184: The Culinary Crown Showdown: Who Takes Home the Golden Whip?

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 3 (00:04):
3 am again.
Why did I ever think this was agood idea?
Welcome to the Rise and Runpodcast.
Join our group of Run Disneyfriends.
As we talk about running atWalt Disney World and beyond.
We'll discuss recent runs,training, upcoming races and

(00:27):
surprise topics suggested by you, our listeners.
Well, the alarm's gone off, solet's go.

Speaker 4 (00:36):
Hey friends, this is Tara from Ottawa, ontario,
canada, just finished up my 19miler.
I am training for the LondonMarathon and it's coming up fast
.
I had a fantastic run A lot ofpuddles, a lot of ice, but I
just kept going through it andhad a fantastic run.
I had a few challenging longruns, but I kept showing up, I

(00:58):
kept getting out there and I gotthis one done and had a great
time.
So don't get discouraged.
Everyone Just get out there,put one foot in front of the
other and happy running, becauseyou know what Rise and Run is
with us all the time.
Get listening and get out there.
Happy running.

Speaker 1 (01:14):
Tara working hard on her long run Getting ready for
London.
Thank you for the intro, tara.
Hello friends, hello friends,welcome to episode 184 of the
Rise and Run podcast, thespringtime surprise episode.
If you're listening, lookaround.
One of us is around theresomewhere.

(01:35):
We'll be looking for you.
Yeah, yeah, friends, I'm Bob.
I am here this week with Greg.

Speaker 2 (01:42):
Hey, hey hey.

Speaker 1 (01:43):
With John hey how you doing and with Jack.

Speaker 6 (01:46):
Hiya.

Speaker 1 (01:47):
And we're excited to be here.
We're excited to be at DisneyWorld.
We're not really there now, butwe kind of are.
You get that.
We talk about it all the time.
We're looking for you, look forus.
We want to say hi, let's see.
Friends.
This week we've got a fun groupwith us, the Connecticut 169.
The folks who are running allthe towns in Connecticut, and we

(02:13):
finish our March Madness for2025 with our sit-down
reservation-style diningestablishments at Disney world.
No spotlight tonight, friends.
It happens every now and again.
I just couldn't make the properconnections, but that's okay,

(02:34):
we'll be back to it in a coupleof weeks.

Speaker 7 (02:37):
If you enjoy the Rise and Run podcast, please share
us with your friends andintroduce them to the Rise and
Run family.
We want to share their rundisney journey.
So please remember to follow uson facebook at rise run podcast
and instagram at rise and runpod, and check out our youtube
channel and visit our web page,rise and run podcastcom.

(02:59):
If you guys have any questions,comments, race reports or want
to introduce an upcoming episode, call us at 727-266-2344 and
leave us a recorded message.

Speaker 2 (03:13):
We also want to thank our Patreons, whose support
helps us keep the Rise and Runpodcast rising and running.
If you'd like to join thePatreon team, please check us
out at patreoncom.
Slash rise and run podcast.

Speaker 3 (03:26):
The Rise and Run podcast is sponsored by our
friends over at Magic BoundTravel and folks.
If you're interested invisiting Walt Disney World,
especially this summer, but ifnot through the rest of 2025, I
recommend you head over tomagicboundtravelcom.
Fill out a no-obligation quote,because in the last like two

(03:48):
weeks, disney has dropped somany discounts and various
promotions, like free dining andall that stuff.
It's so many I legit can't keeptrack of them.
I wonder, why yeah.
Nor can I imagine how a travelagent can do that.
But that's the thing that's.
A travel agent's job is to runall of those numbers to get you

(04:11):
the best price possible, andmagic bound is great at doing
that.
So if you are interested in aagain, no obligation quote for
disney world, disneyland, disneycruise line, alani, royal carib
, royal Caribbean, a lot of theall-inclusives down in the
Caribbean as well Be sure tovisit magicboundtravelcom to get
all the information you need.

Speaker 1 (04:32):
Thanks, Greg, Appreciate it.
Good point Before we get intoour training.
Last week we talked about ourfriend Erin, and Greg, you were
at her memorial service thisweek absolutely yes, it was.

Speaker 3 (04:59):
It was a beautiful, beautiful celebration of life
and that is so true, to thehighest level I have ever seen
before.
I went to the service with, uh,our friend ali, without an e,
we, uh, we drove over togetherand we were about, I want to say
, five minutes from the funeralhome and we were behind a car

(05:25):
that was covered in run disneycar magnets and we both looked
at each other and we're like,hmm, I wonder where they're
going, and just pulling up.
And then you know, just seeingall the cars and everyone who
was waiting outdoors to getinside, and then, once you got

(05:49):
inside, just the sheer number offriends that that we know,
friends that you know that we,you know, might have been
acquaintances, and then you know, we got to talk a little bit
more, but the number of peoplethat just came in run disney
race shirts.
Because, you know, michaelwanted this celebration to be
again, you know what, likeliterally what I just said a

(06:10):
celebration of her life and thethings that she loved, and
obviously running and run Disneywas a major part of her life
and the fact that that could berepresented so well, uh, was
just really heartwarming to see.
I, I I went wearing my stitchAloha shirt that I wore at

(06:31):
springtime surprise becauseinitially I thought to myself,
you know, maybe this might belike an little inappropriate to
wear, and I sent a message toMichael.
I was like, is this okay to wear?
Because Lilo and Stitch was oneof Aaron's favorite movies and
she's a massive, massive Stitchfan.
And, and I remember Michael waslike, no, absolutely, please do
that.
Even to the extent where, um,there was someone there in a

(06:53):
full body Stitch onesie pajamaand that just that brought such
a a wonderful smile to to myface and the face of so many
others that were there.
The number of people who flewup from Florida for this really,

(07:14):
really astounded me.
It really goes to show howloved Aaron was and it brought a
lot of joy to a sad day lot ofjoy, just sad day and I was very
happy to go and and michael andum, tom and diana and and a few
others just gave some reallywonderful remembrance speeches.

(07:34):
So again, uh, actually all threeof them are here at springtime
surprise so okay good so if you,if you happen to, uh, if you
happen to see them, give them,you know, your warm, warmest
regards, and I know that theywould greatly appreciate that.
So I'm so glad that we're goingto be able to see them this
weekend and continue thecelebration of a beautiful
person's life.

Speaker 1 (07:54):
Greg, I'm sorry I couldn't make it, but I'm glad
to hear it.
I want to remember Aaron in apositive way, and I think we all
do too, and I think somewhereshe's looking and smiling and
going thanks, thanks.
That's what I wanted, friends.
That's what I wanted.

(08:19):
Okay, let's move on.
Let's look at the trainingcalendar.
Nothing to train for, we got.
We got.
I don't know when we pick up,let's see.
We got 26.

Speaker 3 (08:34):
May we pick up for yeah, I have it here May.
May 6th starts training forHalloween.

Speaker 1 (08:41):
Yep, halloween yeah, okay.

Speaker 3 (08:45):
Halloween and bird in hand.

Speaker 1 (08:50):
Can we add bird in hand to the training calendar?
Yeah, we'll.
We'll talk a little bit moreabout training here in the
coming weeks.
When we got that that gap,there are no Disney races.
A lot of you have other racesthat we can talk about.
That in upcoming episodes too,what races we have coming up
something I normally talk aboutat the end of the episode, but I
want to put it up front because, again, we're already there at

(09:11):
Springtime Surprise and that iswhere to meet us, because we
want to meet you.
So the expo is a wonderful spot, wonderful place.
I will be there on Thursday.
I don't know exactly how early,it kind of depends on where I

(09:31):
come in the virtual queue.
John, you're Thursday, rightfor the Expo.

Speaker 2 (09:36):
I should be there Thursday, depending on the
virtual queue, but I'll probablybe there early anyway.

Speaker 1 (09:41):
Yeah, jack.

Speaker 7 (09:43):
I will be there Friday evening with my mom right
, right and greg, you're fridayalso, or no, I am.

Speaker 3 (09:50):
Uh, I'm thursday, again dependent on virtual q,
but most likely morning.
Uh, oh, for me.

Speaker 1 (09:56):
Okay, gotcha.
Gotcha, that's right you.
You get in later on wednesdaynight, but you'll be there for
thursday morning.

Speaker 3 (10:02):
Yeah, okay so what are you talking about, Bob?
I'm already there.

Speaker 1 (10:05):
Oh, that's right.
Oh, there you are.

Speaker 3 (10:08):
I'm shocked we didn't mention this as a joke early on
.
Uh, you know, since we'realready there, I was going to do
my Heidi impression for you.
Oh, yeah.

Speaker 1 (10:18):
I didn't notice her name in the roll call, but then
again, a lot of times Correctit's never in the roll call.

Speaker 3 (10:24):
but then again, a lot of times correct, it's never in
the roll call.
And then she just randomlyshows up.

Speaker 1 (10:28):
so look, we're looking for you at the expo,
we're looking for you over atwide world of sports.
Before the run I know I'vementioned it before, but before
the run, please look for us tothe left of the bleachers as you
face the stage in the stagingarea.
That's usually really a funtime to get together, and my

(10:51):
dear sweet wife has been bakingcookies for the last two days so
we are ready for the Saturday 3pm meetup at the food truck
area at Disney Springs.
She's got some differentcookies.
She's got some iced sugarcookies.
This time she's got the oldstandbys.
So we hope to see you there.

Speaker 3 (11:10):
And I'll also interject real quick Again,
extremely, extremely informal,but we'll do the Muppet farewell
on Friday afternoon, meeting at2 o'clock.

Speaker 1 (11:23):
Okay, sounds good.
I got to put that on mycalendar or I'll forget it.
Oh, you'll remind me.
I know Greg will remind me.
He won't let me forget it.
Friends, it's almost time.
We're almost at the final four,so let's get back into Rise and
Run, march Madness.

Speaker 3 (11:43):
All right.
So we're going to finish up thefinal rounds.
Here we are in the Sweet 16.
And since there's only four ofus tied, the way that this is
going to break down is the fourof us will vote in the Sweet 16,
and then, if we have atwo-to-two tie, then the tie
will go to the Patreons.

(12:04):
But obviously the Patreonscouldn't hop in the Mandalorian
to know what the other matchupswere going to be.
So, since we have an even number, we'll vote.
In the event that we haveanother tie, we'll we'll do some
thorough convincing to see ifwe can get someone to change
their mind, which could be fun.
So we'll just play into thatand see how it plays out.

(12:25):
But what we'll do is we'll dothe Sweet 16 and the Elite Eight
first, and then we'll head intoour featured interview for the
week.
So, without further ado, let'sget started and, as we have for
the last two weeks, we are goingto start in the plastic cheese
region.
Our first game, number fiveseed Beer Garden, versus our one

(12:52):
, cinderella, here, who took outa number one seed last week.
The number nine seed MorimotoAsia.
I know this one's going to behard for Bob, so I'm going to
pass on him for now.
And John, I'll start with you,that's interesting.

Speaker 2 (13:09):
Yeah, I really like the food at Morimoto, but the
ambiance and the crowd activityat Beer Garden, I think, really
puts that over the top for meokay, 1-0.

Speaker 3 (13:27):
Beer garden jack.
Oh, the second week in a rowshe gives us her answer in
german.
I love it all right, 2-0, bob.
What do you say you?

Speaker 1 (13:38):
know we.
One of the things I think aboutwhen we do this one is that
we're not only playing this game, but I think in many cases
we're telling friends aboutrestaurants they may not have
been to.

Speaker 6 (13:54):
Yes.

Speaker 1 (13:56):
And it's no secret that I really like Morimoto's.
It was in the song by Oxen Spoon.
It was in fact, it surely was.
It was in the song by OxenSpoon.
It was in fact, it surely was.
I don't know that if I filledout a bracket all by myself,
that Morimoto would come outnumber one.
So much of it is.
What mood are you in at thetime?
But since I know John and Jackhave already gone to the beer

(14:20):
garden, I want to mention aboutMorimoto's because it may go out
right here.
The first time I went there Ididn't like it.
I just went.
Eh, it's okay.
First of all we ordered toomuch food and secondly we just

(14:41):
we didn't know what most of thestuff on the menu was.
So I didn't go back for a while.
And the second time I went backI talked to the cast member
serving us and said hey look,what kind of recommendations do
you have for this place?
And man, it's been great eversince.
Beer Garden's also excellentvariety of foods there.
There's good entertainment.
My vote goes to Morimoto's inthis case, but it is closer than
you guys probably think.

