1 00:00:00,450 --> 00:00:02,880 Alison Mariella Desir: I often run on the trail by myself. And so there 2 00:00:02,880 --> 00:00:04,979 Alison Mariella Desir: is this sense of fear with that, but I also 3 00:00:04,980 --> 00:00:08,700 Alison Mariella Desir: realize how dare I stop myself from doing this? This 4 00:00:08,700 --> 00:00:12,060 Alison Mariella Desir: is such a beautiful, incredible experience, I'm going to do 5 00:00:12,060 --> 00:00:14,640 Alison Mariella Desir: it no matter what. And so thinking about what are 6 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:17,160 Alison Mariella Desir: ways that I can give people that same sense of confidence? 7 00:00:20,910 --> 00:00:25,290 Speaker 2: Thank you, New York. Today, we're reminded of the power 8 00:00:25,290 --> 00:00:30,150 Speaker 2: of community and the power of coming together. Athletes, on 9 00:00:30,150 --> 00:00:30,690 Speaker 2: your mark. 10 00:00:32,820 --> 00:00:36,240 Speaker 3: The first woman to finish for the second straight year 11 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:40,020 Speaker 3: here in the New York City Marathon is Mickey Gorman, A smiling 12 00:00:40,020 --> 00:00:43,470 Speaker 3: Mickey Gorman, and why not. 2: 29:30 the time for good advice. 13 00:00:44,790 --> 00:00:47,430 Speaker 2: Look at the emotion of Shalane Flanagan as she comes 14 00:00:47,430 --> 00:00:54,810 Speaker 2: to the line. Pointed to his chest, pointed to the USA. He so proudly wears across his chest. A great day 15 00:00:54,810 --> 00:00:56,002 Speaker 2: for (inaudible) . 16 00:01:01,140 --> 00:01:05,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: Hey everybody, and welcome to a special live edition of 17 00:01:05,190 --> 00:01:07,979 Rob Simmelkjaer: Set the Pace, the official podcast of New York Road 18 00:01:07,980 --> 00:01:12,765 Rob Simmelkjaer: Runners, presented by Peloton. We have a live crowd here 19 00:01:12,765 --> 00:01:22,649 Rob Simmelkjaer: at the New York Road Runners Run Center. Phenomenal. Yes, 20 00:01:22,709 --> 00:01:31,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: they are fired up. Thank you so much. Wow. They really followed the instructions we gave them 21 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:34,649 Rob Simmelkjaer: before the show. We got a great live crowd here at 22 00:01:34,770 --> 00:01:37,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: the New York Road Runners Run Center in New York 23 00:01:37,530 --> 00:01:41,069 Rob Simmelkjaer: City. Joining us for this special live episode, I'm your 24 00:01:41,069 --> 00:01:43,470 Rob Simmelkjaer: host, Rob Simmelkjaer, the CEO of New York Road Runners. 25 00:01:43,709 --> 00:01:48,809 Rob Simmelkjaer: And with me, my fabulous co- host, Peloton instructor, Becs Gentry. 26 00:01:50,730 --> 00:01:54,540 Becs Gentry: Hi everyone. Wow, here we are in the flesh. 27 00:01:54,540 --> 00:01:57,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: Here we are. It's always so exciting to see you 28 00:01:57,630 --> 00:01:57,811 Rob Simmelkjaer: in person. 29 00:01:57,811 --> 00:02:00,090 Becs Gentry: I know we're spending more and more time together in real 30 00:02:00,090 --> 00:02:00,511 Becs Gentry: life, which I like. 31 00:02:00,511 --> 00:02:03,240 Rob Simmelkjaer: It's Been happening more and more, so I get to 32 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:06,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: see what you really look like. It's amazing. It's better 33 00:02:06,420 --> 00:02:08,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: than on screen. Even better than on screen. 34 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:11,880 Becs Gentry: Funny how many people tell me that. I'm like, oh, how bad are these cameras 35 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:12,810 Becs Gentry: I'm working with, Peloton? 36 00:02:12,810 --> 00:02:15,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: So many people in this audience see you on screen. 37 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:15,420 Becs Gentry: Yes. So many amazing faces here. 38 00:02:15,420 --> 00:02:19,139 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... on a regular basis. I was talking to a lot 39 00:02:19,139 --> 00:02:23,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: of folks here, so excited to meet their favorite instructor 40 00:02:23,790 --> 00:02:27,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: in real life. And one thing I hear from them 41 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:31,860 Rob Simmelkjaer: backs is, how hard your classes are. I mean, you 42 00:02:31,860 --> 00:02:35,579 Rob Simmelkjaer: work people hard in these classes. Do you realize how 43 00:02:35,580 --> 00:02:38,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: much effort you're forcing these folks to put in? Is 44 00:02:38,790 --> 00:02:39,510 Rob Simmelkjaer: that the idea? 45 00:02:39,690 --> 00:02:47,609 Becs Gentry: No. Yes. I don't know. I don't give away my secrets. Yes, I do. 46 00:02:47,700 --> 00:02:51,810 Becs Gentry: But I challenge you for good reason, right? Yeah. We were there to 47 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:54,690 Becs Gentry: be uncomfortable. If you wanted to go for a walk, 48 00:02:54,690 --> 00:02:58,770 Becs Gentry: you'd go for a walk, without me. Just saying, just 49 00:02:58,770 --> 00:03:00,002 Becs Gentry: saying we're getting these (inaudible) . 50 00:02:59,940 --> 00:03:00,181 Rob Simmelkjaer: Is what they're paying for 100%. 51 00:03:00,181 --> 00:03:02,910 Becs Gentry: Yes, exactly. 52 00:03:02,910 --> 00:03:03,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: Well, we're thrilled. 53 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:07,230 Becs Gentry: Can we all just give Rob one big round of 54 00:03:07,230 --> 00:03:12,570 Becs Gentry: applause as well? Rob is fresh. Fresh from his Tokyo 55 00:03:12,570 --> 00:03:14,490 Becs Gentry: Marathon achievement. 56 00:03:18,299 --> 00:03:18,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: Thank you. 57 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:21,240 Becs Gentry: A tough day. But you and Nana made it, Nana 58 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:21,660 Becs Gentry: as well. 59 00:03:21,660 --> 00:03:25,709 Rob Simmelkjaer: That's right. My running partner, Nana Lynch, is here in the audience actually, and 60 00:03:26,010 --> 00:03:29,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: we had a good day. It was not an easy 61 00:03:29,010 --> 00:03:32,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: day to run in Tokyo. It got warm toward the 62 00:03:32,460 --> 00:03:35,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: end of it, but we went out with a plan 63 00:03:35,670 --> 00:03:39,810 Rob Simmelkjaer: to A, have fun, B, run within ourselves. We did 64 00:03:39,810 --> 00:03:42,510 Rob Simmelkjaer: that and it all went just fine. So thank you 65 00:03:42,510 --> 00:03:45,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: very much for that. Appreciate that. It was a really fun 66 00:03:45,450 --> 00:03:48,510 Rob Simmelkjaer: day in Tokyo and an amazing experience just to be 67 00:03:48,510 --> 00:03:52,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: in Japan, visit Japan. So thrilled, but I'm also thrilled 68 00:03:52,020 --> 00:03:54,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: to be back here in New York City. This is a big, 69 00:03:54,570 --> 00:03:57,510 Rob Simmelkjaer: big week for us. Obviously this Sunday we've got a 70 00:03:57,510 --> 00:04:00,720 Rob Simmelkjaer: big, big race happening. The United Airlines, New York City, 71 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:03,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: half. Who's running the half here this weekend? 72 00:04:03,210 --> 00:04:05,851 Becs Gentry: Oh wow. Yay. So many people. 73 00:04:05,851 --> 00:04:08,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: All right. We got a lot of people fired up 74 00:04:08,130 --> 00:04:11,940 Rob Simmelkjaer: to run. We're speaking here on Thursday. My God, I 75 00:04:11,940 --> 00:04:14,640 Rob Simmelkjaer: lose track of time. This is Thursday today. So we're 76 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:17,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: speaking here just a couple of days before the big race. 77 00:04:17,760 --> 00:04:18,450 Becs Gentry: And it's dry. 78 00:04:18,810 --> 00:04:21,061 Rob Simmelkjaer: It's dry. The weather looks pretty good. 79 00:04:21,061 --> 00:04:21,390 Becs Gentry: It does. 80 00:04:21,990 --> 00:04:24,599 Rob Simmelkjaer: We may have some winds. We're keeping an eye on 81 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:26,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: that, but it looks like it's going to be dry. 82 00:04:26,490 --> 00:04:29,100 Becs Gentry: Hey, if you've trained in New York, you've been used 83 00:04:29,100 --> 00:04:29,760 Becs Gentry: to the wind right now. 84 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:30,241 Rob Simmelkjaer: 100%. 85 00:04:30,241 --> 00:04:32,760 Becs Gentry: And what's happened, but every which way I turn in 86 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:35,250 Becs Gentry: this city, it's a headwind. Can't figure it out. 87 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:38,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: It's true. Somehow we manage that. The wind tunnels, the 88 00:04:38,130 --> 00:04:39,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: tall buildings, all of that. 89 00:04:39,150 --> 00:04:39,659 Becs Gentry: It's all part of the fun. 90 00:04:39,900 --> 00:04:41,940 Rob Simmelkjaer: So they're all ready for that. But we've got an 91 00:04:41,940 --> 00:04:45,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: incredible course this year, the exciting change to the course 92 00:04:45,570 --> 00:04:50,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: running over the Brooklyn Bridge for the first time in 93 00:04:50,130 --> 00:04:53,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: the history of New York Road Runner. So I'm excited 94 00:04:53,190 --> 00:04:55,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: for all of you. I don't get a chance to run 95 00:04:55,710 --> 00:04:57,360 Rob Simmelkjaer: these races, our big races. 96 00:04:57,360 --> 00:04:59,310 Becs Gentry: Same, I'm beginning to realize that with this role. I'm 97 00:04:59,310 --> 00:05:05,430 Becs Gentry: like, huh, the runner has become the talker. Rob, does 98 00:05:05,430 --> 00:05:09,479 Becs Gentry: that mean though, that everybody who runs all the 25, 000 99 00:05:09,480 --> 00:05:12,240 Becs Gentry: people who run on Sunday are all getting a course PR 100 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:13,380 Becs Gentry: for themselves? 101 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:16,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: 100% of them will get a course PR. That's exactly right. 102 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:17,851 Becs Gentry: You're already winning before you started. 103 00:05:17,851 --> 00:05:21,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: It's a brand new course. The winner will set a course record, guaranteed. 104 00:05:21,570 --> 00:05:22,800 Becs Gentry: And you all have. 105 00:05:22,890 --> 00:05:26,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: It's true. And the course should be a little easier. 106 00:05:26,550 --> 00:05:30,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: The Brooklyn Bridge is lower than the Manhattan Bridge, so 107 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:32,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: a little bit less inclined. We flatten the course out 108 00:05:32,250 --> 00:05:35,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: for you a little bit. You're welcome. Happy to do that for 109 00:05:35,700 --> 00:05:40,080 Rob Simmelkjaer: you. But hopefully the weather cooperates and hopefully you all 110 00:05:40,260 --> 00:05:44,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: have an awesome day on Sunday. I'm excited for all of 111 00:05:44,610 --> 00:05:47,040 Rob Simmelkjaer: you. So Becs, in just a few minutes, we're going to 112 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:49,529 Rob Simmelkjaer: be joined by someone we've been trying to get on 113 00:05:49,529 --> 00:05:53,339 Rob Simmelkjaer: this podcast for quite a while. She's very popular in 114 00:05:53,339 --> 00:05:57,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: demand and such an important voice in the sport of 115 00:05:57,450 --> 00:06:02,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: running. Author, runner and activist Alison Mariella Desir is going to be 116 00:06:02,550 --> 00:06:09,029 Rob Simmelkjaer: here. So we're thrilled to have her here joining us 117 00:06:09,029 --> 00:06:12,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: live at the Run Center featuring the New Balance Run 118 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:15,360 Rob Simmelkjaer: Hub. And then after we speak to Alison, we're speaking 119 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:18,839 Rob Simmelkjaer: to someone who has really made an impact with an 120 00:06:18,839 --> 00:06:23,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: organization in New York City that has really changed running, 121 00:06:23,790 --> 00:06:27,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: kind of like Allison. Allison started Harlem Run, well, our 122 00:06:27,060 --> 00:06:29,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: next guest today is going to be the co- founder 123 00:06:29,130 --> 00:06:36,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: of The Boogie Down Bronx Runners, Lenny Grullon. Lenny, by 124 00:06:36,540 --> 00:06:38,550 Rob Simmelkjaer: the way, we'll talk about when you get up here, 125 00:06:38,550 --> 00:06:42,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: but Lenny's Club that had a big, big win not 126 00:06:42,180 --> 00:06:45,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: long ago. It wasn't in a race, the Boogie Down 127 00:06:45,540 --> 00:06:49,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: Bronx Runners won the Spirit Award at Team Night here, 128 00:06:50,010 --> 00:06:52,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: Club Night, I should say here in New York. That's 129 00:06:52,740 --> 00:06:55,409 Rob Simmelkjaer: an award that we give to the club that's kind 130 00:06:55,410 --> 00:06:58,409 Rob Simmelkjaer: of brought the biggest sizzle to our running scene here. 131 00:06:58,980 --> 00:07:01,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: The Boogie Down Bronx Runners. If you go to a 132 00:07:01,770 --> 00:07:05,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: race, especially if you go to the team champs, you see 133 00:07:05,220 --> 00:07:09,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: these guys and gals out there supporting each other, supporting 134 00:07:09,780 --> 00:07:12,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: running, just fired up to be a part of our 135 00:07:12,570 --> 00:07:15,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: running community here. So we're really thrilled to have Lenny 136 00:07:15,330 --> 00:07:16,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: joining us as well. So thank you. 137 00:07:17,430 --> 00:07:18,871 Becs Gentry: Yes. Let's do this. 138 00:07:18,871 --> 00:07:22,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: By the way, Becs, I can't believe this. This is actually episode 139 00:07:22,530 --> 00:07:26,941 Rob Simmelkjaer: 95 of Set The Pace, our 95th episode of Set The Pace. 140 00:07:26,941 --> 00:07:27,030 Becs Gentry: What are we doing for 100? 141 00:07:28,470 --> 00:07:30,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: I don't know. I'm waiting to hear. I hope there's 142 00:07:30,150 --> 00:07:32,731 Rob Simmelkjaer: going to be a cake. Maybe some champagne would be nice. 143 00:07:32,731 --> 00:07:35,370 Becs Gentry: I think Rob should come with me to London. We should do it live from London. 144 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:38,461 Rob Simmelkjaer: Ooh, that sounds nice. I like that. On the road, 145 00:07:38,461 --> 00:07:38,461 Becs Gentry: Matt's like, "Oh no. What have you done?" 146 00:07:38,461 --> 00:07:45,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: Matt Singer, our head of content's like, " That's not in the budget." But we have a 147 00:07:45,630 --> 00:07:48,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: special member only, actually I'm reading right here what it 148 00:07:48,210 --> 00:07:50,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: is we're doing for that episode? We have a special 149 00:07:50,340 --> 00:07:53,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: member only event that's going to be lined up for 150 00:07:53,220 --> 00:07:55,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: that episode, I presume here in New York City. So 151 00:07:55,740 --> 00:07:58,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: stay tuned for info on how you can help us 152 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:03,179 Rob Simmelkjaer: celebrate our 100th episode in partnership with an iconic New 153 00:08:03,180 --> 00:08:05,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: York City institution. That's a good tease. I don't even 154 00:08:05,910 --> 00:08:08,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: know what that means. So anyway, make sure you keep 155 00:08:08,010 --> 00:08:08,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: an eye out. 156 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:09,480 Becs Gentry: Clearly, I don't either. 