WEBVTT - Harry Chandler on Running, Retail, and Representation 0:00:03.930 --> 0:00:08.250 Thank you, New York. Today we're reminded of the power 0:00:08.250 --> 0:00:13.710 of community and the power of coming together. Athletes, on your mark. 0:00:15.810 --> 0:00:19.860 The first woman to finish, for the second straight year, here in 0:00:19.860 --> 0:00:23.610 the New York City Marathon is Miki Gorman, a smiling Miki Gorman, 0:00:23.610 --> 0:00:27.002 and why not? 2: 29:30, the time for (inaudible) . 0:00:27.002 --> 0:00:30.540 Look at the emotion of Shalane Flanagan as she comes to 0:00:30.540 --> 0:00:34.409 the line. Pointing to his chest, pointed to the USA 0:00:34.409 --> 0:00:44.130 he so proudly wears across his chest. A great day for Meb Keflezighi. 0:00:44.130 --> 0:00:47.640 Hey everybody, and welcome to Set the Pace, the official 0:00:47.640 --> 0:00:51.630 podcast of New York Road Runners, presented by Peloton. Nice 0:00:51.630 --> 0:00:53.070 to have you with us this week. I'm your host, 0:00:53.070 --> 0:00:55.770 Rob Simmelkjaer, the CEO of New York Road Runners. And 0:00:56.100 --> 0:01:01.740 with me, Peloton instructor extraordinaire, Becs Gentry. What's up Becs? 0:01:01.740 --> 0:01:01.951 How are you? 0:01:01.951 --> 0:01:04.650 That always makes me giggle. I think every time you 0:01:04.650 --> 0:01:08.550 introduce me in a different way, I always giggle. I'm 0:01:08.550 --> 0:01:09.569 fantastic. Thank you. 0:01:09.569 --> 0:01:13.694 You are an extraordinaire. How many people have I met 0:01:13.694 --> 0:01:16.679 in the last months that we've been doing this podcast 0:01:16.680 --> 0:01:21.120 together, who tell me that Becs is their favorite instructor? It's 0:01:21.270 --> 0:01:23.220 what gets them up, it's what gets them on the 0:01:23.220 --> 0:01:27.959 tread. You make a big impact in that Peloton world, 0:01:27.959 --> 0:01:29.610 and I'm not just saying that. I hear that all 0:01:29.610 --> 0:01:32.220 the time, so I think that's the appropriate word. 0:01:33.120 --> 0:01:33.121 Too kind. 0:01:33.121 --> 0:01:34.919 Are you surviving this winter? How are you doing? 0:01:35.729 --> 0:01:37.680 I'm not training, so I'm good. 0:01:37.680 --> 0:01:37.740 Yeah. 0:01:39.600 --> 0:01:43.229 I have zero guilt about not getting out there for miles. 0:01:44.310 --> 0:01:47.670 That's a good segue. 0:01:47.970 --> 0:01:48.361 Which is... Yeah. 0:01:48.361 --> 0:01:48.481 ... to my situation. 0:01:48.481 --> 0:01:48.482 ... which is a really good segue to- 0:01:48.482 --> 0:01:48.483 ... which is quite different. 0:01:48.483 --> 0:01:50.341 Why are you not liking this winter so much, Rob? 0:01:50.341 --> 0:01:54.510 Yeah. Yeah, because I am training, and I've been alluding to 0:01:54.510 --> 0:01:56.880 it, but I always like to hold the news until 0:01:56.880 --> 0:01:58.351 maybe a month out, until I feel like I'm really doing it. 0:01:58.351 --> 0:01:59.010 We're so similar. 0:01:59.730 --> 0:02:02.669 Yeah, but I'm going to run the Tokyo Marathon. 0:02:03.000 --> 0:02:03.060 Wow. 0:02:03.060 --> 0:02:04.890 I'm going to give this a go. Absolutely. 0:02:05.100 --> 0:02:05.910 Let's go. 0:02:06.270 --> 0:02:07.470 We're doing this. We're doing this, Becs. 0:02:07.470 --> 0:02:07.800 Yes, you are. 0:02:08.520 --> 0:02:13.290 I'm excited. I'm really excited. After running Berlin, I knew 0:02:13.290 --> 0:02:15.720 I was going to the Tokyo Marathon. I had already 0:02:15.720 --> 0:02:19.770 made a plan to go to that event. I have a 0:02:19.770 --> 0:02:24.000 pattern of going to usually one international major every year 0:02:24.000 --> 0:02:27.000 to represent New York Road Runners. So this was the 0:02:27.000 --> 0:02:29.940 year I was going to Tokyo. And after running Berlin 0:02:29.940 --> 0:02:34.500 and coming out feeling pretty healthy, I was like, you know what? I kind of running these 0:02:34.500 --> 0:02:35.910 events when I go to them, if I can. 0:02:35.910 --> 0:02:37.590 Yeah, exactly. Why not? 0:02:37.590 --> 0:02:41.160 Sitting around watching people run, it's great, but doing it 0:02:41.220 --> 0:02:42.871 is so much better. You really get the experience. 