1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:03,090 Martinus Evans: In spite of all the troubles you might have been 2 00:00:03,090 --> 00:00:06,720 Martinus Evans: through, our goal is to finish anyway. I ran races 3 00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:08,910 Martinus Evans: where they ran out of water. I ran races where 4 00:00:08,910 --> 00:00:11,550 Martinus Evans: they ran out of medals and packed up and there 5 00:00:11,550 --> 00:00:13,980 Martinus Evans: was no finish line. And when it was all set and done, 6 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:17,190 Martinus Evans: in spite of all those things, I finished anyway. I 7 00:00:17,190 --> 00:00:20,160 Martinus Evans: made it to the finish line. I had that goal, I set 8 00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:23,099 Martinus Evans: that goal and I overcame all those obstacles to get there. 9 00:00:27,030 --> 00:00:30,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: Hey everybody, and welcome to Set the Pace, the official 10 00:00:30,270 --> 00:00:34,589 Rob Simmelkjaer: podcast of New York Roadrunners, presented by Peloton. I'm your 11 00:00:34,590 --> 00:00:38,159 Rob Simmelkjaer: host, Rob Simmelkjaer, the CEO of New York Roadrunners, and we're 12 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:42,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: back together this week. My co- host, Becs Gentry is 13 00:00:42,450 --> 00:00:44,070 Rob Simmelkjaer: on the pod. What's up, Becs? 14 00:00:44,100 --> 00:00:48,000 Becs Gentry: Hi, we missed you last week during your CEO- ing. 15 00:00:48,330 --> 00:00:52,710 Becs Gentry: I don't want to put that (inaudible) . That's now a thing 16 00:00:52,710 --> 00:00:53,580 Becs Gentry: is CEO- ing. 17 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:57,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, there are times, there are times when I have 18 00:00:57,450 --> 00:01:01,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: to go and actually be CEO and not podcast co- 19 00:01:01,170 --> 00:01:03,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: host. We were having an off- site with our management 20 00:01:03,570 --> 00:01:07,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: team last week, which was fantastic. But thank you for 21 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:10,619 Rob Simmelkjaer: holding down the fort. And for such a great episode. 22 00:01:10,620 --> 00:01:13,005 Rob Simmelkjaer: If you haven't listened to it, go back and listen 23 00:01:13,005 --> 00:01:16,590 Rob Simmelkjaer: to last week's episode with Becs talking to Shaunta- Mae. 24 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:20,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: It was awesome. She's such an inspirational story. 25 00:01:20,700 --> 00:01:23,760 Becs Gentry: She truly, truly is. I was blessed to spend that 26 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:28,020 Becs Gentry: time with her, as with all of our incredible, incredible guests. 27 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:30,510 Becs Gentry: How was your Memorial Day weekend? 28 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:33,810 Rob Simmelkjaer: Oh, it was good, Becs. You know, I'm not running 29 00:01:33,810 --> 00:01:36,240 Rob Simmelkjaer: much right now, actually. It's interesting. I'm in a little 30 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:40,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: bit of a running break. I get a couple miles 31 00:01:40,110 --> 00:01:40,951 Rob Simmelkjaer: here, a couple miles there. 32 00:01:40,951 --> 00:01:41,310 Becs Gentry: Nice. 33 00:01:41,310 --> 00:01:45,509 Rob Simmelkjaer: But coming into this summer, having run two marathons since 34 00:01:45,510 --> 00:01:48,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: last fall, I was like, " Let me get back into 35 00:01:48,150 --> 00:01:50,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: some things I missed." So, I played some tennis this 36 00:01:50,910 --> 00:01:54,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: weekend, which was great. Spent some time at the pool, a 37 00:01:54,780 --> 00:01:59,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: lot of kids stuff. My kids are coming over to 38 00:01:59,850 --> 00:02:03,059 Rob Simmelkjaer: hang out with their friends, go swimming. My daughter had 39 00:02:03,060 --> 00:02:06,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: a very impromptu little party with her friends on Sunday night. 40 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:07,860 Becs Gentry: You're such a cool dad. 41 00:02:08,040 --> 00:02:11,549 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, I'm like the guy with the fun house now, 42 00:02:11,610 --> 00:02:14,002 Rob Simmelkjaer: the pool. So, the kids are coming over and then (inaudible) - 43 00:02:14,002 --> 00:02:14,003 Becs Gentry: Can I come over? 44 00:02:14,003 --> 00:02:17,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... comes over. Yes, you can. Come on over. Let's 45 00:02:17,460 --> 00:02:21,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: get you guys up here. And so it's fun, but 46 00:02:21,270 --> 00:02:24,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: then sometimes it gets a little bit crazy with the 47 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:26,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: teenager. So, I was up a little later than I 48 00:02:26,340 --> 00:02:29,550 Rob Simmelkjaer: planned Sunday night with five teenage girls running around my 49 00:02:29,550 --> 00:02:30,961 Rob Simmelkjaer: house, but it was a good weekend. 50 00:02:30,961 --> 00:02:34,740 Becs Gentry: Oh, that's how it should be though, right? Memorial Day weekend. 51 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:37,050 Rob Simmelkjaer: That's what I want. I love having lots of people 52 00:02:37,050 --> 00:02:39,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: around, so it was a great weekend, absolutely. How about 53 00:02:39,750 --> 00:02:40,919 Rob Simmelkjaer: you? What do you guys got going on? 54 00:02:42,089 --> 00:02:45,030 Becs Gentry: It was very, very relaxed, actually. You know what? In 55 00:02:45,030 --> 00:02:49,200 Becs Gentry: true New York Roadrunner representation, I went and got some 56 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:54,600 Becs Gentry: miles in Central Park yesterday with Tallulah and Austin. We 57 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:57,330 Becs Gentry: did a little family run around the park, which was 58 00:02:57,330 --> 00:02:59,520 Becs Gentry: great. I have to give a big shout- out Austin for 59 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:02,790 Becs Gentry: pushing her heavy, heavy stroller all the way up Harlem 60 00:03:02,790 --> 00:03:04,680 Becs Gentry: Hill. Yeah. 61 00:03:05,010 --> 00:03:07,919 Rob Simmelkjaer: Wow, a stroller up Harlem Hill is no joke. 62 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:11,310 Becs Gentry: Not breaking a sweat. Well, no, he was absolutely dying. 63 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:13,859 Becs Gentry: Oh, with a sweat. But he was crushing the pace. 64 00:03:14,850 --> 00:03:18,270 Becs Gentry: And other than that, we just, Tallulah had her first 65 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:22,919 Becs Gentry: soft serve ice cream with sprinkles on, her first one ever. 66 00:03:22,919 --> 00:03:23,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: Oh, magic. 67 00:03:23,820 --> 00:03:26,940 Becs Gentry: Which was wild. Yeah, she was unfortunately a little unwell 68 00:03:26,940 --> 00:03:29,310 Becs Gentry: last night. So, I'm not sure whether that's going anything to 69 00:03:29,310 --> 00:03:30,570 Becs Gentry: do with the fact that we don't really give her 70 00:03:30,570 --> 00:03:33,780 Becs Gentry: sugar and then let her have that whole ice cream. 71 00:03:33,990 --> 00:03:38,850 Becs Gentry: Anyway, parenting SOS there. But otherwise it was relaxing. It 72 00:03:38,850 --> 00:03:40,920 Becs Gentry: was nice to see the sun came out, so it 73 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:44,070 Becs Gentry: was always good. But yeah, I'm running. I'm running, but 74 00:03:44,070 --> 00:03:47,430 Becs Gentry: I'm not running as much as I probably should be 75 00:03:47,880 --> 00:03:50,040 Becs Gentry: with an upcoming marathon, but- 76 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:52,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: It comes in waves. I think we all have to have our 77 00:03:52,980 --> 00:03:56,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: waves of intense running and then waves of pulling back 78 00:03:56,910 --> 00:04:00,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: a little, letting our body rest. I've come around to 79 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:04,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: just letting my body and my mind tell me what 80 00:04:04,380 --> 00:04:06,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: it wants. And if it wants to run 10 miles 81 00:04:06,990 --> 00:04:08,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: in a week, then that's what I'm going to do. And 82 00:04:09,390 --> 00:04:11,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: when I'm ready to ramp up to more, then that's 83 00:04:11,700 --> 00:04:14,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: okay. I still keep it going, still get the joy 84 00:04:14,190 --> 00:04:16,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: of it when I do it. So, however you do 85 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:19,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: it is a beautiful thing and fits into your life 86 00:04:19,020 --> 00:04:22,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: however it does. So, while we've got a great episode 87 00:04:22,290 --> 00:04:27,360 Rob Simmelkjaer: today, Becs, one of my absolute favorite people, Martinus Evans, 88 00:04:27,390 --> 00:04:30,930 Rob Simmelkjaer: the founder of the Slow AF Run Club. He's an 89 00:04:30,930 --> 00:04:34,470 Rob Simmelkjaer: author, an advocate, someone who's made the sport of running 90 00:04:34,470 --> 00:04:38,040 Rob Simmelkjaer: so much more inclusive, and he's one of the featured 91 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:42,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: runners in our Final Finishers documentary. A new film produced by New 92 00:04:42,660 --> 00:04:46,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: York Roadrunners and Tribeca Productions, which is premiering at this year's 93 00:04:46,950 --> 00:04:49,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: Tribeca Festival on June 12th. Martinus is going to join 94 00:04:49,950 --> 00:04:52,589 Rob Simmelkjaer: us in a little bit, and it's so much fun 95 00:04:52,589 --> 00:04:55,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: talking to him about the origins of Slow AF, his 96 00:04:55,890 --> 00:04:59,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: