November 12, 2024 • 40 mins
Discover how three trailblazing individuals are reshaping the running community in Albany, New York, as we chat with the dynamic co-founders of Cap City Runners—Dr. Don Applyrs, Angelo Maddox Jr., and Markael Brace (Kaelz). Hear Dr. Don’s inspiring account of how running brought balance and resilience during his doctoral journey, while Angelo shares touching stories of his father's enduring influence on his passion for the sport. Markael, a dedicated public servant, reveals how running became a cornerstone of his commitment to health and community well-being. Together, they’re cultivating an inclusive space that not only welcomes runners of all backgrounds but also challenges prevailing misconceptions about who belongs in the world of running.
Takeaways
- Running can be a therapeutic outlet for mental health.
- Cap City Runners aims to diversify the running community.
- Consistency is key in encouraging community participation.
- Representation matters in sports and fitness.
- Running fosters a sense of camaraderie and support.
- The journey of running can inspire others to join.
- Mental toughness developed through running translates to life challenges.
- Community engagement is essential for promoting health and fitness.
- Vulnerability among men can lead to stronger support systems.
- Succeeding with attainable goals is crucial for personal growth.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Welcome to Ella Go.
My name is Lisa.
Join me on the journey inhaving real raw and
uncomfortable discussions aboutfitness, health and everything
in between, because, let's behonest, this journey would suck
if we don't get our shittogether.
Welcome back everyone.
(00:37):
Welcome to the Elegoo podcast.
My name is Lisa and today'sguest, I'm going to say, is
pretty special, okay.
Um, you know, of course, wewant to bring people that are
doing amazing things in thecommunity, so I'm going to first
allow these men, thesegentlemen, to introduce
themselves to the listeners.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
so, uh, whoever wants to go first, maybe Don should
go first sure all right sopleers, commonly known as Dr Don, but
certainly I am the proudco-founder of Cap City Runners
Albany Run Club, the premier runclub in the Capital Region.
But certainly by day, I'm along-term educator 12 plus years
(01:22):
in the field of education fromlong-term educator 12 plus years
in the field of education fromK-8 on through high school
education, backgroundspecifically in public urban
education, and certainlycurrently, right now in my
professional role, I serve asthe senior director of strategic
engagement at an organizationcalled NAF, where we focus on
transforming the high schoolexperience for high school
(01:44):
students.
And so I'm a proud Albanyresident, a native of Brooklyn,
New York, BK all day, andcertainly a proud father of two
beautiful girls, Noble and Niall, and the proud husband of a
current mayoral candidate, DrDorsey Appliers.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Yes my name is Angelo Maddox Jr.
I am a proud co-founder of CapCity Runners, where we run
through the 518 every day, youknow, and inspire the community
to run.
I am also the owner of Freshand Fly Clothing, a premier
clothing store here in Albany,new York, that has been in
(02:26):
business for a little over 18years now.
Also, motivation Money MakingMonday founder and facilitator.
That's a media platform thatactually inspires people and
gets people's mindset off of themundane thinking about Monday
so that they can start theirwork week off the proper way and
(02:50):
knowing that that's the waythat they are making money to
feed their families and alsoconnect with their team members
in their office.
You know, and that should be ajoyous occasion.
You know, and that should be ajoyous occasion.
And I am also the proud fatherof three and also just community
(03:10):
activist.
So that's Angelo.
Speaker 4 (03:16):
Maddox Jr.
In a nutshell, OK, my name isMarkel Brace.
I currently hold a position inpublic service and law
enforcement.
I currently hold a position inpublic service and law
enforcement.
I'm also a co-founder of CapCity Runners one of my joys of
life and currently a father ofone and a stepfather of two, and
(03:38):
also a fiance and running isjust my love.
And I'm from the Albany area,born and raised Arbor Hill to be
exact and my motto is don't putyour health on the shelf.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Okay, so, um, obviously I brought you
gentlemen into this spacebecause, uh, you know, we want
to see more of a diversity whenwe think about running.
And I think we're getting there, you know, I mean, we still got
work to do, but we're gettingthere and I would love to hear
(04:16):
how did you start running?
Two questions, so this is atwo-part question.
Whoever wants to share, like,how do you start running and why
?
Like, what does it do for you?
Speaker 3 (04:27):
Well, that's a great question.
I certainly I'll.
I'll kick things off.
Um, it's, when I think about myrunning story, I always reflect
back to high school, uh,because I actually tried cross
country um uh in high school asa freshman and I hated it, to be
quite honest.
Um, it just wasn't for me.
Then I got into, uh, certainlyindoor track and some of the you
(04:49):
know speedier uh events intrack and field, and certainly
um did that for a little bit inhigh school and then I've always
just been an athlete, grew upplaying baseball primarily um in
in high school and a little bitof college ball, um, but
certainly for me.
I actually got into runningmaybe about seven or eight years
ago.
(05:09):
Um, I was wrapping up on mydoctorate.
It's certainly probably one ofthe hardest things I've probably
ever done in my life is to earna doctorate.
Um, I earned a doctorate fromst john fisher college, uh, in
executive leadership, and so asI wrapped up with the
dissertation process and mydoctorate, I said, okay, I need
a new challenge.
I've both been in health andfitness, so I've had friends in
(05:33):
the community of running.
I said, well, let me just kindof try this thing.
And so I just started with justlike a weekly Nike, just do it
5K on Sundays, and just kind ofhad a little streak going.
I had myself and my cousinwhich is kind of like you know
push ourselves to do a 5k everySunday, and then I had a nice
little streak for about 18, 19consecutive weeks before the
(05:54):
winter broke and I said, okay,you know, let me try something.
I'm going to train for my firsthalf marathon and made the leap
and ran the Philly half in 2018and got bit by the bug since,
and so running brings me greatjoy.
It's a great outlet, greattherapy, great mind clearer all
(06:16):
those things but certainly alsoit's a great opportunity to, as
I like to say, perspire, toinspire through my own journey.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
One of the things I have to add.
Yes, I'm an Albany resident aswell, by way of Brooklyn, though
I always got to make sure thatthat's not been in Albany for a
little over 20 years.
Love the city, it's a greatcity, but Brooklyn is home.
My love for running, I wouldsay, started with my father.
(06:47):
Actually, I remember that wasprobably like one of the last
things that we ever did togetherwas run, and this was like when
I was like five years old.
We ran together and I rememberit like as clear as day, like it
was yesterday.
We had that.
He was always an avid runnerand we ran together.
You know, that was one of thethings that he would, he would,
(07:10):
I would be lagging behind himall the time, but at the same
time, he would always encourageme to run and before he
transitioned, that was one ofthe last things that I ever
remember doing with him wasrunning.
So as I became an adult, Ialways just did it leisurely and
when Don threw out the smoke,the smoke signal, to say, hey,
(07:32):
you know we want to make thisrun team, and I didn't even
respond to the message, but inmy mind I just I was like, yeah,
I'm with this and I just showedup, both myself and Markel.
We showed up the first day andpretty much, you know, it became
history and I always wasinspired by seeing Don run
(07:53):
through the community, seeingMarkel's on social media, you
know doing their long runs,because I was more of a 5K guy
and I was fine with that,because it was more so like
therapeutic and something I didleisurely.
And from there, once we met up,it just became, you know, an
(08:13):
ongoing thing.
The rest is history.
So that's the foundation of mylove for running.
It definitely was inspired bymy father.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Okay.
So there's definitely a littleemotional connection, you know
with your father, that's reallynice.
I like that.
Okay, and Markel.
Speaker 4 (08:33):
Yeah, mine started during COVID.
They closed all the gyms andthere's only one thing left to
do and I just went outside.
I started off just walking,jogging, and then quarter
runners high, and that was that.
And it became therapy for me,especially for the field that I
(08:54):
work in.
It definitely cleared my mindand created another mental space
for me to engage into.
And then when I got with CapCity Runners, when I got with
Don and Angelo, then it justwent from one level to the next.
Now it's just like an addictionit's a lifetime intoxication.
So that's just my story in anutshell, and I love it.
(09:17):
And I take it back to COVID.
Covid because, covid, everybodywas going through health issues
, breathing and all that.
