June 5, 2025 • 40 mins
Live from the annual TCS New York City Marathon Partner Forum, Rob is joined by Anne Valentzas, Senior Vice President of Consumer Marketing and Sponsorships at Mastercard, where she spearheads the global Priceless program, curating experiences that connect cardholders to culture, sport, and sustainability initiatives. This Saturday is the Mastercard New York Mini 10K Women’s Race and Anne, who is an avid runner, ran her first Mini 10K in 1996. The race brings an incredible professional field, including 2022 TCS New York City Marathon winner Sharon Lokedi who also won the United Airlines NYC Half in March in an event-record time of 1:07:04. In April, she not only won the Boston Marathon but shattered the women’s course record with a 2:17:22 finish. She joins Rob and Anne to talk about her preparation leading up to the iconic Mastercard New York Mini 10K.
You can find our February 27th, 2025 interview with Sharon Lokedi Here - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/olympian-sharon-lokedi-is-inspiring-the-next/id1703616687?i=1000696486824 or anywhere you get your podcasts!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Anne Valentzas (00:00):
It's a race where women really are genuinely supporting one
another. I'll never forget one of the years I ran,
two women were talking to each other. One said, " Hey,
it's my first." They didn't know each other. One said, "
It's my first time. I'm really nervous. I heard it's
very hilly. I don't know the course at all." The
other one said, " Hey, what pace are you planning to
run? I'm happy to run with you and I'll give
(00:21):
you guidance all along the way and I'll tell you
what to expect." They instantly had this bond and this support
and it's really incredible to watch. I think it's very special.
Rob Simmelkjaer (00:35):
Hey, everybody and welcome to Set the Pace, the official
podcast of New York Roadrunners presented by Peloton. I'm your
host, Rob Simmelkjaer, the CEO of New York Roadrunners. We
are live and I'm going to make you guys make
some noise. We're live from our annual TCS New York
City Marathon Partner Forum. Can you make some noise so
(00:56):
that people can hear you? That's right. This is a
very exclusive crowd of New York City Marathon partners and
sponsors. We bring them all together once a year in
New York City to talk about this incredible event, the
TCS New York City Marathon and all that our partners
do to make that experience possible for our runners and
(01:19):
our members. So it's a really special day. Part of
what makes it special is I don't have my usual co-
host with me today. Becs Gentry couldn't be with us
today. So we've got someone from another one of our
partners, Mastercard's Anne Valentzas is here in her place. Give
it up for Anne. Did you ever think you'd be
(01:41):
hosting a podcast, Anne?
Anne Valentzas (01:43):
No. This is a first. I thought I was in
marketing, but I guess I'm a podcaster.
Rob Simmelkjaer (01:47):
Well now you're talent. So welcome to the world of
podcast talent. For those who don't know, can I tell
a little bit about you? I want to tell your
story a little bit.
Anne Valentzas (01:55):
Sure.
Rob Simmelkjaer (01:55):
Anne's title is Senior Vice President of Consumer Marketing and
Sponsorships at Mastercard. She spearheads the Global Priceless program, which
is iconic. Everybody knows about Priceless and Mastercard, experiences that
connect cardholders to culture, sport, and sustainability initiatives. A champion
for entrepreneurs and also leads Mastercard's small business marketing portfolio,
(02:18):
delivering resources and exposure that help local merchants thrive. Here
at Roadrunners, we get to work closely with you through
flagship races like the Mastercard Mini 10K, which is coming
up this weekend, and of course the TCS New York
City Marathon. Here's a fun fact about Anne. We were
talking about it a little bit earlier. Anne ran her
(02:39):
first Mini 10K. Was it your first race?
Anne Valentzas (02:42):
No, it was not my first race.
Rob Simmelkjaer (02:43):
Okay, but your first...
Anne Valentzas (02:44):
First time that I ran the Mini 10K.
Rob Simmelkjaer (02:45):
The Mini 10K, she ran it back in 1996. What
do you remember about running it in 1996?
Anne Valentzas (02:51):
I don't remember a lot other than I had a
good time. I really enjoyed it. It's a special event.
Rob Simmelkjaer (02:59):
Obviously we're all very excited here at New York Roadrunners
with the Mastercard Mini 10K coming up. Anne, we have an
incredible pro field in this year's race. We've got Olympians and
World Champions, including former TCS New York City Marathon winners,
Hellen Obiri, and our guest today, which I'll introduce in
a second, Sharon Lokedi, fresh off of her Boston Marathon
(03:24):
win. She'll be joining us at the Mastercard Mini 10K.
I cannot wait to see Sharon. I haven't seen her
in person since she won that race in Boston. It
was such a great moment to see that. We've got
some other amazing champions. World Champion Gotytom Gebreslase will be
there. US Olympians, Kim Conley, Emily Infeld, Weini Kelati, Dakotah Popehn, and Emily
(03:46):
Sisson will all be in the field, and Paralympic medalist
and defending TCS New York City Marathon Wheelchair champion Susannah
Scaroni racing for her sixth consecutive event title. So, Anne,
it's an amazing pro field. Not only do we have
these amazing folks at the front, we've also got obviously
a huge field behind them. We're going to have more
(04:06):
than a thousand kids participating in a girls' run as
well as 10, 000 runners in the main field. So it
should be an amazing day.
Anne Valentzas (04:15):
Really looking forward to it. I hope the weather holds
out for us.
Rob Simmelkjaer (04:18):
Well, not only do we have all that going on,
but also a first, this is going to be a
broadcast race. We're going to have the opportunity for people
to watch this race through all kinds of amazing channels.
So for the first time, our New York Roadrunners app,
which if you haven't downloaded already, you should be downloading
right away because we're going to have live, uninterrupted feeds
(04:40):
of the Mastercard New York Mini 10K professional athlete field
live on the app as it happens. The event's also
going to be covered locally in the tri- state New York
City area by WABC TV with live news cut- ins
from 6 AM to 10 AM. Then beginning at 7:
45 AM the professional race will be covered by a
(05:00):
live stream distributed not only in the app but domestically by
ESPN Plus and ABC7newyork. com. So Anne, this race is getting
bigger. We're also going to have international coverage as well.
New York Roadrunners YouTube channel will cover the live stream.
Reporting live from the event will be an all- women
broadcast team, WABC sports anchor, Sam Ryan, WABC reporter, Nina
(05:25):
Pineda, and US Olympians, Carrie Tollefson and Alysia Montano. So
that's going to be pretty cool to watch that race
live. It's great to shine a light on these incredible
female athletes and give women everywhere a chance to watch
this great race.
Anne Valentzas (05:41):
Yeah, I'm really excited about that and I'm excited to be participating
this year as well.
Rob Simmelkjaer (05:46):
You're back. Taking it...
Anne Valentzas (05:47):
I'm back.
Rob Simmelkjaer (05:47):
Are you going to try to take that PR down again?
Anne Valentzas (05:49):
I've got to keep on beating the last one.
Rob Simmelkjaer (05:52):
All right, pressure's on now. We'll all be tracking you
in the app. So I'm putting you in right now.
Anne Valentzas. That's with a Z. Okay. So we have
a tradition at Set the Pace Partner Forum live episodes,
and so we're going to have another superstar live runner
join us today. Today it's going to be an incredible
athlete and an incredible person. The newly crowned 2025 Boston
(06:16):
Marathon champion and course record holder, the 2022 TCS New York
City Marathon winner, and the 2025 United Airlines NYC Half Champion,
the great Sharon Lokedi. She's going to be up here in
just a minute and we're so excited to talk to
her fresh off of her Boston win. First before we
get to Sharon, we're going to talk a little more
(06:37):
with you about Mastercard and the Mini 10K. I guess,
Anne, I'll start just by asking you the question because
a lot of folks out there, they may not understand
the world of sports sponsorship. Why does a company like
Mastercard want to put its name on an event like
the Mastercard Mini 10K?
Anne Valentzas (06:54):
Well, Mastercard Mini 10K is a special event. It is
about bringing community together. It's about women supporting women, it's
about women's empowerment. We as Mastercard are all about bringing
people together through passions. Those runners are celebrating their passions
together and this is an opportunity for us to enable
(07:18):
that, enable that through our card holders and our employees
and to be part of a very special event.
Rob Simmelkjaer (07:25):
What is the emotional power of an event like this? I
always talk about the finish line of one of our
races being, apologies to our friends and partners at the
Walt Disney Company, but the finish line of one of
our races is the happiest place on earth, I really
believe. What does it mean for a brand like Mastercard
(07:45):
for your priceless experiences to be a part of that emotional
power of the finish line?