own story, how he became a runner. So, that's coming 97 00:04:59,490 --> 00:05:01,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: up a little bit later on the podcast. It's a 98 00:05:01,710 --> 00:05:05,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: great conversation. But before we get there, Becs, some more 99 00:05:05,370 --> 00:05:08,640 Rob Simmelkjaer: exciting news from our new content studio, which is called 100 00:05:08,670 --> 00:05:12,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: East 89th St Productions. By the way, for those who 101 00:05:12,060 --> 00:05:15,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: don't know, that's a nod to the old headquarters of 102 00:05:15,990 --> 00:05:19,469 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York Roadrunners up on East 89th Street between Madison 103 00:05:19,470 --> 00:05:21,870 Rob Simmelkjaer: and Fifth Avenue where people used to go pick up 104 00:05:21,870 --> 00:05:24,240 Rob Simmelkjaer: their bibs back in the day for a long, long time. 105 00:05:24,690 --> 00:05:25,410 Becs Gentry: So cool. 106 00:05:26,430 --> 00:05:28,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: We're very excited about this, but we also have a 107 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:33,029 Rob Simmelkjaer: new podcast out as part of that production studio, and 108 00:05:33,029 --> 00:05:36,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: it's our first ever audio documentary. So, it's not just 109 00:05:36,630 --> 00:05:38,820 Rob Simmelkjaer: the interviews and the conversation that you have here on 110 00:05:38,820 --> 00:05:42,720 Rob Simmelkjaer: Set the Pace, but it is really a great narrative 111 00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:49,409 Rob Simmelkjaer: storytelling documentary podcast. It's called 850 Million Reasons to Run, 112 00:05:50,130 --> 00:05:53,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: and it's a five- part series that follows New York 113 00:05:53,190 --> 00:05:57,659 Rob Simmelkjaer: Roadrunners member Peter Kirk, who went from a life- threatening 114 00:05:57,660 --> 00:06:01,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: diagnosis to the starting line of the TCS New York City Marathon 115 00:06:01,470 --> 00:06:06,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: all in under a year. And it's an incredibly powerful 116 00:06:06,210 --> 00:06:10,289 Rob Simmelkjaer: honest story. Becs, I listened to the first episode during 117 00:06:10,290 --> 00:06:13,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: one of my brief runs last weekend, and I loved 118 00:06:13,620 --> 00:06:16,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: it. And I'm dying to hear, because I don't know 119 00:06:16,650 --> 00:06:19,469 Rob Simmelkjaer: all of his story. I wasn't involved in the production of this 120 00:06:19,470 --> 00:06:22,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: podcast, so I'm just a listener and I can't wait for 121 00:06:22,350 --> 00:06:24,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: episode two to drop, which I think will have dropped 122 00:06:24,660 --> 00:06:26,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: by the time this episode right here does. 123 00:06:27,029 --> 00:06:31,380 Becs Gentry: Yeah, it's unreal. You all should be listening to it. 124 00:06:32,310 --> 00:06:35,550 Becs Gentry: Peter is an absolutely incredible human. If you don't know 125 00:06:35,550 --> 00:06:41,400 Becs Gentry: his story, he had acute leukemia, form of cancer. He 126 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:48,060 Becs Gentry: is aiming to run 1, 000 half- marathons. Yeah, he 127 00:06:48,060 --> 00:06:58,529 Becs Gentry: basically runs two a week. And his story of success, 128 00:06:58,529 --> 00:07:03,990 Becs Gentry: his story of what is possible as a human and 129 00:07:05,100 --> 00:07:11,520 Becs Gentry: the goal to just succeed. But in the episode that 130 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:15,210 Becs Gentry: has dropped already he talks about his cancer journey, his 131 00:07:16,350 --> 00:07:22,140 Becs Gentry: stem cell transplant. Success. It's a successful story, so I'm 132 00:07:22,140 --> 00:07:25,110 Becs Gentry: setting you up to not have too many tearjerkers. Though, 133 00:07:25,110 --> 00:07:27,120 Becs Gentry: if you are like me, you will shed a tear 134 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:30,780 Becs Gentry: or two just for empathy, I think as well. It's 135 00:07:30,780 --> 00:07:34,890 Becs Gentry: beautiful and wonderfully produced, so congratulations to the East 89th 136 00:07:34,890 --> 00:07:36,180 Becs Gentry: Street production team. 137 00:07:36,510 --> 00:07:40,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: That's right, Matt Singer, Katherine Jones, our team doing a 138 00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:45,510 Rob Simmelkjaer: phenomenal job putting that together, so very exciting. And make 139 00:07:45,510 --> 00:07:48,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: sure you check out those episodes. A couple more should 140 00:07:48,450 --> 00:07:51,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: be out when you are listening to this version of 141 00:07:51,510 --> 00:07:55,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: Set the Pace. All right, last but not least, Becs, 142 00:07:55,500 --> 00:07:58,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: we will end today's show as we always do with 143 00:07:58,110 --> 00:08:02,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: some important tips from Meb Keflezighi. Today's Meb Minute is all about 144 00:08:02,130 --> 00:08:04,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: what you should be doing to prep for a fall 145 00:08:04,620 --> 00:08:08,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: marathon before you officially begin your training plan. A lot 146 00:08:08,130 --> 00:08:10,860 Rob Simmelkjaer: of people are in that mode now where they've got 147 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:14,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: a ticket booked, an entry into one of the fall 148 00:08:14,190 --> 00:08:17,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: marathons. Maybe it's not quite time to really get going 149 00:08:17,220 --> 00:08:20,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: into your training yet, so how do you prep to 150 00:08:20,220 --> 00:08:23,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: prep? How do you get ready for your training? Meb 151 00:08:23,010 --> 00:08:25,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: will take us through all that as well. 152 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:28,920 Becs Gentry: Try the Peloton app for free and access classes for 153 00:08:28,920 --> 00:08:31,680 Becs Gentry: every type of runner. Whether you're training for your first 154 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:35,100 Becs Gentry: race or you're a seasoned pro. From outdoor runs and 155 00:08:35,100 --> 00:08:39,240 Becs Gentry: intervals to strength, yoga and stretching, you'll find the perfect 156 00:08:39,240 --> 00:08:42,689 Becs Gentry: fit for every part of your routine. Whether it's a 157 00:08:42,690 --> 00:08:45,420 Becs Gentry: long run day or you just need a quick five- 158 00:08:45,420 --> 00:08:48,750 Becs Gentry: minute reset. The Peloton app meets you where you are 159 00:08:48,990 --> 00:08:52,890 Becs Gentry: and helps you become a stronger, faster runner. Because it's 160 00:08:52,890 --> 00:08:56,459 Becs Gentry: designed for someone like you. Try the app free for 161 00:08:56,460 --> 00:08:59,309 Becs Gentry: 30 days and download it now from the app store 162 00:08:59,370 --> 00:09:04,320 Becs Gentry: or Google Play. Terms apply. Peloton, the official digital fitness 163 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:06,089 Becs Gentry: partner for New York Roadrunners. 164 00:09:06,570 --> 00:09:10,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: This week we are joined by Martinus Evans, a marathoner, 165 00:09:10,500 --> 00:09:13,829 Rob Simmelkjaer: an author and a founder of the Slow AF Run 166 00:09:13,830 --> 00:09:17,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: Club. And a tireless advocate who challenges what we think 167 00:09:17,400 --> 00:09:20,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: a runner looks like and who gets to be one. 168 00:09:20,790 --> 00:09:23,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: Martinus has built a global community for runners of all 169 00:09:23,580 --> 00:09:26,640 Rob Simmelkjaer: body types and paces, and he's helping lead a much 170 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:29,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: needed shift in how we talk about inclusion in the 171 00:09:29,790 --> 00:09:32,069 Rob Simmelkjaer: sport. And I've had a chance to get to know 172 00:09:32,070 --> 00:09:34,469 Rob Simmelkjaer: Martinus quite a bit over the last couple of years 173 00:09:34,470 --> 00:09:37,439 Rob Simmelkjaer: through his book, and it's great to see you, and 174 00:09:37,950 --> 00:09:39,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: welcome to Set the Pace, Martinus. 175 00:09:39,870 --> 00:09:42,300 Martinus Evans: Hey man, I'm glad to be here. Thank you for having me. 176 00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:45,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: Absolutely. I've had a chance to get to know you. 177 00:09:45,900 --> 00:09:50,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: You've had this incredible run with your Slow AF, which 178 00:09:50,940 --> 00:09:55,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: stands for as Something Run Club, and your story is 179 00:09:55,650 --> 00:09:59,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: incredible. When I first met you, I think it was 180 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:04,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: at one of your book signings. And you gave an 181 00:10:04,170 --> 00:10:09,059 Rob Simmelkjaer: incredible talk about your journey as a runner. Someone who, 182 00:10:09,270 --> 00:10:12,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: if someone walks up to you on the street, the 183 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:14,969 Rob Simmelkjaer: first word that comes to mind may not be marathoner, 184 00:10:15,270 --> 00:10:18,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: but there you are. And can you talk about how 185 00:10:18,780 --> 00:10:23,040 Rob Simmelkjaer: this all happened for you? And it is documented in the film that 186 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:26,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: we've got coming up, Final Finisher, which we're so excited about. 187 00:10:26,309 --> 00:10:28,469 Rob Simmelkjaer: You're a big part of that story. But talk about 188 00:10:28,470 --> 00:10:32,189 Rob Simmelkjaer: how this all came about for you as a big 189 00:10:32,190 --> 00:10:34,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: guy starting to run these long distances. 