1 00:00:00,210 --> 00:00:03,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York Road Runners is a non- profit organization with 2 00:00:03,210 --> 00:00:06,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: a vision to build healthier lives and stronger communities through 3 00:00:06,570 --> 00:00:10,228 Rob Simmelkjaer: the transformative power of running. The support of members and 4 00:00:10,230 --> 00:00:13,889 Rob Simmelkjaer: donors like you helps us achieve our mission to transform 5 00:00:13,889 --> 00:00:17,129 Rob Simmelkjaer: the health and well- being of our communities through inclusive 6 00:00:17,129 --> 00:00:21,419 Rob Simmelkjaer: and accessible running experiences, empowering all to achieve their potential. 7 00:00:21,870 --> 00:00:25,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: Learn more and contribute at nyrr. org/ donate. 8 00:00:29,940 --> 00:00:34,348 Speaker 2: Thank you, New York. Today, we're reminded of the power 9 00:00:34,350 --> 00:00:39,210 Speaker 2: of community and the power of coming together. Athletes, on 10 00:00:39,210 --> 00:00:39,780 Speaker 2: your mark. 11 00:00:41,909 --> 00:00:45,479 Speaker 3: The first woman to finish for the second straight year 12 00:00:45,479 --> 00:00:49,079 Speaker 3: here in the New York City Marathon is Miki Gorman, a smiling 13 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:52,290 Speaker 3: Miki Gorman, and why not? 2: 29:30, the time for Grete Waitz. 14 00:00:52,290 --> 00:00:56,520 Speaker 4: Look at the emotion of Shalane Flanagan as she comes 15 00:00:56,520 --> 00:00:59,820 Speaker 4: to the line. Pointing to his chest, pointing to the 16 00:00:59,820 --> 00:01:10,140 Speaker 4: USA he so proudly wears across his chest. A great day for Meb Keflezighi! 17 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:13,470 Rob Simmelkjaer: Hey, everybody, and welcome to another episode of Set The Pace 18 00:01:13,470 --> 00:01:16,589 Rob Simmelkjaer: presented by Peloton. It's the official podcast of New York 19 00:01:16,590 --> 00:01:19,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: Road Runners. I'm your host and CEO of NYRR, Rob 20 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:23,969 Rob Simmelkjaer: Simmelkjaer. With me, week in and week out from Peloton, 21 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:27,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: Becs Gentry, the woman about to go on this insane 22 00:01:27,900 --> 00:01:32,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: global running journey of seven marathons on seven continents in 23 00:01:32,340 --> 00:01:35,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: seven days. Becs, how are you? 24 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:37,290 Becs Gentry: Oh, living the dream. 25 00:01:39,510 --> 00:01:41,759 Rob Simmelkjaer: Sounds like a nightmare to me. Oh, my goodness. No, 26 00:01:41,759 --> 00:01:46,348 Rob Simmelkjaer: it's incredible. I'm still reeling from what it is you're 27 00:01:46,350 --> 00:01:49,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: going to do. You announced it on your social after 28 00:01:49,290 --> 00:01:50,341 Rob Simmelkjaer: the episode last week. 29 00:01:50,341 --> 00:01:50,791 Becs Gentry: Oh, my gosh. 30 00:01:51,420 --> 00:01:55,470 Rob Simmelkjaer: Here it starts, huh? It must be an incredible training 31 00:01:55,470 --> 00:01:58,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: journey now that you have. How are you even thinking 32 00:01:58,710 --> 00:02:02,519 Rob Simmelkjaer: about training for this incredible feat, especially given how hot 33 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:04,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: it is in New York right now? 34 00:02:04,499 --> 00:02:08,730 Becs Gentry: Yeah, we've been throwing the curve balls here, but I 35 00:02:08,730 --> 00:02:11,970 Becs Gentry: think part of this race is the unknown. As much 36 00:02:11,970 --> 00:02:14,609 Becs Gentry: as we can say it's going to be unbearably cold 37 00:02:14,610 --> 00:02:19,830 Becs Gentry: in Antarctica, yes, the other six races are probably going 38 00:02:19,830 --> 00:02:22,139 Becs Gentry: to be warmer rather than cold, but we don't really 39 00:02:22,139 --> 00:02:25,290 Becs Gentry: know. Miami could be really humid or it could be 40 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:29,550 Becs Gentry: torrential rain. So, having the mindset right now of I 41 00:02:29,550 --> 00:02:32,820 Becs Gentry: have to go out and run and run a couple 42 00:02:32,820 --> 00:02:36,900 Becs Gentry: of times a day, get myself tired, and run on 43 00:02:36,900 --> 00:02:41,730 Becs Gentry: tired legs. The heat has been something I've just had 44 00:02:41,730 --> 00:02:44,639 Becs Gentry: to work through and it has helped me bring my 45 00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:48,600 Becs Gentry: pace down, be more humble with my pace, because there's 46 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:53,758 Becs Gentry: no way I'm doing speed work out there. It's been 47 00:02:53,758 --> 00:02:58,139 Becs Gentry: good to run with people, because if you do feel 48 00:02:58,139 --> 00:02:59,788 Becs Gentry: a bit funny, it's better to have a friend with 49 00:02:59,788 --> 00:03:02,160 Becs Gentry: you who might be able to help you get to 50 00:03:02,160 --> 00:03:06,240 Becs Gentry: some water. It's been great learning to run with water 51 00:03:06,419 --> 00:03:09,000 Becs Gentry: as well because we are very lucky here in New 52 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:13,290 Becs Gentry: York City, there's a lot of water fountains on most 53 00:03:13,290 --> 00:03:16,349 Becs Gentry: of our run routes here. But having said that, I 54 00:03:16,350 --> 00:03:18,840 Becs Gentry: still feel better if I'm running with water and electrolytes 55 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:21,810 Becs Gentry: in my hand. I'm trying to go early, Rob. I'm 56 00:03:21,810 --> 00:03:24,720 Becs Gentry: trying, but I really like my mornings with my baby 57 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:27,238 Becs Gentry: girl. I love the wake up time with Tallulah, so 58 00:03:27,540 --> 00:03:30,749 Becs Gentry: I struggle to do that. So, I have actually been 59 00:03:30,750 --> 00:03:36,719 Becs Gentry: running 9: 00 onwards. This morning was brutal. I don't 60 00:03:36,719 --> 00:03:37,621 Becs Gentry: know what the dew point was this morning, but it felt like 100%. 61 00:03:37,621 --> 00:03:44,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: I don't know how you do it. I mean I've been doing 62 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:47,040 Rob Simmelkjaer: my runs, I'm doing some training now, thinking about running 63 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:49,679 Rob Simmelkjaer: something in the fall, which we'll talk about another time. 64 00:03:49,679 --> 00:03:53,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: But for me, it's just if I'm not done by 65 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:57,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: about 8: 00 in these conditions, I'm just done. You 66 00:03:57,120 --> 00:04:01,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: talk about running slower. Yeah, I mean I just have no choice but to 67 00:04:01,020 --> 00:04:05,909 Rob Simmelkjaer: run slower. My conservative pace tempo runs, I just feel like 68 00:04:05,910 --> 00:04:07,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: sprinting right now. It is just tough. 69 00:04:08,460 --> 00:04:10,739 Becs Gentry: Yeah. We all have other things to do in the 70 00:04:10,740 --> 00:04:14,070 Becs Gentry: day. That's the biggest takeaway I want people to remember 71 00:04:14,070 --> 00:04:17,130 Becs Gentry: here is that then maybe we have some elite runners, 72 00:04:17,130 --> 00:04:18,719 Becs Gentry: I'm sure we do, who are listening to this, who 73 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:21,450 Becs Gentry: it's their profession. But I would hazard a guess. The 74 00:04:21,450 --> 00:04:24,630 Becs Gentry: vast majority of us are hobby runners, myself included. I 75 00:04:24,630 --> 00:04:28,529 Becs Gentry: have a job. I have a family life that I 76 00:04:28,529 --> 00:04:32,279 Becs Gentry: have a role in after my running and I need 77 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:38,550 Becs Gentry: to remind myself that I cannot be totally exhausted after 78 00:04:38,580 --> 00:04:40,559 Becs Gentry: these runs. You can be tired, of course. You got 79 00:04:40,559 --> 00:04:45,359 Becs Gentry: to work hard, but heat exhaustion is really ugly. It's 80 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:49,380 Becs Gentry: really, really dangerous. So, you have to think, " Okay, if 81 00:04:49,380 --> 00:04:52,620 Becs Gentry: I'm going to carry on with this hobby running, I 82 00:04:52,650 --> 00:04:54,928 Becs Gentry: need to ensure I can go about the rest of 83 00:04:54,930 --> 00:04:57,750 Becs Gentry: my day successfully as well," whatever that means for you. 84 00:04:57,750 --> 00:05:01,019 Becs Gentry: So, this is a great test in humility. It is 85 00:05:01,020 --> 00:05:04,589 Becs Gentry: a great test in finding electrolytes that work for you, 86 00:05:04,589 --> 00:05:07,738 Becs Gentry: water fountains. Don't be afraid of running through them, my 87 00:05:07,740 --> 00:05:10,350 Becs Gentry: friends. We are all children at heart. I was there 88 00:05:10,350 --> 00:05:12,479 Becs Gentry: with the kids in the Brooklyn Bridge water fountain the 89 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:14,790 Becs Gentry: other day, just splashing around in the middle of my 90 00:05:14,790 --> 00:05:15,120 Becs Gentry: run. 91 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:20,339 Rob Simmelkjaer: Absolutely. Be kind to yourselves. Do what you need to do to 92 00:05:20,339 --> 00:05:23,609 Rob Simmelkjaer: be safe out there. Running in this heat, whether you're 93 00:05:23,609 --> 00:05:25,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: in New York or somewhere else that's hot, it feels 94 00:05:25,890 --> 00:05:29,279 Rob Simmelkjaer: like everywhere is hot right now. So, everybody out there, 95 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:32,339 Rob Simmelkjaer: be safe and be careful as you're doing your thing. 