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Peloton, the official 10 00:00:32,700 --> 00:00:35,010 Speaker 3: digital fitness partner for New York Road Runners. 11 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:43,440 Audio: Thank you New York. Today, we're reminded of the power 12 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:48,300 Audio: of community and the power of coming together. Athletes, on 13 00:00:48,300 --> 00:00:54,570 Audio: your mark. The first woman to finish for the second straight year 14 00:00:54,570 --> 00:00:58,200 Audio: here in the New York City Marathon is Miki Gorman, a smiling 15 00:00:58,200 --> 00:01:03,180 Audio: Miki Gorman. And why not, 2: 29:30 the time for good advice. Look 16 00:01:03,180 --> 00:01:05,730 Audio: at the emotion of Shalane Flanagan as she comes to 17 00:01:05,730 --> 00:01:09,600 Audio: the line. Pointing to his chest, pointing to the USA 18 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:13,020 Audio: he so proudly wears across his chest. A great day 19 00:01:13,020 --> 00:01:17,280 Audio: for Matt Kapusky. 20 00:01:19,410 --> 00:01:23,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: Hey everybody, and welcome to a special edition of Set 21 00:01:23,580 --> 00:01:27,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: the Pace presented by Peloton. It is the official podcast 22 00:01:27,750 --> 00:01:30,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: of New York Road Runners. I'm your host and the 23 00:01:30,270 --> 00:01:33,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: CEO of New York Road Runners Rob Simmelkjaer, and we 24 00:01:33,300 --> 00:01:37,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: are thrilled to be live at the TCS New York 25 00:01:37,140 --> 00:01:42,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: City Marathon Expo presented by New Balance. It's the first 26 00:01:42,300 --> 00:01:46,080 Rob Simmelkjaer: day Thursday of the expo and the energy is already 27 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:49,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: off the hook. We've got people milling about all over 28 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:52,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: this place at the Jacob Javits Center in Manhattan. They're 29 00:01:52,110 --> 00:01:55,080 Rob Simmelkjaer: picking up their bibs, they are doing some shopping at 30 00:01:55,080 --> 00:01:58,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: the expo, they're buying their new balance gear. We got 31 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:01,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: a nice audience here in the citizen stage, so welcome 32 00:02:01,500 --> 00:02:04,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: to everybody out there listening, and I'm also thrilled to 33 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:07,185 Rob Simmelkjaer: welcome as I have each and every week the pleasure 34 00:02:07,185 --> 00:02:10,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: of co- hosting with the lovely Becs Gentry. Hello Rebbeca. 35 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:14,550 Rebbeca Gentry: Hi. Hello, hello. Hi everyone. Thank you for joining us 36 00:02:14,550 --> 00:02:17,639 Rebbeca Gentry: today on this beautiful New York day. 37 00:02:17,730 --> 00:02:20,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: It really is, and it's always a thrill to actually 38 00:02:20,220 --> 00:02:22,860 Rob Simmelkjaer: see you in person. We don't get to do this 39 00:02:22,860 --> 00:02:23,071 Rob Simmelkjaer: that often. 40 00:02:23,071 --> 00:02:24,870 Rebbeca Gentry: I'm just a floating head on a screen. 41 00:02:24,930 --> 00:02:28,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: For those who don't know, Becs is training for something 42 00:02:28,500 --> 00:02:30,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: called The World wait- 43 00:02:30,180 --> 00:02:31,050 Rebbeca Gentry: The Great World Race. 44 00:02:31,050 --> 00:02:35,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: The Great World Race. She's running seven marathons on seven 45 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:41,430 Rob Simmelkjaer: continents in seven days later on this month, and the 46 00:02:41,430 --> 00:02:45,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: amount of training she's doing for this is unthinkable. Someone 47 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:48,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: asked if she was running the marathon. I said, " Well, 48 00:02:48,060 --> 00:02:50,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: that would be like a start of a training one 49 00:02:50,010 --> 00:02:52,739 Rob Simmelkjaer: for her if she ran the TCS New York City Marathon." 50 00:02:52,740 --> 00:02:54,810 Rebbeca Gentry: It would, but I have FOMO as well. I'm very 51 00:02:54,810 --> 00:02:58,139 Rebbeca Gentry: envious of all of you running, in my personal opinion, 52 00:02:58,139 --> 00:03:02,010 Rebbeca Gentry: the best race in the world. So I'm very, very 53 00:03:02,010 --> 00:03:05,910 Rebbeca Gentry: envious but I'll be out there cheering for every single person 54 00:03:06,150 --> 00:03:06,540 Rebbeca Gentry: for sure. 55 00:03:06,930 --> 00:03:09,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: Well, we've got a special day today because we're not 56 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:13,889 Rob Simmelkjaer: doing just one, but we're doing multiple podcasts today. We've 57 00:03:13,889 --> 00:03:16,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: got such great guests that we decided to break it 58 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:21,269 Rob Simmelkjaer: up into two different episodes. First up in our first episode 59 00:03:21,270 --> 00:03:24,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: today will be someone who is known to pretty much 60 00:03:24,990 --> 00:03:28,470 Rob Simmelkjaer: everyone who knows New York Road Runners and the TCS 61 00:03:28,470 --> 00:03:30,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York City Marathon, someone who was there at the 62 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:34,590 Rob Simmelkjaer: beginning of what this race was and obviously has seen 63 00:03:34,590 --> 00:03:38,820 Rob Simmelkjaer: it become what it is this global event, New York 64 00:03:38,820 --> 00:03:43,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: Road Runners Board Chair Emeritus George Hirsch. George is receiving 65 00:03:44,010 --> 00:03:48,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: a really prestigious award today called the Abebe Bikila Award. 66 00:03:49,170 --> 00:03:53,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: It's an award that's been presented since 1978 and it's 67 00:03:53,460 --> 00:03:57,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: given to someone who's made an outstanding contribution to the sport 68 00:03:57,480 --> 00:04:01,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: of distance running. George is truly an icon in the 69 00:04:01,020 --> 00:04:04,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: running industry. He's championed this sport for more than five 70 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:09,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: decades. From 2004 to 2023, he was the chair of our board 71 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:12,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: at New York Road Runners. Now he's chair emeritus. And 72 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:14,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: so not only will we talk to George, but we 73 00:04:14,370 --> 00:04:17,339 Rob Simmelkjaer: also have the honor of giving him the Abebe Bikila 74 00:04:17,339 --> 00:04:19,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: Award on the show. So that's coming up in just 75 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:22,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: a second. Then just as a tease Becs, we're going 76 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:24,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: to do another show right here after a short break, 77 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:28,049 Rob Simmelkjaer: we're going to return with yet another icon of the 78 00:04:28,050 --> 00:04:32,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: sport of running five- time Olympic medalist, three- time gold 79 00:04:32,700 --> 00:04:36,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: medalist in Paris Gabby Thomas will join us here. She's 80 00:04:36,990 --> 00:04:40,529 Rob Simmelkjaer: not only a storied Olympian, she's also the grand marshal 81 00:04:40,740 --> 00:04:43,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: of this year's TCS New York City Marathon. So we're 82 00:04:43,410 --> 00:04:45,960 Rob Simmelkjaer: going to hear all about Gabby's life since Paris where 83 00:04:45,960 --> 00:04:48,510 Rob Simmelkjaer: she won those three gold medals. So stay tuned for 84 00:04:48,510 --> 00:04:52,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: that. That'll drop right after our episode with George. But 85 00:04:52,950 --> 00:04:56,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: let's start by honoring the one and only George Hirsch. 