Speaker 3 (15:02):
Okay, so 2-1, and I'm going to put Beer Garden over
the top, because there isnothing more that I enjoy than
the pretzel bread and a nicestein of the grapefruit
Schoenhofer, hoffer, hoffer,however the heck you say it.
I think it's great.

(15:22):
It's one of my favorite beersat Disney World, so Beer Garden
moves on, and they have a decentcheese soup there too yes, they
do, it's not.

Speaker 1 (15:35):
Le Cellier.
But it's not.
It's pretty good.
But one last thing aboutMorimoto.
You go to your local Bob'seulogizing Morimoto right now.
You go to your local Asianrestaurant, right, and you get
the hot and sour soup off thebuffet line or wherever the heck
you get it.
And I finally ordered hot andsour soup at Morimoto's one time

(15:58):
.
I took one sip and I went oh,this is what it's supposed to
taste like, did it clear?

Speaker 3 (16:03):
out your sinuses.
No, it wasn't that hot, but itsure was tasty, all right.
I have all the respect in theworld for Iron Chef Masahiro
Morimoto, especially the timethat he almost attacked Bobby
Flay in the original Iron Chefseries when Bobby decided to

(16:24):
stand on the cutting board,which apparently in Japanese
culture is extremely frownedupon.
So sayonara Morimoto Beergarden moves on.
Our last matchup here in theplastic cheese region.
We have the three seed, theHoop-Dee-Doo Musical Review
versus the number seven seed.

(16:46):
Speaking of cheese soup,lascellia jack, I'll start with
you I really like lascellia.
It has to be that I, I am gonnago lascellia as well.
It's been many years since Ihave been to Hooptydoo, but I am
dying to go back there.

Speaker 6 (17:07):
Oh absolutely.

Speaker 3 (17:08):
I'm trying to convince my wife she thinks it's
a little hokey which I thinkit's supposed to be.

Speaker 1 (17:12):
It is a little hokey.

Speaker 3 (17:14):
So what are these days?
I'll convince her, so I'm goingto go with Selye as well.

Speaker 1 (17:24):
So that's what we went with was a group and but,
as I mentioned last week, Ifound the food to be fine, but
just fine.
Lasalle is very good lasallefor me all right, it goes over
the top.

Speaker 3 (17:34):
Of john, how would you have voted?
I probably went lasalle for youguys clean sweep from way
downtown.
The seventh seed makes theelite eight all right.
Next up we move down to thebanana region, a true cinderella
matchup.
Here we start with the eighthseed, whispering canyon versus

(17:58):
the 12 seed splitsville bob.

Speaker 1 (18:03):
Start us off yeah, I was afraid that was what it was
going to be.
After you said WhisperingCanyon, I said, ah, this is
going to come up againstSplitsville Again.
I've been kind of eulogizingthe ones that I think are going
to go out.
I think Whispering Canyon'sgood and it's fun, it's a great

(18:24):
environment.
Take the kids's a greatenvironment.
Take the kids have a good meal.
Well, I think Splitsville is sounderrated.
I think the only better sushiaround is Morimoto and
California Grill, thenSplitsville Bowling alley sushi
for crying out loud and it'sreally good and the pizza there
is really good.
So it's that kind of menu.
It's not a fine dining menu butthe food is good.

(18:44):
Spl, the pizza there is reallygood.
So it's that kind of menu.
It's not a fine dining menu butthe food is good.
Splitsville for me.

Speaker 3 (18:50):
Okay, Splitsville for Bob John.
How about you?

Speaker 2 (18:53):
I'm going with Whispering Canyon, whispering.

Speaker 3 (18:56):
Canyon.
Okay, I am also going to goWhispering Canyon because I
again I purposefully say that Iwould like a large diet coke,
and nothing makes me happierthan a large diet coke, uh,
especially a supersized one.
So 20 whispering canyon jackcomes down to you.
Do we go to overtime with thepatreons, or are we asking for

(19:19):
more ketchup?

Speaker 7 (19:22):
oh, we do go into overtime, my friends Split's
what it is.

Speaker 3 (19:26):
Okay, all right.

Speaker 1 (19:28):
That a girl, jack.
Excellent, thank you, bob.

Speaker 3 (19:31):
All right, so it comes down to the Patreon vote.
With receiving 69% of the vote,the eight seed seed Whispering
Canyon moves on wow well, if youthought that one was tough

(19:52):
folks, I think this one getseven tougher.
Our last matchup here in thebanana region the two seed
Topolino's Terrace versus the 11seed Ohana.
Yeah, john, I'll start with you.

Speaker 2 (20:13):
I said, I have not experienced Topolino's yet, but
we've had great times and notbad food at Ohana's Okay.

Speaker 3 (20:25):
Ohana for John Bob.

Speaker 1 (20:28):
I've been calling it Topolino.
I don't know if I'm right ornot.
I'm going to continue to callit Topolino and I'm going to
vote that way.

Speaker 3 (20:36):
Okay, jack.

Speaker 7 (20:37):
You know, Ohana means family, and family means no one
gets left behind, and in Riseand Run we're all family.

Speaker 2 (20:48):
So Ohana Okay means no one gets left behind, and in
rise and run we're all family.
So ohana.

Speaker 7 (20:50):
Okay, I thought you were saying couple liters at the
end.
Yeah, I'm about to do like afast and furious thing, family I
heard that speech last week yougotta say it again I mean fast
and furious.
They quote the word.
They use the word family, likeyou can get drunk if you do a
shot.

Speaker 3 (21:06):
For every time they say family in those films okay,
all I can picture now is VinDiesel sitting down at Ohana
just eating shrimp and steak andpotstickers and noodles and
everything.

Speaker 2 (21:18):
I love it and a Corona, and a Corona alright,
I'm extremely torn on this onebecause both restaurants have.

Speaker 3 (21:32):
Both restaurants only serve two meals.
And at Topolino's I've onlybeen there for breakfast.
I've not been there for dinner.
Oh, it's good.
And then the same goes forOhana, but it's the opposite.
I've only been.
It's the opposite.
I've only been there for dinner.
I've never been there forbreakfast really and I know I
said a couple of weeks ago thatohana can be hit or miss lately,

(22:00):
especially with how the steakis cooked.
So for me I have to base myvote on what meal I guess would
excite me more, or, like youknow, for the anticipation of
going.
And I think, based on thatthinking alone, ohana moves on

(22:22):
to the Elite Eight.
All right, so we still have adouble-digit seed staying alive
in this tournament.
All right, we're going to moveover to the other side of the
bracket now.
We're going to move up to theSports Bean region, our first
matchup, and this one's a littlebit more chalky than the other

(22:44):
side.
We start with the one seed,boma.
I think we're all going totonight, I think, if memory
serves me correctly, is ittonight yeah.
I think so yeah, I'm jealous.
Versus the five seed BoathouseJack.
I'll start with you.

Speaker 7 (23:04):
That is so easy.
Boma.

Speaker 3 (23:07):
Boma.
Okay, john.

Speaker 2 (23:09):
I think I'm going to go.
I really like the Boathouse,but I think I'm going with Boma.

Speaker 3 (23:15):
To Obama Bob.

Speaker 1 (23:17):
I don't think it's that easy, jack, and that's okay
.
It's easy because I've neverbeen to Boathouse.

Speaker 7 (23:24):
Let me be fair.

Speaker 1 (23:25):
Oh well, I really do enjoy.

Speaker 7 (23:26):
Boathouse, that is easy yeah.

Speaker 1 (23:31):
They shouldn't be easy at this point.
And again, speaking of the oneI'm going to take out, boathouse
is a fine restaurant.
It's excellent Grab the filet,mignon sliders but I love the
variety at Boma.
I think I enjoy it more forbreakfast than dinner, but I've
been to both and Boma for me, sothat puts it over the top, I

(23:54):
think.

Speaker 3 (23:55):
Yes, it does, and it's going to be a clean sweep
as well.
I love the soup there.
I love the soup there.
I mean that buffet from top tobottom from soups and salads all
the way down to Zero Domes isabsolutely fantastic.
You couldn't make an argumentthat Animal Kingdom Lodge has

(24:17):
the best dining of any WaltDisney World resort and I really
, really enjoy it.
So, yes, so okay.
Boma takes the cake and moveson All right.
Last matchup here in the SportsBean region, we have the
two-seed Chef Art Smith'sHomecoming versus the three-seed

(24:39):
Sebastian's Bistro Jack.
You know, greg, I had such alovely time at Sebastian's
Bistro Jack.

Speaker 7 (24:44):
You know, greg, I had such alovely time at Sebastian's
Bistro and the food wassurprisingly delicious, because
before then I'd never eatenthere before.
I really enjoyed thatrestaurant.
So I'm going to go toSebastian's.

Speaker 3 (24:59):
Okay.

Speaker 1 (25:00):
Bob, only been to Sebastian's once.
I think it's good.
I think they're fixing theclothes for a while, aren't they
Are?
They really no.
I think they may have a refurbcoming up.
Nothing big, but I think theymay.
Yeah, and I could be wrong.
I also could be wrong.
No, I really like Chef ArtSmith's Menu's a little limited,
but I like the service.

(25:20):
I like the drinks at the bar.
I, I like the service.
I like the drinks at the bar.
I like the food.
Artsmiths.

Speaker 3 (25:25):
Okay, one to one, john, you're up.

Speaker 2 (25:34):
Okay.
So going there for the firsttime this year, I found out food
was great.
No, not great, food was good, Imean, but for the bang for your
buck, you can't beatSebastian's yeah.

Speaker 7 (25:44):
All right, so John's going.

Speaker 3 (25:45):
Sebastian's yeah, all right, so John's going.
Sebastian's that's 2-1.
Again, I'm extremely torn onthis one.
This is like trying to pickyour favorite child.

Speaker 1 (25:54):
It's easy for you.

Speaker 3 (25:55):
Yeah, I say it's easy for me because I only got one.

Speaker 2 (25:58):
I hope it's easy for you, yeah.

Speaker 3 (26:01):
So, that being said, though, where I'm going to land,
because, again, food isexcellent at both, service is
excellent at both I think theone that I'm going to pick is is
going to be the one where Ithink it's easier to get a

(26:23):
reservation, and because, sinceI like both so much and I always
have such a terrible timegrabbing a reservation at
homecoming, usually by the timeI log into the my Disney
Experience app it's like are youinterested in eating fried

(26:43):
chicken at 10.30 pm?
And no, I'm not.
So for me, I'm going to putSebastian's over the top.
Here, again, I agree with you,john, I think.
Even though the price has goneup in the last couple of years,
I still contend it is one of thebest bangs for your buck at
Walt Disney World, and I alwaysget excited to go there.
So Sebastian's moves on.

(27:08):
All right, and our last region.
Here we move down to the CliffsBlock region and our first
matchup, the one seed RaglanRoad down at Disney Springs
versus the four seed via napoli.
Uh, and I'll start on this one,I'm gonna go via napoli here.
Uh, I've been to bothrestaurants in you know, the

(27:30):
last couple of months, and whileboth are very, very good if I
had, you know, pitting them upagainst one the one here.
Uh, I'd much rather go to uh,to via nap vietnam, and get a
foot long pizza, uh, that'scovered in uh prosciutto and uh
and cantaloupe, because that'sjust, it's delicioso.

(27:51):
So vietnam for me, jack.
What do you think?

Speaker 7 (27:54):
I love me some italian food.
So vietnam, all right.
20 john I'm.

Speaker 3 (27:57):
All right, 2-0.
John.

Speaker 2 (28:00):
I'm going for Annapolis.
I like the pizza there isprobably the closest I'm getting
to anything up here, okay.

Speaker 3 (28:11):
I think I heard a rumor once that it doesn't come
from Italy.
But I want to say I thought Iheard the water that Annapolis
uses gets shipped in fromPennsylvania.
I think All the fact.

Speaker 2 (28:25):
Check myself on that one, but I've heard that
tomatoes come from Italy.
I didn't hear the water story,though, but I know a lot of
places that have done that.
They've brought the water fromthe northeast down to the
Carolinas to make bagels andbreads and stuff like that.

Speaker 3 (28:45):
Okay, so Bob, obviously Vianapoli moves on,
but how would you have voted?

Speaker 1 (28:48):
Surprisingly for my taste.
Neither one of these would be atop seed for me, but I think
they're both good.
I would probably vote RaglanRoad, and here's why I think the
menu is better.
Via Napoli does have excellentpizza, you guys are right, but
the other dishes the pastadishes at Via Napoli, are

(29:11):
disappointing.
Going for pizza at Via Napoliis great.
Raglan Road you can go forother things, it really doesn't
matter, it's already Via Napoli,go for it.