96 00:05:32,580 --> 00:05:35,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: Before we jump into today's episode, and it's a really 97 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:38,070 Rob Simmelkjaer: good one, Becs, just a reminder, if you've got a 98 00:05:38,070 --> 00:05:41,549 Rob Simmelkjaer: question out there for Becs and I still have a 99 00:05:41,549 --> 00:05:46,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: lot of questions about this incredible world marathon challenge, please 100 00:05:46,230 --> 00:05:50,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: you can post it on our Apple Podcasts page and 101 00:05:50,370 --> 00:05:53,339 Rob Simmelkjaer: we'll definitely get to answer it here on the show. 102 00:05:53,820 --> 00:05:56,818 Rob Simmelkjaer: You can ask a question of Becs, of Meb, or of me, 103 00:05:57,120 --> 00:05:59,669 Rob Simmelkjaer: and we'll definitely answer it. So, check us out there, 104 00:05:59,670 --> 00:06:03,419 Rob Simmelkjaer: leave a review. Becs, speaking of the weather, it's been 105 00:06:03,420 --> 00:06:06,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: a topic in our race calendar as well. We did 106 00:06:06,990 --> 00:06:11,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: manage to get the NYRR Retro 4- Miler in last 107 00:06:11,460 --> 00:06:14,640 Rob Simmelkjaer: Saturday through some raindrops for sure. There was a pretty 108 00:06:15,029 --> 00:06:18,329 Rob Simmelkjaer: heavy downpour before the race. There was rain during the 109 00:06:18,330 --> 00:06:23,339 Rob Simmelkjaer: race. So, congratulations to the 4, 400 or so intrepid and 110 00:06:23,339 --> 00:06:26,279 Rob Simmelkjaer: very wet runners who finished the Retro 4- Miler. 111 00:06:26,370 --> 00:06:28,979 Becs Gentry: I saw a lot of smiles out there. It may have 112 00:06:28,980 --> 00:06:33,150 Becs Gentry: been wet, but the vast majority of people were little 113 00:06:33,150 --> 00:06:35,429 Becs Gentry: Cheshire cats while they were running. I was very proud of you 114 00:06:35,430 --> 00:06:35,700 Becs Gentry: all. 115 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:38,640 Rob Simmelkjaer: Honestly, Becs, I think rain is about as good as 116 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:40,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: you're going to get for running conditions right now, the 117 00:06:40,950 --> 00:06:44,159 Rob Simmelkjaer: way it's been in New York. I did a long 118 00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:47,940 Rob Simmelkjaer: run on my own on Saturday. It rained the entire 119 00:06:47,940 --> 00:06:50,368 Rob Simmelkjaer: time and I chose that as the time to do 120 00:06:50,370 --> 00:06:53,849 Rob Simmelkjaer: my run because it cooled me off. There was obviously 121 00:06:53,850 --> 00:06:55,738 Rob Simmelkjaer: no sun and it was the best time to run. 122 00:06:56,279 --> 00:06:58,470 Becs Gentry: I agree. I stepped out for a 10- mile. I was 123 00:06:58,470 --> 00:07:01,230 Becs Gentry: at a friend's place in the Hamptons and I did 124 00:07:01,230 --> 00:07:03,839 Becs Gentry: miss the downpours. I had to do nap time chronicles. 125 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:06,210 Becs Gentry: They had to come back this weekend. So, it was 126 00:07:06,210 --> 00:07:09,749 Becs Gentry: 12:30 and it was hot and humid, but it was 127 00:07:09,749 --> 00:07:12,570 Becs Gentry: just in between a couple of huge downpours and there was a 128 00:07:12,570 --> 00:07:18,120 Becs Gentry: sprinkle and it was the savior. It got me through 129 00:07:18,150 --> 00:07:21,599 Becs Gentry: 10 miles, that's for sure, but I will say I scratched 130 00:07:21,599 --> 00:07:23,010 Becs Gentry: my face. I don't know whether you could see this 131 00:07:23,010 --> 00:07:27,360 Becs Gentry: is sweat that it was raining and I wiped my face 132 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:29,969 Becs Gentry: at one point with the sweat from the humidity and 133 00:07:29,969 --> 00:07:33,810 Becs Gentry: I had salt crust on my face and it actually 134 00:07:33,900 --> 00:07:37,350 Becs Gentry: made myself bleed. You guys, this is a running injury. 135 00:07:37,350 --> 00:07:38,580 Becs Gentry: Isn't that crazy? 136 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:42,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: Running injuries are normal, but yeah, not usually right on 137 00:07:42,090 --> 00:07:46,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: the bridge of your nose under your eye. Yeah, I 138 00:07:46,260 --> 00:07:48,870 Rob Simmelkjaer: get it. I get it. For me, when I choose 139 00:07:48,870 --> 00:07:51,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: to run in the rain, the key for me is 140 00:07:51,060 --> 00:07:52,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: a hat. That's when I really have to have a 141 00:07:52,950 --> 00:07:55,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: baseball cap on just for that brim to keep some 142 00:07:55,800 --> 00:07:58,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: of the water from hitting me directly in the eyes 143 00:07:58,950 --> 00:08:00,360 Rob Simmelkjaer: because that's not so much fun. 144 00:08:01,230 --> 00:08:02,040 Becs Gentry: I need a visor. 145 00:08:02,610 --> 00:08:03,151 Rob Simmelkjaer: A visor, exactly. 146 00:08:03,151 --> 00:08:08,010 Becs Gentry: I think I overheat in a hat and I need to 147 00:08:08,010 --> 00:08:09,540 Becs Gentry: train myself. This is going to be part of my 148 00:08:09,540 --> 00:08:11,580 Becs Gentry: training. I need to train myself to run in a 149 00:08:11,580 --> 00:08:15,389 Becs Gentry: proper running hat and pick one, but I'm thinking of 150 00:08:15,389 --> 00:08:18,210 Becs Gentry: trying a visor. I don't like that I look funny 151 00:08:18,210 --> 00:08:21,060 Becs Gentry: in visor so I get a bit self- conscious. 152 00:08:21,330 --> 00:08:24,960 Rob Simmelkjaer: Visors are a particular fashion choice. Yeah, not everybody can pull off 153 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:27,240 Rob Simmelkjaer: a visor. I think you could, Becs, but not everybody 154 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:30,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: can pull one of those off. Then Becs, also with 155 00:08:30,300 --> 00:08:33,929 Rob Simmelkjaer: the weather, unfortunately, as folks will know by the time they 156 00:08:33,929 --> 00:08:36,719 Rob Simmelkjaer: hear this podcast, we did have to cancel the R- U- 157 00:08:36,719 --> 00:08:41,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: N Brooklyn 5K on Monday night. Just too hot in the 158 00:08:41,580 --> 00:08:45,689 Rob Simmelkjaer: PM hours right now, unfortunately, to have that race executed 159 00:08:45,690 --> 00:08:50,429 Rob Simmelkjaer: safely. So, unfortunately couldn't have that race. There'll be more 160 00:08:50,429 --> 00:08:55,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: information coming out about people's options for that race and 161 00:08:55,020 --> 00:08:57,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: their fees for that race as well coming out. But 162 00:08:57,270 --> 00:08:58,828 Rob Simmelkjaer: yeah, we were sad to do that, but it was 163 00:08:58,889 --> 00:09:01,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: pretty much a no- brainer given the weather conditions. 164 00:09:02,490 --> 00:09:05,580 Becs Gentry: Whether you're starting your marathon training journey or simply aiming 165 00:09:05,580 --> 00:09:09,000 Becs Gentry: to run more, Peloton has you covered. The Peloton Tread 166 00:09:09,090 --> 00:09:11,909 Becs Gentry: offers a range of classes from running and walking to 167 00:09:11,910 --> 00:09:16,049 Becs Gentry: bootcamp expertly designed to boost your endurance speed and strength. 168 00:09:16,559 --> 00:09:19,199 Becs Gentry: It's the perfect companion to help you achieve your running 169 00:09:19,230 --> 00:09:22,740 Becs Gentry: goals this summer and beyond. Stay tuned for more fitness 170 00:09:22,740 --> 00:09:27,088 Becs Gentry: tips and inspiration all right here, right now. All access 171 00:09:27,090 --> 00:09:31,469 Becs Gentry: membership are separate. Learn more about Peloton Tread at onepeloton. com/ 172 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:35,728 Becs Gentry: running. Peloton, the official digital fitness partner for New York 173 00:09:35,730 --> 00:09:35,910 Becs Gentry: Road Runners. 174 00:09:35,910 --> 00:09:40,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: Becs, looking at the calendar now, we are now 16 175 00:09:40,380 --> 00:09:43,949 Rob Simmelkjaer: weeks out from the TCS New York City Marathon, which 176 00:09:43,950 --> 00:09:47,880 Rob Simmelkjaer: is a milestone, especially for folks who are maybe running 177 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:52,049 Rob Simmelkjaer: their first marathon. This is the time when those folks 178 00:09:52,049 --> 00:09:57,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: are starting that training. It is exciting for them. Obviously, 179 00:09:57,000 --> 00:10:00,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: tough to do in this heat, but what's your advice? 180 00:10:00,059 --> 00:10:02,789 Rob Simmelkjaer: Meb's going to be coming along with a Meb minute and 181 00:10:02,790 --> 00:10:04,708 Rob Simmelkjaer: we'll have a series of those over the next 16 weeks 182 00:10:05,070 --> 00:10:09,089 Rob Simmelkjaer: that are specifically focused on that marathon training block. So, 183 00:10:09,089 --> 00:10:11,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: we're getting into it now. But for that first- timer, 184 00:10:11,850 --> 00:10:14,939 Rob Simmelkjaer: Becs, who's now getting into it, what's your number one 185 00:10:14,940 --> 00:10:15,838 Rob Simmelkjaer: piece of advice? 186 00:10:16,559 --> 00:10:21,030 Becs Gentry: Remember why you signed up. Remember the emotion you felt 187 00:10:21,030 --> 00:10:23,730 Becs Gentry: when you put your name in. However you got in, 188 00:10:23,790 --> 00:10:29,100 Becs Gentry: whether it was ballot, charity, qualification, whatever, you need to 189 00:10:29,100 --> 00:10:35,189 Becs Gentry: have that bubbly butterfly feeling in your stomach of the 190 00:10:35,190 --> 00:10:38,460 Becs Gentry: why. Why did I sign up? Why did I say 191 00:10:38,460 --> 00:10:42,030 Becs Gentry: yes? How am I going to fulfill that all the 192 00:10:42,030 --> 00:10:45,959 Becs Gentry: way to the finish line? Because it's going to get difficult 193 00:10:46,350 --> 00:10:51,300 Becs Gentry: and challenging and you are going to plateau, AKA feel 194 00:10:51,780 --> 00:10:55,439 Becs Gentry: that you're not making any progress at maybe one, maybe 195 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:58,889 Becs Gentry: two, maybe three points over the next 16 weeks. But 196 00:10:58,889 --> 00:11:01,949 Becs Gentry: trust me, every time you lace up and get out 197 00:11:01,950 --> 00:11:06,450 Becs Gentry: there, that is progress. So, stay true to you and 198 00:11:06,450 --> 00:11:09,660 Becs Gentry: that finish line and that beautiful medal will be yours. 