1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:03,239 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York Road Runners is a non- profit organization with 2 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:06,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: a vision to build healthier lives and stronger communities through 3 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:10,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: the transformative power of running. The support of members and 4 00:00:10,260 --> 00:00:13,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: donors like you helps us achieve our mission to transform 5 00:00:13,890 --> 00:00:17,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: the health and well- being of our communities through inclusive 6 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:21,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: and accessible running experiences, empowering all to achieve their potential. 7 00:00:21,870 --> 00:00:26,009 Rob Simmelkjaer: Learn more and contribute at nyrr. org/ donate. 8 00:00:29,970 --> 00:00:34,379 Speaker 2: Thank you, New York. Today we're reminded of the power 9 00:00:34,380 --> 00:00:39,240 Speaker 2: of community and the power of coming together. Athletes, on 10 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:39,809 Speaker 2: your mark. 11 00:00:41,940 --> 00:00:45,930 Speaker 3: The first woman to finish for the second straight year here 12 00:00:45,930 --> 00:00:49,380 Speaker 3: in the New York City Marathon is Miki Gorman, a smiling Miki 13 00:00:49,380 --> 00:00:52,290 Speaker 3: Gorman. And why not? 2: 29: 30, the time for Grete Waitz. 14 00:00:52,291 --> 00:00:56,520 Speaker 4: Look at the emotion of Shalane Flanagan as she comes 15 00:00:56,520 --> 00:00:59,850 Speaker 4: to the line. Pointing to his chest, pointing to the 16 00:00:59,850 --> 00:01:03,930 Speaker 4: USA he so proudly wears across his chest. A great day 17 00:01:03,930 --> 00:01:10,080 Speaker 4: for Meb Keflezighi. 18 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:13,470 Rob Simmelkjaer: Hey, everybody, and welcome to another edition of Set the 19 00:01:13,470 --> 00:01:16,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: Pace presented by Peloton. It's the official podcast of New 20 00:01:16,830 --> 00:01:19,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: York Road Runners. I'm your host and the CEO of 21 00:01:19,290 --> 00:01:22,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York Road Runners, Rob Simmelkjaer, and with me, Peloton's very 22 00:01:22,740 --> 00:01:26,251 Rob Simmelkjaer: own Becs Gentry. And Becs, hello. It's great to see you... 23 00:01:26,251 --> 00:01:27,091 Becs Gentry: Hi. Good to see you. 24 00:01:27,091 --> 00:01:31,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... as we are sitting here, and the days are 25 00:01:31,530 --> 00:01:34,261 Rob Simmelkjaer: ticking away. Under two weeks now before... 26 00:01:34,261 --> 00:01:34,262 Becs Gentry: Golly. 27 00:01:34,261 --> 00:01:39,959 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon. Neither of us is 28 00:01:39,959 --> 00:01:44,819 Rob Simmelkjaer: running this race, although you obviously have your crazy seven- 29 00:01:44,819 --> 00:01:46,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: day thing we'll talk about in a second. 30 00:01:46,350 --> 00:01:48,600 Becs Gentry: I feel like I'm kind of running it because I'm on the 31 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:51,600 Becs Gentry: motor, so I'm running it, but sitting down, which is... 32 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:51,871 Rob Simmelkjaer: There you go. 33 00:01:51,871 --> 00:01:55,110 Becs Gentry: ... phenomenal. I'm going to be on the whole course, 34 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:56,700 Becs Gentry: but on my bum. Isn't that great? 35 00:01:58,110 --> 00:01:59,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: I'm going to do the same thing. I'll be at 36 00:01:59,850 --> 00:02:02,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: the starting line. I will then jump in a police 37 00:02:02,310 --> 00:02:04,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: vehicle and be brought to the finish, so you and 38 00:02:04,950 --> 00:02:05,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: I will be- 39 00:02:05,190 --> 00:02:06,960 Becs Gentry: That's the CEO, that's a CEO treatment. 40 00:02:06,990 --> 00:02:09,870 Rob Simmelkjaer: It's just, it's what you have to do because I've 41 00:02:09,870 --> 00:02:11,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: got to be at the start and then I got 42 00:02:11,310 --> 00:02:14,820 Rob Simmelkjaer: to be at the finish before the winner. So it's just what one 43 00:02:14,820 --> 00:02:18,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: has to do. But I am so excited, and I'm 44 00:02:18,450 --> 00:02:21,389 Rob Simmelkjaer: thinking about all of the runners out there who are now 45 00:02:21,389 --> 00:02:25,080 Rob Simmelkjaer: officially in their taper period, Becs. And this can be a 46 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:27,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: challenging time for a lot of runners. You know it 47 00:02:27,570 --> 00:02:31,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: well, the so- called taper tantrums people have as the 48 00:02:31,620 --> 00:02:34,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: mileage starts to go down and they start to wonder, 49 00:02:35,610 --> 00:02:38,668 Rob Simmelkjaer: shouldn't I be running more, and am I losing my fitness, 50 00:02:38,669 --> 00:02:42,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: and all of that stuff. So I'm sure you can 51 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:46,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: give some great advice on this given your accomplished history 52 00:02:46,020 --> 00:02:48,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: as a marathoner. What's the number one thing you try 53 00:02:48,300 --> 00:02:51,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: to do, Becs, during the taper period to kind of 54 00:02:51,300 --> 00:02:53,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: keep yourself mentally balanced? 55 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:56,820 Becs Gentry: Yeah, I mean, this is such a great question that 56 00:02:56,820 --> 00:03:02,460 Becs Gentry: every runner fights at the last two weeks before race 57 00:03:02,460 --> 00:03:06,930 Becs Gentry: day. And I think the biggest piece of advice is 58 00:03:07,050 --> 00:03:12,210 Becs Gentry: unless it is pain, it's probably phantom because we have 59 00:03:12,210 --> 00:03:15,660 Becs Gentry: gone through or we have put our bodies through, at 60 00:03:15,660 --> 00:03:20,280 Becs Gentry: this point, like 15 weeks of hard work, maybe more, 61 00:03:20,310 --> 00:03:23,010 Becs Gentry: maybe less, but let's call it just a big chunk 62 00:03:23,010 --> 00:03:26,940 Becs Gentry: of time that you have been putting this intense pressure on 63 00:03:26,940 --> 00:03:30,630 Becs Gentry: your body to perform at a new level. And your 64 00:03:30,630 --> 00:03:33,030 Becs Gentry: body is very, very smart. You may not think it 65 00:03:33,030 --> 00:03:37,140 Becs Gentry: right now, but it is incredibly smart. Your body's got 66 00:03:37,140 --> 00:03:40,890 Becs Gentry: used to this and this routine that you've had in 67 00:03:40,890 --> 00:03:42,180 Becs Gentry: when you do your speed work, when you do your 68 00:03:42,180 --> 00:03:44,280 Becs Gentry: easy runs, when you do your long runs. Your body has 69 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:49,320 Becs Gentry: formulated almost tolerance to it. And when you take that 70 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:54,240 Becs Gentry: away, it's almost this childlike, this infantile moment where your 71 00:03:54,270 --> 00:03:58,230 Becs Gentry: body goes, " No, no, I wasn't doing that. That's what I 72 00:03:58,230 --> 00:04:00,870 Becs Gentry: know. What are you doing?" And that is a taper 73 00:04:00,870 --> 00:04:03,990 Becs Gentry: tantrum. It is not necessarily like a full- grown adult 74 00:04:03,990 --> 00:04:07,861 Becs Gentry: having a toddler tantrum, it is your body- 75 00:04:07,861 --> 00:04:07,862 Rob Simmelkjaer: Although that could happen. 76 00:04:07,862 --> 00:04:12,060 Becs Gentry: That could happen too. That's generally me versus Tallulah. But 77 00:04:12,060 --> 00:04:15,960 Becs Gentry: it is your body just saying, " Wait a minute, you 78 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:18,089 Becs Gentry: made me get used to this for weeks and now 79 00:04:18,089 --> 00:04:22,290 Becs Gentry: you're stopping it? What's the deal?" And your routine should 80 00:04:22,290 --> 00:04:25,110 Becs Gentry: stay the same. And by that I mean the sessions 81 00:04:25,110 --> 00:04:27,630 Becs Gentry: you do per day, type of sessions should stay the 82 00:04:27,630 --> 00:04:31,380 Becs Gentry: same up until race week. Your intensity and the duration 83 00:04:31,410 --> 00:04:34,110 Becs Gentry: of those sessions is going to drastically decrease and should 84 00:04:34,110 --> 00:04:37,440 Becs Gentry: be really decreased by now when we're nine days out 85 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:42,060 Becs Gentry: sort of thing. So your body is going to be 86 00:04:42,060 --> 00:04:46,289 Becs Gentry: going like, " Oh, okay, whoa, all that adrenaline and all 87 00:04:46,290 --> 00:04:49,409 Becs Gentry: that cortisol that might have been masking a slight tightness 88 00:04:49,410 --> 00:04:53,310 Becs Gentry: here or a slight weird feeling here might come out." 89 00:04:53,820 --> 00:04:56,010 Becs Gentry: But trust me when I say unless it is pain, 90 00:04:56,010 --> 00:04:59,820 Becs Gentry: pain, you are probably okay. It is just the cogs 91 00:04:59,820 --> 00:05:03,330 Becs Gentry: loosening ever so slightly, but they are ready to tighten 92 00:05:03,330 --> 00:05:05,549 Becs Gentry: back up because the minute you step out for that 93 00:05:05,550 --> 00:05:08,039 Becs Gentry: shakeout run, we call it a shakeout run in the 94 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:10,950 Becs Gentry: running world to shake out the nerves and shake out 95 00:05:10,950 --> 00:05:14,159 Becs Gentry: the taper before the big day. So you can literally 96 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:17,670 Becs Gentry: do that (inaudible) moment of, oh, my God, I'm 97 00:05:17,670 --> 00:05:20,370 Becs Gentry: doing this tomorrow. This is crazy. And it gives you 98 00:05:20,370 --> 00:05:23,099 Becs Gentry: the opportunity then to tighten those cogs back up, go 99 00:05:23,100 --> 00:05:25,529 Becs Gentry: to bed that night, rest well, and head out for 100 00:05:25,529 --> 00:05:28,200 Becs Gentry: your race the next day. So don't worry about it. 101 00:05:28,230 --> 00:05:31,229 Becs Gentry: Don't be Tallulah the two- year- old tantrum about it. 102 00:05:31,350 --> 00:05:35,849 Becs Gentry: You've got this. You're so close to the start line 103 00:05:35,850 --> 00:05:36,659 Becs Gentry: and the finish line. 104 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:41,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: I love it. That's amazing advice, and I hope folks 105 00:05:41,250 --> 00:05:43,469 Rob Simmelkjaer: out there hear that, follow that. It can be easier 106 00:05:43,470 --> 00:05:46,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: said than done, but it's really great advice. And Becs, 107 00:05:46,950 --> 00:05:50,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: you are a few weeks away now from your own 108 00:05:50,670 --> 00:05:54,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: adventure. And I'm just wondering, when you're running seven marathons 109 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:59,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: in seven days, do you taper? Can you taper? What 110 00:05:59,190 --> 00:06:00,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: does that look like? 111 00:06:00,390 --> 00:06:00,630 Becs Gentry: I don't know. 112 00:06:01,260 --> 00:06:02,070 Rob Simmelkjaer: Where are you now? 113 00:06:02,070 --> 00:06:04,349 Becs Gentry: Should we call my coach right now because I'm not sure either? 