1 00:00:00,180 --> 00:00:03,240 Speaker 1: New York Roadrunners is a non- profit organization with a 2 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:06,630 Speaker 1: vision to build healthier lives and stronger communities through the 3 00:00:06,630 --> 00:00:10,709 Speaker 1: transformative power of running. The support of members and donors 4 00:00:10,710 --> 00:00:13,920 Speaker 1: like you helps us achieve our mission to transform the 5 00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:17,220 Speaker 1: health and well- being of our communities through inclusive and 6 00:00:17,220 --> 00:00:22,078 Speaker 1: accessible running experiences, empowering all to achieve their potential. Learn 7 00:00:22,079 --> 00:00:25,950 Speaker 1: more and contribute at nyrr. org/ donate. 8 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:34,409 Ted Metellus: Thank you, New York. Today we're reminded of the power 9 00:00:34,409 --> 00:00:39,300 Ted Metellus: of community and the power of coming together. Athletes, on 10 00:00:39,300 --> 00:00:39,870 Ted Metellus: your mark. 11 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:45,570 Speaker 3: The first woman to finish for the second straight year 12 00:00:45,570 --> 00:00:49,170 Speaker 3: here in the New York City Marathon is Miki Gorman, a smiling 13 00:00:49,170 --> 00:00:53,001 Speaker 3: Miki Gorman. And why not? 2: 29:30, the time for (inaudible) . 14 00:00:53,940 --> 00:00:56,580 Speaker 4: Look at the emotion of Shalane Flanagan as she comes 15 00:00:56,580 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 4: to the line. Pointing to his chest, pointing to the 16 00:00:59,880 --> 00:01:03,750 Speaker 4: USA he so proudly wears across his chest. A great 17 00:01:03,750 --> 00:01:04,002 Speaker 4: day for (inaudible) . 18 00:01:10,230 --> 00:01:14,100 Becs Gentry: Welcome to Set The Pace presented by Peloton. I'm your 19 00:01:14,100 --> 00:01:18,810 Becs Gentry: host, Becs Gentry. Well, what a weekend we have just 20 00:01:18,810 --> 00:01:22,319 Becs Gentry: had. I know that all of you listeners out there know 21 00:01:22,319 --> 00:01:27,300 Becs Gentry: that we are fresh off the simply marvelous 2024 TCS, New 22 00:01:27,300 --> 00:01:31,470 Becs Gentry: York City Marathon. And as my usual co- host, CEO 23 00:01:31,470 --> 00:01:34,110 Becs Gentry: of New York Roadrunners, Rob Simmelkjaer, couldn't be with us 24 00:01:34,260 --> 00:01:37,740 Becs Gentry: for this episode today, we thought the next best person 25 00:01:37,740 --> 00:01:41,100 Becs Gentry: to celebrate this incredible weekend had to be the TCS 26 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:46,140 Becs Gentry: New York City Marathon race director, Ted Metellus. Ted, thank 27 00:01:46,140 --> 00:01:48,960 Becs Gentry: you so much for being here with us today to 28 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:53,580 Becs Gentry: help us round up the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon. How was it? 29 00:01:54,870 --> 00:01:56,400 Ted Metellus: Becs, you could hear it in my voice. 30 00:01:57,690 --> 00:01:57,990 Becs Gentry: What voice? 31 00:02:01,380 --> 00:02:04,890 Ted Metellus: It's a similar scenario as to seeing a friend after 32 00:02:04,890 --> 00:02:08,970 Ted Metellus: celebrating a birthday or wedding or huge celebration and they 33 00:02:08,970 --> 00:02:13,681 Ted Metellus: have that post celebratory glow going. So that's what I have going on right now. 34 00:02:13,681 --> 00:02:14,160 Becs Gentry: You do, you do. 35 00:02:14,549 --> 00:02:16,680 Ted Metellus: So I'm feeling real good. 36 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:20,220 Becs Gentry: Oh, it's showing. I can see the smile on your 37 00:02:20,220 --> 00:02:22,770 Becs Gentry: face and I've seen your smile for all the days 38 00:02:22,770 --> 00:02:25,680 Becs Gentry: leading up to it, and today it's the biggest, for 39 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:27,601 Becs Gentry: sure. Well, congratulations. 40 00:02:27,601 --> 00:02:28,711 Ted Metellus: Thank you. 41 00:02:29,070 --> 00:02:32,490 Becs Gentry: As the race director, I saw you from first thing 42 00:02:32,490 --> 00:02:35,730 Becs Gentry: in the morning to very last thing at night. You 43 00:02:35,730 --> 00:02:37,530 Becs Gentry: saw the first people over the line and you saw 44 00:02:37,530 --> 00:02:41,100 Becs Gentry: the last people over the line, as you do. That 45 00:02:41,100 --> 00:02:41,520 Becs Gentry: is your thing. 46 00:02:42,210 --> 00:02:44,880 Ted Metellus: Yeah, it's literally my favorite thing to do, and I 47 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:47,010 Ted Metellus: think that's the thing that makes what we do in 48 00:02:47,010 --> 00:02:50,040 Ted Metellus: New York so unique versus the other majors and other 49 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:54,540 Ted Metellus: major events, is we really truly celebrate first to final. 50 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:58,020 Ted Metellus: And what's really important, and I remember this from my 51 00:02:58,020 --> 00:03:03,359 Ted Metellus: past life, working in a nonprofit space that was cause 52 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:06,000 Ted Metellus: related. So I used to work for an organization that 53 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:09,720 Ted Metellus: raised funds, awareness and services for AIDS and breast cancer, 54 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:12,388 Ted Metellus: and there were multi- day cycling events and multi- day walks. 55 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:16,260 Ted Metellus: And what was really, really amazing is the radio going 56 00:03:16,260 --> 00:03:19,620 Ted Metellus: off and our team's being told, " The final athlete's coming 57 00:03:19,620 --> 00:03:22,950 Ted Metellus: in, the final participant's coming in," and we would put 58 00:03:22,950 --> 00:03:25,139 Ted Metellus: it on the loud speaker at the venue, at the 59 00:03:25,139 --> 00:03:28,320 Ted Metellus: site, at the camp, and everybody would come over and 60 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:31,560 Ted Metellus: celebrate that final participant as they crossed and came into 61 00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:35,340 Ted Metellus: camp. And the same vibe and energy is still there 62 00:03:35,340 --> 00:03:38,460 Ted Metellus: 25 plus years ago (inaudible) my life just doing 63 00:03:38,460 --> 00:03:40,530 Ted Metellus: it. And I make sure I bring it and bring 64 00:03:40,530 --> 00:03:41,070 Ted Metellus: that joy. 65 00:03:41,580 --> 00:03:45,420 Becs Gentry: Yeah, absolutely. And I think once the sun has gone 66 00:03:45,420 --> 00:03:50,250 Becs Gentry: down on the TCS New York City Marathon, that finish line is 67 00:03:50,340 --> 00:03:56,610 Becs Gentry: even more special. The light, the love, the passion that 68 00:03:56,610 --> 00:03:59,940 Becs Gentry: goes into those runners who are out there for many 69 00:03:59,940 --> 00:04:03,540 Becs Gentry: hours getting across the finish line in their own... They 70 00:04:03,540 --> 00:04:07,590 Becs Gentry: are running their own race and that is the most... 71 00:04:08,430 --> 00:04:12,030 Becs Gentry: It's just such a show of love and dedication and 72 00:04:12,030 --> 00:04:14,160 Becs Gentry: that's why I think it feels so special to be 73 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:16,469 Becs Gentry: there. And yeah, the tears, the joy. 74 00:04:16,830 --> 00:04:19,740 Ted Metellus: I think the other thing too that's really, really cool 75 00:04:19,740 --> 00:04:24,900 Ted Metellus: is the number of runners that had finished earlier, went home, 76 00:04:25,230 --> 00:04:28,050 Ted Metellus: cleaned up, ate, napped, went, did whatever, and came back. 77 00:04:28,050 --> 00:04:32,339 Ted Metellus: There's so many, and some of our lead athletes came back, some 78 00:04:32,339 --> 00:04:34,770 Ted Metellus: of our runners that were there and done. Some folks 79 00:04:34,770 --> 00:04:37,050 Ted Metellus: came back to say, " Hey, listen, I did this last 80 00:04:37,050 --> 00:04:39,539 Ted Metellus: year and it was so moving and amazing that I 81 00:04:39,540 --> 00:04:41,159 Ted Metellus: came back and I brought a loved one with me 82 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:43,170 Ted Metellus: to come and see it." So that's where it really, 83 00:04:43,170 --> 00:04:43,920 Ted Metellus: really lightens up. 84 00:04:44,190 --> 00:04:48,510 Becs Gentry: Yeah, absolutely. Once I'd finished off- air and got back 85 00:04:48,510 --> 00:04:51,360 Becs Gentry: to Brooklyn to see my daughter, we went back to 86 00:04:51,690 --> 00:04:55,169 Becs Gentry: just see people coming through Brooklyn as well because there's 87 00:04:55,170 --> 00:04:57,810 Becs Gentry: obviously the finish line (inaudible) as the day gets 88 00:04:57,810 --> 00:05:00,089 Becs Gentry: longer, but there are still people on the whole course 89 00:05:00,089 --> 00:05:03,960 Becs Gentry: for the whole day. So spreading it out is amazing. 90 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:09,719 Becs Gentry: And talking of finishers, Ted, over 55, 000 finishers, the 91 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:12,510 Becs Gentry: largest marathon, correct? 92 00:05:12,510 --> 00:05:15,779 Ted Metellus: Yeah. Yes, yes, yes. We are the largest marathon in the 93 00:05:15,779 --> 00:05:21,240 Ted Metellus: world. It hasn't really sunk in yet in a lot 94 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:26,250 Ted Metellus: of ways. I'm recording to you from our start line. Our teams 95 00:05:26,250 --> 00:05:28,980 Ted Metellus: are here breaking everything down and getting everything tidied up. 96 00:05:28,980 --> 00:05:31,170 Ted Metellus: We still have our teams at the finish getting everything 97 00:05:31,170 --> 00:05:33,690 Ted Metellus: broken down. Our team at the run center is still 98 00:05:33,930 --> 00:05:37,500 Ted Metellus: engraving medals and really celebrating the week of running. So there's still 99 00:05:37,500 --> 00:05:39,089 Ted Metellus: a lot going on, so I haven't really had an 100 00:05:39,089 --> 00:05:43,500 Ted Metellus: opportunity to truly sink that in. And call me this 101 00:05:43,500 --> 00:05:47,040 Ted Metellus: kind of old school event guy, but the classic line 102 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:52,200 Ted Metellus: of, "You know Becs, act like you've been here before." But I'm 103 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:54,839 Ted Metellus: really, really, really excited and super excited about this because 104 00:05:55,110 --> 00:05:57,570 Ted Metellus: think about all we've been through since the last time 105 00:05:57,630 --> 00:06:00,719 Ted Metellus: we were the largest marathon in the world. So in 2019 we had 53, 106 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:04,620 Ted Metellus: 600 runners and we were the largest, by far, marathon in the world in 107 00:06:04,980 --> 00:06:08,040 Ted Metellus: 2019. 