199 00:11:09,840 --> 00:11:12,330 Becs Gentry: I promise you well, I'll be at that finish line 200 00:11:12,330 --> 00:11:15,900 Becs Gentry: and I'll be cheering for you and shouting your names 201 00:11:15,900 --> 00:11:20,040 Becs Gentry: and getting all of the joy into the finish line this 202 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:22,470 Becs Gentry: year again. So, get after it. Get after that why. 203 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:26,939 Rob Simmelkjaer: Absolutely. The why is everything. Becs, speaking of the finish 204 00:11:26,940 --> 00:11:30,059 Rob Simmelkjaer: line of the TCS New York City Marathon, our guest 205 00:11:30,059 --> 00:11:33,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: today is someone who has done such an amazing job 206 00:11:33,030 --> 00:11:36,629 Rob Simmelkjaer: chronicling some of the moments that we have at the 207 00:11:36,630 --> 00:11:39,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: finish line of the marathon. I always say it's the 208 00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:42,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: happiest place on earth. It's one of the most amazing 209 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:45,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: places on earth. Nicolas Heller, who is better known as 210 00:11:45,300 --> 00:11:49,050 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York Nico, has an incredible Instagram feed. You might 211 00:11:49,050 --> 00:11:51,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: remember his video from last year's TCS New York City 212 00:11:51,660 --> 00:11:55,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: Marathon finish line. It was just such a moving tribute 213 00:11:55,590 --> 00:11:59,609 Rob Simmelkjaer: to the more than 50,000 stories that crossed that finish 214 00:11:59,609 --> 00:12:04,858 Rob Simmelkjaer: line, exhausted and triumphant every single November. So, New York Nico is going 215 00:12:05,340 --> 00:12:08,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: to join us today to talk about that and also 216 00:12:08,610 --> 00:12:11,550 Rob Simmelkjaer: a very exciting new partnership that we have with New 217 00:12:11,550 --> 00:12:14,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: York Nico as we look to tell even more of 218 00:12:14,460 --> 00:12:15,478 Rob Simmelkjaer: those incredible stories, Becs. 219 00:12:16,439 --> 00:12:20,040 Becs Gentry: I cannot wait. This is one of my favorite episodes. He is 220 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:27,690 Becs Gentry: a legend of this city and brings awareness to some 221 00:12:28,200 --> 00:12:33,179 Becs Gentry: unknown wonderful story. So, yeah, I'm honored to have spent 222 00:12:33,179 --> 00:12:34,410 Becs Gentry: the time we did with him. 223 00:12:34,980 --> 00:12:37,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: It's the greatest day of the year in New York City, 224 00:12:37,170 --> 00:12:39,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: Marathon Sunday, and New York Nico is going to help 225 00:12:39,990 --> 00:12:43,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: us chronicle that story again this year. So, that's coming 226 00:12:43,410 --> 00:12:46,139 Rob Simmelkjaer: up in just a bit. Then our member moment this 227 00:12:46,139 --> 00:12:49,439 Rob Simmelkjaer: week is with New York Road Runner's member Sofía Camacho 228 00:12:49,469 --> 00:12:52,828 Rob Simmelkjaer: Ferral, our non- binary winner of the RBC Brooklyn Half 229 00:12:52,830 --> 00:12:55,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: Marathon. They are a New York transplant by way of 230 00:12:55,650 --> 00:12:58,590 Rob Simmelkjaer: Miami and Paris, and they are shaking up the running 231 00:12:58,590 --> 00:13:01,679 Rob Simmelkjaer: world. So, stay tuned to hear all about Sofía's journey. 232 00:13:02,250 --> 00:13:04,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: All right, time now to get to our guest this 233 00:13:04,380 --> 00:13:07,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: week. It's a man named Nicolas Heller, who is better 234 00:13:07,770 --> 00:13:11,069 Rob Simmelkjaer: known as New York Nico, and he is the quintessential 235 00:13:11,070 --> 00:13:15,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York City social media documentarian. Nico is dedicated to 236 00:13:15,750 --> 00:13:19,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: capturing the essence of New York's vibrant street life and 237 00:13:19,140 --> 00:13:21,810 Rob Simmelkjaer: all of the very unique characters we have in our city. 238 00:13:22,260 --> 00:13:25,649 Rob Simmelkjaer: He has a massive following on TikTok and Instagram and really has 239 00:13:25,650 --> 00:13:29,339 Rob Simmelkjaer: become the city's unofficial talent scout, showcasing all of our 240 00:13:29,340 --> 00:13:33,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: hidden gems and local personalities. We are so thrilled to 241 00:13:33,030 --> 00:13:36,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: now announce a collaboration with New York Nico, which we'll 242 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:39,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: talk about here on Set The Pace today. If you 243 00:13:39,210 --> 00:13:45,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: don't follow him, he is @ NewYorkNico on Instagram, @ NewYorkNico, incredible 244 00:13:45,780 --> 00:13:49,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: feed, incredible storyteller. Nico, it's great to have you here on 245 00:13:49,260 --> 00:13:50,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: Set The Pace. Welcome. 246 00:13:50,880 --> 00:13:52,110 Nicolas Heller: Thank you. Honored to be here. 247 00:13:52,770 --> 00:13:55,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: Nico, I think the first thing that our audience will 248 00:13:55,530 --> 00:13:58,679 Rob Simmelkjaer: want to know about you is that well, you're not 249 00:13:58,679 --> 00:13:59,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: a runner, which is- 250 00:13:59,670 --> 00:14:00,419 Nicolas Heller: I'm not a runner. 251 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:03,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: Exactly. You're a rare bird here on this show, not 252 00:14:03,570 --> 00:14:04,319 Rob Simmelkjaer: being a runner. 253 00:14:04,799 --> 00:14:05,489 Nicolas Heller: Am I the first? 254 00:14:06,179 --> 00:14:09,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: Not maybe quite the first but close to it. Yeah, 255 00:14:09,570 --> 00:14:11,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: I'm struggling to think of who else, but we've had 256 00:14:11,520 --> 00:14:15,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: a couple of journalists on, but it's okay, Nico. It 257 00:14:15,420 --> 00:14:20,219 Rob Simmelkjaer: really is okay because you have a way of capturing 258 00:14:20,610 --> 00:14:24,960 Rob Simmelkjaer: the amazingness that is the finish line of the TCS New York 259 00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:28,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: City Marathon, which is beautiful. Folks can find it on 260 00:14:28,650 --> 00:14:30,810 Rob Simmelkjaer: your Instagram feed. It's pinned right to the top of 261 00:14:30,810 --> 00:14:34,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: your feed. I always talk about the finish line, Nico. 262 00:14:34,380 --> 00:14:36,419 Rob Simmelkjaer: People ask me what my favorite part of my job 263 00:14:36,420 --> 00:14:39,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: is here, and I always talk about the finish line. 264 00:14:39,690 --> 00:14:43,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: I say apologies to our friends at Disney, but the 265 00:14:43,740 --> 00:14:47,040 Rob Simmelkjaer: finish line of the TCS New York City Marathon is truly 266 00:14:47,310 --> 00:14:50,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: the happiest place on earth. You have done such a 267 00:14:50,760 --> 00:14:55,709 Rob Simmelkjaer: great job of capturing those moments of people crossing the 268 00:14:55,710 --> 00:14:59,279 Rob Simmelkjaer: finish line of the marathon. As a non- runner, Nico, 269 00:14:59,279 --> 00:15:02,430 Rob Simmelkjaer: what was it that gave you the urge to go 270 00:15:02,430 --> 00:15:03,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: and capture that? 271 00:15:04,710 --> 00:15:09,540 Nicolas Heller: Oh man. So, I think the first time that I 272 00:15:11,580 --> 00:15:13,889 Nicolas Heller: was at the finish line was only two years ago 273 00:15:14,549 --> 00:15:18,780 Nicolas Heller: and it was just nothing I've ever experienced before. I 274 00:15:18,780 --> 00:15:23,040 Nicolas Heller: was able to capture these moments that I feel like 275 00:15:23,040 --> 00:15:30,690 Nicolas Heller: I've never captured before, this raw human emotion from every 276 00:15:30,690 --> 00:15:35,729 Nicolas Heller: single person who crossed that line. It was so overwhelming, 277 00:15:35,730 --> 00:15:39,660 Nicolas Heller: and I don't really have the right word for it. 278 00:15:39,660 --> 00:15:43,110 Nicolas Heller: It's just emotional is just how I would describe it. 279 00:15:43,290 --> 00:15:47,280 Nicolas Heller: You said it's the happiest place on earth. I don't 280 00:15:47,280 --> 00:15:49,080 Nicolas Heller: know if that's the right word. I feel like it's 281 00:15:49,080 --> 00:15:51,870 Nicolas Heller: the most emotional place on earth. I think the majority 282 00:15:51,870 --> 00:15:54,030 Nicolas Heller: of those people are happy, but you also see them 283 00:15:55,290 --> 00:15:59,670 Nicolas Heller: crying. I don't know if they're necessarily tears of joy. 284 00:15:59,940 --> 00:16:08,370 Nicolas Heller: Last year, I captured a few really, really just unbelievable 285 00:16:08,370 --> 00:16:15,930 Nicolas Heller: moments of, well, specifically these two men who were racing 286 00:16:16,590 --> 00:16:22,020 Nicolas Heller: or running for their very close friend who had collapsed 287 00:16:22,620 --> 00:16:25,829 Nicolas Heller: and passed away and they were running for him. I 288 00:16:25,830 --> 00:16:32,580 Nicolas Heller: got this video of them hugging and crying with his 289 00:16:32,580 --> 00:16:36,000 Nicolas Heller: bib. I believe the marathon actually gave him a bib, 290 00:16:36,210 --> 00:16:41,849 Nicolas Heller: even though he wasn't present, obviously. It's just moments like 291 00:16:41,849 --> 00:16:44,130 Nicolas Heller: that. Where else are you going to see anything like 292 00:16:44,130 --> 00:16:49,740 Nicolas Heller: that? So anyway, to get back to my story, I 293 00:16:49,740 --> 00:16:52,710 Nicolas Heller: mean, so two years ago was the first time and 294 00:16:53,070 --> 00:16:56,970 Nicolas Heller: I was able to capture some really great video. Yeah, 295 00:16:56,970 --> 00:17:01,320 Nicolas Heller: this past marathon came out, had ample amount of time 296 00:17:01,320 --> 00:17:08,640 Nicolas Heller: to spend there. It was just unbelievable capturing someone proposing, 297 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:15,030 Nicolas Heller: capturing a paraplegic person being carried across the finish line, 298 00:17:16,590 --> 00:17:22,049 Nicolas Heller: the story that I just told you. It's truly, truly 299 00:17:22,049 --> 00:17:25,168 Nicolas Heller: unbelievable. Like you said, I'm not even a runner, but 300 00:17:27,960 --> 00:17:32,129 Nicolas Heller: I can appreciate the hell out of it. Yeah, I also 301 00:17:32,130 --> 00:17:36,178 Nicolas Heller: tell everybody, I have a large following. The internet is 302 00:17:36,179 --> 00:17:38,820 Nicolas Heller: not the nicest place. A lot of times I'll post 303 00:17:38,820 --> 00:17:41,699 Nicolas Heller: videos and I'll get a lot of negative comments from 304 00:17:41,699 --> 00:17:46,290 Nicolas Heller: people being like... No matter what event I cover in 305 00:17:46,290 --> 00:17:50,160 Nicolas Heller: New York, the Pride Parade, the Puerto Rican Day, the 306 00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:53,700 Nicolas Heller: Mermaid Parade, anything, it's always going to be mostly positive, 307 00:17:53,700 --> 00:17:56,279 Nicolas Heller: but you'll get those negative comments. You never get any 308 00:17:56,280 --> 00:17:58,919 Nicolas Heller: negative comments when you post about the marathon. 