114 00:06:04,890 --> 00:06:08,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, I can't even fathom. Where are you now? Are 115 00:06:08,310 --> 00:06:10,469 Rob Simmelkjaer: you past the peak of your weekly mileage? I know 116 00:06:10,470 --> 00:06:13,860 Rob Simmelkjaer: you had your injury with that running you head with your 117 00:06:13,860 --> 00:06:16,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: bed in the stubbing of your toe, but where are 118 00:06:16,380 --> 00:06:17,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: you now in terms of mileage? 119 00:06:18,900 --> 00:06:23,339 Becs Gentry: Well, funny you should ask because I didn't feel like 120 00:06:23,339 --> 00:06:26,070 Becs Gentry: I ran that much last week because I think my 121 00:06:26,070 --> 00:06:30,000 Becs Gentry: brain was still so preoccupied by is my foot okay? Is this going to be 122 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:34,050 Becs Gentry: okay? But I was going out every day doing the 123 00:06:34,050 --> 00:06:37,140 Becs Gentry: workouts that I'd been prescribed by my coach, and I 124 00:06:37,140 --> 00:06:43,500 Becs Gentry: sat there on Sunday exhausted, and I went through my COROS app and I was like, "My 125 00:06:43,500 --> 00:06:48,120 Becs Gentry: gosh, I did 110 miles last week and didn't even 126 00:06:48,330 --> 00:06:52,560 Becs Gentry: think." It just wasn't like the other weeks when I'd 127 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:57,779 Becs Gentry: done 115, 120 mile weeks. It was very different. And that 128 00:06:58,110 --> 00:07:02,310 Becs Gentry: all of a sudden, this huge difference to a week previous 129 00:07:02,310 --> 00:07:05,160 Becs Gentry: when I was panicking about my fitness level, just thinking 130 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:08,370 Becs Gentry: I'd digress so much. And I sat there very proud of 131 00:07:08,370 --> 00:07:12,660 Becs Gentry: myself and thought, " Okay, you're fine. Your fitness level is 132 00:07:12,930 --> 00:07:16,260 Becs Gentry: really good right now because you didn't even think you 133 00:07:16,260 --> 00:07:18,030 Becs Gentry: had to run any..." If you'd have asked me, I 134 00:07:18,030 --> 00:07:22,080 Becs Gentry: probably would've said 60, 70 miles, and I had 110... 135 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:23,821 Rob Simmelkjaer: Wow, unbelievable. 136 00:07:23,821 --> 00:07:26,310 Becs Gentry: ... on my body. So this week's going to be quite a lot more. 137 00:07:26,310 --> 00:07:28,350 Becs Gentry: I think it's probably going to end up more like 138 00:07:28,350 --> 00:07:32,280 Becs Gentry: 130 this week, and then I would say we're going 139 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:34,710 Becs Gentry: to go down a little. But from what I can 140 00:07:34,710 --> 00:07:39,360 Becs Gentry: see, it's not that much. The week prior to the 141 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:41,820 Becs Gentry: race leading up to it literally with the travel to 142 00:07:41,820 --> 00:07:46,500 Becs Gentry: South Africa, race meetings, coordination meetings, I'm going to get 143 00:07:46,500 --> 00:07:48,900 Becs Gentry: the chance to see my South African family who I 144 00:07:48,900 --> 00:07:53,070 Becs Gentry: haven't seen in a very, very long time. I'm not 145 00:07:53,070 --> 00:07:55,350 Becs Gentry: going to be running much that week, let's be honest. 146 00:07:55,350 --> 00:07:57,030 Becs Gentry: So I think for the next two weeks, I think 147 00:07:57,030 --> 00:07:59,310 Becs Gentry: we're going to be crushing still over a hundred miles. 148 00:07:59,700 --> 00:08:05,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: Wow, unbelievable. I hear these things and I just cannot imagine how you do it, 149 00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:07,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: but you're doing it, you're doing it, and we can't 150 00:08:07,650 --> 00:08:10,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: wait to see how that turns out, so off we 151 00:08:10,950 --> 00:08:13,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: go as we get into this incredible season of running 152 00:08:13,950 --> 00:08:17,970 Rob Simmelkjaer: for Road Runners and for Becs as well. And Becs, we had an amazing 153 00:08:17,970 --> 00:08:21,930 Rob Simmelkjaer: day this past weekend at New York Road Runners, our 154 00:08:21,930 --> 00:08:24,989 Rob Simmelkjaer: Rising New York Road Runners, our incredible kids who run 155 00:08:24,990 --> 00:08:28,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: with us week in and week out went to the Armory 156 00:08:28,050 --> 00:08:31,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: uptown for our Rising New York Road Runners Fall Jamboree 157 00:08:31,290 --> 00:08:35,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: presented by TCS. This is a great indoor event. We 158 00:08:35,010 --> 00:08:40,470 Rob Simmelkjaer: had more than 740 finishers, the next generation all empowered 159 00:08:40,470 --> 00:08:43,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: to run on that beautiful brand new track they have 160 00:08:43,260 --> 00:08:46,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: at the Armory. And they were running everything, dashes, relays. 161 00:08:46,740 --> 00:08:49,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: There were field events like shot put and long jump. 162 00:08:49,679 --> 00:08:51,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: It was awesome. I wasn't able to be there, but 163 00:08:51,900 --> 00:08:54,929 Rob Simmelkjaer: I got lots of great pictures, and we just love 164 00:08:54,990 --> 00:08:57,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: those events. We love being at the Armory as well. 165 00:08:57,120 --> 00:08:59,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: We have a great partnership with them that includes the 166 00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:01,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: Millrose Games of course. And so these kids got a 167 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:05,189 Rob Simmelkjaer: chance to be on a track that's the home of 168 00:09:05,190 --> 00:09:08,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: the greatest indoor track and field event in the world. 169 00:09:09,270 --> 00:09:11,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: So thrilled, Becs, for those kids, for their parents to 170 00:09:11,700 --> 00:09:12,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: have a chance to be a part of that. 171 00:09:13,620 --> 00:09:15,750 Becs Gentry: Oh, my gosh, it looked phenomenal. 172 00:09:17,309 --> 00:09:20,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: Absolutely was, and so congrats to all the families and 173 00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:22,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: the kids who were a part of that. And then 174 00:09:23,460 --> 00:09:25,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: of course our attention at Road Runners right now is 175 00:09:25,500 --> 00:09:29,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: focused on the TCS New York City Marathon, but we don't 176 00:09:29,220 --> 00:09:33,329 Rob Simmelkjaer: stop here. There is always something next, and for us, the 177 00:09:33,330 --> 00:09:38,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: next thing already is upon us, it's the 2025 United 178 00:09:38,130 --> 00:09:39,571 Rob Simmelkjaer: Airlines NYC Half. 179 00:09:39,571 --> 00:09:40,170 Becs Gentry: Oh, my gosh. 180 00:09:40,170 --> 00:09:44,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: And we're thinking about that now because sign up kicked 181 00:09:44,850 --> 00:09:48,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: off this week. That's right. The claim and application period 182 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:51,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: for that is now underway. Whether you have a guaranteed 183 00:09:51,540 --> 00:09:54,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: entry or you're a non- New York Road Runners time 184 00:09:54,990 --> 00:09:57,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: qualifier, you've got a time that qualifies you or you're 185 00:09:57,600 --> 00:10:00,179 Rob Simmelkjaer: applying to the drawing to get into that race, now 186 00:10:00,179 --> 00:10:02,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: is actually the time to secure your spot. So we're 187 00:10:02,910 --> 00:10:04,859 Rob Simmelkjaer: going to put a link in the show notes of 188 00:10:04,860 --> 00:10:06,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: this podcast that will tell you everything you need to 189 00:10:06,900 --> 00:10:11,880 Rob Simmelkjaer: know to gain entry into the 2025 United Airlines NYC Half. 190 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:15,150 Becs Gentry: Take your running to the next level with the Peloton Tread+ 191 00:10:16,080 --> 00:10:19,530 Becs Gentry: featuring a rubberized shock absorbing slap belt, it's designed to 192 00:10:19,530 --> 00:10:23,400 Becs Gentry: optimize your runs and walks to the fullest potential. With 193 00:10:23,400 --> 00:10:26,729 Becs Gentry: classes designed and led by expert level coaches, you'll get 194 00:10:26,730 --> 00:10:29,790 Becs Gentry: the guidance you need to reach your running goals. Whether 195 00:10:29,790 --> 00:10:32,730 Becs Gentry: you're just a beginner or consider yourself a pro runner, 196 00:10:33,059 --> 00:10:36,059 Becs Gentry: Peloton is here to support and challenge you every step 197 00:10:36,059 --> 00:10:39,750 Becs Gentry: of the way. All access membership separate. Learn more about 198 00:10:39,750 --> 00:10:45,480 Becs Gentry: Peloton Tread at onepeloton. com/ running. Peloton, the official digital 199 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:47,520 Becs Gentry: fitness partner for New York Road Runners. 200 00:10:47,790 --> 00:10:50,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: Our guest today on Set the Pace is Peloton's very 201 00:10:50,610 --> 00:10:54,240 Rob Simmelkjaer: own Kirsten Ferguson. If you've taken any of Kirsten's classes, 202 00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:57,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: you know that she's not exactly your typical fitness instructor. 203 00:10:57,600 --> 00:11:02,069 Rob Simmelkjaer: Once entrenched in the NFL's corporate world, Kirsten turned to fitness 204 00:11:02,070 --> 00:11:05,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: during a challenging journey to motherhood. Today she's both a 205 00:11:05,670 --> 00:11:10,050 Rob Simmelkjaer: mother and a sought after Peloton treadmill instructor, and she 206 00:11:10,050 --> 00:11:13,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: blends her personal, very human struggles with her passion for 207 00:11:13,650 --> 00:11:16,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: fitness. And by doing that, she has inspired so many 208 00:11:16,770 --> 00:11:20,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: Peloton runners to go farther than they ever thought they 209 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:24,870 Rob Simmelkjaer: could, including herself because she is running her very first 210 00:11:24,870 --> 00:11:27,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: marathon in just over a week when she toes the starting 211 00:11:27,840 --> 00:11:31,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: line at the TCS New York City Marathon. So she's coming 212 00:11:31,500 --> 00:11:33,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: up in just a minute, can't wait for that conversation. 213 00:11:34,230 --> 00:11:37,559 Rob Simmelkjaer: And then our friend, Meb Keflezighi, will be interviewing another 214 00:11:37,559 --> 00:11:43,050 Rob Simmelkjaer: member of 2024's Team Inspire, Joel Kaufman, a 66- year- 215 00:11:43,050 --> 00:11:46,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: old retired high school teacher who has a very unusual 216 00:11:46,350 --> 00:11:50,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: philosophy about PR's and who holds a very special TCS 217 00:11:50,370 --> 00:11:53,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York City Marathon title. Finally, with a little bit 218 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:55,979 Rob Simmelkjaer: more than a week to go, today's Med Minute is 219 00:11:55,980 --> 00:11:58,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: all about what you need to focus on in this, 220 00:11:58,740 --> 00:12:03,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: your 15th week of training for the marathon. 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Visit hubspot. 