cross  country  skiing  and  biathlon.  With  her  today,  her  fiance 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: Aaron  Pike,  an  incredible  force  in  the  world  of  Paralympic 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: sports.
 Aaron  has  competed  in  10  TCS  New  York  City 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: marathons,  placing  fourth  in  both  2018  and 2019.  Like  Oksana,  he's 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: about  to  compete  in  his  seventh  Paralympic  games,  excelling  in 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: both  summer  and  winter  disciplines.  Geez.  Can  you  guys  be 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: any  more  unbelievable,  both  individually  and  as  a  couple?  I 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: could  not  even  come  to  dinner  at  your  house  without 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: being  ashamed.  Welcome  to  the  show.

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Aaron Pike: Thank  you.  Thanks  for  having  us.  This is going  to  be  fun.

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Oksana Masters: Yeah,  thank  you. Excited.

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Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah,  I'm  always  so  curious  when  couples  with  your  level 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: of  accomplishment  are  together,  what that's like.  Before  we  get  into  each 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: of  your  stories,  is  it  competitive?  Do  you  guys  give 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: each  other  the  business  about  who  did  better  at  what? 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: Are  you  pushing  each  other?  Are  you  training  together?  What 

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Rob Simmelkjaer: is  that  vibe  in  that  house?

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Aaron Pike: Yeah,  she's  competitive  in  everything.  It  doesn't  matter.

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Oksana Masters: Not  really.

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Aaron Pike: We  both,  so  there's  one,  I'll  make  it  really  short. 

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Aaron Pike: But  we  played  risk  one  time  and  we're  never  going 

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Aaron Pike: to  play  risk  again.  That  got  really  competitive to  the  point 

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Aaron Pike: where  I'm  like,  I  don't  know  if  we  should  ever 

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Aaron Pike: play  that again. The game of full domination.

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Oksana Masters: I  might've  been  so  passionate  in  playing  that  game  that 

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Oksana Masters: I  threw  the  board  accidentally.

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Aaron Pike: It  was  like  a  full  on,  I  don't  know  if 

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Aaron Pike: you'd  seen  that  episode  of  Seinfeld,  but it was  a  full  on 

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Aaron Pike: Seinfeld  situation.

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Oksana Masters: Yep.  I know.

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Aaron Pike: It was great.

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Oksana Masters: I know it and I love it.

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Aaron Pike: Competitive?  Definitely,  yeah.  Anytime  there's  something  where  it's,  whether  it's 

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Aaron Pike: outside  on  the  road  or-

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Oksana Masters: Making eggs.

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Aaron Pike: Or making  a  perfect  fried  egg  or  over  there  on  the 

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Aaron Pike: espresso  machine  pulling  a  coffee  shot.  She's  more  competitive  than I think 

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Aaron Pike: most  people  know.

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Oksana Masters: I  just  want  to  one  up  you one best.

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Aaron Pike: I  thought  I  was  competitive,  but  god,  I'm  not  compared 

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Aaron Pike: to  her.

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Becs Gentry: I  love  that.  There's  somewhat  of  a  balance  though.  When 

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Becs Gentry: you  find  your  person,  we'll  go  into  how  long  that 

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Becs Gentry: took  you  to  cement  that  Aaron.  We're  going  to  get  that.

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Oksana Masters: Yes, thank you.

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Becs Gentry: But  finding  your  person  when  it's  that  competitiveness,  the  love. 

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Becs Gentry: I  can  only  imagine  when  you  have  your  bad  days, 

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Becs Gentry: let's  call  them  the  days  where  you're  just  like,  I'm 

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Becs Gentry: tired.  I  don't  feel  like  doing  it.  We  all  have 

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Becs Gentry: them.  But  to  have  somebody  else  who  understands  the  pressures 

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Becs Gentry: of  your  sports.  Just  highlight  that  there's  more  than  one 

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Becs Gentry: here in  this  household.  Just  to  understand  the  pressure,  but  to 

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Becs Gentry: be  able  to  be  there  and  give  you  that  motivation 

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Becs Gentry: and  love  at  the  same  time  must  be  really  wonderful.

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Oksana Masters: It  is.  It's  special.  Especially  for  me  personally  I've  been 

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Oksana Masters: having,  I  feel  like  this  week,  but  this  week  has 

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Oksana Masters: somehow  felt  like  a  month  of  just  bad  days  where 

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Oksana Masters: I'm  just  not  feeling,  struggling  to  hit  my  numbers  and 

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Oksana Masters: stuff.  He's  always  reminding  me  of  how  strong  I  really 

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Oksana Masters: am  and  how  much  I'm  able  to  dig  deep  and 

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Oksana Masters: understands  that  it's  just  one  day  or  this  one  week. 

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Oksana Masters: It  is  not where  you're  going  to  be  when  you're  at 

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Oksana Masters: that  race  comes.  Always  supporting.
 That is  so  nice  to  have. 

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Oksana Masters: That's  not  your  mom  or  your  family.  But  your  partner 

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Oksana Masters: too  and  is  living  with  you  and  understands  it  and 

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Oksana Masters: vice  versa.  I  literally  want  to  wear  the  next  time 

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Oksana Masters: he's  racing  in  the  marathon  and  track,  I'm  going  to 

295
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Oksana Masters: wear  a  heart  rate  monitor.  Because  my  heart  rate  peaks 

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Oksana Masters: watching  him  race.  I  just  want  him  because  he  see 

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Oksana Masters: all of  the  good  days,  the  bad  days  and  everything.  I 

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Oksana Masters: know  what  he's  doing  and  how  hard  he's  worked  for 

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Oksana Masters: behind  closed  doors  no  one  else  gets  to  see.  It's 

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Oksana Masters: just  that  support  level.  It's  really  incredible  to  have.

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Aaron Pike: Yeah, I think  it's  even  just  the  lifestyle.  Every  single  morning  we're 

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Aaron Pike: on  the  same  schedule.  We  know  what  one  another's  like.

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Oksana Masters: Except  his  track  training  starts  at  5: 30  in  the 

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Oksana Masters: morning,  so  I'm  always  (inaudible) .

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Aaron Pike: Yeah.

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Oksana Masters: That's  the  only  downside.

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Aaron Pike: They  almost  match  up.  But  I  go  a  little  bit 

308
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Aaron Pike: earlier,  so  give  her  a  little  bit  of  an  early  wake-

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Aaron Pike: up  call.  I'm  on  my  second  cup  of  coffee  and 

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Aaron Pike: I'm  making  hers  because  she  usually  comes  around  the  second 

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Aaron Pike: cup  of  coffee  mark,  rolls  out of bed. But  just  living  the  same 

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Aaron Pike: lifestyle,  knowing  and  respecting.  I  think  if  you  weren't  in 

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Aaron Pike: that,  you'd  be  doing  your  best  to  respect  what  they're 

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Aaron Pike: doing.  But  ours  is  like  you  know  exactly  what  they're 

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Aaron Pike: doing  because you're doing  the  same  thing  all  the  time.  Then  in 

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Aaron Pike: the  winter  even  more  so.  We  are  literally  doing  it. 

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Aaron Pike: We  are  waking  up  the  same  time,  eating,  going  off 

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Aaron Pike: the  training  at  exact  same  time,  going to  the  gym  to 

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Aaron Pike: lift  the  same  time.  Everything's  pretty  in  sync.  We're  together 

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Aaron Pike: from  morning  until we go to bed at night.

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Oksana Masters: Which is nice in the winter. But I will admit in the summer, I think we both agree, because  we  do  our  two  different  sports,  we see each  other  not 

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Oksana Masters: often  actually  in  the  summer  because  it  takes  us  away. 

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Oksana Masters: It  is  a  good  healthy  balance  too  for  when  that 

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Oksana Masters: competitiveness  comes  when  you're  trying  to  make  that  perfect  fried 

325
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Oksana Masters: egg  better  than  him  or  whatever.

326
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Aaron Pike: Whatever  it  is,  yeah.

327
00:19:24,060 --> 00:19:26,460
Rob Simmelkjaer: Sometimes  a  little  space  is  not  the  worst  thing  for 

328
00:19:26,460 --> 00:19:27,990
Rob Simmelkjaer: a  relationship.  I  totally  get  it.

329
00:19:27,990 --> 00:19:27,991
Aaron Pike: Yeah.

330
00:19:27,991 --> 00:19:28,051
Oksana Masters: Absolutely.

331
00:19:29,250 --> 00:19:31,948
Aaron Pike: Oksana,  I  want  to  just  start  with  a  little  bit 

332
00:19:31,950 --> 00:19:35,790
Aaron Pike: of  your  story.  For  those  who  don't  know  you,  you 

333
00:19:35,820 --> 00:19:40,890
Aaron Pike: were  born  in  Ukraine  as  we've  discussed  and  were  in 

334
00:19:41,400 --> 00:19:44,070
Aaron Pike: an  orphanage  early  in  your  life.  Can  you  talk  about 

335
00:19:44,460 --> 00:19:48,658
Aaron Pike: your  journey  from  Ukraine  to  the  United  States?  How  you 

336
00:19:48,690 --> 00:19:51,448
Aaron Pike: found  your  way  to  this  place,  both  in  terms  of 

337
00:19:51,450 --> 00:19:55,530
Aaron Pike: geography  but  also  in  terms  of  your  disability  and  how 

338
00:19:55,530 --> 00:19:57,270
Aaron Pike: you  found  your  way  to  Paralympic  sports?

339
00:19:58,109 --> 00:20:01,109
Oksana Masters: Yeah.  Well  the  way  geography,  I  didn't  find  my  way 

340
00:20:01,109 --> 00:20:04,198
Oksana Masters: here,  it  was  my  mom  who  adopted  me  as  a 

341
00:20:04,199 --> 00:20:11,460
Oksana Masters: single  parent. I'll  start  back  from  where  I  was  originally  born. 

342
00:20:11,640 --> 00:20:15,240
Oksana Masters: It  was  when  I  came  to  America,  doctors  took  x-

343
00:20:15,240 --> 00:20:17,130
Oksana Masters: rays  of  my  teeth  and  I  started  getting  all  these 

344
00:20:17,130 --> 00:20:22,170
Oksana Masters: medical  help  that  I  needed  that  I  never  got.  They 

345
00:20:22,170 --> 00:20:25,109
Oksana Masters: found  radiation  in  my  teeth, in  my  adult  teeth  and  linked 

346
00:20:25,109 --> 00:20:28,408
Oksana Masters: it  to  Chernobyl  from  the  geography  of  where  I  was 

347
00:20:28,409 --> 00:20:31,950
Oksana Masters: to  the  village.  My  last  orphanage  where  it  was  still 

348
00:20:31,950 --> 00:20:35,158
Oksana Masters: had  an  active  nuclear  power  plant  that  would  frequently  have 

349
00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:39,240
Oksana Masters: leaks.
 The  one  version  of  a  cop  would  go  around 

350
00:20:39,240 --> 00:20:41,968
Oksana Masters: and  just  tell  you  not  to  leave  your  orphanage  board 

351
00:20:41,969 --> 00:20:46,770
Oksana Masters: up.  Don't  go  outside  until  it  dies  down.  It  resulted 

352
00:20:46,770 --> 00:20:49,980
Oksana Masters: my  birth  defects  and the  disability  side  of  things  was  from 

353
00:20:49,980 --> 00:20:54,750
Oksana Masters: that.  From  my  legs.  I  had  my  legs,  but  they 

354
00:20:54,750 --> 00:20:59,459
Oksana Masters: were  so  deformed,  they  weren't  really  legs.  When  you  took 

355
00:20:59,459 --> 00:21:01,410
Oksana Masters: an  X- ray,  it  looked  like  a  salt  shaker  was 

356
00:21:02,430 --> 00:21:04,830
Oksana Masters: sprinkled  across  the  X- rays.  That's  what  made  up  my 

357
00:21:04,830 --> 00:21:10,080
Oksana Masters: bone,  the  non- weight  bearing  bone.
 Then  I  had  hands 

358
00:21:10,080 --> 00:21:13,559
Oksana Masters: deformities  and  no  enamel  on  my  teeth.  The  only  thing 

359
00:21:13,559 --> 00:21:18,150
Oksana Masters: that  can  strip  enamel  in  utero  is  radiation.  Oftentimes  when 

360
00:21:18,210 --> 00:21:24,148
Oksana Masters: someone's  born  with  a  disability,  its  very  localized.  Outside  of 

361
00:21:24,150 --> 00:21:30,119
Oksana Masters: just  finding  the  radiation  side,  it  affected  all  over.  Outside 

362
00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:32,638
Oksana Masters: my  hands,  my  legs  and  my  organs.  I  don't  have 

363
00:21:32,638 --> 00:21:35,819
Oksana Masters: a  full  bicep  and  muscles  and  stuff  on  one  side 

364
00:21:35,820 --> 00:21:42,090
Oksana Masters: of  the  body.  That  resulted  in  being  put  up  for 

365
00:21:42,090 --> 00:21:45,240
Oksana Masters: adoption  right  away.  I  lived  there  until  I  was  almost 

366
00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:49,138
Oksana Masters: eight  years  old  in  Ukraine.
 Three  different  orphanages.  I  don't 

367
00:21:49,138 --> 00:21:52,438
Oksana Masters: really  remember  much  of  the  first  two.  But  the  last 

368
00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:54,810
Oksana Masters: one  I  do  because  when  you're  five  you're  considered  an 

369
00:21:54,810 --> 00:21:57,540
Oksana Masters: adult  and  you  move  into  the  adult  orphanage  from  five 

370
00:21:57,540 --> 00:22:01,619
Oksana Masters: to  16.  If  you're  not  adopted  at  16  or  15, 

371
00:22:01,619 --> 00:22:03,898
Oksana Masters: depending  on  where  you  are,  you're  just  put up  on  the 

372
00:22:03,900 --> 00:22:09,509
Oksana Masters: street.  I  got  here  because  of  my  mom.  She  found 

373
00:22:09,509 --> 00:22:13,410
Oksana Masters: out  about  me  when  I  was  five.  There  was  a 

374
00:22:13,410 --> 00:22:17,100
Oksana Masters: whole  moratorium  that  was  put  on  and  a  band  put 

375
00:22:17,100 --> 00:22:21,119
Oksana Masters: on  foreign  adoptions.
 That  whole  time  that  it  took  two 

376
00:22:21,119 --> 00:22:24,300
Oksana Masters: years  for  her  to  adopt  me,  the  adoption  agency  was 

377
00:22:24,300 --> 00:22:26,609
Oksana Masters: telling  her, " You  can  go  to  Russia  and  you  can 

378
00:22:26,609 --> 00:22:29,398
Oksana Masters: adopt  a  baby  in  just  next  month."  She  wanted  a 

379
00:22:29,400 --> 00:22:32,670
Oksana Masters: baby.  She  did  not  want  an  almost  8- year- old 

380
00:22:32,670 --> 00:22:34,440
Oksana Masters: with  a  lot  of  opinions  who  thought  she  had  the 

381
00:22:34,440 --> 00:22:37,198
Oksana Masters: world  figured  out.  Because  I  was  opinionated  even  back  then, 

382
00:22:37,410 --> 00:22:41,428
Oksana Masters: even  orphanages.  Had  no  style  game.  But  boy  was  I 

383
00:22:41,429 --> 00:22:44,638
Oksana Masters: had  an  opinion  about  that  when  I  finally  got  them.


