1 00:00:00,210 --> 00:00:03,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York Road Runners is a non- profit organization with 2 00:00:03,180 --> 00:00:06,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: a vision to build healthier lives and stronger communities through 3 00:00:06,540 --> 00:00:10,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: the transformative power of running. The support of members and 4 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:13,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: donors like you helps us achieve our mission to transform 5 00:00:13,830 --> 00:00:17,099 Rob Simmelkjaer: the health and well- being of our communities through inclusive 6 00:00:17,100 --> 00:00:21,360 Rob Simmelkjaer: and accessible running experiences, empowering all to achieve their potential. 7 00:00:21,810 --> 00:00:25,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: Learn more and contribute at nyrr. org/ donate. 8 00:00:29,910 --> 00:00:34,350 Speaker 2: Thank you New York. Today we're reminded of the power 9 00:00:34,350 --> 00:00:39,210 Speaker 2: of community and the power of coming together. Athletes, on 10 00:00:39,210 --> 00:00:39,779 Speaker 2: your mark. 11 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:45,870 Speaker 3: The first woman to finish for the second straight year here 12 00:00:45,870 --> 00:00:49,350 Speaker 3: in the New York City Marathon is Miki Gorman, a smiling Miki 13 00:00:49,350 --> 00:00:50,310 Speaker 3: Gorman. And why not? 14 00:00:50,580 --> 00:00:52,260 Speaker 4: 2: 29:30 the time for Grete Waitz. 15 00:00:52,261 --> 00:00:56,610 Speaker 5: Look at the emotion of Shalane Flanagan as she comes to 16 00:00:56,610 --> 00:00:57,209 Speaker 5: the line. 17 00:00:57,390 --> 00:01:01,410 Speaker 6: Pointing to his chest, pointing to the USA he so proudly 18 00:01:01,410 --> 00:01:10,110 Speaker 6: wears across his chest. A great day for Meb Keflezighi. 19 00:01:10,110 --> 00:01:13,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: Hey everybody, and welcome to Set the Pace presented by 20 00:01:13,110 --> 00:01:15,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: Peloton. It is the official podcast of New York Road 21 00:01:15,660 --> 00:01:17,880 Rob Simmelkjaer: Runners. I'm your host and the CEO of New York 22 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:22,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: Road Runners, Rob Simmelkjaer. And I am flying solo today because 23 00:01:22,290 --> 00:01:25,860 Rob Simmelkjaer: Becs Gentry, my co- host and of course teacher extraordinaire 24 00:01:25,860 --> 00:01:29,819 Rob Simmelkjaer: from Peloton, she is on her way to Cape Town, 25 00:01:29,819 --> 00:01:34,259 Rob Simmelkjaer: South Africa. That's the launching point for the incredible adventure 26 00:01:34,290 --> 00:01:37,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: that she's about to start the Great World Race. If 27 00:01:37,770 --> 00:01:39,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: you've been listening to the podcast, you know that Becs 28 00:01:39,780 --> 00:01:43,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: is going to be running seven marathons on seven continents 29 00:01:43,500 --> 00:01:48,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: in seven days. And it starts this Friday, November 15th 30 00:01:48,390 --> 00:01:52,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: with Wolf's Fang Antarctica. That's right. She's running a marathon 31 00:01:52,770 --> 00:01:56,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: on Antarctica on Friday. This all boggles the mind. It 32 00:01:56,730 --> 00:01:59,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: boggles my mind as well as the body. She has 33 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:02,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: put in so much training. So I think she's ready. 34 00:02:02,490 --> 00:02:04,590 Rob Simmelkjaer: I hope she's ready. And we are going to be 35 00:02:04,590 --> 00:02:08,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: following her right here on Set The pace. That's right. 36 00:02:08,460 --> 00:02:11,550 Rob Simmelkjaer: Becs is kind of offline, but not entirely. She has 37 00:02:11,550 --> 00:02:15,240 Rob Simmelkjaer: sent us an audio update directly from Cape Town as 38 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:17,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: she gets ready to take on the first of these 39 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:20,489 Rob Simmelkjaer: seven marathons in seven days. So let's take a listen 40 00:02:20,490 --> 00:02:23,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: to hear how our friend Becs is feeling as she 41 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:25,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: prepares for the running challenge of a lifetime. 42 00:02:25,950 --> 00:02:29,280 Becs Gentry: What's up my New York Road Runners team. I have 43 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:33,510 Becs Gentry: just landed here in South Africa after a long but 44 00:02:33,510 --> 00:02:37,200 Becs Gentry: wonderful flight all the way from New York City. It's 45 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:41,220 Becs Gentry: real. It's happening. Shakeout runs are being organized for tomorrow 46 00:02:41,220 --> 00:02:48,209 Becs Gentry: morning. Race briefings are happening tomorrow morning. And then 48 47 00:02:48,210 --> 00:02:53,010 Becs Gentry: hours later we'll be in Antarctica. So stay tuned for 48 00:02:53,010 --> 00:02:57,720 Becs Gentry: more updates as we go on this epic, epic adventure 49 00:02:58,110 --> 00:03:02,940 Becs Gentry: around the world running seven marathons on seven continents in 50 00:03:02,940 --> 00:03:03,720 Becs Gentry: just one week. 51 00:03:06,150 --> 00:03:09,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: Becs amazing to hear from you. We're just so excited 52 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:12,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: for you. Can't wait to hear how this all goes. 53 00:03:12,690 --> 00:03:17,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: I mean, honestly, Becs is just really an inspiration in 54 00:03:17,850 --> 00:03:20,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: even trying something like this. And I know she's inspiring 55 00:03:20,250 --> 00:03:23,070 Rob Simmelkjaer: so many of our listeners, so many of her students 56 00:03:23,070 --> 00:03:26,459 Rob Simmelkjaer: on Peloton. So we're all wishing Becs all the best 57 00:03:26,460 --> 00:03:29,579 Rob Simmelkjaer: and we will hear more from Becs as she continues 58 00:03:29,580 --> 00:03:34,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: this unbelievable adventure of the Great World Race. All right, 59 00:03:34,020 --> 00:03:36,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: well back here in New York we're just over a 60 00:03:36,450 --> 00:03:42,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: week from the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon. It was such 61 00:03:42,330 --> 00:03:47,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: a spectacular event this year in New York. Becs and Ted Metellus, our 62 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:49,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: race director, got to do a roundup for you all 63 00:03:49,980 --> 00:03:52,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: last week as I was in the midst of moving house. 64 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:55,860 Rob Simmelkjaer: That's right. I actually chose to move the week after 65 00:03:55,860 --> 00:03:58,470 Rob Simmelkjaer: the marathon from one house to another here in Connecticut. 66 00:03:58,470 --> 00:04:00,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: So I'll get to that in a second because I'm 67 00:04:00,060 --> 00:04:03,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: obviously a little crazy. But as far as the marathon 68 00:04:03,270 --> 00:04:06,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: goes, I just want to start by saying how proud 69 00:04:06,780 --> 00:04:09,089 Rob Simmelkjaer: I am of our team at New York Road Runners. 70 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:12,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: It was an incredible effort from everybody here at New 71 00:04:12,540 --> 00:04:15,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: York Road Runners. Our full- time staff of over 250 72 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:21,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: people, our part- time staff, obviously our volunteers, and all 73 00:04:21,300 --> 00:04:24,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: the effort that they put in, thousands and thousands of 74 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:29,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: volunteers making that what a special day it was. And it's 75 00:04:29,100 --> 00:04:33,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: just really kind of mind- blowing to see that we 76 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:35,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: were able to put on an event of that scale 77 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:39,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: and that size and have it go as well as 78 00:04:39,570 --> 00:04:42,720 Rob Simmelkjaer: it did. I mean, nothing is perfect, nothing goes perfectly, 79 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:46,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: but this was about as close to perfection as you 80 00:04:46,290 --> 00:04:52,979 Rob Simmelkjaer: can get for an event of this size. 55, 646 runners and 81 00:04:52,980 --> 00:04:56,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: just an incredible turnout of runners. Obviously the weather was 82 00:04:56,400 --> 00:04:59,940 Rob Simmelkjaer: perfect and a huge factor. And the runners, you all 83 00:04:59,940 --> 00:05:02,430 Rob Simmelkjaer: did an incredible job out there. In fact, one of 84 00:05:02,430 --> 00:05:05,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: the stats that is most mind- boggling from this year's 85 00:05:05,610 --> 00:05:10,470 Rob Simmelkjaer: TCS New York City Marathon is that we had over 99% 86 00:05:10,529 --> 00:05:14,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: of people who started the race, finished the race. That's 87 00:05:14,310 --> 00:05:18,870 Rob Simmelkjaer: right. The finish rate was staggering. And so it's really 88 00:05:18,870 --> 00:05:22,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: a testament to the work that you all put in 89 00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:25,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: out there to get ready for this race. The weather 90 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:28,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: obviously helped, but it really comes down to all of 91 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:32,339 Rob Simmelkjaer: you. And you were ready, you were prepared, and you 92 00:05:32,339 --> 00:05:34,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: got the job done. And so I am proud of 93 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:37,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: you all as well for having such an amazing day 94 00:05:37,890 --> 00:05:40,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: for yourselves, for the city of New York, for the 95 00:05:40,650 --> 00:05:43,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: organization. And I want to thank you all for everything 96 00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:47,039 Rob Simmelkjaer: you did to make this a record setting race. Not 97 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:49,919 Rob Simmelkjaer: only the biggest TCS New York City Marathon ever, but 98 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:54,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: the biggest marathon ever held on planet Earth. That's right. 