Anne Valentzas (07:52):
Yeah, the finish line for a runner is about so
much more than the race itself. It's about the journey
that you took to get there. It's about setting those
goals. It's about overcoming challenges. It's about the perseverance, the
determination, what you're giving up in order to get to
(08:13):
that point. When you do get to that point, that
joy that you're celebrating is what we would call priceless.
It is something, it's an emotion that money can't buy.
Rob Simmelkjaer (08:26):
How does a relationship like the one that Mastercard and
New York Roadrunners has? How does it evolve over years?
I always talk with our team about never standing still.
You can't just keep doing the same thing over and
over again. Even if it appears to be working, you
can't keep doing it because what works today will not
(08:47):
work in two years, five years because people are always
looking for something new. This is really part of what
marketers have to do. How do you manage to evolve
the relationship and keep bringing people something new to excite them?
Anne Valentzas (09:01):
Yeah, over the years we've really evolved this partnership to
a very purpose- driven collaboration that has helped us bring
our brand values to life through experiences. We do that
through employees. We have the Mastercard Run Club, we do
this through our small business activations at races. We do
(09:25):
it for card holders. We offer card holders access to
bibs at hard to get into races. We also do
something very special. When we talk about priceless experiences, we're
talking about these once- in- a- lifetime opportunities that literally
you cannot buy anywhere. One of the things that we
(09:45):
do at the TCS New York City Marathon is something
we call the Priceless Start. What we do is enable
our card holders to start the race in advance of
the professional field. So they're the first ones to go
over that Verrazzano- Narrows bridge. They're the first ones to
hear the roar of the crowd, and they're the ones
(10:06):
that are going to be experiencing firsthand what it feels
like for those professionals to run past you. You get
a real sense of the speed of these incredible athletes. It
is just a remarkable, truly once- in- a- lifetime and
priceless experience.
Rob Simmelkjaer (10:23):
I've stood at the starting line now for a few
years and watched those runners get that start, that incredible
experience. I always think two things. I think, well, how
cool for them to get that opportunity. Then I always
think, slow down. I'm like, you cannot chase those pro
athletes. You've got to mind your pace. Just because you're
(10:44):
up there with them doesn't mean you can keep up with them.
Anne Valentzas (10:47):
That's a challenge. We have people tell us, I just want to
keep up for a little bit. I want to see
how long I can keep up with them.
Rob Simmelkjaer (10:54):
Yeah, if you start that way, good luck getting to
Central Park. It may take you out, but it is
an incredible experience for all of them. Another thing that
I think is special about what you guys at Mastercard
do around our events with the Roadrunners is you've got
this incredible reach into small businesses. That's a huge focus
of what you guys do. We've had small businesses featured
(11:17):
at the Marathon Expo and in other places. Why is
it so important for you, this big, global company to
invest in and partner with small businesses and tell stories
of all of these little mom and pops?
Anne Valentzas (11:31):
Yeah. Well, I'll tell you, small businesses and runners have
a lot in common. It is all about setting your
personal goals. You've got to have determination, you've got to
overcome adversity. You're in this on your own for a
sense of personal achievement, but it's hard work. So we
(11:53):
want to be out there and support these small businesses.
It's a great opportunity to do this when we're at
a race like the Mastercard Mini 10K, where it's all
part of the local community and there are these local
small businesses that really help us all help the city
run, help us all as runners. This year we're going
to have a number of small businesses with us throughout
(12:15):
the race and at the end of the race, at
the Mastercard Mini 10K. We've got Baz Bagels who's going
to be with us. They are a small business down
on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, started by a
couple of founders. We've got Hometown Flowers with us. It's
a really special group of people who are bringing you
(12:39):
closer to the farmers who actually grow the flowers for
your special events. A company called Fausel who can help
support at events providing photography that can be loaded real
time into social media. Once again, we have Face Art
(12:59):
by Melissa who has been with us in the past.
She has done Face Art for the New York Yankees,
for the New York Rangers, for the New York Knicks,
and for the New York Roadrunners and our very own
Rob Simmelkjaer was decorated not maybe last year or the
year before.
Rob Simmelkjaer (13:17):
I think it was two years ago. They managed to put the
Mastercard colors on my cheek. It worked.
Anne Valentzas (13:23):
That's right. We wanted our brand everywhere at that race,
including on Rob.
Rob Simmelkjaer (13:31):
Another thing that I love about Mastercard and our partnership
is you also have made it a big part of
what it means to be an employee at Mastercard. You
guys have a run club, an internal run club. How
has that run club shaped the culture at Mastercard?
Anne Valentzas (13:49):
Yeah, well at Mastercard we have a strong belief in supporting
our employees' health and well- being. That is physical, mental well-
being. Our run club, we started in partnership with this,
when we started this partnership in 2020, it has grown
to over 600 members. We are able to give our
(14:10):
employees access to things like the bibs, to priceless experiences.
Like we've had some incredible one- on- one sessions with
our ambassadors. We obviously can give them access to the
Priceless Start and events like the Mastercard Mini 10K, where
(14:30):
we'll have a very large group of Mastercard employees running
with us on Saturday.
Rob Simmelkjaer (14:36):
All right, I'm excited to interview our guest. Will you
join me?
Anne Valentzas (14:40):
I would love to.
Rob Simmelkjaer (14:41):
All right. We are so thrilled to welcome Sharon Lokedi
back to Set the Pace. She was on the show
actually this past February and we talked in that episode
about her childhood and her family and her evolution from
a college athlete in Kansas to a champion marathoner. So
you should go back and find that show. We'll put
(15:03):
in the show notes to listen to that. Since that
conversation just 13 weeks ago, Sharon has won the United
Airlines NYC half in an event record, one hour, seven
minutes and four seconds. Then in April, she not only
won the Boston Marathon, but she shattered the course record
with a two hour, 17 minute and 22 second finish
(15:26):
in Boston. This coming weekend, Sharon will once again be
racing her friend and her fierce competitor and countrywoman Hellen
Obiri in the Mastercard New York Mini 10K. So we
have a lot to catch up on. Try the Peloton
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(15:46):
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(16:07):
you. Try the app for free for 30 days and
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Terms apply. Peloton, the official digital fitness partner of New
York Roadrunners. Can we get Sharon Lokedi up here? Where
is Sharon? There she is. Sharon, I have to give you
(16:32):
a hug. Great to see you. Great. How are you? It is so great to see
Sharon. Sharon, I haven't seen you since Boston. I saw
you a little bit before the race. It was so
amazing to watch you cross that finish line, the battle
(16:57):
between you and Hellen, those last couple of miles. We'll
talk about that in a second because it was an
unbelievable battle. To see you and there was a moment
where you clearly had it, and then to watch you
come down Boylston Street, cross that finish line and go
right into your mother's arms was a beautiful, beautiful thing
(17:22):
to see. Congratulations.
Sharon Lokedi (17:26):
Thank you. Thank you.
Rob Simmelkjaer (17:31):
What, Sharon, do you most remember now? It was obviously
such a huge moment, it's so recent and fresh, but
when you think about it now, what's the first image
that comes to mind?
Sharon Lokedi (17:50):
I think it was honestly just like you turn and
you could see the finish line, but it seems so
close, but it's so far away. At that time you're
just so tired. I'm like, I remember I kept telling
myself just one step at a time, you can do
this, you can do this. Then just seeing that guide
(18:11):
just go, " Oh, go right." I'm like, oh, thank God. So
yeah, it definitely was one of those that you just cross
the finish line and you're like, this is what I've been
working for, for a very long time.
Rob Simmelkjaer (18:27):
How many miles were you and Hellen just kind of
going head- to- head? I remember just in watching it,
I feel like it was quite a while. It was
just the two of you and it was like mano
a mano, woman against woman battle all along that route.
(18:47):
When was the moment that you thought you had it,
that you were going to be able to overcome Hellen
and win this?
Sharon Lokedi (18:54):
Honestly, not until late because as you know, Hellen is
such a tough competitor and also a tough athlete. So
going through those maybe five miles of the race was
pretty... I think I was just thinking, I'm like, okay, how
am I going to get it today? How am I going
to be able to defeat her today? In a way
(19:17):
it was just in a nice way, but still I'm
like, okay, I need this. I think it was right
before, I think 800 meters. Sometimes you make moves and
you don't really look back and you just expect it to be
okay and you just expect for the best. For me, in
my head, I was like, okay, don't look back. Just
(19:38):
keep working hard and keep pushing. I think if you
just believe in it, you're just going to go. Yeah, I just kept
going and kept praying. Yeah.
