How Kwasi Kessie Merges Marathoning and Fashion

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Kwasi Kessie (00:00):
It's been a great time working with Noah. We actually
met years ago, and then years later he's like, " Yo,
I want to bring fashion to track and field, and
I think that you are the perfect person to work with
to do that." So I styled him for a Diamond
League event at Icon Stadium. And from there it was just... It went viral.

Audio (00:26):
Thank you, New York. Today, we're reminded of the power
of community and the power of coming together. Athletes, on
your mark. The first woman to finish for the second
straight year here in the New York City Marathon is Miki Gorman,
a smiling Miki Gorman. And why not? 2

(00:49):
time for (inaudible) . Look at the emotion of Shalane Flanagan
as she comes to the line. Pointing to his chest,
pointing to the USA, he so proudly wears across his chest.
A great day for Meb Keflezighi.

Rob Simmelkjaer (01:07):
Hey everybody, and welcome to another edition of 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. Thrilled to be back this week with my co-
host. She's been carrying the water for me a little
bit the last week or so. Becs Gentry. Becs, it's
nice to see you.

Becs Gentry (01:25):
Hi.

I haven't seen you since our live episode a couple
of weeks ago.

It happens.

Thanks for flying solo last week. How you doing?

Quite all right. We had a blast last week. We
missed you, obviously. But yeah, it's been great. Getting into
the spring vibe, that's for sure.

We're starting to get a little bit of that. Just the
days being longer, for me, it's just everything. It's everything.

Stunning. Yeah.

When those clocks change, I feel so much better. I'm a
morning runner so I don't take advantage of the extra
daylight hours in the evening that much, but just knowing
they're there and the feeling you get of having that
extra daylight makes a huge difference for me.

Absolutely.

I still can't believe I managed to train for a
marathon in the hours that we had in December, in January. It was so dark, it
was so depressing.

So dark, such short days. But here we are. We're
just waiting for those morning hours to lighten up a
little bit more. Another couple of weeks.

Yes, yes. It's coming.

Know that by Easter, we'll be smooth sailing all the way through.

Makes a big difference. It's amazing how... I think as a
runner, you start to live more and pay attention even
more, I think, to those hours. And the sunrise and
the sunset.

Oh, my gosh.

I mean, they have a big impact on your day
and you can suddenly squeeze in that morning run when-

That's me right now.

... the sun's coming up at 6:00, right, that you can't squeeze in when it's dark until seven something. Those
of us who don't like running in the dark that much-

That's me.

... outdoors, it really makes a big difference.

Yeah. There's something about moving your body outside whilst the
sun is rising. I kind of feel like nothing can
get in the way of my day when I get
to do that. I'm just like, " How blessed am I right now
to witness this and be in it?" Literally, be in
the start of the day and I'm moving. It's so

(03:18):
cool. And that's when you start to crave those things.
You're like, "All right, I don't mind my alarm going off when
it's still dark for that quick half an hour's process
before you move out of the door." But yeah, anyway,
as you can tell, Rob and I are thrilled by this.

(inaudible) are both going in the right direction. Clearly,
we are both loving the onset of spring. So happy
spring to everybody out there. Well, we have a lot
of fun things going on at Roadrunners.

Truly.

One of the things, and Becs, I remember we talked about this
a little bit in the episode that we did at the
beginning of the year, the State of the Union podcast
that we did where I answered lots of questions-

Yes, I grilled you.

... about the org and questions that runners had. And I talked about
this mission I have to kill the little running man
that people see when they're-

The wait time, mm-hmm.

... on the Roadrunners website. You know that thing where you're waiting and waiting
and waiting on the days that we launch new races.
So we're getting much closer to that objective, and a
big step forward with that was the launch of our
new registration platform this week. So I think pretty much

(04:26):
every Roadrunners member and many non- members, people who have
run races with us in recent years received an email
or two from us over the last couple of weeks
asking them to claim their account on this new platform.
It's really a very simple process. I did it. It
literally takes 10 seconds. That allows you to be set

(04:47):
to log in to the new platform, which is going
to make it so much easier to sign up and
register for races. Now, it's not going to make it
easier to get in, necessarily, because we still have the
same demand issues that we've had, and so, that's not
necessarily a solve for that. Although, we do have some
things planned with the new platform that will make it... We'll
do some new things in terms of how people get

(05:09):
in. But it's really important, Becs, that everybody out there
who's planning to sign up for races for the rest
of this year when we put the new set of
races out for registration in a few weeks, you will
want to have already done this, to claim your account.
So go look in your email for an email from

(05:29):
New York Roadrunners about how to claim your account. It's
very simple. It'll have your email address and a temporary
password that you can use and then you'll set a
new password and then you'll be all set to go.
So it's very easy. If for some reason you can't
find the email, you can just go on to the
website, click forgot password, and you can go through your
process that way as well. Either way, you'll be set

(05:51):
up on the new platform, ready to go so that
you can sign up for, whether it's group training that's
for sale now or, obviously, the new races when they
come out. You'll want to do this. And trust us
folks, a little bit of time was going to pass
as we get this all nailed down and sorted, but
the goal is to make registering a much better experience.
So, we're really excited about that and it's a big

(06:14):
step forward for the organization.

