WEBVTT - 7 Marathons on 7 Continents in SIX days! A Father's Journey 0:00:00.510 --> 0:00:03.840 Many people are putting a lot of emphasis on whether they 0:00:03.840 --> 0:00:05.970 can achieve something or not. But I would say that 0:00:06.030 --> 0:00:09.420 the pursuit of excellence or the pursuit of something extraordinary 0:00:09.420 --> 0:00:12.869 sometimes can be much more rewarding than the achievement of 0:00:12.869 --> 0:00:13.950 something extraordinary. 0:00:16.290 --> 0:00:22.590 Hey everybody and welcome to another episode of Set the 0:00:22.590 --> 0:00:25.829 Pace, the official podcast of New York Road Runners presented 0:00:25.829 --> 0:00:29.100 by Peloton. I'm your host, Rob Simmelkjaer, the CEO of 0:00:29.100 --> 0:00:32.790 New York Road Runners, my friend and partner, Becs Gentry. 0:00:32.790 --> 0:00:35.280 She's on her way back from a trip to Los 0:00:35.280 --> 0:00:38.610 Angeles so we'll be missing her today, but looking forward 0:00:38.610 --> 0:00:41.729 to a reunion with Becs and me on the show 0:00:42.000 --> 0:00:46.380 next week. In the meantime, what a weekend we had 0:00:46.380 --> 0:00:49.800 last weekend at New York Road Runners, the largest ever 0:00:49.920 --> 0:00:56.310 MasterCard New York Mini 10K in Central Park with 9, 973 0:00:56.580 --> 0:01:01.110 women athletes finishing that race on a muggy but runnable 0:01:01.110 --> 0:01:04.319 day in Central Park. It was such a special day, 0:01:04.319 --> 0:01:07.289 man, we just love that race at New York Road 0:01:07.290 --> 0:01:12.930 Runners. There's nothing like seeing 10,000 women streaming down Central 0:01:12.930 --> 0:01:17.459 Park West into the park and finishing that race. I 0:01:17.459 --> 0:01:20.280 know for all of them, all of you out there 0:01:20.280 --> 0:01:22.290 who run that race, I hear it year in and 0:01:22.290 --> 0:01:24.720 year out, it is one of the most special running 0:01:24.720 --> 0:01:27.900 experiences that you have. And so, so happy that it 0:01:27.900 --> 0:01:29.850 was such a great day for all of our great 0:01:29.850 --> 0:01:33.600 women out there running the MasterCard New York Mini 10K. 0:01:34.050 --> 0:01:39.840 The winner, Hellen Obiri, the 2023 United Airlines NYC Half and TCS 0:01:39.840 --> 0:01:42.480 New York City Marathon champ, she captured the open division 0:01:42.480 --> 0:01:46.318 title with a blazing time of 30 minutes and 44 0:01:46.319 --> 0:01:49.140 seconds. The runner- up may have been just as big 0:01:49.140 --> 0:01:54.120 a story, Weini Kelati ran a new American event record at 0:01:54.120 --> 0:01:58.500 30 minutes and 49 seconds. She was right there with 0:01:58.500 --> 0:02:01.920 Hellen Obiri all the way until about the last say 0:02:02.100 --> 0:02:04.410 quarter mile. She really gave Hellen a run for her 0:02:04.410 --> 0:02:08.460 money. Susannah Scaroni won a record- breaking six MasterCard New 0:02:08.460 --> 0:02:11.460 York Mini 10K title in the Wheelchair Division with a 0:02:11.460 --> 0:02:15.690 new event record. And it was the largest girls run 0:02:15.780 --> 0:02:19.200 in history, that's right, the biggest attendance we've ever had 0:02:19.200 --> 0:02:24.090 for the mini kids run, more than 508 to eight to 18- year- old 0:02:24.090 --> 0:02:27.540 girls took to the streets to run on Saturday. It 0:02:27.540 --> 0:02:31.320 was well, it was a really, really special day. All 0:02:31.320 --> 0:02:34.080 right, coming up on this week's episode, it's Father's Day 0:02:34.080 --> 0:02:37.680 week and boy, there's no holiday I love more than 0:02:37.680 --> 0:02:42.270 Father's Day. I always say fatherhood it's the toughest but 0:02:42.360 --> 0:02:45.419 best job I've ever had so Happy Father's Day to 0:02:45.419 --> 0:02:49.260 all of the fellow dads out there listening. Really appreciate 0:02:49.620 --> 0:02:52.530 you and hopefully all the people in your life give 0:02:52.530 --> 0:02:56.340 you a special, special day this coming weekend. We've got 0:02:56.340 --> 