1 00:00:03,930 --> 00:00:08,250 Speaker 1: Thank you, New York. Today we're reminded of the power 2 00:00:08,250 --> 00:00:13,710 Speaker 1: of community and the power of coming together. Athletes, on your mark. 3 00:00:15,810 --> 00:00:19,860 Speaker 2: The first woman to finish, for the second straight year, here in 4 00:00:19,860 --> 00:00:23,610 Speaker 2: the New York City Marathon is Miki Gorman, a smiling Miki Gorman, 5 00:00:23,610 --> 00:00:27,002 Speaker 2: and why not? 2: 29:30, the time for (inaudible) . 6 00:00:27,002 --> 00:00:30,540 Speaker 3: Look at the emotion of Shalane Flanagan as she comes to 7 00:00:30,540 --> 00:00:34,409 Speaker 3: the line. Pointing to his chest, pointed to the USA 8 00:00:34,409 --> 00:00:44,130 Speaker 3: he so proudly wears across his chest. A great day for Meb Keflezighi. 9 00:00:44,130 --> 00:00:47,640 Rob Simmelkjaer: Hey everybody, and welcome to Set the Pace, the official 10 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:51,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: podcast of New York Road Runners, presented by Peloton. Nice 11 00:00:51,630 --> 00:00:53,070 Rob Simmelkjaer: to have you with us this week. I'm your host, 12 00:00:53,070 --> 00:00:55,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: Rob Simmelkjaer, the CEO of New York Road Runners. And 13 00:00:56,100 --> 00:01:01,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: with me, Peloton instructor extraordinaire, Becs Gentry. What's up Becs? 14 00:01:01,740 --> 00:01:01,951 Rob Simmelkjaer: How are you? 15 00:01:01,951 --> 00:01:04,650 Becs Gentry: That always makes me giggle. I think every time you 16 00:01:04,650 --> 00:01:08,550 Becs Gentry: introduce me in a different way, I always giggle. I'm 17 00:01:08,550 --> 00:01:09,569 Becs Gentry: fantastic. Thank you. 18 00:01:09,569 --> 00:01:13,694 Rob Simmelkjaer: You are an extraordinaire. How many people have I met 19 00:01:13,694 --> 00:01:16,679 Rob Simmelkjaer: in the last months that we've been doing this podcast 20 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:21,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: together, who tell me that Becs is their favorite instructor? It's 21 00:01:21,270 --> 00:01:23,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: what gets them up, it's what gets them on the 22 00:01:23,220 --> 00:01:27,959 Rob Simmelkjaer: tread. You make a big impact in that Peloton world, 23 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:29,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: and I'm not just saying that. I hear that all 24 00:01:29,610 --> 00:01:32,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: the time, so I think that's the appropriate word. 25 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:33,121 Becs Gentry: Too kind. 26 00:01:33,121 --> 00:01:34,919 Rob Simmelkjaer: Are you surviving this winter? How are you doing? 27 00:01:35,729 --> 00:01:37,680 Becs Gentry: I'm not training, so I'm good. 28 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:37,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah. 29 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:43,229 Becs Gentry: I have zero guilt about not getting out there for miles. 30 00:01:44,310 --> 00:01:47,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: That's a good segue. 31 00:01:47,970 --> 00:01:48,361 Becs Gentry: Which is... Yeah. 32 00:01:48,361 --> 00:01:48,481 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... to my situation. 33 00:01:48,481 --> 00:01:48,482 Becs Gentry: ... which is a really good segue to- 34 00:01:48,482 --> 00:01:48,483 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... which is quite different. 35 00:01:48,483 --> 00:01:50,341 Becs Gentry: Why are you not liking this winter so much, Rob? 36 00:01:50,341 --> 00:01:54,510 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah. Yeah, because I am training, and I've been alluding to 37 00:01:54,510 --> 00:01:56,880 Rob Simmelkjaer: it, but I always like to hold the news until 38 00:01:56,880 --> 00:01:58,351 Rob Simmelkjaer: maybe a month out, until I feel like I'm really doing it. 39 00:01:58,351 --> 00:01:59,010 Becs Gentry: We're so similar. 40 00:01:59,730 --> 00:02:02,669 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah, but I'm going to run the Tokyo Marathon. 41 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:03,060 Becs Gentry: Wow. 42 00:02:03,060 --> 00:02:04,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: I'm going to give this a go. Absolutely. 43 00:02:05,100 --> 00:02:05,910 Becs Gentry: Let's go. 44 00:02:06,270 --> 00:02:07,470 Rob Simmelkjaer: We're doing this. We're doing this, Becs. 45 00:02:07,470 --> 00:02:07,800 Becs Gentry: Yes, you are. 46 00:02:08,520 --> 00:02:13,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: I'm excited. I'm really excited. After running Berlin, I knew 47 00:02:13,290 --> 00:02:15,720 Rob Simmelkjaer: I was going to the Tokyo Marathon. I had already 48 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:19,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: made a plan to go to that event. I have a 49 00:02:19,770 --> 00:02:24,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: pattern of going to usually one international major every year 50 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:27,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: to represent New York Road Runners. So this was the 51 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:29,940 Rob Simmelkjaer: year I was going to Tokyo. And after running Berlin 52 00:02:29,940 --> 00:02:34,500 Rob Simmelkjaer: and coming out feeling pretty healthy, I was like, you know what? I kind of running these 53 00:02:34,500 --> 00:02:35,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: events when I go to them, if I can. 54 00:02:35,910 --> 00:02:37,590 Becs Gentry: Yeah, exactly. Why not? 55 00:02:37,590 --> 00:02:41,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: Sitting around watching people run, it's great, but doing it 56 00:02:41,220 --> 00:02:42,871 Rob Simmelkjaer: is so much better. You really get the experience. 57 00:02:42,871 --> 00:02:42,872 Becs Gentry: Exactly. 58 00:02:42,872 --> 00:02:47,550 Rob Simmelkjaer: And I can really compare it to the experience of running 59 00:02:47,550 --> 00:02:50,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: in New York, or with the other majors. So I 60 00:02:50,370 --> 00:02:53,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: was fortunate enough to get an invitation from the amazing 61 00:02:53,850 --> 00:02:57,149 Rob Simmelkjaer: folks in Tokyo, our friends, the race director out there, 62 00:02:57,180 --> 00:03:00,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yasu and former race director, Tad. They're just a great, 63 00:03:00,660 --> 00:03:03,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: great group of people who run that event. So I'm 64 00:03:03,780 --> 00:03:07,230 Rob Simmelkjaer: really excited. And I think what I'm frankly most excited 65 00:03:07,230 --> 00:03:09,481 Rob Simmelkjaer: about, Becs, is just going to Japan. 66 00:03:09,481 --> 00:03:10,020 Becs Gentry: A hundred percent. 67 00:03:10,470 --> 00:03:14,970 Rob Simmelkjaer: I've never been. It's such an unbelievable, amazing and unique place on 68 00:03:15,330 --> 00:03:18,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: our earth. And I'm just really excited to visit Japan 69 00:03:18,900 --> 00:03:19,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: for the first time. 70 00:03:19,889 --> 00:03:23,940 Becs Gentry: Well, first and foremost, I'm incredibly excited for you. I'm 71 00:03:23,940 --> 00:03:28,290 Becs Gentry: very proud of you for doing it again, getting out 72 00:03:28,290 --> 00:03:34,440 Becs Gentry: there, getting this second in six months, really, done. And 73 00:03:34,710 --> 00:03:42,360 Becs Gentry: I will concur. Japan is phenomenal. I questioned everything about 74 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:44,580 Becs Gentry: my choice to live in the USA when I came 75 00:03:44,580 --> 00:03:48,960 Becs Gentry: home from Japan, because I was like, what is wrong with us all 76 00:03:48,990 --> 00:03:53,400 Becs Gentry: here? We are so rude. We are so dirty. We are 77 00:03:53,910 --> 00:03:58,740 Becs Gentry: just not cool. We're not cool to each other, especially. 78 00:03:58,830 --> 00:04:02,550 Becs Gentry: And something that really stuck out to me in Japan 79 00:04:02,550 --> 00:04:07,230 Becs Gentry: is, even when there's a huge race on, even when 80 00:04:07,230 --> 00:04:13,110 Becs Gentry: it's as busy as Tokyo is as a metropolis, people 81 00:04:13,230 --> 00:04:17,550 Becs Gentry: are kind and patient to one another. The subway system 82 00:04:17,550 --> 00:04:21,810 Becs Gentry: you will see is organized and calm, even though there 83 00:04:21,810 --> 00:04:25,080 Becs Gentry: are more people probably than in New York riding it. 84 00:04:25,770 --> 00:04:29,370 Becs Gentry: And I really did take on board with me that 85 00:04:29,700 --> 00:04:34,409 Becs Gentry: Japanese way of just... We all get frustrated. Someone pushes 86 00:04:34,410 --> 00:04:36,240 Becs Gentry: in front of you when you're in the line for 87 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:38,760 Becs Gentry: the bathroom at a race, and you're cursing them out 88 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:40,950 Becs Gentry: on your mind, but you take a deep breath, because 89 00:04:40,950 --> 00:04:43,470 Becs Gentry: you're like, " You know what? We're all going to get there. We're going to get there." 90 00:04:43,860 --> 00:04:46,890 Becs Gentry: So I'm so happy you're going to go and experience 91 00:04:46,890 --> 00:04:51,300 Becs Gentry: this amazing, amazing city, and run 26.2. Because what better 92 00:04:51,390 --> 00:04:54,060 Becs Gentry: than, I love saying it when I feel like having 93 00:04:54,060 --> 00:04:57,180 Becs Gentry: a workout, especially if it's a sixty- minute class that 94 00:04:57,180 --> 00:04:59,250 Becs Gentry: I teach and there's members in the room, I'm like, " 95 00:04:59,610 --> 00:05:02,490 Becs Gentry: I'm going to do this with you, because there is 96 00:05:02,490 --> 00:05:06,240 Becs Gentry: nothing better than experiencing what your people are experiencing. And 97 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:08,880 Becs Gentry: here we go." Here he goes, the CEO of New 98 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:12,750 Becs Gentry: York Road Runners, off to experience another World Marathon major. 99 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:15,960 Rob Simmelkjaer: I can't wait. If I'm fortunate enough to make it 100 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:17,099 Rob Simmelkjaer: to the finish line- 101 00:05:17,190 --> 00:05:17,190 Becs Gentry: You will. 102 00:05:17,190 --> 00:05:21,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: It will be my third star in the Abbott World Marathon Majors- 103 00:05:21,570 --> 00:05:22,681 Becs Gentry: Halfway to the OG six. 104 00:05:22,681 --> 00:05:25,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... journey, as they say, the six- star journey as we call it. 105 00:05:25,380 --> 00:05:28,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: So halfway, not bad. I frankly never thought I was 106 00:05:28,650 --> 00:05:30,990 Rob Simmelkjaer: going to run more than one marathon when I first 107 00:05:30,990 --> 00:05:34,589 Rob Simmelkjaer: ran the New York Marathon back in the day. So hey, 108 00:05:34,589 --> 00:05:37,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: every one I add on is more than I ever 109 00:05:37,770 --> 00:05:39,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: thought I would do, so I'm excited about that. Now, Becs, 110 00:05:40,860 --> 00:05:44,640 Rob Simmelkjaer: what I have not been excited about, and I've got 111 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:48,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: to be honest, is the winter training. So this is 112 00:05:48,690 --> 00:05:52,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: obviously my first ever spring marathon. I have never trained- 113 00:05:52,710 --> 00:05:52,710 Becs Gentry: Oh, I'm sorry. 114 00:05:52,710 --> 00:05:58,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... for a marathon in the winter months before. And it 115 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:03,720 Rob Simmelkjaer: has really been a struggle for me. I think, Becs, 116 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:08,789 Rob Simmelkjaer: what's getting me through it is the very limited goals 117 00:06:08,790 --> 00:06:11,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: that I have for this race. I am not trying to 118 00:06:11,610 --> 00:06:14,849 Rob Simmelkjaer: set a PR. I'm not trying to do anything. I 119 00:06:14,850 --> 00:06:17,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: just want to finish it. And so I'm banking on 120 00:06:17,910 --> 00:06:21,029 Rob Simmelkjaer: the fitness I had from Berlin to get me through. 121 00:06:21,330 --> 00:06:23,789 Rob Simmelkjaer: But unlike Berlin where I was really, I used the 122 00:06:23,790 --> 00:06:25,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: Run It (inaudible) app when I was training for 123 00:06:25,020 --> 00:06:28,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: Berlin. I was doing speed workouts, and tempo workouts. 124 00:06:28,950 --> 00:06:29,010 Becs Gentry: You were committed. 125 00:06:29,010 --> 00:06:32,339 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... and I was going for it, because it was summer and it was warm. And even 126 00:06:32,339 --> 00:06:34,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: though it was sometimes too warm, I had no trouble 127 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:35,491 Rob Simmelkjaer: getting out the door for a run. 128 00:06:35,491 --> 00:06:39,570 Becs Gentry: And we had a lot longer daylight hours to play with too. 129 00:06:39,570 --> 00:06:42,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: That's the thing. Becs, it's the daylight. It just kills me, because- 130 00:06:42,270 --> 00:06:42,271 Becs Gentry: Awful. 131 00:06:42,271 --> 00:06:45,360 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... I've got to do my runs typically at 6:00 AM, 5: 132 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:49,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: 30 AM, before whether my kids are getting up, or 133 00:06:49,950 --> 00:06:53,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: work is starting, and there's just no light. So I 134 00:06:53,250 --> 00:06:55,349 Rob Simmelkjaer: don't like running outside in the dark. That's not a 135 00:06:55,350 --> 00:06:58,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: thing I'm comfortable with, especially when I'm out here in 136 00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:00,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: Connecticut versus in the city, where it's a little bit 137 00:07:00,330 --> 00:07:03,421 Rob Simmelkjaer: easier to do. So where does that put me? 138 00:07:03,421 --> 00:07:03,570 Becs Gentry: On the treadmill. 