Set the Pace
Latest Episodes
This week, Becs interviews Jersey Shore’s Vinny Guadagnino about his transition from reality TV star to long-distance runner. Vinny completed the United Airlines NYC Half this past Sunday and ran his first marathon last November at the TCS New York City Marathon, fundraising for NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness). Vinny talks about the joy of training in NYC and how running helps support his mental health. Tune in to hear why he loves running in the summer and about his favorite post-race meals. Also joining the show is NYRR member Marisa Cotrina. She fell in love with the sport nearly two decades ago and now has 11 marathons and 49 half marathons under her belt. And today we have a special Meb Minute with HSS. Meb welcomes HSS's Kate Baird to talk about bridging the gap between half-marathon recovery and full marathon prep.
Vinnie Guadagnino Joins Becs:(05:35)
Jersey Shore Lightning Round:(37:01)
NYRR Member Marisa Cotina: (45:58)
Meb Minute with HSS: (57:11)
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In this special race-day edition of Set the Pace, Olympian Carrie Tollefson gets the very first interviews with 2025 United Airlines NYC Half champions Sharon Lokedi, Abel Kipchumba, Manuela Schär and Geert Schipper, who led more than 28,600 athletes through Brooklyn and Manhattan to the finish line in Central Park.
Geert Schipper at: (01:45)
Manuela Schär at: (15:22)
Sharon Lokedi at: (22:34)
Abel Kipchumba! at:( 30:51)
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It's Race Week! In preparation for the United Airlines NYC Half, Set The Pace presents a special episode recorded live at the NYRR Run Center Featuring the New Balance Run Hub.
Hosts Rob and Becs are joined by special guest Alison Mariella Désir, founder of Harlem Run, author of the bestselling book Running While Black, and the host of the award-winning PBS show, "Out & Back with Alison Mariella Désir." Alison discusses her work in the outdoor industry, building community, and making room for historically marginalized people in the running space. Also joining as featured NYRR member is Lenny Grullon, co-founder of the 2025 NYRR Club Night Team Spirit Award winning run club Boogie Down Bronx Runners.
Alison Mariella Desir on Set The Pace (11:51)
Boogie Down Bronx Runners' Lennie Grullon (54:28)
LINKS:
https://www.woctakethelead.com/
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Direct from Kyoto, Japan, Rob hosts Set the Pace just a few days after he ran the Tokyo Marathon with Team for Kids. He’s joined by NYRR Chief Commercial Officer Christine Burke who has all the information you need about what it takes to run with one of the Official Charity Partners of the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon. The 2025 program just launched and the spots fill quickly so tune in to learn everything you need to know! Then Christine turns the table on Rob and interviews him about his experience running Tokyo, specifically if he followed some of Becs’ training tips. Tune in to hear about the uniqueness of the course and how NYRR may incorporate some local flavors to the TCS New York City Marathon experience. Plus, Meb interviews NYRR member Grace Bradley of Crown Heights Running Club who ran her first half marathon in 2023 and quickly got swept up in the magic of NYC’s running scene.
Charity Partner Program Info: (05:24)
Rob's Tokyo Marathon Recap: (20:29)
NYRR Member Grace Bradley: (38:26)
Today's Meb Minute: (49:43)
LINKS:
2025 TCS New York City Marathon Official Charity Program - https://events.nyrr.org/events/e7b83eb64fed68fd1a02/charity_partners
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SUPPORT: Support the Set the Pace podcast! If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
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This week, Olympian Sharon Lokedi joins Rob and Becs to talk about getting ready for the United Airlines NYC Half and splitting her time between Flagstaff, Arizona and her native Kenya. Sharon discusses her transition from collegiate running to professional road racing and winning the 2022 TCS New York City Marathon in her marathon debut. She talks about her experience running the Paris 2024 Olympic Marathon and how she managed her training as a late addition to the race. She reflects on her role inspiring young runners, particularly young women in Kenya, and the foundation she has established to support young athletes. Plus, our member moment features Evan McKiernan, who has been a part of the NYRR community for over a decade, running 70 races since 2012, and volunteering at many more.
Support Rob's Tokyo Marathon with Team For Kids!
We are proud to unite to support Together LA, Donate or shop now at link in bio or togetherla.lamarathon.com
Becs' Last Minute Tokyo Tips (03:20)
NYRR Al Gordon 4M Results (06:28)
Together LA (08:29)
Champion Sharon Lokedi Joins the Show (12:15)
NYRR Member Evan McKiernan Talks Training (1:03:52)
Today's Meb Minute (1:11:58)
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This week’s episode is extra special as Becs chats with not one but two amazing guests: Peloton Instructor Jeffrey McEachern and NYRR Chief Event Production Officer and Race Director Ted Metellus. Jeffrey shares his running journey from his first steps during a low point in 2015 to running a half marathon while crying tears of joy to completing five of the Abbott World Marathon Majors in 18 months—and now on his way to getting his Six Star medal in Tokyo on March 2. Professionally he’s gone from working in the fast-food industry to becoming a talent recruiter for the Voice of Germany to being a Peloton Tread Instructor known as the “chief of good vibes,” inspiring runners around the world. And Ted shares all the details runners and spectators need to know about the United Airlines NYC Half, set for March 16 and featuring an exciting course change with runners crossing the Brooklyn Bridge for the first time in NYRR race history! You won’t want to miss this one.