0:02:59.700 a very special Father's Day conversation with one of our 0:02:59.700 --> 0:03:03.510 New York Road Runners board members, Juan Uro, who like 0:03:03.510 --> 0:03:08.070 Becs recently completed seven marathons on seven continents in seven 0:03:08.070 --> 0:03:11.460 days. Juan and I will talk about some of the 0:03:11.460 --> 0:03:16.650 meaning behind his running those marathons and countless other marathons 0:03:16.889 --> 0:03:19.590 over the course of his life. All so much of 0:03:19.590 --> 0:03:22.440 it really done in honor of the son that he 0:03:22.440 --> 0:03:26.490 lost, Bautista. We'll talk about that and fatherhood and everything 0:03:26.490 --> 0:03:29.310 that Juan has learned from a life of running and 0:03:29.310 --> 0:03:34.050 his incredible accomplishment in the World Marathon Challenge. And then, 0:03:34.050 --> 0:03:35.520 later on in the show we'll have New York Road 0:03:35.520 --> 0:03:39.180 Runners member and non- binary champion Galo Vasquez, and then 0:03:39.540 --> 0:03:43.140 coming up with this weekend's Flushing Meadows Kids run at 0:03:43.140 --> 0:03:46.560 the Citizens Queens 10K, that's all coming up on Saturday. 0:03:46.860 --> 0:03:49.500 We've got a special Med Minute with HSS, that's the 0:03:49.500 --> 0:03:52.620 hospital for special surgery and we're going to feature a 0:03:52.620 --> 0:03:57.780 sports physical therapist for young athletes, Yukiko Matsuzaki will join us as well. 0:03:58.620 --> 0:04:01.500 Try the Peloton app for free and access classes for 0:04:01.500 --> 0:04:04.230 every type of runner, whether you're training for your first 0:04:04.230 --> 0:04:07.680 race or you're a seasoned pro. From outdoor runs and 0:04:07.680 --> 0:04:11.790 intervals to strength yoga and stretching, you'll find the perfect 0:04:11.790 --> 0:04:15.240 fit for every part of your routine. Whether it's a 0:04:15.240 --> 0:04:17.970 long run day or you just need a quick five- 0:04:17.970 --> 0:04:21.300 minute reset, the Peloton app meets you where you are 0:04:21.540 --> 0:04:25.440 and helps you become a stronger, faster runner because it's 0:04:25.440 --> 0:04:29.040 designed for someone like you. Try the app free for 0:04:29.040 --> 0:04:31.890 30 days and download it now from the App Store 0:04:31.950 --> 0:04:36.900 or Google Play, terms apply. Peloton, the official digital fitness 0:04:36.900 --> 0:04:38.670 partner for New York Road Runners. 0:04:39.180 --> 0:04:41.730 Today on Set the Pace. I'm joined by my friend 0:04:41.730 --> 0:04:44.339 and one of our New York Road Runners board members, 0:04:44.339 --> 0:04:48.990 Juan Uro. Juan is a partner at EY- Parthenon advising 0:04:48.990 --> 0:04:53.039 global CFOs and CEOs on strategy and finance, but he's 0:04:53.040 --> 0:04:57.479 also a passionate marathoner, so passionate that earlier this year 0:04:57.480 --> 0:05:01.440 he channeled a little Becs Gentry magic by completing the 0:05:01.440 --> 0:05:06.420 World Marathon Challenge running yes, seven marathons on seven continents 0:05:06.750 --> 0:05:10.110 in seven days. Juan races in memory of his late 0:05:10.110 --> 0:05:13.770 son Bautista and he now shares finish line moments with 0:05:13.770 --> 0:05:18.210 his wife, Mariela and daughter Isabella and we're so glad 0:05:18.210 --> 0:05:21.599 to have Juan here on the show. Juan, welcome to 0:05:21.600 --> 0:05:26.880 set the pace and congratulations on being yet another person 0:05:26.880 --> 0:05:30.330 to complete this unbelievable challenge of seven marathons on seven 0:05:30.330 --> 0:05:31.529 continents in seven days. 0:05:32.130 --> 0:05:37.589 Thank you Rob, so great to be with you today. And you think there were only one 0:05:37.589 --> 0:05:40.740 crazy person with Becs, but there's many of us I guess, or at least a handful. 