139 00:07:04,140 --> 00:07:08,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: It puts me on a treadmill. And I know at Peloton- 140 00:07:08,130 --> 00:07:09,631 Becs Gentry: Careful what you say. 141 00:07:09,631 --> 00:07:11,881 Rob Simmelkjaer: Really, Becs. This is really, I've got to get myself on the Peloton track. 142 00:07:11,881 --> 00:07:12,361 Becs Gentry: You do. 143 00:07:12,780 --> 00:07:15,960 Rob Simmelkjaer: Because I'm just going and doing treadmill workouts on my own, 144 00:07:16,350 --> 00:07:20,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: and I just can't stand it. It just kills me to 145 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:21,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: run on the treadmill. 146 00:07:21,150 --> 00:07:21,002 Becs Gentry: We need to get you a tread class (inaudible) . 147 00:07:21,002 --> 00:07:27,810 Rob Simmelkjaer: So I've got to get in a Becs Gentry running class on the tread, because it is just 148 00:07:27,810 --> 00:07:30,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: a struggle for me to run on these treadmills. I've 149 00:07:30,420 --> 00:07:33,481 Rob Simmelkjaer: learned that about five miles is my max at this point on a tread. 150 00:07:33,481 --> 00:07:33,811 Becs Gentry: Oh, wow. 151 00:07:33,811 --> 00:07:37,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: And then I'm just done. I can't mentally get myself any 152 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:40,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: longer than about 45 minutes or so on the treadmill. 153 00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:44,430 Becs Gentry: Have you done any combo? Tread start and then finish 154 00:07:44,430 --> 00:07:45,210 Becs Gentry: off outside? 155 00:07:45,780 --> 00:07:48,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: I have not done that. I should probably try that. 156 00:07:48,630 --> 00:07:50,460 Becs Gentry: Try that when you're in Connecticut, because as you say, 157 00:07:50,460 --> 00:07:53,220 Becs Gentry: it's easier in New York, because you'll generally find a 158 00:07:53,310 --> 00:07:55,170 Becs Gentry: bunch of other people in New York who are willing 159 00:07:55,170 --> 00:07:59,160 Becs Gentry: to pack it up and go for a darker early morning run, 160 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:02,700 Becs Gentry: because I think it's more sensible to run in a pack in 161 00:08:02,700 --> 00:08:07,650 Becs Gentry: the darkness, for sure. Especially for women too. But I 162 00:08:07,650 --> 00:08:10,560 Becs Gentry: do like that, the tread start, if it's a super 163 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:13,890 Becs Gentry: early morning start, especially if you want to turn over 164 00:08:13,890 --> 00:08:16,020 Becs Gentry: the legs, and maybe do some faster work. And then 165 00:08:16,020 --> 00:08:19,320 Becs Gentry: head out and finish off the easy miles outside, bundle 166 00:08:19,320 --> 00:08:22,080 Becs Gentry: up, obviously change out of your sweaty stuff, bundle up 167 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:26,550 Becs Gentry: for the cold, and get it done that way. And 168 00:08:26,550 --> 00:08:28,530 Becs Gentry: I think vice versa. If you've got a long run 169 00:08:28,530 --> 00:08:30,900 Becs Gentry: and it's icy out, get your easy part of the 170 00:08:30,900 --> 00:08:34,110 Becs Gentry: long run done. If you've got a combo, I like 171 00:08:34,110 --> 00:08:36,809 Becs Gentry: to get people running a bit of faster times in 172 00:08:36,809 --> 00:08:38,820 Becs Gentry: the long runs nearer the race, just to turn the 173 00:08:38,820 --> 00:08:41,670 Becs Gentry: legs over. Pop that onto the tread, so you're not 174 00:08:41,670 --> 00:08:44,130 Becs Gentry: risking slipping on the ice and snow if it is 175 00:08:44,130 --> 00:08:49,559 Becs Gentry: on the ground, but it's patience. And I've got to tell 176 00:08:49,559 --> 00:08:52,200 Becs Gentry: you, as much as it's awful on the tread for 177 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:54,120 Becs Gentry: a long time, and I say that with love as 178 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:57,480 Becs Gentry: a Peloton instructor who instructs very long classes, our classes, 179 00:08:57,480 --> 00:09:01,020 Becs Gentry: it's different. There's distraction. We're entertaining you whilst you're doing it. 180 00:09:01,679 --> 00:09:03,960 Becs Gentry: But if you are just on a simple tread with 181 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:07,740 Becs Gentry: no screen and no Peloton instructor, it tasks your brain 182 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:10,050 Becs Gentry: almost as much as your body to stay on it 183 00:09:10,080 --> 00:09:12,540 Becs Gentry: for X number of miles that you have to do. 184 00:09:13,050 --> 00:09:18,990 Becs Gentry: But when those races are boring, or those races are 185 00:09:18,990 --> 00:09:22,290 Becs Gentry: not going well, or if you listen to music, your 186 00:09:22,290 --> 00:09:27,000 Becs Gentry: headphones died, or your phone died, I'm sorry, but you're 187 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:30,090 Becs Gentry: going to have to get through that mental battle. So 188 00:09:30,510 --> 00:09:34,199 Becs Gentry: sometimes I do prescribe longer treadmill work in order to 189 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:37,410 Becs Gentry: train the brain, because you might need that as much 190 00:09:37,410 --> 00:09:39,690 Becs Gentry: as the body training on race day, if all went 191 00:09:39,690 --> 00:09:41,670 Becs Gentry: wrong. You don't want to bail on a race, because 192 00:09:41,670 --> 00:09:43,170 Becs Gentry: your headphones died. That's lame. 193 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:49,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: I tell you what, that's great advice. It really is. It makes a 194 00:09:49,170 --> 00:09:51,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: lot of sense to me that you would tell people 195 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:53,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: to do that. And it's funny, you're mentioning this bailing 196 00:09:53,670 --> 00:09:57,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: on something for the headphones. This morning, Becs, true story. 197 00:09:57,540 --> 00:10:00,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: I did not get on the treadmill this morning, because 198 00:10:01,140 --> 00:10:03,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: my headphones were not charged. I was like, " No, I 199 00:10:03,420 --> 00:10:07,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: cannot do this this morning." So I put my headphones in 200 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:10,589 Rob Simmelkjaer: the charger, and I'm going to run later this afternoon 201 00:10:10,590 --> 00:10:12,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: outside. I have a little window I can run today, 202 00:10:13,020 --> 00:10:15,631 Rob Simmelkjaer: but it's literally, the idea of being on the treadmill without the- 203 00:10:15,631 --> 00:10:15,631 Becs Gentry: Without noise distraction. 204 00:10:15,631 --> 00:10:21,809 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... the music, without the news or whatever the show I was going to watch. I was like, " No, 205 00:10:21,809 --> 00:10:25,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: no, no, no. That's a step too far for me. I can't do it." And I missed 206 00:10:25,380 --> 00:10:29,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: a run, because my headphones were not charged, so if you're out there- 207 00:10:29,370 --> 00:10:31,410 Becs Gentry: If you were my client, I'd be telling you off. 208 00:10:31,500 --> 00:10:34,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: Oh, well, you know what? I can see. You can't see right 209 00:10:34,770 --> 00:10:37,559 Rob Simmelkjaer: now. The look on Becs' face is one of disapproval, 210 00:10:39,780 --> 00:10:39,871 Rob Simmelkjaer: but understanding. 211 00:10:39,871 --> 00:10:39,872 Becs Gentry: Serious disapproval. 212 00:10:39,872 --> 00:10:40,531 Rob Simmelkjaer: But understanding. 213 00:10:40,710 --> 00:10:40,860 Becs Gentry: Yes. 214 00:10:40,860 --> 00:10:43,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: So for those of you out there who are struggling 215 00:10:44,220 --> 00:10:46,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: through this winter training session, first of all, some great 216 00:10:46,800 --> 00:10:48,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: tips from Becs there, but I just want you to 217 00:10:48,660 --> 00:10:54,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: know, I understand. I really do understand, and I think 218 00:10:54,450 --> 00:10:58,470 Rob Simmelkjaer: really it's just learning some tricks, I think, to get 219 00:10:58,470 --> 00:10:58,741 Rob Simmelkjaer: through it- 220 00:10:58,741 --> 00:10:58,742 Becs Gentry: It is. 221 00:10:58,742 --> 00:11:02,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... and to find a way through these short days, 222 00:11:02,100 --> 00:11:05,220 Rob Simmelkjaer: and these cold days, to achieve our goals in the spring. 223 00:11:05,580 --> 00:11:09,720 Becs Gentry: It is. Well, talking of cold running, it was a pretty cold weekend 224 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:11,610 Becs Gentry: here in New York. It wasn't as cold as we 225 00:11:11,610 --> 00:11:14,520 Becs Gentry: have had, but it was still a little nippy. It 226 00:11:14,520 --> 00:11:16,439 Becs Gentry: was a bit gray as well. It was a bit 227 00:11:16,440 --> 00:11:17,550 Becs Gentry: of a double whammy of meh. 228 00:11:17,550 --> 00:11:20,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: Oh, Becs, make no mistake. Sunday morning at the New 229 00:11:20,910 --> 00:11:24,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: York Road Runners Manhattan 10K, it was freezing. 230 00:11:24,420 --> 00:11:24,421 Becs Gentry: It was. It really was. 231 00:11:24,421 --> 00:11:27,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: It was very, very cold. I think the- 232 00:11:27,390 --> 00:11:28,709 Becs Gentry: It was windy too, wasn't it? 233 00:11:28,950 --> 00:11:30,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: The wind luckily wasn't so bad- 234 00:11:31,830 --> 00:11:32,461 Becs Gentry: No. Oh, Brooklyn. 235 00:11:32,461 --> 00:11:35,339 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... but it was 18 degrees. It was 18 Fahrenheit at the start of the race. 236 00:11:35,340 --> 00:11:36,059 Becs Gentry: No, thank you. 237 00:11:36,150 --> 00:11:39,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: It was absolutely frigid. And I just want to first 238 00:11:39,690 --> 00:11:42,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: of all give some love to our staff, and our 239 00:11:42,630 --> 00:11:46,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: volunteers, because getting out there, starting to set up at 2: 240 00:11:46,410 --> 00:11:50,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: 00, 3:00 in the morning, out there all night. Before any 241 00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:52,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: heaters have been set up and tents have been set 242 00:11:52,770 --> 00:11:55,679 Rob Simmelkjaer: up, they're doing the hard work in the wee hours 243 00:11:55,679 --> 00:11:59,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: on these cold nights. Our staff, our folks based in 244 00:11:59,130 --> 00:12:02,400 Rob Simmelkjaer: Manhattan, we've got a whole staff based at the warehouse 245 00:12:02,400 --> 00:12:04,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: that we have out in the Bronx, who come to 246 00:12:04,260 --> 00:12:07,260 Rob Simmelkjaer: these races early and start setting things up. They are 247 00:12:07,260 --> 00:12:10,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: heroes on days like that. So I want to thank them, I 248 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:13,679 Rob Simmelkjaer: want to thank our volunteers of course, for being out 249 00:12:13,679 --> 00:12:15,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: there. And I want to thank the runners, because I 250 00:12:15,750 --> 00:12:18,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: thought we'd have maybe kind of a high no- show 251 00:12:18,210 --> 00:12:20,250 Rob Simmelkjaer: rate. It was a beautiful day. The sun was out, 252 00:12:20,250 --> 00:12:25,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: it wasn't too windy, and that was enough for 7, 858 253 00:12:25,380 --> 00:12:28,860 Rob Simmelkjaer: runners to cross the finish line in the Manhattan 10K. 254 00:12:29,010 --> 00:12:31,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: This, by the way, was a big year for this 255 00:12:31,020 --> 00:12:34,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: race, because it's now joined the Five- Borough Series. It's 256 00:12:34,770 --> 00:12:38,069 Rob Simmelkjaer: the first race of the Five- Borough Series this year, 257 00:12:38,070 --> 00:12:40,559 Rob Simmelkjaer: first time it's ever been in that position. So this 258 00:12:40,559 --> 00:12:42,809 Rob Simmelkjaer: was a really big race, and we were thrilled to 259 00:12:42,809 --> 00:12:46,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: see such an amazing turnout for that race on Sunday 260 00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:50,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: morning. The winners were familiar names, the non- binary winner, 261 00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:55,470 Rob Simmelkjaer: Elijah Taylor, 35:47 third race in a row, Elijah has 262 00:12:55,470 --> 00:12:58,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: won their division for the women. Former Set the Pace 263 00:12:58,650 --> 00:13:02,550 Rob Simmelkjaer: Member Moment guest, Khia Kurtenbach was first, with a time 264 00:13:02,550 --> 00:13:05,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: of 34:18. I saw Khia at the finish line, had 265 00:13:05,610 --> 00:13:08,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: a chance to congratulate her. And on the men's side 266 00:13:08,370 --> 00:13:12,240 Rob Simmelkjaer: it was an El Jazouli, but not Jaouad, who we've been 267 00:13:12,270 --> 00:13:16,559 Rob Simmelkjaer: talking about a lot. His brother, Issam El Jazouli won, 268 00:13:16,830 --> 00:13:21,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: with a blazing time of 31:15. Becs, there was no one 269 00:13:21,300 --> 00:13:25,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: close to Issam El Jazouli brother as he crossed the finish line. 270 00:13:25,410 --> 00:13:26,939 Rob Simmelkjaer: On Sunday, I had a chance to chat with him 271 00:13:26,940 --> 00:13:29,820 Rob Simmelkjaer: a little bit. He runs for a garden state track 272 00:13:29,820 --> 00:13:33,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: club or running club out of New Jersey, and did 273 00:13:33,300 --> 00:13:38,820 Rob Simmelkjaer: a phenomenal job. So congratulations to Issam. His brother Jaouad 274 00:13:38,820 --> 00:13:41,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: won the Joe K and the Fred Lebow. So those 275 00:13:41,190 --> 00:13:44,280 Rob Simmelkjaer: brothers are hot right now, and they're doing really well. 276 00:13:44,280 --> 00:13:52,260 Becs Gentry: So well. My goodness. Yeah, it was chilly. And yeah, I'm happy. I had 277 00:13:52,410 --> 00:13:54,089 Becs Gentry: nearly two hours on the tread on Saturday. 