Set the Pace

Counting down to the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon, Set the Pace is shining a spotlight on the runners who put purpose behind every mile by raising funds for the race’s more than 670 Official Charity Partners. This week, Rob is joined by Christopher Sheridan of the American Heart Association (AHA), NYRR Hall of Famer and Olympic medalist Jenny Simpson, and NYRR Medical Director Dr. Matt Friedman for an important discussion about cardiac arrest, CPR, and the power of being prepared. Christopher shares how the AHA’s Team Heart & Stroke is building a community of survivors and lifesavers, while Jenny recounts her sudden cardiac arrest at a running event in June and the people whose courage and quick action saved her life. Dr. Friedman explains how bystanders, hands-only CPR, and automated external defibrillators (AEDs) can dramatically improve survival and what New York Road Runners is doing to prepare for medical emergencies during its races.

Learn more about Team Heart and Stroke here! https://www2.heart.org/site/TR?fr_id=13309&pg=entry

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Behind the Scenes of the 2026 UTMB - The world summit of trail running with Becs Gentry, Margot Fleming and Jeremiah Maestre.

This week, Rob interviews Becs and friends about their passion for ultramarathon running. Joining the conversation is Margot Fleming, an ultrarunner and coach based in Los Angeles whose father, Tom Fleming, won the New York City Marathon in 1973 and again in 1975. Margot ran the 2023 TCS New York City Marathon, marking 50 years since her father’s first win. Just a few weeks ago, she completed the full 170-kilometer loop of the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB). Also joining the discussion is Jeremiah Maestre, who recently completed his first CCC (Courmayeur–Champex–Chamonix) race, a 100-kilometer course that follows part of the UTMB route. A former boxer from Orange County, California, Jeremiah ran his first marathon in Maui in December 2022 and has since completed the Marathon des Sables twice and the Canyons 100 Mile. They discuss what it takes to qualify for these races, the physical and mental demands of running through steep and technical terrain, the difficulty of navigating unpredictable weather, and the logistics of fueling for hours on the trail. They also explore what drew them to trail running and the sense of community, camaraderie, and connection that comes from tackling these challenges.


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With the marathon just weeks away, Rob is joined by Ted Metellus, NYRR’s chief event production officer and race director, for a comprehensive guide to race week and race day. They reflect on the significance of the 50th anniversary of the New York City Marathon’s 5-boro course, then dive into everything runners need to know—from special activations at the marathon expo and engaging marathon week events to understanding race-day transportation options, course logistics, and more. Ted and Rob also share tips for first-time and returning runners, including how to plan your race weekend, navigate the course’s bridges and hills, and stay focused on your “why.” Plus, they preview post-race activities and the ways runners, spectators, and the city can come together to celebrate this milestone year. Whether you’re racing or cheering, this episode will help get you ready for November 1.
Save 20% on fuel at maurten.com, using the email address you registered with for the marathon. Offer excludes the Bicarb System and cannot be combined with other offers.
2026 TCS NYC Marathon Virtual Training Panel https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tcs-new-york-city-marathon-expert-panel-tickets-1990585352374



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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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New Balance 5th Avenue Mile champions Jemma Reekie and Marco Langon join a special edition of Set the Pace.
Wondering what broken nails and diamond bracelets have to do with the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile? Guest hosts Carrie Tollefson (Olympian and host of C Tolle Run) and Ali Feller (host of the Ali on the Run Show) find out on this special episode of Set the Pace, recorded live at the New York Road Runners Run Center featuring the New Balance Run Hub.
Carrie and Ali recap race day, then talk with both champions about how each race was won, what the climb and the long finishing straight on Fifth Avenue actually feel like, and what's ahead for each of them this off-season.

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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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For this week’s Set the Pace, NYRR’s Gordon Bakoulis—Coach Gordon to many–steps in to host the show while Rob and Becs are away. Gordon sits down with Heidi Skolnik, a sports nutritionist and exercise physiologist who is also a member of the NYRR Medical Advisory Council, to discuss her newest book, “Your GLP-1 Game Plan: What Your Doctor Didn't Tell You About How to Eat, Move, and Thrive on Weight Loss Medication,” out September 22. Heidi has worked with the New York Giants, Mets, and Knicks, and spent 30 years at the Women's Sports Medicine Center at Hospital for Special Surgery. She explains how these medications can affect appetite, hydration, and fueling—and why runners need to be especially intentional about meeting their nutritional needs. She also addresses common misconceptions and stigma surrounding obesity, body size, and weight-loss medications, emphasizing that health and movement are about much more than weight. Heidi and Gordon discuss how coaches can support runners during workouts, whether the goal is training for a marathon or simply wanting to move more.
You can find Your GLP-1 Game Plan: What Your Doctor Didn't Tell You About How to Eat, Move, and Thrive on Weight Loss Medication, on Amazon


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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
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.