0:05:44.010 --> 0:05:46.470 There's enough to keep a couple of these races going 0:05:46.890 --> 0:05:51.720 every year. I was fortunate enough to follow along with 0:05:51.720 --> 0:05:56.370 your races. We had a little chat, some board members, 0:05:56.370 --> 0:06:00.060 some former Road Runners executives there cheering you on. And 0:06:00.480 --> 0:06:02.970 I guess I just have to ask first and foremost, 0:06:03.690 --> 0:06:06.599 what drove you to do that? I always have to 0:06:06.600 --> 0:06:10.529 ask the question of what drives someone to sign up 0:06:10.800 --> 0:06:12.000 for a challenge like that? 0:06:15.450 --> 0:06:19.919 Interesting. I think there wasn't necessarily one trigger event but 0:06:19.920 --> 0:06:24.660 a multiplicity of factors. I will start with, Rob probably 0:06:25.080 --> 0:06:27.570 you don't know but you have a big part and NYRR 0:06:27.570 --> 0:06:31.500 have a big part because the first time I found 0:06:31.500 --> 0:06:36.060 out about this seven marathons in seven continents in seven 0:06:36.060 --> 0:06:41.550 days was in the New York Marathon Expo in 2023. And 0:06:41.550 --> 0:06:44.760 literally in my role in the board I always pay 0:06:44.970 --> 0:06:49.230 special attention for partners and activation and how good people 0:06:49.230 --> 0:06:52.200 are having experiences in the Expo so I literally visit 0:06:52.200 --> 0:06:56.820 all the stands. And I saw this booth about this 0:06:58.410 --> 0:07:03.930 challenge and it's always free T- shirts are a good thing 0:07:03.930 --> 0:07:06.210 so they gave me the T- shirt, they got my 0:07:06.630 --> 0:07:11.220 email address and I left the Expo thinking, " Okay, you 0:07:11.220 --> 0:07:14.580 never know. That's a crazy idea, I couldn't do it." 0:07:15.180 --> 0:07:19.260 I put that idea to sleep, I wore the T- 0:07:19.260 --> 0:07:24.570 shirt a couple of times. But then in April of 0:07:24.570 --> 0:07:28.740 '24 I was going to run the Boston Marathon and 0:07:29.130 --> 0:07:32.580 my company had an off- site in London the week 0:07:32.580 --> 0:07:37.140 after, full week. So, in talking with my wife, it 0:07:37.140 --> 0:07:40.200 was her birthday, we said, " Hey, why don't we go 0:07:40.200 --> 0:07:43.500 to London for the weekend? By the way, we can 0:07:43.500 --> 0:07:46.710 celebrate your birthday and by the way, there is this 0:07:47.490 --> 0:07:51.210 small race called the London Marathon. If you're okay, I'm 0:07:51.210 --> 0:07:55.740 going to try to run it." So, I asked NYRR to see 0:07:55.740 --> 0:07:58.110 if there was a possibility and I ended up getting 0:07:58.110 --> 0:08:02.580 into the London Marathon. So, without really thinking too much, 0:08:02.580 --> 0:08:06.660 it became two marathons in one week. And then, I 0:08:06.660 --> 0:08:09.960 came back to that seven and said, " Hey, this was 0:08:10.170 --> 0:08:13.679 difficult but not impossible so who knows? Two marathons in 0:08:13.680 --> 0:08:17.070 one week is very different than seven marathons." But I 0:08:17.070 --> 0:08:20.130 started to take it a little bit more seriously. And along 0:08:20.130 --> 0:08:28.290 the summer of 2024, yeah, 2024, I decide to really 0:08:28.680 --> 0:08:32.910 learn more about what it will take to do the race. So, 0:08:32.910 --> 0:08:35.729 a couple of people who have done it before, they 0:08:35.730 --> 0:08:39.450 gave me a couple of hints. So, I was supposed 0:08:39.450 --> 0:08:42.750 to try at least a week of multiple runs of 15 to 0:08:43.440 --> 0:08:48.449 20 miles. Guess what? The second day that I tried 0:08:48.450 --> 0:08:51.630 that first day 20 miles, second day I was in 0:08:51.630 --> 0:08:55.350 Central Park and I ran into this guy that was running 0:08:55.710 --> 0:09:06.360 seven marathons in seven days for climate advocacy. I have 0:09:06.360 --> 0:09:08.790 run in Central Park for 20 years I never saw 0:09:08.790 --> 0:09:12.059 a guy trying seven marathons in seven days so it 0:09:12.059 --> 0:09:15.630 was like, " There's too much serendipity here, there's too many 0:09:15.630 --> 0:09:19.380 connecting aspects." So, I ended up catching up with the 0:09:19.380 --> 0:09:24.900 fellow, asked him a little bit of a couple of tips how he prepared, 0:09:25.200 --> 0:09:26.850 and then when I shared a little bit of my 0:09:26.910 --> 0:09:31.290 running resume, which is not impressive but at least there's 0:09:31.290 --> 0:09:34.470 a lot of miles certainly, he said, " You are ready." 