2020, we were going to celebrate our 50th anniversary 108 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:10,979 Ted Metellus: of the marathon, really gearing things up, and the world 109 00:06:10,980 --> 00:06:13,739 Ted Metellus: has other plans. So we brought the race back in 110 00:06:13,740 --> 00:06:18,810 Ted Metellus: 2021 with tremendous work and grit and that was 25, 000 111 00:06:18,810 --> 00:06:21,660 Ted Metellus: runners. And we've been building and building since then. And 112 00:06:21,660 --> 00:06:24,210 Ted Metellus: now to hold the title as the largest marathon in 113 00:06:24,210 --> 00:06:27,839 Ted Metellus: the world, taking it from Paris, taking it from our 114 00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:31,800 Ted Metellus: brothers in Berlin, it's amazing. And I think that what's 115 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:35,339 Ted Metellus: really important is people saying to me, " Congratulations." And I'm 116 00:06:35,339 --> 00:06:38,580 Ted Metellus: saying to them, " No, congratulations to you. Congratulations to the 117 00:06:38,580 --> 00:06:42,029 Ted Metellus: volunteers. Congratulations to every runner. Congratulations to all the staff. 118 00:06:42,029 --> 00:06:45,450 Ted Metellus: Congratulations to the city agencies and partners." They all contributed 119 00:06:45,450 --> 00:06:48,360 Ted Metellus: to us having the largest marathon in the world and hosting 120 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:51,930 Ted Metellus: and providing the best experience for people all over the world. 121 00:06:52,860 --> 00:06:56,010 Becs Gentry: I love that. Well, let's talk about what those numbers 122 00:06:56,010 --> 00:07:02,159 Becs Gentry: are because they are truly magnificent. Amongst the 55,000, just over 55, 123 00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:07,350 Becs Gentry: 000 finishers, Ted, talk to us about the most impressive 124 00:07:07,350 --> 00:07:09,210 Becs Gentry: numbers that you see. And a couple of them, well, 125 00:07:09,630 --> 00:07:11,400 Becs Gentry: the first one that we have in front of us 126 00:07:11,430 --> 00:07:12,540 Becs Gentry: is really important to me. 127 00:07:12,750 --> 00:07:15,720 Ted Metellus: Yeah, yeah. Gosh, I think one of the things that we have 128 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:17,430 Ted Metellus: to take into account that I really want to shout 129 00:07:17,430 --> 00:07:23,220 Ted Metellus: out is well, the volunteers, over 6, 000 volunteers that 130 00:07:23,220 --> 00:07:26,160 Ted Metellus: were out there that really were engaging. And over, I 131 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:28,290 Ted Metellus: think through the weekend, it was something close to 8, 132 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:32,370 Ted Metellus: 000 volunteers that counted all the volunteers at Expo. They'd 133 00:07:32,370 --> 00:07:34,560 Ted Metellus: pick up all of the action that we had going on 134 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:39,600 Ted Metellus: there, marathon opening ceremony, the welcome volunteers that were in 135 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:42,630 Ted Metellus: the park. So many cool and amazing things that tied 136 00:07:42,630 --> 00:07:45,090 Ted Metellus: into that. So volunteers made the magic happen. 137 00:07:45,570 --> 00:07:50,670 Becs Gentry: Oh, they really did. And over 2 million spectators just 138 00:07:50,910 --> 00:07:54,300 Becs Gentry: lining the streets, every one of the five boroughs thick 139 00:07:54,450 --> 00:07:58,350 Becs Gentry: with people cheering. All of the, well, where are we at 140 00:07:58,350 --> 00:08:04,410 Becs Gentry: here? 137 countries, big states. And this one gets me, 141 00:08:04,650 --> 00:08:09,840 Becs Gentry: the most ever women's and non- binary finishers. Just shy 142 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:14,280 Becs Gentry: of 25,000 women ran this race, Ted, and... 143 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:18,030 Ted Metellus: Yes, yes. Well, we are putting the work in and 144 00:08:18,030 --> 00:08:20,280 Ted Metellus: we're really seeing that. We want to be the most 145 00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:24,000 Ted Metellus: inclusive marathon in the world. We want to be the most inclusive running organization in 146 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:25,650 Ted Metellus: the world. And you got to put in the work 147 00:08:25,650 --> 00:08:27,450 Ted Metellus: to be able to do that and service our community 148 00:08:27,480 --> 00:08:31,290 Ted Metellus: truly. And it's amazing to be able to have a platform 149 00:08:31,290 --> 00:08:34,170 Ted Metellus: and a space that people feel safe to come to, 150 00:08:34,350 --> 00:08:35,700 Ted Metellus: run and experience. 151 00:08:35,850 --> 00:08:40,500 Becs Gentry: Absolutely. Ted, do you want to tell our audience about the pro - 152 00:08:40,500 --> 00:08:44,790 Becs Gentry: side because we know that these are the top elite 153 00:08:44,970 --> 00:08:48,540 Becs Gentry: athletes who came to our race this year. Do you 154 00:08:48,540 --> 00:08:50,550 Becs Gentry: want to just take us through the winners? 155 00:08:50,580 --> 00:08:55,110 Ted Metellus: Yeah, we had an incredible field of athletes that came 156 00:08:55,290 --> 00:08:58,439 Ted Metellus: that really crushed the field there, some of which that 157 00:08:58,440 --> 00:09:00,690 Ted Metellus: worked really hard over the last handful of years to 158 00:09:00,690 --> 00:09:04,590 Ted Metellus: get to our point here. So we want to show 159 00:09:04,590 --> 00:09:08,370 Ted Metellus: love to Abdi, who, oh my gosh, he's run the 160 00:09:08,370 --> 00:09:13,920 Ted Metellus: marathon I think five times and has come through finally 161 00:09:13,920 --> 00:09:17,250 Ted Metellus: as a champion here. And one of our athletes, I 162 00:09:17,250 --> 00:09:20,640 Ted Metellus: was chatting with her briefly and I asked her, I 163 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:22,050 Ted Metellus: was like, " So tell me a little bit about your 164 00:09:22,050 --> 00:09:24,329 Ted Metellus: marathon journey and experience to get to the point that 165 00:09:24,330 --> 00:09:26,820 Ted Metellus: you're in right now." And this is her debut here 166 00:09:26,820 --> 00:09:30,360 Ted Metellus: in New York as a marathon. She's done the 10K before, 167 00:09:30,690 --> 00:09:33,600 Ted Metellus: but she's done really well in Valencia. It's a flat, 168 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:36,420 Ted Metellus: fast course. But New York was special and the glow and 169 00:09:36,450 --> 00:09:40,350 Ted Metellus: smile on her face was incredible there. Our US athletes 170 00:09:40,350 --> 00:09:43,020 Ted Metellus: that came in and showed up. What we were blessed 171 00:09:43,020 --> 00:09:45,900 Ted Metellus: with calendar wise and schedule wise was the fact that 172 00:09:45,900 --> 00:09:51,750 Ted Metellus: we had the Olympics in the year and our race 173 00:09:51,750 --> 00:09:53,730 Ted Metellus: was later in the year calendar wise, so we were able 174 00:09:53,730 --> 00:09:56,550 Ted Metellus: to really and truly get some incredible athletes that came through 175 00:09:56,820 --> 00:10:01,050 Ted Metellus: and ran with us. So huge shout out to Conner Mantz 176 00:10:01,860 --> 00:10:04,980 Ted Metellus: and Sara Vaughn, our two US athletes that came in first 177 00:10:04,980 --> 00:10:09,150 Ted Metellus: there. Definitely want to say tremendous congratulations to Evans Chebet 178 00:10:09,330 --> 00:10:11,579 Ted Metellus: and Hellen Obiri coming in as well. These are world- 179 00:10:11,580 --> 00:10:14,520 Ted Metellus: class athletes that have won Boston, have won our race 180 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:16,650 Ted Metellus: here in New York, so they've shown up and showed 181 00:10:16,650 --> 00:10:19,140 Ted Metellus: love. So our pro athletes were there and I'd be 182 00:10:19,140 --> 00:10:24,270 Ted Metellus: remiss if I didn't say congratulations to Susannah Scaroni and 183 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:29,190 Ted Metellus: Daniel Romanchuk, two US athletes winning the Wheelchair Championship, coming 184 00:10:29,190 --> 00:10:31,890 Ted Metellus: in strong there. It was an amazing day. 185 00:10:32,250 --> 00:10:36,839 Becs Gentry: It really, really was. I've still got cheekache from the 186 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:40,350 Becs Gentry: whole weekend. I don't think that's going to be going anywhere. 187 00:10:41,610 --> 00:10:45,660 Ted Metellus: Yeah, I'm still feeling... My faces are hurting yet from 188 00:10:45,660 --> 00:10:48,300 Ted Metellus: smiling and laughing and being joyful. I think my voice 189 00:10:48,300 --> 00:10:51,179 Ted Metellus: is a little hoarse from all of the cheering and yelling 190 00:10:51,179 --> 00:10:53,820 Ted Metellus: and showing love. But the pro field was great. I 191 00:10:53,820 --> 00:10:57,720 Ted Metellus: think one of the coolest things was Clayton Young at 192 00:10:57,720 --> 00:10:59,610 Ted Metellus: the start line, just as I was getting ready to 193 00:10:59,610 --> 00:11:02,490 Ted Metellus: say my words, turning over and really looking at me 194 00:11:02,550 --> 00:11:04,890 Ted Metellus: as I was at the start line. And I think 195 00:11:04,890 --> 00:11:08,490 Ted Metellus: what's really beautiful and amazing is the power of your 196 00:11:08,490 --> 00:11:11,339 Ted Metellus: words and what you say and that people listen to 197 00:11:11,340 --> 00:11:14,490 Ted Metellus: you and hear you and apply that to them, especially 198 00:11:14,490 --> 00:11:17,250 Ted Metellus: as they're getting ready to embark on this incredible journey. 