1 00:00:00,150 --> 00:00:02,520 Intro: Take your running to the next level with the Peloton 2 00:00:02,520 --> 00:00:07,080 Intro: Tread+. Featuring a rubberized shock- absorbing slap belt, it's designed 3 00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:10,289 Intro: to optimize your runs and walks to the fullest potential. 4 00:00:10,860 --> 00:00:14,220 Intro: With classes designed and led by expert level coaches, you'll 5 00:00:14,220 --> 00:00:16,890 Intro: get the guidance you need to reach your running goals. 6 00:00:17,220 --> 00:00:19,980 Intro: Whether you're just a beginner or consider yourself a pro 7 00:00:19,980 --> 00:00:23,460 Intro: runner, Peloton is here to support and challenge you every 8 00:00:23,460 --> 00:00:27,090 Intro: step of the way. All- access membership separate. Learn more 9 00:00:27,090 --> 00:00:32,670 Intro: about Peloton Tread at onepeloton. com/ running. Peloton, the official 10 00:00:32,700 --> 00:00:39,450 Intro: digital fitness partner for New York Road Runners. Thank you 11 00:00:39,450 --> 00:00:44,280 Intro: New York. Today, we're reminded of the power of community 12 00:00:44,340 --> 00:00:48,810 Intro: and the power of coming together. Athletes, on your mark. 13 00:00:50,940 --> 00:00:54,540 Intro: The first woman to finish for the second straight year 14 00:00:54,750 --> 00:00:58,110 Intro: here in the New York City Marathon is Miki Gorman, a smiling 15 00:00:58,110 --> 00:01:02,001 Intro: Miki Gorman. And why not? 2: 29:30, the time for good (inaudible) 16 00:01:02,001 --> 00:01:05,190 Intro: Look at the emotion of Shalane Flanagan as she 17 00:01:05,190 --> 00:01:08,759 Intro: comes to the line. Pointing to his chest, pointed to 18 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:15,959 Intro: the USA he so proudly wears across his chest. A 19 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:19,259 Intro: great day for Matt Kaplusky. 20 00:01:19,260 --> 00:01:25,500 Becs Gentry: Hello, hello. All right, everybody. Welcome to Set the Pace 21 00:01:25,530 --> 00:01:29,580 Becs Gentry: presented by Peloton. I'm Becs Gentry and I'm holding down 22 00:01:29,580 --> 00:01:33,240 Becs Gentry: the fort today whilst my wonderful and usual co- host 23 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:35,550 Becs Gentry: Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO of New York Roadrunners. He's a little 24 00:01:35,550 --> 00:01:39,120 Becs Gentry: under the weather. He's training for Berlin Marathon, so we 25 00:01:39,120 --> 00:01:43,080 Becs Gentry: want to send him lots of love and well wishes. 26 00:01:43,319 --> 00:01:46,080 Becs Gentry: So I've told Rob to go rest because I've totally 27 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:51,240 Becs Gentry: got this. I've totally got this, right? So forgive me 28 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:52,920 Becs Gentry: if I sound a little out of breath, but we 29 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:57,419 Becs Gentry: have just got back from a lovely run. Okay, we 30 00:01:57,420 --> 00:02:00,660 Becs Gentry: are at the New York Roadrunners Run Center, featuring the 31 00:02:00,660 --> 00:02:03,900 Becs Gentry: New Balance run Hub, directly after our New Balance 5th 32 00:02:03,900 --> 00:02:09,389 Becs Gentry: Avenue Mile, warm- up run, presented by Peloton today. So 33 00:02:09,389 --> 00:02:12,030 Becs Gentry: many words and titles there. Oh my goodness. But we 34 00:02:12,030 --> 00:02:15,450 Becs Gentry: got it. We got it in. I'm very honored to 35 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:18,840 Becs Gentry: have our guest sitting next to me here. He is 36 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:25,138 Becs Gentry: a friend, a colleague, a massive inspiration, the fabulous Alex 37 00:02:25,139 --> 00:02:32,490 Becs Gentry: Karwoski. So we've just run with these wonderful people here 38 00:02:32,490 --> 00:02:34,980 Becs Gentry: in front of us ahead of New Balance Fifth Av 39 00:02:34,980 --> 00:02:38,400 Becs Gentry: Mile happening on Sunday, and Alex has agreed to hang 40 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:41,700 Becs Gentry: out with us a little longer today so I can 41 00:02:41,700 --> 00:02:45,720 Becs Gentry: ask him a few questions. For those of you who 42 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:50,250 Becs Gentry: don't know him, perhaps check him out on Peloton first 43 00:02:50,250 --> 00:02:55,740 Becs Gentry: and foremost. But he is an absolute marvel. He is 44 00:02:55,740 --> 00:03:00,870 Becs Gentry: not just a Peloton instructor, a fabulous Peloton rowing instructor. 45 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:04,320 Becs Gentry: He is a multifaceted athlete. He was competed in Rio. 46 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:09,090 Becs Gentry: He was an alternate in Tokyo. And now, like many 47 00:03:09,090 --> 00:03:14,040 Becs Gentry: of you, Alex is training for his first marathon, the 48 00:03:14,070 --> 00:03:23,220 Becs Gentry: 2024 TCS New York City Marathon. I got to say I 49 00:03:23,220 --> 00:03:25,049 Becs Gentry: am smugly happy about this. 50 00:03:26,010 --> 00:03:27,330 Alex Karwoski: I'm very excited. I'm sorry, I didn't know when I'm 51 00:03:27,330 --> 00:03:28,741 Alex Karwoski: supposed to jump in, but that's- 52 00:03:28,741 --> 00:03:28,742 Becs Gentry: Anytime. 53 00:03:28,742 --> 00:03:31,829 Alex Karwoski: ... too much of an intro. Just for the record, 54 00:03:31,889 --> 00:03:34,200 Alex Karwoski: I'm sitting next to you. I'm not a runner. All 55 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:35,970 Alex Karwoski: of these folks just ran with me. They saw my 56 00:03:35,970 --> 00:03:38,490 Alex Karwoski: form, so it's going to be a marathon. I'm not 57 00:03:38,490 --> 00:03:40,200 Alex Karwoski: sure it's going to be a fast one, but it's 58 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:41,040 Alex Karwoski: going to be a marathon. 59 00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:44,970 Becs Gentry: I know he's lying. And you all know he's lying, 60 00:03:44,970 --> 00:03:47,550 Becs Gentry: because as you said, you just ran with him. Beautiful 61 00:03:47,550 --> 00:03:52,080 Becs Gentry: running form. And we're all runners. We're all runners. We 62 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:54,601 Becs Gentry: just all move at different paces, right? Yeah, forward is pace. 63 00:03:54,601 --> 00:03:57,810 Alex Karwoski: I say that with rowing. It is right. There is no wrong form in 64 00:03:58,050 --> 00:04:01,350 Alex Karwoski: rowing. It's just your form. No one gets injured, but 65 00:04:01,350 --> 00:04:03,720 Alex Karwoski: there are about, as I can tell, 34 different ways 66 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:05,881 Alex Karwoski: to row correctly, so you're good. 67 00:04:05,881 --> 00:04:08,850 Becs Gentry: I'm the 35th when it comes to my rowing classes. 68 00:04:08,850 --> 00:04:09,120 Alex Karwoski: It's not true. 69 00:04:11,610 --> 00:04:13,680 Becs Gentry: Okay, Alex, there are so many things I want to 70 00:04:13,680 --> 00:04:15,210 Becs Gentry: know, and I'm sure there are so many things our 71 00:04:15,210 --> 00:04:18,990 Becs Gentry: listeners want to know about you. I'm sure a lot 72 00:04:18,990 --> 00:04:21,720 Becs Gentry: of our listeners have taken class with you. I'm sure 73 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:25,980 Becs Gentry: they all follow you @ AlexPeloton on Instagram. There's not enough 74 00:04:25,980 --> 00:04:27,210 Becs Gentry: dog content, by the way. 75 00:04:27,210 --> 00:04:31,890 Alex Karwoski: I try to post once a month. Sometimes it's once 76 00:04:31,890 --> 00:04:32,250 Alex Karwoski: a quarter. 