86 00:04:56,700 --> 00:04:59,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: And George, it's great to have you here on Set 87 00:04:59,580 --> 00:05:01,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: the Pace and it's such a privilege to be able 88 00:05:01,350 --> 00:05:03,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: to give you this award today. Welcome. 89 00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:06,299 George Hirsch: Thank you, Rob. Just great to be here with you and Becs. 90 00:05:07,410 --> 00:05:10,109 Rob Simmelkjaer: Well, George, you know, but I'll tell our audience this 91 00:05:10,110 --> 00:05:14,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: award, the Abebe Bikila Award is named after Abebe Bikila two- 92 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:18,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: time Olympic marathon champion from Ethiopia. The award is given 93 00:05:18,690 --> 00:05:21,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: to individuals who've made an outstanding contribution to the sport 94 00:05:21,570 --> 00:05:24,839 Rob Simmelkjaer: of distance running. A lot of professional athletes have won 95 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:28,050 Rob Simmelkjaer: this award over the years, but many others have as 96 00:05:28,050 --> 00:05:30,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: well because it's really all about people who've made a 97 00:05:30,900 --> 00:05:35,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: big impact in the sport, especially in New York, especially 98 00:05:35,190 --> 00:05:39,029 Rob Simmelkjaer: to New York Road Runners. George, clearly you qualify as 99 00:05:39,029 --> 00:05:41,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: one of those people and we were so thrilled to 100 00:05:41,370 --> 00:05:44,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: see you elected to receive this award this year. For 101 00:05:44,910 --> 00:05:48,419 Rob Simmelkjaer: more than five decades, George has dedicated his life to 102 00:05:48,420 --> 00:05:51,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: elevating this sport. He was a co- founder of the 103 00:05:51,390 --> 00:05:54,299 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York City Marathon, served as chair of course of 104 00:05:54,300 --> 00:05:57,599 Rob Simmelkjaer: Road Runners for many years, and he also did it 105 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:00,419 Rob Simmelkjaer: as a publisher. His background is in media. He was 106 00:06:00,420 --> 00:06:03,240 Rob Simmelkjaer: the publisher of Runner's World Magazine, a magazine that so 107 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:06,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: many people know and love. Is there something that really 108 00:06:06,150 --> 00:06:09,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: chronicles the sport of running and really played a role 109 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:12,930 Rob Simmelkjaer: in helping it grow? And he was a pretty good 110 00:06:12,930 --> 00:06:17,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: runner as well. He ran 40 marathons, that number's right, 111 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:23,279 Rob Simmelkjaer: 40 marathons and his all- time PR was in his 112 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:25,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: forties. We'll get to that in a little while. But George, 113 00:06:26,040 --> 00:06:29,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: you've just been such an incredible icon. I would not 114 00:06:29,850 --> 00:06:33,089 Rob Simmelkjaer: be sitting in this chair where I am today. This 115 00:06:33,089 --> 00:06:37,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: sport, this organization of New York Road Runners, and certainly 116 00:06:37,110 --> 00:06:40,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: this event, the TCS New York City Marathon, would not 117 00:06:40,620 --> 00:06:43,080 Rob Simmelkjaer: be what it is if it were not for your 118 00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:49,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: incredible vision, your contributions, your steadfast dedication to the sport, 119 00:06:49,770 --> 00:06:52,469 Rob Simmelkjaer: to this organization, and to this event. So it is 120 00:06:52,470 --> 00:06:56,219 Rob Simmelkjaer: really our pleasure to present you with this award today. Becs, 121 00:06:56,460 --> 00:06:57,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: will you do the honors? 122 00:07:00,150 --> 00:07:01,680 Rebbeca Gentry: I'm very honored to do this. So George, it's such a pleasure to meet you. I 123 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:04,230 Rebbeca Gentry: cannot wait for our conversation, but congratulations. 124 00:07:04,650 --> 00:07:06,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: Let's get a big round of applause here in the 125 00:07:06,750 --> 00:07:11,040 Rob Simmelkjaer: audience for George Hirsch, the recipient of this year's Abebe 126 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:16,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: Bikila Award and so well deserved. So George, congratulations. 127 00:07:17,250 --> 00:07:22,890 George Hirsch: Thank you so much Rob for your overly generous comments 128 00:07:22,890 --> 00:07:27,150 George Hirsch: and Becs, I will cherish this. Thank you so much. 129 00:07:27,690 --> 00:07:32,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: So George, let's start. I want to start with you 130 00:07:33,480 --> 00:07:38,970 Rob Simmelkjaer: at the start of all of this. 1976, it was 131 00:07:38,970 --> 00:07:43,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: probably earlier than that, when someone first came to you 132 00:07:44,010 --> 00:07:48,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: with this idea of taking this marathon, which had been 133 00:07:48,630 --> 00:07:54,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: run in laps around Central Park for several years and said, " 134 00:07:54,540 --> 00:07:57,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: I got an idea. Let's take this thing outside the 135 00:07:57,840 --> 00:08:01,860 Rob Simmelkjaer: park and let's have folks run all five boroughs of the 136 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:04,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: City of New York." When you first heard that idea, 137 00:08:04,830 --> 00:08:06,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: first of all, who was the first person you heard 138 00:08:06,450 --> 00:08:08,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: it from and what was your reaction? 139 00:08:09,150 --> 00:08:13,320 George Hirsch: The first person I heard it from was a genuine 140 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:20,370 George Hirsch: New York character named George Spitz. And George, he had 141 00:08:20,370 --> 00:08:22,920 George Hirsch: what in the old days we used to call a 142 00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:28,950 George Hirsch: full Rolodex. He worked in the city hall and the 143 00:08:28,950 --> 00:08:32,190 George Hirsch: audit department, but he knew everyone and he was a 144 00:08:32,910 --> 00:08:38,670 George Hirsch: political gadfly. He wrote letters to the editors of newspapers 145 00:08:38,940 --> 00:08:41,970 George Hirsch: and he used to run for office. He never intended 146 00:08:41,970 --> 00:08:45,690 George Hirsch: to win, but he just wanted to run and make 147 00:08:45,690 --> 00:08:49,410 George Hirsch: a statement about some issue or another. And he was 148 00:08:49,410 --> 00:08:53,640 George Hirsch: the first person that I heard the idea from. And 149 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:58,380 George Hirsch: Rob, I thought, " That's a big idea." And I wasn't 150 00:08:58,380 --> 00:09:02,309 George Hirsch: enthusiastic about it at all. I thought, " How are they 151 00:09:02,309 --> 00:09:07,650 George Hirsch: going to pull this off?" Closing down five boroughs, New 152 00:09:07,650 --> 00:09:09,990 George Hirsch: York City? I thought, " Oh, come on." 153 00:09:11,130 --> 00:09:14,820 Rob Simmelkjaer: And at what point did you actually start to think, " 154 00:09:15,300 --> 00:09:18,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: Wait a second, this is a crazy idea, but maybe 155 00:09:18,929 --> 00:09:22,470 Rob Simmelkjaer: this could actually happen." What was the first glimmer of 156 00:09:22,710 --> 00:09:24,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: this possibly working? 