So running, was runningactually open the doors for it?
Don't put your health on theshelf, I mean, get it by any
means necessary.
So that's how my runningjourney started.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
And to give more of a backdrop to how Cap City came
about.
As I mentioned, you know, I hadbegan to run a few more half
marathons and I have friends inNew York City growing up, you
know, obviously coming from NewYork City and obviously going
down in New York City races andjust seeing the not only the run
community and how large the runcommunity was.
(09:57):
Well, something's missing here,like this element of Albany is
missing to have, you know, arunning organization.
That's all about diversifyingthe sport, introducing people to
(10:19):
the sport of distance running,and so for many years actually,
you know, kind of like hesitatedor just kind of postponed the
idea.
And then, just one day, I saidyou know what, you know what,
just go ahead and put a call out.
You know a Saturday meetup.
You know I knew Angelo wasrunning by following him on
social media, so I tagged him.
(10:40):
Markel was, you know, runningabout four to five miles a
couple of days a week.
So I tagged them and said look,starting up a meetup, cap City
Runners Walk Run.
This is on the first Saturdayin June of 2023.
And again, the goal and themission is to inspire the
community to run by running inthe community and so on.
(11:02):
That first Saturday in Junethese two gentlemen showed up
and it's been a history sinceand we've been going strong
every Saturday for a year plusHaven't missed a Saturday aside
from the you know the airquality, from the from the
Canada fires, we certainly havebeen really proud of what we
(11:25):
began to build in Albany tointroduce the sport to people
from you know non-runners whohave never ran before, who have
gone on to train for their first5K, 10k, half marathon,
markel's training for his firstmarathon this fall in New York
(11:45):
City.
So it has really really beentransformational in that sense
for the community.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
That's great Markel's doing New York City right.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
Yes, very exciting.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Not a lot of words, markel, let me ask you this he's
a man of action.
Let me ask you this what hasbeen some of the challenges?
Okay, with trying to go outthere and promote this and the
diversity of it, because I mean,I have had some challenges.
(12:22):
So what are some of thechallenges?
Because you guys are in thecity of Albany and, um, you know
you're reaching out to thesefolks to move.
I mean, movement is empoweringempowering and, of course, it's
healthy to keep moving and notto be sedentary.
So what are some of thechallenges that you have faced
(12:43):
when you are promoting yourorganization or even like
talking to people and say, hey,you know, let's move, let's do
this.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
I would say that one of the biggest challenges has
been to get people to stayconsistent with it.
You know, I would say thatthat's the biggest challenge.
You know, we get one-timers,two-timers, but just to
encourage them to continuouslycome out and work out and and
run, walk, jog because wewelcome all abilities out to
(13:17):
come run, run through thecommunity so that we can
actually inspire andcontinuously push the community
to be active.
You know, because running isonly one part of what we're
about.
It's also about the activity ofmaking sure that they put in
their health first and never putin their health on the shelf.
(13:40):
So the consistency of that iswhat makes the difference.
So the biggest thing, or thebiggest challenge, has been for
us to get people to come outconsistently.
But we have a strong base, astrong group that has been
working consistently and we justlook to continuously build off
of that, you know.
But consistency, I would say,is one of the biggest challenges
(14:04):
.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
Yeah, and I would also add, the challenges have
been kind of twofold Right.
I think the challenge for forme and us is that, you know,
realizing that Rome isn't builtin a day and sometimes we want
to build it in a day andcertainly, you know, in terms of
the collective, uh, bringingthe community together.
But I think also, the thechallenge has been, um, is that
(14:30):
there's a mindset, that there'san expectation that you have to
be at a certain pace or at acertain skill set or ability or
mileage.
Uh, when you come out to CapCity, and that's one of the
things that we try to dispel interms of, you know, it's all
paces and faces are welcome.
That's our sub-slogan All pacesand faces are welcome.
(14:53):
And we have various, you know,pace groups and everyone at
different levels those who do itjust socially and leisurely,
and then those who, you know,are certainly more interested in
terms of training for races orgetting faster, et cetera.
I mean running, there's so manyaspects to it and that's, I
think, just really educating thecommunity in terms of, look,
(15:15):
you know, it's you versus youand it's not even really a
competition, it's just, you know, knowing where you are and just
being the best at where you areand not necessarily feeling
like you have to run a sub sevenmile or, you know, run 15 miles
on a Saturday.
I mean we do it, or some of usdo it because you know we're
training or whatever but I thinkthe perception is that people
(15:39):
think that that's what'sexpected when they come out to
Cap City.
So we try to dispel thatmisnomer.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
Okay, markell, did you want to say something?
Speaker 4 (15:48):
Yeah, pretty much what them guys just said as far
as just the consistency ofgetting people to come out and
the intimidation factor ofseeing the mileage that the core
group is putting out and alsothe time.
But, like, what they got tounderstand is that, um, that's
(16:09):
the core group, that's the coregroup.
So we're we're basically we'redoing what the everyday people
that show up and our coremembers that show up, and if
they come out and become a coremember, they're going to be
doing the same thing, cause weall started out running 12
minute miles, three only able todo three miles, four miles.
So you got to build your way upand we just want to let the
(16:33):
people know you got to, youain't got to come ready, you got
to come to us and we'll get youready.
That's, that's themisconception.
They think they got to alreadycome prepared, like we race
every day.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
but that's not the case.
Yeah, people have said that.
So, yeah, you know, before Icome out and run with you all, I
got to get myself prepared andget myself ready and you know
again, it's really low pressureand no pressure at all actually
in terms of, you know, mileage,distance, et cetera.
We meet people where they are,you know, and we are really good
(17:08):
about, you know, tagging behindwith, you know, newcomers, you
know, if they just, you know,just kind of make them feel
comfortable and welcome, we havea very inviting, you know,
atmosphere when people come outand we have a great time.
We have a great time just gotus, just got to be there to
experience it.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
Okay, so we're going to get a little deep in here.
I hope you guys are all okaywith this.
Okay, so you know, you guys,you men, you're men of color.
It's empowering that you areall here, you know, together,
doing this organization runningthrough the community.
(17:46):
That has to say something tothe community.
So what has been the feedbackthat you get?
I mean, it's powerful.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
Yeah, that's.
I would say that's one of mymain inspirations for being a
co-founder for being aco-founder as well as an active
member of Cap City Runners isthe fact that we are men of
color and that we do thistogether.
The consistency of this teamworkthat we have and the synergy
that we always bring to thetable when we come together is
(18:19):
unmatched.
It's something that you don'toftentimes see within our
community.
So to be a part of this and tojoin together as a team and
consistently show ourselves as ateam running through the
community, it's not onlyempowering to the community,
it's empowering to us as well,because we feel that
(18:42):
intrinsically, you know, everysingle time when we meet up in
the morning and say, hey, wechecking in with one another, we
saying like yo, you good,everything, go with you, you
know.
And then we go out together andwe face the world.
You know what I'm saying.
So that's definitely empoweringand it brings and it shows that
we can do it together, you know, and that's something that is
(19:04):
oftentimes never seen within ourcommunity.
So it's tremendously empowering.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
Yeah, and to that, initially, actually, I wrestled
when, again, when thinking aboutstarting something in Albany
because there are, you know,certainly organizations that
already exist and certainly bigshout out to Black Girls Run,
olivia Franpong, who leads thatchapter and has been doing that
for eight years and I hadthought about maybe, you know,
(19:30):
doing a black male, black men'srun in Albany.
And I said, you know, I don'twant to limit, you know, while
there's, you know, while there'scertainly great power and the
collective community of men andmen of color who are coming
together to run, I do not wantto limit this opportunity here
in Albany, but certainly when wecome together, you know, and
(19:50):
we're running through thecommunities, you know we get bus
drivers who, who honk at us,they see us.
You know, it doesn't matterwhat time I'm, you know, whether
it's early morning or lateevenings, you know the community
sees us and I think that'swhat's most important, that you
know the community sees us and Ithink that's what's most
important, that you know,inspiration doesn't necessarily
have to come through, you know,verbal communication but, like I
(20:11):
said, perspire to inspire.
