WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:06.540 [upbeat music] Just with everything I do, I do it to the best of my ability. 2 00:00:06.620 --> 00:00:15.980 So when I'm standing on the starting line, I'm looking back with 100% confidence, knowing I spent every day doing what I could to get closer to whatever goal I'm working towards. 3 00:00:16.059 --> 00:00:23.720 And I'm, you know, I'm pretty strong in my faith, and just knowing, like, I worked really hard, and if it's the Lord's will, it's gonna happen for me. 4 00:00:23.760 --> 00:00:34.000 And I kept telling my dad leading up to the Olympic trials, "Dad, go get your darn passport." [laughs] And he, he went and he got the paperwork. He filled it out. 5 00:00:34.040 --> 00:00:38.720 But he's like, "I'm not, I'm not gonna submit it until I, [laughs] until I know for sure you made the team." 6 00:00:38.820 --> 00:00:49.920 So I don't know what it was, I just had this, this feeling in my heart and my soul that I was, I was gonna make that team, and I was doing the work every day to, to back it up. Welcome to For The Long Run. 7 00:00:50.100 --> 00:00:56.400 We explore the why behind what keeps runners running long, strong, and motivated, and how they've been able to achieve sustainable excellence. 8 00:00:56.820 --> 00:01:04.720 From Olympians, to ultra-marathoners, and business owners, from the back of the pack and all the way to the front, we believe in creating community and expanding the running world for all. 9 00:01:05.180 --> 00:01:18.560 I'm your host, Jonathan Levitt, and we're so glad you're here. Join us in our new community, The Group Run, and have a chance to win some great goodies from 2B4, pre-workout fuel to fuel your training this season. 10 00:01:18.600 --> 00:01:23.420 We're excited to create more connections there, and we hope you'll join us. Check the link in the show notes to join. 11 00:01:24.620 --> 00:01:35.060 Here at For The Long Run podcast, we've been fans of Puma long before we ever worked with them as partners, so we're excited to be partnering with them again and bringing you all the latest from the brand that helps us be forever faster. 12 00:01:35.580 --> 00:01:39.600 Puma cares deeply about making running more accessible as well as chasing after excellence. 13 00:01:40.080 --> 00:01:46.340 From elite athletes who are performing at the highest level to runners who are just getting started, Puma has every type of running shoe you may need. 14 00:01:46.880 --> 00:01:53.820 I've been singing Puma's praises for over a year now, and it's been fun to see them getting some love after Fiona and Dakota went one and three in the Olympic trials. 15 00:01:54.440 --> 00:02:02.080 I've been switching between a trio of the Deviate Nitro, Forever Run Nitro, and Magnify Nitro lately, and highly recommend all of them. 16 00:02:02.120 --> 00:02:10.720 Whether you're new to running and buying your first pair of shoes or it's time for a change, use the code FTLR24 for 20% off all Puma running gear. 17 00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:20.180 When you support our brand partners, you support the For The Long Run podcast, and we thank you for that. Thank you again to Puma for supporting the running community in all that they do. 18 00:02:21.320 --> 00:02:29.100 You know them and you love them, and we love them, too. We are so thrilled to be supported again by one of our favorite brands, one that I use all the time, Skratch Labs. 19 00:02:29.780 --> 00:02:37.460 Skratch has everything you need from pre and during workout fuel to recovery, and now they have a brand-new product that we're psyched about, the hydration everyday drink mix. 20 00:02:37.960 --> 00:02:49.020 This unsweetened drink mix is perfect for when you're thirsty and need electrolytes but nothing more, which is just about always for us here in Boulder, or you wanna add a little electrolyte boost to your other sport drink mixes if you're a salty sweater like me. 21 00:02:49.540 --> 00:02:53.940 This stuff is for every athlete, for every goal, and to help support everyday hydration. 22 00:02:54.000 --> 00:03:04.910 You can pick up your everyday drink mix at SkratchLabs.com and use code FTLRPod for 20% off your order, or head to the link in the bio. Thanks again to Skratch for supporting the show and our local community. 23 00:03:07.300 --> 00:03:23.560 This is a recording from a live panel that I hosted for Puma with Molly Seidel, Dakota Lindworm, and Bill Rodgers. Enjoy. [upbeat music] Amazing athletes here over the, over the decades here with Puma. 24 00:03:24.200 --> 00:03:32.480 We have Bill Rodgers. [cheering] Let's hear it for Bill. [cheering] Bill has won many marathons in his day. 25 00:03:32.740 --> 00:03:44.640 Bill has run amazing fast times, and we're gonna talk to him a little bit more about the, the running in the '70s and '80s at-- '60s, '70s, and '80s, and, uh, and some of the shoes that he's been running in today. 26 00:03:44.700 --> 00:03:56.860 He ran with Puma at the Boston Marathon a number of years ago. Um, we have some other athletes, Molly Seidel. [cheering] Do you guys know Molly? Yeah. [cheering] Who knows Molly? 