1 00:00:00,210 --> 00:00:03,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York Road Runners is a nonprofit organization with a 2 00:00:03,270 --> 00:00:06,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: vision to build healthier lives and stronger communities through the 3 00:00:06,690 --> 00:00:10,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: transformative power of running. The support of members and donors 4 00:00:10,770 --> 00:00:13,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: like you helps us achieve our mission to transform the 5 00:00:13,980 --> 00:00:17,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: health and well- being of our communities through inclusive and 6 00:00:17,250 --> 00:00:22,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: accessible running experiences, empowering all to achieve their potential. Learn 7 00:00:22,140 --> 00:00:25,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: more and contribute at nyrr. org/ donate. 8 00:00:29,940 --> 00:00:34,349 Speaker 2: Thank you, New York. Today, we're reminded of the power 9 00:00:34,350 --> 00:00:39,210 Speaker 2: of community and the power of coming together. Athletes, on 10 00:00:39,210 --> 00:00:39,780 Speaker 2: your mark. 11 00:00:41,909 --> 00:00:45,450 Speaker 3: The first woman to finish for the second straight year 12 00:00:45,450 --> 00:00:49,080 Speaker 3: here in the New York City Marathon is Miki Gorman, a smiling 13 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:52,260 Speaker 3: Miki Gorman. And why not? 2:29: 30, the time for Grete Waitz. 14 00:00:52,260 --> 00:00:56,610 Speaker 4: Look at the emotion of Shalane Flanagan as she comes to 15 00:00:56,610 --> 00:01:00,510 Speaker 4: the line. Pointing to his chest, pointing to the USA 16 00:01:00,510 --> 00:01:10,110 Speaker 4: he so proudly wears across his chest, a great day for Meb Keflezighi. 17 00:01:10,350 --> 00:01:13,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: Hello everybody and welcome to Set the Pace, presented by 18 00:01:13,950 --> 00:01:17,429 Rob Simmelkjaer: Peloton. We are the official podcast of New York Road 19 00:01:17,430 --> 00:01:19,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: Runners. Great to have you with us this week. I'm 20 00:01:19,110 --> 00:01:22,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: your host and New York Road Runners CEO, Rob Simmelkjaer. 21 00:01:22,410 --> 00:01:27,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: With me, my co- host as always, Becs Gentry. And Becs- 22 00:01:27,569 --> 00:01:27,750 Becs Gentry: Hello. 23 00:01:27,810 --> 00:01:32,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: How is it going? How's the training going for this 24 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:38,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: worldwide marathon bonanza you're getting ready for, these seven marathons 25 00:01:38,610 --> 00:01:41,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: in seven days on seven planets, whatever it is? How's 26 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:42,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: it going? 27 00:01:42,690 --> 00:01:45,720 Becs Gentry: Well, I mean, I feel like your training right now 28 00:01:45,720 --> 00:01:50,760 Becs Gentry: is edging you towards understanding what I'm doing again. You 29 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:53,700 Becs Gentry: had a hiatus and you're back into the realms of 30 00:01:53,700 --> 00:01:56,730 Becs Gentry: understanding this marathon training, but thank you for asking. It's 31 00:01:56,730 --> 00:02:01,110 Becs Gentry: going well. I'm on a very appreciated drop- down week 32 00:02:01,140 --> 00:02:04,410 Becs Gentry: in the intensity of my training, which came as a 33 00:02:04,410 --> 00:02:07,830 Becs Gentry: surprise on Sunday night. My coach was like, " Oh, we 34 00:02:07,830 --> 00:02:09,210 Becs Gentry: should be doing a drop- down week." I was like, "Ah, 35 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:13,770 Becs Gentry: this is fantastic. I'll take it." So I actually snoozed 36 00:02:13,770 --> 00:02:15,840 Becs Gentry: my alarm this morning and was like, " I'm going to 37 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:19,530 Becs Gentry: push my workout back because I can." And it was 38 00:02:19,770 --> 00:02:22,139 Becs Gentry: really nice and I will say having a full rest 39 00:02:22,139 --> 00:02:26,730 Becs Gentry: day yesterday, my legs felt fabulous today for my run. 40 00:02:26,730 --> 00:02:31,440 Becs Gentry: I really felt strong. And I know our runners who 41 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:35,970 Becs Gentry: are a few weeks out of Berlin, like yourself, or 42 00:02:35,970 --> 00:02:39,360 Becs Gentry: nine weeks out from New York probably really in the 43 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:41,639 Becs Gentry: thick of it for both of those races. You're at 44 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:43,590 Becs Gentry: the end of it almost for Berlin and you're really 45 00:02:44,310 --> 00:02:47,638 Becs Gentry: champing at the bit of greatness for New York. But 46 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:51,359 Becs Gentry: take those rest days because as much as you feel 47 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:54,630 Becs Gentry: like you might be missing out from your training, it's 48 00:02:54,630 --> 00:02:57,959 Becs Gentry: going to do your body and your mind a lot 49 00:02:58,020 --> 00:03:01,320 Becs Gentry: of good. So take it from one here who just 50 00:03:01,350 --> 00:03:02,581 Becs Gentry: had one and really appreciated it. 51 00:03:02,581 --> 00:03:06,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: Becs, for people training for fall marathons, that drop- down 52 00:03:06,900 --> 00:03:10,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: week may be a new concept to many people. And I 53 00:03:10,410 --> 00:03:13,230 Rob Simmelkjaer: give Runna, the app that we're partnered with in New 54 00:03:13,230 --> 00:03:16,709 Rob Simmelkjaer: York Road Runners, credit because it also programmed in a drop- 55 00:03:16,710 --> 00:03:19,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: down week for me last week. I didn't know what 56 00:03:19,530 --> 00:03:21,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: was going on. I was like, " Okay. It doesn't seem 57 00:03:21,150 --> 00:03:23,669 Rob Simmelkjaer: to want me to run very much this week." I 58 00:03:23,669 --> 00:03:26,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: didn't entirely follow it. I ran a few more miles 59 00:03:26,100 --> 00:03:28,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: on Saturday than it asked me to, but only a 60 00:03:28,350 --> 00:03:30,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: few more because I wanted to run the New York 61 00:03:30,660 --> 00:03:32,639 Rob Simmelkjaer: Road Runner's 12- mile training run- 62 00:03:32,639 --> 00:03:32,731 Becs Gentry: There we go. 63 00:03:32,731 --> 00:03:35,940 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... in Central Park on Saturday, which was a great time, by the 64 00:03:35,940 --> 00:03:39,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: way. I ran it with our coach, Roberto Mandje. The 65 00:03:39,540 --> 00:03:42,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: two of us ran together the whole way, had such 66 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:43,861 Rob Simmelkjaer: a great time. Roberto is such a great- 67 00:03:43,861 --> 00:03:44,251 Becs Gentry: You looked very happy. 68 00:03:44,251 --> 00:03:47,820 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... pacer and a great partner out there. We had 69 00:03:47,820 --> 00:03:50,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: a lot of fun, but that was the end of 70 00:03:50,790 --> 00:03:54,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: my, quote, unquote, " drop- down week." Becs, what is that drop- 71 00:03:54,450 --> 00:03:56,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: down week? Why should people do that? 72 00:03:57,210 --> 00:04:02,670 Becs Gentry: Good question. It is essentially a period of time that 73 00:04:04,590 --> 00:04:07,470 Becs Gentry: your body gets its rewards, is a really nice way 74 00:04:07,470 --> 00:04:10,350 Becs Gentry: of putting it. All this hard work, all of the 75 00:04:10,350 --> 00:04:13,830 Becs Gentry: energy that you're putting into your training, it needs... Your 76 00:04:13,830 --> 00:04:18,810 Becs Gentry: body is it that I'm talking about. It needs some time to absorb all of 77 00:04:18,810 --> 00:04:22,830 Becs Gentry: that, in order to make the changes, the adaptations of 78 00:04:22,830 --> 00:04:27,419 Becs Gentry: greatness that you're striving for. You can keep going. Of 79 00:04:27,420 --> 00:04:29,400 Becs Gentry: course, there are definitely people, but most of them are 80 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:33,120 Becs Gentry: very highly trained, very experienced runners, who just keep going 81 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:35,940 Becs Gentry: and they might be on a training program that would 82 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:38,070 Becs Gentry: get them to peak at a race. That's something you 83 00:04:38,070 --> 00:04:41,190 Becs Gentry: might hear, a terminology in the running world. But for 84 00:04:41,190 --> 00:04:44,219 Becs Gentry: most of us, especially those of us who have other roles in life, 85 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:48,810 Becs Gentry: having a drop- down week is just your intensity decreases. 86 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:51,779 Becs Gentry: Your duration of your runs will probably decrease. And it 87 00:04:51,779 --> 00:04:55,110 Becs Gentry: gives your body that ability to take a big sigh 88 00:04:55,170 --> 00:05:00,900 Becs Gentry: of relief and say, " Ah, okay, this isn't all tough. 89 00:05:01,110 --> 00:05:04,140 Becs Gentry: This is going to be fine." And the goal of 90 00:05:04,140 --> 00:05:06,000 Becs Gentry: it is that you come out of your drop- down 91 00:05:06,060 --> 00:05:11,430 Becs Gentry: week stronger, re- energized, and ready to continue training on 92 00:05:11,430 --> 00:05:17,130 Becs Gentry: that uphill cycle towards your race day. So really enjoy 93 00:05:17,130 --> 00:05:21,120 Becs Gentry: it. Get that PT in. Get that rest in, and 94 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:23,760 Becs Gentry: reset your mind because gosh, the first time I did 95 00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:26,010 Becs Gentry: a drop- down week, it really helped my mental health 96 00:05:26,010 --> 00:05:29,130 Becs Gentry: I think more than anything because I came into it 97 00:05:29,190 --> 00:05:35,279 Becs Gentry: quite fazed by the addition to my daily schedule of 98 00:05:35,279 --> 00:05:38,490 Becs Gentry: this marathon training. And I came out of my drop- down 99 00:05:38,490 --> 00:05:42,180 Becs Gentry: week ready to go back to it because I saw 100 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:46,800 Becs Gentry: the changes of, oh wow, I feel fantastic. I really 101 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:48,779 Becs Gentry: want to run again. I really want to run long 102 00:05:48,779 --> 00:05:53,190 Becs Gentry: again and I can run faster. So that was the reward. 103 00:05:53,850 --> 00:05:56,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: I love it. I love it. Well, for everybody out 104 00:05:56,130 --> 00:06:00,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: there knee- deep in training for fall marathons or whatever 105 00:06:00,420 --> 00:06:02,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: it is you may be training for, that's a good 106 00:06:02,700 --> 00:06:05,849 Rob Simmelkjaer: tip. So an app like Runna or something like that 107 00:06:05,850 --> 00:06:07,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: is a great way to make sure you get in 108 00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:10,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: the rest that you need as you get ready because 109 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:13,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: we want to see you at the starting line. We 110 00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:16,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: don't want you injured. We want you there. So everybody, 111 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:18,930 Rob Simmelkjaer: keep it up. Hopefully, you're out there listening to us 112 00:06:18,930 --> 00:06:21,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: on your long run this weekend. We got a lot 113 00:06:21,480 --> 00:06:23,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: of them happening right now around the New York City 114 00:06:23,460 --> 00:06:26,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: area and beyond, so I'm out there with you. I'm 115 00:06:26,250 --> 00:06:28,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: doing 18 plus this weekend, so I'll probably be running 116 00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:32,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: with you as you listen to this podcast. Yes. Why 117 00:06:32,670 --> 00:06:35,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: am I running? Because I'm running Berlin as I announced 118 00:06:35,250 --> 00:06:39,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: last week. And thanks for everybody out there, the words 119 00:06:39,450 --> 00:06:41,820 Rob Simmelkjaer: of support. Thanks for the donations as well. As I 120 00:06:41,820 --> 00:06:44,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: mentioned, I'm running in support of Team for Kids, our 121 00:06:44,820 --> 00:06:48,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: youth and community program fundraising vehicle here at New York 122 00:06:48,330 --> 00:06:52,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: Road Runners. You can find my page on my Instagram, rtsimmel. 