Anne Valentzas (19:51):
Well, Sharon, it is such an honor to be sitting
here next to you. I am such a big admirer.
I watched you win the New York Marathon in 2022.
I was in the women's lead vehicle as a sponsor,
so we watched the whole race firsthand and I was
cheering for you. So it was just super exciting, very
(20:11):
exciting to see you win Boston this year. I hear
you talk about this and you seem so calm, and
I just wonder how do you mentally prepare for a
race of that magnitude?
Sharon Lokedi (20:23):
Oh, first of all, it's a pleasure to meet you. I think it's just during
training, I just try to visualize the race and everything.
Just as I trained, even if it's a workout or
an easy run, I just try to think about it and
just try and focus on that and how I can
(20:44):
go through those obstacles. I can go through those tired
miles where I'm like, I can't really go. Then I
just try to focus on the things that I can work
on and the things that I can use to help
me build confidence. Sometimes it can be a run where
I am doing a workout and I feel like I
(21:05):
don't feel good, or sometimes it's a workout where I
feel so good and then I'm like, okay, I need
to work more on this and get stronger in this side
and this. Over time I think it helps. As you
go, I mean it's not easy, but it's one of those that you're like, okay, it's a progress more than anything.
Rob Simmelkjaer (21:27):
What did it mean for you to have your mother there at
the finish line?
Sharon Lokedi (21:31):
Oh, so cool. It was just amazing. I could see
her running to me and I'm like, this way, I'm
so tired. I'm like, please just slow down a little.
It's like, I've never seen her run that fast. It
was just amazing. She gets to... She's someone that's always,
(21:51):
she's prayerful, she's very hopeful. So she was all this
time I could see even after, I could see all
the videos and I could see her pacing and all.
At home when she's watching, she's usually asking my sisters
and my neighbor's like, " Oh, how is she doing?" She
wouldn't watch, she would just ask people. This time she
(22:14):
was there, so it was hard for her not to
see it. It was just a cool experience to get to
enjoy all that with her. Yeah, I hope she had a good time. I hope so.
Rob Simmelkjaer (22:25):
I would think she had a pretty good time watching her daughter win the thing. Probably
a pretty good time.
Sharon Lokedi (22:32):
Yeah.
Anne Valentzas (22:33):
How has life been like since Boston? I saw a
lot of interviews on social media, which by the way,
you still seem very calm in these interviews. I think
it's so incredible. Were you prepared for all that buzz
and excitement?
Sharon Lokedi (22:49):
No. When all you think about at that time is
just the race. Just the race. Sometimes it's like you
never know how it's going to go. Then when you
win and then you're like, oh, (inaudible) everything coming.
I think it helps because when you have people that
(23:13):
are there to support you, and sometimes even with these
interviews, it's just like a conversation. So when it feels
like this calm and stuff, so I am also calm,
so it helps. Yeah, it's been a lot of just
chatting about how my training is and my runs and
all that. If anything, I feel like it's a growth
(23:36):
journey for me. Yeah, I don't know, I'll enjoy it
and I'll take it in as much as I can.
Anne Valentzas (23:44):
Good. You should enjoy it.
Sharon Lokedi (23:45):
Oh, thank you.
Rob Simmelkjaer (23:47):
Winning, you've won a lot of races. What's the difference
when you win something like Boston? It's a global stage,
New York obviously as well, these global stages that people
everywhere are seeing this and recognizing you. How does that
change your life when you win a race like New
(24:09):
York or Boston?
Sharon Lokedi (24:11):
It definitely makes things a bit more... It makes me
want to just keep doing it and keep getting better
because it's one of those things that it's like, yes,
I just want that, but I still, it's such a
good feeling that makes you want to feel it over and over
again. In a way I think it's, as an athlete,
(24:35):
having that helps with your confidence and with also your
training and even motivating other people. I think it's like
even when I go back to training after all those
races, I'm like, oh, I have to look back. I'm
like, this happened and this happened, but now I need
to focus more on what's coming and how to go
(24:55):
back there and compete again and be the best that I
could be.
Anne Valentzas (25:00):
Speaking of what's coming up, we have the Mastercard Mini 10K.
Sharon Lokedi (25:04):
Yes.
Anne Valentzas (25:05):
Rob talked about your friendship with Hellen. Your competition with
Hellen, and you'll be competing against her again this weekend.
Sharon Lokedi (25:14):
Yes.
Anne Valentzas (25:15):
How are you feeling about that? Are you excited?
Sharon Lokedi (25:17):
Yes, I'm very excited. Dorian reminded me, actually we've never
raced this race together. So this is going to be a really
good one. I like having her out there because I
think she just brings the best out of me. We're
friends and we're also competitors, but when we get out
(25:38):
there, it's time to get it going. It's just really
good when you have people to push you to be
the best that you could be. So yeah, I'm really
excited having her there and being able to compete and enjoy
and it's really a good time (inaudible) .
Rob Simmelkjaer (25:57):
Have you and Hellen talked a lot since the battle
you had in Boston? I'm curious what those conversations have
been like. It's not always easy to be friends in
a situation like that where you are in a competition,
not just with a bunch of other people, but I
mean really that was a one- on- one competition you
(26:18):
guys were in. So what have your conversations with her
been like since the Boston Marathon?
Sharon Lokedi (26:23):
I mean, she's been very supportive and helpful of everything
and just so happy for me. Apart from being friends,
there's also, we are doing this as part of our
identity and work and all that. So there's still that
(26:43):
competitiveness you could tell. So I know she's ready to
give it to me this weekend.
Anne Valentzas (26:51):
Looking for revenge.
Sharon Lokedi (26:52):
I'm really looking forward to it too. So I think
she's always someone that I could reach out to and
just chat or share anything.
Rob Simmelkjaer (27:04):
Does the shorter distance of this race, 10 kilometers, who
does it favor? Who do you think is better in
a shorter, faster race?
Sharon Lokedi (27:12):
Honestly now I don't know. I think probably her, she
has a short distance background, so definitely. I'm not going
to give up. I still want to go and give my best too.
Anne Valentzas (27:26):
Good for you. It is such a different race distance
to train for. So how do you train differently?
Sharon Lokedi (27:35):
I mean for this one mostly it's like since it's
10K, mostly just less mileage and more speed. For me,
I think it's just coming back from the marathon and
taking a break and then studying the training again, it's
a little bit of your body trying to get back
to the normal self. So yeah, just trying to doing
(27:58):
less work from what I'm used to when I'm doing
marathon. Then I had this speed is up, so it's
a bit different, but it's fun. It's fun. I like it because it's short.
Rob Simmelkjaer (28:11):
It's long for some people.
Anne Valentzas (28:13):
It's quite hilly too, so it's not an easy 10K.
Sharon Lokedi (28:17):
Yes, yes. It's a fun one, honestly. It's like one
of those that you just come in and you know
it's going to be a sprint to the finish, but
it's like you are having fun as you go through all the miles
and kilometers. So it's going to be great, I guess.
Rob Simmelkjaer (28:35):
What does it mean, Sharon, for you to look behind
you when you're at the starting line of this race and see 10,
000 women behind you? It's obviously legendary in terms of
being the first women's focus, women's only major road race.
Going back to the 1970s, what does that mean for
(28:55):
you to be leading a pack of female athletes in
this race?
Sharon Lokedi (29:00):
Honestly, I think it's very motivational and it's also, there's
a pride that comes with it. I am very proud to be
out here with other women running and just us being
us and giving our best. It's amazing when you're in
(29:21):
a race like this where you know it's just meant specifically
for you. At that point you can just do whatever
and you can just run as fast as you can
and get to meet as many people as you can.
Just to celebrate. At the end of the day we are
celebrating a history and yes, being part of that history
is very important for me.
Anne Valentzas (29:42):
I think it's a special race that way because it's
all women coming together and supporting each other. It's not
just women, it's people of different experience levels. Some people
are running a 10K for the first time. Do you
have any advice for people who are running for the
first time?
Sharon Lokedi (30:01):
I mean, I remember the first time I raced and
it's like you go in and you're like, yes, you've
been getting ready for this, you've been training for it and you are
so nervous and you're also so excited. It can be
scary, but just know that you've worked for it and
(30:22):
you want this and you wanted to be out here.