199 00:11:17,520 --> 00:11:21,510 Ted Metellus: So welcoming them, thanking them, and getting them psyched and 200 00:11:21,510 --> 00:11:24,900 Ted Metellus: excited is really, really cool, but also the impact of 201 00:11:24,900 --> 00:11:26,670 Ted Metellus: what it is that they're doing, which is amazing as 202 00:11:26,670 --> 00:11:31,559 Ted Metellus: well. So Becs, we talked about everyone's marathon experience. You asked 203 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:33,510 Ted Metellus: me about my marathon experience, but now I have a 204 00:11:33,510 --> 00:11:36,809 Ted Metellus: two for one coming into you right now. So first and foremost, 205 00:11:36,809 --> 00:11:39,030 Ted Metellus: you are in the (inaudible) giving us a play by 206 00:11:39,030 --> 00:11:41,400 Ted Metellus: play, a step- by- step of the marathon experience there. So I 207 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:43,380 Ted Metellus: definitely want to hear a little bit of that. And 208 00:11:44,309 --> 00:11:47,130 Ted Metellus: you're about to embark on your own experience here, seven 209 00:11:47,130 --> 00:11:51,870 Ted Metellus: marathons, seven continents in seven days. So what are you taking 210 00:11:52,080 --> 00:11:54,660 Ted Metellus: from your New York City experience seeing the athletes out 211 00:11:54,660 --> 00:11:57,420 Ted Metellus: there, seeing the experience there and applying it to your journey? 212 00:11:57,720 --> 00:12:02,460 Becs Gentry: Oh my gosh, great question. Wow, that's going to reframe 213 00:12:02,460 --> 00:12:06,540 Becs Gentry: how I think about this weekend very well. Firstly, I 214 00:12:06,540 --> 00:12:09,990 Becs Gentry: just want to say thank you to the team who 215 00:12:09,990 --> 00:12:11,970 Becs Gentry: put me on the (inaudible) , which is New York 216 00:12:11,970 --> 00:12:15,030 Becs Gentry: Roadrunners and the production broadcast team. It was an honor 217 00:12:15,030 --> 00:12:17,400 Becs Gentry: to be part of it again this year and to 218 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:22,740 Becs Gentry: have a front row seat to the best women running 219 00:12:23,220 --> 00:12:27,390 Becs Gentry: the race this year. It was awe- inspiring to see 220 00:12:27,390 --> 00:12:30,809 Becs Gentry: teamwork in that way. People say that running is a 221 00:12:30,809 --> 00:12:34,410 Becs Gentry: solo sport. Absolutely not. It is the biggest community in 222 00:12:34,410 --> 00:12:38,910 Becs Gentry: the world and when teams come together, whether it was 223 00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:42,510 Becs Gentry: Hellen Obiri and Sharon Lokedi, who actually run for different 224 00:12:42,510 --> 00:12:45,720 Becs Gentry: brand teams, they were sharing water bottles, they were having 225 00:12:45,720 --> 00:12:49,949 Becs Gentry: conversations. There was Des checking in on another runner who 226 00:12:49,980 --> 00:12:51,900 Becs Gentry: fell to her knees, which I don't think we caught 227 00:12:51,900 --> 00:12:55,380 Becs Gentry: on the stream, but she popped straight back up as 228 00:12:55,380 --> 00:12:58,469 Becs Gentry: these incredible athletes do. But Des was there looking over 229 00:12:58,470 --> 00:13:03,030 Becs Gentry: her shoulder, checking in. The conversations between Dakotah and Sara 230 00:13:03,030 --> 00:13:08,010 Becs Gentry: Vaughn. It was just beautiful to watch these women perform 231 00:13:08,010 --> 00:13:12,900 Becs Gentry: in their element on such a wonderfully stunning day out 232 00:13:12,900 --> 00:13:16,260 Becs Gentry: there. So I just felt like the luckiest person in 233 00:13:16,260 --> 00:13:18,179 Becs Gentry: the world to be sitting next to Dale as he's 234 00:13:18,179 --> 00:13:21,960 Becs Gentry: recording it. And I'm just like jaw on the floor 235 00:13:22,650 --> 00:13:27,750 Becs Gentry: just watching them do their thing. And it was just... I'm 236 00:13:27,750 --> 00:13:30,630 Becs Gentry: a complete running nerd. Every time they broke over to 237 00:13:30,630 --> 00:13:33,600 Becs Gentry: me and gave me a count in, there was a lot 238 00:13:33,600 --> 00:13:35,760 Becs Gentry: I could have said, but I was still just like, " 239 00:13:37,350 --> 00:13:42,059 Becs Gentry: That's just amazing." It's all I wanted to see. And I 240 00:13:42,059 --> 00:13:46,140 Becs Gentry: will say to be able to relive the crowds in 241 00:13:46,140 --> 00:13:52,589 Becs Gentry: that moment without running it, was cheekily unreal. I could 242 00:13:52,590 --> 00:13:55,770 Becs Gentry: hear it through. I had my proper broadcast headphones on. 243 00:13:56,010 --> 00:13:59,220 Becs Gentry: The crowds came through and I loved it. It sent 244 00:13:59,220 --> 00:14:01,920 Becs Gentry: me just chills of joy all the way to the 245 00:14:01,920 --> 00:14:05,550 Becs Gentry: finish. So I'm going to take that support with me 246 00:14:05,550 --> 00:14:08,550 Becs Gentry: as I embark on the Great World Race. I know 247 00:14:08,550 --> 00:14:10,470 Becs Gentry: that no matter where I am in the world, I 248 00:14:10,470 --> 00:14:13,559 Becs Gentry: have a huge team of people behind me who are 249 00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:17,520 Becs Gentry: rooting for me. And to run my race, from seeing 250 00:14:17,520 --> 00:14:21,540 Becs Gentry: the elites change strategy in the moment to seeing the 251 00:14:21,570 --> 00:14:25,979 Becs Gentry: first and last non- elite, the masses coming over the 252 00:14:25,980 --> 00:14:30,420 Becs Gentry: line, every single person ran their own race. And it 253 00:14:30,420 --> 00:14:33,780 Becs Gentry: didn't matter, it doesn't matter what your speed is, your 254 00:14:33,780 --> 00:14:36,120 Becs Gentry: time is. I know it does to some people, they're 255 00:14:36,120 --> 00:14:38,520 Becs Gentry: going for goals. But in the end, it doesn't matter. 256 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:45,479 Becs Gentry: Your success is your training, your determination, your commitment and 257 00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:47,970 Becs Gentry: following that through on race day to get that medal 258 00:14:47,970 --> 00:14:50,760 Becs Gentry: around your neck. Whether you're the first or the last 259 00:14:50,760 --> 00:14:55,229 Becs Gentry: person over the line, it's absolutely insignificant, you all have 260 00:14:55,230 --> 00:14:58,530 Becs Gentry: the same medal around your neck. And that to me 261 00:14:58,530 --> 00:15:00,330 Becs Gentry: is what's going to get me through the Great World 262 00:15:00,360 --> 00:15:03,960 Becs Gentry: Race of, I do have a little timeframe because we 263 00:15:03,960 --> 00:15:08,130 Becs Gentry: have to leave every country by eight hours, but I'm 264 00:15:08,130 --> 00:15:10,170 Becs Gentry: going to finish it. Whether I walk some of it 265 00:15:10,170 --> 00:15:13,380 Becs Gentry: and take it in, whether I run all of it, I don't 266 00:15:13,380 --> 00:15:15,270 Becs Gentry: mind because each of us who get back on that 267 00:15:15,270 --> 00:15:17,070 Becs Gentry: plane, each 56 of us, we're going to have that 268 00:15:17,070 --> 00:15:19,230 Becs Gentry: medal around our necks and we're going to go on to 269 00:15:19,230 --> 00:15:22,890 Becs Gentry: the next one. So thank you New York for really 270 00:15:22,890 --> 00:15:24,180 Becs Gentry: inspiring me this weekend. 271 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:29,460 Ted Metellus: Wow, what a great way to get sent, an amazing send- off. And listen, we are going 272 00:15:29,460 --> 00:15:31,620 Ted Metellus: to be following you every step of the way. I'm 273 00:15:31,620 --> 00:15:34,560 Ted Metellus: super excited. You are absolutely right. You may not hear 274 00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:37,110 Ted Metellus: the crowds and the roars of everyone, but we are going 275 00:15:37,110 --> 00:15:39,060 Ted Metellus: to be cheering. We're going to be holding signs, we're 276 00:15:39,060 --> 00:15:41,490 Ted Metellus: going to be going... " Go Becs, go," is basically what we're 277 00:15:41,490 --> 00:15:42,180 Ted Metellus: going to be saying. 278 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:44,160 Becs Gentry: Thank you. I will feel it. 279 00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:46,680 Ted Metellus: Outstanding. Outstanding. 280 00:15:47,130 --> 00:15:49,470 Becs Gentry: Take your running to the next level with the Peloton 281 00:15:49,470 --> 00:15:53,610 Becs Gentry: Tread Plus , featuring a rubberized shock- absorbing slap belt. It's 282 00:15:53,610 --> 00:15:56,640 Becs Gentry: designed to optimize your runs and walks to the fullest 283 00:15:56,640 --> 00:16:00,660 Becs Gentry: potential. With classes designed and led by expert level coaches, 284 00:16:00,930 --> 00:16:03,359 Becs Gentry: you'll get the guidance you need to reach your running 285 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:06,540 Becs Gentry: goals. Whether you're just a beginner or consider yourself a 286 00:16:06,540 --> 00:16:09,960 Becs Gentry: pro runner, Peloton is here to support and challenge you 287 00:16:10,020 --> 00:16:13,830 Becs Gentry: every step of the way. All access memberships separate. Learn 288 00:16:13,830 --> 00:16:19,140 Becs Gentry: more about Peloton Tread at onepeloton. com/ running. Peloton, the 289 00:16:19,140 --> 00:16:23,070 Becs Gentry: official digital fitness partner for New York Roadrunners. Coming up 290 00:16:23,070 --> 00:16:27,510 Becs Gentry: on today's post 2024 TCS New York City Marathon episode, we 291 00:16:27,510 --> 00:16:31,140 Becs Gentry: have actor and comedian Randall Park, who's just completed his 292 00:16:31,140 --> 00:16:35,340 Becs Gentry: first marathon at the age of 50. Join us as 293 00:16:35,340 --> 00:16:37,950 Becs Gentry: he shares his journey from Fresh Off the Boat to 294 00:16:37,950 --> 00:16:40,770 Becs Gentry: the streets of New York City, all while running for 295 00:16:40,770 --> 00:16:45,000 Becs Gentry: a very personal cause. Then later in the show, the 296 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:47,790 Becs Gentry: great Meb Keflezighi will be here for our Member Moment 297 00:16:47,790 --> 00:16:51,540 Becs Gentry: with Cynthia Mafori- Gordon, a 14 time New York City 298 00:16:51,540 --> 00:16:55,350 Becs Gentry: marathon finisher who race walks her way from Staten Island 299 00:16:55,470 --> 00:17:00,090 Becs Gentry: to Central Park, turning every marathon into a personal milestone. 