278 00:13:54,960 --> 00:13:55,949 Rob Simmelkjaer: How nice for you. 279 00:13:57,480 --> 00:13:57,809 Becs Gentry: Teaching. 280 00:13:57,809 --> 00:14:01,319 Rob Simmelkjaer: It was a good day. Good day to be on 281 00:14:01,500 --> 00:14:01,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: the tread- 282 00:14:01,560 --> 00:14:01,561 Becs Gentry: Good day to be inside. 283 00:14:01,561 --> 00:14:05,490 Rob Simmelkjaer: ... doing your thing on that beautiful Peloton treadmill. Absolutely. All 284 00:14:05,490 --> 00:14:07,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: right. Well, Becs, we've got a great show today. 285 00:14:07,410 --> 00:14:07,920 Becs Gentry: We do. 286 00:14:08,010 --> 00:14:10,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: Coming up, we've got someone who really is one of 287 00:14:10,740 --> 00:14:15,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: the most impactful and inspirational people that I've met in 288 00:14:15,030 --> 00:14:17,520 Rob Simmelkjaer: my time as CEO of New York Road Runners, who 289 00:14:17,520 --> 00:14:20,970 Rob Simmelkjaer: works in the running industry. Harry Chandler, he's the co- 290 00:14:20,970 --> 00:14:24,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: owner of the Charlotte Running Company in Charlotte, North Carolina. 291 00:14:24,450 --> 00:14:29,640 Rob Simmelkjaer: And he's one of the few African- American retail store 292 00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:33,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: owners in the United States. He's had an incredible journey 293 00:14:33,150 --> 00:14:36,270 Rob Simmelkjaer: to that position. He's also the president of the Running 294 00:14:36,270 --> 00:14:39,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: Industry Association. So he's made a great impact on running, 295 00:14:39,540 --> 00:14:41,940 Rob Simmelkjaer: and we can't wait to talk to Harry about his 296 00:14:41,940 --> 00:14:46,890 Rob Simmelkjaer: journey, and everything he sees as vital to running a 297 00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:51,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: diverse, equitable and inclusive space for everybody, both the runners 298 00:14:51,780 --> 00:14:54,600 Rob Simmelkjaer: and the people who want to make it their living 299 00:14:54,600 --> 00:14:57,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: as well. And then Becs, our Member Moment today we'll 300 00:14:57,300 --> 00:15:02,430 Rob Simmelkjaer: be with Team for Kids runner, Annabella Espina, who's training 301 00:15:02,430 --> 00:15:05,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: for Tokyo as well. That's right. I'll be seeing Annabella 302 00:15:05,310 --> 00:15:08,700 Rob Simmelkjaer: over there. And then Meb will be here for today's 303 00:15:08,700 --> 00:15:11,760 Rob Simmelkjaer: Meb Minute. And Meb's going to give us pointers about 304 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:14,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: what shoes you should be running in when your marathon 305 00:15:14,370 --> 00:15:18,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: training requires a lot of long runs in icy conditions. 306 00:15:18,570 --> 00:15:19,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: Okay, I need to listen to that. 307 00:15:20,220 --> 00:15:22,950 Becs Gentry: Ready to level up your running? With the Peloton Tread 308 00:15:22,950 --> 00:15:26,970 Becs Gentry: and Tread+, you can challenge yourself anytime, anywhere. Whether you're 309 00:15:26,970 --> 00:15:30,030 Becs Gentry: building strength or working on speed, Peloton has a class 310 00:15:30,030 --> 00:15:35,010 Becs Gentry: for every goal, from 5 to 120 minute workouts. With 311 00:15:35,010 --> 00:15:39,120 Becs Gentry: muscle building classes and flexible training options, you'll have everything 312 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:42,270 Becs Gentry: you need to crush your next race, and then recover 313 00:15:42,270 --> 00:15:46,410 Becs Gentry: from it. All access membership separate. Find your push, find 314 00:15:46,410 --> 00:15:53,160 Becs Gentry: your power at onepeloton. com/ race- training. Peloton, the official 315 00:15:53,160 --> 00:15:55,740 Becs Gentry: digital fitness partner for New York Road Runners. 316 00:15:56,370 --> 00:16:00,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: Our guest today is Harry Chandler, who is quickly becoming 317 00:16:00,210 --> 00:16:03,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: a real leader in the world of running. A passionate 318 00:16:03,150 --> 00:16:06,810 Rob Simmelkjaer: runner whose journey began over two decades ago in Michigan, 319 00:16:07,140 --> 00:16:09,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: harry is now the co- owner of the Charlotte Running 320 00:16:09,690 --> 00:16:13,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: Company, one of the very few black- owned running retail 321 00:16:13,140 --> 00:16:16,710 Rob Simmelkjaer: stores in the United States, and it was voted best 322 00:16:16,710 --> 00:16:21,900 Rob Simmelkjaer: running store in America in 2021. Not only dedicated to 323 00:16:21,900 --> 00:16:25,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: the industry, he also loves running. And he's got a 324 00:16:25,200 --> 00:16:29,940 Rob Simmelkjaer: real vision for a more diverse and equitable running community. Harry 325 00:16:29,940 --> 00:16:34,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: was recently appointed the president of the Running Industry Association. 326 00:16:34,500 --> 00:16:37,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: Beyond his professional roles, Harry is deeply committed to advocating 327 00:16:37,830 --> 00:16:43,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: for underrepresented communities, emphasizing social responsibility in everything he does. 328 00:16:43,740 --> 00:16:45,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: And Harry, I've had a chance to hang out with 329 00:16:45,420 --> 00:16:47,550 Rob Simmelkjaer: you a couple of times in the New York Road 330 00:16:47,550 --> 00:16:50,850 Rob Simmelkjaer: Runners offices and seeing you around the industry, doing the 331 00:16:50,850 --> 00:16:53,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: amazing things you do. It's great to have you on 332 00:16:53,100 --> 00:16:54,150 Rob Simmelkjaer: Set the Pace. Welcome. 333 00:16:54,450 --> 00:16:57,690 Harry Chandler: Thank you. Thanks for having me. I was just there last week. 334 00:16:58,050 --> 00:17:03,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yes. Yes, you were. You've got kind of a public speaking thing, 335 00:17:03,780 --> 00:17:06,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: that you really have become excellent at as well. We'll 336 00:17:06,750 --> 00:17:09,119 Rob Simmelkjaer: talk about that in a minute. But let's just start 337 00:17:09,119 --> 00:17:12,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: with your story. And I always like to ask people who 338 00:17:12,840 --> 00:17:15,030 Rob Simmelkjaer: are unfamiliar to our audience, who come on this show, 339 00:17:15,570 --> 00:17:18,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: how'd you start running? Where did this path into running 340 00:17:18,840 --> 00:17:19,740 Rob Simmelkjaer: even start for you? 341 00:17:20,340 --> 00:17:24,750 Harry Chandler: It came in a weird space, in my actual career, 342 00:17:24,990 --> 00:17:27,540 Harry Chandler: working at a running store back home. Initially, you'd never 343 00:17:27,540 --> 00:17:31,140 Harry Chandler: see me running. I was football, and it was punishment, 344 00:17:31,920 --> 00:17:34,679 Harry Chandler: but I was real quick working in a 7- Eleven 345 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:37,440 Harry Chandler: back home in Okemos, Michigan where I'm from, ironically enough. 346 00:17:37,710 --> 00:17:40,679 Harry Chandler: And this gentleman, Tony Thomas would come in every day 347 00:17:40,859 --> 00:17:42,780 Harry Chandler: after he left work, and he would say, " Hit me, 348 00:17:42,780 --> 00:17:45,060 Harry Chandler: Harry." And I knew exactly what he meant, because he 349 00:17:45,060 --> 00:17:48,570 Harry Chandler: wanted half a pint of black velvet. And he would 350 00:17:48,570 --> 00:17:50,429 Harry Chandler: run to the, and he would grab his Mountain Dew. 351 00:17:50,700 --> 00:17:52,200 Harry Chandler: Then he'd come to the front and he'd go, "Harry, you're 352 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:53,609 Harry Chandler: better than this place. We've got to get you out 353 00:17:53,609 --> 00:17:56,490 Harry Chandler: of here. Come work with me." I'm like, " Tony, I 354 00:17:56,490 --> 00:17:58,020 Harry Chandler: don't want to work with you if you're drinking after 355 00:17:58,020 --> 00:18:01,949 Harry Chandler: every shift. What is this job?" He finally wore me 356 00:18:01,950 --> 00:18:05,460 Harry Chandler: down, and I ended up at the semi- annual sidewalk 357 00:18:05,460 --> 00:18:08,220 Harry Chandler: sale at Playmakers in Okemos, Michigan where I grew up. 358 00:18:09,240 --> 00:18:11,760 Harry Chandler: My first introduction to a specialty run shop, I'd never 359 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:13,560 Harry Chandler: been inside the door of one. And I walked in, 360 00:18:13,560 --> 00:18:18,930 Harry Chandler: and it was otherworldly. It was 15, 000 square feet of a 361 00:18:18,930 --> 00:18:22,740 Harry Chandler: waterfall, and saltwater fish tanks, and stairs on either side. 362 00:18:22,740 --> 00:18:25,380 Harry Chandler: And I'm like, what is this place? So I head 363 00:18:25,380 --> 00:18:28,170 Harry Chandler: to the back. There is a huge sign that says, " 364 00:18:28,410 --> 00:18:31,619 Harry Chandler: Head upstairs, take your name tag, take your binder and 365 00:18:31,619 --> 00:18:34,740 Harry Chandler: have a seat." So I did that. And then someone 366 00:18:34,740 --> 00:18:37,350 Harry Chandler: walks up the stairs behind me, and they neglected to 367 00:18:37,350 --> 00:18:38,970 Harry Chandler: do that/ but I said, you know what? That's none 368 00:18:38,970 --> 00:18:41,520 Harry Chandler: of my business. And we start having a conversation. And 369 00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:43,590 Harry Chandler: then the next person walks up, and they do the 370 00:18:43,590 --> 00:18:45,179 Harry Chandler: same, and then the next and the same. So I'm 371 00:18:45,180 --> 00:18:47,699 Harry Chandler: like, wait a second. So I grab a handful of 372 00:18:47,700 --> 00:18:50,369 Harry Chandler: binders and name tags, and start walking around to people, 373 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:52,770 Harry Chandler: asking them what their name is and then hand them 374 00:18:52,770 --> 00:18:56,160 Harry Chandler: their binders. And then John Benedict, who you may know, 375 00:18:56,160 --> 00:18:59,280 Harry Chandler: JB, owner of Playmakers at the time, walks up behind 376 00:18:59,280 --> 00:19:01,230 Harry Chandler: me and taps me on the shoulder and goes, " Hey, 377 00:19:01,230 --> 00:19:03,630 Harry Chandler: do you work here?" I was like, " Not at all. This 378 00:19:03,630 --> 00:19:05,520 Harry Chandler: is my first day. I should probably sit down." And 379 00:19:05,520 --> 00:19:08,280 Harry Chandler: I did. He walked away from me and headed over 380 00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:12,060 Harry Chandler: to his business partner, Tom Keenoy. And I found out 381 00:19:12,060 --> 00:19:13,770 Harry Chandler: later that he told him that if I made it 382 00:19:13,770 --> 00:19:17,100 Harry Chandler: through that he would hire me. So made it through 383 00:19:17,100 --> 00:19:19,800 Harry Chandler: the sidewalk sale, got a call from a Marty Novicki, 384 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:24,000 Harry Chandler: who's still working at Playmakers now, was offered an interview, 385 00:19:24,090 --> 00:19:27,389 Harry Chandler: came back and sat down with Karen Haley, who is 386 00:19:27,390 --> 00:19:29,639 Harry Chandler: no longer with Playmakers, but she was a huge part 387 00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:33,270 Harry Chandler: of my grooming in the specialty run industry. And I 388 00:19:33,270 --> 00:19:38,220 Harry Chandler: was hired. JB was a mentor. It took some warming 389 00:19:38,220 --> 00:19:40,109 Harry Chandler: up, a slow burn, so I was younger at that 390 00:19:40,109 --> 00:19:41,669 Harry Chandler: time. So it was a lot of late for shifts, 391 00:19:41,670 --> 00:19:44,280 Harry Chandler: a lot of missing shifts, and he was the first 392 00:19:44,280 --> 00:19:48,570 Harry Chandler: person to challenge me, because my parents were the cheerleaders, 393 00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:50,879 Harry Chandler: right? My mom and dad are from Mississippi, my dad's 394 00:19:50,880 --> 00:19:54,179 Harry Chandler: French Creole, my mom's from the South. Their son can't 395 00:19:54,180 --> 00:19:59,219 Harry Chandler: do any wrong. So that was a new opportunity to 396 00:19:59,220 --> 00:20:02,400 Harry Chandler: grow for me. So JB probably fired me, and hired 397 00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:05,221 Harry Chandler: me back like 17 times. It's like, " Hey, get out-" 398 00:20:05,221 --> 00:20:05,401 Rob Simmelkjaer: Good boss. 399 00:20:06,060 --> 00:20:08,850 Harry Chandler: Yeah. He's like, " Go home, and come back when you 400 00:20:08,850 --> 00:20:11,970 Harry Chandler: know what you want to do." And I'm like, " Okay, I will." So 401 00:20:11,970 --> 00:20:14,609 Harry Chandler: I ended up going to get my masters. Then I 402 00:20:14,609 --> 00:20:16,530 Harry Chandler: went to go work at a company called Global Orange 403 00:20:16,530 --> 00:20:19,530 Harry Chandler: Development, headquartered in East Lansing, Michigan. I was their store 404 00:20:19,530 --> 00:20:24,780 Harry Chandler: development coordinator. So I helped franchisees find the best socioeconomic 405 00:20:24,780 --> 00:20:29,369 Harry Chandler: location, bid their build- outs to contractors, hire in new 406 00:20:29,369 --> 00:20:32,100 Harry Chandler: staff, and then I moved on to the next one. It 407 00:20:32,100 --> 00:20:35,609 Harry Chandler: wasn't fulfilling for me, but it was a great opportunity 408 00:20:35,609 --> 00:20:38,250 Harry Chandler: to learn in practice. So from there I went back to 409 00:20:38,250 --> 00:20:41,100 Harry Chandler: Playmakers, of course, worked for JB a little bit as 410 00:20:41,100 --> 00:20:44,820 Harry Chandler: a sales associate, then went to footlocker. com and did 411 00:20:44,820 --> 00:20:49,649 Harry Chandler: sales forecasting. So my background is quantitative methods and statistics 412 00:20:50,250 --> 00:20:53,129 Harry Chandler: So I did forecasting. How many Pegasus should you buy 413 00:20:53,130 --> 00:20:55,140 Harry Chandler: next year, based on how many you sold this year? 414 00:20:55,920 --> 00:20:58,080 Rob Simmelkjaer: Something that's very important in the retail industry. 