So just go out for it. Just have a good
time, have fun, enjoy and compete and then celebrate because
it's like you do the first one and you're like,
I just want to see how it goes. Then you
run and you finish and you're like, oh, I'm definitely
coming back. So that's the feeling I'm usually looking forward
(30:43):
to is just the excitement that it brings. Yeah, just have
fun, have a good time.
Anne Valentzas (30:51):
It's good advice and it is a nice race for that. It's a race where
women really are genuinely supporting one another. I'll never forget
one of the years I ran, two women were talking
to each other, one said, " Hey, it's my first." They
didn't know each other. One said, " It's my first time,
I'm really nervous. I heard it's very hilly. I don't
know the course at all." The other one said, " Hey,
what pace are you planning to run? I'm happy to
(31:13):
run with you and I'll give you guidance all along
the way and I'll tell you what to expect." They
instantly had this bond and this support and it's really incredible
to watch. I think it's very special.
Sharon Lokedi (31:24):
A forever friendship I guess.
Anne Valentzas (31:25):
That's right. That's right. I'll do the same with you.
I'll look for you and I'll just follow your pace.
Is that all right?
Sharon Lokedi (31:31):
I would love that.
Rob Simmelkjaer (31:35):
So your mom has stayed in the United States with
you since Boston, is that right?
Sharon Lokedi (31:40):
Yeah.
Rob Simmelkjaer (31:40):
Was that the plan or did she stay longer just
to help you celebrate and recover from your win there
and what have you guys been doing?
Sharon Lokedi (31:51):
I mean when she came she was like, " I'll probably
stay a month." Then after she was like, " Maybe I
should stay a little bit longer." So yeah, we just
been going on little trips and cooking a lot more
and gardening. She's just been doing these things that I'm like, she's like, "
Oh, you sit, yeah, I'll do everything." I'm like, " Oh,
(32:12):
I love this." Then yesterday when I was coming, she
was also leaving, so then I went, oh, this is
going to be so... She was like, " Oh, I'm going
to miss this house." I'm like, " Same. Same." It's been amazing,
just have that time with her and enjoy everything with
her. I was off season, so we would just wake
(32:36):
up in the morning, we have our tea and relax,
have all day to just chill.
Rob Simmelkjaer (32:41):
Is there anything that you have done to treat yourself,
reward yourself since winning Boston? Have you bought anything or
gone anywhere or done anything to kind of recognize yourself?
Sharon Lokedi (32:56):
We went shopping after Boston.
Rob Simmelkjaer (32:59):
We've talked about this. I know you like shopping.
Sharon Lokedi (33:01):
Yeah. Yeah, I do. It's not a (inaudible) but
I love, it's a fun part of, you work so
hard and then after just go and treat yourself. Sometimes I
treat myself a little bit too much.
Anne Valentzas (33:23):
You deserve it though. You should treat yourself.
Sharon Lokedi (33:26):
Thanks. That's what my mom says and it got me
in trouble because she was like, " Treat yourself." I ended
up buying too many things (inaudible) .
Anne Valentzas (33:35):
I am interested. I was listening to the last time
you were on Rob's podcast and you talked about how
the win at the New York City Marathon in 2022
really boosted your confidence, gave you a real breakthrough and
a belief in yourself. How have these recent wins at the
New York City half and in Boston further advance that?
Sharon Lokedi (33:56):
It definitely is when I won New York, it was
such a great feeling that I'm like, I never really
expected that to happen. Then as you go and you
get to other races and you're building confidence and you believe
in yourself and you start to see more wins and
more wins. Even when I came here for the half,
(34:16):
I was here just to see where my fitness was.
I went and won and I'm like, oh. So it
just brings so much belief in the things that you
do that you just see the things that you think
are unattainable. It makes it more like, oh, I can
do it. If I did it this past time, I'll
(34:38):
do it again. Even going to Boston, I was like,
if I just have the same mentality I had when
I ran New York and just go for it and
just believe that I could, it would do wonders. I
got to that race and it started to get so
fast and all of a sudden I'm like, oh, I don't
(35:00):
know if I can do it. Then I start to
remind myself, I'm like, anything, you've done this before and if you could just
put yourself to it and believe in yourself. It just happens.
Even now when things start to like, even outside of running,
when things starts to seem like, oh, I cannot achieve
this or I cannot be in this space or this place,
(35:21):
it's like I just remind myself, I'm like, two years
ago you did not think you're going to be there
and now you're here. So it opens up things that
make you think that anything that you see or you
look forward to, the goal that you set for yourself
can be attainable. So yeah, I won Boston. Now I'm like, okay,
(35:46):
what next? Should I do something else? It's like it
gives you things that you look and you're like, I
would never let myself or put myself down for something
that if you don't try it, then how would you know?
Anne Valentzas (36:01):
It's a great lesson in running and a great lesson
in life.
Sharon Lokedi (36:03):
Yeah.
Anne Valentzas (36:03):
Yeah.
Sharon Lokedi (36:03):
Yeah. For sure.
Anne Valentzas (36:05):
Inspiring.
Sharon Lokedi (36:06):
Yeah.
Rob Simmelkjaer (36:07):
Sharon, I know we talked last time about the foundation
you started back in Kenya to help young girls at
your high school. Have you heard from the girls back
at your school since you won Boston? Did you get
some interaction or messaging from them? I'm curious what the
reaction was like there from what you did in Boston.
Sharon Lokedi (36:28):
Oh, it's very exciting. I remember they sent me pictures
and like, " Oh, when are you coming?" They thought I
was just going straight from Boston straight to Kenya. I'm like, "
I would love to be there with you guys now,
but I can't." I think I get to see them
in July. So I'm really excited for that. I think
we'll have a few days with them and a few
things to do there. I think it'll just be nice
(36:51):
if they could see when I go there, they watch
the race and everything. When they see you in person
and see the middle and see the things and even
just talking with them and just being with them I think
is so special. So I'm very excited for that. Even
my coach, my high school principal, they're all like, " Oh,
(37:14):
we want you to come back and talk to all
the girls," and stuff. I'm like, no. So it's very
emotional but also very exciting that the things that you
do, you think you're doing for yourself, but you're not.
You're doing it for more people than you think.
Rob Simmelkjaer (37:32):
So what's next after the Mastercard Mini 10K? Do you
have the rest of your year planned out? What's the
fall plan? Anything we can say?
Sharon Lokedi (37:42):
I don't know.
Rob Simmelkjaer (37:43):
You don't know? Maybe we should talk. I'm just kidding.
I know our pro athletes team, they're working on whatever
they're working on, so we won't break any news here.
Sharon, just incredible to see you back in New York
to celebrate you this weekend at the Mastercard Mini 10K
(38:05):
and also to see you go for the win as
well. So thank you so much for being with us
and it's just always such a pleasure to have you
here with us at New York Roadrunners. Sharon Lokedi.
Sharon Lokedi (38:15):
Thanks. Thanks, everyone. Bye. Thanks for having me.
Rob Simmelkjaer (38:20):
New York Roadrunners is a nonprofit organization with a vision
to build healthier lives and stronger communities through the transformative
power of running. The support of members and donors like
you helps us achieve our mission to transform the health
and well- being of our communities through inclusive and accessible
running experiences, empowering all to achieve their potential. Learn more
(38:42):
and contribute at nyrr. org/ donate. That was so much fun.
Anne Valentzas (38:47):
Oh, it's so inspiring. I mean, I feel so humbled
sitting next to her. She's such an incredible athlete and
doesn't she seem so calm and just down to earth?
Rob Simmelkjaer (38:55):
Well, I tell a story about her before we say
goodbye. My daughter Julia, who's 16 years old and her
best friend, they came to the marathon and saw Sharon
win and they've just been huge Sharon fans ever since.
Sharon will DM them on Instagram all the time. It can't just be them, but I mean she's constantly keeping in touch with her
(39:19):
fans. She makes herself accessible to girls everywhere. So she's
the real deal. She really is. It's great to see
her successful. So, well that does it for another episode
of Set the Pace. Anne, thanks for co- hosting with me.
Anne Valentzas (39:34):
Thank you, Rob.
Rob Simmelkjaer (39:34):
You did a great job.
Anne Valentzas (39:35):
Yeah.
Rob Simmelkjaer (39:36):
We should do this again.
Anne Valentzas (39:36):
Let's do it.