It truly is. You've reminded me. I was just putting a little reminder
in my phone to, later this evening, to actually go
and do that myself because I haven't and I must.
So I'm really excited for it. Congratulations.

Yeah, thank you. It's one of those things that so many
people at New York Roadrunners have spent so many hours
on this. I can't even begin to name all the people.
It's pretty much everyone who works at Roadrunners, to be
honest, who has had some involvement in this. We have
over 250 full- time employees at New York Roadrunners. There's
not one of them that has not been involved one

(06:51):
away or another, because our technology is the underpinning of
everything that we do from, obviously, the races to all of
our training, all of our membership, the way people interact with
us. So it's a huge deal and we're very excited
to get to this point, but there's still long way
to go. So again, just make sure you sign up

(07:11):
and register as soon as you can. And Becs, meanwhile, on the Peloton
side of things-

I know.

... I hear you guys have some exciting news there as well.

We do. We're going to continue the tech love, Rob.
So, yesterday, in honor of Women's History Month, March, Peloton
dropped our latest New York Roadrunners Scenic Class on the
Tread, which is the MasterCard New York Mini 10K. One
of my absolute favorite races. I just think the day,

(07:40):
the atmosphere, the crowds, the route, it's just such a
beautiful, historic and meaningful race. And I'm really excited for
everybody to take this class, guided by our phenomenal runner
and yogi, Mariana. She will be able to give you

(08:04):
so much insight. Mariana's run this race. Mariana is Team
Achilles. She is a New York Roadrunners regular and she's
just one of the most gritty runners I know, for
sure. She'll race around the world. She'll do every race.
So, find it under experiences on the Peloton Tread and
let us know what you think as you cruise through

(08:27):
Central Park in the original all women's road race alongside Mariana.

Hey, but you know what, this is an exciting opportunity
for the guys out there to experience that course as
well, right? It's a great course.

Oh, I didn't even think of that.

Think about that for a second. I'm excited for this because I can't run the
MasterCard Mini 10K-

You've never run it?

... but I can run this. I can totally show up and
run with Mariana on this course.

Okay, in April, I'll talk about that. That is so
true, guys. Get out there and you're not going to
be able to run this course officially in the race.
You can obviously run it any other day of the
year, even that afternoon if you would like to. But
that is so cool, actually, Rob, well done.

Yeah, it is a great 10K course and I know
all the women who have run it love it. So,
make sure you get out there, check it out on
Peloton. That's going to be a really cool experience for
everybody. So excited for people to have a chance to
do it. Well, we've got a cool guest you know.
Becs, this is probably an interview that if there was a week I
should have not come and let you handle the interview,

(09:32):
maybe this was the week because fashion, not really what
I'm necessarily known for.

No, I feel like quite the opposite. I feel like you took
from this, probably, a lot. I feel like you may
be booking a session.

I might. I might book a session with our guest today, Kwasi Kessie, who is iconic
as a stylist in the world of hip hop music
and sports. Not only is he styling some really well-
known people, including Noah Lyles, who we all know is the
fastest man in the world, 100 meter sprinter. But he's

(10:08):
also a big runner, Kwasi Kessie. He's run the TCS
New York City Marathon, now 11 consecutive times. He's been
running New York Roadrunners Races since he was a kid.
And he's kind of a perfect person to talk to
about the intersection of running and style. He's brought them
together both when it comes to running outfits but also
what you wear before the race, after the race, with

(10:31):
your medal on the next day, the whole nine yards.
So Kwasi is going to join us. Looking forward to
a conversation about fashion and yeah, Becs, maybe I'll gain
a little information about that. I'm looking forward to hearing
what he's got to say about that. Also, on today's
Member Moment, TFK runner, Stephanie Sokol is going to talk
about training for her sixth star, which he's hoping to

(10:52):
earn this April in Boston. And speaking of Boston, it's
coming right up in today's Meb Minute, is all about
training for the Hills. We know a lot about the
Hills here in New York, but if you're running Boston, got to
be ready, of course, for Heartbreak Hill and all the
hillingness, especially of the second half of that race. So
lots of good stuff coming up.

Ready to take your runs to the next level? With
the Peloton app, you can workout your way with thousands
of on- demand and live classes, no equipment needed. Whether
you're at the gym or opt for the outdoors, Peloton
offers everything you need to become a stronger, better, faster
runner. From intervals to endurance and speed runs, to walking,

(11:34):
you can tailor your routine to hit your goals. Try
the app free for 30 days. Download it now from
the App Store or Google Play. Learn more at onepeloton. com/ race-
training. Peloton, the official digital fitness partner for New York
Roadrunners. New App One or App+ memberships only, starting at $

(11:56):
12.99 per month after trial, unless canceled. Terms apply.

Joining us today is Kwasi Kessie, a celebrity stylist and
designer whose influence spans both the fashion and athletic worlds.
But Kwasi doesn't just have style for athletes, he is
an athlete himself, a runner with New York Roadrunners since
he was a kid. Kwasi has completed the New York
City Marathon 11 consecutive times. His recent work includes collaborations

(12:23):
with Olympic Sprinter, Noah Lyles, and initiatives to revitalize Harlem's
running scene as well. Kwasi, it is so nice to have
someone as fashionable as you on this podcast. Becs is
very fashionable. You're looking at my fashion, a New York Roadrunners
hoodie right here, so-

I like it. I like it.