157 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:13,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: For that. And obviously for everybody who's running the half 158 00:08:13,410 --> 00:08:15,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: this weekend, we're now in full swing with all of 159 00:08:15,540 --> 00:08:19,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: our race festivities. The United Airlines NYC Half Experience presented 160 00:08:19,530 --> 00:08:23,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: by New Balance, opened up this morning at 10 AM. 161 00:08:23,370 --> 00:08:25,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: I was there for the open Becs. We had a 162 00:08:25,350 --> 00:08:28,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: line around the block really of people there to be there 163 00:08:29,250 --> 00:08:30,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: when the experience opened. 164 00:08:33,780 --> 00:08:33,780 Becs Gentry: Okay, did you do the experience? Did you run through it, walk through it? 165 00:08:33,780 --> 00:08:35,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: I did a walk through. I gave out a lot 166 00:08:35,730 --> 00:08:38,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: of high- fives to runners coming in, wishing them luck 167 00:08:38,370 --> 00:08:41,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: this weekend. And so it's open all the way through, 168 00:08:41,220 --> 00:08:43,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: Saturday. So you can go in there, not just to 169 00:08:43,770 --> 00:08:46,229 Rob Simmelkjaer: pick up your bib, but obviously there's a ton of 170 00:08:46,230 --> 00:08:50,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: amazing stuff there. We've got New Balance there, selling incredible 171 00:08:50,130 --> 00:08:53,849 Rob Simmelkjaer: gear, beautiful stuff to commemorate your run. We've got a 172 00:08:53,850 --> 00:08:56,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: ton of other partners. United Airlines, obviously is there with 173 00:08:56,520 --> 00:09:00,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: a really cool setup as well, and so many partners and 174 00:09:00,450 --> 00:09:03,360 Rob Simmelkjaer: great vendors there giving you things to help you remember 175 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:05,880 Rob Simmelkjaer: this run. So make sure you leave some time, don't 176 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:08,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: just go get your bib and leave. Save some time 177 00:09:08,490 --> 00:09:10,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: to hang out, check out all the offerings so that 178 00:09:10,530 --> 00:09:12,960 Rob Simmelkjaer: you can do everything you can to remember this run. 179 00:09:13,830 --> 00:09:17,101 Becs Gentry: Absolutely agreed. And then we talk tech. Should we talk tech? 180 00:09:17,101 --> 00:09:17,551 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yes. This is exciting. 181 00:09:18,270 --> 00:09:19,950 Becs Gentry: We all like a little bit of tech, don't we? 182 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:23,520 Becs Gentry: A little bit of advancement in the world. And this 183 00:09:23,520 --> 00:09:24,840 Becs Gentry: is about the new app, right? 184 00:09:24,840 --> 00:09:27,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: We are so excited Becs. This has been a project a 185 00:09:27,690 --> 00:09:31,079 Rob Simmelkjaer: long time in the making. And so this week we 186 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:35,069 Rob Simmelkjaer: just beta launched New York Road Runners brand new year- 187 00:09:35,070 --> 00:09:41,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: round mobile app developed by TCS North America. And this 188 00:09:41,370 --> 00:09:44,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: is exciting because we know all of you out there, if 189 00:09:44,280 --> 00:09:46,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: you're running, you got friends and family who want to 190 00:09:46,290 --> 00:09:48,870 Rob Simmelkjaer: track you in the half this weekend and those of 191 00:09:48,870 --> 00:09:50,819 Rob Simmelkjaer: you who are not running have people you want to 192 00:09:50,820 --> 00:09:53,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: track. In the past, we've always had an app for 193 00:09:53,730 --> 00:09:56,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: the half and an app for the marathon and there were all 194 00:09:56,400 --> 00:09:58,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: these different apps that would come and go. No more 195 00:09:58,770 --> 00:10:01,979 Rob Simmelkjaer: of that. Now we've got one year round app for 196 00:10:01,980 --> 00:10:04,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York Road Runners that will allow you to track 197 00:10:04,770 --> 00:10:07,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: people in every race no matter what it is, week 198 00:10:07,620 --> 00:10:09,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: in and week out. Not just the big races, but 199 00:10:09,540 --> 00:10:12,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: all of our weekly races, all of our 5K's and 10 K's. 200 00:10:12,840 --> 00:10:18,059 Rob Simmelkjaer: All year long, you can track runners. Stay up to 201 00:10:18,059 --> 00:10:20,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: date with races throughout the year. And this is just 202 00:10:20,280 --> 00:10:22,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: the beginning. This is just the beta version of it. 203 00:10:22,590 --> 00:10:24,929 Rob Simmelkjaer: We're going to have a lot more exciting features and 204 00:10:24,929 --> 00:10:28,080 Rob Simmelkjaer: additions coming up with this app. So I can't wait 205 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:30,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: because I'll be tracking you. When's your next race going 206 00:10:30,780 --> 00:10:33,179 Rob Simmelkjaer: to be, by the way? Is that a plan? 207 00:10:33,210 --> 00:10:33,809 Becs Gentry: End of June. 208 00:10:34,260 --> 00:10:34,829 Rob Simmelkjaer: End of June? 209 00:10:34,890 --> 00:10:35,250 Becs Gentry: Yeah. 210 00:10:35,580 --> 00:10:36,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: What race is that? 211 00:10:36,300 --> 00:10:36,990 Becs Gentry: Grandma's. 212 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:39,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: Grandma's, Okay, well that's not a Road Runners race, it's out 213 00:10:39,540 --> 00:10:42,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: in Minnesota. But I'll find a way to track you 214 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:44,101 Rob Simmelkjaer: anyway. We will find a way to... We're going to get you into a Road Runner's race before that. 215 00:10:44,101 --> 00:10:44,102 Becs Gentry: I know I'm like am I walking now? 216 00:10:44,102 --> 00:10:49,559 Rob Simmelkjaer: We're definitely going to get you, the mini, you should run the mini. 217 00:10:49,559 --> 00:10:50,040 Becs Gentry: Should run the mini. 218 00:10:50,040 --> 00:10:50,641 Rob Simmelkjaer: Getting ready for grandma's. 219 00:10:50,641 --> 00:10:53,610 Becs Gentry: No. Look at Matt's like, " No, she's working it." I'm like. 220 00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:57,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: Oh right. She's got a job. She's going to be in our 221 00:10:57,030 --> 00:11:00,991 Rob Simmelkjaer: broadcast. I'm always trying cause problems here, but we'll get you into a race. 222 00:11:00,991 --> 00:11:02,310 Becs Gentry: I need to just get into one yeah, I can. 223 00:11:02,310 --> 00:11:05,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: So we can track you and see how you're doing there on 224 00:11:05,580 --> 00:11:07,439 Rob Simmelkjaer: our new mobile app. So make sure you check that 225 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:10,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: out. It's in all the app stores, Apple, Android, all the 226 00:11:10,290 --> 00:11:14,640 Rob Simmelkjaer: places. So check it out and hope everybody enjoys that. 227 00:11:15,270 --> 00:11:17,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: Ready to hit your stride. Whether you're training for your 228 00:11:17,910 --> 00:11:20,820 Rob Simmelkjaer: next race or just lacing up for a run, no 229 00:11:20,820 --> 00:11:23,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: matter your level, the Peloton app has everything you need 230 00:11:23,790 --> 00:11:27,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: to keep you moving. Track your progress with real- time 231 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:30,960 Rob Simmelkjaer: metrics and celebrate those streaks and personal bests along the 232 00:11:30,960 --> 00:11:34,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: way. With thousands of classes to choose from, or the 233 00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:38,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: option to just run or just walk, Peloton makes it 234 00:11:38,490 --> 00:11:42,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: easy to fit fitness into your routine. Learn more at 235 00:11:42,300 --> 00:11:48,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: one Peloton. com/ race- training. Peloton, the official digital fitness 236 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:52,469 Rob Simmelkjaer: partner of New York Road Runners. All right, well our 237 00:11:52,470 --> 00:11:56,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: guest today, Alison Mariella Desir is an incredible force in 238 00:11:56,520 --> 00:12:01,319 Rob Simmelkjaer: the world of running, also advocacy and mental health. A long- 239 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:04,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: time New York Road Runners collaborator, Allison is a runner, 240 00:12:04,650 --> 00:12:08,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: she's an activist and she's an author. In 2013, she 241 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:15,360 Rob Simmelkjaer: founded Harlem Run, a collective that has helped to transform 242 00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:18,360 Rob Simmelkjaer: the running landscape in New York City and beyond her 243 00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:20,459 Rob Simmelkjaer: amazing book. And if you have not yet read this 244 00:12:20,460 --> 00:12:22,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: book, if you're the one who hasn't read this book 245 00:12:22,530 --> 00:12:25,860 Rob Simmelkjaer: yet, come on, let's go buy the book and read 246 00:12:25,860 --> 00:12:30,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: her book, Running While Black challenges the erasure of Black 247 00:12:30,990 --> 00:12:34,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: runners from the sport's history and calls for systemic change 248 00:12:34,320 --> 00:12:37,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: in the sport. Desir was a co- founder of the 249 00:12:37,830 --> 00:12:43,199 Rob Simmelkjaer: running industry Diversity Coalition, pushing for greater inclusion and representation 250 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:47,309 Rob Simmelkjaer: in running spaces. She has done so many amazing things 251 00:12:47,309 --> 00:12:50,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: in this space. She is a friend of mine, she's 252 00:12:50,460 --> 00:12:53,429 Rob Simmelkjaer: an inspiration, a great writer. So let's bring her out 253 00:12:53,429 --> 00:12:55,589 Rob Simmelkjaer: here. Alison Mariella Desir. 254 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:00,809 Alison Mariella Desir: Hello. Hello. 255 00:13:04,710 --> 00:13:05,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: What's up? 256 00:13:05,790 --> 00:13:07,980 Alison Mariella Desir: So good to be here. I have to say my 257 00:13:07,980 --> 00:13:09,690 Alison Mariella Desir: son just ran up to me and asked for white 258 00:13:09,690 --> 00:13:13,861 Alison Mariella Desir: bees. So the biggest title is Mom, right now and always. 259 00:13:13,861 --> 00:13:17,850 Becs Gentry: Always right? Always is the first title. Mom, mom. 260 00:13:18,330 --> 00:13:21,059 Rob Simmelkjaer: Alison's son, Cory is here in the audience. Sorry for those 261 00:13:21,059 --> 00:13:23,640 Rob Simmelkjaer: of you listening who can't see this adorable child who 262 00:13:23,640 --> 00:13:26,550 Rob Simmelkjaer: is with us, but it's great to have you and 263 00:13:26,550 --> 00:13:27,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: your whole family here. 264 00:13:27,720 --> 00:13:28,021 Alison Mariella Desir: Thank you so much. 265 00:13:28,021 --> 00:13:31,351 Rob Simmelkjaer: We have wanted you on this podcast for so long. 266 00:13:31,351 --> 00:13:32,071 Alison Mariella Desir: I know. 267 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:34,559 Rob Simmelkjaer: So we're so excited to finally have you. 268 00:13:34,559 --> 00:13:35,130 Becs Gentry: Yeah, so great. 269 00:13:35,850 --> 00:13:38,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: I met you around the time I was starting in 270 00:13:38,190 --> 00:13:42,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: this role and right around that time, I took the 271 00:13:42,420 --> 00:13:46,050 Rob Simmelkjaer: time out to read your book. It's such an incredible book. 272 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:46,891 Alison Mariella Desir: Thank you. 273 00:13:46,891 --> 00:13:49,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: You really, I don't know how you did it in 274 00:13:49,770 --> 00:13:54,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: terms of writing a book that is both importance but 275 00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:57,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: also entertaining. It is just a great read. 276 00:13:57,240 --> 00:13:57,600 Alison Mariella Desir: Thank you. 277 00:13:57,900 --> 00:14:00,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: And I want to start at the beginning of that 278 00:14:00,450 --> 00:14:06,240 Rob Simmelkjaer: book and where you were in your life before you 279 00:14:06,300 --> 00:14:10,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: really got into running. And it's so important because we 280 00:14:10,380 --> 00:14:12,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: talk a lot about mental health and the impact that 281 00:14:13,590 --> 00:14:16,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: running can have on mental health. Talk about that moment 282 00:14:16,740 --> 00:14:18,960 Rob Simmelkjaer: in your life and where you were and then how 283 00:14:18,960 --> 00:14:19,979 Rob Simmelkjaer: that led you to running. 284 00:14:20,670 --> 00:14:23,040 Alison Mariella Desir: Absolutely. I want to first start by saying thank you 285 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:25,770 Alison Mariella Desir: everybody for showing up, because I have this deep fear 286 00:14:25,770 --> 00:14:27,060 Alison Mariella Desir: that nobody's going to come. 287 00:14:28,109 --> 00:14:28,890 Becs Gentry: Never. 