99 00:05:54,180 --> 00:05:56,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: It set a new world record for biggest marathon ever. 100 00:05:56,940 --> 00:06:00,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: And by a fair amount. I mean Berlin where I 101 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:02,219 Rob Simmelkjaer: had run in September had just set the record at 102 00:06:02,220 --> 00:06:07,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: just over 54,000 and we were over 55, 600 runners. So 103 00:06:07,020 --> 00:06:09,419 Rob Simmelkjaer: this was a record by a bit of a long 104 00:06:09,420 --> 00:06:11,339 Rob Simmelkjaer: shot. And of course, we're in New York. We're always 105 00:06:11,339 --> 00:06:13,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: looking to grow and be the biggest and the best, 106 00:06:13,650 --> 00:06:16,080 Rob Simmelkjaer: and so we'll continue to look at ways to grow 107 00:06:16,080 --> 00:06:19,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: even bigger. But this was a huge event and all 108 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:21,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: of you were a big part of it. And then 109 00:06:21,630 --> 00:06:24,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: the last thing I want to say about this incredible 110 00:06:24,330 --> 00:06:28,230 Rob Simmelkjaer: day was the way that the city of New York 111 00:06:28,230 --> 00:06:31,289 Rob Simmelkjaer: turned out this year. I've run the marathon twice, as 112 00:06:31,290 --> 00:06:35,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: you all know. I have now as CEO been here 113 00:06:35,010 --> 00:06:37,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: for a couple of them. I've been in the police 114 00:06:37,050 --> 00:06:39,930 Rob Simmelkjaer: vehicle riding with the leaders two years in a row. 115 00:06:40,260 --> 00:06:42,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: But there was something about the crowds this year that 116 00:06:42,540 --> 00:06:48,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: just seemed different and special and louder, bigger, deeper I 117 00:06:48,270 --> 00:06:50,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: mean. And the runners told me. I mean, I talked 118 00:06:50,700 --> 00:06:54,810 Rob Simmelkjaer: to runners who had run this race 15, 20 times and 119 00:06:54,810 --> 00:06:57,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: they told me that there was something this year about 120 00:06:57,180 --> 00:06:59,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: the energy and the size of the crowds that they 121 00:06:59,790 --> 00:07:02,489 Rob Simmelkjaer: had not seen before. So I want to thank New 122 00:07:02,490 --> 00:07:06,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: York for coming out and making this such an incredible 123 00:07:06,540 --> 00:07:10,739 Rob Simmelkjaer: day for our runners. We're just all still floating on 124 00:07:10,740 --> 00:07:13,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: cloud nine that we could have a day like this 125 00:07:13,110 --> 00:07:15,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: and make the impact that we made on so many 126 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:18,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: of you, on our city, on all the great causes 127 00:07:18,180 --> 00:07:22,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: that raised money this year during the marathon. So congratulations 128 00:07:22,710 --> 00:07:25,230 Rob Simmelkjaer: and thank you. And I just can't say enough about 129 00:07:25,530 --> 00:07:28,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: what a great day it was for New York and for New 130 00:07:28,890 --> 00:07:32,970 Rob Simmelkjaer: York Road Runners. And yes, for me, I decided, hey, 131 00:07:32,970 --> 00:07:37,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: why not? After overseeing a marathon and all the work 132 00:07:37,110 --> 00:07:39,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: and the events that go through that, why not move 133 00:07:39,450 --> 00:07:42,720 Rob Simmelkjaer: houses a couple days later? So yes, I moved on 134 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:46,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: election day from one house to another in Connecticut. It 135 00:07:46,020 --> 00:07:47,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: actually turned out to be a great time to move. 136 00:07:48,030 --> 00:07:50,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: A lot of people at Road Runners were going into 137 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:52,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: recovery mode. We have a long weekend that we give 138 00:07:52,680 --> 00:07:55,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: the whole team the weekend after the marathon so folks can 139 00:07:55,650 --> 00:07:59,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: recover. So I didn't exactly rest and relax, but I did 140 00:07:59,190 --> 00:08:01,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: get a lot done and I'm thrilled to be in 141 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:04,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: my new house. My girls love it. So that's been 142 00:08:04,140 --> 00:08:06,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: good too. And boy, it's going to be a really 143 00:08:06,180 --> 00:08:10,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: great holiday season as we head into that with the 144 00:08:10,320 --> 00:08:13,080 Rob Simmelkjaer: success of the marathon behind us and now in a 145 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:16,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: new home. I can't wait for the holidays and can't 146 00:08:16,140 --> 00:08:18,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: wait to celebrate with friends and family because there's a 147 00:08:18,630 --> 00:08:21,360 Rob Simmelkjaer: lot to celebrate for us here and for so many 148 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:26,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: of you out there on accomplishing the incredible, incredible task 149 00:08:26,190 --> 00:08:29,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: that you accomplish by running the TCS New York City Marathon. 150 00:08:29,550 --> 00:08:31,920 Becs Gentry: Take your running to the next level with the Peloton 151 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:36,480 Becs Gentry: Tread+. Featuring a rubberized shock absorbing slap belt, it's designed 152 00:08:36,480 --> 00:08:39,690 Becs Gentry: to optimize your runs and walks to the fullest potential. 153 00:08:40,290 --> 00:08:43,620 Becs Gentry: With classes designed and led by expert level coaches, you'll 154 00:08:43,620 --> 00:08:46,290 Becs Gentry: get the guidance you need to reach your running goals. 155 00:08:46,620 --> 00:08:49,410 Becs Gentry: Whether you're just a beginner or consider yourself a pro 156 00:08:49,410 --> 00:08:52,890 Becs Gentry: runner, Peloton is here to support and challenge you every 157 00:08:52,890 --> 00:08:56,520 Becs Gentry: step of the way. All access memberships separate. Learn more 158 00:08:56,520 --> 00:09:02,070 Becs Gentry: about Peloton Tread at onepeloton. com/ running. Peloton, the official 159 00:09:02,070 --> 00:09:04,559 Becs Gentry: digital fitness partner for New York Road Runners. 160 00:09:05,070 --> 00:09:08,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: All right, well, as I always say, there are 50,000 161 00:09:08,280 --> 00:09:11,189 Rob Simmelkjaer: this year, 55, 000 great stories that show up at the 162 00:09:11,190 --> 00:09:14,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: starting line of the TCS New York City Marathon, but this 163 00:09:15,210 --> 00:09:17,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: is a special one. That's right. Today we are going 164 00:09:17,130 --> 00:09:21,179 Rob Simmelkjaer: to feature an incredibly inspiring story. You may have heard 165 00:09:21,179 --> 00:09:23,819 Rob Simmelkjaer: this story this past September of a man named David 166 00:09:23,820 --> 00:09:29,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: Jones who walked 17 miles through the wreckage of Hurricane 167 00:09:29,610 --> 00:09:32,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: Helene because he was determined to make it to his 168 00:09:32,610 --> 00:09:37,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: daughter's wedding against all odds. That journey became a viral 169 00:09:37,500 --> 00:09:40,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: sensation and we noticed it here at New York Road 170 00:09:40,650 --> 00:09:44,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: Runners because he did that walk wearing a TCS New 171 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:47,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: York City Marathon jacket. Today David is going to join 172 00:09:47,610 --> 00:09:50,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: us to share the story of that incredible night and 173 00:09:50,370 --> 00:09:53,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: what happened when we at New York Road Runners invited 174 00:09:53,250 --> 00:09:56,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: him to run this year's TCS New York City Marathon. 175 00:09:56,370 --> 00:09:59,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: So stay tuned for that incredible conversation with an amazing 176 00:09:59,610 --> 00:10:04,230 Rob Simmelkjaer: guy. And to continue our celebration of the 2024 TCS New 177 00:10:04,230 --> 00:10:07,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: York City Marathon, our man, Meb Keflezighi will be here for 178 00:10:07,380 --> 00:10:10,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: today's member moment with a guest who is becoming more 179 00:10:10,500 --> 00:10:13,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: and more familiar to all of you on our Set 180 00:10:13,140 --> 00:10:16,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: the Pace audience, New York Road Runners member Sofia Camacho 181 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:20,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: Ferral. Sofia was the winner of this year's non- binary 182 00:10:20,220 --> 00:10:24,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: division with a time of 2 hours and 31 minutes. 183 00:10:24,300 --> 00:10:28,470 Rob Simmelkjaer: Congratulations Sofia, incredible time. Sofia will be here to talk 184 00:10:28,470 --> 00:10:32,939 Rob Simmelkjaer: about their race, only the second marathon they have ever 185 00:10:32,940 --> 00:10:35,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: run. So we look forward to hearing from Sofia as 186 00:10:35,460 --> 00:10:38,550 Rob Simmelkjaer: well. And if you're already missing the excitement of race 187 00:10:38,550 --> 00:10:41,699 Rob Simmelkjaer: day, today's Meb Minute will focus on how and when 188 00:10:41,850 --> 00:10:44,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: to pick your next race. So stay tuned for Meb. 189 00:10:44,670 --> 00:10:47,850 Becs Gentry: Growing a business means a lot of audience attracting, a 190 00:10:47,850 --> 00:10:50,550 Becs Gentry: lot of lead scoring and a lot of long days. 191 00:10:50,850 --> 00:10:53,760 Becs Gentry: But with HubSpot it's easier than ever for marketers to 192 00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:57,569 Becs Gentry: boost leads and score customers fast, which means pretty soon 193 00:10:57,690 --> 00:11:02,610 Becs Gentry: your company will have a lot to celebrate. Visit hubspot. com/ 194 00:11:03,059 --> 00:11:04,620 Becs Gentry: marketers to learn more. 195 00:11:05,190 --> 00:11:09,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: When Hurricane Helene struck, David Jones faced a choice, turn 196 00:11:09,540 --> 00:11:12,179 Rob Simmelkjaer: back or keep moving forward to make it to one of the 197 00:11:12,179 --> 00:11:15,809 Rob Simmelkjaer: most important days of his life, his daughter's wedding. Without 198 00:11:15,809 --> 00:11:19,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: hesitation, he chose to keep moving forward and he walked 199 00:11:19,140 --> 00:11:24,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: 17 miles through dangerous conditions and capturing the hearts of 200 00:11:24,300 --> 00:11:27,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: people all across the country. He did it while wearing 201 00:11:27,660 --> 00:11:31,679 Rob Simmelkjaer: a TCS New York City Marathon jacket and his determination 202 00:11:31,679 --> 00:11:35,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: was impossible to ignore. It ultimately led to an unexpected 203 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:38,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: invitation from New York Road Runners to run in this 204 00:11:38,790 --> 00:11:42,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: year's marathon. And we are thrilled to have David Jones 205 00:11:42,690 --> 00:11:46,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: survivor with us here today on Set the Pace. David, 206 00:11:46,410 --> 00:11:47,040 Rob Simmelkjaer: how are you? 207 00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:49,650 David Jones: I'm doing great, Rob. How are you doing? 