415 00:20:58,080 --> 00:20:58,410 Becs Gentry: Very. 416 00:20:58,470 --> 00:21:01,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: You don't want to overstock or understock. You want to 417 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:03,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: get it as close to right as you can, absolutely. 418 00:21:03,480 --> 00:21:07,680 Harry Chandler: Yeah. Stayed there for two years. Footlocker did take care 419 00:21:07,680 --> 00:21:10,500 Harry Chandler: of us as far as compensation is concerned. So I 420 00:21:10,500 --> 00:21:13,169 Harry Chandler: was able to call JB, of course go back to 421 00:21:13,170 --> 00:21:15,449 Harry Chandler: Playmakers again, and I said, " I've got to get out 422 00:21:15,450 --> 00:21:17,850 Harry Chandler: of Michigan, man." I was in Wausau, Wisconsin where Foot 423 00:21:17,850 --> 00:21:21,330 Harry Chandler: Locker's headquarter is. It's cold there. Now I'm back in Michigan. 424 00:21:21,359 --> 00:21:24,000 Harry Chandler: It's cold here. " Who do you know?" So he gave 425 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:26,429 Harry Chandler: me a list of people, and I emailed at least 426 00:21:26,430 --> 00:21:29,130 Harry Chandler: 25 people. And at one point, I get a call 427 00:21:29,130 --> 00:21:30,899 Harry Chandler: back from him that says, " Look, stop reaching out to 428 00:21:30,900 --> 00:21:33,780 Harry Chandler: my friends. Pick a place." So I took a call 429 00:21:33,780 --> 00:21:37,140 Harry Chandler: with Donnie Forsyth and Charlotte where I am today, call 430 00:21:37,140 --> 00:21:39,600 Harry Chandler: on Monday. He sounded so much like JB. Everything he 431 00:21:39,600 --> 00:21:44,250 Harry Chandler: had to save was just reminiscent of JB. So I 432 00:21:44,250 --> 00:21:46,680 Harry Chandler: took the job on that Monday, found an apartment on 433 00:21:46,680 --> 00:21:48,690 Harry Chandler: Tuesday, and was in Charlotte on Wednesday. 434 00:21:49,050 --> 00:21:51,240 Rob Simmelkjaer: And there you go. And you've been there ever since. 435 00:21:51,300 --> 00:21:54,300 Harry Chandler: Ever since I was 12 bucks an hour at the 436 00:21:54,300 --> 00:21:57,300 Harry Chandler: new store when I started. And then I managed and 437 00:21:57,300 --> 00:22:03,570 Harry Chandler: assisted managed Fleet Feet, then reached out, and got offered 438 00:22:03,570 --> 00:22:05,639 Harry Chandler: a job with them just due to my background with 439 00:22:05,640 --> 00:22:09,300 Harry Chandler: Global Orange and store development. And then Scott and I 440 00:22:09,300 --> 00:22:12,750 Harry Chandler: talked in his living room. Scott founded Charlotte Running Company, 441 00:22:12,750 --> 00:22:15,060 Harry Chandler: and he's actually my partner, co- owner of Charlotte running 442 00:22:15,060 --> 00:22:18,540 Harry Chandler: company as well, and said, I don't want to go. 443 00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:20,580 Harry Chandler: But I understand, it's a small business and you can't 444 00:22:20,580 --> 00:22:24,750 Harry Chandler: necessarily give me this. It's your retirement plan. There is 445 00:22:24,750 --> 00:22:27,330 Harry Chandler: no backup. You put everything you have into these businesses, 446 00:22:27,330 --> 00:22:29,909 Harry Chandler: and secession says a rock star will buy it and your 447 00:22:29,910 --> 00:22:33,270 Harry Chandler: family will be able to retire. So he created the 448 00:22:33,270 --> 00:22:36,060 Harry Chandler: position of general manager. So I didn't leave. Thank God. 449 00:22:36,960 --> 00:22:40,649 Harry Chandler: And then another conversation with Fleet Feet, back on Scott's 450 00:22:40,650 --> 00:22:43,889 Harry Chandler: couch, crying again, because that's what I do. I'm like, " I 451 00:22:43,890 --> 00:22:46,020 Harry Chandler: don't want to go. We've got to figure something out, 452 00:22:46,020 --> 00:22:48,600 Harry Chandler: so give me a month." He and I went to 453 00:22:48,630 --> 00:22:51,359 Harry Chandler: Beef 'n Bottle in Charlotte. It's a steakhouse. Well, I 454 00:22:51,359 --> 00:22:53,520 Harry Chandler: like the ones in New York. That's what it reminds 455 00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:56,669 Harry Chandler: me of. It's dark, it's moody. You can hear the conversation of the 456 00:22:56,670 --> 00:23:00,540 Harry Chandler: table next to you. And the quote was, " Harry, you 457 00:23:00,540 --> 00:23:02,880 Harry Chandler: care, and sometimes I think you care too much, but 458 00:23:02,880 --> 00:23:05,280 Harry Chandler: that's what matters to me." And he slid a Manila 459 00:23:05,280 --> 00:23:08,310 Harry Chandler: envelope across the folder for me. This is in 2020. And 460 00:23:09,750 --> 00:23:11,129 Harry Chandler: it was at that point that he asked me to 461 00:23:11,130 --> 00:23:13,470 Harry Chandler: be his partner at Charlotte Running Company, Incorporated. So that's 462 00:23:13,470 --> 00:23:15,869 Harry Chandler: when my ownership started with CRC. 463 00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:19,109 Rob Simmelkjaer: So he went from employee to owner, which is not 464 00:23:19,109 --> 00:23:21,780 Rob Simmelkjaer: an easy thing to do, Becs. And clearly it was the 465 00:23:21,780 --> 00:23:23,880 Rob Simmelkjaer: passion that he had for what he was doing that 466 00:23:24,359 --> 00:23:26,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: got that envelope slid across the table. 467 00:23:26,580 --> 00:23:26,730 Harry Chandler: Yeah. 468 00:23:26,730 --> 00:23:32,129 Becs Gentry: Absolutely. Harry, that is a story of perseverance. It's a 469 00:23:32,130 --> 00:23:35,369 Becs Gentry: story of love and passion. And one, I'm sure a 470 00:23:35,369 --> 00:23:38,820 Becs Gentry: lot of our listeners will be inspired, and if not, 471 00:23:38,970 --> 00:23:42,060 Becs Gentry: feel some sort of recognition of themselves in there as 472 00:23:42,060 --> 00:23:45,359 Becs Gentry: well. But I want to rewind a little bit to 473 00:23:45,359 --> 00:23:46,920 Becs Gentry: high school for you. 474 00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:47,040 Harry Chandler: Yeah. 475 00:23:48,300 --> 00:23:53,850 Becs Gentry: You've said in numerous interviews, what started you as a 476 00:23:53,850 --> 00:24:00,780 Becs Gentry: runner was actually a really darn uncomfortable day. Yes, you 477 00:24:00,780 --> 00:24:03,990 Becs Gentry: said earlier it was punishment. (inaudible) , a lot of 478 00:24:03,990 --> 00:24:06,659 Becs Gentry: people say that. In the USA I can't tell you 479 00:24:06,660 --> 00:24:09,000 Becs Gentry: how many times I'm like, " What happens when you guys 480 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:11,670 Becs Gentry: go to school? I don't understand your sports teachers here," 481 00:24:11,670 --> 00:24:15,300 Becs Gentry: because 99% of people I meet is like, " Running was punishment." 482 00:24:15,330 --> 00:24:17,129 Becs Gentry: I'm like, " Do you guys need some new teachers in 483 00:24:17,130 --> 00:24:19,410 Becs Gentry: this country? Because in the UK they're not that cruel." 484 00:24:20,820 --> 00:24:24,300 Becs Gentry: Anyway, let's rewind past that. But you've said that you 485 00:24:24,300 --> 00:24:28,171 Becs Gentry: went out for a 100 degree heat run. 486 00:24:28,171 --> 00:24:28,951 Harry Chandler: It was hot. 487 00:24:29,490 --> 00:24:31,350 Becs Gentry: But that started your passion? 488 00:24:31,350 --> 00:24:33,719 Harry Chandler: That's when I realized, oh, I might like this. So 489 00:24:33,960 --> 00:24:34,650 Harry Chandler: my parents went out of town- 490 00:24:34,710 --> 00:24:36,990 Becs Gentry: Which is absurd, by the way. Most people are like, " 491 00:24:37,020 --> 00:24:40,290 Becs Gentry: Hell no. Way too hot. Going to expire. Bye bye." 492 00:24:42,900 --> 00:24:45,389 Harry Chandler: It was an opportunity to get lost, and it was 493 00:24:45,510 --> 00:24:47,730 Harry Chandler: in a perfect moment, like a time where I just need to just 494 00:24:47,730 --> 00:24:48,899 Harry Chandler: go for a run. I needed to get out of 495 00:24:48,900 --> 00:24:51,510 Harry Chandler: my head. And my parents are going on vacation, and 496 00:24:51,510 --> 00:24:54,600 Harry Chandler: Ms. Joni is next door. She's awesome. Her and her family 497 00:24:54,600 --> 00:24:58,139 Harry Chandler: are still there, but Ms. Joni watches the block. And 498 00:24:58,140 --> 00:25:00,420 Harry Chandler: if anything is going on, she is very aware. So 499 00:25:00,420 --> 00:25:02,970 Harry Chandler: I head out of the house, it's high nineties, almost 500 00:25:02,970 --> 00:25:04,830 Harry Chandler: a hundred at that point, and I just head for a 501 00:25:04,830 --> 00:25:09,001 Harry Chandler: run. So I go down Hollow Brook, I turn onto (inaudible) 502 00:25:09,001 --> 00:25:10,709 Harry Chandler: , and I'm running down there, and I end up at 503 00:25:10,710 --> 00:25:13,320 Harry Chandler: a park. And then I come back. And of course she's 504 00:25:13,320 --> 00:25:15,600 Harry Chandler: coming out of the house and she's like, " Harry, come 505 00:25:15,600 --> 00:25:19,890 Harry Chandler: over here. What is wrong with you?" I'm like, " What 506 00:25:19,890 --> 00:25:21,719 Harry Chandler: did I do?" You know what I mean? I'm stunned 507 00:25:21,720 --> 00:25:24,689 Harry Chandler: and shocked. And she was like, "Get in here. Do you know it's a hundred degrees outside?" 508 00:25:24,869 --> 00:25:26,550 Harry Chandler: So she shoves me in her house, and gives me 509 00:25:26,550 --> 00:25:29,340 Harry Chandler: a bottle of water and has me drink it. And 510 00:25:29,340 --> 00:25:31,230 Harry Chandler: she's just talking to me and telling me, " You're crazy," 511 00:25:31,230 --> 00:25:32,909 Harry Chandler: and all this other stuff, but she's doing it in 512 00:25:32,910 --> 00:25:35,820 Harry Chandler: love, of course. " Your parents wouldn't want you out here 513 00:25:35,820 --> 00:25:38,340 Harry Chandler: like that." And then had a conversation with her that 514 00:25:38,340 --> 00:25:41,490 Harry Chandler: lasted maybe 15, 20 minutes, and it ended with, I'm in 515 00:25:41,490 --> 00:25:44,790 Harry Chandler: love with running. I like the chance to go out 516 00:25:44,790 --> 00:25:47,159 Harry Chandler: and get out of my head, to challenge my body, 517 00:25:47,340 --> 00:25:50,429 Harry Chandler: to push the limits, which I've done too many times 518 00:25:50,429 --> 00:25:53,040 Harry Chandler: with my stints with rhabdo that I've had staying at a 519 00:25:53,040 --> 00:25:56,609 Harry Chandler: hospital because of it, but I fell in love with running then. 520 00:25:57,180 --> 00:25:57,990 Becs Gentry: Oh, wow. Wow. 521 00:25:58,080 --> 00:25:58,199 Harry Chandler: The sport of it. 522 00:25:59,160 --> 00:26:02,369 Becs Gentry: The sport of it. And you've taken that now. You 523 00:26:02,369 --> 00:26:06,449 Becs Gentry: sound like you are now the Miss Joni of the running, and 524 00:26:06,450 --> 00:26:09,180 Becs Gentry: especially DEI and running. You're like the Miss Joni of your 525 00:26:09,180 --> 00:26:11,550 Becs Gentry: era now. You're watching out for the block, the whole 526 00:26:11,550 --> 00:26:14,700 Becs Gentry: community, making sure it's running right, making sure everyone's doing 527 00:26:14,700 --> 00:26:19,920 Becs Gentry: the good things. So that run has brought you to 528 00:26:19,920 --> 00:26:24,180 Becs Gentry: where you are today. And I had a little look on your LinkedIn. I like 529 00:26:24,450 --> 00:26:27,540 Becs Gentry: to have a little look about how people work, especially 530 00:26:27,540 --> 00:26:31,260 Becs Gentry: in a professional manner. And the amount of people, Harry, 531 00:26:31,260 --> 00:26:37,200 Becs Gentry: who have written on your achievements, " Congratulations, but no surprise," 532 00:26:37,440 --> 00:26:42,540 Becs Gentry: because you get these incredible awards and you get recognition. 533 00:26:43,050 --> 00:26:48,030 Becs Gentry: But everybody is so loving towards you. You deserve it 534 00:26:48,030 --> 00:26:52,500 Becs Gentry: for all the work you've done. And you are somebody 535 00:26:52,500 --> 00:26:54,300 Becs Gentry: who has always run. There's a lot of people in 536 00:26:54,300 --> 00:26:56,909 Becs Gentry: this industry who don't really run, but they can do 537 00:26:56,910 --> 00:27:01,170 Becs Gentry: business, but you've done both. So let's talk a little bit 538 00:27:01,170 --> 00:27:04,830 Becs Gentry: about DEI in the running world, as well as in 539 00:27:04,830 --> 00:27:08,609 Becs Gentry: the professional space, but in the running world. I don't 540 00:27:08,609 --> 00:27:10,830 Becs Gentry: want to say it's a hot topic, because it always 541 00:27:10,830 --> 00:27:14,190 Becs Gentry: should be a topic of conversation, but in the current 542 00:27:14,190 --> 00:27:18,720 Becs Gentry: climate we live in right now, it's icy. It's like, " 543 00:27:18,720 --> 00:27:22,470 Becs Gentry: Whoo, what are we talking about here? Let's dig into 544 00:27:22,470 --> 00:27:27,390 Becs Gentry: this a little bit." So because you started in high 545 00:27:27,390 --> 00:27:29,850 Becs Gentry: school, because you started as this young kid in such 546 00:27:29,850 --> 00:27:33,390 Becs Gentry: an incredibly tight community, what do you think your first 547 00:27:33,390 --> 00:27:37,949 Becs Gentry: experiences of racial equity and inclusion? How do you think 548 00:27:37,950 --> 00:27:39,631 Becs Gentry: that shaped where you've come? 549 00:27:39,631 --> 00:27:43,680 Harry Chandler: I say it all the time. I was protected and 550 00:27:43,680 --> 00:27:46,199 Harry Chandler: sheltered for sure with the community that I had at 551 00:27:46,200 --> 00:27:50,790 Harry Chandler: Playmakers. It was in the middle of rural Okemos, where 552 00:27:51,270 --> 00:27:53,760 Harry Chandler: somehow there was a mix of everybody that you could 553 00:27:53,760 --> 00:27:56,760 Harry Chandler: think of inside of that store. So it gave me 554 00:27:56,760 --> 00:28:00,930 Harry Chandler: an opportunity to appreciate differences without even knowing that that 555 00:28:00,930 --> 00:28:04,050 Harry Chandler: was something that I was learning. You know what I mean? I 556 00:28:04,050 --> 00:28:06,750 Harry Chandler: was loved on by so many different people of so 557 00:28:06,750 --> 00:28:10,050 Harry Chandler: many different ethnicities, and so many different sexual orientations, and 558 00:28:10,050 --> 00:28:14,850 Harry Chandler: so many different physical abilities. So I would say that 559 00:28:15,180 --> 00:28:18,540 Harry Chandler: in that bubble or ethos is kind of where my 560 00:28:18,540 --> 00:28:21,390 Harry Chandler: grooming took place, and where I grew in the industry. 