77 00:04:32,250 --> 00:04:37,440 Becs Gentry: He rivals Dennis Morton. Alex has a beautiful golden retriever 78 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:40,380 Becs Gentry: as well. We are golden retriever parents up here, proud. 79 00:04:40,470 --> 00:04:42,241 Alex Karwoski: Not great running partners as it turns out. 80 00:04:42,241 --> 00:04:42,241 Becs Gentry: No. 81 00:04:42,241 --> 00:04:42,451 Alex Karwoski: Not. 82 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:49,529 Becs Gentry: No. Maurice is on the DIET right now. Summer got him 83 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:58,560 Becs Gentry: bad. Anyway, talking about rowing and transitioning to running, because 84 00:04:59,010 --> 00:05:02,370 Becs Gentry: I and everybody want to know how you have altered 85 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:07,679 Becs Gentry: your training as you are preparing to run 26.2, in 86 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:11,790 Becs Gentry: comparison to training for the games. 87 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:22,290 Alex Karwoski: The games. I will say, rowing inherently it's a team 88 00:05:22,290 --> 00:05:26,339 Alex Karwoski: sport, for sure. I know there is the single skull, 89 00:05:26,339 --> 00:05:29,850 Alex Karwoski: so you can do it by yourself, but it requires 90 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:32,489 Alex Karwoski: a lot of people, a lot of getting to the 91 00:05:32,490 --> 00:05:36,330 Alex Karwoski: boathouse, getting the oars down, having the right equipment. Oh, 92 00:05:36,390 --> 00:05:38,790 Alex Karwoski: this wheel on the seat isn't doing what you want 93 00:05:38,790 --> 00:05:40,650 Alex Karwoski: it to do, so let's replace that. There's just a 94 00:05:40,650 --> 00:05:43,289 Alex Karwoski: lot of steps. And obviously when you streamline that, sure 95 00:05:43,350 --> 00:05:46,320 Alex Karwoski: it gets going. But with running, what I've really enjoyed 96 00:05:46,410 --> 00:05:49,380 Alex Karwoski: over the last three and a half months or so, 97 00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:53,460 Alex Karwoski: has just been, its wonderful simplicity to it. And I 98 00:05:53,460 --> 00:05:56,790 Alex Karwoski: know I'm not downplaying it at all. It's still such 99 00:05:56,790 --> 00:05:58,799 Alex Karwoski: a complicated, trying to figure out how to just get 100 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:02,370 Alex Karwoski: that 1% faster. But being able to put on my 101 00:06:02,370 --> 00:06:05,310 Alex Karwoski: pair of shorts, put on my tank top shirt, whatever 102 00:06:05,310 --> 00:06:07,589 Alex Karwoski: it is, and I now have, thanks to Becs, I've 103 00:06:07,589 --> 00:06:09,420 Alex Karwoski: ordered more pairs of running shoes that I'm going to 104 00:06:09,420 --> 00:06:11,580 Alex Karwoski: race in. And not just train in, but race in 105 00:06:11,580 --> 00:06:14,790 Alex Karwoski: so my body gets familiar with that. It's just simple. 106 00:06:15,150 --> 00:06:19,800 Alex Karwoski: And in that simplicity I've found, and this might be 107 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:22,800 Alex Karwoski: like a knock on rowing, but slightly more enjoyment out 108 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:25,950 Alex Karwoski: of it. And that could also be because with rowing, 109 00:06:25,950 --> 00:06:30,510 Alex Karwoski: I was always very focused on okay, beating... I had 110 00:06:30,510 --> 00:06:32,700 Alex Karwoski: my friends, I had my teammates, but most of them 111 00:06:32,700 --> 00:06:35,460 Alex Karwoski: were ports and I'm a starboard. With running we're all 112 00:06:35,460 --> 00:06:39,240 Alex Karwoski: just trying to finish and doing that. So I found more 113 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:40,980 Alex Karwoski: enjoyment in the running. 114 00:06:41,820 --> 00:06:44,909 Becs Gentry: Wow. Wow. You heard it here first. He's liking running more than 115 00:06:45,210 --> 00:06:52,529 Becs Gentry: rowing. So as we've heard, you trained for Rio, for 116 00:06:52,529 --> 00:07:00,870 Becs Gentry: Tokyo, Paris trials, share with us something that you have 117 00:07:00,870 --> 00:07:04,800 Becs Gentry: in you that obviously allows you to stay incredibly motivated 118 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:07,410 Becs Gentry: in intense training cycles. 119 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:10,200 Alex Karwoski: That's very kind of you. I think we should probably 120 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:15,690 Alex Karwoski: clarify. There's a fine line between being courageous and going 121 00:07:15,690 --> 00:07:19,710 Alex Karwoski: for the games, and being stubborn, and then being stupid. 122 00:07:19,710 --> 00:07:22,410 Alex Karwoski: And I think I very much ventured into the more 123 00:07:22,410 --> 00:07:26,730 Alex Karwoski: stubborn, stupid part as I kept going. Which to your 124 00:07:26,730 --> 00:07:29,400 Alex Karwoski: point, there is some motivation there for sure. But I 125 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:33,630 Alex Karwoski: found especially with, again, finding more enjoyment in the running, 126 00:07:33,630 --> 00:07:39,900 Alex Karwoski: is that, the dedication required to do anything over and 127 00:07:39,900 --> 00:07:42,570 Alex Karwoski: over again, especially when it is a repetitive motion. Especially 128 00:07:42,570 --> 00:07:45,420 Alex Karwoski: when you know, okay, the training plan, " Oh, I might 129 00:07:45,420 --> 00:07:48,720 Alex Karwoski: get one or two different workouts this week from last 130 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:53,400 Alex Karwoski: week, but primarily my block is staying the same." You 131 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:56,880 Alex Karwoski: need more than motivation. And of course, having people that 132 00:07:56,880 --> 00:07:59,850 Alex Karwoski: you work out with, having your training partners. They can 133 00:07:59,850 --> 00:08:01,830 Alex Karwoski: push you, but at the same time, I think they 134 00:08:01,830 --> 00:08:06,540 Alex Karwoski: hold you accountable in a way that sometimes you can't 135 00:08:06,540 --> 00:08:10,590 Alex Karwoski: do by yourself. And so for me, it's always been 136 00:08:10,590 --> 00:08:18,450 Alex Karwoski: about less motivation, more dedication and discipline as far as 137 00:08:18,450 --> 00:08:21,780 Alex Karwoski: not letting the other people that you're training with down. 138 00:08:21,900 --> 00:08:25,080 Alex Karwoski: And even with running, I've found, I knew I could 139 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:28,080 Alex Karwoski: rope some of these know doofuses that I work out 140 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:30,869 Alex Karwoski: with. Not Peloton employees, not my fellow Peloton instructors. I'm 141 00:08:30,870 --> 00:08:33,750 Alex Karwoski: so sorry. Guys that I rode with years and years 142 00:08:33,750 --> 00:08:37,170 Alex Karwoski: ago. I just started sending out the group text saying, " 143 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:40,380 Alex Karwoski: I have this coming up and you should join me." 144 00:08:40,380 --> 00:08:43,650 Alex Karwoski: And slowly but surely there's been this, " Okay, we're going 145 00:08:43,650 --> 00:08:45,750 Alex Karwoski: to do this work out together." And there have been 146 00:08:45,750 --> 00:08:47,849 Alex Karwoski: a number of mornings where I've just not wanted to 147 00:08:47,850 --> 00:08:50,939 Alex Karwoski: show up, but since I started it, I feel like 148 00:08:50,940 --> 00:08:54,540 Alex Karwoski: I have to at this point. So it's a good commitment. 