0:02:42.871 --> 0:02:42.872 Exactly. 0:02:42.872 --> 0:02:47.550 And I can really compare it to the experience of running 0:02:47.550 --> 0:02:50.370 in New York, or with the other majors. So I 0:02:50.370 --> 0:02:53.850 was fortunate enough to get an invitation from the amazing 0:02:53.850 --> 0:02:57.149 folks in Tokyo, our friends, the race director out there, 0:02:57.180 --> 0:03:00.660 Yasu and former race director, Tad. They're just a great, 0:03:00.660 --> 0:03:03.780 great group of people who run that event. So I'm 0:03:03.780 --> 0:03:07.230 really excited. And I think what I'm frankly most excited 0:03:07.230 --> 0:03:09.481 about, Becs, is just going to Japan. 0:03:09.481 --> 0:03:10.020 A hundred percent. 0:03:10.470 --> 0:03:14.970 I've never been. It's such an unbelievable, amazing and unique place on 0:03:15.330 --> 0:03:18.900 our earth. And I'm just really excited to visit Japan 0:03:18.900 --> 0:03:19.320 for the first time. 0:03:19.889 --> 0:03:23.940 Well, first and foremost, I'm incredibly excited for you. I'm 0:03:23.940 --> 0:03:28.290 very proud of you for doing it again, getting out 0:03:28.290 --> 0:03:34.440 there, getting this second in six months, really, done. And 0:03:34.710 --> 0:03:42.360 I will concur. Japan is phenomenal. I questioned everything about 0:03:42.360 --> 0:03:44.580 my choice to live in the USA when I came 0:03:44.580 --> 0:03:48.960 home from Japan, because I was like, what is wrong with us all 0:03:48.990 --> 0:03:53.400 here? We are so rude. We are so dirty. We are 0:03:53.910 --> 0:03:58.740 just not cool. We're not cool to each other, especially. 0:03:58.830 --> 0:04:02.550 And something that really stuck out to me in Japan 0:04:02.550 --> 0:04:07.230 is, even when there's a huge race on, even when 0:04:07.230 --> 0:04:13.110 it's as busy as Tokyo is as a metropolis, people 0:04:13.230 --> 0:04:17.550 are kind and patient to one another. The subway system 0:04:17.550 --> 0:04:21.810 you will see is organized and calm, even though there 0:04:21.810 --> 0:04:25.080 are more people probably than in New York riding it. 0:04:25.770 --> 0:04:29.370 And I really did take on board with me that 0:04:29.700 --> 0:04:34.409 Japanese way of just... We all get frustrated. Someone pushes 0:04:34.410 --> 0:04:36.240 in front of you when you're in the line for 0:04:36.480 --> 0:04:38.760 the bathroom at a race, and you're cursing them out 0:04:38.760 --> 0:04:40.950 on your mind, but you take a deep breath, because 0:04:40.950 --> 0:04:43.470 you're like, " You know what? We're all going to get there. We're going to get there." 0:04:43.860 --> 0:04:46.890 So I'm so happy you're going to go and experience 0:04:46.890 --> 0:04:51.300 this amazing, amazing city, and run 26.2. Because what better 0:04:51.390 --> 0:04:54.060 than, I love saying it when I feel like having 0:04:54.060 --> 0:04:57.180 a workout, especially if it's a sixty- minute class that 0:04:57.180 --> 0:04:59.250 I teach and there's members in the room, I'm like, " 0:04:59.610 --> 0:05:02.490 I'm going to do this with you, because there is 0:05:02.490 --> 0:05:06.240 nothing better than experiencing what your people are experiencing. And 0:05:06.480 --> 0:05:08.880 here we go." Here he goes, the CEO of New 0:05:08.880 --> 0:05:12.750 York Road Runners, off to experience another World Marathon major. 