384
00:22:46,500 --> 00:22:49,290
Oksana Masters: She  stuck.  She  said, " No,  it's  my  daughter.  I'm  going 

385
00:22:49,290 --> 00:22:53,460
Oksana Masters: to  wait  until  the  band  gets  lifted."  Finally,  it  took 

386
00:22:53,460 --> 00:22:57,750
Oksana Masters: two  years  and  she  adopted  me.  Next  thing  you  know 

387
00:22:57,750 --> 00:23:05,938
Oksana Masters: I'm  in  America.  My  first  home  in  America  was  Buffalo, 

388
00:23:05,940 --> 00:23:09,928
Oksana Masters: New  York.  Unlike  Aaron  where  you  grew  up  with  your 

389
00:23:09,930 --> 00:23:13,890
Oksana Masters: sports,  I  didn't  get  into  sports  until  when  I  was 

390
00:23:13,920 --> 00:23:17,309
Oksana Masters: 13.  Because  I  was  going  through  a  lot  of  surgeries, 

391
00:23:17,309 --> 00:23:23,250
Oksana Masters: reconstructive  hand  surgeries  and  amputations.  Rowing  was  that  first  sport 

392
00:23:23,279 --> 00:23:27,480
Oksana Masters: that  for  me,  I  didn't  know it was a  sport.  I  just  loved 

393
00:23:27,480 --> 00:23:30,870
Oksana Masters: being  on  the  water  and that's  where  it  all  took  off for  me.

394
00:23:31,740 --> 00:23:36,959
Becs Gentry: Wow,  that's  such  a  incredible  story.  The  way  you  just 

395
00:23:36,960 --> 00:23:41,458
Becs Gentry: finished  it  is,  I  am  just  meeting  you  today  and 

396
00:23:41,459 --> 00:23:44,520
Becs Gentry: I've  followed  both of  your  stories  for  a  while.  But  hearing 

397
00:23:44,520 --> 00:23:46,619
Becs Gentry: you  say, " I  didn't  know  it  was  a  sport,  I 

398
00:23:46,619 --> 00:23:51,179
Becs Gentry: just  loved  it"  makes  me  already  understand  you  a  little 

399
00:23:51,179 --> 00:23:56,460
Becs Gentry: bit  better  of  this  incredible,  you're  like  a  superhero.  You 

400
00:23:56,460 --> 00:24:01,950
Becs Gentry: have  so  much  talent.  That  makes  me  think  like,  well, 

401
00:24:02,160 --> 00:24:05,280
Becs Gentry: that's  why  she  has  achieved  so  much  because  she's  just 

402
00:24:05,280 --> 00:24:07,680
Becs Gentry: like, I don't  really  know.  It  was a sport.  I  just  love  doing  it.


403
00:24:08,609 --> 00:24:13,049
Becs Gentry: But  I  can't  imagine  the  joy  that  your  mom  also 

404
00:24:13,049 --> 00:24:18,360
Becs Gentry: had  after  that  two  years  of  fighting  and  the  persistence 

405
00:24:18,420 --> 00:24:25,140
Becs Gentry: of  love  to  bring  you  here.  Arriving  here  and  your 

406
00:24:25,140 --> 00:24:31,740
Becs Gentry: life  changing  and  then  becoming  this  incredible  athlete.  Like,  wow, 

407
00:24:31,799 --> 00:24:36,059
Becs Gentry: wow,  I  can't  get  my  head  around  it.  That's  just 

408
00:24:36,059 --> 00:24:40,320
Becs Gentry: half  the  story.  Because  by  your  side  you  have  your 

409
00:24:40,320 --> 00:24:44,880
Becs Gentry: partner  and  another  incredible  story  that's  going  to  rock  us 

410
00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:48,179
Becs Gentry: all.  But  Aaron,  can  you  take  us  back  to  that 

411
00:24:48,179 --> 00:24:54,059
Becs Gentry: day  in  Virginia  where  your  life  changed?  What  comes  to 

412
00:24:54,059 --> 00:24:57,210
Becs Gentry: your  mind  about  how  your  sports  life  has  become  what it 

413
00:24:57,210 --> 00:24:57,780
Becs Gentry: is  today?

414
00:24:59,400 --> 00:25:03,510
Aaron Pike: Yeah,  I  was  13  years  old  when  I  was  injured. 

415
00:25:03,780 --> 00:25:07,439
Aaron Pike: Before  that  it  was  unlike  Oksana  sports  were,  that  was 

416
00:25:08,730 --> 00:25:10,978
Aaron Pike: me  through  and  through,  but  I  was  doing  very  different 

417
00:25:10,980 --> 00:25:14,340
Aaron Pike: sports.  I  really  loved  basketball,  which  I  did  continue  after 

418
00:25:14,340 --> 00:25:17,730
Aaron Pike: my  injury  and  then  football.  Football  and  basketball  were  the 

419
00:25:17,730 --> 00:25:20,638
Aaron Pike: things  I  loved  to  do  and  the  activities  to  play. 

420
00:25:20,730 --> 00:25:26,699
Aaron Pike: Whether  it  was  during  the  season  of  the  sports  or 

421
00:25:26,790 --> 00:25:31,200
Aaron Pike: not,  I  was  dropping  my  backpack.  It  was  just  straight 

422
00:25:31,200 --> 00:25:33,270
Aaron Pike: off  to  the  closest  gym  to  play  a  pickup  game 

423
00:25:33,270 --> 00:25:37,140
Aaron Pike: of  basketball.
 Or  right  over to  the  biggest  open  field  with 

424
00:25:37,140 --> 00:25:39,240
Aaron Pike: a  bunch  of  friends  and  we're  playing  football  and  stuff. 

425
00:25:40,020 --> 00:25:41,668
Aaron Pike: That's  all  I  wanted  to do,  I  was  outside  all  the 

426
00:25:41,670 --> 00:25:47,879
Aaron Pike: time.  Then  I  was  13  years  old and it was  the  first  season 

427
00:25:47,879 --> 00:25:51,810
Aaron Pike: that  I  could  go  hunting  and  I  just  ended  up 

428
00:25:52,740 --> 00:25:54,690
Aaron Pike: super  early  morning.  I  remember  my  dad  waking  me  up 

429
00:25:54,900 --> 00:25:58,290
Aaron Pike: earlier  than  any  kid  ever  wants  to  wake  up,  probably 

430
00:25:58,290 --> 00:25:59,700
Aaron Pike: like  four  in  the  morning  or  something  to  drive  out 

431
00:25:59,700 --> 00:26:04,590
Aaron Pike: somewhere.  Went  hunting  and  just  a  couple  other  hunters  that 

432
00:26:04,590 --> 00:26:06,930
Aaron Pike: were  out  there  that  thought  they  heard  or  saw  something 

433
00:26:06,959 --> 00:26:08,910
Aaron Pike: and  shot  in  my  direction.
 I  ended  up  getting  hit 

434
00:26:08,910 --> 00:26:13,408
Aaron Pike: by  one  of  the  bullets,  clipped  my  spinal  cord.  Then 

435
00:26:13,770 --> 00:26:15,119
Aaron Pike: I  didn't  know  at  the  time,  but  I  ended  up 

436
00:26:15,119 --> 00:26:18,750
Aaron Pike: being,  it  was  just  a  complete  paralysis  at  first  and 

437
00:26:18,750 --> 00:26:22,020
Aaron Pike: then  I  got  some  movement  back  and  stuff.  But  while 

438
00:26:22,020 --> 00:26:26,520
Aaron Pike: I  was  in  the  hospital,  there  was  the  guy,  Carlos 

439
00:26:26,520 --> 00:26:30,030
Aaron Pike: Moleda,  he  was  a  Navy  SEAL  that  was  injured  and 

440
00:26:30,030 --> 00:26:32,580
Aaron Pike: at  the  time  he  was  the  two  time  reigning  Iron 

441
00:26:32,580 --> 00:26:37,590
Aaron Pike: Man  champion  for  what  would  be  my  division  where  you 

442
00:26:37,590 --> 00:26:41,849
Aaron Pike: would  hand  cycle  and  use  the  racing  chair  and  then 

443
00:26:41,850 --> 00:26:45,418
Aaron Pike: swim.
 He  came  in  and I got  to  see  somebody  right  out 

444
00:26:45,420 --> 00:26:48,570
Aaron Pike: of  the  gates  that  was  super  fit.  I  could  tell 

445
00:26:48,570 --> 00:26:51,928
Aaron Pike: this  guy  wasn't  just  some...  I  just  didn't  have  any 

446
00:26:51,929 --> 00:26:53,849
Aaron Pike: visions  of  people  in  wheelchairs.  You  just  don't  see  it 

447
00:26:53,849 --> 00:26:55,290
Aaron Pike: a  lot.  You  are  a  lot  more  now  and  I 

448
00:26:55,290 --> 00:26:57,839
Aaron Pike: think  that's  cool  about  all  the  visibility  that's  happening.  But 

449
00:26:57,839 --> 00:27:00,898
Aaron Pike: prior  to  that, the only  people  I  saw  in  wheelchairs  were  just 

450
00:27:00,900 --> 00:27:04,440
Aaron Pike: mostly  just  older  individuals  and  stuff.  That  was  my  first 

451
00:27:04,440 --> 00:27:07,379
Aaron Pike: time  sitting  eyes  on  someone  that  looked  extremely  fit.
 I 

452
00:27:07,380 --> 00:27:10,320
Aaron Pike: saw  pictures  of  them  involved  in  their  sports that I didn't  know  anything 

453
00:27:10,320 --> 00:27:14,369
Aaron Pike: about.  I  had  some  something  in  my  head  right  away 

454
00:27:14,520 --> 00:27:20,040
Aaron Pike: after  my  injury.  Ultimately  to  make  it  short,  I  was 

455
00:27:20,070 --> 00:27:23,100
Aaron Pike: in  Virginia  playing  basketball  and  the  commissioner  of  the  league 

456
00:27:23,100 --> 00:27:25,500
Aaron Pike: came  up  and  saw  me  and  asked  me  if  I 

457
00:27:25,500 --> 00:27:28,769
Aaron Pike: had  ever  heard  of  any  collegiate  programs,  which  I  hadn't.


458
00:27:29,670 --> 00:27:32,188
Aaron Pike: I  just  looked  like  a  really  fit  kid  that  was 

459
00:27:32,190 --> 00:27:36,329
Aaron Pike: super  fast  because  I  lived  in  the  gym.  My  parents 

460
00:27:36,330 --> 00:27:40,830
Aaron Pike: were  in  the  military.  We  moved  during  the  summer  and 

461
00:27:40,830 --> 00:27:43,110
Aaron Pike: I  was  off  in  Germany  and  the  gym  became  just 

462
00:27:43,260 --> 00:27:45,900
Aaron Pike: my  place.  Every  day  I'd  go to the gym because I  didn't  know  anybody  all 

463
00:27:45,900 --> 00:27:48,960
Aaron Pike: summer.  It  was  just  me  living  at  the  gym,  adapting 

464
00:27:48,960 --> 00:27:52,138
Aaron Pike: whatever  I  had  to,  because  gyms  aren't  made  for  guys 

465
00:27:52,138 --> 00:27:55,740
Aaron Pike: in  wheelchairs  necessarily,  but  I  found  ways.  I  was  working 

466
00:27:55,740 --> 00:27:59,790
Aaron Pike: out  all  the  time.
 I  was  there  for  a  couple 

467
00:27:59,790 --> 00:28:02,460
Aaron Pike: of  years.  Came  to  Virginia,  jumped  in  and  played  basketball. 

468
00:28:02,970 --> 00:28:05,129
Aaron Pike: Commissioner  of  the  league  talked  to  me  about  sports.  I 

469
00:28:05,130 --> 00:28:07,859
Aaron Pike: had  no  clue  about  it.  They  connected  me  with  some 

470
00:28:07,859 --> 00:28:12,629
Aaron Pike: coaches  and  very  quickly  I  got  connected  with  the  coach 

471
00:28:12,630 --> 00:28:16,350
Aaron Pike: from  Wisconsin  and  then  a  coach  from  here  at  U 

472
00:28:16,350 --> 00:28:19,800
Aaron Pike: of I.  I  came  out  to  a  couple  of  their  camps, 

473
00:28:19,830 --> 00:28:23,340
Aaron Pike: wheelchair  basketball  elite  camp  and  their  track  camp.  From  there 

474
00:28:25,469 --> 00:28:27,480
Aaron Pike: my  eyes  were  set  on  that.
 There  was  no  question 

475
00:28:27,660 --> 00:28:29,250
Aaron Pike: that  was  where  I  was  going  to  go.  That  was 

476
00:28:29,250 --> 00:28:30,869
Aaron Pike: where  I  was  going  to  be.  It  was  going  to 

477
00:28:30,869 --> 00:28:32,940
Aaron Pike: go  from  just  playing  basketball  once  a  week  with  this 

478
00:28:32,940 --> 00:28:37,800
Aaron Pike: club  team  to  training  every  single  day.  Then when  I  got 

479
00:28:37,800 --> 00:28:40,800
Aaron Pike: here,  I  just  took  it  and  ran  with it.  It  was 

480
00:28:41,370 --> 00:28:43,530
Aaron Pike: the  best  moment  in  my  life,  like  a  kid  showing 

481
00:28:43,530 --> 00:28:48,059
Aaron Pike: up  to  Disney  World.  I had  so  much  energy  I  think 

482
00:28:48,059 --> 00:28:50,160
Aaron Pike: for  it.  Because  for  years  I  didn't  really  have  any 

483
00:28:50,400 --> 00:28:53,400
Aaron Pike: organized  sports  per  se  with  adaptive  sports.  I  wasn't  in 

484
00:28:53,520 --> 00:28:56,429
Aaron Pike: a  youth  thing.  The  club  sports  in  Virginia  wasn't  enough 

485
00:28:56,429 --> 00:28:59,880
Aaron Pike: for  me.  It  was  good,  but  I  really  needed  the 

486
00:28:59,880 --> 00:29:01,830
Aaron Pike: next  level  I  think.  That  was  what I  got  when  I 

487
00:29:01,830 --> 00:29:02,340
Aaron Pike: came  here.

488
00:29:03,990 --> 00:29:09,990
Rob Simmelkjaer: There's  a  lot  of  different  pathways  to  the  sports.  Oksana, 

489
00:29:10,080 --> 00:29:13,470
Rob Simmelkjaer: you  mentioned  it  wasn't  really  a  big  part  of  your 

490
00:29:14,010 --> 00:29:17,639
Rob Simmelkjaer: early  childhood  here  in  the  US.  When  did  you  realize 

491
00:29:17,639 --> 00:29:20,940
Rob Simmelkjaer: that  this  was  something  you  really  loved?  Then  it  wasn't 

492
00:29:20,940 --> 00:29:23,880
Rob Simmelkjaer: just  rowing,  you  loved  being  on  the  water.  But  then 

493
00:29:24,510 --> 00:29:29,430
Rob Simmelkjaer: how  did  this  transition  to  skiing  come  about  as  well 

494
00:29:29,430 --> 00:29:33,090
Rob Simmelkjaer: that  turns  you  into  a  winter  and  summer  Paralympian?