190 00:10:35,340 --> 00:10:38,700 Martinus Evans: Absolutely, Rob. Let me take you back in 2012, think about 191 00:10:38,700 --> 00:10:42,630 Martinus Evans: where were you at in 2012? For me, I was working 192 00:10:42,630 --> 00:10:45,150 Martinus Evans: commission sales job at Men's Warehouse. I was on my 193 00:10:45,150 --> 00:10:49,740 Martinus Evans: feet 10 to 12 hours a day. I was a commission suit 194 00:10:49,740 --> 00:10:53,700 Martinus Evans: salesman. I was on my feet pretty much a long 195 00:10:53,700 --> 00:10:57,449 Martinus Evans: period of time. One day I ended up hurting my hip. 196 00:10:57,870 --> 00:11:01,140 Martinus Evans: I went to go see a doctor and this kind of 197 00:11:01,290 --> 00:11:03,840 Martinus Evans: spiraled into the journey we know now, sat in this 198 00:11:03,840 --> 00:11:06,960 Martinus Evans: doctor's office and he was like, "I know why you're in 199 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:09,750 Martinus Evans: pain, because you're fat and you need to lose weight." 200 00:11:10,230 --> 00:11:13,650 Martinus Evans: And I said a lot of colorful four letter words 201 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:17,820 Martinus Evans: that's probably not permitted on this podcast. 202 00:11:17,820 --> 00:11:20,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: Did the doctor actually say fat? Did he actually fat, 203 00:11:21,179 --> 00:11:21,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: use the word fat? 204 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:21,841 Martinus Evans: Yes. 205 00:11:21,841 --> 00:11:24,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah. That's interesting. Different, slightly different time, but hey. 206 00:11:25,290 --> 00:11:25,920 Martinus Evans: Yes. 207 00:11:26,458 --> 00:11:26,459 Rob Simmelkjaer: I guess he was being- 208 00:11:26,459 --> 00:11:26,490 Martinus Evans: 2012, right? 209 00:11:27,750 --> 00:11:29,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, not that long ago, but okay. 210 00:11:32,460 --> 00:11:35,010 Martinus Evans: But yeah, he called me fat. He told me I 211 00:11:35,010 --> 00:11:37,260 Martinus Evans: need to lose weight or die. He went on this 212 00:11:37,260 --> 00:11:39,990 Martinus Evans: whole thing of you need to start walking and lose 213 00:11:39,990 --> 00:11:43,860 Martinus Evans: weight and all this other stuff. And just being tired, 214 00:11:43,860 --> 00:11:47,730 Martinus Evans: frustrated, and A, just tired of people just counting me 215 00:11:47,730 --> 00:11:55,050 Martinus Evans: out. As a previous collegiate athlete, I have the determination, 216 00:11:55,050 --> 00:11:58,319 Martinus Evans: I have the mindset. So, I told that doctor, " I'm 217 00:11:58,320 --> 00:12:00,510 Martinus Evans: going to run a marathon. Forget all the things you're 218 00:12:00,510 --> 00:12:05,970 Martinus Evans: talking about. I'm going to go run a marathon." And he laughed at me. He didn't 219 00:12:05,970 --> 00:12:08,790 Martinus Evans: give me a hah, hah laugh or a giggle laugh. 220 00:12:08,790 --> 00:12:10,710 Martinus Evans: He didn't even give me a laugh like he's laughing with 221 00:12:10,710 --> 00:12:11,940 Martinus Evans: me, right? He's laughing at me. 222 00:12:13,830 --> 00:12:16,050 Becs Gentry: So, talk us through it. What happened? You went and 223 00:12:16,050 --> 00:12:19,229 Becs Gentry: got the running shoes, and then what? 224 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:22,559 Martinus Evans: I went to go get the running shoes, Becs, and I 225 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:25,500 Martinus Evans: was like, "I was going to run a marathon that day. I'm 226 00:12:25,500 --> 00:12:27,449 Martinus Evans: running a marathon today." 227 00:12:27,929 --> 00:12:28,380 Becs Gentry: Got fired up. 228 00:12:29,490 --> 00:12:31,470 Martinus Evans: There was a lot of things I didn't necessarily know 229 00:12:31,470 --> 00:12:34,199 Martinus Evans: about marathon running, but I was like, " I'm going to 230 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:37,590 Martinus Evans: run one today." I remember telling my friends, "I'm going to go run 231 00:12:37,590 --> 00:12:39,420 Martinus Evans: a 5K marathon today." 232 00:12:39,420 --> 00:12:42,720 Becs Gentry: Google like, how long is a marathon? 233 00:12:45,780 --> 00:12:49,679 Martinus Evans: But I get the shoes and I go to the fitness 234 00:12:49,679 --> 00:12:52,500 Martinus Evans: center in my apartment complex, and there's three treadmills there, 235 00:12:52,500 --> 00:12:56,520 Martinus Evans: I remember this vividly. And two treadmills are already occupied 236 00:12:56,520 --> 00:13:01,890 Martinus Evans: by these two guys that I lovingly call them gazelles. 237 00:13:01,890 --> 00:13:03,809 Martinus Evans: Because they were tearing it up, they were tearing the 238 00:13:03,809 --> 00:13:08,040 Martinus Evans: treadmill. And I remember getting on the treadmill and sizing 239 00:13:08,040 --> 00:13:12,570 Martinus Evans: these guys up and one guy was going 10, another guy 240 00:13:12,570 --> 00:13:13,290 Martinus Evans: was going nine. 241 00:13:14,130 --> 00:13:14,131 Becs Gentry: Wow. 242 00:13:14,131 --> 00:13:18,420 Martinus Evans: And I thought to myself, " You know what, if these guys are 243 00:13:18,420 --> 00:13:25,260 Martinus Evans: going nine and 10, I can at least go seven." Say wrong. 244 00:13:26,760 --> 00:13:31,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, seven's not slow, seven is moving, seven's moving for you. 245 00:13:32,100 --> 00:13:37,079 Martinus Evans: So, I put it on seven, the belt is speeding in between my 246 00:13:37,080 --> 00:13:41,910 Martinus Evans: legs and I said, " Here goes nothing." And I get 247 00:13:41,910 --> 00:13:44,400 Martinus Evans: on that treadmill belt and my life left before my 248 00:13:44,400 --> 00:13:52,650 Martinus Evans: eyes. All I remember, it was struggling and fighting for 249 00:13:52,650 --> 00:13:56,910 Martinus Evans: what I felt like an eternity until the world stopped 250 00:13:57,480 --> 00:13:58,620 Martinus Evans: and I was on the ground. 251 00:13:59,100 --> 00:13:59,219 Becs Gentry: Oh, no. 252 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:01,470 Martinus Evans: I fell off the treadmill. 253 00:14:04,140 --> 00:14:04,710 Becs Gentry: Oh, no. 254 00:14:04,710 --> 00:14:04,800 Martinus Evans: Yes. 255 00:14:05,070 --> 00:14:05,100 Becs Gentry: Oh, no. 256 00:14:06,030 --> 00:14:09,540 Martinus Evans: The noise that I made falling off that treadmill was deafening. 257 00:14:11,130 --> 00:14:16,650 Martinus Evans: And as I'm trying to get up and make sure 258 00:14:16,830 --> 00:14:22,650 Martinus Evans: nobody sees me, and everybody saw me, everybody saw me. I 259 00:14:22,650 --> 00:14:24,840 Martinus Evans: try to get up, I grabbed my stuff. One of the 260 00:14:25,260 --> 00:14:27,660 Martinus Evans: gazelles looked at me and was like, " Are you okay?" And I was like, "Yeah, I just 261 00:14:28,350 --> 00:14:31,410 Martinus Evans: lost my balance." And I grabbed my phone and that 262 00:14:31,410 --> 00:14:34,890 Martinus Evans: little red light was flashing and it said 15 seconds. 263 00:14:36,390 --> 00:14:41,220 Martinus Evans: And I was like, " Oh, this is not a marathon." 264 00:14:42,630 --> 00:14:47,160 Martinus Evans: And I got up out of there. I remember walking out of the fitness 265 00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:51,240 Martinus Evans: center with tears in my eyes being like, " Maybe the 266 00:14:51,240 --> 00:14:58,560 Martinus Evans: doctor's right. Maybe I can't do this. Maybe I am 267 00:14:58,560 --> 00:15:05,100 Martinus Evans: done for thinking I can do this." And as I got home, I reached 268 00:15:05,100 --> 00:15:08,070 Martinus Evans: out to the doorknob and I have his tattoo on my right 269 00:15:08,070 --> 00:15:11,100 Martinus Evans: wrist and it says, " No struggle, no progress." It comes 270 00:15:11,100 --> 00:15:16,410 Martinus Evans: from the famous Frederick Douglass speech. And I got it 271 00:15:16,410 --> 00:15:19,109 Martinus Evans: a long time ago, and when I reached out to 272 00:15:19,110 --> 00:15:22,110 Martinus Evans: the doorknob to twist the doorknob open, I seen a 273 00:15:22,110 --> 00:15:25,229 Martinus Evans: tattoo and it said, " No struggle, no progress." And I 274 00:15:25,230 --> 00:15:30,780 Martinus Evans: thought to myself, " You know what? I got to go 275 00:15:30,780 --> 00:15:31,440 Martinus Evans: through the struggle." 276 00:15:31,440 --> 00:15:34,890 Becs Gentry: Yeah, yeah, you do. And hold onto it and hold onto that pain 277 00:15:34,890 --> 00:15:39,300 Becs Gentry: and that catalyst though, I mean, we all need a 278 00:15:39,300 --> 00:15:44,610 Becs Gentry: catalyst. Whatever is a current roadblock in life, there's always 279 00:15:44,610 --> 00:15:46,770 Becs Gentry: a catalyst, but it's whether you hold onto it or 280 00:15:46,770 --> 00:15:49,950 Becs Gentry: whether you just shove it aside and say, " All right, 281 00:15:49,950 --> 00:15:52,920 Becs Gentry: I'm going to let that defeat me." And you didn't, you 282 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:55,380 Becs Gentry: didn't, you gave it a go. You had that 15 283 00:15:55,440 --> 00:16:02,370 Becs Gentry: seconds, it slammed you down, but you got back up, and that's it. 284 00:16:02,370 --> 00:16:05,609 Becs Gentry: That's the amazing, amazing side of it. Had you been 285 00:16:05,610 --> 00:16:06,810 Becs Gentry: on a treadmill before that? 286 00:16:07,530 --> 00:16:13,560 Martinus Evans: I have, but a very long time ago. Like I said, I was a collegiate athlete, 287 00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:18,540 Martinus Evans: I played college football. And that was probably about five 288 00:16:18,540 --> 00:16:25,140 Martinus Evans: years after that. I was still nimble for my size. 289 00:16:25,410 --> 00:16:27,660 Martinus Evans: I can tear it up on a flag football field. 290 00:16:28,620 --> 00:16:32,370 Martinus Evans: But was I really working out? Was I really exercising? Nah, I wasn't. 291 00:16:32,580 --> 00:16:32,790 Becs Gentry: No. Okay. 292 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:39,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, certain football positions, your number one skill is mass. 293 00:16:39,900 --> 00:16:43,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: Just the size and the mass that you can bring 294 00:16:43,260 --> 00:16:46,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: to hitting another person. That can be an advantage in 295 00:16:46,950 --> 00:16:50,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: football, but later in life can become a problem and 296 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:55,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: present some health challenges. So, how Martinus, did you get 297 00:16:55,680 --> 00:17:00,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: from on the ground next to that treadmill to actually 298 00:17:00,540 --> 00:17:05,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: accomplishing your objective of 26.2 miles? How did that happen? 