27 00:03:57.859 --> 00:04:11.900 [cheering] [laughs] Do you know Molly's a trail runner now? [laughs] Oh. [cheering] [laughs] Um, and Dakota Lindworm. [cheering] Uh, newly minted Olympian as well. 28 00:04:13.800 --> 00:04:23.220 So we're gonna talk today about, um... Puma released a, a promo recently, or a, an, a campaign recently, see the game through their eyes. 29 00:04:23.700 --> 00:04:29.720 And so what I love about this is it's a way to see the sport that we are all doing through the eyes of an elite athlete. 30 00:04:30.220 --> 00:04:38.979 Um, Bill and I were talking about, o-on the run about how the sport is all about longevity, and it's-- and your ability to perform is based on your ability to stay healthy. 31 00:04:39.400 --> 00:04:47.340 And so that's really gonna be the framework of this and, and understanding the game through, through their eyes. So let's this time start with Molly. 32 00:04:47.920 --> 00:05:01.290 Um, what do you wish people knew about you and, and your training as an elite athlete that they may not know or might not assume to be true, uh, for you as a professional athlete? Yeah. 33 00:05:01.400 --> 00:05:10.340 Um, so I come from a pretty, like, interdisciplinary background. Um, when I was in high school, I would be, like... I, I never actually ran in the winters. 34 00:05:10.380 --> 00:05:14.200 I would just do cross-country skiing and downhill skiing, play a lot of different sports. 35 00:05:14.440 --> 00:05:28.920 And I've found that that kind of interdisciplinary approach, being able to feel like a true athlete rather than just a runner sometimes, has been really instrumental to staying healthy, and that's something that I'm trying to get back to a little bit more with some of this trail running. 36 00:05:29.310 --> 00:05:38.380 [laughs] Um, and I think it's being able to take a slightly broader approach, a little bit more holistic approach is really, really important. Never getting locked into one thing too much. 37 00:05:41.240 --> 00:05:52.800 Bill, about an hour ago we were talking about the, um, the fact that running is not just a single season, it's a lifetime. You ran in these shoes in the Boston Marathon. First of all, let's hear it for that. 38 00:05:53.140 --> 00:06:06.624 [cheering] Look at these shoes. These are the shoes. They still stink. [laughs]Um, Bill, how come you're still able to run today? You know what? I, I think like Molly, I, I... 39 00:06:06.984 --> 00:06:11.944 You know, I started running, I started running cross country when I was a kid, 15 years old, with my brother and our best friend. 40 00:06:12.564 --> 00:06:20.364 It was very low-key, and, uh, we had a good coach, but, but, but our track was just in a field. You know, five laps to the mile type thing. 41 00:06:20.384 --> 00:06:27.304 In cross country we didn't run as far as runners are going today, going the 5K and everything, but it was very low-key. 42 00:06:27.344 --> 00:06:35.344 The, the backwardness to the sport then was there was no girls' team then, and that's, that's, that was 'cause world athletics was backwards, you know? 43 00:06:35.824 --> 00:06:43.984 But, um, but I think if y- if you, if you're a member of a team, that's key. D- don't you think- Oh, yeah... Molly and Dakota? 44 00:06:44.444 --> 00:06:55.284 You know, because you need someone to run with, otherwise you'd never get going, I think, and, and that's why we're here. But I think also later when I went to college, I met a guy named Amby Burfoot. He's right there. 45 00:06:56.284 --> 00:07:09.524 [clapping] Whoo. Boston Marathon winner in '68, and he took me out on the trails, and I never ran that much mileage. And we did like a 12-mile run or something. I- my legs were cramping. [laughs] It was just so much fun. 46 00:07:10.744 --> 00:07:21.524 But I learned about running on dirt in, in nature is what Molly's talking about, you know? And, and that's... All of us are experimenting with and... But that way you avoid injuries, running on dirt. 47 00:07:22.014 --> 00:07:33.044 'Cause concrete, there's no give, and asphalt. And that's the challenge of the marathon. When you go to the marathon, we're hitting that, you know? W- what do you think, Molly and Dakota? Yeah. No, I completely agree. 48 00:07:33.124 --> 00:07:41.564 I mean, we were talking about it before. I did, I did the 26.2 marathon yesterday, or 20 miles of it, and it was all on pavement and I'm like, "Oh, I haven't run on pavement in a while." 49 00:07:42.064 --> 00:07:51.044 [laughs] Um, but I think it's really important to be able to, yeah, respect your body, know that you've gotta give it different stimulus, be hitting it in different ways, build strength in different ways. 50 00:07:51.644 --> 00:08:01.614 Yeah, and I think that makes it fun too. Like, when you switch it up, it keeps it fresh, and then you have a good time doing it. Yeah, exactly. But what if you grow up and like in, you're in Rocky Mountains or something? 51 00:08:02.004 --> 00:08:14.284 I hate heights. I, it's a phobia. I can't do- Okay, hiking is the worst. I know. [laughs] It's so slow. I was in Arizona with my partner, Karen, and w- we went out in Phoenix. 