149 00:08:55,320 --> 00:09:01,620 Becs Gentry: You are very committed for sure. From my perspective as 150 00:09:01,620 --> 00:09:05,160 Becs Gentry: a colleague, a friend, and somebody who has seen the 151 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:09,059 Becs Gentry: change from rowing to running, not that... This sounds like 152 00:09:09,059 --> 00:09:10,710 Becs Gentry: he's leaving rowing behind, he's not. 153 00:09:11,490 --> 00:09:14,219 Alex Karwoski: I'd be okay with... No. Rowing is a great compliment. I will 154 00:09:14,220 --> 00:09:17,610 Alex Karwoski: say my rowing training helped, the foundational. 155 00:09:17,610 --> 00:09:21,210 Becs Gentry: No impact. Yeah, no impact. 86% of the muscles in 156 00:09:21,210 --> 00:09:23,001 Becs Gentry: the body. He trained me to be a rowing instructor. I'm just- (inaudible) 157 00:09:23,001 --> 00:09:25,740 Alex Karwoski: It's a misquoted study. I'm in talks with the professor 158 00:09:25,740 --> 00:09:28,319 Alex Karwoski: at Kansas State University. We're going to get it sorted. 159 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:31,860 Alex Karwoski: That was in a biking test. It's okay, sorry. Yes, rowing 160 00:09:31,860 --> 00:09:33,090 Alex Karwoski: does work a lot of muscles, but... 161 00:09:33,090 --> 00:09:40,050 Becs Gentry: It does. But your, I'd say, discipline for getting the training 162 00:09:40,050 --> 00:09:46,469 Becs Gentry: done is huge. And I see you and I have 163 00:09:46,470 --> 00:09:51,150 Becs Gentry: seen you, whether it was training for the trials or 164 00:09:51,210 --> 00:09:57,300 Becs Gentry: now for the TCS, New York City Marathon. You fit 165 00:09:57,300 --> 00:10:00,329 Becs Gentry: it in, you get it done, whether it's 5: 00 166 00:10:00,330 --> 00:10:02,550 Becs Gentry: in the morning, 6: 00 in the morning, 7: 00 167 00:10:02,550 --> 00:10:06,120 Becs Gentry: PM at night, and you adapt on the fly. Which 168 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:10,080 Becs Gentry: I think is a huge part of today's society of 169 00:10:11,460 --> 00:10:14,610 Becs Gentry: being stuck in our ways when it comes to, I 170 00:10:14,610 --> 00:10:16,590 Becs Gentry: have a training plan, I must do this in order 171 00:10:16,590 --> 00:10:20,219 Becs Gentry: to succeed. But I know there's been a morning where 172 00:10:20,250 --> 00:10:22,350 Becs Gentry: you were going to do a certain workout. I saw 173 00:10:22,350 --> 00:10:24,840 Becs Gentry: you later on and I was like, " Oh, how was 174 00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:27,300 Becs Gentry: that disgusting workout that I didn't join you for because 175 00:10:27,300 --> 00:10:30,300 Becs Gentry: it was too gross?" And you were like, " Oh, I just went 176 00:10:30,300 --> 00:10:32,550 Becs Gentry: and did an hour on the erg instead because I 177 00:10:32,550 --> 00:10:35,670 Becs Gentry: wasn't... I was like, " Oh, I don't know which one sounds 178 00:10:35,670 --> 00:10:38,880 Becs Gentry: more horrible." But you adapted on the fly and you 179 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:42,330 Becs Gentry: still got a great cardio workout in. So where does 180 00:10:42,330 --> 00:10:46,949 Becs Gentry: that principle come from in your brain, to not just 181 00:10:46,950 --> 00:10:48,809 Becs Gentry: be like, " I'm just going to snooze my alarm and 182 00:10:48,809 --> 00:10:49,410 Becs Gentry: roll over?" 183 00:10:52,350 --> 00:10:54,960 Alex Karwoski: That's good. You make it sound like I just, no 184 00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:56,910 Alex Karwoski: matter what hour of the day it is, I'm willing 185 00:10:56,910 --> 00:11:00,150 Alex Karwoski: to work out. Which is kind of true, but I 186 00:11:00,150 --> 00:11:04,650 Alex Karwoski: think part of it- 187 00:11:04,679 --> 00:11:04,981 Becs Gentry: Check Peloton schedule. It's true. 188 00:11:04,981 --> 00:11:10,350 Alex Karwoski: I think part of it is the enjoyment of, this might sound dark, but the 189 00:11:10,350 --> 00:11:16,229 Alex Karwoski: suffering of it. And it's something we talked about on 190 00:11:16,230 --> 00:11:21,120 Alex Karwoski: the team going to multiple world championships and doing all 191 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:24,990 Alex Karwoski: this. And yes, you get to compete and see where 192 00:11:24,990 --> 00:11:29,490 Alex Karwoski: you stack up, but we calculated it out one year 193 00:11:29,550 --> 00:11:32,250 Alex Karwoski: and it was just horribly depressing. It was, we ended 194 00:11:32,250 --> 00:11:37,170 Alex Karwoski: up racing for less than 0. 06% of our entire 195 00:11:37,170 --> 00:11:41,130 Alex Karwoski: training mileage and time and all of that. And we 196 00:11:41,130 --> 00:11:43,590 Alex Karwoski: didn't calculate it after that year because we said, that's 197 00:11:43,590 --> 00:11:48,120 Alex Karwoski: just silly. We're doing 99.94 of this for 0. 06. And 198 00:11:49,290 --> 00:11:52,709 Alex Karwoski: we had to find a way in our minds to 199 00:11:52,710 --> 00:11:55,080 Alex Karwoski: rephrase that a little bit. And so what we started 200 00:11:55,080 --> 00:11:56,550 Alex Karwoski: saying was, " It doesn't have to be fun to be 201 00:11:56,550 --> 00:12:02,819 Alex Karwoski: fun," And enjoying the suffering. Again, there is real suffering, 202 00:12:02,820 --> 00:12:05,250 Alex Karwoski: there is horrible things going on and all that. But 203 00:12:05,250 --> 00:12:08,040 Alex Karwoski: when it comes to working out, getting in the miles, 204 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:11,700 Alex Karwoski: getting in the workouts, whatever it is, that sometimes the 205 00:12:11,700 --> 00:12:15,660 Alex Karwoski: worse it is, the more you can enjoy it, especially 206 00:12:15,660 --> 00:12:19,440 Alex Karwoski: as you get deeper into it because you keep choosing 207 00:12:19,470 --> 00:12:23,640 Alex Karwoski: to do it. And again, it's not something that when 208 00:12:23,640 --> 00:12:26,819 Alex Karwoski: I talk to some guy still in college rowing or 209 00:12:27,059 --> 00:12:29,100 Alex Karwoski: high school kids that want to row in college, I 210 00:12:29,100 --> 00:12:30,990 Alex Karwoski: don't say to them, " Well, you have to suffer more." 211 00:12:30,990 --> 00:12:33,540 Alex Karwoski: That's not really the pick me up they're looking for. 212 00:12:33,809 --> 00:12:38,640 Alex Karwoski: But I do say, " Remember, the training is about 90 213 00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:41,130 Alex Karwoski: plus percent of it." And so what you want to 214 00:12:41,130 --> 00:12:44,370 Alex Karwoski: be able to get to is the point where you're 215 00:12:44,370 --> 00:12:47,670 Alex Karwoski: training not so much for the racing, but you're training 216 00:12:47,670 --> 00:12:50,579 Alex Karwoski: to get the training done so that you can race. 217 00:12:50,820 --> 00:12:53,370 Alex Karwoski: As opposed to thinking, " Oh, well, if I get through 218 00:12:53,370 --> 00:12:57,300 Alex Karwoski: this, I can then go to the race." It's no, no, no, no. You have 219 00:12:57,300 --> 00:13:02,100 Alex Karwoski: to be at the race, actually ready to race. So yeah... 220 00:13:04,290 --> 00:13:07,620 Becs Gentry: I love that. I really do love that because I 221 00:13:07,620 --> 00:13:09,510 Becs Gentry: think if any of you run with me, I say 222 00:13:09,510 --> 00:13:12,840 Becs Gentry: a lot of the time that the race day is 223 00:13:12,870 --> 00:13:17,190 Becs Gentry: the cherry on top of the sprinkles on top of the layered, 224 00:13:17,220 --> 00:13:21,540 Becs Gentry: layered, layered, layered cake. And we do not give ourselves 225 00:13:21,540 --> 00:13:25,230 Becs Gentry: enough grace when it comes to getting to, or not 226 00:13:25,260 --> 00:13:30,510 Becs Gentry: getting to the start line. Because what was it? 99 point... 