208 00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:53,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: I'm doing awesome, thank you. We're living in the afterglow 209 00:11:53,220 --> 00:11:55,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: of the marathon as I'm sure you are as well. 210 00:11:55,980 --> 00:11:59,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: So all right, I want to start with this moment. 211 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:04,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: You are in your car in this horrible, horrible situation, 212 00:12:04,920 --> 00:12:08,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: the storm that devastated so many people's lives and so 213 00:12:08,520 --> 00:12:12,510 Rob Simmelkjaer: many areas. What was happening when you were in your car 214 00:12:12,510 --> 00:12:15,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: and you decided you had to get out essentially to 215 00:12:15,660 --> 00:12:18,960 Rob Simmelkjaer: continue on foot to make it to your daughter's wedding? 216 00:12:19,500 --> 00:12:21,689 Rob Simmelkjaer: Were the roads at that point just totally impassable? 217 00:12:22,380 --> 00:12:26,400 David Jones: Yeah, they were. And at that point I'd been driving for 218 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:28,920 David Jones: seven hours and it should have been maybe an hour 219 00:12:28,920 --> 00:12:31,620 David Jones: and a half. And so there was a lot of 220 00:12:32,040 --> 00:12:36,599 David Jones: detours and debris and slow traffic and all that. So 221 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:39,030 David Jones: I had kind of picked up the mindset of, all 222 00:12:39,030 --> 00:12:42,120 David Jones: right, what's next? What's next? What's next? Sort of a 223 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:46,290 David Jones: marathoner's mindset. You deal with the weather during your training, 224 00:12:46,290 --> 00:12:49,829 David Jones: you deal with the weather on race day. And I 225 00:12:49,830 --> 00:12:53,370 David Jones: got to a point where the road was closed and the 226 00:12:53,370 --> 00:12:56,040 David Jones: state troopers were saying, " No, you can't get through. We're 227 00:12:56,040 --> 00:12:59,640 David Jones: not letting anybody through. The bridges are washed out." And 228 00:12:59,640 --> 00:13:03,059 David Jones: I asked about the back roads. They said, " No, we 229 00:13:03,059 --> 00:13:05,160 David Jones: know there's damage there too. We don't know the full 230 00:13:05,160 --> 00:13:07,319 David Jones: extent." At this point it was two in the morning 231 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:11,400 David Jones: and they're saying, " Until daylight, we really won't know what 232 00:13:11,400 --> 00:13:13,679 David Jones: the situation is. The best thing you can do is 233 00:13:13,679 --> 00:13:16,500 David Jones: go back to your car and wait and hopefully we'll 234 00:13:16,500 --> 00:13:19,949 David Jones: have a road open tomorrow." And I said, " But you don't 235 00:13:19,950 --> 00:13:24,660 David Jones: understand, my daughter is getting married at 11 o'clock and I'm going 236 00:13:24,660 --> 00:13:26,579 David Jones: to be there to walk her down the aisle." He said, " 237 00:13:26,580 --> 00:13:29,400 David Jones: I appreciate that sir, but please just go back to 238 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:31,050 David Jones: your car." So I did. I went back to my 239 00:13:31,050 --> 00:13:34,320 David Jones: car and I grabbed my New York Road Runner's windbreaker 240 00:13:34,320 --> 00:13:38,970 David Jones: and I grabbed my backpack and turned the light on 241 00:13:38,970 --> 00:13:41,790 David Jones: my cell phone and off I went on foot. I 242 00:13:41,790 --> 00:13:44,550 David Jones: knew I was about 20 or 30 miles away from home. Said, " 243 00:13:44,970 --> 00:13:46,620 David Jones: I've done this before. Let's go." 244 00:13:46,920 --> 00:13:50,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: That marathon experience you had, knowing you could cover that 245 00:13:50,730 --> 00:13:53,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: distance, I guess played into this. When I first heard this 246 00:13:53,730 --> 00:13:56,880 Rob Simmelkjaer: story, the first thing that struck me is given all 247 00:13:56,880 --> 00:13:58,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: that was going on, I was a little surprised that 248 00:13:58,530 --> 00:14:01,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: your daughter's wedding was even still happening in the middle 249 00:14:01,380 --> 00:14:03,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: of all this. What was the situation there? Was it 250 00:14:03,750 --> 00:14:06,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: just impossible to cancel? I know how hard it is 251 00:14:06,270 --> 00:14:07,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: to get a wedding venue and all of that? 252 00:14:08,730 --> 00:14:11,280 David Jones: Yeah, it wasn't about the logistics at all. We didn't 253 00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:14,040 David Jones: have cell phone, we didn't have internet service on either 254 00:14:14,040 --> 00:14:16,230 David Jones: end, on my end in South Carolina or her end 255 00:14:16,230 --> 00:14:18,809 David Jones: in Tennessee. After the storm went through, the weather was 256 00:14:18,809 --> 00:14:23,430 David Jones: clear and beautiful. So Friday afternoon in East Tennessee where 257 00:14:23,430 --> 00:14:26,940 David Jones: she was, everything was fine. It was a small wedding, 258 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:30,420 David Jones: mostly local guests, didn't seem to be any problems there. 259 00:14:30,420 --> 00:14:35,040 David Jones: So the wedding proceeded as scheduled. I was the one that 260 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:35,701 David Jones: was stuck on the wrong side. 261 00:14:35,701 --> 00:14:38,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: You were the issue. You were on the wrong side of all the 262 00:14:38,100 --> 00:14:42,810 Rob Simmelkjaer: damage. So talk about that walk, David. You're starting out 263 00:14:42,810 --> 00:14:46,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: in pitch dark middle of night just with your phone 264 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:50,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: essentially having no idea what roads you'd find, what would 265 00:14:50,460 --> 00:14:54,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: be open, where you'd be able to pass. What was 266 00:14:54,060 --> 00:14:57,240 Rob Simmelkjaer: that like? And there must've been some moments along the 267 00:14:57,240 --> 00:14:58,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: way when you questioned if you would make it. 268 00:15:00,270 --> 00:15:04,110 David Jones: Yeah, there were a few spots. There was a volunteer 269 00:15:04,110 --> 00:15:07,050 David Jones: there who worked with the state troopers who had downloaded 270 00:15:07,050 --> 00:15:09,150 David Jones: a map to his phone and he showed me the 271 00:15:09,150 --> 00:15:12,450 David Jones: map and he said, " This is how you could get 272 00:15:12,450 --> 00:15:16,380 David Jones: into town, but there's only one bridge left standing and 273 00:15:16,680 --> 00:15:19,320 David Jones: they're not letting anybody cross that bridge because they don't 274 00:15:19,320 --> 00:15:23,010 David Jones: know if it's stable or not." So I said, " Well, 275 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:25,470 David Jones: if that's my only chance, then that's where I've got 276 00:15:25,470 --> 00:15:28,680 David Jones: to head." So I just headed out. Being a runner, 277 00:15:28,740 --> 00:15:31,860 David Jones: what I do? I start my Garmin watch, right? I'm 278 00:15:31,860 --> 00:15:34,530 David Jones: going to track this as I go. We'll see. And 279 00:15:34,530 --> 00:15:37,230 David Jones: I had a couple of backup goals in mind. One 280 00:15:37,230 --> 00:15:39,990 David Jones: is maybe I can get far enough to where I 281 00:15:39,990 --> 00:15:42,450 David Jones: can get cell phone service and I can phone to 282 00:15:42,450 --> 00:15:45,870 David Jones: somebody who will know or I can tell them what's 283 00:15:45,870 --> 00:15:50,850 David Jones: going on. Or two, I can at least find something 284 00:15:50,850 --> 00:15:54,600 David Jones: out and come back and report to the troopers firsthand 285 00:15:54,780 --> 00:15:57,480 David Jones: what was going on up ahead. Because there were sections 286 00:15:57,480 --> 00:16:01,140 David Jones: where they couldn't drive, they weren't ... It was still the 287 00:16:01,140 --> 00:16:04,050 David Jones: fog of war, so they didn't know everything. And so 288 00:16:04,320 --> 00:16:06,690 David Jones: I had sort of these backup goals and any one 289 00:16:06,690 --> 00:16:09,630 David Jones: of those would've been a win. But the ultimate win 290 00:16:09,630 --> 00:16:11,940 David Jones: was getting to the church on time. 291 00:16:14,190 --> 00:16:18,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: So you are on foot the entire time. Did you 292 00:16:18,090 --> 00:16:21,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: literally walk right into the wedding venue or where did 293 00:16:21,420 --> 00:16:23,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: you finally get to a point where you could get 294 00:16:23,790 --> 00:16:25,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: some form of transportation? 295 00:16:25,950 --> 00:16:28,470 David Jones: Yeah. So my wife and I moved to South Carolina 296 00:16:28,470 --> 00:16:30,090 David Jones: at the end of July and we still have our 297 00:16:30,090 --> 00:16:32,070 David Jones: house in Tennessee. So the goal was get to the 298 00:16:32,070 --> 00:16:35,340 David Jones: house, get cleaned up. I had a suit there. It 299 00:16:35,340 --> 00:16:37,020 David Jones: wasn't the suit I had planned to wear, but I had 300 00:16:37,020 --> 00:16:39,450 David Jones: a suit there that I could wear and shoes. So 301 00:16:39,540 --> 00:16:42,090 David Jones: the goal is to get there on time to get 302 00:16:42,090 --> 00:16:47,400 David Jones: cleaned up and get to the church. And I just kept 303 00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:50,820 David Jones: track of my pace. I'm guessing about how far I 304 00:16:50,820 --> 00:16:54,480 David Jones: am from home. I know if I'm going to make 305 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:58,170 David Jones: it or not. I did have a couple of detours. 