229 00:12:32,760 --> 00:12:35,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: com/ marketers to learn more. 230 00:12:35,940 --> 00:12:38,880 Becs Gentry: Our guest today is a very good friend of mine and 231 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:43,709 Becs Gentry: fellow Peloton instructor, Kirsten Ferguson. Kirsten's path to where she 232 00:12:43,710 --> 00:12:47,309 Becs Gentry: is today has been anything but linear. After spending seven 233 00:12:47,309 --> 00:12:51,839 Becs Gentry: years working in sponsorships at the NFL, Kirsten faced significant 234 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:56,340 Becs Gentry: personal challenges including two miscarriages on her way to becoming 235 00:12:56,370 --> 00:12:58,860 Becs Gentry: the mom that she is today to her beautiful two 236 00:12:58,980 --> 00:13:03,540 Becs Gentry: girls. During the pandemic, Kirsten started teaching cycling classes on 237 00:13:03,540 --> 00:13:08,040 Becs Gentry: Instagram Live, and that definitely caught the attention of Peloton. 238 00:13:08,820 --> 00:13:11,520 Becs Gentry: Here she is today as a single mother of two 239 00:13:11,790 --> 00:13:15,809 Becs Gentry: and a beloved figure in the fitness community. Kirsten is here to 240 00:13:15,809 --> 00:13:18,780 Becs Gentry: talk to us about how her experiences have shaped her 241 00:13:18,780 --> 00:13:22,559 Becs Gentry: teaching style and how she manages to continue motivating so 242 00:13:22,590 --> 00:13:26,670 Becs Gentry: many Peloton members even as she navigates the complexities of 243 00:13:26,670 --> 00:13:31,920 Becs Gentry: motherhood, a career, and now training for her very first 244 00:13:32,010 --> 00:13:34,949 Becs Gentry: marathon. Kirsten, welcome. 245 00:13:36,780 --> 00:13:38,280 Kirsten Ferguson: Thank you, thank you for that. I appreciate that. 246 00:13:40,440 --> 00:13:43,200 Becs Gentry: It is always such an honor to have a colleague 247 00:13:43,740 --> 00:13:46,500 Becs Gentry: join us here on Set the Pace, but I consider 248 00:13:46,500 --> 00:13:51,449 Becs Gentry: you a good friend as well. And I think for 249 00:13:51,450 --> 00:13:54,750 Becs Gentry: me, when I first met you, we clicked straight away. 250 00:13:54,960 --> 00:13:57,900 Becs Gentry: It was over Zoom, much like we are now in 251 00:13:57,900 --> 00:14:01,380 Becs Gentry: tiny boxes that we became friends through the training process 252 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:05,250 Becs Gentry: of bringing you on board on Tread. And I think 253 00:14:05,250 --> 00:14:08,189 Becs Gentry: that is one of the first things that Rob and 254 00:14:08,190 --> 00:14:12,720 Becs Gentry: I want to start diving into is this juxtaposition of 255 00:14:13,140 --> 00:14:16,920 Becs Gentry: your Instagram Live. If you've got time, friends, do the 256 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:20,160 Becs Gentry: deep dive, scroll back, back, back, back, down, down, down, 257 00:14:21,060 --> 00:14:21,271 Becs Gentry: and you will see- 258 00:14:21,271 --> 00:14:21,631 Kirsten Ferguson: It's still there. 259 00:14:22,830 --> 00:14:26,430 Becs Gentry: It's still there. K. Fergs on her bike at home 260 00:14:26,730 --> 00:14:30,510 Becs Gentry: teaching these epic classes. And one of the first things you said 261 00:14:30,510 --> 00:14:32,280 Becs Gentry: to me was, " I'm not a runner. I don't know 262 00:14:32,280 --> 00:14:36,780 Becs Gentry: what I'm doing on the Tread." And I promised you 263 00:14:36,780 --> 00:14:41,130 Becs Gentry: that that would change, and to see you now half- 264 00:14:41,130 --> 00:14:46,470 Becs Gentry: marathons in from talking you through your longest run ever 265 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:51,690 Becs Gentry: to being two weeks away from the TCS at New York 266 00:14:51,690 --> 00:14:54,150 Becs Gentry: City Marathon that you are running, my girl. 267 00:14:54,510 --> 00:14:55,440 Kirsten Ferguson: I'm sweating hearing you talk about that. 268 00:14:57,000 --> 00:15:00,750 Becs Gentry: But talk to us through that transition of cycling by 269 00:15:00,750 --> 00:15:03,570 Becs Gentry: yourself at home to a runner. 270 00:15:04,620 --> 00:15:08,580 Kirsten Ferguson: I mean, big thanks to you. You were my coach. 271 00:15:08,940 --> 00:15:11,460 Kirsten Ferguson: You were one of the first people that really believed 272 00:15:11,460 --> 00:15:13,710 Kirsten Ferguson: in me and said, " No, if you can walk, you 273 00:15:13,710 --> 00:15:15,780 Kirsten Ferguson: can run, and we're going to get you there. We 274 00:15:15,780 --> 00:15:19,560 Kirsten Ferguson: see something in you, and you have a place here 275 00:15:19,560 --> 00:15:23,820 Kirsten Ferguson: at Peloton." And so that really helped me on my 276 00:15:23,820 --> 00:15:28,680 Kirsten Ferguson: journey to battle imposter syndrome. I mean, I work with you as 277 00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:34,350 Kirsten Ferguson: superheroes, and so it took a lot of diving deep 278 00:15:35,010 --> 00:15:38,940 Kirsten Ferguson: into my why, why do I feel like I belong 279 00:15:38,940 --> 00:15:43,560 Kirsten Ferguson: here at Peloton, and really accepting that I have a 280 00:15:43,560 --> 00:15:46,410 Kirsten Ferguson: place here. And so I just said, " You know what? 281 00:15:46,410 --> 00:15:47,910 Kirsten Ferguson: I'm going to bet on myself. I'm going to bet 282 00:15:47,910 --> 00:15:51,360 Kirsten Ferguson: on myself. This is going to be a challenge, but 283 00:15:51,540 --> 00:15:55,710 Kirsten Ferguson: here we go." And it wasn't always pretty. I remember 284 00:15:55,710 --> 00:15:59,160 Kirsten Ferguson: our first few reviews were like, okay, maybe I'll come 285 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:01,170 Kirsten Ferguson: in here and help you work on this form, girl. 286 00:16:02,370 --> 00:16:08,430 Kirsten Ferguson: But it took some... Definitely the training process was crucial 287 00:16:08,430 --> 00:16:14,220 Kirsten Ferguson: for me, and also just accepting who I was, and 288 00:16:14,400 --> 00:16:18,240 Kirsten Ferguson: we work with a large team of instructors, and understanding 289 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:21,390 Kirsten Ferguson: that I have a lane and a space here and 290 00:16:21,390 --> 00:16:24,540 Kirsten Ferguson: to figure out what that was and to really own 291 00:16:24,540 --> 00:16:29,340 Kirsten Ferguson: my voice and be who I am unapologetically. And so 292 00:16:29,340 --> 00:16:31,560 Kirsten Ferguson: once I learned that and to lean into that, I 293 00:16:31,560 --> 00:16:34,140 Kirsten Ferguson: knew that Peloton didn't need another Becs Gentry, Peloton didn't 294 00:16:34,140 --> 00:16:37,530 Kirsten Ferguson: need another Matt Wilpers, they needed a Kirsten Ferguson. And 295 00:16:37,530 --> 00:16:40,590 Kirsten Ferguson: once I learned that and accepted that, I was like, 296 00:16:40,590 --> 00:16:42,120 Kirsten Ferguson: okay, let's do this. 297 00:16:42,870 --> 00:16:46,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: Kirsten, it's interesting, I talk to people all the time 298 00:16:46,290 --> 00:16:49,470 Rob Simmelkjaer: who learn what I do as CEO of New York 299 00:16:49,470 --> 00:16:52,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: Road Runners, and they're like, " Oh, that's cool. I'm not 300 00:16:52,950 --> 00:16:58,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: a runner." And they may express some desire to be 301 00:16:58,500 --> 00:17:00,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: a runner, but they're like, " I'm just not, I'm not 302 00:17:00,390 --> 00:17:03,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: a runner." And I always say to them, " Okay, listen, 303 00:17:03,810 --> 00:17:05,970 Rob Simmelkjaer: if you can walk, you can turn into a runner, 304 00:17:05,970 --> 00:17:09,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: if that's what you want to do." How did you 305 00:17:09,119 --> 00:17:10,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: turn yourself into a runner? 306 00:17:11,430 --> 00:17:14,970 Kirsten Ferguson: I started with that, I started with walkless runs, literally. 307 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:19,470 Kirsten Ferguson: Literally, I had to start from the very beginning, and 308 00:17:19,470 --> 00:17:21,600 Kirsten Ferguson: that's why I feel like I'm able to speak to 309 00:17:21,600 --> 00:17:24,240 Kirsten Ferguson: our members so authentically. It was like, " No, no, I 310 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:27,720 Kirsten Ferguson: am one of you. I literally started walking, and then 311 00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:29,580 Kirsten Ferguson: running a little bit, then walk a little bit, then run 312 00:17:29,580 --> 00:17:34,439 Kirsten Ferguson: a little bit," and really own that and be okay 313 00:17:34,440 --> 00:17:39,240 Kirsten Ferguson: with that and take it step by step, and really 314 00:17:39,420 --> 00:17:44,670 Kirsten Ferguson: study and listen. I literally watched my coaches' classes over 315 00:17:44,670 --> 00:17:48,480 Kirsten Ferguson: and over and over again and really took in how 316 00:17:48,480 --> 00:17:52,830 Kirsten Ferguson: they're coaching, and then I started to become that. And 317 00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:59,130 Kirsten Ferguson: so it was really starting from square one with running. 318 00:17:59,130 --> 00:18:03,450 Kirsten Ferguson: And I always say, I'd go out running outside, and 319 00:18:03,450 --> 00:18:06,210 Kirsten Ferguson: I would sing, I would sing to learn how to... Because that was 320 00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:08,609 Kirsten Ferguson: the biggest thing too. I'm like, this is great, but 321 00:18:08,609 --> 00:18:12,690 Kirsten Ferguson: how do I run and talk? It's a whole different 322 00:18:12,690 --> 00:18:16,080 Kirsten Ferguson: ballgame. Running in itself is hard, but running and talking, 323 00:18:16,109 --> 00:18:19,619 Kirsten Ferguson: how do you master that? So I'd go out, run 324 00:18:19,619 --> 00:18:22,980 Kirsten Ferguson: and sing. And so it was an interesting process learning 325 00:18:22,980 --> 00:18:26,040 Kirsten Ferguson: how to be able to teach on the Tread for sure. 326 00:18:26,850 --> 00:18:31,260 Becs Gentry: Then you did it. You did it beautifully. And we 327 00:18:31,260 --> 00:18:35,070 Becs Gentry: definitely, I think, we didn't break COVID protocol, but it 328 00:18:35,070 --> 00:18:37,140 Becs Gentry: was towards the end and we were allowed to come 329 00:18:37,140 --> 00:18:41,369 Becs Gentry: in fully masked up. And we spent some time in 330 00:18:41,369 --> 00:18:45,930 Becs Gentry: the Tread studio, just one- on- one together because you were 331 00:18:46,140 --> 00:18:49,080 Becs Gentry: a cyclist. There's no denying that you didn't come in 332 00:18:49,080 --> 00:18:53,460 Becs Gentry: as somebody who had spent time focusing on their run, 333 00:18:54,180 --> 00:18:58,800 Becs Gentry: and to run for longevity, which is what we want 334 00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:02,219 Becs Gentry: to promote. You should take some time to focus on 335 00:19:02,220 --> 00:19:04,619 Becs Gentry: your form to see if there is slightly better way 336 00:19:04,619 --> 00:19:06,960 Becs Gentry: for you to be striking the ground when you run. 337 00:19:07,020 --> 00:19:11,129 Becs Gentry: And so we worked on that together for sure. But 338 00:19:11,580 --> 00:19:15,840 Becs Gentry: your work ethic from day one is what stuck out 339 00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:23,011 Becs Gentry: to me. And I think fast- forward three, four years, are we coming up to? 340 00:19:23,011 --> 00:19:26,760 Kirsten Ferguson: Three and a half years. (inaudible) change, yeah. 341 00:19:27,180 --> 00:19:31,020 Becs Gentry: Oh, my gosh. But fast- forward, you have run the 342 00:19:31,020 --> 00:19:36,629 Becs Gentry: United Airlines NYC Half this year, so earlier on in spring. 343 00:19:37,109 --> 00:19:43,320 Becs Gentry: Your work ethic got you training through miserable temperatures. And 344 00:19:43,320 --> 00:19:48,300 Becs Gentry: I mean, I remember talking to you in January, February, 345 00:19:48,300 --> 00:19:50,460 Becs Gentry: and you're like, " I'm not doing it, Becs, I'm not 346 00:19:50,460 --> 00:19:57,570 Becs Gentry: doing it. This is disgusting." But that I want you 347 00:19:57,570 --> 00:20:01,830 Becs Gentry: to talk to people about why that race was so 348 00:20:01,830 --> 00:20:04,740 Becs Gentry: important to you because of what you went through the 349 00:20:04,740 --> 00:20:05,490 Becs Gentry: year before. 