52 00:08:14.364 --> 00:08:24.164 There's all these big cliffs and everything, and I could go a little bit of the ways, but she, like, doesn't have the phobia. So it's mental. Like running is mental. But something... 53 00:08:24.244 --> 00:08:33.724 I think I'd have to go to see a psychologist to do that. But I think I'm gonna stay at sea level. [laughs] Bill, I'm actually just gonna turn this over to you if you, if you wanna ask the questions. This is great. 54 00:08:33.944 --> 00:08:43.363 Have you thought about having a podcast? [laughs] Um, so a bit more on the tactical side. So you guys have been talking about switching up the surfaces and keeping it fun. 55 00:08:43.724 --> 00:08:53.233 People who are listening are like, "Oh, maybe I live in Boston. How do I do that?" Molly, you lived in Boston. How did you do that? Okay. Boston is incredible for trail running. The- Whoo... 56 00:08:53.244 --> 00:09:04.984 Sorry, I keep not talking into this. I, like, I will proclaim to the world that Boston is the best running city in the country because- Whoo... not only do you have... Yeah. N- Amen. 57 00:09:05.164 --> 00:09:14.684 Not only do you have all of the city running, of going on the Esplanade, going down the Emerald Necklace, going down to JP, where every time I'm going around Jamaica Pond I'm like, "Bill Rogers ran Jamaica Pond. 58 00:09:14.764 --> 00:09:24.504 I can run Jamaica Pond." [laughs] Um, but then you go a little ways outside the city, and when I lived here, luckily I had a car, and I would drive out to the Middlesex Fells. 59 00:09:24.684 --> 00:09:35.824 I would drive down to the Blue Hills down in Quincy. I would go out to Concord and run in the Great Meadows. Um, like, all the trails out there. There's a great diversity of, like, running surfaces out here. 60 00:09:36.144 --> 00:09:43.564 You just gotta know where to look for it. [laughs] I totally agree with that. Y- I think, but every city has their places. Mm-hmm. When I... 61 00:09:43.644 --> 00:09:53.384 I'm not from Boston, I'm from Newington, Connecticut, a little town that's out of Hartford. And, but when I ne- came to Boston I was an ex-runner. I was a smoker. Are there any ex-smokers here? You know? 62 00:09:53.544 --> 00:10:03.524 [laughs] I, I, I always ask that question and I, there's, I guess people have given up smoking and everything. That's what they call point and altitude. [laughs] W- does that... [laughs] I think that- Does that... 63 00:10:03.534 --> 00:10:12.484 [laughs] I don't think it did me any good. But when I moved here, I joined a running club, and that was the key. 'Cause then your friends take you out. Exactly, yeah. I- isn't it true? 64 00:10:12.744 --> 00:10:22.304 I mean, that's the best part of being in Boston, there's always a crew to go with. S- so where are you r- Are... You're in Flagstaff now, I think. Yeah. I, I've gotten out of the city, sorry. 65 00:10:22.564 --> 00:10:32.664 [laughs] I remember when you were living here. I've heard your story, and of course Karen and I were cheering for you when you were running the Olympic marathon. I said, "What? How does she do it? 66 00:10:32.704 --> 00:10:47.464 It's like 86 degrees in Tokyo, and this is tough, tough running." And I don't understand how you did it. It's your mindset. But can you tell us about that day? [laughs] This is great. I love this. I love this. 67 00:10:47.724 --> 00:10:54.304 We're just turning it over to Bill. My God, you're like an expert at this, see, John? [laughs] Let's hear it for Bill. Um, 68 00:10:55.684 --> 00:11:08.304 I think some of it, it's, it's learning to deal with some of the adversity of, like, by nature of training in Boston, it's, it's not the perfect training conditions. It's really hot in the summer. It sucks in the winter. 69 00:11:08.724 --> 00:11:19.004 But I think when you're used to doing that and knowing that you just gotta get out and get it done regardless of what the conditions are, I think it builds a little bit of resiliency. And I mean, Dakota's living... 70 00:11:19.284 --> 00:11:26.394 You're up in Minnesota. [laughs] Like, it, I think- Coldest place on the planet. Yeah, exact- [laughs] There is literally no place colder. [laughs] Yeah. 71 00:11:26.464 --> 00:11:38.944 Um, and so I think a little bit of that when you are constantly training your brain to deal with that adversity on a daily basis, by the time you get to the race, you know you can handle whatever it throws at you because you're used to it. 72 00:11:39.004 --> 00:11:48.284 Like, I... Dakota, you can speak to this too. Yeah. I mean, I think you, when you're having that adversity, you show up to practice and you're like, "Okay, it's not gonna be an A day." So then when you hit... 73 00:11:48.584 --> 00:11:58.604 When that happens in races, you're like, "Okay, it's not an A day, but I've done this before. I've, I've challenged myself through this." Mm-hmm. You know, it's just flipped me out because I have one other question. 