306 00:16:58,170 --> 00:17:02,550 David Jones: At one point a state trooper had said, " Well, if 307 00:17:02,550 --> 00:17:03,930 David Jones: you can get to the bottom of the hill and 308 00:17:03,930 --> 00:17:05,970 David Jones: get up on the interstate, it's clear the rest of 309 00:17:05,970 --> 00:17:08,699 David Jones: the way." And turned out it wasn't. There was a 310 00:17:08,790 --> 00:17:14,609 David Jones: bridge completely washed out and it was cavernous, rushing water 311 00:17:14,609 --> 00:17:21,660 David Jones: down below and wrecked concrete. It was ... The devastation, Rob 312 00:17:21,660 --> 00:17:25,109 David Jones: of this storm is beyond my ability to describe. And 313 00:17:25,140 --> 00:17:29,820 David Jones: we've all seen pictures and whatnot. It's incredible upfront to 314 00:17:29,820 --> 00:17:33,960 David Jones: see it firsthand. So I'm weaving through all this and 315 00:17:34,290 --> 00:17:38,100 David Jones: backtracking in some places. At one point a state trooper 316 00:17:39,119 --> 00:17:41,520 David Jones: gave me a ride for a couple of miles. He said, " 317 00:17:41,760 --> 00:17:43,230 David Jones: Are you the one that's trying to get to his 318 00:17:43,230 --> 00:17:46,350 David Jones: daughter's wedding?" And I said, " Well, yes sir, how did 319 00:17:46,350 --> 00:17:49,020 David Jones: you know?" And he said, " Well, we're all talking you. 320 00:17:49,020 --> 00:17:54,510 David Jones: Would you like a ride?" So yeah. So while they 321 00:17:54,510 --> 00:17:58,650 David Jones: were professional in saying, sir, you really shouldn't be out 322 00:17:58,650 --> 00:18:02,160 David Jones: here, they were all rooting for me, and that gave 323 00:18:02,160 --> 00:18:04,890 David Jones: me a boost. It was like, " All right, I'm going 324 00:18:04,890 --> 00:18:05,580 David Jones: to do this." 325 00:18:06,030 --> 00:18:11,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, I can certainly understand that. Were you walking the 326 00:18:11,190 --> 00:18:14,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: whole way? Was it a run- walk, David? Did you 327 00:18:14,340 --> 00:18:16,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: get in a few fast steps? What was your ... Because 328 00:18:16,980 --> 00:18:19,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: I love that you're actually looking at your Garmin watch, 329 00:18:19,500 --> 00:18:21,930 Rob Simmelkjaer: minding your pace during all of this. That shows you 330 00:18:21,930 --> 00:18:25,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: truly are one of us, as you'd say, a runner. 331 00:18:25,560 --> 00:18:29,159 Rob Simmelkjaer: But what was your motion like? 332 00:18:29,850 --> 00:18:33,300 David Jones: Well, it was walking the whole way and in some 333 00:18:33,300 --> 00:18:38,040 David Jones: places crawling and some places climbing to get through or 334 00:18:38,040 --> 00:18:42,720 David Jones: around or over the debris. At one point I came 335 00:18:42,720 --> 00:18:46,560 David Jones: across a bulldozer and a backhoe, and they were clearing 336 00:18:46,560 --> 00:18:50,550 David Jones: a section of road that was completely littered with debris 337 00:18:50,580 --> 00:18:56,490 David Jones: and washed out. And it was probably 3 or 3: 338 00:18:56,490 --> 00:19:00,510 David Jones: 30 in the morning and they weren't expecting anybody to just walk 339 00:19:00,510 --> 00:19:04,560 David Jones: up on them. They're not looking for any pedestrians. And 340 00:19:04,560 --> 00:19:07,200 David Jones: so I'm waving my cell phone trying to get their 341 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:10,619 David Jones: attention and the bulldozer driver stopped and he was a 342 00:19:10,710 --> 00:19:15,960 David Jones: little bit startled, " Where did you come from?" And I said, " 343 00:19:15,960 --> 00:19:18,480 David Jones: Sir, I need to get to Johnson City. Is there 344 00:19:18,480 --> 00:19:20,399 David Jones: anyway I can get through here?" And he said, " I 345 00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:24,090 David Jones: don't think you can. The road is completely blocked with 346 00:19:24,090 --> 00:19:27,570 David Jones: debris." And I said, " Well, my daughter's getting married at 11 347 00:19:27,570 --> 00:19:28,830 David Jones: and I want to be there to walk her down 348 00:19:28,830 --> 00:19:30,750 David Jones: the aisle." He said, " Well, let me call the other 349 00:19:30,750 --> 00:19:32,909 David Jones: guy, radio the other guy and see if he can 350 00:19:32,910 --> 00:19:37,350 David Jones: stop for a minute and let you by," which he did. But then once I 351 00:19:37,350 --> 00:19:40,050 David Jones: got past him, these two guys started up again and 352 00:19:40,050 --> 00:19:44,040 David Jones: they're furiously working back and forth like professionals, almost like 353 00:19:44,040 --> 00:19:48,780 David Jones: ballet, trying to get this debris off the road. But 354 00:19:48,780 --> 00:19:53,820 David Jones: I couldn't get past about 30 or 40 feet past the backhoe. 355 00:19:54,240 --> 00:19:56,609 David Jones: There was a debris field that was six or seven 356 00:19:56,609 --> 00:19:59,640 David Jones: feet high and I couldn't find a way to climb 357 00:19:59,640 --> 00:20:03,419 David Jones: on it. Every part, it just sort of crumbled and 358 00:20:03,570 --> 00:20:07,919 David Jones: moved. So I tried to go around it and I 359 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:10,169 David Jones: sunk down in mud down to my knees. It was 360 00:20:10,170 --> 00:20:13,169 David Jones: like quicksand. It just sucked me right down. And I 361 00:20:13,170 --> 00:20:17,970 David Jones: was stuck there and this backhoe head started up again and 362 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:21,510 David Jones: doing his thing, swinging that bucket around. Every time it 363 00:20:21,510 --> 00:20:23,880 David Jones: swung around, I'd kind of flinch a little bit and 364 00:20:23,910 --> 00:20:25,919 David Jones: make sure he wasn't coming my way because sooner or 365 00:20:25,920 --> 00:20:27,900 David Jones: later he's going to finish the pile he's working on, 366 00:20:27,900 --> 00:20:30,300 David Jones: he's going to come for this one and I don't 367 00:20:30,300 --> 00:20:36,030 David Jones: think he can see me. So I was really asking 368 00:20:36,030 --> 00:20:40,109 David Jones: for a lot of heavenly help at that point. Loudly 369 00:20:40,109 --> 00:20:42,300 David Jones: enough, I think the Lord could have heard me over 370 00:20:42,300 --> 00:20:46,350 David Jones: that heavy equipment and I was able to get my 371 00:20:46,410 --> 00:20:51,450 David Jones: right leg out, but the mud pulled my shoe off, 372 00:20:51,510 --> 00:20:58,020 David Jones: my New Balance shoe. So I had to find a place to 373 00:20:58,020 --> 00:21:00,359 David Jones: set my cell phone down so I had some light 374 00:21:00,359 --> 00:21:03,960 David Jones: and then dig down and find the shoe and pull 375 00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:07,440 David Jones: it out and then kind of on one foot kind 376 00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:10,619 David Jones: of work my way back up to the roadway. And 377 00:21:11,100 --> 00:21:13,590 David Jones: I didn't want to wait. I didn't even want to 378 00:21:13,590 --> 00:21:15,330 David Jones: take the time to put my shoe on there because 379 00:21:15,330 --> 00:21:18,359 David Jones: of this backhoe. He's spinning around and around. So I heaved my 380 00:21:18,359 --> 00:21:22,020 David Jones: shoe over that pile to the other side and I 381 00:21:22,020 --> 00:21:25,140 David Jones: found a place where I could crawl into the pile. 382 00:21:25,140 --> 00:21:28,470 David Jones: There was a gap down low. I actually got inside 383 00:21:28,560 --> 00:21:34,200 David Jones: and then worked my way up over a long tree 384 00:21:34,200 --> 00:21:38,879 David Jones: stump and then back down and out the other side 385 00:21:39,960 --> 00:21:44,730 David Jones: and took a breather, grabbed my shoe, put it on, 386 00:21:45,030 --> 00:21:49,770 David Jones: found a puddle, washed off the mud and went on 387 00:21:49,770 --> 00:21:52,980 David Jones: up the road. So there were some moments like that. 388 00:21:52,980 --> 00:21:55,619 David Jones: There were some other piles that I had to clear, not 389 00:21:55,619 --> 00:21:57,869 David Jones: nearly as dangerous as that one with the backhoe. 390 00:21:58,320 --> 00:22:00,810 Rob Simmelkjaer: It's unbelievable that you were able to pull this off. 391 00:22:00,810 --> 00:22:05,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: When you finally got there to your house, was your 392 00:22:05,520 --> 00:22:08,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: wife aware? Was your daughter aware? I'm sure you let 393 00:22:08,730 --> 00:22:11,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: him know about this ordeal you had been through. You 394 00:22:11,340 --> 00:22:12,869 Rob Simmelkjaer: hadn't really had a chance to tell them because there 395 00:22:12,869 --> 00:22:15,930 Rob Simmelkjaer: had been no cell phone service. So I'm just curious 396 00:22:15,930 --> 00:22:18,960 Rob Simmelkjaer: the reaction you got from people when you finally arrived. 397 00:22:19,530 --> 00:22:22,680 David Jones: Well, for my wife, I called back. She was originally 398 00:22:22,680 --> 00:22:25,320 David Jones: going to drive up with me on Friday, and then 399 00:22:26,130 --> 00:22:30,000 David Jones: her mom lives with us in South Carolina. We got 400 00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:32,130 David Jones: hit here by the hurricane as well, not nearly as 401 00:22:32,130 --> 00:22:34,800 David Jones: bad. And so there was no power. So I had 402 00:22:34,800 --> 00:22:36,929 David Jones: them set up with a generator and they were okay. 403 00:22:36,930 --> 00:22:40,470 David Jones: And the idea was, if the roads are clear, I'll 404 00:22:40,470 --> 00:22:42,180 David Jones: let you know and you can come on up Saturday 405 00:22:42,180 --> 00:22:47,550 David Jones: for the wedding. And so I did call her and 406 00:22:48,630 --> 00:22:50,159 David Jones: she had been trying to call me all night. I 407 00:22:50,160 --> 00:22:52,950 David Jones: had been trying to call her all night and just no 408 00:22:52,950 --> 00:22:56,609 David Jones: cell service. So finally there was some relief on her part 409 00:22:56,609 --> 00:23:01,170 David Jones: and also some heart anguish just knowing what I had 410 00:23:01,170 --> 00:23:05,280 David Jones: been through and gone through to get there. For my 411 00:23:05,280 --> 00:23:08,400 David Jones: daughter though, I told a few people at the wedding 412 00:23:08,850 --> 00:23:12,689 David Jones: what had happened beforehand, but I asked them not to 413 00:23:12,690 --> 00:23:15,840 David Jones: tell Elizabeth on her special day. Let's keep this quiet. 414 00:23:15,990 --> 00:23:19,679 David Jones: We'll have plenty of time afterwards. We can explain it 415 00:23:19,680 --> 00:23:23,430 David Jones: to her then. So she didn't know anything about this, 416 00:23:24,780 --> 00:23:27,540 David Jones: which in my mind was absolutely the right thing to 417 00:23:27,540 --> 00:23:34,859 David Jones: do for her on her special day. So after I 418 00:23:34,859 --> 00:23:39,840 David Jones: had passed the worst of the storm ravaged areas, a 419 00:23:39,840 --> 00:23:43,560 David Jones: car went by and it was clear that it didn't 420 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:46,500 David Jones: see me. I'm walking along the side of the road. So 421 00:23:46,830 --> 00:23:50,580 David Jones: I grabbed a reflector stake that somebody had out at the end of 422 00:23:50,580 --> 00:23:53,609 David Jones: their driveway and I used that. If any more cars 423 00:23:53,609 --> 00:23:55,260 David Jones: were coming by, I was going to use that. And 424 00:23:55,260 --> 00:23:58,200 David Jones: sure enough, there were one or two other cars, and 425 00:23:58,200 --> 00:24:00,719 David Jones: they saw me. I could tell that they saw the 426 00:24:00,720 --> 00:24:05,400 David Jones: reflector and they moved over and slowed down. So when 427 00:24:05,400 --> 00:24:09,780 David Jones: we got to the reception, my daughter and her husband, 428 00:24:09,780 --> 00:24:12,090 David Jones: now husband, Daniel had asked me to say a few 429 00:24:12,090 --> 00:24:16,680 David Jones: words and to say the blessing over the food, and 430 00:24:17,880 --> 00:24:20,879 David Jones: I had something prepared, but I made a game time 431 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:23,730 David Jones: decision to change it up. And I brought that reflector 432 00:24:23,730 --> 00:24:27,780 David Jones: with me and I told the story of how I 433 00:24:27,780 --> 00:24:31,080 David Jones: had gotten there and she was just completely filled with 434 00:24:31,080 --> 00:24:33,690 David Jones: emotion. Everybody there in the reception was like, " Oh my 435 00:24:33,690 --> 00:24:37,980 David Jones: gosh." And I handed them the reflector and I said, " 436 00:24:38,460 --> 00:24:40,470 David Jones: I want to make this a gift to you. And 437 00:24:40,470 --> 00:24:43,409 David Jones: I'd like each of you to use it as a 438 00:24:43,410 --> 00:24:47,550 David Jones: reminder every time you see it, to always protect each 439 00:24:47,550 --> 00:24:50,730 David Jones: other, especially in your darkest hours, just like it did 440 00:24:50,730 --> 00:24:54,240 David Jones: for me. And also to continue to be a good 441 00:24:54,300 --> 00:24:58,200 David Jones: reflection of God." Well then I couldn't hold it together. 