1 00:00:00,510 --> 00:00:03,990 Jenny Simpson: Being a USA athlete was just a huge privilege for 2 00:00:03,990 --> 00:00:06,209 Jenny Simpson: me and one of the great gifts of my career 3 00:00:06,210 --> 00:00:09,210 Jenny Simpson: was for my running to mean something more than just 4 00:00:09,750 --> 00:00:11,850 Jenny Simpson: me trying to bring out the best in me, but 5 00:00:11,850 --> 00:00:12,990 Jenny Simpson: representing our country. 6 00:00:17,489 --> 00:00:20,639 Rob Simmelkjaer: Hey everybody, and welcome to Set the Pace, the official 7 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:24,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: podcast of New York Road Runners presented by Peloton. I'm 8 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:27,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: your host, Rob Simmelkjaer, the CEO of New York Road 9 00:00:27,270 --> 00:00:31,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: Runners, and with me my co- host, Peloton instructor, Becs 10 00:00:31,950 --> 00:00:36,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: Gentry. Becs, it's great to see you. How you doing? 11 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:39,449 Becs Gentry: I am great, but we're not here to talk about 12 00:00:39,450 --> 00:00:47,520 Becs Gentry: me. We are here to first and foremost, congratulations on 13 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:53,070 Becs Gentry: completing the Bank of America Chicago Marathon a mere couple 14 00:00:53,070 --> 00:00:57,690 Becs Gentry: of days ago. Rob, you handled that day so well. 15 00:00:58,020 --> 00:01:01,260 Becs Gentry: You are looking great. I've seen you walk and you're 16 00:01:01,260 --> 00:01:04,500 Becs Gentry: walking very well. So talk us through it. How are you 17 00:01:04,500 --> 00:01:06,360 Becs Gentry: feeling? How was the 26.2? 18 00:01:06,569 --> 00:01:09,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: You haven't seen me walk much or down any stairs. 19 00:01:09,690 --> 00:01:12,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, you haven't seen me go down any stairs. It's the 20 00:01:12,990 --> 00:01:17,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: Tuesday after the marathon that you and I are speaking 21 00:01:17,580 --> 00:01:21,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: and I'm feeling pretty good actually. I feel the typical 22 00:01:21,060 --> 00:01:23,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: quad soreness a couple of days after a marathon. So 23 00:01:24,420 --> 00:01:25,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: I've got so much to say about Chicago. 24 00:01:25,980 --> 00:01:27,030 Becs Gentry: Yes, fill us in. 25 00:01:27,090 --> 00:01:31,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: I want to start by just congratulating Carey Pinkowski, Mike 26 00:01:31,530 --> 00:01:36,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: Nishi, the race director and technical director of the Chicago Marathon. 27 00:01:36,090 --> 00:01:40,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: Everybody at CEM, the Chicago Events Management, that team, they 28 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:46,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: do an incredible job with that event. It is such a runner- 29 00:01:46,740 --> 00:01:51,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: friendly event. They make it so easy and so fun 30 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:55,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: for you as a runner from everything, the expo, the 31 00:01:55,500 --> 00:01:58,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: start, the course, the finish, the beer at the finish 32 00:01:58,890 --> 00:02:01,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: line, the whole nine yards. I mean, it is so 33 00:02:01,980 --> 00:02:05,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: much fun to run the Bank of America Chicago Marathon 34 00:02:05,910 --> 00:02:09,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: and the crowds, Becs, just blew me away. I mean, 35 00:02:10,290 --> 00:02:15,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: I really can say that nothing has come closer to 36 00:02:15,180 --> 00:02:18,720 Rob Simmelkjaer: reminding me of the New York City Marathon than this 37 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:22,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: marathon, and that is no offense at all to my 38 00:02:22,110 --> 00:02:26,040 Rob Simmelkjaer: friends in Berlin or Tokyo where I ran marathons in 39 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:28,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: the last year. Those were great and special in their 40 00:02:28,710 --> 00:02:33,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: own ways, but Becs, the crowds that came out in Chicago in 41 00:02:33,540 --> 00:02:38,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: the most incredible way, the music, the performance, just the 42 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:42,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: sheer volume of them was so incredible. I hadn't experienced 43 00:02:42,690 --> 00:02:45,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: anything like that since the last time I ran New 44 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:48,240 Rob Simmelkjaer: York in 2013, and I have to say I was 45 00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:51,149 Rob Simmelkjaer: just blown away, I really was, at the energy and 46 00:02:51,149 --> 00:02:54,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: the way that the city of Chicago comes out and shows 47 00:02:54,660 --> 00:02:57,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: up for that event. And Chicago has been in the 48 00:02:57,540 --> 00:02:59,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: news a little bit lately and not always for reasons 49 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:01,139 Rob Simmelkjaer: that it wants to be. And I have a feeling 50 00:03:01,139 --> 00:03:04,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: that there was even a little extra kind of like, " 51 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:08,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: Hey, folks. Let's get out and show up and show 52 00:03:08,010 --> 00:03:11,639 Rob Simmelkjaer: everybody what Chicago's all about today of the day of 53 00:03:11,639 --> 00:03:15,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: this marathon." I could feel it. It was incredible. So 54 00:03:15,900 --> 00:03:18,360 Rob Simmelkjaer: I just want to say to everybody out in Chicago, 55 00:03:18,630 --> 00:03:22,470 Rob Simmelkjaer: phenomenal, phenomenal day. It was so awesome. Now, in regards 56 00:03:22,470 --> 00:03:26,669 Rob Simmelkjaer: to my race. Well, they always say you should have 57 00:03:26,669 --> 00:03:29,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: an A goal, a B goal and a C goal. 58 00:03:29,100 --> 00:03:31,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: I know you talk about that, and I always insist 59 00:03:31,620 --> 00:03:36,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: on the C goal being finish the damn race because 60 00:03:36,450 --> 00:03:39,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: there is always a chance... As we'll hear later from Jenny 61 00:03:39,660 --> 00:03:42,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: Simpson when we talked to her about the first marathon 62 00:03:42,270 --> 00:03:45,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: she ran, the Olympic trials in Orlando. There's always a 63 00:03:45,450 --> 00:03:47,430 Rob Simmelkjaer: chance when you show up at the starting line of 64 00:03:47,430 --> 00:03:50,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: a marathon that you will not finish that marathon because 65 00:03:51,090 --> 00:03:52,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: it is really hard to run 26.2. 66 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:56,730 Becs Gentry: And that isn't always based off of your training. You 67 00:03:56,730 --> 00:04:02,160 Becs Gentry: can be perfectly, if there ever was perfect, training, but 68 00:04:02,250 --> 00:04:05,610 Becs Gentry: the day just doesn't go the way you want it to. 69 00:04:05,610 --> 00:04:09,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: That's exactly right. And it sometimes can be even hard 70 00:04:09,570 --> 00:04:15,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: to really entirely understand why. So Becs, I had a perfect 71 00:04:15,990 --> 00:04:17,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: 13 miles. 72 00:04:17,730 --> 00:04:19,979 Becs Gentry: You did. I was tracking you. I was like, " He's 73 00:04:19,979 --> 00:04:22,320 Becs Gentry: doing it." 74 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:27,839 Rob Simmelkjaer: A perfect half. It was to the second exactly where I wanted to be 75 00:04:28,110 --> 00:04:31,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: at 13.1. I looked at my watch and everything they 76 00:04:31,020 --> 00:04:34,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: tell you about Chicago, how your GPS will go crazy 77 00:04:34,260 --> 00:04:36,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: and you won't know where you are, mine actually hung 78 00:04:36,450 --> 00:04:38,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: in there okay, my Garmin watch, got to give a 79 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:41,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: credit. I did a good job, but I did a 80 00:04:41,190 --> 00:04:43,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: little manual time- checking and I was exactly where I 81 00:04:43,890 --> 00:04:46,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: wanted to be at the half and I felt good, 82 00:04:46,740 --> 00:04:51,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: my heart rate had stayed low, everything felt good and 83 00:04:51,270 --> 00:04:55,860 Rob Simmelkjaer: then something happened. I remember turning and coming back down 84 00:04:55,860 --> 00:04:58,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: south I think, or maybe going out west. It was 85 00:04:58,110 --> 00:05:02,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: a turn that I remember and it was a nice 86 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:04,919 Rob Simmelkjaer: day in Chicago. The one thing I remember looking at 87 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:09,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: throughout the week was the weather forecast and the highs 88 00:05:09,300 --> 00:05:12,479 Rob Simmelkjaer: were looking like upper 60s. Can't complain about that. That's 89 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:16,469 Rob Simmelkjaer: pretty good. But there was never a single cloud in 90 00:05:16,470 --> 00:05:19,529 Rob Simmelkjaer: any of those forecasts. It was always this big yellow 91 00:05:19,529 --> 00:05:24,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: sun. And once I got into some of the areas 92 00:05:24,180 --> 00:05:27,539 Rob Simmelkjaer: of the race where you were really just exposed to 93 00:05:27,540 --> 00:05:30,779 Rob Simmelkjaer: the sun and it wasn't super hot, but you are 94 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:35,339 Rob Simmelkjaer: in the sun full- on, I just started to feel 95 00:05:35,370 --> 00:05:40,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: differently. I could see my heart rate starting to edge 96 00:05:40,020 --> 00:05:43,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: up, the effort level that I felt I needed to 97 00:05:43,529 --> 00:05:47,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: keep that pace, it just started to feel harder and 98 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:49,859 Rob Simmelkjaer: harder and I had never run... Well, I had run 99 00:05:49,860 --> 00:05:52,169 Rob Simmelkjaer: Berlin, but that was the only other race I'd ever 100 00:05:52,170 --> 00:05:55,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: run which was so flat that there was nothing to 101 00:05:55,500 --> 00:06:00,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: kind of cause you moderate anything in terms of your 102 00:06:00,089 --> 00:06:02,609 Rob Simmelkjaer: effort level. There was no up and down and none of the 103 00:06:02,610 --> 00:06:05,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: things that I'm so used to in New York. So I 104 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:09,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: can't entirely put my finger on what happened. I'm sure 105 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:12,839 Rob Simmelkjaer: you can relate to this, Becs, but I could just 106 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:16,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: feel literally it's slipping away. I could feel my pace 107 00:06:16,890 --> 00:06:20,880 Rob Simmelkjaer: slipping away. I could feel the effort level just getting higher 108 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:24,960 Rob Simmelkjaer: and higher. I didn't feel like I could get enough fluid. 109 00:06:25,500 --> 00:06:27,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: But then when I took a lot of fluid, I 110 00:06:27,330 --> 00:06:30,539 Rob Simmelkjaer: started to feel heavy and weighed down by the fluid 111 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:35,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: and everything just felt like it was starting to grind 112 00:06:35,130 --> 00:06:37,919 Rob Simmelkjaer: into slow motion. And it reminded me of something I 113 00:06:37,920 --> 00:06:40,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: talked about in the episode with Meb in Chicago, a 114 00:06:40,950 --> 00:06:44,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: day I had training in Central Park during the block 115 00:06:44,670 --> 00:06:47,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: where it was really hot and I just felt like, " 116 00:06:47,250 --> 00:06:51,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: Oh my gosh, I just feel really bad. I just 117 00:06:51,060 --> 00:06:53,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: can't keep going." And so you can see if you 118 00:06:53,490 --> 00:06:56,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: tracked me, my splits start to go down and down 119 00:06:56,520 --> 00:07:00,659 Rob Simmelkjaer: and down, and there's just that moment in a race 120 00:07:00,660 --> 00:07:02,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: if you've got a goal where you can feel it 121 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:06,839 Rob Simmelkjaer: slipping and then the pace groups start to pass you, Becs. 122 00:07:07,830 --> 00:07:13,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: And that is where the mental side really starts to 123 00:07:13,410 --> 00:07:17,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: get... And there's kind of a point there where you're like, " Okay, 124 00:07:17,250 --> 00:07:19,230 Rob Simmelkjaer: do I have it in me now to dig in 125 00:07:19,650 --> 00:07:21,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: and here's the pace group passing me that I know 126 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:27,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: is the number I need and do I have it or do I not have it? Can I respond to this 127 00:07:27,060 --> 00:07:29,940 Rob Simmelkjaer: or not?" And it was just a day where for 128 00:07:29,940 --> 00:07:33,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: whatever it was, the weather, I saw the yellow flags 129 00:07:33,150 --> 00:07:34,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: went up at one point as well, I noticed that and 130 00:07:34,980 --> 00:07:36,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: I was like, " Oh, man. This thing's now a yellow 131 00:07:36,990 --> 00:07:39,360 Rob Simmelkjaer: flag, so this is warmer than maybe I thought it 132 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:42,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: was going to be," and I just knew that I 133 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:45,720 Rob Simmelkjaer: did not have the ability to dig in and find 134 00:07:45,720 --> 00:07:48,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: that gear to keep up with that pace group. And 135 00:07:48,390 --> 00:07:51,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: I said, " You know what? We're going seagull today," and 136 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:54,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: I started giving out the high- fives and really enjoying 137 00:07:54,690 --> 00:07:57,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: the crowd a bit more, running with my great friend 138 00:07:57,690 --> 00:08:00,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: and colleague, Alex Egan from New York Road Runners, along 139 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:02,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: with Tina Muir by the way, who ran with us 140 00:08:02,790 --> 00:08:04,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: for the first half. So we had a great time 141 00:08:04,350 --> 00:08:08,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: running together and it turned into a day where we're 142 00:08:08,220 --> 00:08:10,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: like, you know what? We're going to have some fun 143 00:08:10,320 --> 00:08:12,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: and we're going to enjoy this and get ourselves to the 144 00:08:12,750 --> 00:08:16,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: finish line because finishing is always the thing that we've 145 00:08:16,110 --> 00:08:19,050 Rob Simmelkjaer: got to do. And also staying out of the medical 146 00:08:19,050 --> 00:08:21,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: tent. That's the other thing we always want to do, 147 00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:23,940 Rob Simmelkjaer: finish and not go to the medical tent. And so 148 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:28,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: those were accomplished and I got a beautiful medal and had an amazing experience, Becs. 149 00:08:28,830 --> 00:08:32,880 Becs Gentry: There we go. There we go. And this is ringing lots 150 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:36,990 Becs Gentry: of bells of similar to what Austin did in Berlin 151 00:08:37,050 --> 00:08:41,610 Becs Gentry: where hotter than expected and pulled it back in order 152 00:08:41,610 --> 00:08:47,189 Becs Gentry: to have a joyful day. You runners are in control 153 00:08:47,550 --> 00:08:52,320 Becs Gentry: of how you're going to feel, so why not take 154 00:08:52,320 --> 00:08:57,480 Becs Gentry: the decision to shine bright and enjoy it rather than 155 00:08:57,540 --> 00:09:00,660 Becs Gentry: be on the struggle bus for another half? And I 156 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:05,850 Becs Gentry: mean, training gives you that ability though, Rob. The fact 157 00:09:05,850 --> 00:09:09,300 Becs Gentry: that you'd done weeks and weeks of training of getting 158 00:09:09,300 --> 00:09:11,820 Becs Gentry: your long runs in. You were so in tune with 159 00:09:11,820 --> 00:09:16,979 Becs Gentry: how your body felt that you could acknowledge, " Huh, this 160 00:09:16,980 --> 00:09:22,260 Becs Gentry: doesn't feel right. This just doesn't feel good today. So 161 00:09:22,530 --> 00:09:26,100 Becs Gentry: here's my options." And if you don't train, you don't 162 00:09:26,100 --> 00:09:28,709 Becs Gentry: know that, you don't have that internal conversation, and I 163 00:09:28,710 --> 00:09:32,579 Becs Gentry: think that's very scary to me and it's wonderful when 164 00:09:32,580 --> 00:09:35,190 Becs Gentry: I hear people say, " No, I just listened to my 165 00:09:35,190 --> 00:09:38,189 Becs Gentry: body and I understood." I'm like, " Oh, you trained. You're 166 00:09:38,190 --> 00:09:40,199 Becs Gentry: so good. You're such a good runner." 