So someone who's seen me, youknow, sweating up Clinton Avenue
in the city or in parts of thecity.
You know there's always.
You know, keep going.
Or I see you, or you know,maybe I'll come out next time or
something.
There's a lot of those.
I see you or you know, maybeI'll come out next time or
something.
There's a lot of those, youknow, as we, as we hit the
streets.
But again, it's really.
It pushes us.
It pushes us and lets us knowthat we're doing something that
(20:31):
the community is seeing, they'reobserving and may not
necessarily make the leap yet tocome out, but it's something
that they do support and givesus a lot of props for.
Speaker 4 (20:42):
Yeah, what I like about it as far as the exposure
and being a black man doing this, it opens another window of
exposure to the youth as well.
We're so limited in that aspectof you play football, play
basketball, do this, do that andrunning is just not a thing.
(21:02):
When you're growing up fromwhere we come from, it's
something you think about doing.
So that's what I love about it,that's what keeps me going, and
letting you know that you cando this.
And we men that are, we juststarting this, not in our prime
in this, and we in our forties.
You know what I'm saying Like.
So you definitely needsomething to keep you going, you
(21:23):
know.
I mean, that's one of the mainthings that keep me going, even
being a father, being a bigbrother, being an uncle, and
just able to post those picturesand videos and show the medals,
let them know that this couldbe done, you know.
So that's what I love aboutthem well, you guys are babies
anyways.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
Well, you know, I know that you want to say that
we open it up.
You know, don, you said we'renot just limited.
But you know, at the end of theday it is very empowering and I
think, markel, you said it thebest.
Like you are showing other, theyounger people, the younger
folk, that this is somethingthat's possible to do.
Like I said, we don't see thisa lot, we don't see a lot of
(22:09):
diversity.
And then to see these group ofmen and let's even talk a little
bit about the men, because youknow, you all said that, I think
a majority of you said how ithelps you clear your mind and we
think about mental health isstill a stigma for men and let's
not forget men of color.
(22:29):
I mean, you say you OK, you OK.
I mean, come on, that is like ahuge thing that you are showing
the community.
I mean, do you want to sayanything about that, don?
Or Angela Markell?
Speaker 3 (22:45):
Yeah, I mean we're of the mindset of iron sharpens
iron and steel sharpens steel.
So when we come together, it'sthat opportunity to be in a safe
space in a community where notonly do we celebrate each other,
you know, when we meet up andsay, oh, how was your week?
Anything we want to celebrateor shout out to Angelo he just
had, you know, a book release orhe just, you know, had a
(23:09):
speaking engagement.
So we celebrate each other aswell, because it's more than
just the running, it's buildingcommunity and we all have
various roles in the communityand are involved in different
spaces, and so we continue tocelebrate each other in that
regard.
And then, when we talk about,you know, certainly mental
health, you know we continue toraise that awareness.
(23:29):
You know we raise awarenessaround you know, Mental Health
Week, and you know or month, Ishould say and the things that
you know we do to try to ensurethat we're checking ourselves,
checking in with ourselves interms of where we are mentally
and how running allows us tohave that space.
You know, for me that'suninterrupted time If I'm out
(23:51):
for an hour, two hours, threehours, you know, with the
busyness of the day and the weekand parenting and fathering,
and all that like that's my,that's my time, that's my me
time, and all that like that'smy, that's my time, that's my me
time, uninterrupted, not takingcalls, nothing.
(24:14):
So, but again, it's, it's whatwe, it's what we continue to to
build and because you, you know,you, you, you develop that
outlet to kind of be able toclear your mind or to even just
be reflective too.
I mean, I think mental healthis just more than just, you know
, just kind of checking in withwhere you are, but also being
reflective of what are thosethings that may be a trigger,
Like what is something that I'mreally struggling with or
(24:36):
battling with right now?
How can I, you know, really beintentional about addressing
that particular issue?
Or, you know, who are thepeople that I can surround
myself, that can kind of help mewhen I'm going through a
certain situation, or to have mybrothers here who I can speak
to and talk to, like, yeah, okay, Thanks for that perspective.
I didn't think about it thatway.
(24:56):
Like, so, just again, reallyjust building that circle where
we can just really be vulnerable, most importantly, but then
also have the ability toconfront, you know, challenges
that we have every day as men.
Speaker 4 (25:11):
Yeah, I'll speak to that, especially the
vulnerability part, when you'reout there running and hurting,
breathing and all that stuff.
And definitely being out thererunning it definitely clears
your mind.
And it's a lot of times whenyou're out there on those long
runs and you're unpacking thingsMentally, you're unpacking
(25:31):
things Mentally, you'reunloading things.
I got to a point sometimes Idig so deep in my running and my
don would be like yo, youstarted off real fast but I just
identified an unidentifiedtrauma possibly and I got deep
in thought and I just got in thezone that is a definite, real
(25:53):
strong, important element tohelping your mental health.
Running has definitely beenthat for me and very therapeutic
and it's definitely vital forAfrican-American men to deal
with your mental health andunderstand it.
You know what I mean, becausethose traumas can be poured into
somebody else that care aboutyou, especially when you don't
(26:15):
deal with them and unpack them.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
So Markel, do you?
I mean, do you want to justmaybe not to put you on the spot
, but you know, certainly thelast year, year and a half, you
know certainly has been one thathas been, you know.
Speaker 4 (26:30):
Yeah, I shed a little light on that, um also.
Um, this past year I lost my um, my grandmother who raised me,
my mother also, and I just lostmy uncle back in July.
So that's in a span of ninemonths, and the biggest support
group outside of my family wasthe Cap City Runners, my
(26:51):
brothers right here and alsoother team members and and they
helped me a lot.
You know, I mean, it's onething to have tragic losses and
things happen to you and nothave nothing to keep going
Outside of my family.
These brothers right here andthe Cap City Runners and running
(27:12):
and my joy for running kept megoing.
My grandmother, my mother andmy uncle that I recently lost
they were so proud of the thingsI was doing with running.
So I always keep that in theback of my mind.
That's definitely a drivingforce and that brings the
emotional engagement and thecompassion to the running now.
So it's a whole different levelnow.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
So, absolutely, I thought Angelo was going to say
something.
Speaker 1 (27:37):
Yeah, that just took me to another place just
speaking on that man.
But, yeah, absolutely the placejust speaking on that man.
But yeah, absolutely.
And you know, as a, as a team,you know, even when I was a team
member like yourself, markelwas going through that it, it I
take pride in and we take pridein showing up for you.
You know that that ended upitself was was therapeutic.
(27:59):
You know, just being there in intough time, I can definitely
say for myself as anentrepreneur, going through
years and years and years ofbusiness and having a mentality
like I can do it all myself or Ican do this, I can do that.
And you walk intoentrepreneurship oftentimes with
a tape on your back like I gotto get everything done.
(28:23):
You know, and being a part ofCap City Runners has definitely
changed my mindset about thatand shifted it.
Where I have strong partnersthat I can lean on for things
you know what I'm saying andtalk to them about things.
And to the point of mentalhealth, I take it to the extent
of every week I make a point ofsaying it's Therapy Thursday,
(28:46):
let's go out and run.
Let's go out and be active.
Let's go, because it'sliterally therapy for me,
because I get into mindset.
It clears my mind and makes therest of my day flow so much
smoother.
When I'm outside and I'mrunning and I'm making sure that
my mind is clear, my body isactive, everything seems to move
at a better pace and moresmoothly because the mind is
(29:10):
right, you know.
So the mind control the body,and if your mind is right, then
everything else tends to flow ina way that it should.
So mental health is definitelyaddressed through running and it
helps in a great way.
Speaker 3 (29:26):
And one thing that I'll add too, is that you know
there's just so many parallelswhen you talk about running or
training for a marathon and life, right, the late, the late,
great Nipsey Hussle, you know healways said you know the
marathon, he had a story calledthe marathon.
You know he had an album calledthe marathon continues.
Because life is a marathon.
(29:47):
There's going to be stages,they're going to be going to be
different stages that we gothrough in life.