157 00:09:25,140 --> 00:09:31,500 George Hirsch: That was when this gentleman, George Spitz was in touch 158 00:09:31,500 --> 00:09:35,550 George Hirsch: with a bunch of people, and one of them was 159 00:09:35,550 --> 00:09:41,640 George Hirsch: a local politician, very influential named Percy Sutton. He was 160 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:48,360 George Hirsch: the Manhattan borough president. And Percy began to embrace the 161 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:55,020 George Hirsch: idea and he thought this could work. And he went 162 00:09:55,020 --> 00:10:01,470 George Hirsch: to two prominent real estate developers in the city, very civic- 163 00:10:01,470 --> 00:10:07,380 George Hirsch: minded, Jack and Lew Rudin. And up until then, Fred 164 00:10:07,380 --> 00:10:10,080 George Hirsch: Lebow, who was then the president of the New York 165 00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:13,890 George Hirsch: Road Runners. He was like, " Come on, we can't do 166 00:10:13,890 --> 00:10:17,640 George Hirsch: something like this." I remember Fred saying, " This could cost 167 00:10:18,300 --> 00:10:23,220 George Hirsch: big money. This might cost $ 15,000. How are we going 168 00:10:23,220 --> 00:10:30,510 George Hirsch: to find that?" And the Rudins agreed to Percy Sutton 169 00:10:30,809 --> 00:10:36,059 George Hirsch: to put up $ 25,000. And I was publishing a magazine 170 00:10:36,059 --> 00:10:40,559 George Hirsch: then called New Times, and I put in another 5, 171 00:10:40,559 --> 00:10:47,190 George Hirsch: 000 at the time. And Percy invited Fred Lebow and me 172 00:10:47,190 --> 00:10:49,590 George Hirsch: to go down and see the then mayor of the 173 00:10:49,590 --> 00:10:52,829 George Hirsch: city of New York, a man named Abe Beame in 174 00:10:53,850 --> 00:10:59,880 George Hirsch: 1976 in New York City was on the verge of 175 00:10:59,880 --> 00:11:05,189 George Hirsch: bankruptcy and crime was sky- high, and this was the 176 00:11:05,190 --> 00:11:10,709 George Hirsch: bicentennial of the United States. And our pitch to the 177 00:11:10,710 --> 00:11:16,380 George Hirsch: mayor was, let's do this to lift the spirit of 178 00:11:16,380 --> 00:11:21,660 George Hirsch: this beaten up city in conjunction with the toll ships 179 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:25,440 George Hirsch: and see if we can do something that would just 180 00:11:25,950 --> 00:11:30,270 George Hirsch: help lift the community a little bit. The mayor bought 181 00:11:30,270 --> 00:11:33,060 George Hirsch: it and you know the rest of the story. 182 00:11:34,920 --> 00:11:38,790 Rebbeca Gentry: Well, I can't even get my head around how that 183 00:11:38,790 --> 00:11:44,520 Rebbeca Gentry: would've gone down back in 1976 with a city that was 184 00:11:44,550 --> 00:11:47,940 Rebbeca Gentry: how it was. So first of all, thank you from 185 00:11:48,059 --> 00:11:50,429 Rebbeca Gentry: a running perspective, thank you and everybody else that was 186 00:11:50,429 --> 00:11:53,760 Rebbeca Gentry: involved. But what I want to talk about is Fred because 187 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:56,429 Rebbeca Gentry: to a lot of runners today, I think we all 188 00:11:56,429 --> 00:12:00,059 Rebbeca Gentry: know and we hear Fred's name and he's very much 189 00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:04,200 Rebbeca Gentry: a big figure in today's world associated with the TCS New 190 00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:08,220 Rebbeca Gentry: York City Marathon. What was your first thoughts of Fred 191 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:11,160 Rebbeca Gentry: as a person because you became friends with him? 192 00:12:11,520 --> 00:12:16,650 George Hirsch: Yeah, Fred and I were very close. So Fred Lebow 193 00:12:16,650 --> 00:12:23,010 George Hirsch: was a Holocaust survivor and he was a colorful personality. 194 00:12:24,330 --> 00:12:27,059 George Hirsch: At the time I first met him, he was doing 195 00:12:27,059 --> 00:12:34,559 George Hirsch: knockoffs in the garment center and he started to run 196 00:12:34,559 --> 00:12:37,920 George Hirsch: because he wanted to get fit for tennis, and he 197 00:12:37,920 --> 00:12:43,830 George Hirsch: never became a particularly good runner, but he loved running 198 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:50,429 George Hirsch: and he joined the club. And at that point, the leader 199 00:12:50,429 --> 00:12:54,209 George Hirsch: in the organization was a man named Ted Corbitt, who 200 00:12:54,210 --> 00:12:58,260 George Hirsch: had been the first president of the New York Road Runners. 201 00:12:58,500 --> 00:13:02,010 George Hirsch: He had been an Olympic marathon runner. He was someone 202 00:13:02,010 --> 00:13:06,540 George Hirsch: we all looked up to and admired. And Fred jumped 203 00:13:06,540 --> 00:13:13,410 George Hirsch: in and started using his business skills, his promotion skills, 204 00:13:13,410 --> 00:13:18,000 George Hirsch: and he and a guy named Vince Chiappetta were the founders 205 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:22,679 George Hirsch: of the first New York City Marathon in Central Park 206 00:13:22,710 --> 00:13:29,819 George Hirsch: in 1970. And that race was small, 127 starters, very 207 00:13:29,820 --> 00:13:33,059 George Hirsch: small deal, and it went on for five years and it 208 00:13:33,059 --> 00:13:39,420 George Hirsch: kept growing at a time when running was taking off. 209 00:13:39,420 --> 00:13:42,120 George Hirsch: It was the beginning of what we all then called 210 00:13:42,120 --> 00:13:49,620 George Hirsch: the running boom. And Fred was media savvy. He was 211 00:13:49,620 --> 00:13:55,260 George Hirsch: a promoter. The media loved him because they always knew 212 00:13:56,010 --> 00:14:00,420 George Hirsch: they could get a story out of Fred and he 213 00:14:00,420 --> 00:14:05,010 George Hirsch: knew how to build an event. And once the Mayor 214 00:14:05,010 --> 00:14:09,540 George Hirsch: greenlighted this, Fred found his life's work. 215 00:14:11,550 --> 00:14:16,590 Rob Simmelkjaer: So take me George, to the starting line of the 216 00:14:16,620 --> 00:14:20,040 Rob Simmelkjaer: first five burro marathon. I'll never really go there. So 217 00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:22,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: I want to go there with you for a second 218 00:14:22,530 --> 00:14:30,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: and what that moment was like, what your expectations were 219 00:14:30,420 --> 00:14:34,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: for the event. What was that day like and some 220 00:14:34,830 --> 00:14:38,729 Rob Simmelkjaer: things that people might be surprised to hear about the 221 00:14:38,730 --> 00:14:42,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: first time the runners crossed the Verrazano Bridge to start 222 00:14:42,540 --> 00:14:43,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: this race? 223 00:14:44,190 --> 00:14:50,880 George Hirsch: So back then there was one really famous marathon runner 224 00:14:50,940 --> 00:14:53,730 George Hirsch: and he had won the Olympic marathon and he was 225 00:14:53,730 --> 00:14:57,480 George Hirsch: an American, and his name was Frank Shorter. And Frank 226 00:14:57,480 --> 00:15:01,440 George Hirsch: stayed with me the night before the marathon. Fred knew 227 00:15:02,070 --> 00:15:05,280 George Hirsch: that he had to get Frank Shorter if this race 228 00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:09,000 George Hirsch: was going to get the attention of the media, and 229 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:12,780 George Hirsch: he convinced Frank to do it. And Frank said, " Well, 230 00:15:13,260 --> 00:15:16,350 George Hirsch: I'll come just to see if there's any chance they 231 00:15:16,350 --> 00:15:20,610 George Hirsch: can close this city down to run a marathon." And 232 00:15:21,660 --> 00:15:24,870 George Hirsch: Frank and I drove out to the start that morning 233 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:29,880 George Hirsch: and 2000 people, nothing like what we're going to see 234 00:15:29,880 --> 00:15:35,310 George Hirsch: Sunday with 50, 000 plus. So it wasn't all that organized, 235 00:15:35,310 --> 00:15:40,260 George Hirsch: it wasn't what it is. We could jog around out 236 00:15:40,260 --> 00:15:43,859 George Hirsch: at the start. And as we began to line up, 237 00:15:44,160 --> 00:15:48,360 George Hirsch: Fred walked along the front line of the marathon and 238 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:51,570 George Hirsch: people who didn't look like they were very good runners, he 239 00:15:51,570 --> 00:15:54,450 George Hirsch: would just push them to the back. I'm talking about 240 00:15:54,450 --> 00:16:00,030 George Hirsch: guys with basketball shoes who might've weighed 240 pounds, and 241 00:16:00,030 --> 00:16:02,340 George Hirsch: Fred would say, " You don't belong up here in the front." 242 00:16:02,910 --> 00:16:06,570 George Hirsch: And he would pull the better runners to make sure 243 00:16:06,570 --> 00:16:09,900 George Hirsch: they were in the front row. And of course, no 244 00:16:09,900 --> 00:16:15,810 George Hirsch: chips back then. Everyone's time was from the starter's gun. 245 00:16:16,770 --> 00:16:22,530 George Hirsch: And I remembered it as thinking this is a bigger 246 00:16:22,530 --> 00:16:25,230 George Hirsch: deal than I thought it would ever be. There were 247 00:16:25,230 --> 00:16:35,220 George Hirsch: helicopters overhead, the tugboats were spraying water. Looking down from 248 00:16:35,220 --> 00:16:39,270 George Hirsch: the Verrazano Bridge, it was like a big- time event 249 00:16:39,390 --> 00:16:45,000 George Hirsch: even in year one. And by the time we crossed 250 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:48,780 George Hirsch: the bridge into Brooklyn and all of a sudden there 251 00:16:48,780 --> 00:16:58,351 George Hirsch: are people on the sidewalks, both sides, and it was like, this thing's going to work. Yep. 252 00:16:58,351 --> 00:17:01,170 Rebbeca Gentry: I love that. And I love the shock. What do you say? There were people on the 253 00:17:01,170 --> 00:17:05,640 Rebbeca Gentry: sidewalks and now today it's just expected. And I think- 254 00:17:05,670 --> 00:17:05,940 George Hirsch: Now it's unbelievable. 