300 00:17:00,570 --> 00:17:03,540 Becs Gentry: And finally, info (inaudible) today, in today's Meb Minute 301 00:17:03,630 --> 00:17:07,859 Becs Gentry: is Anil Nandkumar, physical therapist from the hospital for special 302 00:17:07,859 --> 00:17:10,859 Becs Gentry: surgery, the official hospital of New York Roadrunners and the 303 00:17:10,859 --> 00:17:14,280 Becs Gentry: TCS, New York City Marathon. He's here to tell you 304 00:17:14,369 --> 00:17:16,709 Becs Gentry: everything you need to know about the topic of the 305 00:17:16,710 --> 00:17:21,720 Becs Gentry: moment, recovery. So stay tuned for that. Growing a business 306 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:24,330 Becs Gentry: means a lot of audience- attracting, a lot of lead 307 00:17:24,330 --> 00:17:27,900 Becs Gentry: scoring and a lot of long days. But with HubSpot, 308 00:17:27,930 --> 00:17:30,660 Becs Gentry: it's easier than ever for marketers to boost leads and 309 00:17:30,660 --> 00:17:34,830 Becs Gentry: score customers fast, which means pretty soon your company will 310 00:17:34,830 --> 00:17:40,080 Becs Gentry: have a lot to celebrate. Visit hubspot. com/ marketers to 311 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:45,150 Becs Gentry: learn more. Randall Park is a very funny man. He 312 00:17:45,150 --> 00:17:48,240 Becs Gentry: is a multifaceted talent that you probably know from his 313 00:17:48,240 --> 00:17:53,280 Becs Gentry: unforgettable roles in both television and film, including Louis Wong 314 00:17:53,340 --> 00:17:56,250 Becs Gentry: in Fresh Off the Boat, and of course Jimmy Woo 315 00:17:56,280 --> 00:18:00,300 Becs Gentry: in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But this past weekend, Randall 316 00:18:00,330 --> 00:18:04,379 Becs Gentry: took on a brand new challenge by completing the TCS 317 00:18:04,380 --> 00:18:08,160 Becs Gentry: New York City Marathon. Motivated by family and his commitment 318 00:18:08,160 --> 00:18:11,520 Becs Gentry: to Culture City, a non- profit focused on sensory inclusion, 319 00:18:11,850 --> 00:18:15,660 Becs Gentry: Randall took what he called a loose approach to marathon 320 00:18:15,660 --> 00:18:18,960 Becs Gentry: training, and today we're going to hear all about how 321 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:22,859 Becs Gentry: that went for him. Okay, Randall, we are here to 322 00:18:22,859 --> 00:18:28,080 Becs Gentry: celebrate you and your incredible accomplishment of the 2024 TCS, New 323 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:31,530 Becs Gentry: York City Marathon. How are you feeling? 324 00:18:32,850 --> 00:18:37,290 Randall Park: I'm feeling great. A little sore, but not too bad. 325 00:18:37,380 --> 00:18:42,840 Randall Park: I thought it would be worse. And yeah, I still 326 00:18:42,840 --> 00:18:43,708 Randall Park: can't believe I did that. 327 00:18:43,709 --> 00:18:47,879 Becs Gentry: I am so happy for you. There is nothing a running 328 00:18:47,880 --> 00:18:51,780 Becs Gentry: coach loves more than seeing somebody complete their first marathon 329 00:18:51,780 --> 00:18:56,640 Becs Gentry: and just wallow in that pride of the achievement. So 330 00:18:57,119 --> 00:19:00,780 Becs Gentry: I want to talk about the whys behind this marathon 331 00:19:00,780 --> 00:19:04,230 Becs Gentry: for you. If you don't mind me saying, you're 50 332 00:19:04,230 --> 00:19:08,160 Becs Gentry: years old right now, right here, right now. And why 333 00:19:08,220 --> 00:19:11,490 Becs Gentry: did you just decide that now was the time for you 334 00:19:11,490 --> 00:19:13,050 Becs Gentry: to take on a marathon? 335 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:17,760 Randall Park: Gosh, it was a lot of factors. The first thing 336 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:22,500 Randall Park: was, yeah, I turned 50 and I wanted to prove 337 00:19:22,500 --> 00:19:26,310 Randall Park: to myself that I could still do whatever I want 338 00:19:26,310 --> 00:19:29,430 Randall Park: to do and accomplish anything I want to accomplish, even 339 00:19:29,430 --> 00:19:33,690 Randall Park: at my age. And I felt like this was the 340 00:19:33,690 --> 00:19:40,770 Randall Park: perfect symbol of that. Also, I ran for a charity 341 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:45,840 Randall Park: called Culture City and the charity I'm on the board 342 00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:48,869 Randall Park: of, and they've asked me the past few years if 343 00:19:48,869 --> 00:19:53,460 Randall Park: I wanted to run the marathon to raise money and awareness 344 00:19:53,460 --> 00:19:56,669 Randall Park: for the charity. And I'd always say no because it 345 00:19:56,670 --> 00:19:59,700 Randall Park: just felt like something that was just so outlandish and 346 00:19:59,700 --> 00:20:08,010 Randall Park: impossible. But then I turned 50. Also, the charity itself 347 00:20:08,100 --> 00:20:12,780 Randall Park: works towards inclusion and acceptance for people with sensory needs, 348 00:20:13,050 --> 00:20:16,830 Randall Park: and my daughter is on the autism spectrum and has 349 00:20:16,830 --> 00:20:20,760 Randall Park: a lot of sensory needs, so I also wanted to 350 00:20:20,760 --> 00:20:24,119 Randall Park: run it for my daughter. And then on top of that, 351 00:20:24,119 --> 00:20:26,970 Randall Park: my father passed away this year and I wanted to 352 00:20:26,970 --> 00:20:29,040 Randall Park: run it for him too. So it was kind of 353 00:20:29,280 --> 00:20:34,260 Randall Park: a bunch of things happening that made it feel like 354 00:20:34,260 --> 00:20:39,330 Randall Park: it was the right time to attempt this feat. 355 00:20:40,350 --> 00:20:44,730 Becs Gentry: That's incredible. I am sorry that you lost your father 356 00:20:44,730 --> 00:20:48,119 Becs Gentry: this year, but I'm sure that there were wonderful memories 357 00:20:48,119 --> 00:20:50,790 Becs Gentry: you were thinking of at the time. You ran in 358 00:20:50,790 --> 00:20:55,770 Becs Gentry: his honor. And raising money as well for a Culture 359 00:20:55,770 --> 00:20:58,770 Becs Gentry: City, which your daughter is involved with, that's just a 360 00:20:58,770 --> 00:21:02,460 Becs Gentry: double whammy of inspiration as you are out there clocking 361 00:21:02,460 --> 00:21:03,359 Becs Gentry: the miles away. 362 00:21:04,140 --> 00:21:05,641 Randall Park: Yeah, definitely. Those last few miles I was thinking of them. Yeah. 363 00:21:05,641 --> 00:21:10,560 Becs Gentry: I bet. I bet you were thinking of them all the 364 00:21:10,560 --> 00:21:15,000 Becs Gentry: way, and I'm sure in training as well. So we 365 00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:16,919 Becs Gentry: have... I'm sure a lot of our listeners are in 366 00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:20,790 Becs Gentry: the same boat as you, struggling with going downstairs this 367 00:21:20,790 --> 00:21:25,770 Becs Gentry: week. So let's talk about your training. I know that 368 00:21:25,770 --> 00:21:28,800 Becs Gentry: you said that you trained up to 20 miles, you 369 00:21:28,800 --> 00:21:31,710 Becs Gentry: ran your 20- mile run and you felt great, you 370 00:21:31,710 --> 00:21:35,250 Becs Gentry: knew you could go further. Did that translate on race 371 00:21:35,250 --> 00:21:37,110 Becs Gentry: day or was 20 miles different? 372 00:21:39,030 --> 00:21:42,570 Randall Park: No, it really did. I'm so glad I ran those 373 00:21:42,570 --> 00:21:47,190 Randall Park: 20 miles because the first 20 miles of the marathon 374 00:21:47,190 --> 00:21:52,980 Randall Park: were kind of a breeze for me. I was just 375 00:21:52,980 --> 00:21:57,600 Randall Park: really enjoying those first 20 miles. I was on that 376 00:21:57,600 --> 00:22:02,700 Randall Park: runner's high from mile two to mile 20. So it 377 00:22:02,700 --> 00:22:08,459 Randall Park: was just wonderful. And a part of me wishes I 378 00:22:08,460 --> 00:22:12,600 Randall Park: would've ran a marathon in training just because those last 379 00:22:12,600 --> 00:22:16,679 Randall Park: few miles were so tough for me. I started to 380 00:22:16,680 --> 00:22:18,990 Randall Park: feel one of my legs cramping up and I was like, " 381 00:22:18,990 --> 00:22:22,708 Randall Park: Oh no." And my goal was to not walk. Well, 382 00:22:24,690 --> 00:22:28,260 Randall Park: I wanted to just finish first of all, but while 383 00:22:28,619 --> 00:22:34,169 Randall Park: running, I made a secondary goal to try not to 384 00:22:34,170 --> 00:22:38,970 Randall Park: ever walk and just to keep running. And I was 385 00:22:38,970 --> 00:22:41,820 Randall Park: able to do that. But it was definitely a struggle 386 00:22:41,820 --> 00:22:45,210 Randall Park: towards, I'd say, mile 23 and 24. 387 00:22:45,270 --> 00:22:49,560 Becs Gentry: Yeah, the infamous in and outs of Central Park when 388 00:22:49,560 --> 00:22:51,780 Becs Gentry: you start to think, " How has this city got this 389 00:22:51,780 --> 00:22:52,800 Becs Gentry: many hills?" 390 00:22:55,619 --> 00:22:59,100 Randall Park: Yeah. But I was forewarned of that, so I was ready. 391 00:23:00,300 --> 00:23:03,719 Becs Gentry: I'm sure. I'm sure you were. So in your training, is there any time in 392 00:23:03,720 --> 00:23:08,040 Becs Gentry: your training that particularly stood out to you as being tough? 393 00:23:12,600 --> 00:23:17,820 Randall Park: Well, I was training in L.A., and a lot of the training was 394 00:23:17,820 --> 00:23:24,330 Randall Park: during the hottest weather in L.A. A bulk of my 395 00:23:24,330 --> 00:23:32,010 Randall Park: training was in the heat. So there were days and mornings 396 00:23:32,010 --> 00:23:37,230 Randall Park: where it was really just tough to kind of get 397 00:23:37,230 --> 00:23:40,650 Randall Park: those miles in with the heat, but eventually I kind 398 00:23:40,650 --> 00:23:45,990 Randall Park: of got used to it. And also the way neighborhood 399 00:23:45,990 --> 00:23:49,500 Randall Park: is kind of situated, there are a lot of hills 400 00:23:50,670 --> 00:23:54,990 Randall Park: and those hills were tough. But I'm so glad that 401 00:23:54,990 --> 00:23:59,310 Randall Park: I had that heat and the hills because it prepped 402 00:23:59,310 --> 00:24:02,250 Randall Park: me for the marathon in such a great way. And 403 00:24:03,630 --> 00:24:08,669 Randall Park: the hills, the inclines during the marathon were actually not 404 00:24:08,670 --> 00:24:14,129 Randall Park: that tough for me because of that training that I 405 00:24:14,130 --> 00:24:18,720 Randall Park: did, running those hills. And the weather was so perfect, 406 00:24:19,230 --> 00:24:23,970 Randall Park: so it was nice and cool and dry. And so 407 00:24:24,240 --> 00:24:27,899 Randall Park: compared to my training in L. A., it was just 408 00:24:28,140 --> 00:24:31,889 Randall Park: such a pleasure. And I think that's what made, up 409 00:24:31,890 --> 00:24:35,490 Randall Park: till mile- twenty, really just so pleasurable and fun. 410 00:24:36,270 --> 00:24:40,650 Becs Gentry: Oh, that's so wonderful to hear. And I agree with 411 00:24:40,650 --> 00:24:44,369 Becs Gentry: you, I think the time of year for this marathon 412 00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:48,899 Becs Gentry: is sort of... The actual race is softened by the fact that 413 00:24:48,900 --> 00:24:52,410 Becs Gentry: most people train through a summer of some sort. And 414 00:24:52,859 --> 00:24:54,330 Becs Gentry: I know on the East Coast here, we had a 415 00:24:54,330 --> 00:24:58,470 Becs Gentry: very hot summer as well. So I think getting yourself ready for 416 00:24:58,890 --> 00:25:01,290 Becs Gentry: those miles in that heat, and then on race day 417 00:25:01,290 --> 00:25:05,100 Becs Gentry: when it's textbook perfect, you're like, " Ah, this is a 418 00:25:05,100 --> 00:25:06,359 Becs Gentry: breeze. I've got this." 419 00:25:08,310 --> 00:25:11,040 Randall Park: Yeah, it was lovely. And I heard a couple of 420 00:25:11,040 --> 00:25:12,689 Randall Park: days before, it was really hot. 421 00:25:14,970 --> 00:25:14,971 Becs Gentry: Yes, it was. 422 00:25:14,971 --> 00:25:16,560 Randall Park: Yeah, so we got really lucky there. 