1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,600 Nnenna Lynch: What was really key for me was taking the pressure 2 00:00:03,690 --> 00:00:06,990 Nnenna Lynch: off. And so I thought, okay, what's the minimum I 3 00:00:06,990 --> 00:00:09,660 Nnenna Lynch: could do to stay fit? And it was to run 4 00:00:09,660 --> 00:00:12,300 Nnenna Lynch: two days a week. I figured worst comes to worst, 5 00:00:12,810 --> 00:00:15,120 Nnenna Lynch: I can run on Saturday and Sunday. And then I 6 00:00:15,390 --> 00:00:18,930 Nnenna Lynch: discovered the beautiful thing of when you set a goal 7 00:00:18,930 --> 00:00:21,930 Nnenna Lynch: and you achieve it, that virtuous cycle of it feels 8 00:00:21,930 --> 00:00:24,300 Nnenna Lynch: good, you want to do more. As opposed to setting 9 00:00:24,300 --> 00:00:26,970 Nnenna Lynch: a goal that's really always feels so far out of 10 00:00:26,970 --> 00:00:29,550 Nnenna Lynch: reach. And so that for me was the big insight. 11 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:37,769 Speaker 2: Thank you New York. Today we're reminded of the power 12 00:00:37,770 --> 00:00:43,199 Speaker 2: of community and the power of coming together. Athletes, on your mark. 13 00:00:45,330 --> 00:00:49,348 Speaker 3: The first woman to finish for the second straight year here in 14 00:00:49,348 --> 00:00:53,100 Speaker 3: the New York City Marathon is Miki Gorman, a smiling Miki Gorman. 15 00:00:53,100 --> 00:00:55,681 Speaker 3: And why not? 2:29: 30, the time for good advice. 16 00:00:55,681 --> 00:01:00,029 Speaker 4: Look at the emotion of Shalane Flanagan as she comes to 17 00:01:00,030 --> 00:01:03,870 Speaker 4: the line, pointing to his chest, pointing to the USA. 18 00:01:03,870 --> 00:01:13,500 Speaker 4: He so proudly wears across his chest. A great day for Meb Deplesky. 19 00:01:13,500 --> 00:01:16,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: Hey everybody, and welcome to Set the Pace, the official 20 00:01:16,650 --> 00:01:20,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: podcast of New York Roadrunners, presented by Peloton. I'm your 21 00:01:20,910 --> 00:01:24,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: host, Rob Simmelkjaer, the CEO of NYRR. And with me 22 00:01:25,020 --> 00:01:28,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: week in and week out from Peloton, Becs Gentry. Good 23 00:01:28,650 --> 00:01:30,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: to see you, Becs. How's it going today? 24 00:01:30,690 --> 00:01:32,190 Becs Gentry: Hello. Good. How are you? 25 00:01:32,190 --> 00:01:34,441 Rob Simmelkjaer: I'm good. I'm really, really good. 26 00:01:34,441 --> 00:01:40,440 Becs Gentry: I'm just going to sound so weird. I re- watched 27 00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:47,010 Becs Gentry: your run route many times because I was like, " Did 28 00:01:47,010 --> 00:01:51,240 Becs Gentry: you get lost?" I loved it. I was like, I 29 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:53,370 Becs Gentry: feel like I can see his brain being like, " Okay, we'll go 30 00:01:53,370 --> 00:01:54,630 Becs Gentry: this way. We're going to add some more miles if 31 00:01:54,630 --> 00:01:55,680 Becs Gentry: we go this way then we're going to go back 32 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:57,661 Becs Gentry: here. Then around here." It was a phenomenal 22. 33 00:01:57,660 --> 00:02:01,860 Rob Simmelkjaer: What Becs is referring to is my 22- mile run on Saturday 34 00:02:01,860 --> 00:02:05,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: up here in Westport, Connecticut. This was my longest run 35 00:02:05,610 --> 00:02:06,211 Rob Simmelkjaer: preparing for Tokyo. 36 00:02:06,211 --> 00:02:06,961 Becs Gentry: So good. 37 00:02:07,350 --> 00:02:09,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: And I went out that morning. I kind of had 38 00:02:09,750 --> 00:02:11,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: a mindset of, all right, I had to go to 39 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:13,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: the Millrose games that afternoon, so I had a window 40 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:15,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: I had to run in. I knew Snow was coming 41 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:19,080 Rob Simmelkjaer: the next day, so I had to do it that day. And I just said, " 42 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:20,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: I'm going to go to do 20 and if it 43 00:02:20,910 --> 00:02:23,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: feels good, I'm going to go two more." And I 44 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:25,889 Rob Simmelkjaer: ran, you're right, I just ran all over the place 45 00:02:25,889 --> 00:02:29,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: up here. I ran from Westport to Norwalk around the 46 00:02:29,340 --> 00:02:31,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: beach, back the other way. I did find a few 47 00:02:31,650 --> 00:02:35,040 Rob Simmelkjaer: nooks and crannies, Saugatuck Island, some beautiful areas along the 48 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:38,970 Rob Simmelkjaer: shoreline here to run in Connecticut. And I just felt 49 00:02:38,970 --> 00:02:42,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: good. I kept feeling so good, Becs, this is way better 50 00:02:42,060 --> 00:02:45,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: than any training that I ever had for Berlin. So I 51 00:02:45,210 --> 00:02:48,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: added on those two more, and I feel great. I 52 00:02:48,690 --> 00:02:51,720 Rob Simmelkjaer: really do. I'm so excited and I just couldn't be 53 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:54,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: more excited to go to Tokyo. First trip ever to 54 00:02:54,900 --> 00:02:58,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: Japan and it's going to be great. But yes, Becs, 55 00:02:58,020 --> 00:03:00,389 Rob Simmelkjaer: I had you in my ear in part I was 56 00:03:00,389 --> 00:03:02,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: listening to some of our podcasts, but in part because 57 00:03:02,340 --> 00:03:04,889 Rob Simmelkjaer: I was thinking of you as I got toward the 58 00:03:04,889 --> 00:03:06,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: end of that run. So it was a great day. 59 00:03:06,870 --> 00:03:11,880 Becs Gentry: Well, congratulations. It looked very fun and very rewarding to 60 00:03:11,880 --> 00:03:15,150 Becs Gentry: then have it done. You've ticked the box and now 61 00:03:15,150 --> 00:03:15,600 Becs Gentry: you're ready. 62 00:03:16,020 --> 00:03:16,441 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, I'm ready and- 63 00:03:16,441 --> 00:03:16,442 Becs Gentry: He's ready. 64 00:03:16,442 --> 00:03:20,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... by the way, today's show is so much fun 65 00:03:20,010 --> 00:03:22,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: because not only are we talking about Tokyo. But I'm 66 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:26,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: going to be joined by not only my running mate 67 00:03:26,190 --> 00:03:28,860 Rob Simmelkjaer: in Tokyo, but also the chair of the New York 68 00:03:28,860 --> 00:03:32,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: Roadrunners board of directors and my boss, Nnenna Lynch, who's 69 00:03:32,310 --> 00:03:36,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: going to come join us. Talk about her incredible career 70 00:03:36,330 --> 00:03:39,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: as a runner, post running. And talk about us getting 71 00:03:39,990 --> 00:03:44,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: excited to run Tokyo together as the CEO and chair 72 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:45,691 Rob Simmelkjaer: of Roadrunner. So it's going to be a lot of fun. 73 00:03:45,691 --> 00:03:45,692 Becs Gentry: She is incredible. She's a force. 74 00:03:45,692 --> 00:03:45,752 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah. 75 00:03:48,150 --> 00:03:51,900 Becs Gentry: You also did spend the Millrose Games with her as well. 76 00:03:52,530 --> 00:03:53,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: I sure did. I sure did. 77 00:03:53,790 --> 00:03:53,791 Becs Gentry: What a weekend? 78 00:03:53,791 --> 00:03:58,860 Rob Simmelkjaer: Becs, we were so lucky. Nnenna and I got a front- 79 00:03:58,860 --> 00:04:03,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: row seat to just incredible history at the Millrose Games. 80 00:04:03,780 --> 00:04:06,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: This was of course up at the Armory, and she 81 00:04:06,210 --> 00:04:09,181 Rob Simmelkjaer: and I got to hold the finish line tape for a- 82 00:04:09,181 --> 00:04:09,182 Becs Gentry: So cool. 83 00:04:09,182 --> 00:04:14,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... new world record in the indoor mile. Yared Nuguse, 84 00:04:15,150 --> 00:04:16,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: unbelievable performance. 85 00:04:16,980 --> 00:04:17,070 Becs Gentry: What a legend. 86 00:04:17,070 --> 00:04:22,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: A time of what's a legend? 3:46: 63, his third Water maker mile 87 00:04:22,740 --> 00:04:26,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: championship in a row. And boy, Becs, what a thrill 88 00:04:26,460 --> 00:04:29,729 Rob Simmelkjaer: it was! The crowd was just going nuts to see 89 00:04:29,730 --> 00:04:34,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: this very popular American runner come through and break that 90 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:37,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: record. It was quite a moment at the Millrose Games. 91 00:04:37,410 --> 00:04:40,110 Becs Gentry: I am sure it was, it was wonderful to watch from 92 00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:44,010 Becs Gentry: afar. I wish I could have been there but had 93 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:50,370 Becs Gentry: personal commitments that evening. But I mean Yared Nuguse, we had Hops 94 00:04:50,370 --> 00:04:55,680 Becs Gentry: Kessler in second place as well. Our friend of the 95 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:58,980 Becs Gentry: podcast, Josh Kerr, had to drop out due to illness, 96 00:04:59,460 --> 00:05:05,670 Becs Gentry: we understand. But just there were multiple, multiple records just 97 00:05:05,820 --> 00:05:10,380 Becs Gentry: taken down from people we know to rising New York 98 00:05:10,380 --> 00:05:13,260 Becs Gentry: Roadrunners as well, which was just great to see. 99 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:15,839 Rob Simmelkjaer: That's right. In addition to the men's mile, I think 100 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:19,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: the other really exciting moment on the men's side was an 101 00:05:19,380 --> 00:05:24,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: incredible duel in the 3000 meters, which we ended up 102 00:05:24,060 --> 00:05:27,930 Rob Simmelkjaer: seeing Grant Fisher come through with the wind there. That 103 00:05:27,930 --> 00:05:32,070 Rob Simmelkjaer: was a really dramatic race. Mano a mano right to 104 00:05:32,070 --> 00:05:35,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: the end, so a record there. And then on the 105 00:05:35,250 --> 00:05:37,529 Rob Simmelkjaer: women's side, your country woman, Georgia Bell. 106 00:05:37,530 --> 00:05:40,171 Becs Gentry: I know Georgia Bell came through with a PB. 107 00:05:40,171 --> 00:05:43,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: That's right in the mile. 108 00:05:43,261 --> 00:05:43,621 Becs Gentry: 4:23. 109 00:05:43,980 --> 00:05:48,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: 4:23: 35. She was followed by Heather McLean from the 110 00:05:48,390 --> 00:05:51,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: United States. And in third a friend of the podcast, 111 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:55,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: Nikki Hiltz, a personal best- finishing third. So that was 112 00:05:55,830 --> 00:05:58,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: a special performance as well. And then Becs, we also 113 00:05:58,830 --> 00:06:02,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: had a great moment earlier in the day, our Rising 114 00:06:02,460 --> 00:06:07,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York Roadrunners Invitational 800 meters. And these are kids 115 00:06:07,320 --> 00:06:10,469 Rob Simmelkjaer: part of the New York Roadrunners Rising Program and it 116 00:06:10,470 --> 00:06:12,720 Rob Simmelkjaer: was on the youth girls side, a young lady named 117 00:06:12,779 --> 00:06:19,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: Evelyn Sharafo from MS 245M, the computer school, with a time of 2:36: 118 00:06:19,740 --> 00:06:24,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: 39. And on the boy side it was Will Berger 119 00:06:24,839 --> 00:06:31,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: from MS442K, Carroll Garden School 2: 13:88. A meet record. 120 00:06:31,410 --> 00:06:36,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: So phenomenal day at the Millrose games. And boy indoor 121 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:39,810 Rob Simmelkjaer: track and field just had a real vibe going this week in New York City. 122 00:06:40,710 --> 00:06:45,930 Becs Gentry: Thank goodness for it being indoor because Sunday was a no- 123 00:06:45,930 --> 00:06:49,980 Becs Gentry: go. It was no one wants to slip, let's just 124 00:06:49,980 --> 00:06:52,409 Becs Gentry: say. When you're so close to the likes of Tokyo, 125 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:55,380 Becs Gentry: you might be so close to the United Airlines NYC 126 00:06:55,380 --> 00:07:00,061 Becs Gentry: half, London, Boston. I just say don't do it. Okay. 127 00:07:00,061 --> 00:07:04,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: Thank you. Becs, thank you for saying that. I want to 128 00:07:04,980 --> 00:07:08,219 Rob Simmelkjaer: thank you because it's always a hard decision for us 129 00:07:08,220 --> 00:07:09,871 Rob Simmelkjaer: to cancel a race at New York Roadrunners. 130 00:07:09,871 --> 00:07:10,351 Becs Gentry: So tough. 131 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:14,820 Rob Simmelkjaer: People are looking forward to it. People are structuring their 132 00:07:14,820 --> 00:07:18,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: weekends around it. I heard from a friend Sunday who was like, " 133 00:07:18,420 --> 00:07:21,930 Rob Simmelkjaer: I didn't even go out Saturday night. I was getting ready for 134 00:07:21,930 --> 00:07:25,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: this race." And then they find out we canceled it. 135 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:29,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: But you're 100% right, I try always to think from 136 00:07:29,220 --> 00:07:32,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: the mindset of the runner, right? And what would a runner 137 00:07:32,730 --> 00:07:36,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: want? Do they want to go out slippery, slidey conditions? 138 00:07:36,420 --> 00:07:39,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: And to your point, risk may be getting injured before 139 00:07:39,270 --> 00:07:42,720 Rob Simmelkjaer: a big race that they're training for? Do they want 140 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:45,810 Rob Simmelkjaer: to have the hassle of getting to the race? Not 141 00:07:45,810 --> 00:07:48,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: everybody is coming from a short distance. Lots of people 142 00:07:48,780 --> 00:07:51,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: are coming from around the tri- state area. And here 143 00:07:51,390 --> 00:07:55,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: in Connecticut on Sunday morning, it was not travel conditions. 