309 00:17:58,919 --> 00:17:59,129 Becs Gentry: Yay. 310 00:17:59,638 --> 00:18:03,119 Nicolas Heller: So it's the one time where I can post and not 311 00:18:03,119 --> 00:18:06,898 Nicolas Heller: feel bad about getting negative comments and it's just like 312 00:18:06,900 --> 00:18:10,380 Nicolas Heller: the energy in the city is absolutely insane. I can't 313 00:18:10,380 --> 00:18:14,820 Nicolas Heller: imagine what it's like to be a runner and experience 314 00:18:14,820 --> 00:18:15,030 Nicolas Heller: this. 315 00:18:16,469 --> 00:18:18,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: We can help you imagine it, Nico, if you- 316 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:18,481 Becs Gentry: We can. 317 00:18:18,481 --> 00:18:24,480 Nicolas Heller: Well, I mean I guess I can imagine it through my experiences viewing 318 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:29,698 Nicolas Heller: it, but yeah, it's the best day of the year in New York 319 00:18:31,439 --> 00:18:31,800 Nicolas Heller: in my opinion. 320 00:18:32,189 --> 00:18:36,359 Becs Gentry: It truly is. Having run it once and shared it 321 00:18:37,650 --> 00:18:41,100 Becs Gentry: many, many times and been lucky enough to also be 322 00:18:41,100 --> 00:18:44,010 Becs Gentry: at the finish line commentating on the race last year, 323 00:18:44,790 --> 00:18:50,459 Becs Gentry: I know what you mean by saying it's emotional. I 324 00:18:50,460 --> 00:18:54,510 Becs Gentry: vividly remember the video you posted two years ago of 325 00:18:55,410 --> 00:18:57,840 Becs Gentry: the two friends and I went down a rabbit hole 326 00:18:57,840 --> 00:19:04,228 Becs Gentry: looking at that guy's story. Oh, that got me. But 327 00:19:04,740 --> 00:19:09,239 Becs Gentry: the finish line is what I consider to be where 328 00:19:09,240 --> 00:19:13,648 Becs Gentry: some of the best moments of humanity are seen because 329 00:19:13,650 --> 00:19:18,688 Becs Gentry: you'll have perfect strangers who will all of a sudden help 330 00:19:18,990 --> 00:19:23,908 Becs Gentry: someone they've never met before, covered in sweat, vomit, who 331 00:19:23,910 --> 00:19:27,509 Becs Gentry: knows what. They will embrace them, they will lift them, 332 00:19:27,509 --> 00:19:29,728 Becs Gentry: they will carry them, and they will ensure they reach 333 00:19:29,730 --> 00:19:33,960 Becs Gentry: that finish line. That's what gets me is just all of 334 00:19:34,050 --> 00:19:37,918 Becs Gentry: a sudden, this city that's quite scary becomes one of 335 00:19:37,920 --> 00:19:41,219 Becs Gentry: the most friendly and supportive places on that day. I 336 00:19:41,219 --> 00:19:44,459 Becs Gentry: think it is more or less only that day for 337 00:19:44,460 --> 00:19:47,428 Becs Gentry: me personally in the whole year that happens in New 338 00:19:47,430 --> 00:19:52,408 Becs Gentry: York. So, as a runner and as somebody who works 339 00:19:52,410 --> 00:19:53,790 Becs Gentry: with New York Road Runners on the day of the 340 00:19:53,790 --> 00:19:57,480 Becs Gentry: marathon now, thank you for capturing the beauty in it, 341 00:19:57,480 --> 00:20:00,448 Becs Gentry: the real beauty, because it is sad. It's desperately sad. 342 00:20:00,450 --> 00:20:03,509 Becs Gentry: Some people are running through a lot of grief and loss, 343 00:20:03,509 --> 00:20:06,780 Becs Gentry: and I think it's really important to acknowledge that as 344 00:20:06,780 --> 00:20:10,859 Becs Gentry: well as the joy and the celebration of completing 26. 345 00:20:10,859 --> 00:20:13,740 Becs Gentry: 2 miles through this hilly city. 346 00:20:14,940 --> 00:20:26,340 Nicolas Heller: Absolutely. Absolutely. Yeah, like you said, it's one of those 347 00:20:26,340 --> 00:20:28,619 Nicolas Heller: rare moments where we're all in this together. Everyone's in it together. Everyone's helping out 348 00:20:28,619 --> 00:20:32,100 Nicolas Heller: one another. The aim is to cross that finish line. 349 00:20:33,929 --> 00:20:39,509 Nicolas Heller: Yeah. Another great experience for me is when I'm done 350 00:20:40,469 --> 00:20:44,010 Nicolas Heller: shooting at the finish line, I exit. As I'm exiting, 351 00:20:44,010 --> 00:20:48,150 Nicolas Heller: there's this incredible photographer who I posted before and I think 352 00:20:48,150 --> 00:20:50,550 Nicolas Heller: he's like a guy. He's probably been doing it for 353 00:20:51,210 --> 00:20:54,750 Nicolas Heller: 20 years or so, but he's photographing everyone and their 354 00:20:54,750 --> 00:21:00,060 Nicolas Heller: medal and he's just like the most charismatic, bubbly guy. 355 00:21:03,540 --> 00:21:05,520 Nicolas Heller: Yeah, I don't even know why I brought that up. 356 00:21:06,869 --> 00:21:08,309 Rob Simmelkjaer: There's so many great- 357 00:21:08,309 --> 00:21:08,881 Nicolas Heller: There's so many moments. 358 00:21:08,881 --> 00:21:12,928 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... moments and people. I teased it before. Can you 359 00:21:12,929 --> 00:21:15,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: talk about what this collaboration is going to be this 360 00:21:15,780 --> 00:21:16,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: year with the marathon? 361 00:21:17,309 --> 00:21:19,530 Nicolas Heller: Just being at the finish line these past two years, 362 00:21:19,530 --> 00:21:23,580 Nicolas Heller: it's like every single person who crosses that finish line 363 00:21:23,580 --> 00:21:32,520 Nicolas Heller: has a story, and it's probably an amazing story. In 364 00:21:32,520 --> 00:21:34,619 Nicolas Heller: the videos that I've posted, I don't get to tell 365 00:21:34,619 --> 00:21:37,980 Nicolas Heller: those stories. I just get to capture that moment at 366 00:21:38,460 --> 00:21:41,460 Nicolas Heller: the very end, but they had a whole journey leading 367 00:21:41,460 --> 00:21:48,388 Nicolas Heller: up to that. I've spent moments fantasizing about what some 368 00:21:48,388 --> 00:21:52,770 Nicolas Heller: of these stories could be. I've obviously rewatched my own 369 00:21:52,770 --> 00:21:58,230 Nicolas Heller: video several times and these faces are ingrained in my 370 00:21:58,230 --> 00:22:03,210 Nicolas Heller: brain. So, I have developed my own narrative for these 371 00:22:03,210 --> 00:22:08,009 Nicolas Heller: people. I was thinking about it. It was like, " Why don't I actually 372 00:22:09,059 --> 00:22:11,638 Nicolas Heller: find out what their story is and how they got 373 00:22:11,638 --> 00:22:18,359 Nicolas Heller: to this point?" For anyone from the guy who proposed 374 00:22:18,359 --> 00:22:23,609 Nicolas Heller: to his now wife, what was that story leading up 375 00:22:23,609 --> 00:22:27,750 Nicolas Heller: to this? Why did he choose the finish line of the 376 00:22:27,750 --> 00:22:29,249 Nicolas Heller: marathon to propose to his wife? 377 00:22:29,609 --> 00:22:32,668 Rob Simmelkjaer: So the story behind the moment that you might get at the finish line. 378 00:22:32,670 --> 00:22:34,619 Nicolas Heller: The story behind the moment, exactly. 379 00:22:34,619 --> 00:22:37,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: I love that. So, you'll follow them leading up to 380 00:22:37,830 --> 00:22:39,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: the marathon and get some value. 381 00:22:39,090 --> 00:22:46,110 Nicolas Heller: That would be the idea. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I imagine people start training 382 00:22:46,350 --> 00:22:53,310 Nicolas Heller: soon. So, I would like to start capturing footage sooner 383 00:22:53,310 --> 00:22:58,050 Nicolas Heller: than later and check in with them throughout their journey 384 00:22:58,050 --> 00:23:01,408 Nicolas Heller: and obviously capture that moment at the very end. 385 00:23:01,859 --> 00:23:05,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: So the takeaway for listeners out there is if you 386 00:23:05,340 --> 00:23:08,820 Rob Simmelkjaer: have a story or you know of a story that 387 00:23:09,150 --> 00:23:11,879 Rob Simmelkjaer: you think would be a great part of, we're going 388 00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:14,519 Rob Simmelkjaer: to be announcing this pretty much the day that this 389 00:23:14,520 --> 00:23:18,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: podcast drops on Thursday, this collaboration. So, you can reach 390 00:23:18,570 --> 00:23:20,969 Rob Simmelkjaer: out to our social channels and New York Road Runners 391 00:23:20,969 --> 00:23:24,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: or TCS New York City Marathon or Nico, probably yours, 392 00:23:25,080 --> 00:23:28,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: and let us know about these stories. So, we can 393 00:23:28,500 --> 00:23:31,050 Rob Simmelkjaer: follow up and figure out some of the most amazing 394 00:23:31,050 --> 00:23:31,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: ones to tell. 395 00:23:32,309 --> 00:23:34,648 Nicolas Heller: Yeah, and if you're planning on proposing, please let me 396 00:23:34,650 --> 00:23:37,679 Nicolas Heller: know because that's one that we might not be able 397 00:23:37,679 --> 00:23:40,949 Nicolas Heller: to find on our own, but now that you know 398 00:23:41,070 --> 00:23:42,178 Nicolas Heller: I'm looking for that, let me know. 399 00:23:42,839 --> 00:23:46,138 Becs Gentry: Wow, you might've just pushed some relationships further down the line. 400 00:23:48,450 --> 00:23:52,049 Becs Gentry: Matchmaker and you didn't know it. I think there's going 401 00:23:52,050 --> 00:23:53,790 Becs Gentry: to be a lot of people reaching out. This is 402 00:23:53,790 --> 00:23:56,850 Becs Gentry: going to be such an exciting collaboration. I know there's 403 00:23:56,969 --> 00:23:58,830 Becs Gentry: hundreds of stories. There's just so many that even come 404 00:23:58,830 --> 00:24:00,178 Becs Gentry: to my mind straight away from- 405 00:24:00,179 --> 00:24:00,301 Nicolas Heller: Yeah, I'm sure. 406 00:24:00,301 --> 00:24:04,710 Becs Gentry: ... there's this lady in the UK and she is 407 00:24:04,710 --> 00:24:11,698 Becs Gentry: from completely Central America. She's in her 80s, and I 408 00:24:11,700 --> 00:24:14,370 Becs Gentry: think we spoke to her last year, I think, Rob, 409 00:24:15,270 --> 00:24:20,250 Becs Gentry: not on the podcast, but at the Javits Center. She 410 00:24:20,250 --> 00:24:25,379 Becs Gentry: has run the New York City Marathon 20 something times, 411 00:24:25,470 --> 00:24:28,020 Becs Gentry: and her and her sister do it together. They run 412 00:24:28,109 --> 00:24:32,490 Becs Gentry: ultras together. It's just unreal. That's just not even scratching 413 00:24:32,490 --> 00:24:33,001 Becs Gentry: the surface of the- 414 00:24:33,001 --> 00:24:33,002 Nicolas Heller: That's great. 415 00:24:33,002 --> 00:24:34,561 Becs Gentry: ... stories that are out there. 