423 00:25:17,190 --> 00:25:21,900 Becs Gentry: You did. Okay, so you've done the marathon, and I 424 00:25:21,930 --> 00:25:25,350 Becs Gentry: really do want to know two things. Okay, first one, 425 00:25:26,310 --> 00:25:28,290 Becs Gentry: you are a man who has spent a lot of 426 00:25:28,290 --> 00:25:32,010 Becs Gentry: years in front of the camera and adoring fans and 427 00:25:32,010 --> 00:25:38,370 Becs Gentry: crowds. How did the fans on the course compare to 428 00:25:38,609 --> 00:25:41,220 Becs Gentry: your fans behind the camera and all of that kind 429 00:25:41,220 --> 00:25:41,820 Becs Gentry: of life? 430 00:25:42,750 --> 00:25:50,730 Randall Park: It was really a wonderful thing to just hear folks 431 00:25:52,200 --> 00:25:57,570 Randall Park: cheering me on and seeing people holding signs with my 432 00:25:57,570 --> 00:26:04,020 Randall Park: name on it. I'm an introvert, so a part of 433 00:26:04,020 --> 00:26:11,790 Randall Park: me wondered, I don't know, if that would be a 434 00:26:11,790 --> 00:26:15,630 Randall Park: bit of, not a distraction, but if that might pull 435 00:26:15,630 --> 00:26:18,450 Randall Park: energy out of me just to kind of acknowledge these 436 00:26:18,450 --> 00:26:22,830 Randall Park: people while I'm running. But it actually didn't, it really 437 00:26:22,830 --> 00:26:29,940 Randall Park: lifted me up and it just kind of gave me 438 00:26:29,940 --> 00:26:35,939 Randall Park: life. So I was so happy to see those people cheering me on. 439 00:26:35,940 --> 00:26:39,990 Randall Park: And yeah, it was wonderful. 440 00:26:41,040 --> 00:26:45,000 Becs Gentry: Oh my gosh, I bet. I know that the crowds are something that we really 441 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:48,420 Becs Gentry: pride ourselves on here in New York. Okay, second thing 442 00:26:48,420 --> 00:26:50,520 Becs Gentry: I want to know, now you've run the race, is 443 00:26:50,609 --> 00:26:56,250 Becs Gentry: do you see running being something that stays in your 444 00:26:56,250 --> 00:26:57,240 Becs Gentry: world now? 445 00:26:58,379 --> 00:27:03,900 Randall Park: Well, I've run. For most of my life, I've been 446 00:27:03,900 --> 00:27:07,500 Randall Park: a runner, but usually- 447 00:27:07,709 --> 00:27:07,710 Becs Gentry: Running marathons. 448 00:27:07,710 --> 00:27:12,300 Randall Park: ... five miles at a time. Yeah, yeah. Running a marathon 449 00:27:12,300 --> 00:27:14,909 Randall Park: just seemed like... I had never even run a half- 450 00:27:14,910 --> 00:27:22,440 Randall Park: marathon. I just kind of dove right in. So yes, I'm always going 451 00:27:22,440 --> 00:27:24,240 Randall Park: to be a runner as long as I can run. 452 00:27:25,020 --> 00:27:30,060 Randall Park: But as far as marathon running, I think I need 453 00:27:30,060 --> 00:27:35,189 Randall Park: time to heal a little bit before I decide to 454 00:27:35,190 --> 00:27:38,609 Randall Park: run another one. But I am pretty sure I'm going 455 00:27:38,609 --> 00:27:38,670 Randall Park: to run more. 456 00:27:38,670 --> 00:27:44,639 Becs Gentry: Yay. Okay, that filled my cup up as a running coach. 457 00:27:45,060 --> 00:27:48,720 Becs Gentry: All right, Randall, let's talk about your main career, your 458 00:27:48,720 --> 00:27:52,710 Becs Gentry: main job. We introduced you as, and you are a 459 00:27:52,710 --> 00:27:57,390 Becs Gentry: very funny human. You are fantastically gifted in the comedy 460 00:27:57,390 --> 00:28:01,650 Becs Gentry: space. Can you tell me about how you got into 461 00:28:01,680 --> 00:28:04,859 Becs Gentry: comedy, for want of a better quote, your big break? 462 00:28:05,970 --> 00:28:10,920 Randall Park: Oh gosh. I don't feel like I ever had one 463 00:28:10,920 --> 00:28:15,240 Randall Park: big break. I feel like it I guess similar to a 464 00:28:15,240 --> 00:28:21,150 Randall Park: marathon in some ways. It was just a continuous journey where 465 00:28:21,450 --> 00:28:27,540 Randall Park: I started out in my later twenties after working office 466 00:28:27,540 --> 00:28:31,320 Randall Park: jobs, just deciding, " You know what? I am just going 467 00:28:31,320 --> 00:28:33,270 Randall Park: to go for it." And from there it was a 468 00:28:33,270 --> 00:28:38,580 Randall Park: slow build, just the slow build, doing commercials, doing small 469 00:28:38,580 --> 00:28:45,750 Randall Park: parts on TV shows, eventually auditioning for bigger parts, and 470 00:28:45,750 --> 00:28:52,470 Randall Park: soon enough just working more and more slowly and steadily 471 00:28:52,500 --> 00:28:57,060 Randall Park: and eventually booking TV pilots that would never get picked 472 00:28:57,060 --> 00:29:01,770 Randall Park: up to series and eventually booking Fresh Off the Boat, 473 00:29:02,370 --> 00:29:10,410 Randall Park: which was definitely a huge get for me. So Fresh 474 00:29:10,410 --> 00:29:13,500 Randall Park: Off the Boat was definitely pivotal for me, but I 475 00:29:13,500 --> 00:29:17,880 Randall Park: had been working steadily before that. And I just always 476 00:29:17,880 --> 00:29:23,400 Randall Park: kind of had this just working actor mentality of, " Just 477 00:29:24,720 --> 00:29:27,570 Randall Park: keep your head down and keep working, keep grinding away," 478 00:29:28,170 --> 00:29:32,790 Randall Park: and have always kind of approached my career that way. 479 00:29:33,660 --> 00:29:42,600 Randall Park: Much like a marathon, honestly. There have been numerous things 480 00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:46,950 Randall Park: that have been very pivotal for me, but I wouldn't 481 00:29:46,950 --> 00:29:50,790 Randall Park: say one thing that really changed my life. It was 482 00:29:50,790 --> 00:29:52,770 Randall Park: just kind of this build. 483 00:29:53,100 --> 00:29:56,430 Becs Gentry: Yeah. Yeah. I love that. So it's obviously fair to 484 00:29:56,430 --> 00:30:00,990 Becs Gentry: say that Fresh Off the Boat was absolutely groundbreaking. Your 485 00:30:00,990 --> 00:30:03,990 Becs Gentry: role in that was huge and it helped shape your 486 00:30:03,990 --> 00:30:08,250 Becs Gentry: career. And then you moved on to your character of 487 00:30:08,250 --> 00:30:11,280 Becs Gentry: Jimmy Woo in the Marvel Universe. 488 00:30:12,180 --> 00:30:12,780 Randall Park: Yes. 489 00:30:14,490 --> 00:30:19,050 Becs Gentry: How cool is that? I'm sure you still to this day are like, " 490 00:30:19,050 --> 00:30:23,400 Becs Gentry: Really, I'm a Marvel character?" That's insane." What has that been like, being 491 00:30:23,400 --> 00:30:24,720 Becs Gentry: part of such a big franchise? 492 00:30:26,730 --> 00:30:30,870 Randall Park: So cool. As a kid I collected comic books and 493 00:30:31,650 --> 00:30:35,219 Randall Park: I collected a lot of Marvel comic books. And so 494 00:30:35,220 --> 00:30:39,840 Randall Park: it was very surreal just to be a part of 495 00:30:39,840 --> 00:30:45,660 Randall Park: that. And that was connected to... Actually no, not Fresh 496 00:30:45,660 --> 00:30:48,330 Randall Park: Off the Boat. But I had done a small part 497 00:30:48,330 --> 00:30:51,180 Randall Park: on New Girl, a show called New Girl, if you 498 00:30:51,180 --> 00:30:54,930 Randall Park: remember that show. And the director of that show was 499 00:30:54,930 --> 00:31:00,390 Randall Park: Peyton Reed who directed the Ant- Man movies. And so 500 00:31:00,390 --> 00:31:06,810 Randall Park: I knew Peyton and that led to... That one- day 501 00:31:06,810 --> 00:31:12,510 Randall Park: guest star years later would lead to me in Ant- 502 00:31:12,510 --> 00:31:14,760 Randall Park: Man and the Wasp, and then that would lead to 503 00:31:14,760 --> 00:31:21,780 Randall Park: me in WandaVision. It's all so interconnected. So yeah, it's 504 00:31:21,780 --> 00:31:25,320 Randall Park: just another example of you do a one- day guest star 505 00:31:25,320 --> 00:31:26,850 Randall Park: and you don't know what it's going to lead to. 506 00:31:27,900 --> 00:31:34,710 Randall Park: Everything is just such... Again, it's a marathon. It's like 507 00:31:35,550 --> 00:31:39,810 Randall Park: things that you work on now down the road will lead 508 00:31:39,810 --> 00:31:40,800 Randall Park: to bigger things. 509 00:31:41,610 --> 00:31:45,420 Becs Gentry: Yeah, absolutely. And with that in mind, you have become 510 00:31:45,420 --> 00:31:49,620 Becs Gentry: a hugely prominent figure in the Asian American society, in 511 00:31:49,620 --> 00:31:55,800 Becs Gentry: acting, in Hollywood. I'm sure there are so many younger 512 00:31:55,800 --> 00:31:59,250 Becs Gentry: Asian American and other actors who look up to you. 513 00:32:01,200 --> 00:32:03,810 Becs Gentry: Since you've been involved in the industry, have you seen 514 00:32:03,810 --> 00:32:06,180 Becs Gentry: representation grow and change? 515 00:32:07,500 --> 00:32:13,470 Randall Park: Yeah, yeah, definitely. When I first started, the idea of 516 00:32:14,640 --> 00:32:18,450 Randall Park: an Asian American actor being the lead of a project 517 00:32:18,990 --> 00:32:26,310 Randall Park: in TV or film was pretty outlandish. Sure, there were 518 00:32:26,550 --> 00:32:32,340 Randall Park: things here and there, but it wasn't a regular thing. So 519 00:32:32,340 --> 00:32:35,459 Randall Park: in that sense, Fresh Off the Boat was very monumental, 520 00:32:35,670 --> 00:32:44,820 Randall Park: especially for network TV. So yeah, when I first started, it 521 00:32:44,820 --> 00:32:48,960 Randall Park: just didn't seem like we'd get to where we are 522 00:32:48,960 --> 00:32:54,090 Randall Park: now. But shows like Fresh Off the Boat and Crazy 523 00:32:54,090 --> 00:32:56,910 Randall Park: Rich Asians and all of these things that really kind 524 00:32:56,910 --> 00:33:01,500 Randall Park: of broke through with not just Asian Americans, but just 525 00:33:01,500 --> 00:33:06,990 Randall Park: globally, they really kind of helped open things up. And 526 00:33:06,990 --> 00:33:15,000 Randall Park: now there's just a lot more shows that reflect our 527 00:33:15,000 --> 00:33:17,850 Randall Park: community and other communities, and I think it's pretty awesome. 