144 00:07:55,830 --> 00:07:57,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: You are not going to get in a car and go 145 00:07:57,210 --> 00:07:59,550 Rob Simmelkjaer: to New York City first thing in the morning on Sunday 146 00:07:59,550 --> 00:08:02,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: morning. So we made the tough decision to cancel that 147 00:08:02,460 --> 00:08:04,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: race. Good news for all the runners though. They all 148 00:08:04,710 --> 00:08:07,230 Rob Simmelkjaer: got their nine plus one credit if they're going for 149 00:08:07,230 --> 00:08:09,930 Rob Simmelkjaer: the nine plus one program for next year's marathon. So 150 00:08:10,290 --> 00:08:14,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: generally people felt good. And I want to thank our 151 00:08:14,100 --> 00:08:19,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: great sponsors, the Flag Art Foundation. They created an incredible T- 152 00:08:19,290 --> 00:08:22,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: shirt shirt for that event. And I think everybody's got an 153 00:08:22,350 --> 00:08:25,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: opportunity to go and pick that up at the Run 154 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:27,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: Center. So check out your email- 155 00:08:27,330 --> 00:08:27,331 Becs Gentry: Fantastic. 156 00:08:27,331 --> 00:08:29,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... for a way to pick up that race shirt 157 00:08:29,700 --> 00:08:31,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: if you were registered for the race, because it's a 158 00:08:31,350 --> 00:08:33,719 Rob Simmelkjaer: beautiful piece of art on the shirt. We want to 159 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:36,929 Rob Simmelkjaer: make sure everybody gets a chance to wear that shirt 160 00:08:36,929 --> 00:08:37,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: with pride. 161 00:08:37,620 --> 00:08:37,770 Becs Gentry: There we go. 162 00:08:38,910 --> 00:08:42,179 Rob Simmelkjaer: As I mentioned earlier today, we've got my Tokyo Marathon 163 00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:45,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: running buddy, who also happens to be my boss as 164 00:08:45,300 --> 00:08:49,590 Rob Simmelkjaer: chair of New York Roadrunner's Board of Directors Nnenna Lynch. She's 165 00:08:49,590 --> 00:08:51,719 Rob Simmelkjaer: our featured guest. And we'll talk about what it's like 166 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:54,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: to train for a marathon when you're in your 50s, 167 00:08:54,750 --> 00:08:57,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: as of us happen to be. Both from the pro 168 00:08:57,480 --> 00:09:01,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: perspective and the amateur perspective. Nnenna being the pro in 169 00:09:01,020 --> 00:09:04,050 Rob Simmelkjaer: that equation, former pro. And I'm sure Becs is going 170 00:09:04,050 --> 00:09:06,179 Rob Simmelkjaer: to have some great Tokyo tips for both of us, 171 00:09:06,179 --> 00:09:07,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: right Becs? I look forward to hearing those. 172 00:09:07,950 --> 00:09:09,569 Becs Gentry: Absolutely. Stay tuned for that. 173 00:09:09,960 --> 00:09:12,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: And then speaking of running Buddies, on today's member moment, 174 00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:17,309 Rob Simmelkjaer: two of New York Roadrunner's most celebrated running buddies, Jacob Caswell 175 00:09:17,550 --> 00:09:20,970 Rob Simmelkjaer: and Jay Solly from Frontrunners New York City will join 176 00:09:20,970 --> 00:09:24,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: Meb. Followed by today's Meb minute, which is all about, 177 00:09:24,929 --> 00:09:27,959 Rob Simmelkjaer: you guessed it, the benefit of having a running buddy. 178 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:30,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: Kind of a Valentine's Day theme there, which is super 179 00:09:30,750 --> 00:09:31,741 Rob Simmelkjaer: cute. Valentine's Day coming- 180 00:09:31,741 --> 00:09:31,742 Becs Gentry: That's very cute. 181 00:09:31,742 --> 00:09:35,189 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... up tomorrow as we drop this on Thursday, February 3rd. By the way, 182 00:09:35,190 --> 00:09:37,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: Becs, happy Valentine's Day. 183 00:09:37,530 --> 00:09:41,220 Becs Gentry: Oh, thank you. Happy Valentine's Day my commentary, buddy. 184 00:09:41,940 --> 00:09:44,881 Rob Simmelkjaer: That's right. Absolutely. I'll be looking for the chocolates after the show. All right. 185 00:09:44,881 --> 00:09:47,910 Becs Gentry: All right. Okay, I'll send them over. Do your 24 miles. 186 00:09:47,910 --> 00:09:51,360 Becs Gentry: No I'm kidding. We're not going that high. Ready to 187 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:54,059 Becs Gentry: level up your running? With the Peloton Tread and Tread 188 00:09:54,059 --> 00:09:58,050 Becs Gentry: plus, you can challenge yourself anytime, anywhere. Whether you're building 189 00:09:58,050 --> 00:10:00,959 Becs Gentry: strength or working on speed, Peloton has a class for 190 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:06,090 Becs Gentry: every goal, from five to 120 minute workouts. With muscle 191 00:10:06,090 --> 00:10:10,020 Becs Gentry: building classes and flexible training options, you'll have everything you 192 00:10:10,020 --> 00:10:13,260 Becs Gentry: need to crush your next race and then recover from 193 00:10:13,260 --> 00:10:17,280 Becs Gentry: it. All Access membership separate. Find your push, find your 194 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:24,360 Becs Gentry: power at onepeloton. com/ race- training. Peloton, the official digital 195 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:26,520 Becs Gentry: fitness partner for New York Roadrunners. 196 00:10:26,940 --> 00:10:29,880 Rob Simmelkjaer: Today's guest was born and raised in New York City 197 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:32,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: and began her relationship with New York Roadrunners at the 198 00:10:32,730 --> 00:10:36,240 Rob Simmelkjaer: age of 10, participating in her first race in Central 199 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:41,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: Park in 1981. Nnenna Lynch's talent led her to Villanova 200 00:10:41,130 --> 00:10:45,240 Rob Simmelkjaer: University where she became a seven- time All- American and 201 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:48,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: secured five NCAA titles in track and field. Then in 202 00:10:48,690 --> 00:10:53,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: 1993, she was honored as NCAA Woman of the Year 203 00:10:53,490 --> 00:10:56,640 Rob Simmelkjaer: and went on to become Villanova's first road scholar, earning 204 00:10:56,640 --> 00:11:00,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: a master of letters from Oxford University. As a pro, 205 00:11:00,660 --> 00:11:03,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: Nnenna was a five- time U. S national team member 206 00:11:03,929 --> 00:11:07,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: and a world university games gold medalist in the 5, 207 00:11:07,559 --> 00:11:11,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: 000 meters. Transitioning from athletics, Nnenna served as a senior 208 00:11:11,490 --> 00:11:15,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: policy advisor on economic development to former New York City 209 00:11:15,270 --> 00:11:18,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: mayor Michael Bloomberg. And here's a fun fact about Nnenna, 210 00:11:18,900 --> 00:11:22,199 Rob Simmelkjaer: which not many people know, she's also been a model. 211 00:11:22,470 --> 00:11:26,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: Nnenna has been seen in Vogue, shot by Annie Leibovitz 212 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:30,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: for Gap, and in People's Magazine's 50 most beautiful people 213 00:11:30,660 --> 00:11:34,050 Rob Simmelkjaer: issue. Nnenna is currently the founder of Xylem Projects, which 214 00:11:34,050 --> 00:11:37,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: is a real estate development firm dedicated to sustainable and 215 00:11:37,260 --> 00:11:41,309 Rob Simmelkjaer: affordable housing. In 2023, she made history as the first 216 00:11:41,309 --> 00:11:45,329 Rob Simmelkjaer: woman and first African- American to be appointed chair of 217 00:11:45,330 --> 00:11:48,059 Rob Simmelkjaer: the board of directors of New York Roadrunners. She is 218 00:11:48,059 --> 00:11:51,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: my boss. She is also my Tokyo Marathon running buddy 219 00:11:51,750 --> 00:11:55,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: and was my fellow tape holder at the Millrose games 220 00:11:55,620 --> 00:11:58,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: this past weekend. Nnenna Lynch, welcome to the podcast. 221 00:11:59,460 --> 00:12:00,450 Nnenna Lynch: Hey, good to see you guys. 222 00:12:01,620 --> 00:12:05,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: Absolutely. So before we talk about anything else, Nnenna, we 223 00:12:05,760 --> 00:12:07,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: have to just talk about Saturday and what- 224 00:12:07,920 --> 00:12:08,011 Nnenna Lynch: Oh my God. 225 00:12:08,011 --> 00:12:08,731 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... a thrill that was for you and I- 226 00:12:08,731 --> 00:12:08,732 Becs Gentry: Oh my gosh. 227 00:12:08,732 --> 00:12:08,732 Rob Simmelkjaer: Becs, I don't know if you saw us holding the tape. 228 00:12:08,732 --> 00:12:15,209 Becs Gentry: Oh I did. I was so envious to miss it, but it 229 00:12:15,210 --> 00:12:17,820 Becs Gentry: was my good friend's birthday, so I had to make 230 00:12:17,820 --> 00:12:21,179 Becs Gentry: a decision. I normally do put running and sport first, but- 231 00:12:21,750 --> 00:12:23,098 Rob Simmelkjaer: It was incredible for us to- 232 00:12:23,099 --> 00:12:23,251 Becs Gentry: What an experience? 233 00:12:23,251 --> 00:12:25,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... be holding either ends of the tape- 234 00:12:25,260 --> 00:12:25,319 Becs Gentry: New records. 235 00:12:25,319 --> 00:12:29,790 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... for a world record. Yared Nuguse in the one mile Nnenna- 236 00:12:29,790 --> 00:12:29,850 Becs Gentry: My favorite. 237 00:12:29,850 --> 00:12:32,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... that was really quite a thrill, wasn't it? 238 00:12:32,730 --> 00:12:36,210 Nnenna Lynch: Oh my God, totally a peak experience. Millrose Games, so 239 00:12:36,210 --> 00:12:38,730 Nnenna Lynch: I ran in the Millrose games growing up back when they were 240 00:12:38,910 --> 00:12:41,910 Nnenna Lynch: in Madison Square Garden. So there's a long, long history 241 00:12:42,059 --> 00:12:45,120 Nnenna Lynch: personally for me there. But I mean overall, the whole 242 00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:49,080 Nnenna Lynch: meet, I mean, that wasn't the only world record, right? You 243 00:12:49,080 --> 00:12:53,189 Nnenna Lynch: had world records, national records, personal records. I mean, it 244 00:12:53,190 --> 00:12:55,890 Nnenna Lynch: was just such a phenomenal meet. And one of the things I 245 00:12:55,890 --> 00:12:59,730 Nnenna Lynch: love about it is how it marries. We had our 246 00:12:59,730 --> 00:13:03,960 Nnenna Lynch: rising New York roadrunners in the race earlier in the 247 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:08,610 Nnenna Lynch: day. And so you have these world's best with few 248 00:13:08,610 --> 00:13:12,270 Nnenna Lynch: middle school kids out there doing their thing. And so the 249 00:13:12,270 --> 00:13:16,800 Nnenna Lynch: range of running life that you see exhibited in Millrose 250 00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:18,120 Nnenna Lynch: Games is one of the things I love. 251 00:13:19,350 --> 00:13:21,690 Becs Gentry: Nnenna, I would love to ask you a question about 252 00:13:22,110 --> 00:13:28,230 Becs Gentry: your experience with running with the sport, with community. How 253 00:13:28,230 --> 00:13:31,950 Becs Gentry: did you feel at the weekend holding the tape and 254 00:13:32,010 --> 00:13:37,620 Becs Gentry: seeing these records being broken by names that were relatively 255 00:13:37,620 --> 00:13:41,969 Becs Gentry: unknown in the households around this country? The normal households, 256 00:13:42,330 --> 00:13:47,550 Becs Gentry: until last summer. And now it's like Super Bowl, what? 257 00:13:47,610 --> 00:13:49,830 Becs Gentry: We were all about the Millrose games this weekend? 258 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:55,980 Nnenna Lynch: Yeah, it's so phenomenal. And the Armory, which hosts the 259 00:13:55,980 --> 00:13:59,849 Nnenna Lynch: Millrose games was packed. And Rita and Jonathan who lead 260 00:13:59,850 --> 00:14:02,670 Nnenna Lynch: the Armory did such a phenomenal job and race director 261 00:14:02,670 --> 00:14:07,350 Nnenna Lynch: Rae Flynn. But it's really thrilling to see the interest 262 00:14:07,980 --> 00:14:11,970 Nnenna Lynch: in running. And for me it's also, I was there and 263 00:14:11,970 --> 00:14:15,179 Nnenna Lynch: I've been in the sport for 40 years. And so 264 00:14:15,900 --> 00:14:18,569 Nnenna Lynch: it's also these events, it happens at the New York 265 00:14:18,570 --> 00:14:21,240 Nnenna Lynch: City Marathon as well. It's almost like a little bit 266 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:25,470 Nnenna Lynch: of a reunion, right? I was bumping into people I 267 00:14:25,470 --> 00:14:29,340 Nnenna Lynch: hadn't seen since 1988. And so it's really, for me, 268 00:14:29,880 --> 00:14:33,930 Nnenna Lynch: the combination of just the phenomenal talent that's on display. 269 00:14:34,080 --> 00:14:38,130 Nnenna Lynch: Obviously Yared Nuguse sort of takes the cake on that. But 270 00:14:38,130 --> 00:14:43,680 Nnenna Lynch: then also you had a really phenomenal high school mile event. 271 00:14:43,680 --> 00:14:48,120 Nnenna Lynch: Actually, my alma mater, a young girl from my alma 272 00:14:48,120 --> 00:14:56,310 Nnenna Lynch: mater Hunter High school won the high school mile, so that was really exciting to see. And then again, the rising New York Roadrunners, it's 273 00:14:56,310 --> 00:15:00,660 Nnenna Lynch: so phenomenal to see our programs really come to the 274 00:15:00,660 --> 00:15:04,230 Nnenna Lynch: spotlight there at the Millrose Games. So yeah, just really, really 275 00:15:04,230 --> 00:15:05,671 Nnenna Lynch: phenomenal to see how the sport is thriving. 276 00:15:05,671 --> 00:15:10,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: It was a thrill for everyone at New York Roadrunners to 277 00:15:11,100 --> 00:15:13,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: be there. We have a great partnership with the Armory, 278 00:15:13,620 --> 00:15:16,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: as you mentioned, and it was really a great day. Okay 279 00:15:16,620 --> 00:15:19,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: Nnenna you mentioned those 40 years of running. Let's talk 280 00:15:19,650 --> 00:15:23,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: about them one by one by one, starting with year 281 00:15:23,220 --> 00:15:25,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: number one. No, just kidding. But no, let's go back 282 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:31,110 Rob Simmelkjaer: to the beginning of your running journey, Nnenna. Running in a 283 00:15:31,110 --> 00:15:35,730 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York Roadrunners race at 10 years old in Central 284 00:15:35,730 --> 00:15:40,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: Park, 1981. What led you to that moment? How did you first 285 00:15:40,590 --> 00:15:41,550 Rob Simmelkjaer: find this sport? 