123 00:06:52,710 --> 00:06:54,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: I would love to have your support as we try 124 00:06:54,990 --> 00:06:57,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: to continue to grow our programs to get kids and 125 00:06:57,330 --> 00:07:00,960 Rob Simmelkjaer: adults running in New York City and beyond. It's my 126 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:03,989 Rob Simmelkjaer: first marathon in over 10 years, so I have a 127 00:07:03,990 --> 00:07:08,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: lot of questions, and here today to help answer some 128 00:07:08,010 --> 00:07:11,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: of those questions, the race director of the BMW Berlin 129 00:07:11,460 --> 00:07:14,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: Marathon, my friend, Mark Milde. He'll be our guest in 130 00:07:14,730 --> 00:07:16,590 Rob Simmelkjaer: just a couple of minutes and he's going to tell 131 00:07:16,590 --> 00:07:19,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: us all about what it's like to race 26. 2 132 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:22,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: miles through the landmarks of one of Germany's most storied 133 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:26,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: cities. This is a race that has such a fascinating 134 00:07:26,250 --> 00:07:29,430 Rob Simmelkjaer: history, just like the city in which it is held, 135 00:07:29,760 --> 00:07:32,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: so I can't wait to talk to Mark. His father 136 00:07:32,490 --> 00:07:36,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: founded this marathon back in the early '70s of course, 137 00:07:36,180 --> 00:07:39,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: and Mark's going to take us through that incredible history 138 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:42,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: and the family history as well. And then after that, 139 00:07:42,060 --> 00:07:45,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: of course Meb will be with us for today's Member Moment with 140 00:07:45,180 --> 00:07:49,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: Paola Marte. Paola is a Team for Kids mentor, a 141 00:07:49,170 --> 00:07:52,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York Road Runners volunteer, and a four- time TCS 142 00:07:52,350 --> 00:07:54,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York City Marathon finisher. Paola is going to have 143 00:07:54,780 --> 00:07:57,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: some great advice for those of you training for this 144 00:07:57,900 --> 00:08:00,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: year's marathon. And then of course, we'll have our Meb 145 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:04,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: Minute. We're on week seven of the 16- week training cycle 146 00:08:04,950 --> 00:08:07,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: for this year's race. Meb is going to help us 147 00:08:07,830 --> 00:08:11,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: focus on what we should be prioritizing with nine weeks 148 00:08:11,670 --> 00:08:13,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: to go, so stay tuned for that. 149 00:08:14,130 --> 00:08:17,190 Becs Gentry: No matter your summer plans, Peloton is your partner in 150 00:08:17,190 --> 00:08:20,310 Becs Gentry: reaching your running goals. With a variety of running and 151 00:08:20,310 --> 00:08:23,790 Becs Gentry: walking content and features, you can do everything, from tracking 152 00:08:23,790 --> 00:08:26,880 Becs Gentry: your walks outdoors with the Peloton App, to hitting your 153 00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:30,270 Becs Gentry: pace targets during interval and progression runs on the Peloton 154 00:08:30,270 --> 00:08:33,840 Becs Gentry: Tread. Whether you're running a favorite racecourse from home or 155 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:37,829 Becs Gentry: exploring new routes outside this summer, Peloton supports your running 156 00:08:37,830 --> 00:08:41,490 Becs Gentry: journey every step of the way. All- access membership is 157 00:08:41,490 --> 00:08:46,290 Becs Gentry: separate. Learn more about Peloton Tread at onepeloton. com/ running. 158 00:08:46,860 --> 00:08:49,830 Becs Gentry: Find the Peloton App in the Apple, Android, and Google 159 00:08:49,830 --> 00:08:50,819 Becs Gentry: app stores today. 160 00:08:51,300 --> 00:08:55,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: Today's guest is Mark Milde, the race director of the 161 00:08:55,020 --> 00:09:00,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: iconic BMW Berlin Marathon. With the marathon celebrating its 50th anniversary 162 00:09:00,990 --> 00:09:04,559 Rob Simmelkjaer: this year, Mark has a lifetime of experience when it 163 00:09:04,559 --> 00:09:08,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: comes to this race because his father founded it 50 164 00:09:08,220 --> 00:09:12,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: years ago, and he's lived a lifetime as part of 165 00:09:12,090 --> 00:09:15,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: this marathon. Of course, it's known as being flat and 166 00:09:15,300 --> 00:09:18,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: fast, but there's so much more to the Berlin Marathon. 167 00:09:18,990 --> 00:09:22,229 Rob Simmelkjaer: The history that it has seen, I think, unparalleled among 168 00:09:22,230 --> 00:09:25,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: all the marathons in the Abbott World Marathon Major series, 169 00:09:26,070 --> 00:09:28,080 Rob Simmelkjaer: and I am thrilled to have Mark. We sit on 170 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:31,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: the board of AWMM together, so I see him often, 171 00:09:31,290 --> 00:09:33,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: and now I get to have him on my podcast 172 00:09:33,750 --> 00:09:36,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: a few weeks before I attempt to run his marathon. 173 00:09:36,570 --> 00:09:37,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: Mark, thanks so much for being here. 174 00:09:38,700 --> 00:09:40,770 Mark Milde: Yeah. Thanks for having me and hello to everyone. 175 00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:43,709 Rob Simmelkjaer: Hello. Hello. I know we've got a lot of New 176 00:09:43,710 --> 00:09:46,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yorkers and other listeners to our podcast who are getting 177 00:09:47,340 --> 00:09:52,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: set and ready to run Berlin in the 50th anniversary. I 178 00:09:52,020 --> 00:09:54,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: guess my first question for you is just how is it 179 00:09:54,990 --> 00:09:58,709 Rob Simmelkjaer: going to be special this year? I mean, the 50th anniversary is obviously 180 00:09:58,710 --> 00:10:02,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: a big, big deal. I know that you and your 181 00:10:02,010 --> 00:10:05,070 Rob Simmelkjaer: colleagues, Jurgen Locke, and others are working hard to make 182 00:10:05,070 --> 00:10:09,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: this a great event. Are there any special surprises or 183 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:11,820 Rob Simmelkjaer: things people can look forward to this year for the 184 00:10:11,820 --> 00:10:14,309 Rob Simmelkjaer: 50th anniversary of the Berlin Marathon? 185 00:10:16,620 --> 00:10:23,760 Mark Milde: Good question. Obviously, somehow these numbers, if there's an anniversary 186 00:10:23,760 --> 00:10:30,510 Mark Milde: coming up, if it's 25, 50, or 100 even which happens at some 187 00:10:30,510 --> 00:10:35,969 Mark Milde: races, it's somehow magical and draws the people and the 188 00:10:35,970 --> 00:10:42,179 Mark Milde: attention towards all these races. And we are trying to 189 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:47,490 Mark Milde: play on this or to make this a very memorable 190 00:10:48,240 --> 00:10:53,610 Mark Milde: race, and having had seen you guys, I mean, I think you 191 00:10:53,610 --> 00:10:56,760 Mark Milde: are now in your 54th year or 53rd year, I'm 192 00:10:56,760 --> 00:11:01,770 Mark Milde: not 100% sure, and our colleagues in Boston even had their 193 00:11:01,770 --> 00:11:07,380 Mark Milde: 125th anniversary. So we're picking up things and ideas from 194 00:11:07,380 --> 00:11:13,170 Mark Milde: everywhere, and we obviously cannot change the basic rules of 195 00:11:13,170 --> 00:11:16,319 Mark Milde: the marathon. I mean, it's not going to be 50, 000 196 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:20,339 Mark Milde: meters now because it's 50 years. Although, this might be 197 00:11:20,340 --> 00:11:24,090 Mark Milde: a tempting idea. No. Rest assured, it's going to be 198 00:11:24,690 --> 00:11:32,010 Mark Milde: no more than 42,195 meters, which is obviously the normal 199 00:11:32,010 --> 00:11:33,569 Mark Milde: duration of the marathon, and- 200 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:36,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: 26. 2 miles to us Americans, yes. 201 00:11:36,090 --> 00:11:42,780 Mark Milde: Yes. Of course. Of course. So that's going to be unchanged, but along 202 00:11:42,780 --> 00:11:47,849 Mark Milde: the course, we want to do some things which makes 203 00:11:47,850 --> 00:11:54,870 Mark Milde: it more special. Again, you should not expect mountains or 204 00:11:54,870 --> 00:11:58,319 Mark Milde: hills or anything that you have to climb, but- 205 00:11:58,620 --> 00:12:02,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: Nobody wants that, Mark. Nobody's coming to Berlin for mountains or hills. 206 00:12:02,040 --> 00:12:03,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: We're coming for flat. 207 00:12:05,670 --> 00:12:08,160 Mark Milde: That is true. We are trying to put up the 208 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:15,510 Mark Milde: numbers of music along the route. We will have 90 209 00:12:15,510 --> 00:12:21,270 Mark Milde: bands playing music, and we have some balconies, we hope, 210 00:12:21,510 --> 00:12:25,170 Mark Milde: where people will be putting out the music that they 211 00:12:25,170 --> 00:12:30,120 Mark Milde: are listening to which is on the radio. So we are hoping 212 00:12:30,420 --> 00:12:33,690 Mark Milde: on the cooperation of the Berlin people and trying to make it 213 00:12:33,690 --> 00:12:36,450 Mark Milde: attractive for them as well to follow this race and 214 00:12:36,450 --> 00:12:40,709 Mark Milde: to be part of this anniversary. And we are trying to engage 215 00:12:41,340 --> 00:12:46,590 Mark Milde: with the Berliners as well in the lead- up in 216 00:12:46,590 --> 00:12:50,850 Mark Milde: the run to the race. So we are going to have a 217 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:55,710 Mark Milde: kind of exhibition area just at the Brandenburg Gate, which 218 00:12:55,710 --> 00:13:00,960 Mark Milde: will open up on the 17th of September where we'll be 219 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:04,200 Mark Milde: showcasing the history of our race and a little bit 220 00:13:04,200 --> 00:13:07,290 Mark Milde: also of the marathon foot race, where there's a possibility for 221 00:13:07,290 --> 00:13:11,760 Mark Milde: the Berliners and for the visitors to engage and get 222 00:13:11,760 --> 00:13:14,670 Mark Milde: into touch with us and with the marathon. It's called 223 00:13:14,700 --> 00:13:18,360 Mark Milde: the MOVE and Home of the Marathon, where we're going 224 00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:22,170 Mark Milde: to have this on display, where we will have some 225 00:13:22,170 --> 00:13:27,750 Mark Milde: memorabilia or some nice pictures and photographs of the history 226 00:13:27,750 --> 00:13:31,800 Mark Milde: of our race, which as you stated before, has been 227 00:13:32,580 --> 00:13:35,940 Mark Milde: quite a journey from where we started and what happened 228 00:13:35,940 --> 00:13:39,900 Mark Milde: in Berlin in the last five decades. This is also 229 00:13:39,900 --> 00:13:44,220 Mark Milde: the theme of our opening ceremony, which is also something new 230 00:13:44,610 --> 00:13:47,820 Mark Milde: and something special, which will be happening on the Friday 231 00:13:47,820 --> 00:13:53,850 Mark Milde: before race day. We will have a big stage at 232 00:13:53,910 --> 00:13:57,600 Mark Milde: the Brandenburg Gate where we will be celebrating these five 233 00:13:57,600 --> 00:14:00,000 Mark Milde: decades of running excellence in Berlin. 234 00:14:00,570 --> 00:14:03,510 Becs Gentry: Wow. Oh, my gosh, this absolutely sounds like a race 235 00:14:03,510 --> 00:14:06,209 Becs Gentry: not to be missed. I am a little bit envious 236 00:14:06,240 --> 00:14:09,600 Becs Gentry: of both you and Rob right now, Mark. Your father, 237 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:14,010 Becs Gentry: Horst Milde, founded the race in 1974. What has it been 238 00:14:14,010 --> 00:14:18,090 Becs Gentry: like having this race as part of your life growing 239 00:14:18,090 --> 00:14:20,790 Becs Gentry: up and all the way through until today? 