Speaker 2 (29:21):
I like getting yelled at by the servers for saying
the name's wrong.
Okay, Can I get some calamari?
And some mozzarella.
Oh, what do you need?
Calamari?
Okay, thank you.

Speaker 3 (29:34):
Love.
It All right, and our lastmatchup here in the Sweet 16.
The three-seed Tusker Houseover Animal Kingdom versus the
seven seven seed CaliforniaGrill Bob.

Speaker 1 (29:48):
Tusker House is good, but it's an elevated Asian
style restaurant.
California Grill is just, in myopinion, a top flight
restaurant all the way around.
It's been a little while sincewe've been there.
It's expensive way around.
It's been a little while sincewe've it's expensive.
Of course it's been a littlewhile since we've been there.
They went on that fixed pricemenu for the 50th anniversary

(30:12):
and I don't know that I've beenback since.
You've been able to order off aregular menu, but I sure will
be.
Great restaurant, great views,excellent service.
California Grill for for me allright jack because I really
want to go there.

Speaker 3 (30:26):
California grill all right, 20 john, what say you?

Speaker 2 (30:31):
okay, I'm gonna throw a kink in this.
Uh, I'm gonna go with tuskerhouse.
I mean, cal I, I never really.
I was there once bad experience, not because of the food,
because of the way they handledthe place.
I had a free bowl of soup, butthat was it, and so I'm going
Tusker House.

Speaker 3 (30:50):
Okay, so 2-1.
I am going to go CaliforniaGrill.
I have not done the prefix menuyet, but in all the experiences
I've had at california grillthey have all been excellent.
You know, even though I haven'ttried the sushi yet.
over at uh splitsville, Iremember one of the rolls that I

(31:11):
got there years ago was one ofthe best spicy tuna rolls I've
ever had before oh, it's topflight absolutely, and I know
two weeks ago Alicia and I werelamenting about this that brunch
that they used to do, whilepricey I also thought, was a
really, really good bang foryour buck.
And I think Bob might have gonein the marathon PR because of

(31:33):
the California Grill brunch,because he knew I was waiting
for him at the finish line whenhe crossed his first dopey but
knew I had a reservation to getto.
So you uh, you really turned onthe jets there I did do
negative splits.

Speaker 1 (31:46):
I didn't pr, but I did do negative splits all right
, california grill moves on I Ichecked about sebastian's.

Speaker 2 (31:55):
uh for going back to sebastian's march 24th 2025,
sebastian will be closed forrefurbishment and is expected to
be reopened by the end of March.
So it should be open, so check.

Speaker 1 (32:07):
I think they're just replacing the ice in the ice
trays or something.
It's only closed.

Speaker 2 (32:11):
The floor is painted.
Touch some paint up, that'spretty good.

Speaker 1 (32:15):
Yeah, right Right, that's about it.
All right, good stuff.

Speaker 3 (32:19):
All right, good stuff , all right.
Well, you know what we're goingto do.
A slight change of plans here,because I know we said we'd do
two rounds and then take a break, but I think these last three
rounds are going to go superquick, so we're going to change
things here.
We're going to go now to Bob totell us about our featured
interview for the week and then,when we come back, we will do
the Elite Eight, the Final Fourand the final championship round

(32:43):
.
Bob, over to you.

Speaker 1 (32:51):
Friends, you know, if you listen to the race report
and you pay attention, you takegood notes, you notice that
every now and then I'll talkabout a runner who is in a quest
to run each of the 169 towns orcities in the state of
Connecticut.
Well, tonight we're going tocelebrate the Connecticut 169 on

(33:11):
this week's episode and we gota bunch of friends here to join
and help us out with that.
Guys, welcome.

Speaker 5 (33:19):
My name is Adam Osman and thank you for inviting us.
Guys, welcome.
My name is Adam Osman and thankyou for inviting us, and I was
going to tell you my.
I won't tell you my real age,but I will tell you my running
age, which is 55 and 59 agegroup.
I have run all 169 townsalready.
I completed that.
I did about 500 races because Iused to repeat a lot of towns,

(33:41):
and now I'm doing the secondround and I have 12 uh towns so
far.
So I'm doing slowly this time.
Uh, the first time took me 10years, so oh, okay hi, I'm
Danielle um, I live in Waterbury.

Speaker 10 (33:55):
I actually have no idea how many towns I've done.
I really don't keep track maybeevery, maybe every six months,
I'll go through my Strava andI'll start like adding them in,
but I really I go more for thefun.
The party.
I have no idea how many townsI'm at Probably 60.
I don't know and I've beendoing this since.
I think this is coming up on mythird year in May.

Speaker 1 (34:16):
Okay, Hi, I'm Danielle.
I'm in.

Speaker 11 (34:17):
South Windsor, Connecticut.
I'm Danielle.
I'm in South Windsor,Connecticut.
I am 101 towns into my 169towns journey.
I actually just hit town 100this past weekend and hit a PR
in my 10 K doing so, which wasincredible.

Speaker 1 (34:35):
I remember talking about it, Danielle, on the race
report.

Speaker 11 (34:38):
Yes, I'm a fellow Disney runner and I am chasing
the Abbott world majors.

Speaker 8 (34:43):
All right, I'm Jeff.
I also live in South Windsorwith Danielle because we're
married.

Speaker 1 (34:48):
That's convenient, very good planning.

Speaker 8 (34:53):
And I finished the 169 towns in September of last
year.
I had joined in 2015,.
I think Okay.
So it took me about nine yearsand I'm 20 towns into round two,
mostly just kind of saying, oh,that's an elusive town, which

(35:13):
I'm sure we'll get to what thatmeans later, and it's easy to
just kind of have fun and goalong with it.
I am not doing the Abbott WorldMajors, but I am doing all the
five Ks.

Speaker 11 (35:24):
Oh cool, I forgot to mention I started in 2019 with
the 169 journey because of Jeff.

Speaker 1 (35:30):
Oh nice, very good, very good.

Speaker 9 (35:32):
Well, hi, I am Katie.
I have been part of Run 169Town Society since 2015, when a
member tried to recruit myhusband instead of me, but they
got me.
My husband has also completedall of the towns in Connecticut,
but he never has joined thegroup, which people find very

(35:54):
funny.
But my dog is also completedrunning a race in all the towns,
quinn, so I finished.
I had to look it up.
Someone gave me like anornament, because I am not a
data details person.
I looked it up today because itwas above my sink and it was

(36:20):
April 14th of 2019, before thepandemic, and I didn't really
care about repeating townsbecause I want to focus on
running and racing and doingwhat I want.
But you never know what willhappen.
I also have a French bulldogwho I will register, but I don't
have any need for her to do allof the towns, but she's up to

(36:42):
six towns now at 15 months andso a lot of people have met her
and so they know Quinn very welltoo.
So sorry.

Speaker 1 (36:51):
Oh no, that's good.
I got to get back to that, butI got one more person to
introduce here, and this is theperson that got that piqued my
interest in that, and that wouldbe that got.

Speaker 6 (37:04):
That piqued my interest in that and that would
be.
I'm sue.
I'm from newington, connecticut, um.
I've run 168 towns and I'll berunning my 169th this month, the
end of the month in bloomfield,connecticut, which is where I
grew up, so I saved that townspecifically um to finish in um.
So that'll be fun and I'mreally excited.
And then I'm excited to do justall the wonderful races that I

(37:25):
really enjoyed.
Now I can go back to them andjust enjoy them.
I might keep track.
I keep debating if you'll keeptrack a second time around, but
I won't stop.
I won't stop racing and I won'tstop hanging out with 169ers
once I'm done, because I reallydo enjoy seeing everybody at
races and meeting new people.

Speaker 1 (37:43):
This is marvelous, and it is Sue being a Disney
runner and with Rise and Run.
For a while, that's the firstperson who brought it to my
attention, but when we got close, I said we need to do something
special, and actually Danielle,Danielle Kay, approached me and

(38:03):
said hey, I know a bunch ofpeople and we're delighted to
have you all here with ustonight.
Thanks for spending the time.
It's great.
Now listen, friends.
This is interesting.
How did all this get started?

Speaker 5 (38:19):
I think I can answer that.
So eight of us started thegroup back in March 2012.
And the idea of running youknow all 169, I mean 50 states
the idea has been around, buteight of us decided to start
this group and we wrote a symbolrule, which was it has to be

(38:41):
official race.
And what makes it reallyinteresting is that charlie
merlis, who was the ninth, whowas the first member to join,
and was the ninth member healways chokes about it that,
saying it in, there was eightmembers and no one joined it
till he did.
And then everybody I followedmy points about that is, you

(39:04):
know, although there was eightfounders, I think everybody who
followed with is what made thesociety grow, because everybody
introduced somebody else,somebody else, and then the
world just went around andthat's how it got so big,
because every everyoneintroduced somebody else.
So you, currently we have about5,300 members.

Speaker 1 (39:23):
Wow.

Speaker 5 (39:24):
I'll give you a little bit numbers.

Speaker 1 (39:26):
No, don't name all of them, adam, no, no, no, we
won't do that, so we have about5,300 members.

Speaker 5 (39:32):
We have 228 members who finish it all running home
on 69 towns.
We got eight of them whofinished twice, oh wow.
And we got one member whofinished it three times and he
does it quietly Hardcore.
He doesn't want anybody to knowhis town, so he keeps it in

(39:54):
until at the end that he submitsit all of them at one time.
Oh, I'll be darned, so that'show it started and, like I say
again, it's the members who madethe society where it is today
and everyone has a friend andintroduces another friend to the
group.
Another friend, another friend.

Speaker 1 (40:13):
Oh yeah, I mean I can tell that I do know some of the
folks in this group.
I don't know all of you, but assoon as I started asking I
could tell that you're a verytight-knit group, that you get
along well with one another, andthe interaction was a lot of
fun.
Now there really are 169 townsand cities in Connecticut.

(40:34):
That's official, right.

Speaker 5 (40:36):
Official 169 local government.
Each one has its own government.
We don't have a county systemin Connecticut.
That's what also makes it sonice.
Every town has its own localgovernment.
I got it.
Unique town.
Yeah.

Speaker 9 (40:50):
And they're not cities.
So our hackles get up when youconfuse them.
So it's all towns and I live ina borough of Naugatuck and that
is considered a town.
So I figured people get verytechnical because some people
will be like, well, what towndoes Mystic count for?
And it is not a town?

(41:11):
So we count the race start lineas the actual town that you get
credit for.
Right, right so there's sometechnicalities into it that go
into play.

Speaker 6 (41:21):
You become a geography expert in connecticut.
It is kind of funny to thinklike I've been to every town.
Because I've been to the town.
I'm gonna finish it because Igrew up there.
So it's like you've been toevery town.
You can get anywhere.

Speaker 8 (41:34):
I feel like I can get anywhere in connecticut right
now and mystic, for example,right like depending on which
side of Mystic you're either inStonington or Groton and it's
like oh just like you said,katie, like which side and where
am I?

Speaker 5 (41:49):
going.
That's one of the emails I geta lot from the members.
I can't find Mystic from thedrop-down when they submit it in
town.

Speaker 1 (42:01):
Is there really a Mystic Pizza?
Yes.

Speaker 6 (42:05):
Mystic is kind of a touristy town, so that's one
town that sometimes people willrecognize from out of state and
it's very lovely really.

Speaker 2 (42:13):
So these races, they're always in the same town,
do they like?
For example, I'm looking atsome of your towns.
They're, some of them are likefour square miles, five square
miles, right.
So do they count?
Like, if I'm looking at Derby's, like your smallest town in
Connecticut from what I'mlooking at, if it goes into

(42:35):
another town next to it, doesthat count as two towns or is
that one?

Speaker 6 (42:39):
Nope, only counts as the town that you begin your
race in.

Speaker 1 (42:42):
Right.

Speaker 6 (42:43):
So it's not uncommon for that to happen, but it
doesn't count.

Speaker 5 (42:48):
Yeah Well, way in the beginning there was one of the
founders.
He used to count every timethat every race the town went
through, and when we came outwith the rule that it has to be
officially where they started,they ended up losing a lot of
towns.
So it has to be where the racestarts and that's what counts,

(43:09):
because some races, likeHartford Maritime, will run
through three towns and the ideais to make it fair for someone
who does short distance andsomeone who does a long distance
will have the same opportunityto finish all 169 times, because
there's no advantage if you dolong distance, if you do short,
short distance.