286 00:15:42,210 --> 00:15:46,500 Nnenna Lynch: Yeah, so it started with sort of normal schoolyard races, 287 00:15:47,010 --> 00:15:48,960 Nnenna Lynch: and I could beat all the boys in my grade and a big... 288 00:15:48,960 --> 00:15:53,790 Nnenna Lynch: And we loved playing manhunt after school, which is a 289 00:15:53,790 --> 00:15:56,580 Nnenna Lynch: form of tag, so a lot of running. So I 290 00:15:56,580 --> 00:15:59,010 Nnenna Lynch: seem to be good at it and I really loved it. 291 00:15:59,010 --> 00:16:04,260 Nnenna Lynch: It felt good. Organized running came a little bit later, 292 00:16:04,260 --> 00:16:08,130 Nnenna Lynch: and so my sister joined track team along with a 293 00:16:08,130 --> 00:16:12,330 Nnenna Lynch: friend. And I eventually wanted to join too, but was 294 00:16:12,330 --> 00:16:23,550 Nnenna Lynch: rejected. Because I was the annoying younger sister. My sister was like, "No, this is my thing. Get out of here, skedaddle. You do your own thing." And you know what? My parents 295 00:16:23,550 --> 00:16:28,560 Nnenna Lynch: agreed, and it was really well intentioned. My sister had 296 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:31,500 Nnenna Lynch: been a star on Sesame Street and I was really, 297 00:16:31,500 --> 00:16:33,930 Nnenna Lynch: really shy, and so they thought it'd be good for 298 00:16:33,930 --> 00:16:36,150 Nnenna Lynch: me to carve my own path and find my own 299 00:16:36,150 --> 00:16:39,359 Nnenna Lynch: thing. So they actually said, " No, no, no, you can't run. 300 00:16:39,480 --> 00:16:41,970 Nnenna Lynch: You have to find something else." And so I did. 301 00:16:41,970 --> 00:16:46,440 Nnenna Lynch: I tried ballet and then I tried tennis, but I just I 302 00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:52,380 Nnenna Lynch: wanted to run. So I eventually insisted. And then the coach 303 00:16:52,380 --> 00:16:56,790 Nnenna Lynch: that my sister had been working with was actually a 304 00:16:56,790 --> 00:17:01,230 Nnenna Lynch: guy named Barry Geisler who had been president of New 305 00:17:01,230 --> 00:17:06,660 Nnenna Lynch: York Roadrunners in 1971, 1972. And was the founder of the 306 00:17:06,660 --> 00:17:11,340 Nnenna Lynch: early youth and community programs dating back to the mid 307 00:17:11,940 --> 00:17:18,900 Nnenna Lynch: to late 1960s, this amazing connection. So he was obviously 308 00:17:18,900 --> 00:17:21,119 Nnenna Lynch: very familiar with New York Roadrunners and most of the 309 00:17:21,119 --> 00:17:23,969 Nnenna Lynch: time we did youth age group, what was known as 310 00:17:23,970 --> 00:17:27,660 Nnenna Lynch: age group races. But occasionally if there wasn't a race 311 00:17:27,660 --> 00:17:30,419 Nnenna Lynch: that weekend, he would enter us in a New York Roadrunners race. 312 00:17:31,710 --> 00:17:37,109 Becs Gentry: Wow, okay. So talking of races of past and all 313 00:17:37,109 --> 00:17:40,740 Becs Gentry: of this experience of being involved in many a race, 314 00:17:41,580 --> 00:17:44,369 Becs Gentry: rumor has it, you're heading to the other side of 315 00:17:44,369 --> 00:17:48,390 Becs Gentry: the world in a few weeks to run the Tokyo 316 00:17:48,390 --> 00:17:52,920 Becs Gentry: Marathon. But a little extra cherry on the top here 317 00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:55,890 Becs Gentry: is that you are going to be Rob's running buddy for 318 00:17:55,890 --> 00:18:00,450 Becs Gentry: 26.2 miles, which is awfully exciting. 319 00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:02,970 Rob Simmelkjaer: Rob's going to try to make that happen. 320 00:18:03,930 --> 00:18:07,650 Nnenna Lynch: Actually, I have something to talk. I was listening to your 321 00:18:07,650 --> 00:18:12,930 Nnenna Lynch: recent podcast honoring Fred LeBeau with Mary, and Ted and 322 00:18:12,930 --> 00:18:15,990 Nnenna Lynch: I noticed something that I have a bone to pick 323 00:18:15,990 --> 00:18:17,908 Nnenna Lynch: with you. There was a lot of hedging going on. 324 00:18:17,909 --> 00:18:22,650 Nnenna Lynch: Rob was like, " I'm probably going to run a spring marathon. 325 00:18:22,650 --> 00:18:26,400 Nnenna Lynch: I might." And I was like, " Uh-uh buddy, we need 326 00:18:26,460 --> 00:18:27,480 Nnenna Lynch: to hear it here." 327 00:18:27,690 --> 00:18:33,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: It's out now. 328 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:33,841 Nnenna Lynch: Okay. 329 00:18:33,841 --> 00:18:33,842 Rob Simmelkjaer: I came clean last week- 330 00:18:33,842 --> 00:18:33,843 Becs Gentry: He did. 331 00:18:33,843 --> 00:18:37,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... and said, "I'm definitely doing it." No, but you're totally right. I'm a notorious sandbagger when 332 00:18:37,260 --> 00:18:40,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: it comes to my running and I hedge about whether 333 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:42,359 Rob Simmelkjaer: I'm doing it and then, oh my God, I'm going 334 00:18:42,359 --> 00:18:44,970 Rob Simmelkjaer: to be so slow, it's like... And Nnenna you can 335 00:18:44,970 --> 00:18:48,209 Rob Simmelkjaer: probably relate to this as a runner one time in 336 00:18:48,210 --> 00:18:52,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: a professional runner, like the whole managing of expectations, right? 337 00:18:52,320 --> 00:18:56,609 Rob Simmelkjaer: Because your expectations can really be your greatest enemy when 338 00:18:56,609 --> 00:18:59,820 Rob Simmelkjaer: it comes to running and life, right? And it's a 339 00:18:59,820 --> 00:19:04,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: question for you, how do you manage your expectations as 340 00:19:04,020 --> 00:19:08,459 Rob Simmelkjaer: a runner today, given all the incredible success that you 341 00:19:08,460 --> 00:19:12,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: had as a runner in your youth? A lot of 342 00:19:12,300 --> 00:19:15,960 Rob Simmelkjaer: tennis players don't want to play tennis in their 40s 343 00:19:15,960 --> 00:19:20,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: and beyond because they remember how good they were in their teens and 20s. 344 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:21,119 Rob Simmelkjaer: How do you manage that? 345 00:19:22,109 --> 00:19:24,090 Nnenna Lynch: Yeah. Well, let me tell you, it was a journey. 346 00:19:24,090 --> 00:19:27,899 Nnenna Lynch: It really was, right? Because as a competitive athlete, so 347 00:19:27,900 --> 00:19:30,780 Nnenna Lynch: from age 10 to basically age 30, for 20 years 348 00:19:30,780 --> 00:19:33,900 Nnenna Lynch: of my life, I was a very serious competitive athlete. 349 00:19:33,900 --> 00:19:38,400 Nnenna Lynch: It was all about peak performance and pushing yourself. And 350 00:19:38,400 --> 00:19:41,250 Nnenna Lynch: then when I retired, I really struggled to find my 351 00:19:41,250 --> 00:19:44,040 Nnenna Lynch: way, and it took several years. And so for a 352 00:19:44,040 --> 00:19:47,550 Nnenna Lynch: long time I thought I have to keep pushing. And 353 00:19:47,550 --> 00:19:50,340 Nnenna Lynch: what I realized is that didn't really sit well with 354 00:19:50,340 --> 00:19:54,060 Nnenna Lynch: me. I was then back in New York trying to 355 00:19:54,420 --> 00:19:57,510 Nnenna Lynch: start a career at the time. My very first job 356 00:19:57,510 --> 00:20:01,050 Nnenna Lynch: actually after retiring was at Goldman Sachs. I was an 357 00:20:01,050 --> 00:20:05,760 Nnenna Lynch: analyst there working insane hours. And I signed up for 358 00:20:05,760 --> 00:20:10,619 Nnenna Lynch: the marathon in I guess it was 2002. And I 359 00:20:10,619 --> 00:20:20,040 Nnenna Lynch: was really trying to push myself and I realized that it just doesn't work. And so eventually I 360 00:20:20,040 --> 00:20:25,260 Nnenna Lynch: gave myself the grace and shifted my mindset to this 361 00:20:25,260 --> 00:20:30,660 Nnenna Lynch: really is just about being active. And I was so 362 00:20:30,660 --> 00:20:34,709 Nnenna Lynch: excited by this insight by the way, and it did take several years that I ended up 363 00:20:34,710 --> 00:20:37,020 Nnenna Lynch: writing a New York Times op- ed about it, which 364 00:20:37,020 --> 00:20:39,390 Nnenna Lynch: is set the bar low. So for that time in my 365 00:20:39,390 --> 00:20:42,030 Nnenna Lynch: life when I was early in my career, working really 366 00:20:42,030 --> 00:20:45,750 Nnenna Lynch: hard, and a young family, what was really key for 367 00:20:45,750 --> 00:20:50,430 Nnenna Lynch: me was taking the pressure off. And so for me 368 00:20:50,790 --> 00:20:53,910 Nnenna Lynch: at that time, it was I thought, okay, what's the minimum I 369 00:20:53,910 --> 00:20:56,580 Nnenna Lynch: could do to stay fit? And it was to run 370 00:20:56,580 --> 00:20:59,550 Nnenna Lynch: two days a week. I figured worst comes to worst, 371 00:20:59,970 --> 00:21:03,419 Nnenna Lynch: the crazy weekdays, with a crazy schedule I can run 372 00:21:03,420 --> 00:21:11,670 Nnenna Lynch: on Saturday and Sunday. And then I discovered the beautiful thing of when you set a goal and you achieve it, that virtuous 373 00:21:11,670 --> 00:21:14,939 Nnenna Lynch: cycle of it feels good, you want to do more. As opposed to 374 00:21:14,940 --> 00:21:17,790 Nnenna Lynch: setting a goal that's really always feels so far out 375 00:21:17,790 --> 00:21:21,450 Nnenna Lynch: of reach. And so that for me was the big insight. And today 376 00:21:21,810 --> 00:21:23,940 Nnenna Lynch: I'm back to running, I would say five days a 377 00:21:23,940 --> 00:21:30,420 Nnenna Lynch: week. But it's really all about feeling good. It's about 378 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:34,320 Nnenna Lynch: hygiene. I think of it as, it's like brushing my teeth. It's 379 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:37,859 Nnenna Lynch: like this mental hygiene, it helps me feel good, helps 380 00:21:37,859 --> 00:21:44,010 Nnenna Lynch: me process feelings. So it's just a wholly different perspective, 381 00:21:44,010 --> 00:21:44,701 Nnenna Lynch: but it took me a while to get there. 382 00:21:44,701 --> 00:21:49,290 Becs Gentry: Do you still feel like you set the bar low even though 383 00:21:49,290 --> 00:21:52,050 Becs Gentry: you run five days a week? Do you still try 384 00:21:52,050 --> 00:21:55,320 Becs Gentry: to manage your expectations on the lower side for yourself? 385 00:21:55,888 --> 00:22:02,609 Nnenna Lynch: I do. Well, actually, I don't have expectations anymore. Again, I was 386 00:22:02,820 --> 00:22:05,520 Nnenna Lynch: a competitive runner for 20 years. I really went after 387 00:22:05,520 --> 00:22:10,200 Nnenna Lynch: it. And my identity, my sense of worth was really 388 00:22:10,200 --> 00:22:14,730 Nnenna Lynch: tied up in how I did. And now I have a rich and full 389 00:22:14,730 --> 00:22:19,170 Nnenna Lynch: life and whatever time I run doesn't really matter. And so, 390 00:22:19,170 --> 00:22:23,850 Nnenna Lynch: I really focus now on what it feels like and 391 00:22:23,850 --> 00:22:28,920 Nnenna Lynch: feeling good. And I'll enter a race where I'll sometimes 392 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:32,310 Nnenna Lynch: push myself a little bit, but I tend not to 393 00:22:32,310 --> 00:22:35,550 Nnenna Lynch: go all flat out. I'm not trying to set any 394 00:22:35,550 --> 00:22:38,639 Nnenna Lynch: personal records. I'm only not trying to set any age 395 00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:40,800 Nnenna Lynch: group records. There was a time of life when I did 396 00:22:40,800 --> 00:22:46,590 Nnenna Lynch: that. But yeah, so it's really about, I would say now I have very 397 00:22:46,590 --> 00:22:48,000 Nnenna Lynch: little expectations. 398 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:51,300 Becs Gentry: I love that just for the happiness and the pure 399 00:22:51,750 --> 00:22:54,750 Becs Gentry: just enjoyment of being out there with the community, getting it 400 00:22:54,750 --> 00:22:55,980 Becs Gentry: done. That's beautiful. 401 00:22:57,240 --> 00:22:59,940 Rob Simmelkjaer: I want to talk about the college days a little 402 00:22:59,940 --> 00:23:00,448 Rob Simmelkjaer: bit, Nnenna, and- 403 00:23:01,050 --> 00:23:01,230 Becs Gentry: Yeah. They sound wildly good. 404 00:23:01,230 --> 00:23:06,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... your incredible running. We're at the Millrose games watching a lot of great college 405 00:23:06,780 --> 00:23:13,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: athletes obviously come through all Americans. And five NCAA titles, 406 00:23:13,830 --> 00:23:18,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: seven time all, All- American is really incredible. I mean, you 407 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:23,219 Rob Simmelkjaer: don't see that resume walking around very much. Is there 408 00:23:23,220 --> 00:23:25,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: anything that stands out when you look back? Is there 409 00:23:25,350 --> 00:23:28,409 Rob Simmelkjaer: a race or a championship or a moment that you 410 00:23:28,410 --> 00:23:31,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: kind of think of as the highlight of your college career? 411 00:23:32,460 --> 00:23:39,780 Nnenna Lynch: Yeah, there is. And I should say, so there were four team titles and one individual title 412 00:23:39,780 --> 00:23:44,250 Nnenna Lynch: in the 3000 meters. But it was definitely, even though 413 00:23:44,250 --> 00:23:47,340 Nnenna Lynch: I had that individual title, it was the team titles for 414 00:23:47,340 --> 00:23:51,869 Nnenna Lynch: sure that were most meaningful to me. And in particular, 415 00:23:51,869 --> 00:23:56,520 Nnenna Lynch: the fourth NCAA title. Up to that point, we had 416 00:23:56,520 --> 00:24:01,020 Nnenna Lynch: been undefeated our entire cross country for my first three 417 00:24:01,020 --> 00:24:04,260 Nnenna Lynch: years. My collegiate career, we were undefeated. And going into 418 00:24:04,260 --> 00:24:08,220 Nnenna Lynch: my fourth year, we were going for the fourth title, 419 00:24:08,220 --> 00:24:10,950 Nnenna Lynch: but there was no, by no means a short. We 420 00:24:10,950 --> 00:24:14,609 Nnenna Lynch: graduated some seniors, we had some freshmen who were untested. 421 00:24:15,119 --> 00:24:17,760 Nnenna Lynch: And actually that fall, I ended up having my first 422 00:24:17,760 --> 00:24:20,820 Nnenna Lynch: injury in up to that point in my career. So 423 00:24:20,820 --> 00:24:23,609 Nnenna Lynch: I spent most of the fall actually training in the 424 00:24:23,609 --> 00:24:27,180 Nnenna Lynch: pool. And every time I would run, my legs felt 425 00:24:27,180 --> 00:24:30,510 Nnenna Lynch: wobbly. And so there was a lot, and I was one 426 00:24:30,510 --> 00:24:33,690 Nnenna Lynch: of the leading seniors. And so going into the NCAAs 427 00:24:34,230 --> 00:24:36,780 Nnenna Lynch: my senior year, there was a lot riding on it 428 00:24:36,780 --> 00:24:41,850 Nnenna Lynch: and a lot of uncertainty, but we pulled through. So 429 00:24:41,850 --> 00:24:45,389 Nnenna Lynch: I ended up finishing third. So we got a podium finish and 430 00:24:45,390 --> 00:24:48,450 Nnenna Lynch: we won our fourth title. And if you see the 431 00:24:48,450 --> 00:24:52,710 Nnenna Lynch: photos of me in those final stages, the strain on 432 00:24:52,710 --> 00:24:56,159 Nnenna Lynch: my face and in my neck, I mean I get bit 433 00:24:56,160 --> 00:25:00,570 Nnenna Lynch: my all. And so it was really, really gratifying to 434 00:25:01,050 --> 00:25:04,350 Nnenna Lynch: finish my collegiate career as a cross country runner and 435 00:25:04,560 --> 00:25:07,709 Nnenna Lynch: with our team undefeated with that fourth title. Which by 436 00:25:07,710 --> 00:25:12,780 Nnenna Lynch: the way it's like, I don't know of many sports 437 00:25:12,780 --> 00:25:15,990 Nnenna Lynch: or any other sports where... I mean four consecutive titles, 438 00:25:15,990 --> 00:25:16,889 Nnenna Lynch: it's pretty amazing. 439 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:22,980 Becs Gentry: Wow, that is unreal. And a very random question, do you 440 00:25:22,980 --> 00:25:27,210 Becs Gentry: still speak to or run with any of your teammates 441 00:25:27,210 --> 00:25:27,510 Becs Gentry: from then? 442 00:25:27,990 --> 00:25:32,220 Nnenna Lynch: Yeah, so my teammates are from their now in all different 443 00:25:33,600 --> 00:25:38,520 Nnenna Lynch: areas. Actually one of Jack Fleming, who is the race director 444 00:25:38,520 --> 00:25:41,040 Nnenna Lynch: of Boston, so his wife, Kathy Fleming was one of 445 00:25:41,040 --> 00:25:44,160 Nnenna Lynch: my teammates. So, I love going to Boston because I guess I could 446 00:25:44,160 --> 00:25:45,720 Nnenna Lynch: see Kathy and catch up with her- 447 00:25:45,720 --> 00:25:45,781 Becs Gentry: So nice. 448 00:25:45,781 --> 00:25:50,910 Nnenna Lynch: But yeah, I don't have any teammates from my era that 449 00:25:50,910 --> 00:25:52,440 Nnenna Lynch: live in New York City, so I don't see them 450 00:25:52,440 --> 00:25:53,701 Nnenna Lynch: often. But yeah, we're in touch. 