But I think one thing, at leastfor me, that has really helped
me through running is buildingthat mental toughness, that
mental stamina, because we'regoing to go through hard things
in life and so running ortraining for a marathon or half
(30:08):
marathon and completing it'slike, okay, I can do hard things
, like, so there's nothingthat's too hard that I can't,
you know, overcome or or succeedthrough or push through,
because I have that mentalendurance and I build that
mental toughness through thesport of running and say, okay,
(30:30):
well, if I can do this, you knowhard workout, or this hard run
or train for this race, thenit's nothing for me to apply
those same principles when I'mfaced with a challenge in life.
Speaker 2 (30:43):
You guys are amazing.
Wow, I mean I'm really feeling.
Thank you for being vulnerable,first of all, because that's
not easy.
But I want to say this you know, as everyone is listening, you
know they do have women in thegroup, of course.
Speaker 3 (30:58):
We celebrate them too .
I have seen pictures, you know,and it is diverse.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
So you know, if you are in the area, you know, do
know that there it is a verydiverse group and it is nice to
see women in this group.
So, with that being said, tellus, where do you got.
When do you guys run Like?
Is there a schedule?
Where do you meet what time?
And yeah, tell me all that goodstuff.
Speaker 4 (31:26):
Saturday mornings in front of Fresh and Fly.
You see Mr Fresh and Flyhimself down there on South
Pearl Street.
What's that?
Speaker 1 (31:33):
13 South Pearl Street , albany, new York 13 South
Pearl Street, where we don'tcreate swag, we enhance it.
Speaker 4 (31:39):
Yes, sir, and on Tuesdays we do tracks at U.
We do the track at U Albany.
That's about six in the morning.
We've been doing it on theevening lately and then Thursday
we do the community walk run.
Meet at the Clinton Ave marketat six, 45.
Speaker 3 (31:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (31:55):
Yep At six, six, 30.
So those are the three.
Those are the three meetups,and Saturday morning is the
marquee yeah.
Speaker 3 (32:04):
Yeah, indeed, indeed.
And again, you know we, wecertainly are open to all that
want to come out.
You know, against open to thecommunity.
Again, we have our communityruns on Thursday just kind of
get people up and moving.
Our Saturday meetup, we've goteveryone and anyone and everyone
coming out.
(32:25):
You know we've we've gotstudents from the medical
college, we have UAlbanystudents, we've got
professionals, youngprofessionals, you know, middle
professionals, seasonedindividuals.
So, as you said, it is diversefrom all types of walks of life,
representation, male, female,etc.
And so but you know wecertainly do have a membership
(32:46):
component.
For those who you knowcertainly choose to become core
members or join our membership,that comes with a those who you
know certainly choose to becomecore members or join our
membership, that comes with alot of, you know certainly
incentives, perks, discounts onour apparel, et cetera as part
of our annual membership.
So, but again, certainly nopressure for anyone to do that,
but certainly we do think abouthow do we try to sustain the
(33:09):
organization.
You know Cap City is in fact,you know we do have an LLC,
we're Cap City Runners, and soyou know we operate it as a
business and we certainly lookto ensure that we are building
something that's going to besustainable beyond the three of
us.
Speaker 2 (33:26):
That's great, okay, so where can we find you on
social media.
Speaker 1 (33:31):
I'm on Cap City.
Speaker 4 (33:34):
Runners on Facebook and Instagram Also.
You can find me personally atJust Kells on Facebook and
Instagram is J-U-S-T.
Kells, K-A-E-L-Z, and I alsohave another page on Instagram
called KELZ Sport.
(33:54):
That's more of my running andfitness page.
That's all that's on there.
The personal page is just KELZ.
Then you get KELZ Sport, whichis all the running and workout
stuff, which is K-A-E-L spacesport and that's how you link
with me, which is K-A-E-L spacesport and that's how you like
with me.
Speaker 3 (34:11):
Yeah, on Instagram Cap City Runners Albany,
c-a-p-c-i-t-y-r-u-n-n-e-r-s,albany, a-l-b-a-n-y, and then on
Facebook it's Cap City Runnerswe run 518.
So we have a Facebook group onthere.
(34:31):
For me.
Personally, I go by DA, whichare my initials, underscore fit
educator.
Again, I've always been in thefitness space and I'm more than
an educator, so it's DAunderscore fit F-I-T.
So it's D-A underscore fitF-I-T, educator.
Speaker 2 (34:53):
E-D-U-C-A-O-R.
Speaker 1 (34:56):
Angelo and I'm Angelo Justice Maddox on Facebook and
if you go on Instagram, I'mMrSwag.
That's M-R dot S, dot W, dot Adot G underscore and Fresh and
Fly Clothing.
The beautiful thing about allof those things is that, no
matter which page you link upwith, it's all going to circle
(35:19):
back to Cap City Runners.
You know what I'm saying.
In some way, form or fashion,you're going to either see clips
of us running, you're going tosee clips of us meeting up.
You're going to see clips of usmeeting up.
You're going to see futureevents, all of those things
intertwined because and andthat's just to show how much
running has become a part of allof our lives because it's
always going to be there, nomatter what, what uh social
(35:41):
media platform that you tap into, uh us on, running is going to
be a part of it.
Speaker 3 (35:47):
so cap city runners all day you gotta tell them what
SWAG stands for.
You got to tell them theacronym Succeeding with
attainable goals.
Speaker 1 (35:56):
Yes, any goal that you set is obtainable, you know.
You just got to work towards it.
You know, see, the goal is yougetting in to that gym and
success is the result of yougoing out and achieving that on
a daily basis, going after thatthing that you are after.
(36:16):
So it's a muscle.
You got to continuously work itevery day, you know.
So succeeding with attainablegoals, mr Succeeding with
Attainable Goals.
Yes.
Speaker 3 (36:27):
And certainly you got to plug your book because
angelo is also an author.
He's a published author, youknow.
So go ahead and drop thatchange the world by changing
yourself.
Speaker 1 (36:37):
You can find that anywhere.
Books are sold on no amazon,but I prefer that you get it off
my website because that means Iget all the proceeds and that's
fresh and fly inccom, or youcan pull up to the store fresh
and fly clothing, 13 south pearlstreet, and I said once again,
it's where we don't create swag,we enhance it.
(36:58):
So swag is a part of all thosethings um, okay, uh um no I.
Speaker 2 (37:08):
I don't know what to say now.
No, she wasn't expecting allthat, no, first, of all,
gentlemen, I'm very proud tohave you in this space and thank
you for allowing me to be inyour space.
I think what you're doing isincredible and I don't think I
mean maybe you do know that, butknow this or not but the impact
(37:31):
of you just showing up and evenposting how you, you know,
posting is very empowering andyou know people say, you know,
running really isn't therapy,but at the end of the day, if
you can't go to therapy, it'stherapy.
If you can't go to therapy,it's therapy.
(37:51):
And you know it's not just that, you are creating such an
impact in the community and thethings that you're doing.
So I am really happy to havehad you on the show and I am
looking forward to what's tocome and maybe you'll see Ella
Goh ladies at the track in SUNYAlbany.
(38:16):
Maybe, that'll happen.
Speaker 3 (38:18):
Or even just a Saturday, maybe just a.
Speaker 2 (38:20):
Saturday yes, and again, yeah, definitely, but for
sure.
I want to just thank you forwhat you all are doing.
It is definitely very impactfuland very much needed.
So thank you, guys.
Speaker 4 (38:35):
Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 3 (38:36):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (38:37):
Thank you for having us.
Speaker 3 (38:38):
And I'll also just say this too, because and I
appreciate what you said interms of just um, constantly
showing up we have always beenintentional about showing up.
You know, I wasn't always awinter runner but you know,
running with these guys, wecommitted like, look, we're
going to show up, doesn't matterRain, sleet, snow, we're going
(38:58):
to show up on Saturdays, we'regoing to be out there, and I
think a lot of respect andadmiration has been gained, even
just the representation thatknowing that you know you can
count on Cap City to show upwhen they say they're going to
show up.
So with that, you know again,our goal and our mission is to
inspire the community to run byrunning the community, and so
(39:20):
all are welcome.
I certainly look forward towelcoming you, lisa, and the
ladies of LA.