Speaker 1 (43:28):
That all makes sense.
I understand and appreciatethat.
I'm curious.
There have these 169 towns.
They didn't all have a racewhen this started, did they?
Every town had their own race,or did some of them have to be
created in order to accomplishthis activity?

Speaker 10 (43:47):
well, we still don't have races in all towns.
Sometimes somebody will be likeokay, we're gonna work on it.

Speaker 5 (43:53):
Could take a year, it could take a few months to just
make a race in a random townand pretty much every 169er
shows up to that race yeah and Ithink that's also what makes
this challenge really hardsometimes to finish, because in
the beginning there was about 12times that didn't have a race,
but now, almost every year,there are at least two or three

(44:14):
times that has no races and youhave to wait, oh yeah.
So that's also what makes thischallenge really not easy to do.

Speaker 6 (44:22):
Oh, frustrating.

Speaker 5 (44:23):
Yes.

Speaker 6 (44:24):
And then you have to be available on the weekend when
that race is happening.

Speaker 1 (44:29):
Yeah, that's true.

Speaker 6 (44:30):
It's like I remember last year getting invited to a
couple of baby showers and I'mlike oh no, this is the town day
.
I might be late, but I'll bethere.
So that's one thing I thinkwe've all been through, where
something's going on and it's atown you really need and you
have to wait a whole other yearto get it perhaps.

Speaker 1 (44:49):
Those are the ones you call the elusive towns, huh.

Speaker 8 (44:52):
Yep, and Canterbury is one of them.
I don't remember before Was itDecember of 18, I think we had a
race in Canterbury and it hadbeen at least a year, if not
longer, and how many peoplefinished that day.
It was a big number finishedthat day.

Speaker 11 (45:07):
It was like eight or nine.
It's like an entire familyfinished in one day.

Speaker 6 (45:13):
Yes, I was there.
I was at that Canterbury race,the gingerbread race, or
something like that.

Speaker 5 (45:18):
That town is unique because there's only one race.
Even the even a few years, Ithink 2018 was also a big crowd
who was waiting for a long timeand finish it all one time, and
I just wanted to point out atthat race there are one family
that like set almost, uh, arecord that probably will never

(45:38):
be broken, but there's a familyof four from Southington.
They all finish at the same dayall the 169th town, but what's
more interesting is they havethe youngest boy, the youngest
person who ever finished it, theboy who was 12 when he finished
it, and Deodora was only 10years old.
Oh wow, and I don't think thatrecord is going to be broken.

Speaker 1 (46:01):
I don't think so.

Speaker 5 (46:03):
She was only 10 years old and she finished it all on
69 towns.
Wow, that's impressive.
Her brother was only 12 yearsat the time.

Speaker 8 (46:12):
With a broken leg, if I'm not mistaken.

Speaker 5 (46:13):
Yes, yes, exactly, oh come on, yeah, he crutched a 5K
.

Speaker 9 (46:21):
He did several races on crutches.

Speaker 1 (46:22):
Now wait a minute.
We're recording this on April1st.
You guys aren't messing with me, are you?

Speaker 9 (46:26):
Oh no, I think you underestimate our level of crazy
.
You thought Disney was crazy.
You might have pictures.

Speaker 1 (46:33):
Oh, wow.

Speaker 9 (46:34):
It's something and I also refer to towns that don't
consistently have a race asbeing unstable, refer to towns
that don't consistently have arace as being unstable, and so
there are several that the racesstart and then they stop for
whatever reason it is, and somerace directors are happy to
create different races.
Hopefully it'll be longstanding, so they continue, but then
there are some other races thatwill occur to try to fill the

(46:57):
gap until that.
But it also depends on howquickly you want to try to
finish completing all your towns.
It's very common for people tostart and want to just zip right
through, because it's a littlebit of an adrenaline rush to get
down there a couple in a dayand it's.
It's hard because once I know Ifinished all the towns, I felt

(47:18):
kind of this lull, like a littlelike what do I do now?
Like I finished it, what,what's next for me?
And um, that's how I had thedog start doing the races
because she had been runninganyway, but it's all different,
however.
A person wants to go through itat their pace and time, and
Adam was.
He was purposely not finishingfor a long time, even though he

(47:39):
won't admit it.
He was like how long can I bethe only founder that's not
finished?
And then he finished withoutsaying anything.
I mean, just tricky people areso.
I'll be darned.

Speaker 6 (47:51):
I will say that I think we raise a lot of 169, a
lot of towns have races asfundraisers for things and I
think I can say 169 has been sosupportive of many of those
small town PTO races.
I mean parent, teacher, youknow, organization races or
races to benefit a fire station.
If someone in this state has arace in an elusive town,

(48:14):
everyone's going to be there andthey're going to make a lot of
money.

Speaker 1 (48:18):
Yeah, yeah, now it's obvious.
You mentioned it already.
There's a central registrationpoint somewhere for these races,
because you've already alludedto that.
Katie, I'm curious the dogsregister for the 169?
.

Speaker 9 (48:34):
Yes, there are several dogs, including Simba,
who is Daniel and Jeff's dog.
You said his name and he barksso yes, there have been.
there's also been another dogfinisher, happy who?
He is?
A labrador mix.
I have a black lab, that's whatquinn is, but you know it's.

(48:58):
It's been nice working with adamover these past 10 years
because because he and I see alot of things similarly and we
just try to have fun and enjoyit, and we said, hey, why not
let the dogs register be part ofthe society as well?
All about having a good time,and so a lot of people have done
that.
And so she started when she wasa year and a half and she's

(49:21):
super fast.
She'll be 11 next month.
So she slowed down a titch butshe's still in excellent shape.
But it's just been so fun toget everybody involved and have
all their pets do it.
And actually we were at a racethis past Sunday helping the
ledger's class graduating do itsafely.
And Danielle and Jeff andDanielle again, we were there

(49:45):
and Danielle was kind enough tocall my little Frenchie, frankie
, to come cross the finish lineso she can make a spectacular
finish, you know, and justeveryone helps other people out
and it's just been a good vibe.
So, yeah, but how many towns isSimba up to now?

Speaker 8 (50:05):
been a good vibe, so yeah, but how many towns is
simba up to now?
Oh, I should know this.
Uh, 12, 12.
I think I don't bring him to alot of races, um, but he does
pull me to some of my fasterones.

Speaker 11 (50:11):
All right the puppy is still learning runner
etiquette.

Speaker 8 (50:14):
Yeah, he's three, he's three and a half.
He started probably a year anda half ago yeah, about two years
ago, I think, he started sowhen you get all 169 towns, do
you guys do a medal for thathell?

Speaker 7 (50:27):
yeah is that what you have around your neck?

Speaker 8 (50:30):
I love that and a run disney friend made this for me
for when I finished it I thinkthat's amazing you need to
describe it, jeff.
Oh.
It says uh, it's like thepurple and red yeah um traffic
signs at disney and it saysfinish line straight ahead I
love that, jacks.

Speaker 10 (50:47):
We also celebrate the hundred.
Danielle, pick up your thing.
We can celebrate the hundred,so we make a video 100 and at
169.

Speaker 5 (50:57):
and you have and uh, tradition is you have to wear,
not you have to to, but anyonewho wants to wear it can wear a
tutu.
Okay, yes, so we have a lot ofmembers who show up at 101
Celebrating and will wear thetutu, and that tradition has
been going on since thebeginning.

Speaker 8 (51:17):
Yep, I finally started to live up to the
expectation and at Bradley RoadRace last weekend I got so many
comments about my tutu.

Speaker 5 (51:26):
It started as a joke and at the beginning, when we
started, there was not that manymembers and there was not money
to celebrate.
So finally we had a race.
A doctor from Yale wasfinishing his 100th town in
Brooklyn and one of the membersmade a joke and said you should
wear a tutu.

(51:46):
And he wrote a nice email.
He said I love you guys and Ilove the celebration, everything
, but I will not be wearing atutu.
So then everybody show upwearing a tutu and the tradition
is just going forever.

Speaker 11 (51:59):
That's how that started.
That's really cool.
I actually did not know thatwas the back.

Speaker 5 (52:04):
Yeah dr snyder.
You know he said I love thisteam and I love the id,
everything.

Speaker 6 (52:08):
And he said but you will not see me wearing a tutu
and smiling face and then,everybody show up wearing a tutu
, that's great, I've got to getmy tutu out of the closet.
I got it at a hundred.
My daughter made one, me one,so it's coming up.
I'll need it again at my 169th.

Speaker 8 (52:25):
I couldn't find my tutu and I wore one of her mini
skirts on one of my sparkleskirts.

Speaker 11 (52:31):
The sparkle skirts, that's what I was gonna say
that's funny.

Speaker 1 (52:36):
So the the tutu is a tradition for the 100th and the
169th.
Is that right?

Speaker 5 (52:41):
Yep.

Speaker 1 (52:42):
Okay, okay, good stuff as opposed to Disney, when
a tutu can just show up at anytime.

Speaker 9 (52:50):
I've done it, I've done it, it's all good and we
also have a really wonderfulawards committee who actually is
helping with trying to createvideos to celebrate milestones
for individuals.
They'll take pictures, theytrack things, they'll do some
sort of secret networking to getthe medals to people and they
also fund the medals and I don'teven know how they do that, but

(53:15):
they're just wonderful andthey're always so helpful and
grateful that they're gettingthem to the right people at the
right time and operating.
We have a to the right peopleat the right time and operating.
We have a lot of wonderfulpeople that just step up and
help without really much thoughtabout it.
We're a very multi-talentedgroup and so we do come together
well.

Speaker 5 (53:34):
Yeah, and I think that's what makes this society
so great is that we don't havepeople with titles or officials.
Everyone just see the skillthat they have will do it.
We have somebody who, you know,does the website for our races
and updates that, which is oneof the best race schedule in the

(53:55):
country because we list everyrace in the state, and we have
somebody who volunteered to dothat.
We have somebody volunteeredlike Katie say that does the
awareness, the medals like thesebeautiful in the state, and we
have somebody who volunteered todo that.
We have somebody volunteer likekatie say that does the
awareness, the medals like thesebeautiful medals, you see.
And we have somebody who makesa video.
So you know it's all volunteers.
No one has a title, officialtitle, anything like that, and

(54:15):
that's what makes this societyso great is that everybody just
jump in and do what they can do.

Speaker 11 (54:21):
I actually joined the awards committee about six
months ago.
I stepped up to that.
I think one of our longstandingmembers asked for help and a
few of us jumped in to increasethe awards committee group
because there's a lot ofcelebration days with our
forever growing population inthis running group, which is

(54:41):
incredible.
So it's been really cool havingjoined the awards committee
because I get to have kind of aninside view like oh, who is
coming up, who needs to becelebrated?
How do we get medals places,how it is just so much fun
celebrating everybody and it's,you know, it makes it's the way
to give back to something that'sbrought so much to me and so
yeah that's a really cool aspectof this that I didn't expect to

(55:03):
do when I first joined, but I'mreally glad that I do get to be
a part of now.

Speaker 1 (55:08):
Well, again, I alluded to this earlier and it
didn't take me long to realize.
I saw a comment in yourFacebook group talking about if
you run in the Connecticut 169,you will never run a race alone,
you'll always run with friends.
Kind of reminds me of RunDisney, but it's a different
scale, different level andyou're well, you're closer in

(55:32):
the.

Speaker 9 (55:34):
that group's a bit smaller than the run disney
group, but it's the same ideaand I know that's what means so
much to me that the disney runsit's also interesting too,
because correct me if I'm wrong,adam, but when the founders
started out, they never thoughtthat people would actually
really join at this level andnever thought that they have 200

(55:56):
plus people finish.
To finish was a super huge dealand that's why it has been
called a journey, because it'ssupposed to be a lifetime
journey.
Theoretically, how it startedout, they used to do what were
the runs when you all would gettogether and when there wasn't a
race in that town.
What were those called?

(56:16):
I forgot.

Speaker 5 (56:18):
Yeah, so in the beginning, when we was very
small and there was about 12towns that had no race and we
couldn't, we wasn't big as weare right now, where, right now,
if you put a race a town thathad no race, everybody would
show up.
What we did is at that time,once the person reaches 160
towns the last nine towns theycould run elusive town as long

(56:43):
as three members show up to runwith them.

Speaker 1 (56:46):
Okay.

Speaker 5 (56:49):
But the idea was also , if an official race comes in
in that town in the future, theyhave to redo it.
But that was a way for peopleto finish the 169 towns because
otherwise they're waitingforever.