0:09:36.090 --> 0:09:39.959 So, I committed to do it. I was supposed to 0:09:39.960 --> 0:09:44.100 run the race that actually Becs ran because there's two 0:09:44.100 --> 0:09:47.280 different organizations that do that but because of- 0:09:47.280 --> 0:09:47.429 Yeah, back in November. 0:09:47.940 --> 0:09:51.840 Yeah, exactly November. But because of work I couldn't really 0:09:52.920 --> 0:09:57.179 get off and take a week off in November to do 0:09:57.179 --> 0:10:02.400 that. So, the other company that organized it was sold 0:10:02.400 --> 0:10:09.570 out in 2025 so I was going to do it in 2026. So again, put a 0:10:09.780 --> 0:10:12.360 little bit the commitment to rest because who knows it 0:10:12.360 --> 0:10:15.390 will be 12 months from the time being, I ended 0:10:15.390 --> 0:10:19.140 up running New York and the Philly Marathon. And after 0:10:19.140 --> 0:10:24.090 I ran Philly was like tough year, put a lot 0:10:24.090 --> 0:10:27.090 of miles to prepare for this and there's still 12 0:10:27.090 --> 0:10:33.120 months to do it. So, we ended up going to 0:10:33.120 --> 0:10:37.559 Argentina where I was born for Thanksgiving break. And after I 0:10:37.559 --> 0:10:40.350 landed into Argentina I got a note saying, " Hey, one 0:10:40.350 --> 0:10:43.830 of the runners got hurt. There's an opening in five 0:10:43.830 --> 0:10:46.800 weeks, will you think about it?" 0:10:47.130 --> 0:10:47.578 Wow. 0:10:47.729 --> 0:10:50.550 And I said to my wife, " It cannot get better than 0:10:50.550 --> 0:10:53.280 that." It's like after 12 hours moving from cold weather 0:10:53.280 --> 0:10:57.120 to hot weather, that's the whole experience so I committed to 0:10:57.120 --> 0:11:00.209 do it. So again, it was a little bit of 0:11:00.210 --> 0:11:05.190 a process of signal, so to speak, between the Expo, 0:11:06.900 --> 0:11:09.630 the fact that again, Boston and London became a little 0:11:09.630 --> 0:11:14.069 bit of a fortress, running into a person in Central 0:11:14.070 --> 0:11:16.860 Park and gave me a little bit of the confidence, 0:11:17.340 --> 0:11:21.240 and then again this trip to Argentina and it was 0:11:21.240 --> 0:11:27.720 exactly the perfect day to get a note like that. So, it 0:11:27.720 --> 0:11:30.780 doesn't speak necessarily of the underlying factors but it was 0:11:31.020 --> 0:11:33.450 not a dream come true that I wake up one 0:11:33.450 --> 0:11:36.030 day, it was a little bit of a series of, as I said, 0:11:36.030 --> 0:11:38.640 signals that moved me into that. 0:11:38.820 --> 0:11:43.860 Yeah, signal followed by the fateful email that had you 0:11:43.860 --> 0:11:45.660 up and ready to do it in five weeks, which 0:11:45.660 --> 0:11:50.160 is impressive. So, before we get into those seven races, 0:11:50.160 --> 0:11:53.040 I want to take a step way back, Juan like 0:11:53.040 --> 0:11:56.250 a flashback at a movie to the origins of your 0:11:56.250 --> 0:12:00.090 running and how it all really started for you. Your 0:12:00.090 --> 0:12:03.600 bio on the World Marathon Challenge webpage talks about the 0:12:03.600 --> 0:12:07.350 fact that you began running a little later in life. 0:12:07.950 --> 0:12:11.429 What was it that really got you running in the 0:12:11.429 --> 0:12:12.059 first place? 0:12:13.020 --> 0:12:18.600 Yeah, I think I should edit that because probably what 0:12:18.600 --> 0:12:22.439 I would consider these days as more cold running I 0:12:22.440 --> 0:12:27.270 took it very late in life. But it started back 0:12:27.270 --> 0:12:31.559 in high school year and it was not really running 0:12:31.559 --> 0:12:34.079 it was a little bit of jogging, but I think in my 0:12:34.080 --> 0:12:37.439 senior year in high school I had a pretty severe 0:12:37.440 --> 0:12:39.900 foot sprain and I needed to use a cast for 0:12:39.900 --> 0:12:43.920 a couple of months. And look, I played different sports 0:12:43.920 --> 0:12:48.240 as a kid, only recreational but nothing competitive but I 0:12:48.240 --> 0:12:49.321 wasn't good at any of those. 