495
00:29:33,090 --> 00:29:34,861
Aaron Pike: Skiing's  a  great  story.  She  had  no  clue  what  she was getting into.

496
00:29:34,861 --> 00:29:43,290
Oksana Masters: No, you guys, I thought I was going into, I love  about  fashion  and  style.  I  love  snowboarders  and  I 

497
00:29:43,290 --> 00:29:46,740
Oksana Masters: thought  that's  what  I  was  doing.  Not  getting  to  go 

498
00:29:46,740 --> 00:29:49,590
Oksana Masters: from  one  sport  where  you're  in  spandex  to  another  spandex 

499
00:29:49,590 --> 00:29:52,740
Oksana Masters: sports,  but  this  time  in  the  winter  on  frozen  water. 

500
00:29:54,630 --> 00:29:56,459
Oksana Masters: That was  a  shock  when  I  came.  Thank  God  I  didn't 

501
00:29:56,460 --> 00:29:58,769
Oksana Masters: bring  that  helmet  that  I  thought  I  needed  because  you 

502
00:29:58,770 --> 00:30:01,320
Oksana Masters: don't  cross  country  ski,  you  don't  do  helmets  at  all.

503
00:30:01,320 --> 00:30:04,440
Rob Simmelkjaer: It  was  a  fashion  choice  that  just  went  somehow  wrong. 

504
00:30:04,740 --> 00:30:05,820
Rob Simmelkjaer: But  then  so  right.

505
00:30:05,820 --> 00:30:09,870
Oksana Masters: Yeah.  But  then  so right.  That  thing  that  went  so  right 

506
00:30:09,870 --> 00:30:13,380
Oksana Masters: for  me  was  when  I  crashed.  Because  I  tried  it 

507
00:30:13,380 --> 00:30:16,229
Oksana Masters: in  Breckenridge,  Colorado  for  the  first  time  and it was  the  only 

508
00:30:16,230 --> 00:30:21,090
Oksana Masters: place,  the  only  thing  with  winter  sports  is  finding  snow. 

509
00:30:21,720 --> 00:30:23,970
Oksana Masters: When  I  tried  it  was  the  only  place  that  had 

510
00:30:23,970 --> 00:30:27,540
Oksana Masters: snow,  kilometer  long  little  strip.  I  fell  off  the  rocks. 

511
00:30:27,540 --> 00:30:30,750
Oksana Masters: I  didn't  know  how  to  stop  because  on  our  Nordic 

512
00:30:30,750 --> 00:30:33,450
Oksana Masters: skis,  they're  little  tiny  skis.  They  don't  have  metal  edges 

513
00:30:33,450 --> 00:30:38,100
Oksana Masters: like  alpine  skis  do  and  they're  fixed  parallel.
 You  have 

514
00:30:38,100 --> 00:30:41,100
Oksana Masters: to  either  hockey  stop  or  just  let  the  speed  dry 

515
00:30:41,190 --> 00:30:44,820
Oksana Masters: run  out  thing  kind  of  thing.  Much  like  a  runner 

516
00:30:44,910 --> 00:30:46,619
Oksana Masters: when  you're  just  finishing  in  a  sprint  and  you  just have to 

517
00:30:46,980 --> 00:30:50,009
Oksana Masters: let  it  run  its  course  thing kind of thing.  Except  there's  no  room 

518
00:30:50,009 --> 00:30:53,190
Oksana Masters: to  do  that  and  the  risk  of  that's  falling  in 

519
00:30:53,190 --> 00:30:55,560
Oksana Masters: the  rocks. That's when  I  fell  in  love  with  it  and  said, 

520
00:30:55,620 --> 00:30:57,930
Oksana Masters: I  want  to  figure  this  out.  That's  what  made  me 

521
00:30:57,930 --> 00:31:04,440
Oksana Masters: love  skiing  side.  But  honestly  for  me,  I've  always  struggled 

522
00:31:04,440 --> 00:31:10,199
Oksana Masters: with  my  story  of  becoming  an  athlete.
 Because  so  many 

523
00:31:10,199 --> 00:31:13,800
Oksana Masters: athletes  are...  Well  I  didn't  know  I  could  be  an 

524
00:31:13,800 --> 00:31:18,870
Oksana Masters: athlete.  Like  Aaron  said,  he  had  no  idea.  He  never 

525
00:31:18,870 --> 00:31:20,730
Oksana Masters: saw  someone  in a  wheelchair  and  what  that  would  look  like 

526
00:31:20,730 --> 00:31:24,870
Oksana Masters: besides  older  people.  I  never  saw  anyone.  At  that  time, 

527
00:31:24,870 --> 00:31:28,980
Oksana Masters: I  had  one  real  leg  and  amputated  just  my  left 

528
00:31:28,980 --> 00:31:33,780
Oksana Masters: leg  at  nine  and  then  second  one's  at  14.  I 

529
00:31:33,780 --> 00:31:36,690
Oksana Masters: just  found  out  I  had  to  amputate  the  second  one 

530
00:31:36,750 --> 00:31:41,849
Oksana Masters: and  I  never  saw  myself  as  an  athlete.  What  I 

531
00:31:41,849 --> 00:31:46,980
Oksana Masters: loved  about  the  sport  I  was  doing,  whether  it  started 

532
00:31:46,980 --> 00:31:49,050
Oksana Masters: out  as  rowing.  But  what  I  love  about  it  now 

533
00:31:49,050 --> 00:31:52,410
Oksana Masters: in  skiing  and  cycling  is  it  started  out  as  therapy 

534
00:31:52,410 --> 00:31:55,050
Oksana Masters: for  me.
 I  didn't  see  it  and  like,  okay,  I 

535
00:31:55,050 --> 00:31:58,139
Oksana Masters: want  to  be  the  best  team  USA  athlete.  I  want 

536
00:31:58,139 --> 00:31:59,849
Oksana Masters: to  be  the  best  rower.  I  want  to  be  the 

537
00:31:59,849 --> 00:32:03,420
Oksana Masters: best  Olympic  Paralympic  athlete  because  I  never  saw  it.  I 

538
00:32:03,420 --> 00:32:08,400
Oksana Masters: did  not  see  myself  in  that.  What  it  really  did 

539
00:32:08,400 --> 00:32:12,000
Oksana Masters: for  me  though  is  it  was  my  process  and  my 

540
00:32:12,000 --> 00:32:16,080
Oksana Masters: pathway  to  process  a  lot  of  the  things  I  was 

541
00:32:16,080 --> 00:32:19,500
Oksana Masters: suppressing  from  when  I  was  a  kid  in  the  orphanage. 

542
00:32:20,009 --> 00:32:24,239
Oksana Masters: It  came  out  a  lot  after  my  second  amputation  and 

543
00:32:24,240 --> 00:32:28,290
Oksana Masters: it  was  not  the  best  living  environment,  especially  the  last 

544
00:32:28,290 --> 00:32:30,630
Oksana Masters: one.
 It  gave  me  my  way,  it  was  my  way. 

545
00:32:31,590 --> 00:32:35,820
Oksana Masters: I  always  describe  it  as  pulling  on  the  oars  was 

546
00:32:35,820 --> 00:32:38,730
Oksana Masters: my  way  to  scream  without  physically  screaming.  It  was  my 

547
00:32:38,730 --> 00:32:41,729
Oksana Masters: way  to  do  my  therapy  on  my  terms  before  I 

548
00:32:41,730 --> 00:32:44,400
Oksana Masters: even  knew  how  to  verbalize.  I  was  afraid  to  say 

549
00:32:44,400 --> 00:32:48,360
Oksana Masters: the  things  that  I  was  reliving  in  my  dreams.  I 

550
00:32:48,360 --> 00:32:51,870
Oksana Masters: fell  in  love  with,  it  was  helping  me  mentally  heal 

551
00:32:51,870 --> 00:32:56,520
Oksana Masters: as  a  person  and  get  stronger.  Then  it  helped  me 

552
00:32:57,780 --> 00:33:01,770
Oksana Masters: see  myself  and  what  I  was  so  capable  of  doing 

553
00:33:01,830 --> 00:33:04,470
Oksana Masters: outside  of  what  society  was  telling  me  what  I  look 

554
00:33:04,470 --> 00:33:06,900
Oksana Masters: like.
 If  I  look  like  a  freak  or  what  I 

555
00:33:06,900 --> 00:33:09,450
Oksana Masters: couldn't  do  and  where  I  belong.  That  was  the  one 

556
00:33:09,450 --> 00:33:12,389
Oksana Masters: place  in  sports and on  that  start  line  that  I  belong.  We 

557
00:33:12,389 --> 00:33:18,840
Oksana Masters: all  belong.  Everybody  belongs.  It  wasn't  until  I  learned  about 

558
00:33:18,930 --> 00:33:23,850
Oksana Masters: the  Paralympics  in  2008,  right  before  2008.  This  is  so 

559
00:33:23,850 --> 00:33:26,280
Oksana Masters: crazy  how  Aaron and I  have  such  a  similar  story  in  the 

560
00:33:26,280 --> 00:33:30,210
Oksana Masters: way  we  both  tried  to  make  the  '08  team.  He was trying 

561
00:33:30,450 --> 00:33:32,790
Oksana Masters: to  make  it  in  track  and  I  was  trying  to 

562
00:33:32,790 --> 00:33:37,290
Oksana Masters: make  it  in  rowing.  You  were  that  one  spot  off,  right?

563
00:33:37,830 --> 00:33:38,850
Aaron Pike: Literally  one  spot  off,  yeah.

564
00:33:38,850 --> 00:33:42,150
Oksana Masters: Then  I  didn't  make  the  Paralympic  team  in  2008  that 

565
00:33:42,150 --> 00:33:45,990
Oksana Masters: I  wanted  to  either.  That for  me,  I  don't  know  about 

566
00:33:45,990 --> 00:33:52,109
Oksana Masters: what  it  was for you,  that  is  the  moment  I  realized  how 

567
00:33:52,109 --> 00:33:53,969
Oksana Masters: much  I  wanted  to  be  an  athlete  and  what  I 

568
00:33:53,969 --> 00:33:56,190
Oksana Masters: was  willing  to  sacrifice  and  do  and  what  it  really 

569
00:33:56,190 --> 00:34:01,320
Oksana Masters: meant  to  me.  Then  the  same  thing  happened  in,  and 

570
00:34:02,970 --> 00:34:04,739
Oksana Masters: I  know  this  looks  such  a  long  story,  it's  a 

571
00:34:04,740 --> 00:34:06,390
Oksana Masters: problem  when  we  do  so  many  sports.

572
00:34:07,680 --> 00:34:08,251
Rob Simmelkjaer: It's  a  lot  to  say. Absolutely. I love it. Keep going.

573
00:34:08,251 --> 00:34:08,252
Becs Gentry: No worry.

574
00:34:08,252 --> 00:34:16,170
Oksana Masters: But then,  I  made it  in  2012  for  rowing.

575
00:34:17,190 --> 00:34:19,230
Aaron Pike: Yeah,  I  made  it  for  first  time.  We  didn't  know 

576
00:34:19,230 --> 00:34:21,240
Aaron Pike: each  other  at  all  at  this  point,  but  that  was-

577
00:34:21,450 --> 00:34:26,370
Oksana Masters: I think I must have seen  you.  Because  once  I  moved  in  from  my  events 

578
00:34:26,370 --> 00:34:28,619
Oksana Masters: in  rowing,  we  were  in  the  satellite  village,  we  moved 

579
00:34:28,619 --> 00:34:31,770
Oksana Masters: in  and  the  people  that  were  below  our  house  was a 

580
00:34:31,830 --> 00:34:34,740
Oksana Masters: track  and  field  athlete.  I  know  I  had  this,  but 

581
00:34:34,830 --> 00:34:36,299
Oksana Masters: not  your  beard.  I  probably  didn't  recognize  him.

582
00:34:36,300 --> 00:34:40,440
Aaron Pike: Yeah,  100%.  Another  funny  story.  She  doesn't  know  what  I 

583
00:34:40,440 --> 00:34:45,781
Aaron Pike: look  like  without  a  beard,  which I think  is  pretty  funny.  Dorian  does.

584
00:34:45,781 --> 00:34:45,782
Becs Gentry: That's amazing.

585
00:34:45,782 --> 00:34:45,783
Aaron Pike: You don't.

586
00:34:45,783 --> 00:34:46,680
Becs Gentry: He's  not  allowed  to  shave  it.

587
00:34:46,799 --> 00:34:46,800
Aaron Pike: Yeah.

588
00:34:46,800 --> 00:34:46,801
Becs Gentry: He has to consult me first.

589
00:34:46,801 --> 00:34:46,802
Rob Simmelkjaer: Wait-

590
00:34:46,802 --> 00:34:46,803
Becs Gentry: Fair enough.

591
00:34:46,803 --> 00:34:55,439
Rob Simmelkjaer: ... this goes to a question I  wanted  to  ask  Becs,  which  is,  when  was the first  moment 

592
00:34:55,469 --> 00:34:58,469
Rob Simmelkjaer: you  guys  actually  met  knowing  you  met.  I'm  just  really 

593
00:34:58,469 --> 00:35:03,809
Rob Simmelkjaer: curious,  what  was  each  of  your  first  thoughts  about  the 

594
00:35:03,809 --> 00:35:07,170
Rob Simmelkjaer: other?  I  will  start  with  you,  Oksana.  Once  you  knew 

595
00:35:07,199 --> 00:35:09,779
Rob Simmelkjaer: who  Aaron  was,  what  was  the  first  thought  you  had 

596
00:35:09,779 --> 00:35:10,200
Rob Simmelkjaer: about  him?

597
00:35:12,600 --> 00:35:14,669
Oksana Masters: I  didn't  really  know  who  he  was.  I  didn't  really 

598
00:35:14,670 --> 00:35:17,609
Oksana Masters: know  what  wheelchair  racing  was,  the  sport  he  did  or 

599
00:35:17,610 --> 00:35:24,149
Oksana Masters: anything.  When  I  first  met  Aaron,  it  was  a  national 

600
00:35:24,150 --> 00:35:26,820
Oksana Masters: ability  center,  which  is  a  training  site  in  Utah.  We 

601
00:35:26,820 --> 00:35:29,218
Oksana Masters: were  there  for  nationals.  It  was  my  first  time  trying 

602
00:35:29,219 --> 00:35:31,799
Oksana Masters: skiing.  He's  a  little  liar.  He  said  it  was  his 

603
00:35:31,800 --> 00:35:33,870
Oksana Masters: first  time,  but  he  had  a  week  on  me  so 

604
00:35:33,870 --> 00:35:35,850
Oksana Masters: he  knew  what  he  was  doing  and  how  to  stop.

605
00:35:35,850 --> 00:35:35,881
Aaron Pike: A  week.

606
00:35:35,881 --> 00:35:35,969
Becs Gentry: A whole week.