299 00:17:05,190 --> 00:17:06,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: What help did you have along the way? 300 00:17:09,390 --> 00:17:11,520 Martinus Evans: All the things I'm going to say, it's simple, but it's 301 00:17:11,520 --> 00:17:15,480 Martinus Evans: not easy to do. And what I mean by that, it 302 00:17:15,480 --> 00:17:20,730 Martinus Evans: really took a lot of micro steps along the way. Let's 303 00:17:20,730 --> 00:17:23,520 Martinus Evans: talk about the next day. I go back to the 304 00:17:23,550 --> 00:17:26,070 Martinus Evans: fitness center, I'm like, " This treadmill is not going to beat 305 00:17:26,070 --> 00:17:28,770 Martinus Evans: me." I run for 30 seconds straight, I'm like, " All right, 306 00:17:28,770 --> 00:17:31,680 Martinus Evans: that's good enough. I had to prove to myself that I can get on the 307 00:17:31,740 --> 00:17:35,189 Martinus Evans: treadmill and run." And then every day after that I 308 00:17:35,190 --> 00:17:37,230 Martinus Evans: would just go and just do a little bit more, 309 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:40,859 Martinus Evans: like 45 seconds, try to run a minute. And then 310 00:17:41,280 --> 00:17:44,160 Martinus Evans: a friend told me about Couch to 5K, and I'm kind 311 00:17:44,160 --> 00:17:47,250 Martinus Evans: of obsessive, so I download four of them and I'm 312 00:17:47,609 --> 00:17:51,330 Martinus Evans: trying different voices and things that I saw and just went 313 00:17:51,330 --> 00:17:53,790 Martinus Evans: through the paces of Couch to 5K. And one of the 314 00:17:53,790 --> 00:17:59,280 Martinus Evans: things that I found out during there was that some 315 00:17:59,280 --> 00:18:03,629 Martinus Evans: of these Couch to 5K programs, 5K programs, wasn't necessarily meant for 316 00:18:03,630 --> 00:18:06,300 Martinus Evans: me, because I'll get to try to do it and 317 00:18:06,300 --> 00:18:09,510 Martinus Evans: then I couldn't finish the program. So, I'll try to 318 00:18:09,510 --> 00:18:14,250 Martinus Evans: modify it and I'll repeat the days and so on and so 319 00:18:14,250 --> 00:18:17,790 Martinus Evans: forth until I was able to be comfortable with that 320 00:18:17,790 --> 00:18:23,850 Martinus Evans: particular day. It took me about 10 to 12 weeks to be 321 00:18:23,850 --> 00:18:27,930 Martinus Evans: able to run my first 5K. I remember signing up for, it was 322 00:18:27,930 --> 00:18:33,090 Martinus Evans: a, I think it was a 5K for the September 11th 323 00:18:33,090 --> 00:18:37,800 Martinus Evans: firefighters, I think it was Steven Siller Foundation or something like that, 324 00:18:38,250 --> 00:18:43,980 Martinus Evans: Tunnel to Towers. So that was my first 5K. I ran that and 325 00:18:44,520 --> 00:18:48,449 Martinus Evans: from that day on I was hooked. And I was like, " 326 00:18:48,480 --> 00:18:51,570 Martinus Evans: Okay, if I can do this, I can train for 327 00:18:51,570 --> 00:18:56,460 Martinus Evans: 10K." Trained for 10K, run a bunch of 10Ks and then train for a half- 328 00:18:56,460 --> 00:19:01,410 Martinus Evans: marathon. And then I'll say, " Okay, I trained for a half- marathon, 329 00:19:02,040 --> 00:19:04,560 Martinus Evans: it's time to sign up for the big dog." And signed 330 00:19:05,130 --> 00:19:10,290 Martinus Evans: up for a marathon and went out there and did 331 00:19:10,290 --> 00:19:10,680 Martinus Evans: my thing. 332 00:19:10,980 --> 00:19:11,820 Rob Simmelkjaer: And what year was that, Martinus? 333 00:19:13,770 --> 00:19:16,950 Martinus Evans: I ran Detroit Marathon. My first marathon was Detroit Marathon. 334 00:19:16,950 --> 00:19:18,480 Martinus Evans: It was October of 2013. 335 00:19:19,320 --> 00:19:22,619 Rob Simmelkjaer: All right. So, that was basically about a year after that 336 00:19:23,398 --> 00:19:24,960 Rob Simmelkjaer: disappointment, right? Ish? 337 00:19:24,960 --> 00:19:28,530 Martinus Evans: Yeah, roughly a year- ish, 18 months, somewhere around there. 338 00:19:28,650 --> 00:19:34,648 Martinus Evans: I met the doctor in June of 2012, and then 339 00:19:34,648 --> 00:19:37,770 Martinus Evans: I ran that marathon in August of 2013. Well, not 340 00:19:37,770 --> 00:19:39,300 Martinus Evans: August, October 2013. 341 00:19:40,230 --> 00:19:40,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: Amazing. 342 00:19:40,440 --> 00:19:45,960 Becs Gentry: Wow. Did you at any point on that, let's call 343 00:19:45,960 --> 00:19:50,820 Becs Gentry: it 14 months or whatever, no 15 months, semantics, any 344 00:19:50,820 --> 00:19:55,950 Becs Gentry: point think that running would become such a huge part 345 00:19:56,010 --> 00:19:58,830 Becs Gentry: of who you were and your identity in the future? 346 00:19:59,820 --> 00:20:00,510 Martinus Evans: Absolutely not. 347 00:20:01,109 --> 00:20:01,379 Becs Gentry: No? 348 00:20:01,590 --> 00:20:04,679 Martinus Evans: No. I did not think that running was going to 349 00:20:04,680 --> 00:20:13,080 Martinus Evans: be that thing that I would do 10, 11, 12 years from then, right? 350 00:20:13,080 --> 00:20:18,330 Martinus Evans: And I say that, because another thing that was also 351 00:20:18,450 --> 00:20:22,439 Martinus Evans: happening during that time of me running, I was writing a 352 00:20:22,440 --> 00:20:27,990 Martinus Evans: blog that got, it was fairly popular. And then I 353 00:20:27,990 --> 00:20:32,280 Martinus Evans: was also getting a master's degree, so I was getting a 354 00:20:32,369 --> 00:20:38,010 Martinus Evans: master's degree in health promotion public health. So, there was 355 00:20:38,010 --> 00:20:40,590 Martinus Evans: a lot of things going on and I thought to 356 00:20:40,590 --> 00:20:44,520 Martinus Evans: myself that this running thing would just be something that would keep 357 00:20:44,520 --> 00:20:46,800 Martinus Evans: me sane while going to grad school and thinking about 358 00:20:46,800 --> 00:20:51,690 Martinus Evans: getting my PhD. But it became a thing that, became that 359 00:20:51,900 --> 00:20:55,379 Martinus Evans: catalyst that pretty much flipped everything that I did in 360 00:20:55,379 --> 00:20:58,170 Martinus Evans: life. And what I mean by that is, for example, some 361 00:20:58,170 --> 00:21:00,959 Martinus Evans: of these people, people don't even know this, right? I 362 00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:05,910 Martinus Evans: have a bachelor's in exercise science, the master's in health 363 00:21:05,910 --> 00:21:09,420 Martinus Evans: promotion, public health, and then I have a second master's 364 00:21:09,570 --> 00:21:14,460 Martinus Evans: in digital marketing. But here's the thing, much of the 365 00:21:14,460 --> 00:21:19,260 Martinus Evans: directory when I was in grad school, I forget what 366 00:21:19,260 --> 00:21:21,510 Martinus Evans: I was even going to do, but it wasn't what I did. 367 00:21:21,600 --> 00:21:24,990 Martinus Evans: I remember talking to my advisor and being like, " Hey, 368 00:21:26,580 --> 00:21:30,780 Martinus Evans: there is this" ... There was this conference called Fit Blogging, 369 00:21:30,780 --> 00:21:35,250 Martinus Evans: and it was like all these fitness bloggers got together. And I 370 00:21:35,250 --> 00:21:38,429 Martinus Evans: remember telling my advisor, " Hey, I think I want my 371 00:21:38,430 --> 00:21:42,449 Martinus Evans: master thesis to be on weight loss bloggers and readers 372 00:21:42,450 --> 00:21:46,800 Martinus Evans: or weight loss bloggers of these fitness blogs. I want to 373 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:50,639 Martinus Evans: see are they actually losing weight? Are people who are 374 00:21:50,640 --> 00:21:53,790 Martinus Evans: on weight loss journeys actually doing this thing?" And I 375 00:21:53,790 --> 00:21:57,390 Martinus Evans: remember my advisor being like, " That does not make sense. 376 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:04,590 Martinus Evans: Nobody's doing their journeys or using their fitness journeys and 377 00:22:04,590 --> 00:22:07,770 Martinus Evans: things of that sort." I'm like, " No, there's a conference 378 00:22:07,980 --> 00:22:11,940 Martinus Evans: of people who does this." And when it was all said 379 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:15,330 Martinus Evans: and done, I ended up writing my master thesis on 380 00:22:15,510 --> 00:22:18,420 Martinus Evans: weight loss bloggers and readers of weight loss bloggers. To really 381 00:22:18,420 --> 00:22:25,410 Martinus Evans: understand this parasocial relationship. Like, are people actually getting the 382 00:22:25,410 --> 00:22:30,240 Martinus Evans: thing that they want? Are people actually getting active? Are people actually moving 383 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:34,350 Martinus Evans: their body from reading these other stories? And the answer ended 384 00:22:34,350 --> 00:22:38,280 Martinus Evans: up being yes, right? I can't remember the research and all 385 00:22:38,280 --> 00:22:44,070 Martinus Evans: the stuff, but my master thesis, a couple of those 386 00:22:44,280 --> 00:22:48,240 Martinus Evans: ended up becoming articles that was published in scientific journals. 387 00:22:49,080 --> 00:22:55,109 Rob Simmelkjaer: Amazing. It seems like these lines were all moving in 388 00:22:55,109 --> 00:22:58,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: the same direction in your life. Maybe you didn't know 389 00:22:58,740 --> 00:23:02,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: exactly where they were all pointing you towards. But you 390 00:23:02,340 --> 00:23:05,879 Rob Simmelkjaer: were moving in this direction to do what you're now 391 00:23:05,880 --> 00:23:10,590 Rob Simmelkjaer: doing with Slow AF Run Club. All right, so let's get 392 00:23:10,590 --> 00:23:13,889 Rob Simmelkjaer: from the finish line of that first marathon in Detroit 393 00:23:14,460 --> 00:23:18,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: to the start of Slow AF Run Club, and the 394 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:22,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: story, Martinus, it's one of my favorite stories of what inspired 395 00:23:22,950 --> 00:23:25,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: you to start this club and to name it Slow AF. 396 00:23:27,090 --> 00:23:30,270 Martinus Evans: Okay, so let's talk about it. Slow AF Run Club 397 00:23:30,270 --> 00:23:35,820 Martinus Evans: and how this thing got started. I was running a 398 00:23:35,820 --> 00:23:38,880 Martinus Evans: particular race, a very large race. 399 00:23:38,970 --> 00:23:42,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: You could say it, you could say it, come on, we're honest here on 400 00:23:42,840 --> 00:23:43,109 Rob Simmelkjaer: Set the Pace. 401 00:23:43,110 --> 00:23:52,590 Martinus Evans: I was running New York City Marathon, so I was running New York City Marathon. First time being, actually it 402 00:23:52,590 --> 00:23:58,050 Martinus Evans: was the first time me being in New York. And running the 403 00:23:58,050 --> 00:24:03,149 Martinus Evans: marathon and I get to the Queensboro Bridge, and I 404 00:24:03,150 --> 00:24:07,800 Martinus Evans: remember this bridge, because it's quiet, there's no spectators. All 405 00:24:07,800 --> 00:24:11,070 Martinus Evans: you hear is lost souls and moaning being like, " Ah, 406 00:24:11,070 --> 00:24:17,580 Martinus Evans: this bridge F this bridge. Why?" I remember getting off 407 00:24:17,580 --> 00:24:23,070 Martinus Evans: the bridge making that, I think it's a left turn and then there's a right turn and then you're 408 00:24:23,070 --> 00:24:26,310 Martinus Evans: on First Ave. And I remember being like, "I just got off this 409 00:24:26,310 --> 00:24:31,020 Martinus Evans: bridge and now I'm still on an incline. What is this?" And I 410 00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:33,900 Martinus Evans: was on the left barricade and I remember this guy 411 00:24:33,900 --> 00:24:36,929 Martinus Evans: pointing at me and I'm like, " Okay, you about to 412 00:24:36,930 --> 00:24:40,290 Martinus Evans: give me a fist pump, a banana, a beer, something?" 