Rob Simmelkjaer (39:37):
All right, this was a lot of fun. So hope you
guys in the live audience enjoyed the show. Thank you
for being with us. Make sure you subscribe to it. If you
haven't already, take out your phones right now, subscribe to
Set the Pace, follow it on whatever platform you listen
to podcasts. We will see you all next week. Enjoy
(39:58):
the miles.
It's a race where women really are genuinely supporting one
another. I'll never forget one of the years I ran,
two women were talking to each other. One said, " Hey,
it's my first." They didn't know each other. One said, "
It's my first time. I'm really nervous. I heard it's
very hilly. I don't know the course at all." The
other one said, " Hey, what pace are you planning to
run? I'm happy to run with you and I'll give
(00:21):
you guidance all along the way and I'll tell you
what to expect." They instantly had this bond and this support
and it's really incredible to watch. I think it's very special.
Rob Simmelkjaer (00:35):
Hey, everybody and welcome to Set the Pace, the official
podcast of New York Roadrunners presented by Peloton. I'm your
host, Rob Simmelkjaer, the CEO of New York Roadrunners. We
are live and I'm going to make you guys make
some noise. We're live from our annual TCS New York
City Marathon Partner Forum. Can you make some noise so
(00:56):
that people can hear you? That's right. This is a
very exclusive crowd of New York City Marathon partners and
sponsors. We bring them all together once a year in
New York City to talk about this incredible event, the
TCS New York City Marathon and all that our partners
do to make that experience possible for our runners and
(01:19):
our members. So it's a really special day. Part of
what makes it special is I don't have my usual co-
host with me today. Becs Gentry couldn't be with us
today. So we've got someone from another one of our
partners, Mastercard's Anne Valentzas is here in her place. Give
it up for Anne. Did you ever think you'd be
(01:41):
hosting a podcast, Anne?
Anne Valentzas (01:43):
No. This is a first. I thought I was in
marketing, but I guess I'm a podcaster.
Rob Simmelkjaer (01:47):
Well now you're talent. So welcome to the world of
podcast talent. For those who don't know, can I tell
a little bit about you? I want to tell your
story a little bit.
Anne Valentzas (01:55):
Sure.
Rob Simmelkjaer (01:55):
Anne's title is Senior Vice President of Consumer Marketing and
Sponsorships at Mastercard. She spearheads the Global Priceless program, which
is iconic. Everybody knows about Priceless and Mastercard, experiences that
connect cardholders to culture, sport, and sustainability initiatives. A champion
for entrepreneurs and also leads Mastercard's small business marketing portfolio,
(02:18):
delivering resources and exposure that help local merchants thrive. Here
at Roadrunners, we get to work closely with you through
flagship races like the Mastercard Mini 10K, which is coming
up this weekend, and of course the TCS New York
City Marathon. Here's a fun fact about Anne. We were
talking about it a little bit earlier. Anne ran her
(02:39):
first Mini 10K. Was it your first race?
Anne Valentzas (02:42):
No, it was not my first race.
Rob Simmelkjaer (02:43):
Okay, but your first...
Anne Valentzas (02:44):
First time that I ran the Mini 10K.
Rob Simmelkjaer (02:45):
The Mini 10K, she ran it back in 1996. What
do you remember about running it in 1996?
Anne Valentzas (02:51):
I don't remember a lot other than I had a
good time. I really enjoyed it. It's a special event.
Rob Simmelkjaer (02:59):
Obviously we're all very excited here at New York Roadrunners
with the Mastercard Mini 10K coming up. Anne, we have an
incredible pro field in this year's race. We've got Olympians and
World Champions, including former TCS New York City Marathon winners,
Hellen Obiri, and our guest today, which I'll introduce in
a second, Sharon Lokedi, fresh off of her Boston Marathon
(03:24):
win. She'll be joining us at the Mastercard Mini 10K.
I cannot wait to see Sharon. I haven't seen her
in person since she won that race in Boston. It
was such a great moment to see that. We've got
some other amazing champions. World Champion Gotytom Gebreslase will be
there. US Olympians, Kim Conley, Emily Infeld, Weini Kelati, Dakotah Popehn, and Emily
(03:46):
Sisson will all be in the field, and Paralympic medalist
and defending TCS New York City Marathon Wheelchair champion Susannah
Scaroni racing for her sixth consecutive event title. So, Anne,
it's an amazing pro field. Not only do we have
these amazing folks at the front, we've also got obviously
a huge field behind them. We're going to have more
(04:06):
than a thousand kids participating in a girls' run as
well as 10, 000 runners in the main field. So it
should be an amazing day.
Anne Valentzas (04:15):
Really looking forward to it. I hope the weather holds
out for us.
Rob Simmelkjaer (04:18):
Well, not only do we have all that going on,
but also a first, this is going to be a
broadcast race. We're going to have the opportunity for people
to watch this race through all kinds of amazing channels.
So for the first time, our New York Roadrunners app,
which if you haven't downloaded already, you should be downloading
right away because we're going to have live, uninterrupted feeds
(04:40):
of the Mastercard New York Mini 10K professional athlete field
live on the app as it happens. The event's also
going to be covered locally in the tri- state New York
City area by WABC TV with live news cut- ins
from 6 AM to 10 AM. Then beginning at 7:
45 AM the professional race will be covered by a
(05:00):
live stream distributed not only in the app but domestically by
ESPN Plus and ABC7newyork. com. So Anne, this race is getting
bigger. We're also going to have international coverage as well.
New York Roadrunners YouTube channel will cover the live stream.
Reporting live from the event will be an all- women
broadcast team, WABC sports anchor, Sam Ryan, WABC reporter, Nina
(05:25):
Pineda, and US Olympians, Carrie Tollefson and Alysia Montano. So
that's going to be pretty cool to watch that race
live. It's great to shine a light on these incredible
female athletes and give women everywhere a chance to watch
this great race.
Anne Valentzas (05:41):
Yeah, I'm really excited about that and I'm excited to be participating
this year as well.
Rob Simmelkjaer (05:46):
You're back. Taking it...
Anne Valentzas (05:47):
I'm back.
Rob Simmelkjaer (05:47):
Are you going to try to take that PR down again?
Anne Valentzas (05:49):
I've got to keep on beating the last one.
Rob Simmelkjaer (05:52):
All right, pressure's on now. We'll all be tracking you
in the app. So I'm putting you in right now.
Anne Valentzas. That's with a Z. Okay. So we have
a tradition at Set the Pace Partner Forum live episodes,
and so we're going to have another superstar live runner
join us today. Today it's going to be an incredible
athlete and an incredible person. The newly crowned 2025 Boston
(06:16):
Marathon champion and course record holder, the 2022 TCS New York
City Marathon winner, and the 2025 United Airlines NYC Half Champion,
the great Sharon Lokedi. She's going to be up here in
just a minute and we're so excited to talk to
her fresh off of her Boston win. First before we
get to Sharon, we're going to talk a little more
(06:37):
with you about Mastercard and the Mini 10K. I guess,
Anne, I'll start just by asking you the question because
a lot of folks out there, they may not understand
the world of sports sponsorship. Why does a company like
Mastercard want to put its name on an event like
the Mastercard Mini 10K?
Anne Valentzas (06:54):
Well, Mastercard Mini 10K is a special event. It is
about bringing community together. It's about women supporting women, it's
about women's empowerment. We as Mastercard are all about bringing
people together through passions. Those runners are celebrating their passions
together and this is an opportunity for us to enable
(07:18):
that, enable that through our card holders and our employees
and to be part of a very special event.
Rob Simmelkjaer (07:25):
What is the emotional power of an event like this? I
always talk about the finish line of one of our
races being, apologies to our friends and partners at the
Walt Disney Company, but the finish line of one of
our races is the happiest place on earth, I really
believe. What does it mean for a brand like Mastercard
(07:45):
for your priceless experiences to be a part of that emotional
power of the finish line?
Anne Valentzas (07:52):
Yeah, the finish line for a runner is about so
much more than the race itself. It's about the journey
that you took to get there. It's about setting those
goals. It's about overcoming challenges. It's about the perseverance, the
determination, what you're giving up in order to get to
(08:13):
that point. When you do get to that point, that
joy that you're celebrating is what we would call priceless.
It is something, it's an emotion that money can't buy.
Rob Simmelkjaer (08:26):
How does a relationship like the one that Mastercard and
New York Roadrunners has? How does it evolve over years?
I always talk with our team about never standing still.