... maybe I can somehow get a little something fun this
interview to raise my game. It's nice to meet you.

Oh, thank you. Nice to meet you too. Thank you for having me.

Absolutely. So I'm really curious about the style component of
running and how these things come together for you. It's really
interesting. I think every sport has style as a component
of it, whether it's a sport like tennis where you've
got these incredible outfits that people can choose to wear.

(13:13):
Or a sport that's maybe more uniform on the court
or the field of play, but then it's off the
court is where you start to get really interesting style
decisions that people make. How do you see running? Do
you see it as a place where people can express
their style both while they're running as well as if
they're a celebrity outside the running space as well?

100%. I think that while you're running, I think you
can notice people by how stylish they are in the
running scene. New York running is the birthplace of urban
running. So you have all of these different aesthetics and
brands that people may wear. You may run down over

(14:00):
the Pulaski Bridge and you may see someone with a cut-
off crop top shirt. Or they may wear biker shorts
or people may have on windbreakers. So there's a lot
of diversity in urban running, but I feel like you
can always tell a new runner when they just have
on... You could tell a new runner because they don't

(14:21):
look as seasoned and as fashionable in what they're wearing.
But off the track or off the road, I think that
it's a great opportunity to be as fashionable. It's an
opportunity to merge the world. So this athleisure time that

(14:43):
we're having in fashion where it's like you can wear
your tights to dinner, you can wear your sneakers from
your track workout or your workout to the club. I'm
actually really enjoying everything that's going on in terms of
the world of fashion and running, merging. It's been happening

(15:04):
for a while now in terms of Virgil Abloh, God
bless the dead. He did a fashion show with Off-
White. It was on a track. I remember there was
a magazine cover where they did this whole track influenced
by running. And then also what myself and Noah are
doing in terms of bringing fashion to track and field,

(15:27):
how the NFL and NBA have the tunnel. We are
bringing walk- ins to track and field. So-

Noah Lyles you're talking about. Yeah, we were going to ask about him
and he seems to be a real trendsetter. I mean,
you watch Noah Lyles walk into a stadium and it
does feel like watching an NBA player or an NFL
player. He's got that kind of charisma. He's got that
kind of following. And I know he's one of the

(15:55):
people you style. What has that process been like working
with a guy like Noah Lyles, such a big personality?
He's kind of trying to raise the profile of the
sport, and part of the way he does that is through his clothes.

Yeah, it's been a great time working with Noah. We actually
met years ago and he had designed a sneaker for
Adidas. We met, he learned that I was a fashion
stylist and he was really excited to meet me. And
then years later, he's like, " Yo, I want to bring
fashion to track and field and I think that you

(16:31):
are the perfect person to work with to do that."
So, I styled him for a Diamond League event at
Icon Stadium. And from there it went viral. It was
like New York Times. It was the first time he
was on Protrending, in terms of a track and field athlete
being on Protrending, a social media website. It's been a great time

(16:53):
because he is a huge creative. Outside of being the
fastest man in the world, he enjoys anime, he enjoys
fashion, he enjoys just the creative world and the creative
scene in general. So it's always good to work with
people like Noah Lyles because the possibilities are endless and
he gets it. You know what I mean? It's like when

(17:15):
we first worked together in New York at Icon Stadium
at his track meet, I had him in this, Who
Decides War, which is a brand from New York. He
wanted to have a New York look and it had window panes
cut out of it and his abs were showing, and
it was just like he got it. You know what
I mean? So, it's been a joy just to bring

(17:37):
that energy and that creativity to the world of track
and field, which in the past has had that with the Michael
Johnsons and the Flo- Jos, but it's just like we're
bringing it to a whole other level, myself and Noah. So it's
been a great time, been a great time.

It really has. Congratulations as well.

Thank you. Thank you.

There've been some epic people you've dressed, your personal style.
I am-

Thank you.

... a big Instagram stalker of you. So always looking at
your style. I want to talk about how the normal
runner. Okay, obviously, Noah is fastest guy in the world. You've dressed
high talents such as A$AP Ferg, Tamirat Tola, who have the team
and the budget behind them to go big, being styled

(18:23):
for walking events or GQ shoots, et cetera. But let's
talk about the normal runner, the listener out here. You
earlier approached the thought of we can wear our tights
to dinner. You can wear your track, your sneakers to
whatever. Girls, we can rock our sports bras with a

(18:43):
sick top off the shoulder. So, can you give some
tips to people who might be struggling to bring their
personalities together? Because I think that's a big thing, when
you have maybe a different style outside of your sport
and then you just, I don't know, in New York you're like, " Okay, well, I'm just going
to wear black tights and a black top and I'm just going to go for a run. But

(19:04):
that doesn't express who I am." How could they make
themselves, Kwasi, how could they make themselves cooler when it
comes to their style?