0:05:12.960 --> 0:05:15.960 I can't wait. If I'm fortunate enough to make it 0:05:15.960 --> 0:05:17.099 to the finish line- 0:05:17.190 --> 0:05:17.190 You will. 0:05:17.190 --> 0:05:21.540 It will be my third star in the Abbott World Marathon Majors- 0:05:21.570 --> 0:05:22.681 Halfway to the OG six. 0:05:22.681 --> 0:05:25.380 ... journey, as they say, the six- star journey as we call it. 0:05:25.380 --> 0:05:28.650 So halfway, not bad. I frankly never thought I was 0:05:28.650 --> 0:05:30.990 going to run more than one marathon when I first 0:05:30.990 --> 0:05:34.589 ran the New York Marathon back in the day. So hey, 0:05:34.589 --> 0:05:37.770 every one I add on is more than I ever 0:05:37.770 --> 0:05:39.780 thought I would do, so I'm excited about that. Now, Becs, 0:05:40.860 --> 0:05:44.640 what I have not been excited about, and I've got 0:05:44.640 --> 0:05:48.390 to be honest, is the winter training. So this is 0:05:48.690 --> 0:05:52.710 obviously my first ever spring marathon. I have never trained- 0:05:52.710 --> 0:05:52.710 Oh, I'm sorry. 0:05:52.710 --> 0:05:58.320 ... for a marathon in the winter months before. And it 0:05:58.320 --> 0:06:03.720 has really been a struggle for me. I think, Becs, 0:06:03.720 --> 0:06:08.789 what's getting me through it is the very limited goals 0:06:08.790 --> 0:06:11.610 that I have for this race. I am not trying to 0:06:11.610 --> 0:06:14.849 set a PR. I'm not trying to do anything. I 0:06:14.850 --> 0:06:17.310 just want to finish it. And so I'm banking on 0:06:17.910 --> 0:06:21.029 the fitness I had from Berlin to get me through. 0:06:21.330 --> 0:06:23.789 But unlike Berlin where I was really, I used the 0:06:23.790 --> 0:06:25.020 Run It (inaudible) app when I was training for 0:06:25.020 --> 0:06:28.950 Berlin. I was doing speed workouts, and tempo workouts. 0:06:28.950 --> 0:06:29.010 You were committed. 0:06:29.010 --> 0:06:32.339 ... and I was going for it, because it was summer and it was warm. And even 0:06:32.339 --> 0:06:34.800 though it was sometimes too warm, I had no trouble 0:06:34.800 --> 0:06:35.491 getting out the door for a run. 0:06:35.491 --> 0:06:39.570 And we had a lot longer daylight hours to play with too. 0:06:39.570 --> 0:06:42.270 That's the thing. Becs, it's the daylight. It just kills me, because- 0:06:42.270 --> 0:06:42.271 Awful. 0:06:42.271 --> 0:06:45.360 ... I've got to do my runs typically at 6:00 AM, 5: 0:06:45.360 --> 0:06:49.650 30 AM, before whether my kids are getting up, or 0:06:49.950 --> 0:06:53.250 work is starting, and there's just no light. So I 0:06:53.250 --> 0:06:55.349 don't like running outside in the dark. That's not a 0:06:55.350 --> 0:06:58.200 thing I'm comfortable with, especially when I'm out here in 0:06:58.200 --> 0:07:00.330 Connecticut versus in the city, where it's a little bit 0:07:00.330 --> 0:07:03.421 easier to do. So where does that put me? 0:07:03.421 --> 0:07:03.570 On the treadmill. 0:07:04.140 --> 0:07:08.130 It puts me on a treadmill. And I know at Peloton- 0:07:08.130 --> 0:07:09.631 Careful what you say. 0:07:09.631 --> 0:07:11.881 Really, Becs. This is really, I've got to get myself on the Peloton track. 0:07:11.881 --> 0:07:12.361 You do. 0:07:12.780 --> 0:07:15.960 Because I'm just going and doing treadmill workouts on my own, 0:07:16.350 --> 0:07:20.160 and I just can't stand it. It just kills me to 0:07:20.160 --> 0:07:21.000 run on the treadmill. 0:07:21.150 --> 0:07:21.002 We need to get you a tread class (inaudible) . 0:07:21.002 --> 0:07:27.810 So I've got to get in a Becs Gentry running class on the tread, because it is just 0:07:27.810 --> 0:07:30.390 a struggle for me to run on these treadmills. I've 0:07:30.420 --> 0:07:33.481 learned that about five miles is my max at this point on a tread. 0:07:33.481 --> 0:07:33.811 Oh, wow. 0:07:33.811 --> 0:07:37.920 And then I'm just done. I can't mentally get myself any 0:07:37.920 --> 0:07:40.680 longer than about 45 minutes or so on the treadmill. 0:07:40.920 --> 0:07:44.430 Have you done any combo? Tread start and then finish 0:07:44.430 --> 0:07:45.210 off outside? 