You can't just keep doing the same thing over and
over again. Even if it appears to be working, you
can't keep doing it because what works today will not
(08:47):
work in two years, five years because people are always
looking for something new. This is really part of what
marketers have to do. How do you manage to evolve
the relationship and keep bringing people something new to excite them?
Anne Valentzas (09:01):
Yeah, over the years we've really evolved this partnership to
a very purpose- driven collaboration that has helped us bring
our brand values to life through experiences. We do that
through employees. We have the Mastercard Run Club, we do
this through our small business activations at races. We do
(09:25):
it for card holders. We offer card holders access to
bibs at hard to get into races. We also do
something very special. When we talk about priceless experiences, we're
talking about these once- in- a- lifetime opportunities that literally
you cannot buy anywhere. One of the things that we
(09:45):
do at the TCS New York City Marathon is something
we call the Priceless Start. What we do is enable
our card holders to start the race in advance of
the professional field. So they're the first ones to go
over that Verrazzano- Narrows bridge. They're the first ones to
hear the roar of the crowd, and they're the ones
(10:06):
that are going to be experiencing firsthand what it feels
like for those professionals to run past you. You get
a real sense of the speed of these incredible athletes. It
is just a remarkable, truly once- in- a- lifetime and
priceless experience.
Rob Simmelkjaer (10:23):
I've stood at the starting line now for a few
years and watched those runners get that start, that incredible
experience. I always think two things. I think, well, how
cool for them to get that opportunity. Then I always
think, slow down. I'm like, you cannot chase those pro
athletes. You've got to mind your pace. Just because you're
(10:44):
up there with them doesn't mean you can keep up with them.
Anne Valentzas (10:47):
That's a challenge. We have people tell us, I just want to
keep up for a little bit. I want to see
how long I can keep up with them.
Rob Simmelkjaer (10:54):
Yeah, if you start that way, good luck getting to
Central Park. It may take you out, but it is
an incredible experience for all of them. Another thing that
I think is special about what you guys at Mastercard
do around our events with the Roadrunners is you've got
this incredible reach into small businesses. That's a huge focus
of what you guys do. We've had small businesses featured
(11:17):
at the Marathon Expo and in other places. Why is
it so important for you, this big, global company to
invest in and partner with small businesses and tell stories
of all of these little mom and pops?
Anne Valentzas (11:31):
Yeah. Well, I'll tell you, small businesses and runners have
a lot in common. It is all about setting your
personal goals. You've got to have determination, you've got to
overcome adversity. You're in this on your own for a
sense of personal achievement, but it's hard work. So we
(11:53):
want to be out there and support these small businesses.
It's a great opportunity to do this when we're at
a race like the Mastercard Mini 10K, where it's all
part of the local community and there are these local
small businesses that really help us all help the city
run, help us all as runners. This year we're going
to have a number of small businesses with us throughout
(12:15):
the race and at the end of the race, at
the Mastercard Mini 10K. We've got Baz Bagels who's going
to be with us. They are a small business down
on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, started by a
couple of founders. We've got Hometown Flowers with us. It's
a really special group of people who are bringing you
(12:39):
closer to the farmers who actually grow the flowers for
your special events. A company called Fausel who can help
support at events providing photography that can be loaded real
time into social media. Once again, we have Face Art
(12:59):
by Melissa who has been with us in the past.
She has done Face Art for the New York Yankees,
for the New York Rangers, for the New York Knicks,
and for the New York Roadrunners and our very own
Rob Simmelkjaer was decorated not maybe last year or the
year before.
Rob Simmelkjaer (13:17):
I think it was two years ago. They managed to put the
Mastercard colors on my cheek. It worked.
Anne Valentzas (13:23):
That's right. We wanted our brand everywhere at that race,
including on Rob.
Rob Simmelkjaer (13:31):
Another thing that I love about Mastercard and our partnership
is you also have made it a big part of
what it means to be an employee at Mastercard. You
guys have a run club, an internal run club. How
has that run club shaped the culture at Mastercard?
Anne Valentzas (13:49):
Yeah, well at Mastercard we have a strong belief in supporting
our employees' health and well- being. That is physical, mental well-
being. Our run club, we started in partnership with this,
when we started this partnership in 2020, it has grown
to over 600 members. We are able to give our
(14:10):
employees access to things like the bibs, to priceless experiences.
Like we've had some incredible one- on- one sessions with
our ambassadors. We obviously can give them access to the
Priceless Start and events like the Mastercard Mini 10K, where
(14:30):
we'll have a very large group of Mastercard employees running
with us on Saturday.
Rob Simmelkjaer (14:36):
All right, I'm excited to interview our guest. Will you
join me?
Anne Valentzas (14:40):
I would love to.
Rob Simmelkjaer (14:41):
All right. We are so thrilled to welcome Sharon Lokedi
back to Set the Pace. She was on the show
actually this past February and we talked in that episode
about her childhood and her family and her evolution from
a college athlete in Kansas to a champion marathoner. So
you should go back and find that show. We'll put
(15:03):
in the show notes to listen to that. Since that
conversation just 13 weeks ago, Sharon has won the United
Airlines NYC half in an event record, one hour, seven
minutes and four seconds. Then in April, she not only
won the Boston Marathon, but she shattered the course record
with a two hour, 17 minute and 22 second finish
(15:26):
in Boston. This coming weekend, Sharon will once again be
racing her friend and her fierce competitor and countrywoman Hellen
Obiri in the Mastercard New York Mini 10K. So we
have a lot to catch up on. Try the Peloton
app for free and access classes for every type of
runner. Whether you're training for your first race or you're
(15:46):
a seasoned pro. From outdoor runs and intervals to strength,
yoga, and stretching, you'll find a perfect fit for every
part of your routine. Whether it's long run day or
you just need a quick five- minute reset. The Peloton
app meets you where you are and helps you become
a stronger, faster runner because it's designed for someone like
(16:07):
you. Try the app for free for 30 days and
download it now from the App Store or Google Play.
Terms apply. Peloton, the official digital fitness partner of New
York Roadrunners. Can we get Sharon Lokedi up here? Where
is Sharon? There she is. Sharon, I have to give you
(16:32):
a hug. Great to see you. Great. How are you? It is so great to see
Sharon. Sharon, I haven't seen you since Boston. I saw
you a little bit before the race. It was so
amazing to watch you cross that finish line, the battle
(16:57):
between you and Hellen, those last couple of miles. We'll
talk about that in a second because it was an
unbelievable battle. To see you and there was a moment
where you clearly had it, and then to watch you
come down Boylston Street, cross that finish line and go
right into your mother's arms was a beautiful, beautiful thing
(17:22):
to see. Congratulations.
Sharon Lokedi (17:26):
Thank you. Thank you.
Rob Simmelkjaer (17:31):
What, Sharon, do you most remember now? It was obviously
such a huge moment, it's so recent and fresh, but
when you think about it now, what's the first image
that comes to mind?
Sharon Lokedi (17:50):
I think it was honestly just like you turn and
you could see the finish line, but it seems so
close, but it's so far away. At that time you're
just so tired. I'm like, I remember I kept telling
myself just one step at a time, you can do
this, you can do this. Then just seeing that guide
(18:11):
just go, " Oh, go right." I'm like, oh, thank God. So
yeah, it definitely was one of those that you just cross
the finish line and you're like, this is what I've been
working for, for a very long time.
Rob Simmelkjaer (18:27):
How many miles were you and Hellen just kind of
going head- to- head? I remember just in watching it,
I feel like it was quite a while. It was
just the two of you and it was like mano
a mano, woman against woman battle all along that route.
(18:47):
When was the moment that you thought you had it,
that you were going to be able to overcome Hellen
and win this?
Sharon Lokedi (18:54):
Honestly, not until late because as you know, Hellen is
such a tough competitor and also a tough athlete. So
going through those maybe five miles of the race was
pretty... I think I was just thinking, I'm like, okay, how
am I going to get it today? How am I going
to be able to defeat her today? In a way
(19:17):
it was just in a nice way, but still I'm
like, okay, I need this. I think it was right
before, I think 800 meters. Sometimes you make moves and
you don't really look back and you just expect it to be
okay and you just expect for the best. For me, in
my head, I was like, okay, don't look back. Just
(19:38):
keep working hard and keep pushing. I think if you
just believe in it, you're just going to go. Yeah, I just kept
going and kept praying. Yeah.
Anne Valentzas (19:51):
Well, Sharon, it is such an honor to be sitting
here next to you. I am such a big admirer.