451 00:25:53,701 --> 00:25:59,369 Becs Gentry: I love that. I love the fact that it's still so true to you, seeing how happy 452 00:25:59,369 --> 00:26:03,060 Becs Gentry: you were when you set your alma mater from the weekend took 453 00:26:03,750 --> 00:26:07,200 Becs Gentry: first place. So just knowing that the connection has stayed 454 00:26:07,200 --> 00:26:10,230 Becs Gentry: with you, I think is really important for people of 455 00:26:10,230 --> 00:26:13,139 Becs Gentry: all ages who are starting out in running, to know 456 00:26:13,140 --> 00:26:18,270 Becs Gentry: that you can have this joy and you can find people 457 00:26:18,330 --> 00:26:22,170 Becs Gentry: who are similar to you in some ways and so different to you in other 458 00:26:22,170 --> 00:26:25,230 Becs Gentry: ways, but you can bond over your love for movement 459 00:26:25,230 --> 00:26:30,060 Becs Gentry: and it can transcend decades of running so- 460 00:26:30,270 --> 00:26:34,109 Nnenna Lynch: Yeah, for sure. No, being on the team, I mean and it was such 461 00:26:34,109 --> 00:26:40,859 Nnenna Lynch: a deep team too. It was like I joined a 462 00:26:40,859 --> 00:26:44,340 Nnenna Lynch: team that actually that very first year we won our 463 00:26:44,340 --> 00:26:47,580 Nnenna Lynch: team title. The winner of the overall race was my 464 00:26:47,580 --> 00:26:52,230 Nnenna Lynch: teammate Vicki Huber, who... So this was the fall of 1989, the year 465 00:26:52,230 --> 00:26:56,609 Nnenna Lynch: before 1988. So she was a junior in college, placed, 466 00:26:57,030 --> 00:27:00,330 Nnenna Lynch: I believe it was fifth in the Seoul Olympics. And 467 00:27:00,330 --> 00:27:04,800 Nnenna Lynch: she was my teammate. Say Sonya Sullivan, who went on 468 00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:07,919 Nnenna Lynch: to get a silver medal in the Olympics, an Irish 469 00:27:07,920 --> 00:27:14,250 Nnenna Lynch: runner was my teammate. So it was really an amazing set of talent. 470 00:27:15,090 --> 00:27:17,970 Rob Simmelkjaer: And Nnenna, your success on the track and then also 471 00:27:17,970 --> 00:27:22,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: in the classroom led you to the opportunity to be 472 00:27:22,650 --> 00:27:26,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: a Rhodes Scholar. Which for those who don't know, is 473 00:27:26,490 --> 00:27:31,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: something that really recognizes college students who do it all, 474 00:27:31,830 --> 00:27:36,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: who are exceptional athletes and exceptional students. And you had 475 00:27:36,300 --> 00:27:39,119 Rob Simmelkjaer: a chance to go to Oxford and go have that 476 00:27:39,119 --> 00:27:44,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: chariots of fire kind of English experience. Becs I'm sure 477 00:27:44,220 --> 00:27:45,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: you can relate to this. 478 00:27:45,270 --> 00:27:45,330 Becs Gentry: Yeah. 479 00:27:46,050 --> 00:27:48,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: What was that like going over there? I know you 480 00:27:48,300 --> 00:27:52,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: had some opportunities to even encounter people like Roger Bannister, 481 00:27:52,680 --> 00:27:56,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: the legendary names in the sport of running in those days. 482 00:27:56,970 --> 00:27:59,550 Nnenna Lynch: Yeah. So I actually never met Roger Bannister, but of 483 00:27:59,730 --> 00:28:04,260 Nnenna Lynch: course his history looms large. He broke the four- minute 484 00:28:04,260 --> 00:28:09,000 Nnenna Lynch: mile at the Oxford Track. So yeah, living in England 485 00:28:09,180 --> 00:28:13,649 Nnenna Lynch: though was, from a running standpoint, I would say it 486 00:28:13,650 --> 00:28:17,220 Nnenna Lynch: was really such a pleasure. Because the British and the 487 00:28:17,220 --> 00:28:21,150 Nnenna Lynch: Europeans in general just had such a deep respect and 488 00:28:21,150 --> 00:28:25,530 Nnenna Lynch: love for the sport and a rich history. And my 489 00:28:25,530 --> 00:28:29,369 Nnenna Lynch: favorite discipline was cross country. And so you had a 490 00:28:29,369 --> 00:28:34,680 Nnenna Lynch: really lengthy deep season there. And I ended up winning 491 00:28:34,680 --> 00:28:40,050 Nnenna Lynch: the, actually I won the English Cross Country Championships in 492 00:28:40,110 --> 00:28:46,110 Nnenna Lynch: 1996 with, so there's a... And they have a longer 493 00:28:46,110 --> 00:28:48,840 Nnenna Lynch: season. So just from a standpoint of running, it was 494 00:28:48,840 --> 00:28:52,860 Nnenna Lynch: really, really phenomenal. And then from being the standpoint of being 495 00:28:52,860 --> 00:28:59,130 Nnenna Lynch: a Rhodes Scholar, it was also this really this inflection point. When I went to Oxford, I was not sure I would 496 00:28:59,130 --> 00:29:02,460 Nnenna Lynch: continue running. I had had as a middle distance runner 497 00:29:02,460 --> 00:29:05,190 Nnenna Lynch: in college, you're running all three seasons, right? And so 498 00:29:05,190 --> 00:29:09,840 Nnenna Lynch: by the time I graduated, I actually graduated injured, and 499 00:29:09,840 --> 00:29:13,050 Nnenna Lynch: I was also tired and ready to just be a full- 500 00:29:13,050 --> 00:29:16,920 Nnenna Lynch: time student. But within weeks, I would say of getting 501 00:29:16,920 --> 00:29:20,729 Nnenna Lynch: to Oxford, I missed it and I wanted to get 502 00:29:20,729 --> 00:29:26,250 Nnenna Lynch: back to it. But it's a wholly different setting, right? So 503 00:29:26,250 --> 00:29:31,650 Nnenna Lynch: in US in college, you have a phenomenal infrastructure of 504 00:29:32,430 --> 00:29:37,170 Nnenna Lynch: coaches and physical therapists and so on. At Oxford, the track was 505 00:29:37,500 --> 00:29:40,110 Nnenna Lynch: really pretty much a club without a coach. It was 506 00:29:40,320 --> 00:29:44,520 Nnenna Lynch: a loose collection of runners. So it was also this inflection 507 00:29:44,520 --> 00:29:49,800 Nnenna Lynch: point for me where I really, it was a very clear choice, right? There was 508 00:29:49,800 --> 00:29:53,850 Nnenna Lynch: nobody telling, there was no scholarship on the line. It 509 00:29:53,850 --> 00:30:00,360 Nnenna Lynch: was a very concerted and effort and to continue running. 510 00:30:00,990 --> 00:30:03,300 Nnenna Lynch: So it was a big inflection point for me and 511 00:30:03,300 --> 00:30:04,680 Nnenna Lynch: my maturity as an athlete. 512 00:30:05,190 --> 00:30:07,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: Becs, I just like to think about what it was like when Nnenna 513 00:30:07,950 --> 00:30:12,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: went over there from New York and wins the cross- 514 00:30:12,600 --> 00:30:15,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: country championship in your homeland, Becs. I'm sure they were 515 00:30:15,780 --> 00:30:16,831 Rob Simmelkjaer: all very nice and polite. 516 00:30:16,831 --> 00:30:22,800 Becs Gentry: I'm sure, I'm sure. Very nice. And understanding that it is, 517 00:30:23,190 --> 00:30:25,680 Becs Gentry: Nnenna, you described it really well, it is exactly just 518 00:30:25,680 --> 00:30:31,320 Becs Gentry: like having a club. We do not have the... Well 519 00:30:31,320 --> 00:30:32,820 Becs Gentry: maybe we do now, I haven't lived in the country 520 00:30:32,820 --> 00:30:38,280 Becs Gentry: for nearly seven years. But we didn't have the deep, 521 00:30:38,790 --> 00:30:43,050 Becs Gentry: deep passion that runs through schools in the US for 522 00:30:43,140 --> 00:30:48,180 Becs Gentry: sport and academia. It is more or less one or 523 00:30:48,180 --> 00:30:52,080 Becs Gentry: the other for I would say 99% of universities in 524 00:30:52,080 --> 00:30:55,710 Becs Gentry: the UK. And then they can still have a phenomenal 525 00:30:55,710 --> 00:30:59,640 Becs Gentry: team of ex- sport, but it's more on the club 526 00:30:59,640 --> 00:31:04,800 Becs Gentry: level than this incredible college basketball. And all of the 527 00:31:04,800 --> 00:31:09,030 Becs Gentry: stuff that we have here in the US and the UK, it's just, just study. 528 00:31:09,030 --> 00:31:11,670 Becs Gentry: Just please get the books done and then focus on 529 00:31:11,670 --> 00:31:16,020 Becs Gentry: sports, if you've got time or brain power. So that 530 00:31:16,020 --> 00:31:18,210 Becs Gentry: was a great description. But yes, I'm sure they were all humble 531 00:31:18,210 --> 00:31:18,630 Becs Gentry: and lovely. 532 00:31:20,640 --> 00:31:22,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: Oh, I'm sure they were. I'm sure they were. So Nnenna on the heels of your time at 533 00:31:22,800 --> 00:31:26,070 Rob Simmelkjaer: Villanova, then you decided to go and keep going, right? 534 00:31:26,070 --> 00:31:28,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: You weren't sure you wanted to keep running, you kept 535 00:31:28,020 --> 00:31:31,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: running and went into the pro game. What was that 536 00:31:31,830 --> 00:31:32,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: like for you? 537 00:31:33,780 --> 00:31:37,440 Nnenna Lynch: Well, I was really fortunate enough by my second year at Oxford, 538 00:31:37,440 --> 00:31:39,870 Nnenna Lynch: I had gotten hooked up with a coach named Bruce 539 00:31:39,870 --> 00:31:45,720 Nnenna Lynch: Tullah. Who himself had been European champ, maybe 1958, back 540 00:31:45,720 --> 00:31:51,690 Nnenna Lynch: in the 1950s. And it was coaching Britain's top distance runner, 541 00:31:51,690 --> 00:31:57,960 Nnenna Lynch: Richard Nerukar, who ended up placing fifth in the '96 542 00:31:58,050 --> 00:32:02,310 Nnenna Lynch: Olympic marathon. So I ended up with this squad that 543 00:32:02,310 --> 00:32:08,580 Nnenna Lynch: was just really supportive and serious. I learned what it 544 00:32:08,580 --> 00:32:12,360 Nnenna Lynch: means to really dedicate yourself. We would go also in 545 00:32:12,630 --> 00:32:19,470 Nnenna Lynch: altitude training camps to Mexico and Kenya. And so it 546 00:32:19,470 --> 00:32:22,650 Nnenna Lynch: was a great introduction to what it means to be 547 00:32:23,730 --> 00:32:30,720 Nnenna Lynch: a professional athlete through this group. And it was really 548 00:32:30,930 --> 00:32:33,030 Nnenna Lynch: sort of a phenomenal time of life. 549 00:32:34,140 --> 00:32:37,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: When you decided to go and continue with your running, 550 00:32:37,020 --> 00:32:39,510 Rob Simmelkjaer: what were you hoping to get out of running for 551 00:32:39,780 --> 00:32:44,430 Rob Simmelkjaer: your career from that point forward? And how was it? I mean, 552 00:32:44,700 --> 00:32:47,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: it's not an easy thing to go out and actually 553 00:32:47,910 --> 00:32:49,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: try to run for a living. 554 00:32:50,310 --> 00:32:59,520 Nnenna Lynch: No, no. Well, I think most runners who run post collegiately or run professionally, I 555 00:32:59,520 --> 00:33:04,080 Nnenna Lynch: was Olympic hopeful. When I was a junior in college 556 00:33:04,080 --> 00:33:08,910 Nnenna Lynch: I went to Olympic trials in two events. And then 557 00:33:09,540 --> 00:33:12,750 Nnenna Lynch: in '96 I went in one event. And so there 558 00:33:12,750 --> 00:33:17,850 Nnenna Lynch: was always this hope and dream of being an Olympian, which 559 00:33:17,850 --> 00:33:20,580 Nnenna Lynch: I never achieved. But I did, as you said in 560 00:33:20,580 --> 00:33:24,060 Nnenna Lynch: the intro, was able to represent the US in five different 561 00:33:24,540 --> 00:33:29,430 Nnenna Lynch: national teams, three world cross teams. And then the world 562 00:33:29,430 --> 00:33:34,410 Nnenna Lynch: University games and a Goodwill games. And so it's interesting, 563 00:33:36,420 --> 00:33:41,370 Nnenna Lynch: at the time, I would say I was incredibly always 564 00:33:41,670 --> 00:33:45,810 Nnenna Lynch: frustrated with what I was able to achieve. And it's 565 00:33:45,810 --> 00:33:48,900 Nnenna Lynch: only with a lot of hindsight and being able to 566 00:33:48,900 --> 00:33:52,830 Nnenna Lynch: look back and appreciate what I did achieve. But when 567 00:33:52,830 --> 00:33:56,400 Nnenna Lynch: you're an athlete, it's like you're... I don't know, climbing 568 00:33:56,400 --> 00:33:59,010 Nnenna Lynch: a mountain and you're looking at that peak, and all 569 00:33:59,010 --> 00:34:03,510 Nnenna Lynch: you can see is that thing... You can't see everything 570 00:34:03,510 --> 00:34:06,060 Nnenna Lynch: you've climbed behind you. That's not what you're focused on. 571 00:34:06,060 --> 00:34:08,520 Nnenna Lynch: You're looking ahead and you're thinking about the next thing, 572 00:34:08,520 --> 00:34:12,600 Nnenna Lynch: and what more you can achieve. Which is you're able 573 00:34:12,600 --> 00:34:16,739 Nnenna Lynch: to push yourself a lot that way. But I definitely did 574 00:34:16,739 --> 00:34:19,200 Nnenna Lynch: not have a great deep appreciation for what I was 575 00:34:19,200 --> 00:34:22,379 Nnenna Lynch: able to achieve. But yeah, at my best, I think 576 00:34:22,469 --> 00:34:29,640 Nnenna Lynch: I was ranked top 30 in the world. But yeah, I would 577 00:34:29,640 --> 00:34:34,050 Nnenna Lynch: say every year I would have something that kept my 578 00:34:34,050 --> 00:34:39,360 Nnenna Lynch: hope going. Whether it was winning the US trials for 579 00:34:39,360 --> 00:34:44,489 Nnenna Lynch: the World Cross Country Championships, or winning the England National 580 00:34:44,489 --> 00:34:48,540 Nnenna Lynch: Championships. Or running a world leading time at the end of 581 00:34:48,540 --> 00:34:51,690 Nnenna Lynch: 1990, I ran a world leading time in the five miles. So 582 00:34:51,960 --> 00:34:56,370 Nnenna Lynch: there were always these... I had plenty of bright spots 583 00:34:56,370 --> 00:34:59,580 Nnenna Lynch: along the way, but no, huge, huge breakthrough to the 584 00:34:59,580 --> 00:35:03,120 Nnenna Lynch: ultimate goal of being an Olympian. And then I retired 585 00:35:03,120 --> 00:35:03,810 Nnenna Lynch: in 2000. 586 00:35:04,890 --> 00:35:09,510 Becs Gentry: Wow. It's taking a minute for all of these incredible 587 00:35:09,510 --> 00:35:12,600 Becs Gentry: achievements to settle into my brain as you're saying them, 588 00:35:12,600 --> 00:35:17,759 Becs Gentry: and it's just unbelievable. But you're continuing to do, and a few 589 00:35:17,760 --> 00:35:22,830 Becs Gentry: things you said there has brought me to today, to 590 00:35:23,100 --> 00:35:32,730 Becs Gentry: the more recent times for you as a mom. You 591 00:35:32,730 --> 00:35:32,791 Becs Gentry: have two children? 592 00:35:32,790 --> 00:35:32,792 Nnenna Lynch: I do. 593 00:35:32,791 --> 00:35:32,792 Becs Gentry: Yeah. Okay. You're CEO of a company- 594 00:35:32,792 --> 00:35:32,852 Nnenna Lynch: Teenagers. 595 00:35:33,719 --> 00:35:40,320 Becs Gentry: Two teenagers, even more incredible. You're an active runner and 596 00:35:41,190 --> 00:35:43,230 Becs Gentry: you wear a lot of hats in your day- to- 597 00:35:43,260 --> 00:35:48,570 Becs Gentry: day life. And that's inspiring in itself. But as you 598 00:35:48,570 --> 00:35:52,469 Becs Gentry: said, when you're constantly striving for the peak of the 599 00:35:52,469 --> 00:35:55,469 Becs Gentry: mountain, you don't get to take in the beautiful views 600 00:35:55,469 --> 00:35:59,100 Becs Gentry: on the way up. And that is so true. And 601 00:35:59,340 --> 00:36:02,850 Becs Gentry: right now one of the roles that you have is 602 00:36:02,850 --> 00:36:05,550 Becs Gentry: very pertinent to the times right now. You're the first 603 00:36:05,550 --> 00:36:11,549 Becs Gentry: woman and African- American to chair the NYRR board. And I think 604 00:36:11,580 --> 00:36:14,759 Becs Gentry: it's just such a great time for us to discuss 605 00:36:17,400 --> 00:36:22,500 Becs Gentry: that is the... The peak is so huge, and what are we 606 00:36:22,890 --> 00:36:27,960 Becs Gentry: looking at right now as you are in this role of 607 00:36:28,290 --> 00:36:34,170 Becs Gentry: getting to a peak that's ever probably growing, moving? What are 608 00:36:34,230 --> 00:36:39,300 Becs Gentry: you seeing? What are you envisioning for inclusivity and diversity within 609 00:36:39,300 --> 00:36:40,230 Becs Gentry: the running community? 