413 00:24:41,160 --> 00:24:44,730 Martinus Evans: I go to him, I run towards him and he's like, " 414 00:24:44,730 --> 00:24:50,070 Martinus Evans: Hey buddy, you're slow, you Slow AF know," those words. 415 00:24:50,609 --> 00:24:53,160 Martinus Evans: And I was like, " What?" And I remember him being like, " 416 00:24:53,160 --> 00:24:57,330 Martinus Evans: Go home, it's not even, you're not going to win. Just go 417 00:24:57,330 --> 00:25:03,180 Martinus Evans: home." We had some few church words, some colorful words 418 00:25:03,180 --> 00:25:05,850 Martinus Evans: that I won't say on this podcast, but I remember 419 00:25:05,850 --> 00:25:07,830 Martinus Evans: being like, " Why am I even wasting my breath on 420 00:25:07,830 --> 00:25:10,230 Martinus Evans: somebody who's on the sideline and I'm actually doing the 421 00:25:10,230 --> 00:25:18,030 Martinus Evans: thing?" After I finished this race, finish New York City, 422 00:25:18,119 --> 00:25:22,710 Martinus Evans: get my medal, I think to myself, " I'm going to create 423 00:25:22,710 --> 00:25:25,590 Martinus Evans: a community called the Slow AF Run Club." And it 424 00:25:25,590 --> 00:25:31,710 Martinus Evans: is A, like a big middle finger to him. But also knowing that during 425 00:25:31,710 --> 00:25:34,410 Martinus Evans: that time I've ran a few races, I know there 426 00:25:34,410 --> 00:25:38,880 Martinus Evans: was other people who are in the back of the pack. Starting to become good friends 427 00:25:38,880 --> 00:25:42,570 Martinus Evans: with some of those people in Facebook groups and things 428 00:25:42,570 --> 00:25:48,450 Martinus Evans: of that sort. And I was like, "You know what? I'm going to create something that us 429 00:25:49,050 --> 00:25:52,800 Martinus Evans: slow runners to get together and just be together and 430 00:25:52,800 --> 00:25:55,770 Martinus Evans: run races." That was really the ultimate goal was like, 431 00:25:56,250 --> 00:26:01,889 Martinus Evans: get ... I started this thing with 50 people. Get 50 of my 432 00:26:02,250 --> 00:26:06,030 Martinus Evans: closest running buddies that I've met online or Instagram or 433 00:26:06,480 --> 00:26:09,480 Martinus Evans: in a Facebook group and say, " Hey, let's get together and 434 00:26:09,750 --> 00:26:12,660 Martinus Evans: let's plan out races together so we no longer have 435 00:26:12,660 --> 00:26:16,350 Martinus Evans: to run alone. I don't want to see you at 436 00:26:16,350 --> 00:26:17,850 Martinus Evans: a race and be like, 'Oh, I didn't know you 437 00:26:17,850 --> 00:26:20,429 Martinus Evans: was here.' Let's just plan them out. What races are 438 00:26:20,430 --> 00:26:24,869 Martinus Evans: you running? Let's plan together, let's share hotels, and so 439 00:26:24,869 --> 00:26:28,650 Martinus Evans: on and so forth." And that was right before the 440 00:26:28,650 --> 00:26:34,080 Martinus Evans: pandemic. And then something happened, the pandemic happened, so all 441 00:26:34,080 --> 00:26:39,689 Martinus Evans: our races got canceled. Races was dropping like flies during that 442 00:26:39,690 --> 00:26:44,010 Martinus Evans: time. And these 40 or 50 people that we had in there 443 00:26:44,010 --> 00:26:48,000 Martinus Evans: was sad. Even myself went, " We can't run these races, 444 00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:52,170 Martinus Evans: where are we going to go?" And I remember reaching out 445 00:26:52,170 --> 00:26:55,409 Martinus Evans: to a buddy who's a race director, shout out to 446 00:26:55,410 --> 00:26:58,500 Martinus Evans: JT. And I was like, " Hey, I think I want 447 00:26:58,500 --> 00:27:01,379 Martinus Evans: to put on this race. Can you help me find 448 00:27:01,590 --> 00:27:05,730 Martinus Evans: a medal, the strip gird things of that sort?" He put me in contact 449 00:27:05,730 --> 00:27:09,420 Martinus Evans: with a medal distributor and we created a medal. And 450 00:27:09,420 --> 00:27:11,609 Martinus Evans: my first, I put on a virtual race and it was 451 00:27:11,609 --> 00:27:17,790 Martinus Evans: called the Slow AF Social Distancing Shuffle. I put on 452 00:27:17,790 --> 00:27:23,609 Martinus Evans: this race and I remember with the race medals I 453 00:27:23,609 --> 00:27:26,700 Martinus Evans: had to buy a minimal of 100 medals. I'm thinking to 454 00:27:26,700 --> 00:27:30,210 Martinus Evans: myself like, " Oh my God, I spent so much money 455 00:27:30,840 --> 00:27:33,900 Martinus Evans: who are going to buy these medals?" And I put it out there 456 00:27:33,900 --> 00:27:44,251 Martinus Evans: in the interwebs and 10, 000 people signed up for this virtual race. 457 00:27:44,251 --> 00:27:44,252 Rob Simmelkjaer: I'm sorry, what Martinus? Ten what? 458 00:27:44,252 --> 00:27:44,672 Martinus Evans: 10,000 people signed up for this virtual race? 459 00:27:44,940 --> 00:27:46,381 Becs Gentry: Yes, thank you. Yes. 460 00:27:46,381 --> 00:27:46,860 Martinus Evans: Yes. 461 00:27:49,500 --> 00:27:50,970 Becs Gentry: It's a lot more medals that you needed to buy 462 00:27:50,970 --> 00:27:51,959 Becs Gentry: though, I'm sorry about that part. 463 00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:56,490 Martinus Evans: You think. 464 00:27:56,490 --> 00:27:58,680 Becs Gentry: Wait, so how much is a virtual medal? 465 00:28:02,250 --> 00:28:05,129 Martinus Evans: So yeah, I then had to go back to the 466 00:28:05,130 --> 00:28:07,980 Martinus Evans: manufacturer and get more medals and things that 10, 000 467 00:28:07,980 --> 00:28:12,060 Martinus Evans: people signed up for that, and literally overnight we went from a 468 00:28:12,060 --> 00:28:17,250 Martinus Evans: community of 50 people to 10, 000 people who were just 469 00:28:17,250 --> 00:28:20,399 Martinus Evans: sticking around and be like, " Hey, when's the next one? I 470 00:28:20,820 --> 00:28:24,449 Martinus Evans: wanted a little medal, you got more things, your turtle 471 00:28:24,450 --> 00:28:29,189 Martinus Evans: mascot is amazing." And we'll just put on more virtual 472 00:28:29,190 --> 00:28:32,939 Martinus Evans: races. And then became just putting on virtual races to 473 00:28:32,940 --> 00:28:36,720 Martinus Evans: people actually coming in and asking for helping support like, " 474 00:28:36,720 --> 00:28:41,280 Martinus Evans: Hey, what running shoes are you running in? Do you 475 00:28:41,280 --> 00:28:47,850 Martinus Evans: run for speed or distance first? I'm hungry while I'm 476 00:28:47,850 --> 00:28:50,730 Martinus Evans: running. Do I supposed to eat?" I think one of 477 00:28:50,730 --> 00:28:54,120 Martinus Evans: the biggest questions was, " Do you eat while you run? 478 00:28:54,330 --> 00:28:56,820 Martinus Evans: How do you eat and run? I don't never see 479 00:28:56,820 --> 00:29:01,560 Martinus Evans: the professional athletes eat and run. Is that a thing?" 480 00:29:03,780 --> 00:29:08,610 Martinus Evans: I would literally be in the community answering all these 481 00:29:08,700 --> 00:29:14,040 Martinus Evans: questions, answering all these questions, " No, I would say run 482 00:29:14,040 --> 00:29:18,720 Martinus Evans: for distance first, then speed. You should eat these things, 483 00:29:18,750 --> 00:29:23,370 Martinus Evans: you should do all these things." And from there it 484 00:29:23,370 --> 00:29:25,620 Martinus Evans: kind of went from that to like, " All right, let's 485 00:29:25,620 --> 00:29:28,890 Martinus Evans: build out an app for this thing." And then from 486 00:29:28,890 --> 00:29:32,610 Martinus Evans: the app it became, all right, I'm answering these questions 487 00:29:32,610 --> 00:29:35,640 Martinus Evans: and most of these questions are the same question, so 488 00:29:35,820 --> 00:29:37,410 Martinus Evans: let's write a book. 489 00:29:39,240 --> 00:29:43,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: And you did write a book. And that book has 490 00:29:43,560 --> 00:29:46,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: been, from what I can tell, a big success, because 491 00:29:47,250 --> 00:29:50,640 Rob Simmelkjaer: every time you show up at the run center or 492 00:29:50,640 --> 00:29:54,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: the expo with that book, people are lined up to 493 00:29:54,420 --> 00:29:57,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: get signed copies of it. And talk about the impact 494 00:29:57,540 --> 00:30:03,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: that book has had, Martinus. Have you seen this movement 495 00:30:03,210 --> 00:30:09,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: that you started to get people like you who are 496 00:30:09,360 --> 00:30:13,979 Rob Simmelkjaer: atypical runners, big bodies, whatever's bringing them to running? Have 497 00:30:13,980 --> 00:30:17,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: you seen a change in this movement you started of 498 00:30:17,280 --> 00:30:18,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: Slow AF Run Club? 499 00:30:18,930 --> 00:30:23,880 Martinus Evans: Rob. Yes. First things first. At the point of this 500 00:30:23,880 --> 00:30:27,090 Martinus Evans: recording right now where this thing is being recorded, that 501 00:30:27,090 --> 00:30:30,690 Martinus Evans: book has sold 35, 000 copies. 502 00:30:31,350 --> 00:30:31,530 Becs Gentry: Oh, my gosh. 503 00:30:32,430 --> 00:30:33,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: It's amazing. 504 00:30:33,570 --> 00:30:34,201 Martinus Evans: Let that sink in. 505 00:30:34,201 --> 00:30:34,202 Becs Gentry: Congratulations. 506 00:30:34,202 --> 00:30:41,970 Martinus Evans: 35, 000 copies. So yes, I think that, not even 507 00:30:41,970 --> 00:30:46,920 Martinus Evans: think, I know that this book is definitely starting a 508 00:30:46,920 --> 00:30:51,240 Martinus Evans: movement for people who do not see who they are 509 00:30:51,240 --> 00:30:54,990 Martinus Evans: in the running industry, do not read about themselves in 510 00:30:54,990 --> 00:30:58,709 Martinus Evans: the running industry or even just feel left out. I 511 00:30:58,710 --> 00:31:02,130 Martinus Evans: think about myself when I started running back in 2012. 