I watched you win the New York Marathon in 2022.
I was in the women's lead vehicle as a sponsor,
so we watched the whole race firsthand and I was
cheering for you. So it was just super exciting, very
(20:11):
exciting to see you win Boston this year. I hear
you talk about this and you seem so calm, and
I just wonder how do you mentally prepare for a
race of that magnitude?
Sharon Lokedi (20:23):
Oh, first of all, it's a pleasure to meet you. I think it's just during
training, I just try to visualize the race and everything.
Just as I trained, even if it's a workout or
an easy run, I just try to think about it and
just try and focus on that and how I can
(20:44):
go through those obstacles. I can go through those tired
miles where I'm like, I can't really go. Then I
just try to focus on the things that I can work
on and the things that I can use to help
me build confidence. Sometimes it can be a run where
I am doing a workout and I feel like I
(21:05):
don't feel good, or sometimes it's a workout where I
feel so good and then I'm like, okay, I need
to work more on this and get stronger in this side
and this. Over time I think it helps. As you
go, I mean it's not easy, but it's one of those that you're like, okay, it's a progress more than anything.
Rob Simmelkjaer (21:27):
What did it mean for you to have your mother there at
the finish line?
Sharon Lokedi (21:31):
Oh, so cool. It was just amazing. I could see
her running to me and I'm like, this way, I'm
so tired. I'm like, please just slow down a little.
It's like, I've never seen her run that fast. It
was just amazing. She gets to... She's someone that's always,
(21:51):
she's prayerful, she's very hopeful. So she was all this
time I could see even after, I could see all
the videos and I could see her pacing and all.
At home when she's watching, she's usually asking my sisters
and my neighbor's like, " Oh, how is she doing?" She
wouldn't watch, she would just ask people. This time she
(22:14):
was there, so it was hard for her not to
see it. It was just a cool experience to get to
enjoy all that with her. Yeah, I hope she had a good time. I hope so.
Rob Simmelkjaer (22:25):
I would think she had a pretty good time watching her daughter win the thing. Probably
a pretty good time.
Sharon Lokedi (22:32):
Yeah.
Anne Valentzas (22:33):
How has life been like since Boston? I saw a
lot of interviews on social media, which by the way,
you still seem very calm in these interviews. I think
it's so incredible. Were you prepared for all that buzz
and excitement?
Sharon Lokedi (22:49):
No. When all you think about at that time is
just the race. Just the race. Sometimes it's like you
never know how it's going to go. Then when you
win and then you're like, oh, (inaudible) everything coming.
I think it helps because when you have people that
(23:13):
are there to support you, and sometimes even with these
interviews, it's just like a conversation. So when it feels
like this calm and stuff, so I am also calm,
so it helps. Yeah, it's been a lot of just
chatting about how my training is and my runs and
all that. If anything, I feel like it's a growth
(23:36):
journey for me. Yeah, I don't know, I'll enjoy it
and I'll take it in as much as I can.
Anne Valentzas (23:44):
Good. You should enjoy it.
Sharon Lokedi (23:45):
Oh, thank you.
Rob Simmelkjaer (23:47):
Winning, you've won a lot of races. What's the difference
when you win something like Boston? It's a global stage,
New York obviously as well, these global stages that people
everywhere are seeing this and recognizing you. How does that
change your life when you win a race like New
(24:09):
York or Boston?
Sharon Lokedi (24:11):
It definitely makes things a bit more... It makes me
want to just keep doing it and keep getting better
because it's one of those things that it's like, yes,
I just want that, but I still, it's such a
good feeling that makes you want to feel it over and over
again. In a way I think it's, as an athlete,
(24:35):
having that helps with your confidence and with also your
training and even motivating other people. I think it's like
even when I go back to training after all those
races, I'm like, oh, I have to look back. I'm
like, this happened and this happened, but now I need
to focus more on what's coming and how to go
(24:55):
back there and compete again and be the best that I
could be.
Anne Valentzas (25:00):
Speaking of what's coming up, we have the Mastercard Mini 10K.
Sharon Lokedi (25:04):
Yes.
Anne Valentzas (25:05):
Rob talked about your friendship with Hellen. Your competition with
Hellen, and you'll be competing against her again this weekend.
Sharon Lokedi (25:14):
Yes.
Anne Valentzas (25:15):
How are you feeling about that? Are you excited?
Sharon Lokedi (25:17):
Yes, I'm very excited. Dorian reminded me, actually we've never
raced this race together. So this is going to be a really
good one. I like having her out there because I
think she just brings the best out of me. We're
friends and we're also competitors, but when we get out
(25:38):
there, it's time to get it going. It's just really
good when you have people to push you to be
the best that you could be. So yeah, I'm really
excited having her there and being able to compete and enjoy
and it's really a good time (inaudible) .
Rob Simmelkjaer (25:57):
Have you and Hellen talked a lot since the battle
you had in Boston? I'm curious what those conversations have
been like. It's not always easy to be friends in
a situation like that where you are in a competition,
not just with a bunch of other people, but I
mean really that was a one- on- one competition you
(26:18):
guys were in. So what have your conversations with her
been like since the Boston Marathon?
Sharon Lokedi (26:23):
I mean, she's been very supportive and helpful of everything
and just so happy for me. Apart from being friends,
there's also, we are doing this as part of our
identity and work and all that. So there's still that
(26:43):
competitiveness you could tell. So I know she's ready to
give it to me this weekend.
Anne Valentzas (26:51):
Looking for revenge.
Sharon Lokedi (26:52):
I'm really looking forward to it too. So I think
she's always someone that I could reach out to and
just chat or share anything.
Rob Simmelkjaer (27:04):
Does the shorter distance of this race, 10 kilometers, who
does it favor? Who do you think is better in
a shorter, faster race?
Sharon Lokedi (27:12):
Honestly now I don't know. I think probably her, she
has a short distance background, so definitely. I'm not going
to give up. I still want to go and give my best too.
Anne Valentzas (27:26):
Good for you. It is such a different race distance
to train for. So how do you train differently?
Sharon Lokedi (27:35):
I mean for this one mostly it's like since it's
10K, mostly just less mileage and more speed. For me,
I think it's just coming back from the marathon and
taking a break and then studying the training again, it's
a little bit of your body trying to get back
to the normal self. So yeah, just trying to doing
(27:58):
less work from what I'm used to when I'm doing
marathon. Then I had this speed is up, so it's
a bit different, but it's fun. It's fun. I like it because it's short.
Rob Simmelkjaer (28:11):
It's long for some people.
Anne Valentzas (28:13):
It's quite hilly too, so it's not an easy 10K.
Sharon Lokedi (28:17):
Yes, yes. It's a fun one, honestly. It's like one
of those that you just come in and you know
it's going to be a sprint to the finish, but
it's like you are having fun as you go through all the miles
and kilometers. So it's going to be great, I guess.
Rob Simmelkjaer (28:35):
What does it mean, Sharon, for you to look behind
you when you're at the starting line of this race and see 10,
000 women behind you? It's obviously legendary in terms of
being the first women's focus, women's only major road race.
Going back to the 1970s, what does that mean for
(28:55):
you to be leading a pack of female athletes in
this race?
Sharon Lokedi (29:00):
Honestly, I think it's very motivational and it's also, there's
a pride that comes with it. I am very proud to be
out here with other women running and just us being
us and giving our best. It's amazing when you're in
(29:21):
a race like this where you know it's just meant specifically
for you. At that point you can just do whatever
and you can just run as fast as you can
and get to meet as many people as you can.
Just to celebrate. At the end of the day we are
celebrating a history and yes, being part of that history
is very important for me.
Anne Valentzas (29:42):
I think it's a special race that way because it's
all women coming together and supporting each other. It's not
just women, it's people of different experience levels. Some people
are running a 10K for the first time. Do you
have any advice for people who are running for the
first time?
Sharon Lokedi (30:01):
I mean, I remember the first time I raced and
it's like you go in and you're like, yes, you've
been getting ready for this, you've been training for it and you are
so nervous and you're also so excited. It can be
scary, but just know that you've worked for it and
(30:22):
you want this and you wanted to be out here.
So just go out for it. Just have a good
time, have fun, enjoy and compete and then celebrate because
it's like you do the first one and you're like,
I just want to see how it goes. Then you
run and you finish and you're like, oh, I'm definitely
coming back. So that's the feeling I'm usually looking forward
(30:43):
to is just the excitement that it brings. Yeah, just have
fun, have a good time.