167 00:09:40,950 --> 00:09:43,679 Rob Simmelkjaer: And I think having played a few other sports as 168 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:48,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: well, Becs, there are days when you just don't have 169 00:09:48,270 --> 00:09:50,309 Rob Simmelkjaer: it, right? I mean, anybody who's been at maybe a 170 00:09:50,309 --> 00:09:54,569 Rob Simmelkjaer: pitcher or playing tennis, as I played a lot, there 171 00:09:54,570 --> 00:09:57,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: are days when you come out and you're just like, " Something 172 00:09:57,270 --> 00:10:00,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: is off today. It is not my day," and those 173 00:10:00,660 --> 00:10:02,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: days just exist and there are days you can turn 174 00:10:02,790 --> 00:10:07,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: it around, but it's hard at mile 15, 16 of a marathon. And 175 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:10,349 Rob Simmelkjaer: you know what? I think the biggest lesson I took and maybe 176 00:10:10,350 --> 00:10:13,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: folks out there who don't have the day they're hoping 177 00:10:13,290 --> 00:10:15,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: to have, whether it's in New York or some other 178 00:10:15,990 --> 00:10:19,709 Rob Simmelkjaer: race coming up, here's maybe what I learned, is the 179 00:10:19,710 --> 00:10:23,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: best thing that you can do on a day when 180 00:10:23,370 --> 00:10:26,040 Rob Simmelkjaer: you're not hitting the goals that you had for yourself 181 00:10:26,550 --> 00:10:29,429 Rob Simmelkjaer: is to make it all about celebrating people who did 182 00:10:29,429 --> 00:10:32,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: have a great day. And that really turned out to 183 00:10:32,850 --> 00:10:36,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: be the best part about my day because I was 184 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:40,230 Rob Simmelkjaer: able to celebrate so many people on the course at 185 00:10:40,230 --> 00:10:43,559 Rob Simmelkjaer: the finish line at the hotel throughout the night that 186 00:10:43,559 --> 00:10:46,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: had amazing days. Really, people who are really close to 187 00:10:46,800 --> 00:10:50,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: me who set PRs, broke four hours for the first 188 00:10:50,280 --> 00:10:53,429 Rob Simmelkjaer: time, got their six- star medal, their Abbott World Marathon 189 00:10:53,429 --> 00:10:57,240 Rob Simmelkjaer: Major six- star medal, finished their first marathon ever. There 190 00:10:57,240 --> 00:11:00,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: were so many people that I was able to celebrate 191 00:11:00,420 --> 00:11:02,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: and it felt so great to do that. I had 192 00:11:02,910 --> 00:11:06,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: a chance that night to see Susannah Scaroni, who talked 193 00:11:06,540 --> 00:11:09,569 Rob Simmelkjaer: about how hard this race is for her because she 194 00:11:09,570 --> 00:11:11,969 Rob Simmelkjaer: likes hills and she managed to come out and get 195 00:11:11,970 --> 00:11:15,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: a win and perhaps she did the best story of Chicago. 196 00:11:15,390 --> 00:11:17,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: I had a chance that night to see the great 197 00:11:17,790 --> 00:11:22,590 Rob Simmelkjaer: Conner Mantz, who did an incredible thing and not just set, 198 00:11:22,590 --> 00:11:26,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: shattered the American record in the marathon. I saw- 199 00:11:26,220 --> 00:11:28,679 Becs Gentry: I mean, that was a 23- year record, so I'm glad he 200 00:11:28,679 --> 00:11:30,601 Becs Gentry: did absolutely shatter it. 201 00:11:30,601 --> 00:11:33,240 Rob Simmelkjaer: He really did. And slowed down a bit at the 202 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:34,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: end, by the way. Said he slowed down a bit 203 00:11:34,710 --> 00:11:36,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: because he was feeling a little off at the end. 204 00:11:36,900 --> 00:11:38,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: Was on pace to break it by almost a minute. 205 00:11:38,970 --> 00:11:42,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: He had an incredible day and I got a chance 206 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:44,609 Rob Simmelkjaer: to see him and his family afterwards. I'm so- 207 00:11:44,610 --> 00:11:50,219 Becs Gentry: Did you see Clayton on the moto watching his very 208 00:11:50,220 --> 00:11:54,990 Becs Gentry: good friend, training partner, come past him with 300 meters 209 00:11:54,990 --> 00:11:58,530 Becs Gentry: to go of claiming that record? And those two are 210 00:11:58,590 --> 00:12:00,990 Becs Gentry: thick as thieves. I mean, you just have to watch the 211 00:12:00,990 --> 00:12:03,420 Becs Gentry: Olympic trials last year to just see how much love 212 00:12:03,420 --> 00:12:07,020 Becs Gentry: and respect they have for each other's skill and passion 213 00:12:07,020 --> 00:12:11,880 Becs Gentry: for running. And Clayton's face. Just he just pans the 214 00:12:11,880 --> 00:12:15,240 Becs Gentry: camera and you can see how elated he is for 215 00:12:15,240 --> 00:12:19,230 Becs Gentry: his buddy and that was beautiful to see when... People 216 00:12:19,230 --> 00:12:23,040 Becs Gentry: say running is a solo endeavor, uh- uh. No way. Look 217 00:12:23,040 --> 00:12:23,429 Becs Gentry: at that. Watch that. 218 00:12:23,429 --> 00:12:28,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: Absolutely. Congratulations to Connor, to his coach of course, Ed Eyestone, who I 219 00:12:28,530 --> 00:12:32,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: saw out there. Incredible accomplishment. And then perhaps my favorite 220 00:12:32,850 --> 00:12:36,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: celebration and one of the maybe under the radar accomplishments 221 00:12:36,420 --> 00:12:40,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: was Joan Benoit Samuelson, who I saw out there a 222 00:12:40,020 --> 00:12:44,459 Rob Simmelkjaer: bunch. She on the 40th anniversary of her win in 223 00:12:44,460 --> 00:12:50,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: Chicago, went out there, ran with her daughter, who can run a sub- 224 00:12:50,010 --> 00:12:53,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: three marathon. The two of them ran together and Joni 225 00:12:53,490 --> 00:12:55,261 Rob Simmelkjaer: finished in 3: 30 something I think, or low- 226 00:12:55,261 --> 00:13:00,809 Becs Gentry: 3: 38 I think it was. Unbelievable with a big smile 227 00:13:00,809 --> 00:13:03,179 Becs Gentry: on her face. And did I ever tell you when I 228 00:13:03,179 --> 00:13:05,940 Becs Gentry: ran Chicago, I ran... You know the bridge from the 229 00:13:05,940 --> 00:13:09,480 Becs Gentry: start, you go under a bridge and you turn right? 230 00:13:10,679 --> 00:13:14,880 Becs Gentry: And I ran with her for that on the first, I don't know, few 231 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:20,970 Becs Gentry: minutes of my Chicago marathon in 2018. She's again, she's 232 00:13:20,970 --> 00:13:23,730 Becs Gentry: showing the power of longevity. She's showing the power of 233 00:13:23,730 --> 00:13:29,910 Becs Gentry: passion and badass women just keeping going. 40 years later there 234 00:13:30,059 --> 00:13:30,270 Becs Gentry: she is. 235 00:13:30,270 --> 00:13:34,590 Rob Simmelkjaer: It was truly a great day in Chicago. So congrats 236 00:13:34,590 --> 00:13:38,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: to everybody out there who finished. We should point out 237 00:13:38,580 --> 00:13:41,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: some of the winners. Of course, Jacob Kiplimo won. We 238 00:13:41,760 --> 00:13:43,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: know him well from New York. He's run the NYC Half. He won it in 2:02: 239 00:13:46,410 --> 00:13:50,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: 23. I think on a cooler day, he's under 2: 240 00:13:50,280 --> 00:13:53,309 Rob Simmelkjaer: 02 or even under 2: 01, but he had a 241 00:13:53,309 --> 00:13:56,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: great day. Congrats to him. On the female side, it 242 00:13:56,760 --> 00:14:02,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: was Hawi Feysa Gejia from Ethiopia 2: 14: 56. On the men's 243 00:14:02,790 --> 00:14:06,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: wheelchair side, Marcel Hug, another win for him, 1:23:20 there. 244 00:14:07,710 --> 00:14:11,640 Rob Simmelkjaer: And we talked about Susannah Scaroni from the USA, winning 245 00:14:11,640 --> 00:14:15,809 Rob Simmelkjaer: on the women's wheelchair side, 1: 38: 14. So a 246 00:14:15,809 --> 00:14:19,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: great day in Chicago. Congrats to everybody out there. It 247 00:14:19,350 --> 00:14:21,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: was so great seeing so many people from New York 248 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:24,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: Road Runners there. We had an amazing New York contingent. 249 00:14:24,300 --> 00:14:27,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: So congrats to everybody who ran Chicago. 250 00:14:28,230 --> 00:14:35,700 Becs Gentry: Absolutely. Well, with Chicago, done, Rob, we are in the teens. 251 00:14:35,760 --> 00:14:40,290 Becs Gentry: Oh my gosh, we're in the teens. It's 19 days 252 00:14:40,290 --> 00:14:42,120 Becs Gentry: today. So when this comes out, it will be 17 days. 253 00:14:43,170 --> 00:14:46,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: That's right. We'll be just over two- plus weeks to the 254 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:48,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: TCS New York City Marathon. 255 00:14:48,990 --> 00:14:54,060 Becs Gentry: Oh my gosh. I cannot believe it. I swear last time I looked it was 256 00:14:54,210 --> 00:14:56,340 Becs Gentry: 100 days and it was 60 days and now we're 257 00:14:56,340 --> 00:14:59,790 Becs Gentry: in the teens. Ready to roll. And I'm going to 258 00:14:59,790 --> 00:15:04,680 Becs Gentry: do a shameless plug for this because at Peloton we 259 00:15:04,680 --> 00:15:08,280 Becs Gentry: have a fantastic partnership with New York Road Runners and 260 00:15:08,490 --> 00:15:12,210 Becs Gentry: part of that is some special classes that we are 261 00:15:12,210 --> 00:15:15,630 Becs Gentry: releasing in the lead up to the 2025 TCS New York 262 00:15:15,630 --> 00:15:18,270 Becs Gentry: City Marathon. And Rob, I don't know whether you saw 263 00:15:18,270 --> 00:15:20,340 Becs Gentry: this because you may have been recovering yesterday and not 264 00:15:20,340 --> 00:15:24,570 Becs Gentry: on social for anything other than medals, but we teased 265 00:15:24,570 --> 00:15:27,840 Becs Gentry: it yesterday, and that's Monday, and then when this comes 266 00:15:27,840 --> 00:15:32,070 Becs Gentry: out on Thursday, it will be out, so everyone go 267 00:15:32,070 --> 00:15:36,720 Becs Gentry: and do it. It is a scenic run talking about the 268 00:15:36,810 --> 00:15:42,900 Becs Gentry: TCS New York City Marathon with the iconic Des Linden 269 00:15:43,590 --> 00:15:49,830 Becs Gentry: and me. Taking you through the beautiful course, we're talking 270 00:15:49,830 --> 00:15:53,850 Becs Gentry: all things TCS, New York City Marathon. Des has so 271 00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:58,470 Becs Gentry: much professional and personal insight in that class. So shameless 272 00:15:58,470 --> 00:16:02,130 Becs Gentry: plug, because it was probably one of my most fun 273 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:06,540 Becs Gentry: classes that I have recorded and I fangirled the whole time. If 274 00:16:06,540 --> 00:16:08,190 Becs Gentry: you see any of the video clips, you can just 275 00:16:08,190 --> 00:16:11,940 Becs Gentry: see my smile is ear to ear, getting to chat 276 00:16:11,940 --> 00:16:15,870 Becs Gentry: to Des. So if you're getting excited about the marathon 277 00:16:15,870 --> 00:16:19,980 Becs Gentry: this year here in New York, head over to OnePeloton and 278 00:16:19,980 --> 00:16:22,860 Becs Gentry: check it out on our app or on your hardware. 279 00:16:23,940 --> 00:16:26,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: Amazing. Can't wait to check that out. I'm sure it's 280 00:16:26,340 --> 00:16:28,470 Rob Simmelkjaer: phenomenal. Heard a lot of great buzz about that. 281 00:16:28,500 --> 00:16:29,040 Becs Gentry: Yeah. 282 00:16:30,150 --> 00:16:32,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: We know there was a lot of disappointment this past 283 00:16:32,760 --> 00:16:36,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: Sunday when unfortunately we had to cancel the Staten Island 284 00:16:36,390 --> 00:16:39,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: Half, one of the five races in our Five Boroughs series, 285 00:16:39,630 --> 00:16:42,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: and that was a really tough call for us to 286 00:16:42,390 --> 00:16:45,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: make. We hate canceling races at New York Road Runners. 287 00:16:46,170 --> 00:16:50,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: We made that decision on Friday when our meteorologists were 288 00:16:50,760 --> 00:16:52,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: telling us that we were going to be looking at 289 00:16:52,530 --> 00:16:55,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: a pretty severe weather event in the New York City area 290 00:16:55,500 --> 00:16:59,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: as we ultimately did get, a nor'easter that came up 291 00:16:59,010 --> 00:17:02,970 Rob Simmelkjaer: the coast and caused a lot of wind and flooding, 292 00:17:02,970 --> 00:17:06,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: especially coastal flooding, and we know that the Staten Island 293 00:17:06,990 --> 00:17:10,949 Rob Simmelkjaer: Half runs along a coastal area. For part of the 294 00:17:10,950 --> 00:17:15,179 Rob Simmelkjaer: route you're running right along the ocean beach area there 295 00:17:15,750 --> 00:17:18,419 Rob Simmelkjaer: in Staten Island and an area that's very prone to 296 00:17:18,420 --> 00:17:22,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: flooding, saltwater flooding. So everything we knew on Friday was 297 00:17:22,710 --> 00:17:24,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: that that was looking like we were going to be 298 00:17:25,230 --> 00:17:28,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: not facing safe running conditions on Sunday. And part of 299 00:17:28,770 --> 00:17:32,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: what factored into it for us was that we know 300 00:17:32,850 --> 00:17:36,449 Rob Simmelkjaer: how many people are depending on that race as a 301 00:17:36,450 --> 00:17:38,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: long run for their marathon training, and we wanted to 302 00:17:38,850 --> 00:17:42,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: make sure people knew far enough in advance if we 303 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:44,909 Rob Simmelkjaer: weren't going to have the race because they could move 304 00:17:44,910 --> 00:17:48,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: their long run to Saturday in case Sunday was a 305 00:17:48,780 --> 00:17:51,930 Rob Simmelkjaer: day that just wasn't going to be runnable. So we as 306 00:17:51,930 --> 00:17:53,940 Rob Simmelkjaer: always had to spend a lot of time talking to 307 00:17:54,359 --> 00:17:58,649 Rob Simmelkjaer: our city partners and agencies, NYPD and Department of Transportation 308 00:17:58,650 --> 00:18:01,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: and Parks, and the decision was made collectively Friday that 309 00:18:01,980 --> 00:18:05,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: it was not going to be a good idea to 310 00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:08,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: try to run a half- marathon with tens of thousands 311 00:18:08,910 --> 00:18:11,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: of people on Staten Island that day in terms of 312 00:18:11,850 --> 00:18:14,909 Rob Simmelkjaer: the transportation and the staffing of it as well. So 313 00:18:15,060 --> 00:18:18,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: we made the decision, it was at the time a pretty 314 00:18:18,030 --> 00:18:21,810 Rob Simmelkjaer: clear decision. Now, weather being weather, of course the storm 315 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:24,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: took its time getting to us, didn't quite blow in, in 316 00:18:25,230 --> 00:18:29,550 Rob Simmelkjaer: its full gusto until probably later in the day Sunday 317 00:18:29,550 --> 00:18:32,369 Rob Simmelkjaer: into Monday, and they ended up canceling the Columbus Day 318 00:18:32,369 --> 00:18:35,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: Parade on Fifth Avenue on Monday because of the conditions. 