512 00:31:02,850 --> 00:31:07,770 Martinus Evans: There was not a book out there written by somebody 513 00:31:07,770 --> 00:31:12,030 Martinus Evans: like me. Most running books are written by elite athletes 514 00:31:12,270 --> 00:31:16,320 Martinus Evans: or coaches of elite athletes showing their method on how 515 00:31:16,320 --> 00:31:20,160 Martinus Evans: to get these elite athletes moving, right? When I started- 516 00:31:21,300 --> 00:31:22,680 Becs Gentry: Not for the everyday person. 517 00:31:22,680 --> 00:31:23,040 Martinus Evans: Not for the everyday person. 518 00:31:24,150 --> 00:31:24,210 Becs Gentry: No. 519 00:31:25,890 --> 00:31:28,560 Martinus Evans: When I started Couch to 5K, as I stated earlier, there were some days 520 00:31:28,560 --> 00:31:31,080 Martinus Evans: where I needed to repeat. I could not just run through 521 00:31:31,440 --> 00:31:36,450 Martinus Evans: Couch to 5K throughout from day one to day whatever. I 522 00:31:36,450 --> 00:31:39,480 Martinus Evans: had to repeat days. So, there was a lot of 523 00:31:39,480 --> 00:31:44,100 Martinus Evans: things that I learned along the way that I wish I 524 00:31:44,100 --> 00:31:47,700 Martinus Evans: just had somebody to tell me. And now that this 525 00:31:47,700 --> 00:31:51,270 Martinus Evans: book is out I'm fulfilling that mission. And you can 526 00:31:51,270 --> 00:31:54,120 Martinus Evans: definitely see it when people are out in the streets 527 00:31:54,120 --> 00:31:57,420 Martinus Evans: or I'm at a race expo or on Facebook or 528 00:31:57,420 --> 00:32:03,060 Martinus Evans: on Instagram, or even on a racecourse where people are like, " 529 00:32:03,060 --> 00:32:07,709 Martinus Evans: Hey, that book has inspired me." " Hey, you have provided 530 00:32:07,740 --> 00:32:13,140 Martinus Evans: information that nobody has said before." " Hey, thank you, because 531 00:32:13,140 --> 00:32:16,050 Martinus Evans: you are literally saying the things that I'm too afraid 532 00:32:16,050 --> 00:32:21,420 Martinus Evans: to say out loud." And that was my goal, and 533 00:32:21,420 --> 00:32:23,220 Martinus Evans: I definitely succeeded with that. 534 00:32:23,730 --> 00:32:31,320 Becs Gentry: You did, astronomically, unreal. The name Slow AF is synonymous with 535 00:32:31,380 --> 00:32:39,420 Becs Gentry: acceptance, with welcoming and with success. Honestly, it's just, I 536 00:32:39,420 --> 00:32:43,500 Becs Gentry: think of all of the All- Runners and whenever I've met 537 00:32:43,800 --> 00:32:49,800 Becs Gentry: runners who rep Slow AF, they are so proud to 538 00:32:49,860 --> 00:32:53,280 Becs Gentry: talk about their successes from the, and I'm sure you've 539 00:32:53,280 --> 00:32:57,930 Becs Gentry: had millions of people telling you through all the various 540 00:32:57,930 --> 00:33:00,720 Becs Gentry: forms of communication we have these days, " I'm not a 541 00:33:00,720 --> 00:33:04,200 Becs Gentry: runner, I don't know where to start help, what do 542 00:33:04,200 --> 00:33:06,090 Becs Gentry: I do? I want to be able to move like 543 00:33:06,090 --> 00:33:10,800 Becs Gentry: you, how do I start?" And so, obviously, it's in 544 00:33:10,800 --> 00:33:16,680 Becs Gentry: your book, but how do you inspire people who were 545 00:33:17,160 --> 00:33:19,650 Becs Gentry: perhaps in a similar situation to where you were at 546 00:33:19,650 --> 00:33:23,790 Becs Gentry: leaving that doctor's office and just being like, " No, no, 547 00:33:23,850 --> 00:33:26,220 Becs Gentry: you're not going to be right. I'm going to be 548 00:33:26,220 --> 00:33:37,261 Becs Gentry: right and my right's going to be awesome, and it's going to be for me." 549 00:33:37,261 --> 00:33:42,000 Martinus Evans: Becs, one of the things that I do that I think I'm pretty great at is providing psychological safety. I think where people who are 550 00:33:42,000 --> 00:33:43,590 Martinus Evans: in the back of the pack, I think about people 551 00:33:43,590 --> 00:33:46,680 Martinus Evans: who are plus size, the world has beat upon us. 552 00:33:47,160 --> 00:33:49,950 Martinus Evans: The world is not necessarily a nice place for a 553 00:33:49,950 --> 00:33:54,390 Martinus Evans: plus size person. The world is not necessarily a nice place for a slow 554 00:33:54,420 --> 00:33:58,050 Martinus Evans: runner. And I think that for me it's providing that psychological 555 00:33:58,050 --> 00:34:01,830 Martinus Evans: safety to say, " You belong here. I know you've been through 556 00:34:01,830 --> 00:34:05,250 Martinus Evans: some stuff, but when you with us when you with 557 00:34:05,250 --> 00:34:08,670 Martinus Evans: me that stuff is not tolerated. And we're going to 558 00:34:08,670 --> 00:34:11,880 Martinus Evans: celebrate the things that people have told you not to 559 00:34:11,880 --> 00:34:14,850 Martinus Evans: celebrate. Those are the things that we're going to go hard on 560 00:34:14,850 --> 00:34:18,600 Martinus Evans: celebrating. Because those are the micro steps and the micro 561 00:34:18,600 --> 00:34:21,570 Martinus Evans: habits and the micro successes that's going to keep you 562 00:34:21,570 --> 00:34:25,680 Martinus Evans: in the running industry." And that's more or less how 563 00:34:25,680 --> 00:34:29,730 Martinus Evans: I see myself. Is this liaison for the running industry, 564 00:34:29,730 --> 00:34:33,719 Martinus Evans: because as the years goes on, you want more people inside of 565 00:34:33,719 --> 00:34:37,560 Martinus Evans: the industry and I think I can do that by 566 00:34:38,040 --> 00:34:42,480 Martinus Evans: A, providing that psychological safety where most people won't. 567 00:34:43,739 --> 00:34:44,190 Becs Gentry: Yeah, agreed. 568 00:34:44,610 --> 00:34:49,259 Rob Simmelkjaer: Martinus, I can't, and Becs, I can't think of anyone who has 569 00:34:49,290 --> 00:34:52,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: had a bigger impact on the running industry than you 570 00:34:52,410 --> 00:34:55,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: have, Martinus, in a lot of ways since I've been around 571 00:34:55,830 --> 00:35:00,510 Rob Simmelkjaer: here in this space and paying attention to it. Because 572 00:35:00,510 --> 00:35:02,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: I mean, this is so much of what we talk 573 00:35:02,460 --> 00:35:05,609 Rob Simmelkjaer: about at New York Roadrunners and when we talk about 574 00:35:05,610 --> 00:35:07,799 Rob Simmelkjaer: things like Final Finishers, which we're going to talk about 575 00:35:07,800 --> 00:35:11,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: in a second, keeping our finish line open until the 576 00:35:11,850 --> 00:35:16,469 Rob Simmelkjaer: wee hours. I mean, it's for these people, it's for 577 00:35:16,469 --> 00:35:20,969 Rob Simmelkjaer: you, for your club members, for the people just like 578 00:35:20,969 --> 00:35:25,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: you so that they can see a place for themselves. 579 00:35:25,830 --> 00:35:27,718 Rob Simmelkjaer: You can't see a place for yourself if you can't 580 00:35:27,719 --> 00:35:31,739 Rob Simmelkjaer: get to the finish line before it's closed. And don't 581 00:35:31,739 --> 00:35:34,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: get a medal for all the effort that you put 582 00:35:34,320 --> 00:35:37,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: in. And so, that's so much of what animates all 583 00:35:37,920 --> 00:35:40,109 Rob Simmelkjaer: of this for us. How many members do you have 584 00:35:40,110 --> 00:35:40,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: now in Slow AF? 585 00:35:43,350 --> 00:35:47,129 Martinus Evans: Close to 40,000 people. We got about, I would actually say more, because 586 00:35:47,130 --> 00:35:51,360 Martinus Evans: we have about 40, 000 people inside the app and then there's another 587 00:35:51,360 --> 00:35:55,529 Martinus Evans: 20,000 in a Facebook app, I mean, Facebook group, and there's also 588 00:35:55,530 --> 00:35:59,640 Martinus Evans: some unofficial Slow AF Run Clubs out there that has 589 00:36:00,210 --> 00:36:03,420 Martinus Evans: a few hundred thousand members in there. So, Slow AF 590 00:36:03,420 --> 00:36:09,840 Martinus Evans: Run Club is growing legs and just, it's one of 591 00:36:09,840 --> 00:36:12,779 Martinus Evans: those things that for me it's like, " All right, it's 592 00:36:12,780 --> 00:36:15,210 Martinus Evans: now, it was my baby and now it's one of 593 00:36:15,210 --> 00:36:17,520 Martinus Evans: the things that giving out to the world." But I 594 00:36:17,520 --> 00:36:20,250 Martinus Evans: would say official members, we've got about 40, 000 people. 595 00:36:22,410 --> 00:36:22,411 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, it's unbelievable. 596 00:36:22,410 --> 00:36:29,520 Becs Gentry: But you're right, people need to see representation, and this is 597 00:36:29,520 --> 00:36:31,529 Becs Gentry: not a new thing, this is not a new thing 598 00:36:31,530 --> 00:36:35,700 Becs Gentry: in any realm of life. But for the running community, 599 00:36:35,700 --> 00:36:41,100 Becs Gentry: because closing courses, not giving people medals, that is a 600 00:36:41,100 --> 00:36:48,239 Becs Gentry: dire representation of what running is about. And the medal 601 00:36:48,239 --> 00:36:51,330 Becs Gentry: is not just a medal for the day as well. 602 00:36:51,750 --> 00:36:56,190 Becs Gentry: And I think it's for you running that first marathon 603 00:36:56,190 --> 00:37:03,239 Becs Gentry: from June 2012 to October 2013, that medal was for 604 00:37:03,239 --> 00:37:07,530 Becs Gentry: that whole time. It wasn't just for that day when 605 00:37:07,530 --> 00:37:09,630 Becs Gentry: you finish that marathon. And to take that away from 606 00:37:09,630 --> 00:37:13,770 Becs Gentry: people just because of time and number is vicious in 607 00:37:13,770 --> 00:37:19,440 Becs Gentry: my personal opinion. And it's not, seeing that your group 608 00:37:19,440 --> 00:37:22,620 Becs Gentry: is growing so much and you are just welcoming so many 609 00:37:22,620 --> 00:37:26,280 Becs Gentry: more people into this running world, that fills my heart, 610 00:37:26,430 --> 00:37:31,200 Becs Gentry: makes me emotional, because for somebody in the position I'm 611 00:37:31,200 --> 00:37:33,600 Becs Gentry: in, I get to coach people of all levels. And 612 00:37:33,600 --> 00:37:36,540 Becs Gentry: that is one of the greatest pleasures I get in 613 00:37:36,540 --> 00:37:42,690 Becs Gentry: life, outside of being a parent. It's to see the 614 00:37:42,690 --> 00:37:47,190 Becs Gentry: people starting their journey. And I know you feel this 615 00:37:47,190 --> 00:37:50,160 Becs Gentry: in your heart because you've gone through it of the 616 00:37:50,160 --> 00:37:53,520 Becs Gentry: pride that they are able to do this for themselves. 617 00:37:53,820 --> 00:38:00,239 Becs Gentry: And so, to those growing 40,000 plus members, flood in, 618 00:38:00,239 --> 00:38:04,680 Becs Gentry: get that turtle, get that turtle logo everywhere, please. 