416 00:24:34,561 --> 00:24:39,750 Nicolas Heller: I'm so inspired by a lot of the older folks who 417 00:24:40,170 --> 00:24:44,070 Nicolas Heller: are able to do this. I couldn't even dream of 418 00:24:44,070 --> 00:24:48,029 Nicolas Heller: doing something like this. Here you are 80, 90 years 419 00:24:48,030 --> 00:24:49,981 Nicolas Heller: old and you're running 26. 2 miles. 420 00:24:49,981 --> 00:24:50,520 Becs Gentry: With a smile on their face. 421 00:24:50,520 --> 00:24:52,020 Nicolas Heller: With a smile on their face. 422 00:24:52,020 --> 00:24:52,709 Becs Gentry: They go come over the finish line dancing. We love that. 423 00:24:57,330 --> 00:25:01,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: Nico, what about your story? I'm just so curious how 424 00:25:01,170 --> 00:25:04,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: this came to be how Nicolas Heller became New York 425 00:25:04,740 --> 00:25:07,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: Nico. I know you grew up in New York. You 426 00:25:07,020 --> 00:25:11,309 Rob Simmelkjaer: were a downtown kid, known as the mayor of 16th 427 00:25:11,309 --> 00:25:14,129 Rob Simmelkjaer: Street when you were a kid. I love that nickname. 428 00:25:15,150 --> 00:25:18,119 Rob Simmelkjaer: How did that come about? What led them to call 429 00:25:18,119 --> 00:25:19,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: you the mayor of 16th Street? 430 00:25:20,099 --> 00:25:24,388 Nicolas Heller: Well, I grew up on 16th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenue, 431 00:25:24,388 --> 00:25:27,779 Nicolas Heller: and I don't know. Whenever I walked down 16th Street, 432 00:25:27,780 --> 00:25:31,260 Nicolas Heller: I was just friends with all the street vendors, the security 433 00:25:31,260 --> 00:25:35,910 Nicolas Heller: guards, the business owners. So, I don't know. I think 434 00:25:35,910 --> 00:25:39,240 Nicolas Heller: my parents just called me the mayor of 16th Street, but it 435 00:25:39,240 --> 00:25:42,779 Nicolas Heller: was because I was talking it up with everybody. But 436 00:25:43,320 --> 00:25:47,879 Nicolas Heller: yeah, born and raised in New York. After college, I 437 00:25:47,879 --> 00:25:51,750 Nicolas Heller: did a little stint in Los Angeles for six months 438 00:25:51,750 --> 00:25:58,498 Nicolas Heller: where I had the most miserable time of my life. Without 439 00:25:58,500 --> 00:26:00,809 Nicolas Heller: that, I probably wouldn't be where I am today because 440 00:26:00,809 --> 00:26:05,040 Nicolas Heller: it really made me appreciate New York that much more. 441 00:26:05,670 --> 00:26:08,580 Nicolas Heller: Because when I moved back, I started noticing things that 442 00:26:08,580 --> 00:26:14,398 Nicolas Heller: I hadn't noticed growing up here. That's when my appreciation 443 00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:22,259 Nicolas Heller: for the locals came to be. As soon as I 444 00:26:22,260 --> 00:26:25,590 Nicolas Heller: came back from LA, I was 21, I think. I 445 00:26:25,590 --> 00:26:30,960 Nicolas Heller: started making documentaries on New York City street characters, so 446 00:26:31,530 --> 00:26:34,678 Nicolas Heller: Wendell, the homeless fashion designer of Union Square or Larry 447 00:26:34,679 --> 00:26:38,849 Nicolas Heller: the Birdman of Washington Square. I started making these documentaries, 448 00:26:38,849 --> 00:26:45,810 Nicolas Heller: and that was around the same time that I created 449 00:26:45,810 --> 00:26:50,550 Nicolas Heller: my Instagram and just took off from there. It's been 450 00:26:50,550 --> 00:26:53,550 Nicolas Heller: a slow and steady rise, I guess. 451 00:26:54,509 --> 00:27:00,150 Becs Gentry: I can't imagine the amount of characters you see and 452 00:27:00,150 --> 00:27:02,609 Becs Gentry: maybe not even meet, but you at least see in 453 00:27:02,609 --> 00:27:08,340 Becs Gentry: New York. Do you have a process of how you pick the ones 454 00:27:08,340 --> 00:27:11,250 Becs Gentry: that are going to be featured on your social accounts? 455 00:27:12,030 --> 00:27:16,380 Nicolas Heller: That's a great question. No, I mean, I would say 456 00:27:20,190 --> 00:27:23,490 Nicolas Heller: a third of the people who I feature, I just find 457 00:27:23,490 --> 00:27:26,670 Nicolas Heller: out and about. Another third are people who are referred 458 00:27:26,670 --> 00:27:30,420 Nicolas Heller: to me. Actually, I don't know. I don't even know 459 00:27:30,420 --> 00:27:32,339 Nicolas Heller: why I decided to do a whole math thing here. I 460 00:27:32,340 --> 00:27:36,718 Nicolas Heller: don't know. It's a mix of people I'm introduced to, 461 00:27:36,779 --> 00:27:41,460 Nicolas Heller: people I just see out and about, and then sometimes 462 00:27:41,460 --> 00:27:44,610 Nicolas Heller: I get tipped off to people through Instagram or whatever. 463 00:27:45,630 --> 00:27:49,168 Nicolas Heller: But in terms of who I feature, it's hard for 464 00:27:49,170 --> 00:27:53,158 Nicolas Heller: me to say because it's just who I'm interested in. 465 00:27:54,330 --> 00:28:02,099 Nicolas Heller: It's just a personal preference. Yeah, I don't know. I 466 00:28:02,099 --> 00:28:06,418 Nicolas Heller: like unique one- of- a- kind individuals. I like people 467 00:28:06,420 --> 00:28:14,190 Nicolas Heller: with that New York attitude, but I never profile people 468 00:28:14,190 --> 00:28:18,660 Nicolas Heller: that I don't like, I don't respect, because then why would I want 469 00:28:18,660 --> 00:28:21,029 Nicolas Heller: to hang out with these people if I don't like or respect them? 470 00:28:21,330 --> 00:28:24,750 Becs Gentry: That makes sense. Is there anyone you've gone back to 471 00:28:24,840 --> 00:28:29,670 Becs Gentry: over the years and tracks their career or their progression 472 00:28:29,670 --> 00:28:30,359 Becs Gentry: in life? 473 00:28:30,570 --> 00:28:36,900 Nicolas Heller: Yeah, for sure. I mean, I would say there are 10 or 15 people 474 00:28:36,900 --> 00:28:41,429 Nicolas Heller: who I post regularly, who I've had friendships with for many 475 00:28:41,429 --> 00:28:48,780 Nicolas Heller: years. I think a fan favorite is Henry Yao. He 476 00:28:48,780 --> 00:28:54,420 Nicolas Heller: owns this Army Navy surplus store on Houston Street. For 477 00:28:54,420 --> 00:28:57,209 Nicolas Heller: the past, I guess five years or four years, it 478 00:28:57,210 --> 00:29:01,170 Nicolas Heller: started at the beginning of the pandemic. But every time 479 00:29:01,530 --> 00:29:04,500 Nicolas Heller: I go and visit him, I have my camera rolling. 480 00:29:04,500 --> 00:29:09,030 Nicolas Heller: So, he's filling out, he sees me, he gets really 481 00:29:09,030 --> 00:29:14,070 Nicolas Heller: excited, and he screams, " Oh, Nicholas!" The reason why he 482 00:29:14,070 --> 00:29:17,219 Nicolas Heller: reacts that way is because over the pandemic, I was 483 00:29:17,219 --> 00:29:19,710 Nicolas Heller: able to help him stay in business. He has just been 484 00:29:19,889 --> 00:29:24,990 Nicolas Heller: very appreciative of that. So, every time I come in, 485 00:29:24,990 --> 00:29:32,790 Nicolas Heller: he greets me with this great big, but people love 486 00:29:32,790 --> 00:29:39,240 Nicolas Heller: it. He's visited from all over the world because people 487 00:29:39,240 --> 00:29:45,870 Nicolas Heller: want to meet him in person. Yeah, no, there's a 488 00:29:45,870 --> 00:29:49,770 Nicolas Heller: lot of people who have been reoccurring throughout the years. 489 00:29:50,010 --> 00:29:53,520 Becs Gentry: One of your top posters, you have it pinned, but it's one of 490 00:29:53,520 --> 00:29:56,279 Becs Gentry: my favorites and one that does actually intrigue me is 491 00:29:56,280 --> 00:30:01,230 Becs Gentry: the story of the organist Ray Castoldi and how you 492 00:30:01,260 --> 00:30:04,530 Becs Gentry: shot that. Did you sneak in to a gig? 493 00:30:04,530 --> 00:30:08,581 Nicolas Heller: No, no, no, no. I work with the Knicks quite a bit. 494 00:30:08,581 --> 00:30:08,582 Becs Gentry: Amazing. 495 00:30:08,582 --> 00:30:12,421 Rob Simmelkjaer: This is the organist at Madison Square Garden for the Knicks. 496 00:30:12,421 --> 00:30:15,870 Becs Gentry: Yeah, for decades. 497 00:30:16,199 --> 00:30:19,229 Nicolas Heller: Yes. So, a lot of people, and myself included, I 498 00:30:19,230 --> 00:30:21,510 Nicolas Heller: didn't realize that there was an actual guy playing the 499 00:30:21,510 --> 00:30:24,690 Nicolas Heller: organ. I had just assumed it was like every other stadium 500 00:30:24,690 --> 00:30:28,530 Nicolas Heller: where they have a pre- recorded thing. But no, the 501 00:30:28,530 --> 00:30:31,289 Nicolas Heller: Knicks have a guy, his name is Ray Castoldi and 502 00:30:31,290 --> 00:30:33,870 Nicolas Heller: he plays the organ at the Knicks and Rangers games. 503 00:30:35,639 --> 00:30:38,400 Nicolas Heller: When I did that piece, it was probably three years 504 00:30:38,400 --> 00:30:42,900 Nicolas Heller: ago. I mean if you knew, you knew, but a 505 00:30:42,900 --> 00:30:45,179 Nicolas Heller: lot of people did not know that he existed. I 506 00:30:45,179 --> 00:30:51,030 Nicolas Heller: made this piece and even die hard Knicks fans who 507 00:30:51,030 --> 00:30:54,540 Nicolas Heller: have season tickets didn't even realize it. My whole thing 508 00:30:54,540 --> 00:31:00,240 Nicolas Heller: is sharing the stories of unsung heroes like Ray Castoldi. 509 00:31:00,600 --> 00:31:04,889 Nicolas Heller: He's been doing his thing for 30 years and I 510 00:31:04,889 --> 00:31:12,119 Nicolas Heller: feel like he deserves his flowers. Call me crazy, but 511 00:31:12,119 --> 00:31:15,030 Nicolas Heller: I feel like he contributes to the outcome of the 512 00:31:15,030 --> 00:31:18,300 Nicolas Heller: game because he really is a conductor to the fans 513 00:31:18,690 --> 00:31:21,719 Nicolas Heller: and players will tell you that they get their energy 514 00:31:21,719 --> 00:31:26,160 Nicolas Heller: from the fans. So, I feel like we got to 515 00:31:26,520 --> 00:31:30,540 Nicolas Heller: respect people like Ray and people who have those behind 516 00:31:30,540 --> 00:31:32,880 Nicolas Heller: the scenes jobs that you might not know about. 517 00:31:33,239 --> 00:31:33,749 Becs Gentry: Absolutely. 518 00:31:33,810 --> 00:31:38,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: Another character that you've gone a little bit deeper on 519 00:31:38,160 --> 00:31:42,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: is your documentary Big Mike Takes Lunch, which helped launch 520 00:31:42,840 --> 00:31:46,679 Rob Simmelkjaer: the career of Mike Saviello in the art world. Can you 521 00:31:46,680 --> 00:31:48,930 Rob Simmelkjaer: talk about that a little bit? Who is Mike Saviello? 522 00:31:49,800 --> 00:31:53,190 Nicolas Heller: Yeah, so I don't know if you guys are familiar with Astor Place 523 00:31:53,190 --> 00:31:55,830 Nicolas Heller: barber shop, but it's one of the oldest barbers. There you go. 524 00:31:56,040 --> 00:31:59,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: I got my haircut there for years when I was a young 525 00:31:59,790 --> 00:32:01,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: lawyer in New York City, that was my go- to 526 00:32:01,950 --> 00:32:06,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: spot. I lived on 17th Street and I went there. A guy I 527 00:32:06,180 --> 00:32:08,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: went to high school with, I believe Jonathan Trichter came in- 528 00:32:09,450 --> 00:32:10,051 Nicolas Heller: Yeah, he's a good friend. 