Speaker 8 (57:01):
I think it took me like a year to get the last nine
towns in oh, wow it's longerthan that and sometimes you go
like months between races where,like you could have probably
would show up to other racesyeah, I got you new towns I know
there's I do know.

Speaker 11 (57:17):
There's a town that I don't think has I think it's
scotland has not had a race inthree years because of
construction going on, likethere's no bridges.
There's something going on, sothere's a bunch.
There's a handful of memberswho are stuck at the very end
because this one town has nothad a raise.
And yeah, katie or Adam.
Please correct me if I'm wrongon my numbers I think it's been

(57:37):
at least three years or sinceCOVID they haven't had a raise,
I think.

Speaker 3 (57:43):
I'm not sure if it's three or two.

Speaker 11 (57:45):
Is it two or three?

Speaker 9 (57:47):
We had some terrible flooding and so a lot of the
bridges went out.
Some terrible flooding and so alot of the bridges went out.
And then it, the race is put onin Scotland by one of the
members who she it's her, herpassion to do it and she is part
of the Scotland rec committeeand they are in an influx and
trying to figure out how tooffer it in addition to what's
happening within the committeemembers and with the town and

(58:08):
with the conditions that they'reat.
But it's definitely on theradar.
And it is true.
There are some towns like, Ibelieve, volantown it's been two
years since they had a racethere so usually it perks up and
somebody will try to helpencourage a race to happen.
But at the same time we don'twant to be overwhelming as a
society and bothering differentcharities and groups.

(58:30):
And you know it should just bea natural flow of waiting for it
to happen, or I don't know it's.
We can get a little hyper intrying to make opportunities
happen.
I guess that's a nice way tosay it.
So you know, when it happens inScotland, it will be how it's
supposed to be, and the othertowns as well too.

(58:50):
So until that point.
You know know, it's like whatSue said.
You just enjoy the people,enjoy the town work on a goal
and when it the the iron hot,the iron becomes hot, it will.
I don't even know what.
I'm saying I knew you were gonnaget there poking somebody with
something.

Speaker 5 (59:07):
Yes, yeah, I'll give you a little funny story about
scotland.
Uh, a few years back the townwas having a financial
difficulty and there was serioustalk that the town might merge
to another, merge with anothertown next to it and at that time
we bought the domain name 168because there was.

(59:28):
I remember that it was all overthe news.
We were afraid that we mightlose one time, and so we bought
the domain and then we alsotalked about it in our data.
If that happens in the future,you still got to do the 169
times.

Speaker 1 (59:45):
Okay, okay, hey, listen, this is fun.
I've enjoyed hearing about 169.
I want to hear from youpersonally now, though, and, sue
, since you introduced me, I'mgoing to start with you.
I know you're finishing soon.
I want to know what you plan todo when you finish.
Please, and maybe and thisapplies to everybody what's your

(01:00:06):
favorite story from your 169journey?

Speaker 6 (01:00:17):
story from your 169 journey.
I started in December of 2016with my daughter, hannah, and
running.
Some of those early races withHannah were great.
Hannah has since had twochildren and has not returned to
running yet because she's gotlittle ones and she's running
around after them, so I'm hopingshe comes back to it.
It's funny as I look at thefolks here.
I remember meeting them atdifferent races Danielle and
Jeff I met talking about Disneyraces because we showed up at a

(01:00:39):
race and we all had Disney Runshirts on.
It's like oh, do you run Disney?
Do you run Disney Danielle?
I remember meeting at a race upin Lark Campstead or something
like that.
It's funny.
I remember just, and Katie andAdam are just always everything
and I've seen them through theyears.
But, um, after I finish, I thinkmy, uh, my, my thing that I'm

(01:01:04):
going to do and I'm finished inApril and I'm signing up for a
race at like the hole in thewall gang camp Paul Newman's
hole in the wall gang camp whichis like the most awesome race,
and I'm just looking at thoseraces that I loved, that I want
to go back to and that I haven'tdone because I was so focused
on getting the towns that Ineeded, that I would run a race
I love and say I can't go backthere.
I got to go on to the next town.

(01:01:25):
So that's my goal this year isjust to pick out those races
I've enjoyed so much.
So that's the next race I'mgoing to do after I finish, and
I I am.
I haven't signed up.
I got to sign up for that todayand then you know I love this
race, chester four.
On the fourth it's a 4th of Julyrace and I love that town.
It's so cute.
So that's that's going to be.
My goal is just do the thingsthat I've really, really enjoyed

(01:01:47):
.
I um, the Harvard marathonFoundation in this area has a
lot of races and I used to bevery involved with them, and I
haven't done a lot of the raceslately because I've had all
those towns.
But I'll go back to doing someof those towns which are close
to where I live.
I'm very fortunate Newington isvery centrally located in the
state, so doing this challengehasn't been as hard as folks

(01:02:07):
that live in either of our fourcorners or far away.
So, yeah, I'm just going to dothose races I really like to do,
but I won't stop.
I just pick out my favoritesnow, but it's hard to pick one
favorite.
I've had so much fun, I've doneso many fun races, met up with
so many fun people.
But running with my daughterearly, I'm hoping I get her back

(01:02:30):
in.
I'm hoping we're back in whenher kids are just a little bit
bigger.

Speaker 1 (01:02:34):
I understand.

Speaker 6 (01:02:35):
Run with the kids oh well, I'm almost there, cause he
, I have a four-year-oldgrandson and I'm like, oh, I can
start signing him up for kidsraces.
So, oh, yeah, believe me, I'vegot that in mind.
I'm waiting for him to do hisfirst like Disney 5k, because
they come down with me to allthe Disney stuff but, like I
said, they're asleep.
But I'm like, yeah, he can do a5k in a year yeah, they can.

Speaker 1 (01:02:56):
Five years old they can do the 5k yeah, that's right
.

Speaker 6 (01:02:59):
So anyway, that's sort of my journey um 2016.
I thought I was going to finishbefore my 60th birthday, but
then COVID hit and we didn'thave quite as many races, so I
was finishing um and I'm 61, soI'm happy with that.

Speaker 1 (01:03:13):
Good for you, Sue.
Keep moving, girl.
Yeah, that's the key.

Speaker 6 (01:03:17):
For sure.

Speaker 1 (01:03:19):
All right, who's got a?
Who's got a 169 story they wantto share with us?
Katie, how about you?

Speaker 9 (01:03:25):
Well, definitely the most memorable one for me was
when my dog Quinn finished inHartford and I have to tell you,
okay, how many people showed upfor my dogs.
One, 69 would blow your mindLike I'm an introvert.

(01:03:45):
I like people, but you know,like I'm just, you know I was
blown away by the kindness thatpeople have extended to me and
my family and my little furryfriends too and Quinn is a
lovely dog but I could notbelieve how many people showed
up and to this day I am stilljust in shock.

(01:04:07):
And I look at the video Adamwas great to be there and to
make a video log and documentedeverything.
And I look at the video.
Adam was great to be there andto make a video log and
documented everything.
And I look at the pictures.
But so many people it's justalong the way.
I mean so much to you and it'slike you know, I know Danielle
and Jeff and Danielle, kay, youknow, and Sue, just, I feel like

(01:04:27):
, even though we're notnecessarily like in the same
circles, all the time I feelconnected to them, and that's
something that's big for thesociety.
So they all showed up to Quinn's169.
She's actually down theresnoring and she was wearing a
little what's it called A royalcape that kings and queens wear,
and she had a tiara on and shehad a scepter in her mouth and

(01:04:51):
her metal.
It was just really touching,and mine as well too, was
wonderful because they it wasfor a fire department in Avon
and they let me go up in thefire truck bucket.
All right All the way up, yes,all the way up, and then I could
do a queen wave.
It was beautiful.
So it was very touching too.
My husband finished in Clinton.

(01:05:12):
So it was very touching too.
My husband finished in clintonyou know, people.
We tend to go out afterwardsand celebrate and posters are
made, chalk on the sidewalk andall kinds of things.
And adam would also go tokinko's or wherever xerox and
make banners back in the day forpeople saying they celebrated
100 towns or 169 towns.
So just, the community evolvestogether.

(01:05:34):
But it just was.

Speaker 8 (01:05:36):
It was just touching and that is the biggest thing
that will stick with me andstill like blows me away at the
kindness people have extended tomy family, just so no, that's
fantastic fantastic you know,joining in in 2015 and still
being part of it now, and youknow I took it kind of slow as
my schedule permitted, and allI've seen the group change over

(01:05:59):
time, grow right and people thatI knew from the very beginning
and years ago who I don't see asoften.
You know you get to see themnow, but then you're also making
a whole bunch of new friends.
so it's like all these differentcircles and groups and like I
think I met daniel k not longbefore um, dan daniel my daniel
right point of society and itwas like somehow we found out

(01:06:23):
that she was also a disneyrunner, which I didn't know that
about her and um, and it waslike, oh, these like worlds sort
of collide, and that's reallycool.

Speaker 9 (01:06:33):
And that's one thing too that I want to mention.
It's I love to hear that Sue isgoing to still continue to run,
cause I always get so sad whenI form these connections with
people where it races everyweekend and then they finish and
then they kind of go away andlife happens, which is fine,
it's how life goes, goes.
But I'm so grateful when peoplestick around because I I'm like

(01:06:56):
you know it's it's hard for me,the sense of loss.
I feel that we've had this pathtogether and we because runners
talk about everything together,you know, there's no holds
barred, so it's nice peoplestick around it's interesting
you say that, katie, because, um, I feel like you know Jeff was
talking about the how you knowpeople who were there previously

(01:07:17):
.

Speaker 11 (01:07:17):
You know, I feel like there's a distinguishing
between pre COVID and post COVIDand I got in right before COVID
so I kind of know a lot ofpeople from the earlier years
and I know so many of the newermembers now and so, because I
got in so early, I know a lot ofpeople who started in 13, 14,
15, and I'm pretty good friendswith them.
So when you bring them, it'slike, oh, you kind of feel that

(01:07:39):
sense of loss.
Like, katie, I have seen you alot more in the last handful of
months than I have in years andmaybe just because we're at
different races, and it's likeit makes my heart happy to go.
Hey, I get to see you moreoften and you know I get to see
Danielle and you know seeing.
I love when I get to see peoplethat I either, you know, have
formed connections with or Ilook up to as athletes and draw

(01:08:03):
a lot of inspiration from tomake me a better athlete, and
it's just.
It really is.
I don't think I have a, youknow.
To tie back to Bob.
Your question is that I don'tthink I have one particular
story, it's just I can thinkback to oh, I love this race
because I got to spend time withthese people.
I love this race because I gotto celebrate my friend's
milestone.

(01:08:23):
I love this race because I gotto watch my husband do something
awesome.
I love being at this racebecause I got to see somebody I
haven't seen in three years likeit's, it's the community aspect
of this is the.
I know our slogan is show.
One of the slogans is show upand run.
It's the you.
You show up for the running,but you stay because of the
people yeah, absolutely.

Speaker 6 (01:08:43):
I think I'd be remiss in not saying one of my other
favorite things that I justthought of is the fact that when
you hit 60, if you're're awoman runner in 169, you're
considered one of the sizzlers.

Speaker 1 (01:08:55):
A sizzler.

Speaker 6 (01:08:57):
A sizzler, and there's a lot of women over 60
that are in 169, which for me itwasn't like oh no, I'm 60.
I'm like, oh, I get to be asizzler, and it's really
inspirational.
There's a lot of great runners's, a really competitive group,
but more than that, people justare in this group of all ages.
Um, so it's, that's part,that's fun too.

Speaker 8 (01:09:18):
I'm a sizzler now and people like us like to
photobomb your sizzler pictureyes, you do.

Speaker 10 (01:09:23):
I am the leader of the photobombers, I started that
whole mayhem I love.
It all right, danielle, tell usabout it um, they were doing
sizzlers and I was like, allright, I'm just going to stand
in the back.
And I put my hands up in theback, me and my like what Middle
thirties I don't know, and juststarted making a spectacle of
myself.
And then I invited other peopleto join and now we have a whole

(01:09:44):
massive background group of Atradition was born.

Speaker 6 (01:09:56):
We always get our photograph taken together.

Speaker 10 (01:09:57):
So, yes, it is definitely someone will be
behind us, danielle or others,and uh, but that's fun, that's
the fun part nice um, I'll domine next please my journey is
actually very different thaneverybody else's, because mine
actually started with disneybefore I was a one okay my
husband goes to me right afterCOVID and goes did you know,
disney puts on races.
I was like, okay.