619 00:38:09,360 --> 00:38:12,270 Martinus Evans: It's just one of those things that I'm very proud 620 00:38:12,270 --> 00:38:16,920 Martinus Evans: of, right, to say that it's something about that journey 621 00:38:16,950 --> 00:38:24,450 Martinus Evans: of you meet someone and they are so not confident 622 00:38:24,450 --> 00:38:28,290 Martinus Evans: in themselves, like they're unconfident, they don't don't know if they can be 623 00:38:28,290 --> 00:38:30,810 Martinus Evans: a runner, they're like, " I don't know," so on and so 624 00:38:30,810 --> 00:38:36,060 Martinus Evans: forth. And just providing that little inkling of fire and 625 00:38:36,540 --> 00:38:39,660 Martinus Evans: I see it almost as fire building. You got this little ember 626 00:38:39,870 --> 00:38:44,219 Martinus Evans: and you're trying to foster this ember and provide it 627 00:38:44,219 --> 00:38:48,450 Martinus Evans: the adequate fuel and air and next thing it become this 628 00:38:48,450 --> 00:38:52,770 Martinus Evans: raging fireball. And I think that's how I see running and that's 629 00:38:52,770 --> 00:38:55,680 Martinus Evans: how I see these people who come into the Slow AF 630 00:38:55,680 --> 00:38:59,160 Martinus Evans: Run Club or our new runners who are just looking 631 00:38:59,160 --> 00:39:01,110 Martinus Evans: for something to hold onto. 632 00:39:01,980 --> 00:39:06,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: Absolutely. All right, we're going to talk about Final Finishers a little bit. Martinus 633 00:39:06,180 --> 00:39:10,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: is one of the runners who is featured in our 634 00:39:10,650 --> 00:39:14,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: first ever documentary at New York Road Runners through our 635 00:39:14,310 --> 00:39:18,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: new production arm East 89th St Productions. It's called Final 636 00:39:18,660 --> 00:39:22,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: Finishers. It will premiere in June on June 12th at 637 00:39:22,200 --> 00:39:26,489 Rob Simmelkjaer: the Tribeca Film Festival. We're so excited about that. And Martinus, 638 00:39:26,520 --> 00:39:32,430 Rob Simmelkjaer: your story is so fantastic in this film. You go 639 00:39:32,430 --> 00:39:35,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: through the story you've just told us, but really the 640 00:39:35,700 --> 00:39:39,510 Rob Simmelkjaer: film is about that party at the finish line of 641 00:39:39,510 --> 00:39:41,940 Rob Simmelkjaer: the TCS New York City Marathon and the way that 642 00:39:41,940 --> 00:39:47,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: we celebrate those people coming in in 9, 10, 11 hours. Can 643 00:39:47,610 --> 00:39:50,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: you talk about being a part of this film and 644 00:39:50,520 --> 00:39:54,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: what that Final Finishers party and what it all means 645 00:39:54,660 --> 00:39:56,880 Rob Simmelkjaer: to you and to the other members of your club? 646 00:39:58,320 --> 00:40:01,200 Martinus Evans: Absolutely. I think being a part of the film is A, one thing, 647 00:40:02,340 --> 00:40:07,380 Martinus Evans: a step in a direction to just get more people 648 00:40:07,440 --> 00:40:12,060 Martinus Evans: excited about running. To get more people excited about participating 649 00:40:12,060 --> 00:40:14,550 Martinus Evans: in marathoning. I think that's the first thing, especially when 650 00:40:14,550 --> 00:40:19,080 Martinus Evans: you look at other documentaries, from other running documentaries, I 651 00:40:19,080 --> 00:40:22,830 Martinus Evans: think this will definitely help out with that. I think 652 00:40:22,830 --> 00:40:26,250 Martinus Evans: for me, being a part of it really helps with 653 00:40:26,880 --> 00:40:33,270 Martinus Evans: A, helps validate my story, my journey, the things that 654 00:40:33,270 --> 00:40:37,680 Martinus Evans: I've been doing these past 10, 11 years to show, okay, 655 00:40:37,680 --> 00:40:42,960 Martinus Evans: it is validated, right? But I also think it validates everybody 656 00:40:42,960 --> 00:40:46,590 Martinus Evans: else's story who sits in the back and who are 657 00:40:46,590 --> 00:40:50,730 Martinus Evans: silent. To be able to be part of a New York 658 00:40:50,730 --> 00:40:55,319 Martinus Evans: City Marathon and sit there and be in the back and party along 659 00:40:55,380 --> 00:40:58,350 Martinus Evans: all the streets. And then you think to yourself like, " Okay, 660 00:40:58,590 --> 00:41:01,890 Martinus Evans: maybe I'm going to get to the finish line and nobody's there." And 661 00:41:01,890 --> 00:41:05,040 Martinus Evans: it's like, " No, there's a party here. We're calling your 662 00:41:05,040 --> 00:41:09,270 Martinus Evans: name, we're giving you high- fives. There's a celebration tunnel." 663 00:41:09,660 --> 00:41:13,230 Martinus Evans: And it's one of those things of being out there 664 00:41:13,230 --> 00:41:18,930 Martinus Evans: for 10, 11, even 12 hours and you almost feel like, " I have 665 00:41:18,930 --> 00:41:23,190 Martinus Evans: nothing left to give." And then you make that turn 666 00:41:23,190 --> 00:41:26,760 Martinus Evans: around that corner and everybody's there and it's like, " This 667 00:41:26,760 --> 00:41:29,700 Martinus Evans: is what it was all meant for." Because you think 668 00:41:29,700 --> 00:41:32,580 Martinus Evans: about all of the times that your mind has told you 669 00:41:32,580 --> 00:41:34,620 Martinus Evans: to quit. I think for me, I think about that 670 00:41:34,620 --> 00:41:38,460 Martinus Evans: time where that person told me to go home. All these 671 00:41:38,460 --> 00:41:42,480 Martinus Evans: times where like there's doubt and you're fighting that doubt 672 00:41:42,900 --> 00:41:46,980 Martinus Evans: and you get to the finish line and people are 673 00:41:46,980 --> 00:41:51,029 Martinus Evans: celebrating, that is what it's all about. 674 00:41:52,860 --> 00:41:59,009 Becs Gentry: Really and truly is. That celebration, that love, that wow. 675 00:41:59,340 --> 00:42:07,980 Becs Gentry: I cannot wait to see this whole documentary. Why, obviously, 676 00:42:08,520 --> 00:42:14,670 Becs Gentry: it's the inspiration. But how on a daily basis do 677 00:42:14,670 --> 00:42:21,510 Becs Gentry: you feel that you show up, and deal with sounds 678 00:42:21,510 --> 00:42:23,430 Becs Gentry: like a negative word, but you know what I'm saying? 679 00:42:23,640 --> 00:42:28,560 Becs Gentry: How do you shoulder this responsibility of being such a 680 00:42:28,560 --> 00:42:35,670 Becs Gentry: voice of inclusion and inspiration for runners out there? 681 00:42:36,660 --> 00:42:40,469 Martinus Evans: I would say that A, it's a great feeling, but B, 682 00:42:40,860 --> 00:42:45,989 Martinus Evans: for me, it's also bigger than running. I've been fortunate 683 00:42:45,989 --> 00:42:49,980 Martinus Evans: enough to make a career as a professional speaker and 684 00:42:49,980 --> 00:42:55,770 Martinus Evans: motivational speaker to go out in various locales like corporations, 685 00:42:56,580 --> 00:43:00,270 Martinus Evans: various conferences, to also be able to share my story 686 00:43:00,270 --> 00:43:08,310 Martinus Evans: and give that story of overcoming odds, and doing hard 687 00:43:08,310 --> 00:43:13,560 Martinus Evans: things and believing yourself, right? That message like, yes, we're 688 00:43:13,560 --> 00:43:16,919 Martinus Evans: talking about running, but that message is so generalized that 689 00:43:16,920 --> 00:43:21,360 Martinus Evans: it tackles everybody. And I think that for me running is 690 00:43:22,469 --> 00:43:27,750 Martinus Evans: that conduit, but my message is helping people finish anyway. 691 00:43:28,710 --> 00:43:32,430 Martinus Evans: And in spite of all the troubles you might have 692 00:43:32,430 --> 00:43:34,529 Martinus Evans: been through, in spite of all the things you may have 693 00:43:34,530 --> 00:43:38,219 Martinus Evans: been through, our goal is to finish anyway. For me, 694 00:43:39,570 --> 00:43:42,120 Martinus Evans: Rob talked about it, I've ran races where they ran 695 00:43:42,120 --> 00:43:44,250 Martinus Evans: out of water, I ran races where they ran out on the 696 00:43:44,520 --> 00:43:47,790 Martinus Evans: medals and packed up and there was no finish line. 697 00:43:47,820 --> 00:43:50,310 Martinus Evans: And when it was all said and done, in spite of all 698 00:43:50,310 --> 00:43:53,730 Martinus Evans: those things, I finished anyway. I made it to the finish line, 699 00:43:53,730 --> 00:43:56,489 Martinus Evans: I had that goal, I set that goal and I 700 00:43:56,489 --> 00:44:00,330 Martinus Evans: overcame all those obstacles to get there. For me it's 701 00:44:00,330 --> 00:44:03,299 Martinus Evans: about helping people understand that they can finish any way 702 00:44:03,300 --> 00:44:06,540 Martinus Evans: in all aspects of life. Yes, it can be running, 703 00:44:06,810 --> 00:44:09,090 Martinus Evans: but yes, it can be at your office, it can 704 00:44:09,090 --> 00:44:11,759 Martinus Evans: be at work, it can be at home. We all 705 00:44:11,760 --> 00:44:14,969 Martinus Evans: have obstacles that are standing our way, and we're just 706 00:44:14,969 --> 00:44:17,219 Martinus Evans: all trying to finish anyway. 707 00:44:18,300 --> 00:44:21,359 Rob Simmelkjaer: I love it. I love it. It's a metaphor for 708 00:44:21,360 --> 00:44:25,050 Rob Simmelkjaer: life as Roadrunners, as running so often is. All right, so 709 00:44:25,620 --> 00:44:32,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: the last great challenge you've taken on in life, Martinus 710 00:44:32,489 --> 00:44:35,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: is to me the ultimate challenge, having done it myself, 711 00:44:35,850 --> 00:44:41,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: which is fatherhood. And you are now knee- deep in 712 00:44:41,340 --> 00:44:45,930 Rob Simmelkjaer: that journey as a father to your six- month- old 713 00:44:45,930 --> 00:44:51,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: Max. Talk about that, what that has been like, and 714 00:44:51,900 --> 00:44:57,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: how has what you've learned through running and through everything 715 00:44:57,540 --> 00:45:01,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: you've achieved and the challenges you've overcome, how has that 716 00:45:01,680 --> 00:45:06,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: played into your so far brief, but getting into a 717 00:45:06,630 --> 00:45:07,589 Rob Simmelkjaer: journey as a father? 