319 00:18:35,580 --> 00:18:38,429 Rob Simmelkjaer: So it was a slow developing storm but was as 320 00:18:38,430 --> 00:18:39,659 Rob Simmelkjaer: bad a storm as they said it was going to 321 00:18:39,660 --> 00:18:43,439 Rob Simmelkjaer: be, especially on the coastline. So always can look at 322 00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:45,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: that and say, " Hey, maybe we could have gotten away 323 00:18:45,480 --> 00:18:48,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: with it," but the way we look at these decisions, 324 00:18:48,869 --> 00:18:51,720 Rob Simmelkjaer: we're never thinking about, " Hey, could we possibly get away 325 00:18:51,720 --> 00:18:55,139 Rob Simmelkjaer: with it?" We're always thinking about making sure that we 326 00:18:55,650 --> 00:18:59,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: put people's safety first and also put the runner's experience 327 00:18:59,010 --> 00:19:02,040 Rob Simmelkjaer: first so that people know far enough in advance to 328 00:19:02,040 --> 00:19:04,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: be able to plan for whatever it is that they're 329 00:19:04,260 --> 00:19:07,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: trying to accomplish that weekend. So we're just as bummed 330 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:08,909 Rob Simmelkjaer: as you are that we weren't able to run Staten 331 00:19:08,910 --> 00:19:11,430 Rob Simmelkjaer: Island this year. We hope to be back next year, 332 00:19:11,430 --> 00:19:14,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: but hey, good news for everybody who's running on November 333 00:19:14,280 --> 00:19:17,430 Rob Simmelkjaer: 2nd, you'll get your chance to go to Staten Island 334 00:19:17,670 --> 00:19:19,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: for the start of the TCS New York City Marathon. 335 00:19:20,100 --> 00:19:24,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: Well, as the excitement starts to build for the TCS 336 00:19:24,210 --> 00:19:26,429 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York City Marathon, we know that there was a 337 00:19:26,430 --> 00:19:29,369 Rob Simmelkjaer: lot of excitement out there around the medal that we 338 00:19:29,369 --> 00:19:32,669 Rob Simmelkjaer: revealed on social media last week, and I just want 339 00:19:32,670 --> 00:19:35,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: to say how happy we are at Road Runners that 340 00:19:35,280 --> 00:19:40,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: everybody felt so good about the medal. It was obviously 341 00:19:40,020 --> 00:19:42,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: a lot of work that was put into creating something 342 00:19:42,330 --> 00:19:46,470 Rob Simmelkjaer: unique and different and our marketing team did a phenomenal 343 00:19:46,470 --> 00:19:49,469 Rob Simmelkjaer: job, Toma and Kezia, who were featured in one of 344 00:19:49,470 --> 00:19:53,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: our social media posts, congrats to them. Congrats to everybody 345 00:19:53,310 --> 00:19:56,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: on our team to come up with such an iconic 346 00:19:56,340 --> 00:19:59,909 Rob Simmelkjaer: and unique medal. If you haven't heard already, the back 347 00:19:59,910 --> 00:20:03,960 Rob Simmelkjaer: of the medal is an elevation profile of the course 348 00:20:04,170 --> 00:20:06,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: of the marathon. You can run your fingers along and 349 00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:09,209 Rob Simmelkjaer: you'll be able to relive all the hills and the 350 00:20:09,210 --> 00:20:12,960 Rob Simmelkjaer: bridges that you took throughout that run. So glad everybody 351 00:20:12,960 --> 00:20:14,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: loves it. It's actually one of the most positive things 352 00:20:14,670 --> 00:20:16,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: I think I've seen here for us at New York 353 00:20:16,770 --> 00:20:20,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: Road Runners and so we're thrilled that everybody's excited about 354 00:20:20,190 --> 00:20:23,909 Rob Simmelkjaer: the medal. Another exciting announcement that we've got as we 355 00:20:23,910 --> 00:20:28,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: head up to the marathon week is an incredible grand 356 00:20:28,500 --> 00:20:31,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: marshal who will be joining us for this year's TCS 357 00:20:31,440 --> 00:20:36,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York City Marathon. New York sports legend CC Sabathia, 358 00:20:36,840 --> 00:20:39,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: a former New York Yankees pitcher who was inducted into 359 00:20:39,840 --> 00:20:43,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: the National Baseball Hall of Fame this past summer will 360 00:20:43,710 --> 00:20:48,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: serve as the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon grand marshal. 361 00:20:48,869 --> 00:20:52,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: CC is an absolute sports legend in New York. He 362 00:20:52,260 --> 00:20:56,430 Rob Simmelkjaer: was a world champion with the Yankees. Of course, he's so well- 363 00:20:56,430 --> 00:20:59,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: known in New York as a great pitcher and a 364 00:20:59,100 --> 00:21:02,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: great guy, was really a leader on the Yankees teams 365 00:21:02,790 --> 00:21:06,869 Rob Simmelkjaer: that he pitched for. But since retiring in 2019, CC 366 00:21:06,869 --> 00:21:10,470 Rob Simmelkjaer: has stayed active here in New York through his PitCCh 367 00:21:10,530 --> 00:21:13,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: In Foundation, spelled with a CC in the middle of 368 00:21:13,350 --> 00:21:16,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: it, a non- profit with programs that equip inner city 369 00:21:16,650 --> 00:21:20,070 Rob Simmelkjaer: youth with tools for success in school and on the 370 00:21:20,070 --> 00:21:24,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: field. Sabathia's wife, Amber, also serves on our board of 371 00:21:24,270 --> 00:21:26,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: directors at New York Road Runners as the vice chair 372 00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:30,179 Rob Simmelkjaer: of our community impact committee. And so we're so thrilled 373 00:21:30,420 --> 00:21:33,240 Rob Simmelkjaer: to have CC Sabathia as our grand marshal. He will 374 00:21:33,240 --> 00:21:36,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: really make it special. And so thank you to CC, 375 00:21:36,450 --> 00:21:39,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: thank you to Amber for agreeing to be our grand 376 00:21:39,030 --> 00:21:41,430 Rob Simmelkjaer: marshal this year. It's going to make it a lot 377 00:21:41,430 --> 00:21:44,879 Rob Simmelkjaer: of fun on November 2nd. As we get closer and 378 00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:48,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: closer to the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon, our press 379 00:21:48,210 --> 00:21:51,389 Rob Simmelkjaer: release schedule is in overdrive. Not only did we announce 380 00:21:51,390 --> 00:21:53,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: CC Sabathia, but we've got a lot of other exciting 381 00:21:53,580 --> 00:21:57,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: announcements, including today's announcement of our 2025 New York Road 382 00:21:57,840 --> 00:22:01,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: Runners Hall of Fame class. With us on the show 383 00:22:01,410 --> 00:22:04,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: today, one of the inductees into that class, Olympian and 384 00:22:04,980 --> 00:22:08,430 Rob Simmelkjaer: national champion, Jenny Simpson, will join us to talk about 385 00:22:08,700 --> 00:22:12,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: her incredible running career, what she's doing now, and what 386 00:22:12,270 --> 00:22:14,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: it means to her to be inducted into the New 387 00:22:14,490 --> 00:22:17,609 Rob Simmelkjaer: York Road Runners Hall of Fame. And in the spirit of 388 00:22:17,609 --> 00:22:21,810 Rob Simmelkjaer: this year's inductees, today's Member Moment celebrates the NYRR Youth 389 00:22:21,810 --> 00:22:25,590 Rob Simmelkjaer: Ambassador Program with one of our stellar alumna of that 390 00:22:25,590 --> 00:22:29,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: program, Shivaii Nikam. Meb will be here later today with 391 00:22:29,310 --> 00:22:33,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: his interview with Shivaii. Then a special pre- marathon Meb Minute 392 00:22:33,450 --> 00:22:37,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: with HSS today. HSS's Mohammed Saad is back on the 393 00:22:37,260 --> 00:22:40,590 Rob Simmelkjaer: show with advice on how to finish strong as you 394 00:22:40,590 --> 00:22:43,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: head into Central Park on November 2nd. This episode of 395 00:22:43,830 --> 00:22:46,619 Rob Simmelkjaer: Set the Pace is brought to you by Volvo Cars, 396 00:22:46,619 --> 00:22:51,810 Rob Simmelkjaer: including the fully electric Volvo EX90 SUV, the official vehicle 397 00:22:51,810 --> 00:22:55,080 Rob Simmelkjaer: of the TCS New York City Marathon. The Volvo EX90 398 00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:58,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: SUV is designed to be the safest Volvo ever made 399 00:22:58,830 --> 00:23:02,129 Rob Simmelkjaer: with safe space technology, cutting- edge radars and cameras that 400 00:23:02,130 --> 00:23:05,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: help you detect potential risks inside and outside the car, 401 00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:09,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: even in the dark, helping to protect you and those 402 00:23:09,270 --> 00:23:13,050 Rob Simmelkjaer: around you, because sometimes the moments that never happen matter 403 00:23:13,050 --> 00:23:18,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: the most. Visit volvocars.com/us to learn more about the fully 404 00:23:18,030 --> 00:23:22,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: electric EX90 proudly assembled in South Carolina. New York Road 405 00:23:22,830 --> 00:23:27,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: Runners is so proud today to announce our 2025 inductees 406 00:23:27,330 --> 00:23:30,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: into the New York Road Runners Hall of Fame. First, 407 00:23:30,540 --> 00:23:34,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: we're proud to bestow this award to Barry Geisler, who 408 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:37,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: was a pioneering force in American youth running and a 409 00:23:37,170 --> 00:23:40,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: foundational figure in the early years of New York Road 410 00:23:40,260 --> 00:23:43,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: Runners. Barry was a proud Bronx native and a Korean 411 00:23:43,260 --> 00:23:45,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: War veteran who began coaching his own children in the 412 00:23:45,750 --> 00:23:48,719 Rob Simmelkjaer: 1960s and loved it so much, he went on to 413 00:23:48,720 --> 00:23:53,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: create the first national age group cross- country championships at 414 00:23:53,250 --> 00:23:57,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: Van Cortlandt Park in 1966, a landmark event that opened 415 00:23:57,450 --> 00:24:00,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: competitive running to girls and boys alike. As New York 416 00:24:00,840 --> 00:24:05,040 Rob Simmelkjaer: Road Runners' president from 1971 to '72 and founder of its age 417 00:24:05,040 --> 00:24:08,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: group program, Barry helped build the community- based model of 418 00:24:08,340 --> 00:24:11,879 Rob Simmelkjaer: youth running that still thrives today. He later coached the 419 00:24:11,880 --> 00:24:16,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: Milrose Athletic Associations age group team to national prominence mentoring 420 00:24:16,920 --> 00:24:20,970 Rob Simmelkjaer: young athletes including future All- American and currently New York 421 00:24:20,970 --> 00:24:24,659 Rob Simmelkjaer: Road Runners board chair, Nnenna Lynch. Barry will always be 422 00:24:24,660 --> 00:24:28,050 Rob Simmelkjaer: remembered as the founding father of age group running and 423 00:24:28,050 --> 00:24:31,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: the New York Road Runners community honors Barry's legacy every 424 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:33,899 Rob Simmelkjaer: time a child toes a starting line here in New 425 00:24:33,900 --> 00:24:38,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: York City. Our second 2025 inductee to the New York 426 00:24:38,100 --> 00:24:41,369 Rob Simmelkjaer: Road Runners Hall of Fame has, like Barry, played a 427 00:24:41,369 --> 00:24:44,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: pivotal role in our youth offerings, not only as an 428 00:24:44,310 --> 00:24:47,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: ambassador, but as a world- class athlete. We are so 429 00:24:47,760 --> 00:24:51,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: honored to welcome back to Set the Pace 2025 New 430 00:24:51,270 --> 00:24:55,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: York Road Runners Hall of Fame inductee Jenny Simpson. Jenny 431 00:24:55,770 --> 00:24:59,129 Rob Simmelkjaer: is a true running legend whose career has spanned the 432 00:24:59,130 --> 00:25:02,159 Rob Simmelkjaer: track and the road. She was the first US woman 433 00:25:02,160 --> 00:25:05,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: ever to win a 1500- meter world title and also 434 00:25:05,790 --> 00:25:08,940 Rob Simmelkjaer: earn an Olympic bronze medal in that event, amassing four 435 00:25:08,940 --> 00:25:12,510 Rob Simmelkjaer: global medals over a 20- year career. A three- time Olympian 436 00:25:12,510 --> 00:25:17,550 Rob Simmelkjaer: and an 11 time US dominated the iconic Fifth Avenue mile 437 00:25:17,550 --> 00:25:20,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: in New York with a record eight victories, making her 438 00:25:20,790 --> 00:25:23,640 Rob Simmelkjaer: a New York City legend. In addition to a world 439 00:25:23,640 --> 00:25:27,510 Rob Simmelkjaer: champion, Jenny was previously an ambassador and special advisor to 440 00:25:27,510 --> 00:25:29,970 Rob Simmelkjaer: Rising New York Road Runners as well. Of course, that's 441 00:25:29,970 --> 00:25:33,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: our free youth running program. She helped lead Rising New 442 00:25:33,270 --> 00:25:36,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: York Road Runners' Active at Home program during the pandemic 443 00:25:36,780 --> 00:25:39,810 Rob Simmelkjaer: to provide free and fun fitness activities to kids of 444 00:25:39,810 --> 00:25:43,889 Rob Simmelkjaer: all ages and abilities. And she recently retired from professional 445 00:25:43,890 --> 00:25:48,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: racing after finishing the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon. 446 00:25:48,480 --> 00:25:51,930 Rob Simmelkjaer: What better place to wrap up an iconic career? And 447 00:25:51,930 --> 00:25:54,629 Rob Simmelkjaer: we are so thrilled to have Jenny Simpson back on 448 00:25:54,630 --> 00:25:59,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: the show. Jenny, welcome back and congratulations on your induction 449 00:25:59,130 --> 00:26:01,590 Rob Simmelkjaer: into the New York Road Runners Hall of Fame. It 450 00:26:01,590 --> 00:26:03,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: could not be more well deserved. 451 00:26:03,600 --> 00:26:05,700 Jenny Simpson: Oh, thank you. Thank you for having me and thank 452 00:26:05,700 --> 00:26:09,720 Jenny Simpson: you for the nostalgic tour through all of how New York 453 00:26:09,720 --> 00:26:12,300 Jenny Simpson: has been a through line in my career. That was really fun. 454 00:26:12,869 --> 00:26:15,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: It really has been. And I had a chance to 455 00:26:15,750 --> 00:26:18,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: call you, I think you'd already heard from an email, 456 00:26:18,060 --> 00:26:21,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: but had a chance to call you and congratulate you 457 00:26:21,540 --> 00:26:25,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: on being inducted. I can't think of someone more deserving 458 00:26:25,710 --> 00:26:28,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: of this honor. How did you feel when you first 459 00:26:28,980 --> 00:26:30,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: got the news that you were going to be inducted 460 00:26:30,690 --> 00:26:32,070 Rob Simmelkjaer: into the Road Runners Hall of Fame? 461 00:26:32,670 --> 00:26:35,430 Jenny Simpson: Well, first of all, it was kind of unexpected, I 462 00:26:35,430 --> 00:26:38,580 Jenny Simpson: think because you guys... I mean, the marathon is kind 463 00:26:38,580 --> 00:26:42,210 Jenny Simpson: of like the tent pole for everything you do, and 464 00:26:42,510 --> 00:26:47,909 Jenny Simpson: I just wanted to get up to the ability to run 465 00:26:47,910 --> 00:26:50,520 Jenny Simpson: the marathon after so many years of Fifth Avenue. So I was 466 00:26:50,520 --> 00:26:52,440 Jenny Simpson: a little bit surprised. I thought, " Oh, I don't know 467 00:26:52,440 --> 00:26:55,050 Jenny Simpson: that I deserve this because I didn't win the marathon. 468 00:26:55,050 --> 00:26:58,050 Jenny Simpson: I didn't send any records at the marathon," but such 469 00:26:58,050 --> 00:27:00,899 Jenny Simpson: an incredible honor to bring my work with the youth 470 00:27:00,900 --> 00:27:04,050 Jenny Simpson: program, which we can talk about, and also the Fifth 471 00:27:04,050 --> 00:27:06,869 Jenny Simpson: Avenue Mile into the Hall of Fame. So that was 472 00:27:06,869 --> 00:27:09,570 Jenny Simpson: really thrilling. And then I have to say, of all 473 00:27:09,570 --> 00:27:12,750 Jenny Simpson: the different honors I've been so lucky to have in 474 00:27:12,750 --> 00:27:14,760 Jenny Simpson: my career, the fact that I'm going to have a 475 00:27:14,760 --> 00:27:17,520 Jenny Simpson: banner on the finish area of the New York City 476 00:27:17,520 --> 00:27:22,649 Jenny Simpson: Marathon is absolute peak for me. I'm really, really excited about that. 477 00:27:23,369 --> 00:27:27,330 Becs Gentry: That is incredibly cool, and I will attest to in 478 00:27:27,330 --> 00:27:31,800 Becs Gentry: our great world race chat, that was what Jenny led 479 00:27:31,800 --> 00:27:36,900 Becs Gentry: with in the chat telling everybody. Not the accolade, the 480 00:27:36,900 --> 00:27:40,949 Becs Gentry: achievement, it was just like, " Hey, guys. How cool is 481 00:27:40,950 --> 00:27:44,100 Becs Gentry: this? Look out for it when you're finishing the race," which was 482 00:27:44,100 --> 00:27:47,070 Becs Gentry: the sweetest thing ever to read and really does sum 483 00:27:47,070 --> 00:27:50,609 Becs Gentry: up Jenny as a human, not just an athlete. But 484 00:27:51,300 --> 00:27:57,240 Becs Gentry: Jenny, the athlete. Oh my gosh, for one, and two, 485 00:27:57,359 --> 00:28:01,080 Becs Gentry: you are the only athlete, male or female, gender regardless, to 486 00:28:01,080 --> 00:28:06,389 Becs Gentry: win the Fifth Avenue Mile eight times. So while we're 487 00:28:06,420 --> 00:28:10,260 Becs Gentry: on New York Road Runners' turf here, let's talk about 488 00:28:10,260 --> 00:28:14,040 Becs Gentry: that race. What was it about that race, or is it 489 00:28:14,040 --> 00:28:18,450 Becs Gentry: about that race that you think gave you this incredible 490 00:28:18,869 --> 00:28:21,330 Becs Gentry: power and tenacity to win it eight times? 