288 00:14:28,950 --> 00:14:35,580 Alison Mariella Desir: So, all right. Biggest obstacle tackled. But yeah, running really transformed 289 00:14:35,580 --> 00:14:38,430 Alison Mariella Desir: my life and honestly, I would not still be here 290 00:14:38,430 --> 00:14:40,590 Alison Mariella Desir: on this earth if it weren't for running. When I 291 00:14:40,590 --> 00:14:44,640 Alison Mariella Desir: found long distance running 13 years ago, I was very 292 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:48,090 Alison Mariella Desir: depressed. I couldn't find a job at the time, my 293 00:14:48,090 --> 00:14:51,990 Alison Mariella Desir: father had Lewy body dementia. And anybody who has an 294 00:14:51,990 --> 00:14:54,810 Alison Mariella Desir: older person in their life suffering from lewy body dementia, 295 00:14:54,810 --> 00:14:58,290 Alison Mariella Desir: you're watching somebody who you used to love and know 296 00:14:58,290 --> 00:15:02,220 Alison Mariella Desir: to be powerful and commanding, just become a shell of 297 00:15:02,220 --> 00:15:08,220 Alison Mariella Desir: themselves. I also was dating somebody who, man, I don't 298 00:15:08,220 --> 00:15:11,940 Alison Mariella Desir: even want to go there, because I'll get upset. So 299 00:15:11,940 --> 00:15:14,490 Alison Mariella Desir: I was very depressed. I spent all my time at 300 00:15:14,490 --> 00:15:18,180 Alison Mariella Desir: home unemployed, scrolling through social media. Everybody seemed to be 301 00:15:18,180 --> 00:15:21,540 Alison Mariella Desir: living their best life. But thankfully, as I was scrolling 302 00:15:21,540 --> 00:15:24,180 Alison Mariella Desir: one day I saw this black guy who was training 303 00:15:24,180 --> 00:15:26,970 Alison Mariella Desir: for a marathon. And at the time I had these 304 00:15:26,970 --> 00:15:30,090 Alison Mariella Desir: ideas about who a marathon runner was and I didn't 305 00:15:30,090 --> 00:15:34,170 Alison Mariella Desir: think a regular black guy was a marathon runner. So 306 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:36,300 Alison Mariella Desir: misery loves company, so I was like, " This dude's never 307 00:15:36,300 --> 00:15:38,370 Alison Mariella Desir: going to be able to complete this marathon that he's 308 00:15:38,370 --> 00:15:42,330 Alison Mariella Desir: training for." So I started following his story and he 309 00:15:42,330 --> 00:15:45,420 Alison Mariella Desir: was sharing how he was meeting all these people. He 310 00:15:45,420 --> 00:15:47,970 Alison Mariella Desir: was doing things he never thought he was capable of. 311 00:15:47,970 --> 00:15:51,240 Alison Mariella Desir: He was finding new passions. And all of that for me 312 00:15:51,240 --> 00:15:53,970 Alison Mariella Desir: was like, whoa, this is what I need. I need 313 00:15:53,970 --> 00:15:57,120 Alison Mariella Desir: community. I need to believe in myself again. I need 314 00:15:57,120 --> 00:16:00,600 Alison Mariella Desir: to accomplish things. And so I followed his story and 315 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:02,970 Alison Mariella Desir: then a year later, I signed up for my first 316 00:16:02,970 --> 00:16:05,940 Alison Mariella Desir: race, which was the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon. 317 00:16:06,330 --> 00:16:09,510 Alison Mariella Desir: And I cried at the end of the race. Initially 318 00:16:09,510 --> 00:16:11,400 Alison Mariella Desir: I thought I was one and done, but I finished 319 00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:13,350 Alison Mariella Desir: that race and I was like, not only am I 320 00:16:13,380 --> 00:16:16,080 Alison Mariella Desir: going to continue running, I'm going to start a community 321 00:16:16,290 --> 00:16:18,690 Alison Mariella Desir: for people like me who, maybe, thought it wasn't for 322 00:16:18,690 --> 00:16:21,540 Alison Mariella Desir: them so that they can show up and know that they 323 00:16:21,540 --> 00:16:22,680 Alison Mariella Desir: can do anything. 324 00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:30,300 Becs Gentry: Love that. Love that. So it really was a passion project for 325 00:16:30,300 --> 00:16:31,201 Becs Gentry: you, at the start. 326 00:16:31,201 --> 00:16:34,710 Alison Mariella Desir: It was like me saving my own life. 327 00:16:34,770 --> 00:16:39,390 Becs Gentry: Yeah, 100%. And then realizing that you could potentially save 328 00:16:39,540 --> 00:16:42,150 Becs Gentry: some strangers lives, strangers who became friends. 329 00:16:42,150 --> 00:16:43,770 Alison Mariella Desir: Exactly. Who are in this room. 330 00:16:43,770 --> 00:16:47,670 Becs Gentry: Yes. Some long- standing friends, some long- standing runners right 331 00:16:47,670 --> 00:16:51,420 Becs Gentry: here. But what I think is really important now, we have 332 00:16:51,420 --> 00:16:55,050 Becs Gentry: so many run clubs everywhere, which is fantastic. The running 333 00:16:55,050 --> 00:16:58,800 Becs Gentry: world has changed exponentially over the past 13 years since 334 00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:01,590 Becs Gentry: you've first had that idea of what a marathon it 335 00:17:01,590 --> 00:17:04,679 Becs Gentry: was to today, hopefully. What you think a marathon it 336 00:17:04,680 --> 00:17:07,770 Becs Gentry: was. And so can you talk a little bit about 337 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:11,460 Becs Gentry: how your community has grown? And how you did that? 338 00:17:11,490 --> 00:17:12,660 Becs Gentry: How did you get it out there? 339 00:17:13,080 --> 00:17:16,710 Alison Mariella Desir: Yeah, I like to say that starting Harlem Run was 340 00:17:16,710 --> 00:17:18,750 Alison Mariella Desir: really, I felt like it was me getting my MBA. 341 00:17:18,750 --> 00:17:20,580 Alison Mariella Desir: I don't have an MBA, so I don't know what 342 00:17:20,580 --> 00:17:23,910 Alison Mariella Desir: that process is actually like. But I had to learn 343 00:17:23,910 --> 00:17:29,220 Alison Mariella Desir: so many things about marketing, about connecting with folks. And 344 00:17:29,220 --> 00:17:30,540 Alison Mariella Desir: I think one of the things that I learned really 345 00:17:30,540 --> 00:17:33,210 Alison Mariella Desir: early on, initially the group was called Powdered Feet Run 346 00:17:33,210 --> 00:17:36,030 Alison Mariella Desir: Club. Because my father had given me a nickname, Powdered 347 00:17:36,030 --> 00:17:39,030 Alison Mariella Desir: Feet. It comes from the Haitian Creel saying that describes 348 00:17:39,030 --> 00:17:41,100 Alison Mariella Desir: somebody who's so active, you never see them, just the 349 00:17:41,100 --> 00:17:43,470 Alison Mariella Desir: footprints of where they've been in powder. So I thought, 350 00:17:43,500 --> 00:17:46,290 Alison Mariella Desir: oh genius, my group is going to be called Powdered 351 00:17:46,290 --> 00:17:51,000 Alison Mariella Desir: Feet Run Club, but nobody knew what that was. So 352 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:53,909 Alison Mariella Desir: thankfully a friend of mine, Mary Arnold, who's also a 353 00:17:53,910 --> 00:17:57,600 Alison Mariella Desir: longtime person in the industry, she had bought the domain harlemrun. 354 00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:03,270 Alison Mariella Desir: com because a long time ago, it's Fleet Feet now, 355 00:18:03,270 --> 00:18:06,420 Alison Mariella Desir: but it was New York running company was Run. com. So 356 00:18:06,420 --> 00:18:08,070 Alison Mariella Desir: she had the foresight like, " Oh, I'm going to buy 357 00:18:09,060 --> 00:18:12,270 Alison Mariella Desir: the domain, harlemrun. com. She gave me the domain and 358 00:18:12,270 --> 00:18:15,899 Alison Mariella Desir: that really changed everything for me. Suddenly, when people started 359 00:18:15,900 --> 00:18:19,290 Alison Mariella Desir: looking up like Harlem and Running Club, the name came 360 00:18:19,290 --> 00:18:23,670 Alison Mariella Desir: up. And in the first couple months, it was like 361 00:18:23,670 --> 00:18:25,560 Alison Mariella Desir: me and two other people within a year we had 362 00:18:25,560 --> 00:18:29,159 Alison Mariella Desir: a hundred people showing up. And then this was novel, 363 00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:33,750 Alison Mariella Desir: running clubs and crews were not massive like this. And 364 00:18:33,780 --> 00:18:37,230 Alison Mariella Desir: I think my biggest accomplishment for me is that, I've 365 00:18:37,230 --> 00:18:40,470 Alison Mariella Desir: moved to Seattle and Harlem Run still takes place every 366 00:18:40,470 --> 00:18:42,960 Alison Mariella Desir: week. We have an incredible leadership team, we have an 367 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:47,699 Alison Mariella Desir: incredible community. You ultimately, you want the community to be 368 00:18:47,730 --> 00:18:51,840 Alison Mariella Desir: taking care of itself. And so I just love it. I 369 00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:54,510 Alison Mariella Desir: love seeing people wearing Harlem Run and knowing what that 370 00:18:54,510 --> 00:18:57,270 Alison Mariella Desir: means to me and it means something to them is 371 00:18:57,270 --> 00:18:57,990 Alison Mariella Desir: super special. 372 00:18:59,160 --> 00:18:59,520 Becs Gentry: Oh my God, love that. 373 00:18:59,970 --> 00:19:03,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: That's one of the hardest things to do in life, 374 00:19:03,750 --> 00:19:09,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: is to create something that lives on past your direct involvement. 375 00:19:10,140 --> 00:19:13,320 Alison Mariella Desir: Listen, it was a big learning for my ego. The 376 00:19:13,320 --> 00:19:15,270 Alison Mariella Desir: whole process was... Oh, let me go back to the 377 00:19:15,270 --> 00:19:16,859 Alison Mariella Desir: Powder Feet Run club thing. The other thing about that 378 00:19:16,859 --> 00:19:19,800 Alison Mariella Desir: was realizing that, I am not the most important person 379 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:23,220 Alison Mariella Desir: in the world. And that people weren't coming because of 380 00:19:23,220 --> 00:19:26,670 Alison Mariella Desir: me, they were becoming because of the community. So sort 381 00:19:26,670 --> 00:19:29,250 Alison Mariella Desir: of working myself out of the spotlight, how can I 382 00:19:29,250 --> 00:19:32,010 Alison Mariella Desir: spotlight other people? How can I? What I love, is 383 00:19:32,010 --> 00:19:34,410 Alison Mariella Desir: I think I'm a really good judge of character and when 384 00:19:34,410 --> 00:19:36,690 Alison Mariella Desir: somebody comes up to me with an idea, I'm like, " 385 00:19:36,690 --> 00:19:40,470 Alison Mariella Desir: You know what, do it. You got this. Let me 386 00:19:40,470 --> 00:19:42,960 Alison Mariella Desir: know how I can support you." And it's been really 387 00:19:42,960 --> 00:19:45,720 Alison Mariella Desir: cool to see all of the people in Harlem Run and other 388 00:19:46,020 --> 00:19:49,050 Alison Mariella Desir: areas of my life that I've helped empower to do 389 00:19:49,050 --> 00:19:53,040 Alison Mariella Desir: things and now they're crushing it. And that is equally, 390 00:19:53,100 --> 00:19:54,929 Alison Mariella Desir: it feels just as good as what I'm crushing it. 391 00:19:55,500 --> 00:19:59,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: Harlem Run also has a big presence on these big weekends. 392 00:19:59,490 --> 00:20:00,090 Alison Mariella Desir: Yeah, we do. 393 00:20:00,660 --> 00:20:04,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: Which is amazing. I went up to Harlem Marathon weekend 394 00:20:04,440 --> 00:20:08,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: this past year to the Harlem Run House, a clubhouse basically 395 00:20:08,490 --> 00:20:12,119 Rob Simmelkjaer: you guys set up for the marathon weekend and saw 396 00:20:12,119 --> 00:20:16,470 Rob Simmelkjaer: an awesome conversation and panel there. And so, talk about the 397 00:20:16,470 --> 00:20:20,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: role that Harlem run plays in our big events and 398 00:20:20,910 --> 00:20:24,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: really what it's done to change the running community here 399 00:20:24,450 --> 00:20:25,109 Rob Simmelkjaer: in New York City. 400 00:20:25,560 --> 00:20:28,139 Alison Mariella Desir: Yeah, it's incredible. I mean, the culture of Harlem Run 401 00:20:28,140 --> 00:20:31,859 Alison Mariella Desir: is really all about supporting other people. And what's really 402 00:20:31,859 --> 00:20:34,290 Alison Mariella Desir: cool about the event, Harlem Run House in particular is, 403 00:20:34,290 --> 00:20:37,080 Alison Mariella Desir: as I was doing research from my book, learning about 404 00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:39,630 Alison Mariella Desir: the origins of what we know as the modern running 405 00:20:39,630 --> 00:20:43,109 Alison Mariella Desir: movement, learning more about Ted Corbett, learning about the New 406 00:20:43,140 --> 00:20:46,109 Alison Mariella Desir: York Pioneer Club and the impact that they had in 407 00:20:46,109 --> 00:20:52,139 Alison Mariella Desir: Harlem and realizing that really, running started in Harlem. The 408 00:20:52,140 --> 00:20:55,020 Alison Mariella Desir: running movement that we know of today started in Harlem. 409 00:20:55,170 --> 00:20:57,660 Alison Mariella Desir: And so building Harlem Run House, I think our tagline 410 00:20:57,660 --> 00:21:01,050 Alison Mariella Desir: the first year was Harlem Set the Blueprint. Everything we 411 00:21:01,080 --> 00:21:04,619 Alison Mariella Desir: love about running that, it's welcoming, that it's come as 412 00:21:04,619 --> 00:21:07,080 Alison Mariella Desir: you are really came from Ted Corbett and the New 413 00:21:07,080 --> 00:21:10,590 Alison Mariella Desir: York Pioneer Club. So that event honors that, and we 414 00:21:10,590 --> 00:21:14,520 Alison Mariella Desir: have panels, we have shakeout runs. Our thinking is, we 415 00:21:14,520 --> 00:21:18,689 Alison Mariella Desir: love Midtown, we love downtown, but what about Uptown? There 416 00:21:18,690 --> 00:21:21,659 Alison Mariella Desir: are a lot of us up there and we are running, 417 00:21:21,660 --> 00:21:23,910 Alison Mariella Desir: our community loves that we're up there and we want 418 00:21:23,910 --> 00:21:26,490 Alison Mariella Desir: to engage people where we live. You don't need to 419 00:21:26,490 --> 00:21:29,070 Alison Mariella Desir: go down to the Lower East Side to have a 420 00:21:29,070 --> 00:21:30,119 Alison Mariella Desir: good time. Am I right? 421 00:21:30,270 --> 00:21:35,130 Becs Gentry: Yeah. Oh my gosh, absolutely. And you really put your stamp 422 00:21:35,130 --> 00:21:38,100 Becs Gentry: on that area and a true testament, it still stands today. And 423 00:21:38,609 --> 00:21:42,330 Becs Gentry: it's amazing. So I know you've talked in the past 424 00:21:42,330 --> 00:21:46,830 Becs Gentry: about the sentiment of belonging in running and in the 425 00:21:46,830 --> 00:21:50,160 Becs Gentry: running spaces. And you've already touched on how much that's 426 00:21:50,160 --> 00:21:54,900 Becs Gentry: changed for you personally and hopefully through Harlem Run Club 427 00:21:54,900 --> 00:21:59,520 Becs Gentry: and all of your other works as well. But, where are you 428 00:21:59,520 --> 00:22:02,909 Becs Gentry: now? Where are you right now? Alison, on this day 429 00:22:04,020 --> 00:22:06,720 Becs Gentry: in regards to belonging in the running community? 430 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:09,959 Alison Mariella Desir: Yeah, that's a great question and so much has changed for 431 00:22:09,960 --> 00:22:13,290 Alison Mariella Desir: me personally. I have to say that any place that 432 00:22:13,290 --> 00:22:16,020 Alison Mariella Desir: I go in running, I am so welcomed because people 433 00:22:16,020 --> 00:22:19,439 Alison Mariella Desir: know who I am, which I don't take that for 434 00:22:19,440 --> 00:22:22,440 Alison Mariella Desir: granted at all. But I'll say I've seen a lot 435 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:25,020 Alison Mariella Desir: of change over the past 13 years, and a big 436 00:22:25,020 --> 00:22:28,109 Alison Mariella Desir: part of it is, even in awareness. And I think 437 00:22:28,109 --> 00:22:32,580 Alison Mariella Desir: my book has definitely contributed to that fact. People have 438 00:22:32,580 --> 00:22:35,220 Alison Mariella Desir: always said that, " Running is for everybody, just show up, 439 00:22:35,220 --> 00:22:37,260 Alison Mariella Desir: all you need are a pair of sneakers." And yet 440 00:22:37,950 --> 00:22:40,140 Alison Mariella Desir: when you see who's running long distance running, well, if 441 00:22:40,140 --> 00:22:44,700 Alison Mariella Desir: it's for everyone, why are most runners white? We see 442 00:22:44,730 --> 00:22:48,330 Alison Mariella Desir: black people winning the races, we see Africans, Kenyans, Ethiopians, 443 00:22:48,330 --> 00:22:51,869 Alison Mariella Desir: Yatrines winning the races, but we don't see black Americans 444 00:22:52,680 --> 00:22:55,260 Alison Mariella Desir: in big numbers. So I think a piece of that 445 00:22:55,260 --> 00:23:01,409 Alison Mariella Desir: was, one, having the audacity to call that out and 446 00:23:01,740 --> 00:23:04,320 Alison Mariella Desir: people in the running community are good people. What I 447 00:23:04,320 --> 00:23:06,480 Alison Mariella Desir: always say is that, it doesn't actually matter whether you're good or 448 00:23:06,480 --> 00:23:10,410 Alison Mariella Desir: bad, whether you're taking action about the thing. But bringing 449 00:23:10,410 --> 00:23:12,540 Alison Mariella Desir: it to people's awareness I think has really had an 450 00:23:12,540 --> 00:23:15,390 Alison Mariella Desir: impact structurally in a lot of places. And I've seen 451 00:23:15,390 --> 00:23:18,480 Alison Mariella Desir: it, I've seen it with who's the leadership on different 452 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:22,080 Alison Mariella Desir: teams? Who's making the decisions? What's the marketing? Who are 453 00:23:22,080 --> 00:23:26,490 Alison Mariella Desir: the people being paid and being honored for their storytelling 454 00:23:26,490 --> 00:23:29,640 Alison Mariella Desir: and for their time? And we are at a really 455 00:23:29,700 --> 00:23:33,359 Alison Mariella Desir: critical moment for New York, for this country, for this 456 00:23:33,359 --> 00:23:36,420 Alison Mariella Desir: world. And I think more than ever, people need to 457 00:23:36,420 --> 00:23:39,359 Alison Mariella Desir: feel a sense of belonging. People need to feel like 458 00:23:39,540 --> 00:23:41,909 Alison Mariella Desir: they can show up in a space and be themselves. 