610 00:36:41,460 --> 00:36:46,170 Nnenna Lynch: Well, what amazing thing about the sport is I think, and 611 00:36:46,170 --> 00:36:51,090 Nnenna Lynch: it has a DNA, it's a democratic sport. And really 612 00:36:52,650 --> 00:36:58,020 Nnenna Lynch: the barrier to entry is really low. We are a non- 613 00:36:58,020 --> 00:37:04,950 Nnenna Lynch: profit and serving the city. And so our goal on 614 00:37:04,950 --> 00:37:08,969 Nnenna Lynch: the board and completely aligned with Rob and the leadership 615 00:37:08,969 --> 00:37:12,060 Nnenna Lynch: team is to continually make sure we're serving all New 616 00:37:12,060 --> 00:37:15,690 Nnenna Lynch: Yorkers. It's really as simple as that. And getting to 617 00:37:16,560 --> 00:37:21,480 Nnenna Lynch: every neighborhood, etc. We do focus on, we do have 618 00:37:21,480 --> 00:37:26,700 Nnenna Lynch: limited resources and focus on under- resourced neighborhoods. But we're 619 00:37:26,700 --> 00:37:32,880 Nnenna Lynch: really focused on ensuring that our programs and our races 620 00:37:32,880 --> 00:37:38,400 Nnenna Lynch: and events and everything are really open and accessible to 621 00:37:39,390 --> 00:37:43,500 Nnenna Lynch: the beautiful range of people that make up our great city. 622 00:37:44,250 --> 00:37:47,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: Nnenna, one of your goals as chair, one of my 623 00:37:47,250 --> 00:37:51,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: goals as CEO is to make sure that people know 624 00:37:51,600 --> 00:37:55,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: what you just said, right? That we're a non- profit, that we 625 00:37:55,020 --> 00:37:57,810 Rob Simmelkjaer: have this mission. It's very easy, I think for people 626 00:37:57,810 --> 00:38:00,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: to see New York Roadrunners... Of course, they see the 627 00:38:00,690 --> 00:38:03,810 Rob Simmelkjaer: marathon and they see us take over the city and 628 00:38:03,810 --> 00:38:06,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: give New York City the best day of the year 629 00:38:06,450 --> 00:38:09,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: every year. And what a huge event that is, the 630 00:38:09,480 --> 00:38:12,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: scale of that event. And I think a lot of 631 00:38:12,540 --> 00:38:14,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: folks just say, " All right, well that's New York Roadrunners." 632 00:38:14,910 --> 00:38:17,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: A lot of people think maybe that's not even done 633 00:38:17,160 --> 00:38:19,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: as a non- profit think maybe it's some people think 634 00:38:19,350 --> 00:38:22,590 Rob Simmelkjaer: it's for- profit or just don't know. And your history 635 00:38:22,590 --> 00:38:26,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: with the board, you really started out in that community 636 00:38:26,310 --> 00:38:30,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: impact side of things. You chaired the community impact committee 637 00:38:30,450 --> 00:38:33,510 Rob Simmelkjaer: of our board. So you've always been focused on the 638 00:38:33,510 --> 00:38:37,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: impact that Roadrunners makes as an organization, and it really 639 00:38:37,800 --> 00:38:40,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: ties back to you, right, and that ten- year- old 640 00:38:40,830 --> 00:38:43,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: who ran a race. What has it meant for you 641 00:38:43,770 --> 00:38:49,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: to watch this organization evolve and grow? We obviously have 642 00:38:49,920 --> 00:38:53,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: some amazing youth programs. You also were on the board 643 00:38:53,130 --> 00:38:56,549 Rob Simmelkjaer: as the organization weathered a pandemic and now is kind 644 00:38:56,550 --> 00:38:58,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: of coming back from that. So you've seen a lot in 645 00:38:58,890 --> 00:39:03,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: your time on the board. How do you reflect on 646 00:39:03,180 --> 00:39:06,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: that and think about the way the organization has evolved? 647 00:39:06,960 --> 00:39:10,799 Nnenna Lynch: Yeah, I mean, I'm super proud of the work that the organization 648 00:39:10,800 --> 00:39:17,580 Nnenna Lynch: has done. We have continually grown. I mean, I've been focused on 649 00:39:18,270 --> 00:39:23,160 Nnenna Lynch: growing our reach and deepening our impact, I think is the best 650 00:39:23,160 --> 00:39:29,670 Nnenna Lynch: way to say it, and have just seen phenomenal growth. 651 00:39:29,670 --> 00:39:35,430 Nnenna Lynch: And I touched on my coach growing up who was 652 00:39:35,430 --> 00:39:39,090 Nnenna Lynch: the creator of the earliest youth and community programs. And 653 00:39:39,090 --> 00:39:41,880 Nnenna Lynch: by the way, I didn't know that when I joined 654 00:39:41,880 --> 00:39:45,510 Nnenna Lynch: the board. Like I just became aware of his history 655 00:39:46,680 --> 00:39:51,239 Nnenna Lynch: and some of the details of his history more recently. So it 656 00:39:51,239 --> 00:39:54,150 Nnenna Lynch: feels like this on a personal level, a great full 657 00:39:54,450 --> 00:39:59,069 Nnenna Lynch: circle moment. And also on a personal level, the role 658 00:39:59,070 --> 00:40:05,850 Nnenna Lynch: running has played in my life has been so central 659 00:40:07,650 --> 00:40:12,360 Nnenna Lynch: and impactful. And I haven't talked about it much, but 660 00:40:12,360 --> 00:40:16,859 Nnenna Lynch: I had a difficult home life growing up. And running 661 00:40:16,860 --> 00:40:20,969 Nnenna Lynch: was this thing that really helped me develop a positive 662 00:40:20,969 --> 00:40:26,759 Nnenna Lynch: identity, a sense of confidence, a team, and a family and 663 00:40:26,940 --> 00:40:30,330 Nnenna Lynch: the coach and all that. And so I was really 664 00:40:30,330 --> 00:40:34,770 Nnenna Lynch: drawn to the board and the community impact work, which we 665 00:40:34,770 --> 00:40:39,690 Nnenna Lynch: used to call youth in community services. Really, because I 666 00:40:39,690 --> 00:40:42,569 Nnenna Lynch: want every kid in New York to have the opportunity 667 00:40:42,840 --> 00:40:48,089 Nnenna Lynch: to run and think of themselves as a runner, and 668 00:40:48,300 --> 00:40:51,029 Nnenna Lynch: feel like like this is the sport as a tussleton, because 669 00:40:51,030 --> 00:40:51,360 Nnenna Lynch: it should be, and it's in fact. 670 00:40:54,150 --> 00:40:59,009 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, and Becs, I mean now we've got over 100,000 kids 671 00:40:59,340 --> 00:41:02,009 Rob Simmelkjaer: in New York City alone that are part of the 672 00:41:02,010 --> 00:41:07,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: rising New York Roadrunners program. And so that's the impact, 673 00:41:07,320 --> 00:41:10,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: right? Out of that 100,000 kids, I'm going to guess 674 00:41:10,350 --> 00:41:14,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: that there'll be more than a few division one college 675 00:41:14,610 --> 00:41:15,781 Rob Simmelkjaer: runners that will come out of that group. 676 00:41:15,781 --> 00:41:16,110 Becs Gentry: Absolutely. 677 00:41:16,110 --> 00:41:18,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: And who knows, maybe there'll be a Rhodes Scholar and 678 00:41:18,840 --> 00:41:21,359 Rob Simmelkjaer: maybe even a Vogue model, who knows? 679 00:41:23,370 --> 00:41:26,489 Nnenna Lynch: But you know what? One of the things I love about 680 00:41:26,489 --> 00:41:31,080 Nnenna Lynch: our approach though is it's really, it's not about the 681 00:41:31,080 --> 00:41:33,900 Nnenna Lynch: winners. I mean, one of the things that I love 682 00:41:33,960 --> 00:41:39,420 Nnenna Lynch: doing is being a race buddy for our Run for 683 00:41:39,420 --> 00:41:45,000 Nnenna Lynch: the Future program. Which is these are young women girls 684 00:41:45,030 --> 00:41:48,840 Nnenna Lynch: who really don't think of themselves as athletes, and the 685 00:41:48,840 --> 00:41:54,300 Nnenna Lynch: idea of running a 5K is a real achievement. And 686 00:41:54,300 --> 00:41:57,900 Nnenna Lynch: to see the look of pride on their faces or 687 00:41:57,900 --> 00:42:04,350 Nnenna Lynch: to see some of the novice wheelchair racers, when they've... Because 688 00:42:04,350 --> 00:42:07,140 Nnenna Lynch: it's hard to figure out, develop upper body strength and 689 00:42:07,140 --> 00:42:11,460 Nnenna Lynch: figure out how to maneuver a wheelchair. To see these 690 00:42:12,060 --> 00:42:15,540 Nnenna Lynch: kids who don't think of themselves as athletes and probably 691 00:42:15,540 --> 00:42:18,825 Nnenna Lynch: are not going to be Olympian or NCAA champion. But 692 00:42:18,825 --> 00:42:23,730 Nnenna Lynch: to see them develop the sense of confidence in their 693 00:42:23,790 --> 00:42:30,570 Nnenna Lynch: ability to take on a challenge and develop this amazing 694 00:42:30,570 --> 00:42:36,780 Nnenna Lynch: habit of practice of running, that's the gift that really 695 00:42:36,780 --> 00:42:43,950 Nnenna Lynch: excites me, is that it's so impactful or so powerful. 696 00:42:45,150 --> 00:42:48,660 Nnenna Lynch: And if every kid could have access to that knowledge, 697 00:42:48,660 --> 00:42:53,040 Nnenna Lynch: that feeling, that confidence, the world would be a better place. 698 00:42:54,150 --> 00:42:58,020 Becs Gentry: It truly would. It truly would. I love seeing the 699 00:42:58,020 --> 00:43:00,780 Becs Gentry: whole families sort of coming to the events where we 700 00:43:00,780 --> 00:43:04,770 Becs Gentry: have the children's run, the Rising Run. We have the 701 00:43:04,770 --> 00:43:08,009 Becs Gentry: adults running and there's just everyone in the family is 702 00:43:08,010 --> 00:43:10,259 Becs Gentry: wearing a bib, and they're all going to go off 703 00:43:10,260 --> 00:43:12,450 Becs Gentry: to their various races. And then at the end of 704 00:43:12,450 --> 00:43:18,060 Becs Gentry: the day, just the happiness that... The mile is like 705 00:43:18,060 --> 00:43:20,340 Becs Gentry: the one that sticks out in my mind for that 706 00:43:20,370 --> 00:43:23,160 Becs Gentry: is just seeing the parents go and run it, and 707 00:43:23,160 --> 00:43:26,370 Becs Gentry: then the kids just... Oh, by the time it's all 708 00:43:26,370 --> 00:43:28,230 Becs Gentry: finished, you just know that they're going to have the 709 00:43:28,230 --> 00:43:31,350 Becs Gentry: best day. And they've all inspired each other without really 710 00:43:31,560 --> 00:43:36,989 Becs Gentry: purposefully knowing that they're doing it. It's wonderful, so inspiring. 711 00:43:37,500 --> 00:43:39,690 Nnenna Lynch: Yeah, that's one of the great things about our open 712 00:43:39,690 --> 00:43:42,810 Nnenna Lynch: runs too, which we have in community parks throughout the city, 713 00:43:43,170 --> 00:43:46,560 Nnenna Lynch: is it's low- key and the whole family can come out. 714 00:43:47,610 --> 00:43:54,150 Nnenna Lynch: And yeah, everybody from grandma to the little one, and it's low 715 00:43:54,150 --> 00:43:59,610 Nnenna Lynch: pressure, it's relaxed, but gives families opportunity to get outside 716 00:43:59,610 --> 00:44:00,930 Nnenna Lynch: and exercise together. 717 00:44:01,739 --> 00:44:03,989 Becs Gentry: Yeah. Which we need more of. We always need more 718 00:44:03,989 --> 00:44:07,410 Becs Gentry: of. Do you exercise with your teenagers? Do they run 719 00:44:07,410 --> 00:44:07,799 Becs Gentry: with you? 720 00:44:09,450 --> 00:44:10,980 Nnenna Lynch: They have rejected running? 721 00:44:11,340 --> 00:44:12,330 Becs Gentry: No. 722 00:44:12,660 --> 00:44:18,060 Nnenna Lynch: Completely. Now they're both athletes, but they prefer team sports. 723 00:44:22,200 --> 00:44:22,201 Becs Gentry: Okay, that's okay. 724 00:44:22,201 --> 00:44:24,450 Nnenna Lynch: Yeah. So I mean, both of them could be really good runners. My strategy 725 00:44:24,450 --> 00:44:29,549 Nnenna Lynch: with them was to just hang back and not... And give them 726 00:44:29,549 --> 00:44:32,700 Nnenna Lynch: exposure. Like I took my daughter to our New York 727 00:44:32,700 --> 00:44:36,419 Nnenna Lynch: Roadrunners Jamborees that we host a couple times a year. 728 00:44:36,750 --> 00:44:40,350 Nnenna Lynch: These running festivals where kids get to try different events, 729 00:44:40,350 --> 00:44:45,450 Nnenna Lynch: and super fun. So definitely they both had exposure. But 730 00:44:45,900 --> 00:44:48,900 Nnenna Lynch: as far as really guiding them to a sport, my 731 00:44:48,900 --> 00:44:51,660 Nnenna Lynch: strategy was to hang back and it looks like it 732 00:44:51,660 --> 00:44:54,570 Nnenna Lynch: backfired, so. No- 733 00:44:57,239 --> 00:44:58,321 Rob Simmelkjaer: They find their own path. 734 00:44:58,321 --> 00:45:04,411 Nnenna Lynch: ... I'm actually really happy. That's the thing is they need to find their own path and have a passion for it. And they do, so that's great. 735 00:45:04,411 --> 00:45:07,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: All right, Nnenna, I made a joke about it before, but 736 00:45:07,500 --> 00:45:09,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: I really do have to ask this question, and we've 737 00:45:09,900 --> 00:45:13,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: never spoken about this before. What was it like to 738 00:45:13,950 --> 00:45:18,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: have Annie Leibovitz taking your photos? Can you just take 739 00:45:18,420 --> 00:45:22,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: us through that day and how that happened and what that was like? 740 00:45:22,530 --> 00:45:29,549 Nnenna Lynch: Yeah, I think I was way too naive to be nervous. So I think 741 00:45:29,550 --> 00:45:33,300 Nnenna Lynch: I fully realized what an icon she was. So I 742 00:45:33,300 --> 00:45:37,140 Nnenna Lynch: think the way it happened is, so back in the 743 00:45:37,140 --> 00:45:44,460 Nnenna Lynch: 1980s, back in the day, Newspapers, there were more newspapers first of 744 00:45:44,460 --> 00:45:47,670 Nnenna Lynch: all, and they covered high school sports, right? And so 745 00:45:47,670 --> 00:45:52,020 Nnenna Lynch: I was a prominent athlete through my teenage years, through 746 00:45:52,020 --> 00:45:55,320 Nnenna Lynch: my high school. My sister was too, and she was 747 00:45:55,320 --> 00:45:58,320 Nnenna Lynch: a little older, so by this point she had graduated. 748 00:45:58,320 --> 00:46:01,710 Nnenna Lynch: She was running at University of Texas. But there was 749 00:46:01,980 --> 00:46:06,239 Nnenna Lynch: a period there where the Lynch sisters were a thing. 750 00:46:06,420 --> 00:46:10,319 Nnenna Lynch: Because we were both top runners nationally ranked top runners. And 751 00:46:10,800 --> 00:46:14,130 Nnenna Lynch: so I presume it was because of that media. We 752 00:46:14,130 --> 00:46:17,190 Nnenna Lynch: live in New York City, big media market, I presume 753 00:46:17,190 --> 00:46:21,000 Nnenna Lynch: it's because that media exposure, that we were on somebody's 754 00:46:21,000 --> 00:46:26,160 Nnenna Lynch: radar. And yeah, got a call one day and Gap 755 00:46:26,700 --> 00:46:30,719 Nnenna Lynch: had just started their... I think it's called Individuals of 756 00:46:30,719 --> 00:46:33,810 Nnenna Lynch: Style campaign where they were looking for people who were 757 00:46:33,810 --> 00:46:38,910 Nnenna Lynch: not celebrities, and not models. They were looking for, so quote- 758 00:46:38,910 --> 00:46:43,050 Nnenna Lynch: unquote real people. And so yeah, I got the call and 759 00:46:43,050 --> 00:46:48,150 Nnenna Lynch: we're like, "Okay." Went to her studio. I think it was 760 00:46:48,630 --> 00:46:54,300 Nnenna Lynch: on Valet street, it was. And looking back, I think 761 00:46:54,330 --> 00:46:58,080 Nnenna Lynch: one of the things I really appreciate is she was 762 00:46:58,080 --> 00:47:09,180 Nnenna Lynch: just a incredibly confident self- possessed woman who was a 763 00:47:09,180 --> 00:47:12,600 Nnenna Lynch: master and fully inhabited that, right? And she had this 764 00:47:12,600 --> 00:47:17,670 Nnenna Lynch: whole studio of people running around and assisting her. It's 765 00:47:17,670 --> 00:47:20,700 Nnenna Lynch: interesting because I feel like my memory at least is that 766 00:47:20,700 --> 00:47:25,200 Nnenna Lynch: the photo shoot just didn't take all that long. And 767 00:47:25,770 --> 00:47:30,060 Nnenna Lynch: so it's hard to really appreciate the artistry in the 768 00:47:30,060 --> 00:47:36,000 Nnenna Lynch: moment. But yeah, I just remember her poise and command 769 00:47:37,320 --> 00:47:38,370 Nnenna Lynch: and her confidence. 