491 00:28:22,080 --> 00:28:24,900 Jenny Simpson: Yeah, I am proud of so many of those races, 492 00:28:25,500 --> 00:28:27,600 Jenny Simpson: because first of all, we came in and for a 493 00:28:27,600 --> 00:28:30,780 Jenny Simpson: long time that race was kind of pitched as it's 494 00:28:30,780 --> 00:28:32,250 Jenny Simpson: the end of the year, it's just a lot of 495 00:28:32,250 --> 00:28:34,770 Jenny Simpson: fun, just kind of come and have a good time, 496 00:28:35,100 --> 00:28:38,340 Jenny Simpson: and I came and I thought, " I mean, New York 497 00:28:38,340 --> 00:28:41,940 Jenny Simpson: City is the center of the universe. If I'm coming 498 00:28:41,940 --> 00:28:44,100 Jenny Simpson: to New York, I want to win this thing." And 499 00:28:44,100 --> 00:28:47,280 Jenny Simpson: so I just really started taking it very seriously. And there are 500 00:28:47,490 --> 00:28:50,010 Jenny Simpson: so many things that I can think about over the 501 00:28:50,010 --> 00:28:53,880 Jenny Simpson: years. The beginning of the shoe technology really happened with 502 00:28:53,880 --> 00:28:57,030 Jenny Simpson: me running down Fifth Avenue Mile with the 5280 that New 503 00:28:57,030 --> 00:29:00,150 Jenny Simpson: Balance was creating just for me running the mile on the 504 00:29:00,150 --> 00:29:02,610 Jenny Simpson: roads and what kind of foam can we put in 505 00:29:02,610 --> 00:29:06,479 Jenny Simpson: here to make this faster." And so bringing road and 506 00:29:06,480 --> 00:29:09,990 Jenny Simpson: speed together was really fun. So taking Fifth Avenue Mile 507 00:29:09,990 --> 00:29:14,310 Jenny Simpson: kind of more seriously than ever, I feel like I put 508 00:29:14,310 --> 00:29:18,180 Jenny Simpson: an infusion of intensity into it that then started attracting 509 00:29:18,180 --> 00:29:20,250 Jenny Simpson: the best milers from all over the world, not just 510 00:29:20,250 --> 00:29:25,140 Jenny Simpson: the United States. But by those two roles I played 511 00:29:25,140 --> 00:29:27,360 Jenny Simpson: in that race, it made it harder and harder to 512 00:29:27,360 --> 00:29:30,120 Jenny Simpson: win it every year, and so it just leveled up 513 00:29:30,120 --> 00:29:34,350 Jenny Simpson: every year. And I remember really having to combine all 514 00:29:34,350 --> 00:29:38,730 Jenny Simpson: of the skills that I had, both speed and endurance 515 00:29:38,730 --> 00:29:41,460 Jenny Simpson: and longevity and all of those things, and more than 516 00:29:41,460 --> 00:29:45,330 Jenny Simpson: anything, just like race savvy, I had to combine all 517 00:29:45,330 --> 00:29:47,790 Jenny Simpson: of those things in order to keep that streak going 518 00:29:47,790 --> 00:29:50,220 Jenny Simpson: as long as possible. But I think one of my 519 00:29:50,220 --> 00:29:54,300 Jenny Simpson: favorite things is that I got faster over 30. I 520 00:29:54,300 --> 00:29:56,670 Jenny Simpson: don't know why. For me, that just felt really important. 521 00:29:56,670 --> 00:29:59,730 Jenny Simpson: My last few races at Fifth Avenue Mile were some 522 00:29:59,730 --> 00:30:02,250 Jenny Simpson: of my fastest, and that just felt really great. It 523 00:30:02,250 --> 00:30:04,979 Jenny Simpson: felt like I was continuing to sharpen the spear and 524 00:30:04,980 --> 00:30:09,060 Jenny Simpson: get better and better. And yeah, it added up to 525 00:30:09,060 --> 00:30:12,120 Jenny Simpson: eight wins out of nine runs. I was second to 526 00:30:12,120 --> 00:30:15,090 Jenny Simpson: Brenda Martinez once, and Brenda is a type of woman... 527 00:30:15,090 --> 00:30:20,310 Jenny Simpson: I mean, a world medalist in the 800 meters, an amazing 528 00:30:20,640 --> 00:30:24,630 Jenny Simpson: teammate and competitor. But yeah, it just was a long 529 00:30:24,630 --> 00:30:27,360 Jenny Simpson: string of me having to be at my very, very 530 00:30:27,360 --> 00:30:29,250 Jenny Simpson: best to keep it alive. 531 00:30:30,630 --> 00:30:35,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: Jenny, I'm on the committee to select our hall of 532 00:30:35,250 --> 00:30:40,860 Rob Simmelkjaer: fame inductees, and we had a talk, it was actually 533 00:30:41,040 --> 00:30:44,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: last year about what it means to be in the 534 00:30:44,280 --> 00:30:48,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York Road Runners Hall of Fame, and I remember 535 00:30:48,150 --> 00:30:50,940 Rob Simmelkjaer: having a conversation and pointing out to the group that 536 00:30:51,300 --> 00:30:54,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: it's not the New York City Marathon Hall of Fame, 537 00:30:55,080 --> 00:30:58,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: it is the New York Road Runners Hall of Fame, and 538 00:30:58,020 --> 00:31:01,590 Rob Simmelkjaer: we put on 40 races a year from distances from 539 00:31:01,590 --> 00:31:06,209 Rob Simmelkjaer: a mile to 26.2 miles, and the Fifth Avenue Mile, 540 00:31:06,210 --> 00:31:10,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: of course, is one of our iconic events, and if 541 00:31:10,170 --> 00:31:12,360 Rob Simmelkjaer: you're going to have a New York Road Runners Hall 542 00:31:12,360 --> 00:31:15,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: of Fame and you're going to have the most dominant 543 00:31:16,380 --> 00:31:20,070 Rob Simmelkjaer: miler in New York Road Runners' history out there, having 544 00:31:20,070 --> 00:31:24,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: just retired from professional running, she's got to be in 545 00:31:24,090 --> 00:31:27,810 Rob Simmelkjaer: this hall of fame. That was clear, and I tell 546 00:31:27,810 --> 00:31:29,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: you what, there wasn't much debate about it, Jenny. I 547 00:31:29,850 --> 00:31:33,960 Rob Simmelkjaer: think everybody on that committee knows what you have meant 548 00:31:33,960 --> 00:31:37,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: to the organization, what you've meant not just to that 549 00:31:37,320 --> 00:31:39,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: event, but to New York Road Runners overall. And the 550 00:31:39,900 --> 00:31:42,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: fact that you've retired running the marathon was just kind 551 00:31:42,780 --> 00:31:45,360 Rob Simmelkjaer: of a nice little icing on the cake there, that 552 00:31:45,360 --> 00:31:48,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: you did that too. So we're just thrilled to have 553 00:31:48,450 --> 00:31:51,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: a miler up there. What's it mean to you to 554 00:31:51,540 --> 00:31:54,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: be up there in that hall of fame representing the 555 00:31:54,060 --> 00:31:57,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: milers and the shorter distance runners who sometimes don't maybe 556 00:31:57,840 --> 00:32:02,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: get the recognition they deserve in this day and age 557 00:32:02,310 --> 00:32:04,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: where everybody wants to run a marathon? 558 00:32:04,740 --> 00:32:06,540 Jenny Simpson: Yeah. Well, first of all, thank you. Thank you for 559 00:32:06,570 --> 00:32:10,050 Jenny Simpson: seeing... What I think is really important is that what New 560 00:32:10,050 --> 00:32:14,730 Jenny Simpson: York Road Runners do is so broad, and I think 561 00:32:14,730 --> 00:32:17,940 Jenny Simpson: that's what you're speaking to, is that while the marathon 562 00:32:17,940 --> 00:32:20,160 Jenny Simpson: is absolutely kind of the center of gravity, and it 563 00:32:20,160 --> 00:32:24,450 Jenny Simpson: should be... I mean, bringing 50,000- plus people from all 564 00:32:24,450 --> 00:32:27,870 Jenny Simpson: over the world to do one huge event in maybe 565 00:32:27,870 --> 00:32:30,090 Jenny Simpson: logistically the toughest city in the world to pull it 566 00:32:30,090 --> 00:32:32,580 Jenny Simpson: off, I mean, it is just really incredible what you guys do 567 00:32:32,580 --> 00:32:35,880 Jenny Simpson: every single year. But what the Road Runners do, and 568 00:32:35,910 --> 00:32:38,340 Jenny Simpson: I hope I've been one of the biggest champions in 569 00:32:38,340 --> 00:32:40,710 Jenny Simpson: the United States for you guys because I tell people 570 00:32:40,710 --> 00:32:42,510 Jenny Simpson: all the time, you put on over 50 races a 571 00:32:42,510 --> 00:32:45,690 Jenny Simpson: year, you have all kinds of youth races. The youth 572 00:32:45,690 --> 00:32:49,260 Jenny Simpson: programs literally have reached hundreds of thousands of public school 573 00:32:49,260 --> 00:32:54,360 Jenny Simpson: kids. And so really the broad reach from the city 574 00:32:54,360 --> 00:32:57,360 Jenny Simpson: and then beyond, I don't know how you could possibly 575 00:32:57,360 --> 00:32:59,520 Jenny Simpson: exist in the city for any period of time and 576 00:32:59,520 --> 00:33:02,010 Jenny Simpson: not have at least bumped into something that the Road 577 00:33:02,010 --> 00:33:04,170 Jenny Simpson: Runners are doing. What you guys are doing is just 578 00:33:04,170 --> 00:33:06,360 Jenny Simpson: so broad, and so to be part of kind of 579 00:33:06,360 --> 00:33:09,479 Jenny Simpson: expanding that idea and that awareness that what you guys 580 00:33:09,480 --> 00:33:14,640 Jenny Simpson: do is so much variety. And so that means that 581 00:33:14,640 --> 00:33:17,340 Jenny Simpson: anyone can really find a place where they belong inside 582 00:33:17,340 --> 00:33:18,959 Jenny Simpson: the New York Road Runners. You don't have to be 583 00:33:18,960 --> 00:33:21,390 Jenny Simpson: a marathoner. You can be a miler, you can be 584 00:33:21,390 --> 00:33:24,150 Jenny Simpson: a kid, you can be an adult. There's all kinds 585 00:33:24,150 --> 00:33:27,420 Jenny Simpson: of different pockets and places where you can fit in 586 00:33:27,420 --> 00:33:28,590 Jenny Simpson: as a New York Road Runner. 587 00:33:29,340 --> 00:33:34,140 Becs Gentry: Absolutely. You touched on it very briefly there, the public 588 00:33:34,140 --> 00:33:38,130 Becs Gentry: schools. And you've said in the past that public school 589 00:33:38,400 --> 00:33:43,530 Becs Gentry: teachers are key to a life change for you. And 590 00:33:43,740 --> 00:33:47,190 Becs Gentry: what message do you want to pass on to teachers 591 00:33:47,190 --> 00:33:50,400 Becs Gentry: and youth coaches who make those first and very, very 592 00:33:50,400 --> 00:33:54,720 Becs Gentry: important introductions in to running because you're in this great 593 00:33:54,720 --> 00:33:57,630 Becs Gentry: position to shower them with information. 594 00:33:57,630 --> 00:34:00,000 Jenny Simpson: Yeah. No, thanks for asking that question. I'm actually going 595 00:34:00,000 --> 00:34:01,410 Jenny Simpson: to go back in time a little bit and give 596 00:34:01,410 --> 00:34:04,260 Jenny Simpson: everyone a peek behind the curtain because this is a huge testament 597 00:34:04,260 --> 00:34:08,070 Jenny Simpson: to the Road Runners. The kind of executive team at 598 00:34:08,070 --> 00:34:10,440 Jenny Simpson: the time, a couple people had approached me, you guys 599 00:34:10,440 --> 00:34:13,980 Jenny Simpson: were rebranding and relaunching the kids' youth program and looking 600 00:34:13,980 --> 00:34:16,980 Jenny Simpson: for and asking me to come on as an ambassador. 601 00:34:17,280 --> 00:34:19,440 Jenny Simpson: And so we had a couple of conversations and I 602 00:34:19,440 --> 00:34:23,759 Jenny Simpson: really appreciated it, the idea of me being involved, but 603 00:34:24,090 --> 00:34:28,020 Jenny Simpson: my career was so important to me and I couldn't 604 00:34:28,020 --> 00:34:32,250 Jenny Simpson: get to yes for it. And so finally one of 605 00:34:32,250 --> 00:34:33,960 Jenny Simpson: the team at New York Road Runners sat me down 606 00:34:33,960 --> 00:34:38,340 Jenny Simpson: and said, " Why is there hesitation? Why is this not an 607 00:34:38,340 --> 00:34:40,680 Jenny Simpson: easy yes for you?" And I said, " Well, I don't really 608 00:34:40,680 --> 00:34:44,009 Jenny Simpson: want to just slap my face on something and say 609 00:34:44,010 --> 00:34:47,759 Jenny Simpson: I believe in it without really being involved internally and 610 00:34:47,760 --> 00:34:53,219 Jenny Simpson: having at least one little voice of say over the 611 00:34:53,940 --> 00:34:56,940 Jenny Simpson: vision of what we're doing, and I was a public 612 00:34:56,940 --> 00:34:59,250 Jenny Simpson: school kid that that's how I found running. I would've 613 00:34:59,250 --> 00:35:02,640 Jenny Simpson: never found running through my parents or the other social 614 00:35:02,640 --> 00:35:06,270 Jenny Simpson: circles that our family was in. I really found it 615 00:35:06,300 --> 00:35:08,430 Jenny Simpson: because of a public school teacher, and so I just 616 00:35:08,430 --> 00:35:12,719 Jenny Simpson: have really strong ideas about how we can and should 617 00:35:12,719 --> 00:35:16,469 Jenny Simpson: be messaging and servicing people inside the public school system." 618 00:35:16,530 --> 00:35:19,620 Jenny Simpson: And they said, " You want to do more? That's great." 619 00:35:19,710 --> 00:35:21,779 Jenny Simpson: So I came on not just as an ambassador, but 620 00:35:21,780 --> 00:35:24,239 Jenny Simpson: also as an advisor to the program. And that made 621 00:35:24,239 --> 00:35:26,940 Jenny Simpson: the whole experience just so much more meaningful to me 622 00:35:26,940 --> 00:35:29,460 Jenny Simpson: to be able to come in and have internal meetings 623 00:35:29,460 --> 00:35:32,100 Jenny Simpson: and have a better understanding, and like I said, my 624 00:35:32,100 --> 00:35:35,460 Jenny Simpson: own little vote and voice in what the program was 625 00:35:35,460 --> 00:35:37,890 Jenny Simpson: doing and how it was going to be guided into 626 00:35:38,190 --> 00:35:40,230 Jenny Simpson: the lives of these young kids. And so along the 627 00:35:40,230 --> 00:35:43,110 Jenny Simpson: way, that was one of the really... Becs, you got exactly 628 00:35:43,110 --> 00:35:45,300 Jenny Simpson: to one of the big things that I really wanted 629 00:35:45,300 --> 00:35:49,530 Jenny Simpson: to champion is it's an easy sell to get people 630 00:35:49,530 --> 00:35:52,950 Jenny Simpson: excited around helping kids. The photos are good, the message 631 00:35:52,950 --> 00:35:55,950 Jenny Simpson: is good, all of that, but really the heroes are 632 00:35:55,950 --> 00:35:59,670 Jenny Simpson: these public school teachers. They already are doing so much, 633 00:35:59,670 --> 00:36:03,360 Jenny Simpson: and when they implement an activity program, an exercise program, 634 00:36:03,360 --> 00:36:06,750 Jenny Simpson: oftentimes it's us asking them to do more. If you 635 00:36:06,750 --> 00:36:10,290 Jenny Simpson: reach one coach and you support one coach or educator 636 00:36:10,290 --> 00:36:14,700 Jenny Simpson: or teacher, what you're doing is you're supporting hundreds of 637 00:36:14,700 --> 00:36:17,670 Jenny Simpson: kids at one time and maybe thousands of kids over 638 00:36:17,670 --> 00:36:21,870 Jenny Simpson: the career time of that educator. And so it just 639 00:36:21,870 --> 00:36:24,180 Jenny Simpson: was really important to me that we recognize that and 640 00:36:24,180 --> 00:36:27,600 Jenny Simpson: that we did as best job possible, not only supporting 641 00:36:27,600 --> 00:36:31,710 Jenny Simpson: them, but also championing who they are and their heart 642 00:36:31,710 --> 00:36:36,270 Jenny Simpson: to really speak into the lives of these young kids. 643 00:36:37,020 --> 00:36:41,069 Rob Simmelkjaer: Jenny, thank you for all of that. And for everybody 644 00:36:41,070 --> 00:36:44,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: out there listening to this, maybe you're running your races, 645 00:36:44,100 --> 00:36:47,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: doing your thing at Road Runners events, maybe you'll see 646 00:36:47,250 --> 00:36:49,859 Rob Simmelkjaer: a kid's race happening on the side. When you see 647 00:36:49,860 --> 00:36:53,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: those kids out there running those races, most of those 648 00:36:53,400 --> 00:36:56,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: kids at our events are public school kids, and most 649 00:36:56,670 --> 00:37:00,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: of them are there because some teacher decided they care 650 00:37:00,630 --> 00:37:04,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: enough about the welfare of these kids to take extra 651 00:37:04,290 --> 00:37:08,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: time to go out there and train these kids, coach 652 00:37:08,190 --> 00:37:10,859 Rob Simmelkjaer: them up, get them on a bus, go out there 653 00:37:10,860 --> 00:37:14,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: on a Saturday or a Sunday, and essentially do that 654 00:37:15,270 --> 00:37:18,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: for little or no additional compensation. They are doing this 655 00:37:18,420 --> 00:37:22,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: because they care about these kids. And so Jenny, I am so 656 00:37:22,140 --> 00:37:25,230 Rob Simmelkjaer: glad that you said that, and it really is at 657 00:37:25,230 --> 00:37:28,080 Rob Simmelkjaer: the heart of what we do at Road Runners and 658 00:37:28,380 --> 00:37:32,070 Rob Simmelkjaer: what happens in communities all over this country. Every day, 659 00:37:32,070 --> 00:37:35,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: every week is teachers going above and beyond the call 660 00:37:35,520 --> 00:37:37,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: of duty for the benefit of their kids. 661 00:37:38,489 --> 00:37:41,610 Jenny Simpson: Yeah, and can I add one more thing to that 662 00:37:41,610 --> 00:37:44,340 Jenny Simpson: too? If somebody is listening to this and they're involved 663 00:37:44,340 --> 00:37:47,580 Jenny Simpson: in public school, you don't have to know anything about 664 00:37:47,580 --> 00:37:50,100 Jenny Simpson: running to be able to implement the curriculum that the 665 00:37:50,100 --> 00:37:52,200 Jenny Simpson: New York Road Runners have for Rising New York Road 666 00:37:52,200 --> 00:37:56,850 Jenny Simpson: Runners. The Road Runners have done an incredible job of 667 00:37:56,850 --> 00:37:59,400 Jenny Simpson: putting together a curriculum that really can be kind of 668 00:37:59,400 --> 00:38:01,590 Jenny Simpson: plug and chug, and so you do not have to 669 00:38:01,590 --> 00:38:04,950 Jenny Simpson: have run the New York City Marathon. You don't ever 670 00:38:04,950 --> 00:38:07,410 Jenny Simpson: have to even run around the block. You don't have 671 00:38:07,410 --> 00:38:11,489 Jenny Simpson: to have a track. I mean, there's programs for 20 672 00:38:11,489 --> 00:38:16,410 Jenny Simpson: kids in a cafeteria and you have 30 minutes. The thoughtfulness 673 00:38:16,410 --> 00:38:20,370 Jenny Simpson: that's put into accommodating all of the different situations that 674 00:38:20,370 --> 00:38:25,680 Jenny Simpson: kids and educators are facing... I just want to encourage, 675 00:38:25,710 --> 00:38:27,870 Jenny Simpson: if anyone is working with public school kids and you 676 00:38:27,870 --> 00:38:31,350 Jenny Simpson: might be interested in introducing physical activity into the school 677 00:38:31,350 --> 00:38:34,680 Jenny Simpson: day or after the school day, check out all free 678 00:38:34,680 --> 00:38:37,589 Jenny Simpson: programming and you really, really do not have to have 679 00:38:37,620 --> 00:38:42,029 Jenny Simpson: a PE awareness or running education in order to meet 680 00:38:42,030 --> 00:38:43,980 Jenny Simpson: the needs of these kids with this curriculum. 