That's a great question. I think one of the main ways to make yourself
cooler when it comes to your personal style is to
go within. When I say that, I mean that we
have so much rich culture within who we are, whether
it's our ancestors or if it's our cool aunt, or
if it's some piece that our grandmother passed down to

(19:35):
us, whether it be jewelry or whether it be a
family heirloom. I think that people should always refer to
themselves as their mood board. You know what I mean?
Where you're from. Whether you're from this part of the
world or that part of the world or whatever culture you're
from. I think that when you dig deep into who
you are and bring that personal style forward from your

(19:58):
rich history of who you are, that is super unique
to you and it'll wear well on you. Again, it could
be like your grandma's earrings or your father's ring or
stuff like that. I think that the rich history that
we have within all of us, when you bring that
to the forefront... And it could just be one piece.

(20:19):
It could be a pattern from your local tribe that you're
from, etc. I think those are the things that make you
an individual in terms of fashion. That's individual to you
and it's a talking point. It's like, " Where'd you get
that shirt? Where'd you get that..." Then you're talking about, "
Oh, my grandmother passed it down to my mom." Et

(20:39):
cetera, et cetera. I always say, number one, is to
dig deep into your rich history. Number two, look outside
yourself and look at... If you don't have the energy
or the time for that, look outside yourself and look
at people that you admire style- wise, whether it's a
Noah Lyles or whether it's a Pharrell, et cetera. And

(21:00):
then take pieces of them and then see how you
can incorporate it to your personal style, and then you'll
get more affluent in terms of how you feel and
how you move in those pieces. Yeah, I mean, number
one, dig within yourself and then number two, look outside
yourself to people that you look up to or look
for in terms of fashion to get some pieces from

(21:22):
them and get some energy.

I love that style. Take us back then to your
style. Let's go into a bit of your personal style. You began running
with New York Roadrunners when you were a kid. You
have been in Harlem. I mean, Harlem, I've never lived
in Harlem. I've lived other places in New York, but

(21:46):
I frequent there and I think it is one of
the culturally most rich areas of the city. So, let's
talk about how your interest for fashion and running, when
did that kind of combine and flourish?

Yes, absolutely. So, my mom is to credit for my
influence. Well, the influence in running and fashion. So before
I was running, my mom, she was the parent that
would spend a lot of money on my clothes and
her siblings would be like, "What are you doing?" So she would

(22:21):
shop for us at department stores like Lord & Taylor and
Saks. She really took pride in how we appeared and
how we dressed. And from a little person, a little
boy, I would wear a lot of suits to church
and I thought that people liked me because of my suits. So
I was a kid in pre- K and first grade

(22:43):
wearing suits to school because I thought that's what drew
people to me, because they would be like, " Oh, you're
so cute." That was my first start in fashion because I
started wearing things based on how I thought people reacted
to me. Then during that time, my mother was training
for the New York City Marathon. This is back in the

(23:06):
day New York City, and I was a kid and
I was like... She would be coming home from work and
it would be dark, and I'd be like, " Mom, I'm go with
you." Because I was like the man of the house.
So I saw my mom's process in terms of training
for the marathon, and then once she finished it, I
was just like, "You know what? I got to do it. If
mom could do it, I'm going to do it." So
that then led me to train for my first New

(23:27):
York City Marathon and yeah-

How old were you for that first one, Kwasi?

I was... When I ran my first New York City Marathon?

Yeah.

I was actually 30. I was going through a midlife
crisis, just trying to figure life out. I was just like, "
I'm going to do it." And I started training with
Team for Kids and I had that whole support network.
It was like we were raising money for charity, but we also had

(23:58):
amazing mentors and coaches from Coach Sid to Coach Asteria
to Coach Jen. It was just the perfect... I always
suggest when people are training for the New York City Marathon,
to join Team for Kids because you'll get the most
support that you could outside of anything that you could
ever imagine. So yeah, it was a great time. So,

(24:20):
as a little boy, my mom influenced my fashion, from
the suits and the high- end clothes to even her training
and running and completing her first marathon. Just me seeing
it, I was just like, " Wow, that's..." I knew at the
time, even as a young man, that it was extraordinary
because no other mothers were doing that. You know what

(24:44):
I'm saying? So yeah.

That's pretty cool. And thank you for the kind words
about running with Team for Kids. We couldn't agree more.
It is the best way to experience the marathon, especially
for people who are new, because you've got that support
network that is so important to having a good experience.
Do you remember what you wore for your first marathon

(25:06):
and how has your running wardrobe personally changed over the years?

Oh, man, that's why I reflect and I remember when
I first started running, I wasn't as fashionable. I was
just like... Actually, the shorts that I wore to my
first marathon, they were right above the knee. You know

(25:32):
what I mean? They weren't five- inch. They almost looked
like basketball shorts and I wore the marathon shirt. I
was just trying to finish at that point. But it
has evolved because I remember, recently, I wore a custom spray-

(25:59):
painted singlet by a local legendary designer, Dee Dee Designs.
He spray paints and does stuff for Missy Elliott and
Chris Brown, et cetera. So yeah, it's definitely evolved. My
shorts have definitely gotten shorter. My sneakers are definitely are
super shoes, and wearing custom singlets. Jewelry, it's just way cooler.