442 00:25:00,300 --> 00:25:03,150 David Jones: The tears flowed, the hugs and all that. But that 443 00:25:03,150 --> 00:25:05,580 David Jones: sort of brought it full circle and it brought closure 444 00:25:05,580 --> 00:25:10,020 David Jones: for me 'cause now the ordeal is behind me. Here's 445 00:25:10,680 --> 00:25:15,270 David Jones: a souvenir from it. I'm handing it off. I'm done 446 00:25:15,270 --> 00:25:18,690 David Jones: with this. And we just had a joyous celebration from 447 00:25:18,690 --> 00:25:20,609 David Jones: then. It was just a beautiful weekend. 448 00:25:21,030 --> 00:25:25,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: Wow, that's just perfect. What a great way to end 449 00:25:25,260 --> 00:25:28,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: that and to share what you had gone through to 450 00:25:28,770 --> 00:25:33,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: be there. Pretty special story. Okay, so I'm curious, this 451 00:25:33,450 --> 00:25:37,619 Rob Simmelkjaer: jacket you were wearing, David, what year was this from 452 00:25:37,710 --> 00:25:39,629 Rob Simmelkjaer: this TCS New York City Marathon jacket? 453 00:25:40,230 --> 00:25:41,100 David Jones: 2016. 454 00:25:41,430 --> 00:25:45,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: 2016. And was that the last time you had run 455 00:25:45,570 --> 00:25:46,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York? 456 00:25:46,350 --> 00:25:47,040 David Jones: Yes. 457 00:25:47,580 --> 00:25:48,869 Rob Simmelkjaer: And how many times had you run it? 458 00:25:49,290 --> 00:25:51,388 David Jones: That was my first and only time, it was 2016. 459 00:25:51,388 --> 00:25:55,080 Rob Simmelkjaer: The one and only time. So we here at New 460 00:25:55,080 --> 00:25:58,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: York Road Runners, we catch wind of this. We see 461 00:25:58,920 --> 00:26:02,430 Rob Simmelkjaer: this story and we see this picture of you in 462 00:26:02,430 --> 00:26:06,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: our 2016 TCS New York City Marathon jacket, and we're like, " 463 00:26:06,660 --> 00:26:09,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: Oh, this is unbelievable. This guy's, he's one of our 464 00:26:09,840 --> 00:26:14,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: people. This guy's run our race." So tell me about 465 00:26:14,460 --> 00:26:18,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: when you first heard from New York Road Runners offering 466 00:26:18,750 --> 00:26:20,399 Rob Simmelkjaer: you an opportunity to run again. 467 00:26:21,060 --> 00:26:24,990 David Jones: Well, it was an interesting situation. My mother- in- law was 468 00:26:25,260 --> 00:26:30,090 David Jones: going through some heart surgery at a local hospital. And 469 00:26:30,090 --> 00:26:32,490 David Jones: so I was at the hospital, had just done an 470 00:26:32,490 --> 00:26:35,100 David Jones: interview with CNN. I borrowed a conference room in the 471 00:26:35,100 --> 00:26:37,230 David Jones: hospital. They were kind enough to let me use the 472 00:26:37,230 --> 00:26:41,520 David Jones: conference room. And then my phone rings and it says, " 473 00:26:41,910 --> 00:26:45,388 David Jones: Alex Egan, New York Road Runners." I'm like, " What? What 474 00:26:45,388 --> 00:26:48,060 David Jones: is it? Hello?" 475 00:26:48,150 --> 00:26:50,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: Alex for those who don't know is our Senior Vice 476 00:26:50,250 --> 00:26:52,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: President of Development, yep, and Philanthropy. 477 00:26:53,490 --> 00:26:59,070 David Jones: Yeah, and a rock star, absolute rock star. And he said, " 478 00:26:59,250 --> 00:27:01,560 David Jones: Hey, we saw your story. We'd like to invite you 479 00:27:01,560 --> 00:27:04,770 David Jones: to come up and hopefully we'd like to connect you 480 00:27:04,770 --> 00:27:06,720 David Jones: with the Red Cross and see if you can do some 481 00:27:06,720 --> 00:27:11,460 David Jones: fundraising work together with them." And my family came through 482 00:27:11,460 --> 00:27:13,260 David Jones: this storm okay. There was a little bit of damage 483 00:27:13,260 --> 00:27:15,210 David Jones: here and there. It was a candlelight wedding. There was 484 00:27:15,210 --> 00:27:19,320 David Jones: no power at the church, that sort of thing. But 485 00:27:19,320 --> 00:27:22,530 David Jones: we came through fine, but not every family can say 486 00:27:22,530 --> 00:27:25,470 David Jones: that. And so I thought, " Well, this is a perfect 487 00:27:25,470 --> 00:27:29,340 David Jones: opportunity to give back." And so I partnered with the 488 00:27:29,340 --> 00:27:33,600 David Jones: Red Cross. I was fortunate enough to have been on 489 00:27:33,600 --> 00:27:38,639 David Jones: the Drew Barrymore Show and she had donated in my 490 00:27:38,640 --> 00:27:42,210 David Jones: name $ 10,000 to the Red Cross. And so that was 491 00:27:42,390 --> 00:27:46,440 David Jones: sort of like a kickstart to the campaign. And so 492 00:27:48,030 --> 00:27:51,810 David Jones: Rob called about four weeks ahead of the marathon, and 493 00:27:51,810 --> 00:27:53,609 David Jones: by the time I got my act together here, I 494 00:27:53,609 --> 00:27:56,340 David Jones: had about two, two and a half weeks of fundraising and 495 00:27:56,730 --> 00:28:00,780 David Jones: was able to raise another over $4, 000 more for the 496 00:28:00,780 --> 00:28:06,600 David Jones: Red Cross and completed the race. It was an epic 497 00:28:06,600 --> 00:28:10,440 David Jones: weekend. You all do such a phenomenal job. I can't 498 00:28:10,440 --> 00:28:16,409 David Jones: imagine even one- tenth of the logistical equation of getting 499 00:28:16,410 --> 00:28:20,010 David Jones: people through the marathon like you do. 500 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:20,879 Rob Simmelkjaer: Thank you. 501 00:28:21,060 --> 00:28:23,609 David Jones: My hat is off to every one of your team. 502 00:28:23,820 --> 00:28:27,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: Thank you, David. So not like you were training for 503 00:28:27,150 --> 00:28:30,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: a marathon. I mean, you get this call from Alex Egan. The 504 00:28:30,060 --> 00:28:33,119 Rob Simmelkjaer: marathon's just over four weeks away, I think at that 505 00:28:33,119 --> 00:28:37,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: point. How did you get ready? You'd done it before 506 00:28:37,170 --> 00:28:40,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: so you knew what it took. But I mean, if 507 00:28:40,410 --> 00:28:42,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: you're not training for a marathon, you hadn't run one 508 00:28:42,330 --> 00:28:44,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: in eight years. How did you get ready? 509 00:28:45,840 --> 00:28:49,080 David Jones: Well, that was sort of the realization after I said 510 00:28:49,080 --> 00:28:52,050 David Jones: yes. I was like, " Oh my gosh, I've only got a month. 511 00:28:52,110 --> 00:28:54,630 David Jones: Let's figure out how we can do this." I had 512 00:28:54,630 --> 00:28:58,350 David Jones: run Chicago a couple of years ago and it hadn't 513 00:28:58,350 --> 00:29:02,310 David Jones: been totally eight years since I'd run a marathon, but 514 00:29:03,000 --> 00:29:07,740 David Jones: I had to figure out a way to finish. That 515 00:29:07,740 --> 00:29:10,890 David Jones: was sort of the theme of the walk was I'm 516 00:29:10,890 --> 00:29:13,830 David Jones: going to make it to the church on time, and 517 00:29:13,830 --> 00:29:17,340 David Jones: so I'm going to continue that with the marathon. I 518 00:29:17,910 --> 00:29:21,630 David Jones: had about a five- mile base. My training, I really 519 00:29:21,750 --> 00:29:25,890 David Jones: like to stay fit. Life is better when you're fit. 520 00:29:26,760 --> 00:29:29,220 David Jones: I eat better, I sleep better, I think better. It's 521 00:29:29,250 --> 00:29:34,290 David Jones: just kind of the way I live. But 5 and 522 00:29:34,290 --> 00:29:36,630 David Jones: 26 are pretty far apart. 523 00:29:38,130 --> 00:29:39,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: A little bit. Yeah. 524 00:29:39,180 --> 00:29:43,080 David Jones: Yeah. So I planned in a walk- run, walk- run, walk- 525 00:29:43,080 --> 00:29:45,360 David Jones: run, and I started walking early. So after the first 526 00:29:45,360 --> 00:29:48,330 David Jones: 5K, I walked a little bit. After the second 5K, 527 00:29:48,330 --> 00:29:50,340 David Jones: I walked a little bit. And then toward the end it 528 00:29:50,430 --> 00:29:56,220 David Jones: was a little more walking in shorter intervals and I 529 00:29:56,220 --> 00:29:58,170 David Jones: finished right at five hours, like five hours and two 530 00:29:58,170 --> 00:30:02,700 David Jones: minutes, which on any other day would be a disappointment. 531 00:30:03,720 --> 00:30:06,900 David Jones: This time with only a month to prepare, I felt 532 00:30:06,900 --> 00:30:07,410 David Jones: great. I was ... 533 00:30:07,410 --> 00:30:12,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: It's a spectacular success. Absolutely. And you had the walking training 534 00:30:12,030 --> 00:30:15,720 Rob Simmelkjaer: in, that's for sure. You certainly had a chance to 535 00:30:15,720 --> 00:30:16,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: get plenty of walking in. 536 00:30:17,070 --> 00:30:22,920 David Jones: Yeah, absolutely. I did have that extra training effort at 537 00:30:22,920 --> 00:30:23,730 David Jones: the head of it all. 538 00:30:24,720 --> 00:30:27,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: I'm curious, as you were running the marathon, were there 539 00:30:27,540 --> 00:30:30,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: moments when you were reminded of your track. Obviously a little 540 00:30:30,990 --> 00:30:35,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: bit of a different situation, an organized run with lots 541 00:30:35,280 --> 00:30:39,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: of spectators and cheering crowds versus trekking through basically a 542 00:30:39,180 --> 00:30:43,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: disaster area by yourself at night. But were there things 543 00:30:43,350 --> 00:30:46,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: you took from one and applied to the other? Or when you 544 00:30:47,160 --> 00:30:49,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: were on that trek, did you think about your past 545 00:30:49,200 --> 00:30:52,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: marathons and what you had needed and drawn on to 546 00:30:52,620 --> 00:30:53,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: get through those? 547 00:30:54,300 --> 00:30:58,620 David Jones: Well, certainly before I started out, I figured I'm 20 or 30 548 00:30:58,620 --> 00:31:02,670 David Jones: miles away, I can do this. So the decision to 549 00:31:02,670 --> 00:31:05,280 David Jones: go was easy. The execution was a little hard, but 550 00:31:05,280 --> 00:31:09,360 David Jones: the decision to go was easy because of my background. 551 00:31:09,360 --> 00:31:14,790 David Jones: In fact, I was really not well- prepared from a 552 00:31:14,790 --> 00:31:22,110 David Jones: tools' survival kit standpoint without something in the car. But 553 00:31:23,550 --> 00:31:26,310 David Jones: probably my best survival tool that I had was my 554 00:31:26,310 --> 00:31:31,650 David Jones: fitness going into that walk. During the race, I kept 555 00:31:31,650 --> 00:31:36,690 David Jones: reminding myself just like the walk or the trek, I 556 00:31:36,690 --> 00:31:39,450 David Jones: had a higher purpose. It wasn't just me out running. 