240 00:14:22,140 --> 00:14:30,630 Mark Milde: Yeah. No. Yes. Obviously, the marathon, until a certain time, you could say it was a family 241 00:14:30,630 --> 00:14:40,770 Mark Milde: member because, I mean, my parents had three kids. I'm 242 00:14:40,770 --> 00:14:45,450 Mark Milde: in the middle, the guy in the middle. As far 243 00:14:45,450 --> 00:14:48,150 Mark Milde: as I can remember, obviously, I can't remember the first 244 00:14:48,150 --> 00:14:50,370 Mark Milde: and the second running of the race, but I remember 245 00:14:50,370 --> 00:14:56,130 Mark Milde: that at a certain time, that was a time obviously 246 00:14:56,130 --> 00:15:01,170 Mark Milde: before computers. If you want to make a copy of a 247 00:15:01,260 --> 00:15:04,770 Mark Milde: paper that was written on a typewriter, then you had 248 00:15:04,770 --> 00:15:07,680 Mark Milde: to go next door to a store to get it 249 00:15:07,830 --> 00:15:10,260 Mark Milde: copied or duplicated or I think they called it Rank 250 00:15:10,260 --> 00:15:15,510 Mark Milde: Xerox back at that time. So I remember that we 251 00:15:15,510 --> 00:15:19,170 Mark Milde: kids were being used or had to work in folding 252 00:15:19,170 --> 00:15:24,630 Mark Milde: up these letters for press releases. Back then, it was 253 00:15:24,630 --> 00:15:27,720 Mark Milde: not an email blast being sent out, but they were 254 00:15:27,780 --> 00:15:32,400 Mark Milde: sent out as letters. These were kind of things where 255 00:15:32,400 --> 00:15:37,560 Mark Milde: we were starting as little kids to help out my 256 00:15:37,560 --> 00:15:40,260 Mark Milde: father and the team. I mean, obviously, he didn't do 257 00:15:40,260 --> 00:15:44,790 Mark Milde: it by himself. There was a strong team of other 258 00:15:44,790 --> 00:15:47,430 Mark Milde: runners. I mean, my father was a former runner. And 259 00:15:47,430 --> 00:15:52,260 Mark Milde: a strong team of other runners putting up this race, 260 00:15:52,260 --> 00:15:56,130 Mark Milde: and they did it on a voluntary basis. They were 261 00:15:56,130 --> 00:15:58,710 Mark Milde: all members in that club, and back at that time, there 262 00:15:58,710 --> 00:16:03,990 Mark Milde: was no wages and money involved, so it was more 263 00:16:04,320 --> 00:16:08,280 Mark Milde: something you did out of your own ambition. You wanted 264 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:16,470 Mark Milde: to do something for the club or for yourself to improve running or to 265 00:16:16,650 --> 00:16:20,850 Mark Milde: bring running. Obviously, at first, not into the city. It 266 00:16:20,850 --> 00:16:23,730 Mark Milde: was more like our race was happening like in New York, 267 00:16:23,730 --> 00:16:27,450 Mark Milde: it started in Central Park. We were in a state, wood, 268 00:16:27,450 --> 00:16:32,040 Mark Milde: which was also in the western part of Berlin, so 269 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:38,820 Mark Milde: the road that we were running on was under the 270 00:16:38,850 --> 00:16:42,270 Mark Milde: protection of trees, but next to a highway. So it's 271 00:16:42,270 --> 00:16:50,670 Mark Milde: kind of something different than obviously how you would plan 272 00:16:50,670 --> 00:16:52,800 Mark Milde: a race now 50 years later. And then it was 273 00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:58,710 Mark Milde: thanks to Fred Lebow and the New York Road Runners 274 00:16:59,430 --> 00:17:03,660 Mark Milde: who were able to move from Central Park to the 275 00:17:03,660 --> 00:17:08,970 Mark Milde: five boroughs that at some stage, we took that example 276 00:17:08,970 --> 00:17:12,990 Mark Milde: and said, " Okay. New York is doing this." I mean, 277 00:17:13,109 --> 00:17:16,109 Mark Milde: New York is one of these small cities in the world 278 00:17:16,109 --> 00:17:19,740 Mark Milde: where we can easily refer to and say, " Okay. If 279 00:17:20,310 --> 00:17:22,619 Mark Milde: you can make it there, we can make it here 280 00:17:22,619 --> 00:17:25,560 Mark Milde: as well." Now, that's obviously a little bit easy to say, 281 00:17:25,560 --> 00:17:30,179 Mark Milde: but I mean, the history runs a little bit deeper. 282 00:17:30,180 --> 00:17:33,750 Mark Milde: I mean, West Berlin was divided also in three parts. 283 00:17:33,780 --> 00:17:40,170 Mark Milde: There was British, French, American, and English part. And at 284 00:17:40,170 --> 00:17:47,910 Mark Milde: some stage in 1981, the French military operation said, " Okay. 285 00:17:47,910 --> 00:17:52,590 Mark Milde: We are going to organize a 25K race and we're going 286 00:17:52,590 --> 00:17:56,189 Mark Milde: to do into the city." And the Allied forces still 287 00:17:56,190 --> 00:18:00,990 Mark Milde: had some special rights in the city, so here, the 288 00:18:01,080 --> 00:18:04,169 Mark Milde: German or the Berlin police could not say no because it 289 00:18:04,170 --> 00:18:09,300 Mark Milde: was something that they were in charge. So when that 290 00:18:09,300 --> 00:18:13,590 Mark Milde: happened, my father, he went to the police and said, " 291 00:18:13,590 --> 00:18:16,410 Mark Milde: Okay. If you allow these guys to do it, you 292 00:18:16,590 --> 00:18:19,140 Mark Milde: also have to allow us to do it." So that was kind 293 00:18:19,140 --> 00:18:25,170 Mark Milde: of what you guys did in New York. For example, 294 00:18:25,170 --> 00:18:28,530 Mark Milde: I think also, back at that time, the Stockholm Marathon 295 00:18:28,530 --> 00:18:32,550 Mark Milde: was also run in the whole city. So these were the 296 00:18:32,550 --> 00:18:36,090 Mark Milde: examples that my father and the others were using to 297 00:18:36,210 --> 00:18:40,710 Mark Milde: get the permission of the city to roll it all out. 298 00:18:41,160 --> 00:18:47,070 Rob Simmelkjaer: Wow, incredible history, and two things strike me from that 299 00:18:47,070 --> 00:18:50,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: story. Number one, we all know the impact of the 300 00:18:50,070 --> 00:18:53,189 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York City Marathon, but the impact that going to 301 00:18:53,190 --> 00:18:56,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: the five boroughs had on other marathons like yours in 302 00:18:56,790 --> 00:19:00,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: Berlin really does strike me as, yeah, you had an example. 303 00:19:00,990 --> 00:19:02,820 Rob Simmelkjaer: If they can do it in New York, we can 304 00:19:02,820 --> 00:19:05,399 Rob Simmelkjaer: do it here. But then the political element, and your 305 00:19:05,400 --> 00:19:10,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: father, Mark, he had to know the political rules of 306 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:12,869 Rob Simmelkjaer: the road to make something like that happen, which was 307 00:19:12,869 --> 00:19:17,129 Rob Simmelkjaer: incredible, given where Berlin was at that time, a divided 308 00:19:17,130 --> 00:19:21,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: city, with these quadrants that the different Allied forces still 309 00:19:21,690 --> 00:19:26,399 Rob Simmelkjaer: controlled. Now, I'm curious, by the time the '80s came 310 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:33,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: around, Mark, and Berlin ultimately became reunified, you were certainly 311 00:19:33,510 --> 00:19:36,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: old enough to know what was going on. What was 312 00:19:36,630 --> 00:19:40,050 Rob Simmelkjaer: that time like? I mean, we all know those of 313 00:19:40,050 --> 00:19:43,080 Rob Simmelkjaer: a certain age can remember what those days were like 314 00:19:43,859 --> 00:19:47,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: in the late '80s and the early '90s when the 315 00:19:47,730 --> 00:19:52,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: Iron Curtain was falling and the Berlin Wall was falling. And 316 00:19:52,350 --> 00:19:57,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: this marathon had been obviously a West Berlin affair because 317 00:19:57,690 --> 00:19:59,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: that's where it had to be. Although, I read that the start 318 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:04,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: was close enough to the wall and to the Brandenburg 319 00:20:04,530 --> 00:20:08,189 Rob Simmelkjaer: Gate that East Berliners could see it. They could actually 320 00:20:08,190 --> 00:20:11,129 Rob Simmelkjaer: see or were aware of what was going on. That 321 00:20:11,130 --> 00:20:16,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: first time that the race was able to run in 322 00:20:16,020 --> 00:20:19,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: an undivided Berlin, what was that like? 323 00:20:21,840 --> 00:20:27,840 Mark Milde: That was obviously a very special moment for everyone involved. 324 00:20:28,380 --> 00:20:31,680 Mark Milde: It was the first time that we made a big jump. 325 00:20:31,680 --> 00:20:35,399 Mark Milde: I mean, there was obviously big attention and everyone wanted 326 00:20:35,670 --> 00:20:38,639 Mark Milde: to witness it and be part of it, and you 327 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:42,090 Mark Milde: were right. I mean, we were starting beforehand and the 328 00:20:42,119 --> 00:20:44,940 Mark Milde: wall and the Brandenburg Gate was in the back of 329 00:20:44,940 --> 00:20:50,460 Mark Milde: the runners, going out in the direction west. West Berlin 330 00:20:50,460 --> 00:20:53,430 Mark Milde: was big enough to hold the marathon race, but then 331 00:20:54,240 --> 00:20:57,450 Mark Milde: after the wall came down on the 9th of November, 332 00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:04,290 Mark Milde: very soon, runners from the east showed up and the 333 00:21:04,290 --> 00:21:08,280 Mark Milde: British journalist, which was at that time very close to 334 00:21:08,280 --> 00:21:10,200 Mark Milde: us, was calling up and saying, " Hey, you have got 335 00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:14,040 Mark Milde: to do this next year. You have to run through 336 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:17,490 Mark Milde: east and west." And it sounded in a way easy, 337 00:21:17,490 --> 00:21:21,420 Mark Milde: but it was not that easy because Berlin and Germany 338 00:21:21,420 --> 00:21:25,530 Mark Milde: was not unified until a week after the race, so 339 00:21:25,680 --> 00:21:30,720 Mark Milde: it was still a race through two cities or two 340 00:21:30,720 --> 00:21:34,169 Mark Milde: countries in other words. So that was kind of very 341 00:21:36,510 --> 00:21:42,480 Mark Milde: complicated to organize. Obviously, if you want to take a 342 00:21:42,480 --> 00:21:46,410 Mark Milde: deeper dive into that subject, I would advise you to 343 00:21:46,410 --> 00:21:50,730 Mark Milde: talk to my father because he was all in this, 344 00:21:51,330 --> 00:21:57,149 Mark Milde: but more or less, in a nutshell, the organization back 345 00:21:57,150 --> 00:22:00,660 Mark Milde: at that time was able to develop a new course which 346 00:22:00,960 --> 00:22:03,840 Mark Milde: started into the west and now heading into the east, 347 00:22:04,020 --> 00:22:08,730 Mark Milde: running through the Brandenburg Gate after three kilometers. And then 348 00:22:09,150 --> 00:22:12,179 Mark Milde: there was a part... I mean, it was not like, " 349 00:22:12,510 --> 00:22:15,600 Mark Milde: Okay. Berlin is now unified. Now, let's do 50- 50% of 350 00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:19,590 Mark Milde: the course in the east and in the west." No. 351 00:22:19,590 --> 00:22:24,209 Mark Milde: That did not really work out because we always had 352 00:22:24,210 --> 00:22:29,430 Mark Milde: the ambition of having a competitive and fast course, so there 353 00:22:29,580 --> 00:22:34,440 Mark Milde: was always something in the back of our minds. And 354 00:22:34,770 --> 00:22:38,700 Mark Milde: at that time, if you go deeper into the east, 355 00:22:38,880 --> 00:22:43,590 Mark Milde: so to say, somehow there are inclines. It goes uphill, 356 00:22:43,920 --> 00:22:48,000 Mark Milde: so that's why we kind of circled around that, and then 357 00:22:48,359 --> 00:22:53,700 Mark Milde: ran back into the west. So I would say maybe 358 00:22:53,700 --> 00:22:58,530 Mark Milde: 70% of the course is run in western territory and 359 00:22:58,530 --> 00:23:02,970 Mark Milde: the other in the eastern territory. But back at these 360 00:23:02,970 --> 00:23:09,689 Mark Milde: days, it was obviously interesting to see how over the 361 00:23:09,690 --> 00:23:13,530 Mark Milde: years it also developed because I mean, Berlin was changing 362 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:20,310 Mark Milde: or buildings were built along the course, so the city 363 00:23:20,310 --> 00:23:26,670 Mark Milde: landscape changed. But in the first year, which was a 364 00:23:26,670 --> 00:23:32,550 Mark Milde: very special race, many of the resources that had been 365 00:23:32,550 --> 00:23:36,149 Mark Milde: in place for the old marathon were still being used, 366 00:23:36,150 --> 00:23:40,320 Mark Milde: so the finish line remained the same, and along the 367 00:23:40,320 --> 00:23:45,570 Mark Milde: course, we made these changes. But it was, I mean, 368 00:23:45,750 --> 00:23:50,129 Mark Milde: an oversubscribed race. A lot of people were coming. It had a big media 369 00:23:50,130 --> 00:23:56,550 Mark Milde: impact, obviously. Everyone wanted to see this and it was 370 00:23:57,720 --> 00:24:00,780 Mark Milde: for everyone involved a very special race, a special day. 371 00:24:01,830 --> 00:24:05,190 Becs Gentry: I'm sure it really was, and something that everyone will 372 00:24:05,190 --> 00:24:09,930 Becs Gentry: remember how it's changed and evolved over the last 50 373 00:24:09,930 --> 00:24:14,850 Becs Gentry: years. We can talk about the history especially of Berlin 374 00:24:14,850 --> 00:24:16,950 Becs Gentry: for a very long time, but I think a lot 375 00:24:16,950 --> 00:24:21,210 Becs Gentry: of people want to talk about this year. And from 376 00:24:21,210 --> 00:24:26,430 Becs Gentry: the elite perspective, this is the first time since 2014, 377 00:24:26,430 --> 00:24:28,109 Becs Gentry: as far as I know, you may correct me on 378 00:24:28,109 --> 00:24:32,970 Becs Gentry: this, that neither Eliud Kipchoge or Kenenisa Bekele are going 379 00:24:32,970 --> 00:24:36,090 Becs Gentry: to be in the race on the men's field. And 380 00:24:37,830 --> 00:24:40,590 Becs Gentry: I want to know what are you thinking because there are 381 00:24:40,590 --> 00:24:44,639 Becs Gentry: some really fantastic names out there in the elite field 382 00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:47,010 