255 00:17:06,600 --> 00:17:09,750 Rebbeca Gentry: We say in whatever city you're running a marathon, whether 256 00:17:09,750 --> 00:17:14,910 Rebbeca Gentry: it's New York, whether it's Boston, people are expected to 257 00:17:14,910 --> 00:17:17,280 Rebbeca Gentry: come out. If somebody tells me they're in New York 258 00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:19,200 Rebbeca Gentry: or Boston when the marathons on and they're not cheering, I'm like, " 259 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:23,910 Rebbeca Gentry: I'm good. Don't need to talk to you anymore." But let's 260 00:17:23,910 --> 00:17:28,140 Rebbeca Gentry: go back to, we were just talking before we came 261 00:17:28,140 --> 00:17:32,609 Rebbeca Gentry: on stage about the course changes. And so it went 262 00:17:32,609 --> 00:17:35,760 Rebbeca Gentry: from laps of Central Park, by the way, you're all 263 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:40,890 Rebbeca Gentry: welcome that that is not the case anymore. And then 264 00:17:40,890 --> 00:17:45,450 Rebbeca Gentry: you told us about how there was a very fun moment 265 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:50,310 Rebbeca Gentry: where the course just popped into the Bronx and I 266 00:17:50,310 --> 00:17:52,619 Rebbeca Gentry: want you to share with everybody the story about that 267 00:17:52,619 --> 00:17:53,580 Rebbeca Gentry: because it was magnificent. 268 00:17:53,609 --> 00:17:58,438 George Hirsch: Yeah. So the very first year there was a five borough 269 00:17:58,439 --> 00:18:03,720 George Hirsch: marathon. It was essential that the course at least got 270 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:08,340 George Hirsch: into all five boroughs and it crossed the Willis Avenue 271 00:18:08,340 --> 00:18:13,290 George Hirsch: Bridge, which a lot of you know now, and at 272 00:18:13,290 --> 00:18:18,390 George Hirsch: the 20- mile mark, it ran around a lamppost in 273 00:18:18,390 --> 00:18:22,200 George Hirsch: the Bronx. It entered the Bronx for, I don't know, 274 00:18:23,010 --> 00:18:27,510 George Hirsch: 20 or 50 yards, and that was it. And those of us who 275 00:18:27,510 --> 00:18:31,080 George Hirsch: were running the race that first year, we grabbed the 276 00:18:31,080 --> 00:18:36,840 George Hirsch: lamppost and spun ourselves around. I see a gentleman nodding. 277 00:18:36,869 --> 00:18:41,280 George Hirsch: He remembered. And all of a sudden we're running back 278 00:18:41,790 --> 00:18:48,480 George Hirsch: against those who were still coming behind us. And the 279 00:18:48,840 --> 00:18:52,260 George Hirsch: first winner of the race who went on to win 280 00:18:52,260 --> 00:18:56,790 George Hirsch: this race the first four times, Bill Rodgers had opened 281 00:18:56,790 --> 00:19:00,359 George Hirsch: up a sizable lead on Frank Shorter, the other big 282 00:19:00,359 --> 00:19:05,399 George Hirsch: champion of the day. And as Bill was running back 283 00:19:05,730 --> 00:19:13,770 George Hirsch: now toward the city, he passed Frank and Frank knew 284 00:19:13,770 --> 00:19:17,040 George Hirsch: that Bill was going to win the race, and he said, " 285 00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:23,520 George Hirsch: Congratulations Bill." As they passed each other. And at that 286 00:19:23,520 --> 00:19:29,160 George Hirsch: point, the torch in marathon running was passed. The first 287 00:19:29,160 --> 00:19:34,679 George Hirsch: five years or so of the 1970s, the top marathon 288 00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:38,189 George Hirsch: runner in the world was Frank Shorter. And from that 289 00:19:38,190 --> 00:19:42,419 George Hirsch: day in the New York City Marathon, the top runner 290 00:19:42,420 --> 00:19:45,270 George Hirsch: in the world became Bill Rodgers. He won New York 291 00:19:45,270 --> 00:19:48,150 George Hirsch: four times as I said, he went on to win 292 00:19:48,150 --> 00:19:53,790 George Hirsch: Boston four times. So it was at that moment after the 293 00:19:53,820 --> 00:20:02,400 George Hirsch: lamppost in the Bronx that the course changed. We opened up 294 00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:05,940 George Hirsch: more distance in the Bronx thereafter. Yeah. 295 00:20:06,150 --> 00:20:09,359 Rebbeca Gentry: I don't know about anyone who's run the marathon before, but that 296 00:20:09,359 --> 00:20:12,480 Rebbeca Gentry: visual in my mind of those two running legends, just 297 00:20:12,630 --> 00:20:15,900 Rebbeca Gentry: sort of Frank Sinatra style, holding onto a lamppost, going 298 00:20:15,900 --> 00:20:18,689 Rebbeca Gentry: around the corner and getting on with their marathon for 299 00:20:18,690 --> 00:20:22,470 Rebbeca Gentry: another six or so miles was absolutely phenomenal. And that 300 00:20:22,470 --> 00:20:25,590 Rebbeca Gentry: Willis Avenue Bridge, that was one of my personal darkest 301 00:20:25,590 --> 00:20:30,300 Rebbeca Gentry: moments of the New York City Marathon because I think 302 00:20:30,300 --> 00:20:32,760 Rebbeca Gentry: where it is in the race, where it is now, 303 00:20:32,820 --> 00:20:35,669 Rebbeca Gentry: the distance wise, I was solo and it was very 304 00:20:35,670 --> 00:20:37,560 Rebbeca Gentry: dark. So I wish I'd have had that thought in 305 00:20:37,560 --> 00:20:40,740 Rebbeca Gentry: my mind. And even if it wasn't the same lamppost 306 00:20:41,280 --> 00:20:42,780 Rebbeca Gentry: for all of you who are about to run it 307 00:20:42,780 --> 00:20:44,369 Rebbeca Gentry: now, when you go into the Bronx and you see 308 00:20:44,369 --> 00:20:46,109 Rebbeca Gentry: a lamppost and you're in the pain of the 20 309 00:20:46,109 --> 00:20:48,990 Rebbeca Gentry: miles, just laugh. Just have that image in your mind 310 00:20:48,990 --> 00:20:52,950 Rebbeca Gentry: of these two amazing runners just grabbing the lamppost, just 311 00:20:53,010 --> 00:20:54,900 Rebbeca Gentry: that's going to help you get through. So thank you. 312 00:20:54,990 --> 00:20:57,840 George Hirsch: A further answer to your question is there was one 313 00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:02,490 George Hirsch: other course change, and that was from the first year to the 314 00:21:02,490 --> 00:21:03,240 George Hirsch: second year. 315 00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:05,369 Rebbeca Gentry: This blew my mind, everyone. Are you ready? 316 00:21:05,369 --> 00:21:11,490 George Hirsch: Very first year, the race when it crossed into Manhattan 317 00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:15,510 George Hirsch: over the Queensboro Bridge, it immediately went over to the 318 00:21:15,510 --> 00:21:20,550 George Hirsch: little path along the FDR Drive between the FDR Drive 319 00:21:20,550 --> 00:21:23,850 George Hirsch: and the river. And of course, there weren't many runners 320 00:21:23,850 --> 00:21:29,070 George Hirsch: and they were spread out, but there were no spectators 321 00:21:29,070 --> 00:21:33,570 George Hirsch: of course. And it didn't take long for Fred Lebow 322 00:21:33,570 --> 00:21:38,010 George Hirsch: and the organizers to figure out that this race had 323 00:21:38,010 --> 00:21:42,119 George Hirsch: to come up First Avenue. So year two, they changed 324 00:21:42,119 --> 00:21:45,270 George Hirsch: the course. And as those of you who run the 325 00:21:45,270 --> 00:21:50,760 George Hirsch: course know, it's the most intense part of the race 326 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:56,490 George Hirsch: from a crowd perspective, that 60th Street on up to 327 00:21:56,640 --> 00:22:01,379 George Hirsch: 90th Street on First Avenue is just, it's just a 328 00:22:01,380 --> 00:22:05,640 George Hirsch: wall of sound now, but it was dead quiet in 329 00:22:05,640 --> 00:22:08,159 George Hirsch: year one and that had to be changed. 330 00:22:08,220 --> 00:22:08,280 Rebbeca Gentry: Wow. 331 00:22:08,400 --> 00:22:11,939 Rob Simmelkjaer: I can't imagine that's a narrow path you're talking about 332 00:22:11,940 --> 00:22:15,359 Rob Simmelkjaer: going up the East River. So yes, that's a big 333 00:22:15,359 --> 00:22:18,899 Rob Simmelkjaer: change. That was a most necessary change. George, since I've 334 00:22:19,020 --> 00:22:21,510 Rob Simmelkjaer: been here and gotten to know you, one thing I 335 00:22:21,510 --> 00:22:25,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: know is how important the history is of the marathon 336 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:28,859 Rob Simmelkjaer: to you. You really believe that this history needs to 337 00:22:28,859 --> 00:22:31,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: be preserved. You do such a great job of telling 338 00:22:31,680 --> 00:22:34,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: these stories. You stayed very close with a lot of 339 00:22:34,680 --> 00:22:38,040 Rob Simmelkjaer: these runners from the early days that we talk about 340 00:22:38,040 --> 00:22:42,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: the Frank Shorter's and the Bill Rodgers. And now, our winners 341 00:22:42,600 --> 00:22:48,149 Rob Simmelkjaer: now are big stars. They're making pretty big money. They're 342 00:22:48,630 --> 00:22:51,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: fedded all over the city. They're on late night television 343 00:22:51,990 --> 00:22:54,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: when they win our races. But you told me some 344 00:22:54,900 --> 00:22:58,889 Rob