0:07:45.780 --> 0:07:48.630 I have not done that. I should probably try that. 0:07:48.630 --> 0:07:50.460 Try that when you're in Connecticut, because as you say, 0:07:50.460 --> 0:07:53.220 it's easier in New York, because you'll generally find a 0:07:53.310 --> 0:07:55.170 bunch of other people in New York who are willing 0:07:55.170 --> 0:07:59.160 to pack it up and go for a darker early morning run, 0:07:59.160 --> 0:08:02.700 because I think it's more sensible to run in a pack in 0:08:02.700 --> 0:08:07.650 the darkness, for sure. Especially for women too. But I 0:08:07.650 --> 0:08:10.560 do like that, the tread start, if it's a super 0:08:10.560 --> 0:08:13.890 early morning start, especially if you want to turn over 0:08:13.890 --> 0:08:16.020 the legs, and maybe do some faster work. And then 0:08:16.020 --> 0:08:19.320 head out and finish off the easy miles outside, bundle 0:08:19.320 --> 0:08:22.080 up, obviously change out of your sweaty stuff, bundle up 0:08:22.080 --> 0:08:26.550 for the cold, and get it done that way. And 0:08:26.550 --> 0:08:28.530 I think vice versa. If you've got a long run 0:08:28.530 --> 0:08:30.900 and it's icy out, get your easy part of the 0:08:30.900 --> 0:08:34.110 long run done. If you've got a combo, I like 0:08:34.110 --> 0:08:36.809 to get people running a bit of faster times in 0:08:36.809 --> 0:08:38.820 the long runs nearer the race, just to turn the 0:08:38.820 --> 0:08:41.670 legs over. Pop that onto the tread, so you're not 0:08:41.670 --> 0:08:44.130 risking slipping on the ice and snow if it is 0:08:44.130 --> 0:08:49.559 on the ground, but it's patience. And I've got to tell 0:08:49.559 --> 0:08:52.200 you, as much as it's awful on the tread for 0:08:52.200 --> 0:08:54.120 a long time, and I say that with love as 0:08:54.120 --> 0:08:57.480 a Peloton instructor who instructs very long classes, our classes, 0:08:57.480 --> 0:09:01.020 it's different. There's distraction. We're entertaining you whilst you're doing it. 0:09:01.679 --> 0:09:03.960 But if you are just on a simple tread with 0:09:03.960 --> 0:09:07.740 no screen and no Peloton instructor, it tasks your brain 0:09:07.800 --> 0:09:10.050 almost as much as your body to stay on it 0:09:10.080 --> 0:09:12.540 for X number of miles that you have to do. 0:09:13.050 --> 0:09:18.990 But when those races are boring, or those races are 0:09:18.990 --> 0:09:22.290 not going well, or if you listen to music, your 0:09:22.290 --> 0:09:27.000 headphones died, or your phone died, I'm sorry, but you're 0:09:27.000 --> 0:09:30.090 going to have to get through that mental battle. So 0:09:30.510 --> 0:09:34.199 sometimes I do prescribe longer treadmill work in order to 0:09:34.200 --> 0:09:37.410 train the brain, because you might need that as much 0:09:37.410 --> 0:09:39.690 as the body training on race day, if all went 0:09:39.690 --> 0:09:41.670 wrong. You don't want to bail on a race, because 0:09:41.670 --> 0:09:43.170 your headphones died. That's lame. 0:09:45.360 --> 0:09:49.170 I tell you what, that's great advice. It really is. It makes a 0:09:49.170 --> 0:09:51.480 lot of sense to me that you would tell people 0:09:51.480 --> 0:09:53.670 to do that. And it's funny, you're mentioning this bailing 0:09:53.670 --> 0:09:57.030 on something for the headphones. This morning, Becs, true story. 0:09:57.540 --> 0:10:00.780 I did not get on the treadmill this morning, because 0:10:01.140 --> 0:10:03.420 my headphones were not charged. I was like, " No, I 0:10:03.420 --> 0:10:07.800 cannot do this this morning." So I put my headphones in 0:10:07.800 --> 0:10:10.589 the charger, and I'm going to run later this afternoon 0:10:10.590 --> 0:10:12.630 outside. I have a little window I can run today, 0:10:13.020 --> 0:10:15.631 but it's literally, the idea of being on the treadmill without the- 0:10:15.631 --> 0:10:15.631 Without noise distraction. 