607
00:35:35,969 --> 00:35:38,581
Oksana Masters: You had  a  training  camp,  you  had  a  whole  week. A whole-

608
00:35:38,581 --> 00:35:38,582
Aaron Pike: She's not competitive. She's not competitive at all.

609
00:35:38,582 --> 00:35:38,583
Becs Gentry: Not at all. No giving that at all.

610
00:35:38,583 --> 00:35:52,380
Oksana Masters: No, just putting it for  the  record  right  here.  Actually,  the  first time  I  remember 

611
00:35:52,500 --> 00:35:56,940
Oksana Masters: seeing  you  was  in,  they had  this  communal  kitchen  area  where 

612
00:35:56,940 --> 00:36:01,739
Oksana Masters: you  can  store  your  food  or  whatever.  I  ran  out 

613
00:36:01,739 --> 00:36:04,560
Oksana Masters: of  my  coffee  for  my  French  press  and  I  saw 

614
00:36:04,560 --> 00:36:07,170
Oksana Masters: Aaron  and  Travis  Dotson,  who  also  used  to  be  a 

615
00:36:07,170 --> 00:36:09,719
Oksana Masters: wheelchair  racer  also  trying  cross  country  skiing  for  the  first 

616
00:36:09,719 --> 00:36:16,589
Oksana Masters: time  and  they're  having  coffee  right  there.  I  was too in tune of  too 

617
00:36:16,590 --> 00:36:19,350
Oksana Masters: afraid  to  say  really  anything  besides, " Where'd  you  get  that 

618
00:36:19,350 --> 00:36:24,420
Oksana Masters: coffee?"
 Then  I  was  like, okay, you are  a  good  person  because  he 

619
00:36:24,420 --> 00:36:27,780
Oksana Masters: had  coffee  shipped  to  a  training  camp  we  had  in 

620
00:36:27,780 --> 00:36:31,170
Oksana Masters: Winter  Park,  Colorado  and  I'm  like,  two  things.  It  was 

621
00:36:31,170 --> 00:36:34,799
Oksana Masters: Stumptown  Coffee  Roasters  and  I'm  like, " Real  mature,  I  have 

622
00:36:34,799 --> 00:36:37,049
Oksana Masters: Stumps  and  you  order  Stumptown  coffee  and  you  open  it 

623
00:36:37,050 --> 00:36:40,950
Oksana Masters: right  in  front  of  me?  Mature."  But  then  also  the 

624
00:36:40,950 --> 00:36:44,249
Oksana Masters: fact  that  you  have  coffee  being  shipped  to  you?  I 

625
00:36:44,250 --> 00:36:47,250
Oksana Masters: love  you. This is  a  match  made  in  heaven  because  I  love 

626
00:36:47,250 --> 00:36:50,370
Oksana Masters: coffee.  You know what  Aaron  does  when  he  first  meets  me  though? 

627
00:36:50,790 --> 00:36:55,140
Oksana Masters: He  didn't  know.  Yes,  we  should  see  our  espresso  machine. 

628
00:36:56,790 --> 00:37:00,450
Oksana Masters: Yes.  You  didn't  even  know  my  last  name.  Aaron  never 

629
00:37:00,450 --> 00:37:05,190
Oksana Masters: grew  out  of  this  stage  from  elementary  school  when  a 

630
00:37:05,190 --> 00:37:06,989
Oksana Masters: boy  likes  a  girl,  he  just  pushes  on  her,  picks 

631
00:37:06,989 --> 00:37:09,570
Oksana Masters: on  her  and  that's  what  he  did.  That's  what  Aaron  did.

632
00:37:10,260 --> 00:37:13,320
Becs Gentry: The  hatred  which  turned  into  love.  I  love  it.  The 

633
00:37:13,320 --> 00:37:17,969
Becs Gentry: playground.  Pulling  your  pigtails.  I  thought  you  were  going  to 

634
00:37:17,969 --> 00:37:21,630
Becs Gentry: say  you just  took  her  poles  or  skied  through  over.  Oh, 

635
00:37:21,630 --> 00:37:24,779
Becs Gentry: my  god,  there's  so  much  that  could  have  gone  wrong 

636
00:37:24,780 --> 00:37:25,649
Becs Gentry: there  on  the  ski  slopes.

637
00:37:26,219 --> 00:37:26,489
Oksana Masters: Yes.

638
00:37:27,450 --> 00:37:30,870
Rob Simmelkjaer: Aaron,  what  was  your  first  recollection?  Okay,  who's  this  woman 

639
00:37:30,870 --> 00:37:32,670
Rob Simmelkjaer: asking  me  for  my  coffee?  What  was  it?

640
00:37:33,450 --> 00:37:37,440
Aaron Pike: It  was  the  same  thing.  Yeah,  it  was  cool.  It 

641
00:37:37,440 --> 00:37:39,900
Aaron Pike: just  wowed to  me  too,  that  we  both  went  to  the 

642
00:37:39,900 --> 00:37:42,749
Aaron Pike: games  for  the  first  time  in  2012.  Different  sports.  Had 

643
00:37:42,750 --> 00:37:45,750
Aaron Pike: no  clue  who  each  other  were. Then  both  tried  this  sport. 

644
00:37:46,980 --> 00:37:52,350
Aaron Pike: Somehow  ended  up  trying  Nordic  skiing  for  pretty  much  the 

645
00:37:52,350 --> 00:37:57,420
Aaron Pike: first  time.  I  had  a  week.  We  just  happened  to 

646
00:37:58,290 --> 00:38:01,230
Aaron Pike: meet  each  other  there.  She  would've  been  Louisville  at  the 

647
00:38:01,230 --> 00:38:04,289
Aaron Pike: time and  I  was  in  Champagne,  so  nothing  else  would've  brought 

648
00:38:04,289 --> 00:38:07,620
Aaron Pike: us  together  besides  this  funny  sport  that  we  knew  nothing 

649
00:38:07,620 --> 00:38:08,610
Aaron Pike: about.  Yeah,  at  the  time.

650
00:38:08,610 --> 00:38:16,469
Becs Gentry: How long ago was...  So that was, where are we? 20?

651
00:38:16,469 --> 00:38:16,470
Aaron Pike: That was 2013.

652
00:38:16,469 --> 00:38:22,140
Becs Gentry: 2013. That  was  over  10  years  ago  and  we  just  got  engaged?

653
00:38:22,859 --> 00:38:23,489
Aaron Pike: Yeah,  in August '22.

654
00:38:24,330 --> 00:38:25,620
Becs Gentry: August  '22.

655
00:38:25,620 --> 00:38:25,680
Aaron Pike: Yeah.

656
00:38:27,600 --> 00:38:35,879
Oksana Masters: You know what he's saying? He's saying, " Well  I  did  my  job,  I  asked.  Now  you 

657
00:38:35,879 --> 00:38:39,599
Oksana Masters: plan  the  wedding."  What?  I'm  sorry.  For  every  partner  that's 

658
00:38:39,599 --> 00:38:43,380
Oksana Masters: out  there  listening  to  this,  please do not do this. It's a 50/50.

659
00:38:43,380 --> 00:38:46,440
Aaron Pike: I also said, " I'm  free.  I'm  not  as  busy  as  you  are. 

660
00:38:46,770 --> 00:38:47,281
Aaron Pike: Next  week  sounds good. Two months from now. Great."

661
00:38:47,281 --> 00:38:47,551
Oksana Masters: Also-

662
00:38:50,160 --> 00:38:50,699
Aaron Pike: I'm  here.

663
00:38:51,480 --> 00:38:53,790
Oksana Masters: Ask  him  how  long  it  took  him  to  finally...

664
00:38:54,599 --> 00:38:56,189
Becs Gentry: Well  that  was  where  I  was  going  with  this.  I 

665
00:38:56,190 --> 00:38:58,739
Becs Gentry: hear  that  there  was  a  little  bit  of  pushing  and 

666
00:38:58,739 --> 00:39:04,440
Becs Gentry: shoving  your  way  this  time.  You  were close to  being  pushed  on 

667
00:39:04,440 --> 00:39:06,000
Becs Gentry: the  ski  slope  by  Oksana.

668
00:39:08,160 --> 00:39:09,239
Aaron Pike: Pushed  off  the  ski  lift.

669
00:39:11,250 --> 00:39:13,139
Becs Gentry: Proposed  to  me  now  otherwise  you're  down.

670
00:39:14,489 --> 00:39:17,339
Aaron Pike: I  don't  know  what.  I  feel  like  I  knew  a 

671
00:39:17,339 --> 00:39:21,120
Aaron Pike: long  time  ago.  I don't know if  it  was  somehow  getting  through  COVID 

672
00:39:21,120 --> 00:39:24,060
Aaron Pike: of  being  together  24/7.  New  sports  being  together  all  the 

673
00:39:24,060 --> 00:39:27,690
Aaron Pike: time  and  then  just  decide,  man,  I  don't  know  what 

674
00:39:27,690 --> 00:39:28,560
Aaron Pike: it  was  to  be  honest.

675
00:39:29,100 --> 00:39:29,430
Oksana Masters: Really?

676
00:39:29,820 --> 00:39:29,940
Aaron Pike: Maybe it just-

677
00:39:29,940 --> 00:39:35,610
Oksana Masters: It  was  eight  years,  three  months  and  two  weeks,  almost 

678
00:39:35,759 --> 00:39:39,299
Oksana Masters: three  weeks  that  he  literally...  I  was  like, " So  when 

679
00:39:39,300 --> 00:39:41,460
Oksana Masters: did  you  know?"  He's  like, " Oh,  I  knew  pretty  fast." "

680
00:39:41,460 --> 00:39:42,930
Oksana Masters: Then  why  did  you  wait  that  long?"

681
00:39:44,880 --> 00:39:47,610
Becs Gentry: But  think  of  all of  the  medals  that  you  achieved  without 

682
00:39:47,610 --> 00:39:49,170
Becs Gentry: having  to  plan  a  wedding  in  the  meantime.

683
00:39:49,170 --> 00:39:49,890
Aaron Pike: That's  true.  See?

684
00:39:51,480 --> 00:39:52,981
Rob Simmelkjaer: That  was  his  plan,  right  Aaron?  You  were focused.

685
00:39:52,980 --> 00:39:59,160
Aaron Pike: Yeah. It was  just  a  selfless  act  on  her  behalf.  Whatever  I 

686
00:39:59,160 --> 00:39:59,791
Aaron Pike: could  do  for  her,  yes.

687
00:39:59,791 --> 00:39:59,792
Oksana Masters: I started introducing him to people. This is my boyfriend of eight years.

688
00:39:59,792 --> 00:40:10,500
Aaron Pike: That was starting to get old too. The first time  I  ever  meet  Mikaela  Shiffrin,  she  introduces  me  as 

689
00:40:11,160 --> 00:40:13,739
Aaron Pike: the  boyfriend  I've  been  with  for  eight  years  that  still 

690
00:40:13,739 --> 00:40:16,710
Aaron Pike: hasn't  proposed  to  me.  I  was  like, " Oh,  my god."  First 

691
00:40:16,710 --> 00:40:19,771
Aaron Pike: words  out  of  her  mouth.  I'm  like, " Hi,  nice to meet you."

692
00:40:19,770 --> 00:40:22,800
Rob Simmelkjaer: Just  in  chatting  with  you  guys  for  a  little  while 

693
00:40:22,800 --> 00:40:27,120
Rob Simmelkjaer: here,  I  can't  say  I'm  surprised.  I  don't  imagine  Oksana 

694
00:40:27,120 --> 00:40:31,709
Rob Simmelkjaer: is  worried  too  much  about  exactly  what  she  says.  Even 

695
00:40:31,710 --> 00:40:36,840
Rob Simmelkjaer: when  meeting  Mikaela  Shiffrin. Got  that  kind  of  personality,  which  is 

696
00:40:36,840 --> 00:40:39,179
Rob Simmelkjaer: not  shy.  I  totally  get  it  and  I  love  it. 

697
00:40:39,179 --> 00:40:43,739
Rob Simmelkjaer: It's  awesome.  I'm  so  curious  about  the  two  of  you, 

698
00:40:43,739 --> 00:40:48,719
Rob Simmelkjaer: obviously  elite  athletes.  But  when  you're  off  the  field  of 

699
00:40:48,719 --> 00:40:51,750
Rob Simmelkjaer: play  and  you're  just  going  through  life  together  as  a 

700
00:40:51,750 --> 00:40:57,929
Rob Simmelkjaer: couple.
 The  way  it  is  traveling  through  the  world  with 

701
00:40:57,929 --> 00:41:01,049
Rob Simmelkjaer: people  not  knowing  who  you  are,  not  knowing  what  you've 

702
00:41:01,049 --> 00:41:06,900
Rob Simmelkjaer: accomplished,  just  seeing  a  couple  with  disabilities  going  through  the 

703
00:41:06,930 --> 00:41:08,700
Rob Simmelkjaer: world.  I'll  be  honest,  I  have  to  imagine  there  are 

704
00:41:08,700 --> 00:41:14,489
Rob Simmelkjaer: some  pretty  memorable  stories  about  people  maybe  thinking  one  thing 

705
00:41:14,489 --> 00:41:16,830
Rob Simmelkjaer: about  the  two  of  you  and  then  realizing  who  you 

706
00:41:16,830 --> 00:41:20,130
Rob Simmelkjaer: are,  what  you  are,  what  you've  accomplished,  and  being  like, 

707
00:41:20,160 --> 00:41:23,879
Rob Simmelkjaer: oh  my  god,  I  can't  believe  that  I  thought  what 

708
00:41:23,879 --> 00:41:25,829
Rob Simmelkjaer: I  thought  before.  Can  you  take  us  through  that  a 

709
00:41:25,829 --> 00:41:26,158
Rob Simmelkjaer: little  bit?

710
00:41:27,179 --> 00:41:28,229
Oksana Masters: What's  it  like  for  you?

711
00:41:30,899 --> 00:41:34,650
Aaron Pike: Oh, man. Well  it's  always  fun  too  where  you'll  always  get  here 

712
00:41:35,370 --> 00:41:38,039
Aaron Pike: and  there,  you'll  get  those  comments  too  when  you're  just at 

713
00:41:38,250 --> 00:41:40,829
Aaron Pike: the  grocery  store  of  just  like, " Oh  my  gosh,  so 

714
00:41:40,830 --> 00:41:44,280
Aaron Pike: good  to  see  you  guys  out  and  about.  Seeing  you 

715
00:41:44,280 --> 00:41:46,290
Aaron Pike: guys  are  so  beautiful.  It's  so  great  to  see  you 

716
00:41:46,290 --> 00:41:46,651
Aaron Pike: guys  together."

717
00:41:46,651 --> 00:41:50,640
Oksana Masters: " Good  for  you."  I  lose  my  mind.  I  lose 

718
00:41:50,640 --> 00:41:55,049
Oksana Masters: my  mind.  Aaron  sees  that countdown to  the  Tasmanian  devil  about  to 

719
00:41:55,049 --> 00:41:58,529
Oksana Masters: go  off.  I'm  like, " If I  hear  one  more  comment"  he's  like, "

720
00:41:59,579 --> 00:42:01,680
Oksana Masters: Let  them  be,  let  them  be.  Let's  just let them  say  that." 