Simmelkjaer: stories about back then, a guy would win or finish 345 00:22:58,890 --> 00:23:00,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: in the top three of the race and might not 346 00:23:00,690 --> 00:23:03,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: even have a cab fare to get home necessarily after 347 00:23:03,330 --> 00:23:05,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: the race. You talked about you and one of the 348 00:23:05,790 --> 00:23:09,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: top runners back during those years having a moment like that. 349 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:15,030 George Hirsch: The sport was amateur then, and that meant if you received 350 00:23:15,030 --> 00:23:20,790 George Hirsch: money as an elite runner, you could not participate in 351 00:23:20,790 --> 00:23:24,570 George Hirsch: the Olympic Games. So I'll tell you, it's no longer 352 00:23:24,570 --> 00:23:28,650 George Hirsch: a secret, but I can tell you now, I negotiated 353 00:23:28,650 --> 00:23:35,429 George Hirsch: with both Shorter and to Rodgers in 1976 to get under 354 00:23:35,430 --> 00:23:42,840 George Hirsch: the table payments in an envelope cash, $ 2, 000 each. 355 00:23:43,320 --> 00:23:46,919 George Hirsch: And it was sort of done back then, but no 356 00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:50,580 George Hirsch: one was supposed to have known about it. And needless 357 00:23:50,580 --> 00:23:54,420 George Hirsch: to say, a runner couldn't earn a living. They had 358 00:23:54,420 --> 00:23:57,330 George Hirsch: to have a line of running clothes or have a 359 00:23:57,330 --> 00:24:03,030 George Hirsch: running store or something like that, but it wasn't a profession. 360 00:24:04,020 --> 00:24:08,490 Rebbeca Gentry: Wow. How much has changed? That leads me into, we've 361 00:24:08,490 --> 00:24:12,780 Rebbeca Gentry: talked a lot about other people and running and you 362 00:24:12,780 --> 00:24:16,470 Rebbeca Gentry: have been involved in running for six decades. 363 00:24:16,590 --> 00:24:16,649 George Hirsch: Yeah. 364 00:24:16,950 --> 00:24:17,460 Rebbeca Gentry: About right? 365 00:24:17,790 --> 00:24:18,359 George Hirsch: That's fair. That's fair. 366 00:24:18,480 --> 00:24:23,700 Rebbeca Gentry: Rob said you've run 40 marathons. Your PR at age 367 00:24:23,700 --> 00:24:26,070 Rebbeca Gentry: 44 was 2: 38? 368 00:24:26,340 --> 00:24:27,119 George Hirsch: All correct. 369 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:31,950 Rebbeca Gentry: Yeah, yeah, exactly. Round of applause for that 2:38 at age 44. 370 00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:35,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: Just stopped for a moment, right? I mean, that's just incredible. 371 00:24:35,760 --> 00:24:36,240 Rebbeca Gentry: Unreal. 372 00:24:36,300 --> 00:24:39,209 Rob Simmelkjaer: That's a legitimately fast time at age 44. 373 00:24:40,080 --> 00:24:45,030 Rebbeca Gentry: Yes, before super shoes and before GPS watches and all 374 00:24:45,030 --> 00:24:47,580 Rebbeca Gentry: of the other stuff that seems to have all of the 375 00:24:47,670 --> 00:24:48,930 Rebbeca Gentry: gels and nutrition- 376 00:24:48,930 --> 00:24:50,550 George Hirsch: We didn't know anything. 377 00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:54,090 Rebbeca Gentry: Exactly. Well, you clearly knew a lot more than you're 378 00:24:54,090 --> 00:24:58,380 Rebbeca Gentry: letting on, but I want to know George. I'm somebody 379 00:24:58,380 --> 00:25:00,959 Rebbeca Gentry: who wants to run until the day I am no 380 00:25:00,960 --> 00:25:03,209 Rebbeca Gentry: longer on this planet, and that's how I train. I 381 00:25:03,210 --> 00:25:07,950 Rebbeca Gentry: train for longevity. How have you done it? I know 382 00:25:07,950 --> 00:25:09,750 Rebbeca Gentry: you're not running, I know you promised your wife at 383 00:25:09,750 --> 00:25:12,630 Rebbeca Gentry: 75, that that would be your last one, but you 384 00:25:12,630 --> 00:25:15,869 Rebbeca Gentry: ran for so long and you enjoyed it. So can 385 00:25:15,869 --> 00:25:18,359 Rebbeca Gentry: you share with us what it is about running that 386 00:25:18,359 --> 00:25:19,859 Rebbeca Gentry: kept the spark there for you? 387 00:25:20,430 --> 00:25:27,060 George Hirsch: Yeah, I guess first off, I've been pretty lucky in 388 00:25:27,060 --> 00:25:32,369 George Hirsch: that I haven't had major, I've had injuries, running injuries 389 00:25:32,369 --> 00:25:34,619 George Hirsch: like all of us, but I haven't had any that 390 00:25:35,490 --> 00:25:40,830 George Hirsch: have been really serious. So I've been extremely lucky and 391 00:25:41,280 --> 00:25:47,040 George Hirsch: I enjoy fitness. I still do. I haven't run today, 392 00:25:47,040 --> 00:25:51,720 George Hirsch: but I hope to later today at least to put 393 00:25:51,720 --> 00:25:56,730 George Hirsch: a few miles on the treadmill. And in more recent 394 00:25:56,730 --> 00:25:59,429 George Hirsch: years, I've been mixing up my training and doing a 395 00:25:59,430 --> 00:26:03,359 George Hirsch: little more cross- training. As Rob knows, a few months 396 00:26:03,359 --> 00:26:09,270 George Hirsch: ago, I started boxing and I'm really enjoying it because 397 00:26:10,350 --> 00:26:14,010 George Hirsch: the old days, I never did enough upper body work. 398 00:26:14,160 --> 00:26:18,449 George Hirsch: And boxing is great for your shoulders and working the 399 00:26:18,450 --> 00:26:21,450 George Hirsch: big bag and the speed bag and you get a 400 00:26:21,450 --> 00:26:22,410 George Hirsch: great workout. 401 00:26:22,410 --> 00:26:24,631 Rebbeca Gentry: Yeah, you do. I used to do boxing so I know. I feel- 402 00:26:24,631 --> 00:26:25,021 George Hirsch: Oh you know. 403 00:26:25,859 --> 00:26:28,290 Rebbeca Gentry: Yeah. And it's great for the cardio. You obviously have 404 00:26:28,290 --> 00:26:31,170 Rebbeca Gentry: years of cardio, so it must be... But you don't 405 00:26:31,170 --> 00:26:33,930 Rebbeca Gentry: seem like somebody who gets stressed easily, but I'm sure 406 00:26:33,930 --> 00:26:36,960 Rebbeca Gentry: it helps let out some of the stresses on that bag. 407 00:26:37,950 --> 00:26:40,830 George Hirsch: I think fitness helps us in all of that. I 408 00:26:41,280 --> 00:26:46,619 George Hirsch: try not to overly stress on stuff because life is 409 00:26:46,619 --> 00:26:50,609 George Hirsch: life and when you get to my age, you learn 410 00:26:50,609 --> 00:26:53,939 George Hirsch: you can normally turn the page and move on. Yeah. 411 00:26:54,570 --> 00:26:58,619 Rob Simmelkjaer: I remember last summer when I got injured, I was 412 00:26:58,619 --> 00:27:01,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: trying to run the Chicago Marathon, my knees started bothering 413 00:27:01,650 --> 00:27:05,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: me and it was so funny telling George, " Well, George, 414 00:27:05,010 --> 00:27:07,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: I wanted to run this marathon but my knee hurts. 415 00:27:07,980 --> 00:27:09,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: I'm not going to make it. I can't do it." 416 00:27:10,230 --> 00:27:13,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: I'm talking to George who's run 40 marathons, he's 80- something years 417 00:27:13,800 --> 00:27:16,409 Rob Simmelkjaer: old, and he's looking at me like, " Really, Rob? I 418 00:27:16,410 --> 00:27:19,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: think you can probably figure it out. You'll recover, you'll 419 00:27:19,680 --> 00:27:22,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: get better." And I wasn't really sure at the time, 420 00:27:22,500 --> 00:27:25,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: but sure enough, a year later I kept running and 421 00:27:25,440 --> 00:27:28,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: did feel better and was able to run in Berlin. 422 00:27:28,260 --> 00:27:32,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: What advice do you have for people to keep going 423 00:27:32,220 --> 00:27:35,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: and have that kind of longevity in the sport? Because 424 00:27:35,760 --> 00:27:39,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: you hear people all the time saying, " Oh, my knees, 425 00:27:39,450 --> 00:27:42,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: my hip, my whatever. I had to stop running" and 426 00:27:42,900 --> 00:27:46,050 Rob Simmelkjaer: you're someone who never stopped running really. 427 00:27:47,340 --> 00:27:50,399 George Hirsch: Yeah. And listen, Rob ran Berlin and he ran a 428 00:27:50,400 --> 00:27:56,550 George Hirsch: PR of 3: 27 a few weeks ago, so he's 429 00:27:57,540 --> 00:28:02,040 George Hirsch: still improving. And he's a perfect example when he gets 430 00:28:02,040 --> 00:28:05,609 George Hirsch: to be my age, he's going to be doing it 431 00:28:05,609 --> 00:28:11,010 George Hirsch: for sure. What is the advice? I think the advice 432 00:28:11,010 --> 00:28:21,750 George Hirsch: is, it's like a marathon. We can't say how important 433 00:28:21,750 --> 00:28:26,190 George Hirsch: a taper is. And maybe in all of the cycle 434 00:28:26,190 --> 00:28:31,140 George Hirsch: of the year, you've got to do some downtime. We're 435 00:28:31,140 --> 00:28:35,850 George Hirsch: all busy and don't try to push yourself through it. 436 00:28:36,510 --> 00:28:41,430 George Hirsch: Our work situations can be very demanding and maybe you 437 00:28:41,430 --> 00:28:44,220 George Hirsch: say to yourself, " I'm not going to run this marathon 438 00:28:44,220 --> 00:28:48,780 George Hirsch: this year" or " I'm just going to pass." And take 439 00:28:48,780 --> 00:28:55,800 George Hirsch: the long view would be my be my basic advice and you'll 440 00:28:56,220 --> 00:28:57,480 George Hirsch: hold up much better. 