227 00:13:30,780 --> 00:13:32,848 Alex Karwoski: It's just a lot. 228 00:13:32,910 --> 00:13:37,439 Becs Gentry: Something crazy is done by the time that race day 229 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:41,699 Becs Gentry: comes. And all we ever see on, and I'm not 230 00:13:41,760 --> 00:13:46,140 Becs Gentry: blaming social here, but that's our outlet, is the sadness 231 00:13:46,140 --> 00:13:48,569 Becs Gentry: of people not making it on race day. And it's 232 00:13:48,570 --> 00:13:51,059 Becs Gentry: such a teeny tiny percentage when we should be being like, " 233 00:13:51,059 --> 00:13:55,620 Becs Gentry: Hey, well done me for those months and weeks and 234 00:13:55,620 --> 00:13:58,470 Becs Gentry: days and hours of suffering." 235 00:13:58,950 --> 00:14:02,970 Alex Karwoski: And we live in a digital world, and yet so 236 00:14:02,970 --> 00:14:05,610 Alex Karwoski: often we think about things analog and as far as 237 00:14:05,610 --> 00:14:08,130 Alex Karwoski: I either raced or I didn't, or I either won 238 00:14:08,130 --> 00:14:12,270 Alex Karwoski: or I didn't. And again, yes, we have a saying amongst 239 00:14:12,660 --> 00:14:17,160 Alex Karwoski: some of the rowing crowd, and I won't say the 240 00:14:17,160 --> 00:14:20,490 Alex Karwoski: event, but when you go to this world event where 241 00:14:20,490 --> 00:14:22,740 Alex Karwoski: there are international athletes competing, and it's usually in a 242 00:14:22,740 --> 00:14:26,730 Alex Karwoski: major city, and it happens once every four years. Amongst 243 00:14:26,730 --> 00:14:32,730 Alex Karwoski: the US men that for London, Rio, Tokyo for three 244 00:14:32,730 --> 00:14:35,430 Alex Karwoski: years, so it ended up being 16 years between medals. 245 00:14:35,700 --> 00:14:38,610 Alex Karwoski: We talked about how you went to the games and 246 00:14:38,610 --> 00:14:41,670 Alex Karwoski: you either won, you lost or you came in forth. 247 00:14:42,270 --> 00:14:46,530 Alex Karwoski: And if you win, great. If you lose, no one 248 00:14:46,530 --> 00:14:48,930 Alex Karwoski: cares. And if you come in forth, no one cares 249 00:14:48,930 --> 00:14:54,330 Alex Karwoski: except for you. And what you're saying as far as, 250 00:14:54,810 --> 00:14:57,750 Alex Karwoski: we don't give ourselves any grace in terms of, " Oh, 251 00:14:57,840 --> 00:15:00,090 Alex Karwoski: you did get to a really high level." And that's 252 00:15:00,090 --> 00:15:03,090 Alex Karwoski: not me patting myself on the back because again, I 253 00:15:03,090 --> 00:15:05,790 Alex Karwoski: got forth and no one cares. And I mean that 254 00:15:05,790 --> 00:15:08,700 Alex Karwoski: in the nicest way possible. The best interaction I had 255 00:15:08,820 --> 00:15:12,630 Alex Karwoski: post games was two or three years after and I was 256 00:15:12,630 --> 00:15:16,320 Alex Karwoski: getting my haircut, and I was wearing some USA shirt 257 00:15:16,380 --> 00:15:21,690 Alex Karwoski: and the hairdresser said, " Oh, did you go compete?" And 258 00:15:21,690 --> 00:15:23,340 Alex Karwoski: I said, " Oh, I did." And she goes, " How'd you 259 00:15:23,340 --> 00:15:25,680 Alex Karwoski: do?" And I said, " Oh, we got fourth." And she said, " 260 00:15:26,340 --> 00:15:30,030 Alex Karwoski: Well, what sucks?" And I looked at her and again, it 261 00:15:30,030 --> 00:15:32,070 Alex Karwoski: was in the mirror and she had cut the half 262 00:15:32,070 --> 00:15:35,130 Alex Karwoski: side and the other side still had to go. And I was like, " Yeah, 263 00:15:35,580 --> 00:15:37,950 Alex Karwoski: it did suck. It did." And she goes, " No, it's 264 00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:41,130 Alex Karwoski: still cool you went, but it sucks." I was like, " 265 00:15:41,310 --> 00:15:44,910 Alex Karwoski: Yes, it does." But again, in that moment I was like, " 266 00:15:44,940 --> 00:15:48,270 Alex Karwoski: Oh, she doesn't care." To her it was, " Did you 267 00:15:48,270 --> 00:15:50,340 Alex Karwoski: win a medal? Did you not?" " Oh, you got fourth. 268 00:15:50,340 --> 00:15:52,290 Alex Karwoski: Well, that sucks." And she wasn't saying it to be 269 00:15:52,290 --> 00:15:55,080 Alex Karwoski: mean, but it made me realize that again, you do 270 00:15:55,080 --> 00:15:58,980 Alex Karwoski: have to take things for what they are. And in 271 00:15:58,980 --> 00:16:01,620 Alex Karwoski: the moment, very rarely, I think it's Andy Bernard in 272 00:16:01,620 --> 00:16:03,480 Alex Karwoski: The Office where he says, " I wish there was a 273 00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:05,760 Alex Karwoski: way to recognize the good old days while you're in 274 00:16:05,760 --> 00:16:07,950 Alex Karwoski: them, but then obviously they're not the good old days." 275 00:16:07,950 --> 00:16:12,030 Alex Karwoski: And so often with sports and competition and athletics, we 276 00:16:12,810 --> 00:16:15,990 Alex Karwoski: think about getting there. And then once we're there, then 277 00:16:15,990 --> 00:16:18,660 Alex Karwoski: it'll be fun. And I just haven't found that to 278 00:16:18,660 --> 00:16:21,600 Alex Karwoski: be the case. Getting there is the fun. And obviously 279 00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:24,900 Alex Karwoski: when you do well and when you win, yes it 280 00:16:24,900 --> 00:16:28,170 Alex Karwoski: can get better, but I don't know, that enjoyment period 281 00:16:28,170 --> 00:16:31,890 Alex Karwoski: and giving yourself that opportunity to enjoy the digital inputs 282 00:16:32,220 --> 00:16:33,000 Alex Karwoski: is part of it. 283 00:16:34,020 --> 00:16:36,780 Becs Gentry: Are you enjoying training for a marathon? 284 00:16:37,530 --> 00:16:41,490 Alex Karwoski: I am very much enjoying it. I anticipate probably around 285 00:16:41,490 --> 00:16:45,510 Alex Karwoski: mile 21 or 22 that it will have a sucking moment. And 286 00:16:45,510 --> 00:16:48,210 Alex Karwoski: that's probably not the appropriate terminology in terms of running, but- 287 00:16:48,690 --> 00:16:48,961 Becs Gentry: Hit the wall. 288 00:16:48,961 --> 00:16:51,780 Alex Karwoski: Okay, there we go. In rowing, that would be very 289 00:16:51,780 --> 00:16:53,670 Alex Karwoski: bad and you don't want to hit walls or bridges 290 00:16:53,670 --> 00:16:57,840 Alex Karwoski: or anything like that. But at the same time, it's 291 00:16:57,840 --> 00:17:03,930 Alex Karwoski: been been very fun figuring out how to translate the 292 00:17:03,930 --> 00:17:08,580 Alex Karwoski: rowing work counts to running work counts. And I know 293 00:17:08,580 --> 00:17:11,340 Alex Karwoski: rowing numbers and I can stare at the screen and say, " 294 00:17:11,340 --> 00:17:13,140 Alex Karwoski: Oh, I know my stroke rate. I know my output." 295 00:17:13,740 --> 00:17:15,629 Alex Karwoski: When I look at my watch sometimes and I'm running, 296 00:17:15,660 --> 00:17:18,840 Alex Karwoski: I'm like, " Oh, it's still gathering satellites. Whoops." And I 297 00:17:18,840 --> 00:17:22,650 Alex Karwoski: just keep running. So there's a nice learning curve there 298 00:17:22,650 --> 00:17:23,188 Alex Karwoski: that it's- 299 00:17:23,699 --> 00:17:24,960 Becs Gentry: That's New York running for you. 300 00:17:25,888 --> 00:17:25,979 Alex Karwoski: Which is great. 301 00:17:26,430 --> 00:17:29,400 Becs Gentry: GPS is ready when you get home, you're like, " Thanks. That's 302 00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:34,619 Becs Gentry: great." Okay, so you're enjoying it. You're in the process, 303 00:17:34,650 --> 00:17:39,600 Becs Gentry: you're finding the fun, but you're suffering. You are ready 304 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:43,920 Becs Gentry: to hit the wall at 21, 22. I'm going to go 18. 305 00:17:46,350 --> 00:17:46,620 Alex Karwoski: All right, fair. 306 00:17:46,620 --> 00:17:52,950 Becs Gentry: 18 to 24th. You don't have to share, but do you 307 00:17:52,950 --> 00:18:00,000 Becs Gentry: have any goals for your 26.2? You can tell me 308 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:01,002 Becs Gentry: to go away as well (inaudible) . 