721
00:42:02,130 --> 00:42:06,060
Oksana Masters: Because  literally  one  of  the  comments  that  really  frustrated  me 

722
00:42:06,060 --> 00:42:12,300
Oksana Masters: so  much  is  we  were  walking  into  dinner.  We  deserve 

723
00:42:12,300 --> 00:42:14,880
Oksana Masters: to  go  on  date  night.  I  deserve  to  go  on 

724
00:42:14,880 --> 00:42:20,430
Oksana Masters: date  night.  This  person,  we're  walking  in,  Aaron  has  the 

725
00:42:20,430 --> 00:42:22,290
Oksana Masters: door  and  the  guy's  like, " Oh,  let  me have this, let me  get  this." He 

726
00:42:22,770 --> 00:42:24,930
Oksana Masters: looks  back  double  take  and  he  sees  Aaron  in his chair  and 

727
00:42:24,930 --> 00:42:27,779
Oksana Masters: he  sees  my  legs.  He's  like, " Oh,  good  for  you. 

728
00:42:28,320 --> 00:42:30,690
Oksana Masters: That's  amazing.  You  guys  are  still  going  out.  Good  for 

729
00:42:30,690 --> 00:42:37,260
Oksana Masters: you."  I  was  like,  as  opposed  to  what?  What  does 

730
00:42:37,260 --> 00:42:41,340
Oksana Masters: that  mean?  I'm  so  proud  of  you.  Why  is  that 

731
00:42:41,340 --> 00:42:42,691
Oksana Masters: so  proud to  you?

732
00:42:42,690 --> 00:42:47,099
Aaron Pike: It's like  one  of  those  things  where  because  of  all  the 

733
00:42:47,099 --> 00:42:52,139
Aaron Pike: coverage,  I  don't  know,  sometimes  you  have  a  disproportional  view 

734
00:42:52,139 --> 00:42:55,199
Aaron Pike: on  what  you  think  where  we're  at  some  point  in 

735
00:42:55,199 --> 00:42:57,570
Aaron Pike: the  world.  You  think  at  this  point  just  because  of 

736
00:42:57,570 --> 00:43:00,120
Aaron Pike: how  visible  everything  is  and  stuff  that  more  and  more 

737
00:43:00,120 --> 00:43:03,270
Aaron Pike: people,  which  they  do  more  and  more  people  know  that 

738
00:43:04,590 --> 00:43:07,739
Aaron Pike: people  that  are  in  chairs  and  people  that have  prosthetics  are 

739
00:43:07,739 --> 00:43:10,320
Aaron Pike: still  doing  all  the  same  things,  if  not  more.

740
00:43:10,890 --> 00:43:13,801
Oksana Masters: Like  living a normal  relationship  and  life  together.

741
00:43:13,801 --> 00:43:15,090
Aaron Pike: Going out  to  eat.

742
00:43:16,530 --> 00:43:22,080
Oksana Masters: Wanting  a  family,  going  out  to  eat.  It's  definitely,  I 

743
00:43:22,080 --> 00:43:30,089
Oksana Masters: think,  yeah,  it's  changing.  Then  they  read,  they're  like,  oh, 

744
00:43:30,090 --> 00:43:33,149
Oksana Masters: because  you've  gotten  comments  too.  Like,  oh  my  gosh.  Who's 

745
00:43:33,150 --> 00:43:36,900
Oksana Masters: the  person  took  a  picture  of  you  in  one  of 

746
00:43:36,900 --> 00:43:41,550
Oksana Masters: your  marathons  and  then  did  more  research  and saw like,  oh  my 

747
00:43:41,550 --> 00:43:45,869
Oksana Masters: gosh.  Then  when  they  get  to  learn  of what you were  saying,  what 

748
00:43:45,870 --> 00:43:48,449
Oksana Masters: you've  accomplished,  who  you  are,  the  athlete  that  you  are 

749
00:43:48,450 --> 00:43:53,279
Oksana Masters: and  the  elite  level  athletes  you  both  are,  the  perception 

750
00:43:53,280 --> 00:43:58,290
Oksana Masters: changes  entirely.
 But  what's  so  hard  right  now  because  it's 

751
00:43:58,290 --> 00:44:02,310
Oksana Masters: rare  too  to  what  you  were  saying,  that  people's  disabilities, 

752
00:44:02,940 --> 00:44:06,389
Oksana Masters: we  are  not  seen  oftentimes  together.  Or  the  other  comment 

753
00:44:06,389 --> 00:44:09,420
Oksana Masters: that  often  happens  too  is  like, " Oh,  is  there  an 

754
00:44:09,420 --> 00:44:12,270
Oksana Masters: event  going  on?  Is  there  a  competition  going  on?"  Because 

755
00:44:12,270 --> 00:44:15,059
Oksana Masters: they  see  us  and  they  automatically  think.  It's  good  they 

756
00:44:15,059 --> 00:44:17,610
Oksana Masters: get  like,  okay,  well  they're  seeing  us  as  athletes  but 

757
00:44:17,910 --> 00:44:20,640
Oksana Masters: we  also,  you  don't  need  to  have  this...

758
00:44:20,640 --> 00:44:20,641
Aaron Pike: You don't have to be an athlete either.

759
00:44:20,641 --> 00:44:26,669
Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah.  You  also  just  go  run  errands  and you get dinner and you go to the post office like anybody else, yeah.

760
00:44:31,079 --> 00:44:33,479
Oksana Masters: You  know  how  many  times  I'd  forget?  I  don't  even 

761
00:44:33,479 --> 00:44:35,189
Oksana Masters: see  the  chair  and  I  don't  know  if  you  see, 

762
00:44:35,219 --> 00:44:37,410
Oksana Masters: well I don't know  because  I'm  dropping  and  falling  all  the  time,  so 

763
00:44:37,410 --> 00:44:40,109
Oksana Masters: you  probably  like,  oh  good  lord.  But  I  half  the 

764
00:44:40,109 --> 00:44:43,770
Oksana Masters: time, I have  so  many  times  I've  forgotten.  I get out of the  car  and  forgot 

765
00:44:43,770 --> 00:44:46,020
Oksana Masters: to  get  his  wheelchair  because  I  don't  see  it.  Just 

766
00:44:46,020 --> 00:44:48,089
Oksana Masters: don't  see  it.  I'm  looking  back  and  I'm  like, " Oh 

767
00:44:48,090 --> 00:44:55,919
Oksana Masters: shoot  Aaron.  I'm  so  sorry."  It's  like  love  is  love. 

768
00:44:58,889 --> 00:45:03,510
Oksana Masters: There  isn't  a  perfect  ideal,  besides  the  fact  that  we're 

769
00:45:03,510 --> 00:45:08,279
Oksana Masters: athletes and  that  was  what  helped  us  find  each  other.  But 

770
00:45:08,280 --> 00:45:11,429
Oksana Masters: there's  no  perfect  image  of  being  an  athlete.  There's  no 

771
00:45:11,429 --> 00:45:16,529
Oksana Masters: perfect  image  of  what  is  a  family.  Of  what  is 

772
00:45:17,250 --> 00:45:20,460
Oksana Masters: your  second  half  and  finding  not  your  person  for  you 

773
00:45:20,820 --> 00:45:24,840
Oksana Masters: that  brings  out  all  the  best  qualities  in  you  and 

774
00:45:26,340 --> 00:45:28,170
Oksana Masters: helps  you  love  life  even  more.

775
00:45:28,559 --> 00:45:33,000
Becs Gentry: You  are  already  both  hugely  celebrated  Paralympians  as  we've  heard. 

776
00:45:33,540 --> 00:45:38,730
Becs Gentry: But  right  now  how  do  you  both  and  either  of 

777
00:45:38,730 --> 00:45:40,560
Becs Gentry: you  can  answer this,  I  don't  want  to  ask  a  specific 

778
00:45:40,560 --> 00:45:43,890
Becs Gentry: one  of  you.  But  how  has  your  experience  as  a 

779
00:45:43,890 --> 00:45:50,969
Becs Gentry: Paralympian  influenced  your  perspective  on  disability  representation  in  sports  and 

780
00:45:50,969 --> 00:45:54,329
Becs Gentry: how  it's  changed?  We  can  all  see  how  it  is, 

781
00:45:54,330 --> 00:45:57,810
Becs Gentry: but  how  it's  changing  for  you  as  actual  athletes?

782
00:46:01,290 --> 00:46:05,280
Aaron Pike: Yeah, I think  I  want  to  say  we  got  really  lucky  in 

783
00:46:05,280 --> 00:46:11,069
Aaron Pike: that  the  first  games  too  being  London.  They  really  did 

784
00:46:11,070 --> 00:46:14,940
Aaron Pike: it  right.  They  knocked  it  out  of  the  park.  I'm 

785
00:46:14,940 --> 00:46:15,002
Aaron Pike: not  (inaudible) .

786
00:46:15,180 --> 00:46:15,480
Becs Gentry: You're  welcome.

787
00:46:20,070 --> 00:46:22,470
Aaron Pike: To  this  day,  we  haven't  gone  to  Paris  yet,  but 

788
00:46:23,099 --> 00:46:26,250
Aaron Pike: we  both  have  always  said that  that  was  our  favorite  games. 

789
00:46:27,030 --> 00:46:29,879
Aaron Pike: I  think  it  was  all  the  buildup  leading  in  and 

790
00:46:29,879 --> 00:46:32,460
Aaron Pike: all  the  things  they  did  right  of  explaining  the  sport 

791
00:46:32,460 --> 00:46:38,130
Aaron Pike: on  their  national  programs  and  stuff.  Talking  about  individual  sports 

792
00:46:38,130 --> 00:46:39,870
Aaron Pike: and  explaining  it  so  that  people  knew  what  they  were 

793
00:46:39,870 --> 00:46:42,479
Aaron Pike: watching  and  knew  all  their  athletes  that were  going  to  be 

794
00:46:42,480 --> 00:46:43,169
Aaron Pike: competing  and  stuff.

795
00:46:43,498 --> 00:46:45,929
Oksana Masters: I  loved,  not  that  it  was  good  marketing,  but  it's 

796
00:46:45,929 --> 00:46:49,530
Oksana Masters: how  they  literally  set  the  bar  of  how  we  view 

797
00:46:49,530 --> 00:46:52,049
Oksana Masters: Paralympic  athletes  when  they  had  this  campaign.  I  don't  know 

798
00:46:52,050 --> 00:46:55,530
Oksana Masters: if  it  was  super  humans  or  super,  there  was  something 

799
00:46:55,530 --> 00:46:58,860
Oksana Masters: that  they  used  and  it  was the  Paralympic  athletes.  It  was 

800
00:46:58,860 --> 00:47:06,150
Oksana Masters: the  first  time  too  that  shift  really  transformed  from  inspirational 

801
00:47:06,810 --> 00:47:13,200
Oksana Masters: jaw  dropping  to  badass.  They're  falling,  they're  crashing,  they're  bleeding, 

802
00:47:13,200 --> 00:47:17,429
Oksana Masters: they're  sweating,  they're  pushing  hard,  they're  training  and  they're  super 

803
00:47:17,429 --> 00:47:22,919
Oksana Masters: humans.  We're  superhumans  not  just  the  Olympic  athletes.  That  also 

804
00:47:22,920 --> 00:47:25,620
Oksana Masters: I  think  helped  London  really  hit  the  nail,  the  bar 

805
00:47:25,620 --> 00:47:28,110
Oksana Masters: on  the  nail.  Oh,  I'm  always  messing  up  those things.

806
00:47:28,110 --> 00:47:34,290
Aaron Pike: I think  you  saw  a  shift  there  and  then  it  just 

807
00:47:34,290 --> 00:47:36,570
Aaron Pike: continued  to  grow  off of  that.  Because  they  did  so  well 

808
00:47:36,570 --> 00:47:40,620
Aaron Pike: there  and  seeing  the  stadiums  sold  out  at  that  was 

809
00:47:41,430 --> 00:47:44,880
Aaron Pike: for  us  as  athletes  was  just  such  a  big  jaw 

810
00:47:44,880 --> 00:47:49,410
Aaron Pike: dropping.  Just  an  experience  we'd  never  felt  before  and  you 

811
00:47:49,410 --> 00:47:54,659
Aaron Pike: can't  really  get  anywhere  else.  I  think  that  was  the 

812
00:47:54,660 --> 00:48:01,020
Aaron Pike: beginning.  I  think  it  slowly  shifted  with  just  sponsorship  opportunities. 

813
00:48:01,530 --> 00:48:06,000
Aaron Pike: You  had  nothing  for  years.  We're  just  working  hard.  There's 

814
00:48:06,000 --> 00:48:08,130
Aaron Pike: so  many  just  working  hard  behind  the  scenes  doing  stuff 

815
00:48:08,790 --> 00:48:12,000
Aaron Pike: every  day,  but  not  where  you're  at  the  point  where 

816
00:48:12,000 --> 00:48:15,120
Aaron Pike: you're  still  considering  how  long  can  I  do this?  I  can't 

817
00:48:15,120 --> 00:48:16,199
Aaron Pike: support  myself  and  everything.

818
00:48:17,009 --> 00:48:20,339
Oksana Masters: Or  for  me,  leading  up  to  Sochi  winter  games,  I 

819
00:48:20,340 --> 00:48:23,130
Oksana Masters: was  sleeping  out  of  my  car  that  week,  leaving  for 

820
00:48:23,130 --> 00:48:25,469
Oksana Masters: the  games  because  I  was  paying  to  be  an  athlete. 

821
00:48:25,469 --> 00:48:28,919
Oksana Masters: I  misjudged  my  finances.  I  should  have  paid  more  attention 

822
00:48:28,920 --> 00:48:31,140
Oksana Masters: in  math.  I  get  that.  But  oh  well.

823
00:48:34,949 --> 00:48:39,540
Becs Gentry: I  recently  did  an  adaptive  training  course  and  I  was 

824
00:48:39,540 --> 00:48:46,410
Becs Gentry: blown  away  by  the  finances  that  athletes  have  to  pay 

825
00:48:46,410 --> 00:48:50,759
Becs Gentry: out  of  pocket.  For  example,  for  Aaron,  the  racing  wheelchairs 

826
00:48:50,820 --> 00:48:57,239
Becs Gentry: and  just  how  expensive  they  are  prosthetics,  Oksana.  It's  just 

827
00:48:57,239 --> 00:48:59,550
Becs Gentry: that  to  me,  by  you  saying that  you  guys  didn't  have 

828
00:48:59,550 --> 00:49:03,750
Becs Gentry: sponsorship  for  so  long  when  you  were  achieving.  In  the 

829
00:49:03,750 --> 00:49:07,950
Becs Gentry: exact  same  way  you  were  decorated  athletes  but  you  didn't 

830
00:49:07,950 --> 00:49:11,969
Becs Gentry: have  sponsorship.  That  is  just  jaw  dropping  to  me.  That 

831
00:49:13,080 --> 00:49:15,960
Becs Gentry: now  it's  changing and  I'm  so  thankful  that  the  world  of 

832
00:49:15,960 --> 00:49:20,309
Becs Gentry: sports  is  changing  in  that  way.  But  you  as  Paralympians 

833
00:49:20,309 --> 00:49:29,909
Becs Gentry: and  athletes  are  actually  spending  a  lot  more  financially.  It's 

834
00:49:29,910 --> 00:49:31,920
Becs Gentry: a  wow  moment  to  hear  you  saying  you were sleeping  in  your 

835
00:49:31,920 --> 00:49:36,541
Becs Gentry: car  before  Sochi.  But  now  it's  changed,  right? No car before.

