1 00:00:00,210 --> 00:00:03,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York Road Runners is a nonprofit organization with a vision 2 00:00:03,690 --> 00:00:07,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: to build healthier lives and stronger communities through the transformative 3 00:00:07,530 --> 00:00:10,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: power of running. The support of members and donors like 4 00:00:10,980 --> 00:00:14,309 Rob Simmelkjaer: you helps us achieve our mission to transform the health 5 00:00:14,309 --> 00:00:17,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: and well- being of our communities through inclusive and accessible 6 00:00:17,850 --> 00:00:22,470 Rob Simmelkjaer: running experiences empowering all to achieve their potential. Learn more 7 00:00:22,470 --> 00:00:25,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: and contribute at nyrr. org/ donate. 8 00:00:30,059 --> 00:00:34,469 Speaker 2: Thank you, New York. Today, we're reminded of the power 9 00:00:34,469 --> 00:00:39,330 Speaker 2: of community and the power of coming together. Athletes, on 10 00:00:39,330 --> 00:00:39,900 Speaker 2: your mark. 11 00:00:42,030 --> 00:00:45,600 Speaker 3: The first woman to finish for the second straight year 12 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:49,200 Speaker 3: here in the New York City Marathon is Miki Gorman, a smiling 13 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 3: Miki Gorman, and why not? 14 00:00:50,700 --> 00:00:52,379 Speaker 4: 2: 29:30, the time for Grete Waitz. 15 00:00:52,380 --> 00:00:56,610 Speaker 5: Look at the emotion of Shalane Flanagan as she comes 16 00:00:56,610 --> 00:00:57,360 Speaker 5: to the line. 17 00:00:57,540 --> 00:01:01,560 Speaker 6: Pointing to his chest, pointing to the USA he so proudly 18 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:10,199 Speaker 6: wears across his chest. A great day for Meb Keflezighi. 19 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:13,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: Hey, everybody, and welcome to another episode of Set the 20 00:01:13,470 --> 00:01:17,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: Pace, presented by Peloton. We are the official podcast of 21 00:01:17,490 --> 00:01:20,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York Road Runners. I'm New York Road Runner's CEO, 22 00:01:20,340 --> 00:01:23,819 Rob Simmelkjaer: Rob Simmelkjaer, and with me all the way from her 23 00:01:24,090 --> 00:01:29,759 Rob Simmelkjaer: home country of The United Kingdom, my cohost Becs Gentry. Becs, 24 00:01:29,789 --> 00:01:32,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: good to see you from across the pond today. How 25 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:32,970 Rob Simmelkjaer: you doing over there? 26 00:01:32,970 --> 00:01:37,380 Becs Gentry: Good afternoon. I'm doing very well in this sweltering English 27 00:01:37,380 --> 00:01:42,059 Becs Gentry: heat with no air conditioning. But yeah, it's great over 28 00:01:42,059 --> 00:01:45,690 Becs Gentry: here. I'm getting my miles in. Well, when nap time 29 00:01:45,690 --> 00:01:47,609 Becs Gentry: happens. But no, all good. 30 00:01:47,609 --> 00:01:50,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: Sweltering English heat, what's that? Like 79 degrees? 31 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:55,230 Becs Gentry: You jest. It's actually in the 80s. I'm shocked. But it 32 00:01:55,230 --> 00:02:00,000 Becs Gentry: feels more like 100 without. I feel precious now, looking 33 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:05,760 Becs Gentry: for the A. C. I was here for 18 years, I grew up when it used 34 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:08,190 Becs Gentry: to be hot here properly with no air conditioning and 35 00:02:08,190 --> 00:02:09,660 Becs Gentry: now I'm like, " Oh, where's my air conditioning?" 36 00:02:12,660 --> 00:02:15,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: We have fully spoiled you here in The United States 37 00:02:15,540 --> 00:02:19,349 Rob Simmelkjaer: with our air conditioning ways. I get it. You're back 38 00:02:19,349 --> 00:02:21,299 Rob Simmelkjaer: in the old country now, where they open a window 39 00:02:21,299 --> 00:02:22,109 Rob Simmelkjaer: and turn on a fan. 40 00:02:22,109 --> 00:02:22,199 Becs Gentry: Yes. 41 00:02:22,199 --> 00:02:26,669 Rob Simmelkjaer: So hopefully you'll survive. It has certainly been hot enough 42 00:02:26,669 --> 00:02:30,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: over here, Becs. We had a very hot week in 43 00:02:30,540 --> 00:02:34,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York last week and still managed to pull off 44 00:02:34,740 --> 00:02:37,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: a race on Sunday with our friends at Achilles. We'll 45 00:02:37,410 --> 00:02:40,049 Rob Simmelkjaer: talk about that in just a second, but we've got an absolutely 46 00:02:40,049 --> 00:02:43,918 Rob Simmelkjaer: packed show today, a lot of information about run clubs, 47 00:02:44,010 --> 00:02:47,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: about coaching and upcoming races. And by the way, we 48 00:02:47,460 --> 00:02:49,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: usually do this at the end of the show, but 49 00:02:49,620 --> 00:02:52,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: today we're starting at the beginning, to ask everybody out 50 00:02:52,500 --> 00:02:55,529 Rob Simmelkjaer: there, if you're listening, to leave us a review. If 51 00:02:55,530 --> 00:02:59,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: you're listening on the Apple iTunes podcast app, you can 52 00:02:59,010 --> 00:03:01,919 Rob Simmelkjaer: actually not just rate the show, give us a five- 53 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:04,889 Rob Simmelkjaer: star rating, but you can also ask us a question 54 00:03:04,889 --> 00:03:07,679 Rob Simmelkjaer: or leave a comment. We'll actually give you a shout- 55 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:10,078 Rob Simmelkjaer: out on the show or maybe even answer your question 56 00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:12,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: to me or to Becs. So go into those comment 57 00:03:12,630 --> 00:03:15,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: sections, leave us a review, send us a message or 58 00:03:15,450 --> 00:03:17,369 Rob Simmelkjaer: a question or a comment. We'd love to hear from 59 00:03:17,369 --> 00:03:20,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: you, and we will shout it out right here on 60 00:03:20,370 --> 00:03:23,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: the show, whatever platform you're listening on. It also helps 61 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:26,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: other people to find the show, as well. But, Becs, 62 00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:29,459 Rob Simmelkjaer: speaking of the hot weather, so we had a hot, 63 00:03:29,460 --> 00:03:32,459 Rob Simmelkjaer: hot weekend and managed to do a lot this past 64 00:03:32,460 --> 00:03:35,009 Rob Simmelkjaer: weekend in New York. We had a brand new event, 65 00:03:35,010 --> 00:03:38,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: first of all, on Saturday, something called The Dog Days 66 00:03:38,490 --> 00:03:41,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: of Summer, and this was so much fun. This was 67 00:03:41,100 --> 00:03:42,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: one of our open runs, Becs, which- 68 00:03:42,420 --> 00:03:43,410 Becs Gentry: I am so mad. 69 00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:49,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: You missed the Dog Days event, exactly. I don't even 70 00:03:49,110 --> 00:03:51,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: know. You wanted to bring your pup to this or 71 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:51,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: do you- 72 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:51,961 Becs Gentry: I wanted to bring- 73 00:03:51,961 --> 00:03:53,070 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... have a dog? I don't even know this. 74 00:03:53,670 --> 00:03:54,150 Becs Gentry: I have two, I have two. 75 00:03:54,510 --> 00:03:56,161 Rob Simmelkjaer: What breed are they? What are they? Who are they? 76 00:03:56,161 --> 00:03:59,010 Becs Gentry: Who are they, who are they? They are two little... 77 00:04:00,870 --> 00:04:05,969 Becs Gentry: they are big dogs. We have Dot, who is a six- and- a- half- year- 78 00:04:05,969 --> 00:04:11,339 Becs Gentry: old Weimaraner, who loves to run. And we have Maurice, 79 00:04:11,369 --> 00:04:15,420 Becs Gentry: who is a four- year- old English Cream Golden Retriever, who 80 00:04:15,630 --> 00:04:17,370 Becs Gentry: detests running. 81 00:04:18,150 --> 00:04:21,659 Rob Simmelkjaer: It's so funny, Becs, I've got a very similar situation 82 00:04:21,660 --> 00:04:27,509 Rob Simmelkjaer: with my two Whoodles. I've got two Whoodles. A Whoodle is a Wheaten Terrier combined 83 00:04:27,509 --> 00:04:30,659 Rob Simmelkjaer: with a Poodle, so one of the many doodle breeds our there. But 84 00:04:30,990 --> 00:04:33,539 Rob Simmelkjaer: I've got Frankie, who's the black one of the two, 85 00:04:33,540 --> 00:04:36,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: and he loves to run and loves to run long 86 00:04:36,270 --> 00:04:39,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: distances. And then, I've got Mookie, who he'll sprint with 87 00:04:39,540 --> 00:04:41,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: you for like 100 meters, but then he's done. He 88 00:04:41,910 --> 00:04:45,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: doesn't want to go any distance at all. But both 89 00:04:45,210 --> 00:04:47,878 Rob Simmelkjaer: Mookie and Frankie came with me to the Dog Days 90 00:04:47,879 --> 00:04:50,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: of Summer, which was an open run. So it was one of 91 00:04:50,580 --> 00:04:54,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: our free park runs that we do every single week 92 00:04:54,270 --> 00:04:57,388 Rob Simmelkjaer: all over the city in 16 parks all over New York 93 00:04:57,389 --> 00:05:00,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: City. Anybody who's interested in going out and getting a 94 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:02,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: free run with a great group of people can check 95 00:05:02,460 --> 00:05:04,949 Rob Simmelkjaer: out open run and join any one of them. But 96 00:05:04,949 --> 00:05:06,839 Rob Simmelkjaer: this was the first time we had one that was 97 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:11,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: specifically dog themed, and it was in Inwood Park in 98 00:05:11,190 --> 00:05:14,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: Upper Manhattan, and so I drove down from Connecticut with 99 00:05:14,130 --> 00:05:17,938 Rob Simmelkjaer: Mookie and Frankie in the car, and it was so 100 00:05:17,940 --> 00:05:21,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: hot, but they were still so into it. They met 101 00:05:21,990 --> 00:05:25,409 Rob Simmelkjaer: some other dog friends and there were treats for them 102 00:05:25,410 --> 00:05:28,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: and there was water and we did one loop of 103 00:05:28,380 --> 00:05:30,719 Rob Simmelkjaer: the park out of the three that we were supposed 104 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:33,059 Rob Simmelkjaer: to do, because Mookie was like, "No, no, no. I'm done. 105 00:05:33,059 --> 00:05:35,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: This is way too hot for me." But it was 106 00:05:35,580 --> 00:05:38,309 Rob Simmelkjaer: so much fun. We're going to have three more of 107 00:05:38,309 --> 00:05:42,659 Rob Simmelkjaer: those events coming up in Queens and Staten Island throughout 108 00:05:42,660 --> 00:05:45,959 Rob Simmelkjaer: the summer, so check those out at nyrr. org. And 109 00:05:45,959 --> 00:05:48,479 Rob Simmelkjaer: Becs, you still have three more chances to get Dot 110 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:49,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: out there for a run. 111 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:52,678 Becs Gentry: I can't wait. I will get Maurice to bring his pom- 112 00:05:52,678 --> 00:05:57,630 Becs Gentry: poms to cheer in the shade, but I can't wait 113 00:05:57,630 --> 00:06:00,810 Becs Gentry: to come along to the next one of those, for 114 00:06:00,810 --> 00:06:03,750 Becs Gentry: sure. But as I'm over here in The UK, I 115 00:06:03,750 --> 00:06:08,010 Becs Gentry: was checking New York Road Runner's social and I saw 116 00:06:08,070 --> 00:06:13,349 Becs Gentry: that you were watching the weather ahead of the Achilles four- 117 00:06:13,349 --> 00:06:18,900 Becs Gentry: miler and that was so wonderful to see, when you 118 00:06:18,900 --> 00:06:21,988 Becs Gentry: put out the announcement that you had confirmed that it 119 00:06:21,990 --> 00:06:26,428 Becs Gentry: was safe temperatures for the Achilles four- mile race to 120 00:06:26,428 --> 00:06:32,460 Becs Gentry: go ahead. There were some really fast times, Rob, for the 121 00:06:32,460 --> 00:06:34,380 Becs Gentry: weather. The top finishers were phenomenal. 