Becs Gentry: on both the men's and the women's who may not 383 00:24:47,010 --> 00:24:50,520 Becs Gentry: necessarily be the big names that everybody knows, but boy, 384 00:24:50,520 --> 00:24:53,220 Becs Gentry: that's some good times. So what are your thoughts on 385 00:24:53,220 --> 00:24:53,938 Becs Gentry: the elite field this year? 386 00:24:54,960 --> 00:24:59,040 Mark Milde: I think it's always tough in an Olympic year to 387 00:24:59,430 --> 00:25:05,730 Mark Milde: get these big names. I mean, as you were saying, 388 00:25:06,600 --> 00:25:11,580 Mark Milde: neither Kipchoge nor Bekele are here which gives us a 389 00:25:11,580 --> 00:25:15,990 Mark Milde: chance to build up possibly new faces. The new generation 390 00:25:16,230 --> 00:25:19,980 Mark Milde: can now jump into the limelight. I mean, it is 391 00:25:20,190 --> 00:25:25,650 Mark Milde: good that the marathoning business, so to say, has some 392 00:25:26,340 --> 00:25:31,770 Mark Milde: duration, so athletes can come and compete at a high 393 00:25:31,770 --> 00:25:36,389 Mark Milde: level for a long time, which allows the people and 394 00:25:36,390 --> 00:25:39,510 Mark Milde: spectators and also the media to know them better. I 395 00:25:39,510 --> 00:25:45,060 Mark Milde: mean, Kipchoge was winning our race five times, Kenenisa, two 396 00:25:45,060 --> 00:25:50,220 Mark Milde: times, Haile Gebrselassie, four times, so these were some big 397 00:25:50,220 --> 00:25:54,449 Mark Milde: names which were also recognizable by not only the runners 398 00:25:54,450 --> 00:25:57,689 Mark Milde: coming to Berlin, taking part, but also after a couple 399 00:25:57,690 --> 00:26:03,899 Mark Milde: of years, the normal Berliner. Obviously, not everyone, but a 400 00:26:03,900 --> 00:26:09,600 Mark Milde: lot of them would be able to understand and recognize 401 00:26:09,630 --> 00:26:12,330 Mark Milde: a person like Haile Gebrselassie. I was walking out on 402 00:26:12,330 --> 00:26:15,419 Mark Milde: the street with him in August and people would stop 403 00:26:15,420 --> 00:26:19,560 Mark Milde: us. So that's always nice if these big names are 404 00:26:19,560 --> 00:26:23,280 Mark Milde: there, but in such a year, it's a little bit 405 00:26:23,280 --> 00:26:27,389 Mark Milde: more challenging. But as you said, we are having the 406 00:26:27,390 --> 00:26:31,050 Mark Milde: new crop, if I may use that word, coming up 407 00:26:31,050 --> 00:26:34,020 Mark Milde: and we want to bring them or get them to 408 00:26:34,020 --> 00:26:39,090 Mark Milde: know the Berliners. I have one athlete which I'm looking 409 00:26:39,090 --> 00:26:42,540 Mark Milde: forward in seeing in the race, which I think debuted 410 00:26:43,800 --> 00:26:50,070 Mark Milde: in New York and it's Kibiwott Kandie. And he has not done 411 00:26:50,850 --> 00:26:53,730 Mark Milde: so well on the marathon distance, but maybe he has 412 00:26:53,730 --> 00:26:55,770 Mark Milde: to learn how the marathon is. 413 00:26:56,369 --> 00:26:59,700 Becs Gentry: His halftime is a 57 and some change, I think. 414 00:26:59,700 --> 00:27:00,481 Mark Milde: 32, yes. Yeah. Yeah. 415 00:27:00,481 --> 00:27:01,891 Becs Gentry: Yeah. Ouch. 416 00:27:01,891 --> 00:27:11,910 Mark Milde: Yeah. Ouch. That's right. So we're hoping that he, now that 417 00:27:11,910 --> 00:27:15,600 Mark Milde: he learned how to run this distance, is a little 418 00:27:15,600 --> 00:27:21,869 Mark Milde: bit more experienced and maybe does something which we hope 419 00:27:22,500 --> 00:27:29,580 Mark Milde: can join these great first times we had in the 420 00:27:29,580 --> 00:27:33,330 Mark Milde: past. We have also another runner, which might not be 421 00:27:34,170 --> 00:27:37,619 Mark Milde: at the moment so famous. His name is Stephen Kiprop. 422 00:27:37,619 --> 00:27:42,510 Mark Milde: He only also has two or three marathons under his belt, 423 00:27:43,260 --> 00:27:48,750 Mark Milde: but he ran at 58 half- marathon in the old 424 00:27:48,750 --> 00:27:52,800 Mark Milde: shoes, so in the shoes before the one with the 425 00:27:52,800 --> 00:27:53,640 Mark Milde: carbon plates- 426 00:27:53,880 --> 00:27:54,300 Becs Gentry: No more shoes. 427 00:27:54,600 --> 00:27:54,659 Rob Simmelkjaer: Wow. 428 00:27:55,770 --> 00:27:56,639 Mark Milde: So that is- 429 00:27:56,790 --> 00:27:58,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: What we used to call shoes. Yeah. 430 00:27:58,950 --> 00:28:05,430 Mark Milde: Shoes, yeah. This might be another guy who could with the new 431 00:28:05,430 --> 00:28:13,439 Mark Milde: shoes run 57 minutes. We have one guy, Tadese Takele. He 432 00:28:13,440 --> 00:28:16,740 Mark Milde: was third last year running in his debut 2: 03. 433 00:28:17,609 --> 00:28:22,140 Mark Milde: He was not able to run this spring. Yes. So 434 00:28:22,140 --> 00:28:28,139 Mark Milde: we think if the weather is okay, and people pushing 435 00:28:28,140 --> 00:28:34,560 Mark Milde: from behind like Rob, that this will make them go 436 00:28:34,560 --> 00:28:39,300 Mark Milde: out in a healthy and good pace. And then we 437 00:28:39,300 --> 00:28:42,060 Mark Milde: will just see if some Berlin magic is happening again. 438 00:28:42,390 --> 00:28:45,390 Becs Gentry: I think it will. I'm looking at Rosemary Wanjiru on 439 00:28:45,390 --> 00:28:51,150 Becs Gentry: the women's side. She's taken recently a couple of minutes 440 00:28:51,150 --> 00:28:53,550 Becs Gentry: off of her marathon time. I think in Tokyo was 441 00:28:53,550 --> 00:28:56,340 Becs Gentry: her fastest time now. And if we think about the 442 00:28:56,340 --> 00:29:00,300 Becs Gentry: weather, I ran Tokyo this year and it was cool 443 00:29:00,300 --> 00:29:01,800 Becs Gentry: in the morning, but it turned out to be quite 444 00:29:01,800 --> 00:29:06,030 Becs Gentry: a warm day, which is quite a similar thinking. If 445 00:29:06,030 --> 00:29:08,100 Becs Gentry: Berlin has a good day, it can be like that. 446 00:29:08,100 --> 00:29:10,320 Becs Gentry: It's very cool when it starts and it can turn 447 00:29:10,320 --> 00:29:15,780 Becs Gentry: into a warmer run. So fingers crossed for these, as 448 00:29:15,780 --> 00:29:18,210 Becs Gentry: you say, the new kids on the block coming up 449 00:29:18,270 --> 00:29:21,030 Becs Gentry: into this flat and fast race, that they can shine 450 00:29:21,030 --> 00:29:24,061 Becs Gentry: and keep taking minutes and seconds off their PRs. 451 00:29:24,061 --> 00:29:29,460 Mark Milde: Yeah. I mean, on the woman's side, we got Tigist Ketema. She gave 452 00:29:29,460 --> 00:29:35,520 Mark Milde: her debut this January in Dubai, 2: 16:07, which is- 453 00:29:35,520 --> 00:29:35,881 Becs Gentry: That's a tough one. 454 00:29:35,881 --> 00:29:36,690 Mark Milde: ... not jogging. 455 00:29:36,690 --> 00:29:40,261 Becs Gentry: No. And in that heat as well and dryness is... 456 00:29:40,261 --> 00:29:44,250 Mark Milde: Yeah. Yeah. So it's going to be interesting to see 457 00:29:44,310 --> 00:29:49,770 Mark Milde: how she will do here in Berlin. Yeah. So we're 458 00:29:49,770 --> 00:29:57,540 Mark Milde: excited with these challenges of other big- time marathons like the 459 00:29:58,140 --> 00:30:02,640 Mark Milde: TCS New York City Marathon. I mean, that's kind of 460 00:30:02,640 --> 00:30:09,480 Mark Milde: also competition still between us as Abbott World Marathon Majors 461 00:30:09,900 --> 00:30:14,820 Mark Milde: brothers and colleagues. I mean, there's a healthy competition between 462 00:30:14,820 --> 00:30:20,880 Mark Milde: us of being the biggest, the greatest, the fastest race. 463 00:30:21,870 --> 00:30:26,220 Mark Milde: I mean, Rob being here not too long, I think 464 00:30:26,220 --> 00:30:30,720 Mark Milde: he already learned that there is this competition, and if 465 00:30:30,780 --> 00:30:38,370 Mark Milde: someone is doing something good, others are trying to do 466 00:30:39,150 --> 00:30:43,830 Mark Milde: something similar or maybe even better. So I mean, we 467 00:30:43,830 --> 00:30:47,520 Mark Milde: have a pretty good cooperation between us. There are no 468 00:30:47,520 --> 00:30:51,630 Mark Milde: real secrets. If one of us is doing something which 469 00:30:51,840 --> 00:30:56,490 Mark Milde: the other organization likes, then we are very quick in 470 00:30:57,870 --> 00:31:02,790 Mark Milde: exchanging plans and helping others to have the same experience 471 00:31:02,790 --> 00:31:03,390 Mark Milde: as we have. 472 00:31:03,630 --> 00:31:07,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: Absolutely. No question about it. The Abbott World Marathon Majors, 473 00:31:08,580 --> 00:31:11,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: I think it's more of a club and a cooperative 474 00:31:11,610 --> 00:31:14,430 Rob Simmelkjaer: group than it is a competition, but of course, there's 475 00:31:14,430 --> 00:31:17,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: always some friendly competition, especially around pro fields. I think 476 00:31:18,060 --> 00:31:20,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: in New York we have a bit of an advantage 477 00:31:20,520 --> 00:31:24,510 Rob Simmelkjaer: in an Olympic year just having that extra five or 478 00:31:24,510 --> 00:31:28,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: so weeks of distance between the Olympic marathon and New 479 00:31:28,650 --> 00:31:32,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: York, so we are obviously thrilled to get in the pro 480 00:31:32,100 --> 00:31:35,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: field, both of our defending champions coming back, and lots 481 00:31:35,400 --> 00:31:40,590 Rob Simmelkjaer: of excitement around our pro field as well. Becs, Mark 482 00:31:40,920 --> 00:31:46,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: Milde is to me the hero of the Abbott World 483 00:31:46,440 --> 00:31:50,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: Marathon Majors. And the reason this is the case is 484 00:31:50,370 --> 00:31:55,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: it's really a little known fact that the Six Star Medal, 485 00:31:55,920 --> 00:32:01,469 Rob Simmelkjaer: which of course has become the absolute goal of so 486 00:32:01,470 --> 00:32:05,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: many marathoners, so many runners around the world are organizing 487 00:32:05,280 --> 00:32:09,239 Rob Simmelkjaer: their lives around getting this Six Star Medal, well, it 488 00:32:09,240 --> 00:32:15,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: was Mark who some years ago first even had the 489 00:32:15,150 --> 00:32:20,820 Rob Simmelkjaer: idea in his mind to start tracking how many runners 490 00:32:21,000 --> 00:32:23,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: had run all six of these races. Before there was 491 00:32:23,850 --> 00:32:28,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: a medal, before there was anything else, Mark started tracking 492 00:32:28,500 --> 00:32:32,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: this all on his own, is my understanding, and put 493 00:32:32,310 --> 00:32:35,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: together... I believe, Mark, it was a piece of paper. 494 00:32:35,490 --> 00:32:39,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: It was a certificate that you would send runners who 495 00:32:39,990 --> 00:32:44,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: had completed all six of these marathons, and then that 496 00:32:44,160 --> 00:32:47,820 Rob Simmelkjaer: later turned into what we now know as the Six 497 00:32:47,820 --> 00:32:51,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: Star Medal. So Mark really to me is the brains 498 00:32:51,330 --> 00:32:54,810 Rob Simmelkjaer: of the operation when it comes to the Abbott World 499 00:32:54,810 --> 00:32:58,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: Marathon Majors. Mark, take us back to that. What first 500 00:32:58,920 --> 00:33:03,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: prompted you to start thinking about that and start collecting 501 00:33:03,630 --> 00:33:07,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: the names of the people who had run all six of these races? 502 00:33:09,390 --> 00:33:12,959 Mark Milde: Well, if you think about this, I mean, obviously it 503 00:33:12,960 --> 00:33:23,700 Mark Milde: is something in a way obvious that people and runners 504 00:33:23,700 --> 00:33:30,720 Mark Milde: and winners could try to collect all of these races. 505 00:33:31,170 --> 00:33:34,830 Mark Milde: So in the end, I mean, I would not say, 506 00:33:34,830 --> 00:33:39,810 Mark Milde: okay, I invented this. It is something that we kind 507 00:33:39,810 --> 00:33:43,440 Mark Milde: of thought was also worthwhile to pursuing it. Back at that 508 00:33:43,530 --> 00:33:46,230 Mark Milde: time when World Marathon Majors was founded, it had a 509 00:33:46,230 --> 00:33:50,460 Mark Milde: stronger focus on the elite side of the sport, so 510 00:33:50,790 --> 00:33:56,910 Mark Milde: we were collecting or recording the times of the winners 511 00:33:56,970 --> 00:34:00,540 Mark Milde: and then making an aggregate. And over two- year periods, 512 00:34:00,540 --> 00:34:03,840 Mark Milde: we had the winner and the most successful marathon runner 513 00:34:04,980 --> 00:34:13,350 Mark Milde: on the earth in that period. And then it was kind of 514 00:34:13,739 --> 00:34:18,870 Mark Milde: because we in Berlin, having the so- called Jubilee Club 515 00:34:19,290 --> 00:34:24,150 Mark Milde: where we record the names of people who have finished 516 00:34:24,150 --> 00:34:27,120 Mark Milde: our race more than 10 times, so if you do 517 00:34:27,120 --> 00:34:30,330 Mark Milde: this and you're a member of the Jubilee Club, you 518 00:34:30,330 --> 00:34:36,810 Mark Milde: get your own personalized bib number, which all the years 519 00:34:37,020 --> 00:34:40,260 Mark Milde: that you enter and the future years, it's your number 520 00:34:40,320 --> 00:34:43,710 Mark Milde: to keep. It's protected for you. It has a different 521 00:34:43,710 --> 00:34:49,770 Mark Milde: layout or different a color, background, so this is some 522 00:34:49,920 --> 00:34:56,460 Mark Milde: special thing for these runners. And combining the idea and the 523 00:34:56,460 --> 00:35:00,420 Mark Milde: experience we had with this Jubilee Club and the drive 524 00:35:00,450 --> 00:35:04,800 Mark Milde: of collecting things, it made it such in a way 525 00:35:04,800 --> 00:35:08,670 Mark Milde: obvious choice to do something also, not only for the 526 00:35:08,670 --> 00:35:12,690 Mark Milde: elite runners, but for the average runners. I think at 527 00:35:12,690 --> 00:35:15,480 Mark Milde: first, we were calling it in the paper. I just 528 00:35:15,480 --> 00:35:18,779 Mark Milde: looked at recently, the Fitness Club Runner. I think that 529 00:35:18,780 --> 00:35:23,010 Mark Milde: was kind of how we were trying to call it. 530 00:35:24,030 --> 00:35:29,040 Mark Milde: So I think over a period of two, three years, 531 00:35:29,219 --> 00:35:32,160 Mark Milde: I was putting this idea forward to my race director, 532 00:35:32,219 --> 00:35:41,370 Mark Milde: colleagues, and well, I mean, after the third time, they said, " 533 00:35:41,370 --> 00:35:43,170 Mark Milde: Okay. Well, if you want to do it, then please 534 00:35:43,200 --> 00:35:46,410 Mark Milde: go ahead, do it. You organize it on the Berlin 535 00:35:46,410 --> 00:35:51,719 Mark Milde: side." Back at that time, I mean, the World Marathon Majors was also 536 00:35:51,719 --> 00:35:56,100 Mark Milde: a smaller operation. I think there was just one person, 537 00:35:56,100 --> 00:36:01,110 Mark Milde: general secretary, who was doing everything, and otherwise, the races 538 00:36:01,620 --> 00:36:05,250 Mark Milde: would do some stuff for the good of the group. 