528 00:33:18,690 --> 00:33:22,380 Becs Gentry: Yeah, it truly is. It's a wonderful thing to see 529 00:33:22,650 --> 00:33:28,770 Becs Gentry: so many different cultures represented in that higher realm of... 530 00:33:29,220 --> 00:33:34,001 Becs Gentry: It's all popular media, and that's what's fantastic. It's (inaudible) 531 00:33:34,001 --> 00:33:38,220 Becs Gentry: everybody. And the other thing for you that's obviously 532 00:33:38,220 --> 00:33:42,240 Becs Gentry: changed whilst you've been in the spotlight of the Hollywood 533 00:33:42,240 --> 00:33:47,940 Becs Gentry: life is that you're a father as well, and you have a beautiful 534 00:33:47,940 --> 00:33:49,020 Becs Gentry: little girl, right? 535 00:33:49,020 --> 00:33:49,410 Randall Park: Yes. 536 00:33:49,500 --> 00:33:50,400 Becs Gentry: How old is she now? 537 00:33:52,860 --> 00:33:54,840 Randall Park: She's 12. She's 12. She's becoming a bigger girl. 538 00:33:54,840 --> 00:33:54,841 Becs Gentry: She's 12 already? 539 00:33:54,841 --> 00:33:54,931 Randall Park: Yeah. 540 00:33:56,700 --> 00:33:59,370 Becs Gentry: Oh my gosh. She is. Well, I'm sure she'll never 541 00:33:59,370 --> 00:34:01,050 Becs Gentry: not be your little girl. I feel the same with 542 00:34:01,110 --> 00:34:01,710 Becs Gentry: my daughter. 543 00:34:01,710 --> 00:34:01,891 Randall Park: Oh yeah. Oh, for sure. 544 00:34:01,891 --> 00:34:11,820 Becs Gentry: But how has being a parent changed your vision of 545 00:34:11,940 --> 00:34:17,310 Becs Gentry: perhaps how you portray yourself in your career? 546 00:34:19,500 --> 00:34:24,900 Randall Park: Oh, that's a great question. I don't know. I don't 547 00:34:24,900 --> 00:34:30,270 Randall Park: know if she's changed my kind of approach to the 548 00:34:30,270 --> 00:34:33,420 Randall Park: kinds of roles I do or the kinds of stories 549 00:34:33,420 --> 00:34:38,010 Randall Park: I do, but she's definitely changed my perspective on the 550 00:34:38,010 --> 00:34:47,250 Randall Park: importance of all of that. She's definitely made me... I 551 00:34:47,250 --> 00:34:50,640 Randall Park: already knew there were more important things than this career 552 00:34:50,670 --> 00:34:57,390 Randall Park: and acting and even this idea of representation. But when 553 00:34:57,390 --> 00:35:02,370 Randall Park: she was born, she made me realize that she was 554 00:35:02,370 --> 00:35:09,930 Randall Park: my most important thing and person, and I had never 555 00:35:09,930 --> 00:35:17,190 Randall Park: felt more just crazy in love with any being or 556 00:35:17,190 --> 00:35:28,800 Randall Park: anything. So everything else is great, including this career, but 557 00:35:28,800 --> 00:35:36,660 Randall Park: it's not nearly as important as her. And so she's 558 00:35:36,660 --> 00:35:45,810 Randall Park: always my priority, and she allows me to remember that 559 00:35:45,810 --> 00:35:49,680 Randall Park: all of this other stuff is fun, it's fun, but 560 00:35:51,120 --> 00:35:52,950 Randall Park: it's not the most important thing in the world. 561 00:35:53,850 --> 00:35:58,890 Becs Gentry: Yeah, I concur. And I'm sure over those many miles of 562 00:35:58,890 --> 00:36:03,330 Becs Gentry: training and many miles on Sunday, you had a lot 563 00:36:03,330 --> 00:36:08,520 Becs Gentry: of reflection points of, we've already talked about the Culture 564 00:36:08,520 --> 00:36:11,670 Becs Gentry: City, but just reflection points of your time as a 565 00:36:11,670 --> 00:36:15,570 Becs Gentry: father going forward. As you get tired, you go deep 566 00:36:15,570 --> 00:36:16,739 Becs Gentry: into those thoughts, don't you? 567 00:36:18,150 --> 00:36:24,330 Randall Park: Gosh, yeah. I didn't realize how much I... I had 568 00:36:24,330 --> 00:36:29,130 Randall Park: heard. Somebody had told me, " Those last few miles just 569 00:36:29,700 --> 00:36:35,129 Randall Park: dedicate each mile in your mind to a person or 570 00:36:35,130 --> 00:36:39,960 Randall Park: something that's important to you, and that'll kind of get 571 00:36:39,960 --> 00:36:47,010 Randall Park: you through." And I would say by mile 23, I 572 00:36:47,010 --> 00:36:52,560 Randall Park: was really thinking of my dad. With every step, I 573 00:36:52,560 --> 00:36:57,630 Randall Park: was like, " I'm doing this for him," and then 24, 574 00:36:58,500 --> 00:37:04,410 Randall Park: thinking of Ruby, my daughter, and throughout those last few 575 00:37:04,410 --> 00:37:07,410 Randall Park: miles, just thinking of all the important people in my 576 00:37:07,410 --> 00:37:11,820 Randall Park: life. And that really, really helped. It really helped because 577 00:37:12,090 --> 00:37:16,380 Randall Park: I didn't want to give up on them. So yeah, 578 00:37:17,489 --> 00:37:18,750 Randall Park: it was beautiful. 579 00:37:20,430 --> 00:37:24,540 Becs Gentry: It really is, that digging deep, especially in your first 580 00:37:24,540 --> 00:37:28,529 Becs Gentry: marathon when everything is brand new, especially after the twenty- 581 00:37:28,530 --> 00:37:33,210 Becs Gentry: mile marker that you haven't approached before, and what you 582 00:37:33,330 --> 00:37:37,860 Becs Gentry: lean on. And for you going into it with those two 583 00:37:37,890 --> 00:37:43,350 Becs Gentry: very pertinent why's, your daughter, Ruby, and your father, they 584 00:37:43,350 --> 00:37:48,390 Becs Gentry: probably just were the most amazing thoughts, I'm sure, memories, 585 00:37:48,450 --> 00:37:51,600 Becs Gentry: I'm sure looking at the blue sky thinking, " Thanks, dad. 586 00:37:51,630 --> 00:37:55,440 Becs Gentry: Thanks for bringing this beautiful day down onto us all 587 00:37:55,440 --> 00:37:58,860 Becs Gentry: today." So when you... I'm going to bring it full 588 00:37:58,860 --> 00:38:01,259 Becs Gentry: circle back to the marathon because I just love the marathon. 589 00:38:01,260 --> 00:38:01,710 Becs Gentry: Can you tell? 590 00:38:01,710 --> 00:38:01,800 Randall Park: Yes, of course. 591 00:38:05,040 --> 00:38:09,690 Becs Gentry: When you went over the finish line, likening it to 592 00:38:09,690 --> 00:38:13,080 Becs Gentry: wrapping on some of the biggest film and TV projects 593 00:38:13,140 --> 00:38:17,100 Becs Gentry: you've ever done, what were the actual emotions that you 594 00:38:17,100 --> 00:38:20,100 Becs Gentry: felt in your heart when you crossed that finish line on Sunday? 595 00:38:22,200 --> 00:38:29,310 Randall Park: Gosh, I just couldn't believe it. I was in this 596 00:38:29,310 --> 00:38:33,029 Randall Park: state of disbelief that I was able to do that. 597 00:38:34,680 --> 00:38:42,900 Randall Park: And I felt extremely proud, extremely proud that I had 598 00:38:42,900 --> 00:38:46,259 Randall Park: set this goal for myself and I worked towards that 599 00:38:46,260 --> 00:38:50,969 Randall Park: goal and I actually was able to do it, and 600 00:38:50,969 --> 00:38:53,609 Randall Park: to do it in a time that wasn't too bad. 601 00:38:55,050 --> 00:38:58,320 Randall Park: Because I had told myself always, " The goal is just 602 00:38:58,320 --> 00:39:01,380 Randall Park: to finish. Even if I have to walk it, just 603 00:39:01,380 --> 00:39:06,239 Randall Park: finish. And if I can avoid walking, that would be 604 00:39:06,239 --> 00:39:09,930 Randall Park: great, but just finish," and then be able to say 605 00:39:09,930 --> 00:39:12,690 Randall Park: that I actually ran the whole thing. I never hit 606 00:39:12,690 --> 00:39:16,051 Randall Park: the wall, because I was very scared of that. 607 00:39:16,051 --> 00:39:16,052 Becs Gentry: It's horrible. 608 00:39:16,052 --> 00:39:25,500 Randall Park: Yes, yes. So I kind of prepared and definitely fueled 609 00:39:25,500 --> 00:39:29,580 Randall Park: right throughout and never hit the wall, which is another 610 00:39:29,580 --> 00:39:33,480 Randall Park: thing that I was terrified of. It kind of was 611 00:39:33,480 --> 00:39:37,500 Randall Park: perfect for me, the whole experience, and it just culminated 612 00:39:37,500 --> 00:39:41,580 Randall Park: in that last moment of crossing the finish line and 613 00:39:42,930 --> 00:39:46,440 Randall Park: just taking it all in and thinking of my dad 614 00:39:46,440 --> 00:39:52,230 Randall Park: and thinking of my family. It just felt, yeah, I 615 00:39:52,230 --> 00:39:56,310 Randall Park: would say extremely proud, just real pride. Yeah. 616 00:39:56,370 --> 00:40:00,540 Becs Gentry: So beautiful. And you sound like a professional runner here, 617 00:40:00,810 --> 00:40:06,239 Becs Gentry: feeling well, not hitting the wall. Okay, and then one more thing 618 00:40:06,239 --> 00:40:09,420 Becs Gentry: about the marathon, as a comedian, did you notice any 619 00:40:09,420 --> 00:40:13,021 Becs Gentry: really funny signs on the course that tickled you? 620 00:40:13,020 --> 00:40:18,030 Randall Park: Oh my God. Yeah. There were so many just really 621 00:40:18,300 --> 00:40:20,880 Randall Park: silly ones. And then there were some people who had 622 00:40:20,880 --> 00:40:26,010 Randall Park: signs with me, my name on it. And it was... 623 00:40:26,640 --> 00:40:29,009 Randall Park: Gosh, I'm trying to remember the funniest one. There were 624 00:40:29,010 --> 00:40:30,361 Randall Park: so many funny ones. It was... 625 00:40:30,361 --> 00:40:30,569 Becs Gentry: I'm sure. 626 00:40:32,550 --> 00:40:35,250 Randall Park: Yeah, it's hard to remember, but it really is a test- 627 00:40:35,250 --> 00:40:37,500 Becs Gentry: Well, they got you through, though, that's the important thing. 628 00:40:38,190 --> 00:40:42,029 Randall Park: Yes, yes. And it also is a testament to the city. 629 00:40:42,810 --> 00:40:46,650 Randall Park: I think I was really... I'm not from New York, 630 00:40:46,800 --> 00:40:50,850 Randall Park: but I love New York, and it was really a 631 00:40:50,850 --> 00:40:56,010 Randall Park: testament to just the support from the city and also 632 00:40:56,010 --> 00:41:03,029 Randall Park: just how funny New Yorkers are, just such funny, clever, 633 00:41:04,980 --> 00:41:10,080 Randall Park: and lovely people. And it was really, really a testament 634 00:41:10,080 --> 00:41:11,400 Randall Park: to New York. 635 00:41:12,719 --> 00:41:15,810 Becs Gentry: Wow, I love that. Okay, so now you're on this 636 00:41:15,810 --> 00:41:20,219 Becs Gentry: high. You've completed your first marathon. Your family are so 637 00:41:20,219 --> 00:41:22,710 Becs Gentry: proud of you. Everybody who knows you is so proud of 638 00:41:22,710 --> 00:41:29,730 Becs Gentry: you. Is there another project or marathon up ahead that 639 00:41:29,730 --> 00:41:31,890 Becs Gentry: you are working towards now? 640 00:41:31,890 --> 00:41:36,870 Randall Park: I am not thinking of another one right now. I'm just trying to get down 641 00:41:36,870 --> 00:41:43,620 Randall Park: a flight of stairs right now. But because I saw 642 00:41:43,620 --> 00:41:47,640 Randall Park: how much kind of civic pride there was in New 643 00:41:47,640 --> 00:41:52,259 Randall Park: York while running the marathon, being born and raised in L. 644 00:41:52,259 --> 00:41:56,489 Randall Park: A., I would really love to run the L. A. 645 00:41:56,489 --> 00:42:01,080 Randall Park: Marathon eventually and just to actually do it in my 646 00:42:01,080 --> 00:42:07,980 Randall Park: hometown. And also it does make me interested in doing 647 00:42:09,030 --> 00:42:12,989 Randall Park: the other ones too, the other big ones. And London 648 00:42:12,989 --> 00:42:14,310 Randall Park: is another city I love. 649 00:42:16,590 --> 00:42:17,670 Becs Gentry: Yeah, get those majors 650 00:42:17,670 --> 00:42:21,989 Randall Park: Yeah, and that's something I would love to run. But 651 00:42:21,989 --> 00:42:26,040 Randall Park: they're all... They're not at the forefront of my mind right 652 00:42:26,040 --> 00:42:28,649 Randall Park: now, just because I'm trying to, again, just walk down 653 00:42:28,649 --> 00:42:28,951 Randall Park: a flight of stairs. 