718 00:45:09,000 --> 00:45:13,320 Martinus Evans: Rob, I used to tell people, " Running a marathon was 719 00:45:13,320 --> 00:45:17,610 Martinus Evans: the hardest thing I ever did in my life." And then I 720 00:45:17,610 --> 00:45:19,440 Martinus Evans: ran eight of them, and it was going to be 721 00:45:19,440 --> 00:45:23,010 Martinus Evans: nine of them this year. And I used to say 722 00:45:23,010 --> 00:45:30,930 Martinus Evans: that until I became a father. Being a father is the hardest thing 723 00:45:30,930 --> 00:45:33,779 Martinus Evans: that I ever had to do in my life. But 724 00:45:33,870 --> 00:45:37,620 Martinus Evans: those principles, those first principles when it comes to running 725 00:45:37,920 --> 00:45:41,969 Martinus Evans: is still there when it comes to fatherhood, staying curious, 726 00:45:42,600 --> 00:45:47,730 Martinus Evans: staying patient, knowing that there's going to be small wins 727 00:45:47,730 --> 00:45:49,290 Martinus Evans: along the way, but there's still going to be a 728 00:45:49,290 --> 00:45:52,650 Martinus Evans: lot of bumps and obstacles along the way. And our 729 00:45:52,650 --> 00:45:55,590 Martinus Evans: goal is to get this baby boy to the finish line. 730 00:45:56,580 --> 00:46:02,460 Martinus Evans: So yes, those are how running and fatherhood helps me. 731 00:46:03,000 --> 00:46:05,370 Martinus Evans: But I think the other thing is just being able to 732 00:46:05,370 --> 00:46:10,739 Martinus Evans: see this little guy learn new things among the world 733 00:46:10,860 --> 00:46:14,550 Martinus Evans: every day. Today he just rolled over for the first 734 00:46:14,550 --> 00:46:20,160 Martinus Evans: time and I was like, " This is crazy, right?" Seeing 735 00:46:20,160 --> 00:46:25,920 Martinus Evans: him struggle and seeing him moan and groan and the next 736 00:46:25,920 --> 00:46:28,290 Martinus Evans: thing you know he flipped over and it's like, "You did it, you did it, you did it." 737 00:46:30,570 --> 00:46:34,290 Martinus Evans: It's almost like coaching, right? It's almost like coaching this 738 00:46:34,290 --> 00:46:38,340 Martinus Evans: little AF Run Club member. " You can do it, you can run that mile. 739 00:46:38,400 --> 00:46:42,600 Martinus Evans: I got faith in you." And just being able to 740 00:46:42,600 --> 00:46:47,819 Martinus Evans: see those micro moments every day. Because he's learning, he's 741 00:46:47,820 --> 00:46:52,980 Martinus Evans: growing, he's experiencing the world every day. And for me it just shows like A, 742 00:46:53,250 --> 00:47:00,120 Martinus Evans: how precious life is, but B, how all the things 743 00:47:00,120 --> 00:47:03,630 Martinus Evans: I've learned throughout running can be translated to other parts 744 00:47:03,630 --> 00:47:03,840 Martinus Evans: of life. 745 00:47:04,680 --> 00:47:10,320 Becs Gentry: Yeah, it's so true. And it can be more of a testament to we're meant 746 00:47:10,380 --> 00:47:14,550 Becs Gentry: to do everything at our own speed. When you have 747 00:47:14,550 --> 00:47:17,460 Becs Gentry: a kid you see that, because there are books upon 748 00:47:17,460 --> 00:47:20,279 Becs Gentry: books about, " Your child should be hitting this milestone at 749 00:47:20,280 --> 00:47:22,469 Becs Gentry: this point." And as a parent you're reading them and 750 00:47:22,469 --> 00:47:25,620 Becs Gentry: you're freaking out if they're not. And then you speak 751 00:47:25,620 --> 00:47:29,489 Becs Gentry: to, in my personal opinion, someone of an older generation who 752 00:47:29,489 --> 00:47:32,610 Becs Gentry: just goes, " Put the phone down, put the book down." 753 00:47:33,510 --> 00:47:37,770 Becs Gentry: Your child is fine and they are going to progress 754 00:47:37,770 --> 00:47:42,270 Becs Gentry: and develop at their own speed. And those people in my 755 00:47:42,270 --> 00:47:45,239 Becs Gentry: world are probably the same as, you should know that, 756 00:47:45,420 --> 00:47:48,450 Becs Gentry: everybody moves at their own speed. And you're like, " Oh 757 00:47:48,450 --> 00:47:54,000 Becs Gentry: my gosh, oh my gosh. Yes, running is just so 758 00:47:54,000 --> 00:47:57,570 Becs Gentry: applicable to everything in life." Even a teeny tiny baby 759 00:47:57,900 --> 00:48:00,570 Becs Gentry: rolling over is like, " Dude did that at his own 760 00:48:00,570 --> 00:48:06,989 Becs Gentry: pace." Oh, it's so beautiful. Congratulations to you both on 761 00:48:06,989 --> 00:48:12,900 Becs Gentry: Max, and being a parent in this world is nuts. 762 00:48:12,989 --> 00:48:16,380 Becs Gentry: Yeah, I'll say is good luck on your next train 763 00:48:16,380 --> 00:48:20,310 Becs Gentry: cycle, because it's going to look really different. Those stroller 764 00:48:20,910 --> 00:48:23,160 Becs Gentry: miles, man, you'll be signing up for high rocks before you know it, you'll be like, " 765 00:48:23,880 --> 00:48:25,620 Becs Gentry: I can push these sleds anywhere." 766 00:48:32,460 --> 00:48:34,799 Martinus Evans: I'm training for New York City this year and I was thinking to myself like, " Oh my god, June is 767 00:48:34,799 --> 00:48:38,580 Martinus Evans: coming up fast." And it's like, " Oh, these miles is 768 00:48:38,580 --> 00:48:40,799 Martinus Evans: going to be stroller miles." And I'm like, " I don't 769 00:48:40,799 --> 00:48:44,069 Martinus Evans: know how I'm going to get this done, but we're 770 00:48:44,069 --> 00:48:45,180 Martinus Evans: going to figure it out." 771 00:48:45,239 --> 00:48:49,440 Becs Gentry: You will. You'll figure it out. It'll be, nothing will 772 00:48:49,440 --> 00:48:53,370 Becs Gentry: match. Seeing his cute little face wherever you see him 773 00:48:53,370 --> 00:48:57,450 Becs Gentry: on race day, nothing will match that as well. Even 774 00:48:57,450 --> 00:49:01,861 Becs Gentry: if you are in the depths of agony, it'll all be worth it. 775 00:49:01,861 --> 00:49:10,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: Martinus, can't wait to see you at the finish line of the 776 00:49:10,110 --> 00:49:13,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: marathon this year with your baby boy. Hopefully they're waiting 777 00:49:13,560 --> 00:49:15,960 Rob Simmelkjaer: for you. Can't wait to see you at the premiere 778 00:49:15,960 --> 00:49:20,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: of Final Finishes as well in June. It's been amazing 779 00:49:20,100 --> 00:49:23,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: talking to you, one of my favorite stories in the 780 00:49:23,580 --> 00:49:25,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: sport of running what you've done with Slow AF Run 781 00:49:25,920 --> 00:49:27,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: Club. So, thanks for hanging out with me and Becs for 782 00:49:27,600 --> 00:49:30,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: a little while today and we will see you very 783 00:49:30,420 --> 00:49:31,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: soon, Martinus Evans. 784 00:49:31,560 --> 00:49:32,160 Martinus Evans: Alrighty. 785 00:49:44,400 --> 00:49:47,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York Roadrunners is a non- profit organization with a 786 00:49:47,460 --> 00:49:50,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: vision to build healthier lives and stronger communities through the 787 00:49:50,850 --> 00:49:54,930 Rob Simmelkjaer: transformative power of running. The support of members and donors 788 00:49:54,930 --> 00:49:58,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: like you helps us achieve our mission to transform the 789 00:49:58,140 --> 00:50:01,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: health and well- being of our communities through inclusive and 790 00:50:01,440 --> 00:50:06,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: accessible running experiences, empowering all to achieve their potential. Learn 791 00:50:06,300 --> 00:50:11,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: more and contribute at nyrr. org/ donate. And now it's 792 00:50:11,610 --> 00:50:13,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: time for today's Med Minutes. 793 00:50:14,040 --> 00:50:18,930 Meb Keflezighi: Pre- training base. Building a strong base with consistent training 794 00:50:19,200 --> 00:50:22,320 Meb Keflezighi: or running before starting a structure training is very important. 795 00:50:22,380 --> 00:50:27,660 Meb Keflezighi: Follow a graduate training plans 16 to 20 weeks to increase endurance 796 00:50:27,660 --> 00:50:32,550 Meb Keflezighi: safely. Focus on nutrition, hydration, and recovery to support peak 797 00:50:32,550 --> 00:50:37,259 Meb Keflezighi: performance. Invest in a proper running shoes and gear to 798 00:50:37,260 --> 00:50:42,719 Meb Keflezighi: prevent injuries and enhance comfort. There's always a reset button. 799 00:50:42,989 --> 00:50:45,480 Meb Keflezighi: It depends when you're getting ready for your next race 800 00:50:45,480 --> 00:50:49,260 Meb Keflezighi: when to start off. For me personally, when I finish 801 00:50:49,260 --> 00:50:52,110 Meb Keflezighi: one marathon, I'm not going to start from scratch. You 802 00:50:52,110 --> 00:50:54,180 Meb Keflezighi: already were fit, but you need to be able to 803 00:50:54,180 --> 00:50:57,000 Meb Keflezighi: recover and map out when the next race is going 804 00:50:57,000 --> 00:50:59,730 Meb Keflezighi: to be and then start building up a base before and then 805 00:50:59,730 --> 00:51:03,540 Meb Keflezighi: to progression run, and then eventually to race pace and 806 00:51:03,540 --> 00:51:06,030 Meb Keflezighi: before you start doing intervals. So, it is important to 807 00:51:06,960 --> 00:51:09,870 Meb Keflezighi: lay out the plan, personally I like to work from 808 00:51:10,410 --> 00:51:13,920 Meb Keflezighi: that deadline and work backward, instead of saying, " Hey, what 809 00:51:13,920 --> 00:51:16,410 Meb Keflezighi: is this week and next week?" Don't do that yourself. 810 00:51:16,410 --> 00:51:18,930 Meb Keflezighi: Sign up for a race, bring the fitness back where 811 00:51:18,930 --> 00:51:20,759 Meb Keflezighi: you were. If you start from scratch, like I said 812 00:51:20,760 --> 00:51:23,879 Meb Keflezighi: earlier, you need maybe 16 to 20 weeks, but if you have 813 00:51:23,880 --> 00:51:27,420 Meb Keflezighi: just finished a marathon, recover and start building up a 814 00:51:27,420 --> 00:51:30,870 Meb Keflezighi: base, bring this fitness back to where you were. And 815 00:51:30,870 --> 00:51:33,000 Meb Keflezighi: don't rush it, because if you were in a phenomenal 816 00:51:33,000 --> 00:51:35,730 Meb Keflezighi: shape or you finished a marathon, you just need to 817 00:51:35,730 --> 00:51:38,520 Meb Keflezighi: retrieve those fitness, so don't put too much pressure over 818 00:51:38,520 --> 00:51:42,569 Meb Keflezighi: on yourself. So, have fun and go out for a run and bring that 819 00:51:42,570 --> 00:51:44,970 Meb Keflezighi: fitness back to what it should be and you're going to do great. 820 00:51:44,969 --> 00:51:47,489 Rob Simmelkjaer: And that does it for another episode of Set the 821 00:51:47,489 --> 00:51:52,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: Pace. I want to thank today's amazing guest, Martinus Evans. If you like 822 00:51:52,350 --> 00:51:55,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: this episode, please go ahead, subscribe, rate, or leave a 823 00:51:55,800 --> 00:51:59,040 Rob Simmelkjaer: comment for the show on whatever platform you're listening on. 824 00:51:59,280 --> 00:52:01,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: This not only helps us, but it helps others find 825 00:52:01,770 --> 00:52:04,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: the show as well. Enjoy the miles, everybody. We'll see 826 00:52:04,680 --> 00:52:05,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: you next week.