459 00:23:42,510 --> 00:23:44,970 Alison Mariella Desir: I think one of my superpowers is making people feel 460 00:23:45,150 --> 00:23:48,030 Alison Mariella Desir: way, making people feel like Yo, get on in here. 461 00:23:48,750 --> 00:23:53,220 Alison Mariella Desir: And a lot of the current world politics are very 462 00:23:53,220 --> 00:23:54,929 Alison Mariella Desir: complex, obviously, but I think a lot of it is 463 00:23:54,930 --> 00:23:58,859 Alison Mariella Desir: people feeling estranged, people feeling like it's a zero- sum 464 00:23:58,859 --> 00:24:05,280 Alison Mariella Desir: game. People hoarding ideas, wealth. And when we create spaces 465 00:24:05,280 --> 00:24:07,890 Alison Mariella Desir: where people truly feel like they belong, they can stand 466 00:24:07,890 --> 00:24:09,810 Alison Mariella Desir: up for themselves, they can be who they are, that 467 00:24:09,810 --> 00:24:15,000 Alison Mariella Desir: is a huge part of one day achieving peace of 468 00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:18,270 Alison Mariella Desir: people feeling like they can show up in spaces. 469 00:24:18,810 --> 00:24:21,090 Becs Gentry: And I want to add to that as well, the 470 00:24:21,090 --> 00:24:24,660 Becs Gentry: things you've said and written about for women in running as 471 00:24:24,660 --> 00:24:29,430 Becs Gentry: well is huge. And saying this as a white woman 472 00:24:29,430 --> 00:24:33,690 Becs Gentry: as well, your book and the things you stand up 473 00:24:33,690 --> 00:24:36,209 Becs Gentry: for as well, I just think it needs to be 474 00:24:36,210 --> 00:24:40,440 Becs Gentry: said louder. And I hope you always feel that I'm 475 00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:42,931 Becs Gentry: on your team. I'm with you when it comes to everything. 476 00:24:42,931 --> 00:24:45,330 Alison Mariella Desir: I have to say, when we first interacted on Instagram, I 477 00:24:45,330 --> 00:24:47,790 Alison Mariella Desir: was like, oh my God, I cannot believe this women is 478 00:24:47,790 --> 00:24:49,980 Alison Mariella Desir: talking to me right now in the best way. And I have 479 00:24:49,980 --> 00:24:52,859 Alison Mariella Desir: to admit, I've never tried Peloton. John actually just asked 480 00:24:52,859 --> 00:24:55,830 Alison Mariella Desir: me and I was like, "Oh my God, I can't believe." But I mean, I was in 481 00:24:55,830 --> 00:24:58,170 Alison Mariella Desir: New York 14 years ago when Peloton was- 482 00:24:58,170 --> 00:24:58,500 Becs Gentry: Didn't exist. 483 00:24:58,500 --> 00:25:01,470 Alison Mariella Desir: Yeah. But anyway, so I will try your class, but 484 00:25:01,470 --> 00:25:02,520 Alison Mariella Desir: it means- 485 00:25:02,580 --> 00:25:03,000 Becs Gentry: No pressure. 486 00:25:03,030 --> 00:25:07,560 Alison Mariella Desir: It means a lot to see you as a peer 487 00:25:07,560 --> 00:25:10,859 Alison Mariella Desir: and to have these moments and recognize that, my story 488 00:25:10,859 --> 00:25:13,740 Alison Mariella Desir: is universal and my reach is universal. I have a 489 00:25:13,740 --> 00:25:17,250 Alison Mariella Desir: particular interest in black and indigenous people of color, but 490 00:25:17,940 --> 00:25:21,420 Alison Mariella Desir: these are bigger issues than that. These intersect race, intersect 491 00:25:21,420 --> 00:25:24,480 Alison Mariella Desir: class. So yeah, it means a lot to me. 492 00:25:24,990 --> 00:25:28,439 Becs Gentry: Well, thank you for educating me and letting me learn 493 00:25:28,470 --> 00:25:31,649 Becs Gentry: in a very honest way and sharing it with the 494 00:25:31,650 --> 00:25:33,480 Becs Gentry: whole community. I really do appreciate it. 495 00:25:33,660 --> 00:25:34,109 Alison Mariella Desir: You're welcome. 496 00:25:34,109 --> 00:25:34,740 Becs Gentry: Never stop, please. 497 00:25:39,930 --> 00:25:45,658 Rob Simmelkjaer: Alison, four years ago you left us. You left us 498 00:25:45,659 --> 00:25:46,859 Rob Simmelkjaer: here in New York City. 499 00:25:46,859 --> 00:25:47,668 Becs Gentry: East Coast no more. 500 00:25:48,270 --> 00:25:52,590 Rob Simmelkjaer: And you moved out to the Pacific Northwest and absolutely 501 00:25:52,590 --> 00:25:57,720 Rob Simmelkjaer: beautiful part of the country. A place that is known 502 00:25:57,720 --> 00:26:04,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: for the outdoors and more perhaps for trail running than 503 00:26:04,350 --> 00:26:10,050 Rob Simmelkjaer: for road running. What prompted that move and how has 504 00:26:10,050 --> 00:26:13,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: that changed your existence as a runner? 505 00:26:13,740 --> 00:26:16,560 Alison Mariella Desir: I feel so guilty right now as time moved. But 506 00:26:17,040 --> 00:26:20,670 Alison Mariella Desir: four years ago, it was a different time and we 507 00:26:20,670 --> 00:26:23,310 Alison Mariella Desir: were really thinking about honestly, my son and what we 508 00:26:23,310 --> 00:26:27,330 Alison Mariella Desir: wanted for him. Back then, we were in the heart 509 00:26:27,330 --> 00:26:31,770 Alison Mariella Desir: of the COVID Pandemic, there was curfews. My husband was working, 510 00:26:32,220 --> 00:26:34,200 Alison Mariella Desir: he was actually part of the team that worked on 511 00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:38,220 Alison Mariella Desir: the first antibody treatment for COVID, which is really cool. 512 00:26:38,550 --> 00:26:40,919 Alison Mariella Desir: So he'd be at Columbia University at work and then 513 00:26:40,920 --> 00:26:44,490 Alison Mariella Desir: he'd have to sprint home in order to make it 514 00:26:44,490 --> 00:26:47,100 Alison Mariella Desir: in time for curfew. And we were living in a 515 00:26:47,250 --> 00:26:49,470 Alison Mariella Desir: small apartment and I just kept thinking about the things 516 00:26:49,470 --> 00:26:51,480 Alison Mariella Desir: that I want for my son. I want my son 517 00:26:51,480 --> 00:26:54,840 Alison Mariella Desir: to be confident in all things outdoors. I don't want 518 00:26:54,840 --> 00:26:58,530 Alison Mariella Desir: him to... A lot of the experiences that I've had 519 00:26:58,530 --> 00:27:00,750 Alison Mariella Desir: are in my adulthood. I want him to just take 520 00:27:00,750 --> 00:27:04,050 Alison Mariella Desir: it for granted that he can go hiking and fishing 521 00:27:04,050 --> 00:27:06,450 Alison Mariella Desir: and all of those things. So we moved four years 522 00:27:06,450 --> 00:27:11,700 Alison Mariella Desir: ago and it has been life- changing. I have a 523 00:27:11,700 --> 00:27:16,170 Alison Mariella Desir: PBS show and that PBS show is all about connecting 524 00:27:16,170 --> 00:27:19,050 Alison Mariella Desir: with black indigenous people of color in the outdoors. So 525 00:27:19,050 --> 00:27:22,530 Alison Mariella Desir: I am paid to go fly- fishing with somebody and 526 00:27:22,530 --> 00:27:26,879 Alison Mariella Desir: tell their story to go surfing, skiing, snowboarding, I mean, 527 00:27:26,880 --> 00:27:31,020 Alison Mariella Desir: you name it. So it was the best way to 528 00:27:31,020 --> 00:27:35,129 Alison Mariella Desir: move there and to delve into these spaces. But the 529 00:27:35,130 --> 00:27:37,950 Alison Mariella Desir: other piece of this is also recognizing that there are not a lot 530 00:27:37,950 --> 00:27:40,500 Alison Mariella Desir: of us in these spaces. We have been in all 531 00:27:40,500 --> 00:27:43,350 Alison Mariella Desir: spaces since time immemorial, but there are not a lot of 532 00:27:43,350 --> 00:27:47,940 Alison Mariella Desir: us for very valid reasons. What happens historically and presently, 533 00:27:48,030 --> 00:27:49,679 Alison Mariella Desir: what happens to black people when they go in the 534 00:27:49,680 --> 00:27:54,060 Alison Mariella Desir: woods? They don't always come out. So a lot of 535 00:27:54,060 --> 00:27:57,930 Alison Mariella Desir: my work now, it's expanded to really thinking about how 536 00:27:57,930 --> 00:28:03,000 Alison Mariella Desir: can we make the outdoors accessible, equitable. I'm always going 537 00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:05,910 Alison Mariella Desir: political in my conversations and thinking about what's happening right 538 00:28:05,910 --> 00:28:11,910 Alison Mariella Desir: now with public lands, we are losing these sacred spaces, 539 00:28:11,940 --> 00:28:15,060 Alison Mariella Desir: well, that we stole. But we are losing these sacred 540 00:28:15,060 --> 00:28:16,740 Alison Mariella Desir: spaces and so what does that mean for the next 541 00:28:16,740 --> 00:28:20,879 Alison Mariella Desir: generation of people who don't have access to these awe- 542 00:28:20,880 --> 00:28:23,459 Alison Mariella Desir: inspiring places, who then won't have a deep connection, who 543 00:28:23,460 --> 00:28:26,010 Alison Mariella Desir: then don't want to be stewards of the land? What 544 00:28:26,010 --> 00:28:30,960 Alison Mariella Desir: happens for our future? So yeah, I love being outside. 545 00:28:30,960 --> 00:28:34,470 Alison Mariella Desir: I hope that my son loves being outside and that 546 00:28:35,040 --> 00:28:37,980 Alison Mariella Desir: there's a future where we all can continue to be 547 00:28:37,980 --> 00:28:38,670 Alison Mariella Desir: safe outside. 548 00:28:39,270 --> 00:28:42,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: It really is simply an extension of what you did 549 00:28:42,420 --> 00:28:45,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: with running in Harlem. It's really the same thing. You didn't 550 00:28:45,090 --> 00:28:48,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: see black people running in New York City now you 551 00:28:48,030 --> 00:28:50,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: got a lot of about black people running in your Harlem 552 00:28:50,100 --> 00:28:52,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: run in a lot of other places. You didn't see 553 00:28:52,170 --> 00:28:54,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: people of color in the wilderness, in the streams and 554 00:28:54,900 --> 00:28:57,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: on the trails, and you've started to do something about 555 00:28:57,150 --> 00:28:59,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: that. So that's just, it's what you do. 556 00:28:59,520 --> 00:29:02,580 Alison Mariella Desir: And listen, my husband's always like, " Oh my God, again, 557 00:29:02,580 --> 00:29:06,960 Alison Mariella Desir: Alice." I will say though, now, I wait. I make 558 00:29:06,960 --> 00:29:10,830 Alison Mariella Desir: my opinion known. I try to work with existing organizations 559 00:29:10,830 --> 00:29:12,150 Alison Mariella Desir: and then I'm like, well, if you're not going to 560 00:29:12,150 --> 00:29:14,430 Alison Mariella Desir: do it, then I'm going to do it. But yeah, 561 00:29:14,430 --> 00:29:17,280 Alison Mariella Desir: my husband is my biggest supporter and the person who's 562 00:29:17,280 --> 00:29:22,051 Alison Mariella Desir: always like, do you have to do everything? Yes, I do. 563 00:29:22,051 --> 00:29:25,260 Becs Gentry: Sometimes it rings true. Yeah. You're like, thanks for pointing 564 00:29:25,290 --> 00:29:26,190 Becs Gentry: it out, but yes, I do. 565 00:29:26,610 --> 00:29:27,780 Alison Mariella Desir: And you're on board, so let's go. 566 00:29:28,710 --> 00:29:30,900 Becs Gentry: Well, your son definitely has, you have the coolest mom. 567 00:29:31,080 --> 00:29:33,990 Becs Gentry: You really do have a really cool mom. Really cool 568 00:29:33,990 --> 00:29:37,020 Becs Gentry: mom. So now you have transitioned a little bit more, 569 00:29:37,020 --> 00:29:41,070 Becs Gentry: as you say, to the outdoor life, and that includes 570 00:29:41,070 --> 00:29:41,700 Becs Gentry: trail running. 571 00:29:41,700 --> 00:29:42,180 Alison Mariella Desir: Yes. 572 00:29:42,330 --> 00:29:46,590 Becs Gentry: And historically, again, you probably were back to where you 573 00:29:46,590 --> 00:29:50,100 Becs Gentry: felt like you started 13 years ago when you decided 574 00:29:50,130 --> 00:29:53,520 Becs Gentry: to turn your attention to trail running, predominantly, white sport. 575 00:29:53,580 --> 00:29:53,670 Alison Mariella Desir: Yes. 576 00:29:54,540 --> 00:29:59,610 Becs Gentry: How have you felt that integration for you personally into 577 00:29:59,610 --> 00:30:01,560 Becs Gentry: it and as the wider community? 578 00:30:01,680 --> 00:30:05,280 Alison Mariella Desir: Yeah, so what I found is that, I love being 579 00:30:05,280 --> 00:30:09,630 Alison Mariella Desir: in the trail. For me, in the trail, I don't run 580 00:30:09,630 --> 00:30:13,350 Alison Mariella Desir: with music because you get to be so connected with 581 00:30:14,010 --> 00:30:19,320 Alison Mariella Desir: birds and hearing your feet on the trail and seeing 582 00:30:19,320 --> 00:30:23,910 Alison Mariella Desir: things differently. And I often run on the trail by myself. 583 00:30:23,910 --> 00:30:26,250 Alison Mariella Desir: And so there is this sense of fear with that, 584 00:30:26,250 --> 00:30:29,550 Alison Mariella Desir: but I also realize, how dare I stop myself from 585 00:30:29,550 --> 00:30:33,420 Alison Mariella Desir: doing this? This is such a beautiful, incredible experience, I'm 586 00:30:33,420 --> 00:30:35,880 Alison Mariella Desir: going to do it no matter what. And so thinking 587 00:30:35,880 --> 00:30:37,740 Alison Mariella Desir: about what are ways that I can give people that 588 00:30:37,740 --> 00:30:40,530 Alison Mariella Desir: same sense of confidence? And a big way is, this 589 00:30:40,530 --> 00:30:43,050 Alison Mariella Desir: June, I'm hosting a trail race called We Out Here 590 00:30:43,050 --> 00:30:47,280 Alison Mariella Desir: Trail Festival in Seattle. And it is geared to first 591 00:30:47,280 --> 00:30:50,820 Alison Mariella Desir: timers. And so we have all these weird distances. It's 592 00:30:50,820 --> 00:30:53,820 Alison Mariella Desir: a looped course, so you're never alone. One loop is 1. 593 00:30:54,030 --> 00:30:56,430 Alison Mariella Desir: 9 miles, two loops is 3. 8 miles. And that's 594 00:30:56,430 --> 00:31:00,330 Alison Mariella Desir: because you can't compare your 5K road time to your 595 00:31:00,330 --> 00:31:04,740 Alison Mariella Desir: trail time because it's completely different. One is not harder 596 00:31:04,740 --> 00:31:08,820 Alison Mariella Desir: than the other, it's a very different experience. And I 597 00:31:08,820 --> 00:31:12,750 Alison Mariella Desir: want people to show up for this trail race, a 598 00:31:12,750 --> 00:31:15,570 Alison Mariella Desir: trail race that really has our culture. We have one 599 00:31:15,570 --> 00:31:19,800 Alison Mariella Desir: of the best DJs, Afrobeats DJs, who's DJing at it, and then 600 00:31:19,800 --> 00:31:21,840 Alison Mariella Desir: know that they can show up in other spaces because they 601 00:31:21,840 --> 00:31:23,850 Alison Mariella Desir: felt welcomed and they know what it's about. 602 00:31:24,180 --> 00:31:24,990 Becs Gentry: That sounds epic. 603 00:31:25,050 --> 00:31:27,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: We are here in a room of Road Runners. 604 00:31:28,320 --> 00:31:29,940 Alison Mariella Desir: Soon to be trail runners. 605 00:31:29,970 --> 00:31:35,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: Literally. Road Runners trail running is something that really does 606 00:31:35,340 --> 00:31:37,739 Rob Simmelkjaer: fascinate me. I've had a chance to do it a 607 00:31:37,740 --> 00:31:38,611 Rob Simmelkjaer: few times. I mean, I ran- 608 00:31:38,611 --> 00:31:40,590 Alison Mariella Desir: Are you saying that you're coming to the we out 609 00:31:40,590 --> 00:31:42,061 Alison Mariella Desir: here Trail Fest in June? Is that Yes. Did you hear that? 610 00:31:42,061 --> 00:31:42,062 Rob Simmelkjaer: Could be. 611 00:31:42,062 --> 00:31:42,063 Becs Gentry: I heard it. 612 00:31:42,063 --> 00:31:42,064 Rob Simmelkjaer: You know what? 613 00:31:42,064 --> 00:31:48,540 Alison Mariella Desir: If there's no New York Road Runners race that weekend. 614 00:31:48,540 --> 00:31:52,470 Rob Simmelkjaer: That could happen. That actually could happen. I ran some 615 00:31:52,470 --> 00:31:54,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: cross country in high school, so some of that was 616 00:31:54,330 --> 00:31:58,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: in the woods. So I have that basis. And there 617 00:31:58,440 --> 00:32:04,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: is something about trail running that I find, I don't 618 00:32:04,200 --> 00:32:07,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: know, even more meditative in a way than road running. 