441 00:28:58,320 --> 00:29:03,870 Rebbeca Gentry: That's beautiful advice and something that I am going to 442 00:29:03,870 --> 00:29:06,120 Rebbeca Gentry: quote you on that because at Peloton I say that 443 00:29:06,120 --> 00:29:10,080 Rebbeca Gentry: a lot to runners, unless you are an Olympian, who 444 00:29:10,080 --> 00:29:13,440 Rebbeca Gentry: is getting paid the big bucks as we know, it's 445 00:29:13,440 --> 00:29:15,840 Rebbeca Gentry: our hobby and our hobbies should be what make us 446 00:29:15,840 --> 00:29:19,230 Rebbeca Gentry: happy and it shouldn't be stressful. We shouldn't be forcing 447 00:29:19,230 --> 00:29:21,150 Rebbeca Gentry: ourselves to get out there for the run. If it 448 00:29:21,150 --> 00:29:24,870 Rebbeca Gentry: works, beautiful. If it doesn't, it's tomorrow. There's always tomorrow. 449 00:29:26,400 --> 00:29:29,160 Rebbeca Gentry: So I selfishly want to know a little bit about 450 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:32,730 Rebbeca Gentry: your relationship with one of my idols, a female runner 451 00:29:32,730 --> 00:29:34,890 Rebbeca Gentry: who has inspired me a huge amount, and that is 452 00:29:34,890 --> 00:29:38,040 Rebbeca Gentry: Joan, Joan Benoit Samuelson. I think we all know first 453 00:29:38,040 --> 00:29:44,100 Rebbeca Gentry: woman to win, what? 1984 she won. And you've run 454 00:29:44,130 --> 00:29:47,550 Rebbeca Gentry: a lot of miles with Joan, you've run a lot 455 00:29:47,550 --> 00:29:50,490 Rebbeca Gentry: of marathons. A very specific marathon, you ran more or 456 00:29:50,490 --> 00:29:53,850 Rebbeca Gentry: less alongside her all the way. What is your relationship like- 457 00:29:53,850 --> 00:29:56,490 George Hirsch: I wish it were all way, but yes it's true. It the 458 00:29:58,410 --> 00:30:06,450 George Hirsch: 1979 Boston Marathon, I started off and maybe, and I 459 00:30:06,450 --> 00:30:10,380 George Hirsch: was talking to a woman at the start, not Joan, 460 00:30:10,860 --> 00:30:14,310 George Hirsch: and she was telling me what she was hoping to 461 00:30:14,310 --> 00:30:18,330 George Hirsch: do that day, and I gave her the standard Boston 462 00:30:18,330 --> 00:30:22,770 George Hirsch: advice that it's all downhill in the beginning, so let's 463 00:30:22,770 --> 00:30:28,500 George Hirsch: go very easy. And probably a minute or two into 464 00:30:28,500 --> 00:30:32,670 George Hirsch: the race, this other woman comes up alongside of us 465 00:30:33,120 --> 00:30:38,070 George Hirsch: and she's like a kid. She was a college student 466 00:30:38,070 --> 00:30:44,280 George Hirsch: at the time, Joan Benoit. And we all introduced ourselves, 467 00:30:44,760 --> 00:30:49,440 George Hirsch: this is Sue, this is Joan. I'm George. Joni and 468 00:30:49,440 --> 00:30:52,080 George Hirsch: I knew who each other were a little bit. And 469 00:30:52,080 --> 00:30:58,710 George Hirsch: we started running together. And I remembered at a certain point 470 00:30:58,710 --> 00:31:04,860 George Hirsch: our friend Sue dropped back. And as we're heading into 471 00:31:04,860 --> 00:31:11,010 George Hirsch: Wellesley, we keep hearing second woman, you're the second woman. 472 00:31:11,010 --> 00:31:16,350 George Hirsch: Now listen, that was pretty heady for me to think 473 00:31:16,350 --> 00:31:19,140 George Hirsch: that I was the second woman in the Boston Marathon. 474 00:31:20,310 --> 00:31:27,150 George Hirsch: It was extraordinary. And up ahead of us was America's 475 00:31:27,150 --> 00:31:32,940 George Hirsch: then best marathon runner who won this award last year, 476 00:31:33,720 --> 00:31:40,620 George Hirsch: Patti Catalano Lyons and Patti Lyons Catalano. And she was 477 00:31:40,620 --> 00:31:43,710 George Hirsch: the first American woman to ever break 2: 30 in the 478 00:31:43,710 --> 00:31:47,250 George Hirsch: marathon. She was the real deal. And we didn't see 479 00:31:47,250 --> 00:31:52,260 George Hirsch: her, but we kept hearing, " Second woman, Patti's up ahead, 480 00:31:52,260 --> 00:31:58,200 George Hirsch: Patti's up ahead." And as we were going into Wellesley, 481 00:31:59,430 --> 00:32:03,480 George Hirsch: I remembered saying to Joni, " It's going to get really 482 00:32:03,480 --> 00:32:06,810 George Hirsch: noisy because all these college women come out and they 483 00:32:06,810 --> 00:32:10,830 George Hirsch: go crazy for the first women in the race." I said, " 484 00:32:10,830 --> 00:32:12,960 George Hirsch: It's going to get really noisy. So let me tell 485 00:32:12,960 --> 00:32:19,860 George Hirsch: you something. I came through here last year with Miki. 486 00:32:20,100 --> 00:32:26,670 George Hirsch: It was a woman named Miki Gorman, and you and 487 00:32:26,670 --> 00:32:30,060 George Hirsch: I are on faster pace today, and she won the 488 00:32:30,060 --> 00:32:34,440 George Hirsch: race." And Joni looked up at me and she said, " George, you made 489 00:32:34,440 --> 00:32:37,920 George Hirsch: my day." I'll never forget it. And it was a 490 00:32:37,920 --> 00:32:41,760 George Hirsch: chilly sort of rainy day. And after we got through 491 00:32:41,910 --> 00:32:45,720 George Hirsch: the halfway and we started heading into the hills, she 492 00:32:45,990 --> 00:32:48,510 George Hirsch: took off. She had a long sleeve shirt and she 493 00:32:49,020 --> 00:32:51,990 George Hirsch: whipped it off and tossed it aside as if to 494 00:32:51,990 --> 00:32:57,300 George Hirsch: say, now it's time to let's get going. And she 495 00:32:57,300 --> 00:33:03,150 George Hirsch: left me in the hills and off she went. And 496 00:33:04,170 --> 00:33:08,070 George Hirsch: I remembered we were getting into Boston and I was 497 00:33:08,340 --> 00:33:12,510 George Hirsch: really not processing mentally where I was and I was 498 00:33:12,510 --> 00:33:17,160 George Hirsch: getting depressed and you know the bad patches you go 499 00:33:17,160 --> 00:33:22,740 George Hirsch: through in a marathon. And all of a sudden, my 500 00:33:22,770 --> 00:33:27,540 George Hirsch: now dear friend Sue comes back up and tells what 501 00:33:27,540 --> 00:33:30,390 George Hirsch: is of course the greatest lie that we all tell 502 00:33:30,390 --> 00:33:35,220 George Hirsch: each other, " George, you're looking great." And we all hear 503 00:33:35,220 --> 00:33:38,910 George Hirsch: that. We all yell it out a thousand times on 504 00:33:38,910 --> 00:33:45,810 George Hirsch: Sunday and you want to believe it. And back then, 505 00:33:46,200 --> 00:33:52,350 George Hirsch: people line the course with transistor radios. And now we're 506 00:33:52,350 --> 00:33:55,740 George Hirsch: hearing that Bill Rodgers won the Boston Marathon, which he 507 00:33:55,740 --> 00:34:01,920 George Hirsch: always did. And then we're hearing Joan Benoit has just 508 00:34:01,920 --> 00:34:06,630 George Hirsch: passed Patty Catalano and Sue and I are bumping our 509 00:34:06,630 --> 00:34:12,540 George Hirsch: fists. And this is really crazy because Patty was a real 510 00:34:12,540 --> 00:34:16,800 George Hirsch: friend of mine and I've known Joan for an hour 511 00:34:16,800 --> 00:34:22,440 George Hirsch: and a half. But somehow or other you run a 512 00:34:22,440 --> 00:34:25,169 George Hirsch: race or part of it, you know what I mean? You run 513 00:34:25,170 --> 00:34:28,710 George Hirsch: part of a race with someone and you're in it 514 00:34:28,710 --> 00:34:34,170 George Hirsch: together. And it was like, " Go Joan." And Joan passed. And I 515 00:34:34,170 --> 00:34:38,460 George Hirsch: remember we came down into the finish shoot and there 516 00:34:38,460 --> 00:34:41,370 George Hirsch: was Joan and she had a wreath on her head 517 00:34:41,850 --> 00:34:44,880 George Hirsch: and Sue and I finished together and the three of 518 00:34:44,880 --> 00:34:49,680 George Hirsch: us were hugging. And as I wrote in a piece 519 00:34:49,980 --> 00:34:53,580 George Hirsch: that I wrote in Runner's World right after that, I said, " 520 00:34:53,580 --> 00:34:57,330 George Hirsch: And there we were the first, third and fourth women 521 00:34:57,330 --> 00:34:58,260 George Hirsch: in the Boston Marathon." 522 00:34:58,260 --> 00:34:58,261 Rob Simmelkjaer: That's a great story. Love that story. 