561 00:28:22,770 --> 00:28:26,399 Harry Chandler: From a racial standpoint, I don't think I experienced any 562 00:28:27,390 --> 00:28:33,300 Harry Chandler: negative contention until I got to Charlotte. And at that point, 563 00:28:33,300 --> 00:28:36,660 Harry Chandler: I had lived experiences, and I had mentorship, and I had 564 00:28:36,660 --> 00:28:39,030 Harry Chandler: people to help me navigate that in a way that 565 00:28:39,030 --> 00:28:41,640 Harry Chandler: I was almost fully proud of. And then in some 566 00:28:41,640 --> 00:28:44,010 Harry Chandler: instances, where I feel like I could have done a little 567 00:28:44,010 --> 00:28:44,670 Harry Chandler: bit better there. 568 00:28:47,340 --> 00:28:50,070 Rob Simmelkjaer: I asked Ted Metellus this. We had Ted on our 569 00:28:50,070 --> 00:28:52,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: podcast last week, talking about him being the first black 570 00:28:52,920 --> 00:28:56,190 Rob Simmelkjaer: race director of the TCS New York City Marathon. I 571 00:28:56,190 --> 00:28:59,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: asked him, " Why does it matter? Why does it matter 572 00:28:59,580 --> 00:29:01,860 Rob Simmelkjaer: that there's a black race director?" So Harry, I guess 573 00:29:01,860 --> 00:29:04,560 Rob Simmelkjaer: I would ask you in what you do and the 574 00:29:04,560 --> 00:29:09,120 Rob Simmelkjaer: role you have in the running industry as an entrepreneur, an 575 00:29:09,120 --> 00:29:12,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: owner, things like that, why does it matter that you're 576 00:29:12,060 --> 00:29:16,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: black? People want to talk about DEI and hold you 577 00:29:16,680 --> 00:29:19,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: as an example, but does it matter? Why does it matter? 578 00:29:20,040 --> 00:29:22,980 Harry Chandler: Yeah. Me being black is a huge part of it. 579 00:29:22,980 --> 00:29:27,330 Harry Chandler: What I'm doing while I'm black is even larger. I 580 00:29:27,330 --> 00:29:29,550 Harry Chandler: preach it everywhere I go that you can't be what 581 00:29:29,550 --> 00:29:33,450 Harry Chandler: you can't see. And in Charlotte, the level of disparity 582 00:29:33,750 --> 00:29:40,260 Harry Chandler: in our economic system, it's tragic, right? Three out of 583 00:29:40,260 --> 00:29:42,900 Harry Chandler: four people born into poverty in our area die in 584 00:29:42,900 --> 00:29:46,320 Harry Chandler: poverty. And it just so happens that the majority of 585 00:29:46,320 --> 00:29:51,990 Harry Chandler: them are minorities or underrepresented people. And if those underrepresented, 586 00:29:51,990 --> 00:29:55,230 Harry Chandler: or those minorities can't see a person like me achieving, 587 00:29:55,500 --> 00:29:58,680 Harry Chandler: and working towards things, and doing things for the positive 588 00:29:58,680 --> 00:30:01,290 Harry Chandler: and better of our community, they don't know that as 589 00:30:01,290 --> 00:30:05,670 Harry Chandler: an option for themselves. We we did a really cool 590 00:30:05,670 --> 00:30:08,910 Harry Chandler: charity here, called Bad Prom, and it's exactly what you 591 00:30:08,910 --> 00:30:13,560 Harry Chandler: think it is. You dress terribly. And then prom king 592 00:30:13,560 --> 00:30:15,810 Harry Chandler: and queen or whoever raised the most for this organization. 593 00:30:15,810 --> 00:30:19,890 Harry Chandler: And one of the subsidiaries was the Wesley Ministry. And 594 00:30:20,010 --> 00:30:22,200 Harry Chandler: what we were to do was to pick some kids 595 00:30:22,200 --> 00:30:24,450 Harry Chandler: up, take them and get some clothes for their mock 596 00:30:24,450 --> 00:30:27,210 Harry Chandler: interviews. So I asked one of the parents, or I 597 00:30:27,210 --> 00:30:29,430 Harry Chandler: asked one of the students to take a permission slip, 598 00:30:29,490 --> 00:30:31,380 Harry Chandler: go get his parents to sign it, so that we 599 00:30:31,380 --> 00:30:34,110 Harry Chandler: could take him to a local mall. And when I 600 00:30:34,110 --> 00:30:36,780 Harry Chandler: named the mall, he said he didn't know what that 601 00:30:36,780 --> 00:30:40,950 Harry Chandler: was. Is that an amusement park? And that's here in 602 00:30:40,950 --> 00:30:44,760 Harry Chandler: Charlotte, and it's 20 minutes from where he lives. So that's 603 00:30:44,760 --> 00:30:48,150 Harry Chandler: why it's important for me to be black, and be co- 604 00:30:48,150 --> 00:30:51,719 Harry Chandler: owning a business, and to be speaking on platforms when 605 00:30:51,720 --> 00:30:54,300 Harry Chandler: they're available, and to be talking to you all today. 606 00:30:58,200 --> 00:31:02,820 Becs Gentry: Ted started his answer the same way. You can't be 607 00:31:02,820 --> 00:31:08,520 Becs Gentry: what you can't see. And that was his whole ethos of, 608 00:31:09,270 --> 00:31:12,390 Becs Gentry: other people need to see me here in this position 609 00:31:13,110 --> 00:31:16,830 Becs Gentry: in order to aspire to make changes in their communities, 610 00:31:16,830 --> 00:31:19,560 Becs Gentry: and do the same as what you're doing. So Harry, 611 00:31:19,560 --> 00:31:25,020 Becs Gentry: you work for some incredible organizations, RIA, Running Industry Diversity 612 00:31:25,020 --> 00:31:29,160 Becs Gentry: Coalition as well. I love those guys. I love Kiera. 613 00:31:29,310 --> 00:31:32,430 Becs Gentry: I adore her. We happen to always end up in 614 00:31:32,430 --> 00:31:36,360 Becs Gentry: the same restaurants together. It's so weird. And we always 615 00:31:36,360 --> 00:31:40,080 Becs Gentry: end up sitting and having food and a chat. But 616 00:31:40,080 --> 00:31:42,330 Becs Gentry: can you just talk to me a little bit about 617 00:31:42,840 --> 00:31:46,800 Becs Gentry: those organizations, and some of the things that you are 618 00:31:46,800 --> 00:31:49,860 Becs Gentry: super proud of, that you've championed whilst being in the 619 00:31:49,860 --> 00:31:50,700 Becs Gentry: roles there? 620 00:31:52,230 --> 00:31:56,880 Harry Chandler: First order of business, stepping into my time as president 621 00:31:56,880 --> 00:32:01,740 Harry Chandler: of the Running Industry Association, was to correctly define the incorrectly 622 00:32:01,740 --> 00:32:06,150 Harry Chandler: defined term of what DEI means for anyone, but specifically 623 00:32:06,150 --> 00:32:11,610 Harry Chandler: for our organization. A lot of people make DEI and 624 00:32:11,670 --> 00:32:16,290 Harry Chandler: affirmative action a synonym, so it's instantly a race thing. 625 00:32:17,430 --> 00:32:19,860 Harry Chandler: Some of those same people don't know that DEI also has 626 00:32:19,860 --> 00:32:25,470 Harry Chandler: provided and made provisions for them, right? DEI is escalators, 627 00:32:25,470 --> 00:32:28,950 Harry Chandler: and elevators, and wheelchair ramps. DEI is nursing rooms for 628 00:32:28,950 --> 00:32:34,860 Harry Chandler: mothers. DEI is clinical psychology, and therapy for veterans. It's 629 00:32:34,860 --> 00:32:37,860 Harry Chandler: so much more than what the three of us look 630 00:32:37,860 --> 00:32:42,180 Harry Chandler: like. And it's meant to make us a community, and 631 00:32:42,180 --> 00:32:46,050 Harry Chandler: it's meant to make space for everyone else. So that's 632 00:32:46,050 --> 00:32:49,260 Harry Chandler: what we're working on now. So we decided to get 633 00:32:49,260 --> 00:32:52,770 Harry Chandler: an advisor to offer us perspective and lens for the RIA 634 00:32:53,460 --> 00:32:55,650 Harry Chandler: that would be coming in, looking at our events and 635 00:32:55,650 --> 00:32:58,770 Harry Chandler: programming, looking at our education, looking at our marketing, making 636 00:32:58,770 --> 00:33:02,130 Harry Chandler: sure that we are moving forward in the correct definition 637 00:33:02,280 --> 00:33:06,420 Harry Chandler: of what DEI is. And I'm very proud of that. We 638 00:33:06,420 --> 00:33:12,120 Harry Chandler: are hiring a member manager who has accepted. So that's 639 00:33:12,120 --> 00:33:14,100 Harry Chandler: a new role for us we didn't have before. And 640 00:33:14,100 --> 00:33:17,610 Harry Chandler: with the RIDC, they know I don't play about them. I 641 00:33:17,610 --> 00:33:20,580 Harry Chandler: love them, 10 toes down for the RIDC all the time. 642 00:33:20,580 --> 00:33:24,540 Harry Chandler: Kiera is a dear friend of mine. Abigail, Betsy, Sông 643 00:33:24,540 --> 00:33:26,760 Harry Chandler: now as the new president. I love them all. And Sông's here 644 00:33:26,760 --> 00:33:28,980 Harry Chandler: in Charlotte with us, because she's with features too. 645 00:33:28,980 --> 00:33:29,100 Becs Gentry: Really? 646 00:33:29,340 --> 00:33:29,341 Harry Chandler: Yeah. 647 00:33:29,341 --> 00:33:31,950 Becs Gentry: Ah. And you are the chair, right? 648 00:33:33,240 --> 00:33:34,470 Harry Chandler: The retail subcommittee. 649 00:33:34,650 --> 00:33:35,460 Becs Gentry: Retail subcommittee. Okay. 650 00:33:36,480 --> 00:33:40,470 Harry Chandler: Yeah. And it's essentially making sure that when someone walks 651 00:33:40,470 --> 00:33:43,950 Harry Chandler: into a specialty run shop, they see themselves. That's the 652 00:33:43,950 --> 00:33:46,440 Harry Chandler: role there. I've been so inspired in so many of 653 00:33:46,440 --> 00:33:49,740 Harry Chandler: our aspirations by the RIDC, including our recreation of their 654 00:33:50,220 --> 00:33:53,250 Harry Chandler: ever famous cookout that they put on at the running 655 00:33:53,250 --> 00:33:56,880 Harry Chandler: event. And we just did our second annual cookout, Community 656 00:33:56,880 --> 00:34:00,390 Harry Chandler: Unity Cookout. Just last Saturday here in Charlotte. We had 657 00:34:00,390 --> 00:34:05,310 Harry Chandler: easily 250 people coming through the shop. We had a 658 00:34:05,940 --> 00:34:08,340 Harry Chandler: speaker come in, Hailey Mangrum. She's a colleague of mine, 659 00:34:08,340 --> 00:34:11,610 Harry Chandler: went to Western Michigan with me. And she spoke on 660 00:34:11,610 --> 00:34:16,890 Harry Chandler: community, and innovation versus collaboration, and what that looks like. 661 00:34:17,250 --> 00:34:22,380 Harry Chandler: And she talked about leadership, and our burdens as leaders. 662 00:34:22,710 --> 00:34:26,190 Harry Chandler: And we had some really good conversations. And we did 663 00:34:26,190 --> 00:34:28,620 Harry Chandler: a group run, which was great. Black Men Run Charlotte 664 00:34:28,620 --> 00:34:31,920 Harry Chandler: led that. We had food trucks, we had music. Kids 665 00:34:31,920 --> 00:34:34,440 Harry Chandler: were playing. We had the street block. It was an 666 00:34:34,440 --> 00:34:36,180 Harry Chandler: old time block party, and it was great. 667 00:34:36,180 --> 00:34:37,469 Becs Gentry: Phenomenal. Phenomenal. 668 00:34:39,090 --> 00:34:41,219 Rob Simmelkjaer: Harry, I'd love to ask you a little about just 669 00:34:41,219 --> 00:34:44,820 Rob Simmelkjaer: the industry now, and the role of the kind of 670 00:34:44,820 --> 00:34:49,650 Rob Simmelkjaer: specialty stores in the retail ecosystem of running. How hard 671 00:34:49,650 --> 00:34:55,169 Rob Simmelkjaer: is it right now for people in that space, who 672 00:34:55,170 --> 00:34:58,739 Rob Simmelkjaer: have smaller stores? You're not necessarily part of a big 673 00:34:58,739 --> 00:35:03,480 Rob Simmelkjaer: chain. What does that look like day to day? What 674 00:35:03,480 --> 00:35:06,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: brands are you carrying? Is it pretty much everything across 675 00:35:06,210 --> 00:35:09,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: the board? And if you're out there as a runner, 676 00:35:09,420 --> 00:35:13,529 Rob Simmelkjaer: why go to a specialty running store like yours, versus 677 00:35:14,040 --> 00:35:17,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: going to a much bigger sporting goods chain, or something like that? 678 00:35:18,090 --> 00:35:23,430 Harry Chandler: Yeah. So we carry about 15 different brands. We try 679 00:35:23,430 --> 00:35:26,100 Harry Chandler: to row in some niche brands, things you can only 680 00:35:26,100 --> 00:35:29,760 Harry Chandler: get from us. And we also include the bigger guys, 681 00:35:29,760 --> 00:35:33,060 Harry Chandler: so your Nikes, your Adidas, your Brooks, Asics, so on and 682 00:35:33,450 --> 00:35:38,520 Harry Chandler: so forth. Specialty run shops. What you won't get shopping at . 683 00:35:38,520 --> 00:35:40,920 Harry Chandler: com, sitting in your living room, is the connection. And 684 00:35:40,920 --> 00:35:43,860 Harry Chandler: that's a requirement for people. We need to be connected. 685 00:35:44,190 --> 00:35:46,080 Harry Chandler: Community is a requirement for us. I say it all 686 00:35:46,080 --> 00:35:48,750 Harry Chandler: the time, that we're a reflection of our community, the 687 00:35:48,750 --> 00:35:51,629 Harry Chandler: people that poured into us, the people that are working 688 00:35:51,630 --> 00:35:53,790 Harry Chandler: with us, and the people that we're serving and pouring 689 00:35:53,790 --> 00:35:56,400 Harry Chandler: into. That's what you get in a specialty run shop. 690 00:35:56,910 --> 00:36:01,650 Harry Chandler: It opened my eyes to an entire different life, and 691 00:36:01,650 --> 00:36:04,890 Harry Chandler: changed my trajectory by just listening to Tony Thomas and 692 00:36:04,890 --> 00:36:08,250 Harry Chandler: stopping by a specialty run shop. Introducing me to John 693 00:36:08,250 --> 00:36:10,590 Harry Chandler: Benedict, who's one of my best friends to this day, 694 00:36:10,920 --> 00:36:13,050 Harry Chandler: and was a mentor then, and poured into me. You 695 00:36:13,050 --> 00:36:16,290 Harry Chandler: don't get those opportunities, unless you come into a shop. 696 00:36:16,440 --> 00:36:18,060 Harry Chandler: You don't get to connect with people that love the 697 00:36:18,150 --> 00:36:20,520 Harry Chandler: sport. You don't get to connect with the people that 698 00:36:20,520 --> 00:36:23,700 Harry Chandler: love the community. You don't get to collaborate with the 699 00:36:23,700 --> 00:36:25,650 Harry Chandler: people that care about your journey in health, and in 700 00:36:25,650 --> 00:36:27,630 Harry Chandler: fitness, and what that could honestly do for your life. 701 00:36:28,170 --> 00:36:33,450 Harry Chandler: Last Friday... I am going to cry. I am. 702 00:36:35,880 --> 00:36:37,590 Becs Gentry: It's cathartic. Let it out. It means you care, right? 703 00:36:38,460 --> 00:36:40,290 Rob Simmelkjaer: I want to hear what happened last Friday. 