619 00:32:08,100 --> 00:32:10,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: Running is that way for me in general, but the 620 00:32:10,950 --> 00:32:16,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: level of concentration and focus that you need to have 621 00:32:16,140 --> 00:32:19,470 Rob Simmelkjaer: when you are running on a trail and there are obstacles, there 622 00:32:19,470 --> 00:32:22,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: are rocks, there are roots, you're going up and downhill. 623 00:32:22,680 --> 00:32:24,510 Rob Simmelkjaer: You've got to be focused. 624 00:32:24,630 --> 00:32:27,360 Alison Mariella Desir: And that's exactly it. You're in the now, you're in 625 00:32:27,360 --> 00:32:29,700 Alison Mariella Desir: the here and now. And it's funny because one thing 626 00:32:29,700 --> 00:32:31,470 Alison Mariella Desir: I like about road running is that I could go 627 00:32:31,470 --> 00:32:34,290 Alison Mariella Desir: to another place and solve other problems and that's an 628 00:32:34,290 --> 00:32:38,370 Alison Mariella Desir: amazing thing. But with trail running, you are like, what's 629 00:32:38,370 --> 00:32:40,140 Alison Mariella Desir: that? Okay, what's that? What is that? What's going on? Oh, 630 00:32:40,140 --> 00:32:44,040 Alison Mariella Desir: that's beautiful. Okay, where am I? You are in the moment. And 631 00:32:44,040 --> 00:32:47,460 Alison Mariella Desir: that is what meditation is. You're not thinking about all 632 00:32:47,460 --> 00:32:49,110 Alison Mariella Desir: the stuff you got to do at home. You're not 633 00:32:49,110 --> 00:32:52,740 Alison Mariella Desir: thinking about how you're in crisis. You are in it. 634 00:32:52,830 --> 00:32:54,930 Alison Mariella Desir: And that is such a powerful experience. 635 00:32:55,230 --> 00:32:57,480 Becs Gentry: Oh my gosh. I'm a trail lover. That's where I 636 00:32:57,780 --> 00:33:01,290 Becs Gentry: started on the trails and then edged backwards in distance. 637 00:33:01,410 --> 00:33:05,970 Becs Gentry: And now I'm kind of maybe thinking of going back to trail. 638 00:33:05,970 --> 00:33:06,420 Alison Mariella Desir: You're a hybrid athlete. 639 00:33:07,380 --> 00:33:10,260 Becs Gentry: But I like the solo time. But it's scary, especially 640 00:33:10,260 --> 00:33:13,380 Becs Gentry: as a female. I feel very unnerved sometimes when I'm 641 00:33:13,380 --> 00:33:15,060 Becs Gentry: going out on the trails first thing in the morning 642 00:33:15,060 --> 00:33:17,790 Becs Gentry: or after work, I'm like, " Okay, don't get lost because 643 00:33:17,880 --> 00:33:21,330 Becs Gentry: sunlight or all of that side of things." So there 644 00:33:21,330 --> 00:33:22,530 Becs Gentry: are a lot of things taking into account, but you're 645 00:33:22,530 --> 00:33:25,469 Becs Gentry: right, it is meditation in the way. And I love how 646 00:33:25,470 --> 00:33:28,080 Becs Gentry: you said it's not, one distance is not necessarily harder 647 00:33:28,080 --> 00:33:30,930 Becs Gentry: than the other as well when it comes to ultra, 648 00:33:31,020 --> 00:33:32,970 Becs Gentry: trails associated with ultras. 649 00:33:33,300 --> 00:33:36,479 Alison Mariella Desir: Right. But there are all different trail distances. And something 650 00:33:36,600 --> 00:33:39,480 Alison Mariella Desir: else that I recently discovered is that, there's mountain running, 651 00:33:39,480 --> 00:33:42,600 Alison Mariella Desir: which is a whole other level. Those people are bananas. 652 00:33:43,470 --> 00:33:44,790 Becs Gentry: David Roche, David Roche, just. 653 00:33:44,790 --> 00:33:46,230 Alison Mariella Desir: That dude is next level. 654 00:33:46,230 --> 00:33:46,290 Becs Gentry: The guy. 655 00:33:47,460 --> 00:33:50,370 Alison Mariella Desir: But yeah, I mean, it's not a space where you 656 00:33:50,400 --> 00:33:55,320 Alison Mariella Desir: compare yourself, It's totally different. Some of these trail runs 657 00:33:55,320 --> 00:33:58,170 Alison Mariella Desir: are straight up. You are hiking and that is what 658 00:33:58,170 --> 00:34:00,660 Alison Mariella Desir: everybody's doing, even if they're winning that race. 659 00:34:00,660 --> 00:34:02,640 Becs Gentry: Human four by four. I got told once. 660 00:34:02,700 --> 00:34:05,430 Alison Mariella Desir: Oh, when it's a scramble, you are on hands and knees. 661 00:34:05,430 --> 00:34:10,529 Becs Gentry: Oh yeah. I was like, oh, okay. This is interesting. But it's also, I 662 00:34:10,530 --> 00:34:12,510 Becs Gentry: really do enjoy the snacks on the trail running. 663 00:34:12,600 --> 00:34:16,980 Alison Mariella Desir: Yo, there is nothing like the aid stations at a 664 00:34:16,980 --> 00:34:19,020 Alison Mariella Desir: trail race. If anything, do it for that. 665 00:34:20,310 --> 00:34:23,911 Becs Gentry: You can eat a cake, you can have whatever fizzy drinks you want. 666 00:34:23,911 --> 00:34:28,230 Alison Mariella Desir: Which is so funny because in road running we're so careful 667 00:34:28,230 --> 00:34:30,600 Alison Mariella Desir: about what we're putting in our body. God forbid, You 668 00:34:30,600 --> 00:34:33,930 Alison Mariella Desir: poop yourself in trail running, well, you just poop. If you 669 00:34:34,020 --> 00:34:34,920 Alison Mariella Desir: got to poop, you poop. 670 00:34:34,950 --> 00:34:37,590 Becs Gentry: Oh yeah. Part of your trail pack. There is a 671 00:34:37,590 --> 00:34:39,210 Becs Gentry: section for toilet roll or tissues. 672 00:34:39,210 --> 00:34:43,050 Alison Mariella Desir: You got your little shovel. It's a vibe. 673 00:34:43,110 --> 00:34:44,100 Becs Gentry: It's a vibe. Yeah. 674 00:34:44,460 --> 00:34:46,739 Rob Simmelkjaer: Does a bear go in the woods? Does a runner 675 00:34:46,739 --> 00:34:47,881 Rob Simmelkjaer: I guess do the same? I don't know. 676 00:34:47,881 --> 00:34:47,911 Alison Mariella Desir: Always. 677 00:34:50,010 --> 00:34:56,040 Rob Simmelkjaer: I have seen on your social feeds some clips of 678 00:34:56,040 --> 00:34:59,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: this show you have. This PBS show that you have 679 00:34:59,130 --> 00:35:02,430 Rob Simmelkjaer: out there, which looks, first of all, amazing. I mean, 680 00:35:02,430 --> 00:35:06,299 Rob Simmelkjaer: you are out there in these spectacular settings. 681 00:35:07,500 --> 00:35:07,830 Becs Gentry: Living the dream. Like literally. 682 00:35:09,000 --> 00:35:14,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: (inaudible) and just in beautiful, incredible spaces. How did 683 00:35:14,670 --> 00:35:17,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: that show come about? How did that happen? You're out 684 00:35:17,520 --> 00:35:20,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: there, you're not from out there. You parachute out there 685 00:35:21,060 --> 00:35:23,341 Rob Simmelkjaer: four years later you got a show, you're like a star. 686 00:35:23,341 --> 00:35:24,991 Alison Mariella Desir: Dude, he's like a little bit jealous. (inaudible) , I was 687 00:35:24,991 --> 00:35:29,219 Rob Simmelkjaer: I am, I want to be in that show about the outdoors. 688 00:35:29,219 --> 00:35:29,461 Becs Gentry: How do I do this? 689 00:35:29,461 --> 00:35:29,462 Rob Simmelkjaer: Sounds amazing. 690 00:35:29,462 --> 00:35:31,500 Alison Mariella Desir: Maybe I could have my people talk to you. 691 00:35:31,500 --> 00:35:34,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: Who's your agent? Yeah. No, seriously. How did that come about? 692 00:35:34,770 --> 00:35:37,800 Alison Mariella Desir: I have to say, like I said, my superpower connecting 693 00:35:37,800 --> 00:35:40,710 Alison Mariella Desir: with people. And that is something that I just have 694 00:35:40,710 --> 00:35:43,799 Alison Mariella Desir: done my whole life, but it also puts me in 695 00:35:43,800 --> 00:35:47,940 Alison Mariella Desir: these really amazing situations. So I was on a Zoom 696 00:35:48,390 --> 00:35:51,810 Alison Mariella Desir: panel with this woman, Sarah Menzies. She's the woman who 697 00:35:51,810 --> 00:35:56,279 Alison Mariella Desir: directed the film about Myrna Valerio, the Myrnavator. You guys know who 698 00:35:56,280 --> 00:36:00,120 Alison Mariella Desir: she is? She's amazing. So she did this film about 699 00:36:00,120 --> 00:36:03,270 Alison Mariella Desir: Myrna and actually her experience as a fat black trail 700 00:36:03,270 --> 00:36:06,870 Alison Mariella Desir: runner preparing for this race and then being heckled while 701 00:36:06,870 --> 00:36:09,630 Alison Mariella Desir: taking on a hundred miler. Imagine being heckled and saying, " 702 00:36:09,810 --> 00:36:11,880 Alison Mariella Desir: You don't belong in this space," when she's crushing it. 703 00:36:11,880 --> 00:36:14,370 Alison Mariella Desir: So anyway, I was on a panel with Sarah Menzies. 704 00:36:14,820 --> 00:36:18,780 Alison Mariella Desir: After the panel, Sarah followed me on Instagram, she saw 705 00:36:18,780 --> 00:36:21,600 Alison Mariella Desir: that I was moving to Seattle. She was the director 706 00:36:21,600 --> 00:36:24,750 Alison Mariella Desir: of what's called Original Productions at PBS. And she reached 707 00:36:24,750 --> 00:36:27,509 Alison Mariella Desir: out to me and said, " Hey, would you ever want 708 00:36:27,510 --> 00:36:29,640 Alison Mariella Desir: to host your own TV show?" And I was like, 709 00:36:29,969 --> 00:36:32,460 Alison Mariella Desir: are you kidding? I wanted to be on the real 710 00:36:32,460 --> 00:36:35,430 Alison Mariella Desir: world. I could be the best VJ if that was 711 00:36:35,430 --> 00:36:38,610 Alison Mariella Desir: still a thing. So she was like, " Okay, well I'd 712 00:36:38,610 --> 00:36:41,219 Alison Mariella Desir: love to see. I know that you're a powerful communicator 713 00:36:41,219 --> 00:36:44,340 Alison Mariella Desir: and community builder put together a proposal," I forget what 714 00:36:44,670 --> 00:36:46,950 Alison Mariella Desir: she called it exactly, " And get back to me." And so 715 00:36:46,950 --> 00:36:49,799 Alison Mariella Desir: I was there Googling, how do you make a proposal 716 00:36:49,800 --> 00:36:53,520 Alison Mariella Desir: for a show? What does that mean? And so I pitched 717 00:36:53,520 --> 00:36:56,700 Alison Mariella Desir: the show that's, I'm coming from New York wondering where 718 00:36:56,700 --> 00:36:59,129 Alison Mariella Desir: are all the black and brown people? Are they here? 719 00:36:59,130 --> 00:37:01,920 Alison Mariella Desir: Are they in the outdoors? Learning the history of the 720 00:37:01,920 --> 00:37:05,790 Alison Mariella Desir: outdoors, and that being my show, finding these people and 721 00:37:05,790 --> 00:37:09,570 Alison Mariella Desir: telling these incredible stories. And so I sent it to 722 00:37:09,570 --> 00:37:12,839 Alison Mariella Desir: her. She didn't respond for four months, and she came 723 00:37:12,840 --> 00:37:14,820 Alison Mariella Desir: back to me and said, " The show has been greenlit. 724 00:37:15,300 --> 00:37:18,360 Alison Mariella Desir: We're going to start filming." So then I started Googling 725 00:37:18,960 --> 00:37:21,870 Alison Mariella Desir: all the outdoors show. Will Smith had an outdoor show, 726 00:37:21,870 --> 00:37:24,719 Alison Mariella Desir: I was watching that taking notes. I was watching Baratunde 727 00:37:24,900 --> 00:37:28,200 Alison Mariella Desir: Thurston. Because I know how to talk to people, but 728 00:37:28,200 --> 00:37:33,120 Alison Mariella Desir: it's a whole different experience. Scripting the show, and it's 729 00:37:33,180 --> 00:37:35,581 Alison Mariella Desir: the best job I have ever had. 730 00:37:35,581 --> 00:37:40,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: For those who haven't watched it. For those who haven't watched it, 731 00:37:40,530 --> 00:37:43,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: what happens on the show? What does an episode look like? 732 00:37:43,140 --> 00:37:45,870 Alison Mariella Desir: So every episode, by the way, you can stream it 733 00:37:45,870 --> 00:37:48,420 Alison Mariella Desir: on CascadePBS. org. You don't need to be in the 734 00:37:48,450 --> 00:37:54,900 Alison Mariella Desir: Pacific Northwest. So for example, this past week, the episode 735 00:37:54,900 --> 00:37:59,640 Alison Mariella Desir: that aired I was with this climber. So we were 736 00:37:59,790 --> 00:38:03,660 Alison Mariella Desir: outdoor rock climbing. This climber of color, he grew up 737 00:38:03,660 --> 00:38:09,030 Alison Mariella Desir: in Minnesota, grew up living in poverty. And so he 738 00:38:09,030 --> 00:38:12,000 Alison Mariella Desir: never saw himself in these spaces, but he was really 739 00:38:12,000 --> 00:38:15,210 Alison Mariella Desir: curious. So he would show up to rummage sales and 740 00:38:15,210 --> 00:38:16,920 Alison Mariella Desir: he bought a pair of skis and taught himself how 741 00:38:16,920 --> 00:38:21,150 Alison Mariella Desir: to ski. He watched something about climbing and taught himself 742 00:38:21,150 --> 00:38:23,910 Alison Mariella Desir: how to climb. And then he decided that he wanted 743 00:38:23,910 --> 00:38:25,980 Alison Mariella Desir: to teach other people of color how to do the 744 00:38:25,980 --> 00:38:29,130 Alison Mariella Desir: same thing. So I'm interviewing him, and then I go 745 00:38:29,130 --> 00:38:34,440 Alison Mariella Desir: out to this wall and I rock climb, and I 746 00:38:34,440 --> 00:38:39,180 Alison Mariella Desir: am so afraid of heights, it was terrifying. But what 747 00:38:39,180 --> 00:38:41,850 Alison Mariella Desir: I found is that trying things for the first time 748 00:38:41,850 --> 00:38:44,670 Alison Mariella Desir: is actually super easy because you have nothing else to 749 00:38:44,670 --> 00:38:47,190 Alison Mariella Desir: compare it to, and you're just in the moment. It's 750 00:38:47,190 --> 00:38:49,830 Alison Mariella Desir: actually the second time where then you think you have 751 00:38:49,830 --> 00:38:52,080 Alison Mariella Desir: to one up yourself and you're like, " Oh my gosh, 752 00:38:52,080 --> 00:38:55,469 Alison Mariella Desir: what's it going to be?" So, excuse me. So the first 753 00:38:55,469 --> 00:38:59,700 Alison Mariella Desir: time is actually, it was fun. And there's nothing like 754 00:38:59,700 --> 00:39:02,040 Alison Mariella Desir: the sense of accomplishment that you feel when you do something 755 00:39:02,040 --> 00:39:04,200 Alison Mariella Desir: you didn't think you could do. All of you this weekend, 756 00:39:04,440 --> 00:39:07,860 Alison Mariella Desir: it's like, oh my God, I am the strongest person 757 00:39:07,860 --> 00:39:11,340 Alison Mariella Desir: on this planet. What's next? So that's how I feel 758 00:39:11,670 --> 00:39:13,230 Alison Mariella Desir: every time I film on the show. 759 00:39:13,440 --> 00:39:16,799 Becs Gentry: What was the most fun thing or the most mind- 760 00:39:16,860 --> 00:39:18,781 Becs Gentry: altering maybe thing that they've sent you to do? 761 00:39:18,781 --> 00:39:22,680 Alison Mariella Desir: No, that I realized that I love things with boards. 762 00:39:22,680 --> 00:39:28,050 Alison Mariella Desir: I love surfing. I love skateboarding. I love snowboarding. And 763 00:39:28,110 --> 00:39:31,380 Alison Mariella Desir: when I tell you that the list of things that 764 00:39:31,380 --> 00:39:34,350 Alison Mariella Desir: are just for white people, in my mind, those were 765 00:39:34,350 --> 00:39:38,219 Alison Mariella Desir: at the top of the list. Black people, we don't 766 00:39:38,219 --> 00:39:41,850 Alison Mariella Desir: surf. Well, I guess skateboarding became cool at some point. 767 00:39:42,300 --> 00:39:44,610 Alison Mariella Desir: We don't snowboard, although shout out to Zeb Powell who 768 00:39:44,610 --> 00:39:45,931 Alison Mariella Desir: just won the X Games. 769 00:39:45,931 --> 00:39:46,710 Becs Gentry: X Games. Yeah. 770 00:39:47,190 --> 00:39:51,719 Alison Mariella Desir: So I love those things and I realize those limiting 771 00:39:51,719 --> 00:39:55,680 Alison Mariella Desir: beliefs exist because of the historical reality in this country and 772 00:39:56,340 --> 00:39:59,400 Alison Mariella Desir: the cost and the access. But yo, we need to 773 00:39:59,400 --> 00:40:02,820 Alison Mariella Desir: get in there because these things are so fun. So 774 00:40:03,600 --> 00:40:05,820 Alison Mariella Desir: anything with a board, I'll do it. 775 00:40:06,030 --> 00:40:08,760 Becs Gentry: Oh, I love that. Oh my gosh, next pro surfer, 776 00:40:08,760 --> 00:40:09,600 Becs Gentry: here we go. 777 00:40:09,600 --> 00:40:10,230 Alison Mariella Desir: Let's shred. 778 00:40:11,940 --> 00:40:12,450 Becs Gentry: Awesome. 779 00:40:12,900 --> 00:40:17,040 Rob Simmelkjaer: I absolutely love it. So your activism has not stopped. 780 00:40:17,310 --> 00:40:21,810 Rob Simmelkjaer: You are hosting a retreat in September called the Take 781 00:40:21,810 --> 00:40:24,359 Rob Simmelkjaer: the Lead Retreat. Sponsored by New York Road Runners. 782 00:40:24,359 --> 00:40:24,691 Alison Mariella Desir: Yes. Right here. 783 00:40:24,690 --> 00:40:25,080 Becs Gentry: Yes. 784 00:40:27,180 --> 00:40:29,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: Which we're very excited to be a part of. Can 785 00:40:29,250 --> 00:40:33,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: you talk about what that retreat is meant to accomplish 786 00:40:33,210 --> 00:40:36,810 Rob Simmelkjaer: and the kind of leadership and things you're trying to 787 00:40:36,810 --> 00:40:38,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: create with this retreat? 