122 00:06:34,380 --> 00:06:34,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, it was- 123 00:06:35,039 --> 00:06:36,570 Becs Gentry: I mean, everyone was phenomenal, but wow. 124 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:42,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah. It cooled off just enough. There's a reason we 125 00:06:42,750 --> 00:06:45,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: have these races in the summer at 8: 00 in the morning or 7: 126 00:06:45,570 --> 00:06:48,388 Rob Simmelkjaer: 45, because it makes a big difference, and we just 127 00:06:48,389 --> 00:06:51,089 Rob Simmelkjaer: got enough cool air. It was still humid, but a 128 00:06:51,089 --> 00:06:54,839 Rob Simmelkjaer: bit of cloud cover, obviously, early morning temperatures made it 129 00:06:54,870 --> 00:06:57,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: pretty bearable, I think, for most of the runners who 130 00:06:57,150 --> 00:07:00,089 Rob Simmelkjaer: had a great, great day. We had over 5, 000 131 00:07:00,089 --> 00:07:04,678 Rob Simmelkjaer: finishers at the Achilles four- mile race, the Hope & Possibility 132 00:07:04,678 --> 00:07:08,039 Rob Simmelkjaer: race with our amazing partners at Achilles in Central Park. 133 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:12,299 Rob Simmelkjaer: And yeah, the winners were really impressive. Jennifer Walrad was 134 00:07:12,299 --> 00:07:19,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: the female winner at 24:02. It was Guillaume Flamarion at 21: 48 for the men, 135 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:21,870 Rob Simmelkjaer: coming up in the lead. And then, in non- binary, 136 00:07:22,020 --> 00:07:27,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: Pierce Lydon at 25: 17. But a great day, an inspiring 137 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:30,179 Rob Simmelkjaer: day with our friends at Achilles. And also, one of 138 00:07:30,180 --> 00:07:32,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: the things that made that race special was that we 139 00:07:32,340 --> 00:07:36,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: paid tribute to Dick Traum, who was the incredible founder 140 00:07:36,810 --> 00:07:41,099 Rob Simmelkjaer: of Achilles, and also a very important figure in New 141 00:07:41,099 --> 00:07:44,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: York Road Runners, a former board member. Dick passed away 142 00:07:44,460 --> 00:07:48,360 Rob Simmelkjaer: earlier this year, and the bibs for the race pay 143 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:51,869 Rob Simmelkjaer: tribute to Dick, showed a picture of him, and I 144 00:07:51,870 --> 00:07:55,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: think a lot of people were just really happy to 145 00:07:55,020 --> 00:07:59,159 Rob Simmelkjaer: honor Dick, speeches from the stage at the starting line, 146 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:01,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: and a lot of commemorations of Dick and the great 147 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:05,639 Rob Simmelkjaer: work he did. Because creating Achilles really changed the world, 148 00:08:05,639 --> 00:08:09,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: in so many ways, for athletes with disabilities. It really 149 00:08:09,630 --> 00:08:13,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: did create, as our race is called, Hope & Possibility for 150 00:08:13,380 --> 00:08:17,309 Rob Simmelkjaer: people out there to be athletes, to run races, to 151 00:08:17,309 --> 00:08:19,709 Rob Simmelkjaer: achieve the kinds of things that we all like to 152 00:08:19,710 --> 00:08:22,799 Rob Simmelkjaer: achieve as runners, even if they don't have the same 153 00:08:22,799 --> 00:08:25,589 Rob Simmelkjaer: physical abilities as many of us. So that was an honor for us 154 00:08:26,190 --> 00:08:27,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: to pay tribute to Dick. 155 00:08:27,930 --> 00:08:33,030 Becs Gentry: Wow. Absolutely beautiful. And then, we've got another race this 156 00:08:33,030 --> 00:08:36,300 Becs Gentry: coming weekend, to round out what has been, I think, 157 00:08:36,509 --> 00:08:39,750 Becs Gentry: a hugely busy June. We have the Front Runners New 158 00:08:39,750 --> 00:08:44,700 Becs Gentry: York LGBT Pride Run, four miles. And I know I 159 00:08:44,700 --> 00:08:47,190 Becs Gentry: have a lot of friends who have been training for 160 00:08:47,190 --> 00:08:50,819 Becs Gentry: this, a lot of first time racers, in fact, who 161 00:08:50,820 --> 00:08:53,969 Becs Gentry: have signed up for this race, it's very special to 162 00:08:53,969 --> 00:08:58,830 Becs Gentry: them. So big, big cheering from this side of the 163 00:08:58,830 --> 00:09:01,830 Becs Gentry: pond for this final race of June. 164 00:09:02,040 --> 00:09:05,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yes. I can't wait, Becs, to get out there for the 165 00:09:05,100 --> 00:09:08,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: Pride race, four miles, again, in Central Park on Saturday 166 00:09:08,700 --> 00:09:13,259 Rob Simmelkjaer: with our incredible partners at Front Runners and this is 167 00:09:13,259 --> 00:09:16,559 Rob Simmelkjaer: really a great way to kick off the big Pride 168 00:09:16,559 --> 00:09:18,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: Weekend in New York City at the end of June 169 00:09:18,780 --> 00:09:22,559 Rob Simmelkjaer: every year, always a great turnout, always a tremendous amount 170 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:26,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: of pride, literally, out there for this race. So can't 171 00:09:26,130 --> 00:09:31,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: wait to be out there and Front Runners is an 172 00:09:31,110 --> 00:09:34,889 Rob Simmelkjaer: incredible organization, an incredible club that has done so much 173 00:09:34,889 --> 00:09:39,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: for LGBTQ+ people in New York, but really around the 174 00:09:39,900 --> 00:09:42,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: country and the world, in giving them a chance to 175 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:46,889 Rob Simmelkjaer: run and to be out there with folks from a 176 00:09:46,889 --> 00:09:51,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: wide range, of course, of backgrounds, but all celebrating LGBTQ+ 177 00:09:51,719 --> 00:09:55,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: pride. So we're just excited for that event. And speaking 178 00:09:55,049 --> 00:09:58,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: of clubs, and impactful clubs, Becs, our guest on the 179 00:09:58,260 --> 00:10:01,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: show a little bit later is someone who has created 180 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:04,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: a club that is changing the world as we speak. 181 00:10:04,469 --> 00:10:07,949 Rob Simmelkjaer: Tyler Swartz of the Endorphins Running Club is going to be with 182 00:10:07,950 --> 00:10:11,429 Rob Simmelkjaer: us to talk about Endorphins and the incredible growth that 183 00:10:11,429 --> 00:10:13,828 Rob Simmelkjaer: that club had had. It just started less than two 184 00:10:13,830 --> 00:10:18,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: years ago, already has 18, 000 members around the world, so 185 00:10:18,330 --> 00:10:21,689 Rob Simmelkjaer: Tyler will be here to talk about Endorphins and just 186 00:10:21,690 --> 00:10:24,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: the story of how this thing has absolutely taken off, 187 00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:27,449 Rob Simmelkjaer: Becs. Looking forward to that in just a little bit. 188 00:10:27,839 --> 00:10:29,998 Rob Simmelkjaer: Becs, one other thing I want to touch on before 189 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:33,328 Rob Simmelkjaer: we get to Tyler, we had a big announcement this 190 00:10:33,330 --> 00:10:36,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: week at New York Road Runners, something that is really 191 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:40,229 Rob Simmelkjaer: important to me and to so many senior folks on 192 00:10:40,230 --> 00:10:42,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: our board and our senior team at New York Road 193 00:10:42,900 --> 00:10:47,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: Runners, which is sustainability. And so, this week, we announced 194 00:10:47,520 --> 00:10:50,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: something that people love anyway, a new way into the 195 00:10:50,910 --> 00:10:55,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: TCS New York City Marathon, a new program called NYRR 196 00:10:55,140 --> 00:10:58,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: Team for Climate. And Becs, this is a way to get 197 00:10:58,530 --> 00:11:00,509 Rob Simmelkjaer: into the marathon. It's really hard to get in. We 198 00:11:00,509 --> 00:11:03,419 Rob Simmelkjaer: just opened up a couple hundred new spots this week 199 00:11:03,420 --> 00:11:06,209 Rob Simmelkjaer: to get in, and it's a way for about 200 200 00:11:06,270 --> 00:11:10,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: runners to raise funds that will help us offset the 201 00:11:10,380 --> 00:11:13,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: carbon emissions from the TCS New York City Marathon. We 202 00:11:13,920 --> 00:11:17,549 Rob Simmelkjaer: know that people are traveling from around the country and 203 00:11:17,550 --> 00:11:20,309 Rob Simmelkjaer: the world to get to these races. We know that 204 00:11:20,309 --> 00:11:24,059 Rob Simmelkjaer: there is a carbon impact of this event. And Becs, 205 00:11:24,090 --> 00:11:27,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: we have a mission to create healthier lives and stronger 206 00:11:27,390 --> 00:11:31,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: communities through the transformative power of running, but we need 207 00:11:31,020 --> 00:11:33,659 Rob Simmelkjaer: a healthy planet to run on, if we're going to 208 00:11:33,660 --> 00:11:36,960 Rob Simmelkjaer: do that. And so, these lucky 200 or so runners 209 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:39,809 Rob Simmelkjaer: are going to help us by helping us offset that. 210 00:11:40,500 --> 00:11:42,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: The funds that are raised are going to go to 211 00:11:43,770 --> 00:11:47,970 Rob Simmelkjaer: projects in New York state. They are essentially forestry projects 212 00:11:48,210 --> 00:11:51,389 Rob Simmelkjaer: that are going to ensure this incredible space in upstate 213 00:11:51,389 --> 00:11:54,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York is going to be maintained as forest land 214 00:11:54,300 --> 00:11:57,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: for years to come, and of course, more trees means 215 00:11:57,210 --> 00:12:01,199 Rob Simmelkjaer: more carbon taken out of the atmosphere and a better 216 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:03,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: climate for all of us, so really excited to announce this. 217 00:12:04,080 --> 00:12:08,730 Becs Gentry: That was a wonderful announcement and I'm excited for everything 218 00:12:08,730 --> 00:12:12,780 Becs Gentry: in that, the 200 people who might get in, well will 219 00:12:12,780 --> 00:12:16,590 Becs Gentry: get in, but there's 200 more possibilities floating around out there 220 00:12:16,590 --> 00:12:20,819 Becs Gentry: of runners who are now doing something extra special for 221 00:12:20,820 --> 00:12:24,088 Becs Gentry: the planet. So yeah, congratulations on that. That's a really 222 00:12:24,090 --> 00:12:27,480 Becs Gentry: awesome thing to be doing. My goodness, are we waiting 223 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:29,190 Becs Gentry: for our feet up in July? 224 00:12:31,259 --> 00:12:34,259 Rob Simmelkjaer: Oh, yeah. We're going to be excited. June has been 225 00:12:34,260 --> 00:12:38,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: an incredibly busy month, and Becs, yesterday was the last day 226 00:12:38,250 --> 00:12:41,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: of school for New York City Public School students. Happy 227 00:12:41,130 --> 00:12:42,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: summer, kids. 228 00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:42,450 Becs Gentry: Yay. 229 00:12:44,970 --> 00:12:46,199 Rob Simmelkjaer: I know, one of the best days of the year, 230 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:48,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: right? So in honor of the school year coming to 231 00:12:48,630 --> 00:12:51,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: an end, today's member moment guest is a New York 232 00:12:51,570 --> 00:12:54,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: City Public School teacher and a program lead for the 233 00:12:54,780 --> 00:12:59,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: Rising NYRR program, our free running- based youth program, Christine 234 00:12:59,850 --> 00:13:03,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: Fajen will be here, and the great Meb Keflezighi will be 235 00:13:03,750 --> 00:13:08,639 Rob Simmelkjaer: here to interview Christine about working on Rising NYRR. And 236 00:13:08,639 --> 00:13:12,088 Rob Simmelkjaer: then, appropriately for today's Meb Minute, Meb will be giving 237 00:13:12,090 --> 00:13:15,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: us some of his best tips for youth coaches. So 238 00:13:15,660 --> 00:13:17,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: stay tuned for that, as well. 239 00:13:17,730 --> 00:13:21,030 Becs Gentry: Did you know that incorporating strength and cross- training is 240 00:13:21,030 --> 00:13:23,910 Becs Gentry: one of the most important parts of a runner's routine? 241 00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:27,870 Becs Gentry: Well, the Peloton app's got you. With a collection of 242 00:13:27,870 --> 00:13:30,480 Becs Gentry: workouts you can easily add to your race training regimen, 243 00:13:30,660 --> 00:13:34,590 Becs Gentry: reaching each goal just got easier. Track all your movement 244 00:13:34,679 --> 00:13:37,920 Becs Gentry: from strength to yoga to running, all in one place, 245 00:13:38,490 --> 00:13:41,309 Becs Gentry: the Peloton app. Try it now for 30 days free, 246 00:13:41,340 --> 00:13:44,520 Becs Gentry: no equipment needed. Find it in the App and Google 247 00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:49,440 Becs Gentry: Play stores. New paid memberships only, terms apply. Peloton, the 248 00:13:49,440 --> 00:13:52,380 Becs Gentry: official digital fitness partner for New York Road Runners. 249 00:13:52,410 --> 00:13:56,639 Rob Simmelkjaer: Becs, I am so excited to have our guest join 250 00:13:56,639 --> 00:14:00,929 Rob Simmelkjaer: us today. The Endorphins Run Club has been an absolute 251 00:14:01,020 --> 00:14:05,998 Rob Simmelkjaer: sensation. Founded less than two years ago in November 2022, 252 00:14:06,330 --> 00:14:11,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: it already has more than 15,000 members worldwide, including many 253 00:14:11,490 --> 00:14:14,728 Rob Simmelkjaer: here in New York, and it continues to grow. And 254 00:14:14,940 --> 00:14:17,699 Rob Simmelkjaer: Tyler Swartz joins us today. He is the founder of 255 00:14:17,700 --> 00:14:21,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: the Endorphins Run Club, and it really was born from 256 00:14:21,210 --> 00:14:27,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: his own personal passions, running and building communities inspired by 257 00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:29,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: the joy and energy he personally gets from running. And 258 00:14:29,940 --> 00:14:32,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: Tyler started this thing, and look at it now, it 259 00:14:32,460 --> 00:14:36,149 Rob Simmelkjaer: has just absolutely taken off. Tyler Swartz, so great to 260 00:14:36,150 --> 00:14:37,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: have you here on Set the Pace. Thanks for joining 261 00:14:37,980 --> 00:14:38,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: us. 262 00:14:39,030 --> 00:14:42,270 Tyler Swartz: I'm stoked to be here. When we grabbed coffee a couple weeks ago, 263 00:14:42,869 --> 00:14:44,340 Tyler Swartz: I was just soaking it all in and trying to 264 00:14:44,340 --> 00:14:46,170 Tyler Swartz: learn so much about New York Road Runners. I'm excited 265 00:14:46,170 --> 00:14:47,310 Tyler Swartz: to now share my story with you. 266 00:14:47,940 --> 00:14:52,559 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, and we're excited to share your story about Endorphins Run 267 00:14:52,559 --> 00:14:55,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: Club. So let's just start at the start of this. 268 00:14:55,799 --> 00:15:00,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: How did this begin? Where did you have this idea 269 00:15:00,990 --> 00:15:04,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: to start Endorphins? And there's so many running clubs out 270 00:15:04,200 --> 00:15:06,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: there. We talk a lot about the explosion of run 271 00:15:06,450 --> 00:15:08,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: clubs in the last few years, but how did you 272 00:15:08,610 --> 00:15:10,859 Rob Simmelkjaer: have this idea, and how did you want to make 273 00:15:10,860 --> 00:15:14,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: Endorphins different from what's already out there when it comes 274 00:15:14,160 --> 00:15:14,940 Rob Simmelkjaer: to running clubs? 275 00:15:15,600 --> 00:15:19,500 Tyler Swartz: Sure. That's a great question. The origin is no different 276 00:15:19,500 --> 00:15:22,350 Tyler Swartz: than many other runners. I was training for a race, 277 00:15:22,350 --> 00:15:25,650 Tyler Swartz: it happened to be a 50- mile ultramarathon, that may be different 278 00:15:25,650 --> 00:15:29,250 Tyler Swartz: from other races. But I wanted to train with other 279 00:15:29,250 --> 00:15:32,280 Tyler Swartz: people, and in this post- COVID world, I was lacking 280 00:15:32,280 --> 00:15:35,099 Tyler Swartz: social connection and a way to train with others. Many 281 00:15:35,100 --> 00:15:39,270 Tyler Swartz: of my friends were not runners, many of them just 282 00:15:39,270 --> 00:15:41,400 Tyler Swartz: weren't interested in training with me, so I started posting 283 00:15:41,400 --> 00:15:42,840 Tyler Swartz: on the internet saying, " Does anyone want to run with 284 00:15:42,840 --> 00:15:45,479 Tyler Swartz: me?," and the power of social media brought all of 285 00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:48,059 Tyler Swartz: us together, and it started with one person showing up 286 00:15:48,059 --> 00:15:50,490 Tyler Swartz: to run with me. And now, we're in 11 cities 287 00:15:50,490 --> 00:15:53,400 Tyler Swartz: and we have just about 18,000 members, as of yesterday, 288 00:15:53,670 --> 00:15:57,241 Tyler Swartz: and it's growing pretty fast, which is cool to see. 289 00:15:57,241 --> 00:16:02,849 Becs Gentry: Oh my gosh. Massive congratulations. That is awesome to hear that 18, 290 00:16:03,150 --> 00:16:06,960 Becs Gentry: 000 people around the country are all coming together in the 291 00:16:06,960 --> 00:16:11,520 Becs Gentry: exact same way that you initially wanted that connection. So 292 00:16:14,220 --> 00:16:16,620 Becs Gentry: when you got that connection with people, you got yourself 293 00:16:16,620 --> 00:16:19,830 Becs Gentry: out running, and then what was that transition in your 294 00:16:19,830 --> 00:16:23,969 Becs Gentry: mind like, from doing it for yourself, for that amazing 50- 295 00:16:23,969 --> 00:16:29,580 Becs Gentry: miler, by the way, to starting a run club, official? 296 00:16:29,790 --> 00:16:31,860 Tyler Swartz: Yeah, so I actually did not want to do it. We 297 00:16:31,860 --> 00:16:34,380 Tyler Swartz: hosted several runs, and it was more so a way 298 00:16:34,380 --> 00:16:38,280 Tyler Swartz: for me to interact with individuals in the running community and 299 00:16:38,280 --> 00:16:40,680 Tyler Swartz: meet other people. And then, we actually took a pause 300 00:16:40,860 --> 00:16:43,199 Tyler Swartz: and we decided that we weren't going to do it. 301 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:45,420 Tyler Swartz: And then, people started saying, " We want more of these 302 00:16:45,420 --> 00:16:49,260 Tyler Swartz: runs," and that's when I realized people in a post- 303 00:16:49,260 --> 00:16:52,500 Tyler Swartz: COVID world were really lacking social connection. People are working 304 00:16:52,500 --> 00:16:55,710 Tyler Swartz: from home, people are depressed, people are anxious, people lack 305 00:16:55,710 --> 00:16:59,759 Tyler Swartz: friends, people are lonely, and we created Endorphins as a way for 306 00:16:59,759 --> 00:17:02,040 Tyler Swartz: people to meet other people that show the same interests, 307 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:04,559 Tyler Swartz: that are like- minded individuals, so that way they can 308 00:17:04,559 --> 00:17:07,050 Tyler Swartz: make friends. We don't necessarily say it's about making friends, 309 00:17:07,050 --> 00:17:09,600 Tyler Swartz: but that's kind of deeply rooted in what we do. 310 00:17:10,950 --> 00:17:14,698 Rob Simmelkjaer: You're saying the things that I always talk about when 311 00:17:14,700 --> 00:17:18,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: people ask me why we're seeing this boom in running 312 00:17:18,690 --> 00:17:22,829 Rob Simmelkjaer: the last few years. You're really like a living example, 313 00:17:22,830 --> 00:17:26,129 Rob Simmelkjaer: and Endorphins is a living example of what is happening, 314 00:17:26,130 --> 00:17:29,940 Rob Simmelkjaer: right? The isolation we all had during COVID, the fact 315 00:17:29,940 --> 00:17:32,070 Rob Simmelkjaer: that there wasn't anything else we could do. We started 316 00:17:32,070 --> 00:17:35,489 Rob Simmelkjaer: running. Running alone was one thing, but then when people realized, " 317 00:17:35,490 --> 00:17:38,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: Wait a second. This can be a community for me, 318 00:17:38,700 --> 00:17:42,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: after all the isolation I've experienced during COVID," and maybe 319 00:17:42,240 --> 00:17:44,609 Rob Simmelkjaer: before, for a lot of us. I mean, isolation and 320 00:17:44,609 --> 00:17:47,940 Rob Simmelkjaer: loneliness is not a new thing. So what does someone 321 00:17:47,940 --> 00:17:51,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: experience, Tyler, when they join Endorphins? What happens? 