539 00:36:05,880 --> 00:36:13,710 Mark Milde: So Berlin, I think, it was 2011 or 12- ish, we started taking it 540 00:36:13,710 --> 00:36:17,040 Mark Milde: more seriously, and yes, you're right. The first thing when 541 00:36:17,040 --> 00:36:19,170 Mark Milde: people signed up to us had said, " Okay, I did 542 00:36:19,170 --> 00:36:21,600 Mark Milde: it," and then they had to send in their certificates to 543 00:36:21,600 --> 00:36:23,700 Mark Milde: prove it that they actually did it or we were 544 00:36:23,700 --> 00:36:26,670 Mark Milde: looking at the databases, and then we were sending out 545 00:36:28,020 --> 00:36:34,410 Mark Milde: a certificate of these. Back at that time, five races, and 546 00:36:34,410 --> 00:36:37,320 Mark Milde: then Tokyo joined, and then we had the first Six Star 547 00:36:37,320 --> 00:36:40,500 Mark Milde: Finisher, and I think the name Six Star Finisher was 548 00:36:40,500 --> 00:36:44,790 Mark Milde: also framed a little bit later. So it kind of 549 00:36:44,790 --> 00:36:48,210 Mark Milde: all took place over a period of a couple of 550 00:36:48,210 --> 00:36:52,200 Mark Milde: years, and now, yes, we are here and I'm obviously 551 00:36:52,560 --> 00:36:56,279 Mark Milde: happy with others as well who chipped in the ideas 552 00:36:56,730 --> 00:37:01,020 Mark Milde: in this operation to have such a successful program. And 553 00:37:01,020 --> 00:37:07,770 Mark Milde: it really keeps runners moving around the world for the 554 00:37:07,770 --> 00:37:13,680 Mark Milde: sake of this medal and we have seen people or 555 00:37:13,680 --> 00:37:18,629 Mark Milde: runners having this medal tattooed onto their body, which is 556 00:37:18,690 --> 00:37:22,440 Mark Milde: then of course something so special. 557 00:37:23,460 --> 00:37:26,969 Becs Gentry: I love that. That's incredible as well. So from a 558 00:37:26,969 --> 00:37:28,529 Becs Gentry: Six Star Finisher over here, thank you. 559 00:37:28,530 --> 00:37:33,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: I mean, it's visionary really when you think about it, Becs. Right? 560 00:37:33,030 --> 00:37:33,780 Becs Gentry: It is. It really is. 561 00:37:33,870 --> 00:37:37,590 Rob Simmelkjaer: To have that vision at that time, Mark, you're modest. I'm 562 00:37:37,590 --> 00:37:39,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: not going to be as modest for you, but you 563 00:37:40,050 --> 00:37:43,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: saw the power in that. It really changed the sport in 564 00:37:43,950 --> 00:37:46,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: so many ways from the recreational runner's point of view 565 00:37:46,650 --> 00:37:50,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: because yes, the elite field is always exciting to talk 566 00:37:50,700 --> 00:37:54,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: about, but when we talk about what makes marathons and 567 00:37:54,600 --> 00:37:57,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: the sport of running so special right now, it is 568 00:37:57,900 --> 00:38:03,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: the mass participation, athlete, people like me who are flying 569 00:38:03,060 --> 00:38:06,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: across the ocean to go, and in my case, collect 570 00:38:06,660 --> 00:38:10,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: my second star. But there'll be a lot of people- 571 00:38:10,020 --> 00:38:10,021 Becs Gentry: They're on the journey. 572 00:38:10,020 --> 00:38:14,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah. I guess beginning the journey, finally getting out of New 573 00:38:14,340 --> 00:38:17,880 Rob Simmelkjaer: York. But there'll be so many people on that plane 574 00:38:17,880 --> 00:38:19,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: with me, and I've already been talking to so many 575 00:38:19,680 --> 00:38:22,859 Rob Simmelkjaer: of them on social media since I announced I'm running 576 00:38:22,860 --> 00:38:27,509 Rob Simmelkjaer: Berlin, who are excited to go from New York, from 577 00:38:27,810 --> 00:38:31,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: Chicago, from Boston, from all around the United States, and 578 00:38:31,290 --> 00:38:34,739 Rob Simmelkjaer: all around the world, to collect this star and get 579 00:38:34,739 --> 00:38:39,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: one step closer to having that Six Star Medal hung 580 00:38:39,270 --> 00:38:43,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: around their neck. And that is something that I don't 581 00:38:43,440 --> 00:38:47,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: think anybody clearly saw. You saw it and it really 582 00:38:47,250 --> 00:38:51,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: changed the sport. And Mark, I think it also benefited 583 00:38:51,420 --> 00:38:52,861 Rob Simmelkjaer: your race so much, right? Because- 584 00:38:52,861 --> 00:38:52,862 Mark Milde: True. 585 00:38:52,862 --> 00:38:58,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... Berlin is obviously a great world city, but if 586 00:38:58,980 --> 00:39:02,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: it weren't in this group of major marathons with Boston 587 00:39:02,670 --> 00:39:05,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: and London and New York, you may not see the 588 00:39:05,400 --> 00:39:09,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: kind of international interest that you guys have. I'm sure 589 00:39:09,090 --> 00:39:11,070 Rob Simmelkjaer: you have a lot, but how has being a part 590 00:39:11,070 --> 00:39:14,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: of the Abbott World Marathon Majors really changed the BMW 591 00:39:14,760 --> 00:39:15,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: Berlin Marathon? 592 00:39:18,180 --> 00:39:21,510 Mark Milde: Something that you were just pointing out or, I don't 593 00:39:21,510 --> 00:39:27,930 Mark Milde: know, discovering, but it put us in a spot. We 594 00:39:27,930 --> 00:39:32,460 Mark Milde: were founded in 2006. Back at this time, I mean, 595 00:39:32,460 --> 00:39:37,230 Mark Milde: we had a sold- out race, yes, but the number 596 00:39:37,230 --> 00:39:41,340 Mark Milde: of runners taking part in our race was already high 597 00:39:41,820 --> 00:39:45,480 Mark Milde: because, I mean, Europe obviously is a smaller place. It's 598 00:39:45,480 --> 00:39:52,739 Mark Milde: easier and accessible from many countries, but the numbers of 599 00:39:52,739 --> 00:39:57,270 Mark Milde: overseas runners and especially numbers from the Americas have grown 600 00:39:57,270 --> 00:40:01,590 Mark Milde: very strongly. We could see that back in these days, we 601 00:40:01,590 --> 00:40:06,480 Mark Milde: usually also traveled to the New York City Marathon Expo 602 00:40:06,480 --> 00:40:10,110 Mark Milde: and making promotion of our race, and we saw these 603 00:40:10,110 --> 00:40:15,450 Mark Milde: many Mexicans, Brazilians, South American runners taking part in the 604 00:40:15,450 --> 00:40:19,469 Mark Milde: New York City Marathon. So after they had done this 605 00:40:19,650 --> 00:40:23,100 Mark Milde: three, four times, they were probably looking what else is 606 00:40:23,100 --> 00:40:25,950 Mark Milde: there to discover, and then they found our advertisement of 607 00:40:25,950 --> 00:40:28,890 Mark Milde: the six World Marathon Majors or back at that time, five World Marathon 608 00:40:28,890 --> 00:40:31,620 Mark Milde: Majors in the program of the New York City Marathon 609 00:40:31,620 --> 00:40:34,290 Mark Milde: and seeing us at the expo. And I think that made them 610 00:40:34,410 --> 00:40:38,339 Mark Milde: click and our numbers, not overnight, but over the years, 611 00:40:38,730 --> 00:40:45,120 Mark Milde: increased from the Americas and especially South Americas. And nowadays, 612 00:40:45,600 --> 00:40:50,160 Mark Milde: we used to get the highest number of runners from 613 00:40:50,160 --> 00:40:54,030 Mark Milde: Denmark, which is the neighboring country up in the north 614 00:40:54,360 --> 00:40:59,850 Mark Milde: from Germany, and they came here already back in the '80s 615 00:41:00,360 --> 00:41:06,629 Mark Milde: because there was not such a big marathon they were 616 00:41:06,630 --> 00:41:10,469 Mark Milde: having there, and the alcohol was cheaper over here. So that 617 00:41:10,469 --> 00:41:13,170 Mark Milde: was kind of the explanation why so many Danish runners 618 00:41:13,170 --> 00:41:16,950 Mark Milde: came to run in Berlin. They came down here and 619 00:41:17,370 --> 00:41:19,739 Mark Milde: after the race had a pretty good time or during. 620 00:41:19,890 --> 00:41:24,600 Mark Milde: I mean, probably even before the race. Now, the number 621 00:41:24,600 --> 00:41:30,060 Mark Milde: or the Danish country or runners count has been going 622 00:41:30,060 --> 00:41:33,060 Mark Milde: down, and now we have the most runners from the 623 00:41:33,060 --> 00:41:37,530 Mark Milde: United States. I think this year, we've got 8, 000 coming 624 00:41:38,250 --> 00:41:44,040 Mark Milde: for this weekend to run with us, and the number 625 00:41:44,040 --> 00:41:49,290 Mark Milde: of Brazilians is also high and Mexican runners. So still 626 00:41:51,450 --> 00:41:56,850 Mark Milde: I think Berlin was put into the conscience of the 627 00:41:56,850 --> 00:42:00,510 Mark Milde: Americans by being part of the World Marathon Major. So 628 00:42:00,510 --> 00:42:07,110 Mark Milde: yes, it has, with this program, definitely lifted the interest 629 00:42:07,110 --> 00:42:09,930 Mark Milde: in runners from all over the world to come to 630 00:42:09,930 --> 00:42:14,850 Mark Milde: us and take part in our race, so it's also 631 00:42:15,239 --> 00:42:20,160 Mark Milde: a movement which created a strong demand. 632 00:42:20,880 --> 00:42:24,480 Becs Gentry: We love it. It comes from knowing running as well to 633 00:42:24,480 --> 00:42:27,390 Becs Gentry: be able to create something like this, for you to 634 00:42:27,390 --> 00:42:33,780 Becs Gentry: understand what this journey means to a runner to accumulate 635 00:42:33,960 --> 00:42:37,290 Becs Gentry: all of these miles in these different cities. It really 636 00:42:37,290 --> 00:42:44,340 Becs Gentry: is amazing. So talking about understanding runners and all of 637 00:42:44,910 --> 00:42:47,850 Becs Gentry: the history that goes with Berlin, we have a first- 638 00:42:47,850 --> 00:42:51,779 Becs Gentry: time Berlin Marathoner here in the form of the wonderful 639 00:42:51,780 --> 00:42:56,100 Becs Gentry: Rob. Let's talk through the course. For anyone out there 640 00:42:56,100 --> 00:43:01,980 Becs Gentry: who hasn't run Berlin, obviously, it is deemed as one of 641 00:43:01,980 --> 00:43:05,790 Becs Gentry: the fastest of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, alongside Chicago. 642 00:43:06,360 --> 00:43:12,360 Becs Gentry: I've done all six and I personally think Berlin is 643 00:43:12,360 --> 00:43:16,770 Becs Gentry: flatter for some reason. I just remember it being just 644 00:43:16,770 --> 00:43:19,320 Becs Gentry: flat, flat, flat, flat, flat, and my legs were incredibly 645 00:43:19,320 --> 00:43:23,160 Becs Gentry: sore in a whole new way the next day. What 646 00:43:23,219 --> 00:43:27,060 Becs Gentry: advice as the race director would you give our first- 647 00:43:27,060 --> 00:43:28,890 Becs Gentry: time Berlin Marathoners out there? 