788 00:40:38,430 --> 00:40:40,980 Alison Mariella Desir: Absolutely. So this started as another one of those moments 789 00:40:40,980 --> 00:40:42,750 Alison Mariella Desir: where I was like, man, I guess I have to 790 00:40:42,750 --> 00:40:46,500 Alison Mariella Desir: do it myself. But I was at a running industry, 791 00:40:46,530 --> 00:40:50,370 Alison Mariella Desir: a women's running industry event. It was lovely. There was 792 00:40:50,370 --> 00:40:53,640 Alison Mariella Desir: 150 people there, there were only 12 women of color. 793 00:40:53,969 --> 00:41:00,029 Alison Mariella Desir: And the conversation was not intersectional. And so the women 794 00:41:00,030 --> 00:41:02,460 Alison Mariella Desir: of color there started gathering and thinking about, " Well, what 795 00:41:02,460 --> 00:41:06,660 Alison Mariella Desir: could this... Could we do something like this where more 796 00:41:06,660 --> 00:41:09,299 Alison Mariella Desir: of us would show up?" I know a bunch of 797 00:41:09,300 --> 00:41:11,610 Alison Mariella Desir: people, a bunch of women of color in the running industry 798 00:41:11,610 --> 00:41:13,710 Alison Mariella Desir: who were not there. Why aren't they there? How can 799 00:41:13,710 --> 00:41:18,270 Alison Mariella Desir: we create something that is a networking opportunity, that is a 800 00:41:18,270 --> 00:41:23,790 Alison Mariella Desir: confidence building space, that is a really grounding experience for 801 00:41:23,790 --> 00:41:26,940 Alison Mariella Desir: folks? And so that was on a Friday. By Sunday, 802 00:41:26,940 --> 00:41:30,510 Alison Mariella Desir: everybody was like, okay, what's the date? So we are now in 803 00:41:30,510 --> 00:41:33,930 Alison Mariella Desir: our fourth year, I want to say, and Erika Edwards 804 00:41:33,930 --> 00:41:36,900 Alison Mariella Desir: O'Neill is in the back. And this woman is one 805 00:41:36,900 --> 00:41:41,670 Alison Mariella Desir: of my biggest champions, and she's shown up every year. 806 00:41:41,880 --> 00:41:47,940 Alison Mariella Desir: She is just so thoughtful, so smart. And so I'm 807 00:41:47,940 --> 00:41:51,450 Alison Mariella Desir: really excited that she's helped bring this Woman of Color, 808 00:41:51,450 --> 00:41:54,570 Alison Mariella Desir: Take Lead Retreat to New York in September, and it's 809 00:41:54,750 --> 00:41:58,230 Alison Mariella Desir: just, somebody described it as a place where you can 810 00:41:58,500 --> 00:42:03,810 Alison Mariella Desir: finally exhale. A space where you're getting these critical skills, 811 00:42:04,290 --> 00:42:07,590 Alison Mariella Desir: but you're also getting camaraderie. So it's geared towards women 812 00:42:07,620 --> 00:42:10,380 Alison Mariella Desir: and femme of color, all are welcome to attend and 813 00:42:10,380 --> 00:42:13,049 Alison Mariella Desir: we cannot wait for it to be here in New York. 814 00:42:13,080 --> 00:42:16,050 Rob Simmelkjaer: Thank you so much Erika Edwards O'Neill, for those listening 815 00:42:16,050 --> 00:42:18,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: who don't know is our Chief Diversity officer at New 816 00:42:18,180 --> 00:42:22,080 Rob Simmelkjaer: York Road Runners. She's done a phenomenal job here at 817 00:42:22,080 --> 00:42:24,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York Road Runners, making sure we reflect the kind 818 00:42:24,420 --> 00:42:28,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: of values that you have dedicated so much of your life. 819 00:42:28,140 --> 00:42:29,160 Alison Mariella Desir: She's a game changer. 820 00:42:29,310 --> 00:42:32,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: And so we appreciate that partnership. For someone who wants 821 00:42:32,580 --> 00:42:35,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: to be a part of this conference, how do they 822 00:42:35,100 --> 00:42:35,341 Rob Simmelkjaer: find out 823 00:42:35,341 --> 00:42:37,799 Alison Mariella Desir: About it? So registration is going to open in a few 824 00:42:37,800 --> 00:42:40,320 Alison Mariella Desir: months. And like I said, all are welcome to attend, 825 00:42:40,320 --> 00:42:43,080 Alison Mariella Desir: the conversation centers around women and femme of color. But 826 00:42:43,080 --> 00:42:46,710 Alison Mariella Desir: this is for you, whether you are, you just started 827 00:42:46,710 --> 00:42:49,620 Alison Mariella Desir: working in the running industry yesterday or if you've been 828 00:42:49,950 --> 00:42:52,080 Alison Mariella Desir: in it for 10 years. What I often find is 829 00:42:52,080 --> 00:42:55,200 Alison Mariella Desir: that people are intimidated to sign up for a conference 830 00:42:55,230 --> 00:42:57,480 Alison Mariella Desir: like this, because maybe you feel like you're not good 831 00:42:57,480 --> 00:43:00,360 Alison Mariella Desir: enough or you haven't been in your career long enough. 832 00:43:00,390 --> 00:43:03,630 Alison Mariella Desir: No, literally day one people should be there as well 833 00:43:03,630 --> 00:43:07,080 Alison Mariella Desir: as people who have longevity there. So they can share 834 00:43:07,080 --> 00:43:12,600 Alison Mariella Desir: knowledge. And you'll sign up at WOC, oh my goodness, 835 00:43:12,600 --> 00:43:15,660 Alison Mariella Desir: what's the website? You know what? You will find it. It'll be in 836 00:43:15,660 --> 00:43:16,469 Alison Mariella Desir: the show notes. 837 00:43:16,530 --> 00:43:17,101 Rob Simmelkjaer: It'll be in the show notes. It'll in the show notes. 838 00:43:17,101 --> 00:43:19,080 Alison Mariella Desir: It'll be in the show notes, in a few months. And yeah, I 839 00:43:19,080 --> 00:43:21,660 Alison Mariella Desir: encourage you to attend. We're also, because it's in New 840 00:43:21,660 --> 00:43:25,440 Alison Mariella Desir: York, it's going to be the best ever. So do 841 00:43:25,440 --> 00:43:26,670 Alison Mariella Desir: not miss this opportunity. 842 00:43:27,090 --> 00:43:30,900 Becs Gentry: Oh my gosh, it sounds beautiful. I want to make sure I'm there. Okay. 843 00:43:30,900 --> 00:43:35,310 Becs Gentry: Let's talk about mom life and how your world has 844 00:43:35,310 --> 00:43:41,640 Becs Gentry: changed since your beautiful son came earth side and rocked everything. 845 00:43:41,640 --> 00:43:41,730 Alison Mariella Desir: Yes. 846 00:43:42,989 --> 00:43:47,100 Becs Gentry: I know for me, my vision of how I want 847 00:43:47,100 --> 00:43:50,160 Becs Gentry: the world to see women in particular has changed astronomically 848 00:43:50,160 --> 00:43:53,190 Becs Gentry: since I had Tallulah. And I'm fighting harder and louder 849 00:43:53,190 --> 00:43:54,960 Becs Gentry: than I ever have in the past two and a 850 00:43:54,960 --> 00:43:59,790 Becs Gentry: half years. For you, I think we can all see 851 00:43:59,850 --> 00:44:02,730 Becs Gentry: the world in which you want Cory to grow up 852 00:44:02,790 --> 00:44:08,219 Becs Gentry: and inherit. But as a black woman and with a 853 00:44:08,219 --> 00:44:12,000 Becs Gentry: black son, what are the barriers that you still see in 854 00:44:12,000 --> 00:44:14,940 Becs Gentry: running? And what are the ones that you really hope 855 00:44:15,000 --> 00:44:17,370 Becs Gentry: he does not inherit for his future? 856 00:44:17,580 --> 00:44:20,700 Alison Mariella Desir: Yeah, great question. I have to say that before I 857 00:44:20,700 --> 00:44:23,730 Alison Mariella Desir: had Cory, I was one of those people, I thought 858 00:44:23,730 --> 00:44:26,670 Alison Mariella Desir: it was super feminist to be like, my children are not 859 00:44:26,670 --> 00:44:29,640 Alison Mariella Desir: going to run my world, I'm not even going to 860 00:44:29,640 --> 00:44:33,450 Alison Mariella Desir: pay attention to them, they're in my world, welcome to 861 00:44:33,450 --> 00:44:37,170 Alison Mariella Desir: my world, little person. And I was like, mom will 862 00:44:37,170 --> 00:44:39,540 Alison Mariella Desir: not be my first title. And now I'm like, oh 863 00:44:39,540 --> 00:44:41,280 Alison Mariella Desir: my God, this is the most important person of my 864 00:44:41,280 --> 00:44:44,969 Alison Mariella Desir: life and I want to do everything to make him 865 00:44:44,969 --> 00:44:48,150 Alison Mariella Desir: feel seen and confident. And so I do have a 866 00:44:48,150 --> 00:44:50,520 Alison Mariella Desir: lot of concerns for him. The reason why I wrote 867 00:44:50,520 --> 00:44:52,739 Alison Mariella Desir: Running All Back Black, one of the biggest reasons was 868 00:44:52,739 --> 00:44:55,110 Alison Mariella Desir: my son was born seven months before the murder of 869 00:44:55,110 --> 00:44:59,880 Alison Mariella Desir: Ahmaud Arbery. And while certainly in my lifetime I'd experienced black 870 00:44:59,880 --> 00:45:03,000 Alison Mariella Desir: people, unarmed black people being murdered in broad daylight. But 871 00:45:03,000 --> 00:45:05,340 Alison Mariella Desir: now it was like, oh my God, that could be 872 00:45:05,340 --> 00:45:10,920 Alison Mariella Desir: my son. And man, I have to say the poise 873 00:45:10,980 --> 00:45:15,480 Alison Mariella Desir: that Ahmaud Arbery's mother, Wanda has, I mean, I don't even 874 00:45:15,480 --> 00:45:17,610 Alison Mariella Desir: know how it would continue to exist on this earth. 875 00:45:17,640 --> 00:45:21,600 Alison Mariella Desir: She's poured her life into his memory, of course. But 876 00:45:21,600 --> 00:45:23,520 Alison Mariella Desir: so I have a lot of concerns for my son, 877 00:45:23,520 --> 00:45:26,250 Alison Mariella Desir: how other people will see my son. And so what's 878 00:45:26,250 --> 00:45:29,700 Alison Mariella Desir: really important for me is letting my son know that, 879 00:45:30,300 --> 00:45:33,570 Alison Mariella Desir: everything is his birthright. Actually, I think about that scene 880 00:45:33,570 --> 00:45:36,690 Alison Mariella Desir: in the Lion King where Mufasa is there with his 881 00:45:36,690 --> 00:45:40,560 Alison Mariella Desir: cubs and is like, " Everything you see is your kingdom." And so 882 00:45:40,560 --> 00:45:44,250 Alison Mariella Desir: it's not his kingdom, but you can be in all spaces. " 883 00:45:44,760 --> 00:45:47,880 Alison Mariella Desir: Do not doubt yourself, I have your back. If somebody 884 00:45:47,880 --> 00:45:50,010 Alison Mariella Desir: has a problem, they know who they could talk to." 885 00:45:50,340 --> 00:45:52,140 Alison Mariella Desir: So that's a piece of it. But the other piece 886 00:45:52,140 --> 00:45:55,620 Alison Mariella Desir: of it is teaching him that there are spaces where 887 00:45:55,620 --> 00:45:58,350 Alison Mariella Desir: you will have to have humility to literally save your 888 00:45:58,350 --> 00:46:00,779 Alison Mariella Desir: life. I hope he never finds himself in those spaces, 889 00:46:00,780 --> 00:46:04,590 Alison Mariella Desir: but understanding the dangers that exist in this world. I 890 00:46:04,590 --> 00:46:07,440 Alison Mariella Desir: also think it's super important for him to have friends 891 00:46:07,440 --> 00:46:12,660 Alison Mariella Desir: who are adults, other adults who love him, who he 892 00:46:12,690 --> 00:46:18,120 Alison Mariella Desir: can trust. And that is why he walks around. He 893 00:46:18,180 --> 00:46:24,509 Alison Mariella Desir: belongs here because he knows he does. And I work 894 00:46:24,510 --> 00:46:27,509 Alison Mariella Desir: as hard as I do to make sure that any 895 00:46:27,510 --> 00:46:29,760 Alison Mariella Desir: little bit that I can do to make the world 896 00:46:29,880 --> 00:46:31,469 Alison Mariella Desir: safe for him, I'm going to do it. 897 00:46:32,399 --> 00:46:39,900 Becs Gentry: Oh yeah. Oh yeah. And you are. All for you little guy. All 898 00:46:39,900 --> 00:46:41,790 Becs Gentry: for you. I love it. Well, we've got to keep 899 00:46:41,790 --> 00:46:46,439 Becs Gentry: working on that as parents and across the board. Absolutely across the board. 900 00:46:46,560 --> 00:46:51,450 Alison Mariella Desir: It's our responsibility. It's everybody's responsibility. But particularly raising young people. 901 00:46:51,480 --> 00:46:54,960 Becs Gentry: Young people. I'll never forget my colleague, Alex Toussaint talking 902 00:46:54,960 --> 00:46:58,469 Becs Gentry: to me around the time of Ahmaud Arbery's death and just 903 00:46:58,650 --> 00:47:01,350 Becs Gentry: having an honest, open conversation with him about how he's 904 00:47:01,350 --> 00:47:04,830 Becs Gentry: still at 33 years old when his mom knows he's 905 00:47:04,830 --> 00:47:07,890 Becs Gentry: out. She doesn't know he is always out. He's still a good 906 00:47:07,890 --> 00:47:11,910 Becs Gentry: boy in her mind. But she still asks for him 907 00:47:11,969 --> 00:47:13,770 Becs Gentry: to call when he's home. 908 00:47:13,980 --> 00:47:14,460 Alison Mariella Desir: Absolutely. 909 00:47:14,550 --> 00:47:16,410 Becs Gentry: And he just sat me down. He was like, " It 910 00:47:16,500 --> 00:47:19,950 Becs Gentry: is not a given that I'm going to get home, 911 00:47:20,010 --> 00:47:23,730 Becs Gentry: Becs." And we had this whole conversation about it and for him as 912 00:47:23,730 --> 00:47:26,430 Becs Gentry: well. He's learning to run a little bit more now 913 00:47:26,430 --> 00:47:29,069 Becs Gentry: as well. But he's still like, " There is so much 914 00:47:29,250 --> 00:47:31,890 Becs Gentry: to be done in the running world for every person 915 00:47:31,890 --> 00:47:34,680 Becs Gentry: of color to be able to have their families knowing 916 00:47:34,680 --> 00:47:35,880 Becs Gentry: that they have got home safely." 917 00:47:36,000 --> 00:47:38,401 Alison Mariella Desir: Right. The most basic. 918 00:47:38,401 --> 00:47:40,411 Becs Gentry: Basic of daily rights. 919 00:47:40,410 --> 00:47:41,010 Alison Mariella Desir: Yeah. 920 00:47:41,340 --> 00:47:43,170 Becs Gentry: Yeah. We've still got a long way to go, but 921 00:47:43,500 --> 00:47:43,860 Becs Gentry: we got it. 922 00:47:44,400 --> 00:47:47,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: I want to talk about Alison the writer for a second. 923 00:47:47,640 --> 00:47:48,359 Alison Mariella Desir: Yes. 924 00:47:50,100 --> 00:47:52,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: How did that book change your life, first of all? 925 00:47:53,310 --> 00:48:00,180 Alison Mariella Desir: So I've always been honest and vulnerable, but to have 926 00:48:00,180 --> 00:48:03,960 Alison Mariella Desir: people who I've never met know the intricacies of my 927 00:48:03,960 --> 00:48:08,580 Alison Mariella Desir: life and things that were really difficult for me is 928 00:48:08,580 --> 00:48:12,090 Alison Mariella Desir: scary. It's also scary to put yourself out there and 929 00:48:12,270 --> 00:48:14,910 Alison Mariella Desir: not know how it's going to be received. Because let's 930 00:48:14,910 --> 00:48:16,469 Alison Mariella Desir: be real, there's some things I say in there that not 931 00:48:16,469 --> 00:48:20,489 Alison Mariella Desir: everybody agrees with. But what I found is that even 932 00:48:20,489 --> 00:48:24,089 Alison Mariella Desir: people who, maybe disagree with the content, love that they've 933 00:48:24,090 --> 00:48:27,930 Alison Mariella Desir: been challenged by the book, love that it has made 934 00:48:27,930 --> 00:48:31,050 Alison Mariella Desir: them more curious, which is, I am such a curious 935 00:48:31,050 --> 00:48:34,890 Alison Mariella Desir: person, and I think that's such an important trait for everybody 936 00:48:34,890 --> 00:48:39,870 Alison Mariella Desir: to develop curiosity. Because then it makes you assume less 937 00:48:39,870 --> 00:48:42,750 Alison Mariella Desir: about other people. It's one thing, when you make assumptions 938 00:48:42,750 --> 00:48:46,200 Alison Mariella Desir: about people, you people off. When you're curious about somebody's 939 00:48:46,230 --> 00:48:50,430 Alison Mariella Desir: experience, that's an invitation to share and connect. So my 940 00:48:50,430 --> 00:48:54,390 Alison Mariella Desir: book has been just the most powerful tool for me 941 00:48:54,390 --> 00:48:56,820 Alison Mariella Desir: to connect with people, for other people, to connect with 942 00:48:56,820 --> 00:49:02,969 Alison Mariella Desir: people. It's still scary. It's still scary that folks, I mean, I 943 00:49:02,969 --> 00:49:04,680 Alison Mariella Desir: can't lie about things that I wrote about. I'll tell you 944 00:49:04,680 --> 00:49:08,279 Alison Mariella Desir: that much, people can catch me in a lie. And just 945 00:49:08,430 --> 00:49:11,700 Alison Mariella Desir: that amount of vulnerability is both a powerful thing, but 946 00:49:11,700 --> 00:49:13,350 Alison Mariella Desir: also remains a scary thing. 947 00:49:13,500 --> 00:49:18,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: It's pretty remarkable for a first- time book, Running while 948 00:49:18,210 --> 00:49:23,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: Black to be as impactful, as it was successful, as 949 00:49:23,340 --> 00:49:26,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: it was. So it kind of begs the fairly obvious 950 00:49:26,130 --> 00:49:30,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: question, Alison, which is there another book in there somewhere? 951 00:49:30,840 --> 00:49:36,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: I'm picturing Hiking While Black or Fly Fishing While Black. 952 00:49:36,420 --> 00:49:38,850 Alison Mariella Desir: I know there's so many different scenarios. 