322 00:17:52,679 --> 00:17:55,950 Tyler Swartz: Sure. There's a million run clubs, as you've alluded to. 323 00:17:55,950 --> 00:17:58,830 Tyler Swartz: I think the thing that sets us apart we are 324 00:17:58,830 --> 00:18:03,240 Tyler Swartz: very mission oriented. At all of our experiences, we set 325 00:18:03,240 --> 00:18:05,970 Tyler Swartz: the intention of our gathering by saying our mission and 326 00:18:05,970 --> 00:18:09,119 Tyler Swartz: explaining why we're there that day. I don't know many 327 00:18:09,119 --> 00:18:11,909 Tyler Swartz: other running organizations that even have a mission, I know 328 00:18:11,910 --> 00:18:14,250 Tyler Swartz: New York Road Runners has a mission, which we'll speak 329 00:18:14,250 --> 00:18:15,839 Tyler Swartz: about, but I don't know many other run clubs that 330 00:18:15,839 --> 00:18:19,469 Tyler Swartz: are mission driver or impact driven, and we're very intentional 331 00:18:19,469 --> 00:18:22,350 Tyler Swartz: about that. The mission is to spread positivity and happiness through 332 00:18:22,350 --> 00:18:24,750 Tyler Swartz: movement and exercise. At all of our events across the 333 00:18:24,750 --> 00:18:27,749 Tyler Swartz: country, we host about 30 events a week, we're on 334 00:18:27,750 --> 00:18:31,830 Tyler Swartz: pace to host about 1, 500 events this year, and every 335 00:18:31,830 --> 00:18:34,379 Tyler Swartz: single one of those events across the country, you will hear 336 00:18:34,379 --> 00:18:36,869 Tyler Swartz: that mission and it keeps us all connected. We all 337 00:18:36,869 --> 00:18:39,090 Tyler Swartz: know why we're there and it sets the intention for 338 00:18:39,090 --> 00:18:41,670 Tyler Swartz: the experience to be social first. I also always love 339 00:18:41,670 --> 00:18:43,830 Tyler Swartz: to say, " If you've been here before and you see 340 00:18:43,830 --> 00:18:46,170 Tyler Swartz: someone that you do not recognize, it's important to say 341 00:18:46,170 --> 00:18:48,570 Tyler Swartz: hello and welcome them into the group." And we say 342 00:18:48,570 --> 00:18:50,638 Tyler Swartz: that at the beginning of all of our runs, and then 343 00:18:50,638 --> 00:18:53,009 Tyler Swartz: when the people are there, they understand why they're there. 344 00:18:53,190 --> 00:18:56,280 Tyler Swartz: But also, we're empowering our existing members, the people who 345 00:18:56,280 --> 00:18:59,700 Tyler Swartz: have built our culture, to then spread positivity and happiness 346 00:18:59,700 --> 00:19:01,800 Tyler Swartz: by interacting with the new people and making them feel 347 00:19:01,800 --> 00:19:04,050 Tyler Swartz: included, and that's kind of been the snowball effect, and 348 00:19:04,050 --> 00:19:05,759 Tyler Swartz: I think that's why it's worked so well for us, 349 00:19:05,759 --> 00:19:07,918 Tyler Swartz: to date. And that speaks to our experiences and our 350 00:19:07,920 --> 00:19:11,729 Tyler Swartz: leaders and people feel endorphins at our events. 351 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:16,320 Becs Gentry: That's so lovely, and I think it's a really special 352 00:19:17,190 --> 00:19:20,460 Becs Gentry: way that you are welcoming people into the run club. 353 00:19:20,460 --> 00:19:26,219 Becs Gentry: Because, historically, running and run clubs are daunting. They are 354 00:19:26,219 --> 00:19:32,310 Becs Gentry: quite intimidating places to go to, because for a lot 355 00:19:32,310 --> 00:19:34,859 Becs Gentry: of people, myself included, when I first went to a run 356 00:19:34,859 --> 00:19:41,489 Becs Gentry: club, it was an immediate opportunity to compare myself. And 357 00:19:41,490 --> 00:19:44,520 Becs Gentry: I think what we're learning today with mental health is 358 00:19:44,520 --> 00:19:47,759 Becs Gentry: comparison is an evil these days. We just can't do 359 00:19:47,760 --> 00:19:51,119 Becs Gentry: that. And so, the fact that you are moving with 360 00:19:51,119 --> 00:19:56,580 Becs Gentry: that social thing first, with the movement, it's just movement, 361 00:19:56,638 --> 00:20:01,138 Becs Gentry: it doesn't matter what pace you're going at. So can 362 00:20:01,138 --> 00:20:03,089 Becs Gentry: you just tell our listeners a little bit more about 363 00:20:03,089 --> 00:20:06,990 Becs Gentry: how you make sure that with these almost 18,000 runners 364 00:20:06,990 --> 00:20:10,770 Becs Gentry: across multiple cities in the U. S., how do you 365 00:20:10,770 --> 00:20:15,779 Becs Gentry: ensure that all of your coaches are inclusive of everybody 366 00:20:15,780 --> 00:20:18,600 Becs Gentry: when you are actually out on the run moving? 367 00:20:19,500 --> 00:20:22,289 Tyler Swartz: Sure, so we have different tiers of involvement within our 368 00:20:22,289 --> 00:20:24,930 Tyler Swartz: group, but I think it's important that all of those 369 00:20:24,930 --> 00:20:28,830 Tyler Swartz: tiers, and I'll speak to them, understand their role and 370 00:20:28,830 --> 00:20:31,230 Tyler Swartz: their identity within the group, and they're also empowered to 371 00:20:31,290 --> 00:20:34,320 Tyler Swartz: be a leader. So that way anyone, whether you're a 372 00:20:34,320 --> 00:20:36,540 Tyler Swartz: coach, we have coaches, we also have what we call 373 00:20:36,540 --> 00:20:39,658 Tyler Swartz: city leads who manage the cities and make sure all 374 00:20:39,660 --> 00:20:41,459 Tyler Swartz: the events and logistics are happening. And then, we have 375 00:20:41,459 --> 00:20:45,150 Tyler Swartz: pace leads, people that set the pace for our events, 376 00:20:45,330 --> 00:20:47,820 Tyler Swartz: and then we also have members. And from the top 377 00:20:48,150 --> 00:20:51,480 Tyler Swartz: down, or from the bottom up, everyone understands their role 378 00:20:51,480 --> 00:20:54,570 Tyler Swartz: and identity and that's something that I'm working on quite 379 00:20:54,599 --> 00:20:57,000 Tyler Swartz: meticulously right now, as we scale, is to make sure 380 00:20:57,000 --> 00:20:59,729 Tyler Swartz: that everyone knows their purpose and why they're there and 381 00:20:59,730 --> 00:21:02,430 Tyler Swartz: how they can make sure that they're effecting positive change 382 00:21:02,430 --> 00:21:05,580 Tyler Swartz: for our members. And it's really complicated. Now, we have 383 00:21:05,580 --> 00:21:08,940 Tyler Swartz: 50 cities leads, we have three coaches, and we have 384 00:21:08,940 --> 00:21:12,300 Tyler Swartz: 18,000 members, and we have probably hundreds of pace leads. 385 00:21:12,509 --> 00:21:15,030 Tyler Swartz: Making sure that everyone understands their roles and responsibilities in 386 00:21:15,030 --> 00:21:17,668 Tyler Swartz: a volunteering based organization, no one's paid to do this. 387 00:21:17,940 --> 00:21:23,609 Tyler Swartz: So it's an organizational matrix and hierarchy, and it's really 388 00:21:23,609 --> 00:21:26,580 Tyler Swartz: complicated behind the scenes of how we're organizing things, and 389 00:21:28,020 --> 00:21:29,520 Tyler Swartz: I'm losing sleep over it every day, in a good 390 00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:31,019 Tyler Swartz: way, and it's not easy. 391 00:21:31,138 --> 00:21:32,221 Rob Simmelkjaer: It's like a startup, Tyler. 392 00:21:32,221 --> 00:21:32,790 Becs Gentry: It is. 393 00:21:32,790 --> 00:21:34,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: It really is. It's a startup. 394 00:21:34,380 --> 00:21:35,190 Becs Gentry: I was just going to say that. 395 00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:39,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: People who have done that, who've worked at a startup 396 00:21:39,900 --> 00:21:43,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: or are starting to actually start one themselves, know how all- 397 00:21:43,740 --> 00:21:47,579 Rob Simmelkjaer: encompassing it is, so I can understand the losing sleep 398 00:21:47,580 --> 00:21:51,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: part. Was there a moment in the early days when 399 00:21:51,570 --> 00:21:54,960 Rob Simmelkjaer: you realized you were onto something here? When did you realize, " 400 00:21:55,050 --> 00:21:57,930 Rob Simmelkjaer: Oh my gosh, there's really a lot of demand for 401 00:21:57,930 --> 00:22:01,168 Rob Simmelkjaer: what we're doing here, and this thing seems to be taking off"? 402 00:22:01,890 --> 00:22:05,070 Tyler Swartz: Totally. We hosted a social event in New York City, 403 00:22:05,070 --> 00:22:07,770 Tyler Swartz: there was no run. It was just a gathering for 404 00:22:07,770 --> 00:22:11,549 Tyler Swartz: people in Endorphins and the running community to come together, and 500 people 405 00:22:11,549 --> 00:22:14,728 Tyler Swartz: showed up. And the next day, I quit my job. 406 00:22:16,140 --> 00:22:20,638 Tyler Swartz: It was wild, and part of that story is it 407 00:22:20,638 --> 00:22:24,958 Tyler Swartz: timed up really in sync with my 50- mile race. I 408 00:22:25,080 --> 00:22:28,019 Tyler Swartz: ran my race, I broke my back, and then this 409 00:22:28,020 --> 00:22:30,510 Tyler Swartz: event happened, and then I quit my job. So all of 410 00:22:30,510 --> 00:22:33,690 Tyler Swartz: these things really happened in tandem, but I think what 411 00:22:33,690 --> 00:22:36,148 Tyler Swartz: I've been saying is my injury, me hurting my back, 412 00:22:36,150 --> 00:22:38,670 Tyler Swartz: actually happened for the community and for me and for 413 00:22:38,670 --> 00:22:41,670 Tyler Swartz: Endorphins, because I stopped investing my energy in my personal 414 00:22:41,670 --> 00:22:44,129 Tyler Swartz: growth, and I started investing my energy into the growth 415 00:22:44,130 --> 00:22:46,859 Tyler Swartz: of the group, in supporting all of our members. And 416 00:22:46,859 --> 00:22:50,728 Tyler Swartz: once that flip switched, Endorphins really took a life of 417 00:22:50,730 --> 00:22:54,270 Tyler Swartz: its own. And yeah, that's when I realized, all of 418 00:22:54,270 --> 00:22:57,029 Tyler Swartz: those things kind of happening within a week span, that 419 00:22:57,030 --> 00:23:00,899 Tyler Swartz: was my calling to do this and be more intentional 420 00:23:00,900 --> 00:23:01,170 Tyler Swartz: with it. 421 00:23:01,888 --> 00:23:03,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: Why do you think they showed up? What were those 422 00:23:03,780 --> 00:23:07,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: 500 people there, not even for a run, what where they 423 00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:08,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: there for? 424 00:23:08,310 --> 00:23:11,250 Tyler Swartz: They were there to meet other people. And that's when 425 00:23:11,250 --> 00:23:14,010 Tyler Swartz: I realized, if you go back to the startup mentality, 426 00:23:14,429 --> 00:23:16,980 Tyler Swartz: I was in venture capital before this, so I was evaluating startups 427 00:23:16,980 --> 00:23:19,708 Tyler Swartz: in the consumer space, which we've spoken about before, Rob, 428 00:23:20,820 --> 00:23:23,039 Tyler Swartz: I realized that we were solving a problem. The world 429 00:23:23,039 --> 00:23:27,600 Tyler Swartz: needed this. This wasn't just something that we were doing 430 00:23:27,600 --> 00:23:30,300 Tyler Swartz: for fun. There's actually a problem here. People are lacking 431 00:23:30,300 --> 00:23:32,760 Tyler Swartz: social connection, and we're now trying to solve that at 432 00:23:32,760 --> 00:23:35,309 Tyler Swartz: scale, and our goal is to really impact a million people in 433 00:23:35,309 --> 00:23:36,418 Tyler Swartz: the next three to five years. 434 00:23:36,809 --> 00:23:39,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, and what's so interesting to me about it, Tyler and Becs, 435 00:23:40,289 --> 00:23:44,369 Rob Simmelkjaer: is there's places to meet people, right? You can meet 436 00:23:44,369 --> 00:23:48,240 Rob Simmelkjaer: people in lots of different environments. What is it about 437 00:23:48,240 --> 00:23:55,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: running and that shared common interest in running that makes people 438 00:23:55,320 --> 00:23:59,129 Rob Simmelkjaer: want to meet other runners, right? It's like a common 439 00:23:59,129 --> 00:24:03,418 Rob Simmelkjaer: language you speak or something you can talk about. There's 440 00:24:03,420 --> 00:24:05,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: always that opening question you can ask of, " Hey, are 441 00:24:05,520 --> 00:24:09,208 Rob Simmelkjaer: you training for anything?," or " What's your next race?," or " 442 00:24:09,210 --> 00:24:12,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: What's your favorite distance?" So it it just that bit of 443 00:24:12,540 --> 00:24:16,769 Rob Simmelkjaer: a commonality that can bring people together in a way 444 00:24:16,770 --> 00:24:19,379 Rob Simmelkjaer: that there's more comfort level than there might be just 445 00:24:19,440 --> 00:24:21,178 Rob Simmelkjaer: meeting a bunch of random strangers somewhere? 