0:10:15.631 --> 0:10:21.809 ... the music, without the news or whatever the show I was going to watch. I was like, " No, 0:10:21.809 --> 0:10:25.380 no, no, no. That's a step too far for me. I can't do it." And I missed 0:10:25.380 --> 0:10:29.160 a run, because my headphones were not charged, so if you're out there- 0:10:29.370 --> 0:10:31.410 If you were my client, I'd be telling you off. 0:10:31.500 --> 0:10:34.770 Oh, well, you know what? I can see. You can't see right 0:10:34.770 --> 0:10:37.559 now. The look on Becs' face is one of disapproval, 0:10:39.780 --> 0:10:39.871 but understanding. 0:10:39.871 --> 0:10:39.872 Serious disapproval. 0:10:39.872 --> 0:10:40.531 But understanding. 0:10:40.710 --> 0:10:40.860 Yes. 0:10:40.860 --> 0:10:43.800 So for those of you out there who are struggling 0:10:44.220 --> 0:10:46.800 through this winter training session, first of all, some great 0:10:46.800 --> 0:10:48.660 tips from Becs there, but I just want you to 0:10:48.660 --> 0:10:54.090 know, I understand. I really do understand, and I think 0:10:54.450 --> 0:10:58.470 really it's just learning some tricks, I think, to get 0:10:58.470 --> 0:10:58.741 through it- 0:10:58.741 --> 0:10:58.742 It is. 0:10:58.742 --> 0:11:02.100 ... and to find a way through these short days, 0:11:02.100 --> 0:11:05.220 and these cold days, to achieve our goals in the spring. 0:11:05.580 --> 0:11:09.720 It is. Well, talking of cold running, it was a pretty cold weekend 0:11:09.720 --> 0:11:11.610 here in New York. It wasn't as cold as we 0:11:11.610 --> 0:11:14.520 have had, but it was still a little nippy. It 0:11:14.520 --> 0:11:16.439 was a bit gray as well. It was a bit 0:11:16.440 --> 0:11:17.550 of a double whammy of meh. 0:11:17.550 --> 0:11:20.910 Oh, Becs, make no mistake. Sunday morning at the New 0:11:20.910 --> 0:11:24.420 York Road Runners Manhattan 10K, it was freezing. 0:11:24.420 --> 0:11:24.421 It was. It really was. 0:11:24.421 --> 0:11:27.390 It was very, very cold. I think the- 0:11:27.390 --> 0:11:28.709 It was windy too, wasn't it? 0:11:28.950 --> 0:11:30.750 The wind luckily wasn't so bad- 0:11:31.830 --> 0:11:32.461 No. Oh, Brooklyn. 0:11:32.461 --> 0:11:35.339 ... but it was 18 degrees. It was 18 Fahrenheit at the start of the race. 0:11:35.340 --> 0:11:36.059 No, thank you. 0:11:36.150 --> 0:11:39.690 It was absolutely frigid. And I just want to first 0:11:39.690 --> 0:11:42.630 of all give some love to our staff, and our 0:11:42.630 --> 0:11:46.410 volunteers, because getting out there, starting to set up at 2: 0:11:46.410 --> 0:11:50.400 00, 3:00 in the morning, out there all night. Before any 0:11:50.400 --> 0:11:52.770 heaters have been set up and tents have been set 0:11:52.770 --> 0:11:55.679 up, they're doing the hard work in the wee hours 0:11:55.679 --> 0:11:59.130 on these cold nights. Our staff, our folks based in 0:11:59.130 --> 0:12:02.400 Manhattan, we've got a whole staff based at the warehouse 0:12:02.400 --> 0:12:04.260 that we have out in the Bronx, who come to 0:12:04.260 --> 0:12:07.260 these races early and start setting things up. They are 0:12:07.260 --> 0:12:10.920 heroes on days like that. So I want to thank them, I 0:12:10.920 --> 0:12:13.679 want to thank our volunteers of course, for being out 0:12:13.679 --> 0:12:15.750 there. And I want to thank the runners, because I 0:12:15.750 --> 0:12:18.210 thought we'd have maybe kind of a high no- show 0:12:18.210 --> 0:12:20.250 rate. It was a beautiful day. The sun was out, 0:12:20.250 --> 0:12:25.380 it wasn't too windy, and that was enough for 7, 858 0:12:25.380 --> 0:12:28.860 runners to cross the finish line in the Manhattan 10K. 0:12:29.010 --> 0:12:31.020 This, by the way, was a big year for this 0:12:31.020 --> 0:12:34.770 race, because it's now joined the Five- Borough Series. It's 