953 00:49:38,850 --> 00:49:41,940 Rob Simmelkjaer: So many. This could be a franchise, this could really be a franchise. 954 00:49:41,940 --> 00:49:46,320 Alison Mariella Desir: Now we're talking. Yes, I do want to write another 955 00:49:46,320 --> 00:49:50,280 Alison Mariella Desir: book. I just don't know what it is exactly yet. 956 00:49:50,700 --> 00:49:53,190 Alison Mariella Desir: A piece of me really wants to write a children's 957 00:49:53,190 --> 00:49:57,719 Alison Mariella Desir: book actually, because, and actually a children's book focused on running 958 00:49:58,020 --> 00:50:02,610 Alison Mariella Desir: and Ted Corbett and all of these legends. Because the thing 959 00:50:02,610 --> 00:50:05,310 Alison Mariella Desir: about not... I used to think that black people like 960 00:50:05,310 --> 00:50:08,730 Alison Mariella Desir: me didn't run marathons. If I had known that when 961 00:50:08,730 --> 00:50:10,529 Alison Mariella Desir: I was my son's age, then I would never have 962 00:50:10,530 --> 00:50:13,770 Alison Mariella Desir: questioned whether I belong in these spaces. And books certainly 963 00:50:13,770 --> 00:50:17,340 Alison Mariella Desir: are much more diverse now than they were when I 964 00:50:17,340 --> 00:50:19,980 Alison Mariella Desir: was growing up. But yeah, I think about that. What 965 00:50:19,980 --> 00:50:22,980 Alison Mariella Desir: are other little quarries? If they could learn these stories 966 00:50:22,980 --> 00:50:26,820 Alison Mariella Desir: and just know that this is for them. So that's 967 00:50:26,820 --> 00:50:29,130 Alison Mariella Desir: one piece of it. And then I think there's another 968 00:50:29,130 --> 00:50:31,770 Alison Mariella Desir: book that's brewing in my mind that's around really about 969 00:50:32,280 --> 00:50:37,410 Alison Mariella Desir: women and reproductive rights and how that intersects with movement. 970 00:50:37,440 --> 00:50:38,910 Alison Mariella Desir: But that's about as much as I have. 971 00:50:39,750 --> 00:50:40,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: That's a pretty good start. 972 00:50:40,770 --> 00:50:41,130 Becs Gentry: Yeah. 973 00:50:41,130 --> 00:50:41,311 Alison Mariella Desir: Thank you. 974 00:50:41,310 --> 00:50:44,940 Becs Gentry: Sounds like there's one coming as you brought it up. And as 975 00:50:44,940 --> 00:50:47,250 Becs Gentry: it is much it is Women's History Month right now 976 00:50:47,250 --> 00:50:51,600 Becs Gentry: as we record this, I'm curious to know who are 977 00:50:51,660 --> 00:50:54,630 Becs Gentry: the unsung female heroes in your world? 978 00:50:55,380 --> 00:50:58,170 Alison Mariella Desir: One person who I feel so lucky that I got 979 00:50:58,170 --> 00:51:01,110 Alison Mariella Desir: to know her. Her name is Wyomia Tyus. Anybody know who 980 00:51:01,110 --> 00:51:03,420 Alison Mariella Desir: she is? I'm asking the audience now. Okay. Yes, a 981 00:51:03,420 --> 00:51:08,850 Alison Mariella Desir: few people. So Wyomia Tyus was actually the first black person, 982 00:51:09,300 --> 00:51:12,149 Alison Mariella Desir: man or woman to win back to back a hundred- 983 00:51:12,150 --> 00:51:15,509 Alison Mariella Desir: meter gold in the Olympics. People often attribute that to 984 00:51:15,810 --> 00:51:19,530 Alison Mariella Desir: somebody else, I forget who at this moment. But she 985 00:51:19,560 --> 00:51:22,350 Alison Mariella Desir: was an incredible athlete. And on top of that, she 986 00:51:22,469 --> 00:51:25,590 Alison Mariella Desir: protested at the Olympics. People often think of John Carlos 987 00:51:25,590 --> 00:51:28,950 Alison Mariella Desir: and the Fists. But she did a different type of 988 00:51:28,950 --> 00:51:33,090 Alison Mariella Desir: protest. Everybody is given their uniforms and they're supposed to 989 00:51:33,090 --> 00:51:36,540 Alison Mariella Desir: be wear your standard uniform. And she wore black shorts 990 00:51:36,540 --> 00:51:45,480 Alison Mariella Desir: in protest in 1968 during the civil rights movement. And 991 00:51:45,480 --> 00:51:49,020 Alison Mariella Desir: she is somebody who did not get her due when 992 00:51:49,020 --> 00:51:51,239 Alison Mariella Desir: she was running both as an athlete or as an 993 00:51:51,239 --> 00:51:54,960 Alison Mariella Desir: activist. And she continues to be left out of conversations, 994 00:51:55,140 --> 00:51:59,310 Alison Mariella Desir: but she's just the most incredible, kindest woman. And I'm excited 995 00:51:59,310 --> 00:52:03,510 Alison Mariella Desir: about LA 2028, because I will fight for this woman 996 00:52:03,510 --> 00:52:07,890 Alison Mariella Desir: to be recognized. She lives in LA, she completely changed 997 00:52:07,920 --> 00:52:11,190 Alison Mariella Desir: the game in the Olympics, and I am going to 998 00:52:11,190 --> 00:52:14,760 Alison Mariella Desir: be screaming her name from the rooftops. And if I 999 00:52:14,760 --> 00:52:18,030 Alison Mariella Desir: could say one other person, she's not unsung, but Mary 1000 00:52:18,030 --> 00:52:20,730 Alison Mariella Desir: Wittenberg, former CEO of New York Road Runners. 1001 00:52:21,060 --> 00:52:21,660 Becs Gentry: Woohoo, Mary. 1002 00:52:21,660 --> 00:52:25,710 Alison Mariella Desir: Man, everybody needs somebody in their life who thinks you're 1003 00:52:25,830 --> 00:52:30,270 Alison Mariella Desir: just amazing. Mary will send me jobs to apply for 1004 00:52:30,270 --> 00:52:33,899 Alison Mariella Desir: that. It's like the CEO of a Fortune 500 Company. 1005 00:52:33,900 --> 00:52:37,230 Alison Mariella Desir: She's like, " This is you." And I'm like, " What are you talking 1006 00:52:37,230 --> 00:52:41,460 Alison Mariella Desir: about Mary?" Or president of this company? She believes in 1007 00:52:41,460 --> 00:52:45,000 Alison Mariella Desir: me so deeply, and I love that for me. 1008 00:52:46,200 --> 00:52:48,271 Becs Gentry: I'm with you there. She is really always there. 1009 00:52:48,271 --> 00:52:53,040 Alison Mariella Desir: I don't think that's even possible, but if you think it's possible. 1010 00:52:53,040 --> 00:52:54,930 Becs Gentry: Yeah. And she would put you forward if you don't 1011 00:52:54,930 --> 00:52:55,170 Becs Gentry: do it. 1012 00:52:55,200 --> 00:52:55,379 Alison Mariella Desir: Oh, exactly. Exactly. 1013 00:52:57,600 --> 00:53:02,009 Rob Simmelkjaer: I love it. Alison, we waited 95 episodes have set 1014 00:53:02,010 --> 00:53:05,940 Rob Simmelkjaer: the pace to finally get you on the show. It 1015 00:53:05,940 --> 00:53:10,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: was worth the wait because you are so fantastic. 1016 00:53:10,140 --> 00:53:12,780 Alison Mariella Desir: I am so happy to be here. Thank you. 1017 00:53:13,230 --> 00:53:16,831 Rob Simmelkjaer: Thank you so much for being here. Thank you for everything. 1018 00:53:16,830 --> 00:53:16,832 Alison Mariella Desir: My pleasure. 1019 00:53:16,831 --> 00:53:21,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: You have done continue to do for the industry, for 1020 00:53:21,480 --> 00:53:24,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York Road Runners, and we hope that you'll come 1021 00:53:24,120 --> 00:53:26,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: back again before episode 200. 1022 00:53:26,100 --> 00:53:27,450 Alison Mariella Desir: I mean, of course. 1023 00:53:27,540 --> 00:53:30,360 Rob Simmelkjaer: Thank you. We hope so. Alison Mariella, 1024 00:53:30,360 --> 00:53:30,540 Alison Mariella Desir: Thank you, everybody. 1025 00:53:33,690 --> 00:53:37,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: What a treat to have Alison to have Corey here 1026 00:53:38,400 --> 00:53:42,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: as well. He behaved perfectly, by the way, didn't leave 1027 00:53:42,570 --> 00:53:42,719 Rob Simmelkjaer: his seat. 1028 00:53:42,719 --> 00:53:43,051 Becs Gentry: Absolute super star. 1029 00:53:43,051 --> 00:53:43,471 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... that entire show. 1030 00:53:43,471 --> 00:53:43,472 Becs Gentry: Please, can you give Tallulah some tricks on how to be Good. 1031 00:53:43,472 --> 00:53:43,473 Rob Simmelkjaer: Good job, young man. 1032 00:53:43,473 --> 00:53:43,474 Becs Gentry: Great job. 1033 00:53:43,474 --> 00:54:04,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York Road Runners is a non- profit organization with a 1034 00:54:04,620 --> 00:54:08,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: vision to build healthier lives and stronger communities through the 1035 00:54:08,010 --> 00:54:12,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: transformative power of running. The support of members and donors 1036 00:54:12,090 --> 00:54:15,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: like you helps us achieve our mission to transform the 1037 00:54:15,300 --> 00:54:19,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: health and wellbeing of our communities through inclusive and accessible 1038 00:54:19,200 --> 00:54:23,820 Rob Simmelkjaer: running experiences, empowering all to achieve their potential. Learn more 1039 00:54:23,820 --> 00:54:29,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: and contribute at Nyrr. org/ donate. Well, Becs at last 1040 00:54:29,670 --> 00:54:32,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: month's club night here in New York City, New York 1041 00:54:32,700 --> 00:54:36,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: Road Runners, who are so proud to present the Boogie Down Bronx 1042 00:54:36,840 --> 00:54:42,839 Rob Simmelkjaer: Runners with the Club Spirit Award. It's my favorite award, 1043 00:54:42,840 --> 00:54:44,820 Rob Simmelkjaer: by the way, of all of Club Night. We give 1044 00:54:44,820 --> 00:54:48,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: out lots of awards for the fast runners at every 1045 00:54:48,390 --> 00:54:49,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: age, and they're amazing. 1046 00:54:50,070 --> 00:54:50,730 Becs Gentry: Of course. 1047 00:54:50,910 --> 00:54:51,331 Rob Simmelkjaer: But the Spirit Award. 1048 00:54:51,331 --> 00:54:53,281 Becs Gentry: But, I was going to say, the Spirit Awards, the true. 1049 00:54:53,281 --> 00:54:53,282 Rob Simmelkjaer: It's where it's at. 1050 00:54:53,281 --> 00:54:53,671 Becs Gentry: It's what get everyone through. 1051 00:54:57,150 --> 00:54:59,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: It really is. We were joking before the show. It's 1052 00:54:59,670 --> 00:55:01,590 Rob Simmelkjaer: kind of like the Oscars Club Night, if you haven't 1053 00:55:01,590 --> 00:55:05,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: been. It's the runner's version of the Grammys and the 1054 00:55:05,460 --> 00:55:08,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: Oscars and the Tonys all rolled into one amazing and Boogie 1055 00:55:08,910 --> 00:55:11,820 Rob Simmelkjaer: Down Bronx Runners was the winner of that award. And 1056 00:55:11,820 --> 00:55:14,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: so tonight we've got one of the co- founders of 1057 00:55:14,520 --> 00:55:18,239 Rob Simmelkjaer: that club, Lenny Grullon, here as our featured member for 1058 00:55:18,239 --> 00:55:21,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: our member moment. So Lenny, come on up here. 1059 00:55:24,780 --> 00:55:25,739 Lenny Grullon: Hello. Hello. Hello. 1060 00:55:26,160 --> 00:55:29,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: Great to have you. And Lenny, your story is really 1061 00:55:29,460 --> 00:55:33,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: interesting. You are struggling with your own health at one 1062 00:55:33,600 --> 00:55:36,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: point in your life. You found running in your 30s 1063 00:55:36,570 --> 00:55:39,870 Rob Simmelkjaer: and you went from barely completing half a mile when 1064 00:55:39,870 --> 00:55:43,860 Rob Simmelkjaer: you first started running to finishing the Chicago Marathon in 1065 00:55:43,860 --> 00:55:45,121 Rob Simmelkjaer: three hours and 40 minutes. 1066 00:55:45,120 --> 00:55:47,549 Lenny Grullon: Not bad. Not bad. 1067 00:55:49,020 --> 00:55:49,381 Becs Gentry: Excuse us. Dude. 1068 00:55:49,381 --> 00:55:49,440 Lenny Grullon: I appreciate that. 1069 00:55:50,550 --> 00:55:55,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: Which is incredible. And you're a father of four, you're 1070 00:55:55,020 --> 00:55:58,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: the Dean of culture at the Dream Charter School. With 1071 00:55:58,620 --> 00:56:02,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: those who don't know that, that's an incredibly successful charter 1072 00:56:02,250 --> 00:56:06,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: school here in New York City. And you're balancing a 1073 00:56:06,120 --> 00:56:10,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: lot of things, family, education, leadership, and using running as 1074 00:56:10,710 --> 00:56:12,779 Rob Simmelkjaer: a tool for empowerment. And now as if you haven't 1075 00:56:12,780 --> 00:56:16,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: done enough, you've co- founded the Boogie Down Bronx Runners, 1076 00:56:16,560 --> 00:56:18,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: so congratulations. 1077 00:56:18,360 --> 00:56:18,570 Lenny Grullon: Thank you. Thank you so much. 1078 00:56:18,900 --> 00:56:20,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: On everything you've done. 1079 00:56:20,489 --> 00:56:22,739 Lenny Grullon: I appreciate that a lot. Thanks so much for having 1080 00:56:22,739 --> 00:56:24,510 Lenny Grullon: me. I was told I was going to be up 1081 00:56:24,510 --> 00:56:26,730 Lenny Grullon: here with Alison and I felt so cool about having 1082 00:56:26,730 --> 00:56:29,190 Lenny Grullon: Alison next to me, haven't seen Alison in so many 1083 00:56:29,190 --> 00:56:32,009 Lenny Grullon: years. And she just walked off and I'm like, " Alison, 1084 00:56:32,009 --> 00:56:36,120 Lenny Grullon: I need you here with me, I'm nervous." But it was 1085 00:56:36,360 --> 00:56:38,520 Lenny Grullon: just great listening to you, Alison, again speak. Every time I hear 1086 00:56:38,520 --> 00:56:40,950 Lenny Grullon: you speak, you just remind me of why I'm doing 1087 00:56:40,950 --> 00:56:43,980 Lenny Grullon: what I'm doing, I continue doing it. I'm actually a 1088 00:56:43,980 --> 00:56:46,319 Lenny Grullon: PE teacher now, so no longer the dean. Shout out 1089 00:56:46,320 --> 00:56:49,380 Lenny Grullon: to people who are deans of schools. But not a 1090 00:56:49,380 --> 00:56:51,660 Lenny Grullon: gig I want anymore. Now I'm just telling kids to 1091 00:56:51,660 --> 00:56:56,250 Lenny Grullon: jump and they jump. So it's a lot easier. But 1092 00:56:56,250 --> 00:57:00,180 Lenny Grullon: yeah, it was running again. So many other stories you 1093 00:57:00,180 --> 00:57:03,570 Lenny Grullon: hear of people who started running later in their lives. 1094 00:57:04,350 --> 00:57:07,410 Lenny Grullon: It was a lifesaver for me as well. And just 1095 00:57:07,410 --> 00:57:10,589 Lenny Grullon: creating Boogie Down, I've just noticed it's saved a lot 1096 00:57:10,590 --> 00:57:13,469 Lenny Grullon: of lives as well. So just bringing that to the 1097 00:57:13,469 --> 00:57:14,760 Lenny Grullon: community has been really special. 1098 00:57:14,850 --> 00:57:18,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: I can tell that the impact you've made is massive 1099 00:57:18,840 --> 00:57:21,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: with the Boogie Down Bronx Runners. I can tell from 1100 00:57:21,360 --> 00:57:25,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: the incredible passion that the members of your club have. 1101 00:57:25,920 --> 00:57:28,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: When we go up to the Bronx for the New 1102 00:57:28,200 --> 00:57:32,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: Balance 10 Miler, you guys have an unbelievable presence there, 1103 00:57:32,160 --> 00:57:35,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: it's a massive party. You got folks with you here tonight 1104 00:57:35,670 --> 00:57:38,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: and they really believe in what you've done. What do 1105 00:57:38,910 --> 00:57:42,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: you think has made Boogie Down Bronx Runners so successful? 1106 00:57:43,620 --> 00:57:47,580 Lenny Grullon: I just think, just bringing the access and being very, 1107 00:57:47,580 --> 00:57:52,290 Lenny Grullon: very genuine and building such a strong community. I think 1108 00:57:52,290 --> 00:57:55,080 Lenny Grullon: that one thing we take a lot of pride in 1109 00:57:55,080 --> 00:57:59,640 Lenny Grullon: is really catering to beginner runners, catering to people who've 1110 00:57:59,640 --> 00:58:03,180 Lenny Grullon: never ran before or believe that they can't run. And 1111 00:58:03,180 --> 00:58:07,920 Lenny Grullon: just bringing that access to the Bronx community has awakened 1112 00:58:09,420 --> 00:58:12,750 Lenny Grullon: this huge feeling of accomplishment and like, " Oh, I can 1113 00:58:12,750 --> 00:58:16,110 Lenny Grullon: take on anything." And when people in our community just 1114 00:58:16,110 --> 00:58:20,010 Lenny Grullon: see people who look like them running out in the 1115 00:58:20,010 --> 00:58:23,280 Lenny Grullon: streets, which was rare before, it's not rare anymore in 1116 00:58:23,280 --> 00:58:26,190 Lenny Grullon: the Bronx, it makes them believe in themselves in so 1117 00:58:26,190 --> 00:58:29,550 Lenny Grullon: many other ways. So I think bringing that type of 1118 00:58:29,550 --> 00:58:33,810 Lenny Grullon: community and that type of energy to our borough has 1119 00:58:33,810 --> 00:58:39,750 Lenny Grullon: really, make things blow up when it comes to running 1120 00:58:39,750 --> 00:58:40,320 Lenny Grullon: in the Bronx. 