(01:10:17):
He's like do you want to run ahalf marathon?
I was like I can barely dothree miles, what are you
talking about?
And he goes well, I'm going togo without you.
Then I was like all right, signme up.
It was like a random race thatjust happened to, I guess, open
up magically or something,because it was like three or
four weeks prior and I've onlyrun three miles.

(01:10:39):
And I was like he's like okay,it's fine, you have three weeks
to train, you'll get somethingdone.
Like okay, fine, I'm an athlete, I could do it and I loved
every second of it.
And then he found the 169ersand he's like well, you like
kind of running with people, whydon't you join this group?
And that's actually my firstweekend that Sue met me.
That was my very first.
It was actually my birthday.

(01:11:00):
My birthday is my anniversaryof my 169.
So that's why I can know thedate anytime, because I will.
I just showed up and they werelike hey, come run with us.
And I was like okay, sure.
Who are you people?
uh, sheila, every like.
I don't remember everybody'sthere, but I remember sue was
there and sheila was there andthey're like come, come, come,
take the picture with us, comebe in the picture.

(01:11:21):
And I'm like, um, okay, and nowI'm in, and now I use the 169
actually as my training runs foranything that I'm doing next,
because I hate running alone.
I will sign up.
If there are five races in thatday, I'll sign up for all of
them, just so that I can justget my miles and that I need for

(01:11:44):
the next thing.
Is there a half?
Sure, let's go do a half.
I just use them as trainingbecause I love having fun, I
love running with people, I loveseeing the people, and if I
don't know which race to do, Ijust check to see which race has
the most people going, becausewe all just kind of say, hey,
we're going here, where's thebiggest party, that's where I'm
going.

Speaker 1 (01:12:01):
Okay, adam, I'm going to let you bring it home here.

Speaker 5 (01:12:05):
All right.
Well, I wish I could say onestory, but actually say one
story.
But uh, I run so many races andI think for a long time.
I didn't want to finish itbecause I was afraid I hear you.
Now I have something to lookfor.
So it took me over 10 years tofinish it.
But I love one of my favoriteraces.
I run about maybe six, seventimes times.

(01:12:28):
I volunteered for three.
It's called just a halfmarathon.
Okay, it's in February, it's thecoldest yeah in in in
Connecticut yeah, and it was mysecond half marathon and I never
forget when I was a mile 10,which has a big hill, the wind
hit me and I was freezing andI'm thinking what am I doing

(01:12:50):
here?
But then at end that race has abig party and it's really
entire running community cometogether.
But I love just going to townsthat I never heard of Before I
started running.
I mean, I lived in Connecticutmost of my life.
I had no idea there was 169towns.
But once you get to know allthese towns, you also learn a

(01:13:13):
little bit about every town.
And the other great things Inoticed is you become you
collect more information for,like, for example, you read in a
newspaper and you, you see atown of franklin.
Before you start running youprobably would just skip the
article, like I don't know whatfranklin is.
But now that you've been there,you run there, you're like,
okay, well, let me whatFranklin's.
So, and you know, I met a lotof great friends and you know,

(01:13:37):
anywhere, every time I go, Ihave friends with, uh, you know,
I see people in local or youknow, uh, just walking around or
whatever, and then like, yeah,you go on six and niners, yeah,
so it's just a community allsupporting each other and all
rooting for each other.
And just the support is reallyamazing.
And you know we have people whomet through the group and got

(01:14:00):
married.
How?

Speaker 1 (01:14:01):
about that you know.

Speaker 5 (01:14:02):
So you know it's just a strong community and no
matter what time you go likesomebody I think mentioned it
before you will always have afriend or somebody there, so
you're not alone.

Speaker 1 (01:14:14):
Wonderful.

Speaker 2 (01:14:15):
With the 169 group.
How do we join if we want tojoin this and start this, and is
there a cost?

Speaker 10 (01:14:23):
Move to Connecticut.

Speaker 5 (01:14:24):
That's easy, does it?

Speaker 2 (01:14:26):
have to be in Connecticut.

Speaker 5 (01:14:27):
No, it's free, it costs nothing.
Run 169.
If you just Google Run 169, butit's run169.org or com, and
there's one simple form that youput your name zip code and no,
not zip code, just your name andyour pound and how many times
you have run.
So we don't collect anypersonal information.

Speaker 6 (01:14:49):
It's free to join and then then after that, you can
track everything through thewebsite and we do have some
out-of-staters, because I knowthere's some members in
massachusetts and new york.

Speaker 11 (01:14:59):
We do have some I started this while I was living
in florida, so that's ambitiousI was dating jeff long distance
okay in town for visiting for aweekend in a town he needed.
When he was on his first roundin a very, very a race.
Came up in a town that was veryhard to get and it's still very
hard to get, and he's like, doyou mind if we go run this race?

(01:15:21):
I'm like sure, why not?
So we ran, and that's when heexplained 169 and met people
that weekend.
I was like, okay, I'm in.
So I actually did my first fewraces living in florida and then
I moved up and I've been, soyou don't have to live in
Connecticut to do it.

Speaker 1 (01:15:36):
John's in North Jersey.
He's not that terribly far away.
Nope, there you go.
Well, friends, I think we'regoing to wrap it up.
I knew it was going to be funand I appreciate it so very much
you spending your time with us.
Good luck to you.
It's great.
Adam Danielle and Jeff Danielle, katie, sue, thanks for joining

(01:15:59):
us.

Speaker 11 (01:15:59):
Thank you, Bob.
Thank you Thanks so much A lotof fun.

Speaker 1 (01:16:04):
Fun group.
Fun group the Connecticut169ers.
You can tell, I think, justfrom listening to that interview
.
I believe they could have goneanother hour or so if we didn't
reign them in.
But I say that with love.
I think it's a wonderful thing,so a lot of fun.
Hey, look, if you're in the NewEngland area, if it's something

(01:16:25):
you can do, I would recommendyou look into it.
All right, let's get back tothe March march madness and
let's find our champion yes, weneed to have our one shining
moment coming up here.

Speaker 3 (01:16:38):
So let's power through these last three but
short rounds here.
So we are now in the eliteeight.
Our final matchup here in theplastic cheese region the five
seed beer garden versus theseven seed lasalle jack.
Which epcot restaurant are youpicking?

(01:17:01):
Uh, you know, no, that's easybeer garden all right, I'm gonna
go beer garden as well toowhat's it?

Speaker 7 (01:17:09):
t?

Speaker 3 (01:17:09):
tacky, ticky, tacky, yeah or yeah so I mean the fact
that it's a buffet, it'sdecorated beautifully, you have
all the entertainment.
That's that's what sends usover the top for me.
So 20 beer garden, john, howabout?

Speaker 2 (01:17:23):
you pulling back for a three and sealing the game.

Speaker 1 (01:17:27):
Beer garden sealing the game, yeah you guys all got
this one wrong.
Really, this is Le Cellier, oneof the better places on Disney,
I think.
Le Cellier, wonderful steaks.
When you go there, don't forgetthe cheese soup.
It's great.

(01:17:48):
But I must bid au revoir to ourCanadian restaurant.

Speaker 7 (01:17:54):
It is good, I will admit, will admit, oh a thousand
percent.

Speaker 3 (01:17:56):
You know, like bob said last week, a lot, a lot of
good restaurants are going tofall by the wayside here.
All right.
So the five seed beer gardenmoves on to the final four.
All right.
Moving down to the bananaregion, again another tough one
here the the 8-seed WhisperingCanyon versus the 11-seed Ohana.
Bob, we'll start with you.

Speaker 1 (01:18:16):
Oh, tough one.
Tough one because I'm notreally all that familiar with
either one.
I think I've only eaten once ineach place, and I know I have
no.
No, I've eaten twice inWhispering Canyon a breakfast
and a dinner meal.

Speaker 3 (01:18:28):
Oh, yes, you and I had dinner.
We had dinner.
We sure did During the.
What was that?
That was the canceled marathonweekend in 21.
We did that.

Speaker 1 (01:18:38):
Was that the Skyliner 15K?

Speaker 3 (01:18:41):
Yes, that was the weekend that we did that.

Speaker 1 (01:18:42):
Yeah, it's fun.
And then Ohana only once that Irecall for a dinner meal.
I think that was just Becky andme.
Oh man, I got to pick one.
I'm going to pick Ohana.

Speaker 2 (01:19:04):
I'm going with Ohana.
You know the bread pudding atdinner, the pineapple bread, all
that stuff at breakfast and allthat other stuff.
That's the way to go, Ohana's.

Speaker 3 (01:19:17):
All right, and I will go Ohana as well.
So, just like George Mason orVCU, of all those yesteryear
Cinderella teams, an 11 seedmakes it to the final four
family we do not endorsedrinking games here at the

(01:19:41):
podcast.
Thanks, jack.
All right, anyway, we'll move.
We'll move over to the sportsbean region, our finalup the one
seed Boma versus the three seedSebastian's Bistro.
Jack, I'll start with you again.

Speaker 7 (01:19:56):
Oh, this one might be the hardest one, I think,
Because I know how much Dave andI both love it.
Boma.

Speaker 3 (01:20:05):
Okay, 1-0 Boma John.

Speaker 2 (01:20:07):
Yeah, I'm thinking about this one still.

Speaker 3 (01:20:09):
All right, we can come back, bob.
What do you think Boma?
All right, we can come back,bob.
What do you think Boma?
Boma, you know what.
John, I'm going to make it easyon you.
Boma All right, I was going tosay Boma as well too.
All right, so we have our firstone seed to crack into the
final four.
All right, and our last EliteEight matchup here down in the

(01:20:32):
Cliffs Block region, thefour-seed Via Napoli versus the
seven-seed California Grill.
And John, I'll go to you firstVia Napoli, okay.

Speaker 1 (01:20:44):
Bob.
This one is easy for me Again.
We talked about it already Via.
Napoli is good pizza, pizza andthat's it.
California Grill is just asuperb restaurant, california
Grill.

Speaker 3 (01:20:58):
All right, so we are tied at one Jack.

Speaker 7 (01:21:01):
Vianapoli.

Speaker 3 (01:21:02):
Okay, we're going to have to get into argument time
because I'm going to goCalifornia Grill as well.
So we got two-two.
So can we figure out a way tochange someone's mind here?

Speaker 1 (01:21:15):
Well, jack's leaving, so no sorry.

Speaker 7 (01:21:18):
I thought I saw a bug on one of my medals up above
and I was like what is that?

Speaker 2 (01:21:23):
That was a tough-to-be-a-bug medal.

Speaker 7 (01:21:25):
No, it was my figment one.

Speaker 1 (01:21:27):
Oh, here's my thinking yes, price California
Grill's expensive.
Here's my thinking yes, pricecalifornia grills expensive, but
the food there is just firstrate, what?

Speaker 7 (01:21:46):
what have you had at vietnam?
Besides the pizza, I've had thepasta what'd you think?
I liked it, especially becauseit was easier on my stomach.

Speaker 1 (01:21:52):
Was it better than the Olive Garden?

Speaker 7 (01:21:55):
Yes.

Speaker 1 (01:21:55):
Really, I didn't think so.

Speaker 7 (01:21:57):
Yeah, I can't.
Unfortunately I can't eat OliveGarden that much anymore.
It really like the IBS reallystarts to be bad.

Speaker 3 (01:22:06):
Well, I'm going to throw this out here.
Hey, Jack and John, can youwatch the fireworks from Via
Napoli?

Speaker 7 (01:22:12):
Depends.
Are we talking about epcot?
You can watch it from thewindows I'm I'm just talking
fireworks in general.

Speaker 1 (01:22:19):
Now, even then you really couldn't, I think if you,
I guess you could see it if youstood in the front door.
That'd be about it.
Oh, no, no, no one's budging.

Speaker 3 (01:22:28):
Interesting, although I find it very interesting, uh,
bob, that we've presentedarguments and the Via Napoli
crowd can't throw it back in ourface yet.

Speaker 7 (01:22:36):
Okay, here, here I got the best way.
Everybody put out their hand,Put it in like a rock formation.
We'll do rock paper scissorsand we'll do it four ways.

Speaker 2 (01:22:44):
The only thing right now is we're going with
California Grill.
With your past experiences,it's a price-fixed menu right
now again.
So you're, I don't know if thatmakes a difference to you guys.

Speaker 1 (01:22:57):
We're not going to any of these restaurants with
our future experiences.
All of them are with our pastexperiences.