309 00:18:01,020 --> 00:18:03,240 Alex Karwoski: No, no. For all the years I was in the 310 00:18:03,240 --> 00:18:05,879 Alex Karwoski: training center, we used to scoff at all the guys, 311 00:18:05,880 --> 00:18:08,280 Alex Karwoski: I would say, " Oh yeah." And you tell your family like, " Oh 312 00:18:08,280 --> 00:18:10,590 Alex Karwoski: yeah, I'm training for the international sporting event that takes 313 00:18:10,590 --> 00:18:17,190 Alex Karwoski: place once every four years, whatever." We always pooh- poohed 314 00:18:17,190 --> 00:18:22,320 Alex Karwoski: those guys. And we said, " That's not realistic. You're not 315 00:18:22,320 --> 00:18:25,830 Alex Karwoski: training for that. You're training to make the team the 316 00:18:25,830 --> 00:18:28,409 Alex Karwoski: next summer." And if you're good enough to make the 317 00:18:28,410 --> 00:18:32,280 Alex Karwoski: team that next summer, then you keep training and then 318 00:18:32,280 --> 00:18:34,050 Alex Karwoski: you make the team the next summer. And obviously once 319 00:18:34,050 --> 00:18:37,109 Alex Karwoski: every four years the senior team becomes the so on and so forth. 320 00:18:38,220 --> 00:18:39,570 Alex Karwoski: So I was one of those guys that would pooh- 321 00:18:39,570 --> 00:18:41,820 Alex Karwoski: pooh, the ones that said, " Oh, I'm training for the 322 00:18:41,820 --> 00:18:45,119 Alex Karwoski: games." I realized it didn't make a difference. No one 323 00:18:45,119 --> 00:18:47,399 Alex Karwoski: cared. Your family wants to hear what you're doing. You 324 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:49,619 Alex Karwoski: should say, " Oh yes, we're two years out, we're one 325 00:18:49,619 --> 00:18:51,810 Alex Karwoski: year out, we're a 100 days out," All that. So 326 00:18:52,260 --> 00:18:54,119 Alex Karwoski: all of that long- winded way of saying, yes, I have 327 00:18:54,119 --> 00:18:56,550 Alex Karwoski: a goal and this is going to be mean. I 328 00:18:56,550 --> 00:18:59,159 Alex Karwoski: know Becs' PR, I want to go one second faster, 329 00:18:59,460 --> 00:19:02,130 Alex Karwoski: only because I know how fast it is. It is 330 00:19:02,130 --> 00:19:05,340 Alex Karwoski: a goal. If I can go- 331 00:19:05,340 --> 00:19:08,550 Becs Gentry: Wait, which PR? My New York PR? 332 00:19:08,790 --> 00:19:09,000 Alex Karwoski: Yeah. 333 00:19:09,060 --> 00:19:10,020 Becs Gentry: Oh, my trials PR. 334 00:19:12,419 --> 00:19:18,119 Alex Karwoski: I want to go 236, 26. 335 00:19:18,119 --> 00:19:18,120 Becs Gentry: Ooh, baby. 336 00:19:18,120 --> 00:19:22,980 Alex Karwoski: 558, is that correct? 337 00:19:23,010 --> 00:19:27,900 Becs Gentry: 237, 01 was New York, so you can do 237 338 00:19:27,900 --> 00:19:28,201 Becs Gentry: bang on. 339 00:19:28,201 --> 00:19:28,202 Alex Karwoski: Okay. 340 00:19:28,202 --> 00:19:28,592 Becs Gentry: If you want. 341 00:19:30,390 --> 00:19:30,631 Alex Karwoski: Okay, good. 342 00:19:30,631 --> 00:19:30,781 Becs Gentry: And you'll still beat me. 343 00:19:30,990 --> 00:19:32,820 Alex Karwoski: And gold just got easier. Gold just got easier. 344 00:19:32,820 --> 00:19:35,580 Becs Gentry: Yeah, right. Oh, I should have just pushed him, right? 345 00:19:35,580 --> 00:19:36,450 Becs Gentry: I should have left him there. 346 00:19:37,650 --> 00:19:40,980 Alex Karwoski: Again, I have a number that I'll be content with, 347 00:19:40,980 --> 00:19:42,359 Alex Karwoski: but I have a number that I'll be satisfied with. 348 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:46,109 Alex Karwoski: And that's honestly from you, watching you run. Going on 349 00:19:46,109 --> 00:19:47,820 Alex Karwoski: some of these runs with her where she's like, " Yeah, 350 00:19:48,090 --> 00:19:50,760 Alex Karwoski: it's a 14." I'm be like, " Okay." And then we 351 00:19:50,760 --> 00:19:54,478 Alex Karwoski: get nine in and we're at 642 and I'm like, " 352 00:19:54,479 --> 00:19:59,430 Alex Karwoski: Well, okay." All right. I guess that's... So yeah, it's your fault. 353 00:19:59,430 --> 00:19:59,820 Becs Gentry: Sorry. 354 00:20:00,150 --> 00:20:03,390 Alex Karwoski: And I fully anticipate not beating it, for the record. 355 00:20:05,250 --> 00:20:07,050 Becs Gentry: I have other thoughts. I think you're going to whoop 356 00:20:07,050 --> 00:20:08,939 Becs Gentry: it. I think you're going to be closer to my trials time. 357 00:20:09,540 --> 00:20:09,931 Alex Karwoski: I don't think so. 358 00:20:09,931 --> 00:20:12,930 Becs Gentry: Make that a 232 bang on buddy. Come on. You got this. 359 00:20:12,960 --> 00:20:13,231 Alex Karwoski: No, that's too much. 360 00:20:13,231 --> 00:20:16,800 Becs Gentry: Oh, for New York. That could be tough. 361 00:20:17,490 --> 00:20:17,580 Alex Karwoski: Yes. 362 00:20:17,609 --> 00:20:20,760 Becs Gentry: Okay, so everyone else listening may well be training for 363 00:20:20,760 --> 00:20:24,869 Becs Gentry: the TCS New York City Marathon as well. Where is 364 00:20:24,869 --> 00:20:29,460 Becs Gentry: your favorite place in New York to practice for the 365 00:20:29,460 --> 00:20:33,030 Becs Gentry: undulating terrain of this beautiful route? 366 00:20:34,890 --> 00:20:38,100 Alex Karwoski: Certainly Central Park. I mean, it's obviously the most accessible. 367 00:20:38,100 --> 00:20:46,470 Alex Karwoski: It's the closest. But also the Hill, Harlem Hill is 368 00:20:46,470 --> 00:20:51,720 Alex Karwoski: good. I've done one six mile back up and over. 369 00:20:52,380 --> 00:20:55,619 Alex Karwoski: That was a rowing workout. And so that got me 370 00:20:55,619 --> 00:20:58,919 Alex Karwoski: familiar with, " Okay, here's the start. Here's the peak and 371 00:20:58,920 --> 00:20:59,460 Alex Karwoski: that," So... 372 00:20:59,940 --> 00:21:02,760 Becs Gentry: In my brain, I'm that slow today that I was like, " 373 00:21:03,090 --> 00:21:04,440 Becs Gentry: How do you get hills in rowing?" 374 00:21:05,820 --> 00:21:10,051 Alex Karwoski: No, it was a rowing workout too. Yeah, if you, the distances. 375 00:21:10,051 --> 00:21:16,290 Becs Gentry: The distance, yeah. Yes. Yeah, okay. See, I'm personally, I prefer Harlem 376 00:21:16,290 --> 00:21:18,869 Becs Gentry: Hill over the Three Sisters. I find the Three Sisters 377 00:21:18,869 --> 00:21:21,780 Becs Gentry: worse. Anyone else with me on that? Yeah, right. 378 00:21:21,780 --> 00:21:23,459 Alex Karwoski: The Three Sisters keep going. Yeah. 379 00:21:23,670 --> 00:21:24,030 Becs Gentry: Yeah. 380 00:21:24,119 --> 00:21:26,369 Alex Karwoski: Harlem Hill starts, ends, and then you get to enjoy. 381 00:21:27,090 --> 00:21:28,740 Becs Gentry: It's got the one bend in it that you're like, " 382 00:21:28,740 --> 00:21:31,260 Becs Gentry: Come on, how do I forget this every time?" 383 00:21:31,260 --> 00:21:33,030 Alex Karwoski: The suffering is squished. 384 00:21:33,030 --> 00:21:35,550 Becs Gentry: But the three sisters, I'm like, " Did someone add some 385 00:21:35,550 --> 00:21:38,429 Becs Gentry: pavement to this in between when I was last here?" 386 00:21:38,520 --> 00:21:44,280 Becs Gentry: It's wild. Wild. Okay, well, we will see in November 387 00:21:44,340 --> 00:21:46,440 Becs Gentry: what you do. I'm very excited for that. I want 388 00:21:46,440 --> 00:21:49,919 Becs Gentry: to talk about though, your rowing career and the inspiration 389 00:21:49,950 --> 00:21:53,670 Becs Gentry: behind that as well, because that's what you are known. 390 00:21:53,670 --> 00:21:55,800 Becs Gentry: We may be here on a running podcast, but you 391 00:21:55,800 --> 00:22:01,380 Becs Gentry: are known as the rower here. What brought you to 392 00:22:01,380 --> 00:22:02,520 Becs Gentry: rowing in the first place? 