Yes. That's the key. The custom singlets, I'm with you.
My partner has gotten onto that over the past four
or five years of customizing every single marathon we do.
We have custom singlets with a different saying, different emblems of
the city that we're in, and then we get to keep them.
It's such a nice reminder and hopefully our daughter will

(26:47):
one day think they're really cool and want to wear
these vintage disgusting singlets for mom or dad's races. But
it's so wonderful to have that reminder of your parents'
strengths to come through to your strengths. And fashion is
a funny thing. It comes full circle. I mean, look

(27:07):
at... Obviously, we have the high- tech, high- performance sides
of all sports brands, no necessary names here are needed.
But then you flip it the other side, and as
you said, athleisure has become incredibly popular. It's permeating every
single level of fashion, from high high- end to street,

(27:28):
like H& M, day- to- day brands. It's so amazing
to see people running in some hardcore shoes, for sure.
We're all in the best shoes that we can get. But then
you've got a vintage sweatshirt on and it's so nice to

(27:49):
see it being passed down. I have one from my
dad and it's just, I love it, because I think it does give you that
reminder that, as you said, your mom, no other moms
were doing that. It sounds like she was working hard
to get you those gorgeous suits for you to go
to church. She's showing you discipline in so many different

(28:11):
areas, and then boom, when you're having your self- professed
midlife crisis at 30, you're thinking to yourself, " Yo, my mom
did this and she was raising me at the same
time and everything else." I just love it. As a
parent, it hits so hard. So, thank you.

That's true. So I like to tell people you never know who's watching and what kind
of influence that you'll have on people. And to your point
of those family heirlooms in terms of a customized singlet,
my mom's marathon hat, I wear it at the end
of my marathons. I'll meet a friend in Harlem or

(28:48):
something and I'll change my hat. I always have a
grandstand ticket for my mom and my family or tickets
for my mom and my family. So when I finish, she always
sees me finishing with her hat that she wore when
she finished her marathon. It's super personal and important to
me because it's just like, " This is my mom's hat." So it's really, really

(29:11):
cool. So I just take that energy with me as
I cross the finish line, as an ode to her,
just showing me the way and showing me the light
in terms of running and how it has changed my life.

10

I love it. I really love it. That's a beautiful thing,
and it's beautiful that she's able to see you do
that. It really is the heritage part of what we
wear and what we bring with us when we run
these races. It's awesome. I was listening to you, Kwasi,
talk about short length and how your shorts have gotten

(29:50):
shorter as you've gotten more into running. But it's really interesting
because, talk about something like the NBA, right, which has always
been iconic from a style point of view in sports,
especially in the African- American, more urban communities. And of
course, there it was the opposite. The shorts were really short
in the eighties, if you go back and look at

(30:11):
tape and they've gotten longer and longer. And they were
below the knees for a lot of the last 20
years. And it makes me think a little bit about
the role that fashion can play in attracting certain types
of people to a sport like running or sometimes repelling
them from it. Because if you are someone who thinks of, "

(30:33):
Hey, it looks good when I'm wearing really long shorts
or really baggy clothes." Right? You don't see those things
maybe in a marathon. You don't see those things in a half-
marathon. You might look at that and say, " This isn't
really for me these short shorts and these singlets. That's
not really how I like to look." Does that make sense

(30:54):
to you? How do you think fashion and innovation in
fashion can actually help us bring more people and different
kinds of people to the sport of running the way
that your mom brought you into the sport?

Yeah, that's a great statement. Great question. I feel like
the way that running is right now with the running boom
in New York City and there's so many people vying for
all of these runners and these crews and these clubs,
I think it's a great time. And I think that

(31:28):
it creates a diversity in the landscape of how people
look. I remember when Kevin Hart, he ran the New
York City Marathon and he had on track pants, and
I was like, " He's different." I don't know if I could do a marathon
in pants. You know what I mean? Right now, I think that when people

(31:49):
are walking on the streets and they see people training,
I think that it's super diverse. You got people wearing vintage
tees, you got people wearing crop tops, you got people wearing
sweats, you got people wearing short shorts, you got people
wearing long shorts. I think that there's a possibility, if
you go to Central Park, you're going identify with somebody.
You know what I mean? It is not like before where, take it for the NBA,

(32:14):
where it was super long and now it's very diverse
in terms of the fashion and the culture of running,
which is great. And I think it's due to the
running boom and having all this diversity within crews and
brands. People are just showing up in various ways, which
is great. Personally, some people don't enjoy the running boom

(32:36):
right now, but I think it's perfect because it's great
entry whether you're entering because you want to look cool,
whether you're entering because of these hyper local run crews
or if you're entering because such and such branded X, Y,
Z. Or you're entering just for health. I see all
these people running and I think it's a great way for me to feel

(32:57):
I'm healthy. I think that this running boom is great.
But to answer your question, I think it's super diversified in terms
of how people are showing up, which is good because
I think there's identity within all of that.

Absolutely. All right, let's talk about the city. We've talked about
running, we've talked about running in the city. You are a
New York City native, Harlem native. Your career, your representation
of you is a combination of New York and your

(33:33):
heritage, and it's hugely, hugely beautiful. So I want to know if
you ever thought of living anywhere other than New York City?

Great question. Great question. So I like to consider myself
the ultimate New Yorker because I'm one of those people
that looks at a TV show and I'm like, " Oh,
that's 6th Street and Avenue A." I love New York,
I love this place. Sometimes it's a little annoying, but

(34:03):
I love it. I was born here, raised here. To
answer your question, would I live anywhere else? I've considered
Florida just for the weather, the consistent weather.