446 00:24:22,170 --> 00:24:25,619 Tyler Swartz: Yeah. That's a great question. And I'm going to remove 447 00:24:25,619 --> 00:24:27,930 Tyler Swartz: running from my answer, and then I'll bring it back. 448 00:24:28,320 --> 00:24:31,050 Tyler Swartz: I spent a ton of time thinking about community development 449 00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:34,979 Tyler Swartz: and how to create connection, whether that's a knitting club 450 00:24:35,070 --> 00:24:37,770 Tyler Swartz: or just a dinner. Let's think about this as a 451 00:24:37,770 --> 00:24:40,440 Tyler Swartz: dinner, if you bring 20 people to a dinner and 452 00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:44,550 Tyler Swartz: nobody has anything in common, it could be a success, 453 00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:47,550 Tyler Swartz: but you're probably more likely to have a successful event 454 00:24:47,700 --> 00:24:50,069 Tyler Swartz: if the people in that room are curated based off 455 00:24:51,150 --> 00:24:53,940 Tyler Swartz: an interest. The same thing goes for college. A lot 456 00:24:53,940 --> 00:24:55,770 Tyler Swartz: of my friends in college, they're some of my closest 457 00:24:55,770 --> 00:24:58,619 Tyler Swartz: friends in the world, and if anyone's listening, please text 458 00:24:58,619 --> 00:25:00,210 Tyler Swartz: me, that'd be hilarious. I hope one of my college 459 00:25:00,210 --> 00:25:05,040 Tyler Swartz: friends is listening to this. But they were proximity based friends. They 460 00:25:05,040 --> 00:25:07,770 Tyler Swartz: were people that were put in a college town and 461 00:25:07,770 --> 00:25:09,928 Tyler Swartz: we were kind of thrown together, and we didn't necessarily 462 00:25:09,929 --> 00:25:12,780 Tyler Swartz: have a lot of interests in common. Now, there's pockets 463 00:25:12,780 --> 00:25:14,940 Tyler Swartz: and you can find your community. With running, it's a 464 00:25:14,940 --> 00:25:17,609 Tyler Swartz: lifestyle that we all can relate to. It's something that 465 00:25:17,609 --> 00:25:20,998 Tyler Swartz: everyone understands what it feels like to put in time 466 00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:23,339 Tyler Swartz: and effort in personal growth and development and try and 467 00:25:23,340 --> 00:25:26,519 Tyler Swartz: get better, have a goal, and live a lifestyle of 468 00:25:27,119 --> 00:25:29,789 Tyler Swartz: health, wellness, and trying to be active. And I think 469 00:25:29,789 --> 00:25:31,290 Tyler Swartz: when you put people in the same room that all 470 00:25:31,290 --> 00:25:36,300 Tyler Swartz: share those interests and passions, it's like bringing 100 people 471 00:25:36,300 --> 00:25:40,888 Tyler Swartz: together that all like Peloton. It's the same thing. Right? 472 00:25:42,330 --> 00:25:45,299 Becs Gentry: So for the future of Endorphins, I'm sure, I mean, as you 473 00:25:45,299 --> 00:25:50,880 Becs Gentry: say, you've come from the startup analysis world, you've seen 474 00:25:51,119 --> 00:25:57,990 Becs Gentry: and experienced these new and growing companies, what do you 475 00:25:57,990 --> 00:26:00,960 Becs Gentry: see or where do you see Endorphins going? Where do 476 00:26:00,960 --> 00:26:02,040 Becs Gentry: you want them to go? 477 00:26:02,670 --> 00:26:05,700 Tyler Swartz: Yeah. I think one of the reasons why Endorphins has 478 00:26:05,700 --> 00:26:08,490 Tyler Swartz: seen the success that we have to date, and I'm 479 00:26:08,490 --> 00:26:11,850 Tyler Swartz: a software engineer, as well, so one of the things that 480 00:26:11,850 --> 00:26:14,970 Tyler Swartz: we've done incredibly well is we ask for feedback constantly. 481 00:26:15,900 --> 00:26:20,488 Tyler Swartz: We don't make decisions without the community's input first. The 482 00:26:20,490 --> 00:26:22,440 Tyler Swartz: reason why I say I'm a software engineer, is because 483 00:26:22,440 --> 00:26:25,230 Tyler Swartz: before you code anything, you talk to your users. We 484 00:26:25,350 --> 00:26:28,950 Tyler Swartz: send out these things called community votes, and they're quarterly, 485 00:26:28,950 --> 00:26:31,710 Tyler Swartz: at the global level, and then they're monthly to every 486 00:26:31,710 --> 00:26:34,410 Tyler Swartz: other month, at the city level. And we basically say, " 487 00:26:34,559 --> 00:26:36,208 Tyler Swartz: What times do you want to be meeting? Where do 488 00:26:36,210 --> 00:26:38,460 Tyler Swartz: you want to be meeting?" In New York City, we 489 00:26:38,460 --> 00:26:41,039 Tyler Swartz: just sent one out yesterday and we asked, " Are we 490 00:26:41,039 --> 00:26:43,770 Tyler Swartz: holding true to our mission? Yes or no? And what 491 00:26:43,770 --> 00:26:45,570 Tyler Swartz: else can we be doing to make sure that we 492 00:26:45,570 --> 00:26:47,730 Tyler Swartz: are holding true to our mission?" And our members gave us 493 00:26:47,730 --> 00:26:50,668 Tyler Swartz: feedback, and now I know people want more social events. 494 00:26:50,760 --> 00:26:52,170 Tyler Swartz: They don't even want to do more runs, they want 495 00:26:52,170 --> 00:26:55,950 Tyler Swartz: more social events. And then, we can offer those experiences 496 00:26:55,950 --> 00:26:59,339 Tyler Swartz: for our members to ensure that they're always happy. And 497 00:26:59,369 --> 00:27:01,710 Tyler Swartz: I think that's our future is just I don't know 498 00:27:01,710 --> 00:27:05,040 Tyler Swartz: where we will go, but we have ideas. Our members 499 00:27:05,040 --> 00:27:08,789 Tyler Swartz: want us to create singlets for race day. Our members 500 00:27:08,790 --> 00:27:11,550 Tyler Swartz: want coaching. We developed a coaching program with Coach Stowe. 501 00:27:12,960 --> 00:27:15,809 Tyler Swartz: Our members want cool experiences, we partner with New Balance 502 00:27:15,809 --> 00:27:19,140 Tyler Swartz: to offer coffee at the end of our events. So we are listening, and I don't know where that's going to necessarily take us, and 503 00:27:22,320 --> 00:27:24,810 Tyler Swartz: we have ideas, but it's unclear, and that's what's really 504 00:27:24,810 --> 00:27:25,200 Tyler Swartz: exciting. 505 00:27:26,010 --> 00:27:28,859 Becs Gentry: Can I ask you a startup based question? 506 00:27:28,859 --> 00:27:29,429 Tyler Swartz: Sure. 507 00:27:30,780 --> 00:27:34,829 Becs Gentry: So being that you do take the feedback directly from 508 00:27:34,830 --> 00:27:39,000 Becs Gentry: your community, which is beautiful, has there been any moments 509 00:27:39,000 --> 00:27:43,500 Becs Gentry: that you received the feedback and sat there with your 510 00:27:43,500 --> 00:27:48,540 Becs Gentry: team and went, " Oh, boy. This is really not where 511 00:27:48,540 --> 00:27:49,320 Becs Gentry: we were going"? 512 00:27:51,420 --> 00:27:52,441 Tyler Swartz: Yes, and I think that's okay. 513 00:27:52,441 --> 00:27:52,442 Becs Gentry: Of course. 514 00:27:52,442 --> 00:27:59,010 Tyler Swartz: Right now, I'm spending a ton of time thinking about how 515 00:27:59,010 --> 00:28:03,690 Tyler Swartz: to maintain a small community culture as we grow, because 516 00:28:03,690 --> 00:28:06,958 Tyler Swartz: it's inherently changed. When it was the first 50 members, 517 00:28:07,049 --> 00:28:10,289 Tyler Swartz: that experience is now much different than when members join 518 00:28:10,289 --> 00:28:12,478 Tyler Swartz: today and there's 500 people meeting up on a Saturday 519 00:28:12,480 --> 00:28:17,640 Tyler Swartz: morning, right? And those people aren't getting the same experiences 520 00:28:17,640 --> 00:28:19,650 Tyler Swartz: they once were, so I'm trying to find ways that 521 00:28:19,650 --> 00:28:21,929 Tyler Swartz: we can maintain our culture and keep it a small 522 00:28:21,929 --> 00:28:25,499 Tyler Swartz: community feel while it is a huge community, and I 523 00:28:25,500 --> 00:28:29,279 Tyler Swartz: spend so much time thinking about that. And back to 524 00:28:29,279 --> 00:28:31,350 Tyler Swartz: the feedback, we hear things like, " It isn't the same." 525 00:28:31,619 --> 00:28:33,660 Tyler Swartz: But I think it's important for people to understand that 526 00:28:33,660 --> 00:28:36,240 Tyler Swartz: there are transitions happening, and it isn't what it used 527 00:28:36,240 --> 00:28:38,459 Tyler Swartz: to be, and make sure people are grounded in our 528 00:28:38,460 --> 00:28:40,529 Tyler Swartz: mission and understand the impact that we're making, so that 529 00:28:40,530 --> 00:28:44,280 Tyler Swartz: way there's transparency and people understand why we're making the 530 00:28:44,280 --> 00:28:47,070 Tyler Swartz: decisions that we are, and it's really to impact a million 531 00:28:47,070 --> 00:28:50,880 Tyler Swartz: people, so we're working on that. And members, running is 532 00:28:50,880 --> 00:28:54,540 Tyler Swartz: really personal, run clubs are really personal for people, and 533 00:28:54,540 --> 00:28:58,800 Tyler Swartz: it feels like it's much bigger than it truly is. 534 00:28:58,920 --> 00:29:01,889 Tyler Swartz: It's a run club, it's important, but it becomes their 535 00:29:01,889 --> 00:29:05,610 Tyler Swartz: identity and it becomes the whole world for them. So 536 00:29:06,119 --> 00:29:08,760 Tyler Swartz: it's important to listen to feedback, but then also make 537 00:29:08,760 --> 00:29:11,010 Tyler Swartz: sure people understand it's much bigger than just New York 538 00:29:11,010 --> 00:29:13,890 Tyler Swartz: City. We're now all across the U. S. and we're trying 539 00:29:13,890 --> 00:29:16,200 Tyler Swartz: to make decisions that impact as many people as possible, 540 00:29:16,200 --> 00:29:18,509 Tyler Swartz: and I think people need to hear that, and I'm 541 00:29:18,509 --> 00:29:19,590 Tyler Swartz: thinking through that every day. 542 00:29:20,940 --> 00:29:23,669 Rob Simmelkjaer: Tyler, we have so many running clubs here in New 543 00:29:23,670 --> 00:29:28,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: York and so many different types of run clubs. We 544 00:29:28,380 --> 00:29:31,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: have, as you know, something called Club Council, where the 545 00:29:31,830 --> 00:29:35,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: clubs all get together and talk about things they want 546 00:29:35,280 --> 00:29:39,240 Rob Simmelkjaer: from New York Road Runners or work together to come 547 00:29:39,240 --> 00:29:42,720 Rob Simmelkjaer: up with ideas. We have a club points series that 548 00:29:42,720 --> 00:29:44,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: a lot of our runners know about, where the clubs 549 00:29:44,490 --> 00:29:49,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: compete to be the fastest in different age categories and 550 00:29:49,350 --> 00:29:52,139 Rob Simmelkjaer: genders and all of that. And I remember, when you 551 00:29:52,139 --> 00:29:54,029 Rob Simmelkjaer: and I talked about all of this and I said, " 552 00:29:54,179 --> 00:29:57,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: Tyler, what, as a run club, do you really want 553 00:29:57,450 --> 00:29:59,699 Rob Simmelkjaer: from New York Road Runners?," your answer was a lot 554 00:29:59,699 --> 00:30:03,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: different than what I usually hear, because you are not 555 00:30:03,960 --> 00:30:08,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: trying to compete and win races. You're not really thinking 556 00:30:08,190 --> 00:30:11,219 Rob Simmelkjaer: that way. You're very different than a lot of the 557 00:30:11,219 --> 00:30:15,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: other run clubs out there. How do you fit into 558 00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:18,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: that ecosystem, in a place like New York, of all 559 00:30:18,150 --> 00:30:19,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: the different clubs and what they offer? 