523 00:34:58,261 --> 00:35:08,640 Rebbeca Gentry: I love that. And I am going to be asking you to find some photos of that as well. 524 00:35:10,230 --> 00:35:16,529 Rob Simmelkjaer: Unbelievable and exemplary of where you've been. You're almost like 525 00:35:16,710 --> 00:35:19,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: Forrest Gump in a way of running. You've been in 526 00:35:19,500 --> 00:35:22,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: so many places, in so many rooms and races and 527 00:35:22,739 --> 00:35:25,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: connected with so many of the greats of the sport that 528 00:35:25,800 --> 00:35:28,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: you really have seen it all through your own eyes. 529 00:35:28,650 --> 00:35:33,839 Rob Simmelkjaer: And you mentioned writing and the role that you as 530 00:35:33,840 --> 00:35:39,359 Rob Simmelkjaer: a journalist have played in sport. We have a journalism 531 00:35:39,360 --> 00:35:41,219 Rob Simmelkjaer: award at New York Road Runners, we just gave it 532 00:35:41,219 --> 00:35:45,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: out yesterday at our media luncheon to a gentleman named 533 00:35:45,540 --> 00:35:49,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: Chris Chavez who was this year's recipient. He's the editor of 534 00:35:49,200 --> 00:35:52,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: Cityist Magazine. Many of us know him. And that award 535 00:35:52,500 --> 00:35:55,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: is named after George Hirsch. And it's because of your 536 00:35:55,950 --> 00:36:00,718 Rob Simmelkjaer: contributions as a journalist to this sport running Runner's World 537 00:36:00,719 --> 00:36:05,040 Rob Simmelkjaer: Magazine, all the things you did really put running in 538 00:36:05,040 --> 00:36:09,870 Rob Simmelkjaer: the mainstream of society. And I'm just curious now, George, 539 00:36:10,020 --> 00:36:14,009 Rob Simmelkjaer: you talked about that running boom of the seventies. How 540 00:36:14,010 --> 00:36:17,489 Rob Simmelkjaer: do you think running has stayed culturally relevant all these 541 00:36:17,489 --> 00:36:19,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: years? And what do you think about what's going on 542 00:36:19,920 --> 00:36:23,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: now? Because we have a running boom of our own 543 00:36:23,280 --> 00:36:26,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: happening now, as you can see looking around our expo, 544 00:36:26,250 --> 00:36:28,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: as you can see from the fact that our races 545 00:36:28,650 --> 00:36:31,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: are all sold out in New York. What do you think 546 00:36:31,140 --> 00:36:35,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: is behind running, staying relevant, and continuing to grow in 547 00:36:35,310 --> 00:36:36,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: its popularity? 548 00:36:37,290 --> 00:36:40,620 George Hirsch: I think right now we are in the third running 549 00:36:40,620 --> 00:36:44,610 George Hirsch: boom, and I think it's bigger than either of the 550 00:36:44,610 --> 00:36:48,239 George Hirsch: ones that came before. I truly believe it. I think 551 00:36:49,380 --> 00:36:55,920 George Hirsch: there's a few catalysts for it. The pandemic obviously caused an 552 00:36:55,920 --> 00:36:58,980 George Hirsch: awful lot of people who were forced to stay at 553 00:36:58,980 --> 00:37:01,650 George Hirsch: home. They couldn't go to work, they couldn't get out 554 00:37:01,650 --> 00:37:04,859 George Hirsch: of their house to do much, but they could go 555 00:37:04,860 --> 00:37:10,110 George Hirsch: out and run and boy did they. And we're getting 556 00:37:10,110 --> 00:37:15,629 George Hirsch: more entries, not just for the marathon, but for all 557 00:37:15,630 --> 00:37:20,850 George Hirsch: of the roughly 40 to 50 events that we put on each 558 00:37:20,850 --> 00:37:26,370 George Hirsch: year. They're all sold out now. The demand is huge. 559 00:37:26,969 --> 00:37:32,820 George Hirsch: And also, I think the other thing that has totally 560 00:37:32,820 --> 00:37:37,350 George Hirsch: transformed the sport, you mentioned Joni, she was a pioneer 561 00:37:37,890 --> 00:37:41,520 George Hirsch: is and Kathrine Switzer, who's going to be here later 562 00:37:41,520 --> 00:37:50,040 George Hirsch: today, women in the sport, that first five borough marathon when 563 00:37:50,040 --> 00:37:56,640 George Hirsch: I said there were 2000 people, 100 were women. Now 564 00:37:56,640 --> 00:38:02,400 George Hirsch: we're seeing at our races often 50/50 and sometimes even 565 00:38:02,400 --> 00:38:08,130 George Hirsch: more women than men. That's just driven this sport and 566 00:38:08,670 --> 00:38:14,580 George Hirsch: I think it's huge. I think this sport even has 567 00:38:14,580 --> 00:38:17,009 George Hirsch: a long way to go. And it's not just a 568 00:38:17,010 --> 00:38:21,810 George Hirsch: sport, it's an activity. It's a way of life and 569 00:38:21,810 --> 00:38:26,400 George Hirsch: it's a lifestyle. And I think that's what's important. And 570 00:38:26,400 --> 00:38:31,109 George Hirsch: then people like Galloway, the Galloway method, he came along 571 00:38:31,110 --> 00:38:35,640 George Hirsch: and he gave us permission to do some walking during 572 00:38:35,640 --> 00:38:39,569 George Hirsch: a marathon. That was unheard of when I talked about 573 00:38:40,050 --> 00:38:48,090 George Hirsch: 1969 and 1970s. No one would dare stop and walk. Now 574 00:38:48,570 --> 00:38:54,960 George Hirsch: you can incorporate it into really quite a respectable marathon, 575 00:38:55,440 --> 00:38:59,609 George Hirsch: walking a minute every five minutes or every mile or 576 00:38:59,940 --> 00:39:05,520 George Hirsch: whatever your Galloway program is. So I think all of these 577 00:39:05,520 --> 00:39:12,180 George Hirsch: things have made running more accessible. And the more people 578 00:39:12,180 --> 00:39:17,550 George Hirsch: see, there'll be maybe two million people on the streets 579 00:39:17,550 --> 00:39:21,150 George Hirsch: out there on Sunday. And a lot of them are 580 00:39:21,150 --> 00:39:25,529 George Hirsch: going to say, " I could do that maybe next year." 581 00:39:26,250 --> 00:39:30,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: That's absolutely right. And you nailed it. I talk about 582 00:39:30,660 --> 00:39:33,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: that all the time. The way this sport has grown, 583 00:39:33,330 --> 00:39:36,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: what's been driving it and the role of women, no 584 00:39:36,150 --> 00:39:40,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: question about it. And one story that I have to 585 00:39:41,100 --> 00:39:44,040 Rob Simmelkjaer: ask you to talk about, there's no interview with you, 586 00:39:44,040 --> 00:39:48,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: George is complete without talking about a very special woman 587 00:39:48,989 --> 00:39:53,219 Rob Simmelkjaer: to you in your life and your late wife, Shay. And 588 00:39:53,280 --> 00:39:56,640 Rob Simmelkjaer: Shay, of course, if you know George, and you've known George 589 00:39:56,640 --> 00:40:00,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: for a long time, you know how important Shay was 590 00:40:00,870 --> 00:40:04,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: in your life and she was a runner. You met 591 00:40:04,200 --> 00:40:08,489 Rob Simmelkjaer: her at a race. That's my understanding. And so running 592 00:40:08,489 --> 00:40:11,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: has been such a big part of your life and 593 00:40:11,610 --> 00:40:15,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: perhaps no more so than the day you met Shay. 594 00:40:16,890 --> 00:40:22,259 George Hirsch: Well, thank you for that. My wife Shay passed away 595 00:40:22,980 --> 00:40:27,239 George Hirsch: 10 years ago, and I think about her every day. 596 00:40:27,810 --> 00:40:32,760 George Hirsch: So back in 1988, I was asked by NBC to do 597 00:40:32,760 --> 00:40:35,790 George Hirsch: commentary for the Olympic Games, which I had done in 598 00:40:36,450 --> 00:40:44,460 George Hirsch: '84 and subsequently in Barcelona in '80, in '92. And the Olympic 599 00:40:44,460 --> 00:40:48,750 George Hirsch: trials for the men's marathon was held at the New 600 00:40:48,750 --> 00:40:56,700 George Hirsch: Jersey Waterfront Marathon in conjunction with the people's race. So 601 00:40:57,090 --> 00:41:01,110 George Hirsch: to do my homework, my job then I was publisher 602 00:41:01,110 --> 00:41:04,620 George Hirsch: of Runner's World, but I was doing commentary for the 603 00:41:05,820 --> 00:41:10,050 George Hirsch: games in Seoul, Korea. And so I went out to 604 00:41:10,050 --> 00:41:19,140 George Hirsch: the marathon the day before Standard Expo. This is what 605 00:41:19,230 --> 00:41:21,930 George Hirsch: it was. It wasn't this big, it was a much 606 00:41:21,930 --> 00:41:26,190 George Hirsch: smaller race. But you know the routine, there were seminars 607 00:41:26,190 --> 00:41:31,620 George Hirsch: not on like this. And I was standing at the 608 00:41:31,620 --> 00:41:39,390 George Hirsch: Runner's World booth and this woman walked by and she 609 00:41:39,390 --> 00:41:44,790 George Hirsch: had this beautiful smile and blue eyes and dark hair. 610 00:41:44,790 --> 00:41:47,820 George Hirsch: And I just took a look at her and it 611 00:41:47,820 --> 00:41:53,040 George Hirsch: was palpable. And she kept walking so I followed her. 612 00:41:53,969 --> 00:41:58,170 George Hirsch: And I came up to her and I just said, " 613 00:41:58,170 --> 00:42:01,860 George Hirsch: Hi, how are you?" And she said to me, " Are 614 00:42:01,860 --> 00:42:06,180 George Hirsch: you George Hirsch?" And I would've said yes under any 615 00:42:06,180 --> 00:42:11,250 George Hirsch: circumstances at that point. And she said, " You did me 616 00:42:11,250 --> 00:42:14,160 George Hirsch: a favor and I want to thank you for it." And 617 00:42:14,160 --> 00:42:17,760 George Hirsch: I said, " Well, what was that?" And she said, " Well, 618 00:42:18,420 --> 00:42:22,739 George Hirsch: some months ago, a friend of mine asked you to 619 00:42:22,739 --> 00:42:28,290 George Hirsch: send a training program from