Every day in winter, we all do.

Right? Right, exactly. You know what I'm saying. My father's
from Ghana, and when I go there, it feels like
my second home. So I would definitely consider being bicontinental and living in Ghana.

Wow.

That's a long commute.

Yeah, nine hours. Well, direct flight, nine hours. But it
is a long commute. And it's a totally different world.
But yeah, I would say those, like Florida. Just change
of pace, weather. But I'm not really a fan of
the hurricanes and the flooding, et cetera. But yeah, I'm
an ultimate New Yorker. I will always have a address

(35:01):
in New York, God's will, for the rest of my
life. No matter what it is, I got to have
a place to come in New York City, for sure.

Yes, I love that.

I hear that. We like having you here. So, you, as a young person,
we mentioned earlier, you were running races with New York Roadrunners.
What's your journey as a runner been like? So you
started out, do you remember how old you were when
you ran your first Roadrunners race?

I was young. My first Roadrunners race, I actually asked
my mom, because she was just always making sure I
was active and doing stuff because I think I was just one of those boys,
but I probably was like five, four.

Yeah, that's young.

Yeah, I have pictures and it's just like... My friends
have kids that participate in New York Roadrunners races. They
have the race for the adults and then the kids. So
I remember the mindset of just... I didn't know technique
or anything. I'm just running as hard as I could, as fast
as I could, just everything that I could do in

(36:05):
those moments. It was a good time because it made
me... No matter what place I came in, it was
just like I accomplished something that day. It made me feel good and
I wanted my mom's approval, and she was always very...
showing me a lot of love and to me, " You did a
great job." No matter what I did, it's just like, " You finished." I
always finished, but she was just always showing me love.

(36:28):
So, it started with those kids races. I used to
play a lot of different sports, whether it be baseball,
I played hockey and I played basketball, so I didn't
really run as much. I just ran in basketball just
doing suicides. And then a local church in Harlem, Abyssinia

(36:49):
Baptist Church, they had a track team, and my mom
was like, " You should go try out." So I went
and tried out, and this was at Riverbank State Park
on a track, and I almost passed out. I was
just like, " No..." This is during high school. And I
was like, " No, this is not for me." Fast- forward,

(37:10):
I'm dating my ex at the time and I was like, "
Damn, I want to run my marathon like my mom did.
I could do it." And I was just trying to
figure a way in, and my mom was like, when
she signed up for a marathon, she paid whatever. It was
something small and she just signed up. Navigating how to
get into the marathon was something that I was just trying

(37:36):
to navigate. And then my ex at the time was like, "
You should go with Team for Kids." She was like, "It's
a great support system." She did the homework for me
and I was like, " All right, cool." So that's how
I landed in Team for Kids and doing my first
marathon and the rest is history. Again, it was such
a great experience. I always suggest people, when they're entering

(37:59):
the marathon world and New York City Marathon, to definitely
sign up for Team for Kids. It's life changing.

Are you time conscious when it comes to your marathons?
Are you focused on time or are you focused on a
good time? How much are you trying to set PRs
and really focus on how fast you're going?

I mean, Rob, come on, he's run it 11 times.

I got to figure he's pretty focused on time, but I
don't want to assume. You know? Because some people-

No, you're right. You're right. So, I became focused on time around marathon,
I would say, marathon seven. I think Marathon eight, I
was locked in. I always have someone that I run

(38:42):
my marathon for so I could keep at it in
my spirit while I'm running, because a marathon is a
marathon. So, I was actually running that marathon for my
sister, which she's a huge influence in my life, and she
helped raise me along with my mom. So I had
pacers. It was wild. That was my best marathon and

(39:04):
that was a 408. And that time I think I was
just trying to beat, I think, Oprah's marathon time. A
few celebrities' marathon times.

Wow. I love that goal.

I had beat a few celebrities' marathon times, so I
was happy with that. But I always have a great
marathon until like 5th Ave or Mile 16 or Queensborough. I'm flowing.
But this year will be, I think, my best marathon

(39:39):
time because I'm choosing to... I have a great coach,
Coach Medina, and I'm choosing to run a 10K a
day, just to keep me in that zone of running.

Every single day?

Every day, 10K a day.

I love it. I love it.

Wow.

After this podcast, I'm actually going to do my 10K.
Actually, I got to do seven miles based on my
training schedule, because I'm just building a base for New
York. I'm even training for anything in particular, just building a
base. But yeah, this is going to definitely be my best
marathon. And I think in the past it's been nutrition, it's

(40:19):
been just different things that have thrown me out of
whack or just going out too hot.

The fueling is everything.

So tough.

It's the last thing people think of, but it's just like-

Should be the first.

It's so important. And when I hear someone talk like
you're talking about having these issues late, when you're breaking
down and having... And by the way, I really have
learned that myself a little bit the last year. I've
run two marathons in the last seven months or so,
and I've never had focused on fueling. But that's when

(40:52):
it really starts to come into play. Becs can say
better than anybody how important it is and how it really
starts to pay off, or you start to pay the
price those last six or seven miles.