560 00:30:20,640 --> 00:30:24,480 Tyler Swartz: Yeah. I think a ton about community integration, and then 561 00:30:24,660 --> 00:30:27,840 Tyler Swartz: not just in New York City, but also globally and 562 00:30:27,929 --> 00:30:31,320 Tyler Swartz: how Endorphins can integrate into the community. And I think 563 00:30:31,320 --> 00:30:33,839 Tyler Swartz: the first and most important thing to do is pay 564 00:30:33,839 --> 00:30:36,000 Tyler Swartz: homage to those who have been here well before us. 565 00:30:36,240 --> 00:30:38,190 Tyler Swartz: What I mean by that is, there's culture that has 566 00:30:38,190 --> 00:30:40,200 Tyler Swartz: been in New York, and we talked about this, there's been 567 00:30:40,200 --> 00:30:42,810 Tyler Swartz: culture in New York City running that has kind of 568 00:30:42,810 --> 00:30:46,380 Tyler Swartz: set the tone for other run crews and clubs, domestically, 569 00:30:46,380 --> 00:30:49,350 Tyler Swartz: but then also internationally. So the first thing is, we're 570 00:30:49,440 --> 00:30:51,990 Tyler Swartz: trying to make sure that we're not stepping on any toes, 571 00:30:52,260 --> 00:30:56,220 Tyler Swartz: that we're being good community participants. But then, also, as 572 00:30:56,220 --> 00:30:59,130 Tyler Swartz: I think about New York, specifically, we're just trying to 573 00:30:59,130 --> 00:31:01,229 Tyler Swartz: listen to what our people want, and provide that for 574 00:31:01,230 --> 00:31:06,990 Tyler Swartz: them. And prehistorically, it was people were trying to do 575 00:31:06,990 --> 00:31:10,320 Tyler Swartz: performance based things, and now it's definitely skewed toward social 576 00:31:10,830 --> 00:31:14,580 Tyler Swartz: and community based in a different way. And we do 577 00:31:14,580 --> 00:31:18,330 Tyler Swartz: have people that are quite fast and elite runners, like 578 00:31:18,870 --> 00:31:21,090 Tyler Swartz: one of our members placed fourth in the women's half 579 00:31:21,090 --> 00:31:25,619 Tyler Swartz: recently, which is amazing, but that isn't what our entire 580 00:31:25,620 --> 00:31:27,930 Tyler Swartz: community is looking for, so we don't necessarily highlight that. 581 00:31:28,740 --> 00:31:30,720 Tyler Swartz: So it might be a little different, but I think, 582 00:31:30,720 --> 00:31:33,300 Tyler Swartz: now, there's been a huge wave of social based clubs. 583 00:31:33,420 --> 00:31:35,970 Tyler Swartz: I can speak to, probably, a dozen in New York 584 00:31:35,970 --> 00:31:39,150 Tyler Swartz: City and all the organizers, we're tight. We're talking about when 585 00:31:39,150 --> 00:31:41,010 Tyler Swartz: we're going to do a recovery day together next week. 586 00:31:42,270 --> 00:31:46,109 Tyler Swartz: It doesn't need to be competitive. So that's how we 587 00:31:46,109 --> 00:31:48,390 Tyler Swartz: think about it. We're just trying to integrate. We're trying to do something with WRU 588 00:31:48,840 --> 00:31:51,570 Tyler Swartz: Crew, We Run Uptown, and Hector. We're trying to do 589 00:31:51,570 --> 00:31:54,480 Tyler Swartz: something with clubs in Brooklyn and Queens and we want 590 00:31:54,480 --> 00:31:56,549 Tyler Swartz: to integrate with everyone, because it doesn't need to be 591 00:31:56,550 --> 00:31:59,130 Tyler Swartz: competitive. And I think the club points makes it a 592 00:31:59,130 --> 00:32:01,920 Tyler Swartz: competitive energy between a lot of the clubs, and we just 593 00:32:01,920 --> 00:32:04,349 Tyler Swartz: want to say, " Hey, we come in peace, and we 594 00:32:04,350 --> 00:32:08,340 Tyler Swartz: want to have fun," and it's difficult because, again, I 595 00:32:08,340 --> 00:32:11,070 Tyler Swartz: said this earlier, it's really person for many, and as we 596 00:32:11,070 --> 00:32:13,260 Tyler Swartz: grow and scale, I think, initially, people are like, " Oh, 597 00:32:13,260 --> 00:32:15,150 Tyler Swartz: this like the darling child of New York City running, 598 00:32:15,300 --> 00:32:18,120 Tyler Swartz: and now people see us as this big behemoth group," 599 00:32:18,360 --> 00:32:20,789 Tyler Swartz: and we're trying to combat that with integrating with everyone 600 00:32:20,790 --> 00:32:22,110 Tyler Swartz: to show, " Hey, we're just trying to have fun." 601 00:32:23,039 --> 00:32:27,210 Becs Gentry: It sounds like you are really taking your mission that you 602 00:32:27,210 --> 00:32:30,540 Becs Gentry: take to each run onto the business side, if you 603 00:32:30,990 --> 00:32:34,680 Becs Gentry: excuse me calling it that, but it is really. And 604 00:32:34,950 --> 00:32:39,629 Becs Gentry: that movement in the community is so lovely to hear 605 00:32:39,630 --> 00:32:43,530 Becs Gentry: that you're actually doing that behind the scenes, working with 606 00:32:43,530 --> 00:32:50,040 Becs Gentry: Hector, et cetera, and bringing the love to each and 607 00:32:50,040 --> 00:32:53,490 Becs Gentry: every run crew that you can have, just using New 608 00:32:53,490 --> 00:32:56,340 Becs Gentry: York for an example. I'm sure there's multiple in Chicago 609 00:32:56,340 --> 00:33:02,850 Becs Gentry: and everywhere else. And the points are the points. We 610 00:33:02,850 --> 00:33:06,690 Becs Gentry: all get competitive, we do. There's no denying that. I 611 00:33:06,690 --> 00:33:09,450 Becs Gentry: think we all get competitive with ourselves and the points do 612 00:33:09,450 --> 00:33:15,569 Becs Gentry: come to fruition when the day comes around, but keeping 613 00:33:15,570 --> 00:33:19,650 Becs Gentry: that mantra of movement being the most important thing in 614 00:33:19,650 --> 00:33:24,660 Becs Gentry: community, is going to lead you into such a wonderful, 615 00:33:24,750 --> 00:33:29,099 Becs Gentry: wonderful connection around the whole country. It's so positive, that's 616 00:33:29,099 --> 00:33:32,640 Becs Gentry: why I love it. It's just such positivity and joy. 617 00:33:34,020 --> 00:33:34,470 Becs Gentry: It's great. 618 00:33:34,980 --> 00:33:37,320 Tyler Swartz: That's what it's supposed to be about, and it's not 619 00:33:37,320 --> 00:33:40,170 Tyler Swartz: just in the U. S. We've integrated with Australian clubs, 620 00:33:40,290 --> 00:33:43,500 Tyler Swartz: we've integrated with UK based clubs. I think there's a 621 00:33:43,500 --> 00:33:46,080 Tyler Swartz: story that can be told. The story is, it doesn't 622 00:33:46,080 --> 00:33:48,689 Tyler Swartz: need to be competitive, and that while we might be 623 00:33:48,690 --> 00:33:51,209 Tyler Swartz: doing things differently, we're all here for the same reason, 624 00:33:51,480 --> 00:33:55,170 Tyler Swartz: and that's a really powerful story to be told. And 625 00:33:55,170 --> 00:33:58,260 Tyler Swartz: it might actually be a little bit opposite of the club 626 00:33:58,260 --> 00:34:02,460 Tyler Swartz: points model. That does maybe foster some competitive energy. We're 627 00:34:02,460 --> 00:34:04,200 Tyler Swartz: trying to basically say, " You can do that, but you 628 00:34:04,200 --> 00:34:05,130 Tyler Swartz: can also be friends, too." 629 00:34:07,049 --> 00:34:10,229 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, you can be friends with your competitors, absolutely, or 630 00:34:10,230 --> 00:34:11,880 Rob Simmelkjaer: just not compete at all. I love it. 631 00:34:12,209 --> 00:34:13,771 Tyler Swartz: Well, we're all doing the same thing. Right? 632 00:34:13,770 --> 00:34:14,100 Becs Gentry: Yes. 633 00:34:14,520 --> 00:34:16,350 Tyler Swartz: We all can relate. If you were to put all 634 00:34:16,350 --> 00:34:19,440 Tyler Swartz: these people around a table, it would be a really 635 00:34:19,440 --> 00:34:24,420 Tyler Swartz: fantastic dinner, and everyone's doing the same thing, so I 636 00:34:24,420 --> 00:34:26,160 Tyler Swartz: think that's the story that I'd like to tell over 637 00:34:26,160 --> 00:34:26,460 Tyler Swartz: time. 638 00:34:27,780 --> 00:34:31,080 Rob Simmelkjaer: Tyler, you have also gone down the road of actually 639 00:34:31,080 --> 00:34:34,439 Rob Simmelkjaer: doing partnerships. I mean, this is really more and more 640 00:34:34,890 --> 00:34:38,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: of a business. You're doing brand partnerships, like New York 641 00:34:38,160 --> 00:34:42,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: Road Runners does. What kind of partnerships get you excited? 642 00:34:42,660 --> 00:34:46,589 Rob Simmelkjaer: What are you looking for with partners or from partners 643 00:34:46,590 --> 00:34:47,459 Rob Simmelkjaer: with Endorphins? 644 00:34:48,270 --> 00:34:52,740 Tyler Swartz: Sure. That's a great question. This is going to sound like I'm a 645 00:34:52,800 --> 00:34:56,070 Tyler Swartz: broken record here, but we ask our community. At the 646 00:34:56,070 --> 00:34:58,679 Tyler Swartz: end of last year we said, " What partners, in all of 647 00:34:58,679 --> 00:35:01,049 Tyler Swartz: these categories, would you want to see us integrating with?" 648 00:35:01,290 --> 00:35:03,630 Tyler Swartz: And then, we went out and we said, " Hey, 1, 000 649 00:35:03,630 --> 00:35:07,140 Tyler Swartz: people from our community said that they want your electrolytes 650 00:35:07,140 --> 00:35:10,680 Tyler Swartz: at our events." How is the director of marketing at 651 00:35:10,680 --> 00:35:15,570 Tyler Swartz: that brand going to say no? And we use that 652 00:35:15,570 --> 00:35:18,599 Tyler Swartz: model with our current partner, New Balance, who have done 653 00:35:18,599 --> 00:35:22,379 Tyler Swartz: an amazing job of supporting us. We said, " Hey, these 654 00:35:22,379 --> 00:35:23,969 Tyler Swartz: are the things that our community wants to do. Can 655 00:35:24,870 --> 00:35:28,109 Tyler Swartz: you make these things happen?" And the reason why it's 656 00:35:28,110 --> 00:35:30,480 Tyler Swartz: a really important thing of taking the community feedback first, 657 00:35:30,480 --> 00:35:33,150 Tyler Swartz: is then we can say thank you to New Balance, 658 00:35:33,929 --> 00:35:36,000 Tyler Swartz: as opposed to making it an ad, and I think that 659 00:35:36,000 --> 00:35:38,399 Tyler Swartz: makes it a really, really fruitful partnership. What I mean 660 00:35:38,400 --> 00:35:41,849 Tyler Swartz: by that in practice is we did Global Running Day. 661 00:35:42,690 --> 00:35:44,430 Tyler Swartz: I think that's a New York Road Runner made event, 662 00:35:45,450 --> 00:35:49,380 Tyler Swartz: and we had 10 concurrent events across the country at 663 00:35:49,380 --> 00:35:52,920 Tyler Swartz: the same time in 10 different cities. New Balance came and 664 00:35:52,920 --> 00:35:55,860 Tyler Swartz: provided food and beverage and shirts to every single one 665 00:35:55,860 --> 00:35:58,169 Tyler Swartz: of our participants. And when we were even speaking to 666 00:35:58,170 --> 00:36:00,810 Tyler Swartz: the team at New Balance, we actually didn't talk about running 667 00:36:00,810 --> 00:36:03,540 Tyler Swartz: much. We really talked about our mission in connection. What 668 00:36:03,540 --> 00:36:05,730 Tyler Swartz: I like to think about is the surface area of 669 00:36:05,730 --> 00:36:09,840 Tyler Swartz: connection, specifically, if our run is 45 minutes long, and 670 00:36:09,840 --> 00:36:12,570 Tyler Swartz: Rob I think we might've spoken about this in the past, but 671 00:36:12,570 --> 00:36:14,910 Tyler Swartz: then we have coffee at the end of the event, 672 00:36:15,150 --> 00:36:18,600 Tyler Swartz: the surface area of connection doubles, meaning there's a 45- 673 00:36:18,600 --> 00:36:21,419 Tyler Swartz: minute window after the event for people to make more 674 00:36:21,420 --> 00:36:24,810 Tyler Swartz: friends. And New Balance is at the heart of that, 675 00:36:24,810 --> 00:36:26,940 Tyler Swartz: or the brand is at the heart of that. So 676 00:36:26,940 --> 00:36:29,459 Tyler Swartz: then, when people make friends, and then they go for a 677 00:36:29,460 --> 00:36:33,030 Tyler Swartz: run at a different time or not at an Endorphins experience, 678 00:36:33,179 --> 00:36:35,670 Tyler Swartz: those people feel like New Balance is at the heart 679 00:36:35,670 --> 00:36:40,500 Tyler Swartz: of that relationship, and that is extremely powerful. It creates 680 00:36:40,500 --> 00:36:42,509 Tyler Swartz: connection that I think a lot of brands are yearning 681 00:36:42,510 --> 00:36:45,029 Tyler Swartz: for, and we just don't want to do ads, we 682 00:36:45,030 --> 00:36:46,859 Tyler Swartz: want to do integrations that really make it feel like 683 00:36:46,860 --> 00:36:50,910 Tyler Swartz: the community's benefiting, as opposed to being sold something. And 684 00:36:50,910 --> 00:36:53,399 Tyler Swartz: that's how we handle most of our partnerships. 685 00:36:53,850 --> 00:36:57,030 Becs Gentry: That's amazing, and so worthwhile. As you said, when you 686 00:36:57,030 --> 00:37:00,270 Becs Gentry: make it about the connection. And how does it make 687 00:37:00,270 --> 00:37:05,130 Becs Gentry: you feel now, looking at where Endorphins has come? Earlier 688 00:37:05,130 --> 00:37:07,739 Becs Gentry: in the conversation, you said that your community were asking 689 00:37:07,739 --> 00:37:11,580 Becs Gentry: for singlets for the races that they're signing up for. 690 00:37:11,940 --> 00:37:13,830 Becs Gentry: How does that make you feel inside? 