654 00:42:28,951 --> 00:42:28,952 Becs Gentry: No, recover first. 655 00:42:28,952 --> 00:42:29,102 Randall Park: Yeah. Yeah. 656 00:42:32,880 --> 00:42:36,660 Becs Gentry: Amazing. Well Randall, thank you so much for giving us 657 00:42:36,989 --> 00:42:39,810 Becs Gentry: this time today during your recovery. It's been such a 658 00:42:39,810 --> 00:42:44,610 Becs Gentry: pleasure to talk to you. And such huge congratulations on 659 00:42:44,610 --> 00:42:47,850 Becs Gentry: completing your first marathon in honor of your father and 660 00:42:47,880 --> 00:42:50,850 Becs Gentry: for the foundation of Culture City and your daughter, Ruby. 661 00:42:51,630 --> 00:42:53,700 Becs Gentry: We're so happy for you. Thank you for joining us. 662 00:42:54,690 --> 00:42:55,410 Randall Park: Oh, thank you, Becs. 663 00:43:09,090 --> 00:43:12,390 Becs Gentry: Our guest for today's Member Moment is Cynthia Mafori- Gordon, 664 00:43:12,570 --> 00:43:16,500 Becs Gentry: a race walker and marathoner with a unique NYC story. 665 00:43:16,770 --> 00:43:18,989 Becs Gentry: Cynthia may not have loved running from the start. In 666 00:43:18,989 --> 00:43:23,130 Becs Gentry: fact, she avoided it for years. But after her first 667 00:43:23,190 --> 00:43:27,899 Becs Gentry: New York City Marathon in 1988, she was hooked. When 668 00:43:27,900 --> 00:43:30,300 Becs Gentry: Meb caught up with Cynthia a few weeks ago, she 669 00:43:30,300 --> 00:43:34,230 Becs Gentry: was preparing for her 14th NYC marathon at the age 670 00:43:34,230 --> 00:43:37,830 Becs Gentry: of 63. She's turned each race into a chance to 671 00:43:37,830 --> 00:43:41,580 Becs Gentry: give back through fundraising and celebrate the city she loves. 672 00:43:41,820 --> 00:43:42,719 Becs Gentry: Take it away, Meb. 673 00:43:43,230 --> 00:43:45,690 Meb Keflezighi: Cynthia, welcome to the Set the Pace podcast. How are 674 00:43:45,690 --> 00:43:46,350 Meb Keflezighi: you doing today? 675 00:43:46,469 --> 00:43:47,730 Cynthia Gordon: I'm good, thank you, Meb. 676 00:43:48,330 --> 00:43:50,580 Meb Keflezighi: Let's go back to your running, how you start running. You 677 00:43:50,580 --> 00:43:52,920 Meb Keflezighi: were not much of a runner, I don't think, and you didn't 678 00:43:52,920 --> 00:43:55,650 Meb Keflezighi: even like PE class. But I loved PE class, that's 679 00:43:55,650 --> 00:43:57,660 Meb Keflezighi: how it changed my life. But how was it? Why 680 00:43:57,660 --> 00:44:00,630 Meb Keflezighi: didn't you like running? And then it was in 2018 when you were 681 00:44:00,630 --> 00:44:04,080 Meb Keflezighi: first introduced to the (inaudible) to be able to train. 682 00:44:04,469 --> 00:44:09,960 Cynthia Gordon: Well, actually, I'm a race walker. I race walk, and 683 00:44:09,960 --> 00:44:14,430 Cynthia Gordon: back in 1988, that's when I did my very first 684 00:44:14,430 --> 00:44:18,450 Cynthia Gordon: New York City Marathon. At that point, my very first 685 00:44:19,140 --> 00:44:24,690 Cynthia Gordon: New York City Marathon, I jogged it, a slow jog. 686 00:44:24,690 --> 00:44:28,050 Cynthia Gordon: I was with two other guys from work and one 687 00:44:28,050 --> 00:44:33,270 Cynthia Gordon: apparently was part of New York Roadrunners and said, " Hey, 688 00:44:33,300 --> 00:44:36,750 Cynthia Gordon: we can do if you're interested in running and all of 689 00:44:36,900 --> 00:44:41,640 Cynthia Gordon: that sort." But one thing that got me into with New 690 00:44:41,640 --> 00:44:45,540 Cynthia Gordon: York Roadrunners and New York City Marathon was I attended 691 00:44:46,560 --> 00:44:51,779 Cynthia Gordon: a leadership program at that point, and it's empowering and 692 00:44:51,780 --> 00:44:57,420 Cynthia Gordon: declaring a project. So I think the year before 1988, 693 00:44:57,420 --> 00:45:00,150 Cynthia Gordon: I did see the finishing of a New York City 694 00:45:00,210 --> 00:45:03,000 Cynthia Gordon: Marathon going around Columbus Circle, and I said, " I'm going 695 00:45:03,000 --> 00:45:05,070 Cynthia Gordon: to do one of those things one of these days." 696 00:45:05,460 --> 00:45:08,700 Cynthia Gordon: So I just took an advantage of declaring my project 697 00:45:09,000 --> 00:45:14,250 Cynthia Gordon: for this case that I'm going to do the New 698 00:45:14,250 --> 00:45:18,420 Cynthia Gordon: York City Marathon. So I jogged it with these two guys 699 00:45:18,450 --> 00:45:21,570 Cynthia Gordon: and we completed it. And so that was the start. 700 00:45:21,570 --> 00:45:27,210 Cynthia Gordon: And it was just really every after 10 years that 701 00:45:27,210 --> 00:45:31,890 Cynthia Gordon: I made it into... There was no one fundraising at 702 00:45:31,890 --> 00:45:35,430 Cynthia Gordon: that point, so I did it as a personal fundraiser. 703 00:45:35,820 --> 00:45:40,980 Cynthia Gordon: I would fundraise it for Save the Children or another 704 00:45:41,460 --> 00:45:46,320 Cynthia Gordon: beneficiary or another, Philippine Breast Cancer Network. I was doing 705 00:45:46,320 --> 00:45:48,750 Cynthia Gordon: it that way, but it was an every 10 year 706 00:45:48,780 --> 00:45:51,600 Cynthia Gordon: project on my own. So my next New York City 707 00:45:51,600 --> 00:45:58,980 Cynthia Gordon: Marathon was 1998 and then 2008, but apparently I seemed 708 00:45:58,980 --> 00:46:01,530 Cynthia Gordon: to enjoy it. And that was a time also I got 709 00:46:01,680 --> 00:46:07,410 Cynthia Gordon: into race walking, not running, because I decided that my 710 00:46:07,410 --> 00:46:10,890 Cynthia Gordon: recovery with my build, I was heavy at that time, 711 00:46:11,340 --> 00:46:14,880 Cynthia Gordon: I just decided race walking was something for me. And 712 00:46:15,930 --> 00:46:19,200 Cynthia Gordon: so that's how I did it. And so now I 713 00:46:19,200 --> 00:46:23,310 Cynthia Gordon: will be doing my number 14 New York City Marathon 714 00:46:23,610 --> 00:46:24,630 Cynthia Gordon: this November. 715 00:46:25,350 --> 00:46:28,440 Meb Keflezighi: So exciting. I do have a lot of respect for 716 00:46:28,440 --> 00:46:31,650 Meb Keflezighi: race walkers because my roommates at the Olympic Train Center 717 00:46:31,650 --> 00:46:35,940 Meb Keflezighi: in Chula Vista were race walkers. So they in fact 718 00:46:35,940 --> 00:46:38,640 Meb Keflezighi: gave me the map where to run, and it's hard 719 00:46:38,640 --> 00:46:41,460 Meb Keflezighi: work. I don't know how you guys did it, and 720 00:46:41,460 --> 00:46:43,890 Meb Keflezighi: you guys move fast as well. You got to have 721 00:46:43,890 --> 00:46:46,739 Meb Keflezighi: that one leg on the ground, and that's amazing. Well, 722 00:46:46,739 --> 00:46:49,469 Meb Keflezighi: congratulations on doing that and how it's got introduced to 723 00:46:49,469 --> 00:46:51,719 Meb Keflezighi: sport. But what does it feel for you to be 724 00:46:51,719 --> 00:46:56,190 Meb Keflezighi: able to run for (inaudible) ? I know not being in 725 00:46:56,190 --> 00:46:59,489 Meb Keflezighi: physical education, then not liking it, but now what the 726 00:46:59,489 --> 00:47:02,881 Meb Keflezighi: causes behind it? Can you tell us more about it? 727 00:47:02,881 --> 00:47:08,910 Cynthia Gordon: Well, for me, fundraising for a charity or an organization, 728 00:47:10,200 --> 00:47:12,989 Cynthia Gordon: that's a motivation on my part to complete the marathon. 729 00:47:14,069 --> 00:47:17,370 Cynthia Gordon: And the first time, years back, years back, it was 730 00:47:17,370 --> 00:47:19,980 Cynthia Gordon: more of like, " Oh my God," I cashed the check 731 00:47:19,980 --> 00:47:23,340 Cynthia Gordon: already and gave it to the organization. Now I have to 732 00:47:23,340 --> 00:47:28,410 Cynthia Gordon: complete my part. But I think it was very empowering. 733 00:47:28,410 --> 00:47:32,940 Cynthia Gordon: I think before I did fundraise for Meals for Wheels, 734 00:47:33,480 --> 00:47:39,840 Cynthia Gordon: and this was after the... (inaudible) 2008, I didn't realize 735 00:47:39,840 --> 00:47:42,960 Cynthia Gordon: about the 9+ 1. I think that was when 9+ 736 00:47:43,710 --> 00:47:47,460 Cynthia Gordon: 1 started, or maybe the year before, between the gap 737 00:47:47,460 --> 00:47:50,430 Cynthia Gordon: of the 10 years, so I was at the loss. And 738 00:47:50,430 --> 00:47:53,489 Cynthia Gordon: I said, " Well, I'm focused on doing a New York 739 00:47:53,489 --> 00:47:55,530 Cynthia Gordon: City marathon," and they told me about, " Well, you can 740 00:47:55,530 --> 00:47:59,100 Cynthia Gordon: go through charity." And it was very fulfilling to be 741 00:47:59,100 --> 00:48:04,020 Cynthia Gordon: with a charity that you know that did serve the seniors 742 00:48:05,790 --> 00:48:11,160 Cynthia Gordon: who needed food and assistance. And so I chose Meals 743 00:48:11,160 --> 00:48:13,739 Cynthia Gordon: for Wheels to fundraise for them. 744 00:48:14,489 --> 00:48:17,550 Meb Keflezighi: And 9+ 1 is where you run nine New Yorker 745 00:48:17,550 --> 00:48:19,890 Meb Keflezighi: races and volunteer one time. Is that what it is? 746 00:48:20,520 --> 00:48:24,750 Cynthia Gordon: Yes. And the 9+1... Yes, after the 2008, I started doing 747 00:48:24,750 --> 00:48:28,800 Cynthia Gordon: the 9+ 1, and then I realized that I enjoy 748 00:48:28,800 --> 00:48:31,650 Cynthia Gordon: race walking and I enjoy New York City Marathon. I 749 00:48:31,650 --> 00:48:34,710 Cynthia Gordon: don't do any other marathons. I'm really just doing New 750 00:48:34,710 --> 00:48:39,180 Cynthia Gordon: York City Marathon. I've been living in New York City 751 00:48:39,180 --> 00:48:43,230 Cynthia Gordon: for the longest time, and I do my walking for 752 00:48:43,260 --> 00:48:46,710 Cynthia Gordon: health reasons and I do all the races. And I said, " 753 00:48:46,739 --> 00:48:51,450 Cynthia Gordon: Hey, why not?" New York City marathon is the culminating event 754 00:48:51,989 --> 00:48:52,440 Cynthia Gordon: for me. 755 00:48:53,280 --> 00:48:55,920 Meb Keflezighi: I learned recently that you ran the New Balance Bronx 756 00:48:55,920 --> 00:48:56,670 Meb Keflezighi: 10 Mile. 757 00:48:56,730 --> 00:48:58,050 Cynthia Gordon: Yes, I raced walked. Yes. 758 00:48:58,050 --> 00:48:59,970 Meb Keflezighi: You did the Philadelphia half- marathon. 