0:12:34.770 --> 0:12:38.069 the first race of the Five- Borough Series this year, 0:12:38.070 --> 0:12:40.559 first time it's ever been in that position. So this 0:12:40.559 --> 0:12:42.809 was a really big race, and we were thrilled to 0:12:42.809 --> 0:12:46.440 see such an amazing turnout for that race on Sunday 0:12:46.440 --> 0:12:50.520 morning. The winners were familiar names, the non- binary winner, 0:12:50.520 --> 0:12:55.470 Elijah Taylor, 35:47 third race in a row, Elijah has 0:12:55.470 --> 0:12:58.380 won their division for the women. Former Set the Pace 0:12:58.650 --> 0:13:02.550 Member Moment guest, Khia Kurtenbach was first, with a time 0:13:02.550 --> 0:13:05.610 of 34:18. I saw Khia at the finish line, had 0:13:05.610 --> 0:13:08.370 a chance to congratulate her. And on the men's side 0:13:08.370 --> 0:13:12.240 it was an El Jazouli, but not Jaouad, who we've been 0:13:12.270 --> 0:13:16.559 talking about a lot. His brother, Issam El Jazouli won, 0:13:16.830 --> 0:13:21.300 with a blazing time of 31:15. Becs, there was no one 0:13:21.300 --> 0:13:25.170 close to Issam El Jazouli brother as he crossed the finish line. 0:13:25.410 --> 0:13:26.939 On Sunday, I had a chance to chat with him 0:13:26.940 --> 0:13:29.820 a little bit. He runs for a garden state track 0:13:29.820 --> 0:13:33.300 club or running club out of New Jersey, and did 0:13:33.300 --> 0:13:38.820 a phenomenal job. So congratulations to Issam. His brother Jaouad 0:13:38.820 --> 0:13:41.190 won the Joe K and the Fred Lebow. So those 0:13:41.190 --> 0:13:44.280 brothers are hot right now, and they're doing really well. 0:13:44.280 --> 0:13:52.260 So well. My goodness. Yeah, it was chilly. And yeah, I'm happy. I had 0:13:52.410 --> 0:13:54.089 nearly two hours on the tread on Saturday. 0:13:54.960 --> 0:13:55.949 How nice for you. 0:13:57.480 --> 0:13:57.809 Teaching. 0:13:57.809 --> 0:14:01.319 It was a good day. Good day to be on 0:14:01.500 --> 0:14:01.560 the tread- 0:14:01.560 --> 0:14:01.561 Good day to be inside. 0:14:01.561 --> 0:14:05.490 ... doing your thing on that beautiful Peloton treadmill. Absolutely. All 0:14:05.490 --> 0:14:07.410 right. Well, Becs, we've got a great show today. 0:14:07.410 --> 0:14:07.920 We do. 0:14:08.010 --> 0:14:10.740 Coming up, we've got someone who really is one of 0:14:10.740 --> 0:14:15.030 the most impactful and inspirational people that I've met in 0:14:15.030 --> 0:14:17.520 my time as CEO of New York Road Runners, who 0:14:17.520 --> 0:14:20.970 works in the running industry. Harry Chandler, he's the co- 0:14:20.970 --> 0:14:24.450 owner of the Charlotte Running Company in Charlotte, North Carolina. 0:14:24.450 --> 0:14:29.640 And he's one of the few African- American retail store 0:14:29.640 --> 0:14:33.150 owners in the United States. He's had an incredible journey 0:14:33.150 --> 0:14:36.270 to that position. He's also the president of the Running 0:14:36.270 --> 0:14:39.540 Industry Association. So he's made a great impact on running, 0:14:39.540 --> 0:14:41.940 and we can't wait to talk to Harry about his 0:14:41.940 --> 0:14:46.890 journey, and everything he sees as vital to running a 0:14:47.160 --> 0:14:51.780 diverse, equitable and inclusive space for everybody, both the runners 0:14:51.780 --> 0:14:54.600 and the people who want to make it their living 0:14:54.600 --> 0:14:57.300 as well. And then Becs, our Member Moment today we'll 0:14:57.300 --> 0:15:02.430 be with Team for Kids runner, Annabella Espina, who's training 0:15:02.430 --> 0:15:05.310 for Tokyo as well. That's right. I'll be seeing Annabella 0:15:05.310 --> 0:15:08.700 over there. And then Meb will be here for today's 0:15:08.700 --> 0:15:11.760 Meb Minute. And Meb's going to give us pointers about 0:15:11.760 --> 0:15:14.370 what shoes you should be running in when your marathon 0:15:14.370 --> 0:15:18.570 training requires a lot of long runs in icy conditions. 