0:12:49.321 --> 0:12:53.130 You're from Argentina so soccer must've been in the mix somewhere. 0:12:53.130 --> 0:12:57.330 Yeah, soccer is a must but definitely I was pretty bad. But I was 0:12:57.420 --> 0:13:01.469 very consistent in being bad at tennis, at basketball, at 0:13:01.470 --> 0:13:06.329 rugby so I tried everything and confirmed that I was bad at 0:13:06.330 --> 0:13:11.579 everything. But anyway, after that injury I probably gained like 0:13:11.580 --> 0:13:16.320 15 or 20 pounds and you are in your late teenager years. So, 0:13:16.440 --> 0:13:21.030 running became, I think I remember it was three loops 0:13:21.030 --> 0:13:24.540 into a square of half a mile, so a mile and a half and 0:13:24.540 --> 0:13:28.350 I was doing it two or three times per week 0:13:29.070 --> 0:13:34.920 and just to be in shape or to look better, 0:13:35.040 --> 0:13:41.520 honestly. It was a simple physical health aspect in my 0:13:41.910 --> 0:13:44.160 early 20s and as I said, only two or three 0:13:44.160 --> 0:13:49.230 times per week, but it was still running. Then with 0:13:49.260 --> 0:13:54.840 my wife, we got married, emigrated to New York in the early 0:13:55.020 --> 0:14:00.090 2000s and I heard about this small race called the 0:14:00.090 --> 0:14:03.840 New Year Marathon. So, at that point it was like, " 0:14:03.840 --> 0:14:06.030 Hey, we may be in New York only for two 0:14:06.030 --> 0:14:10.469 or three years, what an interesting challenge." A, to do 0:14:10.590 --> 0:14:13.800 a marathon, never in my life I did more than 0:14:13.830 --> 0:14:17.520 maybe 10K at that point. And if you are going 0:14:17.520 --> 0:14:23.580 to do a marathon, do the marathon, the New Year one. So, it became a little 0:14:23.580 --> 0:14:30.240 bit of less about physical looks or physical wellbeing but 0:14:30.240 --> 0:14:34.560 more a little bit of goal setting for yourself a 0:14:34.770 --> 0:14:39.330 challenge, an opportunity of something that maybe I was going 0:14:39.330 --> 0:14:45.720 to do only once in my lifetime. So, I did a 0:14:45.720 --> 0:14:49.260 little bit of the preparation. Looking back to the plan 0:14:49.260 --> 0:14:53.370 that I did, it was completely unprepared, maybe 16 or 17 0:14:53.370 --> 0:14:59.010 miles was my longest run, 30 miles in total. If 0:14:59.010 --> 0:15:00.960 at some point you go to the archives and you 0:15:00.960 --> 0:15:04.950 see some of the photos in the village in 2004 0:15:05.340 --> 0:15:08.910 I was frozen, I didn't know about wearing layers. My 0:15:08.910 --> 0:15:13.140 running shoes were all tennis shoes, I couldn't afford, honestly, 0:15:13.140 --> 0:15:19.800 we were students and living on very basic means. But 0:15:19.800 --> 0:15:22.740 I did it. And I had an amazing time, not 0:15:22.740 --> 0:15:26.400 in terms of clock time but in terms of fulfilling 0:15:26.460 --> 0:15:31.200 a personal goal. And as you know once you run 0:15:31.200 --> 0:15:34.410 a marathon some people are very happy, some people say, " 0:15:35.010 --> 0:15:39.570 I could have done a little bit better," so tried 0:15:39.570 --> 0:15:43.530 the lottery many times. I think after three times of 0:15:43.530 --> 0:15:47.160 declining there was a little bit of the policy of getting there in four 0:15:47.160 --> 0:15:51.540 years so in 2008 I did the marathon again. But 0:15:51.540 --> 0:15:58.170 that second phase overall, Rob it was casual 30 miles 0:15:58.170 --> 0:16:00.960 per week and as I said more as a way 0:16:00.960 --> 0:16:05.280 to relieve stress from work and as a way to have work- 0:16:07.290 --> 0:16:13.830 life balance and good sense of accomplishing something. So, a 0:16:13.830 --> 0:16:17.970 little bit more of a mind and a spiritual wellbeing. 