Go, you know we can setsomething up, we'll make it
happen.
Speaker 2 (39:29):
OK, we love that.
Up, we'll, we'll, we'll make ithappen.
Okay, we would love that.
Speaker 1 (39:32):
And get that Cap City merch too.
Speaker 2 (39:35):
Thank you guys.
All right?
Well, we'll put all their linkson the show notes and you know
you'll be able to reach out tothem.
You know you'll, you'll, you'llhave all the links, and I guess
that's pretty much it, anduntil next time, bye, everyone.
Speaker 3 (39:52):
Thank you.
Thank you for listening, bye.
Welcome to Ella Go.
My name is Lisa.
Join me on the journey inhaving real raw and
uncomfortable discussions aboutfitness, health and everything
in between, because, let's behonest, this journey would suck
if we don't get our shittogether.
Welcome back everyone.
(00:37):
Welcome to the Elegoo podcast.
My name is Lisa and today'sguest, I'm going to say, is
pretty special, okay.
Um, you know, of course, wewant to bring people that are
doing amazing things in thecommunity, so I'm going to first
allow these men, thesegentlemen, to introduce
themselves to the listeners.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
so, uh, whoever wants to go first, maybe Don should
go first sure all right sopleers, commonly known as Dr Don, but
certainly I am the proudco-founder of Cap City Runners
Albany Run Club, the premier runclub in the Capital Region.
But certainly by day, I'm along-term educator 12 plus years
(01:22):
in the field of education fromlong-term educator 12 plus years
in the field of education fromK-8 on through high school
education, backgroundspecifically in public urban
education, and certainlycurrently, right now in my
professional role, I serve asthe senior director of strategic
engagement at an organizationcalled NAF, where we focus on
transforming the high schoolexperience for high school
(01:44):
students.
And so I'm a proud Albanyresident, a native of Brooklyn,
New York, BK all day, andcertainly a proud father of two
beautiful girls, Noble and Niall, and the proud husband of a
current mayoral candidate, DrDorsey Appliers.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Yes my name is Angelo Maddox Jr.
I am a proud co-founder of CapCity Runners, where we run
through the 518 every day, youknow, and inspire the community
to run.
I am also the owner of Freshand Fly Clothing, a premier
clothing store here in Albany,new York, that has been in
(02:26):
business for a little over 18years now.
Also, motivation Money MakingMonday founder and facilitator.
That's a media platform thatactually inspires people and
gets people's mindset off of themundane thinking about Monday
so that they can start theirwork week off the proper way and
(02:50):
knowing that that's the waythat they are making money to
feed their families and alsoconnect with their team members
in their office.
You know, and that should be ajoyous occasion.
You know, and that should be ajoyous occasion.
And I am also the proud fatherof three and also just community
(03:10):
activist.
So that's Angelo.
Speaker 4 (03:16):
Maddox Jr.
In a nutshell, OK, my name isMarkel Brace.
I currently hold a position inpublic service and law
enforcement.
I currently hold a position inpublic service and law
enforcement.
I'm also a co-founder of CapCity Runners one of my joys of
life and currently a father ofone and a stepfather of two, and
(03:38):
also a fiance and running isjust my love.
And I'm from the Albany area,born and raised Arbor Hill to be
exact and my motto is don't putyour health on the shelf.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Okay, so, um, obviously I brought you
gentlemen into this spacebecause, uh, you know, we want
to see more of a diversity whenwe think about running.
And I think we're getting there, you know, I mean, we still got
work to do, but we're gettingthere and I would love to hear
(04:16):
how did you start running?
Two questions, so this is atwo-part question.
Whoever wants to share, like,how do you start running and why
?
Like, what does it do for you?
Speaker 3 (04:27):
Well, that's a great question.
I certainly I'll.
I'll kick things off.
Um, it's, when I think about myrunning story, I always reflect
back to high school, uh,because I actually tried cross
country um uh in high school asa freshman and I hated it, to be
quite honest.
Um, it just wasn't for me.
Then I got into, uh, certainlyindoor track and some of the you
(04:49):
know speedier uh events intrack and field, and certainly
um did that for a little bit inhigh school and then I've always
just been an athlete, grew upplaying baseball primarily um in
in high school and a little bitof college ball, um, but
certainly for me.
I actually got into runningmaybe about seven or eight years
ago.
(05:09):
Um, I was wrapping up on mydoctorate.
It's certainly probably one ofthe hardest things I've probably
ever done in my life is to earna doctorate.
Um, I earned a doctorate fromst john fisher college, uh, in
executive leadership, and so asI wrapped up with the
dissertation process and mydoctorate, I said, okay, I need
a new challenge.
I've both been in health andfitness, so I've had friends in
(05:33):
the community of running.
I said, well, let me just kindof try this thing.
And so I just started with justlike a weekly Nike, just do it
5K on Sundays, and just kind ofhad a little streak going.
I had myself and my cousinwhich is kind of like you know
push ourselves to do a 5k everySunday, and then I had a nice
little streak for about 18, 19consecutive weeks before the
(05:54):
winter broke and I said, okay,you know, let me try something.
I'm going to train for my firsthalf marathon and made the leap
and ran the Philly half in 2018and got bit by the bug since,
and so running brings me greatjoy.
It's a great outlet, greattherapy, great mind clearer all
(06:16):
those things but certainly alsoit's a great opportunity to, as
I like to say, perspire, toinspire through my own journey.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
One of the things I have to add.
Yes, I'm an Albany resident aswell, by way of Brooklyn, though
I always got to make sure thatthat's not been in Albany for a
little over 20 years.
Love the city, it's a greatcity, but Brooklyn is home.
My love for running, I wouldsay, started with my father.
(06:47):
Actually, I remember that wasprobably like one of the last
things that we ever did togetherwas run, and this was like when
I was like five years old.
We ran together and I rememberit like as clear as day, like it
was yesterday.
We had that.
He was always an avid runnerand we ran together.
You know, that was one of thethings that he would, he would,
(07:10):
I would be lagging behind himall the time, but at the same
time, he would always encourageme to run and before he
transitioned, that was one ofthe last things that I ever
remember doing with him wasrunning.
So as I became an adult, Ialways just did it leisurely and
when Don threw out the smoke,the smoke signal, to say, hey,
(07:32):
you know we want to make thisrun team, and I didn't even
respond to the message, but inmy mind I just I was like, yeah,
I'm with this and I just showedup, both myself and Markel.
We showed up the first day andpretty much, you know, it became
history and I always wasinspired by seeing Don run
(07:53):
through the community, seeingMarkel's on social media, you
know doing their long runs,because I was more of a 5K guy
and I was fine with that,because it was more so like
therapeutic and something I didleisurely.
And from there, once we met up,it just became, you know, an
(08:13):
ongoing thing.
The rest is history.
So that's the foundation of mylove for running.
It definitely was inspired bymy father.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Okay.
So there's definitely a littleemotional connection, you know
with your father, that's reallynice.
I like that.
Okay, and Markel.
Speaker 4 (08:33):
Yeah, mine started during COVID.
They closed all the gyms andthere's only one thing left to
do and I just went outside.
I started off just walking,jogging, and then quarter
runners high, and that was that.
And it became therapy for me,especially for the field that I
(08:54):
work in.
It definitely cleared my mindand created another mental space
for me to engage into.
And then when I got with CapCity Runners, when I got with
Don and Angelo, then it justwent from one level to the next.
Now it's just like an addictionit's a lifetime intoxication.
So that's just my story in anutshell, and I love it.
(09:17):
And I take it back to COVID.
Covid because, covid, everybodywas going through health issues
, breathing and all that.
So running, was runningactually open the doors for it?
Don't put your health on theshelf, I mean, get it by any
means necessary.
So that's how my runningjourney started.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
And to give more of a backdrop to how Cap City came
about.
As I mentioned, you know, I hadbegan to run a few more half
marathons and I have friends inNew York City growing up, you
know, obviously coming from NewYork City and obviously going
down in New York City races andjust seeing the not only the run
community and how large the runcommunity was.
(09:57):
Well, something's missing here,like this element of Albany is
missing to have, you know, arunning organization.