393 00:22:04,200 --> 00:22:07,140 Alex Karwoski: So I started off running. Well, I started off playing soccer. 394 00:22:07,290 --> 00:22:09,658 Becs Gentry: Just completely flattened that question, didn't you? 395 00:22:10,409 --> 00:22:13,350 Alex Karwoski: No, but rowing is the more, yeah, I've done more rowing. 396 00:22:13,350 --> 00:22:14,850 Becs Gentry: Actually, I started running. 397 00:22:15,869 --> 00:22:20,730 Alex Karwoski: I say that as... Started playing soccer, then my brother 398 00:22:21,330 --> 00:22:24,869 Alex Karwoski: didn't make the sixth grade travel soccer team, and in 399 00:22:24,869 --> 00:22:28,740 Alex Karwoski: a huff he picked up running. And so naturally being 400 00:22:28,740 --> 00:22:31,109 Alex Karwoski: the strong, independent, younger brother that I was, I did 401 00:22:31,109 --> 00:22:34,500 Alex Karwoski: the exact same thing and started running with him. And 402 00:22:34,500 --> 00:22:37,410 Alex Karwoski: then went to high school and there was not a 403 00:22:37,410 --> 00:22:40,740 Alex Karwoski: spring track team, but there was fall cross- country. Then 404 00:22:40,740 --> 00:22:42,240 Alex Karwoski: we played basketball in the winter, and then there was 405 00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:44,580 Alex Karwoski: a rowing team. And so picked up rowing as a, " 406 00:22:44,640 --> 00:22:46,199 Alex Karwoski: Oh, this is like running, but I just get to 407 00:22:46,200 --> 00:22:49,290 Alex Karwoski: sit down. So this is great." It was not at 408 00:22:49,290 --> 00:22:52,859 Alex Karwoski: all like running. It was again, in some ways more 409 00:22:52,859 --> 00:22:55,530 Alex Karwoski: fun, in some ways less fun. But then realized, went 410 00:22:55,530 --> 00:22:58,650 Alex Karwoski: to my freshman year of college for cross- country preseason. 411 00:22:59,190 --> 00:23:02,250 Alex Karwoski: I was both cross- country and basketball captain in high 412 00:23:02,250 --> 00:23:03,960 Alex Karwoski: school. I was not rowing captain. 413 00:23:03,960 --> 00:23:04,231 Becs Gentry: I did not know that. 414 00:23:04,231 --> 00:23:07,649 Alex Karwoski: And so maybe that... Yeah, some of that. Again, I 415 00:23:07,650 --> 00:23:13,410 Alex Karwoski: wasn't good at either of those. But then went to cross- 416 00:23:13,410 --> 00:23:17,310 Alex Karwoski: country preseason for my freshman year, and there were only four 417 00:23:17,310 --> 00:23:20,399 Alex Karwoski: other freshmen on the team. I liked one of them, 418 00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:24,000 Alex Karwoski: two of them I was indifferent to, and one I 419 00:23:24,060 --> 00:23:26,760 Alex Karwoski: didn't care for. And so I said, " You know what? I'm 420 00:23:26,760 --> 00:23:27,869 Alex Karwoski: going to swap over to rowing." 421 00:23:28,800 --> 00:23:30,090 Becs Gentry: All that one guy's fault. 422 00:23:30,150 --> 00:23:32,790 Alex Karwoski: Yeah, I mean maybe. Also, again, was not that good. 423 00:23:32,790 --> 00:23:34,770 Alex Karwoski: And as a, I said this earlier, but as a 424 00:23:34,950 --> 00:23:37,619 Alex Karwoski: gangly white kid from New Hampshire, there are a lot 425 00:23:37,619 --> 00:23:41,340 Alex Karwoski: fewer people who row in the world than run. And 426 00:23:41,340 --> 00:23:44,580 Alex Karwoski: so my avenue, not so much basketball, not so much 427 00:23:44,609 --> 00:23:46,409 Alex Karwoski: running. It was going to be in the rowing. So 428 00:23:46,410 --> 00:23:50,250 Alex Karwoski: then went over to the rowing team, grew another two 429 00:23:50,250 --> 00:23:53,760 Alex Karwoski: and a half inches, which was helpful, and then kept 430 00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:56,160 Alex Karwoski: rowing, and was dumb enough to keep rowing after college. 431 00:23:56,400 --> 00:24:02,910 Becs Gentry: Wow. And rowing has taken you around the world. It's taken you to some incredible summer events. 432 00:24:04,020 --> 00:24:04,200 Alex Karwoski: Yes. 433 00:24:04,770 --> 00:24:08,910 Becs Gentry: And now it has brought you to Peloton and we 434 00:24:08,910 --> 00:24:12,629 Becs Gentry: are very grateful and lucky to have you. When it 435 00:24:12,630 --> 00:24:17,940 Becs Gentry: comes to your classes, honestly, I think people who take 436 00:24:17,940 --> 00:24:21,990 Becs Gentry: rowing classes are the luckiest and most unlucky on the 437 00:24:21,990 --> 00:24:29,129 Becs Gentry: Peloton platform because you have you, Wilps and me as instructors. 438 00:24:29,580 --> 00:24:30,002 Alex Karwoski: It's the only- (inaudible) . 439 00:24:30,030 --> 00:24:31,440 Becs Gentry: Three giant nerds. 440 00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:33,179 Alex Karwoski: Three training specialists in one, yeah. 441 00:24:33,240 --> 00:24:36,240 Becs Gentry: Three absolute fitness nerds. 442 00:24:36,510 --> 00:24:38,700 Alex Karwoski: It is a number sport though, so I mean as 443 00:24:38,700 --> 00:24:39,270 Alex Karwoski: every sport, but, yeah. 444 00:24:40,380 --> 00:24:43,380 Becs Gentry: So we're all drawn. But you are our training specialist 445 00:24:43,380 --> 00:24:45,179 Becs Gentry: on rowing. For those of you who don't know what 446 00:24:45,180 --> 00:24:48,869 Becs Gentry: that means, that is the most knowledgeable of instructors, becomes 447 00:24:48,869 --> 00:24:52,440 Becs Gentry: a training specialist, and helps impart their knowledge and experience 448 00:24:52,440 --> 00:24:55,170 Becs Gentry: to the rest of the team and helps us produce 449 00:24:56,520 --> 00:24:58,500 Becs Gentry: the top- level content that we hope we do produce. 450 00:24:59,670 --> 00:25:03,240 Alex Karwoski: It's like the top dork. It's the dork. Yeah. Sorry. 451 00:25:03,270 --> 00:25:09,330 Becs Gentry: So clearly me, Alex, and Wilps. But when it comes to 452 00:25:09,810 --> 00:25:16,410 Becs Gentry: sharing your knowledge about rowing, how do you find the balance 453 00:25:16,410 --> 00:25:21,720 Becs Gentry: between the competitive experience rower and being the Peloton instructor? 454 00:25:23,040 --> 00:25:26,250 Alex Karwoski: In my very first interview, I guess I should say, 455 00:25:26,250 --> 00:25:32,040 Alex Karwoski: so I got a LinkedIn message from our talent team, and I thought 456 00:25:32,040 --> 00:25:35,730 Alex Karwoski: it was a scam. I was with my now wife 457 00:25:35,730 --> 00:25:38,190 Alex Karwoski: at the time, fiancee, and I said, " Oh, look at 458 00:25:38,190 --> 00:25:39,780 Alex Karwoski: this. This has to be a scam." And she said, " 459 00:25:39,780 --> 00:25:43,140 Alex Karwoski: Well, even if it is just respond, worst case, it's 460 00:25:43,140 --> 00:25:45,420 Alex Karwoski: a scam." Four months later, it was not a scam. 461 00:25:45,600 --> 00:25:47,669 Alex Karwoski: It was very much a job opportunity and it was 462 00:25:47,670 --> 00:25:50,609 Alex Karwoski: great. And I'm forever grateful for that opportunity. In my 463 00:25:50,609 --> 00:25:53,040 Alex Karwoski: very first interview after what I thought was a scam, 464 00:25:54,000 --> 00:25:57,990 Alex Karwoski: I said to Jen, I said, " Rowing is not fun. 465 00:25:58,410 --> 00:26:00,869 Alex Karwoski: You have to believe me when I say that rowing 466 00:26:00,869 --> 00:26:04,440 Alex Karwoski: is not fun. Erging on the machine can be very 467 00:26:04,440 --> 00:26:07,740 Alex Karwoski: fun, but when... You have to take my word for it, 468 00:26:08,520 --> 00:26:11,220 Alex Karwoski: when you're on the water, and especially after you've trained 469 00:26:11,220 --> 00:26:13,410 Alex Karwoski: with these people and you've done seat racing and you've 470 00:26:13,410 --> 00:26:16,530 Alex Karwoski: lined up in pairs and straight fours, and then gotten 471 00:26:16,530 --> 00:26:18,330 Alex Karwoski: in the eights, and you're doing back and forth." " And 472 00:26:18,600 --> 00:26:21,179 Alex Karwoski: it's months