557 00:31:39,480 --> 00:31:44,130 David Jones: I was running for people who really need help. And 558 00:31:44,790 --> 00:31:51,870 David Jones: the devastation that this hurricane wreaked on Western North Carolina 559 00:31:51,870 --> 00:31:58,020 David Jones: and East Tennessee and upstate South Carolina is just horrible 560 00:31:58,020 --> 00:32:02,370 David Jones: and will be long- lasting. And so my thought was 561 00:32:03,180 --> 00:32:06,330 David Jones: always, I'm running for them and I'm running for the 562 00:32:06,330 --> 00:32:10,560 David Jones: people who are supporting me with their donations. And that 563 00:32:10,620 --> 00:32:15,000 David Jones: kept me going. It was like, " I can't stop. I'm 564 00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:19,230 David Jones: running for somebody." And that actually helps. When you have 565 00:32:19,230 --> 00:32:24,000 David Jones: that vision, that helps buoy your efforts. John Gordon. I 566 00:32:24,000 --> 00:32:27,270 David Jones: was on John Gordon's podcast last week, I think it 567 00:32:27,270 --> 00:32:30,870 David Jones: came out, and he said, " Love powers grit." And I thought, " 568 00:32:30,870 --> 00:32:35,760 David Jones: Yep, that's exactly what it is." And so that got 569 00:32:35,760 --> 00:32:37,710 David Jones: me through that night and that got me through the marathon. 570 00:32:39,120 --> 00:32:44,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: It certainly did. Amazing message. How did you do, how'd 571 00:32:44,160 --> 00:32:46,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: your fundraising go with Red Cross and can people still 572 00:32:46,710 --> 00:32:48,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: donate? Is it still open? 573 00:32:48,630 --> 00:32:52,320 David Jones: Yeah, it's still open. I can send you a link 574 00:32:52,320 --> 00:32:54,150 David Jones: if it can go in the show notes. 575 00:32:54,210 --> 00:32:56,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: We'll put in the show notes. Absolutely. So for those 576 00:32:56,310 --> 00:33:00,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: out there who want to recognize what David Jones has 577 00:33:00,300 --> 00:33:04,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: done and give to a cause that to your point, 578 00:33:04,680 --> 00:33:08,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: David, there's going to be much needed for a long 579 00:33:08,190 --> 00:33:12,960 Rob Simmelkjaer: time for people in those communities that have been wrecked 580 00:33:12,960 --> 00:33:16,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: by everything that happened with Hurricane Helene. There's no question 581 00:33:16,380 --> 00:33:19,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: about it. What about your daughter or her husband? Do 582 00:33:19,110 --> 00:33:19,590 Rob Simmelkjaer: they run? 583 00:33:20,220 --> 00:33:24,150 David Jones: They do. In fact, I don't know if you can 584 00:33:24,150 --> 00:33:28,200 David Jones: see this, we're actually on video. That's my daughter and 585 00:33:28,200 --> 00:33:32,610 David Jones: I running an 8K together. This is Elizabeth. She was the 586 00:33:32,610 --> 00:33:37,410 David Jones: bride. She does run. She doesn't do marathons. And her 587 00:33:37,440 --> 00:33:41,550 David Jones: husband Daniel is amazingly fit. He does CrossFit. He's a 588 00:33:41,970 --> 00:33:47,040 David Jones: very strong young man, just a wonderful, wonderful individual. So 589 00:33:47,640 --> 00:33:49,770 David Jones: yeah, I don't know if I can talk them into 590 00:33:49,770 --> 00:33:51,030 David Jones: a marathon, but I'll try. 591 00:33:51,600 --> 00:33:54,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: Well, you know what? The bond of running with your 592 00:33:54,420 --> 00:33:57,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: kid, I totally understand that. There's nothing like running a 593 00:33:57,750 --> 00:34:01,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: race with a child, with a daughter or a son. 594 00:34:01,170 --> 00:34:03,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: I've run a number of 5Ks with my daughter. We 595 00:34:03,660 --> 00:34:06,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: ran the Abbott Dash to the finish 5K for the 596 00:34:06,390 --> 00:34:10,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: third year together this year. And there's something special about 597 00:34:10,110 --> 00:34:13,739 Rob Simmelkjaer: that. It's a great way to spend time. One of 598 00:34:13,739 --> 00:34:16,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: my favorite things about spending time with a kid running 599 00:34:16,170 --> 00:34:19,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: is no one's on their device, nobody's on their phone, 600 00:34:19,710 --> 00:34:21,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: everybody, unless they're maybe just using it for Strava or 601 00:34:21,840 --> 00:34:24,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: something, they're not looking at it. And so you can't 602 00:34:24,450 --> 00:34:26,969 Rob Simmelkjaer: talk a lot, but you're together. You're together kind of 603 00:34:26,969 --> 00:34:29,940 Rob Simmelkjaer: doing the same thing, taking the same challenge on, maybe 604 00:34:29,940 --> 00:34:33,360 Rob Simmelkjaer: talking if you're not running too hard. And I can 605 00:34:33,719 --> 00:34:36,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: reflect well on a lot of runs with my daughter 606 00:34:36,060 --> 00:34:37,050 Rob Simmelkjaer: too, so I can relate. 607 00:34:37,890 --> 00:34:40,860 David Jones: Yeah, that's awesome. It's a shared experience. 608 00:34:41,489 --> 00:34:44,430 Rob Simmelkjaer: Has it changed your perspective on running this experience? I 609 00:34:44,430 --> 00:34:47,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: talk about running sometimes and I say that it's an 610 00:34:47,700 --> 00:34:53,489 Rob Simmelkjaer: underrated form of transportation. I oftentimes do find that I'll 611 00:34:53,489 --> 00:34:56,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: just run to something, especially in New York City where 612 00:34:57,989 --> 00:35:01,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: maybe the traffic's bad in the city streets or there's a 613 00:35:01,560 --> 00:35:05,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: delay on the subway or whatever. And so often running 614 00:35:05,370 --> 00:35:07,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: is the fastest way to get from point A to 615 00:35:07,920 --> 00:35:12,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: point B in New York City, for sure. Even out 616 00:35:12,000 --> 00:35:13,860 Rob Simmelkjaer: in Connecticut where I live most of the time, I'll 617 00:35:13,860 --> 00:35:16,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: sometimes choose to, oh, I'm going to have coffee with 618 00:35:16,020 --> 00:35:18,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: a friend. Let's just make it a run and run 619 00:35:18,330 --> 00:35:21,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: back and turn it into exercise to get there and 620 00:35:21,270 --> 00:35:26,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: back. Has it changed your perspective on running and not 621 00:35:26,460 --> 00:35:28,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: only how it can keep you fit and keep you 622 00:35:28,260 --> 00:35:32,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: mentally healthy, but how it can get you places literally? 623 00:35:33,210 --> 00:35:37,109 David Jones: Absolutely. And I have in the past done exactly like 624 00:35:37,110 --> 00:35:40,080 David Jones: you said, I dropped my car off for an oil 625 00:35:40,080 --> 00:35:43,350 David Jones: change. 30 minutes, great, I'm going to go run, I'll 626 00:35:43,350 --> 00:35:48,030 David Jones: be back. That sort of thing. But in terms of 627 00:35:49,170 --> 00:35:53,190 David Jones: the trek and accomplishing that, getting through the night and 628 00:35:53,520 --> 00:35:57,450 David Jones: in the pitch dark and through all the devastation and all 629 00:35:57,450 --> 00:36:02,790 David Jones: that stuff, what it told me, two things really, the 630 00:36:02,790 --> 00:36:06,300 David Jones: perspective change that you asked about. One is we can 631 00:36:06,300 --> 00:36:10,890 David Jones: do far more than we think we're capable of. And 632 00:36:12,450 --> 00:36:15,540 David Jones: I think David Goggins who wrote You Can't Hurt Me, 633 00:36:15,780 --> 00:36:19,469 David Jones: the Navy SEAL, he said, " When you think you've reached 634 00:36:19,830 --> 00:36:27,900 David Jones: your max, you're only about 40%." And so I believe 635 00:36:27,900 --> 00:36:36,390 David Jones: that. I experienced it pushing through. And most people who 636 00:36:36,420 --> 00:36:40,200 David Jones: run marathons probably can agree with that, that there's at 637 00:36:40,200 --> 00:36:43,110 David Jones: some point in their training or some point on a race 638 00:36:43,110 --> 00:36:47,010 David Jones: day where you just have to keep pushing through and 639 00:36:47,010 --> 00:36:49,290 David Jones: you find out you're capable of more than you thought 640 00:36:49,290 --> 00:36:54,810 David Jones: you could. The second thing is it's a confidence builder. 641 00:36:55,950 --> 00:37:01,650 David Jones: It certainly opens up opportunities for you to think, " Well, gosh, 642 00:37:01,650 --> 00:37:03,540 David Jones: if I could do that, there's other things here I 643 00:37:03,540 --> 00:37:11,280 David Jones: can do." So yeah, definitely a perspective change and certainly 644 00:37:11,280 --> 00:37:13,980 David Jones: a reinforcement of the benefit of staying fit. 645 00:37:14,910 --> 00:37:21,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: Absolutely. Well, David, amazing story. Congratulations on everything, getting there, 646 00:37:22,050 --> 00:37:24,239 Rob Simmelkjaer: getting through that journey, and then all you've been able 647 00:37:24,239 --> 00:37:27,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: to accomplish and the message that you've been able to 648 00:37:27,150 --> 00:37:29,640 Rob Simmelkjaer: share since then, which I think is one that everybody 649 00:37:30,090 --> 00:37:32,040 Rob Simmelkjaer: should hear. I really hope this is going to be 650 00:37:32,040 --> 00:37:34,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: a book, David at some point, or a short film. 651 00:37:34,620 --> 00:37:37,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: There's just so much here. So I hope that's in 652 00:37:37,890 --> 00:37:39,930 Rob Simmelkjaer: your plans because I think it would be a great 653 00:37:40,230 --> 00:37:42,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: story to share with people everywhere. 654 00:37:42,630 --> 00:37:46,469 David Jones: There's been a lot of interest, including from Hollywood. So 655 00:37:46,530 --> 00:37:50,009 David Jones: we'll see, we'll see what the good Lord leads us to. 656 00:37:50,580 --> 00:37:54,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: All right, David Jones, congrats also on your marathon and 657 00:37:54,390 --> 00:37:56,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: we were thrilled to see you finish it. And all the 658 00:37:56,790 --> 00:37:58,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: best. Thank you so much for joining us. 659 00:37:58,739 --> 00:38:00,270 David Jones: Thank you, Rob. It's been a pleasure. 