0:16:18.570 --> 0:16:22.410 Yeah. And your time in New York one ended up 0:16:22.410 --> 0:16:26.040 not just being a short time, you stayed in New 0:16:26.040 --> 0:16:29.670 York quite a while and obviously you ended up in 0:16:29.670 --> 0:16:31.920 a third phase of running, which is the one I 0:16:31.920 --> 0:16:33.810 think in which we currently find you as a really 0:16:33.810 --> 0:16:38.040 serious runner. And I know part of that relates to some 0:16:38.520 --> 0:16:42.450 tragic things that happened in your life with your son 0:16:42.780 --> 0:16:45.300 Bautista and losing him. 0:16:46.200 --> 0:16:52.380 Yeah, so you are spot on. I think the third maybe 0:16:52.380 --> 0:16:56.940 I'm still in that phase of running was we were 0:16:56.940 --> 0:17:03.840 blessed with a son Bautista, we call him Bauti in 2004. 0:17:06.480 --> 0:17:09.000 And that's also the reason why I was only running 20, 30 0:17:09.000 --> 0:17:14.130 miles, you have a kid, you have work responsibilities but 0:17:14.130 --> 0:17:17.189 it was still part of my life. But in 2010, 0:17:18.270 --> 0:17:23.550 Bauti passed away when he was six years old. And he was our 0:17:24.030 --> 0:17:27.359 only child, he was the focus of our entire lives 0:17:27.930 --> 0:17:32.970 so it was truly, truly devastating for both my wife 0:17:32.970 --> 0:17:37.619 and for me. We each cope in a different way, 0:17:37.680 --> 0:17:40.859 we all grieve in a different way, but for me 0:17:40.859 --> 0:17:44.700 it was honestly very difficult to get off bed and 0:17:44.700 --> 0:17:50.490 keep living. So, in running I found almost an excuse, 0:17:51.090 --> 0:17:54.270 a reason at least almost every morning to get off 0:17:54.720 --> 0:18:01.109 bed and move forward. I heard once life is a little 0:18:01.109 --> 0:18:04.380 bit of like riding a bicycle, to stay on balance 0:18:04.380 --> 0:18:08.699 you just need to move forward. And even in the 0:18:08.700 --> 0:18:14.850 darkest days honestly Rob, lacing my shoes, getting outside even 0:18:14.850 --> 0:18:18.690 for a couple of miles was helping me find the 0:18:18.720 --> 0:18:22.530 motivation to stay alive. So, from that moment on became 0:18:22.530 --> 0:18:29.190 a little bit of a habit, a spiritual habit of 0:18:30.330 --> 0:18:35.790 making me continue living and trying to pursue a good life, a 0:18:35.790 --> 0:18:39.450 worthy life. I always go back to this point of 0:18:39.450 --> 0:18:43.889 connecting with Bauti through my running but I always go back 0:18:43.890 --> 0:18:46.800 when I'm in tough situations of saying, " I need to 0:18:46.800 --> 0:18:50.730 live a life that is worth his memory and his 0:18:50.730 --> 0:18:55.230 honor." And I think part of running has been of 0:18:55.230 --> 0:19:01.950 that, of finding a healthy life, physical balance but also 0:19:01.950 --> 0:19:13.320 mental balance. And a couple of folks were able to 0:19:13.320 --> 0:19:16.980 gave me a spot in the 2010 New Year Marathon, 0:19:17.460 --> 0:19:22.230 our common friend, Mary Wittenberg was very gracious of not 0:19:22.230 --> 0:19:25.440 knowing me understanding the story and she gave me a 0:19:25.440 --> 0:19:31.560 spot. And that's the first run that I did with 0:19:32.460 --> 0:19:39.270 his name and his image on his face, not seeking 0:19:39.270 --> 0:19:42.629 anything, purely feeling like he was going to be along 0:19:42.630 --> 0:19:47.429 with me on that run. And the amount of cheering 0:19:47.430 --> 0:19:53.879 that it was along the way of, "Go Bauti," made me 0:19:53.880 --> 0:19:57.300 realize this is much more than just having him in 0:19:57.300 --> 0:20:02.340 my chest for my own benefit like listening, and many 0:20:02.340 --> 0:20:05.640 people will never hear his story but even seeing his 0:20:05.640 --> 0:20:11.010 face and naming his name. The majority of the parents 0:20:11.220 --> 0:20:13.830 they have very proud moments throughout