That's all about diversifyingthe sport, introducing people to
(10:19):
the sport of distance running,and so for many years actually,
you know, kind of like hesitatedor just kind of postponed the
idea.
And then, just one day, I saidyou know what, you know what,
just go ahead and put a call out.
You know a Saturday meetup.
You know I knew Angelo wasrunning by following him on
social media, so I tagged him.
(10:40):
Markel was, you know, runningabout four to five miles a
couple of days a week.
So I tagged them and said look,starting up a meetup, cap City
Runners Walk Run.
This is on the first Saturdayin June of 2023.
And again, the goal and themission is to inspire the
community to run by running inthe community and so on.
(11:02):
That first Saturday in Junethese two gentlemen showed up
and it's been a history sinceand we've been going strong
every Saturday for a year plusHaven't missed a Saturday aside
from the you know the airquality, from the from the
Canada fires, we certainly havebeen really proud of what we
(11:25):
began to build in Albany tointroduce the sport to people
from you know non-runners whohave never ran before, who have
gone on to train for their first5K, 10k, half marathon,
markel's training for his firstmarathon this fall in New York
(11:45):
City.
So it has really really beentransformational in that sense
for the community.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
That's great Markel's doing New York City right.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
Yes, very exciting.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Not a lot of words, markel, let me ask you this he's
a man of action.
Let me ask you this what hasbeen some of the challenges?
Okay, with trying to go outthere and promote this and the
diversity of it, because I mean,I have had some challenges.
(12:22):
So what are some of thechallenges?
Because you guys are in thecity of Albany and, um, you know
you're reaching out to thesefolks to move.
I mean, movement is empoweringempowering and, of course, it's
healthy to keep moving and notto be sedentary.
So what are some of thechallenges that you have faced
(12:43):
when you are promoting yourorganization or even like
talking to people and say, hey,you know, let's move, let's do
this.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
I would say that one of the biggest challenges has
been to get people to stayconsistent with it.
You know, I would say thatthat's the biggest challenge.
You know, we get one-timers,two-timers, but just to
encourage them to continuouslycome out and work out and and
run, walk, jog because wewelcome all abilities out to
(13:17):
come run, run through thecommunity so that we can
actually inspire andcontinuously push the community
to be active.
You know, because running isonly one part of what we're
about.
It's also about the activity ofmaking sure that they put in
their health first and never putin their health on the shelf.
(13:40):
So the consistency of that iswhat makes the difference.
So the biggest thing, or thebiggest challenge, has been for
us to get people to come outconsistently.
But we have a strong base, astrong group that has been
working consistently and we justlook to continuously build off
of that, you know.
But consistency, I would say,is one of the biggest challenges
(14:04):
.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
Yeah, and I would also add, the challenges have
been kind of twofold Right.
I think the challenge for forme and us is that, you know,
realizing that Rome isn't builtin a day and sometimes we want
to build it in a day andcertainly, you know, in terms of
the collective, uh, bringingthe community together.
But I think also, the thechallenge has been, um, is that
(14:30):
there's a mindset, that there'san expectation that you have to
be at a certain pace or at acertain skill set or ability or
mileage.
Uh, when you come out to CapCity, and that's one of the
things that we try to dispel interms of, you know, it's all
paces and faces are welcome.
That's our sub-slogan All pacesand faces are welcome.
(14:53):
And we have various, you know,pace groups and everyone at
different levels those who do itjust socially and leisurely,
and then those who, you know,are certainly more interested in
terms of training for races orgetting faster, et cetera.
I mean running, there's so manyaspects to it and that's, I
think, just really educating thecommunity in terms of, look,
(15:15):
you know, it's you versus youand it's not even really a
competition, it's just, you know, knowing where you are and just
being the best at where you areand not necessarily feeling
like you have to run a sub sevenmile or, you know, run 15 miles
on a Saturday.
I mean we do it, or some of usdo it because you know we're
training or whatever but I thinkthe perception is that people
(15:39):
think that that's what'sexpected when they come out to
Cap City.
So we try to dispel thatmisnomer.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
Okay, markell, did you want to say something?
Speaker 4 (15:48):
Yeah, pretty much what them guys just said as far
as just the consistency ofgetting people to come out and
the intimidation factor ofseeing the mileage that the core
group is putting out and alsothe time.
But, like, what they got tounderstand is that, um, that's
(16:09):
the core group, that's the coregroup.
So we're we're basically we'redoing what the everyday people
that show up and our coremembers that show up, and if
they come out and become a coremember, they're going to be
doing the same thing, cause weall started out running 12
minute miles, three only able todo three miles, four miles.
So you got to build your way upand we just want to let the
(16:33):
people know you got to, youain't got to come ready, you got
to come to us and we'll get youready.
That's, that's themisconception.
They think they got to alreadycome prepared, like we race
every day.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
but that's not the case.
Yeah, people have said that.
So, yeah, you know, before Icome out and run with you all, I
got to get myself prepared andget myself ready and you know
again, it's really low pressureand no pressure at all actually
in terms of, you know, mileage,distance, et cetera.
We meet people where they are,you know, and we are really good
(17:08):
about, you know, tagging behindwith, you know, newcomers, you
know, if they just, you know,just kind of make them feel
comfortable and welcome, we havea very inviting, you know,
atmosphere when people come outand we have a great time.
We have a great time just gotus, just got to be there to
experience it.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
Okay, so we're going to get a little deep in here.
I hope you guys are all okaywith this.
Okay, so you know, you guys,you men, you're men of color.
It's empowering that you areall here, you know, together,
doing this organization runningthrough the community.
(17:46):
That has to say something tothe community.
So what has been the feedbackthat you get?
I mean, it's powerful.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
Yeah, that's.
I would say that's one of mymain inspirations for being a
co-founder for being aco-founder as well as an active
member of Cap City Runners isthe fact that we are men of
color and that we do thistogether.
The consistency of this teamworkthat we have and the synergy
that we always bring to thetable when we come together is
(18:19):
unmatched.
It's something that you don'toftentimes see within our
community.
So to be a part of this and tojoin together as a team and
consistently show ourselves as ateam running through the
community, it's not onlyempowering to the community,
it's empowering to us as well,because we feel that
(18:42):
intrinsically, you know, everysingle time when we meet up in
the morning and say, hey, wechecking in with one another, we
saying like yo, you good,everything, go with you, you
know.
And then we go out together andwe face the world.
You know what I'm saying.
So that's definitely empoweringand it brings and it shows that
we can do it together, you know, and that's something that is
(19:04):
oftentimes never seen within ourcommunity.
So it's tremendously empowering.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
Yeah, and to that, initially, actually, I wrestled
when, again, when thinking aboutstarting something in Albany
because there are, you know,certainly organizations that
already exist and certainly bigshout out to Black Girls Run,
olivia Franpong, who leads thatchapter and has been doing that
for eight years and I hadthought about maybe, you know,
(19:30):
doing a black male, black men'srun in Albany.
And I said, you know, I don'twant to limit, you know, while
there's, you know, while there'scertainly great power and the
collective community of men andmen of color who are coming
together to run, I do not wantto limit this opportunity here
in Albany, but certainly when wecome together, you know, and
(19:50):
we're running through thecommunities, you know we get bus
drivers who, who honk at us,they see us.
You know, it doesn't matterwhat time I'm, you know, whether
it's early morning or lateevenings, you know the community
sees us and I think that'swhat's most important, that you
know the community sees us and Ithink that's what's most
important, that you know,inspiration doesn't necessarily
have to come through, you know,verbal communication but, like I
(20:11):
said, perspire to inspire.
So someone who's seen me, youknow, sweating up Clinton Avenue
in the city or in parts of thecity.
You know there's always.
You know, keep going.
Or I see you, or you know,maybe I'll come out next time or
something.
There's a lot of those.
I see you or you know, maybeI'll come out next time or
something.
There's a lot of those, youknow, as we, as we hit the
streets.
But again, it's really.
It pushes us.
It pushes us and lets us knowthat we're doing something that
(20:31):
the community is seeing, they'reobserving and may not
necessarily make the leap yet tocome out, but it's something
that they do support and givesus a lot of props for.
