1 00:00:00,510 --> 00:00:03,840 Juan Uro: Many people are putting a lot of emphasis on whether they 2 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:05,970 Juan Uro: can achieve something or not. But I would say that 3 00:00:06,030 --> 00:00:09,420 Juan Uro: the pursuit of excellence or the pursuit of something extraordinary 4 00:00:09,420 --> 00:00:12,869 Juan Uro: sometimes can be much more rewarding than the achievement of 5 00:00:12,869 --> 00:00:13,950 Juan Uro: something extraordinary. 6 00:00:16,290 --> 00:00:22,590 Rob Simmelkjaer: Hey everybody and welcome to another episode of Set the 7 00:00:22,590 --> 00:00:25,829 Rob Simmelkjaer: Pace, the official podcast of New York Road Runners presented 8 00:00:25,829 --> 00:00:29,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: by Peloton. I'm your host, Rob Simmelkjaer, the CEO of 9 00:00:29,100 --> 00:00:32,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York Road Runners, my friend and partner, Becs Gentry. 10 00:00:32,790 --> 00:00:35,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: She's on her way back from a trip to Los 11 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:38,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: Angeles so we'll be missing her today, but looking forward 12 00:00:38,610 --> 00:00:41,729 Rob Simmelkjaer: to a reunion with Becs and me on the show 13 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:46,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: next week. In the meantime, what a weekend we had 14 00:00:46,380 --> 00:00:49,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: last weekend at New York Road Runners, the largest ever 15 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:56,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: MasterCard New York Mini 10K in Central Park with 9, 973 16 00:00:56,580 --> 00:01:01,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: women athletes finishing that race on a muggy but runnable 17 00:01:01,110 --> 00:01:04,319 Rob Simmelkjaer: day in Central Park. It was such a special day, 18 00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:07,289 Rob Simmelkjaer: man, we just love that race at New York Road 19 00:01:07,290 --> 00:01:12,930 Rob Simmelkjaer: Runners. There's nothing like seeing 10,000 women streaming down Central 20 00:01:12,930 --> 00:01:17,459 Rob Simmelkjaer: Park West into the park and finishing that race. I 21 00:01:17,459 --> 00:01:20,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: know for all of them, all of you out there 22 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:22,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: who run that race, I hear it year in and 23 00:01:22,290 --> 00:01:24,720 Rob Simmelkjaer: year out, it is one of the most special running 24 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:27,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: experiences that you have. And so, so happy that it 25 00:01:27,900 --> 00:01:29,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: was such a great day for all of our great 26 00:01:29,850 --> 00:01:33,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: women out there running the MasterCard New York Mini 10K. 27 00:01:34,050 --> 00:01:39,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: The winner, Hellen Obiri, the 2023 United Airlines NYC Half and TCS 28 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:42,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York City Marathon champ, she captured the open division 29 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:46,318 Rob Simmelkjaer: title with a blazing time of 30 minutes and 44 30 00:01:46,319 --> 00:01:49,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: seconds. The runner- up may have been just as big 31 00:01:49,140 --> 00:01:54,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: a story, Weini Kelati ran a new American event record at 32 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:58,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: 30 minutes and 49 seconds. She was right there with 33 00:01:58,500 --> 00:02:01,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: Hellen Obiri all the way until about the last say 34 00:02:02,100 --> 00:02:04,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: quarter mile. She really gave Hellen a run for her 35 00:02:04,410 --> 00:02:08,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: money. Susannah Scaroni won a record- breaking six MasterCard New 36 00:02:08,460 --> 00:02:11,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: York Mini 10K title in the Wheelchair Division with a 37 00:02:11,460 --> 00:02:15,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: new event record. And it was the largest girls run 38 00:02:15,780 --> 00:02:19,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: in history, that's right, the biggest attendance we've ever had 39 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:24,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: for the mini kids run, more than 508 to eight to 18- year- old 40 00:02:24,090 --> 00:02:27,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: girls took to the streets to run on Saturday. It 41 00:02:27,540 --> 00:02:31,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: was well, it was a really, really special day. All 42 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:34,080 Rob Simmelkjaer: right, coming up on this week's episode, it's Father's Day 43 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:37,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: week and boy, there's no holiday I love more than 44 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:42,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: Father's Day. I always say fatherhood it's the toughest but 45 00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:45,419 Rob Simmelkjaer: best job I've ever had so Happy Father's Day to 46 00:02:45,419 --> 00:02:49,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: all of the fellow dads out there listening. Really appreciate 47 00:02:49,620 --> 00:02:52,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: you and hopefully all the people in your life give 48 00:02:52,530 --> 00:02:56,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: you a special, special day this coming weekend. We've got 49 00:02:56,340 --> 00:02:59,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: a very special Father's Day conversation with one of our 50 00:02:59,700 --> 00:03:03,510 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York Road Runners board members, Juan Uro, who like 51 00:03:03,510 --> 00:03:08,070 Rob Simmelkjaer: Becs recently completed seven marathons on seven continents in seven 52 00:03:08,070 --> 00:03:11,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: days. Juan and I will talk about some of the 53 00:03:11,460 --> 00:03:16,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: meaning behind his running those marathons and countless other marathons 54 00:03:16,889 --> 00:03:19,590 Rob Simmelkjaer: over the course of his life. All so much of 55 00:03:19,590 --> 00:03:22,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: it really done in honor of the son that he 56 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:26,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: lost, Bautista. We'll talk about that and fatherhood and everything 57 00:03:26,490 --> 00:03:29,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: that Juan has learned from a life of running and 58 00:03:29,310 --> 00:03:34,050 Rob Simmelkjaer: his incredible accomplishment in the World Marathon Challenge. And then, 59 00:03:34,050 --> 00:03:35,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: later on in the show we'll have New York Road 60 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:39,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: Runners member and non- binary champion Galo Vasquez, and then 61 00:03:39,540 --> 00:03:43,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: coming up with this weekend's Flushing Meadows Kids run at 62 00:03:43,140 --> 00:03:46,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: the Citizens Queens 10K, that's all coming up on Saturday. 63 00:03:46,860 --> 00:03:49,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: We've got a special Med Minute with HSS, that's the 64 00:03:49,500 --> 00:03:52,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: hospital for special surgery and we're going to feature a 65 00:03:52,620 --> 00:03:57,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: sports physical therapist for young athletes, Yukiko Matsuzaki will join us as well. 66 00:03:58,620 --> 00:04:01,500 Speaker 3: Try the Peloton app for free and access classes for 67 00:04:01,500 --> 00:04:04,230 Speaker 3: every type of runner, whether you're training for your first 68 00:04:04,230 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 3: race or you're a seasoned pro. From outdoor runs and 69 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:11,790 Speaker 3: intervals to strength yoga and stretching, you'll find the perfect 70 00:04:11,790 --> 00:04:15,240 Speaker 3: fit for every part of your routine. Whether it's a 71 00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:17,970 Speaker 3: long run day or you just need a quick five- 72 00:04:17,970 --> 00:04:21,300 Speaker 3: minute reset, the Peloton app meets you where you are 73 00:04:21,540 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 3: and helps you become a stronger, faster runner because it's 74 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:29,040 Speaker 3: designed for someone like you. Try the app free for 75 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:31,890 Speaker 3: 30 days and download it now from the App Store 76 00:04:31,950 --> 00:04:36,900 Speaker 3: or Google Play, terms apply. Peloton, the official digital fitness 77 00:04:36,900 --> 00:04:38,670 Speaker 3: partner for New York Road Runners. 78 00:04:39,180 --> 00:04:41,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: Today on Set the Pace. I'm joined by my friend 79 00:04:41,730 --> 00:04:44,339 Rob Simmelkjaer: and one of our New York Road Runners board members, 80 00:04:44,339 --> 00:04:48,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: Juan Uro. Juan is a partner at EY- Parthenon advising 81 00:04:48,990 --> 00:04:53,039 Rob Simmelkjaer: global CFOs and CEOs on strategy and finance, but he's 82 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:57,479 Rob Simmelkjaer: also a passionate marathoner, so passionate that earlier this year 83 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:01,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: he channeled a little Becs Gentry magic by completing the 84 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:06,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: World Marathon Challenge running yes, seven marathons on seven continents 85 00:05:06,750 --> 00:05:10,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: in seven days. Juan races in memory of his late 86 00:05:10,110 --> 00:05:13,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: son Bautista and he now shares finish line moments with 87 00:05:13,770 --> 00:05:18,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: his wife, Mariela and daughter Isabella and we're so glad 88 00:05:18,210 --> 00:05:21,599 Rob Simmelkjaer: to have Juan here on the show. Juan, welcome to 89 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:26,880 Rob Simmelkjaer: set the pace and congratulations on being yet another person 90 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:30,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: to complete this unbelievable challenge of seven marathons on seven 91 00:05:30,330 --> 00:05:31,529 Rob Simmelkjaer: continents in seven days. 92 00:05:32,130 --> 00:05:37,589 Juan Uro: Thank you Rob, so great to be with you today. And you think there were only one 93 00:05:37,589 --> 00:05:40,740 Juan Uro: crazy person with Becs, but there's many of us I guess, or at least a handful. 