350 00:20:05,940 --> 00:20:10,830 Kirsten Ferguson: Yeah, so once I figured out what I was doing 351 00:20:10,830 --> 00:20:12,630 Kirsten Ferguson: at Peloton, I was like, " You know what? I think 352 00:20:12,630 --> 00:20:15,030 Kirsten Ferguson: I want to run a half- marathon. Let's just see. 353 00:20:15,030 --> 00:20:18,002 Kirsten Ferguson: Let's try." And so I (inaudible) . 354 00:20:18,002 --> 00:20:19,320 Becs Gentry: No peer pressure. This sounds like we do peer pressure, everyone. I just want you 355 00:20:19,710 --> 00:20:23,880 Becs Gentry: to understand that as Tread instructors, we don't pressurize people 356 00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:26,820 Becs Gentry: to do races. It's just a natural organic want. 357 00:20:27,420 --> 00:20:30,359 Kirsten Ferguson: Yeah. And also I wanted to be able to speak 358 00:20:30,359 --> 00:20:32,909 Kirsten Ferguson: from authentic voice. A lot of people that take our 359 00:20:32,910 --> 00:20:36,570 Kirsten Ferguson: classes, they're training for half- marathons, marathons, and so I 360 00:20:36,570 --> 00:20:38,129 Kirsten Ferguson: wanted to be able to speak to it from an 361 00:20:38,130 --> 00:20:41,669 Kirsten Ferguson: authentic perspective. And so I said, "You know what? Let's just go out and train." So I 362 00:20:41,670 --> 00:20:44,490 Kirsten Ferguson: signed up originally for the Brooklyn Half, and that's when 363 00:20:44,490 --> 00:20:47,310 Kirsten Ferguson: I injured myself. I ended up having to have hip 364 00:20:47,310 --> 00:20:51,930 Kirsten Ferguson: surgery a year and a half ago now, and that 365 00:20:51,930 --> 00:20:54,030 Kirsten Ferguson: was devastating. I feel like I worked so hard to 366 00:20:54,030 --> 00:20:56,340 Kirsten Ferguson: get to where I was as a runner, as a 367 00:20:56,340 --> 00:21:01,650 Kirsten Ferguson: coach, and to have to literally put pause on all 368 00:21:01,650 --> 00:21:03,570 Kirsten Ferguson: of that and not know what it was going to 369 00:21:03,570 --> 00:21:07,800 Kirsten Ferguson: be like when I came back was terrifying, especially as 370 00:21:07,859 --> 00:21:13,920 Kirsten Ferguson: a single mom, as a Peloton coach, I was terrified 371 00:21:14,609 --> 00:21:19,619 Kirsten Ferguson: to work myself back to where I was. And so 372 00:21:20,730 --> 00:21:26,669 Kirsten Ferguson: I had the goal of running the United Half as 373 00:21:27,390 --> 00:21:32,310 Kirsten Ferguson: big, scary, uncomfortable goal, but what a way to prove 374 00:21:32,310 --> 00:21:36,240 Kirsten Ferguson: to myself and to my body that I'm back. And 375 00:21:36,270 --> 00:21:38,909 Kirsten Ferguson: so once I got back at Peloton, I started training, 376 00:21:38,940 --> 00:21:43,050 Kirsten Ferguson: and did go through the winter months training, but it 377 00:21:43,050 --> 00:21:46,050 Kirsten Ferguson: was holding onto that wow every week, going a little 378 00:21:46,050 --> 00:21:48,900 Kirsten Ferguson: bit further, trusting my body, trusting my hip, my body 379 00:21:48,900 --> 00:21:53,940 Kirsten Ferguson: was feeling good, but I also learned so much about my 380 00:21:53,940 --> 00:21:56,369 Kirsten Ferguson: body and the things that you need to put in 381 00:21:56,730 --> 00:21:59,730 Kirsten Ferguson: in addition to just running, like strength training and warming 382 00:21:59,730 --> 00:22:01,770 Kirsten Ferguson: up and all these things that I would just skip 383 00:22:01,830 --> 00:22:03,690 Kirsten Ferguson: when I was younger. And now I'm like, " Oh, wait, 384 00:22:03,690 --> 00:22:05,490 Kirsten Ferguson: I'm 40. I need to do these things before I 385 00:22:05,490 --> 00:22:09,630 Kirsten Ferguson: go out for a run." So learning so much about 386 00:22:09,630 --> 00:22:14,160 Kirsten Ferguson: my body, and then being able to cross that finish 387 00:22:14,160 --> 00:22:18,990 Kirsten Ferguson: line. I remember seeing you, Becs, and just tears falling out of 388 00:22:19,050 --> 00:22:22,590 Kirsten Ferguson: my eyes because, one, you believed in me since day 389 00:22:22,590 --> 00:22:25,320 Kirsten Ferguson: one, but also two, just all that I went through 390 00:22:25,320 --> 00:22:29,670 Kirsten Ferguson: that year, highs and lows to get back to then 391 00:22:29,670 --> 00:22:32,880 Kirsten Ferguson: be able to do that was an incredible feeling. 392 00:22:33,750 --> 00:22:36,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: So Kirsten, you get to the finish line of the 393 00:22:36,090 --> 00:22:42,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: United Airlines NYC Half, did you immediately think, " Okay, I can 394 00:22:42,330 --> 00:22:45,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: do this again. I want to go the full distance. 395 00:22:45,330 --> 00:22:50,189 Rob Simmelkjaer: I want to run another 13. 1 miles and run 396 00:22:50,250 --> 00:22:53,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: a full marathon"? Was that what happened or did someone 397 00:22:53,970 --> 00:22:55,169 Rob Simmelkjaer: get to you and convince you? 398 00:22:55,230 --> 00:22:57,960 Kirsten Ferguson: No, someone definitely got to me because after that I was 399 00:22:57,960 --> 00:23:02,940 Kirsten Ferguson: like, I could not even picture running back after that. 400 00:23:02,940 --> 00:23:07,169 Kirsten Ferguson: I was super good. I remember seeing a couple of our 401 00:23:07,170 --> 00:23:10,770 Kirsten Ferguson: teammates that also ran, and they're moving around like it's 402 00:23:10,770 --> 00:23:12,929 Kirsten Ferguson: nothing. I think Tunde went and taught a 60- minute 403 00:23:13,320 --> 00:23:18,570 Kirsten Ferguson: Power Zone class after that. I was horizontal for two 404 00:23:18,570 --> 00:23:21,270 Kirsten Ferguson: days. (inaudible) . I was like, no way. 405 00:23:21,600 --> 00:23:23,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: I bet. So who got to you? Was it my lovely co- 406 00:23:23,850 --> 00:23:27,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: host? Was she the one who planted this seed in your ear, or 407 00:23:27,990 --> 00:23:28,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: who was it? 408 00:23:28,650 --> 00:23:31,830 Kirsten Ferguson: It was so interesting. So the hospital that did my 409 00:23:31,830 --> 00:23:35,700 Kirsten Ferguson: surgery, HSS, who's also a presenting sponsor of the marathon, 410 00:23:36,690 --> 00:23:40,230 Kirsten Ferguson: they do a story called Back in the Game, and they 411 00:23:40,230 --> 00:23:42,480 Kirsten Ferguson: were like, " We would love to do a story about 412 00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:46,619 Kirsten Ferguson: you. Would you ever consider running the full?" And I 413 00:23:46,619 --> 00:23:51,000 Kirsten Ferguson: was like, " No. Well, it would be really cool to 414 00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:54,180 Kirsten Ferguson: tell the story." And so I text my PT that 415 00:23:54,240 --> 00:23:57,150 Kirsten Ferguson: has been with me since the start and just been 416 00:23:57,150 --> 00:24:00,570 Kirsten Ferguson: a super supportive member on my team to help me 417 00:24:00,600 --> 00:24:04,619 Kirsten Ferguson: get back to doing what I do now. And he 418 00:24:04,619 --> 00:24:06,090 Kirsten Ferguson: was like, " If you do it, I'll do it with 419 00:24:06,090 --> 00:24:10,290 Kirsten Ferguson: you." And so we signed up, and we were like, " All right, let's 420 00:24:10,290 --> 00:24:13,290 Kirsten Ferguson: just see, let's just try." And like, wow, no, this 421 00:24:13,290 --> 00:24:16,680 Kirsten Ferguson: is actually really happening. So he got to me, they 422 00:24:16,680 --> 00:24:20,670 Kirsten Ferguson: got to me, and then it's just like my teammates, 423 00:24:20,670 --> 00:24:24,359 Kirsten Ferguson: I see them crushing things, and I was like, "Know what, let me just 424 00:24:24,810 --> 00:24:28,500 Kirsten Ferguson: do it and do it my way." And I really 425 00:24:28,500 --> 00:24:31,679 Kirsten Ferguson: am just going out there for the vibes and the 426 00:24:31,680 --> 00:24:34,379 Kirsten Ferguson: good times is what I say, and I want to see 427 00:24:34,380 --> 00:24:37,200 Kirsten Ferguson: our Peloton members and I want to high five, and 428 00:24:37,650 --> 00:24:40,440 Kirsten Ferguson: I'm not doing it for time at all. I'm not 429 00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:44,939 Kirsten Ferguson: a fast runner. I'm just proving to myself that I 430 00:24:44,940 --> 00:24:46,889 Kirsten Ferguson: can go through really hard things and come out on 431 00:24:46,890 --> 00:24:47,520 Kirsten Ferguson: the other side. 432 00:24:48,240 --> 00:24:53,250 Becs Gentry: Yeah. And you are going to shine that day. So let's talk about 433 00:24:53,280 --> 00:24:58,230 Becs Gentry: this training cycle because you did the United Airlines Half 434 00:24:58,770 --> 00:25:03,570 Becs Gentry: back in March, then had a little bit of maintenance 435 00:25:03,570 --> 00:25:07,649 Becs Gentry: just running for your joy, running for your job, and 436 00:25:07,650 --> 00:25:11,970 Becs Gentry: then HSS come along and get you to sign up. 437 00:25:13,080 --> 00:25:16,890 Becs Gentry: You've trained through summer, which for some people it was great. 438 00:25:16,890 --> 00:25:19,859 Becs Gentry: I'm definitely a fair weather runner. I love training through 439 00:25:19,859 --> 00:25:24,510 Becs Gentry: summer, once you acclimatize obviously. What would you say right 440 00:25:24,660 --> 00:25:28,050 Becs Gentry: now, sitting where you are today has been the toughest 441 00:25:28,050 --> 00:25:30,660 Becs Gentry: part of training for a full marathon for you? 442 00:25:31,830 --> 00:25:35,310 Kirsten Ferguson: For me, and you can attest to this too, is 443 00:25:36,300 --> 00:25:44,220 Kirsten Ferguson: finding the time, it's getting up super, super early, especially 444 00:25:44,220 --> 00:25:46,649 Kirsten Ferguson: during the summer months. I'm a 5: 00 AM girl 445 00:25:46,650 --> 00:25:48,990 Kirsten Ferguson: to get out before the heat gets too hot and 446 00:25:48,990 --> 00:25:52,980 Kirsten Ferguson: too intense. So I get up super early, but it's 447 00:25:52,980 --> 00:25:57,300 Kirsten Ferguson: also just... And the long runs I actually enjoy because 448 00:25:57,300 --> 00:26:00,210 Kirsten Ferguson: I find that as a mom, as a business woman, 449 00:26:00,270 --> 00:26:02,429 Kirsten Ferguson: that's my time for me. It's like I get a 450 00:26:02,430 --> 00:26:05,310 Kirsten Ferguson: chunk of time where I'm not needed at all. So 451 00:26:05,310 --> 00:26:08,189 Kirsten Ferguson: I kind of love that moment. It's the time during 452 00:26:08,190 --> 00:26:11,760 Kirsten Ferguson: the week where you have pick up, drop off, homework, 453 00:26:13,350 --> 00:26:16,679 Kirsten Ferguson: our job, the hours that we have to put in 454 00:26:16,859 --> 00:26:20,040 Kirsten Ferguson: for work and then finding the time to also get 455 00:26:20,040 --> 00:26:25,830 Kirsten Ferguson: your miles in has been really challenging. Also, I remember 456 00:26:25,830 --> 00:26:27,300 Kirsten Ferguson: the day, I'm going to talk about the day I 457 00:26:27,300 --> 00:26:30,630 Kirsten Ferguson: ran into you. I was set out to run 16 458 00:26:30,630 --> 00:26:37,290 Kirsten Ferguson: miles, and my body hit a block around 12 and a half, 13 miles. 459 00:26:37,920 --> 00:26:41,580 Kirsten Ferguson: And I mean, my fueling was off, everything was off, 460 00:26:41,580 --> 00:26:43,469 Kirsten Ferguson: but I literally felt like I didn't know whether I was going 461 00:26:43,470 --> 00:26:47,190 Kirsten Ferguson: to pass out or vomit. And I remember just feeling 462 00:26:47,190 --> 00:26:50,609 Kirsten Ferguson: so defeated because I was like, " Wait, I set out to run 16 463 00:26:50,609 --> 00:26:53,070 Kirsten Ferguson: miles. The marathon is 26. 