Runner's World Magazine to me 620 00:42:28,290 --> 00:42:32,940 George Hirsch: because I'm training and tomorrow I'm running my first marathon." You have 621 00:42:33,270 --> 00:42:37,259 George Hirsch: to remember, there were no online, there was nothing. So 622 00:42:37,260 --> 00:42:39,989 George Hirsch: it was something that I had put in the mail and 623 00:42:39,989 --> 00:42:43,890 George Hirsch: it wasn't an unusual request and I hadn't given it 624 00:42:43,890 --> 00:42:47,580 George Hirsch: a lot of thought. I remembered the friend who requested 625 00:42:47,580 --> 00:42:51,360 George Hirsch: it, didn't know who I sent it to. And I said, " 626 00:42:51,360 --> 00:42:54,750 George Hirsch: Well, great. What are you looking for?" And she said, " 627 00:42:54,750 --> 00:42:59,910 George Hirsch: Well... Like every one of you who runs your first marathon... " Well 628 00:42:59,910 --> 00:43:04,140 George Hirsch: just to finish." And then she said, But you know, 629 00:43:04,140 --> 00:43:07,140 George Hirsch: I wouldn't mind coming back and running the New York 630 00:43:07,140 --> 00:43:11,370 George Hirsch: City Marathon this fall and seeing if I could qualify 631 00:43:11,370 --> 00:43:15,030 George Hirsch: for Boston." I said, " What do you need?" She said, " Well, I 632 00:43:15,750 --> 00:43:20,580 George Hirsch: just turned 40 and I need 3: 40." And I said, " 633 00:43:20,580 --> 00:43:23,160 George Hirsch: Well, how would you like to have dinner with me 634 00:43:23,160 --> 00:43:30,779 George Hirsch: tonight?" And she said, " Well, thank you but no." So 635 00:43:30,780 --> 00:43:34,080 George Hirsch: I wanted to prolong the conversation. So I walked her 636 00:43:34,080 --> 00:43:39,000 George Hirsch: out to her car at the race headquarters hotel out 637 00:43:39,000 --> 00:43:45,149 George Hirsch: there and kept the conversation going. Next morning, I have 638 00:43:45,150 --> 00:43:49,140 George Hirsch: a big breakfast with friends and so on. And I 639 00:43:49,140 --> 00:43:55,500 George Hirsch: go to the race and the elite runners, the Olympic 640 00:43:55,500 --> 00:44:01,290 George Hirsch: marathon trials started 15 minutes before the people's race and 641 00:44:01,290 --> 00:44:03,570 George Hirsch: I'm there for that. And I have to confess, I 642 00:44:03,570 --> 00:44:07,980 George Hirsch: had lost all interest in that. And they start, and 643 00:44:07,980 --> 00:44:10,979 George Hirsch: I walk into this sea of, I think it was 3, 644 00:44:11,070 --> 00:44:16,440 George Hirsch: 500 people. And you know what it's like. There was no way 645 00:44:16,440 --> 00:44:19,739 George Hirsch: I was going to find her. And the gun goes 646 00:44:19,739 --> 00:44:25,890 George Hirsch: off. And I waited until every last person crossed the 647 00:44:25,890 --> 00:44:30,540 George Hirsch: starting line, and I started to jog, looking to my 648 00:44:30,540 --> 00:44:36,810 George Hirsch: left, looking to my right, looking, looking, looking. Finally, at 649 00:44:36,810 --> 00:44:40,680 George Hirsch: five miles, there she is, she's up ahead of me. 650 00:44:41,280 --> 00:44:45,660 George Hirsch: She's listening to her tunes. And I came up alongside 651 00:44:45,660 --> 00:44:49,140 George Hirsch: of her, Rob, and I'm trying to be super cool, 652 00:44:50,130 --> 00:44:56,370 George Hirsch: and I said, " Hi." And she said, " What are you 653 00:44:56,370 --> 00:45:01,620 George Hirsch: doing here?" And I said, " Well, actually, I was looking 654 00:45:01,620 --> 00:45:05,700 George Hirsch: for you." And we started... I have to tell you 655 00:45:05,700 --> 00:45:10,140 George Hirsch: this. It was a period for a number of reasons, 656 00:45:11,489 --> 00:45:15,180 George Hirsch: including I remembered a broken shoulder that I had. I 657 00:45:15,180 --> 00:45:21,690 George Hirsch: hadn't run a marathon for four years. Anyway, we start 658 00:45:21,690 --> 00:45:25,320 George Hirsch: running together and then the next thing you know, it's 659 00:45:25,410 --> 00:45:30,870 George Hirsch: life stories and we're talking and we get to, I don't know, 23, 660 00:45:31,560 --> 00:45:37,200 George Hirsch: 24 miles. She says, " I'm really getting tired." And I said, " 661 00:45:37,200 --> 00:45:42,600 George Hirsch: Well, welcome to the marathon. This is what you're supposed 662 00:45:42,600 --> 00:45:48,270 George Hirsch: to be." And we went quiet. 3 hours, 37 minutes 663 00:45:48,270 --> 00:45:53,069 George Hirsch: and one second later, she crosses the finish line. I 664 00:45:53,070 --> 00:45:57,480 George Hirsch: step aside because I don't have a number. And off 665 00:45:57,480 --> 00:46:03,420 George Hirsch: she goes, by now she knew where I worked or 666 00:46:03,420 --> 00:46:06,718 George Hirsch: whatever. And so I got to work early the next day, which 667 00:46:06,719 --> 00:46:12,509 George Hirsch: I used to do. I don't anymore. And the phone 668 00:46:12,510 --> 00:46:17,130 George Hirsch: rang and she said, " I just calling to thank you 669 00:46:17,219 --> 00:46:22,230 George Hirsch: because now I'm qualified for the Boston Marathon thanks to 670 00:46:22,230 --> 00:46:26,460 George Hirsch: you. Is there any chance I could take you to 671 00:46:26,460 --> 00:46:33,330 George Hirsch: lunch this weekend? Any chance?" And anyway, it was a 672 00:46:33,330 --> 00:46:38,880 George Hirsch: little more complicated after that. And she was moving from New Jersey 673 00:46:38,880 --> 00:46:43,890 George Hirsch: back to Idaho where she lived, and it took a 674 00:46:43,890 --> 00:46:46,711 George Hirsch: while but the next year we got married. So that's it. 675 00:46:46,711 --> 00:46:52,230 Rebbeca Gentry: Yeah. The joys of being a race director to chase 676 00:46:52,230 --> 00:46:52,920 Rebbeca Gentry: your love. 677 00:46:54,180 --> 00:46:56,969 Rob Simmelkjaer: Absolutely. Still, I've heard it from you a number of 678 00:46:56,969 --> 00:47:00,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: times. I haven't heard a better love story then that 679 00:47:00,750 --> 00:47:04,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: in a race. And I think it really sums up 680 00:47:04,590 --> 00:47:08,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: the role running has had in your life. And of 681 00:47:08,160 --> 00:47:11,069 Rob Simmelkjaer: course, you've had an incredible role in the life of 682 00:47:11,070 --> 00:47:14,279 Rob Simmelkjaer: running and the growth of running. And our organization here 683 00:47:14,280 --> 00:47:17,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: at New York Road Runners, our event here at the TCS 684 00:47:17,160 --> 00:47:21,509 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York Center Marathon, George, congratulations again on this award 685 00:47:21,510 --> 00:47:25,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: today. Such a privilege to present it to you. So 686 00:47:25,290 --> 00:47:28,259 Rob Simmelkjaer: great to have you here on Set The Pace, you have your own 687 00:47:28,260 --> 00:47:30,360 Rob Simmelkjaer: podcast by the, which we should tell people about. 688 00:47:30,360 --> 00:47:35,190 George Hirsch: Yeah, with Amby Burfoot, it's called Running: State of the 689 00:47:35,190 --> 00:47:40,560 George Hirsch: Sport. And I'm often on the same side that Becs and 690 00:47:40,560 --> 00:47:44,880 George Hirsch: Rob are on and it's fun doing this. 691 00:47:44,910 --> 00:47:47,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yep, it really is. You do a great job. George, 692 00:47:47,310 --> 00:47:50,550 Rob Simmelkjaer: thank you so much for being with us. Congratulations. Thank 693 00:47:50,550 --> 00:47:53,969 Rob Simmelkjaer: you for everything you've done for New York Road Runners, 694 00:47:53,969 --> 00:47:57,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: for the TCS New York City Marathon, and we will 695 00:47:57,600 --> 00:48:00,719 Rob Simmelkjaer: see you soon. Thank you very much. 696 00:48:01,110 --> 00:48:05,820 George Hirsch: Thank you. And thanks Becs, and thanks Rob. I'm honored to 697 00:48:05,820 --> 00:48:06,930 George Hirsch: be on your program. 698 00:48:07,110 --> 00:48:10,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: Thank you. All right, well this has been amazing. Now, 699 00:48:10,320 --> 00:48:12,779 Rob Simmelkjaer: for those here live with us, we're going to take 700 00:48:12,780 --> 00:48:16,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: a 15- minute break. Gabby Thomas is in the building. 701 00:48:16,350 --> 00:48:18,720 Rob Simmelkjaer: I have seen Gabby. She's backstage. 702 00:48:18,810 --> 00:48:20,251 Rebbeca Gentry: Go and tell everyone else in the expo. 703 00:48:20,250 --> 00:48:23,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: We'll be out in a moment. Olympic gold medalist Gabby 704 00:48:23,910 --> 00:48:26,399 Rob Simmelkjaer: Thomas will be back on stage with us in just 705 00:48:26,400 --> 00:48:29,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: a couple of minutes. For those online, thanks for listening. 706 00:48:29,100 --> 00:48:31,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: You can just find the next episode because it's going 707 00:48:31,650 --> 00:48:33,930 Rob Simmelkjaer: to be right after this one on Set the Pace. 708 00:48:33,930 --> 00:48:34,860 Rob Simmelkjaer: Thank you for joining us. 709 00:48:35,310 --> 00:48:38,460 Speaker 3: Growing a business means a lot of audience attracting, a 710 00:48:38,460 --> 00:48:41,759 Speaker 3: lot of lead scoring, and a lot of lot long days. 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