648 00:43:30,540 --> 00:43:33,360 Mark Milde: Well, I guess the way how you described it, and 649 00:43:33,360 --> 00:43:38,219 Mark Milde: maybe it is in the heads of many runners that it 650 00:43:38,219 --> 00:43:40,739 Mark Milde: is such a quick race and that they want to 651 00:43:40,739 --> 00:43:45,210 Mark Milde: use this as a qualifier for Boston or just run 652 00:43:45,210 --> 00:43:48,810 Mark Milde: their personal best. I mean, it's to probably not to 653 00:43:48,810 --> 00:43:53,460 Mark Milde: start out like a world record- breaker, but try to 654 00:43:53,460 --> 00:43:58,050 Mark Milde: be modest and really do the speed that you can 655 00:43:58,050 --> 00:44:04,020 Mark Milde: do to also more enjoy what we offer alongside of 656 00:44:04,020 --> 00:44:07,920 Mark Milde: the course. And then if you've got still enough power 657 00:44:08,010 --> 00:44:11,069 Mark Milde: in the second half, then go for it. I mean, 658 00:44:11,070 --> 00:44:15,270 Mark Milde: you were saying that it's flat, flat, flat. It is. 659 00:44:15,480 --> 00:44:20,940 Mark Milde: I mean, although, we are 32 meters above sea level 660 00:44:20,940 --> 00:44:23,700 Mark Milde: and the highest point is 52 meters above sea level, 661 00:44:24,000 --> 00:44:26,580 Mark Milde: which is 20 meters and the incline is gentle, I 662 00:44:26,580 --> 00:44:28,379 Mark Milde: mean, there are two three bridges where it's a little 663 00:44:28,380 --> 00:44:33,810 Mark Milde: bit steeper incline and then decline. But compared to especially 664 00:44:33,810 --> 00:44:38,670 Mark Milde: in New York with these bridges, our bridges are so 665 00:44:38,670 --> 00:44:42,600 Mark Milde: little, so small, so that is not the problem. But 666 00:44:42,719 --> 00:44:46,500 Mark Milde: nevertheless, and also depending a little bit on the weather 667 00:44:46,500 --> 00:44:50,280 Mark Milde: conditions, you can usually do good here. But also my 668 00:44:50,280 --> 00:44:56,850 Mark Milde: advice would be to run a negative split. I think 669 00:44:56,850 --> 00:45:02,160 Mark Milde: that's something which gives you also a better feeling during 670 00:45:02,160 --> 00:45:05,819 Mark Milde: your journey through Berlin. I mean, we want you to 671 00:45:05,820 --> 00:45:08,520 Mark Milde: have a journey of joy and not a journey of 672 00:45:08,880 --> 00:45:16,860 Mark Milde: pain, so we doing our best to help you with 673 00:45:16,860 --> 00:45:21,089 Mark Milde: this matter. Also, there might be a change or something 674 00:45:21,090 --> 00:45:24,960 Mark Milde: different. I mean, I'm not 100% sure if that is now done at American 675 00:45:24,960 --> 00:45:28,080 Mark Milde: races. I remember when I was running New York in 676 00:45:28,080 --> 00:45:31,620 Mark Milde: Boston, which is also some time ago, that there was 677 00:45:31,620 --> 00:45:36,150 Mark Milde: no food along the course, and I tended to get 678 00:45:36,239 --> 00:45:41,370 Mark Milde: hungry during my races, so I was happy to grab 679 00:45:41,370 --> 00:45:44,130 Mark Milde: a banana or an apple. I mean, nowadays, we have gel. 680 00:45:44,160 --> 00:45:47,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: Any other little tips and tricks like that? Because I've 681 00:45:47,340 --> 00:45:51,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: also had people tell me about water, that it might 682 00:45:51,480 --> 00:45:54,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: be a good idea. Some people bring water on the 683 00:45:54,300 --> 00:45:56,640 Rob Simmelkjaer: course with them in Berlin. How often are the water 684 00:45:56,640 --> 00:45:59,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: stations and how easy is it to get water along 685 00:45:59,340 --> 00:45:59,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: the course? 686 00:46:00,360 --> 00:46:03,630 Mark Milde: Well, we got 17 stations along the course, which is- 687 00:46:03,630 --> 00:46:04,441 Rob Simmelkjaer: Oh, that's good. That's very good. 688 00:46:04,441 --> 00:46:10,290 Mark Milde: Yeah. I mean, I think in some courses, they do it every mile, but 689 00:46:11,010 --> 00:46:15,060 Mark Milde: we're starting it out at 5, 9K, and then we 690 00:46:15,060 --> 00:46:17,610 Mark Milde: start to do it every two and a half kilometers, 691 00:46:18,030 --> 00:46:23,580 Mark Milde: so there is enough drinks and water out there. I 692 00:46:23,580 --> 00:46:26,760 Mark Milde: think it should be sufficient. I mean, for some people 693 00:46:26,760 --> 00:46:30,780 Mark Milde: who think that they are not... A couple of years, 694 00:46:30,780 --> 00:46:34,800 Mark Milde: we had an issue. We had a nutrition... What is 695 00:46:34,800 --> 00:46:41,160 Mark Milde: it called? Drink supplier, which gave some of the runners 696 00:46:41,969 --> 00:46:46,589 Mark Milde: some stomach problems. But now, we are using Maurten, which 697 00:46:46,590 --> 00:46:47,700 Mark Milde: is an international- 698 00:46:48,180 --> 00:46:48,331 Becs Gentry: We love it. 699 00:46:48,331 --> 00:46:52,440 Mark Milde: ... drink. Okay. Good. So if you are used to that, then 700 00:46:52,800 --> 00:46:56,580 Mark Milde: I think you should be fine. Otherwise, the water along 701 00:46:56,580 --> 00:47:02,670 Mark Milde: the way is high standard, so that should also not 702 00:47:03,239 --> 00:47:07,589 Mark Milde: give you any problem. But if you need something special 703 00:47:07,590 --> 00:47:10,620 Mark Milde: like some extra gel, obviously, take it along. 704 00:47:11,010 --> 00:47:15,779 Rob Simmelkjaer: You guys, I believe, allowed the bladders out there, right? 705 00:47:15,780 --> 00:47:18,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: Is that correct? The CamelBak or something like that, you 706 00:47:18,450 --> 00:47:19,859 Rob Simmelkjaer: guys allow people to run with those. 707 00:47:19,860 --> 00:47:19,950 Mark Milde: Yes. 708 00:47:19,950 --> 00:47:23,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: So that's a big difference from New York and some 709 00:47:23,370 --> 00:47:26,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: other races where those are not always permitted. So that's 710 00:47:26,700 --> 00:47:30,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: a good one. Mark, any other tips around the start 711 00:47:30,420 --> 00:47:33,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: or anything else that someone should want to know for 712 00:47:33,900 --> 00:47:35,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: a first time like myself? 713 00:47:35,550 --> 00:47:39,180 Mark Milde: I mean, yeah, depending on where you are going to 714 00:47:39,180 --> 00:47:43,620 Mark Milde: be starting, I mean, we got four waves. We start 715 00:47:43,620 --> 00:47:48,330 Mark Milde: at 9: 15 with the mass and elite race. Wheelchairs 716 00:47:48,330 --> 00:47:52,440 Mark Milde: already go out at 8: 50, and the last start 717 00:47:52,650 --> 00:47:56,310 Mark Milde: is at 10:40. So depending on that and how the 718 00:47:56,310 --> 00:48:00,960 Mark Milde: weather condition is, you might want to come early enough 719 00:48:02,370 --> 00:48:06,330 Mark Milde: to see what's happening and to get yourself sorted, and 720 00:48:06,330 --> 00:48:12,390 Mark Milde: to enjoy our start entertainment, which is something I hope, 721 00:48:12,900 --> 00:48:16,950 Mark Milde: Rob, that you will enjoy what we're doing there. I 722 00:48:16,950 --> 00:48:23,610 Mark Milde: think there's something special which not all of our colleagues are 723 00:48:23,610 --> 00:48:28,920 Mark Milde: doing it, that might be something that is also not 724 00:48:29,100 --> 00:48:32,520 Mark Milde: so easy to replicate to other races. We got a 725 00:48:32,520 --> 00:48:35,400 Mark Milde: lot of video screens in the starting area for the 726 00:48:35,400 --> 00:48:39,419 Mark Milde: people who are waiting there and who are maybe not as 727 00:48:40,170 --> 00:48:44,190 Mark Milde: focused as other runners. Becs, what was your time? Were you in 728 00:48:44,190 --> 00:48:46,920 Mark Milde: a tunnel or were your attention of what was happening 729 00:48:46,920 --> 00:48:47,430 Mark Milde: around you? 730 00:48:47,730 --> 00:48:49,440 Becs Gentry: I was in a bit of a tunnel. It was 731 00:48:49,440 --> 00:48:53,969 Becs Gentry: my first sub- 3 attempt and I got a 2: 732 00:48:54,000 --> 00:49:00,480 Becs Gentry: 55 I think, so I was very much in the zone 733 00:49:00,540 --> 00:49:02,760 Becs Gentry: of... I was actually paced. I don't know if you 734 00:49:02,760 --> 00:49:06,120 Becs Gentry: know this. Run crews there, the KRAFT Runners in Berlin, 735 00:49:07,800 --> 00:49:09,421 Becs Gentry: they sort of took me in the tunnel. 736 00:49:09,421 --> 00:49:14,129 Mark Milde: Oh, okay, okay. Okay. So for everyone else who's not in the tunnel and who has 737 00:49:14,130 --> 00:49:16,680 Mark Milde: time to kill and to wait until their start time... I mean, 738 00:49:16,950 --> 00:49:19,710 Mark Milde: you probably then would've started in the first wave or 739 00:49:19,710 --> 00:49:22,950 Mark Milde: second wave which goes about at 9: 45. It's one 740 00:49:22,950 --> 00:49:27,120 Mark Milde: hour to go, and we do have a lot of 741 00:49:27,120 --> 00:49:31,350 Mark Milde: video screens there which are able to entertain you and 742 00:49:31,350 --> 00:49:33,660 Mark Milde: also inform you of what's happening. So you will see 743 00:49:34,650 --> 00:49:37,290 Mark Milde: the race goes off, the elites take off, and then 744 00:49:37,290 --> 00:49:40,800 Mark Milde: you're still waiting or moving forward to the next position. 745 00:49:41,100 --> 00:49:44,670 Mark Milde: And you can see that okay, now, the leading guys 746 00:49:44,670 --> 00:49:47,130 Mark Milde: are at 10K, and Kipchoge is in the front or 747 00:49:47,130 --> 00:49:48,600 Mark Milde: is not in the front and so on and so 748 00:49:48,600 --> 00:49:53,010 Mark Milde: forth. So I think that's quite enjoyable and is already 749 00:49:53,219 --> 00:50:01,140 Mark Milde: kind of doing... The time wait does not seem so long. 750 00:50:01,860 --> 00:50:10,050 Mark Milde: Also, our announcer is doing some crowd entertainment, which also 751 00:50:10,140 --> 00:50:14,070 Mark Milde: gives you I think a good feeling of the journey 752 00:50:14,070 --> 00:50:16,860 Mark Milde: you are going on for the next couple of hours. 753 00:50:17,489 --> 00:50:22,080 Mark Milde: So that's I think something to look forward to, depending 754 00:50:22,080 --> 00:50:26,370 Mark Milde: obviously also on the weather, but I think the last 755 00:50:26,460 --> 00:50:31,230 Mark Milde: time we had really, really rain was in 2010. It was 756 00:50:31,230 --> 00:50:34,380 Mark Milde: raining from beginning to end. In the other couple of 757 00:50:34,380 --> 00:50:40,140 Mark Milde: years, there might have been, I don't know, one- hour episodes 758 00:50:40,200 --> 00:50:44,819 Mark Milde: of rain, but usually, we do have quite good weather conditions. 759 00:50:44,820 --> 00:50:48,690 Becs Gentry: It feels like it's always a sunny race, and I 760 00:50:48,690 --> 00:50:53,340 Becs Gentry: can tell you from my experience, the German crowds were 761 00:50:53,550 --> 00:50:57,540 Becs Gentry: there all the was, but specifically, coming back in towards 762 00:50:57,540 --> 00:51:03,330 Becs Gentry: the city from about the, I'd say, the 32, 35 kilometer 763 00:51:03,330 --> 00:51:11,670 Becs Gentry: mark were unreal. The noise, the party, the energy was 764 00:51:11,670 --> 00:51:16,650 Becs Gentry: so very uplifting for those last few kilometers that generally, 765 00:51:16,650 --> 00:51:19,469 Becs Gentry: most people are struggling. No matter how hard they've trained, 766 00:51:19,860 --> 00:51:21,719 Becs Gentry: it's a tough day out there. It's a long time. 767 00:51:22,230 --> 00:51:25,440 Becs Gentry: And I can still... One of my favorite photos that 768 00:51:25,440 --> 00:51:29,489 Becs Gentry: has ever been gifted to me is from my Berlin 769 00:51:29,489 --> 00:51:32,160 Becs Gentry: Marathon experience of coming around the corner, and there was the 770 00:51:32,400 --> 00:51:37,710 Becs Gentry: big speaker system around 37, 38 kilometers, and it's a corner up. 771 00:51:37,920 --> 00:51:41,940 Becs Gentry: And oh, my gosh, it was electric and I will 772 00:51:41,940 --> 00:51:44,760 Becs Gentry: never forget how much of a boost it gave me 773 00:51:44,760 --> 00:51:50,669 Becs Gentry: to get through that pain, to continue pushing to get 774 00:51:50,670 --> 00:51:53,430 Becs Gentry: my goal of a sub- 3 hour marathon at Berlin 775 00:51:53,430 --> 00:51:56,489 Becs Gentry: and follow those blue lines. So I know our listeners 776 00:51:56,489 --> 00:51:58,830 Becs Gentry: here are running. Rob, I can see that your smile 777 00:51:58,830 --> 00:52:01,411 Becs Gentry: is getting bigger and bigger with the nervous anticipation here. 778 00:52:01,411 --> 00:52:07,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: I am not going for any sub-3s, but definitely, I've got a PR in mind and 779 00:52:07,680 --> 00:52:10,469 Rob Simmelkjaer: maybe a couple of other goals, so we'll see how 780 00:52:10,469 --> 00:52:10,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: the training- 781 00:52:10,830 --> 00:52:11,491 Becs Gentry: It's a beautiful race. 782 00:52:11,491 --> 00:52:11,881 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... wraps up these last four weeks. I'm excited. 783 00:52:11,881 --> 00:52:19,560 Becs Gentry: And I will say as well, a beautiful city to celebrate in after as well. 784 00:52:19,890 --> 00:52:22,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: Speaking of that, I was about to just go right 785 00:52:22,410 --> 00:52:27,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: there because Berlin has a reputation as a great place 786 00:52:27,210 --> 00:52:31,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: to party. So once we've gotten across this finish line... 787 00:52:31,230 --> 00:52:33,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: Which by the way, Mark, one tip that someone gave 788 00:52:33,270 --> 00:52:36,989 Rob Simmelkjaer: me was the Brandenburg Gate is not the finish line. 789 00:52:37,140 --> 00:52:40,319 Rob Simmelkjaer: You see it coming from a long way off and you 790 00:52:40,320 --> 00:52:44,430 Rob Simmelkjaer: think there it is, that's the finish. That's not the finish. You have to 791 00:52:44,430 --> 00:52:47,070 Rob Simmelkjaer: keep going past the gate to get to the finish 792 00:52:47,070 --> 00:52:47,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: line, right? 793 00:52:47,520 --> 00:52:48,180 Becs Gentry: There's a lot of twists- 794 00:52:48,180 --> 00:52:48,181 Mark Milde: Yes. 795 00:52:48,181 --> 00:52:50,939 Becs Gentry: ... and turns before the gate too, which threw me 796 00:52:50,940 --> 00:52:54,540 Becs Gentry: through a loop was that it's kind of cobbledy, older 797 00:52:54,540 --> 00:52:58,530 Becs Gentry: streets, and you are kind of turn, turn, turn, turn, turn. 798 00:52:58,770 --> 00:53:01,529 Becs Gentry: Then you see the Brandenburg Gate, then you're thinking, as you 799 00:53:01,530 --> 00:53:04,830 Becs Gentry: say, Rob, you heard like, " I'm done." No. It's like 800 00:53:04,830 --> 00:53:07,351 Becs Gentry: seeing Central Park and like, " I'm done." No you're not. 801 00:53:07,350 --> 00:53:13,000 Mark Milde: But I think I'm done is then you're almost done. 802 00:53:13,050 --> 00:53:13,002 Mark Milde: I mean (inaudible) - 803 00:53:13,290 --> 00:53:13,440 Becs Gentry: Yes. So close. 