2. If I can't do 464 00:26:53,070 --> 00:26:56,670 Kirsten Ferguson: 16, what makes you think that you are capable of 465 00:26:56,670 --> 00:27:00,359 Kirsten Ferguson: running this marathon?" And I just felt so defeated. And 466 00:27:00,359 --> 00:27:02,820 Kirsten Ferguson: at that moment I ran into Becs and Adrian in the 467 00:27:02,820 --> 00:27:05,699 Kirsten Ferguson: locker room, and I remember being in tears, and they're 468 00:27:05,700 --> 00:27:07,740 Kirsten Ferguson: just like, "No, no, no, you're going to do this. We're 469 00:27:07,740 --> 00:27:09,990 Kirsten Ferguson: going to get your fueling right. You're just not there 470 00:27:09,990 --> 00:27:14,609 Kirsten Ferguson: yet, and that's okay." And then the next week, Becs 471 00:27:14,970 --> 00:27:17,790 Kirsten Ferguson: had my back and got me together. And then the 472 00:27:17,790 --> 00:27:20,190 Kirsten Ferguson: next week I ran 14 again and then 16, then 473 00:27:20,250 --> 00:27:25,619 Kirsten Ferguson: 18, then 20. So I hit the block, but then I keep 474 00:27:25,619 --> 00:27:27,719 Kirsten Ferguson: going, and apparently this is a thing, I didn't know 475 00:27:27,720 --> 00:27:29,580 Kirsten Ferguson: it was a thing, it is a thing, so. 476 00:27:30,359 --> 00:27:34,230 Rob Simmelkjaer: It's definitely a thing, and this is what running a 477 00:27:34,230 --> 00:27:38,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: marathon is all about, it's about hitting those obstacles along 478 00:27:38,340 --> 00:27:40,919 Rob Simmelkjaer: the way that we all hit. We hit them in 479 00:27:40,920 --> 00:27:44,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: running, we hit them in various aspects of life. Becs 480 00:27:44,670 --> 00:27:47,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: talked about it in your intro, different things you've had 481 00:27:47,490 --> 00:27:53,159 Rob Simmelkjaer: to go through from pregnancy issues to being a single 482 00:27:53,160 --> 00:27:55,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: mom. It's a lot, right? We all have things we 483 00:27:55,410 --> 00:27:59,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: deal with. What do you think you've learned so far most 484 00:27:59,520 --> 00:28:03,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: about yourself in this process? And you haven't yet made 485 00:28:03,660 --> 00:28:06,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: it to the starting line, but we're only less than 486 00:28:06,480 --> 00:28:09,149 Rob Simmelkjaer: two weeks out. You sound hopeful, so it sounds like 487 00:28:09,150 --> 00:28:12,629 Rob Simmelkjaer: we'll see you on the starting line on November 3rd. 488 00:28:12,690 --> 00:28:14,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: What have you learned most about yourself on that journey 489 00:28:14,670 --> 00:28:15,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: to the starting line? 490 00:28:16,680 --> 00:28:24,629 Kirsten Ferguson: My gosh, I have learned so much, but the biggest 491 00:28:24,630 --> 00:28:32,310 Kirsten Ferguson: thing is that you can go through really hard things, 492 00:28:32,970 --> 00:28:37,350 Kirsten Ferguson: really hard things, really hard things, and all you have to do is get back up 493 00:28:37,350 --> 00:28:41,280 Kirsten Ferguson: and keep going, even despite it all, despite the weight, 494 00:28:41,370 --> 00:28:43,380 Kirsten Ferguson: even it's heavy, you can keep going, and that it 495 00:28:43,380 --> 00:28:48,180 Kirsten Ferguson: doesn't have to always look perfect. I think in my 496 00:28:48,180 --> 00:28:51,570 Kirsten Ferguson: mind, I've always had this vision of what a runner 497 00:28:52,380 --> 00:28:57,870 Kirsten Ferguson: looked like, and I've had to let go of that 498 00:28:57,930 --> 00:29:02,220 Kirsten Ferguson: and just accept who I am and know that I 499 00:29:02,220 --> 00:29:04,770 Kirsten Ferguson: am a runner and I can finally say that out 500 00:29:04,770 --> 00:29:09,780 Kirsten Ferguson: loud. I think just recently I've been able to accept 501 00:29:09,780 --> 00:29:13,500 Kirsten Ferguson: that like, " Wait, I am a runner," and I've let 502 00:29:13,500 --> 00:29:16,290 Kirsten Ferguson: go of the vision of what I thought a runner was. 503 00:29:16,290 --> 00:29:21,150 Kirsten Ferguson: So I think learning to accept who I am today, 504 00:29:21,990 --> 00:29:26,760 Kirsten Ferguson: knowing that I went through really hard things, and in two weeks this 505 00:29:26,760 --> 00:29:29,400 Kirsten Ferguson: is going to be the fun part, this is going 506 00:29:29,400 --> 00:29:34,979 Kirsten Ferguson: to be the celebration of everything, everything I've gone through. 507 00:29:35,850 --> 00:29:40,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: A hundred percent. Yeah, that's why I always say on 508 00:29:40,560 --> 00:29:43,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: the morning of the marathon, I always tell everybody congratulations 509 00:29:44,010 --> 00:29:48,240 Rob Simmelkjaer: at the starting line because that to me is always 510 00:29:48,240 --> 00:29:50,820 Rob Simmelkjaer: the hardest part, is getting to the starting line, and 511 00:29:50,820 --> 00:29:53,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: from there to the finish, that's a party, that's a 512 00:29:53,490 --> 00:29:57,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: celebration. That's when you get to cash in and enjoy 513 00:29:57,210 --> 00:29:59,970 Rob Simmelkjaer: all the work you put in. But Kirsten, it's interesting 514 00:29:59,970 --> 00:30:03,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: to hear you say that you didn't see yourself as 515 00:30:03,750 --> 00:30:05,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: a runner, that you're just now starting to call yourself 516 00:30:05,850 --> 00:30:09,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: a runner. And I have to say that that's really consistent 517 00:30:09,420 --> 00:30:11,880 Rob Simmelkjaer: with a lot of things we hear and how valuable 518 00:30:11,880 --> 00:30:15,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: it is for us as we try to grow the 519 00:30:15,060 --> 00:30:18,360 Rob Simmelkjaer: sport of running in a place like New York and 520 00:30:18,360 --> 00:30:21,240 Rob Simmelkjaer: around the world to have someone like you, right? Because 521 00:30:21,780 --> 00:30:25,050 Rob Simmelkjaer: I think it's really important for folks to see someone 522 00:30:25,050 --> 00:30:28,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: who looks like you, someone who has a story like 523 00:30:28,200 --> 00:30:32,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: yours, someone who didn't run cross country in high school 524 00:30:32,100 --> 00:30:36,870 Rob Simmelkjaer: like I did, or isn't an elite athlete like Becs, but 525 00:30:36,900 --> 00:30:41,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: who discovered this and now calls themselves a runner. It's 526 00:30:41,580 --> 00:30:43,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: really important. And so I guess I'd ask you, what's 527 00:30:43,650 --> 00:30:46,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: your message to somebody out there who was like you 528 00:30:47,160 --> 00:30:49,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: a few years ago, maybe actively being an athlete, but 529 00:30:49,770 --> 00:30:53,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: for some reason just didn't see themselves as a runner, 530 00:30:53,370 --> 00:30:56,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: couldn't ever imagine calling themselves that? 531 00:30:56,850 --> 00:31:00,570 Kirsten Ferguson: Yeah, I would say just start, just start. I think 532 00:31:00,570 --> 00:31:03,270 Kirsten Ferguson: that's the beautiful thing about running is I'm constantly in awe 533 00:31:03,270 --> 00:31:11,550 Kirsten Ferguson: of how capable I am, every time, every time. And 534 00:31:11,550 --> 00:31:14,670 Kirsten Ferguson: starting out smart, right? It's starting out with walk, starting 535 00:31:14,670 --> 00:31:16,680 Kirsten Ferguson: out with a walk plus run, and running a little bit 536 00:31:16,680 --> 00:31:20,010 Kirsten Ferguson: more and running a little bit more. It's a progression. 537 00:31:20,340 --> 00:31:24,570 Kirsten Ferguson: You don't have to go out with sprint. It's okay 538 00:31:24,570 --> 00:31:26,700 Kirsten Ferguson: to run. I love easy pace. Easy pace is my 539 00:31:26,700 --> 00:31:31,080 Kirsten Ferguson: favorite. Just go for a cute little jog, and then 540 00:31:31,080 --> 00:31:35,790 Kirsten Ferguson: take it from there. That would be my biggest advice. 541 00:31:36,150 --> 00:31:39,330 Kirsten Ferguson: And it doesn't have to look perfect. It is what 542 00:31:39,330 --> 00:31:41,970 Kirsten Ferguson: you make of it. And every time going out a 543 00:31:41,970 --> 00:31:44,790 Kirsten Ferguson: little bit more, doing a little bit more, putting something 544 00:31:44,790 --> 00:31:49,950 Kirsten Ferguson: down on it every week has been, I would say, 545 00:31:49,950 --> 00:31:53,190 Kirsten Ferguson: is the best way to go about it, and to 546 00:31:53,190 --> 00:31:57,300 Kirsten Ferguson: give yourself some grace. It is a process, it is 547 00:31:57,300 --> 00:31:59,730 Kirsten Ferguson: a process, and I had to go through that process 548 00:31:59,970 --> 00:32:04,080 Kirsten Ferguson: for sure. So that's what I would definitely say. 549 00:32:05,160 --> 00:32:07,170 Becs Gentry: I love that advice. It doesn't have to be perfect, 550 00:32:07,170 --> 00:32:09,930 Becs Gentry: and I think we live in a society where we curate 551 00:32:09,930 --> 00:32:14,550 Becs Gentry: these squares of perfection that we post, and that is 552 00:32:14,760 --> 00:32:17,970 Becs Gentry: very difficult I think for people when they're starting anything, 553 00:32:17,970 --> 00:32:21,030 Becs Gentry: it doesn't have to just be running, anything new is they 554 00:32:21,030 --> 00:32:24,300 Becs Gentry: compare, and comparison is the thief of joy. We all 555 00:32:24,300 --> 00:32:29,760 Becs Gentry: know that, and we have this idea of what is perfect. 556 00:32:31,710 --> 00:32:34,680 Becs Gentry: People may look at your running journey and think it's 557 00:32:34,680 --> 00:32:37,020 Becs Gentry: perfect, but they may not have scrolled back far enough 558 00:32:37,020 --> 00:32:40,470 Becs Gentry: to see that you had a hip surgery a year and a half 559 00:32:40,470 --> 00:32:44,340 Becs Gentry: ago, that you actually four years ago were not, quote- unquote, " 560 00:32:44,400 --> 00:32:48,780 Becs Gentry: runner." And so I think that is so great to 561 00:32:48,780 --> 00:32:51,930 Becs Gentry: tell people that perfection doesn't exist. We shouldn't be striving 562 00:32:51,990 --> 00:32:58,920 Becs Gentry: for that ever. Perfection is just going to make you struggle, 563 00:32:59,310 --> 00:33:01,200 Becs Gentry: and you don't want that. I want something new. 564 00:33:01,350 --> 00:33:04,590 Kirsten Ferguson: And I even say even now, you go on Instagram, 565 00:33:04,590 --> 00:33:07,440 Kirsten Ferguson: everybody's posting their miles on their watch and their time. 566 00:33:07,530 --> 00:33:10,710 Kirsten Ferguson: I've gotten caught in that. I'm like, " Wow, she ran 20 567 00:33:10,710 --> 00:33:14,370 Kirsten Ferguson: miles in that pace, or she ran 16." I was like, "I ran 20 at 568 00:33:14,370 --> 00:33:17,040 Kirsten Ferguson: that time." So you can easily be like, " Oh, my 569 00:33:17,040 --> 00:33:20,760 Kirsten Ferguson: gosh, I am not capable of doing this." But sometimes 570 00:33:20,760 --> 00:33:22,830 Kirsten Ferguson: you just have to put your blinders on and just be like, okay. 571 00:33:22,830 --> 00:33:26,580 Becs Gentry: Yeah. Okay, so let's talk about some of the other 572 00:33:26,580 --> 00:33:30,930 Becs Gentry: things that I have a personal insight of and I 573 00:33:30,930 --> 00:33:35,730 Becs Gentry: think will help people understand how you are just so 574 00:33:36,060 --> 00:33:42,840 Becs Gentry: strong, motivating, and I can see you and anyone can 575 00:33:42,840 --> 00:33:46,980 Becs Gentry: go online and see you, you glow, you always glow, even 576 00:33:46,980 --> 00:33:51,360 Becs Gentry: on your bad days. You have something ethereal about you, 577 00:33:51,360 --> 00:33:55,020 Becs Gentry: something blessed. And you have two beautiful daughters, Eden and 578 00:33:55,020 --> 00:33:59,850 Becs Gentry: Emery, gorgeous dog, who my daughter is obsessed with, Kingston, 579 00:34:00,450 --> 00:34:06,390 Becs Gentry: and you split your time with your ex- husband with 580 00:34:06,390 --> 00:34:11,520 Becs Gentry: the girls, but you are such a hands- on mom. 581 00:34:12,630 --> 00:34:15,000 Becs Gentry: We see you on Instagram doing the school drop- off with 582 00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:17,219 Becs Gentry: your ratchet mom tunes on when they've gotten out the 583 00:34:17,219 --> 00:34:23,250 Becs Gentry: car. What does being a mom and doing, A, this 584 00:34:23,250 --> 00:34:26,460 Becs Gentry: job, and B, this marathon? What does that mean to you? 585 00:34:28,500 --> 00:34:32,850 Kirsten Ferguson: I mean, it means so much. I think, Becs, I always 586 00:34:32,910 --> 00:34:35,580 Kirsten Ferguson: often say that we carry the weighted vest of the 587 00:34:35,580 --> 00:34:41,040 Kirsten Ferguson: example, and my girls watched me a year and a 588 00:34:41,040 --> 00:34:46,650 Kirsten Ferguson: half ago after my surgery walking in the house with 589 00:34:46,770 --> 00:34:48,450 Kirsten Ferguson: a walker. They thought I was going to come in 590 00:34:48,450 --> 00:34:50,219 Kirsten Ferguson: on crutches, and they were terrified when they saw me 591 00:34:50,219 --> 00:34:53,100 Kirsten Ferguson: coming with a walker. They're like, " Oh, my gosh." They 592 00:34:53,489 --> 00:34:58,590 Kirsten Ferguson: were so nervous for me, and going through that whole 593 00:34:58,590 --> 00:35:02,129 Kirsten Ferguson: rehab process and being on crutches and being in pain, 594 00:35:03,060 --> 00:35:06,989 Kirsten Ferguson: they watched me work my way back to just walking 595 00:35:06,989 --> 00:35:09,390 Kirsten Ferguson: on the Tread. I often say there was a point 596 00:35:09,390 --> 00:35:12,510 Kirsten Ferguson: where I could only go 1.0 on the Tread speed. 