Speaker 4 (20:42):
Yeah, what I like about it as far as the exposure
and being a black man doing this, it opens another window of
exposure to the youth as well.
We're so limited in that aspectof you play football, play
basketball, do this, do that andrunning is just not a thing.
(21:02):
When you're growing up fromwhere we come from, it's
something you think about doing.
So that's what I love about it,that's what keeps me going, and
letting you know that you cando this.
And we men that are, we juststarting this, not in our prime
in this, and we in our forties.
You know what I'm saying Like.
So you definitely needsomething to keep you going, you
(21:23):
know.
I mean, that's one of the mainthings that keep me going, even
being a father, being a bigbrother, being an uncle, and
just able to post those picturesand videos and show the medals,
let them know that this couldbe done, you know.
So that's what I love aboutthem well, you guys are babies
anyways.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
Well, you know, I know that you want to say that
we open it up.
You know, don, you said we'renot just limited.
But you know, at the end of theday it is very empowering and I
think, markel, you said it thebest.
Like you are showing other, theyounger people, the younger
folk, that this is somethingthat's possible to do.
Like I said, we don't see thisa lot, we don't see a lot of
(22:09):
diversity.
And then to see these group ofmen and let's even talk a little
bit about the men, because youknow, you all said that, I think
a majority of you said how ithelps you clear your mind and we
think about mental health isstill a stigma for men and let's
not forget men of color.
(22:29):
I mean, you say you OK, you OK.
I mean, come on, that is like ahuge thing that you are showing
the community.
I mean, do you want to sayanything about that, don?
Or Angela Markell?
Speaker 3 (22:45):
Yeah, I mean we're of the mindset of iron sharpens
iron and steel sharpens steel.
So when we come together, it'sthat opportunity to be in a safe
space in a community where notonly do we celebrate each other,
you know, when we meet up andsay, oh, how was your week?
Anything we want to celebrateor shout out to Angelo he just
had, you know, a book release orhe just, you know, had a
(23:09):
speaking engagement.
So we celebrate each other aswell, because it's more than
just the running, it's buildingcommunity and we all have
various roles in the communityand are involved in different
spaces, and so we continue tocelebrate each other in that
regard.
And then, when we talk about,you know, certainly mental
health, you know we continue toraise that awareness.
(23:29):
You know we raise awarenessaround you know, Mental Health
Week, and you know or month, Ishould say and the things that
you know we do to try to ensurethat we're checking ourselves,
checking in with ourselves interms of where we are mentally
and how running allows us tohave that space.
You know, for me that'suninterrupted time If I'm out
(23:51):
for an hour, two hours, threehours, you know, with the
busyness of the day and the weekand parenting and fathering,
and all that like that's my,that's my time, that's my me
time, and all that like that'smy, that's my time, that's my me
time, uninterrupted, not takingcalls, nothing.
(24:14):
So, but again, it's, it's whatwe, it's what we continue to to
build and because you, you know,you, you, you develop that
outlet to kind of be able toclear your mind or to even just
be reflective too.
I mean, I think mental healthis just more than just, you know
, just kind of checking in withwhere you are, but also being
reflective of what are thosethings that may be a trigger,
Like what is something that I'mreally struggling with or
(24:36):
battling with right now?
How can I, you know, really beintentional about addressing
that particular issue?
Or, you know, who are thepeople that I can surround
myself, that can kind of help mewhen I'm going through a
certain situation, or to have mybrothers here who I can speak
to and talk to, like, yeah, okay, Thanks for that perspective.
I didn't think about it thatway.
(24:56):
Like, so, just again, reallyjust building that circle where
we can just really be vulnerable, most importantly, but then
also have the ability toconfront, you know, challenges
that we have every day as men.
Speaker 4 (25:11):
Yeah, I'll speak to that, especially the
vulnerability part, when you'reout there running and hurting,
breathing and all that stuff.
And definitely being out thererunning it definitely clears
your mind.
And it's a lot of times whenyou're out there on those long
runs and you're unpacking thingsMentally, you're unpacking
(25:31):
things Mentally, you'reunloading things.
I got to a point sometimes Idig so deep in my running and my
don would be like yo, youstarted off real fast but I just
identified an unidentifiedtrauma possibly and I got deep
in thought and I just got in thezone that is a definite, real
(25:53):
strong, important element tohelping your mental health.
Running has definitely beenthat for me and very therapeutic
and it's definitely vital forAfrican-American men to deal
with your mental health andunderstand it.
You know what I mean, becausethose traumas can be poured into
somebody else that care aboutyou, especially when you don't
(26:15):
deal with them and unpack them.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
So Markel, do you?
I mean, do you want to justmaybe not to put you on the spot
, but you know, certainly thelast year, year and a half, you
know certainly has been one thathas been, you know.
Speaker 4 (26:30):
Yeah, I shed a little light on that, um also.
Um, this past year I lost my um, my grandmother who raised me,
my mother also, and I just lostmy uncle back in July.
So that's in a span of ninemonths, and the biggest support
group outside of my family wasthe Cap City Runners, my
(26:51):
brothers right here and alsoother team members and and they
helped me a lot.
You know, I mean, it's onething to have tragic losses and
things happen to you and nothave nothing to keep going
Outside of my family.
These brothers right here andthe Cap City Runners and running
(27:12):
and my joy for running kept megoing.
My grandmother, my mother andmy uncle that I recently lost
they were so proud of the thingsI was doing with running.
So I always keep that in theback of my mind.
That's definitely a drivingforce and that brings the
emotional engagement and thecompassion to the running now.
So it's a whole different levelnow.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
So, absolutely, I thought Angelo was going to say
something.
Speaker 1 (27:37):
Yeah, that just took me to another place just
speaking on that man.
But, yeah, absolutely the placejust speaking on that man.
But yeah, absolutely.
And you know, as a, as a team,you know, even when I was a team
member like yourself, markelwas going through that it, it I
take pride in and we take pridein showing up for you.
You know that that ended upitself was was therapeutic.
(27:59):
You know, just being there in intough time, I can definitely
say for myself as anentrepreneur, going through
years and years and years ofbusiness and having a mentality
like I can do it all myself or Ican do this, I can do that.
And you walk intoentrepreneurship oftentimes with
a tape on your back like I gotto get everything done.
(28:23):
You know, and being a part ofCap City Runners has definitely
changed my mindset about thatand shifted it.
Where I have strong partnersthat I can lean on for things
you know what I'm saying andtalk to them about things.
And to the point of mentalhealth, I take it to the extent
of every week I make a point ofsaying it's Therapy Thursday,
(28:46):
let's go out and run.
Let's go out and be active.
Let's go, because it'sliterally therapy for me,
because I get into mindset.
It clears my mind and makes therest of my day flow so much
smoother.
When I'm outside and I'mrunning and I'm making sure that
my mind is clear, my body isactive, everything seems to move
at a better pace and moresmoothly because the mind is
(29:10):
right, you know.
So the mind control the body,and if your mind is right, then
everything else tends to flow ina way that it should.
So mental health is definitelyaddressed through running and it
helps in a great way.
Speaker 3 (29:26):
And one thing that I'll add too, is that you know
there's just so many parallelswhen you talk about running or
training for a marathon and life, right, the late, the late,
great Nipsey Hussle, you know healways said you know the
marathon, he had a story calledthe marathon.
You know he had an album calledthe marathon continues.
Because life is a marathon.
(29:47):
There's going to be stages,they're going to be going to be
different stages that we gothrough in life.
But I think one thing, at leastfor me, that has really helped
me through running is buildingthat mental toughness, that
mental stamina, because we'regoing to go through hard things
in life and so running ortraining for a marathon or half
(30:08):
marathon and completing it'slike, okay, I can do hard things
, like, so there's nothingthat's too hard that I can't,
you know, overcome or or succeedthrough or push through,
because I have that mentalendurance and I build that
mental toughness through thesport of running and say, okay,
(30:30):
well, if I can do this, you knowhard workout, or this hard run
or train for this race, thenit's nothing for me to apply
those same principles when I'mfaced with a challenge in life.
Speaker 2 (30:43):
You guys are amazing.
Wow, I mean I'm really feeling.