681 00:38:44,340 --> 00:38:46,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: And you don't actually have to be in New York 682 00:38:46,200 --> 00:38:49,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: either, by the way. We've got about a hundred thousand 683 00:38:49,290 --> 00:38:53,070 Rob Simmelkjaer: kids outside of New York that are part of the Rising program. 684 00:38:53,070 --> 00:38:57,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: And so anybody out there can get their school involved, 685 00:38:57,210 --> 00:39:00,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: go to nyrr. org, find out how to get involved, 686 00:39:00,060 --> 00:39:02,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: but it's available for teachers out there all around the 687 00:39:02,310 --> 00:39:06,870 Rob Simmelkjaer: country. So there is no better spokesperson for this than 688 00:39:06,870 --> 00:39:07,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: Jenny Simpson. 689 00:39:07,710 --> 00:39:09,960 Becs Gentry: There really isn't. I mean, Jenny did it and the 690 00:39:09,960 --> 00:39:13,860 Becs Gentry: pandemic that was how remote it can be, but yet 691 00:39:13,860 --> 00:39:18,960 Becs Gentry: still highly motivating and imperative. I personally, as a parent... 692 00:39:19,320 --> 00:39:21,450 Becs Gentry: Imperative for kids' growth and future success- 693 00:39:21,510 --> 00:39:26,219 Jenny Simpson: And confidence, right? Kids get so much confidence when they 694 00:39:26,219 --> 00:39:28,410 Jenny Simpson: get out, they move around, they cheer for each other. 695 00:39:28,410 --> 00:39:30,420 Jenny Simpson: I mean, it is beautiful. It was so fun to 696 00:39:30,420 --> 00:39:32,790 Jenny Simpson: be in the schools and do that for the years 697 00:39:32,790 --> 00:39:37,890 Jenny Simpson: that I was working with all of you. The joy 698 00:39:38,850 --> 00:39:41,009 Jenny Simpson: of my career was some of my years with the 699 00:39:41,010 --> 00:39:41,460 Jenny Simpson: Road Runners. 700 00:39:41,910 --> 00:39:43,080 Rob Simmelkjaer: I'm going to try to get you to talk about 701 00:39:43,080 --> 00:39:45,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: yourself a little bit. Not always an easy thing to 702 00:39:45,000 --> 00:39:50,219 Rob Simmelkjaer: do, but I want to ask you about your marathon 703 00:39:50,250 --> 00:39:54,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: career and how now that you've gone through that, right? 704 00:39:54,900 --> 00:39:58,259 Rob Simmelkjaer: You went, you did the trials, you finished your career 705 00:39:58,260 --> 00:40:01,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: in New York. How now do you look back on 706 00:40:01,680 --> 00:40:04,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: that? You did something that's a really hard thing to 707 00:40:04,500 --> 00:40:08,219 Rob Simmelkjaer: do, go from being a track athlete and a miler 708 00:40:08,550 --> 00:40:11,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: to stretching yourself all the way out to the 26. 709 00:40:11,280 --> 00:40:15,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: 2 mile distance, and she sure did. Yeah, there was 710 00:40:15,900 --> 00:40:22,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: no 5k, 10k period, it was a mile to 26. She took 711 00:40:22,830 --> 00:40:27,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: the express lane to 26 miles. Are you glad you 712 00:40:27,150 --> 00:40:29,880 Rob Simmelkjaer: did it? How do you look back on that kind 713 00:40:29,880 --> 00:40:32,550 Rob Simmelkjaer: of effort that you made to be a marathoner for 714 00:40:32,550 --> 00:40:33,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: a bit there? 715 00:40:35,489 --> 00:40:37,920 Jenny Simpson: Yeah. I remember thinking in one of the races, after 716 00:40:37,920 --> 00:40:39,660 Jenny Simpson: two hours, I'll be at the part that I'm good 717 00:40:39,660 --> 00:40:43,230 Jenny Simpson: at, which is two or three miles to go. Yeah, 718 00:40:43,230 --> 00:40:46,320 Jenny Simpson: it was an enormous jump to go from the mile 719 00:40:46,320 --> 00:40:48,150 Jenny Simpson: and doing the track. I mean, the longest I'd ever 720 00:40:48,150 --> 00:40:50,460 Jenny Simpson: raced on the track was a 5k, and to go from 721 00:40:50,460 --> 00:40:52,440 Jenny Simpson: that... I mean, the longest I think I'd ever raced 722 00:40:52,440 --> 00:40:55,800 Jenny Simpson: ever was an 8k in cross- country, and to go 723 00:40:55,800 --> 00:40:59,100 Jenny Simpson: from that to the marathon was an enormous jump. I 724 00:40:59,100 --> 00:41:01,259 Jenny Simpson: don't think I appreciated at the time, it was more 725 00:41:01,260 --> 00:41:04,320 Jenny Simpson: like going from basketball to baseball than from running to 726 00:41:04,320 --> 00:41:07,500 Jenny Simpson: running. It really was taking on a whole new sport. 727 00:41:08,489 --> 00:41:10,379 Jenny Simpson: But there were a lot of things that went into 728 00:41:10,380 --> 00:41:13,830 Jenny Simpson: it. I wanted a new challenge. I mean, challenge. I 729 00:41:13,830 --> 00:41:16,980 Jenny Simpson: took on a challenge. I wanted something kind of new 730 00:41:16,980 --> 00:41:21,000 Jenny Simpson: and different, but I'm not immune to the things that 731 00:41:21,000 --> 00:41:24,660 Jenny Simpson: draw all people to the marathon. There's this sense of 732 00:41:25,140 --> 00:41:28,260 Jenny Simpson: can I really run this at a high level? Because 733 00:41:28,260 --> 00:41:32,070 Jenny Simpson: it's just such a huge undertaking. You see tens of 734 00:41:32,070 --> 00:41:34,500 Jenny Simpson: thousands of people gather in one place to do this 735 00:41:34,500 --> 00:41:39,719 Jenny Simpson: huge kind of communal experience together. And then the training, 736 00:41:39,719 --> 00:41:42,840 Jenny Simpson: right? The training has its own journey, and going on 737 00:41:42,840 --> 00:41:45,989 Jenny Simpson: that journey with kind of a smaller meaningful cohort of 738 00:41:45,989 --> 00:41:49,109 Jenny Simpson: people. I live in Boulder, Colorado where I watch people 739 00:41:49,110 --> 00:41:51,780 Jenny Simpson: train for the marathon all the time, and it just 740 00:41:51,780 --> 00:41:53,790 Jenny Simpson: gets in you. You just wonder, " What would I be 741 00:41:53,790 --> 00:41:56,640 Jenny Simpson: like out there?" And there's a camaraderie and kind of 742 00:41:57,239 --> 00:42:00,780 Jenny Simpson: mutual appreciation and respect across marathoners because you know what 743 00:42:00,780 --> 00:42:03,150 Jenny Simpson: each other have been through. And I just wanted a 744 00:42:03,150 --> 00:42:04,980 Jenny Simpson: taste of that. I wanted to be a part of it. 745 00:42:05,580 --> 00:42:07,710 Jenny Simpson: So the truth is, so I ran the trials. I 746 00:42:07,710 --> 00:42:10,980 Jenny Simpson: ran Boston and then I retired at New York. I 747 00:42:10,980 --> 00:42:14,879 Jenny Simpson: really wanted or really expected, honestly, to be better at 748 00:42:14,880 --> 00:42:18,390 Jenny Simpson: the marathon than I turned out to be. I thought 749 00:42:18,630 --> 00:42:22,110 Jenny Simpson: the transition would go a little bit easier and smoother, 750 00:42:22,980 --> 00:42:26,190 Jenny Simpson: but I'm so, so glad. There's a couple of things 751 00:42:26,190 --> 00:42:30,630 Jenny Simpson: I'm glad that I did it. I have an experience 752 00:42:30,630 --> 00:42:34,440 Jenny Simpson: now that relates so broadly across so many other runners' 753 00:42:34,440 --> 00:42:38,670 Jenny Simpson: experiences. A lot of how I related to people before 754 00:42:38,670 --> 00:42:40,799 Jenny Simpson: is they had run a mile in high school or 755 00:42:40,800 --> 00:42:45,000 Jenny Simpson: presidential fitness or something. It really takes somebody with either 756 00:42:45,000 --> 00:42:47,280 Jenny Simpson: a lot of intention or they're in the military that 757 00:42:47,280 --> 00:42:49,350 Jenny Simpson: they've ever done a mile time trial as an adult 758 00:42:49,500 --> 00:42:53,460 Jenny Simpson: or they're running Fifth Avenue Mile. And so most people 759 00:42:53,460 --> 00:42:55,980 Jenny Simpson: have run a mile, but not everyone has timed and 760 00:42:55,980 --> 00:42:58,739 Jenny Simpson: tried a hard mile as an adult, but most runners 761 00:42:58,920 --> 00:43:01,710 Jenny Simpson: as adults have done a marathon. So there was just 762 00:43:01,710 --> 00:43:05,969 Jenny Simpson: this broadening of the community and relatability and just being able 763 00:43:05,969 --> 00:43:09,360 Jenny Simpson: to share those stories. And then also, I ran all 764 00:43:09,360 --> 00:43:12,270 Jenny Simpson: three of those races in the United States, and really 765 00:43:12,360 --> 00:43:15,779 Jenny Simpson: it was just the greatest privilege of my career to 766 00:43:15,780 --> 00:43:19,110 Jenny Simpson: run for this country. But when you represent the United 767 00:43:19,110 --> 00:43:21,150 Jenny Simpson: States, so much of my track and field career was 768 00:43:21,150 --> 00:43:24,420 Jenny Simpson: overseas, and so to be able to close out the 769 00:43:24,420 --> 00:43:28,050 Jenny Simpson: last year of my career and have three iconic American 770 00:43:28,050 --> 00:43:31,650 Jenny Simpson: races, Olympic trials, Boston Marathon in New York, it just 771 00:43:31,650 --> 00:43:35,580 Jenny Simpson: felt for me... I don't think personally for what fulfills 772 00:43:35,580 --> 00:43:39,480 Jenny Simpson: me as a human I'm going to top finishing a 773 00:43:39,480 --> 00:43:42,989 Jenny Simpson: marathon in Central Park. So it just felt like the perfect 774 00:43:42,989 --> 00:43:47,130 Jenny Simpson: place kind of personally and metaphorically to kind of close 775 00:43:47,130 --> 00:43:48,270 Jenny Simpson: that chapter of my life. 776 00:43:48,540 --> 00:43:53,820 Becs Gentry: Absolutely. Let's talk about those three races, because as you 777 00:43:53,820 --> 00:44:00,120 Becs Gentry: say, the gigantic shift from the shorter distances to those 778 00:44:00,120 --> 00:44:05,219 Becs Gentry: longer distances started for you... Or not started. The stage opened, 779 00:44:05,219 --> 00:44:07,980 Becs Gentry: let's say, the curtain went up so everyone could see 780 00:44:07,980 --> 00:44:13,680 Becs Gentry: you publicly in Orlando. And I was there, I was working 781 00:44:13,710 --> 00:44:18,359 Becs Gentry: that event for NBC, and I just remember being so 782 00:44:18,360 --> 00:44:22,680 Becs Gentry: thrilled to see you running and amongst a field that 783 00:44:22,680 --> 00:44:25,080 Becs Gentry: was overwhelmingly awesome for the women. 784 00:44:25,080 --> 00:44:25,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: It was hot. 785 00:44:25,800 --> 00:44:32,310 Becs Gentry: And it was so freaking hot. I went for a 786 00:44:32,310 --> 00:44:35,130 Becs Gentry: run at 5: 00 AM that morning and I was 787 00:44:35,130 --> 00:44:39,600 Becs Gentry: sweating my off. And you guys had to tow the 788 00:44:39,600 --> 00:44:42,630 Becs Gentry: line later that day with the blazing sun. There was 789 00:44:42,630 --> 00:44:46,049 Becs Gentry: hardly any shade because Orlando was a low- lying town. 790 00:44:46,350 --> 00:44:49,920 Becs Gentry: There's not much, what was it called, building shadow as well. 791 00:44:49,980 --> 00:44:53,969 Jenny Simpson: Yeah, yeah. It was really sun. It was very exposed. Right. 792 00:44:53,969 --> 00:44:57,660 Becs Gentry: Very exposed. And you got to mile 18 was where 793 00:44:57,660 --> 00:45:02,610 Becs Gentry: you said, " Enough's enough on my body." Cramp got the 794 00:45:02,760 --> 00:45:05,910 Becs Gentry: better of you and most of the field, let's be 795 00:45:05,910 --> 00:45:12,090 Becs Gentry: honest that day, and you very honestly withdrew along with 796 00:45:12,090 --> 00:45:16,950 Becs Gentry: huge names. So for you, what was the human level 797 00:45:16,950 --> 00:45:21,210 Becs Gentry: reaction that day on something that was so big for 798 00:45:21,210 --> 00:45:22,920 Becs Gentry: you on multiple levels? 799 00:45:23,550 --> 00:45:25,800 Jenny Simpson: Yeah, it was big for me and a really important 800 00:45:25,800 --> 00:45:27,960 Jenny Simpson: level is that I grew up and found the love 801 00:45:27,960 --> 00:45:29,910 Jenny Simpson: of running in Central Florida. So I went to high 802 00:45:29,910 --> 00:45:33,300 Jenny Simpson: school just literally down the way from where we were 803 00:45:33,300 --> 00:45:36,450 Jenny Simpson: running, and so in my mind, if you're writing a 804 00:45:36,450 --> 00:45:39,600 Jenny Simpson: storybook, it couldn't have come more full circle than me 805 00:45:39,600 --> 00:45:40,291 Jenny Simpson: running in Olympic trials. 806 00:45:40,290 --> 00:45:42,960 Becs Gentry: You're like, " I know this weather. I'm fine." 807 00:45:43,050 --> 00:45:48,001 Jenny Simpson: Exactly. And I really do run well in hot weather. (inaudible) 808 00:45:48,001 --> 00:45:52,980 Jenny Simpson: usually for four minutes. But I did think if 809 00:45:52,980 --> 00:45:56,100 Jenny Simpson: anyone can do this, I can do it. And you 810 00:45:56,100 --> 00:45:58,920 Jenny Simpson: have to have that mentality going into any difficult effort 811 00:45:58,920 --> 00:46:00,900 Jenny Simpson: no matter what the weather or whatever the challenge. If 812 00:46:00,900 --> 00:46:02,760 Jenny Simpson: you're going to be world- class, it's something you have 813 00:46:02,760 --> 00:46:05,400 Jenny Simpson: to believe, " I'm going to be really great at this." 814 00:46:06,000 --> 00:46:08,460 Jenny Simpson: You have to have that kind of confidence. But I 815 00:46:08,460 --> 00:46:11,910 Jenny Simpson: think part of the technical side, I do think I 816 00:46:11,910 --> 00:46:14,009 Jenny Simpson: made a mistake that other people made as well, that 817 00:46:14,130 --> 00:46:17,759 Jenny Simpson: in going down to Orlando for several weeks beforehand, I 818 00:46:17,760 --> 00:46:20,190 Jenny Simpson: think a lot of that heat and fatigue from the 819 00:46:20,190 --> 00:46:23,070 Jenny Simpson: heat accumulated before the race. So I think a lot 820 00:46:23,070 --> 00:46:25,290 Jenny Simpson: of the damage done was also kind of before the 821 00:46:25,290 --> 00:46:30,510 Jenny Simpson: race. And managing hydration, either over or under hydrating, I 822 00:46:30,510 --> 00:46:33,989 Jenny Simpson: think my body was still kind of managing, moving from 823 00:46:34,140 --> 00:46:37,530 Jenny Simpson: an arid cold desert in Colorado down to the heat 824 00:46:37,530 --> 00:46:41,250 Jenny Simpson: in Orlando, and then getting into the race, I just 825 00:46:41,250 --> 00:46:43,710 Jenny Simpson: was already kind of behind the eight- ball. So I 826 00:46:43,710 --> 00:46:47,969 Jenny Simpson: think that was part of the technical side. But I 827 00:46:47,969 --> 00:46:51,239 Jenny Simpson: remember coming up, really my race was over closer to 828 00:46:51,390 --> 00:46:54,150 Jenny Simpson: 15 miles, but I got up to where the start 829 00:46:54,150 --> 00:46:57,840 Jenny Simpson: finish was. And I remember having this very lucid thought. 830 00:46:59,880 --> 00:47:02,160 Jenny Simpson: I have two hard choices. It's going to be hard 831 00:47:02,160 --> 00:47:04,890 Jenny Simpson: either way. Either I step off and I am done 832 00:47:04,890 --> 00:47:08,130 Jenny Simpson: here, or I run one more lap of eight miles 833 00:47:08,130 --> 00:47:10,800 Jenny Simpson: and it's going to be miserable, and both are going 834 00:47:10,800 --> 00:47:12,870 Jenny Simpson: to be miserable. So in a way, I get to 835 00:47:12,870 --> 00:47:15,570 Jenny Simpson: kind of choose my hard. You're not making the team, 836 00:47:15,570 --> 00:47:18,930 Jenny Simpson: you're not going to run some amazing debut time, which 837 00:47:18,930 --> 00:47:22,050 Jenny Simpson: by the way, I was really okay and went in thinking, " 838 00:47:22,170 --> 00:47:24,719 Jenny Simpson: This is not make the team or bust." I still 839 00:47:24,719 --> 00:47:26,580 Jenny Simpson: wanted to have a great debut and I was really 840 00:47:26,580 --> 00:47:28,680 Jenny Simpson: hoping to be top 10. If I was top 10, 841 00:47:28,680 --> 00:47:30,509 Jenny Simpson: I was going to be really thrilled because this is 842 00:47:30,510 --> 00:47:34,260 Jenny Simpson: my first marathon ever, ever, ever. So I think I 843 00:47:34,260 --> 00:47:39,570 Jenny Simpson: had realistic expectations, but managed all the conditions wrong, which 844 00:47:39,600 --> 00:47:44,280 Jenny Simpson: happens. But I remember thinking, " I can choose my heart 845 00:47:44,280 --> 00:47:46,710 Jenny Simpson: here," but as I came up to the start finish 846 00:47:46,710 --> 00:47:50,070 Jenny Simpson: area, John and Betsy Hughes, who were race directors for 847 00:47:50,070 --> 00:47:52,710 Jenny Simpson: the event, and literally... So this is what I mean. 848 00:47:53,070 --> 00:47:55,170 Jenny Simpson: They sold me my first pair of running shoes when 849 00:47:55,170 --> 00:47:57,330 Jenny Simpson: I was in middle school. That's how far back I 850 00:47:57,330 --> 00:47:59,400 Jenny Simpson: go with the people that were there. And the streets 851 00:47:59,400 --> 00:48:01,590 Jenny Simpson: lined with people that watched me running as a kid. 852 00:48:02,640 --> 00:48:05,160 Jenny Simpson: And so I saw them there and I thought, " No, 853 00:48:05,160 --> 00:48:08,520 Jenny Simpson: I need to just have a moment with them, step 854 00:48:08,520 --> 00:48:14,250 Jenny Simpson: aside, and then be here and celebrate the three Olympians, 855 00:48:14,460 --> 00:48:16,500 Jenny Simpson: the three people that come in and get those spots 856 00:48:16,500 --> 00:48:21,120 Jenny Simpson: on the team." And it was such an incredible moment 857 00:48:21,120 --> 00:48:25,980 Jenny Simpson: for me personally because all along, everybody in Central Florida 858 00:48:25,980 --> 00:48:28,710 Jenny Simpson: and Orlando and Track Shack and John and Betsy Hughes 859 00:48:28,710 --> 00:48:32,100 Jenny Simpson: and my parents and everyone, they always tell you, " Oh, 860 00:48:32,100 --> 00:48:34,799 Jenny Simpson: we'll love you no matter what. We're proud of you 861 00:48:34,800 --> 00:48:37,980 Jenny Simpson: no matter what," but that's really easy to believe and 862 00:48:37,980 --> 00:48:41,160 Jenny Simpson: absorb when no matter what is always that I'm on 863 00:48:41,160 --> 00:48:43,710 Jenny Simpson: the podium and I'm doing really well and I'm confident 864 00:48:43,710 --> 00:48:46,589 Jenny Simpson: and I feel good and I'm winning Fifth Avenue eight 865 00:48:46,590 --> 00:48:50,160 Jenny Simpson: times. That's easy to believe that everyone will love you 866 00:48:50,160 --> 00:48:53,009 Jenny Simpson: no matter what. But I came and I stepped off 867 00:48:53,070 --> 00:48:56,370 Jenny Simpson: the marathon course. John and Betsy come right out, they 868 00:48:56,370 --> 00:48:59,430 Jenny Simpson: give me a hug. It's probably, I don't know, about 869 00:49:00,840 --> 00:49:03,569 Jenny Simpson: 40 minutes or so until the finishers come in. So 870 00:49:03,570 --> 00:49:08,219 Jenny Simpson: we had a few minutes. And the whole sideline and 871 00:49:08,219 --> 00:49:11,580 Jenny Simpson: the announcers, they all cheered for me and were so 872 00:49:12,150 --> 00:49:14,850 Jenny Simpson: kind and generous in that moment. And it was the 873 00:49:14,850 --> 00:49:17,400 Jenny Simpson: first time in my life as an adult that I thought, " 874 00:49:19,020 --> 00:49:21,180 Jenny Simpson: This is what they mean when it's like we love 875 00:49:21,180 --> 00:49:24,120 Jenny Simpson: you no matter what." And I got that really special 876 00:49:24,120 --> 00:49:28,950 Jenny Simpson: moment of totally being wrapped up in love and celebration 877 00:49:28,950 --> 00:49:31,830 Jenny Simpson: at absolutely my lowest moment. I'd never dropped out of 878 00:49:31,830 --> 00:49:34,890 Jenny Simpson: a race in my life. And so at my lowest, 879 00:49:34,890 --> 00:49:40,350 Jenny Simpson: to be really surrounded by just that kind of unconditional 880 00:49:40,350 --> 00:49:43,650 Jenny Simpson: pride and love. I wrote in my journal about it 881 00:49:43,650 --> 00:49:46,230 Jenny Simpson: that night because I just thought, " Oh, hopefully I never 882 00:49:46,230 --> 00:49:48,239 Jenny Simpson: have a moment like this again. Hopefully I get back 883 00:49:48,239 --> 00:49:52,350 Jenny Simpson: on the podium and do super well," but man, what 884 00:49:52,350 --> 00:49:54,330 Jenny Simpson: an important moment for me as a human. 