and months and you go through eight and 473 00:26:21,180 --> 00:26:22,619 Alex Karwoski: a half months of training. And then you go into 474 00:26:22,619 --> 00:26:24,929 Alex Karwoski: two and a half months of selection, and then you 475 00:26:24,930 --> 00:26:27,000 Alex Karwoski: go into the week of meeting with the coaches and 476 00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:30,090 Alex Karwoski: writing down different guys' names and lineups, and then they 477 00:26:30,090 --> 00:26:32,250 Alex Karwoski: tally the votes and then they disregard the votes. And 478 00:26:32,250 --> 00:26:34,800 Alex Karwoski: then you get more into the politics of, well, he 479 00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:36,930 Alex Karwoski: didn't lose a seat race in the four, but... So 480 00:26:36,930 --> 00:26:38,730 Alex Karwoski: when you get into all of that, rowing is not fun." 481 00:26:39,990 --> 00:26:41,940 Alex Karwoski: So I said that to them and they all looked 482 00:26:41,940 --> 00:26:43,950 Alex Karwoski: at me and they were like, " Do you want this 483 00:26:43,950 --> 00:26:48,119 Alex Karwoski: job? Do you want to do this?" And I was like, " 484 00:26:48,119 --> 00:26:50,760 Alex Karwoski: Oh, I'm so sorry. Peloton's great. Rowing can totally be fun. 485 00:26:50,910 --> 00:26:56,070 Alex Karwoski: I'm sorry about that." But actually I don't think that 486 00:26:56,460 --> 00:26:59,490 Alex Karwoski: what we're doing at Peloton is actually teaching people how 487 00:26:59,490 --> 00:27:02,369 Alex Karwoski: to row. At least in my mind, that's not what 488 00:27:02,369 --> 00:27:03,840 Alex Karwoski: I'm trying to do. What I'm trying to do is 489 00:27:03,840 --> 00:27:08,490 Alex Karwoski: introduce the motion of rowing on a stationary machine. That 490 00:27:08,490 --> 00:27:10,619 Alex Karwoski: being said, open invite. If anyone wants to go up 491 00:27:11,310 --> 00:27:13,740 Alex Karwoski: to the Columbia boathouse, my ID still works. So we 492 00:27:13,740 --> 00:27:17,250 Alex Karwoski: can get in, we can row. But the difficulty with 493 00:27:17,790 --> 00:27:20,040 Alex Karwoski: teaching someone how to row is there's so many more 494 00:27:20,040 --> 00:27:22,170 Alex Karwoski: hurdles that you have to go through. And I say 495 00:27:22,170 --> 00:27:28,560 Alex Karwoski: that both, not only as a predominantly Ivy League sport, 496 00:27:28,590 --> 00:27:33,750 Alex Karwoski: where intro level boats cost tens of thousands of dollars 497 00:27:33,750 --> 00:27:36,000 Alex Karwoski: and the equipment needed and the boathouse and then the 498 00:27:36,000 --> 00:27:40,919 Alex Karwoski: waterways and all that. So it's difficult and sometimes difficult 499 00:27:40,920 --> 00:27:43,320 Alex Karwoski: things can be really fun. In the case of rowing, 500 00:27:43,320 --> 00:27:45,570 Alex Karwoski: I think sometimes it makes it really not fun. And so 501 00:27:45,720 --> 00:27:50,340 Alex Karwoski: for me, the competitive side of, " Oh, let's row and 502 00:27:50,340 --> 00:27:52,950 Alex Karwoski: let's race each other." I've tried to push that aside 503 00:27:52,950 --> 00:27:56,879 Alex Karwoski: and instead I've tried to make it more about the, 504 00:27:56,910 --> 00:27:59,010 Alex Karwoski: when you're on this machine, when you're on the Peloton 505 00:27:59,010 --> 00:28:02,340 Alex Karwoski: platform, yes, there's a leaderboard. And don't get me wrong, 506 00:28:02,369 --> 00:28:05,070 Alex Karwoski: I'm checking that thing constantly. Even while we're in class 507 00:28:05,070 --> 00:28:07,020 Alex Karwoski: because I want to see where people are. And because 508 00:28:07,020 --> 00:28:10,770 Alex Karwoski: you see more and more of the same people showing 509 00:28:10,770 --> 00:28:12,990 Alex Karwoski: up and you see who they were around. And so 510 00:28:12,990 --> 00:28:15,359 Alex Karwoski: I try to think of it less of, you're competing 511 00:28:15,359 --> 00:28:17,250 Alex Karwoski: against these people and more of those are your teammates 512 00:28:17,250 --> 00:28:20,490 Alex Karwoski: that you're actually getting to row with. And so that's 513 00:28:20,490 --> 00:28:23,190 Alex Karwoski: how I've tried to shift from the rowing is not 514 00:28:23,190 --> 00:28:25,379 Alex Karwoski: fun. Competing on the water is so difficult and all 515 00:28:25,380 --> 00:28:28,109 Alex Karwoski: that to, " Oh, rowing can be fun. And being on 516 00:28:28,109 --> 00:28:29,970 Alex Karwoski: the machine is how we do that." 517 00:28:32,220 --> 00:28:36,359 Becs Gentry: Nice, okay. So it's a new version of training people 518 00:28:36,359 --> 00:28:40,290 Becs Gentry: to row. Training people to enjoy the motion of rowing 519 00:28:40,320 --> 00:28:41,610 Becs Gentry: on a stationary machine. 520 00:28:42,570 --> 00:28:45,870 Alex Karwoski: It's very difficult to jump into a boat having never 521 00:28:45,870 --> 00:28:49,290 Alex Karwoski: sat down on a machine and you have this oar, 522 00:28:49,290 --> 00:28:50,790 Alex Karwoski: and you put it in the oar lock and the 523 00:28:50,790 --> 00:28:54,060 Alex Karwoski: seat moves and you're putting your feet into these shoes. 524 00:28:54,060 --> 00:28:55,920 Alex Karwoski: And maybe the person before you was wearing socks, maybe 525 00:28:55,920 --> 00:28:58,620 Alex Karwoski: not. You don't know, right? And as you're doing all 526 00:28:58,620 --> 00:29:01,680 Alex Karwoski: that, if you haven't sat on the erg at least 527 00:29:01,680 --> 00:29:04,440 Alex Karwoski: once, and almost every rowing program starts with a learn 528 00:29:04,440 --> 00:29:06,810 Alex Karwoski: to row on land, I feel like Peloton is the 529 00:29:06,810 --> 00:29:10,230 Alex Karwoski: world's greatest learn to row program. And it's so much 530 00:29:10,230 --> 00:29:13,050 Alex Karwoski: more accessible. It's so much more fun. Don't take my 531 00:29:13,050 --> 00:29:15,240 Alex Karwoski: word for it, take Becs, take all the other instructors. 532 00:29:15,270 --> 00:29:17,040 Alex Karwoski: I tell people all the time, " I'm probably the least 533 00:29:17,040 --> 00:29:21,510 Alex Karwoski: fun on the machine." But again, I think about this 534 00:29:21,510 --> 00:29:24,750 Alex Karwoski: rowing funnel and instead of trying to get people to 535 00:29:24,750 --> 00:29:26,580 Alex Karwoski: come down to the bottom of the funnel and say, " 536 00:29:26,580 --> 00:29:29,459 Alex Karwoski: That's the Peloton part," I just want to make the 537 00:29:29,460 --> 00:29:33,090 Alex Karwoski: funnel bigger and bring more people in to enjoy it. 538 00:29:35,040 --> 00:29:36,000 Becs Gentry: Now you've all got to take a (inaudible) class 539 00:29:36,150 --> 00:29:39,750 Becs Gentry: just because of that. Okay, I have two more questions for you. One 540 00:29:39,750 --> 00:29:43,170 Becs Gentry: of them is a personal question that I need to 541 00:29:43,170 --> 00:29:48,690 Becs Gentry: know the answer to. When you run the TCS New 542 00:29:48,690 --> 00:29:52,800 Becs Gentry: York City Marathon, are you going to be wearing shorts 543 00:29:52,800 --> 00:29:56,400 Becs Gentry: as short as the ones you wear on the row? 544 00:30:00,330 --> 00:30:02,040 Alex Karwoski: That's the personal question. All right. That's not that personal. 545 00:30:02,040 --> 00:30:02,970 Becs Gentry: I want to don't know if I'm going to show 546 00:30:02,970 --> 00:30:03,630 Becs Gentry: up to watch. 547 00:30:05,820 --> 00:30:08,370 Alex Karwoski: I mean, if it were up to me, I would 548 00:30:08,370 --> 00:30:11,040 Alex Karwoski: not wear shorts while I'm rowing because rowing attire, you 549 00:30:11,040 --> 00:30:12,390 Alex Karwoski: have a lot of moving parts- 550 00:30:13,290 --> 00:30:13,291 Becs Gentry: I'm like, naked rowing. 