94 00:05:44,010 --> 00:05:46,470 Rob Simmelkjaer: There's enough to keep a couple of these races going 95 00:05:46,890 --> 00:05:51,720 Rob Simmelkjaer: every year. I was fortunate enough to follow along with 96 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:56,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: your races. We had a little chat, some board members, 97 00:05:56,370 --> 00:06:00,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: some former Road Runners executives there cheering you on. And 98 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:02,970 Rob Simmelkjaer: I guess I just have to ask first and foremost, 99 00:06:03,690 --> 00:06:06,599 Rob Simmelkjaer: what drove you to do that? I always have to 100 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:10,529 Rob Simmelkjaer: ask the question of what drives someone to sign up 101 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:12,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: for a challenge like that? 102 00:06:15,450 --> 00:06:19,919 Juan Uro: Interesting. I think there wasn't necessarily one trigger event but 103 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:24,660 Juan Uro: a multiplicity of factors. I will start with, Rob probably 104 00:06:25,080 --> 00:06:27,570 Juan Uro: you don't know but you have a big part and NYRR 105 00:06:27,570 --> 00:06:31,500 Juan Uro: have a big part because the first time I found 106 00:06:31,500 --> 00:06:36,060 Juan Uro: out about this seven marathons in seven continents in seven 107 00:06:36,060 --> 00:06:41,550 Juan Uro: days was in the New York Marathon Expo in 2023. And 108 00:06:41,550 --> 00:06:44,760 Juan Uro: literally in my role in the board I always pay 109 00:06:44,970 --> 00:06:49,230 Juan Uro: special attention for partners and activation and how good people 110 00:06:49,230 --> 00:06:52,200 Juan Uro: are having experiences in the Expo so I literally visit 111 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:56,820 Juan Uro: all the stands. And I saw this booth about this 112 00:06:58,410 --> 00:07:03,930 Juan Uro: challenge and it's always free T- shirts are a good thing 113 00:07:03,930 --> 00:07:06,210 Juan Uro: so they gave me the T- shirt, they got my 114 00:07:06,630 --> 00:07:11,220 Juan Uro: email address and I left the Expo thinking, " Okay, you 115 00:07:11,220 --> 00:07:14,580 Juan Uro: never know. That's a crazy idea, I couldn't do it." 116 00:07:15,180 --> 00:07:19,260 Juan Uro: I put that idea to sleep, I wore the T- 117 00:07:19,260 --> 00:07:24,570 Juan Uro: shirt a couple of times. But then in April of 118 00:07:24,570 --> 00:07:28,740 Juan Uro: '24 I was going to run the Boston Marathon and 119 00:07:29,130 --> 00:07:32,580 Juan Uro: my company had an off- site in London the week 120 00:07:32,580 --> 00:07:37,140 Juan Uro: after, full week. So, in talking with my wife, it 121 00:07:37,140 --> 00:07:40,200 Juan Uro: was her birthday, we said, " Hey, why don't we go 122 00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:43,500 Juan Uro: to London for the weekend? By the way, we can 123 00:07:43,500 --> 00:07:46,710 Juan Uro: celebrate your birthday and by the way, there is this 124 00:07:47,490 --> 00:07:51,210 Juan Uro: small race called the London Marathon. If you're okay, I'm 125 00:07:51,210 --> 00:07:55,740 Juan Uro: going to try to run it." So, I asked NYRR to see 126 00:07:55,740 --> 00:07:58,110 Juan Uro: if there was a possibility and I ended up getting 127 00:07:58,110 --> 00:08:02,580 Juan Uro: into the London Marathon. So, without really thinking too much, 128 00:08:02,580 --> 00:08:06,660 Juan Uro: it became two marathons in one week. And then, I 129 00:08:06,660 --> 00:08:09,960 Juan Uro: came back to that seven and said, " Hey, this was 130 00:08:10,170 --> 00:08:13,679 Juan Uro: difficult but not impossible so who knows? Two marathons in 131 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:17,070 Juan Uro: one week is very different than seven marathons." But I 132 00:08:17,070 --> 00:08:20,130 Juan Uro: started to take it a little bit more seriously. And along 133 00:08:20,130 --> 00:08:28,290 Juan Uro: the summer of 2024, yeah, 2024, I decide to really 134 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:32,910 Juan Uro: learn more about what it will take to do the race. So, 135 00:08:32,910 --> 00:08:35,729 Juan Uro: a couple of people who have done it before, they 136 00:08:35,730 --> 00:08:39,450 Juan Uro: gave me a couple of hints. So, I was supposed 137 00:08:39,450 --> 00:08:42,750 Juan Uro: to try at least a week of multiple runs of 15 to 138 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:48,449 Juan Uro: 20 miles. Guess what? The second day that I tried 139 00:08:48,450 --> 00:08:51,630 Juan Uro: that first day 20 miles, second day I was in 140 00:08:51,630 --> 00:08:55,350 Juan Uro: Central Park and I ran into this guy that was running 141 00:08:55,710 --> 00:09:06,360 Juan Uro: seven marathons in seven days for climate advocacy. I have 142 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:08,790 Juan Uro: run in Central Park for 20 years I never saw 143 00:09:08,790 --> 00:09:12,059 Juan Uro: a guy trying seven marathons in seven days so it 144 00:09:12,059 --> 00:09:15,630 Juan Uro: was like, " There's too much serendipity here, there's too many 145 00:09:15,630 --> 00:09:19,380 Juan Uro: connecting aspects." So, I ended up catching up with the 146 00:09:19,380 --> 00:09:24,900 Juan Uro: fellow, asked him a little bit of a couple of tips how he prepared, 147 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:26,850 Juan Uro: and then when I shared a little bit of my 148 00:09:26,910 --> 00:09:31,290 Juan Uro: running resume, which is not impressive but at least there's 149 00:09:31,290 --> 00:09:34,470 Juan Uro: a lot of miles certainly, he said, " You are ready." 150 00:09:36,090 --> 00:09:39,959 Juan Uro: So, I committed to do it. I was supposed to 151 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:44,100 Juan Uro: run the race that actually Becs ran because there's two 152 00:09:44,100 --> 00:09:47,280 Juan Uro: different organizations that do that but because of- 153 00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:47,429 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, back in November. 154 00:09:47,940 --> 00:09:51,840 Juan Uro: Yeah, exactly November. But because of work I couldn't really 155 00:09:52,920 --> 00:09:57,179 Juan Uro: get off and take a week off in November to do 156 00:09:57,179 --> 00:10:02,400 Juan Uro: that. So, the other company that organized it was sold 157 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:09,570 Juan Uro: out in 2025 so I was going to do it in 2026. So again, put a 158 00:10:09,780 --> 00:10:12,360 Juan Uro: little bit the commitment to rest because who knows it 159 00:10:12,360 --> 00:10:15,390 Juan Uro: will be 12 months from the time being, I ended 160 00:10:15,390 --> 00:10:19,140 Juan Uro: up running New York and the Philly Marathon. And after 161 00:10:19,140 --> 00:10:24,090 Juan Uro: I ran Philly was like tough year, put a lot 162 00:10:24,090 --> 00:10:27,090 Juan Uro: of miles to prepare for this and there's still 12 163 00:10:27,090 --> 00:10:33,120 Juan Uro: months to do it. So, we ended up going to 164 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:37,559 Juan Uro: Argentina where I was born for Thanksgiving break. And after I 165 00:10:37,559 --> 00:10:40,350 Juan Uro: landed into Argentina I got a note saying, " Hey, one 166 00:10:40,350 --> 00:10:43,830 Juan Uro: of the runners got hurt. There's an opening in five 167 00:10:43,830 --> 00:10:46,800 Juan Uro: weeks, will you think about it?" 168 00:10:47,130 --> 00:10:47,578 Rob Simmelkjaer: Wow. 169 00:10:47,729 --> 00:10:50,550 Juan Uro: And I said to my wife, " It cannot get better than 170 00:10:50,550 --> 00:10:53,280 Juan Uro: that." It's like after 12 hours moving from cold weather 171 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:57,120 Juan Uro: to hot weather, that's the whole experience so I committed to 172 00:10:57,120 --> 00:11:00,209 Juan Uro: do it. So again, it was a little bit of 173 00:11:00,210 --> 00:11:05,190 Juan Uro: a process of signal, so to speak, between the Expo, 174 00:11:06,900 --> 00:11:09,630 Juan Uro: the fact that again, Boston and London became a little 175 00:11:09,630 --> 00:11:14,069 Juan Uro: bit of a fortress, running into a person in Central 176 00:11:14,070 --> 00:11:16,860 Juan Uro: Park and gave me a little bit of the confidence, 177 00:11:17,340 --> 00:11:21,240 Juan Uro: and then again this trip to Argentina and it was 178 00:11:21,240 --> 00:11:27,720 Juan Uro: exactly the perfect day to get a note like that. So, it 179 00:11:27,720 --> 00:11:30,780 Juan Uro: doesn't speak necessarily of the underlying factors but it was 180 00:11:31,020 --> 00:11:33,450 Juan Uro: not a dream come true that I wake up one 181 00:11:33,450 --> 00:11:36,030 Juan Uro: day, it was a little bit of a series of, as I said, 182 00:11:36,030 --> 00:11:38,640 Juan Uro: signals that moved me into that. 183 00:11:38,820 --> 00:11:43,860 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, signal followed by the fateful email that had you 184 00:11:43,860 --> 00:11:45,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: up and ready to do it in five weeks, which 185 00:11:45,660 --> 00:11:50,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: is impressive. So, before we get into those seven races, 186 00:11:50,160 --> 00:11:53,040 Rob Simmelkjaer: I want to take a step way back, Juan like 187 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:56,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: a flashback at a movie to the origins of your 188 00:11:56,250 --> 00:12:00,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: running and how it all really started for you. Your 189 00:12:00,090 --> 00:12:03,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: bio on the World Marathon Challenge webpage talks about the 190 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:07,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: fact that you began running a little later in life. 191 00:12:07,950 --> 00:12:11,429 Rob Simmelkjaer: What was it that really got you running in the 192 00:12:11,429 --> 00:12:12,059 Rob Simmelkjaer: first place? 193 00:12:13,020 --> 00:12:18,600 Juan Uro: Yeah, I think I should edit that because probably what 194 00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:22,439 Juan Uro: I would consider these days as more cold running I 195 00:12:22,440 --> 00:12:27,270 Juan Uro: took it very late in life. But it started back 196 00:12:27,270 --> 00:12:31,559 Juan Uro: in high school year and it was not really running 197 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:34,079 Juan Uro: it was a little bit of jogging, but I think in my 198 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:37,439 Juan Uro: senior year in high school I had a pretty severe 199 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:39,900 Juan Uro: foot sprain and I needed to use a cast for 200 00:12:39,900 --> 00:12:43,920 Juan Uro: a couple of months. And look, I played different sports 201 00:12:43,920 --> 00:12:48,240 Juan Uro: as a kid, only recreational but nothing competitive but I 202 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:49,321 Juan Uro: wasn't good at any of those. 203 00:12:49,321 --> 00:12:53,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: You're from Argentina so soccer must've been in the mix somewhere. 204 00:12:53,130 --> 00:12:57,330 Juan Uro: Yeah, soccer is a must but definitely I was pretty bad. But I was 205 00:12:57,420 --> 00:13:01,469 Juan Uro: very consistent in being bad at tennis, at basketball, at 206 00:13:01,470 --> 00:13:06,329 Juan Uro: rugby so I tried everything and confirmed that I was bad at 207 00:13:06,330 --> 00:13:11,579 Juan Uro: everything. But anyway, after that injury I probably gained like 208 00:13:11,580 --> 00:13:16,320 Juan Uro: 15 or 20 pounds and you are in your late teenager years. So, 209 00:13:16,440 --> 00:13:21,030 Juan Uro: running became, I think I remember it was three loops 210 00:13:21,030 --> 00:13:24,540 Juan Uro: into a square of half a mile, so a mile and a half and 211 00:13:24,540 --> 00:13:28,350 Juan Uro: I was doing it two or three times per week 212 00:13:29,070 --> 00:13:34,920 Juan Uro: and just to be in shape or to look better, 213 00:13:35,040 --> 00:13:41,520 Juan Uro: honestly. It was a simple physical health aspect in my 214 00:13:41,910 --> 00:13:44,160 Juan Uro: early 20s and as I said, only two or three 215 00:13:44,160 --> 00:13:49,230 Juan Uro: times per week, but it was still running. Then with 216 00:13:49,260 --> 00:13:54,840 Juan Uro: my wife, we got married, emigrated to New York in the early 217 00:13:55,020 --> 00:14:00,090 Juan Uro: 2000s and I heard about this small race called the 218 00:14:00,090 --> 00:14:03,840 Juan Uro: New Year Marathon. So, at that point it was like, " 219 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:06,030 Juan Uro: Hey, we may be in New York only for two 220 00:14:06,030 --> 00:14:10,469 Juan Uro: or three years, what an interesting challenge." A, to do 221 00:14:10,590 --> 00:14:13,800 Juan Uro: a marathon, never in my life I did more than 222 00:14:13,830 --> 00:14:17,520 Juan Uro: maybe 10K at that point. And if you are going 223 00:14:17,520 --> 00:14:23,580 Juan Uro: to do a marathon, do the marathon, the New Year one. So, it became a little 224 00:14:23,580 --> 00:14:30,240 Juan Uro: bit of less about physical looks or physical wellbeing but 225 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:34,560 Juan Uro: more a little bit of goal setting for yourself a 226 00:14:34,770 --> 00:14:39,330 Juan Uro: challenge, an opportunity of something that maybe I was going 227 00:14:39,330 --> 00:14:45,720 Juan Uro: to do only once in my lifetime. So, I did a 228 00:14:45,720 --> 00:14:49,260 Juan Uro: little bit of the preparation. Looking back to the plan 229 00:14:49,260 --> 00:14:53,370 Juan Uro: that I did, it was completely unprepared, maybe 16 or 17 230 00:14:53,370 --> 00:14:59,010 Juan Uro: miles was my longest run, 30 miles in total. If 231 00:14:59,010 --> 00:15:00,960 Juan Uro: at some point you go to the archives and you 232 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:04,950 Juan Uro: see some of the photos in the village in 2004 233 00:15:05,340 --> 00:15:08,910 Juan Uro: I was frozen, I didn't know about wearing layers. My 234 00:15:08,910 --> 00:15:13,140 Juan Uro: running shoes were all tennis shoes, I couldn't afford, honestly, 235 00:15:13,140 --> 00:15:19,800 Juan Uro: we were students and living on very basic means. But 236 00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:22,740 Juan Uro: I did it. And I had an amazing time, not 237 00:15:22,740 --> 00:15:26,400 Juan Uro: in terms of clock time but in terms of fulfilling 238 00:15:26,460 --> 00:15:31,200 Juan Uro: a personal goal. And as you know once you run 239 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:34,410 Juan Uro: a marathon some people are very happy, some people say, " 240 00:15:35,010 --> 00:15:39,570 Juan Uro: I could have done a little bit better," so tried 241 00:15:39,570 --> 00:15:43,530 Juan Uro: the lottery many times. I think after three times of 242 00:15:43,530 --> 00:15:47,160 Juan Uro: declining there was a little bit of the policy of getting there in four 243 00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:51,540 Juan Uro: years so in 2008 I did the marathon again. But 244 00:15:51,540 --> 00:15:58,170 Juan Uro: that second phase overall, Rob it was casual 30 miles 245 00:15:58,170 --> 00:16:00,960 Juan Uro: per week and as I said more as a way 246 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:05,280 Juan Uro: to relieve stress from work and as a way to have work- 247 00:16:07,290 --> 00:16:13,830 Juan Uro: life balance and good sense of accomplishing something. So, a 248 00:16:13,830 --> 00:16:17,970 Juan Uro: little bit more of a mind and a spiritual wellbeing. 