770 00:47:39,840 --> 00:47:43,590 Rob Simmelkjaer: Do you going back and looking at those photos? Or do 771 00:47:43,590 --> 00:47:45,629 Rob Simmelkjaer: you put them somewhere and never look at them? 772 00:47:46,469 --> 00:47:51,780 Nnenna Lynch: Yeah. So again, this is one of these things, it's 773 00:47:51,780 --> 00:47:56,279 Nnenna Lynch: like, what was I thinking? So what ended up happening actually is at the time 774 00:47:56,280 --> 00:48:03,090 Nnenna Lynch: these campaigns were on bus stops and billboards. They were 775 00:48:03,150 --> 00:48:07,050 Nnenna Lynch: pretty prominent, except I was away at college running my 776 00:48:07,050 --> 00:48:10,440 Nnenna Lynch: butt off. And so I don't think I ever actually 777 00:48:10,440 --> 00:48:14,100 Nnenna Lynch: saw one of these, and I never made a point 778 00:48:14,100 --> 00:48:19,710 Nnenna Lynch: of getting one of those posters. I have a rag 779 00:48:19,710 --> 00:48:24,300 Nnenna Lynch: tag sort of torn at the edges, copy of an 780 00:48:24,300 --> 00:48:27,390 Nnenna Lynch: ad that was in a magazine. So it was like I was not 781 00:48:27,390 --> 00:48:32,580 Nnenna Lynch: thinking about history and archiving all this stuff. So at 782 00:48:32,580 --> 00:48:35,730 Nnenna Lynch: some point several years later, my sister and I went 783 00:48:35,730 --> 00:48:40,230 Nnenna Lynch: back and we got Annie to sign one of the 784 00:48:40,230 --> 00:48:46,410 Nnenna Lynch: photographs. So I do have those. But yeah, it's definitely 785 00:48:46,410 --> 00:48:49,830 Nnenna Lynch: one of those things where you didn't appreciate at the time, but 786 00:48:49,830 --> 00:48:52,230 Nnenna Lynch: looking back, I'm like, holy moly, that was pretty cool. 787 00:48:53,160 --> 00:48:57,840 Becs Gentry: I've just found it online. I just had to look because I was like, "I've got to see this. I've 788 00:48:57,840 --> 00:48:59,460 Becs Gentry: got to see what you're talking about, right?" 789 00:48:59,460 --> 00:48:59,881 Rob Simmelkjaer: Let's put it in the show notes. 790 00:48:59,881 --> 00:49:06,629 Becs Gentry: I mean, I have an older sister, but I mean there's 791 00:49:06,630 --> 00:49:09,480 Becs Gentry: so much love, you are just... Oh my gosh, the 792 00:49:09,480 --> 00:49:13,380 Becs Gentry: smiles and the happiness on your faces is wow. It 793 00:49:13,380 --> 00:49:16,680 Becs Gentry: just resonates coming straight through the screen right now. So 794 00:49:16,830 --> 00:49:24,510 Becs Gentry: yes. Wow, that's unreal. I'd definitely have that framed. What 795 00:49:24,510 --> 00:49:29,580 Becs Gentry: an incredible achievement? And I mean, it just keeps rolling I think as well. 796 00:49:29,640 --> 00:49:36,360 Becs Gentry: I think from reading about you, Nnenna, from having met 797 00:49:36,360 --> 00:49:40,200 Becs Gentry: you and knowing about you, and just sometimes when, not 798 00:49:40,200 --> 00:49:43,680 Becs Gentry: that it matters, not that the times matter, but the 799 00:49:43,680 --> 00:49:48,480 Becs Gentry: variety of accolades that you have achieved throughout your life, 800 00:49:48,540 --> 00:49:57,510 Becs Gentry: you keep going. You ran the 2022 RBC, Brooklyn, half in 1:27: 801 00:49:57,510 --> 00:50:00,660 Becs Gentry: 39, by the way. Again, not that time matters, but 802 00:50:00,660 --> 00:50:05,790 Becs Gentry: I think as a female, you are inspiring women to 803 00:50:05,790 --> 00:50:10,110 Becs Gentry: wear these multiple hats and to keep going after it. 804 00:50:10,110 --> 00:50:13,290 Becs Gentry: If that's what's making you happy to keep pushing the 805 00:50:13,290 --> 00:50:16,650 Becs Gentry: boundaries that have been put in place by societal norm 806 00:50:16,770 --> 00:50:23,430 Becs Gentry: of history. So I want to know female wise, having 807 00:50:23,430 --> 00:50:28,140 Becs Gentry: run for this long, what advice would you give to 808 00:50:28,170 --> 00:50:33,239 Becs Gentry: somebody in their 20s perhaps just getting into loving, running on 809 00:50:33,239 --> 00:50:35,310 Becs Gentry: the longevity of the sport? 810 00:50:36,270 --> 00:50:42,150 Nnenna Lynch: Yeah. I would say, let's see, to listen to your 811 00:50:42,210 --> 00:50:47,759 Nnenna Lynch: body, take care of your body. I think runners in 812 00:50:47,760 --> 00:50:52,230 Nnenna Lynch: particular, and I've been guilty of this at different points. 813 00:50:53,070 --> 00:50:57,540 Nnenna Lynch: Where you take such pride in your toughness, right, like 814 00:50:57,540 --> 00:51:01,200 Nnenna Lynch: that's part of the point is to push through. But 815 00:51:01,380 --> 00:51:07,739 Nnenna Lynch: figuring out when that's a bad idea. Whether it's that 816 00:51:07,739 --> 00:51:12,450 Nnenna Lynch: injury or whatever it is, right? And so taking care of 817 00:51:12,450 --> 00:51:16,680 Nnenna Lynch: your body, whether it's physical therapy, massage, sometimes rest, right? 818 00:51:16,680 --> 00:51:19,739 Nnenna Lynch: It's as simple as that, is giving yourself enough rest. And 819 00:51:19,739 --> 00:51:25,259 Nnenna Lynch: so that's really what I would focus on is listening 820 00:51:25,260 --> 00:51:29,940 Nnenna Lynch: to your body and taking care of your body. After 821 00:51:29,940 --> 00:51:34,049 Nnenna Lynch: my kids, when I came back from running, I ended 822 00:51:34,050 --> 00:51:38,310 Nnenna Lynch: up with a whole series of injuries, and it turned out 823 00:51:38,370 --> 00:51:44,370 Nnenna Lynch: it was, I had diastasis. Which is where your core, 824 00:51:44,370 --> 00:51:50,310 Nnenna Lynch: your abdominal muscles are separated and they don't fuse. And 825 00:51:50,640 --> 00:51:54,930 Nnenna Lynch: that lack of core stability was leading to all these 826 00:51:54,930 --> 00:51:58,890 Nnenna Lynch: injuries, right? And so I really focus on the big picture. 827 00:51:58,890 --> 00:52:00,540 Nnenna Lynch: I do run five days a week but I also 828 00:52:00,540 --> 00:52:04,650 Nnenna Lynch: do yoga and calisthenics and plenty of core work and 829 00:52:05,040 --> 00:52:09,450 Nnenna Lynch: swimming when I can. And so yeah, really try and 830 00:52:09,450 --> 00:52:15,000 Nnenna Lynch: keep a really balanced perspective on it all. And try 831 00:52:15,000 --> 00:52:19,350 Nnenna Lynch: and be gentle with myself. And I would say for 832 00:52:19,710 --> 00:52:23,969 Nnenna Lynch: those who are really trying to get after it, that 833 00:52:24,360 --> 00:52:28,799 Nnenna Lynch: to think about how the sport can adapt with you 834 00:52:28,860 --> 00:52:33,090 Nnenna Lynch: as you grow and age and different phases of life, right? 835 00:52:33,690 --> 00:52:35,100 Becs Gentry: Yeah, absolutely. 836 00:52:35,489 --> 00:52:37,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: All right, Nnenna, talk about Tokyo for a second. 837 00:52:37,620 --> 00:52:39,299 Nnenna Lynch: Yes, please. 838 00:52:39,299 --> 00:52:42,569 Becs Gentry: Here we go. Rob's getting the nitty gritty now. 839 00:52:43,000 --> 00:52:43,200 Nnenna Lynch: (inaudible) running, okay yes. 840 00:52:43,200 --> 00:52:46,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: Before we came on, Nnenna was rightly so giving me 841 00:52:46,980 --> 00:52:49,860 Rob Simmelkjaer: a hard time because we actually hatched this plan to 842 00:52:49,860 --> 00:52:53,010 Rob Simmelkjaer: run Tokyo together last December. It was really- 843 00:52:53,010 --> 00:52:53,011 Becs Gentry: Wow. 844 00:52:53,011 --> 00:52:58,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... right around the Ted Corbett 15K race that we 845 00:52:58,320 --> 00:53:00,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: decided that we were going to do this. We ran 846 00:53:00,780 --> 00:53:03,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: pretty much that whole race together. Had a pretty good 847 00:53:03,690 --> 00:53:06,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: day actually, the two of us. And at the finish 848 00:53:06,270 --> 00:53:08,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: line, we looked at each other and we were like, " 849 00:53:08,280 --> 00:53:10,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: Okay, what do you think? Should we do Tokyo?" And 850 00:53:10,770 --> 00:53:15,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: we agreed right then and there. And then in classic style, 851 00:53:15,330 --> 00:53:19,739 Rob Simmelkjaer: I didn't say anything about it. I was hedging about 852 00:53:19,739 --> 00:53:21,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: it. Am I really going to do this? Really because 853 00:53:21,840 --> 00:53:24,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: I've had a history at least recently, I got hurt 854 00:53:24,390 --> 00:53:25,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: a couple of years ago and I didn't want to 855 00:53:25,800 --> 00:53:27,930 Rob Simmelkjaer: put it out there and then have to pull out 856 00:53:27,930 --> 00:53:31,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: so publicly. But it's on now because we've been doing 857 00:53:31,290 --> 00:53:32,219 Rob Simmelkjaer: our runs and- 858 00:53:32,219 --> 00:53:32,581 Becs Gentry: It's on. 859 00:53:32,581 --> 00:53:36,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... Nnenna knows the morning of the Millrose games, I ran 860 00:53:36,510 --> 00:53:40,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: 22 miles up here in Connecticut and felt great, so 861 00:53:40,320 --> 00:53:43,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: we're doing this. And so now, Nnenna, the question is 862 00:53:44,100 --> 00:53:46,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: how are we going to do this? I think we 863 00:53:46,350 --> 00:53:48,569 Rob Simmelkjaer: agree, we were going to kind of take it easy, 864 00:53:48,570 --> 00:53:52,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: but I'm looking at your results and you're running really 865 00:53:52,290 --> 00:53:55,468 Rob Simmelkjaer: well. You ran the Fred LeBeau half marathon in a time 866 00:53:55,469 --> 00:53:59,879 Rob Simmelkjaer: of 1:40: 47, the Joe K, 10K in 43 minutes. I 867 00:53:59,880 --> 00:54:02,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: do this to guess, I recite their times to them 868 00:54:02,700 --> 00:54:07,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: sometimes. But you're running great, so how do you feel going into Tokyo? 869 00:54:08,580 --> 00:54:12,180 Nnenna Lynch: I feel pretty good. I mean, but the marathon is a whole 870 00:54:12,180 --> 00:54:15,989 Nnenna Lynch: thing... So let's be clear, take a step back. I've 871 00:54:15,989 --> 00:54:22,680 Nnenna Lynch: run two marathons, one in 2002, and then the second one in 2023. And you could look 872 00:54:22,680 --> 00:54:24,540 Nnenna Lynch: at the time and be like, " Oh, this was pretty 873 00:54:24,540 --> 00:54:31,440 Nnenna Lynch: good." But the truth is it was ugly and painful. And so 874 00:54:31,830 --> 00:54:37,259 Nnenna Lynch: yes, so I'm really excited to do this and with 875 00:54:37,590 --> 00:54:41,310 Nnenna Lynch: no pressure or little pressure and to do it really 876 00:54:41,310 --> 00:54:44,279 Nnenna Lynch: with you. And it really is an experience, and because 877 00:54:44,489 --> 00:54:47,700 Nnenna Lynch: I think it's really... There's nothing like running a race 878 00:54:47,700 --> 00:54:51,960 Nnenna Lynch: to really get a sense of, I'm so curious to 879 00:54:51,960 --> 00:54:54,360 Nnenna Lynch: see, like okay, how does Tokyo do it, right? What 880 00:54:54,360 --> 00:54:59,820 Nnenna Lynch: do they do differently? So I'm really looking at it through that standpoint. 881 00:54:59,820 --> 00:55:02,430 Nnenna Lynch: And I figure if I'm going to go, it'd be 882 00:55:02,430 --> 00:55:05,460 Nnenna Lynch: great to run and I'm so excited to run with 883 00:55:05,460 --> 00:55:12,180 Nnenna Lynch: you. But unlike you I haven't done my 20... So I was supposed to 884 00:55:12,180 --> 00:55:16,410 Nnenna Lynch: do my 20 miler on Sunday, except a couple things 885 00:55:16,410 --> 00:55:19,530 Nnenna Lynch: happened. One, it snowed. And two, I wasn't feeling that 886 00:55:19,530 --> 00:55:22,590 Nnenna Lynch: well, so it got punted. I'm supposed to do it 887 00:55:22,590 --> 00:55:24,631 Nnenna Lynch: tomorrow. Well, it's supposed to snow again tomorrow, so- 888 00:55:24,631 --> 00:55:24,901 Becs Gentry: I know. 889 00:55:25,530 --> 00:55:32,460 Nnenna Lynch: You're feeling all confident like, oh, I did my 22-miler, okay. And I'm sitting here like, I haven't done my 20- miler. 890 00:55:36,450 --> 00:55:36,720 Becs Gentry: You'll be five. 891 00:55:36,720 --> 00:55:36,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: You'll get it in. 892 00:55:36,780 --> 00:55:42,540 Nnenna Lynch: So anyway, yeah, I'm excited to. Oh, and then it's been such 893 00:55:42,540 --> 00:55:47,461 Nnenna Lynch: a revelation to work with our phenomenal coach, Roberto, right? Roberto Mandje. 894 00:55:47,460 --> 00:55:49,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: Roberto Mandje. Yes. 895 00:55:49,380 --> 00:55:54,660 Nnenna Lynch: Yeah. And he is so talented and helpful, and so I'm really learning about, 896 00:55:54,900 --> 00:55:58,230 Nnenna Lynch: I think something I had never figured out previously is 897 00:55:58,230 --> 00:56:01,830 Nnenna Lynch: the fueling. And so figuring all that, so I'm excited as 898 00:56:01,830 --> 00:56:06,270 Nnenna Lynch: to bring it all together. Again, yeah, no pressure situation. 899 00:56:06,600 --> 00:56:10,980 Nnenna Lynch: So Becs I understand you have run Tokyo, you ran. So tell 900 00:56:10,980 --> 00:56:12,270 Nnenna Lynch: us what are your top three tips? 901 00:56:13,080 --> 00:56:18,180 Becs Gentry: As soon as you land, find the Pocari Sweat, which 902 00:56:18,180 --> 00:56:20,460 Becs Gentry: is the drink that they have on the course as 903 00:56:20,460 --> 00:56:24,360 Becs Gentry: well as water. So I would at least try it 904 00:56:24,360 --> 00:56:27,930 Becs Gentry: as soon as you land, because it's everywhere, and you 905 00:56:27,930 --> 00:56:30,989 Becs Gentry: might accidentally grab it instead of water. Because a lot 906 00:56:30,989 --> 00:56:34,530 Becs Gentry: of people have said it either upsets their stomach violently 907 00:56:34,590 --> 00:56:37,469 Becs Gentry: or they're fine with it. I was fine with it. 908 00:56:37,560 --> 00:56:40,050 Becs Gentry: My partner on the other hand, totally upset his stomach. 909 00:56:40,050 --> 00:56:43,440 Becs Gentry: So get it. You can actually buy it on Amazon, 910 00:56:43,440 --> 00:56:46,830 Becs Gentry: I think over here. But get it when you land. 911 00:56:46,830 --> 00:56:50,130 Becs Gentry: It'll be everywhere. It's in every seven 11. Do not 912 00:56:50,130 --> 00:56:54,390 Becs Gentry: be afraid of the rules and regulations. Sorry, Tokyo Marathon 913 00:56:54,450 --> 00:56:58,259 Becs Gentry: Foundation, but your booklet that you send out is petrifying 914 00:56:58,260 --> 00:57:01,980 Becs Gentry: to people. I think we could work on the wording. 915 00:57:04,230 --> 00:57:04,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: A lot of rules. 916 00:57:04,739 --> 00:57:07,770 Becs Gentry: A lot of rules. And of course we need rules and we need 917 00:57:07,770 --> 00:57:12,839 Becs Gentry: people to follow certain ways for it to be a great 918 00:57:12,840 --> 00:57:16,770 Becs Gentry: experience for everybody. But the amount of people whose faces 919 00:57:16,770 --> 00:57:18,420 Becs Gentry: have turned to me and being like, " Am I going 920 00:57:18,420 --> 00:57:21,390 Becs Gentry: to get disqualified if I drop my Morton wrapper on 921 00:57:21,390 --> 00:57:24,780 Becs Gentry: the floor or if I accidentally... " No, you're not. Well, 922 00:57:24,780 --> 00:57:28,770 Becs Gentry: I hope that you would not if you absolutely accidentally 923 00:57:28,770 --> 00:57:35,340 Becs Gentry: littered. The receptacles that they have for trash are huge. 924 00:57:35,580 --> 00:57:37,590 Becs Gentry: The booklet makes it seem like you have to stop, 925 00:57:37,590 --> 00:57:40,080 Becs Gentry: walk off the course, find a bin and put it 926 00:57:40,080 --> 00:57:43,350 Becs Gentry: in yourself. That's not true. They had these giant cardboard 927 00:57:43,350 --> 00:57:48,480 Becs Gentry: receptacles at the end of every fluid or aid station. 