74 00:11:59.264 --> 00:12:11.648 The k- [laughs] Sorry. Gotta ask this 'cause I wouldn't think of it. But the Kenyans and Ethiopians are so determined.To have the eye of the tiger and everything. But do you think-- Or the eye of the puma, I'm gonna say. 75 00:12:12.068 --> 00:12:13.618 Okay? But do you- Nice... 76 00:12:13.628 --> 00:12:25.008 when you were in Tokyo, and you lined up with all these great runners, the best of the world from all the countries of the world, which is what the Olympics is about, representing your country, weren't you nervous as heck? 77 00:12:25.068 --> 00:12:31.748 Or- Oh my God. Of course... or did you, or did you let go of that and just move up and say, "I, I gotta ra..." Did you know who you should race with, do you think? 78 00:12:32.488 --> 00:12:37.628 Yeah, I think with getting to that race and having, like, the... 79 00:12:37.668 --> 00:12:49.148 I guess the context of it is qualifying a week before the pandemic started, and that entire marathon build, and that year-and-a-half postponement occurred during the pandemic, and it was tough, and it sucked at times. 80 00:12:49.308 --> 00:12:58.448 I, for a year and a half, did not do a single run outside here in Boston without wearing a mask. Middle of summer, you are breathing through a mask, and it's tough. 81 00:12:58.988 --> 00:13:12.748 Uh, but I think overcoming all of that and finally getting to the line, I stepped to the line in Tokyo with such a level of obviously nerves, but also gratitude because it was really uncertain whether or not that race was going to happen. 82 00:13:12.828 --> 00:13:17.948 So I think I was able to let go of some of these expectations that I was holding myself to. 83 00:13:18.028 --> 00:13:26.748 I'm like, "I'm so grateful that I get to be on this line despite everything that's happened in the world, travel internationally, and represent my country here." 84 00:13:26.758 --> 00:13:40.548 And I think that opened me up to a performance that I, I couldn't have believed could've happened even r- a year before then. So it was COVID that made you, in a certain way, relax because we all... 85 00:13:40.588 --> 00:13:46.228 There's no competition. Oh, it gave me terrible anxiety. [laughs] Did you really think COVID made me relaxed? Well, yeah. We, we were all... 86 00:13:46.448 --> 00:13:51.608 I remember running down the road with a mask, and you see someone on the road, and we had to cut to the other side of the road. It was sadness. Yeah. 87 00:13:51.648 --> 00:14:01.278 I had a relative very close to me hit with COVID, so we all know about COVID. Bad sadness. But, but I think maybe that's what gave you your strength. Yeah. Yeah. 88 00:14:01.308 --> 00:14:09.448 And I think it gave the opportunity to, to just grow a lot. Like, I... If the Olympics had happened that year before, I wouldn't have won the medal. 89 00:14:09.508 --> 00:14:22.248 It gave me the chance to grow stronger, to train, to prepare myself to grow up a bit, yeah. What a weird sport we're in. [laughs] Bill, I'm loving these questions. 90 00:14:22.898 --> 00:14:27.268 [laughs] Gonna have to give the mic- We could bring him on as a co-host. I know. I'm gonna... What are you doing every Friday? 91 00:14:27.788 --> 00:14:43.688 [laughs] Um, talking about trusting the process and, and believing that, that what you're doing is eventually potentially gonna work out, but maybe not, but if, if you believe in that process, you'll get to a place that, um, that you wanna be. 92 00:14:43.768 --> 00:14:45.408 I think Dakota knows where this is going. 93 00:14:45.928 --> 00:15:04.308 I watched the Olympic trials in Orlando, uh, with Puma, and watched it next to Dakota's aunts, who just kept talking about how proud they were of her, and they just kept saying she's, she's so confident in herself, and she's just putting herself out there, but doing it in a way that's smart. 94 00:15:04.368 --> 00:15:14.468 She's trusting her skills. She's trusting her, her ability, and she's not, she's not going out too quickly, which if you're running on Monday, don't go out too quickly. Trust me. I've done it twice. 95 00:15:15.208 --> 00:15:23.168 [laughs] Um, Dakota, how do you, how do you trust that process? How do you trust your skills and abilities? 96 00:15:23.528 --> 00:15:31.048 Nobody in this room who's running on Monday can do anything else from a physical training perspective, but they sure as hell can do something from a mental perspective. 97 00:15:33.508 --> 00:15:47.428 I think the big thing for me is just with everything I do, I do it to the best of my ability, so when I'm standing on the starting line, I'm looking back with 100% confidence knowing I spent every day doing what I could to get closer to whatever goal I'm working towards. 98 00:15:47.528 --> 00:15:55.148 And I'm, you know, I'm pretty strong in my faith, and just knowing, like, I worked really hard, and if it's the Lord's will, it's gonna happen for me. 99 00:15:55.208 --> 00:16:04.628 And I kept telling my dad leading up to the Olympic trials, "Dad, go get your darn passport." [laughs] And he, he went, and he got the paperwork. 