every day or every 0:20:13.830 --> 0:20:16.710 week, and to me that continues to be one of 0:20:16.710 --> 0:20:21.900 my proud moments of people cheering him and finding that 0:20:21.900 --> 0:20:25.800 connection. So, that first race was very special. I think 0:20:25.800 --> 0:20:28.500 I truly burst in tears when I crossed that finish 0:20:28.500 --> 0:20:34.740 line versus in 2004 it was just a marathon and this was a signal for life. And 0:20:35.070 --> 0:20:39.180 from that moment on almost every marathon I run with 0:20:39.840 --> 0:20:44.310 the same shirt. Of course it's getting pretty washed out 0:20:44.310 --> 0:20:46.409 already so I think we need to find a new 0:20:46.409 --> 0:20:50.040 one. But it became a signal and a way to 0:20:50.040 --> 0:20:52.260 connect with him through those moments. 0:20:52.560 --> 0:20:57.869 It must be incredible for you to hear that, to 0:20:57.869 --> 0:21:02.010 experience that while you're running a marathon. I have never 0:21:02.010 --> 0:21:05.790 lived through what you and your wife have lived through, 0:21:05.790 --> 0:21:10.260 I can only imagine what that's like. But to hear 0:21:10.260 --> 0:21:14.310 those cheers for him, it must make you feel for 0:21:14.310 --> 0:21:17.250 a moment that he's there, that he is alive, that 0:21:17.250 --> 0:21:21.810 he's with you. And you talked about having him with 0:21:21.810 --> 0:21:26.699 you in this World Marathon Challenge as well and the 0:21:26.700 --> 0:21:30.090 challenge that you took, you spoke about feeling like he 0:21:30.090 --> 0:21:32.730 was there running those races with you. 0:21:33.960 --> 0:21:39.030 Yeah, I'll tell you, I know when I'm in pain 0:21:39.030 --> 0:21:43.290 in a marathon, I feel it's nothing compared to the 0:21:43.290 --> 0:21:45.960 pain that he endured during the last moment in his 0:21:45.960 --> 0:21:53.040 life. It's pretty sad to say it but breaks me 0:21:53.040 --> 0:21:56.130 a little bit of again, honoring him. He went through 0:21:56.130 --> 0:22:00.660 a lot and it may sound dark but I don't 0:22:00.660 --> 0:22:05.430 mind going through the same and feeling that connection. When 0:22:05.430 --> 0:22:11.100 I have no more energy in a marathon, here comes Go Bauti at 0:22:11.340 --> 0:22:14.700 the right time and it's almost like maybe his way 0:22:15.450 --> 0:22:18.570 of giving me energy. I'll tell you that I have 0:22:18.570 --> 0:22:22.920 two low points in the seven marathons in the seven continents 0:22:23.940 --> 0:22:28.020 and you will find how strange life is but the 0:22:28.020 --> 0:22:32.850 first one was in Dubai. And in many cases when 0:22:32.850 --> 0:22:34.439 I'm a little bit lost, I play a little bit 0:22:34.440 --> 0:22:37.740 of an exercise of asking him for some advice. And 0:22:38.160 --> 0:22:40.920 I pick the first word that I see in my 0:22:40.920 --> 0:22:42.780 eyes and I pick the first letter to see if 0:22:42.780 --> 0:22:45.330 he's going to send me a message. And then I 0:22:45.330 --> 0:22:48.690 pick the second word and I try to find almost like 0:22:48.690 --> 0:22:53.220 a sentence or at least a couple of words by 0:22:53.220 --> 0:22:57.570 forming the first letter. Usually nothing is set, it's random 0:22:57.570 --> 0:23:02.040 letter so to speak. But here was in the middle of 0:23:02.040 --> 0:23:07.050 Dubai and the five letters was G- O- D- A- 0:23:07.050 --> 0:23:11.550 D, go Dad. So, what's part of me I'm saying 0:23:11.850 --> 0:23:14.970 it cannot be as random as that, it's a little 0:23:14.970 --> 0:23:18.960 bit of his way to stay spiritually with me. So 0:23:18.960 --> 0:23:24.090 again, maybe it's serendipity and lucky, but I like to 0:23:24.090 --> 0:23:27.750 think and I have no problem of thinking that there may be 0:23:28.500 --> 0:23:32.040 other ways that he's still with me giving me energy 0:23:32.040 --> 0:23:32.550 and force. 