529 00:32:10,051 --> 00:32:14,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... and bought that place. Yes, absolutely. He and I went to high school together. 530 00:32:15,270 --> 00:32:18,599 Nicolas Heller: Wow. So, it's one of the oldest barbershops in Manhattan. 531 00:32:18,599 --> 00:32:22,230 Nicolas Heller: I believe it's 1965. It's also one of the biggest 532 00:32:22,230 --> 00:32:26,700 Nicolas Heller: barbershops. I've been going there to get my hair cut since 533 00:32:26,700 --> 00:32:31,860 Nicolas Heller: I was 10 or 11 years old. It was always a place 534 00:32:31,860 --> 00:32:35,400 Nicolas Heller: where I just went to get my haircut. I didn't 535 00:32:35,550 --> 00:32:38,429 Nicolas Heller: go there to make friends. It was like you go 536 00:32:38,429 --> 00:32:42,149 Nicolas Heller: in and Big Mike was there behind the counter and 537 00:32:42,149 --> 00:32:48,600 Nicolas Heller: he was like this old school, not super friendly New 538 00:32:48,600 --> 00:32:50,369 Nicolas Heller: York guy who just tells you where to go to 539 00:32:50,370 --> 00:32:54,090 Nicolas Heller: get your haircut. You get your haircut. You pay $ 15 and then 540 00:32:54,090 --> 00:32:59,760 Nicolas Heller: you leave, but I love that. Also, for people who 541 00:32:59,760 --> 00:33:02,550 Nicolas Heller: aren't aware of Astor Place, when you go in, it 542 00:33:02,550 --> 00:33:05,969 Nicolas Heller: has this big sign that says, " We speak," and then 543 00:33:05,970 --> 00:33:08,429 Nicolas Heller: it's pretty much every single language that you can think 544 00:33:08,429 --> 00:33:10,290 Nicolas Heller: of. Then at the end, it says, " And a little bit of 545 00:33:10,290 --> 00:33:15,779 Nicolas Heller: English." When people photograph Astor Place, that's the first photograph 546 00:33:15,780 --> 00:33:19,860 Nicolas Heller: they take and Mike is always behind that counter. But 547 00:33:19,860 --> 00:33:27,300 Nicolas Heller: anyway, six years ago, I went to get my haircut 548 00:33:27,750 --> 00:33:30,809 Nicolas Heller: and I went to the restroom, which is in the 549 00:33:30,809 --> 00:33:34,199 Nicolas Heller: back. On my way to the restroom, the door to the storage area 550 00:33:34,199 --> 00:33:38,700 Nicolas Heller: was open a crack. I peeked my head in, and 551 00:33:38,700 --> 00:33:41,070 Nicolas Heller: Big Mike, who as I said, I just knew as the 552 00:33:41,070 --> 00:33:43,170 Nicolas Heller: guy who tells you where to get your haircut or 553 00:33:43,170 --> 00:33:46,950 Nicolas Heller: who to go to, he was in the storage area 554 00:33:46,950 --> 00:33:50,639 Nicolas Heller: with his shirt off in front of an easel and 555 00:33:50,639 --> 00:33:55,530 Nicolas Heller: he was painting a Van Gogh inspired Biggie Smalls. I 556 00:33:55,530 --> 00:33:58,650 Nicolas Heller: was just like, " What the hell? What are you doing?" 557 00:33:58,890 --> 00:34:02,400 Nicolas Heller: I used this as an opportunity to finally talk to 558 00:34:02,400 --> 00:34:06,150 Nicolas Heller: him because I'd never really talked to him. We ended 559 00:34:07,049 --> 00:34:11,219 Nicolas Heller: up chatting about his art for an hour. Basically, what 560 00:34:11,219 --> 00:34:15,390 Nicolas Heller: had happened was he's like 58 and he's always wanted to 561 00:34:15,390 --> 00:34:18,900 Nicolas Heller: paint but never had the time to paint. So, he 562 00:34:18,900 --> 00:34:21,690 Nicolas Heller: decided that he would use his lunch break, his 45- 563 00:34:21,690 --> 00:34:26,519 Nicolas Heller: minute lunch break at Astor Place to paint. He had 564 00:34:26,520 --> 00:34:29,729 Nicolas Heller: just started doing this and he told me that he 565 00:34:29,730 --> 00:34:32,640 Nicolas Heller: was going to continue doing it every single day. I 566 00:34:32,640 --> 00:34:34,020 Nicolas Heller: told him, " I'm going to check in on you. I'm 567 00:34:34,020 --> 00:34:36,690 Nicolas Heller: going to make sure that you're still doing this a 568 00:34:36,690 --> 00:34:38,940 Nicolas Heller: week, a month from now." So I would check in 569 00:34:38,940 --> 00:34:43,889 Nicolas Heller: on him periodically, and he eventually amassed an entire gallery 570 00:34:43,889 --> 00:34:46,410 Nicolas Heller: of paintings in this storage area in the back of 571 00:34:46,410 --> 00:34:50,430 Nicolas Heller: Astor Place. I would say a couple months into it, 572 00:34:50,430 --> 00:34:53,730 Nicolas Heller: I asked, " Can I make a documentary on you? I 573 00:34:53,730 --> 00:34:57,270 Nicolas Heller: feel like this story needs to be told." He was very 574 00:34:57,270 --> 00:35:00,210 Nicolas Heller: receptive to that and I made this documentary. It's just 575 00:35:00,210 --> 00:35:02,489 Nicolas Heller: like a day in the life of Big Mike as 576 00:35:02,730 --> 00:35:06,210 Nicolas Heller: the manager at the most iconic barbershop in New York 577 00:35:06,389 --> 00:35:11,969 Nicolas Heller: with this secret new career as a painter and made 578 00:35:11,969 --> 00:35:16,800 Nicolas Heller: this documentary. We had a screening of it in conjunction 579 00:35:16,800 --> 00:35:21,750 Nicolas Heller: with his first art show at Astor Place barbershop and 580 00:35:22,170 --> 00:35:24,540 Nicolas Heller: De Blasio was the mayor at the time. He came. 581 00:35:25,560 --> 00:35:29,310 Nicolas Heller: All these news outlets covered it. Eventually, the New York 582 00:35:29,310 --> 00:35:31,950 Nicolas Heller: Times wrote about him and he started selling his art 583 00:35:31,950 --> 00:35:37,830 Nicolas Heller: for thousands and thousands of dollars. Mike just retired last 584 00:35:37,830 --> 00:35:38,219 Nicolas Heller: week. 585 00:35:40,139 --> 00:35:40,769 Rob Simmelkjaer: Wow. 586 00:35:41,160 --> 00:35:45,360 Nicolas Heller: Yeah. So, the film is called Big Mike Takes Lunch 587 00:35:45,360 --> 00:35:47,250 Nicolas Heller: and I wanted to make another film called Big Mike's 588 00:35:47,250 --> 00:35:49,860 Nicolas Heller: Last Lunch, but I didn't really have the time to 589 00:35:49,860 --> 00:35:53,520 Nicolas Heller: put it together, but I did do a little 60- 590 00:35:53,520 --> 00:35:56,160 Nicolas Heller: second profile on his last day, which is on my 591 00:35:56,160 --> 00:35:56,700 Nicolas Heller: Instagram. 592 00:35:58,620 --> 00:36:02,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: Listening to this story, Nico, now I get what makes you 593 00:36:02,969 --> 00:36:07,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: you, because I spent years walking into that barbershop and 594 00:36:08,309 --> 00:36:10,860 Rob Simmelkjaer: getting the direction from Mike and handing him my money, 595 00:36:10,860 --> 00:36:12,930 Rob Simmelkjaer: that little white slip of paper you get with how 596 00:36:12,930 --> 00:36:13,021 Rob Simmelkjaer: much the haircut was and all that. 597 00:36:13,020 --> 00:36:13,022 Nicolas Heller: Exactly. 598 00:36:13,021 --> 00:36:19,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yes, I probably never said anything, but hi, thanks, bye 599 00:36:20,250 --> 00:36:22,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: to him in all those years going there. You made 600 00:36:22,530 --> 00:36:24,239 Rob Simmelkjaer: a documentary out of it. So, that's what makes you 601 00:36:25,230 --> 00:36:26,640 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York Nico, which is a beautiful thing. 602 00:36:26,640 --> 00:36:26,969 Nicolas Heller: I appreciate it. 603 00:36:27,120 --> 00:36:28,469 Rob Simmelkjaer: It's amazing. It's a great story. 604 00:36:29,190 --> 00:36:29,461 Nicolas Heller: Thank you. Thank you. 605 00:36:29,461 --> 00:36:33,509 Becs Gentry: That's a really good point, Rob, that leads me onto what I was thinking about 606 00:36:34,139 --> 00:36:37,650 Becs Gentry: with all of this history that is steeped in the 607 00:36:37,650 --> 00:36:41,400 Becs Gentry: community of New York. You're born and bred New Yorker 608 00:36:42,420 --> 00:36:45,779 Becs Gentry: and it's in your blood. So, how do you find 609 00:36:46,170 --> 00:36:52,080 Becs Gentry: the balance between sharing these wonderful stories of people who have 610 00:36:52,080 --> 00:36:56,310 Becs Gentry: served a community for a really long time and the 611 00:36:56,520 --> 00:37:00,989 Becs Gentry: talent, the new upcoming, the talent scout side of your 612 00:37:00,989 --> 00:37:03,060 Becs Gentry: New York Nico role? How do you balance that? 613 00:37:03,780 --> 00:37:09,480 Nicolas Heller: Well, I gave myself the title, the Unofficial Talent Scout 614 00:37:09,480 --> 00:37:12,509 Nicolas Heller: of New York, just because I didn't know what to put in my Instagram 615 00:37:13,500 --> 00:37:16,380 Nicolas Heller: bio. I didn't know how to describe myself. A lot 616 00:37:16,380 --> 00:37:19,169 Nicolas Heller: of people ask what I do, and I just say, " 617 00:37:19,170 --> 00:37:21,210 Nicolas Heller: I'm the unofficial talent scout of New York." 618 00:37:22,349 --> 00:37:23,489 Rob Simmelkjaer: That's why it's unofficial. 619 00:37:24,989 --> 00:37:28,709 Nicolas Heller: But to me, someone like Big Mike, even though he's 620 00:37:28,709 --> 00:37:31,950 Nicolas Heller: an older guy, he's a new talent because no one 621 00:37:31,950 --> 00:37:39,809 Nicolas Heller: has really discovered this talent before. So, I work out 622 00:37:39,809 --> 00:37:47,730 Nicolas Heller: at a park in Queens doing calisthenics, and there's this 89- year- 623 00:37:47,730 --> 00:37:50,430 Nicolas Heller: old guy who works out there every single day and 624 00:37:50,460 --> 00:37:54,210 Nicolas Heller: can do 20 pull- ups, does dips, does all these 625 00:37:54,210 --> 00:37:58,830 Nicolas Heller: acrobatics. I literally just made a little film on him 626 00:37:59,340 --> 00:38:04,679 Nicolas Heller: the other day while he was working out. Even though 627 00:38:04,680 --> 00:38:07,020 Nicolas Heller: he's 90 years old, to me, he's like a newfound 628 00:38:07,020 --> 00:38:09,300 Nicolas Heller: talent because no one really knew about him prior to 629 00:38:09,300 --> 00:38:14,279 Nicolas Heller: this. Now you can just read the comments on the 630 00:38:14,280 --> 00:38:18,389 Nicolas Heller: video. He's inspiring the world, what 90- year- old do 631 00:38:18,389 --> 00:38:21,059 Nicolas Heller: you know that's going out every day and working out 632 00:38:21,059 --> 00:38:25,710 Nicolas Heller: to that level. So, yeah, I mean, anyone can be 633 00:38:25,710 --> 00:38:32,339 Nicolas Heller: new talent. It doesn't have to be an up and 634 00:38:32,340 --> 00:38:38,490 Nicolas Heller: coming fashion person or filmmaker or something. It could be 635 00:38:39,150 --> 00:38:42,449 Nicolas Heller: the guy on the corner who's just never been discovered 636 00:38:42,449 --> 00:38:45,031 Nicolas Heller: as being a character. To me, that's talent. 637 00:38:45,031 --> 00:38:45,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: I love it. 638 00:38:46,770 --> 00:38:47,701 Nicolas Heller: I don't know if that answered your question. 