249 00:16:18,570 --> 00:16:22,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah. And your time in New York one ended up 250 00:16:22,410 --> 00:16:26,040 Rob Simmelkjaer: not just being a short time, you stayed in New 251 00:16:26,040 --> 00:16:29,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: York quite a while and obviously you ended up in 252 00:16:29,670 --> 00:16:31,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: a third phase of running, which is the one I 253 00:16:31,920 --> 00:16:33,810 Rob Simmelkjaer: think in which we currently find you as a really 254 00:16:33,810 --> 00:16:38,040 Rob Simmelkjaer: serious runner. And I know part of that relates to some 255 00:16:38,520 --> 00:16:42,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: tragic things that happened in your life with your son 256 00:16:42,780 --> 00:16:45,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: Bautista and losing him. 257 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:52,380 Juan Uro: Yeah, so you are spot on. I think the third maybe 258 00:16:52,380 --> 00:16:56,940 Juan Uro: I'm still in that phase of running was we were 259 00:16:56,940 --> 00:17:03,840 Juan Uro: blessed with a son Bautista, we call him Bauti in 2004. 260 00:17:06,480 --> 00:17:09,000 Juan Uro: And that's also the reason why I was only running 20, 30 261 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:14,130 Juan Uro: miles, you have a kid, you have work responsibilities but 262 00:17:14,130 --> 00:17:17,189 Juan Uro: it was still part of my life. But in 2010, 263 00:17:18,270 --> 00:17:23,550 Juan Uro: Bauti passed away when he was six years old. And he was our 264 00:17:24,030 --> 00:17:27,359 Juan Uro: only child, he was the focus of our entire lives 265 00:17:27,930 --> 00:17:32,970 Juan Uro: so it was truly, truly devastating for both my wife 266 00:17:32,970 --> 00:17:37,619 Juan Uro: and for me. We each cope in a different way, 267 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:40,859 Juan Uro: we all grieve in a different way, but for me 268 00:17:40,859 --> 00:17:44,700 Juan Uro: it was honestly very difficult to get off bed and 269 00:17:44,700 --> 00:17:50,490 Juan Uro: keep living. So, in running I found almost an excuse, 270 00:17:51,090 --> 00:17:54,270 Juan Uro: a reason at least almost every morning to get off 271 00:17:54,720 --> 00:18:01,109 Juan Uro: bed and move forward. I heard once life is a little 272 00:18:01,109 --> 00:18:04,380 Juan Uro: bit of like riding a bicycle, to stay on balance 273 00:18:04,380 --> 00:18:08,699 Juan Uro: you just need to move forward. And even in the 274 00:18:08,700 --> 00:18:14,850 Juan Uro: darkest days honestly Rob, lacing my shoes, getting outside even 275 00:18:14,850 --> 00:18:18,690 Juan Uro: for a couple of miles was helping me find the 276 00:18:18,720 --> 00:18:22,530 Juan Uro: motivation to stay alive. So, from that moment on became 277 00:18:22,530 --> 00:18:29,190 Juan Uro: a little bit of a habit, a spiritual habit of 278 00:18:30,330 --> 00:18:35,790 Juan Uro: making me continue living and trying to pursue a good life, a 279 00:18:35,790 --> 00:18:39,450 Juan Uro: worthy life. I always go back to this point of 280 00:18:39,450 --> 00:18:43,889 Juan Uro: connecting with Bauti through my running but I always go back 281 00:18:43,890 --> 00:18:46,800 Juan Uro: when I'm in tough situations of saying, " I need to 282 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:50,730 Juan Uro: live a life that is worth his memory and his 283 00:18:50,730 --> 00:18:55,230 Juan Uro: honor." And I think part of running has been of 284 00:18:55,230 --> 00:19:01,950 Juan Uro: that, of finding a healthy life, physical balance but also 285 00:19:01,950 --> 00:19:13,320 Juan Uro: mental balance. And a couple of folks were able to 286 00:19:13,320 --> 00:19:16,980 Juan Uro: gave me a spot in the 2010 New Year Marathon, 287 00:19:17,460 --> 00:19:22,230 Juan Uro: our common friend, Mary Wittenberg was very gracious of not 288 00:19:22,230 --> 00:19:25,440 Juan Uro: knowing me understanding the story and she gave me a 289 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:31,560 Juan Uro: spot. And that's the first run that I did with 290 00:19:32,460 --> 00:19:39,270 Juan Uro: his name and his image on his face, not seeking 291 00:19:39,270 --> 00:19:42,629 Juan Uro: anything, purely feeling like he was going to be along 292 00:19:42,630 --> 00:19:47,429 Juan Uro: with me on that run. And the amount of cheering 293 00:19:47,430 --> 00:19:53,879 Juan Uro: that it was along the way of, "Go Bauti," made me 294 00:19:53,880 --> 00:19:57,300 Juan Uro: realize this is much more than just having him in 295 00:19:57,300 --> 00:20:02,340 Juan Uro: my chest for my own benefit like listening, and many 296 00:20:02,340 --> 00:20:05,640 Juan Uro: people will never hear his story but even seeing his 297 00:20:05,640 --> 00:20:11,010 Juan Uro: face and naming his name. The majority of the parents 298 00:20:11,220 --> 00:20:13,830 Juan Uro: they have very proud moments throughout every day or every 299 00:20:13,830 --> 00:20:16,710 Juan Uro: week, and to me that continues to be one of 300 00:20:16,710 --> 00:20:21,900 Juan Uro: my proud moments of people cheering him and finding that 301 00:20:21,900 --> 00:20:25,800 Juan Uro: connection. So, that first race was very special. I think 302 00:20:25,800 --> 00:20:28,500 Juan Uro: I truly burst in tears when I crossed that finish 303 00:20:28,500 --> 00:20:34,740 Juan Uro: line versus in 2004 it was just a marathon and this was a signal for life. And 304 00:20:35,070 --> 00:20:39,180 Juan Uro: from that moment on almost every marathon I run with 305 00:20:39,840 --> 00:20:44,310 Juan Uro: the same shirt. Of course it's getting pretty washed out 306 00:20:44,310 --> 00:20:46,409 Juan Uro: already so I think we need to find a new 307 00:20:46,409 --> 00:20:50,040 Juan Uro: one. But it became a signal and a way to 308 00:20:50,040 --> 00:20:52,260 Juan Uro: connect with him through those moments. 309 00:20:52,560 --> 00:20:57,869 Rob Simmelkjaer: It must be incredible for you to hear that, to 310 00:20:57,869 --> 00:21:02,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: experience that while you're running a marathon. I have never 311 00:21:02,010 --> 00:21:05,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: lived through what you and your wife have lived through, 312 00:21:05,790 --> 00:21:10,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: I can only imagine what that's like. But to hear 313 00:21:10,260 --> 00:21:14,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: those cheers for him, it must make you feel for 314 00:21:14,310 --> 00:21:17,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: a moment that he's there, that he is alive, that 315 00:21:17,250 --> 00:21:21,810 Rob Simmelkjaer: he's with you. And you talked about having him with 316 00:21:21,810 --> 00:21:26,699 Rob Simmelkjaer: you in this World Marathon Challenge as well and the 317 00:21:26,700 --> 00:21:30,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: challenge that you took, you spoke about feeling like he 318 00:21:30,090 --> 00:21:32,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: was there running those races with you. 319 00:21:33,960 --> 00:21:39,030 Juan Uro: Yeah, I'll tell you, I know when I'm in pain 320 00:21:39,030 --> 00:21:43,290 Juan Uro: in a marathon, I feel it's nothing compared to the 321 00:21:43,290 --> 00:21:45,960 Juan Uro: pain that he endured during the last moment in his 322 00:21:45,960 --> 00:21:53,040 Juan Uro: life. It's pretty sad to say it but breaks me 323 00:21:53,040 --> 00:21:56,130 Juan Uro: a little bit of again, honoring him. He went through 324 00:21:56,130 --> 00:22:00,660 Juan Uro: a lot and it may sound dark but I don't 325 00:22:00,660 --> 00:22:05,430 Juan Uro: mind going through the same and feeling that connection. When 326 00:22:05,430 --> 00:22:11,100 Juan Uro: I have no more energy in a marathon, here comes Go Bauti at 327 00:22:11,340 --> 00:22:14,700 Juan Uro: the right time and it's almost like maybe his way 328 00:22:15,450 --> 00:22:18,570 Juan Uro: of giving me energy. I'll tell you that I have 329 00:22:18,570 --> 00:22:22,920 Juan Uro: two low points in the seven marathons in the seven continents 330 00:22:23,940 --> 00:22:28,020 Juan Uro: and you will find how strange life is but the 331 00:22:28,020 --> 00:22:32,850 Juan Uro: first one was in Dubai. And in many cases when 332 00:22:32,850 --> 00:22:34,439 Juan Uro: I'm a little bit lost, I play a little bit 333 00:22:34,440 --> 00:22:37,740 Juan Uro: of an exercise of asking him for some advice. And 334 00:22:38,160 --> 00:22:40,920 Juan Uro: I pick the first word that I see in my 335 00:22:40,920 --> 00:22:42,780 Juan Uro: eyes and I pick the first letter to see if 336 00:22:42,780 --> 00:22:45,330 Juan Uro: he's going to send me a message. And then I 337 00:22:45,330 --> 00:22:48,690 Juan Uro: pick the second word and I try to find almost like 338 00:22:48,690 --> 00:22:53,220 Juan Uro: a sentence or at least a couple of words by 339 00:22:53,220 --> 00:22:57,570 Juan Uro: forming the first letter. Usually nothing is set, it's random 340 00:22:57,570 --> 00:23:02,040 Juan Uro: letter so to speak. But here was in the middle of 341 00:23:02,040 --> 00:23:07,050 Juan Uro: Dubai and the five letters was G- O- D- A- 342 00:23:07,050 --> 00:23:11,550 Juan Uro: D, go Dad. So, what's part of me I'm saying 343 00:23:11,850 --> 00:23:14,970 Juan Uro: it cannot be as random as that, it's a little 344 00:23:14,970 --> 00:23:18,960 Juan Uro: bit of his way to stay spiritually with me. So 345 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:24,090 Juan Uro: again, maybe it's serendipity and lucky, but I like to 346 00:23:24,090 --> 00:23:27,750 Juan Uro: think and I have no problem of thinking that there may be 347 00:23:28,500 --> 00:23:32,040 Juan Uro: other ways that he's still with me giving me energy 348 00:23:32,040 --> 00:23:32,550 Juan Uro: and force. 349 00:23:32,880 --> 00:23:36,359 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, no, I like to think that too. I think 350 00:23:36,690 --> 00:23:40,619 Rob Simmelkjaer: so. When I first heard that you were doing this 351 00:23:40,619 --> 00:23:45,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: World Marathon Challenge for some reason I wasn't that surprised 352 00:23:45,780 --> 00:23:50,879 Rob Simmelkjaer: because I know how you run. I mean, you definitely 353 00:23:51,510 --> 00:23:54,689 Rob Simmelkjaer: our number one on the New York Road Runners board 354 00:23:54,690 --> 00:23:58,139 Rob Simmelkjaer: I think in terms of weekly mileage. I see you 355 00:23:58,140 --> 00:24:03,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: in the park, I see your marathon finishes. I think 356 00:24:03,510 --> 00:24:07,230 Rob Simmelkjaer: since I've been here, I think you've done minimum two, 357 00:24:07,260 --> 00:24:11,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: maybe three marathons a year. You've had these short turnaround 358 00:24:11,310 --> 00:24:14,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: marathons like the Boston to London turn or you just 359 00:24:14,910 --> 00:24:18,510 Rob Simmelkjaer: mentioned New York to Philadelphia, so it was clearly in 360 00:24:18,510 --> 00:24:22,470 Rob Simmelkjaer: your legs the mileage that you needed. So, talk about 361 00:24:22,470 --> 00:24:26,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: showing up for the first one that was Antarctica I assume, right, the 362 00:24:26,220 --> 00:24:28,230 Rob Simmelkjaer: similar challenge to what Becs did? 363 00:24:28,410 --> 00:24:28,530 Juan Uro: Yep. 364 00:24:28,770 --> 00:24:32,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: Showing up at that first one, how did you feel? 365 00:24:32,250 --> 00:24:36,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: Did you feel that you had it in you confident 366 00:24:36,780 --> 00:24:39,510 Rob Simmelkjaer: given the short notice of five weeks that you had 367 00:24:39,510 --> 00:24:41,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: and would love to hear you kind of take us 368 