1121 00:58:40,770 --> 00:58:43,830 Becs Gentry: Absolutely, and you guys have all done such a fantastic 1122 00:58:43,830 --> 00:58:47,880 Becs Gentry: job of raising awareness and having fun at the same 1123 00:58:47,880 --> 00:58:50,370 Becs Gentry: time, which is a huge, you hear the name Boogie 1124 00:58:50,370 --> 00:58:55,170 Becs Gentry: Down Bronx Runners and you just automatically think great energy, friendly, 1125 00:58:55,200 --> 00:58:59,760 Becs Gentry: welcoming. As we're in New York, again, as it's Women's 1126 00:58:59,760 --> 00:59:03,120 Becs Gentry: History Month here, as we record in March, what are you 1127 00:59:03,120 --> 00:59:06,600 Becs Gentry: doing for the safety of the women who run with 1128 00:59:06,600 --> 00:59:10,590 Becs Gentry: you guys? Because it's an issue, it's a problem. I 1129 00:59:10,710 --> 00:59:14,760 Becs Gentry: run with one headphone in, if any, because I'm simply 1130 00:59:14,910 --> 00:59:17,760 Becs Gentry: scared when I run, regardless of whether it's day or 1131 00:59:17,760 --> 00:59:21,030 Becs Gentry: night. So as a leader of the community, what's going on? 1132 00:59:21,480 --> 00:59:25,410 Lenny Grullon: Well, I mean, Boogie Down is actually about 60, 70% 1133 00:59:25,410 --> 00:59:29,460 Lenny Grullon: female. So we have a strong leadership team of females 1134 00:59:29,820 --> 00:59:33,300 Lenny Grullon: and they're constantly giving us feedback on things that we 1135 00:59:33,300 --> 00:59:36,270 Lenny Grullon: can either talk about, things that we can bring up 1136 00:59:36,570 --> 00:59:38,370 Lenny Grullon: and things that we can do for the females in 1137 00:59:38,370 --> 00:59:42,300 Lenny Grullon: our community. This month we have a women's Her Story 1138 00:59:42,330 --> 00:59:45,000 Lenny Grullon: run, and when we have these kind of runs that 1139 00:59:45,000 --> 00:59:48,300 Lenny Grullon: are kind of catering to females, we try to do 1140 00:59:48,300 --> 00:59:53,310 Lenny Grullon: a great job of also teaching them and finding safe 1141 00:59:53,310 --> 00:59:56,130 Lenny Grullon: ways of, okay, what's the best way to run outside? 1142 00:59:56,760 --> 00:59:59,640 Lenny Grullon: Make sure that you're sharing your locations with people who 1143 00:59:59,640 --> 01:00:03,180 Lenny Grullon: care about you. Make sure that you're running with some 1144 01:00:03,180 --> 01:00:07,950 Lenny Grullon: kind of safety item, whether it's Mace sometimes, or even 1145 01:00:07,950 --> 01:00:11,640 Lenny Grullon: these alarms that they sell for runners now. So we 1146 01:00:11,640 --> 01:00:15,120 Lenny Grullon: definitely try to make sure that they are aware that 1147 01:00:15,120 --> 01:00:18,480 Lenny Grullon: there are ways to stay safe, and we also make 1148 01:00:18,480 --> 01:00:21,960 Lenny Grullon: sure that we put out routes for our people for our 1149 01:00:21,960 --> 01:00:25,590 Lenny Grullon: runners, specifically safer routes in the Bronx neighborhoods so they're 1150 01:00:25,590 --> 01:00:28,110 Lenny Grullon: aware of, okay, not just continue running this route, but 1151 01:00:28,110 --> 01:00:30,480 Lenny Grullon: there's other routes that are safe as well for you 1152 01:00:30,480 --> 01:00:34,110 Lenny Grullon: to run. And just the community's so strong that you 1153 01:00:34,110 --> 01:00:37,440 Lenny Grullon: hardly ever get any runner go out running alone. Our 1154 01:00:37,440 --> 01:00:42,450 Lenny Grullon: community is constantly chats and text messages, " Oh, I'm running 1155 01:00:42,450 --> 01:00:45,030 Lenny Grullon: on Saturday, who else is running? Anyone running with me?" Or " 1156 01:00:45,450 --> 01:00:47,790 Lenny Grullon: I want to make sure you're not running alone." So 1157 01:00:47,790 --> 01:00:50,580 Lenny Grullon: it's constantly on our minds and we're constantly teaching ways 1158 01:00:50,790 --> 01:00:53,130 Lenny Grullon: of how to stay safe, especially for our female runners. 1159 01:00:53,220 --> 01:00:55,320 Becs Gentry: I love that. That's a really good point. Sorry to cut you off, 1160 01:00:55,320 --> 01:00:58,800 Becs Gentry: Rob, but the sharing the route is something I've never 1161 01:00:59,160 --> 01:01:02,460 Becs Gentry: taken much note of, I guess, but just then you 1162 01:01:02,460 --> 01:01:05,490 Becs Gentry: get that continuity of people going out. If it's a 1163 01:01:05,490 --> 01:01:08,880 Becs Gentry: Monday easy run, a Friday easy run, and you get 1164 01:01:09,270 --> 01:01:12,360 Becs Gentry: to maybe not necessarily run side by side with your 1165 01:01:12,360 --> 01:01:15,300 Becs Gentry: new buddy, but that head nod of like, " I got 1166 01:01:15,300 --> 01:01:17,100 Becs Gentry: you. My eyes are on you as well. If I 1167 01:01:17,100 --> 01:01:20,250 Becs Gentry: don't see you on the next block, I'm coming after 1168 01:01:20,250 --> 01:01:21,420 Becs Gentry: you." In a good way. 1169 01:01:21,540 --> 01:01:25,470 Lenny Grullon: Absolutely. But definitely on the forefront and something that's really 1170 01:01:25,470 --> 01:01:25,981 Lenny Grullon: important to us, for sure. 1171 01:01:25,981 --> 01:01:26,131 Becs Gentry: Yeah. I love it. Well done. 1172 01:01:27,390 --> 01:01:31,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: Lenny, there are more than a few parallels actually between 1173 01:01:31,200 --> 01:01:34,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: you and Alison to be honest. I mean, you're almost 1174 01:01:34,290 --> 01:01:37,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: like a Bronx version of Alison and what she did 1175 01:01:37,770 --> 01:01:43,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: in Harlem. You saw a need for a running space 1176 01:01:43,650 --> 01:01:47,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: there. You also started running, I think under similar circumstances. 1177 01:01:47,520 --> 01:01:50,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: Alison was struggling with her mental health. You were struggling 1178 01:01:50,910 --> 01:01:54,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: with your physical health, your weight had gone up to 1179 01:01:54,600 --> 01:01:58,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: 240 pounds, you weren't in good shape. And what was 1180 01:01:58,620 --> 01:02:02,550 Rob Simmelkjaer: the turning point for you that led you to try 1181 01:02:02,550 --> 01:02:03,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: running yourself? 1182 01:02:03,810 --> 01:02:09,570 Lenny Grullon: So I knew I had friends that ran. They had 1183 01:02:09,570 --> 01:02:12,390 Lenny Grullon: ran either competitively or they were running for fun. And 1184 01:02:12,390 --> 01:02:14,280 Lenny Grullon: they had always tried to get me out to run, 1185 01:02:14,580 --> 01:02:18,420 Lenny Grullon: but it never really worked. It actually took within myself 1186 01:02:18,420 --> 01:02:21,180 Lenny Grullon: to want to out and do it. And then like 1187 01:02:21,180 --> 01:02:24,180 Lenny Grullon: you mentioned, I started running around the block of my 1188 01:02:24,180 --> 01:02:27,510 Lenny Grullon: neighborhood, literally just running around the block. And I ran 1189 01:02:27,510 --> 01:02:30,120 Lenny Grullon: around once until I was able to run around twice 1190 01:02:30,120 --> 01:02:32,970 Lenny Grullon: and then three times, and then the most story for 1191 01:02:32,970 --> 01:02:35,010 Lenny Grullon: a lot of runners, it starts getting easier and you 1192 01:02:35,010 --> 01:02:38,520 Lenny Grullon: start feeling amazing about it and so accomplished. And I hadn't felt 1193 01:02:38,520 --> 01:02:41,610 Lenny Grullon: that much accomplishment since I played basketball when I was 1194 01:02:41,610 --> 01:02:47,250 Lenny Grullon: younger. So it brought that competitiveness back into it that 1195 01:02:47,250 --> 01:02:48,990 Lenny Grullon: I was kind of craving for and I didn't know 1196 01:02:48,990 --> 01:02:54,270 Lenny Grullon: I was craving for. But also, I started noticing change 1197 01:02:54,270 --> 01:02:58,560 Lenny Grullon: pretty fast. It's like running, it's not like any other 1198 01:02:58,560 --> 01:03:01,830 Lenny Grullon: sport. Running, if you put just a couple weeks into 1199 01:03:01,830 --> 01:03:05,490 Lenny Grullon: it, you almost immediately start to see change and improvement. 1200 01:03:05,580 --> 01:03:07,890 Lenny Grullon: And when I started to see that improvements come so 1201 01:03:07,890 --> 01:03:10,320 Lenny Grullon: quickly, I was like, " Oh, wow, I can actually do 1202 01:03:10,320 --> 01:03:12,810 Lenny Grullon: this." And then I was able to run half a 1203 01:03:12,810 --> 01:03:15,330 Lenny Grullon: mile and then a mile, and then obviously a 5K, 1204 01:03:15,720 --> 01:03:18,390 Lenny Grullon: and then I started signing up for Road Runner races. 1205 01:03:18,960 --> 01:03:22,110 Lenny Grullon: So then, that's when everything really changed. And then like 1206 01:03:22,110 --> 01:03:26,040 Lenny Grullon: Alison, I'm also a very people person and I really, 1207 01:03:26,040 --> 01:03:30,150 Lenny Grullon: really always loved community. So I used running, but let 1208 01:03:30,150 --> 01:03:32,970 Lenny Grullon: me tell you, it was teams and clubs and crews 1209 01:03:32,970 --> 01:03:36,660 Lenny Grullon: like Harlem Run, we run uptown that I definitely was 1210 01:03:36,660 --> 01:03:40,020 Lenny Grullon: looking back to and saying, wow, these guys are doing 1211 01:03:40,020 --> 01:03:42,180 Lenny Grullon: something amazing. I need to bring this up to the 1212 01:03:42,180 --> 01:03:45,450 Lenny Grullon: Bronx. And sure enough it happened. 1213 01:03:45,720 --> 01:03:50,970 Rob Simmelkjaer: That story you tell about breaking it up. It's not 1214 01:03:51,030 --> 01:03:53,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: you're going to run a half marathon when you haven't 1215 01:03:53,700 --> 01:03:56,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: run your whole life, but that quarter mile, half a 1216 01:03:56,490 --> 01:03:59,550 Rob Simmelkjaer: mile and the impact you got, that's the story people need 1217 01:03:59,550 --> 01:04:02,430 Rob Simmelkjaer: to hear. And in a community like the Bronx where 1218 01:04:02,550 --> 01:04:06,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: we know there are so many challenges with health issues, 1219 01:04:06,450 --> 01:04:10,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: obesity, lack of exercise, that's a really important story to 1220 01:04:10,680 --> 01:04:11,101 Rob Simmelkjaer: tell up there. 1221 01:04:11,101 --> 01:04:13,590 Lenny Grullon: Yeah, it's pretty huge. It's pretty huge. I mean, for 1222 01:04:13,590 --> 01:04:15,900 Lenny Grullon: those who don't know, the Bronx is known as the 1223 01:04:15,900 --> 01:04:19,650 Lenny Grullon: most unhealthiest county in the whole state. And time and 1224 01:04:19,650 --> 01:04:21,990 Lenny Grullon: time again year after year, we continue to come in 1225 01:04:21,990 --> 01:04:26,610 Lenny Grullon: last place. But, I think that the impact that running 1226 01:04:26,610 --> 01:04:29,370 Lenny Grullon: has had in the Bronx has definitely turned the dial 1227 01:04:29,370 --> 01:04:33,300 Lenny Grullon: just a little bit in ways where people are now 1228 01:04:33,900 --> 01:04:36,840 Lenny Grullon: looking to running for not just the physical part of 1229 01:04:36,840 --> 01:04:38,910 Lenny Grullon: it, but the mental part of it as well I 1230 01:04:38,910 --> 01:04:42,630 Lenny Grullon: think, it's almost more important almost to some of our 1231 01:04:42,630 --> 01:04:45,480 Lenny Grullon: runners, especially in our community, just the mental aspect of 1232 01:04:45,480 --> 01:04:48,750 Lenny Grullon: it. Because I have people, I mean literally week after 1233 01:04:48,750 --> 01:04:50,700 Lenny Grullon: week, just come tell me, " If it wasn't for this 1234 01:04:50,700 --> 01:04:54,330 Lenny Grullon: group meetup on Tuesdays, I wouldn't know what to do 1235 01:04:54,330 --> 01:04:57,210 Lenny Grullon: with myself." Because it really just takes their minds away 1236 01:04:57,210 --> 01:05:01,620 Lenny Grullon: from everything that's going on in their life and brings 1237 01:05:01,620 --> 01:05:04,470 Lenny Grullon: them together with people who are like- minded and showing 1238 01:05:04,470 --> 01:05:05,370 Lenny Grullon: just as much love. 1239 01:05:06,060 --> 01:05:08,070 Rob Simmelkjaer: Lenny, congratulations. 1240 01:05:08,580 --> 01:05:08,701 Lenny Grullon: Thank you. Thank you so much. 1241 01:05:08,700 --> 01:05:13,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: On what you've done. You're making a really a huge impact. And our 1242 01:05:13,260 --> 01:05:15,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: mission at New York Road Runners, we try to create 1243 01:05:15,900 --> 01:05:20,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: healthier lives, stronger communities through the transformative power of running. 1244 01:05:20,940 --> 01:05:23,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: I can't think of a better example of that, than 1245 01:05:23,760 --> 01:05:26,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: you, than the Boogie down Bronx runners, exactly what we 1246 01:05:26,850 --> 01:05:29,491 Rob Simmelkjaer: talk about. So thank you for what you're doing. 1247 01:05:29,491 --> 01:05:30,390 Lenny Grullon: Means a lot. 1248 01:05:30,510 --> 01:05:31,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: Everything you're going to keep doing. 1249 01:05:31,800 --> 01:05:32,250 Lenny Grullon: Absolutely. 1250 01:05:32,250 --> 01:05:34,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: And we can't wait to see you out there. What's your next race? 1251 01:05:35,220 --> 01:05:35,790 Lenny Grullon: This Sunday. 1252 01:05:35,790 --> 01:05:36,031 Rob Simmelkjaer: All right. This Sunday. 1253 01:05:36,031 --> 01:05:36,360 Becs Gentry: Yes. 1254 01:05:36,360 --> 01:05:40,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: The United Airlines NYC Half. 1255 01:05:40,710 --> 01:05:41,130 Lenny Grullon: Thank you. 1256 01:05:41,130 --> 01:05:43,395 Rob Simmelkjaer: We wish you luck. Thank you for being our member 1257 01:05:43,395 --> 01:05:43,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: of the week. 1258 01:05:43,950 --> 01:05:47,669 Lenny Grullon: I appreciate that. And thank you for allowing me to represent the Bronx 1259 01:05:47,670 --> 01:05:49,002 Lenny Grullon: and the Bronx community here in New York (inaudible) . 1260 01:05:48,840 --> 01:05:52,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: All right, absolutely. We appreciate you and we appreciate all of you here in 1261 01:05:53,040 --> 01:05:59,459 Rob Simmelkjaer: our live audience tonight for joining this amazing live episode 1262 01:05:59,460 --> 01:06:00,960 Rob Simmelkjaer: backs. This was so much fun. 1263 01:06:00,960 --> 01:06:03,060 Becs Gentry: So much fun. I'm ready to go run again. 1264 01:06:04,350 --> 01:06:05,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: We're not far from the park. You can do it 1265 01:06:05,910 --> 01:06:06,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: right now. 1266 01:06:06,570 --> 01:06:07,560 Becs Gentry: Anyone want to go? No, I'm kidding. 1267 01:06:08,670 --> 01:06:10,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: Thank you all for being here. It is always so 1268 01:06:10,380 --> 01:06:13,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: special for us to see you all live in person. 1269 01:06:14,130 --> 01:06:16,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: Thanks for listening to the podcast. If you don't already 1270 01:06:16,500 --> 01:06:19,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: listen to it, make sure you subscribe tonight, right now, 1271 01:06:20,100 --> 01:06:22,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: subscribe. You can rate it, leave a review of this 1272 01:06:22,800 --> 01:06:26,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: awesome show. This has been a really awesome special episode to 1273 01:06:26,640 --> 01:06:30,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: set the pace. Good luck to everybody running this weekend 1274 01:06:30,150 --> 01:06:32,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: in the United Airlines NYC half. Can't wait to see you 1275 01:06:32,790 --> 01:06:35,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: all out there with the starting line, the finish line. 1276 01:06:35,520 --> 01:06:38,970 Rob Simmelkjaer: Enjoy that Brooklyn Bridge run. Good luck and we will see 1277 01:06:38,970 --> 01:06:40,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: you next week. Enjoy the miles.