660 00:38:12,870 --> 00:38:14,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: We are thrilled to welcome back to the show today, 661 00:38:14,910 --> 00:38:18,360 Rob Simmelkjaer: Sofia Camacho Ferral, who was last with us after winning 662 00:38:18,630 --> 00:38:22,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: the non- binary category at the RBC Brooklyn Half. This 663 00:38:22,170 --> 00:38:24,989 Rob Simmelkjaer: time they've returned with another big win, taking the top 664 00:38:24,989 --> 00:38:29,759 Rob Simmelkjaer: spot in the non- binary division at the 2024 TCS New York 665 00:38:29,760 --> 00:38:33,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: City Marathon with an impressive time of 2 hours and 666 00:38:33,090 --> 00:38:36,629 Rob Simmelkjaer: 31 minutes. It's been a busy year for Sofia who 667 00:38:36,630 --> 00:38:39,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: isn't just a local elite runner. They also have been 668 00:38:39,900 --> 00:38:42,810 Rob Simmelkjaer: coaching and even had to turn down gigs as a 669 00:38:42,810 --> 00:38:46,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: drag performer to prepare for the big race. From the 670 00:38:46,380 --> 00:38:50,009 Rob Simmelkjaer: sub elite circuit to the drag stage, Sofia's calendar is 671 00:38:50,010 --> 00:38:53,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: packed and it's anything but conventional. We've got them back 672 00:38:53,400 --> 00:38:57,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: in the studio to talk race day running Southbound 400 673 00:38:57,900 --> 00:39:01,230 Rob Simmelkjaer: and why they decided this year was all about saying yes. 674 00:39:01,620 --> 00:39:04,830 Meb Keflezighi: Thanks Rob. Sofia, welcome to the podcast. How are you doing today? 675 00:39:05,130 --> 00:39:07,170 Sofia Camacho Ferral: Good, thanks for having me back. I'm excited. 676 00:39:07,830 --> 00:39:11,430 Meb Keflezighi: Awesome to have you back. Well, just running 2: 31 it's 677 00:39:11,670 --> 00:39:14,610 Meb Keflezighi: just amazing. How was it for you, just as a 678 00:39:14,610 --> 00:39:18,270 Meb Keflezighi: competitor of the NYC Marathon, but also as a coach, and 679 00:39:18,270 --> 00:39:20,640 Meb Keflezighi: what was the feeling for you going to the last 680 00:39:20,760 --> 00:39:25,170 Meb Keflezighi: in Central Park, next to Jess Lyndon and Jenny Simpson? 681 00:39:25,170 --> 00:39:27,360 Meb Keflezighi: Were you an athlete or a coach there? What was the strategy like? 682 00:39:29,400 --> 00:39:32,340 Sofia Camacho Ferral: So actually I was very excited for this race and 683 00:39:32,340 --> 00:39:34,620 Sofia Camacho Ferral: it was more of a feel good race. So I 684 00:39:34,620 --> 00:39:37,350 Sofia Camacho Ferral: didn't expect a PR by 10 minutes by all means. 685 00:39:38,310 --> 00:39:40,800 Sofia Camacho Ferral: I was very excited about that. I actually thought the 686 00:39:40,800 --> 00:39:44,160 Sofia Camacho Ferral: clocks were wrong because I didn't think I could run 687 00:39:44,160 --> 00:39:47,820 Sofia Camacho Ferral: that in New York especially. I was not expecting a 688 00:39:47,820 --> 00:39:51,839 Sofia Camacho Ferral: time like that. In terms of racing, I started with 689 00:39:51,840 --> 00:39:56,489 Sofia Camacho Ferral: the first wave of everyone else kind of. So I 690 00:39:56,489 --> 00:39:59,460 Sofia Camacho Ferral: could have definitely raced in the pro women's field, and 691 00:39:59,460 --> 00:40:04,110 Sofia Camacho Ferral: that's something I'm looking into for future marathons after this 692 00:40:04,260 --> 00:40:07,860 Sofia Camacho Ferral: pleasant surprise, of course. So I was mostly running by 693 00:40:07,860 --> 00:40:11,219 Sofia Camacho Ferral: myself or with different groups of men, which was really 694 00:40:11,219 --> 00:40:14,609 Sofia Camacho Ferral: fun, really exciting for me. Yeah, I had an incredible 695 00:40:14,610 --> 00:40:18,660 Sofia Camacho Ferral: time. I had my drag family there. I had Project 696 00:40:18,660 --> 00:40:23,100 Sofia Camacho Ferral: Moonshot, which is who I coach. They were also there 697 00:40:23,100 --> 00:40:25,260 Sofia Camacho Ferral: in a huge group. So I was very overwhelmed and 698 00:40:25,260 --> 00:40:27,839 Sofia Camacho Ferral: excited throughout the whole race. I felt incredible the whole 699 00:40:27,840 --> 00:40:29,009 Sofia Camacho Ferral: time. Yeah. 700 00:40:29,669 --> 00:40:32,790 Meb Keflezighi: How was your experience at the world major marathon like 701 00:40:32,790 --> 00:40:35,100 Meb Keflezighi: New York? I know it's not a PR course, but 702 00:40:35,100 --> 00:40:38,700 Meb Keflezighi: yet, like you said, you ran almost 10 minutes fast PR. What 703 00:40:38,700 --> 00:40:41,370 Meb Keflezighi: was the philosophy there as a coach and an athlete? 704 00:40:41,940 --> 00:40:45,270 Sofia Camacho Ferral: Yeah. I had a pretty rough build leading up to 705 00:40:45,270 --> 00:40:48,030 Sofia Camacho Ferral: this marathon. So it started off pretty strong, but I 706 00:40:48,030 --> 00:40:50,520 Sofia Camacho Ferral: think because I raced so heavily in the summer and 707 00:40:50,520 --> 00:40:53,279 Sofia Camacho Ferral: didn't really take time off before starting the marathon build, 708 00:40:53,670 --> 00:40:57,690 Sofia Camacho Ferral: I got a tendon injury that kept me off my 709 00:40:57,719 --> 00:41:02,189 Sofia Camacho Ferral: feet running for about three weeks during peak week too. 710 00:41:02,190 --> 00:41:04,320 Sofia Camacho Ferral: So I was very nervous about how even if I'd 711 00:41:04,320 --> 00:41:06,540 Sofia Camacho Ferral: be able to finish or if I'd be able to 712 00:41:06,540 --> 00:41:10,230 Sofia Camacho Ferral: run fast at all. But during the race, I did 713 00:41:10,230 --> 00:41:12,810 Sofia Camacho Ferral: feel the injury and I always say instead of like, " 714 00:41:12,840 --> 00:41:17,190 Sofia Camacho Ferral: Oh no," I'm like, " Oh shoot." So I don't know 715 00:41:17,190 --> 00:41:18,780 Sofia Camacho Ferral: if I'm allowed to swear, but instead of saying, " Oh 716 00:41:18,780 --> 00:41:21,840 Sofia Camacho Ferral: no," I always say, " Oh (censored)." And I'm like, " Well (censored) happens, keep 717 00:41:21,840 --> 00:41:24,900 Sofia Camacho Ferral: going." So that's kind of the mentality that I have 718 00:41:25,260 --> 00:41:29,610 Sofia Camacho Ferral: is stuff happens, keep going, stuff happens, keep going. So 719 00:41:29,610 --> 00:41:32,040 Sofia Camacho Ferral: that was my philosophy mainly throughout the race. 720 00:41:32,040 --> 00:41:35,549 Meb Keflezighi: I understand. Injuries is part of the sport. But you 721 00:41:35,550 --> 00:41:39,299 Meb Keflezighi: have raced across a range of distances this year, but 722 00:41:39,300 --> 00:41:43,469 Meb Keflezighi: you mentioned that the Southbond 400 stands out as a 723 00:41:43,469 --> 00:41:47,009 Meb Keflezighi: favorite. What made that race so special for you? 724 00:41:47,880 --> 00:41:50,549 Sofia Camacho Ferral: Yeah, it was my first time doing any sort of 725 00:41:50,550 --> 00:41:55,020 Sofia Camacho Ferral: ultra style racing or an ultra relay or any form 726 00:41:55,020 --> 00:41:57,300 Sofia Camacho Ferral: of a relay really. So it was new in the 727 00:41:57,300 --> 00:41:59,910 Sofia Camacho Ferral: sense of the distance was new for me. And also 728 00:41:59,910 --> 00:42:03,660 Sofia Camacho Ferral: just the relay aspect was new. I was also, I'm 729 00:42:03,660 --> 00:42:06,480 Sofia Camacho Ferral: a Mile High Run Club coach as well, so this 730 00:42:06,480 --> 00:42:09,570 Sofia Camacho Ferral: was my first time meeting a lot of my coworkers 731 00:42:09,570 --> 00:42:12,540 Sofia Camacho Ferral: because I was new to the team working there also. 732 00:42:12,810 --> 00:42:14,280 Sofia Camacho Ferral: So I just said, " Okay, just say yes. It's a 733 00:42:14,280 --> 00:42:17,850 Sofia Camacho Ferral: good opportunity to run for fun and then get to 734 00:42:17,850 --> 00:42:21,900 Sofia Camacho Ferral: know your coworkers." So I took the opportunity and it 735 00:42:21,900 --> 00:42:27,029 Sofia Camacho Ferral: was such an insane experience, just getting to know my 736 00:42:27,030 --> 00:42:30,360 Sofia Camacho Ferral: friends like that was very rewarding. And then the race 737 00:42:30,360 --> 00:42:33,750 Sofia Camacho Ferral: itself, the teamwork aspect, you have no choice other than 738 00:42:33,750 --> 00:42:35,610 Sofia Camacho Ferral: to lean on each other, and I think that's something 739 00:42:35,610 --> 00:42:38,640 Sofia Camacho Ferral: that we can all learn from, especially right now after 740 00:42:38,640 --> 00:42:41,669 Sofia Camacho Ferral: the election, just leaning on each other through tough times 741 00:42:41,670 --> 00:42:42,239 Sofia Camacho Ferral: like this. 742 00:42:43,319 --> 00:42:46,620 Meb Keflezighi: Absolutely. What's the distance on that, just for our listeners 743 00:42:46,620 --> 00:42:47,130 Meb Keflezighi: who don't know the distance? 744 00:42:47,129 --> 00:42:51,780 Sofia Camacho Ferral: So it was 400 miles total divided amongst eight people, I believe 745 00:42:51,780 --> 00:42:54,719 Sofia Camacho Ferral: for three days. So we each kind of ran like 746 00:42:54,719 --> 00:42:58,440 Sofia Camacho Ferral: 60 miles a day, give or take, depending on each person. 747 00:42:59,190 --> 00:43:00,390 Meb Keflezighi: Wow, just amazing. 748 00:43:01,140 --> 00:43:01,980 Sofia Camacho Ferral: It was so fun. 749 00:43:02,790 --> 00:43:05,609 Meb Keflezighi: Earlier this year, you set a goal to say yes to 750 00:43:05,610 --> 00:43:09,540 Meb Keflezighi: more races and running events, even if you didn't feel you 751 00:43:09,540 --> 00:43:12,120 Meb Keflezighi: were at the peak shape. How did you embrace the 752 00:43:12,239 --> 00:43:16,589 Meb Keflezighi: mindset change and your approach to racing affect your life? 753 00:43:17,640 --> 00:43:20,640 Sofia Camacho Ferral: Yeah, I think especially in college with the pressure of 754 00:43:20,640 --> 00:43:24,750 Sofia Camacho Ferral: being a Division 1 athlete, I ran very anxiously and 755 00:43:24,750 --> 00:43:27,480 Sofia Camacho Ferral: I think that took a toll on how I would 756 00:43:27,480 --> 00:43:30,660 Sofia Camacho Ferral: perform at races 'cause I just got too nervous and 757 00:43:30,660 --> 00:43:33,600 Sofia Camacho Ferral: I didn't ever race up to my fitness level really. 758 00:43:33,960 --> 00:43:37,350 Sofia Camacho Ferral: So now that after graduating, I'm just kind of like, 759 00:43:37,350 --> 00:43:40,830 Sofia Camacho Ferral: okay, so running is a sport I love, so why 760 00:43:40,830 --> 00:43:43,320 Sofia Camacho Ferral: wouldn't I just run for the sake of me loving 761 00:43:43,320 --> 00:43:47,009 Sofia Camacho Ferral: it really? So not for anyone else, not necessarily for 762 00:43:47,010 --> 00:43:50,430 Sofia Camacho Ferral: a team either. So it was kind of like a 763 00:43:50,430 --> 00:43:52,980 Sofia Camacho Ferral: selfish take on running, just running for me, running for 764 00:43:52,980 --> 00:43:55,890 Sofia Camacho Ferral: fun. And the worst thing that can happen from a 765 00:43:55,890 --> 00:43:57,810 Sofia Camacho Ferral: race is that I just run slower than I want. 766 00:43:57,870 --> 00:44:00,210 Sofia Camacho Ferral: So really, if that's the worst thing that happens, then 767 00:44:00,450 --> 00:44:03,150 Sofia Camacho Ferral: the best things that can happen are 10 times more 768 00:44:03,150 --> 00:44:08,010 Sofia Camacho Ferral: worth it. Especially with Orchard Street runners, their unsanctioned races 769 00:44:08,010 --> 00:44:10,830 Sofia Camacho Ferral: are fun for me. Like the Bread Run was a 770 00:44:10,860 --> 00:44:16,049 Sofia Camacho Ferral: standout race for me. Really just any sort of racing 771 00:44:16,650 --> 00:44:18,900 Sofia Camacho Ferral: that came up. New York Road Runners races, I was 772 00:44:18,900 --> 00:44:22,980 Sofia Camacho Ferral: just signing up feeling like a hamster. So that was 773 00:44:22,980 --> 00:44:24,840 Sofia Camacho Ferral: just so much fun for me, just saying yes. 774 00:44:25,770 --> 00:44:27,870 Meb Keflezighi: Oh, they do, the New York Road Runners do an amazing job. 775 00:44:27,870 --> 00:44:31,259 Meb Keflezighi: So going back to the big race, going to the 2024 776 00:44:31,260 --> 00:44:35,040 Meb Keflezighi: NYC Marathon, you had only one other marathon under your 777 00:44:35,040 --> 00:44:38,370 Meb Keflezighi: belt, which was a flatter course in California. You were 778 00:44:38,370 --> 00:44:41,640 Meb Keflezighi: aiming for the top three finishes in the non- binary division. 779 00:44:41,910 --> 00:44:45,989 Meb Keflezighi: Tell us about your race experience. Did it go as planned, or were 780 00:44:46,200 --> 00:44:47,610 Meb Keflezighi: you surprised along the way? 781 00:44:48,210 --> 00:44:51,690 Sofia Camacho Ferral: Yeah. So originally I just meant to start at maybe 782 00:44:51,690 --> 00:44:54,690 Sofia Camacho Ferral: six minute pace, just something that I knew I could 783 00:44:54,690 --> 00:44:55,890 Sofia Camacho Ferral: sustain for a while. 784 00:44:56,070 --> 00:44:57,210 Meb Keflezighi: Even on Verrazano bridge? 