639 00:38:47,700 --> 00:38:53,429 Becs Gentry: No, it makes sense because it's not necessarily new in 640 00:38:53,429 --> 00:38:56,099 Becs Gentry: what they've been doing, but you are bringing it new in the 641 00:38:56,099 --> 00:38:57,419 Becs Gentry: news. It's new news. 642 00:38:58,379 --> 00:39:03,359 Nicolas Heller: Again, to reiterate, to me, talent isn't just like, " Oh, 643 00:39:03,360 --> 00:39:07,170 Nicolas Heller: you're a great singer" or " You're a great fashion designer or actress 644 00:39:07,170 --> 00:39:09,059 Nicolas Heller: or whatever." It could literally be the guy on the 645 00:39:09,059 --> 00:39:11,880 Nicolas Heller: corner who's just like a one- of- a- kind character. 646 00:39:12,540 --> 00:39:13,950 Becs Gentry: Yeah, I love it. 647 00:39:13,950 --> 00:39:18,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: Well, I love what you're doing. When we first started 648 00:39:18,239 --> 00:39:22,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: this podcast, one of the ideas was we know how 649 00:39:22,290 --> 00:39:25,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: many stories there are that are showing up at the 650 00:39:25,440 --> 00:39:29,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: starting line of the TCS New York City Marathon or pretty 651 00:39:29,250 --> 00:39:32,279 Rob Simmelkjaer: much all of our races. We know how many there 652 00:39:32,280 --> 00:39:35,969 Rob Simmelkjaer: are, and I just figured, " Well, geez, we can definitely 653 00:39:35,969 --> 00:39:40,080 Rob Simmelkjaer: tell 52 great stories a year by doing a weekly 654 00:39:40,080 --> 00:39:43,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: podcast about running in New York City." So that's what 655 00:39:43,620 --> 00:39:45,689 Rob Simmelkjaer: we do, and you do an amazing job with it 656 00:39:46,320 --> 00:39:49,498 Rob Simmelkjaer: with your videos. I can't wait to see what you come 657 00:39:49,500 --> 00:39:52,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: up with for the marathon this year because we know 658 00:39:52,410 --> 00:39:56,009 Rob Simmelkjaer: the stories are there. You're great at telling these stories. 659 00:39:56,010 --> 00:39:58,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: So, that's going to be a lot of fun and 660 00:39:58,260 --> 00:40:01,230 Rob Simmelkjaer: we'll make sure everybody looks out for that announcement coming 661 00:40:01,230 --> 00:40:04,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: this week about our collaboration with New York Road Runners 662 00:40:04,679 --> 00:40:07,799 Rob Simmelkjaer: and New York Nico. Got to follow him on the 663 00:40:07,799 --> 00:40:13,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: IG. It's @ NewYorkNico, N- I- C- O. Hey, Nico, it's 664 00:40:13,410 --> 00:40:17,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: been awesome having you. Congrats on the collaboration. Can't wait 665 00:40:17,580 --> 00:40:19,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: to see it. Thank you for hanging out with me and Becs for 666 00:40:19,890 --> 00:40:20,339 Rob Simmelkjaer: a little while. 667 00:40:21,059 --> 00:40:24,509 Nicolas Heller: I appreciate it. Also, I have a book coming out 668 00:40:24,509 --> 00:40:30,390 Nicolas Heller: October 22nd. Pre- order link is available. Really, really helps. 669 00:40:31,080 --> 00:40:31,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: What's it called? 670 00:40:32,460 --> 00:40:35,310 Nicolas Heller: It's called New York Nico's Guide to New York City. 671 00:40:35,310 --> 00:40:35,489 Rob Simmelkjaer: I love it. 672 00:40:37,920 --> 00:40:39,809 Becs Gentry: Going to be getting it to go with my I 673 00:40:39,809 --> 00:40:41,219 Becs Gentry: love New York. I'm going to add Nico. 674 00:40:41,219 --> 00:40:41,790 Nicolas Heller: I appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you. 675 00:40:44,070 --> 00:40:45,300 Becs Gentry: Definitely ordering that book. 676 00:40:46,320 --> 00:40:48,689 Rob Simmelkjaer: Nico, congrats. Good luck, and I know we'll be seeing 677 00:40:48,690 --> 00:40:50,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: you a lot between now and the marathon. 678 00:40:50,160 --> 00:40:50,161 Becs Gentry: For sure. 679 00:40:50,161 --> 00:40:51,811 Nicolas Heller: I'm sure you will. Thank you. 680 00:40:51,811 --> 00:41:09,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: Before we get to Meb, we have a special surprise for our listeners. 681 00:41:09,450 --> 00:41:12,719 Rob Simmelkjaer: The sweepstakes is back. That's right. It's no secret that 682 00:41:12,719 --> 00:41:15,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: the TCS New York City Marathon is one of the 683 00:41:15,120 --> 00:41:18,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: hardest races in the world to get into. So, for 684 00:41:18,090 --> 00:41:20,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: all of you, our loyal listeners here on Set The Pace, 685 00:41:20,790 --> 00:41:24,089 Rob Simmelkjaer: we're offering a few last minute chances to get a 686 00:41:24,210 --> 00:41:29,549 Rob Simmelkjaer: guaranteed complimentary entry into this year's TCS New York City 687 00:41:29,550 --> 00:41:31,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: Marathon. This is a hard thing to come by. So, 688 00:41:32,400 --> 00:41:35,429 Rob Simmelkjaer: check it out. Two weeks ago, we spoke to Tatyana 689 00:41:35,429 --> 00:41:39,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: McFadden about her potentially history- making trip to Paris this 690 00:41:39,210 --> 00:41:42,719 Rob Simmelkjaer: summer for the Paralympic games. How many medals does Tatyana 691 00:41:42,719 --> 00:41:45,960 Rob Simmelkjaer: need to win in Paris to become the most decorated 692 00:41:45,960 --> 00:41:49,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: Paralympic track and field athlete of all time? The answer 693 00:41:49,680 --> 00:41:51,989 Rob Simmelkjaer: to this question is in the July 4th episode. So, 694 00:41:51,989 --> 00:41:54,629 Rob Simmelkjaer: if you missed my conversation with Tatyana, you still have 695 00:41:54,630 --> 00:41:56,819 Rob Simmelkjaer: time to go back and listen to it. We won't 696 00:41:56,820 --> 00:42:00,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: be drawing the winners of this contest until midnight on 697 00:42:00,480 --> 00:42:04,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: July 24th. To enter, go ahead and send your answer 698 00:42:04,140 --> 00:42:07,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: along with that screenshot proving that you've subscribed to Set 699 00:42:07,500 --> 00:42:14,009 Rob Simmelkjaer: The Pace and left a rating. Send that screenshot to nyrrpodcast@ nyrr. 700 00:42:14,009 --> 00:42:20,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: org. That's nyrrpodcast@ nyrr. org. All rules surrounding the sweepstakes 701 00:42:20,400 --> 00:42:26,040 Rob Simmelkjaer: are available at nyrr.org/ setthepace. If you listen to the podcast 702 00:42:26,040 --> 00:42:28,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: regularly, you've probably heard us talk about today's featured member 703 00:42:28,980 --> 00:42:32,279 Rob Simmelkjaer: because they were the winner of the non- binary division 704 00:42:32,280 --> 00:42:37,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: of the 2024 RBC Brooklyn Half. Sofía Camacho Ferral was born 705 00:42:37,770 --> 00:42:40,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: in Florida but grew up in Paris where they graduated 706 00:42:40,950 --> 00:42:43,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: from the American School of Paris before coming back to 707 00:42:43,890 --> 00:42:46,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: the states to go to college at Columbia. After an 708 00:42:46,830 --> 00:42:50,699 Rob Simmelkjaer: incredible career on the cross- country team at Columbia, Sofía 709 00:42:50,700 --> 00:42:53,848 Rob Simmelkjaer: has hit the sub- elite circuit with a bang finishing 710 00:42:53,850 --> 00:42:56,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: in the top five in the non- binary category for 711 00:42:56,610 --> 00:43:00,930 Rob Simmelkjaer: all five NYRR races they have run, including of course, 712 00:43:01,200 --> 00:43:03,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: first in the RBC Brooklyn Half. 713 00:43:03,960 --> 00:43:06,779 Meb Keflezighi: Thanks, Rob. Welcome, Sofía. How are you doing today? 714 00:43:07,049 --> 00:43:08,368 Sofía Camacho Ferral: Good, thank you. How are you? 715 00:43:08,879 --> 00:43:13,620 Meb Keflezighi: Doing well, thanks. Sofía, you run for the Columbia University Lions Cross 716 00:43:13,620 --> 00:43:14,370 Meb Keflezighi: Country Team. 717 00:43:14,790 --> 00:43:15,390 Sofía Camacho Ferral: I did. 718 00:43:15,750 --> 00:43:19,739 Meb Keflezighi: What has been surprising for your transition from running on 719 00:43:19,739 --> 00:43:22,320 Meb Keflezighi: college team to running to the Brooklyn Track Club? 720 00:43:22,620 --> 00:43:24,599 Sofía Camacho Ferral: I think a lot of my running is left up 721 00:43:24,599 --> 00:43:27,630 Sofía Camacho Ferral: to me. So, I'm free to choose my race schedule, 722 00:43:27,630 --> 00:43:33,239 Sofía Camacho Ferral: and I've graduated from running at such a high intensity 723 00:43:33,239 --> 00:43:36,029 Sofía Camacho Ferral: in one way and then choosing the intensity that I 724 00:43:36,030 --> 00:43:38,609 Sofía Camacho Ferral: want to run at. So, it's very self- fulfilling in 725 00:43:38,610 --> 00:43:40,949 Sofía Camacho Ferral: a different way, but I really appreciate that. 726 00:43:41,580 --> 00:43:44,940 Meb Keflezighi: You have run successful sophomore year at Columbia and then 727 00:43:45,809 --> 00:43:50,189 Meb Keflezighi: next season got canceled because of COVID. What was that like 728 00:43:50,279 --> 00:43:51,839 Meb Keflezighi: and not run in the 2020? 729 00:43:52,170 --> 00:43:55,109 Sofía Camacho Ferral: It was really hard for me, obviously. Well, I was 730 00:43:55,110 --> 00:43:59,039 Sofía Camacho Ferral: quarantined in the city. I'm originally from Mexico, so everyone 731 00:43:59,040 --> 00:44:01,739 Sofía Camacho Ferral: was there. My whole family was there, and I was 732 00:44:01,739 --> 00:44:04,589 Sofía Camacho Ferral: quarantined in the city with my partner at the time. 733 00:44:05,219 --> 00:44:07,680 Sofía Camacho Ferral: So, running looked a little bit different because we were 734 00:44:07,890 --> 00:44:10,590 Sofía Camacho Ferral: left in a limbo. So, instead of telling us when 735 00:44:10,590 --> 00:44:14,160 Sofía Camacho Ferral: we were coming back, obviously, everything was on hold, so 736 00:44:14,160 --> 00:44:16,319 Sofía Camacho Ferral: we had no idea when we would be coming back. 737 00:44:16,320 --> 00:44:18,540 Sofía Camacho Ferral: So, it was a little tough to train, not knowing 738 00:44:18,540 --> 00:44:22,049 Sofía Camacho Ferral: what was coming next, just trying to maintain some fitness. 