691 00:37:14,460 --> 00:37:19,350 Tyler Swartz: It's a really, really interesting feeling, because it's a selfless 692 00:37:19,350 --> 00:37:22,950 Tyler Swartz: act of trying to impact people and their well- being 693 00:37:22,950 --> 00:37:25,860 Tyler Swartz: and their lives and trying to make people happier, but 694 00:37:25,860 --> 00:37:28,859 Tyler Swartz: it's also the most selfish thing in the world. What I 695 00:37:28,859 --> 00:37:30,540 Tyler Swartz: mean by that is when I see the impact that 696 00:37:30,540 --> 00:37:35,190 Tyler Swartz: we create, I'm invigorated to continue creating that impact and 697 00:37:35,190 --> 00:37:38,489 Tyler Swartz: inspire people to change their lives, whether that's making more 698 00:37:38,489 --> 00:37:42,630 Tyler Swartz: friends or become more fit or become more active, so 699 00:37:42,870 --> 00:37:45,750 Tyler Swartz: it makes me fulfilled every single day. I'm inspired by 700 00:37:45,750 --> 00:37:49,140 Tyler Swartz: the stories that I hear of people. I mean, people 701 00:37:49,140 --> 00:37:51,390 Tyler Swartz: will pull me aside and break down crying, because it's 702 00:37:51,390 --> 00:37:54,870 Tyler Swartz: changed their lives. And when that happens, it's amazing, and 703 00:37:55,020 --> 00:37:57,900 Tyler Swartz: that doesn't happen every day, but what does happen every 704 00:37:57,900 --> 00:37:59,998 Tyler Swartz: day is at the end of one of our experiences, I like to take 705 00:38:00,000 --> 00:38:02,280 Tyler Swartz: a moment and stand off to the side and I like 706 00:38:02,280 --> 00:38:05,819 Tyler Swartz: to watch what happens, and that's impact every single time. 707 00:38:05,820 --> 00:38:10,410 Tyler Swartz: It's people exchanging phone numbers, exchanging Strava, exchanging Instagrams, and 708 00:38:10,620 --> 00:38:13,230 Tyler Swartz: I know that those people may never come back to 709 00:38:13,230 --> 00:38:16,109 Tyler Swartz: one of our events again, but we've changed their lives, 710 00:38:17,040 --> 00:38:19,859 Tyler Swartz: and I feel the endorphins when that happens. 711 00:38:21,270 --> 00:38:25,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: I can relate to that 100%. We have people coming 712 00:38:25,320 --> 00:38:29,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: up to us, pretty much every race I go to, 713 00:38:29,280 --> 00:38:32,879 Rob Simmelkjaer: talking about how running has changed their lives, so it's 714 00:38:32,880 --> 00:38:37,589 Rob Simmelkjaer: got that power and you have really created something special 715 00:38:37,590 --> 00:38:40,709 Rob Simmelkjaer: with this, so I can only imagine how that feels. 716 00:38:41,219 --> 00:38:43,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: Where does Endorphins go from here, Tyler? 717 00:38:43,770 --> 00:38:48,060 Tyler Swartz: That's a good question. I think there's a lot of 718 00:38:48,060 --> 00:38:53,459 Tyler Swartz: different ways that it can go. I just really think about 719 00:38:53,460 --> 00:38:55,739 Tyler Swartz: how we can support as many people as possible, and 720 00:38:55,739 --> 00:38:57,870 Tyler Swartz: I know that, as we grow, it might not be 721 00:38:57,870 --> 00:39:00,389 Tyler Swartz: as easy to do so. I know there's growing pains, 722 00:39:00,389 --> 00:39:02,070 Tyler Swartz: and I'm just thinking of ways that we can grow 723 00:39:02,070 --> 00:39:04,739 Tyler Swartz: and scale while also making it feel like it's a 724 00:39:04,739 --> 00:39:07,799 Tyler Swartz: small, close- knit community, and we still maintain culture. So 725 00:39:07,800 --> 00:39:09,179 Tyler Swartz: that's where my head is right now, and I know 726 00:39:09,179 --> 00:39:12,150 Tyler Swartz: that if we can create connection at scale, we'll be 727 00:39:12,150 --> 00:39:13,349 Tyler Swartz: able to do a lot of different things, and I'm 728 00:39:13,349 --> 00:39:15,719 Tyler Swartz: not sure what those things could be, but who knows? 729 00:39:16,770 --> 00:39:20,580 Becs Gentry: That's so exciting. Okay, we've got one more very pertinent 730 00:39:20,580 --> 00:39:23,759 Becs Gentry: question for you. And you have coaches at Endorphins all 731 00:39:23,760 --> 00:39:28,109 Becs Gentry: over the country, but what we want to know, Tyler, is 732 00:39:28,110 --> 00:39:32,729 Becs Gentry: what is the best piece of advice you have ever 733 00:39:32,730 --> 00:39:34,620 Becs Gentry: received from a coach? 734 00:39:35,130 --> 00:39:42,480 Tyler Swartz: Wow. This is a big question. I have an interesting running 735 00:39:42,480 --> 00:39:47,219 Tyler Swartz: journey, in the sense that I didn't have a standard 736 00:39:47,219 --> 00:39:50,609 Tyler Swartz: running background when I got into the sport, and I 737 00:39:50,610 --> 00:39:54,029 Tyler Swartz: developed a very close- knit relationship with my coach, Rebecca 738 00:39:54,029 --> 00:39:57,360 Tyler Swartz: Stowe, who's involved in the New York scene as one 739 00:39:57,360 --> 00:40:00,899 Tyler Swartz: of the Nike head coaches. And I don't know, Rob, 740 00:40:00,900 --> 00:40:02,520 Tyler Swartz: if you've met her, but Becs, it seems like you guys 741 00:40:02,520 --> 00:40:06,929 Tyler Swartz: have a relationship. The stories around my relationship with her 742 00:40:06,929 --> 00:40:10,109 Tyler Swartz: are, I would go to the Nike runs and I 743 00:40:10,109 --> 00:40:12,419 Tyler Swartz: would throw up running every single time. I would just 744 00:40:12,450 --> 00:40:15,239 Tyler Swartz: run my body into the ground, because that's how I 745 00:40:15,239 --> 00:40:17,850 Tyler Swartz: was conditioned. I was a football player in high school. 746 00:40:17,940 --> 00:40:20,759 Tyler Swartz: It was when the whistle blows, you give everything- 747 00:40:20,760 --> 00:40:20,821 Becs Gentry: You go. 748 00:40:20,821 --> 00:40:21,060 Tyler Swartz: ... you got. 749 00:40:21,840 --> 00:40:22,589 Becs Gentry: Yeah, and Stowe- 750 00:40:22,590 --> 00:40:22,741 Tyler Swartz: And I thought that's- 751 00:40:22,741 --> 00:40:22,742 Becs Gentry: ... can throw some- 752 00:40:22,742 --> 00:40:23,191 Tyler Swartz: ... how I was supposed to run- 753 00:40:23,190 --> 00:40:23,551 Becs Gentry: ... nasty workouts. 754 00:40:23,551 --> 00:40:29,639 Tyler Swartz: ... too. Yeah, she was definitely pushing me. And then, 755 00:40:29,639 --> 00:40:32,969 Tyler Swartz: the Nike coaches, at the time, definitely did their little 756 00:40:32,969 --> 00:40:35,280 Tyler Swartz: huddles before their runs and said, " We need to keep 757 00:40:35,280 --> 00:40:38,520 Tyler Swartz: our eye out for this guy who's definitely a problem. 758 00:40:39,780 --> 00:40:43,079 Tyler Swartz: They don't know what they're doing." And I learned later 759 00:40:43,080 --> 00:40:46,379 Tyler Swartz: in life, through Coach Stowe, after five, six years of 760 00:40:46,379 --> 00:40:48,810 Tyler Swartz: working with her, maybe it's not one piece of advice, 761 00:40:48,810 --> 00:40:52,980 Tyler Swartz: but the mantra is really just listening to myself, because 762 00:40:53,130 --> 00:40:55,590 Tyler Swartz: I don't have to do every single workout exactly the 763 00:40:55,590 --> 00:40:57,750 Tyler Swartz: way it is. It's make sure I'm listening to my 764 00:40:57,750 --> 00:41:01,439 Tyler Swartz: body, and then I'll perform better. And I wasn't listening 765 00:41:01,440 --> 00:41:05,129 Tyler Swartz: to myself, I was more trying to do every single 766 00:41:05,160 --> 00:41:08,250 Tyler Swartz: thing, and the second I started listening to myself, I 767 00:41:08,250 --> 00:41:10,560 Tyler Swartz: actually started listening to her, and I think that was 768 00:41:10,560 --> 00:41:14,370 Tyler Swartz: really important, because now we have a much more stable 769 00:41:14,370 --> 00:41:18,059 Tyler Swartz: relationship, where I'm not overdoing everything and have to do everything. I'm listening 770 00:41:18,059 --> 00:41:20,009 Tyler Swartz: to my body, and then it falls right back into 771 00:41:20,009 --> 00:41:21,869 Tyler Swartz: our programming, so I think that's been really helpful for 772 00:41:21,870 --> 00:41:22,170 Tyler Swartz: me. 773 00:41:23,039 --> 00:41:24,629 Becs Gentry: Sounds it, sounds it. 774 00:41:25,650 --> 00:41:28,049 Rob Simmelkjaer: All right, Tyler. If someone's listening out there, Tyler, who 775 00:41:28,050 --> 00:41:30,989 Rob Simmelkjaer: wants to become a part of Endorphins, what do they 776 00:41:30,989 --> 00:41:33,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: do? Is there a cost? How do they sign up 777 00:41:33,540 --> 00:41:34,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: and become part of this? 778 00:41:34,800 --> 00:41:37,289 Tyler Swartz: It's totally free. All of our events are free. In 779 00:41:37,290 --> 00:41:39,750 Tyler Swartz: New York City, we host four or five events throughout 780 00:41:39,750 --> 00:41:43,860 Tyler Swartz: the boroughs each week. Across the country we're hosting runs 781 00:41:43,860 --> 00:41:48,960 Tyler Swartz: in Chicago, Dallas, Austin, L. A., Seattle, Boston, D. C., 782 00:41:48,960 --> 00:41:52,920 Tyler Swartz: Philly, Pittsburgh, and we're launching Miami on Thursday, which is 783 00:41:52,920 --> 00:41:56,340 Tyler Swartz: super exciting. We have a website, it's endorphinsrunning. com. We're on 784 00:41:56,429 --> 00:41:59,819 Tyler Swartz: Instagram, where all the events are posted. I'm posting them 785 00:41:59,820 --> 00:42:02,400 Tyler Swartz: on my socials and trying to do the storytelling behind the scenes 786 00:42:02,400 --> 00:42:05,009 Tyler Swartz: on my socials. And we'd love to have you, and 787 00:42:05,010 --> 00:42:06,810 Tyler Swartz: if you ever do come to one of the events, 788 00:42:06,989 --> 00:42:08,820 Tyler Swartz: come say hello. I like to try and talk to 789 00:42:08,820 --> 00:42:12,359 Tyler Swartz: as many people as possible at the events. And yeah, 790 00:42:12,750 --> 00:42:14,069 Tyler Swartz: that's how you can stay involved. 791 00:42:15,030 --> 00:42:18,870 Rob Simmelkjaer: Amazing. Tyler, congrats. I can't wait to keep talking about 792 00:42:18,870 --> 00:42:20,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: how we can work with you at New York Road 793 00:42:20,790 --> 00:42:22,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: Runners. I know we're doing a lot already here in 794 00:42:22,980 --> 00:42:25,799 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York, but I just think we're probably scratching the 795 00:42:25,800 --> 00:42:29,459 Rob Simmelkjaer: surface, so for members interested, put something in the comments, 796 00:42:29,460 --> 00:42:31,739 Rob Simmelkjaer: if you have an idea or you want to throw 797 00:42:31,739 --> 00:42:34,319 Rob Simmelkjaer: out a shout- out to Tyler and Endorphins, would love 798 00:42:34,320 --> 00:42:36,989 Rob Simmelkjaer: to hear from you. And Tyler, it's great having you 799 00:42:36,989 --> 00:42:38,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: here on Set the Pace. I know I'll be seeing 800 00:42:38,790 --> 00:42:41,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: a lot of you between now and the marathon. 801 00:42:44,730 --> 00:42:46,710 Tyler Swartz: I can't wait. Thanks for having me on, and I can't wait to figure out more ways to support what 802 00:42:46,710 --> 00:42:47,280 Tyler Swartz: you guys are doing. 803 00:42:47,790 --> 00:42:51,209 Rob Simmelkjaer: Awesome. It goes both ways. Thank you. Tyler Swartz, the 804 00:42:51,210 --> 00:42:56,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: founder of the Endorphins running club, the incredible, growing Endorphins 805 00:42:56,160 --> 00:43:13,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: running club, here on Set the Pace. Some runners run 806 00:43:13,440 --> 00:43:16,739 Rob Simmelkjaer: a lot of races, some runners volunteer and run races, 807 00:43:16,739 --> 00:43:18,810 Rob Simmelkjaer: and some runners bring their love of running to their 808 00:43:18,810 --> 00:43:21,929 Rob Simmelkjaer: schools and pass on the benefit of running to New 809 00:43:21,929 --> 00:43:25,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: York City young women. One of those people is Christine 810 00:43:25,500 --> 00:43:28,649 Rob Simmelkjaer: Fajen, a New York Road Runners member and an active runner, 811 00:43:29,010 --> 00:43:32,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: as well as a program lead for Rising NYRR, which 812 00:43:32,160 --> 00:43:35,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: is the free running based youth program designed to make 813 00:43:35,910 --> 00:43:39,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: physical activity enjoyable and accessible for kids all around New 814 00:43:39,690 --> 00:43:42,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: York City and around the country. And this summer, she'll 815 00:43:42,420 --> 00:43:44,759 Rob Simmelkjaer: also be a coach for Run for the Future, which 816 00:43:44,759 --> 00:43:49,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: is a free six- week program that introduces 11th and 12th grade 817 00:43:49,140 --> 00:43:51,509 Rob Simmelkjaer: high school young women to the sport of running. 