100 00:16:04.688 --> 00:16:11.308 He filled it out, but he's like, "I'm not, I'm not gonna submit it until I- [laughs]... until I know for sure you made the team." So I don't know what it was. 101 00:16:11.388 --> 00:16:18.308 I just had this, this feeling in my heart and my soul that I was, I was gonna make that team, and I was doing the work every day to, to back it up. 102 00:16:19.188 --> 00:16:28.068 On that note, how early did Montana put the Eiffel Tower on his Apple Watch background? [laughs] That was just actually a couple weeks ago. [laughs] Amazing. 103 00:16:28.767 --> 00:16:38.798 [upbeat music] If you've been enjoying this podcast and can spare 90 seconds of your time today, can you do me a favor? Can you pop over to Apple Podcasts and leave a review? 104 00:16:39.248 --> 00:16:49.008 It helps other people find and enjoy the podcast too. Thanks so much. This episode is brought to you by our friends over at Boulder's one and only marathon, the Bouldertheon. 105 00:16:49.488 --> 00:16:56.907 Last year when I went to the expo and spectated the race, I was blown away by how incredibly well-run it was, but also how much of a community focus it had. 106 00:16:57.398 --> 00:17:04.328 Bouldertheon is not only a marathon but also a half marathon, 10K, 5K, and even a kids' run. It has a little something for everyone. 107 00:17:04.668 --> 00:17:12.928 And just like I do, the folks at Bouldertheon believe that running brings people together in a beautiful way. We both believe in the power of running and what it helps us learn along the way. 108 00:17:13.448 --> 00:17:23.028 So as you're planning your races for 2024, we highly recommend signing up for one of the races at Bouldertheon, even if it's just an excuse to come to one of the most beautiful places in the country, Boulder. 109 00:17:23.668 --> 00:17:28.148 As part of our partnership with Bouldertheon, we will be awarding one lucky winner the Rookie of the Year award. 110 00:17:28.338 --> 00:17:34.788 They'll win a prize purse in addition to some rad gear from our brand partners, and we'll tell that new runner's story right here on the podcast. 111 00:17:35.328 --> 00:17:45.268 Sign up for Bouldertheon at the link in the show notes, and use code FTLR20 for $20 off the half or full marathon. We're excited to be partnering with the Bouldertheon team and can't wait to see you there. 112 00:17:45.508 --> 00:17:55.368 I'm also on the board, so I'll have a hand in more than just sharing the race with runners on the podcast. I'm a runner, but I'm also so many other things, and I'm sure that rings true for you too. 113 00:17:55.908 --> 00:18:00.728 We love this community because of all the many interests that we all have, making us multifaceted humans. 114 00:18:01.208 --> 00:18:11.548 That's why we're so excited to be partnering with fubo.tv, the one-stop shop for you to take in all of your favorite live sports that you love to watch. It's baseball season, and Fubo's got you covered there. 115 00:18:11.568 --> 00:18:20.908 Wanna watch March Madness? They've got the entire women's tournament and some of the men's games too. Wanna watch the Boston Marathon live? Fubo. Wanna get psyched on watching track and field events this summer? 116 00:18:21.168 --> 00:18:33.336 Yep, they've got that too. Wanna stream the Olympics? Fubo.They're setting our listeners up with a free 14-day trial using the link fubotv.com/ftlr, or click it directly in the show notes. 117 00:18:33.536 --> 00:18:49.376 You'll also get a $20 discount on your first month when you sign up for a monthly plan. Thank you to Fubo for supporting this community. [upbeat music] Um, Bill, let's jump back to the shoes here. 118 00:18:50.016 --> 00:18:58.636 So these are the-- Like, they, they're actually floating. As I hold them, it's going up because they're so light. Um, will you hold these for a second? Um, 119 00:18:59.576 --> 00:19:03.486 so your, your toes were poking out a little bit there it looked like. Yeah. 120 00:19:03.516 --> 00:19:11.696 But these, these are quite different than even the shoes you're-- the trainers you're in today, uh, with the, the wonderful Nitro foam that the Puma team has developed here. 121 00:19:12.576 --> 00:19:23.316 Talk to me about the, the changing of the shoes, the changing of the technology, and if you were-- if you had these shoes in the '70s and '80s, what are you running? 122 00:19:24.476 --> 00:19:33.956 You know, I, I think, you know, I started running in the '60s, but when I got these shoes, I, um, I think whatever shoes you, you're in, you're trying to make the best and you're trying to explore it. 123 00:19:33.996 --> 00:19:45.376 There wasn't-- there weren't so many shoe companies around years ago. I remember New Balance cranking up and, and everything, but when Puma was starting, I ran for Puma for three years. And, um, 124 00:19:46.456 --> 00:19:57.966 but, but I think that everything has changed. You know, it-it's a big business now, you know, and it wasn't such a big business years ago and everything, so I think that was part of it. I mean, look at Ab-Abi Gebrekidan. 125 00:19:58.036 --> 00:20:03.376 He won the Olympic Games barefoot 'cause he was used to running barefoot. You know, his feet were very strong. 