Speaker 2 (01:23:04):
No, but you mean, like with the, there's a
price-fixed menu now, so youdon't have the choice.
You've got to get a slimmerchoice of food to pick from.
I think where before you had, Ithink, a bigger option when we
planned to go there that onetime.

Speaker 3 (01:23:21):
Are we at a point where we're going to have to
flip a coin here?

Speaker 7 (01:23:24):
I feel like this is like Monopoly, when you're
trying to barter for someoneelse's card because you need it
so you can start putting houseson it, so that you can just take
everybody's money like no one'sbudget.
That's why I don't playmonopoly with lexi.
They refuse.
Okay, oh, I got it.
I got it.

(01:23:44):
This is how we're gonna.
Which restaurant is the mostaccessible to everybody?
Budget like booking it.

Speaker 1 (01:23:56):
Well, the fact that a restaurant is easier to get a
reservation at doesn't tell meit's a better restaurant.

Speaker 7 (01:24:03):
It's a bigger restaurant, but like price-wise
too A lot of people.
I mean California Grill.
I've never been, but it is,from my understanding, pretty
expensive.

Speaker 1 (01:24:16):
It's expensive, yeah All right.

Speaker 3 (01:24:18):
Well, since we can't come to a consensus here, it's
kind of fun.
I just learned out that, builtinto Google search you can flip
a coin, so we'll try this out.
So, since Via Napoli is thehigher seed, via Napoli will get
heads and California Grill willget tails.

(01:24:38):
I'm going to flip it.
Here we go.
It's turning, it's turning andit is tails, so California Grill
moves on.

Speaker 7 (01:24:51):
Fair play.

Speaker 3 (01:24:54):
I can't share my screen, but I hope my friends
can trust me here.

Speaker 7 (01:24:58):
I can see from the reflection of your glasses
you're good.

Speaker 3 (01:25:02):
Okay, there we go, All right.
So imagine now we're in SanAntonio for the final four, on
our left side of the bracket,our first matchup a five seed
beer garden versus the 11 seed.
Ohana John, where are you going?

Speaker 7 (01:25:25):
Look at that face.
He's not sure.

Speaker 2 (01:25:30):
I think I'll have to go with Ohana.

Speaker 11 (01:25:33):
What.

Speaker 2 (01:25:34):
Okay, what Okay?

Speaker 3 (01:25:35):
Jack.

Speaker 7 (01:25:37):
I love me some Bavarian cheesecake.
So what is it?
Taki, taki, taki, taki, oi, oi,oi, or tiki-taki, there we go.

Speaker 3 (01:25:45):
All right, Bob, what do you think?
One to one.

Speaker 1 (01:25:49):
Yeah, At this point I'm looking for the again.
I'd go to either one.
I like them both.
Yeah, but I'm going to the onethat has the better food overall
, and in my opinion, that'sOhana.

Speaker 3 (01:26:03):
Okay, I think we might have to go to the coin
flip again, because, as much asI love Ohana and all of those
appetizers and all those meats Ilove Ohana and all of those
appetizers and all those meats Ithink, if you're looking for a
quintessential Walt Disney worldmeal, I think beer garden is
tops because it again it's a,it's a cool ambiance, it has

(01:26:28):
very good food and you know, andthe fact, with the
entertainment and you know, andthe one thing that, like I
realized, is like the last timeI think I went there during, I
went there during marathonweekend two years ago and I now
have this core memory of goingout to the dance floor and
dancing with my daughter andthat will forever be, ingrained

(01:26:51):
and I really can't really getthat.
Ohana, again I'm trying to hiton Ohana.
I love it, but for me I'm goingto go beer garden, so we're two
, two.
Do we want to try the arguments, or are?

Speaker 7 (01:27:01):
we just going to flip a coin.

Speaker 2 (01:27:02):
I would love to hear it you can't get a lapu lapu at
a beer garden what's a lapu lapu?

Speaker 3 (01:27:09):
the drink and the pineapple oh yeah, the quint,
the drink and the pineapple oh.

Speaker 1 (01:27:15):
Yeah, the quintessential drink and the
pineapple.
You can't get a cocktail at all, I don't think at Beer Garden
you can get a beer.

Speaker 3 (01:27:19):
Well, you can get a stein of beer if you want to.

Speaker 1 (01:27:21):
You can get several.

Speaker 7 (01:27:25):
I mean, when I go to Beer Garden I eat to the max.
I probably won't even eat forthe rest of the day because I
stuffed myself like a bear, likegoing into hibernation like I.
The food to me is just so good,especially the bavarian
cheesecake.
I will literally go there justfor the bavarian cheesecake

(01:27:45):
because I get like six or sevenof those slices.
Um, yeah, it's just so good.
And like again, the pretzelwith the soup is really good, I
mean they put a limit on theslices you get now no, they
don't.
They don't have a camera, john,I know it's april fools, but you
can't play me again no, youknow what?

(01:28:08):
That was good johnny, props toyou for that trying that I was
gonna say no one's ever told methat if anything, I sneak like
four or five slices on one plateand then I like she puts three
or four in her pocketbook.

Speaker 2 (01:28:21):
Takes them out with her I try.

Speaker 7 (01:28:23):
I think I one time I think I might have put it on in
like in a napkin and try to takeit out and bring it home, but
like.
No, that was with a cookie,sorry now you're on the radar I
know, but like it's the oneplace that I feel like every
time I go, like I, I get excitedbecause when I talk to the
servers they get excited becauseI'm practicing german with them

(01:28:45):
and they get.
We always have such a lovelyconversation in german and it's
fun.
So sentimental, I guess for meas well.

Speaker 3 (01:28:55):
But I guess if we're going to toss, a coin in the
spirit, so we don't have a tossa coin you are not switching
over.
I will be willing to switch myvote to Ohana, because there's
one thing that I realized thatcan make Ohana very special, and
that is, if you time it rightand you have the right table,

(01:29:19):
you can watch the magic kingdomfireworks from ohana and they do
pump in the music and you cando that and that's and that's
and that's pretty legit and thewater show.

Speaker 7 (01:29:31):
I once walked out of Beer Garden and the fireworks
were going off.

Speaker 3 (01:29:34):
Okay, yeah, but you had to leave the restaurant
though.

Speaker 7 (01:29:38):
I had a clear view.

Speaker 2 (01:29:39):
I walked out the bathroom and saw the fireworks
one time, too, at Epcot.
All right.

Speaker 3 (01:29:49):
So we come to a quasi-consensus there.

Speaker 7 (01:29:51):
Oh, I thought Beer garden was going to win.
Ohana makes it to the nationalchampionship game.

Speaker 3 (01:29:58):
All right On the other side of the bracket, a one
seed Boma versus the seven seedCalifornia grill.

Speaker 7 (01:30:07):
I can't Sorry.

Speaker 3 (01:30:11):
Jack.
Since you can't Jack, I'll goto you first.

Speaker 7 (01:30:13):
No, because all the ones I like go away.

Speaker 2 (01:30:17):
I'll go to Bama, I'll take it.

Speaker 3 (01:30:19):
I'll steal.
I'll go to Bama.
All right, john's going to Boma, jack.

Speaker 7 (01:30:25):
Zebra Dome Boma.

Speaker 1 (01:30:27):
Boma Bob.
They're both great, but I thinkit's pretty obvious from what
I've been talking about.
I think, of the restaurantsthat are left, california
Grill's my favorite.

Speaker 3 (01:30:39):
All right, Well, unfortunately, we're going to
have to say goodbye to the15-layered chocolate cake.
I'm going, boma as well, soBoma moves on on.
So here we go.
The championship game ohanaversus boma.

Speaker 1 (01:30:57):
Bob, what it's, one takes the prize for you yeah,
okay, this is where we are andfor me, I have enjoyed Boma many
times and I like the breakfastand the dinner at Boma, and

(01:31:18):
we'll be there later thisevening.
So Boma it is.

Speaker 3 (01:31:22):
All right, so it's 1-0.
Boma Jack, what are you goingto go with here?

Speaker 7 (01:31:26):
Hey Bob, I think we're aligned.
Boma, fist bump, are you goingto go with here?
Hey Bob, I think we're alignedBoma Fist bump.
Fist bump yeah.

Speaker 3 (01:31:34):
John, he's contemplating.

Speaker 2 (01:31:39):
I know I would like to see the Cinderella team win,
but yeah, I'm going to go withBoma.

Speaker 3 (01:31:46):
Well, that puts it over the top, but my vote would
make it a clean sweep as well,too.
Uh, I, I cannot wait to havethe soups tonight.
I just I, I dream of soups andI dream of zebra domes, and it's
an awesome meal.
So there we go shoot off theconfetti, grab the ladder, climb

(01:32:07):
on up, grab your scissors, cutdown the nets.
Congratulations, boma.
You are the winner of the 2025Rise and Run March Madness
Competition.

Speaker 1 (01:32:18):
Well, it's always fun doing these.
It really is, and we're goingto agree on some, disagree on
others, but I I hope that indoing it we shared some
knowledge of the restaurants forour friends who are
contemplating where they want togo at the disney resorts and
even if, even if one you heardabout didn't win, you may go.

(01:32:41):
I think maybe I will go tomorimoto's.

Speaker 7 (01:32:43):
No, I'm only kidding, I would love to go with you,
Bob, sometime.
Just let me know.

Speaker 1 (01:32:50):
You know, I think if I filled up my bracket all by
myself, I think California Grillfor me.
Really.
Yeah, yeah, but that's it.
But look, we had fun.
Bone was it this year.
I don't know what we'll do nextyear.
Fast food, maybe, quick service, quick service, quick service.

Speaker 7 (01:33:10):
Yeah, quick service will be a good one.

Speaker 1 (01:33:12):
There's lots of great places.
Have to narrow that down.
Yeah, yeah, all right.
Well, there you are, friends.
That's it for 2025.
Boy, I hope you had fun andwhen you see us here wandering
around the park or at the expo,tell us what we got right and
what we got wrong.

(01:33:32):
There you go, there you go.
There's an icebreaker for you.
You can come up and tell Johnwhich ones he got wrong, or you
can tell Jack that you weresecretly rooting for her choices
all the way.

Speaker 7 (01:33:44):
Thank you, Bob.

Speaker 1 (01:33:45):
There you go.
All right, friends.
Next week we answer somelistener questions.
Two weeks from now we will beback to wrap up our season recap
for Springtime Surprise.

Speaker 3 (01:34:01):
And we'll get out of the way now, Brandy.
Yes, it is my fault that we'redoing it that way.

Speaker 1 (01:34:08):
All right, my friends , it's time for the race report.
The race report brought to youby Thomas Stokes, stoked
Metabolic Training, stokesfit,slash, rise and run coaching.
Don't forget what Tom told usabout last week is scholarship
offer.
I don't know if that's pinnedto the featured section of our

(01:34:29):
page yet or not, but it will besoon.
Hey, look around.
Hey, tom's down.
Tom is down there.
Say hi, tell him.
You heard him on the podcast.
All right, let's start.
On Saturday in Louisville,kentucky, the Louisville Triple
Crown of Running.
Ashley and Sarah were there.
Ashley said courses out andback starts at Churchill Downs.

(01:34:52):
You know that's the home of theKentucky Derby.
It runs through a hillyIroquois Park.
Finishes on the 50-yard line atLNN Credit Union Stadium, home
of the Louisville Cardinals.
They used to have a prettydecent quarterback there, john,
didn't they?
A couple years ago.

(01:35:13):
That's where Lamar came from.
He's playing in Baltimore now.

Speaker 2 (01:35:16):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (01:35:17):
He was a University of Louisville guy.

Speaker 2 (01:35:19):
Yes, you're right now .

Speaker 1 (01:35:20):
Anyway, six-minute PR for Ashley.
Sarah was there too.
She loved running at CardinalStadium.
Her husband and kiddos enjoyedthe airplane views.
Louisville Airport's rightbehind there.
Now this one, LouisvilleAirport, is a hub, I think, for
FedEx Might be UPS, but I thinkit's FedEx.

(01:35:42):
A lot of big airplanes going inand out of there.
They're waiting for the finishline.
Problem with the hills, but anice challenge, great run.
That's up in Louisville inTemple Terrace, Florida.
Andrea was there for the 44thannual Strawberry Distance
Classic 10K, 10K, 5K challengemedal.

(01:36:04):
If you do both events Everybodygets a finisher's medal.
Fresh strawberries at thefinish line.
It's strawberry season here inFlorida.
In fact.
The Strawberry Festival justended a couple of weeks ago.
A lot of local vendors, samplesand raffles With the benefit of
customized training.