Anne Valentzas (30:51):
It's good advice and it is a nice race for that. It's a race where
women really are genuinely supporting one another. I'll never forget
one of the years I ran, two women were talking
to each other, one said, " Hey, it's my first." They
didn't know each other. One said, " It's my first time,
I'm really nervous. I heard it's very hilly. I don't
know the course at all." The other one said, " Hey,
what pace are you planning to run? I'm happy to
(31:13):
run with you and I'll give you guidance all along
the way and I'll tell you what to expect." They
instantly had this bond and this support and it's really incredible
to watch. I think it's very special.
Sharon Lokedi (31:24):
A forever friendship I guess.
Anne Valentzas (31:25):
That's right. That's right. I'll do the same with you.
I'll look for you and I'll just follow your pace.
Is that all right?
Sharon Lokedi (31:31):
I would love that.
Rob Simmelkjaer (31:35):
So your mom has stayed in the United States with
you since Boston, is that right?
Sharon Lokedi (31:40):
Yeah.
Rob Simmelkjaer (31:40):
Was that the plan or did she stay longer just
to help you celebrate and recover from your win there
and what have you guys been doing?
Sharon Lokedi (31:51):
I mean when she came she was like, " I'll probably
stay a month." Then after she was like, " Maybe I
should stay a little bit longer." So yeah, we just
been going on little trips and cooking a lot more
and gardening. She's just been doing these things that I'm like, she's like, "
Oh, you sit, yeah, I'll do everything." I'm like, " Oh,
(32:12):
I love this." Then yesterday when I was coming, she
was also leaving, so then I went, oh, this is
going to be so... She was like, " Oh, I'm going
to miss this house." I'm like, " Same. Same." It's been amazing,
just have that time with her and enjoy everything with
her. I was off season, so we would just wake
(32:36):
up in the morning, we have our tea and relax,
have all day to just chill.
Rob Simmelkjaer (32:41):
Is there anything that you have done to treat yourself,
reward yourself since winning Boston? Have you bought anything or
gone anywhere or done anything to kind of recognize yourself?
Sharon Lokedi (32:56):
We went shopping after Boston.
Rob Simmelkjaer (32:59):
We've talked about this. I know you like shopping.
Sharon Lokedi (33:01):
Yeah. Yeah, I do. It's not a (inaudible) but
I love, it's a fun part of, you work so
hard and then after just go and treat yourself. Sometimes I
treat myself a little bit too much.
Anne Valentzas (33:23):
You deserve it though. You should treat yourself.
Sharon Lokedi (33:26):
Thanks. That's what my mom says and it got me
in trouble because she was like, " Treat yourself." I ended
up buying too many things (inaudible) .
Anne Valentzas (33:35):
I am interested. I was listening to the last time
you were on Rob's podcast and you talked about how
the win at the New York City Marathon in 2022
really boosted your confidence, gave you a real breakthrough and
a belief in yourself. How have these recent wins at the
New York City half and in Boston further advance that?
Sharon Lokedi (33:56):
It definitely is when I won New York, it was
such a great feeling that I'm like, I never really
expected that to happen. Then as you go and you
get to other races and you're building confidence and you believe
in yourself and you start to see more wins and
more wins. Even when I came here for the half,
(34:16):
I was here just to see where my fitness was.
I went and won and I'm like, oh. So it
just brings so much belief in the things that you
do that you just see the things that you think
are unattainable. It makes it more like, oh, I can
do it. If I did it this past time, I'll
(34:38):
do it again. Even going to Boston, I was like,
if I just have the same mentality I had when
I ran New York and just go for it and
just believe that I could, it would do wonders. I
got to that race and it started to get so
fast and all of a sudden I'm like, oh, I don't
(35:00):
know if I can do it. Then I start to
remind myself, I'm like, anything, you've done this before and if you could just
put yourself to it and believe in yourself. It just happens.
Even now when things start to like, even outside of running,
when things starts to seem like, oh, I cannot achieve
this or I cannot be in this space or this place,
(35:21):
it's like I just remind myself, I'm like, two years
ago you did not think you're going to be there
and now you're here. So it opens up things that
make you think that anything that you see or you
look forward to, the goal that you set for yourself
can be attainable. So yeah, I won Boston. Now I'm like, okay,
(35:46):
what next? Should I do something else? It's like it
gives you things that you look and you're like, I
would never let myself or put myself down for something
that if you don't try it, then how would you know?
Anne Valentzas (36:01):
It's a great lesson in running and a great lesson
in life.
Sharon Lokedi (36:03):
Yeah.
Anne Valentzas (36:03):
Yeah.
Sharon Lokedi (36:03):
Yeah. For sure.
Anne Valentzas (36:05):
Inspiring.
Sharon Lokedi (36:06):
Yeah.
Rob Simmelkjaer (36:07):
Sharon, I know we talked last time about the foundation
you started back in Kenya to help young girls at
your high school. Have you heard from the girls back
at your school since you won Boston? Did you get
some interaction or messaging from them? I'm curious what the
reaction was like there from what you did in Boston.
Sharon Lokedi (36:28):
Oh, it's very exciting. I remember they sent me pictures
and like, " Oh, when are you coming?" They thought I
was just going straight from Boston straight to Kenya. I'm like, "
I would love to be there with you guys now,
but I can't." I think I get to see them
in July. So I'm really excited for that. I think
we'll have a few days with them and a few
things to do there. I think it'll just be nice
(36:51):
if they could see when I go there, they watch
the race and everything. When they see you in person
and see the middle and see the things and even
just talking with them and just being with them I think
is so special. So I'm very excited for that. Even
my coach, my high school principal, they're all like, " Oh,
(37:14):
we want you to come back and talk to all
the girls," and stuff. I'm like, no. So it's very
emotional but also very exciting that the things that you
do, you think you're doing for yourself, but you're not.
You're doing it for more people than you think.
Rob Simmelkjaer (37:32):
So what's next after the Mastercard Mini 10K? Do you
have the rest of your year planned out? What's the
fall plan? Anything we can say?
Sharon Lokedi (37:42):
I don't know.
Rob Simmelkjaer (37:43):
You don't know? Maybe we should talk. I'm just kidding.
I know our pro athletes team, they're working on whatever
they're working on, so we won't break any news here.
Sharon, just incredible to see you back in New York
to celebrate you this weekend at the Mastercard Mini 10K
(38:05):
and also to see you go for the win as
well. So thank you so much for being with us
and it's just always such a pleasure to have you
here with us at New York Roadrunners. Sharon Lokedi.
Sharon Lokedi (38:15):
Thanks. Thanks, everyone. Bye. Thanks for having me.
Rob Simmelkjaer (38:20):
New York Roadrunners is a nonprofit organization with a vision
to build healthier lives and stronger communities through the transformative
power of running. The support of members and donors like
you helps us achieve our mission to transform the health
and well- being of our communities through inclusive and accessible
running experiences, empowering all to achieve their potential. Learn more
(38:42):
and contribute at nyrr. org/ donate. That was so much fun.
Anne Valentzas (38:47):
Oh, it's so inspiring. I mean, I feel so humbled
sitting next to her. She's such an incredible athlete and
doesn't she seem so calm and just down to earth?
Rob Simmelkjaer (38:55):
Well, I tell a story about her before we say
goodbye. My daughter Julia, who's 16 years old and her
best friend, they came to the marathon and saw Sharon
win and they've just been huge Sharon fans ever since.
Sharon will DM them on Instagram all the time. It can't just be them, but I mean she's constantly keeping in touch with her
(39:19):
fans. She makes herself accessible to girls everywhere. So she's
the real deal. She really is. It's great to see
her successful. So, well that does it for another episode
of Set the Pace. Anne, thanks for co- hosting with me.
Anne Valentzas (39:34):
Thank you, Rob.
Rob Simmelkjaer (39:34):
You did a great job.
Anne Valentzas (39:35):
Yeah.
Rob Simmelkjaer (39:36):
We should do this again.
Anne Valentzas (39:36):
Let's do it.
Rob Simmelkjaer (39:37):
All right, this was a lot of fun. So hope you
guys in the live audience enjoyed the show. Thank you
for being with us. Make sure you subscribe to it. If you
haven't already, take out your phones right now, subscribe to
Set the Pace, follow it on whatever platform you listen
to podcasts. We will see you all next week. Enjoy
(39:58):
the miles.
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