126 00:20:03.676 --> 00:20:13.516 So I think, I think having strong feet i-is, is part of it, and I think by, you know, that running, like we've been talking about running on grass and dirt, it helps us avoid injuries and everything. 127 00:20:13.936 --> 00:20:27.556 So I think I did that. I don't know what to say except that, uh, I'm just glad to be here still [laughs] as an older runner. [cheering] [applauding] And, you know, and could, could I just say one thing? 128 00:20:27.816 --> 00:20:35.965 Abby is running Boston this year, and he won it in '68. [cheering] [applauding] He's a couple years older than me, and [laughs] 129 00:20:36.656 --> 00:20:45.496 and there's so much happening in running today with women coming in so much over the last twenty years or so, and thirty or something like that. 130 00:20:46.156 --> 00:20:55.096 And, and, um, you know, from the days of Jackie Hanson, Bobby Gibb, you know, and, um, Nina Kusik, all those early v-veterans of the sport. 131 00:20:55.596 --> 00:21:05.156 But, but also the gentleman next to him is eighty years old, and he's gonna run Boston. I was saying, "How does he get his mind?" [applauding] I was-- That would be scary. 132 00:21:06.516 --> 00:21:16.936 It's that leap of faith that we all have to do, I guess. Is, is that marathoning? But I think it's, you know, that the shoe companies and Puma is coming back, making a big comeback. 133 00:21:16.996 --> 00:21:26.016 And, and so when I ran these, I, I was wearing a pair of shoes that were not, um, cushioned enough 'cause I was so used to wearing shoes without much cushioning. 134 00:21:26.276 --> 00:21:36.256 But, but you feel less soreness in your legs, and we all know that now. Yeah. So I've learned that too. And I have to run with my partner. She's younger than me a bit and trying to kick me into the ground. 135 00:21:36.656 --> 00:21:42.496 [laughs] [laughing] So it's your training partners too. She makes me work a little harder. 136 00:21:42.556 --> 00:21:50.356 So, so you always want one training partner, don't you think, Molly and, and Dakota, who will push you a little bit, but one that will go slow. 137 00:21:50.676 --> 00:21:57.576 And so 'cause you-- we-- slower than you or whatever, 'cause we need our easy days. Yeah. You know, don't you think? Oh, one hundred percent. 138 00:21:57.616 --> 00:22:10.176 You've gotta have like-- You, you know your specific friends that like there are friends that I go to when I'm feeling really good, that I'm like, "Okay, we're gonna haul this run," and then there are friends that I go to where I'm like, "This needs to be a party pace kinda day." 139 00:22:10.456 --> 00:22:19.796 [laughs] [laughing] [laughs] I'm, I'm super lucky that I get to train with Annie Frisbie, who blows my doors off on every track workout. [laughs] Um, she really humbles me. 140 00:22:19.846 --> 00:22:30.836 And then I, you know, I've got my boyfriend who's new into running, and he, he keeps me, keeps me going easy. I'll say that. Are you calling out boyfriends? [laughing] [applauding] [laughs] No. No, no, no. 141 00:22:30.856 --> 00:22:48.616 [laughs] Never Montana. [laughs] No, I, I think he, he keeps me, uh, he keeps me healthy. [laughs] [laughing] That was so cold, girl. [laughing] We're gonna phone a friend. Montana, do you have any questions? 142 00:22:50.726 --> 00:23:02.716 [laughs] Uh. [laughs] He doesn't have a mic. Um, let's, let's keep it on Puma for a second. So Molly, you, you signed with Puma after the trials and before you'd run in the Super Shoe. 143 00:23:03.196 --> 00:23:15.496 Uh, Dakota, Puma bet on you, and here we are. You're going to Paris. What is-- what does this brand mean to you? And this question will, will come back to Bill as well, um, because I'm super curious to that one. 144 00:23:15.536 --> 00:23:24.696 But let's start with Dakota. What does this brand mean to you? And, and I'm just gonna add one comment to it. Look at how many people are, are in this room. If the shoes weren't great, these people wouldn't be here. 145 00:23:24.936 --> 00:23:33.616 But it's the community that this brand has helped to foster, and the way that they treat the people, and the way that the employees love it so much. It's just incredible. 146 00:23:33.676 --> 00:23:44.666 And everyone that's been a part of putting this event on just cares so much. And so, um, let's give a shout-out to the Puma team. [cheering] [applauding] And Hugh Boston, the food is fantastic. 147 00:23:44.796 --> 00:23:51.836 I imagine there may still be people in line, but, um, thank you all. Uh, so Dakota, what does this brand mean to you? Yeah. 148 00:23:52.016 --> 00:23:58.356 When I first signed with Puma, I had really no business getting a professional contract, but they believed in me, and they believed in my dream. 149 00:23:58.416 --> 00:24:10.716 And, um, at that point, it was really just Molly, um, who had been with Puma, and she really paved the way, and we saw what great things she was doing in the shoes, which really made me believe that they, they were putting in the time and the effort. 150 00:24:10.726 --> 00:24:19.196 And in a lot of ways, I feel like I've gotten to grow with them, 'cause not long after signing with them, I ran a two twenty-five, and in, in their amazing shoes. 