704 00:36:40,410 --> 00:36:44,820 Harry Chandler: Last Friday, I had an appointment with my friend Brantley 705 00:36:44,820 --> 00:36:48,450 Harry Chandler: here in Charlotte who owns a meal prep company. And 706 00:36:48,719 --> 00:36:50,790 Harry Chandler: I needed to be there between the hours of 3: 00 and 4: 707 00:36:50,820 --> 00:36:53,610 Harry Chandler: 00, so I had a window to go get these pictures 708 00:36:53,610 --> 00:36:56,250 Harry Chandler: taken for some advertisement for her business. And I promised 709 00:36:56,250 --> 00:36:58,380 Harry Chandler: her I would, so I owe her a coffee now. 710 00:36:58,380 --> 00:37:02,190 Harry Chandler: But 3: 28, I'm like, " All right. I can still 711 00:37:02,190 --> 00:37:04,440 Harry Chandler: make it. It's around the corner." And I start walking towards the 712 00:37:04,440 --> 00:37:07,890 Harry Chandler: door, and this lady and her son walk in. And 713 00:37:07,890 --> 00:37:10,020 Harry Chandler: I start talking to them, asking them all the qualifying 714 00:37:10,020 --> 00:37:13,350 Harry Chandler: questions, what brings you in? Any injuries? How'd you hear 715 00:37:13,350 --> 00:37:16,110 Harry Chandler: about us? What are you going to do? And I'm just 716 00:37:16,410 --> 00:37:18,989 Harry Chandler: biding my time. I'm like, at some point somebody else 717 00:37:18,989 --> 00:37:21,060 Harry Chandler: is going to come over here and I'm going to be able to say, " 718 00:37:21,360 --> 00:37:24,510 Harry Chandler: This is ( insert name), and they're going to finish this 719 00:37:24,510 --> 00:37:26,460 Harry Chandler: up with you." And nobody came. And I'm like, " All 720 00:37:26,460 --> 00:37:28,860 Harry Chandler: right, we've got to get to work." So I sit 721 00:37:28,860 --> 00:37:31,920 Harry Chandler: down with her. Her name is Ashley, and she actually 722 00:37:31,920 --> 00:37:33,360 Harry Chandler: is a trainer at the gym I go to, and 723 00:37:33,360 --> 00:37:37,680 Harry Chandler: I had no idea. And her son, Jackson, is sitting 724 00:37:37,680 --> 00:37:40,350 Harry Chandler: down with me. And we're just laughing, having conversations. And 725 00:37:40,350 --> 00:37:41,489 Harry Chandler: I asked him, " What are you going to be doing 726 00:37:41,489 --> 00:37:44,040 Harry Chandler: in these shoes?" He said, " Well, I lift some, I 727 00:37:44,040 --> 00:37:45,750 Harry Chandler: cross train, but I'm also going to be doing some 728 00:37:45,750 --> 00:37:50,700 Harry Chandler: running. It's the only thing that makes me happy." And 729 00:37:50,760 --> 00:37:53,130 Harry Chandler: he said that. And I was like, " I haven't heard 730 00:37:53,130 --> 00:37:55,500 Harry Chandler: that in so long." Kids coming in, their parents are 731 00:37:55,500 --> 00:37:57,750 Harry Chandler: dragging them in, because they need spikes for cross country. 732 00:37:57,750 --> 00:38:00,660 Harry Chandler: And this young man is running, because it makes him 733 00:38:00,660 --> 00:38:04,020 Harry Chandler: happy, and it changes his physical and mental state. And 734 00:38:04,739 --> 00:38:05,969 Harry Chandler: I said out loud to him, I was like, " You're 735 00:38:05,969 --> 00:38:07,830 Harry Chandler: going to make me cry, man." And his mom said 736 00:38:07,830 --> 00:38:11,010 Harry Chandler: the same thing, " I'm going to cry too." So she 737 00:38:11,010 --> 00:38:13,770 Harry Chandler: started up, and then I started up. And then we 738 00:38:13,770 --> 00:38:17,550 Harry Chandler: finished up the process, and then they left. And I 739 00:38:17,550 --> 00:38:19,350 Harry Chandler: called Jen. And I said, " Jen, I'm going to make 740 00:38:19,350 --> 00:38:23,160 Harry Chandler: your day right now. One of your trainer's sons came 741 00:38:23,160 --> 00:38:26,190 Harry Chandler: in and got some shoes from us, and he said 742 00:38:26,190 --> 00:38:28,800 Harry Chandler: that running's the only thing that makes him happy." Before I 743 00:38:28,800 --> 00:38:31,259 Harry Chandler: could get it out, she said, " Harry, I know exactly who 744 00:38:31,260 --> 00:38:34,469 Harry Chandler: you're talking about." And out of their privacy, I won't 745 00:38:34,469 --> 00:38:37,379 Harry Chandler: go too far into the conversation, but that young man 746 00:38:37,380 --> 00:38:42,600 Harry Chandler: is living in, and overcome a very dark time. And 747 00:38:42,840 --> 00:38:46,290 Harry Chandler: because of running, he was able to dig himself out of it. 748 00:38:47,910 --> 00:38:53,069 Becs Gentry: That's beautiful. And so lucky that he has found that 749 00:38:53,550 --> 00:38:54,060 Becs Gentry: as well. 750 00:38:54,060 --> 00:38:55,620 Harry Chandler: Yeah. You don't get that online. 751 00:38:55,830 --> 00:38:58,620 Becs Gentry: You do not. You do not get that online. And he's probably 752 00:38:58,710 --> 00:39:01,860 Becs Gentry: looked at you, and thought that maybe Harry could be 753 00:39:01,920 --> 00:39:05,250 Becs Gentry: a mentor to you, or the inspiration. And the happiness that 754 00:39:05,250 --> 00:39:09,120 Becs Gentry: you gave him in that interaction maybe ignited something even 755 00:39:09,120 --> 00:39:10,680 Becs Gentry: more in that love for running. 756 00:39:11,700 --> 00:39:14,219 Rob Simmelkjaer: One of the other things you don't really get online 757 00:39:14,820 --> 00:39:19,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: is learning about yourself as a runner, right? Those questions 758 00:39:19,530 --> 00:39:22,530 Rob Simmelkjaer: you ask, if you're an experienced runner or a new 759 00:39:22,530 --> 00:39:26,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: runner, there's a lot to learn about ourselves as runners. 760 00:39:27,180 --> 00:39:29,759 Rob Simmelkjaer: What kind of strides do we have? What kind of 761 00:39:29,760 --> 00:39:32,370 Rob Simmelkjaer: strike do we have when our foot touches the ground? 762 00:39:33,090 --> 00:39:38,100 Rob Simmelkjaer: What injuries maybe we might be more prone to, because 763 00:39:38,100 --> 00:39:40,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: of the way that we run? And what kind of 764 00:39:41,070 --> 00:39:46,350 Rob Simmelkjaer: shoes, or orthotics, or other things we might need to 765 00:39:46,350 --> 00:39:51,180 Rob Simmelkjaer: help us run with longevity and health, as well as 766 00:39:51,180 --> 00:39:54,330 Rob Simmelkjaer: of course, whatever speed we're trying to achieve. So running 767 00:39:54,330 --> 00:39:56,880 Rob Simmelkjaer: is such a personal thing. There's so many ways to 768 00:39:56,880 --> 00:39:59,940 Rob Simmelkjaer: run out there. You go to a race, and you 769 00:39:59,940 --> 00:40:02,610 Rob Simmelkjaer: look at ten people go by, they're all going to 770 00:40:02,610 --> 00:40:06,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: have something a little different going on, stride length, what 771 00:40:06,690 --> 00:40:10,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: their arms are going to be doing, how their leg 772 00:40:10,170 --> 00:40:13,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: falls, how their foot hits the ground. It's just so 773 00:40:13,860 --> 00:40:17,580 Rob Simmelkjaer: personal, Harry. And there's no right way or wrong way. 774 00:40:17,580 --> 00:40:19,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: There's ways coaches might tell you to do things, but 775 00:40:19,920 --> 00:40:21,810 Rob Simmelkjaer: at the end of the day, what gets you from 776 00:40:21,810 --> 00:40:24,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: point A to point B is the right way. But 777 00:40:25,020 --> 00:40:28,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: there's so much personalization that runners really need to be 778 00:40:28,830 --> 00:40:30,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: healthy and successful. 779 00:40:30,360 --> 00:40:30,570 Harry Chandler: Yeah, absolutely. 780 00:40:31,080 --> 00:40:36,690 Becs Gentry: Yeah. Our beautiful differences. One thing I love about the in- 781 00:40:36,690 --> 00:40:42,000 Becs Gentry: store situation, and especially with younger teenagers, that sort of 782 00:40:42,360 --> 00:40:46,260 Becs Gentry: age of kids who either are punished at school, or 783 00:40:46,620 --> 00:40:51,810 Becs Gentry: they love it, is the fashion that comes with it. 784 00:40:52,320 --> 00:40:55,410 Becs Gentry: And it's so easy online to just go onto whatever big 785 00:40:55,410 --> 00:40:59,070 Becs Gentry: brand is of the moment and think, oh, I saw 786 00:40:59,070 --> 00:41:03,810 Becs Gentry: my favorite musical artist wearing that brand, so I'm going 787 00:41:03,810 --> 00:41:06,450 Becs Gentry: to buy those running shoes, but they don't suit you. 788 00:41:06,450 --> 00:41:09,120 Becs Gentry: And then the punishment, and the pain and everything just 789 00:41:09,120 --> 00:41:12,480 Becs Gentry: gets worse, and the running love dissipates. But you come 790 00:41:12,480 --> 00:41:16,500 Becs Gentry: into a store like yours, and you get to actually 791 00:41:16,950 --> 00:41:18,989 Becs Gentry: have those conversations. You get somebody who is going to 792 00:41:18,989 --> 00:41:23,100 Becs Gentry: show you even deeper care for you and your running, 793 00:41:23,400 --> 00:41:24,930 Becs Gentry: to find something that fits. It may not be the 794 00:41:24,930 --> 00:41:28,290 Becs Gentry: coolest of shoes, but I think that it's really important for 795 00:41:28,290 --> 00:41:32,550 Becs Gentry: us to keep going, that coolness and fashion isn't always 796 00:41:32,550 --> 00:41:35,280 Becs Gentry: comfort. Anyone who's ever worn high heels can tell you 797 00:41:35,280 --> 00:41:41,520 Becs Gentry: that. But it's definitely that personal interaction where again, you 798 00:41:41,520 --> 00:41:44,580 Becs Gentry: are going to look at that young man and help 799 00:41:44,580 --> 00:41:48,810 Becs Gentry: him on this journey to even more passion. And it's 800 00:41:48,810 --> 00:41:50,910 Becs Gentry: like a running glow up for him. He loves it 801 00:41:50,910 --> 00:41:54,180 Becs Gentry: already, and you've just got him these new kicks that 802 00:41:54,180 --> 00:41:57,690 Becs Gentry: are going to excel for him. And that's just so 803 00:41:57,690 --> 00:42:00,570 Becs Gentry: cool, because he's going to remember his mom obviously, every 804 00:42:00,570 --> 00:42:02,190 Becs Gentry: time he looks at those shoes, because she got them 805 00:42:02,190 --> 00:42:03,810 Becs Gentry: for him and went with him. But he's going to 806 00:42:03,810 --> 00:42:09,180 Becs Gentry: remember you as well, which that's heartfelt. And to me 807 00:42:09,180 --> 00:42:12,480 Becs Gentry: from having read a lot about you, that's how I 808 00:42:12,480 --> 00:42:16,560 Becs Gentry: feel your journey is. People are going to have these little nuanced moments of, " 809 00:42:17,100 --> 00:42:20,700 Becs Gentry: Wow. Yeah, that was Harry, and Harry did that for me, with me, 810 00:42:21,810 --> 00:42:27,480 Becs Gentry: to inspire me and better me." It's so beautiful, but 811 00:42:27,600 --> 00:42:28,200 Becs Gentry: oh, my goodness. 812 00:42:28,620 --> 00:42:30,600 Harry Chandler: If anyone knows me, they'll tell you I cringe at 813 00:42:30,600 --> 00:42:37,080 Harry Chandler: recognition and accolades. I do. If you read my bio, I start sweating, I want to throw up. And it's just like, 814 00:42:37,080 --> 00:42:38,910 Harry Chandler: hurry up and finish, get to the last sentence. But 815 00:42:39,330 --> 00:42:42,690 Harry Chandler: I just want to serve people. I do. And I found 816 00:42:42,690 --> 00:42:46,620 Harry Chandler: out long ago that that was what my calling was. 817 00:42:46,620 --> 00:42:48,810 Harry Chandler: I didn't know in what capacity it would be. I 818 00:42:48,810 --> 00:42:51,540 Harry Chandler: didn't know how it would evolve. I didn't know it 819 00:42:51,540 --> 00:42:54,330 Harry Chandler: would be anything past tying shoes on people's feet. You 820 00:42:54,330 --> 00:42:56,939 Harry Chandler: know what I mean? And once you fully set into 821 00:42:56,940 --> 00:43:00,750 Harry Chandler: what it is that you're supposed to do, and achieve 822 00:43:00,750 --> 00:43:03,000 Harry Chandler: some type of self- awareness in that and start working 823 00:43:03,000 --> 00:43:05,520 Harry Chandler: towards it, everything just falls into line where it's supposed to. 824 00:43:06,840 --> 00:43:09,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: So Harry, I'm sure there's somebody out there listening to 825 00:43:09,090 --> 00:43:12,420 Rob Simmelkjaer: this podcast who loves running, and would love to make 826 00:43:12,420 --> 00:43:16,920 Rob Simmelkjaer: it their livelihood, start a business, get into this sport, 827 00:43:16,920 --> 00:43:20,339 Rob Simmelkjaer: and really become part of the industry. Regardless of their 828 00:43:20,340 --> 00:43:24,300 Rob Simmelkjaer: background, Harry, what advice would you give someone who wants 829 00:43:24,300 --> 00:43:26,640 Rob Simmelkjaer: to be part of this industry? Who wants to be 830 00:43:26,640 --> 00:43:31,050 Rob Simmelkjaer: an entrepreneur, and really grow a business in this space? 831 00:43:31,650 --> 00:43:34,230 Harry Chandler: You have to work in a specialty run shop if 832 00:43:34,230 --> 00:43:36,989 Harry Chandler: it's your intention to own and operate one. So I 833 00:43:36,989 --> 00:43:40,739 Harry Chandler: would start there. You need to learn the fit process. 834 00:43:40,739 --> 00:43:45,120 Harry Chandler: You need to learn buying patterns. You need to learn 835 00:43:45,120 --> 00:43:49,230 Harry Chandler: accounting. You're going to be a janitor, so just get 836 00:43:49,230 --> 00:43:51,750 Harry Chandler: ready for it, right? You're going to be a therapist, 837 00:43:51,750 --> 00:43:55,320 Harry Chandler: so get ready for that too. There's HR. It's continued 838 00:43:55,320 --> 00:43:59,190 Harry Chandler: ed, for sure. So any opportunity you have to connect 839 00:43:59,190 --> 00:44:01,859 Harry Chandler: with someone who has the capacity, and you can spend 840 00:44:01,860 --> 00:44:05,070 Harry Chandler: some time in a shop, I would 1000% say, start 841 00:44:05,070 --> 00:44:06,780 Harry Chandler: there. Yeah. 842 00:44:07,320 --> 00:44:11,670 Rob Simmelkjaer: It really is, that's the base of the pyramid really, 843 00:44:11,670 --> 00:44:14,940 Rob Simmelkjaer: in the running industry, is that specialty runner shop, that 844 00:44:14,940 --> 00:44:18,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: place where somebody gets their first set of running shoes, 845 00:44:18,210 --> 00:44:22,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: or cross- country spikes, and starts to learn about what's 846 00:44:22,380 --> 00:44:24,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: out there. Even I probably need to go into those 847 00:44:24,450 --> 00:44:27,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: places more often, Harry, just to see what's up, to 848 00:44:27,840 --> 00:44:30,930 Rob Simmelkjaer: hear what's hot right now, what people are buying. I'll 849 00:44:30,930 --> 00:44:33,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: probably learn something myself about what's going on in the 850 00:44:33,570 --> 00:44:36,060 Rob Simmelkjaer: industry, just based on what people are buying. 