759 00:48:59,969 --> 00:49:03,420 Cynthia Gordon: Yes. Yes, I was looking at my... I went on 760 00:49:03,420 --> 00:49:07,680 Cynthia Gordon: my dashboard and I was looking how many marathons, so 761 00:49:07,680 --> 00:49:10,290 Cynthia Gordon: definitely I wanted to make sure I have it down, 762 00:49:10,530 --> 00:49:18,089 Cynthia Gordon: 13 marathons, 18 half- marathons. I was getting the rundown. 763 00:49:18,090 --> 00:49:20,339 Cynthia Gordon: I said, " I did that, I did that." But it 764 00:49:20,340 --> 00:49:21,569 Cynthia Gordon: was really great to see it. 765 00:49:23,730 --> 00:49:27,360 Meb Keflezighi: Running has a unique way to be able to unite 766 00:49:27,360 --> 00:49:31,230 Meb Keflezighi: us as a more collective on all shapes, size and 767 00:49:31,230 --> 00:49:34,680 Meb Keflezighi: speed. I know you said how you start running back 768 00:49:34,680 --> 00:49:37,830 Meb Keflezighi: in the days, how it was for race walk to lose some weight. How has 769 00:49:38,040 --> 00:49:40,739 Meb Keflezighi: it been to be able to be the community beyond 770 00:49:40,739 --> 00:49:43,380 Meb Keflezighi: running and what keeps you coming back to the marathon? 771 00:49:44,880 --> 00:49:49,830 Cynthia Gordon: It's such a special place for me because I celebrate... 772 00:49:49,860 --> 00:49:53,610 Cynthia Gordon: I'm turning 63 in December, but you know what? Every 773 00:49:53,610 --> 00:49:58,620 Cynthia Gordon: November when New York City Marathon is in town, it's 774 00:49:58,620 --> 00:50:02,460 Cynthia Gordon: just I feel like it's my birthday. It's like the 775 00:50:02,460 --> 00:50:06,060 Cynthia Gordon: culminating point. It's just so happy. I feel so proud. 776 00:50:06,060 --> 00:50:13,980 Cynthia Gordon: I feel the confidence going through and getting older. It's 777 00:50:13,980 --> 00:50:17,910 Cynthia Gordon: such an opportunity. And I feel proud that I only 778 00:50:18,930 --> 00:50:21,660 Cynthia Gordon: did the marathons with New York City. 779 00:50:22,170 --> 00:50:26,460 Meb Keflezighi: Well, there's 50, 000 people or more participating and big party. 780 00:50:26,460 --> 00:50:29,759 Meb Keflezighi: And the New Yorkers... If people always ask me, " What 781 00:50:29,760 --> 00:50:32,250 Meb Keflezighi: is the marathon I should do if I have to do one?" I said, " 782 00:50:32,250 --> 00:50:35,430 Meb Keflezighi: Go do the TCS New York City Marathon." It's just how 783 00:50:35,430 --> 00:50:38,219 Meb Keflezighi: diverse it is, how all the different roads are, and 784 00:50:38,310 --> 00:50:41,790 Meb Keflezighi: the magic of color changing in the fall, and Central 785 00:50:41,790 --> 00:50:44,489 Meb Keflezighi: Park is excellent. So we are so grateful to have 786 00:50:44,489 --> 00:50:46,440 Meb Keflezighi: you, Cynthia. Thank you for all the hard work that 787 00:50:46,440 --> 00:50:49,260 Meb Keflezighi: you have done and run or race walk to be 788 00:50:49,260 --> 00:50:50,940 Meb Keflezighi: able to bring the best out of yourself, but also 789 00:50:50,940 --> 00:50:51,630 Meb Keflezighi: helping others. 790 00:50:52,800 --> 00:50:56,340 Cynthia Gordon: Thank you. Thank you, Meb, and thank you for this opportunity to have a 791 00:50:56,340 --> 00:50:57,540 Cynthia Gordon: conversation with you. 792 00:50:58,290 --> 00:50:58,860 Meb Keflezighi: My pleasure. 793 00:50:59,430 --> 00:51:01,440 Becs Gentry: Thank you for joining us, Cynthia, and for being a 794 00:51:01,440 --> 00:51:04,739 Becs Gentry: member of New York Roadrunners. Now to the final part 795 00:51:04,739 --> 00:51:06,839 Becs Gentry: of our show, our Meb Minute. 796 00:51:07,140 --> 00:51:11,130 Anil Nandkumar: This is Anil Nandkumar, physical therapist from the hospital for special surgery. 797 00:51:11,370 --> 00:51:14,160 Anil Nandkumar: Just want to say big congratulations to all the runners 798 00:51:14,160 --> 00:51:17,730 Anil Nandkumar: out there. You did it. You crossed that finish line. You've 799 00:51:17,730 --> 00:51:23,850 Anil Nandkumar: trained so hard for this magnificent event. And now the 800 00:51:23,850 --> 00:51:27,060 Anil Nandkumar: recovery really starts just right before crossing that finish line. 801 00:51:27,510 --> 00:51:30,210 Anil Nandkumar: It's that sense of euphoria that you feel crossing that 802 00:51:30,210 --> 00:51:32,790 Anil Nandkumar: finish line. It's all part of the recovery. But to 803 00:51:32,790 --> 00:51:35,580 Anil Nandkumar: really take care of your bodies, here are some quick 804 00:51:35,610 --> 00:51:38,069 Anil Nandkumar: and easy steps that you can do as soon as 805 00:51:38,370 --> 00:51:41,670 Anil Nandkumar: you cross that finish line. And then now onto days 806 00:51:41,670 --> 00:51:45,689 Anil Nandkumar: later. So first thing is keep moving. That's the most 807 00:51:45,690 --> 00:51:48,420 Anil Nandkumar: important thing. You really don't want to have your body 808 00:51:48,420 --> 00:51:52,830 Anil Nandkumar: kind of stop and just take time for it to 809 00:51:52,830 --> 00:51:55,620 Anil Nandkumar: really settle in. You want it to keep moving, kind 810 00:51:55,620 --> 00:52:00,210 Anil Nandkumar: of flushing all of that swelling and or lactic acid that 811 00:52:00,210 --> 00:52:03,330 Anil Nandkumar: builds up in the body. So some ways to do 812 00:52:03,330 --> 00:52:06,900 Anil Nandkumar: that, you can just simply continue walking, going for regular 813 00:52:06,900 --> 00:52:11,700 Anil Nandkumar: walks, even days after the marathon. Even some simple cycling, 814 00:52:11,700 --> 00:52:14,279 Anil Nandkumar: whether that be a stationary bike or an easy bike 815 00:52:14,280 --> 00:52:18,540 Anil Nandkumar: ride. You can do things as just light swimming just 816 00:52:18,540 --> 00:52:21,540 Anil Nandkumar: to kind of move things around. But some other things that 817 00:52:21,540 --> 00:52:25,800 Anil Nandkumar: you can do is some good gentle foam rolling and 818 00:52:26,100 --> 00:52:31,410 Anil Nandkumar: some good stretching of those tender muscles that you may 819 00:52:31,410 --> 00:52:35,279 Anil Nandkumar: be experiencing right now. Other things you can do can 820 00:52:35,280 --> 00:52:40,770 Anil Nandkumar: be some compressive therapy, such as using a variety of 821 00:52:40,770 --> 00:52:44,610 Anil Nandkumar: compression boots or even just compression socks. If you've gotten 822 00:52:44,610 --> 00:52:48,420 Anil Nandkumar: a chance to come to any of our recovery zones 823 00:52:48,450 --> 00:52:52,680 Anil Nandkumar: after races, and of course Marathon Monday, checking us out 824 00:52:52,680 --> 00:52:55,200 Anil Nandkumar: at the recovery zone, we have all of those things 825 00:52:55,200 --> 00:52:58,770 Anil Nandkumar: there for you. So some good active stretching, some good 826 00:52:59,219 --> 00:53:02,730 Anil Nandkumar: recovery in the sense of compressive boots. That will definitely help. 827 00:53:03,360 --> 00:53:06,120 Anil Nandkumar: Other things that you can do for recovery could be 828 00:53:06,630 --> 00:53:11,160 Anil Nandkumar: good, solid nutrition, kind of replenishing your body of anything 829 00:53:11,160 --> 00:53:14,070 Anil Nandkumar: that it broke down during that race. So some good 830 00:53:14,070 --> 00:53:17,850 Anil Nandkumar: protein for sure to rebuild those muscles, and however you 831 00:53:17,850 --> 00:53:21,750 Anil Nandkumar: like to ingest that. And of course, the most important 832 00:53:21,750 --> 00:53:25,650 Anil Nandkumar: thing is staying hydrated. Staying hydrated, of course, before the 833 00:53:25,650 --> 00:53:29,819 Anil Nandkumar: race, during the race, but especially after the race. So 834 00:53:29,820 --> 00:53:33,540 Anil Nandkumar: that way your body has a chance to, again, flush 835 00:53:33,540 --> 00:53:37,680 Anil Nandkumar: out all that stuff that's built up through your hard 836 00:53:37,680 --> 00:53:40,770 Anil Nandkumar: feat that you did of running that marathon, and then therefore 837 00:53:40,770 --> 00:53:44,340 Anil Nandkumar: having a good chance for you to safely recover. And 838 00:53:44,340 --> 00:53:46,800 Anil Nandkumar: I think maybe one last thing that I'd say that 839 00:53:46,800 --> 00:53:50,969 Anil Nandkumar: gets overlooked, a good thing of recovery is also reflection. 840 00:53:51,450 --> 00:53:56,370 Anil Nandkumar: Reflecting about how hard you trained, reflecting about how amazing 841 00:53:56,370 --> 00:53:59,549 Anil Nandkumar: the race was, how amazing the day was, and also 842 00:53:59,550 --> 00:54:03,840 Anil Nandkumar: taking the time to give yourself some good solid grace 843 00:54:04,500 --> 00:54:07,290 Anil Nandkumar: or cutting yourself some slack of anything that may have 844 00:54:07,290 --> 00:54:09,540 Anil Nandkumar: gone wrong, because you cross the finish line at the 845 00:54:09,540 --> 00:54:13,170 Anil Nandkumar: end of the day. And for those who may have 846 00:54:13,170 --> 00:54:16,170 Anil Nandkumar: not been able to cross the finish line, still just 847 00:54:16,170 --> 00:54:21,030 Anil Nandkumar: training, getting out there working hard and participating was a 848 00:54:21,030 --> 00:54:24,690 Anil Nandkumar: magnificent feat on itself. Again, this has been Anil Nandkumar 849 00:54:24,690 --> 00:54:26,910 Anil Nandkumar: from the Hospital for Special Surgery. Just want to say 850 00:54:26,910 --> 00:54:29,759 Anil Nandkumar: congratulations to all the runners. Thank you to the New 851 00:54:29,760 --> 00:54:30,510 Anil Nandkumar: York Road Runners. 852 00:54:30,870 --> 00:54:33,989 Becs Gentry: Well, that does it for another episode of Set the 853 00:54:33,989 --> 00:54:38,549 Becs Gentry: Pace. Huge thanks to today's guests, senior Vice President of 854 00:54:38,550 --> 00:54:42,540 Becs Gentry: Events and race director of the TCS New York City Marathon, 855 00:54:42,660 --> 00:54:47,100 Becs Gentry: Ted Metellus, our friend and runner, Randall Park, and our 856 00:54:47,100 --> 00:54:51,150 Becs Gentry: member, Cynthia Mafori- Gordon. As always, if you liked this 857 00:54:51,150 --> 00:54:54,989 Becs Gentry: episode, please do go ahead and subscribe, rate or leave 858 00:54:54,989 --> 00:54:57,870 Becs Gentry: a comment for the show on whatever platform you're listening 859 00:54:57,930 --> 00:55:01,110 Becs Gentry: on. Now, this not only helps us, but it does 860 00:55:01,110 --> 00:55:03,120 Becs Gentry: help others find out about the show too.