836
00:49:36,541 --> 00:49:42,300
Oksana Masters: It's changed and now I'm panicking because yeah,  no  car,  but  I'm  just  forever  waiting  for  that 

837
00:49:42,300 --> 00:49:43,920
Oksana Masters: day  and  that's  why  Aaron's  like, " You're  never  going  to 

838
00:49:43,920 --> 00:49:46,259
Oksana Masters: go  back  there.  You  have  me. You're  never  going  to  be 

839
00:49:46,260 --> 00:49:50,940
Oksana Masters: like  that  again."  But  it's  like  the  Olympic  journey  and 

840
00:49:50,940 --> 00:49:53,700
Oksana Masters: the  Olympic  athletes  journey  is  so  different.  Because  they  have 

841
00:49:54,360 --> 00:49:57,089
Oksana Masters: costs,  but  it's  a  very  standard  cost  for  them  to 

842
00:49:57,090 --> 00:50:00,779
Oksana Masters: be  in  their  sport  that  parents  know  and  aware  of. 

843
00:50:01,500 --> 00:50:06,930
Oksana Masters: They're  celebrated  and  seen  for  their  athletic  achievements.
 Paralympic  athletes 

844
00:50:10,200 --> 00:50:13,710
Oksana Masters: just  in  general  adapted  athletes,  para- athletes  in  general.  You 

845
00:50:13,710 --> 00:50:15,660
Oksana Masters: don't  have  to  go  to  the  Paralympic  athletes  to  be 

846
00:50:15,660 --> 00:50:18,030
Oksana Masters: able  to  have  the  same  access  and  support  as  well. 

847
00:50:18,030 --> 00:50:20,459
Oksana Masters: That  should  be  just  a  fundamental  right  for  any  human 

848
00:50:20,460 --> 00:50:25,259
Oksana Masters: to  have  the  access  and  the  resources  available  to  achieve 

849
00:50:25,260 --> 00:50:30,420
Oksana Masters: that.  But  we  had  to  do  so  much  more  because we had 

850
00:50:30,480 --> 00:50:35,249
Oksana Masters: to  prove  the  level  of  us  as  athletes  and  what 

851
00:50:35,250 --> 00:50:38,219
Oksana Masters: we're  capable  of.  It's  the  same  as  the  Olympic  athletes and 

852
00:50:38,340 --> 00:50:41,069
Oksana Masters: the  sweat  equity  that  we're  putting  in.
 It's  the  same 

853
00:50:41,070 --> 00:50:46,109
Oksana Masters: that  we  are  equal  to  the  Olympic  athletes.  Regardless  if 

854
00:50:46,110 --> 00:50:48,989
Oksana Masters: we're  using  it  from  a  push  rim,  a  hand  cycle, 

855
00:50:48,989 --> 00:50:52,290
Oksana Masters: a  sit  ski,  you  have  a  guide  in  front  of 

856
00:50:52,290 --> 00:50:55,740
Oksana Masters: you  because  you're  visually  impaired.  It's  the  same.  We have  to 

857
00:50:55,830 --> 00:51:00,420
Oksana Masters: break  through  that  societal  barrier.  But then  in  addition  to  that 

858
00:51:00,449 --> 00:51:07,920
Oksana Masters: equal  support,  equal  opportunity  for  sponsorships,  partnerships  and  believing  in 

859
00:51:07,920 --> 00:51:11,130
Oksana Masters: you  and  seeing  the  same  value  you  in  the  Paralympics 

860
00:51:11,219 --> 00:51:16,529
Oksana Masters: as they do in  the  Olympics  and  TV  coverage  too.
 Seeing  that.  You 

861
00:51:16,529 --> 00:51:20,489
Oksana Masters: cannot  dream  of  something  if  you  cannot  see  it.  The 

862
00:51:20,489 --> 00:51:24,660
Oksana Masters: visibility  has  to  be  there  and  we  deserve  the  same 

863
00:51:24,660 --> 00:51:29,700
Oksana Masters: amount  of  visibility  in  our  sports  and  at  the  pinnacle 

864
00:51:29,700 --> 00:51:32,819
Oksana Masters: of  your  sport  at  the  Paralympic  games  as  well.  I 

865
00:51:32,820 --> 00:51:38,219
Oksana Masters: love  watching.  I'm  that  person  getting  up  at,  if  he's 

866
00:51:38,460 --> 00:51:44,910
Oksana Masters: internationally  racing  the  marathons,  I'm  tracking  the  little  tracker.  But here in 

867
00:51:45,150 --> 00:51:47,610
Oksana Masters: the  US  they  do  such  a  great  job  with  the 

868
00:51:47,610 --> 00:51:51,000
Oksana Masters: visibility and  the  push  rim.  I've  been  so  lucky  to  go 

869
00:51:51,000 --> 00:51:54,690
Oksana Masters: to  New  York  and  watch  them  firsthand  and  having  that 

870
00:51:54,960 --> 00:52:00,540
Oksana Masters: coverage  of  these  elite  wheelchair  racers  in  the  marathons  when 

871
00:52:00,540 --> 00:52:03,090
Oksana Masters: they're  racing  in  New  York.  It's  so  important  for  that 

872
00:52:03,090 --> 00:52:08,610
Oksana Masters: next  generation  of  athletes.  For  the  generation  now,  because  that 

873
00:52:08,610 --> 00:52:14,310
Oksana Masters: is  chipping  away  at  that  wall  to  equal  opportunities  and seen 

874
00:52:14,310 --> 00:52:16,620
Oksana Masters: as  equals.

875
00:52:17,100 --> 00:52:20,790
Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah,  no,  we're  so  proud  of  the  coverage  we  have. 

876
00:52:21,179 --> 00:52:25,049
Rob Simmelkjaer: Our  partners  at  ESPN  and  WABC  in  New  York  do 

877
00:52:25,049 --> 00:52:29,279
Rob Simmelkjaer: such  a  great  job  covering  the  wheelchair  racing  in the  TCS 

878
00:52:29,279 --> 00:52:32,700
Rob Simmelkjaer: New  York  City  Marathon.  Shout  out  to  our  friends  at 

879
00:52:32,700 --> 00:52:36,359
Rob Simmelkjaer: NBC  also  who  do  a  terrific  job  with  the  Paralympics. 

880
00:52:36,630 --> 00:52:37,859
Rob Simmelkjaer: All  right,  I'm  going  to  get  you  guys  out  on 

881
00:52:37,860 --> 00:52:40,079
Rob Simmelkjaer: a  question  for  each  of  you,  which  is  speaking  of 

882
00:52:40,080 --> 00:52:43,469
Rob Simmelkjaer: the  Paralympic  games  and  Paris  coming  up.  Aaron  first  to 

883
00:52:43,469 --> 00:52:45,989
Rob Simmelkjaer: you.  First,  for  those  who  don't  know  what  are  the 

884
00:52:45,989 --> 00:52:48,359
Rob Simmelkjaer: events  you're  competing  in  and  then  what  are  you  most 

885
00:52:48,389 --> 00:52:50,940
Rob Simmelkjaer: looking  forward  to  about  your  time  in  Paris?

886
00:52:52,050 --> 00:52:55,080
Aaron Pike: Oh  yeah,  so  I'm  going  to  be  competing  in the  1500 

887
00:52:55,080 --> 00:52:59,520
Aaron Pike: meter,  5, 000 and  then  the  marathon.  Actually  New  York  City 

888
00:52:59,520 --> 00:53:01,709
Aaron Pike: was  the  qualifier.

889
00:53:01,710 --> 00:53:01,950
Oksana Masters: It  was.

890
00:53:02,400 --> 00:53:03,599
Rob Simmelkjaer: Yes, it  was.

891
00:53:03,750 --> 00:53:06,840
Aaron Pike: So  far  to  this  day,  that  was  probably  my  most 

892
00:53:06,840 --> 00:53:11,009
Aaron Pike: memorable  New  York  City  finish.  Because  it  wasn't  far  off 

893
00:53:11,010 --> 00:53:13,290
Aaron Pike: from,  there's  a  lot  of  up  and  comers  and  there's 

894
00:53:13,290 --> 00:53:16,139
Aaron Pike: some  kids  that  weren't  far  off  from  sticking  that  spot, 

895
00:53:16,440 --> 00:53:17,670
Aaron Pike: so  it  was  a  fight.  But  it  was  a  fun 

896
00:53:17,670 --> 00:53:20,490
Aaron Pike: memory  in  New  York  to  punch  my  ticket  to  Paris 

897
00:53:20,759 --> 00:53:23,370
Aaron Pike: right  there  finishing  the  New  York  City  Marathon.  It  was-

898
00:53:23,580 --> 00:53:26,130
Becs Gentry: My claim  to  fame  with  you,  is  that  I  was  right 

899
00:53:26,130 --> 00:53:29,040
Becs Gentry: on  the  finish  line,  literally.  I  think  I  had  to 

900
00:53:29,040 --> 00:53:31,080
Becs Gentry: jump  out  of  the  way  as  you  came  over  the 

901
00:53:31,080 --> 00:53:40,650
Becs Gentry: finish  line. I  was  commentating.  I  was  like,  oo, oo,  on  camera. 

902
00:53:40,650 --> 00:53:43,830
Becs Gentry: Oh,  no,  just  impeding  someone's  race  right  now.

903
00:53:45,270 --> 00:53:49,230
Rob Simmelkjaer: Oksana,  what  about  you,  your  events and  your  plans  for  Paris?

904
00:53:49,290 --> 00:53:52,769
Oksana Masters: My  events  I  competed  are  road  cycling  and  I'm  in 

905
00:53:52,770 --> 00:53:56,669
Oksana Masters: the  hand  cycle.  Road  cycling,  there's  two  events,  the  road 

906
00:53:56,670 --> 00:53:59,069
Oksana Masters: race  and  the  time  trial  and  I'm  going  to  compete 

907
00:53:59,070 --> 00:54:02,700
Oksana Masters: in  both  of  those.  I'm  actually  terrified  because  I  hate 

908
00:54:02,700 --> 00:54:08,460
Oksana Masters: downhills  and  there's  a  gnarly  downhill  into  a  lovely  90 

909
00:54:08,460 --> 00:54:12,899
Oksana Masters: degree  tight  little  roundabout  as  Europe  has. It's going to  be  pushing  me out of 

910
00:54:13,020 --> 00:54:13,739
Oksana Masters: my  comfort  zone.

911
00:54:13,739 --> 00:54:18,210
Rob Simmelkjaer: Well,  the  cyclists  in  the  Olympics  were  going  down  with 

912
00:54:18,210 --> 00:54:21,420
Rob Simmelkjaer: the  rain.  I'm  sure  you  saw  that.  There were  just  massive 

913
00:54:21,420 --> 00:54:25,230
Rob Simmelkjaer: wipe  outs  in  the  first  day  of  cycling  on  that 

914
00:54:25,230 --> 00:54:28,109
Rob Simmelkjaer: Saturday  when  it  was  still  raining.  Hopefully  better  weather  for  you.

915
00:54:28,649 --> 00:54:31,229
Oksana Masters: Oh  my  gosh,  I  hope  so.  I  really  hope  so. 

916
00:54:31,529 --> 00:54:34,678
Oksana Masters: Even  though  the  rain  makes  for  really  cool  pictures,  it's 

917
00:54:34,679 --> 00:54:36,509
Oksana Masters: not  fun  to  race in  at  all.

918
00:54:36,600 --> 00:54:39,810
Rob Simmelkjaer: Aaron,  Oksana,  this  has  been  so  much  fun.  You  guys 

919
00:54:39,810 --> 00:54:43,200
Rob Simmelkjaer: are  hilarious.  You  are  great  together  and  you  are  great 

920
00:54:43,500 --> 00:54:48,450
Rob Simmelkjaer: individually  as  well  as  incredible  athletes  and  ambassadors  and  we 

921
00:54:48,450 --> 00:54:51,120
Rob Simmelkjaer: can't  wait  to  see  you  do  amazing  things  in  Paris 

922
00:54:51,120 --> 00:54:53,459
Rob Simmelkjaer: and  then  hopefully  come  back  and  do  some  things  in 

923
00:54:53,459 --> 00:54:55,799
Rob Simmelkjaer: New  York  as  well.  We  know  we  want  you  back, 

924
00:54:55,800 --> 00:54:58,770
Rob Simmelkjaer: Aaron,  and  I  want  to  see  you  guys  doing  phenomenal 

925
00:54:58,770 --> 00:55:02,279
Rob Simmelkjaer: things.  Congrats  to  both of  you  and  best  of  luck  in 

926
00:55:02,280 --> 00:55:03,151
Rob Simmelkjaer: Paris.  Bon  Voyage.

927
00:55:03,151 --> 00:55:03,152
Aaron Pike: Thanks a lot.

928
00:55:03,152 --> 00:55:03,153
Oksana Masters: Thank you.

929
00:55:03,153 --> 00:55:05,910
Aaron Pike: Appreciate it.  Thanks  Rob.  Thanks Becs.

930
00:55:07,000 --> 00:55:07,002
Oksana Masters: (foreign language) .

931
00:55:07,002 --> 00:55:07,004
Becs Gentry: (foreign language) .

932
00:55:10,000 --> 00:55:10,002
Rob Simmelkjaer: (foreign language) .

933
00:55:10,002 --> 00:55:10,004
Aaron Pike: (foreign language) .

934
00:55:25,620 --> 00:55:28,019
Rob Simmelkjaer: For  today's  member  moment,  we  have  the  pleasure  of  speaking 

935
00:55:28,020 --> 00:55:32,460
Rob Simmelkjaer: with  Dr.  Arnie Weg, a  67- year- old  associate  professor  of  clinical 

936
00:55:32,460 --> 00:55:36,120
Rob Simmelkjaer: medicine  at  Cornell  and  a  practicing  physician  in  Manhattan  in 

937
00:55:36,120 --> 00:55:39,960
Rob Simmelkjaer: Queens.  Dr.  Weg  began  running  in  2007  as  part  of 

938
00:55:39,960 --> 00:55:43,319
Rob Simmelkjaer: his  journey  to  lose  weight.  He  has  since  completed  25 

939
00:55:43,320 --> 00:55:48,209
Rob Simmelkjaer: marathons,  including  15  consecutive  New  York  City  marathons.  His  dedication 

940
00:55:48,209 --> 00:55:51,330
Rob Simmelkjaer: to  running  played  a  crucial  role  in  his  recovery  from 

941
00:55:51,330 --> 00:55:55,170
Rob Simmelkjaer: a  severe  case  of COVID- 19,  highlighting  the  importance  of  cardio 

942
00:55:55,170 --> 00:55:59,040
Rob Simmelkjaer: respiratory  fitness.  Dr.  Weg  is  passionate  about  the  benefits  of 

943
00:55:59,040 --> 00:56:03,389
Rob Simmelkjaer: exercise,  especially  for  older  runners,  and  he  actively  promotes  this 

944
00:56:03,389 --> 00:56:05,189
Rob Simmelkjaer: to  his  patients.  He  joins  Meb.