804 00:53:15,390 --> 00:53:19,170 Mark Milde: For me, seeing them running through the Brandenburg Gate, I 805 00:53:19,170 --> 00:53:22,410 Mark Milde: know it's one more minute for them to actually reach 806 00:53:22,410 --> 00:53:28,290 Mark Milde: the finish line. In meters, it's 350 meters from there, 807 00:53:28,290 --> 00:53:31,830 Mark Milde: so I think you can say you're done. Although- 808 00:53:31,830 --> 00:53:34,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: You can start celebrating but don't stop running. 809 00:53:34,140 --> 00:53:34,230 Mark Milde: Yes. Yes. 810 00:53:34,319 --> 00:53:34,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah. 811 00:53:35,100 --> 00:53:39,600 Mark Milde: That's true. I think one of our first winners was also 812 00:53:39,600 --> 00:53:42,330 Mark Milde: a race for the ages, Paul Tergat. He was the 813 00:53:42,330 --> 00:53:46,890 Mark Milde: first one to... We changed the course back in 2003, 814 00:53:48,060 --> 00:53:52,020 Mark Milde: so he was running to the gate and I think he 815 00:53:52,020 --> 00:53:54,509 Mark Milde: was not aware that the gate is not the finish 816 00:53:54,510 --> 00:53:56,819 Mark Milde: line or that it's not right behind there. It's still 817 00:53:57,270 --> 00:54:00,719 Mark Milde: the same distance, 350 meters to go. And he distanced 818 00:54:00,719 --> 00:54:07,049 Mark Milde: himself from his competitor and I think he had 10, 15 819 00:54:07,050 --> 00:54:12,030 Mark Milde: meters lead, and the guy he was beating was the 820 00:54:12,030 --> 00:54:15,000 Mark Milde: pacemaker. All right? So they were on course for the 821 00:54:15,000 --> 00:54:18,660 Mark Milde: world record, and then because it was still one minute to 822 00:54:18,660 --> 00:54:21,930 Mark Milde: go, the pacemaker gained step by step again. And then 823 00:54:21,930 --> 00:54:24,540 Mark Milde: there was this discussion, " Okay. Did the pacemaker let Paul 824 00:54:24,540 --> 00:54:28,170 Mark Milde: Tergat win because it's Paul Tergat, the big champion?" And 825 00:54:28,170 --> 00:54:30,510 Mark Milde: I would say, " No, it's not because he was not 826 00:54:30,510 --> 00:54:33,840 Mark Milde: aware that the finish line is not the gate, but 827 00:54:33,840 --> 00:54:37,710 Mark Milde: it's behind the gate." So he miscalculated his efforts and 828 00:54:37,710 --> 00:54:42,900 Mark Milde: that's why he only barely hold on to beat Sammy 829 00:54:42,900 --> 00:54:46,590 Mark Milde: Korir. And he finished in a world record time nevertheless, 2:04: 830 00:54:46,710 --> 00:54:49,890 Mark Milde: 55, and that was 20 years ago. 831 00:54:50,219 --> 00:54:51,989 Rob Simmelkjaer: All right. I'm not going to make that mistake, so 832 00:54:51,989 --> 00:54:55,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: those listening, keep running for another few hundred meters after 833 00:54:55,380 --> 00:55:00,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: the Brandenburg Gate. Mark, what about the after- race activities? 834 00:55:00,210 --> 00:55:04,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: I know that the after- party that you guys put 835 00:55:04,380 --> 00:55:08,820 Rob Simmelkjaer: on is pretty legendary in marathon circles. I definitely intend 836 00:55:08,820 --> 00:55:13,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: to be there. What's special about your after- party and 837 00:55:13,170 --> 00:55:16,469 Rob Simmelkjaer: all the things that the runners can do to celebrate 838 00:55:16,469 --> 00:55:18,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: their accomplishment in Berlin? 839 00:55:19,560 --> 00:55:25,259 Mark Milde: Well, I think nowadays, already, there are not only our after- 840 00:55:25,260 --> 00:55:28,589 Mark Milde: race party, but a lot of run crews, communities do 841 00:55:28,590 --> 00:55:32,790 Mark Milde: celebrate on their own. But what's special about our after- 842 00:55:32,790 --> 00:55:38,790 Mark Milde: party is that we are still presenting the winners of 843 00:55:38,790 --> 00:55:41,910 Mark Milde: our race there and we're trying to do it in 844 00:55:41,910 --> 00:55:46,440 Mark Milde: a way which is kind of engaging and fun for 845 00:55:46,440 --> 00:55:51,690 Mark Milde: the people attending. So that's, I mean, the thing that 846 00:55:52,110 --> 00:55:54,750 Mark Milde: we will have the runners go through the crowd, and 847 00:55:56,700 --> 00:56:00,270 Mark Milde: usually, I mean, it's already uplifting. I mean, if it's 848 00:56:00,270 --> 00:56:02,580 Mark Milde: one of the stars there. I mean, you're very close 849 00:56:03,570 --> 00:56:07,170 Mark Milde: to meet Eliud Kipchoge, Kenenisa Bekele. That will not be 850 00:56:07,170 --> 00:56:10,350 Mark Milde: the case this year, but we are going to create other 851 00:56:10,350 --> 00:56:15,930 Mark Milde: stars which will enjoy the race and hopefully the dancing 852 00:56:15,930 --> 00:56:20,580 Mark Milde: afterwards and all that comes with that. And I think 853 00:56:20,610 --> 00:56:25,800 Mark Milde: that you can have a good time either because you 854 00:56:25,800 --> 00:56:28,800 Mark Milde: did your PR or you want to drown your not 855 00:56:28,800 --> 00:56:35,760 Mark Milde: PR, in a way, which still reminds you the next 856 00:56:35,760 --> 00:56:37,440 Mark Milde: day that you did not do so well. 857 00:56:37,739 --> 00:56:41,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: Hey, you know what, if I finish, I'm going to 858 00:56:41,160 --> 00:56:44,129 Rob Simmelkjaer: be having a couple of German beers. That's all there 859 00:56:44,130 --> 00:56:45,091 Rob Simmelkjaer: is to it because- 860 00:56:45,091 --> 00:56:45,092 Becs Gentry: There's so much to celebrate. 861 00:56:45,091 --> 00:56:49,860 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... I will have run the BMW Berlin Marathon. I can't 862 00:56:49,860 --> 00:56:52,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: wait. It'll be my first time ever in Berlin, really, 863 00:56:52,620 --> 00:56:56,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: my first time in Germany. And I'm just so excited 864 00:56:56,730 --> 00:57:00,029 Rob Simmelkjaer: and I know so many of our fellow New Yorkers, 865 00:57:00,030 --> 00:57:03,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: our fellow New York Road Runners members, and people in 866 00:57:03,600 --> 00:57:06,569 Rob Simmelkjaer: our running community here in the United States are so excited 867 00:57:06,900 --> 00:57:09,689 Rob Simmelkjaer: for this race coming up. So Mark, thank you so 868 00:57:09,690 --> 00:57:09,961 Rob Simmelkjaer: much for- 869 00:57:09,960 --> 00:57:09,962 Becs Gentry: Thank you. 870 00:57:09,961 --> 00:57:13,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... joining Becs and me, and I can't wait to 871 00:57:13,530 --> 00:57:17,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: see you over there and enjoy a great, great weekend 872 00:57:17,520 --> 00:57:18,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: in Berlin. 873 00:57:18,870 --> 00:57:21,840 Mark Milde: Same here. Stay healthy and looking forward to seeing you 874 00:57:21,840 --> 00:57:25,800 Mark Milde: and everyone else who's making the long way to Berlin 875 00:57:26,550 --> 00:57:28,530 Mark Milde: this couple of next weeks. 876 00:57:28,560 --> 00:57:46,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: Thank you, Mark. Today's Member Moment features Paola Marte, a 877 00:57:46,680 --> 00:57:49,590 Rob Simmelkjaer: dedicated mentor with Team for Kids, New York Road Runners' 878 00:57:49,590 --> 00:57:54,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: premier charity program. Through TFK, adult runners of all abilities 879 00:57:54,300 --> 00:57:56,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: raise funds for New York Road Runners youth and community 880 00:57:56,910 --> 00:58:00,510 Rob Simmelkjaer: programs and receive guaranteed entry to top events like the 881 00:58:00,510 --> 00:58:05,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: TCS New York City Marathon. Paola has completed four TCS 882 00:58:05,130 --> 00:58:08,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York City Marathons with TFK, and this year, she'll 883 00:58:08,370 --> 00:58:11,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: be volunteering in the start tent supporting her fellow members 884 00:58:11,760 --> 00:58:15,360 Rob Simmelkjaer: as they begin their 26.2- mile journey through the five 885 00:58:15,360 --> 00:58:17,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: boroughs of New York City. Now, here is Meb. 886 00:58:18,360 --> 00:58:21,120 Meb Keflezighi: Thanks, Rob. Paola, welcome to the podcast. 887 00:58:21,900 --> 00:58:24,001 Paola Marte: Thanks, Meb. So nice to talk to you. 888 00:58:24,001 --> 00:58:27,780 Meb Keflezighi: Thank you. Good to see you. As someone who didn't consider 889 00:58:27,780 --> 00:58:32,130 Meb Keflezighi: herself athletic before, how did you find confidence and motivation 890 00:58:32,130 --> 00:58:35,820 Meb Keflezighi: to complete six marathons? What role did the Team for 891 00:58:35,820 --> 00:58:39,360 Meb Keflezighi: Kids, TFK, play in helping you achieve this goal? 892 00:58:41,010 --> 00:58:45,689 Paola Marte: Yeah. That's true. I was never a runner my whole 893 00:58:45,690 --> 00:58:48,330 Paola Marte: life, so I could barely even run from here to the 894 00:58:48,330 --> 00:58:54,720 Paola Marte: corner without hyperventilating. But I think that in my late 895 00:58:54,720 --> 00:58:57,870 Paola Marte: 20s, I wanted to do something a little bit different 896 00:58:57,870 --> 00:59:03,150 Paola Marte: and achieve some of my health goals, and just be 897 00:59:05,220 --> 00:59:07,710 Paola Marte: able to train for a marathon was one of my 898 00:59:07,710 --> 00:59:10,920 Paola Marte: biggest goals. So for my 30th birthday, I decided to 899 00:59:10,920 --> 00:59:15,840 Paola Marte: join Team for Kids, and of course, being surrounded by 900 00:59:15,840 --> 00:59:20,460 Paola Marte: the sea of green with all of these beaming, smiling 901 00:59:20,460 --> 00:59:23,880 Paola Marte: faces, and everybody willing to help, I just found this 902 00:59:23,910 --> 00:59:28,050 Paola Marte: huge sense of camaraderie and friendship. And it was such 903 00:59:29,040 --> 00:59:33,030 Paola Marte: an inspiration for us to be working together towards a 904 00:59:33,030 --> 00:59:35,340 Paola Marte: one common goal, and be able to complete the marathon 905 00:59:35,340 --> 00:59:38,700 Paola Marte: together, while also helping all the kids to me was 906 00:59:38,700 --> 00:59:40,560 Paola Marte: such an incredible experience. 907 00:59:41,940 --> 00:59:44,970 Meb Keflezighi: Well, what a wonderful for you to do, to be part 908 00:59:44,970 --> 00:59:47,280 Meb Keflezighi: of the Team for Kids and for your 30th birthday, 909 00:59:47,280 --> 00:59:50,820 Meb Keflezighi: to do a marathon. You have mentioned that incredible friendship 910 00:59:50,820 --> 00:59:53,640 Meb Keflezighi: you have formed through TFK. Can you share a few 911 00:59:53,640 --> 00:59:59,460 Meb Keflezighi: moments where you and your TFK friends were particularly supportive 912 00:59:59,460 --> 01:00:01,140 Meb Keflezighi: during the important time in your life? 913 01:00:03,840 --> 01:00:07,740 Paola Marte: I was really blessed to find a lot of really, 914 01:00:07,740 --> 01:00:11,910 Paola Marte: really good friends that even have gone to the Dominican 915 01:00:11,910 --> 01:00:15,570 Paola Marte: Republic for my wedding, and through a lot of my 916 01:00:15,750 --> 01:00:19,230 Paola Marte: toughest times, they've also been there. I have a set 917 01:00:19,230 --> 01:00:22,830 Paola Marte: of... I want to call us The Fab Five. Of 918 01:00:22,830 --> 01:00:26,160 Paola Marte: these girls that I went to, to run the London Marathon 919 01:00:26,160 --> 01:00:30,120 Paola Marte: with Team for Kids, and also had a trip after 920 01:00:30,930 --> 01:00:33,810 Paola Marte: for Barcelona. But even during the pandemic, these were the 921 01:00:33,810 --> 01:00:36,870 Paola Marte: girls that I really leaned on when I didn't have a 922 01:00:36,870 --> 01:00:39,360 Paola Marte: lot of other things to do in my life, and 923 01:00:39,360 --> 01:00:42,750 Paola Marte: these are the ones that have been there whenever I have 924 01:00:43,020 --> 01:00:46,320 Paola Marte: an issue with a relationship or an issue with family 925 01:00:46,710 --> 01:00:49,590 Paola Marte: or an issue with anything that's even outside of running. 926 01:00:50,010 --> 01:00:53,310 Paola Marte: These are people that have never really left my back 927 01:00:53,340 --> 01:00:57,240 Paola Marte: and I never had that experience before Team For Kids. 928 01:00:57,330 --> 01:01:01,320 Paola Marte: Especially finding friends at such a late game, you don't 929 01:01:01,590 --> 01:01:05,310 Paola Marte: really hear in your mid 30s finding some of your 930 01:01:05,310 --> 01:01:07,800 Paola Marte: best friends. Usually, your best friends come from high school 931 01:01:07,800 --> 01:01:11,490 Paola Marte: or college, but these are the people that have really 932 01:01:11,730 --> 01:01:15,960 Paola Marte: shown me how you can be resilient, who you can 933 01:01:16,350 --> 01:01:23,820 Paola Marte: get through anything, and still have just a lot of 934 01:01:23,820 --> 01:01:25,410 Paola Marte: positivity and friendship in your life. 935 01:01:27,180 --> 01:01:29,610 Meb Keflezighi: I think that's what running does. It brings people together. It doesn't matter 936 01:01:29,610 --> 01:01:32,160 Meb Keflezighi: what stage of your life to be able to experience 937 01:01:32,160 --> 01:01:36,480 Meb Keflezighi: it. Your marathon experience have varied significantly with notable two and a 938 01:01:36,690 --> 01:01:41,820 Meb Keflezighi: half hours difference between your last two NYC Marathons. How did 939 01:01:41,820 --> 01:01:45,240 Meb Keflezighi: your life circumstance influence your training and what did you 940 01:01:45,240 --> 01:01:49,500 Meb Keflezighi: learn from these contrasts, experiences? I'm pretty sure, I mean, 941 01:01:49,500 --> 01:01:50,940 Meb Keflezighi: some of your friends might be there and it took a 942 01:01:50,940 --> 01:01:52,800 Meb Keflezighi: little bit longer to socialize, but can you tell us 943 01:01:52,800 --> 01:01:53,160 Meb Keflezighi: about it? 944 01:01:53,340 --> 01:01:58,110 Paola Marte: Yeah. It's interesting. One of the things that I've learned 945 01:01:58,110 --> 01:02:01,590 Paola Marte: through this experience is that you have to learn what 946 01:02:01,590 --> 01:02:04,169 Paola Marte: state you're in. You have to learn how to love it. 947 01:02:04,770 --> 01:02:09,120 Paola Marte: It doesn't matter whether you're super hyperfocused into your training 948 01:02:09,420 --> 01:02:11,939 Paola Marte: or if you're just trying to squeeze it in. Right? 