851 00:44:36,510 --> 00:44:38,910 Harry Chandler: Come on down to Charlotte, North Carolina. I love house 852 00:44:38,910 --> 00:44:41,430 Harry Chandler: guests. I just had Dave Patterson from Brooks stay at 853 00:44:41,430 --> 00:44:41,940 Harry Chandler: my house. 854 00:44:42,180 --> 00:44:42,629 Rob Simmelkjaer: Nice. 855 00:44:43,050 --> 00:44:44,430 Harry Chandler: I tell people all the time, " If you're in town, 856 00:44:44,430 --> 00:44:45,660 Harry Chandler: don't get a hotel. Pop by." 857 00:44:46,020 --> 00:44:49,830 Rob Simmelkjaer: All right. You wouldn't have to ask me twice, especially in 858 00:44:49,830 --> 00:44:51,331 Rob Simmelkjaer: this weather. Yes, I'll happily come on down. 859 00:44:51,330 --> 00:44:56,610 Becs Gentry: Watch out, or you're going to have us down there. Harry, when it comes to using social 860 00:44:56,610 --> 00:45:01,620 Becs Gentry: media and your platform to promote the work you're doing, 861 00:45:01,620 --> 00:45:05,340 Becs Gentry: to promote racial equity and inclusion in the running space, 862 00:45:05,670 --> 00:45:09,690 Becs Gentry: what advice would you give to the younger generations right 863 00:45:09,690 --> 00:45:14,040 Becs Gentry: now, in order to keep doing that successfully? 864 00:45:15,750 --> 00:45:20,219 Harry Chandler: Be responsible, right? It's your burden, because it's your platform 865 00:45:20,219 --> 00:45:22,710 Harry Chandler: to serve your specific community in the way that suits 866 00:45:22,710 --> 00:45:25,710 Harry Chandler: them. I say it all the time, collaborate, don't exploit. 867 00:45:26,520 --> 00:45:30,090 Harry Chandler: So what is missing? What is needed? How can you 868 00:45:30,090 --> 00:45:33,089 Harry Chandler: work together with that community and your platform, to bring light 869 00:45:33,090 --> 00:45:36,930 Harry Chandler: to it? Be specific about what it is, the messaging 870 00:45:36,930 --> 00:45:39,750 Harry Chandler: that you want out there, because once it's on social, 871 00:45:39,750 --> 00:45:42,060 Harry Chandler: it's there forever, regardless of if you hit delete or 872 00:45:42,060 --> 00:45:48,960 Harry Chandler: not. And just have intention, right? What are your goals? 873 00:45:49,170 --> 00:45:52,110 Harry Chandler: What are your values? Who is your community? Again, I 874 00:45:52,110 --> 00:45:54,510 Harry Chandler: circled back and I've probably said it 32 times, but 875 00:45:54,660 --> 00:45:58,500 Harry Chandler: there's an audience that I'll have that Rob won't. And 876 00:45:58,500 --> 00:46:00,960 Harry Chandler: there's an audience that Rob has that I'll never get. And 877 00:46:01,320 --> 00:46:03,000 Harry Chandler: the same thing for you, Becs, and so on and so 878 00:46:03,000 --> 00:46:06,420 Harry Chandler: forth. And in those different audiences are the communities that 879 00:46:06,420 --> 00:46:08,730 Harry Chandler: we were talking about, the people before you, the people 880 00:46:08,730 --> 00:46:11,070 Harry Chandler: with you, the people coming after you. So you have 881 00:46:11,070 --> 00:46:13,410 Harry Chandler: to consider them, and consider them with care when you're 882 00:46:13,410 --> 00:46:17,610 Harry Chandler: doing it. Integrity and consistency goes such a long way. 883 00:46:18,930 --> 00:46:21,900 Harry Chandler: Kindness goes such a long way. And if you carry 884 00:46:21,900 --> 00:46:25,350 Harry Chandler: just those, that base value with you, as you're making 885 00:46:25,350 --> 00:46:27,540 Harry Chandler: your journey towards whatever it is and you're emerging as 886 00:46:27,540 --> 00:46:32,879 Harry Chandler: a leader, and a speaker, and an influencer, you won't miss. 887 00:46:32,879 --> 00:46:33,270 Harry Chandler: You can't. 888 00:46:33,270 --> 00:46:37,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: A hundred percent. Absolutely right. 889 00:46:37,380 --> 00:46:42,600 Becs Gentry: Collaborate, don't exploit. I wrote that down, because that really 890 00:46:42,600 --> 00:46:44,010 Becs Gentry: just hit the chord in me. 891 00:46:44,010 --> 00:46:44,281 Rob Simmelkjaer: I love it. 892 00:46:44,281 --> 00:46:47,280 Becs Gentry: If you hear that in the Peloton class, I promise you I will be quoting 893 00:46:47,280 --> 00:46:51,719 Becs Gentry: you, but I love that so much. It's a great, 894 00:46:51,719 --> 00:46:56,340 Becs Gentry: concise way of explaining how to be responsible on social. 895 00:46:56,910 --> 00:46:57,450 Becs Gentry: Thank you. 896 00:46:58,649 --> 00:47:01,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: Yeah. No, it's really good. So Harry, what are your 897 00:47:01,200 --> 00:47:05,910 Rob Simmelkjaer: future plans for the Charlotte Running Company business? Expansion plans? 898 00:47:06,660 --> 00:47:09,630 Rob Simmelkjaer: You got some new stores you want to open up, 899 00:47:09,630 --> 00:47:13,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: or expand outside Charlotte, take over North Carolina or the 900 00:47:13,950 --> 00:47:15,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: Southeast? What's the plan? 901 00:47:15,450 --> 00:47:18,060 Harry Chandler: I'd say, I'm the optimist and my business partner's the 902 00:47:18,060 --> 00:47:22,860 Harry Chandler: realist, because I'm like, " Yes, 75 stores, let's get it 903 00:47:22,860 --> 00:47:26,280 Harry Chandler: going." And then Scott's like, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Let's go 904 00:47:26,310 --> 00:47:28,320 Harry Chandler: over to South Carolina and look at the new shopping 905 00:47:28,320 --> 00:47:30,690 Harry Chandler: center that's opening, and let's talk about it in two 906 00:47:30,690 --> 00:47:34,170 Harry Chandler: to three years." We just expanded our Riverwalk store to 907 00:47:34,170 --> 00:47:37,980 Harry Chandler: 3000 square feet. So it is beautiful. There's a bar 908 00:47:37,980 --> 00:47:42,030 Harry Chandler: in there, and Brooks poured like a lacquer over the 909 00:47:42,030 --> 00:47:44,310 Harry Chandler: top of the bar. Customers dropped off all their medals, 910 00:47:44,310 --> 00:47:45,719 Harry Chandler: so they can come in and get a beer, and 911 00:47:45,719 --> 00:47:49,950 Harry Chandler: see their medals. We're right on the Catawba River. But 912 00:47:49,950 --> 00:47:52,200 Harry Chandler: for us, honestly, I would love to see new stores. 913 00:47:52,500 --> 00:47:56,430 Harry Chandler: I would love the opportunity to offer and/ or provide 914 00:47:56,430 --> 00:47:58,590 Harry Chandler: what JB did to me, and what Scott did to me. 915 00:47:58,830 --> 00:48:03,090 Harry Chandler: For example, being Armani McDonald. He manages our Dilworth store. 916 00:48:03,420 --> 00:48:05,280 Harry Chandler: And should he choose, and his family choose to stay 917 00:48:05,280 --> 00:48:07,710 Harry Chandler: with us, there's every intention of making sure that he 918 00:48:07,710 --> 00:48:12,870 Harry Chandler: has that opportunity. So those are my goals for us. 919 00:48:12,900 --> 00:48:16,710 Harry Chandler: I have been talking about, praying about, writing about a 920 00:48:17,700 --> 00:48:24,090 Harry Chandler: fitness foundation, forever. We talked earlier about the disparity in 921 00:48:24,090 --> 00:48:28,350 Harry Chandler: economics and wealth here in Charlotte. And a lot of 922 00:48:28,350 --> 00:48:30,630 Harry Chandler: private schools, even our public schools are all pay to 923 00:48:30,630 --> 00:48:33,360 Harry Chandler: play. And I don't know if I believe that you 924 00:48:33,360 --> 00:48:38,969 Harry Chandler: should have to pay to experience fitness. Far be it for us 925 00:48:39,330 --> 00:48:41,850 Harry Chandler: to gate keep running, and you can't join the team 926 00:48:41,850 --> 00:48:45,540 Harry Chandler: if you don't pay $1, 200, or you can't play football 927 00:48:45,540 --> 00:48:47,790 Harry Chandler: if you don't pay $ 2, 400 and buy all the 928 00:48:47,790 --> 00:48:50,040 Harry Chandler: equipment, because you can't afford travel. So I want to 929 00:48:50,040 --> 00:48:52,020 Harry Chandler: find some way to work with the city of Charlotte 930 00:48:53,070 --> 00:48:55,770 Harry Chandler: school system, Charlotte Running Company, any other network of friends 931 00:48:55,770 --> 00:48:58,620 Harry Chandler: that I have here, so that we can bring that to 932 00:48:58,620 --> 00:49:01,050 Harry Chandler: use, and so that they can get the opportunity to 933 00:49:01,290 --> 00:49:04,110 Harry Chandler: have what I'm sure we've all felt at some point 934 00:49:04,260 --> 00:49:05,880 Harry Chandler: about the sport of running, or any other sport or 935 00:49:05,880 --> 00:49:07,500 Harry Chandler: activity that they want to be involved in. 936 00:49:08,520 --> 00:49:11,759 Rob Simmelkjaer: Well, Harry, as our listeners can tell, you are a 937 00:49:11,760 --> 00:49:15,840 Rob Simmelkjaer: force of nature. You are doing so much in this 938 00:49:15,840 --> 00:49:19,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: industry, not just as an entrepreneur and a business person, 939 00:49:19,380 --> 00:49:22,950 Rob Simmelkjaer: but really as a real leader in the sport, and 940 00:49:22,950 --> 00:49:27,239 Rob Simmelkjaer: making the sport a more inclusive place. So we appreciate 941 00:49:27,239 --> 00:49:30,090 Rob Simmelkjaer: everything you're doing, appreciate everything you do for New York 942 00:49:30,090 --> 00:49:32,310 Rob Simmelkjaer: Road Runners as well, because you do a lot with 943 00:49:32,310 --> 00:49:37,410 Rob Simmelkjaer: us and for us, helping us to keep ourselves on 944 00:49:37,410 --> 00:49:41,460 Rob Simmelkjaer: message. You work a lot with Erica Edwards- O'Neal, our 945 00:49:42,330 --> 00:49:46,200 Rob Simmelkjaer: chief diversity officer, who has done such a phenomenal job, 946 00:49:46,200 --> 00:49:48,660 Rob Simmelkjaer: and by the way, who just won an award this 947 00:49:48,660 --> 00:49:54,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: week at Running USA for her incredible work, and impact 948 00:49:54,000 --> 00:49:58,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: in the sport of running. So congratulations to Erica. And 949 00:49:58,140 --> 00:50:01,259 Rob Simmelkjaer: Harry, congratulations to you for everything you've done. Thanks for 950 00:50:01,260 --> 00:50:02,969 Rob Simmelkjaer: coming on today, and we can't wait to see what 951 00:50:02,969 --> 00:50:03,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: happens next. 952 00:50:03,960 --> 00:50:04,171 Harry Chandler: Thank you. 953 00:50:04,171 --> 00:50:21,509 Rob Simmelkjaer: Annabella Espina has been a proud member of New York 954 00:50:21,510 --> 00:50:25,680 Rob Simmelkjaer: Road Runners since 2011, and her marathon journey is nothing short 955 00:50:25,710 --> 00:50:31,800 Rob Simmelkjaer: of extraordinary. Starting with just a 5K in 2009, Annabella has since completed 956 00:50:31,830 --> 00:50:38,040 Rob Simmelkjaer: 27 marathons, raising over $25, 000 for Team for Kids, which 957 00:50:38,040 --> 00:50:40,620 Rob Simmelkjaer: of course is our charitable fund at New York Road 958 00:50:40,620 --> 00:50:44,160 Rob Simmelkjaer: Runners, along the way. This year, she's taking on the 959 00:50:44,160 --> 00:50:48,210 Rob Simmelkjaer: Tokyo and the TCS New York City marathons, representing not 960 00:50:48,210 --> 00:50:51,570 Rob Simmelkjaer: just her passion for running, but her dedication to empowering 961 00:50:51,570 --> 00:50:55,379 Rob Simmelkjaer: young people through New York Road Runners programs. Annabella was 962 00:50:55,380 --> 00:50:58,379 Rob Simmelkjaer: with us last year, as she prepared for London. And 963 00:50:58,380 --> 00:51:00,540 Rob Simmelkjaer: she's joining us today to share with us how her 964 00:51:00,540 --> 00:51:04,320 Rob Simmelkjaer: Tokyo training is going, and what it means to her 965 00:51:04,320 --> 00:51:07,170 Rob Simmelkjaer: to be on the verge of earning her sixth star. 966 00:51:07,800 --> 00:51:10,920 Meb Keflezighi: Thanks, Rob. Welcome to the podcast, Annabella. How are you feeling today? 967 00:51:11,790 --> 00:51:15,390 Annabella Espina: Hi, Meb. Thank you. I'm feeling great today. 968 00:51:15,900 --> 00:51:17,460 Meb Keflezighi: Well, it's good to be with you again. I know 969 00:51:17,460 --> 00:51:20,370 Meb Keflezighi: we did the London Marathon last year. But what inspires 970 00:51:20,370 --> 00:51:22,919 Meb Keflezighi: you to take on the Tokyo Marathon? And how does 971 00:51:22,920 --> 00:51:25,980 Meb Keflezighi: it feel to be so close to completing all six 972 00:51:26,040 --> 00:51:28,290 Meb Keflezighi: Abbott World Marathon Majors? 973 00:51:31,200 --> 00:51:35,129 Annabella Espina: I made the decision to run the Tokyo Marathon, because 974 00:51:35,730 --> 00:51:39,060 Annabella Espina: I've never been to Japan, so that's number one. But 975 00:51:39,060 --> 00:51:41,760 Annabella Espina: then number two, I figured I was so close to 976 00:51:41,760 --> 00:51:45,270 Annabella Espina: the six stars, and there's a little bit of peer 977 00:51:45,270 --> 00:51:48,570 Annabella Espina: pressure from my running friends who already have the six 978 00:51:48,570 --> 00:51:54,000 Annabella Espina: stars, that I had a little kind of FOMO going 979 00:51:54,000 --> 00:51:58,620 Annabella Espina: into it. And I tried to get the spot with 980 00:51:58,620 --> 00:52:01,589 Annabella Espina: Team for Kids, because I love fundraising for this great 981 00:52:01,590 --> 00:52:06,030 Annabella Espina: organization. And I was lucky enough to get the spot, 982 00:52:06,060 --> 00:52:10,259 Annabella Espina: and I'm now in full mode training. It's been a 983 00:52:10,260 --> 00:52:13,950 Annabella Espina: bit intense starting the year with the training, but I'm 984 00:52:13,950 --> 00:52:15,330 Annabella Espina: very excited for Tokyo. 985 00:52:16,110 --> 00:52:18,000 Meb Keflezighi: And as you should, and you're going to be very 986 00:52:18,000 --> 00:52:21,120 Meb Keflezighi: proud come March 2nd after Tokyo, because I still get 987 00:52:21,120 --> 00:52:23,400 Meb Keflezighi: the pressure. Well man, we got your beat. We haven't 988 00:52:23,400 --> 00:52:27,330 Meb Keflezighi: done the Abbott World Major marathons yet, so you're going 989 00:52:27,330 --> 00:52:29,489 Meb Keflezighi: to be okay after that. But can you tell us 990 00:52:29,489 --> 00:52:32,880 Meb Keflezighi: about your memorable moments from your 27 marathon journey, that 991 00:52:32,880 --> 00:52:35,250 Meb Keflezighi: still makes you smile and motivates you today? 