928 00:57:49,560 --> 00:57:51,810 Becs Gentry: So turn it into a game, I turned it into... 929 00:57:51,840 --> 00:57:54,060 Becs Gentry: My friend who I was running with, we turned it 930 00:57:54,060 --> 00:57:56,939 Becs Gentry: into a game. We were like four for four, just 931 00:57:56,940 --> 00:58:01,530 Becs Gentry: trying to slam dunk it in every time. And then 932 00:58:01,950 --> 00:58:06,450 Becs Gentry: I never say this, I hate running with music when 933 00:58:06,450 --> 00:58:08,670 Becs Gentry: I'm racing because I love to feel the crowd, the 934 00:58:08,670 --> 00:58:12,630 Becs Gentry: energy. If I train with headphones and I have one in 935 00:58:12,630 --> 00:58:16,680 Becs Gentry: for safety as well, I would have some music lined 936 00:58:16,680 --> 00:58:23,130 Becs Gentry: up or a good conversation. And the final thing is 937 00:58:23,130 --> 00:58:27,180 Becs Gentry: the last, it's multiple out and backs this route. Which 938 00:58:27,180 --> 00:58:30,660 Becs Gentry: is common knowledge is there. The final out and back 939 00:58:30,660 --> 00:58:34,500 Becs Gentry: to me was probably the most demoralizing six miles I've 940 00:58:34,500 --> 00:58:39,750 Becs Gentry: ever run in my life, because it was such a 941 00:58:39,750 --> 00:58:43,620 Becs Gentry: long out and back. And then you're seeing people literally 942 00:58:43,620 --> 00:58:46,230 Becs Gentry: coming into the final turn. It would be having to 943 00:58:46,230 --> 00:58:50,070 Becs Gentry: do Central Park South three times and be like, I 944 00:58:50,550 --> 00:58:57,030 Becs Gentry: just want to go there. So make sure that you know that you're going to go into one 945 00:58:57,030 --> 00:59:00,990 Becs Gentry: last six mile slog of undulating hills are going to 946 00:59:00,990 --> 00:59:03,930 Becs Gentry: feel like Kilimanjaro whilst you're watching people coming into the 947 00:59:03,930 --> 00:59:05,940 Becs Gentry: finish being like, " I want to be you. I really 948 00:59:05,940 --> 00:59:09,630 Becs Gentry: want to be you right now." But the finish line 949 00:59:09,630 --> 00:59:12,900 Becs Gentry: is, the finishing shoot is very short as well. So 950 00:59:12,900 --> 00:59:14,700 Becs Gentry: it's quite like, oh, we're here. Oh my gosh, turn 951 00:59:14,700 --> 00:59:20,490 Becs Gentry: the corner there. It's uneven surface too. So yeah, I 952 00:59:20,490 --> 00:59:23,490 Becs Gentry: feel like Tokyo of all the majors is the most 953 00:59:23,490 --> 00:59:25,290 Becs Gentry: soul searching, most people will do over the 26.2 so- 954 00:59:31,440 --> 00:59:32,191 Rob Simmelkjaer: Soul- searching like- 955 00:59:32,191 --> 00:59:32,192 Nnenna Lynch: Interesting. 956 00:59:32,192 --> 00:59:32,193 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... why did I do this, kind of soul searching? 957 00:59:32,193 --> 00:59:35,970 Becs Gentry: If you're like me. I was running to my medal. That's 958 00:59:35,970 --> 00:59:38,160 Becs Gentry: all I wanted was that six- star medal. I wanted 959 00:59:38,160 --> 00:59:40,290 Becs Gentry: to see Judy at the finish line, get my six- 960 00:59:40,290 --> 00:59:42,960 Becs Gentry: star medal from her. And then I was like, okay, 961 00:59:43,470 --> 00:59:46,320 Becs Gentry: now let me come and see this beautiful country and 962 00:59:46,320 --> 00:59:47,580 Becs Gentry: this incredible city. 963 00:59:48,270 --> 00:59:50,791 Nnenna Lynch: Yeah. Oh, those are great tips. Thank you. 964 00:59:50,791 --> 00:59:51,030 Becs Gentry: Of course. 965 00:59:51,510 --> 00:59:54,870 Rob Simmelkjaer: Nnenna doesn't know this, but I've been preparing a three- and- a- half- 966 00:59:54,870 --> 00:59:57,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: hour stand- up comedy routine to try to keep her 967 00:59:57,780 --> 01:00:03,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: entertained during this race so that we don't have any mental challenges. 968 01:00:03,210 --> 01:00:05,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: So I'm working on it. It's a work in progress. 969 01:00:06,060 --> 01:00:08,160 Becs Gentry: Yeah. Somebody actually said this to me yesterday and my 970 01:00:08,160 --> 01:00:11,220 Becs Gentry: partner, he was running the race as well. We were 971 01:00:11,220 --> 01:00:14,220 Becs Gentry: both there in Tokyo last year. And he said he was... Because it was 972 01:00:14,880 --> 01:00:17,460 Becs Gentry: so many out- and- backs, he was really excited to 973 01:00:17,460 --> 01:00:19,680 Becs Gentry: see me. And he was like, " Oh, we're going to 974 01:00:19,680 --> 01:00:22,919 Becs Gentry: see each other four times. It's going to be so fun." And 975 01:00:22,920 --> 01:00:27,330 Becs Gentry: he said, he drained so much energy from mentally trying 976 01:00:27,330 --> 01:00:30,810 Becs Gentry: to see me coming the other direction. We never saw 977 01:00:30,810 --> 01:00:33,840 Becs Gentry: each other. So he was like, " That's part and parcel why I ran 978 01:00:33,840 --> 01:00:36,840 Becs Gentry: slower. I was so mentally exhausted from trying to find 979 01:00:36,840 --> 01:00:39,840 Becs Gentry: you." So there's another tip. Don't try and find people 980 01:00:39,840 --> 01:00:42,810 Becs Gentry: because even though you're doing out- and- backs, it's a 981 01:00:42,810 --> 01:00:43,350 Becs Gentry: huge race. 982 01:00:43,860 --> 01:00:47,010 Nnenna Lynch: Got it. And there will be quite a contingent from 983 01:00:47,010 --> 01:00:48,061 Nnenna Lynch: your Roadrunners there, so that's- 984 01:00:48,061 --> 01:00:49,321 Becs Gentry: There's so many new- 985 01:00:49,321 --> 01:00:50,161 Nnenna Lynch: ... a good tip as well. Yeah. 986 01:00:50,161 --> 01:00:50,162 Becs Gentry: So many Americans. So many New Yorkers doing- 987 01:00:50,162 --> 01:00:50,163 Nnenna Lynch: See you at the finish line. 988 01:00:50,163 --> 01:00:50,463 Becs Gentry: Yes. 989 01:00:54,150 --> 01:00:55,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: Absolutely. We're so excited- 990 01:00:56,040 --> 01:00:56,940 Becs Gentry: And a beautiful finish line. 991 01:00:56,940 --> 01:00:59,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: Nnenna, this is so fun having you on. 992 01:00:59,400 --> 01:00:59,460 Becs Gentry: Yeah, thank you. 993 01:00:59,970 --> 01:01:04,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: I guess I'll close with a question for you just 994 01:01:04,710 --> 01:01:09,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: about the organization and where you hope we go from 995 01:01:09,660 --> 01:01:13,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: here. You and I talk on a weekly basis about 996 01:01:14,040 --> 01:01:18,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: the big picture of New York Roadrunners. Running is so 997 01:01:18,000 --> 01:01:21,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: popular right now. We're in a place that's great on 998 01:01:21,630 --> 01:01:25,050 Rob Simmelkjaer: so many levels. People started running during the pandemic, and 999 01:01:25,410 --> 01:01:28,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: so many have kept up with it, and that's great. 1000 01:01:28,440 --> 01:01:30,870 Rob Simmelkjaer: Of course, it also means we have a lot of 1001 01:01:30,990 --> 01:01:35,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: demand for our races, and people are really excited to 1002 01:01:35,370 --> 01:01:37,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: run and run with us, and we love that. And 1003 01:01:37,350 --> 01:01:39,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: sometimes it's also a challenge for us to try to 1004 01:01:39,600 --> 01:01:42,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: keep up with all of that passion for the sport 1005 01:01:42,690 --> 01:01:44,430 Rob Simmelkjaer: of running. And you and I talk about that as 1006 01:01:44,430 --> 01:01:48,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: well. But as an organization and especially with your focus 1007 01:01:48,030 --> 01:01:50,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: on the mission and the impact, where do you hope 1008 01:01:50,370 --> 01:01:52,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: we go in the next five years? 1009 01:01:53,070 --> 01:01:59,640 Nnenna Lynch: Yeah. I mean, it really goes back to broadening and deepening our 1010 01:01:59,640 --> 01:02:06,210 Nnenna Lynch: impact. As you said, we sell out our races, etc., 1011 01:02:06,210 --> 01:02:08,730 Nnenna Lynch: but I think I always go back to the youth 1012 01:02:08,730 --> 01:02:12,870 Nnenna Lynch: and community side of the picture and thinking about, okay, 1013 01:02:12,870 --> 01:02:16,770 Nnenna Lynch: what more can we do? And I'm so excited by 1014 01:02:17,370 --> 01:02:22,260 Nnenna Lynch: what you and your leadership team are working on. And 1015 01:02:22,590 --> 01:02:25,230 Nnenna Lynch: I think New York City in so many ways, we 1016 01:02:25,230 --> 01:02:29,670 Nnenna Lynch: hear often, right, that the marathon is the best in 1017 01:02:29,670 --> 01:02:33,090 Nnenna Lynch: the world, and it's the most popular. It's definitely it's 1018 01:02:33,090 --> 01:02:37,680 Nnenna Lynch: the biggest. We know that, right? But yeah, but there's this love 1019 01:02:37,680 --> 01:02:41,880 Nnenna Lynch: of that. And I want to take that excitement and 1020 01:02:41,880 --> 01:02:45,660 Nnenna Lynch: really spread it. And to think about New York City 1021 01:02:45,990 --> 01:02:49,470 Nnenna Lynch: as the best city in the world for runners and 1022 01:02:49,470 --> 01:02:53,820 Nnenna Lynch: running and cultivating running talent. Just creating this ecosystem of 1023 01:02:55,560 --> 01:02:59,340 Nnenna Lynch: starting with elementary school and we have our new middle 1024 01:02:59,340 --> 01:03:02,910 Nnenna Lynch: school program and continuing through high school. I mean, one 1025 01:03:02,910 --> 01:03:05,220 Nnenna Lynch: of the things I love about the team is that 1026 01:03:05,490 --> 01:03:08,250 Nnenna Lynch: we're constantly thinking about how can we do things better? 1027 01:03:08,250 --> 01:03:10,950 Nnenna Lynch: How can we connect the dots more, create more connective 1028 01:03:10,950 --> 01:03:15,480 Nnenna Lynch: tissue? And that's where our middle school program that's going 1029 01:03:15,480 --> 01:03:20,340 Nnenna Lynch: to serve 10,000 kids in the 100 different schools it's going 1030 01:03:20,340 --> 01:03:23,190 Nnenna Lynch: to come from. But a statistic that really haunts me 1031 01:03:23,190 --> 01:03:28,050 Nnenna Lynch: is that high school, there are only 20% of high 1032 01:03:28,050 --> 01:03:30,330 Nnenna Lynch: schools have a track team. I'm like, " How is that 1033 01:03:30,330 --> 01:03:34,260 Nnenna Lynch: possible?" So there's always so much more to do and 1034 01:03:34,260 --> 01:03:39,000 Nnenna Lynch: I'm super excited by... And I hope we get to 1035 01:03:39,000 --> 01:03:44,880 Nnenna Lynch: talk about this at a future date. The plans we're hatching to really lean into the 1036 01:03:44,880 --> 01:03:48,360 Nnenna Lynch: philanthropic side of this. Because as we said, our races 1037 01:03:48,360 --> 01:03:51,000 Nnenna Lynch: are limited, so our revenue, that means our revenue is 1038 01:03:51,000 --> 01:03:53,310 Nnenna Lynch: limited, but there's so much more we can do. There's 1039 01:03:53,310 --> 01:03:56,430 Nnenna Lynch: so much more we need to do. And philanthropy is 1040 01:03:56,430 --> 01:04:00,210 Nnenna Lynch: really going to be the thing that is able to help 1041 01:04:00,210 --> 01:04:03,780 Nnenna Lynch: us broaden and deepen our impact. And so more to 1042 01:04:03,780 --> 01:04:06,270 Nnenna Lynch: come on that, but I'm really excited about the ambitious 1043 01:04:06,270 --> 01:04:08,400 Nnenna Lynch: plans that we have in the works. 1044 01:04:08,700 --> 01:04:11,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, 100%. That's why when you listen to this Set the 1045 01:04:11,850 --> 01:04:15,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: Pace podcast, we have an ad that talks about our 1046 01:04:15,060 --> 01:04:19,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: impact and actually tells people how to donate. Because that 1047 01:04:19,800 --> 01:04:24,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: is really how, those donations, the giving to the organization 1048 01:04:24,840 --> 01:04:27,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: really empowers us to go out and make the kind 1049 01:04:27,270 --> 01:04:30,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: of impact that you've talked about today on Set the 1050 01:04:30,990 --> 01:04:33,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: pace. And that we're looking to broaden and deepen in 1051 01:04:33,990 --> 01:04:37,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: the years to come. So appreciate your mentioning that and 1052 01:04:37,740 --> 01:04:40,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: appreciate having you on our little podcast. It's been great 1053 01:04:40,200 --> 01:04:40,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: to have you on. 1054 01:04:40,680 --> 01:04:42,000 Nnenna Lynch: It was super fun. Thank you so much. 1055 01:04:55,770 --> 01:04:59,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: New York Roadrunners is a nonprofit organization with a vision 1056 01:04:59,280 --> 01:05:03,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: to build healthier lives and stronger communities through the transformative 1057 01:05:03,090 --> 01:05:06,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: power of running. The support of members and donors like 1058 01:05:06,570 --> 01:05:09,870 Rob Simmelkjaer: you helps us achieve our mission to transform the health 1059 01:05:09,870 --> 01:05:13,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: and wellbeing of our communities, through inclusive and accessible running 1060 01:05:13,680 --> 01:05:18,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: experiences, empowering all to achieve their potential. Learn more and 1061 01:05:18,120 --> 01:05:24,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: contribute at NYRR. org/ donate. Jacob Caswell and Jay Solly 1062 01:05:24,570 --> 01:05:28,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: are defining what it means to be an LGBTQ running 1063 01:05:28,200 --> 01:05:31,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: power couple, both on and off the race course. Caswell 1064 01:05:32,010 --> 01:05:35,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: a top non- binary marathoner, has claimed victories in major 1065 01:05:35,700 --> 01:05:39,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: races like the New York City and Chicago marathons. Earning 1066 01:05:39,090 --> 01:05:42,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: accolades such as New York Roadrunner's, Fred LeBeau, runner of 1067 01:05:42,270 --> 01:05:45,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: the Year. Solly, a six- time marathoner, and the race 1068 01:05:45,780 --> 01:05:50,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: director of the Frontrunners New York LGBT Pride Run is 1069 01:05:50,400 --> 01:05:55,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: a tireless advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in road running. Working 1070 01:05:55,680 --> 01:06:00,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: with global organizations to ensure all athletes can compete authentically. 1071 01:06:00,540 --> 01:06:04,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: Together, their stories highlight the intersection of athletic excellence and 1072 01:06:04,680 --> 01:06:07,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: social advocacy and of course joy. 1073 01:06:08,340 --> 01:06:11,670 Meb Keflezighi: Thanks Rob. Jacob and Jay, welcome to the Set the 1074 01:06:11,670 --> 01:06:13,380 Meb Keflezighi: PACE podcast. How's it going today? 