(01:36:24):
Andrea had a great improvementover her time from last year.
Still in Florida, Holly's atRiviera Beach for the Singer
Island Half Marathon.
Holly's had a medical conditionthat's been flaring up on her
and it kept her from finishingthis race, but I'm glad she

(01:36:45):
reported on it anyway.
Her cousin was also running.
She gave it a shot but byaround mile five of this half
marathon knew she wasn't goingto be able to finish.
Told her cousin to take off.
Holly still made it to mileeight, mostly because that was
the first chance she really hadto stop.

(01:37:05):
Race was kind disorganized, soif you're planning on being in
riviera beach this time of year,be aware of it.
Poorly marked a poorly markedturn point left the 10 milers
there was a 10 mile race herealso not turning around and
ended up running a half.
I'm sure they were excited aboutthat, not good no in stone

(01:37:26):
Mountain, georgia, the inauguralStone Mountain Music Dash 5K.
Amanda and Jimmy were there.
Amanda says beautiful, fun,pollen-laden race Made a quick
stop by Stone Mountain Park,taking the history and the
beauty of spring in the Atlantaarea.
Next week off to Lynchburg forthe Whiskey Hill to conquer Whis

(01:37:49):
whiskey Hill at the Oak barrelhalf.
That looks like a fun one.
Also, amanda, john Pollan's,you're not getting the pollen
yet up.
Oh yeah, we're getting it.

Speaker 2 (01:38:00):
Are you already?

Speaker 1 (01:38:00):
Yeah, the car was yellow, so the worst place I've
ever been for pollen wasSoutheast Alabama.
I mean, we get it bad here.
It gets bad all over.
Worst place I've ever been forpollen was southeast Alabama.
I mean, we get it bad here.
It gets bad all over.
And I'm not saying Alabama isthe worst in the country, but
it's the worst I ever saw.
And the big thing is it's arural area with nothing but pine

(01:38:21):
trees all over the place.
Ooh, that's the worst pollen tooit is, and the daggum blacktop
would be yellow.
Pretty impressive.
Anyway, I'm one of the luckyguys.
It doesn't bother me.

Speaker 2 (01:38:35):
Well.

Speaker 1 (01:38:36):
I'm not.
So I'm sorry for you.
Both parents both my parentsand my brother have allergy
problems.
My sister and I do not.
We're just lucky.
All right, let's see.
Enough rambling.
Jimmy was also at this race.
He said they ran aroundWade-Walter Park but had to head
to the mountain afterwards fora photo op.

(01:38:57):
A couple of kinks to work outon this run.
He'll probably give it a tryagain in a couple of years.
Up in Albany, new York, mary ranthe the ice breaker 5k along
the Hudson River.
She says it was cold.
I looked at the pictures.
The pictures made it look likeit was cold.
Mary says she's looking forwardto springtime.

(01:39:19):
Surprise 10k this.
Well, now Mary is going to bemighty warm.
Take care of yourself, justprotect yourself and slow down.
Hydrate, pour the water on yourhead, you'll be okay.
In Chicago, tiffany ran theinaugural Lucky 7-kilometer race

(01:39:41):
.
Never did a 7K race before, soPR.
She got a new plant for thisone, some kind of cypress for
being one of the top finishers.
Good job, tiffany.
Speaking of top finishers, overin London Rob ran the Regents
Park 5K and dag gum.

(01:40:03):
If Rob didn't win the thingFlat out first finisher Got a
first place lanyard for hismedal, a 40 pound voucher
towards another race.
Rob, being the humble blokethat he is, said he thought
everyone was running the 10K buthe didn't care.
He won that 5K.
Rob's a good runner.

(01:40:23):
Good job, rob.
Congratulations.
Job, rob.
Congratulations.
Robbie was in Doral, florida,for the From Waste to Race 5K.
Dina I hope it's Dina and notDinah.
I think it's Dina.
Calverton, new York.
Andrew's top run.
I need to talk about this justa little bit.
In September of 2018, a BoyScout troop was hiking along the

(01:40:48):
trail when a drunk drivercrashed into them.
Several Scouts were severelyinjured and Andrew Andrew
McMorris passed away.
Young Boy Scout passed away asa result of his injuries.
So this 5k is a celebration forAndrew, his love of aviation
and scouting.

(01:41:09):
This first time Dina actuallyraced a 5K.
She's done them before.
Usually treats them as trainingruns.
Didn't meet her goal pace, butdid get a 5K PR.
In Nashville, tennessee, amy ranthe Richland Creek Greenway
5-miler.
Couldn't have been more perfectAlways her favorite race to
kick off the pre-summer seasonTemps of 68.

(01:41:33):
Cloudy made it prettycomfortable.
Only finished four secondsslower than her goal pace.
That's great.
Had a co-worker join her.
She's feeding her co-worker theGalloway Kool-Aid.
Good job, says Holler.
Hype wasn't connecting at first,and then when they hit the
four-mile mark, they all cameflooding in.
I've experienced that too.

(01:41:54):
It's kind of fun.
I finish up on Saturday.
I'm going to take a little timeon this one.
Our friend Debbie and her sonKay ran in Greater Goldsboro I'm
sorry, the Greater GoldsboroRoad Run in Goldsboro, north
Carolina run for a child.
Now Debbie's an experiencedrunner.

(01:42:18):
We see Debbie all the time atDisney World.
Quite often she's there withher daughter Meredith.
She set out to get a proof oftime for the 10K and she was on
pace for the first couple miles,but she never got to the finish
line and she ended up beingfound about a mile off course

(01:42:40):
south of the finish line when apasserby called 911 to report
that she was on the side of theroad.
Here's the scary part shedoesn't remember anything past
mile four, but if you look ather Garmin data, she kept
running for nearly six miles.
Yeah, she got transported tothe local hospital.

(01:43:02):
She was bleeding, abrasions,shattered sunglasses, but no one
saw what happened.
She was admitted overnight.
Thankfully, testing showed noinjury.
She's going to be okay.
Another important thing is thatBlake and Kirby had her on Life
360, and they were en route towhere she was when the EMS on

(01:43:25):
bicycle stopped them and saidwe've got her to go to the
ambulance and meet her there.
The moral of the story, andgosh, we're really glad you're
okay, debbie.
This is really scary, but we'rereally glad you're okay.
The big thing is friends.
When you're out running, evenin an organized race, make sure

(01:43:46):
someone knows where you are andwhere and when to expect you, so
if something just totallyunusual like this happens, you
can get help as quickly aspossible.

Speaker 2 (01:44:00):
And something else.
I know I don't know how manypeople do it at Disney On the
back of your bibs, there's aspace to put in all your
emergency contact information.
Yeah, there is.
Put it in, or also carry one ofthose road IDs or something on

(01:44:20):
you so they know who you are ifthey find you on the side of a
road like that.

Speaker 1 (01:44:25):
I have a road ID.
I'm not wearing it right now.
I have two different watchesand I'm going to be honest, John
, I don't fill that in, but it'sa very, very good idea.

Speaker 2 (01:44:34):
I have the road ID too on my watch, so I haven't
filled it in lately either, butI have a road ID and you know,
on my phone I have an icecontact.

Speaker 1 (01:44:45):
It's important.
It is very important, asDebbie's travails point out.
It's especially important ifyou go out on training runs by
yourself, which I know a lot ofyou do.
So just keep it in mind, Justkeep it in mind and once again,
Debbie, we're so glad you'reokay.
We did have a weekend-longevent Saturday and Sunday.

(01:45:09):
The Run Irving in Texas raceweekend had multiple distances.
First ever Run Irving event.
Tyler did the 10K on Saturdayand the half on Sunday.
Tyler hasn't posted in a whilebut he's real happy with times
in both of these races.
He really hasn't been able totrain like he wanted to.
Finished running faster thannormal on a very warm day.

(01:45:33):
No event photos, Tyler says,but he's sure the ones of him
tripping and falling 30 feetfrom the finish line will be
memorable.
Tyler, we look forward toseeing those.
Ellie was there also.
Ellie ran the 10K on Saturday.
First her goal was to run herfirst sub-60 10K.

(01:45:57):
First two miles went great.
Then humidity and wind starteddoing their thing.
She stuck with it.
She finished in 50 minutes and22 seconds.
That's great.
That's a PR.
Well done, Ellie.

Speaker 2 (01:46:10):
That's a good proof of time for Disney.

Speaker 1 (01:46:12):
Crushed it, yeah, good job.
On Sunday now in Ashburn,virginia, jennifer ran the
Spring Classic 10K.
A little warmer than expectedbut she executed the plan she
had for herself of doing thefirst 5k at half marathon pace,
second 5k at marathon pace andthen she continued her training

(01:46:34):
and finished 10 miles, did verywell.
She finished age group second,sixth overall at 46 minutes for
this 10k.
Jennifer's one of our fasterrunners.
Jennifer just does a super job.
Sharon was also there.
She ran it with her 11-year-oldson.
We had a couple people at theLove Run Philly Half Marathon.

(01:46:55):
Julia got a shiny new halfmarathon PR of just under a
minute 51 seconds.
Another great time there.
First few miles were downtown,around some of the famous sites
in Philadelphia, before anout-and-back section along the
river, most rolling hills with abig climb just after mile 10,

(01:47:17):
but again knocked out a PR.
Sean was there.
Sean also PR'd and locked up atime good enough, a proof of
time.
Good enough for a corral atDisneyland Disney World, not a
corral, corral A.
I mean, we all get into acorral, but he's getting into
corral A.
So that's good stuff.
Good stuff, sean.

(01:47:38):
Cambridge, massachusetts.
Jake did the spring classic 5K,set a goal of trying to knock
this one out in under 30 minutes, which and I love this I would
have considered impossible justone year ago.
I love reading about theimprovements and the results of
training.
That's fantastic.

(01:47:59):
Race was well organized, roadswere wet but the rain held off.
Weather was a cool 40 degreesup in Massachusetts and oh oh
yeah.
Jake finished in just under 27minutes a five-and-a-half-minute
PR.
Rob was there also, noting thatit was a chilly morning, loved

(01:48:19):
the conditions.
Rob knocked out a 26-minute 5K.
Rob and Jake finished veryclose to the same time.
Great post-race activities madefor a terrific event In
Tallahassee, florida, thespringtime races one mile, 5k,
10k.
Kim and Anthony were both there.
They both ran the 10k.

(01:48:41):
Kim says the club does a greatjob of organizing their events.
This one was no exception, evenwith the record number of
participants.
They had about 2,000 runners.
They did very well.
Nice medals, shirts, post-racegoodies made it worthwhile
Already looking forward to nextyear.
Great running, weather andanother PR, other PR.

(01:49:14):
Good job, kim.
A four minute 10K PR for KimAnthony.
Anthony said I finished myannual pollen run.
Well, there you go.
We're talking pollen again InMassillon, ohio.
I think I'm saying that rightCould be wrong.
Lori ran the Maiden Ohio 10K,said the towpath was flooded but
her soul felt good running inmud.
Her goal was an hour and a half.
She came in at an hour 20 and42 seconds, ran 20, 30 intervals

(01:49:36):
the whole race.
First one she was able to runintervals through all the way
since her total knee replacement.
Lori's making terrific progress.
Let's wrap up the race reportin Naples, florida, where Rob
ran the time to Patty 10K.
He had some travel plans forthe weekend but they fell
through so he signed up at thelast minute.

(01:49:58):
So this one was too hot for hisdogs.
They're not happy about it, buthe had a nice run anyway, raced
on a beautiful course at one ofhis favorite parks in Naples.
All right, my friends, sincewe're all together, there's no
Zoom tonight.
There will be a Zoom next week.
That'll be fun.
We can relive springtimesurprise, we can talk about what

(01:50:24):
we're going to be doing overthe summer and until we meet
again, which hopefully will bevery, very soon, happy running.

Speaker 3 (01:50:41):
The Rise and Run podcast discusses general
information about Run Disney andis in no way affiliated with
Run Disney or the Walt DisneyCompany.
Any information or advicediscussed on this podcast should
not be considered medicaladvice and should always consult
with your healthcare provideror event organizer.
Bye.

All Episodes

Episode Transcript

Popular Podcasts

Stuff You Should Know

Dateline NBC

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

.css-15opob5{left:0;position:absolute;top:0.8rem;} All Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}184: The Culinary Crown Showdown: Who Takes Home the Golden Whip?

Episode Transcript

Popular Podcasts

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}Stuff You Should Know

Dateline NBC

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

All Episodes

184: The Culinary Crown Showdown: Who Takes Home the Golden Whip?

Stuff You Should Know