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:43,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: through the journey over those seven days? 369 00:24:44,550 --> 00:24:51,570 Juan Uro: Yeah, I felt a little bit unprepared but I don't 370 00:24:51,570 --> 00:24:55,500 Juan Uro: think necessarily it's a fair comment. In fact, even when 371 00:24:55,500 --> 00:24:59,070 Juan Uro: I got the five- week notice, if I would have had five- 372 00:24:59,070 --> 00:25:01,710 Juan Uro: month notice, my preparation would have been exactly the same 373 00:25:01,710 --> 00:25:06,090 Juan Uro: because I literally ran that year up to again, Thanksgiving 374 00:25:06,119 --> 00:25:09,210 Juan Uro: and I was going to, I promised my wife, " We 375 00:25:09,210 --> 00:25:12,149 Juan Uro: arrive to Argentina, we will eat a lot of steaks, 376 00:25:12,150 --> 00:25:14,460 Juan Uro: we'll have a lot of ice cream and a couple 377 00:25:14,460 --> 00:25:18,720 Juan Uro: of good wines." And here we arrive and nothing was 378 00:25:18,720 --> 00:25:24,540 Juan Uro: fulfilled because I ended up being pretty healthy. But I 379 00:25:24,540 --> 00:25:31,440 Juan Uro: knew I was prepared enough. But the week before I 380 00:25:31,440 --> 00:25:34,859 Juan Uro: had two doubts. First is what time I could really 381 00:25:34,859 --> 00:25:38,790 Juan Uro: make. Lately I have been, I don't know, three hours 382 00:25:38,790 --> 00:25:41,640 Juan Uro: and 30- minute marathon and I thought I was going 383 00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:46,859 Juan Uro: to be at best for 30 in each. And the second one 384 00:25:47,460 --> 00:25:52,619 Juan Uro: while I put 130 miles in two or three weeks and basically 385 00:25:52,619 --> 00:25:58,109 Juan Uro: the totality of seven marathons is 180 miles or whatever 386 00:25:58,109 --> 00:26:00,750 Juan Uro: the math is, call it 180, let's give or take. 387 00:26:03,210 --> 00:26:07,200 Juan Uro: I still was into the unknown so I didn't know 388 00:26:07,200 --> 00:26:09,450 Juan Uro: what to expect from that point of view and whether 389 00:26:09,450 --> 00:26:14,310 Juan Uro: the body will be resilient enough for the last few 390 00:26:15,570 --> 00:26:20,040 Juan Uro: marathons. So, I literally tried to approach it off from 391 00:26:20,070 --> 00:26:24,060 Juan Uro: conservative to more risk- taker. And Antarctica being the first 392 00:26:24,060 --> 00:26:28,260 Juan Uro: one I said, " Whatever time, it doesn't matter, just go 393 00:26:28,260 --> 00:26:32,580 Juan Uro: and have fun." And in fact, it was 10 loops 394 00:26:33,840 --> 00:26:40,949 Juan Uro: of 2. 6 kilometers and I broke it into three 395 00:26:40,950 --> 00:26:44,490 Juan Uro: loops. And the last one was the victory lap, so 396 00:26:44,490 --> 00:26:48,449 Juan Uro: to speak. So, the first third was okay, the second 397 00:26:48,450 --> 00:26:51,090 Juan Uro: one it was enjoying the sightseeing and the third one, 398 00:26:51,090 --> 00:26:55,859 Juan Uro: I was literally thinking, " This is most likely the last 399 00:26:55,859 --> 00:26:59,010 Juan Uro: time that I will ever be in this continent so 400 00:26:59,010 --> 00:27:04,770 Juan Uro: just enjoy it." And from that point of view, I 401 00:27:05,280 --> 00:27:10,859 Juan Uro: ended up four hour and 15 or 16, slow but 402 00:27:10,859 --> 00:27:14,850 Juan Uro: I didn't care, literally I had an amazing time. Again, 403 00:27:14,850 --> 00:27:20,580 Juan Uro: not from a clock perspective, what a rewarding experience. So 404 00:27:20,580 --> 00:27:23,670 Juan Uro: many people may be dreaming of at some point going 405 00:27:23,670 --> 00:27:27,540 Juan Uro: to Antarctica, a few may have the opportunity and even fewer 406 00:27:27,540 --> 00:27:32,760 Juan Uro: may actually realize that chance, and for me to run even a marathon, 407 00:27:33,510 --> 00:27:38,369 Juan Uro: which I love, what an amazing moment. So, it was 408 00:27:39,330 --> 00:27:42,149 Juan Uro: okay from a time perspective, the time of my life 409 00:27:42,150 --> 00:27:47,399 Juan Uro: from being there and from that moment it started to 410 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:51,570 Juan Uro: move into a little bit better times up to the point 411 00:27:51,570 --> 00:27:56,850 Juan Uro: in Dubai. So, that's a little bit of the preparation 412 00:27:56,850 --> 00:27:59,250 Juan Uro: and call it the first Antarctica time. 413 00:28:00,420 --> 00:28:04,590 Rob Simmelkjaer: So, take me through the end, take me through, and 414 00:28:04,950 --> 00:28:07,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: to me the travel is always the thing that I 415 00:28:07,020 --> 00:28:11,399 Rob Simmelkjaer: just can't fathom how people are able to do this 416 00:28:11,400 --> 00:28:15,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: to run these marathons, take these flights, get back, recover 417 00:28:15,450 --> 00:28:18,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: from them, do it again. I just don't know how 418 00:28:18,600 --> 00:28:25,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: the body can withstand that combination of things. Which was 419 00:28:25,800 --> 00:28:29,399 Rob Simmelkjaer: the hardest one for you, Dubai, was that your low point? 420 00:28:30,359 --> 00:28:34,830 Juan Uro: That was the first low point because Dubai was marathon 421 00:28:34,830 --> 00:28:42,570 Juan Uro: number four and literally from Antarctica we went to Cape 422 00:28:42,570 --> 00:28:45,420 Juan Uro: Town, that was marathon number two, but nobody was able 423 00:28:45,420 --> 00:28:48,720 Juan Uro: to sleep almost in that flight. So, most people ended up 424 00:28:48,720 --> 00:28:53,130 Juan Uro: with two marathons in call it 36 hours with no sleep in between. 425 00:28:53,550 --> 00:28:56,010 Juan Uro: But then we went to Australia, we slept a lot 426 00:28:56,400 --> 00:28:59,610 Juan Uro: and then back to Middle East and Dubai and people slept a 427 00:28:59,610 --> 00:29:04,110 Juan Uro: lot. But I was placing myself pretty nice until I 428 00:29:04,110 --> 00:29:07,500 Juan Uro: did a mistake in the course, get pretty upset with 429 00:29:07,500 --> 00:29:10,890 Juan Uro: myself, came back, lost a little bit with the group 430 00:29:10,890 --> 00:29:13,800 Juan Uro: that I was running. And then, I felt a little 431 00:29:13,800 --> 00:29:17,520 Juan Uro: bit depleted, not physically but I was not eating well 432 00:29:18,030 --> 00:29:21,840 Juan Uro: between the marathons. So, the body really realized at that 433 00:29:21,840 --> 00:29:28,110 Juan Uro: point that I wasn't having fuel enough. And even mentally 434 00:29:28,110 --> 00:29:31,140 Juan Uro: it was like, " Holy cow, I have done already three 435 00:29:31,140 --> 00:29:35,820 Juan Uro: marathons, but I'm just half of the full journey." So, 436 00:29:35,880 --> 00:29:39,810 Juan Uro: if I feel tired, I just literally only have done 437 00:29:39,810 --> 00:29:42,120 Juan Uro: half of what I'm supposed to do. So, I think between 438 00:29:42,120 --> 00:29:46,410 Juan Uro: that mental aspect, the lack of food, it wasn't lack 439 00:29:46,410 --> 00:29:49,380 Juan Uro: of sleep on that one, it brought me down in 440 00:29:49,380 --> 00:29:52,380 Juan Uro: the last couple of loops. I ended up being four 441 00:29:52,380 --> 00:29:54,331 Juan Uro: hours or four hours and one minute, so it wasn't- 442 00:29:54,331 --> 00:29:54,332 Rob Simmelkjaer: 4:02, 4:02 pretty good. Yeah. 443 00:29:54,332 --> 00:30:01,410 Juan Uro: Yeah, but I was pacing at 3: 50, but the real toughest 444 00:30:01,410 --> 00:30:06,270 Juan Uro: time was marathon six in Brazil, we were at 90 445 00:30:06,270 --> 00:30:11,310 Juan Uro: or 95 degrees, it was four loops. And the third 446 00:30:11,310 --> 00:30:13,980 Juan Uro: loop, I was feeling pretty good until I didn't have 447 00:30:13,980 --> 00:30:17,970 Juan Uro: it anymore, I was overheated. I literally called my wife, 448 00:30:17,970 --> 00:30:21,150 Juan Uro: it was five o'clock Brazil time, seven o'clock I think 449 00:30:21,150 --> 00:30:24,150 Juan Uro: New York or something or the other way around. I 450 00:30:24,150 --> 00:30:26,790 Juan Uro: called her pretty early and I said, " I'm done." And 451 00:30:26,790 --> 00:30:33,300 Juan Uro: she was like, "What do you mean you are done? You are going to finish this thing." She's an amazing in 452 00:30:33,300 --> 00:30:36,930 Juan Uro: terms of giving me corrections and support when I need 453 00:30:36,930 --> 00:30:39,360 Juan Uro: it. And I was like, " Yeah, no, I'm going to walk 454 00:30:39,360 --> 00:30:41,970 Juan Uro: at least," but it was the first time that I 455 00:30:42,090 --> 00:30:48,450 Juan Uro: couldn't really even jog like I was toasted. And one 456 00:30:48,450 --> 00:30:51,540 Juan Uro: of the doctors, we have two doctors through the journey, 457 00:30:51,540 --> 00:30:55,110 Juan Uro: and for some reason they ended up connecting with me and 458 00:30:55,260 --> 00:30:57,330 Juan Uro: a couple of other folks that we run together so they 459 00:30:57,330 --> 00:31:00,660 Juan Uro: were always doing at least one loop with us. So, 460 00:31:00,660 --> 00:31:04,440 Juan Uro: one of these doctors from Boston, he saw me in 461 00:31:04,440 --> 00:31:08,850 Juan Uro: one of the mid- points and he said, " Let's do 462 00:31:08,850 --> 00:31:12,240 Juan Uro: it, let's go." He carried me a little bit in 463 00:31:12,240 --> 00:31:16,230 Juan Uro: the last loop but as I said, I was totally, 464 00:31:16,290 --> 00:31:23,580 Juan Uro: totally exhausted, depleted, emotionally, physically, I couldn't have any more 465 00:31:23,580 --> 00:31:26,430 Juan Uro: of energy to do that one. 466 00:31:27,390 --> 00:31:31,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, it seems like that South American one can be 467 00:31:31,620 --> 00:31:33,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: tough for a lot of people. You were in Brazil, 468 00:31:34,080 --> 00:31:37,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: Becs did hers in Columbia also on a very hot 469 00:31:37,260 --> 00:31:42,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: day. And we all know heat is difficult to deal 470 00:31:42,000 --> 00:31:44,970 Rob Simmelkjaer: with when you're running marathons at all, when you're running 471 00:31:44,970 --> 00:31:48,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: your sixth marathon in six days, I just cannot even 472 00:31:48,570 --> 00:31:52,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: fathom. But you bounced back nicely for the final leg 473 00:31:52,680 --> 00:31:54,240 Rob Simmelkjaer: in the United States. Was that Miami? 474 00:31:55,020 --> 00:31:56,040 Juan Uro: That was Miami, yeah. 475 00:31:56,310 --> 00:31:56,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah. 476 00:31:57,690 --> 00:31:57,751 Juan Uro: We started at- 477 00:31:57,751 --> 00:31:58,860 Rob Simmelkjaer: 4:14, pretty good. 478 00:31:59,430 --> 00:32:01,350 Juan Uro: One o'clock in the morning or something like that it 479 00:32:01,350 --> 00:32:04,740 Juan Uro: was supposed to be six o'clock or seven in the morning. 480 00:32:04,920 --> 00:32:08,460 Juan Uro: That's the thing is we ended up being so ahead 481 00:32:08,460 --> 00:32:12,510 Juan Uro: of schedule that I think the person that was the 482 00:32:12,510 --> 00:32:18,570 Juan Uro: fastest, Tomomi, a Japanese runner, I think she crushed the 483 00:32:18,570 --> 00:32:21,300 Juan Uro: world record if I'm not mistaken of from the first 484 00:32:21,300 --> 00:32:23,670 Juan Uro: marathon to the last one, she ended up in five 485 00:32:23,670 --> 00:32:27,300 Juan Uro: days and 19 hours. So, for me being one hour 486 00:32:27,300 --> 00:32:29,850 Juan Uro: slower, I did five days and 20 hours, but literally 487 00:32:30,810 --> 00:32:33,660 Juan Uro: we save one full day. And I could tell you 488 00:32:33,660 --> 00:32:37,380 Juan Uro: I could have had a couple of nice dinners and sleep 489 00:32:37,380 --> 00:32:41,040 Juan Uro: a couple more hours in those. But yeah, we started 490 00:32:41,040 --> 00:32:44,430 Juan Uro: midnight or something like that and by four or five 491 00:32:44,430 --> 00:32:47,220 Juan Uro: o'clock in the morning I finished, called my wife and said, " 492 00:32:47,220 --> 00:32:49,770 Juan Uro: I just booked a flight, I should be there in 493 00:32:49,770 --> 00:32:53,670 Juan Uro: five hours." There was a little bit of a reunion and a little 494 00:32:53,670 --> 00:32:56,250 Juan Uro: bit of celebration and I had an amazing time with 495 00:32:56,250 --> 00:32:59,910 Juan Uro: many runners. But after 10 days, I was missing the 496 00:32:59,910 --> 00:33:03,030 Juan Uro: family so much that jumped on the first flight back 497 00:33:03,030 --> 00:33:07,140 Juan Uro: to New York and I was midday back in the city. 498 00:33:08,250 --> 00:33:11,880 Rob Simmelkjaer: So, what have you learned from doing this? What did 499 00:33:11,880 --> 00:33:14,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: you learn as a runner, Juan in terms of you 500 00:33:14,310 --> 00:33:18,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: as a runner and what you can do and what 501 00:33:18,450 --> 00:33:21,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: you want to accomplish in your running life? And then 502 00:33:21,000 --> 00:33:23,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: more importantly, what have you learned as a human from 503 00:33:23,460 --> 00:33:24,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: taking this on? 504 00:33:25,890 --> 00:33:31,320 Juan Uro: Yeah, I'll start with the human one and at work, 505 00:33:31,830 --> 00:33:35,370 Juan Uro: many people that work with me, I always said nothing is 506 00:33:35,370 --> 00:33:37,410 Juan Uro: impossible. And I know it sounds like a little bit 507 00:33:37,410 --> 00:33:42,840 Juan Uro: of a cliche but the reality is there's very little 508 00:33:42,840 --> 00:33:49,710 Juan Uro: things that are truly, truly impossible. I think encountering a 509 00:33:49,710 --> 00:33:52,500 Juan Uro: challenge like this the first thing will be, " Yeah, it's 510 00:33:52,500 --> 00:33:54,990 Juan Uro: impossible." And as I said, when I saw it in 511 00:33:54,990 --> 00:33:58,470 Juan Uro: the Expo it was like, " Ah, interesting idea, I don't think 512 00:33:58,470 --> 00:34:02,730 Juan Uro: I can do it." But then, it may be lingering 513 00:34:03,390 --> 00:34:06,480 Juan Uro: in your mind and then you start thinking about it 514 00:34:06,480 --> 00:34:10,320 Juan Uro: and become a little bit less impossible and eventually a 515 00:34:10,320 --> 00:34:13,980 Juan Uro: little bit less impossible. So, point being, if you put 516 00:34:14,700 --> 00:34:20,130 Juan Uro: your heart, if you put your mind, if you put your 517 00:34:20,130 --> 00:34:25,890 Juan Uro: dedication, it's unbelievable how much you can accomplish professionally or personally, 518 00:34:25,890 --> 00:34:29,549 Juan Uro: whether it's in a sport, in endurance or whether it's in 519 00:34:30,090 --> 00:34:35,580 Juan Uro: any capacity that you want to do. And the second thing I 520 00:34:35,580 --> 00:34:39,000 Juan Uro: would say even from that learning is even if you 521 00:34:39,000 --> 00:34:43,260 Juan Uro: don't accomplish it, I think you come up as a 522 00:34:44,910 --> 00:34:49,650 Juan Uro: better person or at least with personal growth. And that's 523 00:34:49,650 --> 00:34:56,610 Juan Uro: the whole point of any of these attempts like many 524 00:34:56,610 --> 00:34:59,700 Juan Uro: people are putting a lot of emphasis on where they 525 00:34:59,700 --> 00:35:02,609 Juan Uro: can achieve something or not, but I would say that 526 00:35:02,609 --> 00:35:06,030 Juan Uro: the pursuit of excellence or the pursuit of something extraordinary 527 00:35:06,030 --> 00:35:10,200 Juan Uro: sometimes can be much more rewarding than the achievement of 528 00:35:10,200 --> 00:35:17,130 Juan Uro: something extraordinary. So, that to me is the lesson almost 529 00:35:17,130 --> 00:35:28,980 Juan Uro: at the personal level. In terms of running, I don't know, I don't 530 00:35:28,980 --> 00:35:33,930 Juan Uro: have goals on running. For example, I don't count the 531 00:35:33,930 --> 00:35:37,770 Juan Uro: number of marathons that I have done incredibly enough, literally I 532 00:35:37,770 --> 00:35:38,490 Juan Uro: don't know how many I have. 533 00:35:38,489 --> 00:35:40,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: I was going to ask you because it's got to 534 00:35:40,920 --> 00:35:43,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: be up there. I mean, I was wondering if you 535 00:35:43,110 --> 00:35:44,489 Rob Simmelkjaer: had that count, but you don't even know. 536 00:35:44,760 --> 00:35:48,360 Juan Uro: No, I always say I answer in Spanish and I say 537 00:35:48,360 --> 00:35:54,509 Juan Uro: cincuenta and cincuenta means 50 but also means sin cuenta, 538 00:35:54,510 --> 00:35:57,930 Juan Uro: without counting. So, it's kind of a funny way to 539 00:35:57,930 --> 00:36:00,690 Juan Uro: answer that. I know it's more than 50, I know it's 540 00:36:00,690 --> 00:36:03,480 Juan Uro: less than 100. At some point probably I will be 541 00:36:04,590 --> 00:36:07,680 Juan Uro: doing the clinical analysis to see if I ever dare 542 00:36:07,920 --> 00:36:11,670 Juan Uro: to do 100, but it's not part of necessarily a challenge 543 00:36:11,670 --> 00:36:17,940 Juan Uro: that I need to set for myself. But as I 544 00:36:17,940 --> 00:36:20,969 Juan Uro: said, look, I think the thing that I have learned 545 00:36:21,300 --> 00:36:29,609 Juan Uro: is no matter the weather, no matter the conditions, when 546 00:36:29,610 --> 00:36:32,280 Juan Uro: you put the mind into it and when you put 547 00:36:32,280 --> 00:36:36,330 Juan Uro: the heart into it, literally I was finishing marathons and I was like 548 00:36:36,360 --> 00:36:39,390 Juan Uro: I couldn't move. I looked like the Mummy, like I 549 00:36:39,390 --> 00:36:43,710 Juan Uro: was walking so funny. 550 00:36:44,000 --> 00:36:43,831 Rob Simmelkjaer: (inaudible) Yeah. 551 00:36:43,830 --> 00:36:47,760 Juan Uro: Yeah, exactly, exactly. And then, you jump on the plane 552 00:36:47,760 --> 00:36:50,040 Juan Uro: and you have the compression socks and you may start 553 00:36:50,040 --> 00:36:53,520 Juan Uro: feeling a little bit better. And then, you arrive to 554 00:36:53,520 --> 00:36:55,859 Juan Uro: immigrations and you can walk a little bit better and 555 00:36:55,860 --> 00:36:58,350 Juan Uro: then you get to the starting line and you start 556 00:36:58,350 --> 00:37:03,180 Juan Uro: running. And it's incredible how 16 hours before you said, 557 00:37:03,630 --> 00:37:06,510 Juan Uro: my body cannot take it anymore but again, the spirit. 558 00:37:07,110 --> 00:37:10,860 Juan Uro: So, going back to dark times in a race or 559 00:37:10,860 --> 00:37:16,979 Juan Uro: in a marathon, you may be suffering but you can 560 00:37:16,979 --> 00:37:21,420 Juan Uro: still do it so that's the learning. 561 00:37:22,380 --> 00:37:28,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: It's Father's Day week and it's so great to say 562 00:37:28,710 --> 00:37:33,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: that you're a father again, you have a daughter, Isabella. 563 00:37:34,710 --> 00:37:41,070 Rob Simmelkjaer: Talk about your role as a father now, the role 564 00:37:41,070 --> 00:37:44,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: that running plays even with your family. I don't know 565 00:37:44,100 --> 00:37:46,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: how big your wife, your daughter, and I know you've 566 00:37:46,380 --> 00:37:50,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: run maybe some 5Ks together, what does it mean to 567 00:37:50,250 --> 00:37:55,080 Rob Simmelkjaer: you just to have that opportunity to A, run with 568 00:37:55,320 --> 00:37:59,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: her, but also set the example that you set for 569 00:37:59,850 --> 00:38:01,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: her in running these races? 570 00:38:02,489 --> 00:38:10,739 Juan Uro: Yeah, I think she's proud, I haven't done this to 571 00:38:10,739 --> 00:38:14,100 Juan Uro: make her proud per se. Running is in a way 572 00:38:14,100 --> 00:38:17,460 Juan Uro: selfish to me and I go back to if I 573 00:38:17,460 --> 00:38:20,190 Juan Uro: dedicated this to my son. But interesting, I think it 574 00:38:20,190 --> 00:38:23,190 Juan Uro: was a few years ago that she came to me 575 00:38:23,190 --> 00:38:26,430 Juan Uro: and literally asked me the question, " Why do you always run 576 00:38:26,430 --> 00:38:30,120 Juan Uro: with Bauti's picture, why you are not having my picture?" 577 00:38:31,590 --> 00:38:36,989 Juan Uro: And it was an interesting question, literally should I have 578 00:38:36,989 --> 00:38:38,939 Juan Uro: a little bit of her picture? And I said, " Well, 579 00:38:39,810 --> 00:38:43,560 Juan Uro: because I can run with you and I wish we would 580 00:38:43,680 --> 00:38:47,399 Juan Uro: have a chance to run." And I think that get 581 00:38:47,400 --> 00:38:50,820 Juan Uro: her to at least do one race. So, we ended 582 00:38:50,820 --> 00:38:56,940 Juan Uro: up doing the Dash to the Finish two or three 583 00:38:56,940 --> 00:39:01,170 Juan Uro: years ago and then she enjoyed. And again, she may 584 00:39:01,170 --> 00:39:04,140 Juan Uro: feel excluded of the marathons in a way. I think 585 00:39:04,140 --> 00:39:07,860 Juan Uro: we bond together on many sports, she plays tennis and I 586 00:39:07,860 --> 00:39:11,370 Juan Uro: love going to watch almost all her matches and we 587 00:39:11,370 --> 00:39:16,710 Juan Uro: play together and we bond on other activities. But at 588 00:39:16,710 --> 00:39:20,250 Juan Uro: least she's still part of that running so she does 589 00:39:20,250 --> 00:39:24,840 Juan Uro: a couple of those races. But also I think she 590 00:39:24,840 --> 00:39:28,950 Juan Uro: understood how special was that time for me with my 591 00:39:28,950 --> 00:39:32,640 Juan Uro: son, so to speak, because even when she's not sharing 592 00:39:34,530 --> 00:39:40,080 Juan Uro: time with her brother, she knows about her brother. And 593 00:39:40,080 --> 00:39:44,730 Juan Uro: by the way, she lives an amazing honorable life because 594 00:39:44,730 --> 00:39:48,089 Juan Uro: I think my wife and I probably without necessarily putting 595 00:39:48,090 --> 00:39:54,450 Juan Uro: pressure, she understood that she needs to live a life 596 00:39:55,440 --> 00:40:04,650 Juan Uro: worth living, so to speak. So again, it's special when 597 00:40:04,650 --> 00:40:07,710 Juan Uro: we do it once or twice a year, but she 598 00:40:07,710 --> 00:40:11,340 Juan Uro: also is respectful of my time with her brother, so 599 00:40:11,340 --> 00:40:11,790 Juan Uro: to speak. 600 00:40:12,840 --> 00:40:16,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: That's a pretty amazing Father's Day story, no question about 601 00:40:16,890 --> 00:40:19,230 Rob Simmelkjaer: it. And fatherhood can take a lot of different forms, 602 00:40:20,910 --> 00:40:24,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: everybody's got a different journey as a father. Yours has 603 00:40:24,210 --> 00:40:28,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: been one that's been difficult at times for sure, but 604 00:40:29,250 --> 00:40:32,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: really fulfilling as well and running has been a big 605 00:40:32,610 --> 00:40:35,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: part of it. Well, I have to ask you the 606 00:40:36,030 --> 00:40:39,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: board member question at the end of course, Juan, you're 607 00:40:39,480 --> 00:40:42,930 Rob Simmelkjaer: one of our board members, you devote a lot of 608 00:40:42,930 --> 00:40:50,489 Rob Simmelkjaer: your hours, resources, time, commitment to our organization helping us 609 00:40:50,489 --> 00:40:53,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: be the best that we can be. Why do you 610 00:40:53,670 --> 00:40:58,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: do it? What makes you want to give back to 611 00:40:58,230 --> 00:41:03,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: the organization? And your running journey, what do you think 612 00:41:03,540 --> 00:41:06,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: our members and others out there can learn about the 613 00:41:06,780 --> 00:41:09,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: role that Road Runners can play in their running journey? 614 00:41:11,100 --> 00:41:15,330 Juan Uro: Yeah, look, I think if I will have the chance to 615 00:41:15,330 --> 00:41:18,870 Juan Uro: serve in any organization in the entire world and I 616 00:41:18,870 --> 00:41:22,919 Juan Uro: need to choose one, this is the organization. So, in 617 00:41:22,920 --> 00:41:26,430 Juan Uro: a way lucky me that I was able to play 618 00:41:26,430 --> 00:41:31,469 Juan Uro: that role. Number one, 10 years ago I became an 619 00:41:31,469 --> 00:41:35,670 Juan Uro: American but 25 years ago became a New Yorker so 620 00:41:35,910 --> 00:41:39,150 Juan Uro: it's my city. I have lived here most of my 621 00:41:39,150 --> 00:41:43,529 Juan Uro: life and I love the city and any opportunity to give 622 00:41:43,530 --> 00:41:47,520 Juan Uro: back to the city is incredible. Number two, running Half 623 00:41:47,940 --> 00:41:51,960 Juan Uro: saved my life along the journey, it make me from 624 00:41:51,960 --> 00:41:54,450 Juan Uro: the early days as I said, just to look better 625 00:41:54,450 --> 00:41:58,950 Juan Uro: as a teenager to the days of finding a challenge 626 00:41:58,950 --> 00:42:03,600 Juan Uro: to the days of just staying alive. And I think 627 00:42:03,600 --> 00:42:06,930 Juan Uro: that that's for many people that maybe listen to the 628 00:42:06,930 --> 00:42:10,620 Juan Uro: podcast or people that run our events, some they do 629 00:42:10,620 --> 00:42:14,430 Juan Uro: it for physical wellness, some for mental wellness, some for 630 00:42:14,430 --> 00:42:17,850 Juan Uro: spiritual. And the role that we have in making those 631 00:42:19,500 --> 00:42:25,440 Juan Uro: communities accessible, our open runs, what we do for kids, 632 00:42:26,820 --> 00:42:28,890 Juan Uro: it's almost an obligation to pay back to the next 633 00:42:28,890 --> 00:42:32,850 Juan Uro: generation what some of us were lucky enough to live. 634 00:42:33,989 --> 00:42:39,719 Juan Uro: So, that's the reason why I do it and I appreciate 635 00:42:39,719 --> 00:42:44,760 Juan Uro: the opportunity of being invited by George many years ago 636 00:42:45,030 --> 00:42:50,610 Juan Uro: into the board and try to make a difference every 637 00:42:50,610 --> 00:42:54,090 Juan Uro: day or every week in giving back to the community 638 00:42:54,090 --> 00:42:57,810 Juan Uro: in sport that has made me a better person. 