1075 01:06:14,100 --> 01:06:17,160 Jay: It's great. Thank you so much for having us. 1076 01:06:17,520 --> 01:06:17,970 Jacob: Yes, thank you so much. 1077 01:06:18,960 --> 01:06:21,480 Meb Keflezighi: My pleasure. Welcome to the podcast. You two met through 1078 01:06:21,480 --> 01:06:24,900 Meb Keflezighi: the Frontrunners. For our audience members who may not know, 1079 01:06:25,200 --> 01:06:27,330 Meb Keflezighi: can you tell us about the Frontrunners and what it 1080 01:06:27,330 --> 01:06:30,000 Meb Keflezighi: meant as the community and the Frontrunners like? 1081 01:06:31,200 --> 01:06:34,290 Jay: Maybe I can start. Jay can just quickly say I 1082 01:06:34,290 --> 01:06:38,760 Jay: mean, Frontrunners is the largest LGBTQ running club in the 1083 01:06:38,760 --> 01:06:42,030 Jay: world. And in the New York chapter that we have here, 1084 01:06:42,030 --> 01:06:45,750 Jay: we have over 1200 members, and so there's this really 1085 01:06:45,780 --> 01:06:51,150 Jay: large, vibrant community of LGBTQ runners that we see pretty 1086 01:06:51,150 --> 01:06:53,190 Jay: much week in and week out in New York. And 1087 01:06:53,190 --> 01:06:56,550 Jay: we all get together and run together. And it's a 1088 01:06:56,550 --> 01:07:00,630 Jay: community building space. People find relationships, people find best friendships, 1089 01:07:00,960 --> 01:07:05,610 Jay: and Jake and I had actually met there before, long 1090 01:07:05,850 --> 01:07:08,640 Jay: before we even started dating. Jake, I know you came 1091 01:07:08,640 --> 01:07:10,500 Jay: to Frontrunners too before I even did. 1092 01:07:11,730 --> 01:07:17,070 Jacob: Yeah. I think Frontrunners really gave a place for a 1093 01:07:17,070 --> 01:07:20,400 Jacob: lot of people coming out of the pandemic to really 1094 01:07:20,400 --> 01:07:22,200 Jacob: find that community. I think we saw a lot of 1095 01:07:22,200 --> 01:07:25,950 Jacob: people either returning to New York or coming to New 1096 01:07:25,950 --> 01:07:29,370 Jacob: York for the first time post pandemic. And I think that Frontrunners has really 1097 01:07:29,370 --> 01:07:33,390 Jacob: given a lot of queer people opportunity to build community 1098 01:07:33,990 --> 01:07:36,300 Jacob: in a large city here like in New York. 1099 01:07:37,020 --> 01:07:40,860 Meb Keflezighi: How did you each discover the sport of running to begin with? 1100 01:07:41,370 --> 01:07:46,050 Jacob: Yeah, I started running in high school and I think I had 1101 01:07:46,620 --> 01:07:50,010 Jacob: a really important network of people. Like that's where my 1102 01:07:50,010 --> 01:07:55,620 Jacob: community was in high school. Like really key important coaches 1103 01:07:55,620 --> 01:08:01,290 Jacob: and teammates that really I think emboldened my love of 1104 01:08:01,290 --> 01:08:04,350 Jacob: running. Running is what brought me to New York. I 1105 01:08:04,350 --> 01:08:09,990 Jacob: ran collegiately here at Columbia University and I've been at New York ever 1106 01:08:09,990 --> 01:08:14,040 Jacob: since. So I guess running has just been always a 1107 01:08:14,040 --> 01:08:16,860 Jacob: part of my life and is what brought me to 1108 01:08:16,860 --> 01:08:18,090 Jacob: New York. What about you, Jay? 1109 01:08:18,960 --> 01:08:22,410 Jay: I'm the opposite, right? I didn't run in high school 1110 01:08:22,410 --> 01:08:24,630 Jay: or collegiately and I was kind of a passion runner. 1111 01:08:24,660 --> 01:08:28,020 Jay: And then when I joined Frontrunners, I mean there's just 1112 01:08:28,080 --> 01:08:32,189 Jay: such a racing community and then also being able to 1113 01:08:32,189 --> 01:08:34,080 Jay: do it with this queer club made me want to 1114 01:08:34,080 --> 01:08:36,030 Jay: do it more. And I got into marathoning and I got a 1115 01:08:36,030 --> 01:08:38,580 Jay: coach and who also happens to be a Frontrunner, so 1116 01:08:38,820 --> 01:08:40,530 Jay: we kind of have opposite journeys there. 1117 01:08:41,370 --> 01:08:45,780 Meb Keflezighi: Running is often seen as both personal and community- driven sport. How have 1118 01:08:45,780 --> 01:08:49,560 Meb Keflezighi: your identities and advocacy shaped the way you approach running 1119 01:08:49,560 --> 01:08:50,640 Meb Keflezighi: in the running community? 1120 01:08:51,780 --> 01:08:56,070 Jay: Yeah, I mean I think certainly for me, and this 1121 01:08:56,070 --> 01:08:58,950 Jay: is also a shout- out to New York Roadrunners for 1122 01:08:59,310 --> 01:09:03,960 Jay: having the non- binary category and making it really easy 1123 01:09:03,960 --> 01:09:06,180 Jay: for folks who identify, not only in our club but 1124 01:09:06,180 --> 01:09:08,880 Jay: in many clubs to race as non- binary. I mean, 1125 01:09:08,880 --> 01:09:12,240 Jay: it's been a real tangible way that I get to 1126 01:09:12,240 --> 01:09:16,470 Jay: express my identity, right? I finish a race and I see the X 1127 01:09:16,470 --> 01:09:20,340 Jay: gender marker next to my name, and that's such a 1128 01:09:20,340 --> 01:09:24,960 Jay: tangible way for me to express myself and to run 1129 01:09:24,960 --> 01:09:29,100 Jay: authentically. And so every time I'm running it's something I'm 1130 01:09:29,100 --> 01:09:31,740 Jay: thinking about whether I'm racing or when I'm just out for a 1131 01:09:31,800 --> 01:09:35,070 Jay: run. Getting to do it as part of the club 1132 01:09:35,070 --> 01:09:36,929 Jay: and then getting to do it authentically and racing. It's 1133 01:09:36,930 --> 01:09:40,830 Jay: all just kind of melded into this really passion- driven 1134 01:09:40,830 --> 01:09:45,240 Jay: experience for me. Jake, I know you've got a much 1135 01:09:45,240 --> 01:09:46,650 Jay: longer history with racing than I do. 1136 01:09:47,460 --> 01:09:56,550 Jacob: Yeah. I think it's just that racing and collegiately, it was always kind of like in this category 1137 01:09:56,550 --> 01:09:59,340 Jacob: that I knew it really wasn't meant for me, but 1138 01:09:59,340 --> 01:10:01,410 Jacob: there really was no other option. So when there was 1139 01:10:02,520 --> 01:10:05,790 Jacob: this option available, and as you were saying Jay, just 1140 01:10:05,939 --> 01:10:08,310 Jacob: having that X next to your name just makes it 1141 01:10:11,370 --> 01:10:16,590 Jacob: running, just so much more freeing. I mean, I had 1142 01:10:17,070 --> 01:10:19,710 Jacob: previous teammates collegiately, who are now also running in the non- 1143 01:10:19,710 --> 01:10:25,830 Jacob: binary category and are doing really well. Sophia, I think 1144 01:10:26,130 --> 01:10:29,910 Jacob: can really, in their case, and I think even in my case 1145 01:10:29,910 --> 01:10:34,019 Jacob: as well, you could really see the blossoming of the 1146 01:10:34,020 --> 01:10:38,939 Jacob: runner going from one of those gender categories to the non- 1147 01:10:38,939 --> 01:10:40,500 Jacob: binary category. 1148 01:10:41,160 --> 01:10:44,430 Meb Keflezighi: Jacob, the non- binary, you've been setting records and what 1149 01:10:44,430 --> 01:10:47,280 Meb Keflezighi: does the future look like for the non- binary representation 1150 01:10:47,280 --> 01:10:52,439 Meb Keflezighi: and community in the running? For you to be a 1151 01:10:52,439 --> 01:10:54,600 Meb Keflezighi: collegiate high school athlete, but now to be able to 1152 01:10:54,600 --> 01:10:57,720 Meb Keflezighi: be part of the New Yorker Roadrunners non- binary, how does 1153 01:10:57,720 --> 01:11:00,720 Meb Keflezighi: that change for the future or do you see progress? 1154 01:11:01,380 --> 01:11:05,939 Jacob: Yeah. I think we're really starting to see the non- 1155 01:11:05,939 --> 01:11:09,479 Jacob: binary category renaissance. I think more and more people are 1156 01:11:09,570 --> 01:11:14,220 Jacob: opting to express their gender identity and the non- binary 1157 01:11:14,220 --> 01:11:17,429 Jacob: category. I think once you start seeing more and more 1158 01:11:17,430 --> 01:11:21,300 Jacob: people join, you feel more and more comfortable and safe 1159 01:11:21,840 --> 01:11:24,269 Jacob: to join as well. So I think we're really seeing 1160 01:11:25,200 --> 01:11:29,130 Jacob: from the New York City Marathon to other major marathons. 1161 01:11:30,990 --> 01:11:35,639 Jacob: And year in year out, more and more people opting into the non- 1162 01:11:35,640 --> 01:11:38,550 Jacob: binary category. Do you have any thoughts, Jay? 1163 01:11:40,530 --> 01:11:43,530 Jay: I mean, yeah, I'll echo what you said. And there's 1164 01:11:43,710 --> 01:11:46,800 Jay: so much happening right now for queer athletes to be 1165 01:11:46,800 --> 01:11:49,290 Jay: able to run authentically as themselves, not just in New 1166 01:11:49,290 --> 01:11:52,680 Jay: York, but everywhere, you're seeing more and more races offering 1167 01:11:52,680 --> 01:11:56,580 Jay: the non- binary category. You're seeing more and more attention 1168 01:11:57,570 --> 01:12:01,410 Jay: being given to non- binary athletes who are excelling. But 1169 01:12:01,410 --> 01:12:05,460 Jay: also know LGBTQ athletes in general deserve a space in 1170 01:12:05,460 --> 01:12:09,150 Jay: running, and so that blossoming is really exciting to see. 1171 01:12:10,229 --> 01:12:15,960 Meb Keflezighi: Excellent. Jay, as a race director for the FRNY LGBT Pride Run and 1172 01:12:15,960 --> 01:12:19,438 Meb Keflezighi: advocacy for inclusion, what steps do you think road races 1173 01:12:19,439 --> 01:12:22,350 Meb Keflezighi: and marathons still need to take to be more welcome 1174 01:12:22,350 --> 01:12:25,710 Meb Keflezighi: to non- binary and LGBTQ+ athletes? 1175 01:12:26,460 --> 01:12:28,590 Jay: Yeah, I mean, it's a great question. Let me first 1176 01:12:28,590 --> 01:12:32,429 Jay: just start by saying that the LGBT Pride Run now 1177 01:12:32,520 --> 01:12:38,400 Jay: entering its 43rd year is a real expression of that 1178 01:12:38,400 --> 01:12:42,300 Jay: queer joy that we have for New York City, right? 1179 01:12:42,810 --> 01:12:47,519 Jay: It started with just 400 people racing in 1982, and now it's 1180 01:12:48,030 --> 01:12:53,250 Jay: over 8, 000 finishers pretty much every year. And it 1181 01:12:53,250 --> 01:12:56,310 Jay: is also one of the races in the New York Roadrunner system 1182 01:12:56,310 --> 01:12:59,490 Jay: that has the largest number of non- binary participants, because 1183 01:12:59,490 --> 01:13:02,700 Jay: it is just that free and safe and welcoming space. 1184 01:13:02,700 --> 01:13:07,439 Jay: Like all of other New York Roadrunners races and many other 1185 01:13:07,439 --> 01:13:09,990 Jay: races are. I think there's a few things that races 1186 01:13:09,990 --> 01:13:13,500 Jay: can do that are what we might call low- hanging 1187 01:13:13,500 --> 01:13:17,160 Jay: fruits, right? And it's just helping bring visibility to the non- 1188 01:13:17,160 --> 01:13:22,680 Jay: binary category. Not even just to say to legitimize it, 1189 01:13:22,680 --> 01:13:25,350 Jay: but to really be out and proud and say, " That 1190 01:13:25,350 --> 01:13:27,870 Jay: this is something that we're offering for our participants to 1191 01:13:27,870 --> 01:13:30,660 Jay: be able to run authentically. And we are providing a 1192 01:13:30,660 --> 01:13:34,469 Jay: safe space for not just LGBTQ athletes, but everyone to 1193 01:13:34,470 --> 01:13:37,170 Jay: be here and be prideful in the way that they 1194 01:13:37,170 --> 01:13:41,010 Jay: run." That's how they represent themselves on the website, in 1195 01:13:41,010 --> 01:13:46,500 Jay: social media, in language. Making sure that there's inclusive language 1196 01:13:46,500 --> 01:13:50,460 Jay: and not just necessarily very specific gendered language. All those things are 1197 01:13:50,460 --> 01:13:53,910 Jay: really easy, right? They're pretty simple steps, but they go 1198 01:13:53,910 --> 01:13:56,880 Jay: a long way to helping show people that it's a supportive environment. 1199 01:13:57,150 --> 01:13:59,790 Meb Keflezighi: Great. Running is something that is very inclusive that we 1200 01:13:59,790 --> 01:14:03,120 Meb Keflezighi: feel, and you are both on the road a lot 1201 01:14:03,120 --> 01:14:05,729 Meb Keflezighi: and racist all the time. Talk to us about the 1202 01:14:05,729 --> 01:14:09,960 Meb Keflezighi: changes that you are seeing in terms of the LGBTQ running community. 1203 01:14:11,189 --> 01:14:16,439 Jay: Yeah, I mean, maybe I'll start. Jake, I think when 1204 01:14:16,439 --> 01:14:19,380 Jay: I first moved to New York and joined Frontrunners, there 1205 01:14:19,380 --> 01:14:23,340 Jay: weren't really that many out athletes even running in the 1206 01:14:23,340 --> 01:14:26,370 Jay: New York Roadrunner system, right? There were a few folks, 1207 01:14:26,370 --> 01:14:31,620 Jay: and Jake, you were out there and obviously impressed and 1208 01:14:31,620 --> 01:14:35,910 Jay: inspired me. But now we're seeing more and more athletes, 1209 01:14:37,380 --> 01:14:39,689 Jay: whether they be from Frontrunners or from elsewhere, right? If 1210 01:14:39,689 --> 01:14:43,349 Jay: you look at the 2024 Olympic team trials, Frontrunners was 1211 01:14:43,350 --> 01:14:46,680 Jay: represented there with Scotty Nelson, who I know you have 1212 01:14:46,680 --> 01:14:50,939 Jay: also interviewed on this podcast as one of only a 1213 01:14:50,939 --> 01:14:55,680 Jay: few out gay runners at the Olympic team trials for Team 1214 01:14:55,680 --> 01:14:59,580 Jay: USA. And I think as we're starting to see, as 1215 01:14:59,580 --> 01:15:01,950 Jay: we have role models like that and role models like 1216 01:15:01,950 --> 01:15:06,510 Jay: Jake and Sophia and other people, the more we have 1217 01:15:06,510 --> 01:15:10,229 Jay: of that, the more people feel empowered to not hide 1218 01:15:10,229 --> 01:15:13,260 Jay: a part of their identity when they run. Whether it's 1219 01:15:13,620 --> 01:15:17,790 Jay: professionally at the elite level or whether it's at the 1220 01:15:17,790 --> 01:15:18,600 Jay: community level. 1221 01:15:18,870 --> 01:15:22,438 Meb Keflezighi: Pretty awesome. Well, both of you are doing great work and keep inspiring 1222 01:15:22,439 --> 01:15:25,620 Meb Keflezighi: and changing people's lives, so thanks for being on the 1223 01:15:25,620 --> 01:15:26,071 Meb Keflezighi: podcast. Wish you all the best. 1224 01:15:26,071 --> 01:15:26,072 Jay: Thanks, Meb. 1225 01:15:26,072 --> 01:15:26,073 Jacob: Thank you so much. 1226 01:15:26,073 --> 01:15:31,679 Meb Keflezighi: Thank you both for joining us and for being members of 1227 01:15:31,680 --> 01:15:34,920 Meb Keflezighi: New York Roadrunners. Now it's time for today's Meb Bennett. 1228 01:15:35,400 --> 01:15:39,180 Meb Bennet: Thanks, Rob. Running buddies train you for a marathon or half 1229 01:15:39,180 --> 01:15:41,910 Meb Bennet: marathon can be tough, but it is a lot easier 1230 01:15:41,910 --> 01:15:45,689 Meb Bennet: when you have running Buddy by your side. Valentine's Day 1231 01:15:45,689 --> 01:15:48,540 Meb Bennet: is a great reminder that running partners are like the 1232 01:15:48,540 --> 01:15:53,130 Meb Bennet: perfect training match. They keep you motivated, hold you accountable, 1233 01:15:53,130 --> 01:15:57,089 Meb Bennet: and make the miles more enjoyable. Whether it's a friend, 1234 01:15:57,090 --> 01:16:01,139 Meb Bennet: spouse, or teammate, having someone to share the highs and 1235 01:16:01,140 --> 01:16:04,470 Meb Bennet: the lows of training helps build a stronger bond and 1236 01:16:04,470 --> 01:16:08,460 Meb Bennet: make the process more fun. So this Valentine's Day, give 1237 01:16:08,460 --> 01:16:11,849 Meb Bennet: the gift of training partner and go crash those miles 1238 01:16:11,850 --> 01:16:14,850 Meb Bennet: together. It is a win- win for your fitness and 1239 01:16:14,850 --> 01:16:18,540 Meb Bennet: for your relationship. As I was training, I had a 1240 01:16:18,540 --> 01:16:21,300 Meb Bennet: lot of great partners that I trained with, but also I 1241 01:16:21,300 --> 01:16:25,620 Meb Bennet: had someone on the bike. So those conversations, those highs 1242 01:16:25,620 --> 01:16:29,160 Meb Bennet: and lows of life and marathon training are dialogue that 1243 01:16:29,160 --> 01:16:32,130 Meb Bennet: makes the miles go by so fast. Especially under tough 1244 01:16:32,130 --> 01:16:35,310 Meb Bennet: conditions, it is important to be able to be with 1245 01:16:35,310 --> 01:16:39,120 Meb Bennet: somebody that keeps you accountable and make it a lot more fun. Sometimes you say, " 1246 01:16:39,120 --> 01:16:41,130 Meb Bennet: I can't believe we already ran eight miles or nine 1247 01:16:41,130 --> 01:16:43,020 Meb Bennet: miles," so keep that friendship going. 1248 01:16:43,650 --> 01:16:46,769 Rob Simmelkjaer: All right, what an episode this was today. Thank you 1249 01:16:46,770 --> 01:16:49,439 Rob Simmelkjaer: to all of our guests, New York Roadrunners board chair, 1250 01:16:49,439 --> 01:16:53,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: Nnenna Lynch, Jacob Caswell and Jay Solly as well. If 1251 01:16:53,910 --> 01:16:56,639 Rob Simmelkjaer: you like this episode, make sure you go ahead, subscribe, 1252 01:16:56,670 --> 01:16:59,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: rate, leave us a comment or a question, wherever you 1253 01:16:59,400 --> 01:17:02,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: listen. We'll answer your question and you'll also help others 1254 01:17:02,939 --> 01:17:05,639 Rob Simmelkjaer: find a podcast as well. Thanks for hanging out with us 1255 01:17:05,640 --> 01:17:08,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: this week. If you're training or whatever you're doing, enjoy 1256 01:17:08,580 --> 01:17:09,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: the miles.