885 00:49:54,840 --> 00:49:59,550 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah. No, that's beautifully told, that story, and it all 886 00:49:59,550 --> 00:50:02,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: makes perfect sense. And I'm sure sometimes we learn a 887 00:50:02,910 --> 00:50:06,870 Rob Simmelkjaer: lot more from those moments where we don't quite hit 888 00:50:06,870 --> 00:50:09,989 Rob Simmelkjaer: the mark that we're shooting for. So it's a beautiful 889 00:50:10,050 --> 00:50:12,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: thing. And then I want to talk about what you're doing these 890 00:50:12,540 --> 00:50:16,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: days, which is really... It's not like you're going to 891 00:50:16,440 --> 00:50:20,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: just stop running. She's just kept going. 892 00:50:21,120 --> 00:50:25,468 Becs Gentry: No, we will add in the fact that she retired from New York and 893 00:50:25,469 --> 00:50:29,160 Becs Gentry: then, what was it, two or three days later, agreed 894 00:50:29,160 --> 00:50:34,441 Becs Gentry: to do the Great World Race and run seven more marathons. 895 00:50:34,440 --> 00:50:38,430 Jenny Simpson: Yeah, I'd run two plus 18 miles of a marathon 896 00:50:38,430 --> 00:50:41,250 Jenny Simpson: in my life and two weeks after the New York 897 00:50:41,250 --> 00:50:46,110 Jenny Simpson: City Marathon I had run nine. So yeah, the Great 898 00:50:46,110 --> 00:50:51,630 Jenny Simpson: World Race was a huge bite, a huge endeavor to 899 00:50:51,630 --> 00:50:55,200 Jenny Simpson: take on afterwards. But Becs, that's where you and I met 900 00:50:55,200 --> 00:50:58,140 Jenny Simpson: and really became friends. We were aware of each other, but- 901 00:50:58,140 --> 00:51:00,510 Becs Gentry: Yeah, we'd never actually spent time together. 902 00:51:00,900 --> 00:51:04,980 Jenny Simpson: Yes. And Becs got to see me at my absolute, 903 00:51:05,160 --> 00:51:09,690 Jenny Simpson: absolute worst and absolute best, as the Great World Race 904 00:51:09,690 --> 00:51:15,060 Jenny Simpson: will bring out in people, sleeping on airport floors and 905 00:51:15,060 --> 00:51:17,340 Jenny Simpson: just things I would never ever do, but you get 906 00:51:18,120 --> 00:51:21,360 Jenny Simpson: reduced to your constituent parts and have to build yourself 907 00:51:21,360 --> 00:51:25,590 Jenny Simpson: back up for every successive marathon. And it was quite 908 00:51:25,590 --> 00:51:27,270 Jenny Simpson: a journey, and it was really fun to be on 909 00:51:27,270 --> 00:51:27,870 Jenny Simpson: that with you. 910 00:51:27,989 --> 00:51:30,450 Becs Gentry: Yeah, it really was really fun to be on it with 911 00:51:30,450 --> 00:51:32,730 Becs Gentry: you. But I feel like it set you up and 912 00:51:32,730 --> 00:51:38,370 Becs Gentry: I mean, Jason, your poor husband got dragged through the 913 00:51:38,370 --> 00:51:40,770 Becs Gentry: last race with you as well. I felt like I 914 00:51:40,770 --> 00:51:43,890 Becs Gentry: was cheering for him too. You both were unwell and 915 00:51:43,890 --> 00:51:51,629 Becs Gentry: here you are feeling amazing, going around 50 states running in 916 00:51:51,719 --> 00:51:56,670 Becs Gentry: every single... I mean, it makes the Great World Race 917 00:51:56,670 --> 00:51:58,080 Becs Gentry: seem kind of easy to me. 918 00:52:00,330 --> 00:52:01,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: Big difference to half- marathons, right, Jenny? Big difference. 919 00:52:02,790 --> 00:52:04,110 Jenny Simpson: Yeah, exactly. But still, it's funny- 920 00:52:04,170 --> 00:52:04,920 Becs Gentry: But relentless. 921 00:52:05,610 --> 00:52:08,430 Jenny Simpson: Yeah, I think that... Well, I know. I mean, I 922 00:52:08,430 --> 00:52:10,620 Jenny Simpson: look back and I think the Great World Race was 923 00:52:10,620 --> 00:52:12,540 Jenny Simpson: like a boot camp for me getting ready for the 924 00:52:12,540 --> 00:52:16,140 Jenny Simpson: next thing we were going to do. So I'd mentioned 925 00:52:16,140 --> 00:52:19,860 Jenny Simpson: already earlier in our conversation that being a USA athlete 926 00:52:19,860 --> 00:52:23,460 Jenny Simpson: was just a huge privilege for me, and one of 927 00:52:23,940 --> 00:52:25,950 Jenny Simpson: the great gifts of my career was for my running 928 00:52:25,950 --> 00:52:30,450 Jenny Simpson: to mean something more than just me trying to bring 929 00:52:30,450 --> 00:52:32,730 Jenny Simpson: out the best in me, but representing our country. And 930 00:52:32,730 --> 00:52:36,150 Jenny Simpson: so after I finished in New York, I had this 931 00:52:36,330 --> 00:52:38,640 Jenny Simpson: kind of wild idea, Jason and I had tossed it 932 00:52:38,640 --> 00:52:42,300 Jenny Simpson: around a little bit throughout the year, but I thought, " 933 00:52:42,300 --> 00:52:45,120 Jenny Simpson: What if we just take an entire year off from 934 00:52:45,450 --> 00:52:51,239 Jenny Simpson: my intense running career, from his work, and 50 states, 935 00:52:51,270 --> 00:52:54,000 Jenny Simpson: 50 weeks, let's just go run with as many Americans 936 00:52:54,000 --> 00:52:58,260 Jenny Simpson: as possible." So in January we kicked off, we call 937 00:52:58,260 --> 00:53:01,980 Jenny Simpson: it affectionately our Run USA Tour, but it's just a 938 00:53:01,980 --> 00:53:05,370 Jenny Simpson: personal project. We're not building anything, we're not selling anything. 939 00:53:05,520 --> 00:53:08,340 Jenny Simpson: We just are hopping around. We have a schedule. Every 940 00:53:08,340 --> 00:53:09,989 Jenny Simpson: week we go to a new state, we meet up 941 00:53:09,989 --> 00:53:13,410 Jenny Simpson: with run clubs and races, and it's run specialty stores, 942 00:53:13,620 --> 00:53:17,280 Jenny Simpson: and our whole vision is just to dive into running 943 00:53:17,280 --> 00:53:20,610 Jenny Simpson: communities as they exist in every state today, and just 944 00:53:21,210 --> 00:53:23,880 Jenny Simpson: spend time with those people on their trails and their 945 00:53:23,880 --> 00:53:26,730 Jenny Simpson: runs and the places that they go all the time. 946 00:53:26,969 --> 00:53:29,910 Jenny Simpson: And man, it has been a wild adventure. It's been 947 00:53:29,910 --> 00:53:30,840 Jenny Simpson: a wild year. 948 00:53:31,320 --> 00:53:33,960 Becs Gentry: It looks it. I mean, you guys are documenting this 949 00:53:33,960 --> 00:53:38,880 Becs Gentry: on social media, so everybody can follow you @ trackjenny, and 950 00:53:38,880 --> 00:53:44,250 Becs Gentry: see this awesome, awesome journey. But we are so interested 951 00:53:44,310 --> 00:53:48,390 Becs Gentry: to know if you have come across a race or 952 00:53:48,390 --> 00:53:54,299 Becs Gentry: event or even area that you would tell our listeners 953 00:53:54,300 --> 00:53:57,840 Becs Gentry: that they must put on their bucket list to go 954 00:53:57,840 --> 00:53:58,439 Becs Gentry: and do. 955 00:54:02,460 --> 00:54:06,150 Jenny Simpson: Okay, we're on state number 40, and so I have 40 956 00:54:06,150 --> 00:54:09,989 Jenny Simpson: recommendations of places that you should go, but one of 957 00:54:09,989 --> 00:54:12,480 Jenny Simpson: the major ones... I'll give two answers. One of the major 958 00:54:12,480 --> 00:54:17,370 Jenny Simpson: ones is I think in running so often I am 959 00:54:17,370 --> 00:54:21,540 Jenny Simpson: oriented towards racing, training and racing, and to kind of 960 00:54:21,540 --> 00:54:25,230 Jenny Simpson: break out of that regimen of training and racing and 961 00:54:25,230 --> 00:54:28,560 Jenny Simpson: do some kind of adventure runs, there's a whole other 962 00:54:28,560 --> 00:54:30,960 Jenny Simpson: world of people that are doing running that has nothing 963 00:54:30,960 --> 00:54:32,580 Jenny Simpson: to do with a clock or a start and finish 964 00:54:32,580 --> 00:54:34,830 Jenny Simpson: line, and a lot of that happens in our national 965 00:54:34,830 --> 00:54:37,469 Jenny Simpson: parks. And so Jason and I have really enjoyed... We 966 00:54:37,469 --> 00:54:40,650 Jenny Simpson: ran Rim to Rim at the Grand Canyon, we ran 967 00:54:41,580 --> 00:54:46,200 Jenny Simpson: part of Zion National Park, we did Half Dome at 968 00:54:46,200 --> 00:54:50,640 Jenny Simpson: Yosemite. We've done so many runs in national parks. And 969 00:54:50,670 --> 00:54:53,549 Jenny Simpson: to me, I'm like, " Oh, now that..." I have friends 970 00:54:53,550 --> 00:54:56,549 Jenny Simpson: that have done incredible things on the track and incredible 971 00:54:56,550 --> 00:54:58,290 Jenny Simpson: things on the marathon, and they're kind of looking for 972 00:54:58,410 --> 00:55:01,770 Jenny Simpson: what's the next thing. Ultra is out there, but if 973 00:55:01,770 --> 00:55:04,050 Jenny Simpson: you want something kind of in the middle and not 974 00:55:04,050 --> 00:55:08,940 Jenny Simpson: necessarily to go for 30- plus miles, some of these 975 00:55:09,120 --> 00:55:12,360 Jenny Simpson: courses in our national parks are just really special and 976 00:55:12,360 --> 00:55:16,890 Jenny Simpson: not exclusively national parks, like there's a C& O Canal 977 00:55:16,950 --> 00:55:19,739 Jenny Simpson: and there's the Appalachian Trail. There's all kinds of amazing 978 00:55:19,739 --> 00:55:22,319 Jenny Simpson: places in this country. So that's number one answer is 979 00:55:22,320 --> 00:55:25,020 Jenny Simpson: just kind of adventure running. And then the second thing 980 00:55:26,310 --> 00:55:29,969 Jenny Simpson: that I would advise everyone and recommend is that we 981 00:55:29,969 --> 00:55:33,540 Jenny Simpson: have literally been... And we're living full- time in a 982 00:55:33,930 --> 00:55:37,770 Jenny Simpson: small RV kind of the size of a van. I 983 00:55:37,770 --> 00:55:39,630 Jenny Simpson: don't care where you are in this country, you are 984 00:55:39,630 --> 00:55:42,270 Jenny Simpson: less than an hour from somewhere beautiful and somewhere with 985 00:55:42,270 --> 00:55:46,109 Jenny Simpson: amazing running. We've been all over to places I've even 986 00:55:46,110 --> 00:55:49,950 Jenny Simpson: been before, and one hour away or 40 minutes away, 987 00:55:50,100 --> 00:55:54,660 Jenny Simpson: there's some gorgeous mountains or a gorge or a prairie 988 00:55:54,660 --> 00:55:57,989 Jenny Simpson: or some sort of landscape that is just awe- inspiring 989 00:55:58,650 --> 00:56:02,700 Jenny Simpson: and we need awe in our life. And I just 990 00:56:02,700 --> 00:56:04,799 Jenny Simpson: want to encourage everyone, it's not far from you. You 991 00:56:04,800 --> 00:56:08,190 Jenny Simpson: don't have to be kind of crazy like us and 992 00:56:08,190 --> 00:56:12,540 Jenny Simpson: go get some van and be transient for a year. 993 00:56:12,840 --> 00:56:16,110 Jenny Simpson: You can take a weekend, you can drive 40 or 60 minutes 994 00:56:16,110 --> 00:56:18,780 Jenny Simpson: away from where you live and find something that'll just 995 00:56:18,989 --> 00:56:22,890 Jenny Simpson: transform your idea of the space that you live. 996 00:56:23,250 --> 00:56:28,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: It's so amazing what you're doing. My last question before we run out of time here 997 00:56:28,020 --> 00:56:31,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: is what were you hoping to get from this experience 998 00:56:31,770 --> 00:56:34,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: of running in 50 states and how's that working out? 999 00:56:37,710 --> 00:56:40,140 Jenny Simpson: First of all, the main objective for me spending a 1000 00:56:40,140 --> 00:56:43,080 Jenny Simpson: year on the road doing 50 states was to avoid 1001 00:56:43,080 --> 00:56:45,359 Jenny Simpson: answering the question of what I'm doing next. I was 1002 00:56:45,360 --> 00:56:47,219 Jenny Simpson: mostly like, " I don't know what I'm doing, so I'm 1003 00:56:47,219 --> 00:56:49,440 Jenny Simpson: just going to pack up my two dogs, my husband 1004 00:56:49,440 --> 00:56:52,049 Jenny Simpson: and drive away from my problems." So that was the 1005 00:56:52,050 --> 00:56:53,670 Jenny Simpson: majority of what I was doing. 1006 00:56:54,989 --> 00:56:55,530 Becs Gentry: Run away. 1007 00:56:55,650 --> 00:56:58,980 Jenny Simpson: And run away, exactly. So all these questions I don't 1008 00:56:58,980 --> 00:57:01,410 Jenny Simpson: know how to answer, I'm on the road, I'm out. 1009 00:57:02,280 --> 00:57:05,250 Jenny Simpson: So that was mission accomplished for sure. We are now 27, 1010 00:57:05,280 --> 00:57:08,759 Jenny Simpson: 000 miles away from whatever I was wrestling with in 1011 00:57:08,760 --> 00:57:15,270 Jenny Simpson: Colorado in December of last year. But man, we have 1012 00:57:15,270 --> 00:57:19,140 Jenny Simpson: experienced so much in a year where I feel like 1013 00:57:19,140 --> 00:57:21,840 Jenny Simpson: there has been a lot of heaviness and darkness in 1014 00:57:21,840 --> 00:57:25,230 Jenny Simpson: our country. Jason and I hop place to place and 1015 00:57:25,230 --> 00:57:27,510 Jenny Simpson: we see the light. I mean, one- on- one, our 1016 00:57:27,510 --> 00:57:31,410 Jenny Simpson: human interactions with people, one- on- one person to person. 1017 00:57:31,410 --> 00:57:33,930 Jenny Simpson: We are not enemies in this country. There's so much 1018 00:57:33,930 --> 00:57:37,020 Jenny Simpson: love, there's so much generosity, and Jason and I feel 1019 00:57:37,050 --> 00:57:40,980 Jenny Simpson: privileged that we're in a position today when so much 1020 00:57:40,980 --> 00:57:45,300 Jenny Simpson: is heavy and difficult to really remind people that genuinely 1021 00:57:45,480 --> 00:57:49,380 Jenny Simpson: we have had an incredible experience with Americans all across 1022 00:57:49,380 --> 00:57:52,170 Jenny Simpson: this country. And again, I'll repeat it, there's so much 1023 00:57:52,170 --> 00:57:55,440 Jenny Simpson: love, there's so much generosity. Strangers have been good to 1024 00:57:55,440 --> 00:57:58,470 Jenny Simpson: us, people we've known forever have taken us back in. 1025 00:57:58,650 --> 00:58:03,450 Jenny Simpson: It's just been a really uplifting experience, which is contrasted 1026 00:58:03,450 --> 00:58:05,370 Jenny Simpson: with a lot of what we're seeing on the news 1027 00:58:05,790 --> 00:58:09,390 Jenny Simpson: and dealing with family and friends and stuff like that. 1028 00:58:10,200 --> 00:58:12,210 Jenny Simpson: So that's been a really interesting thing. And then the 1029 00:58:12,210 --> 00:58:14,280 Jenny Simpson: second thing, and I could go on and on but 1030 00:58:14,280 --> 00:58:17,490 Jenny Simpson: I'll try to be brief, but our luxury this year 1031 00:58:17,490 --> 00:58:22,170 Jenny Simpson: has been our availability. I don't think I realized how 1032 00:58:22,170 --> 00:58:25,709 Jenny Simpson: unavailable I was as a professional athlete. I can't just 1033 00:58:25,710 --> 00:58:27,540 Jenny Simpson: pick up and go, I can't spend an hour on 1034 00:58:27,540 --> 00:58:32,040 Jenny Simpson: the phone. I have such a regimented and disciplined schedule 1035 00:58:32,040 --> 00:58:34,410 Jenny Simpson: and I think most of us do, and I'll return 1036 00:58:34,410 --> 00:58:36,420 Jenny Simpson: to that. This is not a luxury I will have 1037 00:58:36,420 --> 00:58:40,590 Jenny Simpson: forever, but to have a stretch of time where something 1038 00:58:40,590 --> 00:58:42,780 Jenny Simpson: comes up with a friend or we're in a new 1039 00:58:42,780 --> 00:58:44,910 Jenny Simpson: place and we meet someone new and they just have 1040 00:58:44,910 --> 00:58:49,860 Jenny Simpson: a lot of baggage to let out. We're here, we're 1041 00:58:49,860 --> 00:58:51,960 Jenny Simpson: present, we have nowhere to be, we don't have an 1042 00:58:51,960 --> 00:58:57,480 Jenny Simpson: agenda and being available has just really been an unexpected 1043 00:58:57,480 --> 00:59:00,030 Jenny Simpson: gift for us to have for other people. 