597 00:35:13,140 --> 00:35:16,950 Kirsten Ferguson: That was it. That was as fast as I could 598 00:35:16,950 --> 00:35:21,359 Kirsten Ferguson: go. And then they watched me run the half- marathon, 599 00:35:21,420 --> 00:35:22,739 Kirsten Ferguson: and they watched me with my medal. They're like, " Oh, 600 00:35:22,739 --> 00:35:25,950 Kirsten Ferguson: my gosh, did you win?" I'm like, " Didn't win it, 601 00:35:25,950 --> 00:35:30,480 Kirsten Ferguson: but I got a medal." And so now they're going 602 00:35:30,480 --> 00:35:35,100 Kirsten Ferguson: to be there on race day, and they're going to 603 00:35:35,100 --> 00:35:37,920 Kirsten Ferguson: see me cross that finish line because I'm going to 604 00:35:38,010 --> 00:35:40,860 Kirsten Ferguson: whether I'm crawling or... I'm going to cross that finish line, 605 00:35:41,370 --> 00:35:45,239 Kirsten Ferguson: and they're going to know that you can go through 606 00:35:45,239 --> 00:35:47,850 Kirsten Ferguson: something really hard and you can come out on the 607 00:35:47,850 --> 00:35:51,239 Kirsten Ferguson: other side and you can come out stronger and better 608 00:35:51,239 --> 00:35:53,880 Kirsten Ferguson: for it and it's not going to take you out. 609 00:35:54,570 --> 00:35:57,630 Kirsten Ferguson: They also watched... They were in the pandemic with me. 610 00:35:57,630 --> 00:36:01,410 Kirsten Ferguson: They were watching me walk through the divorce and having 611 00:36:01,410 --> 00:36:05,819 Kirsten Ferguson: to navigate life, but then they also watched me transform 612 00:36:05,820 --> 00:36:08,520 Kirsten Ferguson: into this Peloton instructor. They think I'm Beyonce, but they 613 00:36:08,520 --> 00:36:12,300 Kirsten Ferguson: watched me transform into a Peloton instructor. So you can go 614 00:36:12,300 --> 00:36:16,020 Kirsten Ferguson: through something really sad and hard, but there's something also 615 00:36:16,020 --> 00:36:19,080 Kirsten Ferguson: incredible that comes out on the other side of it. 616 00:36:19,440 --> 00:36:23,190 Kirsten Ferguson: And so that is my why in all that I 617 00:36:23,190 --> 00:36:26,790 Kirsten Ferguson: do, is to show them all the things that are 618 00:36:26,790 --> 00:36:27,540 Kirsten Ferguson: possible for them. 619 00:36:28,530 --> 00:36:32,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: You're doing all these things, Kirsten, in public, right? You've 620 00:36:32,850 --> 00:36:36,239 Rob Simmelkjaer: got a very public profile. You've got over a hundred 621 00:36:36,270 --> 00:36:40,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: thousand followers on Instagram. You're obviously on Peloton. It's not 622 00:36:40,680 --> 00:36:43,739 Rob Simmelkjaer: new to you being somewhat of a public figure, right? 623 00:36:43,739 --> 00:36:45,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: You kind of put yourself out there with what you 624 00:36:45,450 --> 00:36:48,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: were doing on the bike and then obviously married to 625 00:36:48,180 --> 00:36:51,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: an NFL player and all those things. You're used to 626 00:36:51,120 --> 00:36:55,469 Rob Simmelkjaer: it, but still, what are your feelings about running this 627 00:36:55,469 --> 00:36:56,940 Rob Simmelkjaer: marathon and knowing there are going to be a lot 628 00:36:56,940 --> 00:36:59,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: of eyes on you, people will be tracking you? I 629 00:37:00,930 --> 00:37:02,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: feel it a little bit, even in my job when 630 00:37:02,580 --> 00:37:04,439 Rob Simmelkjaer: I'm running a marathon because I know there are, okay, 631 00:37:04,440 --> 00:37:07,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: not hundreds of thousands, but certainly hundreds maybe of people 632 00:37:07,800 --> 00:37:10,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: kind paying attention to how I do in a race. 633 00:37:11,219 --> 00:37:13,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: Does that make you feel pressure, or are you able 634 00:37:13,620 --> 00:37:16,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: to just say, " Hey, this is me. I'm going to 635 00:37:16,830 --> 00:37:19,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: do what I can do, and be an example of 636 00:37:20,160 --> 00:37:22,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: getting over whatever challenges there are"? How does that make 637 00:37:22,770 --> 00:37:24,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: you feel knowing there are eyes on you as you 638 00:37:24,420 --> 00:37:25,230 Rob Simmelkjaer: run this marathon? 639 00:37:25,680 --> 00:37:29,130 Kirsten Ferguson: Yeah, for sure. I think in my mind for years 640 00:37:29,130 --> 00:37:31,290 Kirsten Ferguson: where I battled it like, " Oh, could I do it?" 641 00:37:31,350 --> 00:37:34,110 Kirsten Ferguson: I think what stopped me and prevented me was the 642 00:37:34,110 --> 00:37:36,839 Kirsten Ferguson: fact that people could track me and they could see 643 00:37:36,840 --> 00:37:39,060 Kirsten Ferguson: my time, and are they going to be like, " Oh, 644 00:37:39,060 --> 00:37:41,520 Kirsten Ferguson: my gosh, she's a Peloton instructor and she's running that 645 00:37:41,520 --> 00:37:46,080 Kirsten Ferguson: slow." So that stopped me for a while, until I 646 00:37:46,080 --> 00:37:49,920 Kirsten Ferguson: was like, "( beep) that, yeah, I'm going to run it 647 00:37:49,920 --> 00:37:51,810 Kirsten Ferguson: and you're going to watch me do it, and I 648 00:37:51,810 --> 00:37:53,550 Kirsten Ferguson: don't care what time I do it. The fact that 649 00:37:53,550 --> 00:37:57,810 Kirsten Ferguson: I crossed that finish line is amazing after everything. So 650 00:37:57,840 --> 00:38:01,830 Kirsten Ferguson: if you want to judge that, go ahead. Whatever." I 651 00:38:01,830 --> 00:38:06,180 Kirsten Ferguson: finally started just like letting that go because people are 652 00:38:06,180 --> 00:38:10,020 Kirsten Ferguson: going to judge you regardless of whatever you run, whatever 653 00:38:10,020 --> 00:38:12,930 Kirsten Ferguson: you do, whatever. I don't care. The fact that I 654 00:38:12,930 --> 00:38:15,540 Kirsten Ferguson: know the people that matter most to me are the people 655 00:38:15,540 --> 00:38:17,820 Kirsten Ferguson: that are going to celebrate me and cheer for me 656 00:38:18,180 --> 00:38:22,650 Kirsten Ferguson: and support me. And I also know this, there's somebody 657 00:38:22,650 --> 00:38:25,650 Kirsten Ferguson: that's going to be watching me do it and will 658 00:38:25,650 --> 00:38:30,239 Kirsten Ferguson: believe that, "You know what? Next year I'm going to do it." And that 659 00:38:30,239 --> 00:38:32,130 Kirsten Ferguson: for me is more than enough. 660 00:38:32,130 --> 00:38:33,239 Rob Simmelkjaer: A hundred percent. 661 00:38:34,290 --> 00:38:38,850 Becs Gentry: And that really is, yeah. The inspiration that's going to flow from 662 00:38:38,850 --> 00:38:44,580 Becs Gentry: this. And then, as Rob said, when people may look 663 00:38:44,580 --> 00:38:47,969 Becs Gentry: at where you've come from and moving to where you are 664 00:38:47,969 --> 00:38:52,350 Becs Gentry: today, it could give them such motivation to make a 665 00:38:52,350 --> 00:38:55,830 Becs Gentry: change. It doesn't have to be the same path, but 666 00:38:55,830 --> 00:39:01,980 Becs Gentry: wow, it's going to happen. So you've just turned 40, you just 667 00:39:02,190 --> 00:39:11,489 Becs Gentry: had a wonderful birthday. Yep, celebrated in Mexico. 668 00:39:11,489 --> 00:39:11,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: Happy birthday. 669 00:39:11,760 --> 00:39:11,881 Kirsten Ferguson: Thank you. 670 00:39:11,881 --> 00:39:15,480 Becs Gentry: And it's a big point in most people's lives, whether 671 00:39:15,480 --> 00:39:20,070 Becs Gentry: you consider it a big change moment, it's just a 672 00:39:20,070 --> 00:39:23,400 Becs Gentry: number, but it's a pivotal point to a lot of 673 00:39:23,400 --> 00:39:28,860 Becs Gentry: people. What would you say where you are with the 674 00:39:28,860 --> 00:39:35,310 Becs Gentry: changes from NFL life to pandemic life to a mom 675 00:39:35,310 --> 00:39:39,960 Becs Gentry: of two fiercely independent, awesome girls here as a Peloton 676 00:39:39,960 --> 00:39:44,760 Becs Gentry: instructor, what would you say is your best way of 677 00:39:44,880 --> 00:39:51,090 Becs Gentry: handling all these different hats and all these different changes 678 00:39:51,150 --> 00:39:54,570 Becs Gentry: that you've gone through now kind of almost retrospectively at 679 00:39:54,570 --> 00:39:55,650 Becs Gentry: 40 looking at it? 680 00:39:56,070 --> 00:40:07,200 Kirsten Ferguson: Yeah, I would say wow. And also just I think 681 00:40:07,290 --> 00:40:10,170 Kirsten Ferguson: I get asked often, " How do you do it all?" 682 00:40:10,170 --> 00:40:15,180 Kirsten Ferguson: And I say, " I don't. Something has to give at some 683 00:40:15,180 --> 00:40:22,589 Kirsten Ferguson: point," but I think this is all just a beautiful 684 00:40:23,250 --> 00:40:26,969 Kirsten Ferguson: opportunity I've been given, and I feel like I had 685 00:40:26,969 --> 00:40:29,580 Kirsten Ferguson: to go through all the things that I did to 686 00:40:29,580 --> 00:40:32,700 Kirsten Ferguson: become the person who I was always called to be, 687 00:40:32,940 --> 00:40:36,719 Kirsten Ferguson: and that's what I'm living, and I'm finally moving in 688 00:40:36,960 --> 00:40:41,009 Kirsten Ferguson: my purpose, and I'm using my voice for that. And 689 00:40:41,010 --> 00:40:46,260 Kirsten Ferguson: I think once you start doing that, things come to 690 00:40:46,260 --> 00:40:51,718 Kirsten Ferguson: you without resistance. You know what I'm saying? Being able 691 00:40:51,719 --> 00:40:55,380 Kirsten Ferguson: to run this marathon, though it was challenging, I didn't 692 00:40:55,739 --> 00:40:58,770 Kirsten Ferguson: face too much resistance with it, and that's how I 693 00:40:58,770 --> 00:41:02,940 Kirsten Ferguson: know I'm meant to do it, and I'm able to 694 00:41:02,940 --> 00:41:09,300 Kirsten Ferguson: balance the girls and life and Peloton because it's all 695 00:41:09,300 --> 00:41:12,390 Kirsten Ferguson: in alignment with the purpose that I have on the 696 00:41:12,390 --> 00:41:16,290 Kirsten Ferguson: calling on my life. So that's how I'm able to 697 00:41:16,860 --> 00:41:20,009 Kirsten Ferguson: do it all. And it doesn't always look pretty. I'm 698 00:41:20,009 --> 00:41:24,450 Kirsten Ferguson: doing it, but if you saw this house three hours ago 699 00:41:24,450 --> 00:41:26,609 Kirsten Ferguson: when I'm getting the kids ready and I'm yelling like 700 00:41:26,610 --> 00:41:29,730 Kirsten Ferguson: a maniac to get them (inaudible) , and I'm literally 701 00:41:29,730 --> 00:41:33,420 Kirsten Ferguson: making frozen waffles and turkey bacon and putting Cheetos in 702 00:41:33,420 --> 00:41:39,390 Kirsten Ferguson: their bag, it's not perfect, it's not perfect at all, but it gets 703 00:41:39,390 --> 00:41:41,460 Kirsten Ferguson: done. Somehow we figure it out, we get it done. 704 00:41:42,420 --> 00:41:46,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: Kirsten, dare I ask, is there a time goal or 705 00:41:46,620 --> 00:41:49,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: is it just the, what I think should always be 706 00:41:49,380 --> 00:41:52,529 Rob Simmelkjaer: the goal of a first time marathoner, which is a 707 00:41:52,530 --> 00:41:55,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: distance goal of 26.2 miles? 