785 00:44:57,510 --> 00:45:00,810 Sofia Camacho Ferral: Yep. I was like, " We're just going to start there 786 00:45:00,840 --> 00:45:01,770 Sofia Camacho Ferral: and see how it goes." 787 00:45:02,160 --> 00:45:02,759 Meb Keflezighi: Pretty impressive. 788 00:45:02,820 --> 00:45:06,270 Sofia Camacho Ferral: I started and I was like, "Okay, this is, I guess it's tough," 789 00:45:06,540 --> 00:45:09,360 Sofia Camacho Ferral: I was like. But I guess with an incline, my 790 00:45:09,360 --> 00:45:12,420 Sofia Camacho Ferral: brain tells me, " No, you're running too slow" instead of, " 791 00:45:12,450 --> 00:45:14,250 Sofia Camacho Ferral: Oh, you're running on an incline." So I think I 792 00:45:14,250 --> 00:45:18,239 Sofia Camacho Ferral: always get more excited on inclines. And then all of 793 00:45:18,239 --> 00:45:20,910 Sofia Camacho Ferral: a sudden I just started hitting in the five- minute 794 00:45:20,910 --> 00:45:25,680 Sofia Camacho Ferral: range, 5-40s, 5- 40s. I was like, " Okay, this is too 795 00:45:25,680 --> 00:45:28,140 Sofia Camacho Ferral: fast." So I was a little nervous because I was like, " 796 00:45:28,290 --> 00:45:31,050 Sofia Camacho Ferral: Surely this will hit me later." In my head I 797 00:45:31,050 --> 00:45:32,430 Sofia Camacho Ferral: was like, " This is going to hit me later. It's 798 00:45:32,430 --> 00:45:36,600 Sofia Camacho Ferral: too early, too early." But I felt great and I 799 00:45:36,600 --> 00:45:39,600 Sofia Camacho Ferral: realized I stopped looking at my watch every time it 800 00:45:39,600 --> 00:45:44,219 Sofia Camacho Ferral: beeped for the next mile because the crowd was so 801 00:45:44,460 --> 00:45:48,419 Sofia Camacho Ferral: electrifying. I know other people that have run this race 802 00:45:48,420 --> 00:45:50,760 Sofia Camacho Ferral: have warned me before, but I don't think I was 803 00:45:50,760 --> 00:45:54,750 Sofia Camacho Ferral: prepared for the amount of energy that the city would 804 00:45:54,750 --> 00:45:56,339 Sofia Camacho Ferral: have. I actually- 805 00:45:57,150 --> 00:45:58,021 Meb Keflezighi: The crowd does lift you up. The crowd does lift you and makes you go fast. 806 00:45:58,020 --> 00:46:02,730 Sofia Camacho Ferral: Yes. I was not prepared. So any other hill after that first, 807 00:46:02,730 --> 00:46:06,000 Sofia Camacho Ferral: the Verrazano bridge after that, I did not feel those 808 00:46:06,000 --> 00:46:08,730 Sofia Camacho Ferral: inclines at all. And people think I'm crazy when I 809 00:46:08,730 --> 00:46:12,450 Sofia Camacho Ferral: say this, but truly that crowd and also having loved 810 00:46:12,450 --> 00:46:16,230 Sofia Camacho Ferral: ones to look out for was so incredible for me. 811 00:46:16,230 --> 00:46:20,460 Sofia Camacho Ferral: I've just had an incredible time the entire race. Yeah, 812 00:46:20,460 --> 00:46:22,770 Sofia Camacho Ferral: I felt my injuries here and there, but I told 813 00:46:22,770 --> 00:46:25,560 Sofia Camacho Ferral: you as stuff happens, you're just like, " Okay, it happened, 814 00:46:25,560 --> 00:46:27,330 Sofia Camacho Ferral: and now what? I have to keep going, really. I 815 00:46:27,330 --> 00:46:30,839 Sofia Camacho Ferral: don't have a choice to think too much." Especially with 816 00:46:30,840 --> 00:46:34,590 Sofia Camacho Ferral: feeling and stuff. That's something that I did struggle with 817 00:46:34,590 --> 00:46:37,860 Sofia Camacho Ferral: this year with feeling during races and running and stuff. 818 00:46:38,040 --> 00:46:40,020 Sofia Camacho Ferral: I did not practice as much as I should have. 819 00:46:40,290 --> 00:46:44,310 Sofia Camacho Ferral: So I had maybe two gels, but I brought three 820 00:46:44,310 --> 00:46:47,460 Sofia Camacho Ferral: with me. Usually I'd have six. And then with hydration, 821 00:46:47,460 --> 00:46:49,530 Sofia Camacho Ferral: obviously since I wasn't racing in the pro field, I 822 00:46:49,530 --> 00:46:51,870 Sofia Camacho Ferral: didn't have the prepared bottles or anything like that. So 823 00:46:51,870 --> 00:46:53,640 Sofia Camacho Ferral: it was really just trying to beat the guy in 824 00:46:53,640 --> 00:46:58,050 Sofia Camacho Ferral: front of me for a Gatorade, a Gatorade cup, that 825 00:46:58,050 --> 00:47:00,750 Sofia Camacho Ferral: kind of thing. So it was very much just go 826 00:47:00,750 --> 00:47:02,820 Sofia Camacho Ferral: with the flow. And when you go with the flow, 827 00:47:02,820 --> 00:47:05,400 Sofia Camacho Ferral: really you don't have a bunch of things planned. If 828 00:47:05,400 --> 00:47:07,650 Sofia Camacho Ferral: something goes wrong, you don't know it because you didn't 829 00:47:07,650 --> 00:47:11,219 Sofia Camacho Ferral: have that planned. So it's like if you have your bottles set 830 00:47:11,219 --> 00:47:12,810 Sofia Camacho Ferral: up and then you miss one, you're going to be 831 00:47:12,810 --> 00:47:15,180 Sofia Camacho Ferral: thinking about that. Whereas if I didn't have anything set 832 00:47:15,180 --> 00:47:17,190 Sofia Camacho Ferral: up, I'm not thinking about that. So it's really just 833 00:47:17,190 --> 00:47:17,940 Sofia Camacho Ferral: going with the flow. 834 00:47:18,840 --> 00:47:19,560 Meb Keflezighi: Makes sense. 835 00:47:19,890 --> 00:47:20,250 Sofia Camacho Ferral: Yeah. 836 00:47:20,250 --> 00:47:24,930 Meb Keflezighi: Now running is just part of your story. You're also a 837 00:47:24,930 --> 00:47:28,770 Meb Keflezighi: drag performer. How does your drag persona influence your approach 838 00:47:28,770 --> 00:47:32,040 Meb Keflezighi: to running, or vice versa? Do you find there is 839 00:47:32,040 --> 00:47:33,210 Meb Keflezighi: a connection between the two? 840 00:47:33,780 --> 00:47:38,280 Sofia Camacho Ferral: Yes, absolutely. I think the one thing that connects the two is 841 00:47:38,280 --> 00:47:41,610 Sofia Camacho Ferral: that when I'm running and when I'm performing are me 842 00:47:41,610 --> 00:47:45,029 Sofia Camacho Ferral: trying my best at everything I do. And it's also 843 00:47:45,030 --> 00:47:47,820 Sofia Camacho Ferral: me just being brave because both of those things make 844 00:47:47,820 --> 00:47:52,260 Sofia Camacho Ferral: me nervous. So running races still makes me nervous and 845 00:47:52,260 --> 00:47:56,100 Sofia Camacho Ferral: performing I will always have stage fright, the worst stage 846 00:47:56,100 --> 00:48:00,150 Sofia Camacho Ferral: fright ever. So when I race and when I perform, 847 00:48:00,690 --> 00:48:03,090 Sofia Camacho Ferral: I'm always in my brain like, " Okay, you're nervous, but 848 00:48:03,090 --> 00:48:05,880 Sofia Camacho Ferral: you still have to do this thing. Okay, you're nervous, 849 00:48:05,880 --> 00:48:08,850 Sofia Camacho Ferral: but you're ready. Okay, you're nervous, but show must go 850 00:48:08,850 --> 00:48:11,430 Sofia Camacho Ferral: on." Is something like on with the show. No matter 851 00:48:11,430 --> 00:48:14,010 Sofia Camacho Ferral: what, you just have to push through. So I think 852 00:48:14,010 --> 00:48:15,989 Sofia Camacho Ferral: that's very real when I'm on stage and when I'm 853 00:48:15,989 --> 00:48:17,009 Sofia Camacho Ferral: on the road as well. 854 00:48:18,149 --> 00:48:20,370 Meb Keflezighi: Well, the pressure is real on both cases and you 855 00:48:20,370 --> 00:48:23,549 Meb Keflezighi: have delivered in a big way, Sofia. Congratulations on a 2: 856 00:48:23,550 --> 00:48:26,940 Meb Keflezighi: 31 and the top non- binary category. Well done. 857 00:48:28,410 --> 00:48:28,591 Sofia Camacho Ferral: Thank you. Thank you so much. 858 00:48:28,591 --> 00:48:28,592 Meb Keflezighi: Thanks for being on the show. 859 00:48:28,592 --> 00:48:29,640 Sofia Camacho Ferral: Thank you for having me back. 860 00:48:29,850 --> 00:48:32,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: Thank you, Sofia, for joining us. A great story and 861 00:48:32,730 --> 00:48:36,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: a great time. Congratulations on your marathon win and thanks 862 00:48:36,000 --> 00:48:38,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: as always for being a member of New York Road 863 00:48:38,370 --> 00:48:40,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: Runners. Now it's time for the final part of our 864 00:48:40,290 --> 00:48:41,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: show. Today's Meb Minutes. 865 00:48:42,450 --> 00:48:45,840 Meb Keflezighi: Race Planning. After completing a marathon, it is a key 866 00:48:45,840 --> 00:48:50,009 Meb Keflezighi: to give yourself time to recover physically, mentally before planning 867 00:48:50,010 --> 00:48:53,460 Meb Keflezighi: your next race. Reflect on your goals. Whether you want 868 00:48:53,460 --> 00:48:56,310 Meb Keflezighi: to improve on your marathon time, try new distance or 869 00:48:56,310 --> 00:48:59,250 Meb Keflezighi: experience a different kind of race like a trail or 870 00:48:59,250 --> 00:49:02,759 Meb Keflezighi: ultra events. Congratulations. The end of one race is the 871 00:49:02,760 --> 00:49:06,060 Meb Keflezighi: beginning of another. When you are ready to pick a 872 00:49:06,060 --> 00:49:10,469 Meb Keflezighi: race, consider these points. Goals, what do you want to 873 00:49:10,469 --> 00:49:14,009 Meb Keflezighi: achieve? Whether it is personal best or new challenge, pick 874 00:49:14,010 --> 00:49:18,750 Meb Keflezighi: a race that excites you. Timing is important. Allow time 875 00:49:18,750 --> 00:49:21,989 Meb Keflezighi: to fully recover before committing to another race. Don't rush 876 00:49:21,989 --> 00:49:24,690 Meb Keflezighi: into it. You won't lose a fitness for three weeks, 877 00:49:24,690 --> 00:49:28,560 Meb Keflezighi: so just let the fitness come to you. Course and 878 00:49:28,560 --> 00:49:32,009 Meb Keflezighi: conditions. Choose a race that suits your strength, whether it 879 00:49:32,010 --> 00:49:35,250 Meb Keflezighi: is another city marathon or new terrain. You have had 880 00:49:35,250 --> 00:49:38,430 Meb Keflezighi: an experience. What is the one that are going to fire your 881 00:49:38,430 --> 00:49:41,460 Meb Keflezighi: internal goals? Do you want to see the course that has 882 00:49:41,550 --> 00:49:44,759 Meb Keflezighi: a huge hill looking for experience, or you want to 883 00:49:44,760 --> 00:49:50,520 Meb Keflezighi: get flat conditions for fast time? Logistics are important. Ensure 884 00:49:50,550 --> 00:49:54,690 Meb Keflezighi: the race fits your schedule, travel, support needs. Sometimes it 885 00:49:54,690 --> 00:49:56,880 Meb Keflezighi: might be local, sometimes you might need to get on a plane, 886 00:49:57,090 --> 00:50:01,080 Meb Keflezighi: but make sure you're prepared for it. Finally, remember to 887 00:50:01,080 --> 00:50:04,259 Meb Keflezighi: enjoy the process. Every race is part of the journey 888 00:50:04,800 --> 00:50:07,890 Meb Keflezighi: and the next one could be a breakthrough and you 889 00:50:07,890 --> 00:50:11,670 Meb Keflezighi: are looking forward to it. So have fun, plan ahead, 890 00:50:11,790 --> 00:50:12,989 Meb Keflezighi: and enjoy the process. 891 00:50:13,530 --> 00:50:16,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: All right, that does it for a great, great episode 892 00:50:16,260 --> 00:50:18,089 Rob Simmelkjaer: of Set The Pace. I want to thank our guest 893 00:50:18,090 --> 00:50:22,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: today, David Jones and Sofia Camacho Ferral. If you like 894 00:50:22,020 --> 00:50:25,080 Rob Simmelkjaer: this episode, and who wouldn't, honestly, come on, go ahead, 895 00:50:25,200 --> 00:50:29,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: subscribe, rate, leave a comment on whatever platform you're listening 896 00:50:29,160 --> 00:50:31,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: on. This not only helps us, but it helps others 897 00:50:31,590 --> 00:50:34,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: find the show as well. Congrats again to all the 898 00:50:34,560 --> 00:50:37,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: marathon finishers. Great to see so many of you. By 899 00:50:37,350 --> 00:50:39,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: the way, thanks to so many of you who pulled 900 00:50:39,540 --> 00:50:41,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: me aside to say you listened to the show and 901 00:50:41,250 --> 00:50:44,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: enjoy the show. I really appreciated that. Enjoy the miles. 902 00:50:44,460 --> 00:50:45,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: We'll see you next week.