1044 00:59:00,390 --> 00:59:02,940 Rob Simmelkjaer: Beautifully said, amazingly said. 1045 00:59:03,270 --> 00:59:06,690 Becs Gentry: Yeah, and something I think a lot of us probably 1046 00:59:06,990 --> 00:59:11,220 Becs Gentry: especially this time of year crave because as we're releasing 1047 00:59:11,220 --> 00:59:14,940 Becs Gentry: this, it's coming up to the New York City Marathon. It is 1048 00:59:15,060 --> 00:59:19,230 Becs Gentry: after Chicago, it's after Berlin. People have had a regiment 1049 00:59:19,230 --> 00:59:21,510 Becs Gentry: that maybe they've never had before after training for their 1050 00:59:21,510 --> 00:59:24,810 Becs Gentry: first marathon and they're like, " I get it. I get 1051 00:59:24,810 --> 00:59:28,290 Becs Gentry: wanting to be available," and my goodness, I hear you. 1052 00:59:28,290 --> 00:59:28,950 Becs Gentry: I feel it. 1053 00:59:28,950 --> 00:59:32,070 Rob Simmelkjaer: I sat next to Jenny and her husband at the 1054 00:59:32,070 --> 00:59:36,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: Pro Athletes dinner for the marathon that she ran and 1055 00:59:36,030 --> 00:59:38,970 Rob Simmelkjaer: I looked at her and I said, " I've been around 1056 00:59:38,970 --> 00:59:43,050 Rob Simmelkjaer: politics a little in my life and I know a 1057 00:59:43,050 --> 00:59:47,070 Rob Simmelkjaer: great political candidate when I see one, and you, Jenny 1058 00:59:47,070 --> 00:59:50,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: Simpson would be a great political candidate." So I have 1059 00:59:50,100 --> 00:59:52,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: no idea if that is something you are thinking about 1060 00:59:53,370 --> 00:59:55,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: in your life, but if you are and... 1061 00:59:57,300 --> 00:59:58,741 Becs Gentry: Taking running to the next level, she is. 1062 00:59:58,741 --> 00:59:58,742 Jenny Simpson: That's right. That's right. 1063 00:59:58,742 --> 01:00:04,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: I don't even know what party Jenny Simpson is and I don't care, because if Jenny Simpson 1064 01:00:04,140 --> 01:00:07,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: ever runs for anything, let me know, I'll be among 1065 01:00:07,140 --> 01:00:08,491 Rob Simmelkjaer: the first to donate because you get it. You get it. That's the bottom line. 1066 01:00:08,490 --> 01:00:08,492 Jenny Simpson: That means a lot. I appreciate it. 1067 01:00:08,491 --> 01:00:08,492 Becs Gentry: And she's going to a high probability of winning because she's so badass. 1068 01:00:08,492 --> 01:00:21,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: Jenny, we are out of time, but we're going to get 1069 01:00:21,540 --> 01:00:24,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: a lot more time with you in the weeks to 1070 01:00:24,000 --> 01:00:26,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: come as you come to New York to accept the 1071 01:00:26,370 --> 01:00:28,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: honor of being inducted into our New York Road Runners 1072 01:00:28,500 --> 01:00:32,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: Hall of Fame. Cannot wait to see you. Enjoy your 1073 01:00:32,790 --> 01:00:35,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: last few runs here. I know you're in Maine as 1074 01:00:35,130 --> 01:00:39,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: we speak today, so enjoy that and congratulations. Thank you 1075 01:00:39,300 --> 01:00:42,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: for everything you've done for this organization and we can't 1076 01:00:42,060 --> 01:00:46,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: wait to honor you in New York. Peloton is leveling 1077 01:00:46,800 --> 01:00:49,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: up with the launch of their Peloton cross- training series. 1078 01:00:50,280 --> 01:00:54,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: Their redefining what race training can look like. Personalized cardio 1079 01:00:54,600 --> 01:00:57,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: and strength. It makes it easier than ever to achieve 1080 01:00:57,660 --> 01:01:01,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: real results. Whether runners are building a base or pushing 1081 01:01:01,320 --> 01:01:04,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: for a PR, Peloton meets them where they are, then 1082 01:01:04,650 --> 01:01:09,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: helps them go further. Smarter training, stronger outcomes, all backed 1083 01:01:09,120 --> 01:01:13,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: by expert instruction and performance insights. Ready to elevate your 1084 01:01:13,740 --> 01:01:18,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: race game with Peloton? Head to onepeloton.com to learn more. 1085 01:01:18,780 --> 01:01:23,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: Peloton, an official partner of the 2025 TCS New York City 1086 01:01:23,580 --> 01:01:27,240 Rob Simmelkjaer: Marathon. This week's member moment features someone who represents the 1087 01:01:27,240 --> 01:01:31,080 Rob Simmelkjaer: next generation of New York Road Runners. Shivaii Nikam joined 1088 01:01:31,080 --> 01:01:36,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: the NYRR Youth Ambassador program back in 2019 and today 1089 01:01:36,000 --> 01:01:38,940 Rob Simmelkjaer: she's a junior at Brooklyn Tech and a proud member 1090 01:01:38,940 --> 01:01:42,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: of her school's cross country and track teams. She sat 1091 01:01:42,030 --> 01:01:45,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: down with them to talk about how running and leadership have 1092 01:01:45,330 --> 01:01:46,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: shaped her life journey. 1093 01:01:47,310 --> 01:01:50,970 Meb Keflezighi: Thanks, Rob. Shivaii, welcome to Set the Pace Podcast. How's it 1094 01:01:50,970 --> 01:01:51,540 Meb Keflezighi: going today? 1095 01:01:51,540 --> 01:01:52,530 Shivaii Nikam: It's good. How are you doing? 1096 01:01:53,790 --> 01:01:56,790 Meb Keflezighi: I'm doing well. Thanks for asking. You joined the Youth 1097 01:01:56,790 --> 01:02:01,410 Meb Keflezighi: Ambassador program in 2019 and have been an alumni ever since. 1098 01:02:01,440 --> 01:02:05,100 Meb Keflezighi: Looking back, how do you think that experience shaped you 1099 01:02:05,100 --> 01:02:06,960 Meb Keflezighi: as a runner and as a student? 1100 01:02:07,500 --> 01:02:10,650 Shivaii Nikam: As a kid, I was always pretty extroverted, but one 1101 01:02:10,650 --> 01:02:13,680 Shivaii Nikam: thing that scared me was all eyes being on me. 1102 01:02:13,980 --> 01:02:16,530 Shivaii Nikam: So I think being a youth ambassador, it definitely helped 1103 01:02:16,530 --> 01:02:19,230 Shivaii Nikam: me with my public speaking skills, but I definitely can 1104 01:02:19,230 --> 01:02:22,410 Shivaii Nikam: recognize where the skills I learned from that kind of 1105 01:02:22,410 --> 01:02:25,860 Shivaii Nikam: affected other parts of my life. So with running, I 1106 01:02:25,860 --> 01:02:28,260 Shivaii Nikam: became more involved with the community, and before I had 1107 01:02:28,260 --> 01:02:30,750 Shivaii Nikam: just been running races when I was a kid, but 1108 01:02:30,870 --> 01:02:32,850 Shivaii Nikam: then I got the opportunity to speak at Team for 1109 01:02:32,850 --> 01:02:35,370 Shivaii Nikam: Kids and then the TCS Marathon, I even got to 1110 01:02:35,370 --> 01:02:37,470 Shivaii Nikam: go to NASDAQ for the New Year's Eve closing bell 1111 01:02:37,470 --> 01:02:41,640 Shivaii Nikam: one year. And then during the pandemic I created videos 1112 01:02:41,640 --> 01:02:45,510 Shivaii Nikam: with NYRR on social issues and then also addressing ways 1113 01:02:45,510 --> 01:02:49,140 Shivaii Nikam: to stay active and Title IX. And I think those opportunities 1114 01:02:49,140 --> 01:02:51,390 Shivaii Nikam: opened my eyes and allowed me to realize that there's 1115 01:02:51,390 --> 01:02:54,600 Shivaii Nikam: so many reasons to run and that just encouraged me even 1116 01:02:54,600 --> 01:03:00,000 Shivaii Nikam: more because I wanted to be involved even if it was just on an individual level. And 1117 01:03:00,000 --> 01:03:03,420 Shivaii Nikam: I realized that it was just a bigger community that... I don't know. 1118 01:03:03,420 --> 01:03:05,580 Shivaii Nikam: Even today it makes me want to get out and 1119 01:03:05,580 --> 01:03:09,120 Shivaii Nikam: run because it connects so many people. And then when 1120 01:03:09,120 --> 01:03:12,720 Shivaii Nikam: it comes to school and everything, I realized that being 1121 01:03:12,720 --> 01:03:15,750 Shivaii Nikam: a youth ambassador didn't just affect the running world for 1122 01:03:15,750 --> 01:03:18,240 Shivaii Nikam: me, but it had a big impact on my academic life 1123 01:03:18,750 --> 01:03:21,930 Shivaii Nikam: and I stopped getting nervous about presentations and I started 1124 01:03:21,930 --> 01:03:24,330 Shivaii Nikam: to actually look forward to speaking out more and I 1125 01:03:24,330 --> 01:03:27,300 Shivaii Nikam: realized that my voice had power and I wasn't really 1126 01:03:27,300 --> 01:03:29,580 Shivaii Nikam: holding back from that anymore, and I built a lot 1127 01:03:29,580 --> 01:03:33,630 Shivaii Nikam: more confidence in myself from that. And I think finally, 1128 01:03:33,630 --> 01:03:35,700 Shivaii Nikam: it was just I got to speak to a lot 1129 01:03:35,700 --> 01:03:38,160 Shivaii Nikam: of different people from a lot of different backgrounds and 1130 01:03:38,160 --> 01:03:41,880 Shivaii Nikam: not only did I grow more on my own voice, 1131 01:03:42,120 --> 01:03:44,520 Shivaii Nikam: but I got to become a better listener, which I 1132 01:03:44,520 --> 01:03:47,610 Shivaii Nikam: think helps a lot with leadership and group activities in 1133 01:03:47,610 --> 01:03:49,320 Shivaii Nikam: school. So that's that. 1134 01:03:49,920 --> 01:03:53,310 Meb Keflezighi: Well, you're a great youth ambassador and a well- spoken and 1135 01:03:53,310 --> 01:03:55,770 Meb Keflezighi: very powerful person, but let's go look. I know you 1136 01:03:55,770 --> 01:03:58,650 Meb Keflezighi: had said a few things there, but let's get to the nitty- 1137 01:03:58,650 --> 01:04:02,100 Meb Keflezighi: gritty of it. How have your skills shown up on 1138 01:04:02,100 --> 01:04:04,261 Meb Keflezighi: your cross- country and track team at Brooklyn Tech? 1139 01:04:04,261 --> 01:04:08,760 Shivaii Nikam: I think the main thing is that I started to look at running as more than 1140 01:04:08,760 --> 01:04:12,060 Shivaii Nikam: just a sport. I saw it as a community, I saw it as 1141 01:04:12,060 --> 01:04:15,300 Shivaii Nikam: a way to connect to people. On track, it was 1142 01:04:15,300 --> 01:04:16,890 Shivaii Nikam: the first few people that I had met, I was 1143 01:04:16,890 --> 01:04:19,380 Shivaii Nikam: spending every day after school with, I was spending my 1144 01:04:19,380 --> 01:04:23,970 Shivaii Nikam: weekends with. So it just really built and fostered this close- 1145 01:04:23,970 --> 01:04:27,480 Shivaii Nikam: knit type community for me. And I think that being a 1146 01:04:27,480 --> 01:04:30,660 Shivaii Nikam: youth ambassador, it showed me, again, all the opportunities that 1147 01:04:30,660 --> 01:04:33,720 Shivaii Nikam: I listed before, it showed me that it was just 1148 01:04:33,720 --> 01:04:37,740 Shivaii Nikam: something bigger and that the public speaking, it shaped my 1149 01:04:37,740 --> 01:04:43,140 Shivaii Nikam: attitude towards the sport overall, so wanting to be there 1150 01:04:43,140 --> 01:04:45,030 Shivaii Nikam: and cheering for my teammates and everything. 1151 01:04:45,959 --> 01:04:48,479 Meb Keflezighi: Absolutely. And you said earlier you were part of the 1152 01:04:48,479 --> 01:04:53,220 Meb Keflezighi: NASDAQ and going there and you helped create a video 1153 01:04:53,220 --> 01:04:57,060 Meb Keflezighi: for the 50th anniversary of Title IX. What did the project 1154 01:04:57,060 --> 01:05:00,570 Meb Keflezighi: teach you about the role of sports creating opportunities for 1155 01:05:00,570 --> 01:05:01,650 Meb Keflezighi: girls and for women? 1156 01:05:02,280 --> 01:05:04,740 Shivaii Nikam: I think it showed me just how powerful of a 1157 01:05:04,740 --> 01:05:09,570 Shivaii Nikam: role sports play in social conversations and then going back 1158 01:05:09,570 --> 01:05:12,959 Shivaii Nikam: to... I keep going onto it about how sports help 1159 01:05:12,960 --> 01:05:15,450 Shivaii Nikam: create a strong community, but I really think it does. 1160 01:05:15,960 --> 01:05:18,840 Shivaii Nikam: You share common interests with these people in a group 1161 01:05:18,840 --> 01:05:21,840 Shivaii Nikam: and you create so much change just being united as 1162 01:05:21,840 --> 01:05:25,290 Shivaii Nikam: one. And I think that just a few girls and 1163 01:05:25,290 --> 01:05:27,840 Shivaii Nikam: women coming together and being like, " We need sports to 1164 01:05:27,840 --> 01:05:30,210 Shivaii Nikam: be this inclusive space," it opens the door for so 1165 01:05:30,210 --> 01:05:34,350 Shivaii Nikam: many other young girls and women around the world, especially 1166 01:05:34,350 --> 01:05:37,260 Shivaii Nikam: in our country, and running does that and I can 1167 01:05:37,260 --> 01:05:41,610 Shivaii Nikam: see it with running. Just my own personal experience, being 1168 01:05:41,610 --> 01:05:45,510 Shivaii Nikam: on a team, being able to be with 50 other girls 1169 01:05:45,510 --> 01:05:49,950 Shivaii Nikam: running every weekend and stuff, I can see the effects 1170 01:05:49,950 --> 01:05:50,881 Shivaii Nikam: of stuff like Title IX. 1171 01:05:50,881 --> 01:05:55,320 Meb Keflezighi: Shivaii, I tell people sports is a great way to 1172 01:05:55,320 --> 01:05:59,040 Meb Keflezighi: icebreaker and as Nelson Mandela, former president of the South 1173 01:05:59,040 --> 01:06:01,770 Meb Keflezighi: Africa, says, sports unites us more than anything else. But 1174 01:06:02,070 --> 01:06:04,710 Meb Keflezighi: you have run on your school's cross- country and track 1175 01:06:04,710 --> 01:06:08,010 Meb Keflezighi: teams for the past two years. What's your favorite distance 1176 01:06:08,100 --> 01:06:09,390 Meb Keflezighi: or event and why? 1177 01:06:10,440 --> 01:06:13,950 Shivaii Nikam: My favorite event is probably the 800 meters during outdoor 1178 01:06:13,950 --> 01:06:17,400 Shivaii Nikam: track. I love all seasons and I think my favorite 1179 01:06:17,640 --> 01:06:21,300 Shivaii Nikam: season is indoor season, but for some reason the 800 1180 01:06:21,300 --> 01:06:24,510 Shivaii Nikam: meter during outdoors is my favorite. I think it's the 1181 01:06:24,510 --> 01:06:28,020 Shivaii Nikam: perfect balance between sprinting and distance and even for cross- 1182 01:06:28,020 --> 01:06:32,070 Shivaii Nikam: country races or road running for that matter, the last 1183 01:06:32,070 --> 01:06:34,380 Shivaii Nikam: half a mile I get so excited. So this is 1184 01:06:34,380 --> 01:06:38,370 Shivaii Nikam: just the highlight of my entire run. And yeah, even 1185 01:06:38,370 --> 01:06:41,460 Shivaii Nikam: for workouts, I think 800- meter reps were my favorite 1186 01:06:41,940 --> 01:06:42,900 Shivaii Nikam: for the past few years. 1187 01:06:44,040 --> 01:06:46,860 Meb Keflezighi: Pretty awesome. I'm a cross- country coach here at Plant 1188 01:06:46,860 --> 01:06:49,470 Meb Keflezighi: High School. How's your cross- country season going so far? 1189 01:06:49,980 --> 01:06:52,470 Shivaii Nikam: This season I actually have to take a break for 1190 01:06:52,470 --> 01:06:56,100 Shivaii Nikam: school and stuff, but hopefully next season I do indoor. 1191 01:06:56,760 --> 01:06:59,310 Shivaii Nikam: Just a lot of stuff, college prep and everything, so 1192 01:07:00,360 --> 01:07:03,000 Shivaii Nikam: that's conflicting it. But I mean, I've been running on 1193 01:07:03,000 --> 01:07:06,120 Shivaii Nikam: my own recently and keeping up with my coaches' workouts 1194 01:07:06,120 --> 01:07:09,450 Shivaii Nikam: as much as I can and then just cross- training 1195 01:07:09,450 --> 01:07:10,050 Shivaii Nikam: and everything. 1196 01:07:11,220 --> 01:07:12,870 Meb Keflezighi: Your love for the run is still there. 1197 01:07:13,200 --> 01:07:13,590 Shivaii Nikam: Yeah. 1198 01:07:14,220 --> 01:07:17,340 Meb Keflezighi: For young kids who might want to follow your footsteps, 1199 01:07:17,340 --> 01:07:20,010 Meb Keflezighi: what would you say is the biggest lesson you took 1200 01:07:20,010 --> 01:07:21,840 Meb Keflezighi: away from being a youth ambassador? 1201 01:07:22,170 --> 01:07:24,660 Shivaii Nikam: I think the biggest thing is just saying yes, and 1202 01:07:24,660 --> 01:07:27,360 Shivaii Nikam: I think that that ends up being the scariest part 1203 01:07:27,360 --> 01:07:31,260 Shivaii Nikam: of any process to starting any opportunity. It's really easy 1204 01:07:31,260 --> 01:07:34,140 Shivaii Nikam: to doubt yourself and to be nervous about trying something 1205 01:07:34,140 --> 01:07:37,050 Shivaii Nikam: new, but with saying yes, you've just opened the doors 1206 01:07:37,050 --> 01:07:39,840 Shivaii Nikam: for so many different things and anything becomes possible after 1207 01:07:39,840 --> 01:07:44,430 Shivaii Nikam: then. So anytime I said yes to speaking, I listed 1208 01:07:44,430 --> 01:07:47,730 Shivaii Nikam: all those opportunities, TCS and NASDAQ. I was able to 1209 01:07:47,730 --> 01:07:50,490 Shivaii Nikam: go to those things just because I faced my fear 1210 01:07:50,490 --> 01:07:53,070 Shivaii Nikam: of talking in front of a group of people and 1211 01:07:53,070 --> 01:07:56,850 Shivaii Nikam: stuff, and I walked away with more confidence and more 1212 01:07:56,850 --> 01:07:59,430 Shivaii Nikam: experiences that I was genuinely so happy to be a 1213 01:07:59,430 --> 01:08:02,040 Shivaii Nikam: part of and so happy I didn't shy away from. 1214 01:08:02,340 --> 01:08:04,530 Shivaii Nikam: So even if you're a little nervous, just go for 1215 01:08:04,530 --> 01:08:07,200 Shivaii Nikam: something. You're going to be happy you did it and 1216 01:08:07,200 --> 01:08:08,760 Shivaii Nikam: you're going to be really happy you said yes. So I think that's 1217 01:08:09,390 --> 01:08:09,990 Shivaii Nikam: the biggest thing. 1218 01:08:10,320 --> 01:08:12,510 Meb Keflezighi: Well, Shivaii, great to have you on the podcast. You've 1219 01:08:12,510 --> 01:08:14,281 Meb Keflezighi: done so much as young as you are and wish you all the best in the future. 1220 01:08:14,281 --> 01:08:14,431 Shivaii Nikam: Thank you. 1221 01:08:17,790 --> 01:08:18,599 Meb Keflezighi: Keep up the great work. 1222 01:08:18,930 --> 01:08:19,320 Shivaii Nikam: Thank you. 1223 01:08:19,920 --> 01:08:22,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: We're so glad to welcome back Mohammed Saad to Set 1224 01:08:22,650 --> 01:08:26,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: the Pace for today's Med Minute with HSS. Mohammed is a 1225 01:08:26,610 --> 01:08:30,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: physical therapist with the hospital for special surgery who specializes 1226 01:08:30,120 --> 01:08:34,860 Rob Simmelkjaer: in treating both surgical and non- surgical orthopedic cases. At 1227 01:08:34,860 --> 01:08:38,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: HSS, he's part of the performance team conducting running mechanics 1228 01:08:38,400 --> 01:08:42,809 Rob Simmelkjaer: assessments to help athletes prevent injuries. Mohammed is also an 1229 01:08:42,810 --> 01:08:45,960 Rob Simmelkjaer: avid runner and triathlete himself with a special interest in 1230 01:08:45,960 --> 01:08:49,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: endurance and ultra- distance training with the TCS New York City 1231 01:08:49,890 --> 01:08:52,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: Marathon and Abbott Dash just a couple of weeks away, 1232 01:08:53,010 --> 01:08:57,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: he'll share what marathoners can learn from the world of ultra- running and 1233 01:08:57,540 --> 01:08:59,550 Rob Simmelkjaer: how to finish strong on race day. 1234 01:09:00,300 --> 01:09:03,540 Meb Keflezighi: Great to have you as always. You have done work 1235 01:09:03,540 --> 01:09:06,780 Meb Keflezighi: on running mechanics, a distance that get longer. What are 1236 01:09:06,780 --> 01:09:10,439 Meb Keflezighi: the small form of breakdowns you see most often and 1237 01:09:10,439 --> 01:09:13,560 Meb Keflezighi: how can runners protect themselves in the final miles of 1238 01:09:13,560 --> 01:09:14,250 Meb Keflezighi: the marathon? 