708 00:41:55,980 --> 00:42:00,270 Kirsten Ferguson: That's the goal. That's the goal, 26.2. That's the furthest 709 00:42:00,270 --> 00:42:02,940 Kirsten Ferguson: I've ever run in my life. It'll be the furthest 710 00:42:02,940 --> 00:42:05,850 Kirsten Ferguson: I'll ever run in my life, one and done girly 711 00:42:05,850 --> 00:42:09,810 Kirsten Ferguson: over here. So no, there's no time goal, and I 712 00:42:09,810 --> 00:42:16,200 Kirsten Ferguson: think that for me is such a freeing feeling that 713 00:42:16,200 --> 00:42:19,890 Kirsten Ferguson: I don't have to hit, I just want to go 714 00:42:19,890 --> 00:42:22,080 Kirsten Ferguson: have a good time. I want to smile, I want 715 00:42:22,080 --> 00:42:26,040 Kirsten Ferguson: to high five, I want to encourage people, I want to 716 00:42:26,040 --> 00:42:28,770 Kirsten Ferguson: see a Peloton members, I want to see my teammates 717 00:42:28,770 --> 00:42:35,670 Kirsten Ferguson: out there. I can't wait. I really can't wait. I've 718 00:42:35,730 --> 00:42:39,120 Kirsten Ferguson: always, every time I'm out on a long run, I'll 719 00:42:39,120 --> 00:42:41,910 Kirsten Ferguson: say this is either just something mentally wrong with me, 720 00:42:41,910 --> 00:42:44,100 Kirsten Ferguson: but this is what I do when I'm out on a 721 00:42:44,100 --> 00:42:47,489 Kirsten Ferguson: run and I'm passing houses, I'll pretend they're people on 722 00:42:47,489 --> 00:42:50,002 Kirsten Ferguson: the route, and I'm like, " Oh, thank you so much." (inaudible) . 723 00:42:50,002 --> 00:42:50,003 Becs Gentry: That's great. 724 00:42:50,003 --> 00:42:55,319 Kirsten Ferguson: So I'm just excited for the moment, I'm excited for the moment, 725 00:42:55,320 --> 00:43:00,660 Kirsten Ferguson: I'm excited to challenge myself and just take it all in. 726 00:43:01,020 --> 00:43:04,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, you know how many people I've met, Kirsten, in my 727 00:43:04,590 --> 00:43:07,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: time on this job who said they were doing one 728 00:43:07,500 --> 00:43:09,631 Rob Simmelkjaer: and done and now... 729 00:43:09,631 --> 00:43:09,632 Becs Gentry: Same. 730 00:43:09,632 --> 00:43:14,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... they're on 10, 12, 15, 20. Let me tell you, there are 731 00:43:14,250 --> 00:43:17,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: a lot of them. Now, statistically speaking, it's true. There 732 00:43:17,520 --> 00:43:20,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: are a lot of people who run one marathon... 733 00:43:21,000 --> 00:43:21,181 Becs Gentry: Which is great. 734 00:43:21,180 --> 00:43:23,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... and checks that box, and that is awesome. I'm 735 00:43:23,790 --> 00:43:26,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: a huge fan of that because it is that life 736 00:43:26,160 --> 00:43:29,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: accomplishment, and I love it when people do it around 737 00:43:29,100 --> 00:43:34,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: milestones like graduations or big birthdays like you. I think 738 00:43:34,440 --> 00:43:37,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: it's the right time to do it. I'm just saying, 739 00:43:37,890 --> 00:43:40,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: you never know, you never know. 740 00:43:40,350 --> 00:43:45,030 Kirsten Ferguson: I think I'm a half mile or half- marathon girly. 741 00:43:45,270 --> 00:43:47,790 Kirsten Ferguson: I love... Now that I'm like, every week I'm running 742 00:43:47,790 --> 00:43:48,420 Kirsten Ferguson: a half- marathon. 743 00:43:49,020 --> 00:43:51,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: Half's amazing. I'm a huge fan of that distance as 744 00:43:51,630 --> 00:43:51,960 Rob Simmelkjaer: well. So yes. 745 00:43:51,960 --> 00:43:55,680 Kirsten Ferguson: Yeah, a huge fan. I'm like, let's travel the world and do those. 746 00:43:55,830 --> 00:43:57,121 Kirsten Ferguson: That sounds amazing to me. 747 00:43:57,121 --> 00:43:59,280 Becs Gentry: Hey, I got a trip you can come on. 748 00:43:59,969 --> 00:44:03,002 Kirsten Ferguson: Oh, girl. (inaudible) . 749 00:44:03,120 --> 00:44:06,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: Is Becs inviting you on her seven marathons, seven days, 750 00:44:06,540 --> 00:44:07,469 Rob Simmelkjaer: seven continents journey? 751 00:44:07,469 --> 00:44:08,218 Becs Gentry: She said travel the world. Oh, you can do half-marathons. 752 00:44:09,000 --> 00:44:11,910 Kirsten Ferguson: (inaudible) , Rob, so I'm like, " I can't wait to 753 00:44:11,910 --> 00:44:14,550 Kirsten Ferguson: get into the locker room and tell Becs that this 754 00:44:14,550 --> 00:44:16,980 Kirsten Ferguson: is what I'm going to do." I'm like, " Hey, girl, 755 00:44:17,040 --> 00:44:20,430 Kirsten Ferguson: guess who's running the marathon? Me." And she's like, " Oh, 756 00:44:20,430 --> 00:44:24,750 Kirsten Ferguson: my God, guess what I'm doing?" She tells me. I'm like, " You 757 00:44:24,780 --> 00:44:30,002 Kirsten Ferguson: know what? I'm just going to go over here." (inaudible) . 758 00:44:31,590 --> 00:44:34,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: Well, I love it. I love watching you take on 759 00:44:34,950 --> 00:44:38,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: this challenge. I hope that it is everything that you 760 00:44:38,700 --> 00:44:40,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: dream it will be. I hope we get a good 761 00:44:40,560 --> 00:44:44,070 Rob Simmelkjaer: weather day for you and just an awesome day, and 762 00:44:44,070 --> 00:44:48,510 Rob Simmelkjaer: I will be tracking you in an incredibly friendly way, 763 00:44:48,870 --> 00:44:51,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: rooting for you all the way, and hopefully we'll see 764 00:44:51,690 --> 00:44:54,509 Rob Simmelkjaer: you at the finish line and congratulate you on an 765 00:44:54,510 --> 00:44:55,651 Rob Simmelkjaer: awesome accomplishment. So thanks for- 766 00:44:55,651 --> 00:44:56,011 Becs Gentry: With a real medal. 767 00:44:56,610 --> 00:44:57,390 Kirsten Ferguson: Real medal. 768 00:44:59,790 --> 00:45:02,100 Becs Gentry: Not just the Starbucks medal. This is her thing that 769 00:45:02,100 --> 00:45:05,700 Becs Gentry: she does every weekend, she has her Starbucks medal at 770 00:45:05,700 --> 00:45:08,759 Becs Gentry: the end of the race, and now she's going to 771 00:45:08,760 --> 00:45:14,069 Becs Gentry: get an actual piece of hardware for this 26.2 and a Starbucks 772 00:45:14,070 --> 00:45:15,870 Becs Gentry: if you want. I will go and get you any 773 00:45:15,870 --> 00:45:16,950 Becs Gentry: Starbucks order you want. 774 00:45:17,819 --> 00:45:20,160 Kirsten Ferguson: I'm going to wear that medal for they say Medal 775 00:45:20,160 --> 00:45:22,002 Kirsten Ferguson: Monday. I'm like, no, no, no, Medal Month. (inaudible) . 776 00:45:22,440 --> 00:45:25,140 Becs Gentry: Medal Month. I absolutely agree. 777 00:45:26,100 --> 00:45:29,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: Wear it, wear it during your classes, wear it everywhere. 778 00:45:29,520 --> 00:45:29,969 Becs Gentry: Everywhere. 779 00:45:30,210 --> 00:45:30,691 Kirsten Ferguson: They're going to be sick of it. 780 00:45:30,690 --> 00:45:36,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: A hundred percent, a hundred percent. Kirsten, congratulations. Good luck. Thank you 781 00:45:36,270 --> 00:45:38,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: for being with us, and we hope you have an 782 00:45:38,460 --> 00:45:39,870 Rob Simmelkjaer: amazing day on November 3rd. 783 00:45:40,110 --> 00:45:41,729 Kirsten Ferguson: Thank you so much. I appreciate it. Thanks for having me. 784 00:45:56,940 --> 00:45:59,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: Now it's time for this week's Member Moment, and Meb is here 785 00:45:59,670 --> 00:46:03,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: with a 66- year- old retired high school math teacher from 786 00:46:03,180 --> 00:46:07,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: Bayside, Queens, named Joel Kaufman. Joel is gearing up for 787 00:46:07,200 --> 00:46:10,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: his seventh TCS New York City Marathon as part of 788 00:46:10,290 --> 00:46:13,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: Team Inspire 2024. That's a group of runners we highlight 789 00:46:14,280 --> 00:46:17,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: every year to tell the amazing stories of so many 790 00:46:17,340 --> 00:46:20,969 Rob Simmelkjaer: of our runners. Joel isn't chasing a fast finish. He 791 00:46:20,969 --> 00:46:26,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: proudly walks every single marathon, and he's raised over $ 150,000 792 00:46:26,100 --> 00:46:30,779 Rob Simmelkjaer: for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society since 2015, all in 793 00:46:30,780 --> 00:46:34,739 Rob Simmelkjaer: honor of friends and loved ones battling blood cancers. Known 794 00:46:34,739 --> 00:46:37,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: for the superhero cape that he wears during each race 795 00:46:37,440 --> 00:46:40,259 Rob Simmelkjaer: covered with the names of those he is walking for, 796 00:46:40,560 --> 00:46:44,489 Rob Simmelkjaer: Joel was our final finisher in the 2023 marathon, and 797 00:46:44,489 --> 00:46:47,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: he couldn't be prouder of that title. Meb, take it away. 798 00:46:48,390 --> 00:46:51,870 Meb Keflezighi: Thanks, Rob. Joel, welcome to Set the Pace podcast. How are 799 00:46:51,870 --> 00:46:52,529 Meb Keflezighi: you doing today? 800 00:46:53,520 --> 00:46:56,460 Joel Kaufman: I'm blessed. It doesn't get better than this. Everywhere I 801 00:46:56,550 --> 00:46:59,850 Joel Kaufman: go, I'm more famous by being the last official finisher 802 00:46:59,850 --> 00:47:01,440 Joel Kaufman: than anything else I could have done. 803 00:47:02,340 --> 00:47:04,980 Meb Keflezighi: No, no, you earned that spot too from point A to 804 00:47:04,980 --> 00:47:08,430 Meb Keflezighi: point B to be able to accomplish. I know as many as seventh 805 00:47:08,489 --> 00:47:11,160 Meb Keflezighi: TCS New York City Marathon. But let's go back to 806 00:47:11,460 --> 00:47:14,400 Meb Keflezighi: how you began running to honor your friend who was 807 00:47:14,400 --> 00:47:17,850 Meb Keflezighi: diagnosed with leukemia back in 2015. Can you share how 808 00:47:17,850 --> 00:47:21,900 Meb Keflezighi: the personal connection inspired you to start participate in marathons 809 00:47:21,900 --> 00:47:25,200 Meb Keflezighi: and what it was like to embark on your first race? 810 00:47:26,280 --> 00:47:31,529 Joel Kaufman: Well, my friend, Sheila, got leukemia. I knew Sheila for 811 00:47:31,860 --> 00:47:34,680 Joel Kaufman: at least 40 years in camp, and I said, " Can 812 00:47:34,680 --> 00:47:37,710 Joel Kaufman: I do the New York City Marathon to honor you?" 813 00:47:38,160 --> 00:47:42,989 Joel Kaufman: And she said, " Absolutely not." Now, a friend of mine, 814 00:47:43,320 --> 00:47:47,160 Joel Kaufman: Jay Greenbaum, he always inspires us to do marathons and 815 00:47:47,160 --> 00:47:51,060 Joel Kaufman: what have you. He said, " Whammy," everybody calls me Whammy. He goes, " 816 00:47:51,239 --> 00:47:53,640 Joel Kaufman: If you do the New York City Marathon, I'll be 817 00:47:53,640 --> 00:47:58,739 Joel Kaufman: a first $ 100 contribution, and you'll easily get the rest." 818 00:47:58,739 --> 00:48:01,230 Joel Kaufman: And he was right. I was so lucky. 819 00:48:02,310 --> 00:48:06,480 Meb Keflezighi: That's great. In terms of PRs, I guess you're not 820 00:48:06,480 --> 00:48:09,300 Meb Keflezighi: only finish the race for special cause, but in terms 821 00:48:09,300 --> 00:48:12,989 Meb Keflezighi: of PRs, you have a very individual philosophy. Tell us about 822 00:48:12,989 --> 00:48:14,609 Meb Keflezighi: how you run your marathons. 823 00:48:15,420 --> 00:48:21,150 Joel Kaufman: Well, I walk every single marathon. For all the New 824 00:48:21,150 --> 00:48:24,870 Joel Kaufman: York City Marathons I've done, I've walked, and I usually 825 00:48:24,870 --> 00:48:27,360 Joel Kaufman: try to start off in the beginning walking kind of 826 00:48:27,360 --> 00:48:30,510 Joel Kaufman: slow, warming up. I'm not a good warming up kind 827 00:48:30,510 --> 00:48:34,319 Joel Kaufman: of guy. And then I get into a pace of 828 00:48:34,680 --> 00:48:37,739 Joel Kaufman: walk fast for one minute, and I have one of 829 00:48:37,739 --> 00:48:40,890 Joel Kaufman: the beepers like the real runners have. And then the 830 00:48:40,890 --> 00:48:43,950 Joel Kaufman: next minute I'll walk at a slower pace, and then 831 00:48:43,950 --> 00:48:47,609 Joel Kaufman: I might increase it to two minutes fast walk and 832 00:48:47,610 --> 00:48:51,750 Joel Kaufman: one minute at a slower pace. But it comes together 833 00:48:51,750 --> 00:48:53,010 Joel Kaufman: as a rhythm eventually. 