0:15:18.570 --> 0:15:19.710 Okay, I need to listen to that. 0:15:20.220 --> 0:15:22.950 Ready to level up your running? With the Peloton Tread 0:15:22.950 --> 0:15:26.970 and Tread+, you can challenge yourself anytime, anywhere. Whether you're 0:15:26.970 --> 0:15:30.030 building strength or working on speed, Peloton has a class 0:15:30.030 --> 0:15:35.010 for every goal, from 5 to 120 minute workouts. With 0:15:35.010 --> 0:15:39.120 muscle building classes and flexible training options, you'll have everything 0:15:39.120 --> 0:15:42.270 you need to crush your next race, and then recover 0:15:42.270 --> 0:15:46.410 from it. All access membership separate. Find your push, find 0:15:46.410 --> 0:15:53.160 your power at onepeloton. com/ race- training. Peloton, the official 0:15:53.160 --> 0:15:55.740 digital fitness partner for New York Road Runners. 0:15:56.370 --> 0:16:00.120 Our guest today is Harry Chandler, who is quickly becoming 0:16:00.210 --> 0:16:03.150 a real leader in the world of running. A passionate 0:16:03.150 --> 0:16:06.810 runner whose journey began over two decades ago in Michigan, 0:16:07.140 --> 0:16:09.690 harry is now the co- owner of the Charlotte Running 0:16:09.690 --> 0:16:13.140 Company, one of the very few black- owned running retail 0:16:13.140 --> 0:16:16.710 stores in the United States, and it was voted best 0:16:16.710 --> 0:16:21.900 running store in America in 2021. Not only dedicated to 0:16:21.900 --> 0:16:25.200 the industry, he also loves running. And he's got a 0:16:25.200 --> 0:16:29.940 real vision for a more diverse and equitable running community. Harry 0:16:29.940 --> 0:16:34.200 was recently appointed the president of the Running Industry Association. 0:16:34.500 --> 0:16:37.830 Beyond his professional roles, Harry is deeply committed to advocating 0:16:37.830 --> 0:16:43.740 for underrepresented communities, emphasizing social responsibility in everything he does. 0:16:43.740 --> 0:16:45.420 And Harry, I've had a chance to hang out with 0:16:45.420 --> 0:16:47.550 you a couple of times in the New York Road 0:16:47.550 --> 0:16:50.850 Runners offices and seeing you around the industry, doing the 0:16:50.850 --> 0:16:53.100 amazing things you do. It's great to have you on 0:16:53.100 --> 0:16:54.150 Set the Pace. Welcome. 0:16:54.450 --> 0:16:57.690 Thank you. Thanks for having me. I was just there last week. 0:16:58.050 --> 0:17:03.480 Yes. Yes, you were. You've got kind of a public speaking thing, 0:17:03.780 --> 0:17:06.750 that you really have become excellent at as well. We'll 0:17:06.750 --> 0:17:09.119 talk about that in a minute. But let's just start 0:17:09.119 --> 0:17:12.840 with your story. And I always like to ask people who 0:17:12.840 --> 0:17:15.030 are unfamiliar to our audience, who come on this show, 0:17:15.570 --> 0:17:18.840 how'd you start running? Where did this path into running 0:17:18.840 --> 0:17:19.740 even start for you? 0:17:20.340 --> 0:17:24.750 It came in a weird space, in my actual career, 0:17:24.990 --> 0:17:27.540 working at a running store back home. Initially, you'd never 0:17:27.540 --> 0:17:31.140 see me running. I was football, and it was punishment, 0:17:31.920 --> 0:17:34.679 but I was real quick working in a 7- Eleven 0:17:34.680 --> 0:17:37.440 back home in Okemos, Michigan where I'm from, ironically enough. 