992 00:52:37,050 --> 00:52:43,770 Annabella Espina: So out of my 27 marathons, I've done TCS New 993 00:52:43,770 --> 00:52:49,410 Annabella Espina: York City Marathon 12 times since 2013, because in 2012 994 00:52:49,950 --> 00:52:51,900 Annabella Espina: we were not able to do it, because it was 995 00:52:51,900 --> 00:52:55,020 Annabella Espina: canceled. And then when COVID hit, I did do it, 996 00:52:55,020 --> 00:52:58,469 Annabella Espina: but virtually. So I think my proudest moment is to 997 00:52:58,469 --> 00:53:04,230 Annabella Espina: be almost a streaker on the New York City Marathon, 998 00:53:04,230 --> 00:53:07,589 Annabella Espina: because it is definitely my favorite marathon. I know this 999 00:53:07,590 --> 00:53:11,489 Annabella Espina: conversation is more about Tokyo, but I think that running 1000 00:53:11,850 --> 00:53:15,870 Annabella Espina: New York City Marathon every year, and especially being able 1001 00:53:15,870 --> 00:53:19,710 Annabella Espina: to fundraise with Team for Kids for that marathon, it 1002 00:53:19,710 --> 00:53:24,630 Annabella Espina: doesn't matter if I have a spot, a lottery, I 1003 00:53:24,630 --> 00:53:28,259 Annabella Espina: always up fundraising with Team for Kids, just because that's 1004 00:53:28,260 --> 00:53:33,180 Annabella Espina: what gives purpose to my running. And it makes me 1005 00:53:33,180 --> 00:53:38,370 Annabella Espina: smile to know that with my running, I am helping 1006 00:53:38,670 --> 00:53:45,960 Annabella Espina: kids become athletes, or better people, and just make them grow personally. 1007 00:53:47,219 --> 00:53:50,100 Meb Keflezighi: Well, we're grateful for all the great work that you're doing 1008 00:53:50,100 --> 00:53:52,290 Meb Keflezighi: for Team for Kids, but you've been doing that for 1009 00:53:52,290 --> 00:53:55,500 Meb Keflezighi: over a decade. What advice would you give to the 1010 00:53:55,500 --> 00:53:59,460 Meb Keflezighi: new people who are looking into fundraising, or mentoring for Team 1011 00:53:59,460 --> 00:53:59,850 Meb Keflezighi: for Kids? 1012 00:53:59,850 --> 00:54:06,900 Annabella Espina: I think the first advice is to be open and 1013 00:54:06,900 --> 00:54:10,620 Annabella Espina: friendly. This is an amazing community map. I think you've 1014 00:54:10,620 --> 00:54:14,399 Annabella Espina: seen it over the past few years, being our ambassador 1015 00:54:14,400 --> 00:54:18,330 Annabella Espina: for Team for Kids. It is an amazing adult group. 1016 00:54:19,170 --> 00:54:22,590 Annabella Espina: Yes, we fundraise for kids, but yes, it is the 1017 00:54:22,590 --> 00:54:26,489 Annabella Espina: best community I've ever seen and been a part of. 1018 00:54:26,610 --> 00:54:29,610 Annabella Espina: I'm not in New York anymore. I spent 10 years 1019 00:54:29,610 --> 00:54:31,650 Annabella Espina: in New York, and I'm in Miami now, and it's 1020 00:54:31,650 --> 00:54:35,670 Annabella Espina: still my family. My best friends are from Team for 1021 00:54:35,670 --> 00:54:38,790 Annabella Espina: Kids. So I think when you decide to join Team 1022 00:54:38,790 --> 00:54:43,260 Annabella Espina: for Kids, fundraise for Team for Kids, you become part 1023 00:54:43,260 --> 00:54:45,810 Annabella Espina: of a community, and you get all the support you 1024 00:54:45,810 --> 00:54:52,230 Annabella Espina: need for the fundraising piece. You get webinars, you get 1025 00:54:52,230 --> 00:54:56,670 Annabella Espina: mentors. Also mentoring, I've been mentoring with Team for Kids 1026 00:54:56,670 --> 00:55:00,060 Annabella Espina: since I think 2014, so it's been over 10 years 1027 00:55:00,060 --> 00:55:03,779 Annabella Espina: as well, I've been a mentor. And it's just such 1028 00:55:03,780 --> 00:55:08,069 Annabella Espina: a feeling of satisfaction, being able to help, not just 1029 00:55:08,070 --> 00:55:11,070 Annabella Espina: the kids, but the other adult runners who are maybe 1030 00:55:11,070 --> 00:55:15,000 Annabella Espina: struggling with their first marathon, or their first fundraising event. 1031 00:55:15,030 --> 00:55:20,100 Annabella Espina: And I don't know. I think that whoever is thinking 1032 00:55:20,100 --> 00:55:23,670 Annabella Espina: of joining Team for Kids to fundraise for a race 1033 00:55:23,700 --> 00:55:29,520 Annabella Espina: doesn't have to be a marathon, just do it. You 1034 00:55:29,520 --> 00:55:31,950 Annabella Espina: will not regret it, because it is really a great 1035 00:55:31,950 --> 00:55:33,960 Annabella Espina: community that you'll want to be a part of. 1036 00:55:34,590 --> 00:55:37,680 Meb Keflezighi: It is a wonderful community, Annabel. I've been very fortunate 1037 00:55:37,680 --> 00:55:40,350 Meb Keflezighi: to be an ambassador for Team for kids. And the last 1038 00:55:40,350 --> 00:55:42,390 Meb Keflezighi: night that we do before the TCS New York City 1039 00:55:42,390 --> 00:55:45,030 Meb Keflezighi: Marathon, people have even asked me, " Come to dinner with 1040 00:55:45,030 --> 00:55:47,130 Meb Keflezighi: us." They're so inviting. And I went to that, and had some 1041 00:55:47,790 --> 00:55:50,550 Meb Keflezighi: great time, whether the first time or the fourth time. 1042 00:55:50,550 --> 00:55:53,160 Meb Keflezighi: And (inaudible) that just Team for Kids inspires so 1043 00:55:53,160 --> 00:55:55,980 Meb Keflezighi: many people. But what do you say to somebody who's 1044 00:55:55,980 --> 00:55:59,279 Meb Keflezighi: starting their running in their thirties? What advice would you 1045 00:55:59,280 --> 00:56:02,040 Meb Keflezighi: give to adults, and who think it is too late 1046 00:56:02,040 --> 00:56:02,790 Meb Keflezighi: to start running? 1047 00:56:03,900 --> 00:56:06,989 Annabella Espina: It's never too late. I can tell you. I started running 1048 00:56:06,989 --> 00:56:10,650 Annabella Espina: in my thirties. Before that, I would not even run 1049 00:56:10,650 --> 00:56:14,850 Annabella Espina: to catch the bus, not do anything. And one day 1050 00:56:14,850 --> 00:56:18,690 Annabella Espina: I said, " Let's sign up for a 5K." And I started 1051 00:56:19,350 --> 00:56:23,610 Annabella Espina: from zero, like run, walking. It doesn't matter. As long 1052 00:56:23,610 --> 00:56:24,961 Annabella Espina: as you move forward, you're fine. 1053 00:56:24,960 --> 00:56:25,350 Meb Keflezighi: That's it. 1054 00:56:25,770 --> 00:56:28,170 Annabella Espina: If you have to walk a little, that's fine. And 1055 00:56:28,170 --> 00:56:31,590 Annabella Espina: also, I have to say, Matt, that during all these 1056 00:56:31,590 --> 00:56:34,890 Annabella Espina: years, mentoring and running with Team for Kids and training 1057 00:56:34,890 --> 00:56:39,239 Annabella Espina: with them, I have seen people not in their thirties starting to 1058 00:56:39,239 --> 00:56:42,930 Annabella Espina: run. I've seen people in their sixties running their first 1059 00:56:42,930 --> 00:56:46,980 Annabella Espina: marathon, I think even almost seventies. So it's never too 1060 00:56:46,980 --> 00:56:49,800 Annabella Espina: late to, either if it's a dream of yours, a 1061 00:56:49,800 --> 00:56:53,700 Annabella Espina: bucket list, something that you just got inspired with, something you've 1062 00:56:53,790 --> 00:56:56,850 Annabella Espina: ever always wanted to do, it doesn't matter. It's never 1063 00:56:56,850 --> 00:56:59,820 Annabella Espina: too late to start. And with Team for Kids, you 1064 00:56:59,820 --> 00:57:03,960 Annabella Espina: always have that support of the training, especially if you're 1065 00:57:03,960 --> 00:57:08,040 Annabella Espina: in New York, it's easier. But it's never too late 1066 00:57:08,040 --> 00:57:10,860 Annabella Espina: to start, as long as you are committed and you 1067 00:57:10,860 --> 00:57:11,819 Annabella Espina: have the motivation. 1068 00:57:12,960 --> 00:57:15,960 Meb Keflezighi: I definitely agree. It's never too late. And whether they're 1069 00:57:15,960 --> 00:57:18,960 Meb Keflezighi: in the thirties, forties, fifties, or sixties, I always tell 1070 00:57:18,960 --> 00:57:21,510 Meb Keflezighi: people to do one marathon in their lifetime. And if 1071 00:57:21,510 --> 00:57:23,850 Meb Keflezighi: you get the bag, that's okay, but at least if 1072 00:57:23,850 --> 00:57:26,460 Meb Keflezighi: you do it, you know you can overcome so many things, 1073 00:57:26,460 --> 00:57:29,730 Meb Keflezighi: and you make friends along the way. So how do 1074 00:57:29,730 --> 00:57:33,300 Meb Keflezighi: you balance the physical and mental challenges of a marathon 1075 00:57:33,300 --> 00:57:37,440 Meb Keflezighi: training, especially when you're juggling multiple marathons a year? 1076 00:57:38,100 --> 00:57:41,550 Annabella Espina: So I'm not going to say it's easy. I think 1077 00:57:43,440 --> 00:57:49,860 Annabella Espina: it requires a lot of commitment, and vision to the 1078 00:57:49,860 --> 00:57:56,040 Annabella Espina: end goal. During a year, I run between two, three 1079 00:57:56,040 --> 00:57:59,130 Annabella Espina: marathons,, and maybe I throw in a lot of other 1080 00:57:59,130 --> 00:58:02,250 Annabella Espina: races, sometimes like an ultra marathon here, or a shorter 1081 00:58:02,250 --> 00:58:09,180 Annabella Espina: race or a trail. And it's all about balance. So yes, 1082 00:58:09,180 --> 00:58:13,320 Annabella Espina: I train. I'm not a fast runner, and I always 1083 00:58:13,470 --> 00:58:17,790 Annabella Espina: try to get better, but I also incorporate a lot 1084 00:58:17,790 --> 00:58:25,110 Annabella Espina: of mental well- being activities, such as yoga, stretching, at 1085 00:58:25,110 --> 00:58:29,520 Annabella Espina: least once a week, just because my body is, I'm 1086 00:58:29,520 --> 00:58:35,040 Annabella Espina: not 20 anymore. We have to add more and more 1087 00:58:35,880 --> 00:58:39,480 Annabella Espina: of that. And also, to stay healthy with my running 1088 00:58:39,780 --> 00:58:45,750 Annabella Espina: this year, so this training cycle, I wanted to turn 1089 00:58:45,750 --> 00:58:48,330 Annabella Espina: it up a little bit on my health. And I 1090 00:58:48,360 --> 00:58:53,640 Annabella Espina: started also strength training, and Pilates classes to do more 1091 00:58:53,640 --> 00:58:58,350 Annabella Espina: core, because I realized that yes, running is great, but after 1092 00:58:58,350 --> 00:59:03,030 Annabella Espina: you run all these years, all these marathons, you need 1093 00:59:03,030 --> 00:59:05,640 Annabella Espina: to build a little bit better on the muscles. And 1094 00:59:05,640 --> 00:59:07,500 Annabella Espina: I have to tell you that I've been in strength 1095 00:59:07,500 --> 00:59:12,360 Annabella Espina: training for two months. Yesterday, I ran one of my 1096 00:59:12,360 --> 00:59:17,640 Annabella Espina: 18 milers. Nothing hurt. Yes, of course I was tired, 1097 00:59:18,060 --> 00:59:20,340 Annabella Espina: because it's 18 miles. You're always going to be tired, 1098 00:59:20,340 --> 00:59:26,580 Annabella Espina: but no pain, no soreness. All day, I walked all 1099 00:59:26,580 --> 00:59:28,830 Annabella Espina: day. This morning, I woke up, I went to the 1100 00:59:28,830 --> 00:59:32,130 Annabella Espina: gym. It's been a big difference. So I think that 1101 00:59:32,130 --> 00:59:36,780 Annabella Espina: you have to, yes, running, but also balance it with other types 1102 00:59:36,780 --> 00:59:40,290 Annabella Espina: of cross- training, so that your body adjusts a little bit. 1103 00:59:41,520 --> 00:59:44,460 Meb Keflezighi: Great tips. I really believe now, the drills, or core 1104 00:59:44,460 --> 00:59:48,600 Meb Keflezighi: exercise, or agility helps, especially as we age, to help 1105 00:59:48,600 --> 00:59:52,050 Meb Keflezighi: you the posture up, and to run 18 miles and not 1106 00:59:52,050 --> 00:59:54,510 Meb Keflezighi: be sore, because that's a lot of testament. As you 1107 00:59:54,510 --> 00:59:58,470 Meb Keflezighi: prepare for Tokyo Marathon, Annabella, we want to wish you all the best as 1108 00:59:58,470 --> 01:00:01,230 Meb Keflezighi: you earn your six stars. So happy and proud of 1109 01:00:01,230 --> 01:00:03,180 Meb Keflezighi: you, and thanks for all you do for the sport, and for Team 1110 01:00:03,180 --> 01:00:03,690 Meb Keflezighi: for Kids. 1111 01:00:04,290 --> 01:00:06,900 Annabella Espina: Thank you, Meb. I'm very happy to be here, and hope 1112 01:00:06,900 --> 01:00:07,650 Annabella Espina: to see you soon. 1113 01:00:08,070 --> 01:00:08,580 Meb Keflezighi: Sounds great. 1114 01:00:09,090 --> 01:00:12,240 Rob Simmelkjaer: Oh, thank you so much for joining us. Annabella, I'm so 1115 01:00:12,240 --> 01:00:15,750 Rob Simmelkjaer: excited for you to get that sixth star. I hope 1116 01:00:15,750 --> 01:00:18,000 Rob Simmelkjaer: to see you there at the finish line in Tokyo. 1117 01:00:18,000 --> 01:00:20,340 Rob Simmelkjaer: Maybe I'll have a chance to put that medal around 1118 01:00:20,340 --> 01:00:22,380 Rob Simmelkjaer: your neck. That would be amazing. Thanks for being a 1119 01:00:22,380 --> 01:00:25,860 Rob Simmelkjaer: member of New York Road Runners. Now, to the final part 1120 01:00:25,860 --> 01:00:27,720 Rob Simmelkjaer: of our show, today's Meb Minute. 1121 01:00:28,140 --> 01:00:33,060 Meb Keflezighi: Winter shoes. When training for a marathon in icy conditions, selecting 1122 01:00:33,060 --> 01:00:37,020 Meb Keflezighi: the right shoes is crucial for both safety and performance. 1123 01:00:37,290 --> 01:00:39,840 Meb Keflezighi: Look for a shoe with a good grip, or trail- 1124 01:00:39,840 --> 01:00:44,460 Meb Keflezighi: specific traction to help prevent slipping. Some shoes are designed 1125 01:00:44,460 --> 01:00:48,180 Meb Keflezighi: with water resistance upper, to keep your feet dry in 1126 01:00:48,180 --> 01:00:51,870 Meb Keflezighi: snowy and slushy conditions. If you are running on ice, 1127 01:00:51,990 --> 01:00:57,930 Meb Keflezighi: regularly consider adding a removable traction device, like Yaktrax or microspikes. 1128 01:00:58,380 --> 01:01:01,980 Meb Keflezighi: Make sure your shoes are also well padded for comfort, 1129 01:01:02,070 --> 01:01:06,000 Meb Keflezighi: as you will likely be running on harder uneven surface. 1130 01:01:06,060 --> 01:01:09,360 Meb Keflezighi: The right footwear can make all the difference in preventing 1131 01:01:09,390 --> 01:01:12,930 Meb Keflezighi: injuries, and staying on track with your training. It is 1132 01:01:12,930 --> 01:01:15,420 Meb Keflezighi: very important to wear the right shoes, because you're going 1133 01:01:15,420 --> 01:01:18,720 Meb Keflezighi: to be running on an even surface, and be able to just 1134 01:01:18,960 --> 01:01:21,450 Meb Keflezighi: be comfort. And for me, when I was in Mammoth 1135 01:01:21,450 --> 01:01:24,270 Meb Keflezighi: Lakes, California, I used the Yaktrax to help with the 1136 01:01:24,270 --> 01:01:27,900 Meb Keflezighi: stability, so I'm not slipping away, and for ligament or 1137 01:01:27,900 --> 01:01:31,140 Meb Keflezighi: muscle tears. So be careful. Make a wise decision. 1138 01:01:31,590 --> 01:01:34,140 Rob Simmelkjaer: All right, gang, that does it for another episode of 1139 01:01:34,140 --> 01:01:36,450 Rob Simmelkjaer: Set The Pace. We want to thank our great guests 1140 01:01:36,450 --> 01:01:40,980 Rob Simmelkjaer: today, Harry Chandler and Annabella Espina. If you liked the 1141 01:01:40,980 --> 01:01:45,390 Rob Simmelkjaer: episode, please go ahead, rate, subscribe, leave a comment or 1142 01:01:45,390 --> 01:01:49,020 Rob Simmelkjaer: a question for me or for Becs in the comments, 1143 01:01:49,140 --> 01:01:52,770 Rob Simmelkjaer: wherever you listen. Hope you have a great, great week 1144 01:01:52,770 --> 01:01:54,690 Rob Simmelkjaer: of running. For those of you training for big Spring 1145 01:01:54,690 --> 01:01:58,440 Rob Simmelkjaer: marathons, stay warm, stay safe and enjoy the miles. We'll 1146 01:01:58,440 --> 01:01:59,130 Rob Simmelkjaer: see you next week.