945
00:56:05,699 --> 00:56:12,089
Meb: Thanks  Rob.  Arnie,  welcome  to  the  podcast.  As  you  started 

946
00:56:12,090 --> 00:56:16,169
Meb: running  to  lose  weight,  how  has  running  played  a  pivotal 

947
00:56:16,170 --> 00:56:17,730
Meb: role  in  that  process?

948
00:56:18,270 --> 00:56:23,940
Dr. Arnold Weg: Well,  as  you  started  mentioning,  I  was  about  320  pounds. 

949
00:56:24,510 --> 00:56:27,810
Dr. Arnold Weg: I really  just  wasn't  taking  care  of  myself,  not  eating  right, 

950
00:56:27,810 --> 00:56:33,120
Dr. Arnold Weg: not  exercising.  In  about  2005, 2006,  I  went  on  a  low 

951
00:56:33,120 --> 00:56:39,690
Dr. Arnold Weg: carbohydrate  diet.  I  felt  very  strongly  that  it  would  be 

952
00:56:39,690 --> 00:56:43,530
Dr. Arnold Weg: important  to  incorporate  exercise.  Since  running  was  the  best  exercise, 

953
00:56:43,530 --> 00:56:48,330
Dr. Arnold Weg: I  started  running.  Then  I  started  doing  races  in  2007, 

954
00:56:49,410 --> 00:56:51,509
Dr. Arnold Weg: at  which  point  I  had  done  my  first  New  York 

955
00:56:51,510 --> 00:56:55,739
Dr. Arnold Weg: City  half- marathon  and  then  a  marathon  and  have  used 

956
00:56:55,739 --> 00:57:01,110
Dr. Arnold Weg: that  as  a  pivotal  portion.  Essential  part  of  my  health 

957
00:57:01,110 --> 00:57:03,480
Dr. Arnold Weg: maintenance  and  weight  maintenance  protocol.

958
00:57:04,110 --> 00:57:09,840
Meb: Your  story  of  battling  COVID-19  and  crediting  your  cardio  respiratory 

959
00:57:09,840 --> 00:57:13,889
Meb: fitness  for  your  recovery  is  incredibly  moving.  Can  you  elaborate 

960
00:57:13,889 --> 00:57:16,800
Meb: on  that  time  and  how  it  changes  your  approach  to running 

961
00:57:17,219 --> 00:57:17,790
Meb: and  health?

962
00:57:18,389 --> 00:57:22,320
Dr. Arnold Weg: Right.  Early  on  in  the  COVID  pandemic,  so  it  was 

963
00:57:22,320 --> 00:57:25,950
Dr. Arnold Weg: actually  March  of  2020,  I  fell  victim  with  a  very 

964
00:57:25,950 --> 00:57:28,920
Dr. Arnold Weg: bad  case  of  COVID.  I  was  hospitalized,  I  was  in 

965
00:57:28,920 --> 00:57:33,270
Dr. Arnold Weg: the  intensive  care  unit.  I  was  in  the  intensive  care 

966
00:57:33,270 --> 00:57:36,509
Dr. Arnold Weg: unit  at  Cornell  where  I'm  an  associate  professor  of  medicine 

967
00:57:36,510 --> 00:57:38,550
Dr. Arnold Weg: and  teach  the  people  that  were  taking  care  of  me 

968
00:57:38,550 --> 00:57:41,370
Dr. Arnold Weg: and  they  take  great  care  of  me.  My  oxygen  level 

969
00:57:41,370 --> 00:57:44,490
Dr. Arnold Weg: had  gone  down  to  75  and  they  had  moved  me to 

970
00:57:44,670 --> 00:57:47,880
Dr. Arnold Weg: the  intensive  care  unit  with  the  intention  of  intubating  me.


971
00:57:49,170 --> 00:57:52,649
Dr. Arnold Weg: At  the  same  time,  my  son,  who  now  practices  with 

972
00:57:52,650 --> 00:57:55,500
Dr. Arnold Weg: me  and  his  brother,  were  trying  to  get  approval  for Remdesivir 

973
00:57:55,500 --> 00:58:01,860
Dr. Arnold Weg: and  were  on  multiple  media,  including  CNN and NBC  and  ABC,  and 

974
00:58:01,950 --> 00:58:07,889
Dr. Arnold Weg: various  different  news  organizations.  Had  shown  videos  of  me  running 

975
00:58:07,889 --> 00:58:11,129
Dr. Arnold Weg: the  New  York  City  Marathon  as  part  of  who  I 

976
00:58:11,129 --> 00:58:14,400
Dr. Arnold Weg: was  and  what  I  was.  In  the  interest  of  trying 

977
00:58:14,400 --> 00:58:19,260
Dr. Arnold Weg: to  avoid  intubation,  I  convinced  the  pulmonologists  that  I  could 

978
00:58:19,260 --> 00:58:24,150
Dr. Arnold Weg: sustain  a  high  level  of  physical  stress  and  to  try 

979
00:58:24,150 --> 00:58:26,909
Dr. Arnold Weg: to  allow  me  to  try  to  do  this  based  on 

980
00:58:26,910 --> 00:58:31,680
Dr. Arnold Weg: my  stamina  from  running  marathons  and  my  daily  exercise.
 They 

981
00:58:31,680 --> 00:58:35,970
Dr. Arnold Weg: agreed  because  they  had  seen  my  accomplishments  in  road  running 

982
00:58:36,510 --> 00:58:39,719
Dr. Arnold Weg: and  I  staved  off  intubation,  which  I  think  in  large 

983
00:58:39,719 --> 00:58:43,049
Dr. Arnold Weg: measure  contributes  to  the  fact  that  I'm  here  today  and 

984
00:58:43,049 --> 00:58:46,079
Dr. Arnold Weg: able  to  talk  to  you.  Subsequent  to  that,  I  did 

985
00:58:46,080 --> 00:58:51,630
Dr. Arnold Weg: a  bunch  of,  actually  two  town halls with the  New  York  Roadrunners  to 

986
00:58:52,170 --> 00:58:55,590
Dr. Arnold Weg: relay  that  experience  and  encourage  others  to  continue  in  their 

987
00:58:55,590 --> 00:58:56,370
Dr. Arnold Weg: running  pursuits.

988
00:58:57,330 --> 00:58:59,940
Meb: Your  journey  is  just  incredible  from  trying  to  lose  weight 

989
00:58:59,940 --> 00:59:03,299
Meb: and  to  go  through  COVID,  tough  times.  Can  you  explain 

990
00:59:03,299 --> 00:59:08,220
Meb: how  exercise  helps  protect  our  body  cells  and  how  known 

991
00:59:08,520 --> 00:59:11,220
Meb: that  this  has  changed  the  way  you  stay  healthy?  It 

992
00:59:11,220 --> 00:59:12,810
Meb: used  to  be  back  in  the  days,  an  apple  day 

993
00:59:12,810 --> 00:59:15,240
Meb: gives  the  doctor  away,  but  how's  that  exercise  now?

994
00:59:15,660 --> 00:59:18,690
Dr. Arnold Weg: Well,  as  a  physician  who's  also  a  runner,  and  you 

995
00:59:18,690 --> 00:59:21,360
Dr. Arnold Weg: might  notice  I'm  even  wearing  my  New  York  Roadrunner's  tie 

996
00:59:21,360 --> 00:59:25,950
Dr. Arnold Weg: here  today,  Meb.  But  anyway,  I  have,  as  part  of 

997
00:59:25,950 --> 00:59:28,230
Dr. Arnold Weg: what  I  do  is  taking  care  of  patients,  I  discuss 

998
00:59:28,230 --> 00:59:33,029
Dr. Arnold Weg: with  them  their  exercise  routine.  I  encourage  everybody  to  do 

999
00:59:33,030 --> 00:59:37,290
Dr. Arnold Weg: exercise.  I  point  out  all  the  benefits.  It's  obviously  good 

1000
00:59:37,290 --> 00:59:39,119
Dr. Arnold Weg: for  your  head,  it's  good  for  your  bones,  it's  good 

1001
00:59:39,120 --> 00:59:42,540
Dr. Arnold Weg: for  your  heart,  it's  good  for  your  weight.  But  of 

1002
00:59:42,540 --> 00:59:45,570
Dr. Arnold Weg: the  things  that  can  keep  you  healthy,  even  if  you 

1003
00:59:45,570 --> 00:59:48,180
Dr. Arnold Weg: look  at  sleeping  a  good  amount,  even  you  look  at 

1004
00:59:48,180 --> 00:59:51,809
Dr. Arnold Weg: eating  a  good  amount.
 Exercise  is  the  number  one  thing 

1005
00:59:51,809 --> 00:59:56,099
Dr. Arnold Weg: that  protects  your  DNA.  It  protects  the  chromosomes,  which  chromosomal 

1006
00:59:56,099 --> 00:59:59,759
Dr. Arnold Weg: damage  is  the  source  of  most  illness.  It  protects  your 

1007
00:59:59,760 --> 01:00:03,630
Dr. Arnold Weg: chromosomes  by  increasing  the  length  of  these  bumper  guards  called 

1008
01:00:03,630 --> 01:00:07,650
Dr. Arnold Weg: telomeres.  It's  been  shown  that  people  who  exercise  regularly  have 

1009
01:00:07,650 --> 01:00:12,870
Dr. Arnold Weg: longer  telomeres.  They're  protected  from  damage,  protected  from  disease,  protected 

1010
01:00:12,870 --> 01:00:16,649
Dr. Arnold Weg: from  cancer.  Running  is  the  biggest  bang  for  the  buck. 

1011
01:00:16,830 --> 01:00:19,169
Dr. Arnold Weg: If  you  have  limited  time running's,  the  best  thing  you  could 

1012
01:00:19,169 --> 01:00:21,960
Dr. Arnold Weg: do.  It's  even  better  than  biking.  You  have  to  do 

1013
01:00:21,960 --> 01:00:24,630
Dr. Arnold Weg: about  three  miles  on  a  bike  for  one  mile  of  running.

1014
01:00:25,710 --> 01:00:28,650
Meb: Running  is  difficult.  But  what  are  some  of  the  unique 

1015
01:00:28,650 --> 01:00:32,579
Meb: challenges  that  senior  runners  face  and  how  do  you  personally 

1016
01:00:32,580 --> 01:00:34,050
Meb: navigate  those  challenges?

1017
01:00:34,289 --> 01:00:37,530
Dr. Arnold Weg: Right.  I  can  say  it on a  personal  level  and  on  a 

1018
01:00:37,530 --> 01:00:42,360
Dr. Arnold Weg: general  level.  I'm  68  years  old  now.  Obviously  as  you 

1019
01:00:42,360 --> 01:00:44,970
Dr. Arnold Weg: get  older,  I  tell  patients  it's  not  a  question  of 

1020
01:00:45,210 --> 01:00:47,429
Dr. Arnold Weg: whether  you're  going  to  feel  pain  on  any  given  day, 

1021
01:00:47,429 --> 01:00:49,379
Dr. Arnold Weg: it's  just  a  question  of  what's  going  to  hurt  on 

1022
01:00:49,380 --> 01:00:52,320
Dr. Arnold Weg: that  particular  day.  One  day  it  could  be  your  knee, 

1023
01:00:52,320 --> 01:00:54,029
Dr. Arnold Weg: one  day  it  could  be your  back,  one  day  it  could 

1024
01:00:54,029 --> 01:00:56,790
Dr. Arnold Weg: be  a  hip.  The challenge is  to  get  out  there  and  run 

1025
01:00:56,790 --> 01:01:02,220
Dr. Arnold Weg: anyway.  Whether  it's  racing  or  running,  training  or  otherwise  or 

1026
01:01:02,220 --> 01:01:05,490
Dr. Arnold Weg: just  the  fitness,  we  have  to  get  used  to  the 

1027
01:01:05,490 --> 01:01:07,319
Dr. Arnold Weg: fact  that  as  we  get  older,  we're  not  going  to 

1028
01:01:07,320 --> 01:01:09,539
Dr. Arnold Weg: be  able  to  feel  the  same  while  we're  running.
 We 

1029
01:01:09,540 --> 01:01:11,430
Dr. Arnold Weg: might  have  to  stop  in  the  middle  of  a  run. 

1030
01:01:11,699 --> 01:01:15,780
Dr. Arnold Weg: We  might  have  to  take  an  anti- inflammatory  before.  Doing 

1031
01:01:15,780 --> 01:01:19,860
Dr. Arnold Weg: races  quite  frankly,  can  sometimes  be  a  little  intimidating  because 

1032
01:01:19,860 --> 01:01:22,290
Dr. Arnold Weg: you  have  everybody  else  passing  you  and  you're  just  there 

1033
01:01:22,290 --> 01:01:26,339
Dr. Arnold Weg: struggling.  But  I  still  encourage  people  as  well  as  myself 

1034
01:01:27,120 --> 01:01:30,479
Dr. Arnold Weg: and  make  them  understand  that  the  effort  of  going  out 

1035
01:01:30,510 --> 01:01:32,580
Dr. Arnold Weg: there  and  doing  the  run.  The  effort  is  showing  up 

1036
01:01:32,580 --> 01:01:34,830
Dr. Arnold Weg: to  a  race  on  a  Sunday  morning  at  8: 00 AM.


1037
01:01:34,830 --> 01:01:37,590
Dr. Arnold Weg: The  effort  of  going  out  there  and  running  is  well 

1038
01:01:37,590 --> 01:01:41,280
Dr. Arnold Weg: worth  it  for  all of  the  benefits.  As  a  senior  runner, 

1039
01:01:41,550 --> 01:01:44,940
Dr. Arnold Weg: even  though  it's  harder,  even  though  your  goals  have  to 

1040
01:01:44,940 --> 01:01:49,800
Dr. Arnold Weg: be  adjusted,  even  though  it's  that  much  more  challenging,  you 

1041
01:01:49,800 --> 01:01:53,580
Dr. Arnold Weg: have  to  continue  to  do  it.  Because  the  rewards  are 

1042
01:01:53,580 --> 01:01:55,950
Dr. Arnold Weg: immense  and  I  think  they're  both  short- term  and  long-

1043
01:01:55,950 --> 01:01:59,160
Dr. Arnold Weg: term  rewards.  That's  what  keeps  me  and  my  patients  and 

1044
01:01:59,160 --> 01:02:01,500
Dr. Arnold Weg: anyone  I  can  encourage  to  continue  to  do  it  as 

1045
01:02:01,500 --> 01:02:03,660
Dr. Arnold Weg: they  get  older,  to  continue  running.