834 00:48:54,330 --> 00:48:57,570 Meb Keflezighi: Well, you were a math teacher. I guess we know 835 00:48:57,570 --> 00:49:00,750 Meb Keflezighi: that how that one minute walk or one minute run to 836 00:49:01,230 --> 00:49:02,880 Meb Keflezighi: be able to or slow down a little bit this 837 00:49:02,880 --> 00:49:05,850 Meb Keflezighi: can play, but this is going to be your seventh TCS 838 00:49:05,850 --> 00:49:08,850 Meb Keflezighi: New York City Marathon. What has been the highlight of 839 00:49:08,850 --> 00:49:11,310 Meb Keflezighi: your past TCS New York City Marathons? 840 00:49:11,969 --> 00:49:16,800 Joel Kaufman: Well, I run all the races for my friends, families, 841 00:49:16,800 --> 00:49:20,520 Joel Kaufman: and angels and warriors. I wear a big cape, and 842 00:49:20,520 --> 00:49:22,859 Joel Kaufman: in the back of the cape I have the names 843 00:49:22,860 --> 00:49:26,759 Joel Kaufman: of the angels that have passed and the warriors who are 844 00:49:26,880 --> 00:49:31,500 Joel Kaufman: still fighting, and people stop and they touch the cape, 845 00:49:31,500 --> 00:49:35,489 Joel Kaufman: and it gives them a warm feeling in their heart. 846 00:49:36,180 --> 00:49:40,680 Joel Kaufman: One of my biggest memories is getting right to the 847 00:49:40,680 --> 00:49:45,030 Joel Kaufman: finish line, and you think it's just a finish line. 848 00:49:45,420 --> 00:49:49,560 Joel Kaufman: And I hear my friend, Sheila's voice in my head going, " 849 00:49:49,860 --> 00:49:53,640 Joel Kaufman: You got this." And me just breaking down, almost at 850 00:49:53,640 --> 00:49:56,640 Joel Kaufman: the end of each race, tears running down my face 851 00:49:56,640 --> 00:50:00,360 Joel Kaufman: because I've left nothing on the course. And I know 852 00:50:00,360 --> 00:50:03,870 Joel Kaufman: that Sheila... I hear Sheila in the last mile of 853 00:50:03,870 --> 00:50:06,149 Joel Kaufman: every race. That's when I know I'm in the zone. 854 00:50:07,350 --> 00:50:09,780 Meb Keflezighi: Well, I'm pretty sure you hear Sheila, but also those 855 00:50:09,780 --> 00:50:13,890 Meb Keflezighi: people that are encouraging you to give you superpower. How 856 00:50:13,890 --> 00:50:16,830 Meb Keflezighi: does that superpower, her spirit, and then the people that 857 00:50:16,830 --> 00:50:19,290 Meb Keflezighi: are... When you wear the cape, how do you feel? 858 00:50:20,520 --> 00:50:23,880 Joel Kaufman: I can't stop. I'm walking on air. It's such an 859 00:50:23,880 --> 00:50:29,730 Joel Kaufman: incredible, incredible thing, and people around me inspire me along 860 00:50:29,730 --> 00:50:32,850 Joel Kaufman: the way as I try to inspire everybody else to 861 00:50:32,850 --> 00:50:36,810 Joel Kaufman: do better. Bit of my second marathon, I saw this 862 00:50:36,810 --> 00:50:40,770 Joel Kaufman: woman, she had two artificial legs and she had a 863 00:50:40,770 --> 00:50:44,130 Joel Kaufman: ski poles, and I had terrible blisters on my feet. 864 00:50:44,130 --> 00:50:47,279 Joel Kaufman: It was mile 20. And I turned to her and I said, " 865 00:50:47,520 --> 00:50:52,590 Joel Kaufman: Ma'am, you are my inspiration." So all around the course 866 00:50:52,590 --> 00:50:57,150 Joel Kaufman: there's there's inspiration, and it just makes you bigger, and then 867 00:50:57,150 --> 00:50:58,800 Joel Kaufman: you want to make other people bigger. 868 00:50:59,850 --> 00:51:02,520 Meb Keflezighi: Absolutely. Whether we are in the front of the pack, 869 00:51:02,520 --> 00:51:04,350 Meb Keflezighi: the middle of the pack, or back of the pack, 870 00:51:04,530 --> 00:51:06,690 Meb Keflezighi: we encourage each other, we support each other, but we 871 00:51:06,690 --> 00:51:08,640 Meb Keflezighi: inspire each other to be able to get the best 872 00:51:08,640 --> 00:51:11,790 Meb Keflezighi: out of ourself. But it is by example, and you 873 00:51:11,790 --> 00:51:14,640 Meb Keflezighi: have done that very well, be able to just finish 874 00:51:14,670 --> 00:51:17,310 Meb Keflezighi: 8 hours and 43 minutes. It doesn't matter. You've just 875 00:51:17,310 --> 00:51:19,770 Meb Keflezighi: gotten from Staten Island all the way to Central Park 876 00:51:19,770 --> 00:51:23,670 Meb Keflezighi: and to hear your friends and families and Sheila screaming, 877 00:51:24,090 --> 00:51:28,080 Meb Keflezighi: those whisper ears coming in, it's a greatest feeling, not 878 00:51:28,530 --> 00:51:30,270 Meb Keflezighi: for all of us. Getting the finish line is the finish 879 00:51:30,270 --> 00:51:33,300 Meb Keflezighi: line, but it's just the beginning of others to encourage 880 00:51:33,300 --> 00:51:35,730 Meb Keflezighi: others, and maybe you inspire somebody to say, " Hey, I'm 881 00:51:35,730 --> 00:51:37,739 Meb Keflezighi: going to do that next year, walk in the marathon." 882 00:51:37,739 --> 00:51:41,460 Meb Keflezighi: So congratulations and job well done. And you like to 883 00:51:41,460 --> 00:51:43,799 Meb Keflezighi: say to Sheila since she inspired you? 884 00:51:44,940 --> 00:51:48,509 Joel Kaufman: And also I have a friend whose daughter, Skylar, was 885 00:51:48,510 --> 00:51:51,540 Joel Kaufman: two years old and she started getting chemo for her 886 00:51:51,540 --> 00:51:56,820 Joel Kaufman: leukemia. And my friend, Sam, was right near the end 887 00:51:56,820 --> 00:51:59,609 Joel Kaufman: of the marathon. It was a rainy marathon, and she was 888 00:51:59,610 --> 00:52:03,509 Joel Kaufman: just standing there, and I just went over to her, got an incredible 889 00:52:03,510 --> 00:52:07,620 Joel Kaufman: hug and kept going. I mean, I'm so lucky for 890 00:52:07,620 --> 00:52:11,310 Joel Kaufman: the Leukemia Society and Team In Training, I'm on Team 891 00:52:11,310 --> 00:52:17,700 Joel Kaufman: Child, which creates better treatments for children, and it's the 892 00:52:17,700 --> 00:52:21,180 Joel Kaufman: Dare to Dream project. And so far in the last 893 00:52:21,180 --> 00:52:25,830 Joel Kaufman: eight years, I've raised over $ 150,000. And as I like 894 00:52:25,830 --> 00:52:28,980 Joel Kaufman: to say, the best is yet to come. And Meb, 895 00:52:29,340 --> 00:52:32,279 Joel Kaufman: I want you to do a marathon with me so 896 00:52:32,280 --> 00:52:34,920 Joel Kaufman: you could feel what it's like to be in the back of 897 00:52:34,920 --> 00:52:37,860 Joel Kaufman: the pack. That would be a documentary worth making. 898 00:52:38,610 --> 00:52:41,460 Meb Keflezighi: That would be cool. We're definitely talking with somebody just 899 00:52:41,460 --> 00:52:45,480 Meb Keflezighi: saying start from the back and see if we can do fundraising for 900 00:52:45,480 --> 00:52:47,610 Meb Keflezighi: others to be able to just pass people and be 901 00:52:47,610 --> 00:52:52,980 Meb Keflezighi: able to... But sounds a great deal, and you're doing a great 902 00:52:52,980 --> 00:52:55,440 Meb Keflezighi: job right now, and wish you all the best, and 903 00:52:55,440 --> 00:52:56,370 Meb Keflezighi: thanks for the invitation. 904 00:52:57,210 --> 00:53:01,049 Joel Kaufman: Thank you very much. Nice to meet you. And as 905 00:53:01,050 --> 00:53:04,800 Joel Kaufman: I always tell people, join us with Team In Training, 906 00:53:04,800 --> 00:53:08,010 Joel Kaufman: and you could be a part of our success in getting rid 907 00:53:08,790 --> 00:53:12,509 Joel Kaufman: of blood cancers and leukemia for future generations. 908 00:53:13,050 --> 00:53:16,859 Meb Keflezighi: Absolutely. I think Team In Training and Leukemia Society has 909 00:53:16,860 --> 00:53:20,730 Meb Keflezighi: done a phenomenal job to help with cancer, and you're 910 00:53:20,730 --> 00:53:23,670 Meb Keflezighi: leading by example by being able to finish a marathon, 911 00:53:23,670 --> 00:53:26,280 Meb Keflezighi: and keep doing it. There's no way slowing down, so 912 00:53:26,280 --> 00:53:27,420 Meb Keflezighi: keep doing the great things. 913 00:53:28,830 --> 00:53:32,130 Joel Kaufman: You're awesome. I hope to meet you one day, but thank 914 00:53:32,130 --> 00:53:36,330 Joel Kaufman: you for interviewing me, and I look forward to seeing 915 00:53:36,330 --> 00:53:37,560 Joel Kaufman: you on the course one day. 916 00:53:38,040 --> 00:53:40,109 Meb Keflezighi: You're doing a great job with the superpower, so keep 917 00:53:40,110 --> 00:53:40,710 Meb Keflezighi: up the great work. 918 00:53:41,489 --> 00:53:43,440 Joel Kaufman: Thank you, Meb. Have a great day. Take care. 919 00:53:43,890 --> 00:53:45,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: Ah, so cool. I know so many of us will 920 00:53:45,750 --> 00:53:48,810 Rob Simmelkjaer: be looking out for Joel on November 3rd, Joel and 921 00:53:48,810 --> 00:53:51,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: his cape, so thank you Joel for being a member 922 00:53:51,390 --> 00:53:53,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: of New York Road Runners and for joining us along 923 00:53:53,760 --> 00:53:56,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: with Meb. Now it's time for today's Meb Minutes. 924 00:53:57,420 --> 00:54:02,219 Meb Keflezighi: Week 15, test everything, nothing new on race day. I 925 00:54:02,219 --> 00:54:05,489 Meb Keflezighi: did a long run with my gear and nutrition I plan 926 00:54:05,489 --> 00:54:08,400 Meb Keflezighi: to use on race day. It is crucial to step 927 00:54:08,400 --> 00:54:12,960 Meb Keflezighi: to ensure everything works seamlessly. Test your gear, nutrition on 928 00:54:12,960 --> 00:54:17,640 Meb Keflezighi: race day strategy to make sure all the necessary adjustments. 929 00:54:18,360 --> 00:54:20,759 Meb Keflezighi: The rule of thumb is nothing new on race day, 930 00:54:20,790 --> 00:54:24,030 Meb Keflezighi: but when you're doing your tempos, your long runs, you 931 00:54:24,030 --> 00:54:26,250 Meb Keflezighi: have used the clothes that you're going to wear, you 932 00:54:26,250 --> 00:54:28,830 Meb Keflezighi: have worn the shoes that you're going to wear, so 933 00:54:28,860 --> 00:54:32,100 Meb Keflezighi: no new things. So if you do those things, you're 934 00:54:32,100 --> 00:54:36,000 Meb Keflezighi: going to be fine. In 2009 before the New York 935 00:54:36,000 --> 00:54:39,780 Meb Keflezighi: City Marathon was wet, my jersey got wet, my socks 936 00:54:39,780 --> 00:54:43,410 Meb Keflezighi: got wet. So don't panic. You have used those things. 937 00:54:44,070 --> 00:54:47,610 Meb Keflezighi: Dave Monty and Jim Monty were able to air- dry 938 00:54:47,610 --> 00:54:52,350 Meb Keflezighi: my jersey and socks, but I didn't panic. You have 939 00:54:52,350 --> 00:54:54,630 Meb Keflezighi: to know that you have to be comfortable that the 940 00:54:54,660 --> 00:54:57,719 Meb Keflezighi: work is done. Now you just got to try to stick 941 00:54:57,719 --> 00:55:00,330 Meb Keflezighi: to the plans that you have, whether it's nutritionally or 942 00:55:00,330 --> 00:55:03,540 Meb Keflezighi: clothing or other gears that you have. If you've done 943 00:55:03,540 --> 00:55:05,700 Meb Keflezighi: them in the past, it's going to be okay on 944 00:55:05,700 --> 00:55:09,060 Meb Keflezighi: race day, so just be comfortable, be strong, and get 945 00:55:09,060 --> 00:55:10,649 Meb Keflezighi: to that finish line as best as you can. 946 00:55:11,280 --> 00:55:14,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: All right, thanks, Meb. And that does it for another episode of Set 947 00:55:14,520 --> 00:55:17,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: the Pace as we get so close to marathon day. 948 00:55:17,160 --> 00:55:19,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: We want to thank our guest today, Kirsten Ferguson and 949 00:55:19,650 --> 00:55:22,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: Joel Kaufman. If you liked the episode, please make sure 950 00:55:22,620 --> 00:55:26,040 Rob Simmelkjaer: you subscribe, rate it, leave a comment. This will help 951 00:55:26,100 --> 00:55:29,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: other people find this show as well. Good luck everybody 952 00:55:29,400 --> 00:55:32,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: out there with those tapers. Make sure you go back 953 00:55:32,010 --> 00:55:34,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: and listen to past episodes, especially that one with Ted 954 00:55:34,410 --> 00:55:36,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: Metellus a few weeks ago, which will give you everything 955 00:55:36,840 --> 00:55:39,810 Rob Simmelkjaer: you need to know about getting ready for the marathon. 956 00:55:40,110 --> 00:55:42,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: Enjoy the not so many miles the next week or 957 00:55:42,780 --> 00:55:44,430 Rob Simmelkjaer: so, and we will see you next week.