818 00:43:52,170 --> 00:43:57,510 Meb Keflezighi: Thanks, Rob. That's wonderful. Christine, welcome to the podcast. You 819 00:43:57,510 --> 00:44:02,580 Meb Keflezighi: are a dedicated runner. You have been running with NYRR since 2015 and 820 00:44:02,580 --> 00:44:07,560 Meb Keflezighi: you run every distance, the 5Ks, 10Ks, four- milers, half- marathons, 821 00:44:07,560 --> 00:44:12,030 Meb Keflezighi: and even the 2022 TCS New York City Marathon. Why did 822 00:44:12,030 --> 00:44:13,170 Meb Keflezighi: you start running, Christine? 823 00:44:13,920 --> 00:44:17,250 Christine Fajen: So, like a lot of people, I started running to 824 00:44:17,250 --> 00:44:20,250 Christine Fajen: lose some weight. I didn't start running until I was 825 00:44:20,250 --> 00:44:22,589 Christine Fajen: 40. I was going to the gym, I had gained 826 00:44:22,590 --> 00:44:25,560 Christine Fajen: some weight, but then I started running, and I loved 827 00:44:25,560 --> 00:44:27,989 Christine Fajen: the feeling of being outside, I loved being alone with 828 00:44:27,989 --> 00:44:30,989 Christine Fajen: my thoughts, the pounds dropped off. I ran about four 829 00:44:30,989 --> 00:44:33,120 Christine Fajen: miles a day near the water. And then, a lot 830 00:44:33,120 --> 00:44:35,460 Christine Fajen: of my friends ran races with New York Road Runners. 831 00:44:35,849 --> 00:44:38,069 Christine Fajen: I didn't know much about that, but my friend Mike 832 00:44:38,070 --> 00:44:41,339 Christine Fajen: encouraged me to sign up, and I was hooked. 833 00:44:42,029 --> 00:44:45,660 Meb Keflezighi: Just amazing, and you are now a program lead for 834 00:44:45,660 --> 00:44:49,410 Meb Keflezighi: the Rising New York Road Runners program. Why was it 835 00:44:49,410 --> 00:44:52,259 Meb Keflezighi: important for you to bring the program to your school? 836 00:44:53,370 --> 00:44:55,919 Christine Fajen: Well, when people run and you love the sport, you 837 00:44:55,920 --> 00:44:58,229 Christine Fajen: want to tell everybody about it, you want to share 838 00:44:58,230 --> 00:45:01,890 Christine Fajen: it as much as you can with people. And we 839 00:45:01,890 --> 00:45:04,830 Christine Fajen: actually had the program, already, in the school, but it 840 00:45:04,830 --> 00:45:07,380 Christine Fajen: had not reached the potential that it could've had. So 841 00:45:07,380 --> 00:45:09,540 Christine Fajen: a colleague of mine, actually, Mr. (inaudible) brought it 842 00:45:09,540 --> 00:45:13,110 Christine Fajen: in. He was using it in phys. ed. He passed 843 00:45:13,110 --> 00:45:16,230 Christine Fajen: the torch to me, I started an afterschool program, and 844 00:45:16,500 --> 00:45:18,569 Christine Fajen: began to take the students to the races. I wanted 845 00:45:18,570 --> 00:45:20,160 Christine Fajen: them to see the beauty of all the people at 846 00:45:20,160 --> 00:45:24,420 Christine Fajen: the races, because that's incredible, the community of running. I 847 00:45:24,420 --> 00:45:26,579 Christine Fajen: wanted them to see that they could do it when 848 00:45:26,580 --> 00:45:29,430 Christine Fajen: they're older. I wanted them to see that people with 849 00:45:30,540 --> 00:45:35,069 Christine Fajen: special needs, they do it with Striders, there's Achilles, there's 850 00:45:35,070 --> 00:45:38,310 Christine Fajen: something for everybody. And through Team for Kids, it makes 851 00:45:38,310 --> 00:45:43,380 Christine Fajen: it all possible for the runners, because my students, they 852 00:45:43,380 --> 00:45:46,649 Christine Fajen: come from backgrounds that they could use all the help 853 00:45:46,650 --> 00:45:50,880 Christine Fajen: that they can, financially, so I wanted them also to 854 00:45:50,880 --> 00:45:55,229 Christine Fajen: think of moving their bodies outside of school, not just 855 00:45:55,230 --> 00:45:57,180 Christine Fajen: in gym class, and I wanted to show them that, 856 00:45:57,180 --> 00:45:59,010 Christine Fajen: if they wanted to, they could run for life, and 857 00:45:59,010 --> 00:46:00,570 Christine Fajen: maybe people do, of all backgrounds. 858 00:46:01,830 --> 00:46:03,630 Meb Keflezighi: Can you tell us some of the reaction of the 859 00:46:03,630 --> 00:46:07,380 Meb Keflezighi: students, what their experience or their smiles and things like 860 00:46:07,380 --> 00:46:07,470 Meb Keflezighi: that? 861 00:46:08,489 --> 00:46:15,990 Christine Fajen: Oh, yeah. So some of the students are super competitive and 862 00:46:16,260 --> 00:46:18,780 Christine Fajen: I try and tell them they should also be having 863 00:46:18,780 --> 00:46:21,419 Christine Fajen: fun, right? It shouldn't be all so very competitive. There's 864 00:46:21,420 --> 00:46:24,419 Christine Fajen: stage two in Rising New York Road Runners. I do 865 00:46:24,420 --> 00:46:26,849 Christine Fajen: that specifically so that they can learn to enjoy the 866 00:46:26,849 --> 00:46:33,180 Christine Fajen: sport first, before they compete. They have maintained friendships from 867 00:46:33,180 --> 00:46:34,710 Christine Fajen: the sixth grade through the eight grade. I've had the 868 00:46:34,710 --> 00:46:37,469 Christine Fajen: same group of kids from six, seventh, and eighth, so 869 00:46:37,469 --> 00:46:41,550 Christine Fajen: I've watched them grow. They talk to their friends about 870 00:46:41,550 --> 00:46:44,339 Christine Fajen: it, their friends want to join. They really do love 871 00:46:44,340 --> 00:46:46,140 Christine Fajen: the program, and they love all that comes with it. 872 00:46:47,279 --> 00:46:50,430 Meb Keflezighi: Well, now you are also about to begin the first year 873 00:46:50,430 --> 00:46:54,120 Meb Keflezighi: as a coach for the Run for the Future program. Tell 874 00:46:54,120 --> 00:46:57,150 Meb Keflezighi: us about what you hope to instill in the young 875 00:46:57,150 --> 00:46:58,949 Meb Keflezighi: women you will be coaching this summer. 876 00:47:01,020 --> 00:47:03,119 Christine Fajen: It's my hope that the ladies who participate in the 877 00:47:03,120 --> 00:47:06,480 Christine Fajen: program will continue to develop the courage to start new 878 00:47:06,480 --> 00:47:08,460 Christine Fajen: things. Right? Because this is a new thing for them. 879 00:47:09,450 --> 00:47:12,779 Christine Fajen: I want them to learn to accept the challenges that 880 00:47:12,780 --> 00:47:15,149 Christine Fajen: they face as they grow, not to give up, and that 881 00:47:15,150 --> 00:47:18,090 Christine Fajen: running can help them with that, because life is like 882 00:47:18,210 --> 00:47:20,429 Christine Fajen: a race, right? You run it to the best of 883 00:47:20,429 --> 00:47:24,659 Christine Fajen: your ability and you come across challenges, and I want 884 00:47:24,660 --> 00:47:28,620 Christine Fajen: them to be able to face those challenges and not 885 00:47:28,620 --> 00:47:29,009 Christine Fajen: give up. 886 00:47:30,390 --> 00:47:34,440 Meb Keflezighi: As a seventh grader, that I run about running, sports 887 00:47:34,440 --> 00:47:36,869 Meb Keflezighi: has changed my life because it gives you confidence, it 888 00:47:36,870 --> 00:47:40,859 Meb Keflezighi: makes you camaraderie and friendship that, for me, transferred. I 889 00:47:40,859 --> 00:47:42,660 Meb Keflezighi: hope you do the same thing this summer and you 890 00:47:42,660 --> 00:47:44,131 Meb Keflezighi: continue to do with the Rising- 891 00:47:44,131 --> 00:47:44,132 Christine Fajen: Thank you. 892 00:47:44,131 --> 00:47:47,790 Meb Keflezighi: ... New York Road Runners. On a personal note for 893 00:47:47,790 --> 00:47:49,140 Meb Keflezighi: you, what's your next race? 894 00:47:51,059 --> 00:47:54,989 Christine Fajen: The next one will really be the New Jersey 5K, 895 00:47:54,989 --> 00:47:57,539 Christine Fajen: for me, personally, so a while from now. 896 00:47:58,379 --> 00:48:01,380 Meb Keflezighi: Awesome. The New York Road Runners and Team for Kids does a 897 00:48:01,380 --> 00:48:04,379 Meb Keflezighi: great job as an ambassador for them. They do such 898 00:48:04,380 --> 00:48:07,110 Meb Keflezighi: an awesome job to be able to help kids get 899 00:48:07,110 --> 00:48:09,989 Meb Keflezighi: into sports and keep them at it, because I think 900 00:48:09,989 --> 00:48:12,420 Meb Keflezighi: sports change lives. So thanks for being a member of 901 00:48:12,420 --> 00:48:15,149 Meb Keflezighi: the week, and we love having you. Thanks for all the 902 00:48:15,149 --> 00:48:15,989 Meb Keflezighi: work that you put in. 903 00:48:16,768 --> 00:48:18,900 Christine Fajen: Thank you. And thank you for being the ambassador for 904 00:48:18,900 --> 00:48:20,549 Christine Fajen: Team for Kids. It's an honor to meet you. 905 00:48:21,180 --> 00:48:22,020 Meb Keflezighi: Great to meet you, Christine. 906 00:48:22,380 --> 00:48:25,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: All right. Thank you, Meb, and thank you so much, Christine for 907 00:48:25,020 --> 00:48:27,179 Rob Simmelkjaer: joining us and for being a member of New York 908 00:48:27,179 --> 00:48:30,360 Rob Simmelkjaer: Road Runners. Now, it's time for today's Meb Minute. 909 00:48:30,750 --> 00:48:34,439 Meb Keflezighi: Thanks, Rob. This week Meb Minutes are tips for youth 910 00:48:34,440 --> 00:48:39,030 Meb Keflezighi: coaches. Here's my recommendation, make it fun, teach them about 911 00:48:39,030 --> 00:48:42,060 Meb Keflezighi: patience and not race all the time, because I've been 912 00:48:42,060 --> 00:48:44,820 Meb Keflezighi: around kids where they just want to race me all 913 00:48:44,820 --> 00:48:49,019 Meb Keflezighi: the time. Racing is important, but pacing is important. Speed 914 00:48:49,020 --> 00:48:52,829 Meb Keflezighi: is essential, but you have to reward kids who are 915 00:48:53,699 --> 00:48:56,040 Meb Keflezighi: maybe even the last finisher, because all kids want to 916 00:48:56,040 --> 00:48:57,750 Meb Keflezighi: win, right? And then, you want to be able to 917 00:48:57,750 --> 00:49:01,320 Meb Keflezighi: reward them for the fastest person, eventually, but reward for 918 00:49:01,320 --> 00:49:04,080 Meb Keflezighi: the person that is hit the right time. So, for 919 00:49:04,080 --> 00:49:07,830 Meb Keflezighi: example, if you're doing 100- meter, they all want to sprint, 920 00:49:07,830 --> 00:49:11,910 Meb Keflezighi: I want you to run it in 25 seconds or 921 00:49:11,910 --> 00:49:15,600 Meb Keflezighi: 30 seconds, see if you can strategize about patience, because 922 00:49:15,870 --> 00:49:20,069 Meb Keflezighi: kids just want to go out hard. And, obviously, Christine 923 00:49:20,099 --> 00:49:22,679 Meb Keflezighi: Fajen is also a lead for the New York Road 924 00:49:22,679 --> 00:49:26,250 Meb Keflezighi: Runners kids, so she will be able to use those 925 00:49:26,309 --> 00:49:30,509 Meb Keflezighi: essential improvements to be able to be patient, because we 926 00:49:30,510 --> 00:49:34,770 Meb Keflezighi: want to develop them to be sprinters, but also milers 927 00:49:34,770 --> 00:49:39,179 Meb Keflezighi: or 5K, 10K, eventually do the marathon. So by teaching discipline 928 00:49:39,179 --> 00:49:42,330 Meb Keflezighi: at early stage is such a crucial, because they're listening, 929 00:49:42,330 --> 00:49:43,860 Meb Keflezighi: if they listen, they should be rewarded. 930 00:49:44,280 --> 00:49:46,709 Rob Simmelkjaer: Thank you so much, Meb. And that brings us to the 931 00:49:46,709 --> 00:49:49,469 Rob Simmelkjaer: finish line of another episode of Set the Pace. I want to 932 00:49:49,469 --> 00:49:54,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: thank Tyler Swartz of Endorphins Running Club and this week's 933 00:49:54,030 --> 00:49:57,809 Rob Simmelkjaer: member, Christine Fajen. If you liked this episode, please go 934 00:49:57,809 --> 00:50:01,049 Rob Simmelkjaer: ahead and subscribe, rate, leave Becs and me a comment 935 00:50:01,049 --> 00:50:03,599 Rob Simmelkjaer: for the show. We will shout you out, we'll answer 936 00:50:03,599 --> 00:50:06,479 Rob Simmelkjaer: your question, so just send it along. This not only 937 00:50:06,480 --> 00:50:08,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: helps us, but it also helps other people find the 938 00:50:08,460 --> 00:50:12,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: show, as well. Feel free to ask a question. Have 939 00:50:12,180 --> 00:50:14,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: a great, great week and enjoy the miles.