639 00:43:00,210 --> 00:43:05,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: Juan, thank you for a great conversation, a meaningful conversation. 640 00:43:05,730 --> 00:43:09,719 Rob Simmelkjaer: I really appreciate your sharing it with me, with our 641 00:43:09,719 --> 00:43:15,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: listeners and everybody out there. Congratulations to you for everything 642 00:43:15,180 --> 00:43:17,219 Rob Simmelkjaer: you've done and Happy Father's Day. 643 00:43:18,000 --> 00:43:20,460 Juan Uro: Happy Father's Day to you as well, Rob and thanks 644 00:43:20,460 --> 00:43:21,060 Juan Uro: for inviting me. 645 00:43:34,680 --> 00:43:37,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: Today as part of our Pride Month celebrations, we're talking 646 00:43:37,620 --> 00:43:42,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: with a truly inspiring runner. Galo Vasquez is a SUNY 647 00:43:42,060 --> 00:43:45,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: New Paltz alum who has dominated New York Road Runners non- 648 00:43:45,420 --> 00:43:48,870 Rob Simmelkjaer: binary division. Just this year, Galo won the non- binary 649 00:43:48,870 --> 00:43:52,469 Rob Simmelkjaer: title at both the United Airlines NYC Half and the 650 00:43:52,469 --> 00:43:55,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: RBC Brooklyn Half and they hold the school record for 651 00:43:55,710 --> 00:43:59,640 Rob Simmelkjaer: the 8K at New Paltz. Galo trains with the Westchester 652 00:43:59,640 --> 00:44:03,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: Track Club and also coaches so they bring a wealth 653 00:44:03,060 --> 00:44:04,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: of experience to the sports. 654 00:44:04,980 --> 00:44:08,310 Meb Keflezighi: Thanks, Rob. Galo, welcome to the Set the Pace podcast. 655 00:44:08,310 --> 00:44:09,150 Meb Keflezighi: How's it going today? 656 00:44:09,330 --> 00:44:10,860 Galo Vasquez: Hey, it's going pretty well. 657 00:44:11,130 --> 00:44:14,250 Meb Keflezighi: What a year you had. You were the top non- binary finisher 658 00:44:14,250 --> 00:44:18,330 Meb Keflezighi: at the 2025 United Airlines NYC Half and then broke 659 00:44:18,330 --> 00:44:23,850 Meb Keflezighi: the tape at the 2025 RBC Brooklyn Half. What do those back- to- 660 00:44:23,850 --> 00:44:25,590 Meb Keflezighi: back victories means to you personally? 661 00:44:26,370 --> 00:44:30,420 Galo Vasquez: I got to summarize it, I just enjoy doing it. I 662 00:44:31,080 --> 00:44:36,780 Galo Vasquez: just really love going out there and stringing together those 663 00:44:36,780 --> 00:44:41,370 Galo Vasquez: 13 miles. And when I come away with a victory it's 664 00:44:41,370 --> 00:44:44,700 Galo Vasquez: always like a bonus, but I just love getting out 665 00:44:44,700 --> 00:44:49,469 Galo Vasquez: there, I love racing. So, having just the opportunity is 666 00:44:49,469 --> 00:44:53,310 Galo Vasquez: really just to show up and give it my best, it 667 00:44:53,310 --> 00:44:55,560 Galo Vasquez: really means everything to me. And then, the win is 668 00:44:56,489 --> 00:45:00,989 Galo Vasquez: nice, a little extra, and I get to fortunately have 669 00:45:02,489 --> 00:45:05,640 Galo Vasquez: a pretty stable job up here so I get to 670 00:45:05,700 --> 00:45:12,690 Galo Vasquez: do some donations and stuff to different LGBTQ organizations and 671 00:45:13,620 --> 00:45:16,560 Galo Vasquez: just humanitarian age for so many things that are going on 672 00:45:16,560 --> 00:45:19,170 Galo Vasquez: with that little extra bonus that I get from the victories. 673 00:45:20,310 --> 00:45:22,410 Meb Keflezighi: Great. We'll go into that a little bit more deeper, but 674 00:45:22,410 --> 00:45:25,230 Meb Keflezighi: how do you prepare for each race for the NYC 675 00:45:25,920 --> 00:45:26,880 Meb Keflezighi: Half and Brooklyn? 676 00:45:28,380 --> 00:45:32,310 Galo Vasquez: How do I prepare? Let's see. So, for a while 677 00:45:33,600 --> 00:45:37,950 Galo Vasquez: all through during college and stuff, I was doing a 678 00:45:37,950 --> 00:45:43,200 Galo Vasquez: lot of mileage. But in recent years, in the past 679 00:45:43,320 --> 00:45:47,670 Galo Vasquez: two to three years, I've been doing some pretty steady 30- 680 00:45:47,670 --> 00:45:51,090 Galo Vasquez: mile weeks and just letting my body really how I 681 00:45:51,090 --> 00:45:56,670 Galo Vasquez: feel take charge of my training. So, when I was 682 00:45:56,670 --> 00:46:01,140 Galo Vasquez: maybe four years ago I was doing 80, 90 miles, but 683 00:46:01,140 --> 00:46:05,040 Galo Vasquez: now I'm just doing two workouts a week, always doing 684 00:46:05,040 --> 00:46:10,739 Galo Vasquez: strides almost every day, a lot of some calisthenics but 685 00:46:10,950 --> 00:46:16,950 Galo Vasquez: nothing out there. Most of my runs are, or at 686 00:46:16,950 --> 00:46:22,530 Galo Vasquez: least my workouts, are repeats of two minutes or something 687 00:46:22,530 --> 00:46:25,980 Galo Vasquez: and sometimes some four- mile tempos, maybe some two- mile 688 00:46:25,980 --> 00:46:30,420 Galo Vasquez: tempo repeats, yeah, and then just getting good rest 689 00:46:31,410 --> 00:46:35,310 Meb Keflezighi: From competing from 8K to the Half Marathon US SUNY 690 00:46:35,700 --> 00:46:38,370 Meb Keflezighi: New Paltz profile notes that you had the school record for the 8K, 25: 691 00:46:38,550 --> 00:46:43,710 Meb Keflezighi: 03. How was the college experience running cross country and track 692 00:46:43,710 --> 00:46:47,340 Meb Keflezighi: and field influencing training for the competitive as a road 693 00:46:47,340 --> 00:46:49,080 Meb Keflezighi: racer now up to 13. 1 miles? 694 00:46:49,890 --> 00:46:54,090 Galo Vasquez: Yeah, I mean, I think I learned a lot about 695 00:46:54,090 --> 00:46:59,010 Galo Vasquez: racing and about patience because when you're in the collegiate 696 00:46:59,010 --> 00:47:02,370 Galo Vasquez: level, I had so many people around me, it was 697 00:47:02,489 --> 00:47:05,160 Galo Vasquez: very, very competitive and you're always kind of keeping track 698 00:47:05,160 --> 00:47:10,350 Galo Vasquez: of who's where and what teams are coming up. But 699 00:47:10,350 --> 00:47:13,739 Galo Vasquez: honestly, in a way running outside the college it's a 700 00:47:13,739 --> 00:47:17,460 Galo Vasquez: little less intense in terms of being aware of who's 701 00:47:17,460 --> 00:47:20,010 Galo Vasquez: there and who's not and all that stuff. So, you get to 702 00:47:20,010 --> 00:47:23,370 Galo Vasquez: kind of focus a little bit more on yourself. So, 703 00:47:23,370 --> 00:47:25,800 Galo Vasquez: I think I got used to that level of intensity 704 00:47:25,800 --> 00:47:29,400 Galo Vasquez: early on and then it became I think a lot 705 00:47:29,400 --> 00:47:31,110 Galo Vasquez: easier to say, " Okay, I'm going to show up to 706 00:47:31,110 --> 00:47:34,200 Galo Vasquez: the race." There might be a lot more people at 707 00:47:34,200 --> 00:47:37,230 Galo Vasquez: these big road races, you have thousands and thousands of 708 00:47:37,230 --> 00:47:44,820 Galo Vasquez: people, but the race itself felt a little more relaxed like, " 709 00:47:44,820 --> 00:47:47,400 Galo Vasquez: All right, I'm going to go out here, I'm going to hit my pace. I'm not 710 00:47:47,400 --> 00:47:49,710 Galo Vasquez: really looking to, I don't know where I'm going to 711 00:47:49,710 --> 00:47:54,450 Galo Vasquez: end up scoring or whatever, but I'm just going to do 712 00:47:54,450 --> 00:47:57,840 Galo Vasquez: my best." So, it definitely prepared me and then now it 713 00:47:57,840 --> 00:48:00,060 Galo Vasquez: feels a lot easier. 714 00:48:00,570 --> 00:48:03,180 Meb Keflezighi: No, it's all about being balanced but as a full- 715 00:48:03,180 --> 00:48:06,060 Meb Keflezighi: time employee and trying to get some mileage, I know 716 00:48:06,060 --> 00:48:08,400 Meb Keflezighi: you say you're not running as many miles but how do you balance 717 00:48:08,400 --> 00:48:12,270 Meb Keflezighi: work and trying to have your own peak performance and 718 00:48:12,270 --> 00:48:13,830 Meb Keflezighi: winning those big races? 719 00:48:14,250 --> 00:48:19,319 Galo Vasquez: Yeah, I would say work and my training really ... Work, 720 00:48:19,320 --> 00:48:23,219 Galo Vasquez: my training and volunteering really frame everything I do so 721 00:48:24,750 --> 00:48:28,980 Galo Vasquez: when I'm scheduling stuff, that's really what I'm thinking about. 722 00:48:29,040 --> 00:48:33,660 Galo Vasquez: But I try to work here at the school, at 723 00:48:33,660 --> 00:48:36,060 Galo Vasquez: the high school I work at I've had an assistant coaching 724 00:48:36,060 --> 00:48:42,779 Galo Vasquez: job, and so I'll end up running with the kids after school 725 00:48:42,780 --> 00:48:47,160 Galo Vasquez: sometimes or they'll see me right outside after the bell 726 00:48:47,160 --> 00:48:51,000 Galo Vasquez: rings on the grass I'm doing a workout. So, I just 727 00:48:51,000 --> 00:48:53,489 Galo Vasquez: try to make things mesh with each other as much 728 00:48:53,489 --> 00:48:58,320 Galo Vasquez: as possible, integrate them together so that I make time 729 00:48:58,320 --> 00:49:00,870 Galo Vasquez: for myself so I can get all my things done. 730 00:49:02,790 --> 00:49:06,299 Galo Vasquez: Yeah, that's it, just make things integrate together. Everybody kind 731 00:49:06,300 --> 00:49:08,460 Galo Vasquez: of knows what I'm up to around here, they know 732 00:49:08,460 --> 00:49:11,940 Galo Vasquez: that I'm dedicated to what I do and that I take 733 00:49:11,940 --> 00:49:15,330 Galo Vasquez: time out of my day after school to get it done. And 734 00:49:15,719 --> 00:49:18,660 Galo Vasquez: I see people in the community, everyone's super supportive so 735 00:49:20,250 --> 00:49:23,850 Galo Vasquez: it makes staying on the path pretty easy. 736 00:49:24,810 --> 00:49:27,360 Meb Keflezighi: No, I know you alluded to as volunteering or as 737 00:49:27,360 --> 00:49:31,110 Meb Keflezighi: a visible non- binary athlete and a coach, how do you think your 738 00:49:31,110 --> 00:49:37,350 Meb Keflezighi: success and visibility helps the LGBTQ+ and other underrepresented runners? 739 00:49:38,070 --> 00:49:42,450 Galo Vasquez: I would say it's a tough time for a lot 740 00:49:42,450 --> 00:49:47,250 Galo Vasquez: of groups of people right now to feel comfortable, to 741 00:49:47,250 --> 00:49:50,218 Galo Vasquez: feel brave, to feel like they can pursue the things 742 00:49:50,219 --> 00:49:52,710 Galo Vasquez: they want to do in life and not be kind 743 00:49:52,710 --> 00:49:56,339 Galo Vasquez: of overwhelmed by the barriers that come. So, I think 744 00:49:56,340 --> 00:50:00,870 Galo Vasquez: it's really awesome to have these big races that do 745 00:50:01,020 --> 00:50:04,590 Galo Vasquez: put some spotlights on the LGBT community that have non- 746 00:50:04,590 --> 00:50:13,650 Galo Vasquez: binary categories 'cause it reminds people that beyond maybe one 747 00:50:13,650 --> 00:50:16,110 Galo Vasquez: piece of your identity, you are a whole person. You 748 00:50:16,350 --> 00:50:19,800 Galo Vasquez: have all these things to, you could be an educator, 749 00:50:19,800 --> 00:50:22,530 Galo Vasquez: you could be a runner, you could be activist, you 750 00:50:22,530 --> 00:50:27,540 Galo Vasquez: could be, I don't know, a small business owner. So, to learn about 751 00:50:27,540 --> 00:50:30,750 Galo Vasquez: these people and people's stories, I think it really makes 752 00:50:30,750 --> 00:50:33,060 Galo Vasquez: people feel like, " Oh, I can balance these things and 753 00:50:33,060 --> 00:50:37,860 Galo Vasquez: I don't have to just be this one thing," so 754 00:50:38,430 --> 00:50:41,130 Galo Vasquez: it's awesome, I think it really helps that. 755 00:50:42,390 --> 00:50:44,549 Meb Keflezighi: Well, we're grateful for the New Yorker runs for giving 756 00:50:44,550 --> 00:50:47,399 Meb Keflezighi: us a platform to shine our talent, but do you 757 00:50:47,400 --> 00:50:51,299 Meb Keflezighi: engage in any advocacy or mentorship outside of the competition? 758 00:50:53,610 --> 00:50:57,330 Galo Vasquez: Yeah, I'm a part of the Transcenders, which is a 759 00:50:57,330 --> 00:51:02,190 Galo Vasquez: trans and non- binary running team that organizes up here. 760 00:51:04,290 --> 00:51:07,290 Galo Vasquez: Let's see, I guess we're, it was like Ulster County 761 00:51:07,620 --> 00:51:09,210 Galo Vasquez: area but we have a lot of members from a 762 00:51:09,210 --> 00:51:13,140 Galo Vasquez: lot of different places. And now it's kind of hopefully 763 00:51:13,560 --> 00:51:18,150 Galo Vasquez: becoming a tradition. We're having this track meet I think 764 00:51:18,210 --> 00:51:22,440 Galo Vasquez: it's August and it happens up here, last year it 765 00:51:22,440 --> 00:51:26,400 Galo Vasquez: happened in Dutchess County in Poughkeepsie. So, it was great 766 00:51:26,400 --> 00:51:34,380 Galo Vasquez: to get people together who are people in LGBT community who 767 00:51:34,380 --> 00:51:36,630 Galo Vasquez: just want to compete and want to feel comfortable, want 768 00:51:36,630 --> 00:51:39,989 Galo Vasquez: to feel safe and want to come out here and 769 00:51:40,980 --> 00:51:42,900 Galo Vasquez: get to know each other, but all for the love 770 00:51:42,900 --> 00:51:47,969 Galo Vasquez: of competing and moving around and just having a joyful 771 00:51:47,969 --> 00:51:52,770 Galo Vasquez: atmosphere. So, doing stuff like that is really important. And 772 00:51:52,770 --> 00:51:58,529 Galo Vasquez: then, like I said before just when I run, it's 773 00:51:58,770 --> 00:52:00,900 Galo Vasquez: a place for my physical freedom but I'm thinking about 774 00:52:00,900 --> 00:52:04,529 Galo Vasquez: everything that's going on in the world. So, while I'm thinking 775 00:52:04,530 --> 00:52:06,660 Galo Vasquez: about my races, my pace and stuff, I'm also thinking 776 00:52:06,660 --> 00:52:08,969 Galo Vasquez: about my family, my friends and what's going on in the 777 00:52:08,969 --> 00:52:13,980 Galo Vasquez: world where I can donate some money that I have 778 00:52:14,250 --> 00:52:20,670 Galo Vasquez: living around, especially with the wars are going on, the 779 00:52:20,670 --> 00:52:24,330 Galo Vasquez: blockade in Gaza, things like that, people are in a 780 00:52:24,330 --> 00:52:27,810 Galo Vasquez: lot of need. So, that's kind of how I organize. 