Yeah, 100%. I think it's the last thing people think
of, and probably one of the most important things. People focus
on their training and what they're going to wear and how
much sleep they get and what they may eat the
night before, pasta party or whatever. But it's just like on that
course and during your training, making sure that things are

(41:23):
gut friendly, things are fueling you properly, making sure you
get the right amount of salt, amino acids and caffeine
or whatever. All of that stuff is top tier. But to
answer your question, I am definitely, this 12th consecutive marathon,
God's will in November, will be definitely my best. And

(41:45):
I am looking to PR for sure.

(inaudible) ?

Yeah. And my goal, I'm going to put this out
there, my goal for New York City Marathon, most people
don't do this, but I'm going to say it. Kwasi
Kessie will Boston qualify in New York City.

Whoa.

I know it's a tall task because-

You can do it.

... this course is very New York City. It's challenging.
But that's my goal because I've often had opportunities to
run Boston, but I'm like, " I want to earn it."
And I definitely want to earn it and do it
in New York City. No Jersey, no... I want to
do New York City Marathon-

Yep. All those bridges.

... Boston Qualify. Yeah. All of those hills that don't look like hills when you just
walking them, but they're there.

Yeah, Willis Avenue Bridge looks flat on a daily basis.

Right. 5th Avenue, it looks-

It looks flat and smooth.

It's amazing, everything looks flat in a taxi, right? I mean, you're at a
cab or you're... Even more, you're in the subway. I mean, the subway,
there's no hills. You just get from one street to another.

It's so true.

It's only when you run this city, you start to
realize how many hills there are on that little island
in Manhattan.

Absolutely. All right, everyone, you heard it here first. This is it, this
November, it's Kwasi taking New York to Boston. We love that.

Stephanie Sokol (43:07):
That's a fact. We're going to do that.

Let's shift gears ever so slightly, because April is earth
month. So we've already talked a little bit about your...
What did you call it? Cross-continental or was it intercontinental? That's a hotel.

Bicontinental

Bicontinental. Bicontinental lifestyle with your Ghanaian heritage. Sustainability is a
big thing when it comes to fashion, when it comes
to running, you're looking... Rob can talk about this way
more than anyone, but making sure that races are cleaning

(43:39):
up after themselves and giving back to this planet that
gives us the ability to run around it. So for
you in fashion and styling and getting people out there to run
a move, how important is sustainability into your job?

Oh, it's super important. Even going as far as making
sure that you have reusable water bottles or you're using
public water fountains and just making sure... I can't account
how many times, how many I've run in Central Park

(44:17):
and had a gel and just have held it for
their life so that I'm not throwing it on the
floor or making sure I put it in the trash. Or even
if I miss, I go back and make sure that
I put it in trash because I love New York
City. But I think that as a whole, as a
community, we could do better in terms of making sure
it's cleaner. I think we often take those things for

(44:42):
granted in terms of how sustainable we could be within
ourselves. But yeah, sustainability is super important. I think that
waste... As humans, we waste too much. So yeah, everything
from reusable water bottles to making sure that we clean
up our waste as we run is super important. Especially

(45:06):
when it comes to fashion, not having too much. Meaning
we don't need 10 shoes. I think maybe three, four
max, in terms of your rotation. But it's easy to
get carried away with as many options as we have,
again, with this running boom and all the excitement around

(45:27):
it. But yeah, I think sustainability is super important. I
also, when my friends run with me, I'm also making
sure that they're conscious of not littering and making sure
that we're doing the proper protocol in terms of making
sure this city thrives.

Yeah, I like what you said about keeping it minimal
as well, not having too much because for most of
us, especially if you're... Running is, for the vast majority
of people, their hobby. You have other hats that you have to
wear throughout the day, jobs, responsibilities. So having less choice
in your early morning or if you're squeezing your run

(46:05):
into a certain time of day, not standing in front
of your wardrobe, being like, " Oh, which dope hat am
I going to wear? Which trainers am I going to
wear today?" Just being like, " This is what's clean and this
is what's here today." And then that kind of links
back to having those special pieces for your big races
that can become the heirlooms to your family. Yeah, that's

(46:27):
a great point. Keep it minimal in the day to
day, special on the big occasions.

Exactly, exactly.

I'm a big fan of minimalism. Absolutely. I try to...
How many running shoes do you have in rotation at
any one time? It's actually an interesting question. I personally
usually have three, probably two trainers and then one for
races. I see... Becs right now is hiding her face in shame.

(46:55):
I'm guessing it's a few more than three. Becs, be honest.
How many? I mean, you run for a living, you're on
the treadmill every day. I do too, but I mean you're doing it-

I run for living, yeah. And I have outfits for Peloton.

Yeah, you've got outfits, you're on camera, so it's a different story.

I have five or six pairs at work. Although, there was
a new drop, so I have maybe nine right now
in my locker. And then at home, I probably have
10 that I wear because some are my outdoor ones and
some are my tread ones. Especially in winter as well, man,

(47:30):
because sometimes if I'm doing double days and it's been
wet outside, I don't want to put on wet shoes
in the afternoon. I have to make to make sure-

Right, I know where you go next time I'm looking for some shoe recommendations.

I had so many from the Great World Race. I'm
using those, I haven't bought anymore.

It makes sense.

It's just because I had so many shoes from that
race that I'm going through them now. I literally have not bought a new
pair of shoes since last year.