151 00:24:19.256 --> 00:24:22.136 And, you know, I didn't get four minutes faster on my own. 152 00:24:22.176 --> 00:24:38.504 It was the help of them, and their support, and their belief, and I'm just so grateful because I would-- I wouldn't be sitting right here if it wasn't for Puma.Yeah, I- it's been such an amazing experience for me to feel like I've gotten to grow alongside Puma Running. 153 00:24:38.724 --> 00:24:49.124 Of, I, I came on with Puma when they started this whole rebrand of getting back into distance running. I, uh, had the option to, um, re-sign at the end of 2020. 154 00:24:49.324 --> 00:24:56.784 I was leaving my previous company, and when my agent reached out and was like, "Hey, Puma wants to talk to you," I'm like, "Puma isn't in distance running." 155 00:24:56.824 --> 00:25:08.684 And they're like, "No, they're, they're trying to start something new." So I went into the Boston offices and met with the entire team, and the energy that I felt and realizing, wow, this is something different. 156 00:25:08.824 --> 00:25:17.444 This is something different than anybody else is doing right now, and taking a little bit of a chance, and I told them in the office that day, they're like, "What do you wanna do in your career?" 157 00:25:17.494 --> 00:25:25.324 I'm like, "I wanna win a medal at the Olympics, and I need to find a company that's gonna help me do that. Like, if you guys think you can help me do that, I'm going with you." 158 00:25:25.544 --> 00:25:33.584 And they're like, "We can put you in a shoe that will win you a medal." And I ran my first race a month later in the first iteration of the Deviate. 159 00:25:33.804 --> 00:25:40.044 I ran a minute faster in the half, and I was like, "I think this is gonna work." [laughs] And six months later, I had a medal. 160 00:25:40.284 --> 00:25:52.444 And it's been just, just seeing this growth, seeing two Puma athletes on the podium at the trials when we had no Puma athletes at the last trials. Like, that just, that stuff makes me wanna cry. 161 00:25:52.484 --> 00:26:03.204 It's stuff like that, that it's this groundswell of support. It's the community. It's the fricking shoes. Like- [laughs]... this is what makes it cool and makes me excited about it, and it's only growing from here. Yeah. 162 00:26:03.744 --> 00:26:12.924 Bill, how about you? You know, I, when I ran with Puma, I ran for three years for Puma, and, um, there was, it was, it was almost like now. It's a little deja vu, you know? 163 00:26:13.044 --> 00:26:20.064 But the shoes, you know, the shoes were, are so much better. So Puma was experimenting. They're trying to make their move. 164 00:26:20.224 --> 00:26:28.184 Mike Roche, an American Olympian in the steeplechase, ran the program, and he's, um, a guy that I got to know. And, um, 165 00:26:29.484 --> 00:26:39.904 but I was kind of beyond my prime, so were best years, and the tricky thing about running, you know, look how many of us are here, and we just... Look, how many people are runners in the world? 166 00:26:39.984 --> 00:26:48.344 I don't even know how many are, but a lot of people. There's so much competition, and it's such determination amongst runners, you know? 167 00:26:48.384 --> 00:27:01.504 And, um, so, so, so I remember running here when I, I, I think I, I d- I cracked 2:12 in these shoes. I remember that. My brother... We had a running store in Boston. So my brother saved my shoes, you know? But I, I ran 168 00:27:02.864 --> 00:27:15.683 pretty solid in them, but I, I love the new shoes. If I, like Molly said, you know what works for you, but it took me a while, you know? Now I'm, I'm, like, an older runner and n- it's, like, nothing works for me. 169 00:27:16.544 --> 00:27:29.604 [laughs] No, I'm just kidding. Seriously, I still love running. You know, I've been a runner, like, 59 years, something like that. You c- you can... I always say let's run forever 'cause it's lifetime. It, it's lifetime. 170 00:27:29.704 --> 00:27:32.564 So that's what we're all trying to do, but your shoes are key. 171 00:27:33.584 --> 00:27:46.724 I remember when I lived in JP, running from JP over to Cambridge to pick up a pair of shoes at Brian's Sporting Goods, 'cause I didn't have any money then, and then running back home, and that's what running was like back in those days when it was smaller. 172 00:27:47.364 --> 00:27:58.804 Now, women are here, half our population. It's the way it should be. It should've been then, but there's, the leadership was weak, you know? Now it's strong, like, the BAA is stronger, you know? 173 00:27:58.884 --> 00:28:09.204 And, and they, they, they're doing more and more and more, you know? So we're seeing the sport build and grow, you know? But, but we're all having fun, though I was at the back of the pack today, I was like, "Whoa. 174 00:28:09.504 --> 00:28:16.804 [laughs] You're all ahead of me. I, I hate you." [laughs] But no, not really. No, I was running with my partner. She stayed with me, so it was cool. 175 00:28:18.444 --> 00:28:26.604 So I think my last question or last topic is gonna be around my favorite topic, which is fun. Bill was talking a lot about it, um, and Molly and Dakota have also talked a lot about it. 176 00:28:27.244 --> 00:28:37.644 How do you keep it fun, and how do you keep it, um... You guys are doing this, the two of you are doing this for your career, and if you're not having fun, what's the point, right? So let's start with Dakota. 