***NOTE*** Some race day details discussed in this episode are not yet posted on the NYRR website, but will be posted shortly. Keep checking back.
Becs on the 2025 United Airlines NYC Half Pro Field: 0:01:32)
Jeffrey McEachern Joins Becs: (0:04:46)
Everything You Need to Know to Run The United Airlines NYC Half: (0:41:49)
Today's Meb Minute: (1:09:12)
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SUPPORT: Support the Set the Pace podcast! If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
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Rob and NYRR’s Chair of the Board of Directors, Nnenna Lynch, are training to run the Tokyo Marathon together, so this week, Nnenna joins Set The Pace to talk all things Tokyo! In addition to receiving some priceless Tokyo Marathon advice from Becs, Nnenna discusses her stellar collegiate and professional running careers, as well as her philosophy on staying fit in her 50s while juggling life as a CEO and raising two teenagers. As the first African American and first woman to serve as Board Chair for NYRR, Nnenna emphasizes the importance of diversity in the running community.
Also joining this special Valentine’s-themed, running buddy–centric episode are NYRR members Jacob Caswell and J Solle from Front Runners NY. J and Jacob share stories that highlight the intersection of athletic excellence, social advocacy, love, and queer joy.
Nnenna Lynch Joins the Show (00:10:26:03)
Becs' Tokyo Marathon Advice (00:56:06:19)
Member Moment with Jacob Caswell and J. Solle (01:05:21:21)
The Meb Minute (01:15:32:04)
Read Nnenna's NYTimes OpEd Here
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SUPPORT: Support the Set the Pace podcast! If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
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After Rob makes a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT and gets some critical winter run coaching from Becs, Set the Pace kicks off Black History Month with guest Harry Chandler. Harry is the co-owner of the Charlotte Running Company (CRC), one of the very few Black-owned running retail stores in the United States and voted the best running store in the country in 2021. He recently became the president of the Running Industry Association, an organization dedicated to supporting the brick-and-mortar running retail channel throughout the U.S. and Canada. He is deeply committed to advocating for underrepresented communities, emphasizing social responsibility in everything he does. In this inspiring episode, Harry shares his two-decade journey in the running industry from a salesperson hired in high school to work at a specialty running store to ownership of a nationally recognized retail outlet, along with his vision for a more diverse and equitable running community. Also featured this week is NYRR member Annabella Espina, who’s completed 27 marathons and raised over $25,000 for Team for Kids.
Rob's Big Announcement: (00:01:58)
Becs Give Rob Winter Training Tips: (00:05:51)
Harry Chandler Joins STP: (00:15:55)
Annabella Espina talks Tokyo on STP: (00:50:15)
Today's Meb Minute: (01:00:24)
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SUPPORT: Support the Set the Pace podcast! If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
DISCLAIMER
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Ever wonder what it’s like to direct the largest marathon in the world? Hear from the TCS New York City Marathon Race Director Ted Metellus and former NYRR CEO and Race Director of the New York City Marathon Mary Wittenberg during a live taping of Set the Pace at the Hard Rock Café in Times Square. From Mary's groundbreaking tenure as the first female race director of the New York City Marathon to Ted's current leadership as the first Black race director, these two trailblazers share their experiences of and inspiration for directing the iconic race. For Mary, she reflects on how Fred Lebow’s light paved the way for her. For Ted, being a race director means being a leader and someone who welcomes people to an experience. Also joining the stage was Luke Ginocchio, a radiologist based in New York City who has been an NYRR member since 2016 and has completed an incredible 120 NYRR races.
Mary and Ted Join Rob and Becs: (00:07:12)
Member Moment with Dr. Luke Ginocchio: (00:51:09)
HSS Exercise Physiologist & Director of Performance & Wellness Services Pam Geisel (01:04:36)
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SUPPORT: Support the Set the Pace podcast! If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
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Randi Zuckerberg, yes that Randi Zuckerberg! (entrepreneur and bestselling author) joins Set the Pace this week to describe how her running journey has taken her from 10ks to 250 milers in only two years time, all while she balances her role as a mother of three and a leader in the tech and media industries. Hear about the powerful lessons ultra running has taught Randi about vulnerability, community, and mental toughness and find out how blazing new trails as an entrepreneur prepared her for blazing her own path to ultra running. Also joining for this week’s member moment is Kurt Farrell, a runner and neuroscientist whose lab received funding for CurePSP, an official charity partner of New York Road Runners.
Randi Zuckerberg joins STP (05:48)
NYRR Member and Neuroscientist Kurt Farrell (54:04)
Today's Meb Minute (01:01:00)
FOLLOW NYRR: Instagram | Facebook | X | TikTok
SUPPORT: Support the Set the Pace podcast! If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
DISCLAIMER
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.