0:23:32.880 --> 0:23:36.359 Yeah, no, I like to think that too. I think 0:23:36.690 --> 0:23:40.619 so. When I first heard that you were doing this 0:23:40.619 --> 0:23:45.780 World Marathon Challenge for some reason I wasn't that surprised 0:23:45.780 --> 0:23:50.879 because I know how you run. I mean, you definitely 0:23:51.510 --> 0:23:54.689 our number one on the New York Road Runners board 0:23:54.690 --> 0:23:58.139 I think in terms of weekly mileage. I see you 0:23:58.140 --> 0:24:03.210 in the park, I see your marathon finishes. I think 0:24:03.510 --> 0:24:07.230 since I've been here, I think you've done minimum two, 0:24:07.260 --> 0:24:11.310 maybe three marathons a year. You've had these short turnaround 0:24:11.310 --> 0:24:14.910 marathons like the Boston to London turn or you just 0:24:14.910 --> 0:24:18.510 mentioned New York to Philadelphia, so it was clearly in 0:24:18.510 --> 0:24:22.470 your legs the mileage that you needed. So, talk about 0:24:22.470 --> 0:24:26.220 showing up for the first one that was Antarctica I assume, right, the 0:24:26.220 --> 0:24:28.230 similar challenge to what Becs did? 0:24:28.410 --> 0:24:28.530 Yep. 0:24:28.770 --> 0:24:32.250 Showing up at that first one, how did you feel? 0:24:32.250 --> 0:24:36.780 Did you feel that you had it in you confident 0:24:36.780 --> 0:24:39.510 given the short notice of five weeks that you had 0:24:39.510 --> 0:24:41.400 and would love to hear you kind of take us 0:24:41.400 --> 0:24:43.890 through the journey over those seven days? 0:24:44.550 --> 0:24:51.570 Yeah, I felt a little bit unprepared but I don't 0:24:51.570 --> 0:24:55.500 think necessarily it's a fair comment. In fact, even when 0:24:55.500 --> 0:24:59.070 I got the five- week notice, if I would have had five- 0:24:59.070 --> 0:25:01.710 month notice, my preparation would have been exactly the same 0:25:01.710 --> 0:25:06.090 because I literally ran that year up to again, Thanksgiving 0:25:06.119 --> 0:25:09.210 and I was going to, I promised my wife, " We 0:25:09.210 --> 0:25:12.149 arrive to Argentina, we will eat a lot of steaks, 0:25:12.150 --> 0:25:14.460 we'll have a lot of ice cream and a couple 0:25:14.460 --> 0:25:18.720 of good wines." And here we arrive and nothing was 0:25:18.720 --> 0:25:24.540 fulfilled because I ended up being pretty healthy. But I 0:25:24.540 --> 0:25:31.440 knew I was prepared enough. But the week before I 0:25:31.440 --> 0:25:34.859 had two doubts. First is what time I could really 0:25:34.859 --> 0:25:38.790 make. Lately I have been, I don't know, three hours 0:25:38.790 --> 0:25:41.640 and 30- minute marathon and I thought I was going 0:25:41.640 --> 0:25:46.859 to be at best for 30 in each. And the second one 0:25:47.460 --> 0:25:52.619 while I put 130 miles in two or three weeks and basically 0:25:52.619 --> 0:25:58.109 the totality of seven marathons is 180 miles or whatever 0:25:58.109 --> 0:26:00.750 the math is, call it 180, let's give or take. 0:26:03.210 --> 0:26:07.200 I still was into the unknown so I didn't know 0:26:07.200 --> 0:26:09.450 what to expect from that point of view and whether 0:26:09.450 --> 0:26:14.310 the body will be resilient enough for the last few 0:26:15.570 --> 0:26:20.040 marathons. So, I literally tried to approach it off from 0:26:20.070 --> 0:26:24.060 conservative to more risk- taker. And Antarctica being the first 0:26:24.060 --> 0:26:28.260 one I said, " Whatever time, it doesn't matter, just go 0:26:28.260 --> 0:26:32.580 and have fun." And in fact, it was 10 loops 0:26:33.840 --> 0:26:40.949 of 2. 6 kilometers and I broke it into three 0:26:40.950 --> 0:26:44.490 loops. And the last one was the victory lap, so 0:26:44.490 --> 0:26:48.449 to speak. So, the first third was okay, the second 0:26:48.450 --> 0:26:51.090 one it was enjoying the sightseeing and the third one, 0:26:51.090 --> 0:26:55.859 I was literally thinking, " This is most likely the last 0:26:55.859 --> 0:26:59.010 time that I will ever be in this continent so 0:26:59.010 --> 0:27:04.770 just enjoy it." And from that point of view, I 0:27:05.280 --> 0:27:10.859