551 00:30:13,291 --> 00:30:16,350 Alex Karwoski: ... on the thing where skin tights up. You don't want 552 00:30:16,350 --> 00:30:20,550 Alex Karwoski: anything to get... I'll be wearing shorts. There'll be one 553 00:30:20,550 --> 00:30:22,920 Alex Karwoski: inch in seams. There'll be the little pieces of fabric, 554 00:30:24,900 --> 00:30:24,901 Becs Gentry: He's a tall guy. 555 00:30:24,901 --> 00:30:24,902 Alex Karwoski: I'll also be wearing tights. 556 00:30:24,902 --> 00:30:26,070 Becs Gentry: You going to run in tights? 557 00:30:26,160 --> 00:30:28,140 Alex Karwoski: No, not tights. I mean, sorry. I call tights the 558 00:30:28,140 --> 00:30:28,590 Alex Karwoski: little things that- 559 00:30:29,219 --> 00:30:30,660 Becs Gentry: Oh, like cycling shorts. 560 00:30:30,660 --> 00:30:30,900 Alex Karwoski: Spandex. 561 00:30:31,050 --> 00:30:33,781 Becs Gentry: Yes. Okay, great. 562 00:30:33,781 --> 00:30:33,782 Alex Karwoski: Yeah. 563 00:30:33,782 --> 00:30:33,783 Becs Gentry: Good. 564 00:30:33,783 --> 00:30:33,784 Becs Gentry: All right. I'll stick around. 565 00:30:33,784 --> 00:30:34,680 Alex Karwoski: Degrees of freedom. 566 00:30:34,860 --> 00:30:35,160 Becs Gentry: I'll stick around. 567 00:30:36,780 --> 00:30:38,341 Alex Karwoski: Maybe not at mile 18. Maybe you don't want to be there. 568 00:30:38,341 --> 00:30:46,920 Becs Gentry: Okay. And my last question, I would be able to 569 00:30:46,920 --> 00:30:49,260 Becs Gentry: stay and talk to you for hours about this. I 570 00:30:49,260 --> 00:30:55,590 Becs Gentry: think there's so much more to Alex rowing, beautiful, wonderful, 571 00:30:55,590 --> 00:31:02,460 Becs Gentry: very talented wife. You have an MBA. You did officially 572 00:31:02,460 --> 00:31:05,040 Becs Gentry: go to Columbia Business School. He wasn't lying. He did 573 00:31:05,160 --> 00:31:07,860 Becs Gentry: do that. Very, very talented. 574 00:31:08,250 --> 00:31:11,701 Alex Karwoski: It's business school. We weren't curing cancer, but yes it was. 575 00:31:11,701 --> 00:31:11,821 Becs Gentry: Hey. 576 00:31:12,630 --> 00:31:13,350 Alex Karwoski: I just want to clarify. 577 00:31:13,350 --> 00:31:17,880 Becs Gentry: Some people say money makes the world go round. But 578 00:31:18,090 --> 00:31:20,970 Becs Gentry: my final question will be, when you get that medal 579 00:31:20,970 --> 00:31:25,290 Becs Gentry: around your neck right there by Tavern On The Green, 580 00:31:25,290 --> 00:31:27,660 Becs Gentry: where we just ran past. 581 00:31:27,660 --> 00:31:29,970 Alex Karwoski: A lot can happen. Okay. I appreciate the confidence. 582 00:31:30,030 --> 00:31:33,060 Becs Gentry: You will, visualize it. What is going to be the 583 00:31:33,060 --> 00:31:36,930 Becs Gentry: first thing Alex eats? I'm a food person. What can 584 00:31:36,930 --> 00:31:37,200 Becs Gentry: I say? 585 00:31:38,040 --> 00:31:40,110 Alex Karwoski: I'm curious how the MBA tied in. I feel like 586 00:31:40,110 --> 00:31:43,320 Alex Karwoski: there's something that's, I'll have to run unless I'm like 587 00:31:43,560 --> 00:31:47,340 Alex Karwoski: unit economics on what's the most price- efficient post race 588 00:31:48,210 --> 00:31:52,290 Alex Karwoski: meal. (inaudible) First thing I'll eat after. 589 00:31:52,620 --> 00:31:52,830 Becs Gentry: Yeah. 590 00:31:55,890 --> 00:31:57,660 Alex Karwoski: I just asked you as we were coming in, I 591 00:31:57,660 --> 00:32:00,000 Alex Karwoski: need to pick your brain about fueling for the marathon. 592 00:32:00,240 --> 00:32:02,070 Alex Karwoski: So far the only thing I've found that I've really 593 00:32:02,070 --> 00:32:06,810 Alex Karwoski: enjoyed have been Jelly Belly sport beans, which Matt Wilpers 594 00:32:06,840 --> 00:32:09,150 Alex Karwoski: claims I shouldn't be using. 595 00:32:09,330 --> 00:32:11,460 Becs Gentry: After the race, as your reward? 596 00:32:11,580 --> 00:32:16,290 Alex Karwoski: Well, because they're delicious and I have a whole candy 597 00:32:16,290 --> 00:32:22,080 Alex Karwoski: diatribe. There's sweets and savories and there's car candy and 598 00:32:22,080 --> 00:32:24,390 Alex Karwoski: there's great workout candy. There's post workout candy. 599 00:32:24,930 --> 00:32:26,490 Becs Gentry: He's a candy guy, everyone. 600 00:32:26,640 --> 00:32:30,210 Alex Karwoski: Big sweets. Hence, why I try to just work out 601 00:32:30,210 --> 00:32:32,520 Alex Karwoski: a lot so I can counter that. No, but... 602 00:32:33,780 --> 00:32:35,310 Becs Gentry: This is what you did at Columbia. 603 00:32:36,450 --> 00:32:40,170 Alex Karwoski: I did do a project on some candy pricing. 604 00:32:40,440 --> 00:32:40,500 Becs Gentry: Wow. 605 00:32:40,560 --> 00:32:45,630 Alex Karwoski: But no, okay, first thing I'll eat after, probably go 606 00:32:45,630 --> 00:32:50,100 Alex Karwoski: to favorite bagel spot down near where we live. 607 00:32:50,430 --> 00:32:51,541 Becs Gentry: Amazing. It will be- 608 00:32:51,541 --> 00:32:51,542 Alex Karwoski: Everything bagel. 609 00:32:51,542 --> 00:32:55,320 Becs Gentry: ... very well deserved because you are going to get to 610 00:32:55,320 --> 00:32:58,200 Becs Gentry: that finish line. There is no doubt about it. You 611 00:32:58,200 --> 00:33:02,340 Becs Gentry: are an incredibly dedicated human to everything you do. And 612 00:33:02,910 --> 00:33:06,750 Becs Gentry: if nothing else, I can tell you, the TCS New 613 00:33:06,750 --> 00:33:09,120 Becs Gentry: York City Marathon is the best marathon in the world 614 00:33:09,240 --> 00:33:12,930 Becs Gentry: and the crowd will get you through. And if the 615 00:33:12,930 --> 00:33:16,140 Becs Gentry: crowd happened to fluctuate in that moment, there will be 616 00:33:16,140 --> 00:33:19,680 Becs Gentry: another runner who will get you through. So that finish 617 00:33:19,680 --> 00:33:24,570 Becs Gentry: line is yours for the grabbing and I am so 618 00:33:24,570 --> 00:33:28,440 Becs Gentry: excited to cheer you on and watch you over the 619 00:33:28,440 --> 00:33:32,460 Becs Gentry: next few months try and beat my goal. 620 00:33:33,780 --> 00:33:38,100 Alex Karwoski: I was going to say, I want to put a little asterisk there and say I'm especially 621 00:33:38,670 --> 00:33:41,340 Alex Karwoski: flattered that you're still rooting for me, even though I 622 00:33:41,340 --> 00:33:44,850 Alex Karwoski: put it out there publicly that I'm trying to beat 623 00:33:44,850 --> 00:33:49,440 Alex Karwoski: you. Again, it's not your PR. When you want to 624 00:33:49,440 --> 00:33:52,020 Alex Karwoski: beat my rowing PR erg is, you let me know 625 00:33:52,140 --> 00:33:53,760 Alex Karwoski: and we'll start training a bit. Yeah. 626 00:33:53,760 --> 00:33:55,770 Becs Gentry: Yeah, I don't think that, you're in no fear of 627 00:33:55,770 --> 00:33:58,740 Becs Gentry: that happening at all. I'm happy to be the fun 628 00:33:58,740 --> 00:33:59,041 Becs Gentry: rowing instructor- 629 00:33:59,041 --> 00:33:59,042 Alex Karwoski: I will still root for you. 630 00:33:59,042 --> 00:34:04,320 Becs Gentry: ... who rows mediocrely. Well, is that a word? I 631 00:34:04,320 --> 00:34:07,110 Becs Gentry: don't know. We made it up. Alex, thank you so 632 00:34:07,110 --> 00:34:10,770 Becs Gentry: much for joining us today on Set the Pace. It 633 00:34:10,770 --> 00:34:13,530 Becs Gentry: is a pleasure to talk to you, learn from you, 634 00:34:13,800 --> 00:34:17,400 Becs Gentry: work with you, and run with you. Team, remember, if 635 00:34:17,400 --> 00:34:19,920 Becs Gentry: you like this episode, please go ahead, subscribe, rate, or 636 00:34:19,920 --> 00:34:22,200 Becs Gentry: leave us a comment on the show, on whatever platform 637 00:34:22,200 --> 00:34:24,330 Becs Gentry: you listen to. This not only helps us, but it 638 00:34:24,330 --> 00:34:28,260 Becs Gentry: helps others find out about the show. Thank you so 639 00:34:28,260 --> 00:34:29,279 Becs Gentry: much for joining us. 640 00:34:29,279 --> 00:34:29,459 Alex Karwoski: Thank you.