0:17:37.710 --> 0:17:40.679 And this gentleman, Tony Thomas would come in every day 0:17:40.859 --> 0:17:42.780 after he left work, and he would say, " Hit me, 0:17:42.780 --> 0:17:45.060 Harry." And I knew exactly what he meant, because he 0:17:45.060 --> 0:17:48.570 wanted half a pint of black velvet. And he would 0:17:48.570 --> 0:17:50.429 run to the, and he would grab his Mountain Dew. 0:17:50.700 --> 0:17:52.200 Then he'd come to the front and he'd go, "Harry, you're 0:17:52.200 --> 0:17:53.609 better than this place. We've got to get you out 0:17:53.609 --> 0:17:56.490 of here. Come work with me." I'm like, " Tony, I 0:17:56.490 --> 0:17:58.020 don't want to work with you if you're drinking after 0:17:58.020 --> 0:18:01.949 every shift. What is this job?" He finally wore me 0:18:01.950 --> 0:18:05.460 down, and I ended up at the semi- annual sidewalk 0:18:05.460 --> 0:18:08.220 sale at Playmakers in Okemos, Michigan where I grew up. 0:18:09.240 --> 0:18:11.760 My first introduction to a specialty run shop, I'd never 0:18:11.760 --> 0:18:13.560 been inside the door of one. And I walked in, 0:18:13.560 --> 0:18:18.930 and it was otherworldly. It was 15, 000 square feet of a 0:18:18.930 --> 0:18:22.740 waterfall, and saltwater fish tanks, and stairs on either side. 0:18:22.740 --> 0:18:25.380 And I'm like, what is this place? So I head 0:18:25.380 --> 0:18:28.170 to the back. There is a huge sign that says, " 0:18:28.410 --> 0:18:31.619 Head upstairs, take your name tag, take your binder and 0:18:31.619 --> 0:18:34.740 have a seat." So I did that. And then someone 0:18:34.740 --> 0:18:37.350 walks up the stairs behind me, and they neglected to 0:18:37.350 --> 0:18:38.970 do that/ but I said, you know what? That's none 0:18:38.970 --> 0:18:41.520 of my business. And we start having a conversation. And 0:18:41.520 --> 0:18:43.590 then the next person walks up, and they do the 0:18:43.590 --> 0:18:45.179 same, and then the next and the same. So I'm 0:18:45.180 --> 0:18:47.699 like, wait a second. So I grab a handful of 0:18:47.700 --> 0:18:50.369 binders and name tags, and start walking around to people, 0:18:50.880 --> 0:18:52.770 asking them what their name is and then hand them 0:18:52.770 --> 0:18:56.160 their binders. And then John Benedict, who you may know, 0:18:56.160 --> 0:18:59.280 JB, owner of Playmakers at the time, walks up behind 0:18:59.280 --> 0:19:01.230 me and taps me on the shoulder and goes, " Hey, 0:19:01.230 --> 0:19:03.630 do you work here?" I was like, " Not at all. This 0:19:03.630 --> 0:19:05.520 is my first day. I should probably sit down." And 0:19:05.520 --> 0:19:08.280 I did. He walked away from me and headed over 0:19:08.280 --> 0:19:12.060 to his business partner, Tom Keenoy. And I found out 0:19:12.060 --> 0:19:13.770 later that he told him that if I made it 0:19:13.770 --> 0:19:17.100 through that he would hire me. So made it through 0:19:17.100 --> 0:19:19.800 the sidewalk sale, got a call from a Marty Novicki, 0:19:19.800 --> 0:19:24.000 who's still working at Playmakers now, was offered an interview, 0:19:24.090 --> 0:19:27.389 came back and sat down with Karen Haley, who is 0:19:27.390 --> 0:19:29.639 no longer with Playmakers, but she was a huge part 0:19:29.640 --> 0:19:33.270 of my grooming in the specialty run industry. And I 0:19:33.270 --> 0:19:38.220 was hired. JB was a mentor. It took some warming 0:19:38.220 --> 0:19:40.109 up, a slow burn, so I was younger at that 0:19:40.109 --> 0:19:41.669 time. So it was a lot of late for shifts, 0:19:41.670 --> 0:19:44.280 a lot of missing shifts, and he was the first 0:19:44.280 --> 0:19:48.570 person to challenge me, because my parents were the cheerleaders, 0:19:48.600 --> 0:19:50.879 right? My mom and dad are from Mississippi, my dad's 0:19:50.880 --> 0:19:54.179 French Creole, my mom's from the South. Their son can't 0:19:54.180 --> 0:19:59.219 do any wrong. So that was a new opportunity to 0:19:59.220 --> 0:20:02.400 grow for me. So JB probably fired me, and hired 0:20:02.400 --> 0:20:05.221 me back like 17 times. It's like, " Hey, get out-" 0:20:05.221 --> 0:20:05.401 Good boss. 0:20:06.060 --> 0:20:08.850 Yeah. He's like, " Go home, and come back when you 0:20:08.850 --> 0:20:11.970 know what you want to do." And I'm like, " Okay, I will." So 0:20:11.970 --> 0:20:14.609