Thank you for being vulnerable,first of all, because that's
not easy.
But I want to say this you know, as everyone is listening, you
know they do have women in thegroup, of course.
Speaker 3 (30:58):
We celebrate them too .
I have seen pictures, you know,and it is diverse.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
So you know, if you are in the area, you know, do
know that there it is a verydiverse group and it is nice to
see women in this group.
So, with that being said, tellus, where do you got.
When do you guys run Like?
Is there a schedule?
Where do you meet what time?
And yeah, tell me all that goodstuff.
Speaker 4 (31:26):
Saturday mornings in front of Fresh and Fly.
You see Mr Fresh and Flyhimself down there on South
Pearl Street.
What's that?
Speaker 1 (31:33):
13 South Pearl Street , albany, new York 13 South
Pearl Street, where we don'tcreate swag, we enhance it.
Speaker 4 (31:39):
Yes, sir, and on Tuesdays we do tracks at U.
We do the track at U Albany.
That's about six in the morning.
We've been doing it on theevening lately and then Thursday
we do the community walk run.
Meet at the Clinton Ave marketat six, 45.
Speaker 3 (31:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (31:55):
Yep At six, six, 30.
So those are the three.
Those are the three meetups,and Saturday morning is the
marquee yeah.
Speaker 3 (32:04):
Yeah, indeed, indeed.
And again, you know we, wecertainly are open to all that
want to come out.
You know, against open to thecommunity.
Again, we have our communityruns on Thursday just kind of
get people up and moving.
Our Saturday meetup, we've goteveryone and anyone and everyone
coming out.
(32:25):
You know we've we've gotstudents from the medical
college, we have UAlbanystudents, we've got
professionals, youngprofessionals, you know, middle
professionals, seasonedindividuals.
So, as you said, it is diversefrom all types of walks of life,
representation, male, female,etc.
And so but you know wecertainly do have a membership
(32:46):
component.
For those who you knowcertainly choose to become core
members or join our membership,that comes with a those who you
know certainly choose to becomecore members or join our
membership, that comes with alot of, you know certainly
incentives, perks, discounts onour apparel, et cetera as part
of our annual membership.
So, but again, certainly nopressure for anyone to do that,
but certainly we do think abouthow do we try to sustain the
(33:09):
organization.
You know Cap City is in fact,you know we do have an LLC,
we're Cap City Runners, and soyou know we operate it as a
business and we certainly lookto ensure that we are building
something that's going to besustainable beyond the three of
us.
Speaker 2 (33:26):
That's great, okay, so where can we find you on
social media.
Speaker 1 (33:31):
I'm on Cap City.
Speaker 4 (33:34):
Runners on Facebook and Instagram Also.
You can find me personally atJust Kells on Facebook and
Instagram is J-U-S-T.
Kells, K-A-E-L-Z, and I alsohave another page on Instagram
called KELZ Sport.
(33:54):
That's more of my running andfitness page.
That's all that's on there.
The personal page is just KELZ.
Then you get KELZ Sport, whichis all the running and workout
stuff, which is K-A-E-L spacesport and that's how you link
with me, which is K-A-E-L spacesport and that's how you like
with me.
Speaker 3 (34:11):
Yeah, on Instagram Cap City Runners Albany,
c-a-p-c-i-t-y-r-u-n-n-e-r-s,albany, a-l-b-a-n-y, and then on
Facebook it's Cap City Runnerswe run 518.
So we have a Facebook group onthere.
(34:31):
For me.
Personally, I go by DA, whichare my initials, underscore fit
educator.
Again, I've always been in thefitness space and I'm more than
an educator, so it's DAunderscore fit F-I-T.
So it's D-A underscore fitF-I-T, educator.
Speaker 2 (34:53):
E-D-U-C-A-O-R.
Speaker 1 (34:56):
Angelo and I'm Angelo Justice Maddox on Facebook and
if you go on Instagram, I'mMrSwag.
That's M-R dot S, dot W, dot Adot G underscore and Fresh and
Fly Clothing.
The beautiful thing about allof those things is that, no
matter which page you link upwith, it's all going to circle
(35:19):
back to Cap City Runners.
You know what I'm saying.
In some way, form or fashion,you're going to either see clips
of us running, you're going tosee clips of us meeting up.
You're going to see clips of usmeeting up.
You're going to see futureevents, all of those things
intertwined because and andthat's just to show how much
running has become a part of allof our lives because it's
always going to be there, nomatter what, what uh social
(35:41):
media platform that you tap into, uh us on, running is going to
be a part of it.
Speaker 3 (35:47):
so cap city runners all day you gotta tell them what
SWAG stands for.
You got to tell them theacronym Succeeding with
attainable goals.
Speaker 1 (35:56):
Yes, any goal that you set is obtainable, you know.
You just got to work towards it.
You know, see, the goal is yougetting in to that gym and
success is the result of yougoing out and achieving that on
a daily basis, going after thatthing that you are after.
(36:16):
So it's a muscle.
You got to continuously work itevery day, you know.
So succeeding with attainablegoals, mr Succeeding with
Attainable Goals.
Yes.
Speaker 3 (36:27):
And certainly you got to plug your book because
angelo is also an author.
He's a published author, youknow.
So go ahead and drop thatchange the world by changing
yourself.
Speaker 1 (36:37):
You can find that anywhere.
Books are sold on no amazon,but I prefer that you get it off
my website because that means Iget all the proceeds and that's
fresh and fly inccom, or youcan pull up to the store fresh
and fly clothing, 13 south pearlstreet, and I said once again,
it's where we don't create swag,we enhance it.
(36:58):
So swag is a part of all thosethings um, okay, uh um no I.
Speaker 2 (37:08):
I don't know what to say now.
No, she wasn't expecting allthat, no, first, of all,
gentlemen, I'm very proud tohave you in this space and thank
you for allowing me to be inyour space.
I think what you're doing isincredible and I don't think I
mean maybe you do know that, butknow this or not but the impact
(37:31):
of you just showing up and evenposting how you, you know,
posting is very empowering andyou know people say, you know,
running really isn't therapy,but at the end of the day, if
you can't go to therapy, it'stherapy.
If you can't go to therapy,it's therapy.
(37:51):
And you know it's not just that, you are creating such an
impact in the community and thethings that you're doing.
So I am really happy to havehad you on the show and I am
looking forward to what's tocome and maybe you'll see Ella
Goh ladies at the track in SUNYAlbany.
(38:16):
Maybe, that'll happen.
Speaker 3 (38:18):
Or even just a Saturday, maybe just a.
Speaker 2 (38:20):
Saturday yes, and again, yeah, definitely, but for
sure.
I want to just thank you forwhat you all are doing.
It is definitely very impactfuland very much needed.
So thank you, guys.
Speaker 4 (38:35):
Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 3 (38:36):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (38:37):
Thank you for having us.
Speaker 3 (38:38):
And I'll also just say this too, because and I
appreciate what you said interms of just um, constantly
showing up we have always beenintentional about showing up.
You know, I wasn't always awinter runner but you know,
running with these guys, wecommitted like, look, we're
going to show up, doesn't matterRain, sleet, snow, we're going
(38:58):
to show up on Saturdays, we'regoing to be out there, and I
think a lot of respect andadmiration has been gained, even
just the representation thatknowing that you know you can
count on Cap City to show upwhen they say they're going to
show up.
So with that, you know again,our goal and our mission is to
inspire the community to run byrunning the community, and so
(39:20):
all are welcome.
I certainly look forward towelcoming you, lisa, and the
ladies of LA.
Go, you know we can setsomething up, we'll make it
happen.
Speaker 2 (39:29):
OK, we love that.
Up, we'll, we'll, we'll make ithappen.
Okay, we would love that.
Speaker 1 (39:32):
And get that Cap City merch too.
Speaker 2 (39:35):
Thank you guys.
All right?
Well, we'll put all their linkson the show notes and you know
you'll be able to reach out tothem.
You know you'll, you'll, you'llhave all the links, and I guess
that's pretty much it, anduntil next time, bye, everyone.
Speaker 3 (39:52):
Thank you.
Thank you for listening, bye.
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