781 00:52:28,200 --> 00:52:30,719 Galo Vasquez: I have some groups here too in Hudson Valley that 782 00:52:30,719 --> 00:52:35,160 Galo Vasquez: I work with together. A lot of educational stuff, putting 783 00:52:35,160 --> 00:52:40,770 Galo Vasquez: on just information to bring people to a center so that 784 00:52:40,770 --> 00:52:44,850 Galo Vasquez: we can all get on the same page and work together. 785 00:52:45,960 --> 00:52:48,870 Meb Keflezighi: Well, Galo, you're doing an amazing work leading the pace 786 00:52:48,870 --> 00:52:51,960 Meb Keflezighi: and then also doing some advocacy work and then they 787 00:52:51,960 --> 00:52:54,660 Meb Keflezighi: are very admired what you are doing and breaking barriers. 788 00:52:54,660 --> 00:52:57,330 Meb Keflezighi: So, keep up the great work, we're grateful for you 789 00:52:57,330 --> 00:53:00,480 Meb Keflezighi: to be here and be able to just be advocacy 790 00:53:00,480 --> 00:53:03,239 Meb Keflezighi: for this less fortunate one so keep up the great work. 791 00:53:04,110 --> 00:53:06,210 Galo Vasquez: Well, thank you so much for the opportunity to have 792 00:53:06,210 --> 00:53:06,570 Galo Vasquez: a chat. 793 00:53:06,989 --> 00:53:09,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: Thank you, Galo, for joining us and for being a 794 00:53:09,000 --> 00:53:12,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: member of New York Road Runners. New York Road Runners 795 00:53:12,120 --> 00:53:15,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: is a nonprofit organization with a vision to build healthier 796 00:53:15,540 --> 00:53:19,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: lives and stronger communities through the transformative power of running. 797 00:53:19,830 --> 00:53:22,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: The support of members and donors like you helps us 798 00:53:22,680 --> 00:53:26,040 Rob Simmelkjaer: achieve our mission to transform the health and wellbeing of 799 00:53:26,040 --> 00:53:31,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: our communities through inclusive and accessible running experiences empowering all 800 00:53:31,110 --> 00:53:36,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: to achieve their potential. Learn more and contribute at nyrr. org/ 801 00:53:36,540 --> 00:53:41,550 Rob Simmelkjaer: donate. Yukiko Matsuzaki is a board- certified clinical specialist at 802 00:53:41,550 --> 00:53:45,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: Hospital for Special Surgery. She treats children and adolescents with 803 00:53:45,750 --> 00:53:49,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: a range of orthopedic and sports- related injuries, both surgical 804 00:53:49,500 --> 00:53:54,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: and non- surgical. Yukiko works closely with physicians and performance 805 00:53:54,120 --> 00:53:57,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: specialists to help young athletes recover safely and return to 806 00:53:57,630 --> 00:54:01,319 Rob Simmelkjaer: sport with a lower risk of future injury. She's published 807 00:54:01,320 --> 00:54:04,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: a handful of research papers on topics of youth runner 808 00:54:04,560 --> 00:54:09,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: biomechanics, knee surgeries and pediatric sports medicine. 809 00:54:09,690 --> 00:54:13,200 Meb Keflezighi: Thanks Rob. Yukiko, welcome to the Set the Pace podcast, 810 00:54:13,200 --> 00:54:14,100 Meb Keflezighi: how's it going today? 811 00:54:14,340 --> 00:54:17,640 Yukiko Matsuzaki: Good, good. Thanks for having me, Meb. It's so exciting to be here. 812 00:54:18,540 --> 00:54:22,770 Meb Keflezighi: Delighted to have you. You specialize in treating pediatric adolescent 813 00:54:22,770 --> 00:54:26,130 Meb Keflezighi: athletes, what are some of the most common running related 814 00:54:26,190 --> 00:54:28,380 Meb Keflezighi: injuries you see at that age group? 815 00:54:28,770 --> 00:54:34,049 Yukiko Matsuzaki: Yeah, sure. So, basically what makes this pediatric and adolescent 816 00:54:34,050 --> 00:54:38,820 Yukiko Matsuzaki: athletes unique compared to the adults is that their bodies 817 00:54:38,820 --> 00:54:43,140 Yukiko Matsuzaki: are constantly changing, meaning their bones, their muscles, their nervous 818 00:54:43,140 --> 00:54:47,460 Yukiko Matsuzaki: system, their hormone levels, their bone density, they're all changing 819 00:54:47,460 --> 00:54:51,960 Yukiko Matsuzaki: until they become an adult. Now, all kids go through 820 00:54:52,890 --> 00:54:56,940 Yukiko Matsuzaki: periods of steady state growth and really fast rates of 821 00:54:56,940 --> 00:55:00,540 Yukiko Matsuzaki: growth, which we call growth spurts, and this is really 822 00:55:00,540 --> 00:55:03,060 Yukiko Matsuzaki: the time where a lot of kids are most vulnerable 823 00:55:03,060 --> 00:55:07,860 Yukiko Matsuzaki: to injury. And the bones are getting longer but the 824 00:55:07,860 --> 00:55:11,310 Yukiko Matsuzaki: tendons and the muscles which attach to the bones don't 825 00:55:11,310 --> 00:55:15,300 Yukiko Matsuzaki: stretch out naturally. So, now we have a taller kid 826 00:55:15,300 --> 00:55:20,640 Yukiko Matsuzaki: with tight muscles like hamstrings and calf muscles, and just 827 00:55:20,640 --> 00:55:25,020 Yukiko Matsuzaki: because you're taller doesn't mean you're naturally stronger. So, now 828 00:55:25,020 --> 00:55:28,860 Yukiko Matsuzaki: we have a tall kid with tight muscles and relatively 829 00:55:28,860 --> 00:55:34,140 Yukiko Matsuzaki: weaker muscles. Sometimes these tight muscles can cause what we 830 00:55:34,140 --> 00:55:37,469 Yukiko Matsuzaki: call growing pains, these can be what we call Osgood- 831 00:55:37,469 --> 00:55:41,550 Yukiko Matsuzaki: Schlatter disease or Sever's disease, they're at the knee or 832 00:55:41,550 --> 00:55:44,460 Yukiko Matsuzaki: the heel. They're called disease but not really a disease. 833 00:55:45,719 --> 00:55:50,070 Yukiko Matsuzaki: And there's also some similar kind of injuries at the 834 00:55:50,070 --> 00:55:55,739 Yukiko Matsuzaki: pelvis and hips that don't have very special names. And 835 00:55:55,739 --> 00:55:58,950 Yukiko Matsuzaki: then, other times it's a combination of tight muscles and 836 00:55:59,040 --> 00:56:04,920 Yukiko Matsuzaki: weak muscles that can result in things like front of 837 00:56:04,920 --> 00:56:09,300 Yukiko Matsuzaki: the knee pain. And then, finally in kids, the bones 838 00:56:09,300 --> 00:56:12,420 Yukiko Matsuzaki: are naturally softer than they are in adults, which is 839 00:56:12,420 --> 00:56:15,660 Yukiko Matsuzaki: why we see more bone- related injuries, things like stress 840 00:56:15,660 --> 00:56:19,560 Yukiko Matsuzaki: fractures and avulsion fractures in this population. The avulsion fractures 841 00:56:19,560 --> 00:56:22,410 Yukiko Matsuzaki: at the pelvis and the hips is kind of commonly 842 00:56:22,410 --> 00:56:24,930 Yukiko Matsuzaki: seen in the sprinters, not so much in the long- 843 00:56:24,930 --> 00:56:27,180 Yukiko Matsuzaki: distance runners. I hope I answered that question. 844 00:56:27,870 --> 00:56:31,110 Meb Keflezighi: Oh, you did, you did great. And how does working 845 00:56:31,110 --> 00:56:34,080 Meb Keflezighi: with a 14- year- old cross- country runner differ from 846 00:56:34,320 --> 00:56:37,830 Meb Keflezighi: treating an adult marathoner? I know you already answered it, 847 00:56:37,830 --> 00:56:41,160 Meb Keflezighi: but what should parents and coaches be aware? Because I 848 00:56:41,160 --> 00:56:43,710 Meb Keflezighi: have a 15- year- old daughter and she plays contact 849 00:56:43,710 --> 00:56:48,900 Meb Keflezighi: soccer and she still has the growth bone injury, not 850 00:56:48,900 --> 00:56:51,719 Meb Keflezighi: injury but when it impacts she feels like in pain 851 00:56:51,719 --> 00:56:53,549 Meb Keflezighi: or feel like, if it's an adult it would've been 852 00:56:53,550 --> 00:56:56,609 Meb Keflezighi: a disaster, but because it's still growing, how do you see 853 00:56:56,610 --> 00:57:00,600 Meb Keflezighi: that development or science be able to just be okay 854 00:57:00,600 --> 00:57:03,030 Meb Keflezighi: with the kids? If it was an adult, it would've been 855 00:57:03,030 --> 00:57:03,900 Meb Keflezighi: probably a fracture. 856 00:57:04,620 --> 00:57:08,160 Yukiko Matsuzaki: Yeah, so this is great. So, I'll talk about the 857 00:57:08,160 --> 00:57:12,239 Yukiko Matsuzaki: runner specifically but it doesn't always have to just apply 858 00:57:12,239 --> 00:57:15,029 Yukiko Matsuzaki: to runners. It can apply to any young athletes that play 859 00:57:15,030 --> 00:57:18,840 Yukiko Matsuzaki: soccer or basketball. Basically, the bone like I said, is 860 00:57:18,840 --> 00:57:22,170 Yukiko Matsuzaki: the most vulnerable in growing kids. So, cross- country runners 861 00:57:22,200 --> 00:57:25,080 Yukiko Matsuzaki: and even soccer players who run a lot are more 862 00:57:25,080 --> 00:57:28,620 Yukiko Matsuzaki: likely to suffer bone stress injuries. So, we have to 863 00:57:28,620 --> 00:57:32,610 Yukiko Matsuzaki: be mindful about the overall training load, which in runners 864 00:57:32,610 --> 00:57:35,040 Yukiko Matsuzaki: that would be mileage, in soccer players, it could be 865 00:57:35,040 --> 00:57:39,240 Yukiko Matsuzaki: like minutes. And when we talk about overall training load, 866 00:57:39,240 --> 00:57:42,720 Yukiko Matsuzaki: we want to look at the week of how much 867 00:57:42,720 --> 00:57:46,590 Yukiko Matsuzaki: they're playing in a week or running in a week. So, 868 00:57:46,620 --> 00:57:50,310 Yukiko Matsuzaki: these things are very easily trackable with an Apple Watch 869 00:57:50,310 --> 00:57:53,940 Yukiko Matsuzaki: or a Garmin watch, Strava, there's also the coaches are 870 00:57:53,940 --> 00:57:56,310 Yukiko Matsuzaki: keeping track or they should keep track of how much 871 00:57:57,240 --> 00:58:02,190 Yukiko Matsuzaki: soccer players are playing in minutes. And while we all 872 00:58:02,190 --> 00:58:05,040 Yukiko Matsuzaki: think like weight- bearing exercises are things that are like 873 00:58:05,040 --> 00:58:09,150 Yukiko Matsuzaki: running or standing up exercises are good for bone health, 874 00:58:09,600 --> 00:58:14,670 Yukiko Matsuzaki: excessive amounts are not actually great, can lead to injuries. 875 00:58:15,360 --> 00:58:19,770 Yukiko Matsuzaki: So, super important to look at the overall training program 876 00:58:19,830 --> 00:58:24,600 Yukiko Matsuzaki: and make sure that we have number one, rest and 877 00:58:24,600 --> 00:58:28,530 Yukiko Matsuzaki: recovery, right? As a pro runner yourself I'm sure you 878 00:58:28,530 --> 00:58:32,190 Yukiko Matsuzaki: had rest and recovery days. You probably had cross- training 879 00:58:32,190 --> 00:58:35,190 Yukiko Matsuzaki: days where you didn't do that sport. If you're a 880 00:58:35,190 --> 00:58:37,680 Yukiko Matsuzaki: soccer player, you may do something else. If you're a 881 00:58:37,680 --> 00:58:41,370 Yukiko Matsuzaki: runner, maybe you go cycling or you do swimming. It's 882 00:58:41,370 --> 00:58:46,320 Yukiko Matsuzaki: still training your body just in different ways. Strength and 883 00:58:46,320 --> 00:58:49,500 Yukiko Matsuzaki: conditioning is something that a lot of young athletes are 884 00:58:49,500 --> 00:58:54,960 Yukiko Matsuzaki: missing. And then finally, sleep. How many hours of sleep 885 00:58:54,960 --> 00:58:58,230 Yukiko Matsuzaki: you get a night is super important in young athletes' 886 00:58:58,230 --> 00:59:03,720 Yukiko Matsuzaki: growing bodies similar to the rest and recovery. Sleep is 887 00:59:03,720 --> 00:59:07,740 Yukiko Matsuzaki: not like a passive state of rest, it's very active 888 00:59:07,890 --> 00:59:11,700 Yukiko Matsuzaki: in their bodies or getting rest, but things are being 889 00:59:11,970 --> 00:59:16,860 Yukiko Matsuzaki: repaired and restored. And then finally, nutrition is super important. 