1239 01:09:14,310 --> 01:09:17,189 Mohammed Saad: Yeah, for sure. Definitely as the miles increase and kind 1240 01:09:17,189 --> 01:09:19,228 Mohammed Saad: of later into those long runs, we see a couple 1241 01:09:19,229 --> 01:09:22,769 Mohammed Saad: of common breakdowns in form. The three most common ones 1242 01:09:22,770 --> 01:09:26,340 Mohammed Saad: that I see, especially when doing running mechanics assessments, is 1243 01:09:26,340 --> 01:09:29,010 Mohammed Saad: a significant increase in the forward trunk lean. So runners 1244 01:09:29,010 --> 01:09:31,380 Mohammed Saad: starting to lean a little bit more forward as their 1245 01:09:31,380 --> 01:09:35,130 Mohammed Saad: core fatigues. You see a pretty significant drop in cadence, 1246 01:09:35,130 --> 01:09:39,269 Mohammed Saad: so runners kind of accidentally start overstriding and then you 1247 01:09:39,270 --> 01:09:41,460 Mohammed Saad: see a reduction in the arm drive, which a lot 1248 01:09:41,460 --> 01:09:43,979 Mohammed Saad: of people kind of neglect. You forget that arm drive 1249 01:09:43,979 --> 01:09:47,280 Mohammed Saad: actually helps propel you forward and can ultimately throw off 1250 01:09:47,280 --> 01:09:51,060 Mohammed Saad: kind of your whole kinetic chain. And then sometimes with 1251 01:09:51,390 --> 01:09:54,210 Mohammed Saad: maybe some beginner runners, you see a loss of hip 1252 01:09:54,210 --> 01:09:56,490 Mohammed Saad: extension and people kind of start shuffling a little bit, 1253 01:09:56,490 --> 01:09:59,370 Mohammed Saad: so their stride isn't quite as long. A couple of 1254 01:09:59,370 --> 01:10:01,890 Mohammed Saad: things that I like to encourage people to do to 1255 01:10:01,890 --> 01:10:05,850 Mohammed Saad: kind of protect against this or prevent this from happening 1256 01:10:05,880 --> 01:10:08,310 Mohammed Saad: at the end of a run is not only just 1257 01:10:08,430 --> 01:10:11,340 Mohammed Saad: training your aerobic engine that every runner does as they 1258 01:10:11,340 --> 01:10:15,450 Mohammed Saad: increase mileage, but also strengthening your core, increasing your hip 1259 01:10:15,450 --> 01:10:19,438 Mohammed Saad: range of motion and just incorporating general strength work, especially 1260 01:10:19,439 --> 01:10:22,710 Mohammed Saad: core and glutes, so that you kind of withstand a 1261 01:10:22,710 --> 01:10:25,438 Mohammed Saad: little bit more of that failure of form and you 1262 01:10:25,439 --> 01:10:26,850 Mohammed Saad: can hold your form under fatigue. 1263 01:10:27,120 --> 01:10:31,110 Meb Keflezighi: Excellent, excellent insight, Mohammed. I tell my runners similar. It's 1264 01:10:31,110 --> 01:10:33,479 Meb Keflezighi: not about just running the miles but doing the small 1265 01:10:33,479 --> 01:10:36,270 Meb Keflezighi: things that make a big impact, and especially with a 1266 01:10:36,270 --> 01:10:38,910 Meb Keflezighi: form as long as a marathon or ultra marathon, but 1267 01:10:38,910 --> 01:10:42,390 Meb Keflezighi: let's get to the... A marathon is already an endurance test, 1268 01:10:42,450 --> 01:10:45,360 Meb Keflezighi: but when you work with ultra runners, you are looking 1269 01:10:45,360 --> 01:10:49,410 Meb Keflezighi: at even bigger scale. What lessons from the ultra world can 1270 01:10:49,410 --> 01:10:52,950 Meb Keflezighi: marathoners apply in this last few weeks before a race day? 1271 01:10:53,070 --> 01:10:56,430 Mohammed Saad: Yeah, absolutely. One thing you can tell a runner regardless 1272 01:10:56,430 --> 01:10:59,280 Mohammed Saad: of distance is listen to your body, obviously. In the 1273 01:10:59,280 --> 01:11:02,010 Mohammed Saad: ultra world, you kind of learn to respect your effort 1274 01:11:02,010 --> 01:11:05,070 Mohammed Saad: over your ego. It's a long distance, so you have 1275 01:11:05,070 --> 01:11:07,740 Mohammed Saad: to really be in tune with your body and go 1276 01:11:07,740 --> 01:11:11,160 Mohammed Saad: by how you feel. Don't worry about chasing numbers, just 1277 01:11:11,370 --> 01:11:14,939 Mohammed Saad: run within your comfort zone and push that pace a 1278 01:11:14,939 --> 01:11:17,760 Mohammed Saad: little bit, but within reason. The other thing that you'll 1279 01:11:17,760 --> 01:11:20,490 Mohammed Saad: hear, whether it's running a half- marathon all the way 1280 01:11:20,490 --> 01:11:22,229 Mohammed Saad: up to an ultra marathon that we talk about a 1281 01:11:22,229 --> 01:11:25,080 Mohammed Saad: lot is fueling. Very, very important. A lot of times 1282 01:11:25,500 --> 01:11:28,260 Mohammed Saad: it's kind of like the second discipline of endurance running, 1283 01:11:28,260 --> 01:11:31,620 Mohammed Saad: being able to fuel well. In an ultra, you learn 1284 01:11:31,620 --> 01:11:35,009 Mohammed Saad: pretty quickly that if you fall behind on nutrition, your 1285 01:11:35,010 --> 01:11:38,160 Mohammed Saad: race is pretty much over and almost the same thing 1286 01:11:38,160 --> 01:11:40,170 Mohammed Saad: can be said for a marathon. Once you hit that 1287 01:11:40,170 --> 01:11:43,350 Mohammed Saad: wall, it's really, really hard to come back. You can't 1288 01:11:43,350 --> 01:11:46,470 Mohammed Saad: just tough it out when you're dehydrated or running low 1289 01:11:46,470 --> 01:11:50,280 Mohammed Saad: on glycogen stores. It's really important to practice that fueling 1290 01:11:50,280 --> 01:11:54,030 Mohammed Saad: throughout your training process, especially during the last few long 1291 01:11:54,030 --> 01:11:56,010 Mohammed Saad: runs. I know people who were training for the New 1292 01:11:56,010 --> 01:11:58,439 Mohammed Saad: York City marathons are kind of finishing up some of 1293 01:11:58,439 --> 01:12:00,630 Mohammed Saad: their long runs, whether it's last weekend or this coming 1294 01:12:00,630 --> 01:12:04,229 Mohammed Saad: weekend. So you want to practice fueling during those. And 1295 01:12:04,229 --> 01:12:07,680 Mohammed Saad: then ultimately, ultra running and marathon running, it really teaches 1296 01:12:07,680 --> 01:12:11,250 Mohammed Saad: patience, right? You have to keep in mind that a 1297 01:12:11,250 --> 01:12:14,010 Mohammed Saad: marathon is not a sprint. You have to pace yourself 1298 01:12:14,550 --> 01:12:17,070 Mohammed Saad: and really be patient in those beginning miles. When your 1299 01:12:17,070 --> 01:12:19,470 Mohammed Saad: legs feel really good and you don't feel winded at 1300 01:12:19,470 --> 01:12:22,229 Mohammed Saad: all, really practice patience and hang on so you can 1301 01:12:22,410 --> 01:12:23,580 Mohammed Saad: have some energy for the end. 1302 01:12:24,180 --> 01:12:28,978 Meb Keflezighi: Great point. Mohammed, patience is a virtue, but when you 1303 01:12:28,979 --> 01:12:31,439 Meb Keflezighi: are lined up in Staten Island and you got to go up 1304 01:12:31,800 --> 01:12:35,040 Meb Keflezighi: that hill and adrenaline is kicking in, caffeine is kicking 1305 01:12:35,040 --> 01:12:38,099 Meb Keflezighi: in, what would you tell somebody? Because I know from 1306 01:12:38,100 --> 01:12:40,890 Meb Keflezighi: ultra I tell people marathons are a long way. It's 1307 01:12:40,890 --> 01:12:44,040 Meb Keflezighi: not a sprint, but it becomes an ultra marathon when 1308 01:12:44,040 --> 01:12:46,290 Meb Keflezighi: you hit the wall. So patience, what is one or 1309 01:12:46,290 --> 01:12:48,150 Meb Keflezighi: two lessons I can say what makes them to be 1310 01:12:48,150 --> 01:12:49,590 Meb Keflezighi: patient at the start of the line? 1311 01:12:49,590 --> 01:12:52,320 Mohammed Saad: Yeah, absolutely. I like to remind, whether it's my friends 1312 01:12:52,320 --> 01:12:54,990 Mohammed Saad: or people who are just getting into running, I remind 1313 01:12:54,990 --> 01:12:57,990 Mohammed Saad: them that you've been training for the past 3, 4, 1314 01:12:57,990 --> 01:13:01,530 Mohammed Saad: 5 months, for some people 18 weeks at times. The 1315 01:13:01,530 --> 01:13:04,139 Mohammed Saad: work's already done. You've already done the hard part. Now 1316 01:13:04,140 --> 01:13:07,229 Mohammed Saad: it's your job to just show up fresh and ready 1317 01:13:08,970 --> 01:13:13,350 Mohammed Saad: and fit, not overly fatigued. So those last few weeks, 1318 01:13:13,560 --> 01:13:16,770 Mohammed Saad: it's really about absorbing your training, not trying to get 1319 01:13:16,770 --> 01:13:18,990 Mohammed Saad: more and more fit. It's really about letting that training 1320 01:13:18,990 --> 01:13:24,870 Mohammed Saad: settle in and not necessarily adding to it. Sometimes with 1321 01:13:24,870 --> 01:13:27,240 Mohammed Saad: the nervous energy and people are so used to running 1322 01:13:27,240 --> 01:13:29,550 Mohammed Saad: long miles the week before the race, they really want 1323 01:13:29,550 --> 01:13:31,560 Mohammed Saad: to get out there and kind of loosen up and 1324 01:13:31,560 --> 01:13:34,320 Mohammed Saad: get rid of some of that impatience or that extra 1325 01:13:34,320 --> 01:13:36,960 Mohammed Saad: energy, and I tell them the work is already done, 1326 01:13:36,960 --> 01:13:39,120 Mohammed Saad: you kind of have to sit with this maybe a 1327 01:13:39,120 --> 01:13:42,720 Mohammed Saad: little bit of exciting nervousness because you don't want to 1328 01:13:42,720 --> 01:13:45,389 Mohammed Saad: do too much too close to the race. So patience 1329 01:13:45,390 --> 01:13:46,260 Mohammed Saad: is a virtue. 1330 01:13:49,590 --> 01:13:52,530 Meb Keflezighi: Temptation is hard, especially when you've been doing a lot of 1331 01:13:52,530 --> 01:13:55,019 Meb Keflezighi: miles routine and things like that. When would be the 1332 01:13:55,020 --> 01:13:57,870 Meb Keflezighi: last day that you said, "You know what, you can run 70 minute or 1333 01:13:57,870 --> 01:14:00,870 Meb Keflezighi: 75 minute."? When would be the last day before close 1334 01:14:00,870 --> 01:14:02,729 Meb Keflezighi: to the race in your opinion? 1335 01:14:02,760 --> 01:14:05,160 Mohammed Saad: I usually would say depending on your taper, if some 1336 01:14:05,160 --> 01:14:07,800 Mohammed Saad: people like to taper for about two weeks, you want 1337 01:14:07,800 --> 01:14:11,250 Mohammed Saad: to do that last a little over an hour, longer 1338 01:14:11,250 --> 01:14:14,010 Mohammed Saad: run, probably maybe a week and a half out. The 1339 01:14:14,010 --> 01:14:17,040 Mohammed Saad: week of, I try not to go anywhere over an 1340 01:14:17,040 --> 01:14:19,740 Mohammed Saad: hour just so that you can show up to the race 1341 01:14:19,740 --> 01:14:20,820 Mohammed Saad: day feeling fresh. 1342 01:14:21,360 --> 01:14:24,180 Meb Keflezighi: Being patient packs a big dividend, but getting to that finish 1343 01:14:24,180 --> 01:14:28,590 Meb Keflezighi: line is important. So for ultra runners or marathoners getting 1344 01:14:28,590 --> 01:14:31,259 Meb Keflezighi: ready for November, what advice do you have for the 1345 01:14:31,260 --> 01:14:35,849 Meb Keflezighi: last few hours or the last few days after the race 1346 01:14:35,880 --> 01:14:36,990 Meb Keflezighi: in terms of recovery? 1347 01:14:37,020 --> 01:14:40,438 Mohammed Saad: Yeah. First and foremost, most important thing, celebrate. Be very 1348 01:14:40,439 --> 01:14:43,080 Mohammed Saad: proud of your accomplishment. You've been working for this for 1349 01:14:43,080 --> 01:14:45,900 Mohammed Saad: months, so take a minute. Regardless of whether you hit 1350 01:14:45,900 --> 01:14:48,030 Mohammed Saad: your ultimate goal or not, be proud of yourself and 1351 01:14:48,030 --> 01:14:51,390 Mohammed Saad: celebrate. One of the things that's kind of funny, I 1352 01:14:51,390 --> 01:14:53,220 Mohammed Saad: ran the New York City Marathon last year and one 1353 01:14:53,220 --> 01:14:55,470 Mohammed Saad: thing a lot of people complain about but is actually 1354 01:14:55,470 --> 01:14:58,349 Mohammed Saad: really good for you is that long walk through Central 1355 01:14:58,350 --> 01:15:00,810 Mohammed Saad: Park before you can exit on the west side. A 1356 01:15:00,810 --> 01:15:02,280 Mohammed Saad: lot of people say, " Man, I really just want to 1357 01:15:02,280 --> 01:15:04,860 Mohammed Saad: get out of the park," but in reality, it's really good 1358 01:15:04,860 --> 01:15:07,260 Mohammed Saad: for you to continue to take a short walk. You 1359 01:15:07,260 --> 01:15:09,930 Mohammed Saad: don't want to have been running for who knows how 1360 01:15:09,930 --> 01:15:12,059 Mohammed Saad: long, whether you're a two- hour marathon or a six- 1361 01:15:12,060 --> 01:15:14,310 Mohammed Saad: hour marathon, you don't want to finish that race and 1362 01:15:14,310 --> 01:15:16,800 Mohammed Saad: immediately stop and sit down. A short walk after the 1363 01:15:16,800 --> 01:15:22,170 Mohammed Saad: finish usually helps start that recovery clock. Once you have 1364 01:15:22,170 --> 01:15:24,390 Mohammed Saad: walked a little bit, then that's when the shift really 1365 01:15:24,570 --> 01:15:28,740 Mohammed Saad: transitions to focusing on hydration, making sure your electrolytes are 1366 01:15:28,740 --> 01:15:32,280 Mohammed Saad: balanced. You've been running for however many hours, you've obviously 1367 01:15:32,280 --> 01:15:34,710 Mohammed Saad: lost a lot of electrolytes through that. So making sure 1368 01:15:34,710 --> 01:15:37,650 Mohammed Saad: you get your electrolyte balance back in. And then refueling 1369 01:15:37,650 --> 01:15:40,019 Mohammed Saad: with some protein and carbs because ultimately that's how your 1370 01:15:40,020 --> 01:15:43,110 Mohammed Saad: body's going to refuel and replenish itself and start to 1371 01:15:43,500 --> 01:15:46,290 Mohammed Saad: rebuild those muscles that you just put through a pounding. 1372 01:15:46,680 --> 01:15:50,910 Mohammed Saad: And then in the days after, it's important to soak 1373 01:15:50,910 --> 01:15:55,170 Mohammed Saad: in that excitement and you want to start planning your 1374 01:15:55,170 --> 01:15:58,200 Mohammed Saad: next race, but don't rush into it. Let your body 1375 01:15:58,950 --> 01:16:02,220 Mohammed Saad: relax a little bit so that you don't prepare yourself 1376 01:16:02,220 --> 01:16:05,759 Mohammed Saad: for potential injury. So a few days off, some active 1377 01:16:05,760 --> 01:16:09,060 Mohammed Saad: recovery, some movement right after the race and focusing on refueling, 1378 01:16:09,689 --> 01:16:13,110 Meb Keflezighi: You answered it already, but as someone who lives endurance 1379 01:16:13,110 --> 01:16:16,860 Meb Keflezighi: in your own training, what do you think marathoners sometimes 1380 01:16:16,860 --> 01:16:19,950 Meb Keflezighi: overlook when they are focused so much on time goals? 1381 01:16:19,979 --> 01:16:23,280 Mohammed Saad: Yeah, I'm guilty of this myself in that we're so focused 1382 01:16:23,280 --> 01:16:25,650 Mohammed Saad: on time goals that we kind of overlook the excitement 1383 01:16:25,650 --> 01:16:29,310 Mohammed Saad: and the joy that's in the process itself. The race 1384 01:16:29,310 --> 01:16:31,260 Mohammed Saad: itself is the goal, but you really have to enjoy 1385 01:16:31,260 --> 01:16:34,530 Mohammed Saad: the process in getting towards that goal. So definitely enjoy 1386 01:16:34,530 --> 01:16:38,430 Mohammed Saad: the training process itself, but also focusing a little bit 1387 01:16:38,430 --> 01:16:41,040 Mohammed Saad: too hard on time goals. Whatever your time goal is 1388 01:16:41,040 --> 01:16:44,250 Mohammed Saad: for the race can sometimes cause you to ignore how 1389 01:16:44,250 --> 01:16:46,290 Mohammed Saad: your body is feeling and your body might be giving 1390 01:16:46,290 --> 01:16:48,809 Mohammed Saad: you signals that like, " Hey, we can maybe even go 1391 01:16:48,810 --> 01:16:50,970 Mohammed Saad: faster," or, " We need to kind of take it a 1392 01:16:50,970 --> 01:16:52,860 Mohammed Saad: little bit easier so that we can make it to 1393 01:16:52,860 --> 01:16:56,010 Mohammed Saad: the finish line." So one kind of mantra that I 1394 01:16:56,010 --> 01:16:58,049 Mohammed Saad: like to think about when I'm running and maybe my 1395 01:16:58,050 --> 01:17:01,140 Mohammed Saad: race isn't going as well as I'd hoped, is adjusting 1396 01:17:01,140 --> 01:17:05,430 Mohammed Saad: is not failing. Adjusting is your body's way of being 1397 01:17:05,430 --> 01:17:09,660 Mohammed Saad: resilient and accommodating to conditions and ultimately that's what racing 1398 01:17:09,660 --> 01:17:14,490 Mohammed Saad: smart is all about, adjusting to the conditions. You've trained 1399 01:17:14,490 --> 01:17:18,840 Mohammed Saad: your entire maybe 16 to 18 weeks in 60 degree weather and 1400 01:17:18,840 --> 01:17:20,820 Mohammed Saad: you show up on race day and it's 80 degrees, you're 1401 01:17:20,820 --> 01:17:23,220 Mohammed Saad: going to have to adjust to that. You can still 1402 01:17:23,220 --> 01:17:25,110 Mohammed Saad: chase your goals, but kind of stay flexible. 1403 01:17:25,650 --> 01:17:27,720 Meb Keflezighi: I completely agree. You have to adjust, you have to 1404 01:17:27,720 --> 01:17:30,688 Meb Keflezighi: be flexible and you have to have goals, A, B 1405 01:17:30,689 --> 01:17:33,478 Meb Keflezighi: and C. Just because goal A is not going well doesn't 1406 01:17:33,479 --> 01:17:35,820 Meb Keflezighi: mean throw the towel, finish as strong as you can, 1407 01:17:35,820 --> 01:17:37,830 Meb Keflezighi: as I say. Sometimes run to win, it doesn't mean 1408 01:17:37,830 --> 01:17:39,570 Meb Keflezighi: get in first place, but getting the best out of 1409 01:17:39,570 --> 01:17:43,229 Meb Keflezighi: yourself. So much great things, Mohammed. Appreciate you've been on 1410 01:17:43,229 --> 01:17:43,530 Meb Keflezighi: the show. 1411 01:17:43,530 --> 01:17:46,380 Mohammed Saad: Absolutely. Thanks for having me and best of luck to everyone running. 1412 01:17:47,220 --> 01:17:49,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: All right, that does it for another episode of Set 1413 01:17:49,350 --> 01:17:51,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: the Pace and what an episode it was. We want 1414 01:17:51,450 --> 01:17:56,188 Rob Simmelkjaer: to thank our guest today, Jenny Simpson, Shivaii Nikam and HSS's 1415 01:17:56,310 --> 01:18:00,059 Rob Simmelkjaer: Mohammed Saad. If you like this episode, please go ahead, 1416 01:18:00,240 --> 01:18:04,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: rate the episode, subscribe, leave a comment, that'll help others 1417 01:18:04,410 --> 01:18:06,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: find the show as well, and we'll also respond to 1418 01:18:06,450 --> 01:18:08,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: your questions if you have a question in those notes 1419 01:18:08,790 --> 01:18:12,870 Rob Simmelkjaer: as well. Good luck to everybody who's starting to taper 1420 01:18:13,020 --> 01:18:16,080 Rob Simmelkjaer: for New York City on November 2nd. Hope to see 1421 01:18:16,080 --> 01:18:18,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: you out there. Enjoy the miles. We'll see you next week.