177 00:28:38.024 --> 00:28:46.144 How do you keep it fun? I, well, I don't know if you've ever seen me run a marathon, but I, I'm having a heck of a lot of fun, and I, I like to show that. 178 00:28:46.264 --> 00:28:58.344 Um, I think fun is really important because it, it kind of gets you out of... When you're too serious, it's, you put too much pressure on yourself, and when you're having fun, you're gonna be the best athlete you can be. 179 00:28:58.624 --> 00:29:06.624 Um, and then, I don't know, I keep it fun by just keeping it light. Like, if, if this is the best thing I ever do in my career, that's fine. 180 00:29:06.964 --> 00:29:19.544 If I never do anything better than making the Olympics, that's gonna be okay with me as long as every day I get to get up and go out for a run. Um, find whatever grounds you in the sport and continue to do that, I guess. 181 00:29:19.664 --> 00:29:28.604 Mm-hmm. I think being able to maintain fun and an, an open mind in your training is really important because it fosters a lot of creativity. 182 00:29:28.684 --> 00:29:35.584 I know we don't think of running as a creative exercise necessarily, but I think when you can hold on to this thing 183 00:29:36.504 --> 00:29:59.064 closely but loosely, you open yourself up to approaching your training and your running and your racing in new, creative ways and constantly reinventing yourself, going out and running with people that you never would think to train with who push you, going out and doing races you never expected, going out and opening yourself up for running across the city with a pair of shoes to go pick up another pair, or 184 00:30:00.024 --> 00:30:08.704 just doing, like, fun things. I'm going out and doing the Paul Revere Classic tonight where we're relaying from Hopkinton all the way in. It's that kind of stuff where 185 00:30:09.744 --> 00:30:24.064 those opportunities open you up to new things, and I think that's the biggest part of it, that I hope that I'm always finding new aspects of running that I love because, I don't know, you're always discovering some new, fun piece of the sport. 186 00:30:25.824 --> 00:30:37.504 Are, are we the luckiest people in the world? I think- Yeah. [clapping] I think, I think we areWe're just still a small population, but we are going to take over worldwide sport [laughs]. 187 00:30:37.564 --> 00:30:39.904 Well, I think that's the best part too. It's like- Yeah... 188 00:30:39.924 --> 00:30:50.584 where-- what other sport can we do where you get to come in with hundreds of other people that love the exact same thing that you do and just hang out on a Sunday morning? This is awesome. 189 00:30:50.624 --> 00:31:03.304 Are there any people here who are in their first year of running or something like that? Or no. Most of you... Maybe so. Yeah. Yes [laughs]. Thank God [laughs]. 190 00:31:03.404 --> 00:31:13.964 [laughs] But, you know, it's like you should come up here because running lifts all of us, lifts every boat. You know what I mean? You-- That's why we're here, you know? 191 00:31:14.074 --> 00:31:25.104 And we, we can feel it in our minds and how we live, and we're all lucky because most people in the world aren't or never got a chance to become a runner, didn't get chosen to be on a team in high school. 192 00:31:25.444 --> 00:31:40.244 You know what I mean? That sort of thing. But, but here we are. So, so let's keep going for another... Amby, twenty years maybe? We'll try. [laughs] My buddy, my good friend. Anyway... Well, thank you. Thank you all. 193 00:31:40.284 --> 00:31:50.003 Uh, Bill, you, you probably should start a podcast or something because I think that was the biggest takeaway from, from this conversation. Let's hear it for these three amazing athletes. Let's hear it for Puma. 194 00:31:50.304 --> 00:32:02.624 I want to give a special shout-out to Liz Rock over here. Liz put on all of this alongside her Puma team. She's amazing. And Greg, go, go Puma. Go Boston Marathon. Let's... One more time for the Boston Marathon. 195 00:32:02.664 --> 00:32:17.744 Let's hear it. [cheers] [upbeat music] That's it for today's episode. Like many long runs, it's sad when it has to end. I hope you join in next time on For the Long Run, and in the meantime, happy trails. 196 00:32:18.444 --> 00:32:28.194 If you enjoyed this episode, it would mean a lot to me if you shared it so that others can find it and enjoy it too. This podcast and the accompanying music has been produced by Brian Walters of Single Track Sound. 197 00:32:28.704 --> 00:32:36.904 For the Long Run's logo was created by Vanessa Wolf of Sterling Wolf. Show notes have been written by Ruby Wiles and is managed by Emily Holland. It takes a village. 198 00:32:37.104 --> 00:32:48.104 [upbeat music]