890 00:59:16,980 --> 00:59:20,640 Yukiko Matsuzaki: Again, whatever sport you play, we don't want a deficit 891 00:59:21,000 --> 00:59:24,840 Yukiko Matsuzaki: too much of the sport with too little nutrition that 892 00:59:24,840 --> 00:59:27,600 Yukiko Matsuzaki: it's going to lead to a deficit and something that 893 00:59:27,600 --> 00:59:31,740 Yukiko Matsuzaki: can lead to injuries. And then finally, when the kid 894 00:59:31,740 --> 00:59:34,920 Yukiko Matsuzaki: is going through an active period of growth, like the 895 00:59:34,920 --> 00:59:39,030 Yukiko Matsuzaki: parents are buying new shoes every few months, new pants, 896 00:59:39,390 --> 00:59:43,020 Yukiko Matsuzaki: they're getting taller every single night, this is when we 897 00:59:43,020 --> 00:59:46,920 Yukiko Matsuzaki: need to modify their training program. So, less is more 898 00:59:47,220 --> 00:59:51,240 Yukiko Matsuzaki: during this time. So, less running or less soccer, less 899 00:59:51,240 --> 00:59:55,590 Yukiko Matsuzaki: basketball, whatever it is. But substitute like one or two 900 00:59:55,590 --> 01:00:01,290 Yukiko Matsuzaki: days a week of that training with conditioning exercises, mobility 901 01:00:01,290 --> 01:00:05,820 Yukiko Matsuzaki: exercises, foam rolling, stretching, whatever it is, cross- training, that 902 01:00:05,820 --> 01:00:09,960 Yukiko Matsuzaki: can really lead to decreasing the risk of injury and 903 01:00:09,960 --> 01:00:12,720 Yukiko Matsuzaki: also probably improved performance. 904 01:00:14,040 --> 01:00:17,310 Meb Keflezighi: You're absolutely right. I know moderation in everything and our 905 01:00:17,310 --> 01:00:22,500 Meb Keflezighi: overall, whether it's mileage or minutes is so crucial. Sometimes 906 01:00:22,500 --> 01:00:25,320 Meb Keflezighi: but the kids the love is running or the love 907 01:00:25,320 --> 01:00:27,630 Meb Keflezighi: is soccer, I think the coaches have to step up 908 01:00:27,630 --> 01:00:30,210 Meb Keflezighi: to say, " Hey, you need to do cross- training or you need to 909 01:00:30,210 --> 01:00:34,260 Meb Keflezighi: rest," but sometimes difficult to do. But you are currently 910 01:00:34,260 --> 01:00:37,860 Meb Keflezighi: leading a research, adults and runners, can you share what 911 01:00:37,860 --> 01:00:41,160 Meb Keflezighi: you are exploring in the search and why it matters 912 01:00:41,160 --> 01:00:42,900 Meb Keflezighi: for young athlete's long- term health? 913 01:00:43,500 --> 01:00:46,890 Yukiko Matsuzaki: Sure. Yes. So. In this study I looked at healthy 914 01:00:46,890 --> 01:00:50,310 Yukiko Matsuzaki: uninjured runners and I just took a look at how they 915 01:00:50,310 --> 01:00:54,750 Yukiko Matsuzaki: run. And what we found was that their running form 916 01:00:54,810 --> 01:00:59,430 Yukiko Matsuzaki: were kind of consistent with weak hip or core muscles. 917 01:00:59,640 --> 01:01:05,820 Yukiko Matsuzaki: They all had overstriding striking posture and a lot of the kids had 918 01:01:05,910 --> 01:01:09,090 Yukiko Matsuzaki: pronated ankles or like an inward collapse or the ankle 919 01:01:09,090 --> 01:01:14,280 Yukiko Matsuzaki: and the foot. Now, these things are associated with injuries 920 01:01:14,280 --> 01:01:17,700 Yukiko Matsuzaki: in adult runners. Since in this study we did not 921 01:01:17,700 --> 01:01:21,120 Yukiko Matsuzaki: compare the group to injured athletes, I can't say that 922 01:01:21,120 --> 01:01:24,090 Yukiko Matsuzaki: a certain running form is related to an injury in 923 01:01:24,090 --> 01:01:28,800 Yukiko Matsuzaki: this adolescent running group. So, that would be really the 924 01:01:28,800 --> 01:01:32,310 Yukiko Matsuzaki: next step. So, the main finding with that was that the 925 01:01:32,310 --> 01:01:37,410 Yukiko Matsuzaki: healthy youth runners ran differently compared to what we know 926 01:01:37,590 --> 01:01:41,910 Yukiko Matsuzaki: is what healthy adult runners run. So, what we don't 927 01:01:41,910 --> 01:01:44,460 Yukiko Matsuzaki: want to do as healthcare providers or someone who's doing 928 01:01:44,460 --> 01:01:47,520 Yukiko Matsuzaki: a running analysis is to use some of these norms 929 01:01:47,520 --> 01:01:50,970 Yukiko Matsuzaki: and numbers from what we found in the adult running 930 01:01:50,970 --> 01:01:53,790 Yukiko Matsuzaki: literature, and I'll kind of simply apply them to the 931 01:01:53,790 --> 01:01:56,670 Yukiko Matsuzaki: youth runners. I don't think that really would work really 932 01:01:56,670 --> 01:02:01,410 Yukiko Matsuzaki: well and there's so many different pieces of the puzzles 933 01:02:01,770 --> 01:02:06,450 Yukiko Matsuzaki: to kind of put together to make a youth athlete 934 01:02:06,450 --> 01:02:10,440 Yukiko Matsuzaki: healthy. So, just looking at numbers can be really tricky. 935 01:02:10,740 --> 01:02:12,150 Yukiko Matsuzaki: So, that's the bottom line. 936 01:02:13,260 --> 01:02:16,110 Meb Keflezighi: Most importantly make them have fun so they can develop 937 01:02:16,110 --> 01:02:20,040 Meb Keflezighi: to be an adult and engage so they don't lose 938 01:02:20,040 --> 01:02:20,850 Meb Keflezighi: their passion. 939 01:02:20,940 --> 01:02:21,210 Yukiko Matsuzaki: Yep. 940 01:02:21,990 --> 01:02:24,960 Meb Keflezighi: And then, for young runners training for their first big 941 01:02:24,960 --> 01:02:29,820 Meb Keflezighi: race, what are some of the warning signs that we may see doing too much or too soon? 942 01:02:31,050 --> 01:02:36,090 Yukiko Matsuzaki: So, too much too soon frequently happens during preseason or 943 01:02:36,090 --> 01:02:39,630 Yukiko Matsuzaki: right after the preseason begins. Let's take cross- country as 944 01:02:39,630 --> 01:02:42,990 Yukiko Matsuzaki: an example so that's a fall sport. So, sometime around mid- 945 01:02:42,990 --> 01:02:47,220 Yukiko Matsuzaki: August, preseason begins. All the students are coming back from 946 01:02:47,220 --> 01:02:50,550 Yukiko Matsuzaki: the summer, sometimes they've gone to summer camp and done 947 01:02:50,880 --> 01:02:54,870 Yukiko Matsuzaki: completely different sports. Maybe they've been working all summer, maybe 948 01:02:54,870 --> 01:02:57,270 Yukiko Matsuzaki: they've just kind of been lazy and hanging out over 949 01:02:57,270 --> 01:03:00,120 Yukiko Matsuzaki: the summer. A lot of them are not in shape 950 01:03:00,150 --> 01:03:04,530 Yukiko Matsuzaki: even for preseason. Now, preseason is pretty tough, it's meant 951 01:03:04,530 --> 01:03:06,900 Yukiko Matsuzaki: to be pretty tough. The coaches want to get these 952 01:03:06,900 --> 01:03:09,870 Yukiko Matsuzaki: athletes in shape so that they have a good season. 953 01:03:10,590 --> 01:03:14,280 Yukiko Matsuzaki: So, I think it's really important that these athletes are 954 01:03:14,280 --> 01:03:17,010 Yukiko Matsuzaki: ready for preseason. So, you almost have to have a 955 01:03:17,010 --> 01:03:20,850 Yukiko Matsuzaki: baseline, right? You've got good sleep, you have baseline mileage 956 01:03:20,850 --> 01:03:27,750 Yukiko Matsuzaki: for runners or fitness for soccer players, whatever, and you're 957 01:03:27,750 --> 01:03:30,900 Yukiko Matsuzaki: just in shape. Your strength is good, you've worked out 958 01:03:30,900 --> 01:03:34,740 Yukiko Matsuzaki: all summer. I think having a consistent schedule like you 959 01:03:34,740 --> 01:03:39,360 Yukiko Matsuzaki: worked out throughout let's say June or July, you went 960 01:03:39,360 --> 01:03:43,230 Yukiko Matsuzaki: to the gym and then you're ready for the preseason 961 01:03:43,830 --> 01:03:47,580 Yukiko Matsuzaki: so that you don't crash during that course. And then, 962 01:03:47,610 --> 01:03:50,160 Yukiko Matsuzaki: some of the main symptoms and the signs and symptoms 963 01:03:50,160 --> 01:03:53,370 Yukiko Matsuzaki: of overtraining would be like fatigue. You're tired all the 964 01:03:53,370 --> 01:03:57,060 Yukiko Matsuzaki: time regardless of the number of hours you're sleeping, you're 965 01:03:57,060 --> 01:04:01,380 Yukiko Matsuzaki: tired during the day at school. We also see kids 966 01:04:01,380 --> 01:04:05,670 Yukiko Matsuzaki: who keep getting injured or they're just not performing really 967 01:04:05,670 --> 01:04:09,930 Yukiko Matsuzaki: well despite the amount of practice. So, those are big 968 01:04:09,930 --> 01:04:14,010 Yukiko Matsuzaki: red flags of overtraining. So, like I said before, sometimes 969 01:04:14,160 --> 01:04:17,970 Yukiko Matsuzaki: less is more so less running, less sports, but more 970 01:04:17,970 --> 01:04:22,230 Yukiko Matsuzaki: time spent on rest and recovery, cross- training, conditioning, making 971 01:04:22,230 --> 01:04:24,840 Yukiko Matsuzaki: your body ready for the sport I think is really key. 972 01:04:26,340 --> 01:04:29,189 Meb Keflezighi: It is important even as an elite athlete when you 973 01:04:29,190 --> 01:04:32,100 Meb Keflezighi: bring into preseason you like you hate it because, well, 974 01:04:32,100 --> 01:04:34,230 Meb Keflezighi: you took some time off, the muscles are sore, you 975 01:04:34,230 --> 01:04:37,560 Meb Keflezighi: feel a little bit lethargic, but let the fitness come 976 01:04:37,560 --> 01:04:39,450 Meb Keflezighi: to you instead of rushing into it. 977 01:04:39,600 --> 01:04:39,930 Yukiko Matsuzaki: Yes. 978 01:04:40,950 --> 01:04:45,330 Meb Keflezighi: So, your points on very well taken. What are some 979 01:04:45,330 --> 01:04:48,870 Meb Keflezighi: of the changes you wish more youth running program would 980 01:04:48,870 --> 01:04:53,190 Meb Keflezighi: make to better support the injury prevention and long- term success? 981 01:04:53,580 --> 01:04:59,190 Yukiko Matsuzaki: Yes. So, I think one thing that youth athletes need 982 01:04:59,370 --> 01:05:04,620 Yukiko Matsuzaki: to incorporate is strength and conditioning. And we're talking about 983 01:05:04,620 --> 01:05:08,580 Yukiko Matsuzaki: basic stuff like one- legged balance. Can you balance on 984 01:05:08,580 --> 01:05:11,310 Yukiko Matsuzaki: one leg with your eyes open for 30 seconds, right? 985 01:05:11,310 --> 01:05:15,000 Yukiko Matsuzaki: Can you do a nice squat, two- legged squat, nothing 986 01:05:15,000 --> 01:05:18,870 Yukiko Matsuzaki: fancy, no loaded, no squat rack, crazy stuff. Can you 987 01:05:18,870 --> 01:05:23,189 Yukiko Matsuzaki: do single- leg exercises, right? Remember, running is a single- 988 01:05:23,190 --> 01:05:27,540 Yukiko Matsuzaki: legged workout. If you cannot balance and stabilize your body 989 01:05:27,540 --> 01:05:29,940 Yukiko Matsuzaki: over one leg, you're not going to be a good 990 01:05:29,940 --> 01:05:33,720 Yukiko Matsuzaki: runner. And obviously this does not go for just youth runners 991 01:05:33,720 --> 01:05:37,440 Yukiko Matsuzaki: and will go for any runner. But I think sometimes 992 01:05:37,980 --> 01:05:40,260 Yukiko Matsuzaki: we all focus on the sport too much and we're 993 01:05:40,800 --> 01:05:47,220 Yukiko Matsuzaki: missing out on the basic foundation, core strength, balance, mobility, 994 01:05:47,430 --> 01:05:50,940 Yukiko Matsuzaki: how your joints move, your ankles, your knees, your hips 995 01:05:51,360 --> 01:05:56,220 Yukiko Matsuzaki: and then strength, so stability. Like I said, they all 996 01:05:56,220 --> 01:06:00,660 Yukiko Matsuzaki: kind of fit together to provide a nice stable running 997 01:06:00,660 --> 01:06:03,270 Yukiko Matsuzaki: form. And I think that's really what makes a difference, 998 01:06:03,270 --> 01:06:10,080 Yukiko Matsuzaki: not just muscling through these races. I think the simple 999 01:06:10,080 --> 01:06:13,740 Yukiko Matsuzaki: things really make the biggest change or the difference in 1000 01:06:13,740 --> 01:06:15,270 Yukiko Matsuzaki: your performance and how you feel. 1001 01:06:16,050 --> 01:06:19,080 Meb Keflezighi: Yukiko, these are amazing knowledge that you shared with us, especially 1002 01:06:19,080 --> 01:06:22,980 Meb Keflezighi: with kids. They're fun contents to have, on a pillow or single- 1003 01:06:22,980 --> 01:06:25,920 Meb Keflezighi: leg squat or one eye closed trying to reach for 1004 01:06:25,920 --> 01:06:29,430 Meb Keflezighi: the ground and then back up, it's phenomenal. And I 1005 01:06:29,430 --> 01:06:33,570 Meb Keflezighi: talk about that in Meb For Mortals is the strengthening. Sometimes we 1006 01:06:33,570 --> 01:06:37,485 Meb Keflezighi: all want to do efficient running, but we forget about 1007 01:06:37,485 --> 01:06:41,430 Meb Keflezighi: the small increment that helps you be a well- balanced athlete 1008 01:06:41,430 --> 01:06:45,960 Meb Keflezighi: to help you carry on single- leg from 5K to the 10K to the half- 1009 01:06:45,960 --> 01:06:49,710 Meb Keflezighi: marathon, full marathon. So, great job and showing this research 1010 01:06:49,710 --> 01:06:52,560 Meb Keflezighi: and able to share with us. So, it means a 1011 01:06:52,560 --> 01:06:55,050 Meb Keflezighi: lot and keep up the great work and thank you for being 1012 01:06:55,050 --> 01:06:55,260 Meb Keflezighi: with us. 1013 01:06:55,650 --> 01:06:56,130 Yukiko Matsuzaki: Thank you, Meb. 1014 01:06:57,060 --> 01:06:59,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: That does it for our Father's Day edition of Set 1015 01:06:59,730 --> 01:07:02,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: the Pace. We want to thank our guests today, Juan 1016 01:07:02,100 --> 01:07:06,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: Uro, New York Road Runners member, Galo Vasquez and HSS's 1017 01:07:06,510 --> 01:07:10,050 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yukiko Matsuzaki. If you liked the episode, please make sure 1018 01:07:10,050 --> 01:07:14,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: you subscribe, leave us a rating, five stars of course. 1019 01:07:14,430 --> 01:07:16,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: Send us a comment wherever you listen, this will help 1020 01:07:16,950 --> 01:07:20,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: us and help others find the show too. Happy Father's 1021 01:07:20,010 --> 01:07:21,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: Day everybody, we'll see you next week.