739 00:44:22,049 --> 00:44:25,950 Sofía Camacho Ferral: But yeah, I don't feel like I exactly ran as 740 00:44:25,950 --> 00:44:28,560 Sofía Camacho Ferral: well as I could have in college. So, that's why 741 00:44:28,890 --> 00:44:31,050 Sofía Camacho Ferral: I guess I tried to look for a competitive team 742 00:44:31,050 --> 00:44:33,660 Sofía Camacho Ferral: after graduating to see what I could do and push 743 00:44:33,660 --> 00:44:34,740 Sofía Camacho Ferral: myself a little bit more. 744 00:44:35,790 --> 00:44:37,980 Meb Keflezighi: From two weeks possibly shut down to- 745 00:44:38,580 --> 00:44:38,581 Sofía Camacho Ferral: Exactly. 746 00:44:38,581 --> 00:44:41,760 Meb Keflezighi: ... a long, long time, what was your mental status on 747 00:44:41,760 --> 00:44:45,240 Meb Keflezighi: that? How was the environment within school or your teammates? 748 00:44:45,390 --> 00:44:50,790 Sofía Camacho Ferral: Yeah, it was very sudden and unknown, especially because school 749 00:44:50,790 --> 00:44:54,809 Sofía Camacho Ferral: shut down and half of my team went and did 750 00:44:55,020 --> 00:44:57,029 Sofía Camacho Ferral: a training camp and then the other half of us 751 00:44:57,360 --> 00:45:03,089 Sofía Camacho Ferral: didn't do that because we couldn't. So, it was very 752 00:45:03,090 --> 00:45:05,220 Sofía Camacho Ferral: divided. So, then when we came back, it was like 753 00:45:05,520 --> 00:45:07,200 Sofía Camacho Ferral: the half that did train and then the half that 754 00:45:07,380 --> 00:45:09,509 Sofía Camacho Ferral: had to figure it out on our own. Luckily, I 755 00:45:09,510 --> 00:45:12,570 Sofía Camacho Ferral: stayed around campus. So, I had one other friend that 756 00:45:12,570 --> 00:45:16,498 Sofía Camacho Ferral: I would run with masked and separated, so it was 757 00:45:16,500 --> 00:45:18,329 Sofía Camacho Ferral: at least nice to have one other person to run 758 00:45:18,330 --> 00:45:18,331 Sofía Camacho Ferral: with. Yeah. 759 00:45:18,331 --> 00:45:22,590 Meb Keflezighi: Sofía, you just ran the non- binary division of the RBC 760 00:45:22,590 --> 00:45:26,940 Meb Keflezighi: Brooklyn Half Marathon with the time of amazing 1: 14: 761 00:45:26,969 --> 00:45:31,409 Meb Keflezighi: 09. Congratulations. What does that mean to compete in the non- 762 00:45:31,410 --> 00:45:32,759 Meb Keflezighi: binary category? 763 00:45:33,180 --> 00:45:37,500 Sofía Camacho Ferral: Thank you. Yeah, the 1: 14, the low 1: 14 764 00:45:37,500 --> 00:45:41,879 Sofía Camacho Ferral: was a PR. I had been running 1: 15s pretty consistently. 765 00:45:43,260 --> 00:45:44,940 Sofía Camacho Ferral: I was sick for a lot of this year, so 766 00:45:44,940 --> 00:45:47,099 Sofía Camacho Ferral: a lot of colds. I had a really bad lung 767 00:45:47,099 --> 00:45:49,380 Sofía Camacho Ferral: infection for one of the races and then strep for 768 00:45:49,380 --> 00:45:51,809 Sofía Camacho Ferral: another race. So, those 1: 15s, I was like, " I 769 00:45:51,809 --> 00:45:53,340 Sofía Camacho Ferral: knew I could run a little bit faster if I 770 00:45:53,340 --> 00:45:57,029 Sofía Camacho Ferral: wasn't sick one day." So it was a pleasant surprise, 771 00:45:57,030 --> 00:46:00,450 Sofía Camacho Ferral: especially after southbound with all the mileage that I'm not 772 00:46:00,450 --> 00:46:02,730 Sofía Camacho Ferral: used to running. Coming and running a good race was 773 00:46:02,730 --> 00:46:06,480 Sofía Camacho Ferral: fun. I really love running in the non- binary division, 774 00:46:06,570 --> 00:46:10,289 Sofía Camacho Ferral: especially because my whole running career, I was forced into 775 00:46:10,289 --> 00:46:13,920 Sofía Camacho Ferral: running on a women's team. I always thought that the 776 00:46:13,920 --> 00:46:17,070 Sofía Camacho Ferral: way I felt about that or about on any given 777 00:46:17,070 --> 00:46:20,219 Sofía Camacho Ferral: team was a problem that I had or I'm just 778 00:46:20,219 --> 00:46:23,400 Sofía Camacho Ferral: not meant to be friends with all these people or 779 00:46:23,400 --> 00:46:27,179 Sofía Camacho Ferral: things like that. But I quickly just realized that not 780 00:46:27,179 --> 00:46:30,930 Sofía Camacho Ferral: running in my gender identity was the core issue at 781 00:46:30,930 --> 00:46:35,069 Sofía Camacho Ferral: hand. So, running authentically has been something that has also 782 00:46:35,070 --> 00:46:37,620 Sofía Camacho Ferral: just helped me run better as a whole. Yeah. 783 00:46:37,920 --> 00:46:41,670 Meb Keflezighi: Awesome. You have great success with this, so congratulations. 784 00:46:41,910 --> 00:46:42,089 Sofía Camacho Ferral: Thank you. 785 00:46:42,090 --> 00:46:47,129 Meb Keflezighi: You also ran the California International Marathon. Is there any 786 00:46:47,129 --> 00:46:48,690 Meb Keflezighi: other marathons in your future? 787 00:46:49,080 --> 00:46:51,960 Sofía Camacho Ferral: Yes, so that was my debut. I did not have 788 00:46:51,960 --> 00:46:55,020 Sofía Camacho Ferral: the best build. So, again, with that time, I'll take 789 00:46:55,020 --> 00:46:58,319 Sofía Camacho Ferral: it for now. I'm okay with it, but I had 790 00:46:58,320 --> 00:47:01,679 Sofía Camacho Ferral: a great time. It felt great. I'm running New York 791 00:47:01,679 --> 00:47:03,929 Sofía Camacho Ferral: City in the fall, the New York City Marathon. So, 792 00:47:03,929 --> 00:47:07,380 Sofía Camacho Ferral: I'm actually very, very excited for that one because I 793 00:47:07,380 --> 00:47:11,070 Sofía Camacho Ferral: expected think two years now and the energy is always 794 00:47:11,280 --> 00:47:18,779 Sofía Camacho Ferral: incredible. So, to run competitively is a whole new experience 795 00:47:18,900 --> 00:47:19,650 Sofía Camacho Ferral: for me. Yeah. 796 00:47:20,160 --> 00:47:23,819 Meb Keflezighi: It's going to be wonderful to be able to go to school there and live 797 00:47:23,819 --> 00:47:26,518 Meb Keflezighi: there, to be able to just run the TCS New York City Marathon 798 00:47:26,518 --> 00:47:28,350 Meb Keflezighi: in November. What are you expecting? What are some of 799 00:47:28,350 --> 00:47:28,589 Meb Keflezighi: your goals? 800 00:47:29,040 --> 00:47:32,219 Nicolas Heller: I would love to place in the non- binary division 801 00:47:32,340 --> 00:47:36,929 Nicolas Heller: and be competitive in the top three. Yeah, I just 802 00:47:36,929 --> 00:47:39,750 Nicolas Heller: want to bring a lot of attention to this category 803 00:47:40,529 --> 00:47:42,450 Nicolas Heller: and keep its integrity. So, one of my goals is 804 00:47:42,450 --> 00:47:47,850 Nicolas Heller: to just be, I guess, as present and as seen, 805 00:47:48,210 --> 00:47:51,809 Nicolas Heller: but I would love to continue the work that we're 806 00:47:51,809 --> 00:47:55,139 Nicolas Heller: putting into the category throughout the whole year, obviously, because 807 00:47:55,139 --> 00:47:58,320 Nicolas Heller: I exist as a non- binary individual year- round. So, 808 00:47:59,459 --> 00:48:02,040 Nicolas Heller: yeah, just to continue to be present and to continue 809 00:48:02,040 --> 00:48:02,910 Nicolas Heller: to be an advocate. 810 00:48:03,330 --> 00:48:05,759 Meb Keflezighi: Awesome. Thanks for joining us today and wish you all 811 00:48:05,760 --> 00:48:08,009 Meb Keflezighi: the best in the future and also the TCS New 812 00:48:08,010 --> 00:48:08,759 Meb Keflezighi: York City Marathon. 813 00:48:09,089 --> 00:48:09,719 Sofía Camacho Ferral: Thank you. 814 00:48:10,199 --> 00:48:13,049 Rob Simmelkjaer: Thank you so much, Sofía, for joining us and for being a member 815 00:48:13,049 --> 00:48:15,419 Rob Simmelkjaer: of New York Road Runners. Now it's onto the final 816 00:48:15,420 --> 00:48:17,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: part of our show, the Med Minute. 817 00:48:17,699 --> 00:48:20,790 Meb Keflezighi: Thanks, Rob. Meb Minute this week is getting ready for 818 00:48:20,790 --> 00:48:25,500 Meb Keflezighi: the TCS New York City Marathon. Sixteen weeks out, what 819 00:48:25,500 --> 00:48:29,010 Meb Keflezighi: are you thinking is the why. Why am I doing 820 00:48:29,010 --> 00:48:33,630 Meb Keflezighi: this? Because you just did your first week of training and 821 00:48:33,750 --> 00:48:35,820 Meb Keflezighi: your body is a little bit of sore and you 822 00:48:35,820 --> 00:48:37,830 Meb Keflezighi: have a lot of doubts. Am I going to be 823 00:48:37,830 --> 00:48:41,460 Meb Keflezighi: able to make it? Why is this happening and did 824 00:48:41,460 --> 00:48:43,890 Meb Keflezighi: I make the right decision? Obviously, you made the right 825 00:48:43,890 --> 00:48:47,759 Meb Keflezighi: decision because you're running one of the biggest marathons in the world. So, 826 00:48:47,759 --> 00:48:50,639 Meb Keflezighi: that's where your why comes. It's like, " How am I going to 827 00:48:50,639 --> 00:48:52,889 Meb Keflezighi: get ready for this?" Don't worry, we all go through 828 00:48:52,889 --> 00:48:55,169 Meb Keflezighi: it, but at the same time, you're trying to get 829 00:48:55,170 --> 00:48:58,200 Meb Keflezighi: ready for the first Sunday of November. Don't judge what 830 00:48:58,200 --> 00:49:01,470 Meb Keflezighi: you are doing this week, but understand that it's a 831 00:49:01,530 --> 00:49:05,460 Meb Keflezighi: process to get there. Sixteen weeks out, 15 weeks out, 832 00:49:05,460 --> 00:49:08,400 Meb Keflezighi: and all those things, you will make the decision that 833 00:49:08,400 --> 00:49:12,269 Meb Keflezighi: you need to make to be able to train and 834 00:49:12,300 --> 00:49:15,570 Meb Keflezighi: training is important and the journey. Go through that process 835 00:49:15,570 --> 00:49:18,960 Meb Keflezighi: to be the best version of your yourself. You're thinking about, " 836 00:49:18,960 --> 00:49:23,400 Meb Keflezighi: Hey, am I sleeping right? Am I training right, nutrition?" 837 00:49:23,610 --> 00:49:26,340 Meb Keflezighi: All those things are going to fall into places as 838 00:49:26,340 --> 00:49:28,768 Meb Keflezighi: you train to the next 16 weeks, but this is 839 00:49:28,768 --> 00:49:33,000 Meb Keflezighi: the time to say, "You know what? I am committed. I am deserving to 840 00:49:33,000 --> 00:49:36,299 Meb Keflezighi: be at the starting line in November." So now just 841 00:49:36,300 --> 00:49:39,599 Meb Keflezighi: making the progress to train right and you got coaches 842 00:49:39,599 --> 00:49:41,370 Meb Keflezighi: and mentors to help you do that, but if you 843 00:49:41,370 --> 00:49:43,349 Meb Keflezighi: have a little bit of self- doubt, it's okay because 844 00:49:43,349 --> 00:49:45,570 Meb Keflezighi: you care and you want to do it. So, this 845 00:49:45,570 --> 00:49:48,839 Meb Keflezighi: is the best time. You know what? Sixteen weeks, let me get 846 00:49:48,840 --> 00:49:50,370 Meb Keflezighi: my train going and you're going to do great. 847 00:49:50,880 --> 00:49:53,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: All right. That does it for another episode of Set 848 00:49:53,100 --> 00:49:55,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: The Pace. Remember, if you like this episode, please go 849 00:49:55,770 --> 00:49:58,679 Rob Simmelkjaer: ahead and subscribe, rate it, leave a comment for the 850 00:49:58,679 --> 00:50:00,509 Rob Simmelkjaer: show. We love to hear from you and that also 851 00:50:00,509 --> 00:50:03,599 Rob Simmelkjaer: helps other people find the show as well. We will 852 00:50:03,599 --> 00:50:06,719 Rob Simmelkjaer: see you next week. Stay cool and enjoy the miles.