949 01:02:12,120 --> 01:02:16,620 Paola Marte: Just thinking about 2019, I was in that. I had 950 01:02:16,620 --> 01:02:20,670 Paola Marte: caught the PR bug and everything was being super competitive 951 01:02:20,670 --> 01:02:25,050 Paola Marte: with myself and I have to get a PR, get 952 01:02:25,080 --> 01:02:27,600 Paola Marte: a PR. So I ended up wiping an hour off 953 01:02:27,600 --> 01:02:31,200 Paola Marte: of my time in two years because I was so consistently 954 01:02:31,200 --> 01:02:36,180 Paola Marte: training. And I was incredibly proud and it was such 955 01:02:36,180 --> 01:02:39,570 Paola Marte: a great experience, just crossing that finish line and knowing 956 01:02:39,570 --> 01:02:43,440 Paola Marte: that you had achieved this, and with the support of 957 01:02:43,440 --> 01:02:47,640 Paola Marte: all of my teammates, but then the pandemic happens, right? 958 01:02:47,640 --> 01:02:50,490 Paola Marte: Pandemic happens, and then you kind of lose a little 959 01:02:50,490 --> 01:02:55,170 Paola Marte: bit of your attraction, and my life goals just completely 960 01:02:55,170 --> 01:03:00,390 Paola Marte: shifted. I have a very demanding career. I got married 961 01:03:00,390 --> 01:03:04,110 Paola Marte: during that time. I moved out of the New York City areas. 962 01:03:04,110 --> 01:03:07,830 Paola Marte: I live in the suburbs now, and just completely different 963 01:03:07,830 --> 01:03:13,590 Paola Marte: life circumstances, where I found it so incredibly difficult to 964 01:03:13,980 --> 01:03:16,980 Paola Marte: train for a marathon the way that I would have 965 01:03:16,980 --> 01:03:21,510 Paola Marte: in the past. And it was not my best of 966 01:03:21,570 --> 01:03:26,520 Paola Marte: training seasons. I still showed up. I would not encourage 967 01:03:26,520 --> 01:03:28,650 Paola Marte: that, but I still did show up. I was trained 968 01:03:29,040 --> 01:03:31,410 Paola Marte: not at my best, but I ended up walking most 969 01:03:31,410 --> 01:03:34,560 Paola Marte: of that marathon, Meb. I ended up walking it, and 970 01:03:34,560 --> 01:03:40,110 Paola Marte: to me, my old self would've been disappointed because I'm 971 01:03:40,110 --> 01:03:44,970 Paola Marte: super competitive with myself, but I think that it allowed 972 01:03:44,970 --> 01:03:48,090 Paola Marte: me to see the experience in a completely different light 973 01:03:48,810 --> 01:03:52,890 Paola Marte: because then I started earlier. I was able to really 974 01:03:52,890 --> 01:03:55,620 Paola Marte: take pictures with everybody in the crowd, and I was 975 01:03:55,620 --> 01:03:59,490 Paola Marte: able to talk to people on the way, and really 976 01:04:00,210 --> 01:04:03,000 Paola Marte: see New York City, as opposed to being so focused 977 01:04:03,000 --> 01:04:06,720 Paola Marte: on just breathe, hit the right steps the right way, 978 01:04:06,720 --> 01:04:09,630 Paola Marte: just so that you can get that PR. So even 979 01:04:09,630 --> 01:04:13,800 Paola Marte: having the opportunity to see the energy in New York in a 980 01:04:13,800 --> 01:04:17,520 Paola Marte: completely different light, I walked into Central Park with my 981 01:04:17,520 --> 01:04:19,050 Paola Marte: head up high, and I was like, " I'm just going 982 01:04:19,050 --> 01:04:20,940 Paola Marte: to finish this, and I'm going to have a great 983 01:04:20,940 --> 01:04:22,920 Paola Marte: time, and I'm going to have dinner with my friends 984 01:04:22,920 --> 01:04:25,680 Paola Marte: after this that I haven't seen in a while." So 985 01:04:26,100 --> 01:04:30,150 Paola Marte: you just have to learn how to love every experience 986 01:04:30,150 --> 01:04:33,780 Paola Marte: that you have with the marathon. It's not always going to look the same 987 01:04:34,320 --> 01:04:37,500 Paola Marte: and it's the beauty of it because no one is 988 01:04:37,500 --> 01:04:40,590 Paola Marte: judging you. No one is judging you but yourself. 989 01:04:41,250 --> 01:04:44,370 Meb Keflezighi: Absolutely. I always have told people run to win. It 990 01:04:44,370 --> 01:04:46,380 Meb Keflezighi: doesn't necessarily mean to get first place, but getting the best at yourself. As 991 01:04:47,550 --> 01:04:49,620 Meb Keflezighi: you alluded to, the stage of life where you are, 992 01:04:50,790 --> 01:04:52,890 Meb Keflezighi: the New York Road Runners done an amazing job for the elites, for the 993 01:04:52,890 --> 01:04:56,010 Meb Keflezighi: middle of the pack, and the back of the pack. My good friend in San Diego, she 994 01:04:56,010 --> 01:04:58,920 Meb Keflezighi: just says, " When I'm there longer, I'm just getting my 995 01:04:58,920 --> 01:05:02,220 Meb Keflezighi: money's worth, taking time, kind of taking the scenery." So it 996 01:05:02,220 --> 01:05:05,310 Meb Keflezighi: looks like you did that, and for me, running for Team for Kids 997 01:05:05,310 --> 01:05:08,550 Meb Keflezighi: in 2018, that's what I did. Sometimes you run for PR. 998 01:05:08,550 --> 01:05:11,160 Meb Keflezighi: Sometimes you run for a cause. And just being able 999 01:05:11,160 --> 01:05:13,980 Meb Keflezighi: to enjoy the environment, being able to enjoy the audience 1000 01:05:13,980 --> 01:05:16,950 Meb Keflezighi: and the crowd, you got to take your time and enjoy 1001 01:05:16,950 --> 01:05:19,830 Meb Keflezighi: the whole process. So a lot of fun way to 1002 01:05:19,830 --> 01:05:23,940 Meb Keflezighi: live. But what advice would you give? As busy as you 1003 01:05:23,940 --> 01:05:26,820 Meb Keflezighi: are, what would be one advice that you would give to 1004 01:05:26,820 --> 01:05:29,670 Meb Keflezighi: somebody having a balanced life and still be able to do 1005 01:05:29,760 --> 01:05:31,200 Meb Keflezighi: run, walk a marathon? 1006 01:05:31,740 --> 01:05:36,540 Paola Marte: I think remember that you're doing this for yourself, not 1007 01:05:36,540 --> 01:05:42,480 Paola Marte: for anybody else. Right? So don't push yourself too hard 1008 01:05:42,840 --> 01:05:47,040 Paola Marte: to the point where it becomes too much, I mean, 1009 01:05:48,840 --> 01:05:51,630 Paola Marte: to the point where you end up not enjoying this 1010 01:05:51,630 --> 01:05:57,120 Paola Marte: anymore. Right? Always do this because it's fun to you, 1011 01:05:57,120 --> 01:05:59,820 Paola Marte: because you enjoy it, because you love the camaraderie that 1012 01:05:59,820 --> 01:06:02,910 Paola Marte: you get from your team members that you're running with 1013 01:06:02,910 --> 01:06:06,270 Paola Marte: on Saturday morning or Wednesday nights or whenever it is 1014 01:06:06,270 --> 01:06:09,570 Paola Marte: that you're doing this. But always do it just for 1015 01:06:09,570 --> 01:06:12,600 Paola Marte: you. Do it for you and know that you're strong 1016 01:06:12,600 --> 01:06:15,270 Paola Marte: enough to get to that finish line no matter what 1017 01:06:16,410 --> 01:06:19,050 Paola Marte: comes. If you need to take a step back and do it 1018 01:06:19,080 --> 01:06:20,400 Paola Marte: slower, always do that. 1019 01:06:20,610 --> 01:06:23,340 Meb Keflezighi: Great advice. I think that's all about you. When you're 1020 01:06:23,340 --> 01:06:26,040 Meb Keflezighi: running, that's your hour. That's your hours. And when you're 1021 01:06:26,040 --> 01:06:28,230 Meb Keflezighi: training, when you're competing, that's all about you and the 1022 01:06:28,230 --> 01:06:31,620 Meb Keflezighi: judgment. Looking back on your journey from not being athletic, 1023 01:06:31,620 --> 01:06:34,830 Meb Keflezighi: like you said, to becoming a marathoner, what has surprised 1024 01:06:34,830 --> 01:06:38,820 Meb Keflezighi: the most about yourself and how has running for TFK changed 1025 01:06:38,820 --> 01:06:42,090 Meb Keflezighi: your perspective on what you are capable of achieving? 1026 01:06:44,670 --> 01:06:47,430 Paola Marte: I was always the one that in my family was 1027 01:06:47,430 --> 01:06:49,470 Paola Marte: made fun of. I come from a family of a lot 1028 01:06:49,470 --> 01:06:54,150 Paola Marte: of athletes and I was the only one that didn't do anything. 1029 01:06:54,150 --> 01:07:00,240 Paola Marte: Right? So I think I surprised myself just that I 1030 01:07:00,240 --> 01:07:05,400 Paola Marte: finished that marathon because I never ever expected that I 1031 01:07:05,400 --> 01:07:09,600 Paola Marte: would finish one, let alone six of them. So just 1032 01:07:09,600 --> 01:07:12,120 Paola Marte: being able to get to that finish line and have that 1033 01:07:12,240 --> 01:07:17,010 Paola Marte: confidence in myself that I could get there, that I 1034 01:07:17,010 --> 01:07:19,770 Paola Marte: could get there in one piece, and still smile at 1035 01:07:19,770 --> 01:07:25,620 Paola Marte: the end and enjoy my weekend. I just never thought 1036 01:07:25,620 --> 01:07:28,860 Paola Marte: that was something that would even happen. So just running 1037 01:07:28,860 --> 01:07:31,830 Paola Marte: in itself is a huge surprise for me. 1038 01:07:32,520 --> 01:07:34,860 Meb Keflezighi: That's pretty awesome. Now, how many of those siblings have 1039 01:07:34,860 --> 01:07:35,550 Meb Keflezighi: done marathon? 1040 01:07:36,150 --> 01:07:39,780 Paola Marte: Zero. I'm still, to this day, the only person in 1041 01:07:39,780 --> 01:07:43,230 Paola Marte: my family that has finished a marathon and I will 1042 01:07:43,230 --> 01:07:46,710 Paola Marte: continue to own that title for a while, so I'm 1043 01:07:46,710 --> 01:07:47,940 Paola Marte: very proud of that. 1044 01:07:48,330 --> 01:07:51,810 Meb Keflezighi: Awesome. Congratulations. That's the beauty of running from one mile 1045 01:07:51,810 --> 01:07:55,320 Meb Keflezighi: to the marathon. I'm so proud of you on all 1046 01:07:55,320 --> 01:07:57,150 Meb Keflezighi: the work that you have done for Team for Kids 1047 01:07:57,150 --> 01:08:00,270 Meb Keflezighi: and the family and friendship that you have built with and we're just 1048 01:08:00,270 --> 01:08:02,190 Meb Keflezighi: honored to have you on the team, and on behalf of the 1049 01:08:02,190 --> 01:08:03,450 Meb Keflezighi: New York Road Runners, I want to say thank you. 1050 01:08:04,140 --> 01:08:06,240 Paola Marte: Thank you, Meb, and thank you for everything that you've done 1051 01:08:07,170 --> 01:08:09,720 Paola Marte: for Team for Kids as well. We appreciate you more 1052 01:08:09,720 --> 01:08:10,200 Paola Marte: than you know. 1053 01:08:10,410 --> 01:08:11,220 Meb Keflezighi: Always my pleasure. 1054 01:08:11,460 --> 01:08:13,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: Thank you so much for joining us, Paola, and thank 1055 01:08:13,890 --> 01:08:15,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: you for being a member of New York Road Runners 1056 01:08:16,050 --> 01:08:21,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: and a TFK mentor. Incredible. We really appreciate you. Now, it's 1057 01:08:21,420 --> 01:08:23,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: time for the final part of our show, the Meb Minute. 1058 01:08:24,420 --> 01:08:29,070 Meb Keflezighi: Week seven, prioritize recovery. Recovery was important to me as the 1059 01:08:29,070 --> 01:08:32,910 Meb Keflezighi: workout themselves. I always made sure to get enough rest 1060 01:08:32,970 --> 01:08:37,920 Meb Keflezighi: and eat well to recover from tough workouts. Don't underestimate 1061 01:08:37,920 --> 01:08:40,920 Meb Keflezighi: the power of rest. It is where your body builds 1062 01:08:40,979 --> 01:08:46,019 Meb Keflezighi: and grows stronger. As a elite athlete, priority is to 1063 01:08:46,020 --> 01:08:49,920 Meb Keflezighi: recover, recover, so you can be ready the the same afternoon, 1064 01:08:49,920 --> 01:08:52,740 Meb Keflezighi: or the next day, or for your next hard sessions. 1065 01:08:52,950 --> 01:08:55,740 Meb Keflezighi: The first thing that goes into my stomach, into my 1066 01:08:55,740 --> 01:08:59,400 Meb Keflezighi: body is protein shake, and then the recovery starts with 1067 01:08:59,460 --> 01:09:06,060 Meb Keflezighi: ice bath, Normatec, stretching. It is literally a 24- hour 1068 01:09:06,120 --> 01:09:09,059 Meb Keflezighi: job when you're an elite athlete and as everyday athlete, 1069 01:09:09,090 --> 01:09:11,100 Meb Keflezighi: you guys are so busy. You need to do the 1070 01:09:11,100 --> 01:09:15,390 Meb Keflezighi: small things like hydration, nutrition, and rest when you can 1071 01:09:15,390 --> 01:09:18,660 Meb Keflezighi: because the recovery days are as crucial as it is for me, as 1072 01:09:18,870 --> 01:09:21,420 Meb Keflezighi: for you because you are always on the go, so 1073 01:09:21,420 --> 01:09:24,120 Meb Keflezighi: make sure you prioritize recovery as much as you can. 1074 01:09:24,660 --> 01:09:26,880 Rob Simmelkjaer: All right, folks, that does it for another episode of 1075 01:09:26,880 --> 01:09:29,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: Set the Pace. We want to thank our great guest 1076 01:09:29,610 --> 01:09:33,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: today, Mark Milde, the race director of the BMW Berlin Marathon, 1077 01:09:33,870 --> 01:09:37,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: and New York Road Runners member, Paola Marte. If you 1078 01:09:37,320 --> 01:09:40,439 Rob Simmelkjaer: liked the episode, please go ahead, rate, subscribe, leave a 1079 01:09:40,439 --> 01:09:44,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: comment, tell your friends. That helps us find others to 1080 01:09:44,700 --> 01:09:47,430 Rob Simmelkjaer: listen and join our community as well. Have a great 1081 01:09:47,430 --> 01:09:48,870 Rob Simmelkjaer: week, everybody. Enjoy the miles.