1046
01:02:04,109 --> 01:02:06,450
Meb: I  completely  agree,  is  to  be  able  to  just  get 

1047
01:02:06,480 --> 01:02:09,900
Meb: out  and  motivate  yourself  and  get  a  race  going.  But 

1048
01:02:10,230 --> 01:02:14,370
Meb: what  are  some  of  the  challenges  to  keep  you  motivated 

1049
01:02:14,730 --> 01:02:17,819
Meb: as  we  get  older  with  limitation  of  aging?  What  would 

1050
01:02:18,059 --> 01:02:21,750
Meb: their  advice  be  those  people?  Because  for  me  personally, being  an 

1051
01:02:21,750 --> 01:02:26,190
Meb: elite  athlete, I can't run my PRs, but  I still  love  running  five  days  a  week.  But 

1052
01:02:26,190 --> 01:02:29,160
Meb: injuries  or  sometimes  you  have  to  stop.  I  done  those 

1053
01:02:29,160 --> 01:02:31,530
Meb: times  where  you  have  side  ache  or  other  things.  But 

1054
01:02:31,530 --> 01:02:34,410
Meb: what  motivates  people  to  keep  going?  What  should  it  be?

1055
01:02:34,770 --> 01:02:38,489
Dr. Arnold Weg: Well,  we  all  know  that  after  a  run,  whether  it's 

1056
01:02:38,490 --> 01:02:40,529
Dr. Arnold Weg: a  long  run  or  a  short  run,  and  certainly  if 

1057
01:02:40,529 --> 01:02:43,110
Dr. Arnold Weg: you  cross  the  finish  line  for  a  race,  there's  a 

1058
01:02:43,110 --> 01:02:48,390
Dr. Arnold Weg: tremendous,  tremendous  adrenaline  rush,  a  tremendous  feeling  of  accomplishment.  That's 

1059
01:02:48,390 --> 01:02:50,610
Dr. Arnold Weg: in  the  long  run. In  the  short  run  while  you're  running, 

1060
01:02:50,610 --> 01:02:54,630
Dr. Arnold Weg: you're  raising  endorphins  and  you're  raising  anti- inflammatory  proteins.  Even 

1061
01:02:54,630 --> 01:02:57,570
Dr. Arnold Weg: if  you  feel  not  so  good  when  you  start,  as 

1062
01:02:57,570 --> 01:03:01,590
Dr. Arnold Weg: you  continue,  even  though  some  joints  might  hurt  you  worse, 

1063
01:03:01,860 --> 01:03:05,550
Dr. Arnold Weg: generally  speaking,  you  feel  better.  I  think  it's  the  inertia 

1064
01:03:05,550 --> 01:03:08,579
Dr. Arnold Weg: against  getting  started.  That's  the  main  thing.  But  I  encourage 

1065
01:03:08,580 --> 01:03:11,729
Dr. Arnold Weg: people  to  understand  that  if  they  get  out  there  and 

1066
01:03:11,730 --> 01:03:14,009
Dr. Arnold Weg: they  do  it  and  they  complete  a  training  run  or 

1067
01:03:14,009 --> 01:03:17,849
Dr. Arnold Weg: they  complete  a  training  cycle or  they  complete  a  race,  it's 

1068
01:03:17,850 --> 01:03:19,950
Dr. Arnold Weg: going  to  be  well  worth all of  the  investment.

1069
01:03:20,340 --> 01:03:22,590
Meb: Arnie,  I  completely  agree  with  you  and  I  think  the 

1070
01:03:22,590 --> 01:03:26,099
Meb: hardest  part  is  lacing  those  shoes  up  and  getting  out 

1071
01:03:26,099 --> 01:03:29,280
Meb: the  door. I  have  not  met  any  person  that  says,  I 

1072
01:03:29,280 --> 01:03:32,189
Meb: hated  that  run.  I  regret  it.  Usually  the  endorphin  kicks 

1073
01:03:32,190 --> 01:03:34,289
Meb: in  then  after  a  high  kicks  in  and  it's  like, 

1074
01:03:34,350 --> 01:03:36,209
Meb: I'm  glad  I  got  my  three  miles  in.  I'm  glad 

1075
01:03:36,209 --> 01:03:41,130
Meb: I  got  my  five  miles  in. For you, you have been  an  inspiration  for  trying 

1076
01:03:41,130 --> 01:03:44,700
Meb: to  lose  weight  now  doing  marathons  and  helping  others  accomplish 

1077
01:03:44,700 --> 01:03:46,021
Meb: their  goals.  Thank  you  for  everything  that you do for the sport.

1078
01:03:46,021 --> 01:03:51,240
Dr. Arnold Weg: Well, it's my honor to  be  part  of it and  I  think  the  roadrunners  is  better 

1079
01:03:51,240 --> 01:03:53,789
Dr. Arnold Weg: now  than  it's  ever  been.  I  think  this  podcast  is 

1080
01:03:53,789 --> 01:03:57,840
Dr. Arnold Weg: extraordinary.  I  think  Rob  and  you  and Becs  and  everybody  else 

1081
01:03:57,840 --> 01:04:01,920
Dr. Arnold Weg: that's  involved  in  the  projects  are  unparalleled  and  the  best 

1082
01:04:01,920 --> 01:04:03,960
Dr. Arnold Weg: we've  had  since  I've  been  a  member  of  the  Roadrunner. 

1083
01:04:04,230 --> 01:04:07,410
Dr. Arnold Weg: Thank  you  for  all of  your  efforts.  You're  an  inspiration  and 

1084
01:04:07,410 --> 01:04:12,810
Dr. Arnold Weg: a  continued  scion  for  me.  Thank  you so  much.

1085
01:04:13,170 --> 01:04:15,240
Meb: Thanks,  Arnie.  I  know  the  New  York  Roadrunners  is  to 

1086
01:04:15,240 --> 01:04:18,450
Meb: inspire  people  to the  sport  of  running, and  I  think  they've  done 

1087
01:04:18,450 --> 01:04:20,910
Meb: a  great  job  and  continue  to  do  so.  I  feel 

1088
01:04:20,910 --> 01:04:24,600
Meb: very  fortunate  to  be  part  of  their  journey  since  2002 

1089
01:04:24,690 --> 01:04:27,210
Meb: or  be  able  to  just  keep  doing  it  because  helping 

1090
01:04:27,210 --> 01:04:30,840
Meb: others  achieved  their  goals  has  a  tremendous  honor.  It's  like 

1091
01:04:30,840 --> 01:04:33,060
Meb: smile.  You  see  people  exercise  like,  oh,  I  got  to 

1092
01:04:33,060 --> 01:04:35,340
Meb: get  my  miles  in.  You  have  the  great  work  New 

1093
01:04:35,340 --> 01:04:37,170
Meb: York  Roadrunners.  We're  so  proud  of  you  guys.

1094
01:04:37,620 --> 01:04:38,100
Dr. Arnold Weg: Thank  you.

1095
01:04:38,460 --> 01:04:40,499
Rob Simmelkjaer: Thank  you  so  much  for  joining  us,  Dr.  Weg and  for 

1096
01:04:40,500 --> 01:04:43,349
Rob Simmelkjaer: being  a  member  of  New  York  Roadrunners.  Before  we  get 

1097
01:04:43,349 --> 01:04:45,750
Rob Simmelkjaer: to  today's  Meb  Minute,  we  are  in  week  three  of 

1098
01:04:45,750 --> 01:04:50,790
Rob Simmelkjaer: three  of  our  2024  TCS  New  York  City  Marathon  complimentary 

1099
01:04:50,880 --> 01:04:54,540
Rob Simmelkjaer: entry  giveaway  here  on  Set  the  Pace.  On  last  week's 

1100
01:04:54,540 --> 01:04:58,260
Rob Simmelkjaer: episode, Becs and  I  were  joined  by  her  fellow  Peloton  instructor,  Logan 

1101
01:04:58,260 --> 01:05:01,950
Rob Simmelkjaer: Aldridge.  Logan  announced  that  he's  running  this  year's  TCS  New 

1102
01:05:01,950 --> 01:05:06,059
Rob Simmelkjaer: York  City  Marathon.  While  it's  his  first  time  tackling  the  26.

1103
01:05:06,059 --> 01:05:08,880
Rob Simmelkjaer: 2  miles  here  in  New  York,  it  will  not  be 

1104
01:05:08,880 --> 01:05:13,020
Rob Simmelkjaer: his  first  marathon.
 What  number  marathon  will  New  York  be 

1105
01:05:13,170 --> 01:05:16,410
Rob Simmelkjaer: for  Logan  this  fall?  Here's  a  hint.  That  answer  is 

1106
01:05:16,410 --> 01:05:19,200
Rob Simmelkjaer: in  last  week's  episode.  Go  back  and  take  a  listen. 

1107
01:05:19,349 --> 01:05:21,809
Rob Simmelkjaer: To  enter,  you  can  send  your  answer  along  with  a 

1108
01:05:21,809 --> 01:05:28,290
Rob Simmelkjaer: screenshot  proving  you've  subscribed  and  left  a  rating  to  nyrrpodcast@ nyrr.

1109
01:05:28,290 --> 01:05:30,600
Rob Simmelkjaer: org.  Let  me  tell  you,  this  is  one of the  best  chances 

1110
01:05:30,600 --> 01:05:34,020
Rob Simmelkjaer: you're  going  to  get  to  run  the 2024  TCS  New  York 

1111
01:05:34,020 --> 01:05:37,170
Rob Simmelkjaer: City  Marathon.  It's  worth  the  time.  Give  it  a  shot. 

1112
01:05:37,230 --> 01:05:44,160
Rob Simmelkjaer: All  rules  surrounding  this  sweepstakes  are  available @ nyrr. org/setthepace.  Now 

1113
01:05:44,220 --> 01:05:45,600
Rob Simmelkjaer: it's  time  for  today's  Meb Minute.

1114
01:05:46,290 --> 01:05:50,699
Meb: Thanks  Rob  Med  Minute  this  week  is  three  weeks  into 

1115
01:05:50,700 --> 01:05:53,190
Meb: it.  I  love  being  three  weeks  into  my  training.  The 

1116
01:05:53,190 --> 01:05:56,940
Meb: reason  is  I  really  believe  three  weeks  into  it,  you 

1117
01:05:56,940 --> 01:05:59,699
Meb: can  see  the  progress  that  you  have  made  from the day  you 

1118
01:05:59,699 --> 01:06:02,820
Meb: started  your  first  week  of  training.  It's  like,  oh  my 

1119
01:06:02,820 --> 01:06:05,610
Meb: gosh,  did  I make  the  right  commitment?  Am  I  going  to 

1120
01:06:05,610 --> 01:06:08,310
Meb: make  it?  But  now  you  can  see  the  progress,  the 

1121
01:06:08,340 --> 01:06:12,689
Meb: body  changing.  Your  psychology  changing.  It  is  important  to  be 

1122
01:06:12,690 --> 01:06:16,379
Meb: able  to  just  have  fun  and  keep  doing  the  progress.


1123
01:06:16,379 --> 01:06:19,002
Meb: Because  three  weeks  into  it,  this  is  like  (inaudible)  

1124
01:06:19,829 --> 01:06:22,530
Meb: first  getting  ready  for  the  TCS  New  York  City  Marathon. 

1125
01:06:22,890 --> 01:06:25,800
Meb: You  see  changes  in  your  body  and  that's  a  beautiful 

1126
01:06:25,800 --> 01:06:29,759
Meb: thing.  You  thinking,  have  I  had  my  good  base?  Am 

1127
01:06:29,759 --> 01:06:33,929
Meb: I  supposed  to  be  introducing  my  intense  workout  like  tempos? 

1128
01:06:34,770 --> 01:06:37,770
Meb: Not  there  yet,  but  you  are  thinking  about  those.  Because 

1129
01:06:37,770 --> 01:06:40,230
Meb: it's  your  self- confidence  of  saying,  hey,  I  want  to 

1130
01:06:40,230 --> 01:06:43,380
Meb: come  across  Central  Park  feeling  great,  and  this  is  where 

1131
01:06:43,650 --> 01:06:46,500
Meb: the  progress  and  the  work  starts.
 Three  weeks  into  it, 

1132
01:06:46,500 --> 01:06:49,380
Meb: you  see  the  lights  a  little  bit.  (inaudible)   with 

1133
01:06:49,380 --> 01:06:51,750
Meb: your  body,  be  able  to just say,  you  know  what?  I'm  getting 

1134
01:06:51,750 --> 01:06:54,990
Meb: stronger.  I  made  the  right  decision.  I  can't  wait  to 

1135
01:06:54,990 --> 01:06:58,170
Meb: come  to  November.  This  is  where  you  are  able  to 

1136
01:06:58,170 --> 01:07:01,740
Meb: see  the  difference  of  your  training.  Then  hopefully  you  have 

1137
01:07:01,740 --> 01:07:05,550
Meb: found,  trainer  partners  now  to  see  how  we  can  measure 

1138
01:07:05,550 --> 01:07:07,589
Meb: with  them.  It's a  good  idea  to  be  able  to  have 

1139
01:07:07,590 --> 01:07:10,409
Meb: people,  run  clubs  to  be  able  to  join  you  and 

1140
01:07:10,590 --> 01:07:13,830
Meb: be  able  to  just  enjoy  those  two,  three  miles  become 

1141
01:07:13,830 --> 01:07:16,830
Meb: four  miles,  maybe  even  six  miles.  Keep  up  the  great 

1142
01:07:16,830 --> 01:07:19,410
Meb: work.  You're  making  the  right  progress.  Get  ready  for  the 

1143
01:07:19,410 --> 01:07:24,780
Meb: TCS New York City  Marathon. It's  August,  but  summer's  almost  over.  Now  getting  ready 

1144
01:07:24,780 --> 01:07:28,500
Meb: for  the  fall  with  the  weather  changing.  Keep  getting  excited.

1145
01:07:29,160 --> 01:07:32,370
Rob Simmelkjaer: All  right,  that  does  it  for  another  action  packed  episode 

1146
01:07:32,370 --> 01:07:35,520
Rob Simmelkjaer: of  Set  the  Pace.  Thanks  again  to  today's  guest,  Paralympians 

1147
01:07:35,520 --> 01:07:39,090
Rob Simmelkjaer: Oksana  Masters  and  Aaron  Pike,  and  to  our  member  of 

1148
01:07:39,090 --> 01:07:42,000
Rob Simmelkjaer: the  week,  Dr.  Arnie  Weg.  If  you  like  this  episode, 

1149
01:07:42,000 --> 01:07:44,999
Rob Simmelkjaer: please  make  sure  to  rate  and  subscribe,  leave  a  comment, 

1150
01:07:45,000 --> 01:07:47,369
Rob Simmelkjaer: tell  your  friends.  We'd  love  to  have  more  of  you 

1151
01:07:47,369 --> 01:07:50,670
Rob Simmelkjaer: here  as  listeners  to  our  fun  little  podcast  here.  Hope 

1152
01:07:50,670 --> 01:07:52,740
Rob Simmelkjaer: you  had  a  great,  great  week.  We'll  see  you  next 

1153
01:07:52,740 --> 01:07:53,820
Rob Simmelkjaer: week.  Enjoy  the  miles.