It totally makes sense. It totally makes sense. I'm curious,
what about you, Kwasi, how many shoes do you work in to
rotation and how many outfits too? Do you have a
different outfit every day of the week for your runs, or
do you kind of recycle a couple every week?

Great question. In terms of my rotation, so I have
a few race day shoes, like super shoes. Then I
have one everyday runner, like trainer for easy miles. I
also have a track low profile shoe. So that's my

(48:33):
rotation right now. I would say it's three to four.
But in terms of... I have about 10 shoes in total right now. Yeah, 10 shoes in total.

That's pretty amazing, actually.

Thank you for making me feel better, Kwasi. Thank you.

Yeah, yeah. 10 shoes in total.

For me, the shoes are my thing. I can wash the same... Especially
in winter, don't care what bra color I'm wearing. Summer,
very different story. But winter, don't care. Also, don't really
care about the long sleeve because it's probably underneath my
one jacket. I have one warmer running jacket and one

(49:05):
rain jacket. So then my tights are kind of just
my tights, and then my shoes and my socks are
my personality. If that makes sense.

Yeah, me too. Yeah.

It makes sense. Accessories, right? It's all about accessories. It makes perfect sense.

Yeah, and my running belt, have a lot of those. That's my personality too. If I'm having a... I know it's a long
run day and it's really miserable, I'm not just going to put a monotone
running belt on. I'll be like, " Okay, I need a bright
multicolored one." So when I go and grab my gels,
I'm like, " Yes."

Nice, nice.

I want to ask you, Kwasi, because the vast majority of people have never been "
styled". They've never had a stylist. I've never done that.
And I'm just curious, what is that process of styling
someone? I've heard different terms used, like editing someone's wardrobe,
for instance, or... I have no idea what any of

(49:58):
these things mean. If I said, " Kwasi style me." How
would that start? What would you do? Would you come
to my house, look in my closet, throw probably 90%
of the clothes out? Would you say, " Hey, Rob, what
kind of look are you going for"? How would that
styling session start?

This isn't a interview, Kwasi, just so you know.

I got you. I got you. So, this is how I would start, I'd say... Depending on what
you were doing, so if you were doing a photo
shoot or if you just wanted to have your closet
updated or you were going to a wedding, et cetera, I
would start with a phone call with you. I would
say... Just an intro phone conversation. See where you're at fashion-

(50:44):
wise. What do you, what colors you like, what colors you don't
like? Who you look at style- wise, who's your fashion
goats, whether it can be movie stars or personal friends.
And then I would tailor my styling based on, again,
where you're going, what you're going to do. But for

(51:07):
me, I like to get personal with the person. Colors
you do, you don't. And then I would just... What
I do is I take that information, I bring it
to my team, we dissect it, and then we come up
with brands that would work for you, silhouettes that would
work for you, colors. Create a mood board. Then I

(51:31):
would present it to you like, " Hey, Rob, this is
what I'm thinking. This is the direction I would like
to go in." Because I want to include you in
it, because I just don't want to show up with
stuff. And you'd be like, " This is cool, but I
was thinking something else." So I would create a mood
board and you would be like, yay, nay. And then from that

(51:51):
information that I receive, I would then go out and pull
clothes, shop, et cetera. We would do a fitting. Fittings
are my favorite part because you get to... Sometimes you're
meeting the person for the first time, or... I've even
done virtual fittings where I've never met the person. So
we'll do a fitting. Hopefully it's in person. You would

(52:12):
try things on. I would have my tailor there. We
would be adjusting, we would be making sure that colors
fit, that jackets fit right, pants, et cetera, shoes. And
then I'll also learn more about you in that setting.
From there, either you would take your outfits with you
or we would make changes. That's how I usually work.

(52:36):
I definitely always like to talk to the client first,
just to make sure I know who they are, where
they come from, get some inside information, and then I can
work my magic. So that's usually my process.

That's pretty cool. That actually sounds like a lot of
fun. It sounds like it'd be just a fun process.
I imagine a lot of people, when they start that
process, they don't really know what they like. They kind
of just, I don't know, they've done what they've done. They've
had habits. We all have our habits, the places we
go, the things we wear, depending on the situation. So,

(53:12):
actually, going and examining what you wear, really being thoughtful
about it, maybe it's just me, that's not something I've
really done that much of. So it just sounds like
an interesting process.

You know what it is too, to your point, people may not know what they
like, but they know what they don't like. They're like, "
I don't want to wear X, Y, Z. I don't
like that color." But it's also fun to also bring
people options that they may not have thought of. And
I always think of styling as a... It's a upgrade.

(53:44):
So however you thought you could look, it is like, let's exceed
that expectation and take you to the next level. And
that's what I think that people are paying for, that
service of taking things to the next level, exceeding expectations.
I always try to wow and exceed expectations with all
my clients. It's like, "Damn, I didn't know this was possible."

(54:06):
That's always like... I get a real joy and a
kick out of that, for sure.

I love that. It's definitely something I think is a
luxury, but as you say, there are different variations to
what you can offer. I think when people have a
big event these days, it's nice to have that, " Okay, someone help
me just accelerate how I'm going to feel." Because there's

(54:31):
nothing better than feeling like... You catch yourself in a reflection
or a mirror, whatever, you're like, " Nice." Okay." And then
that confidence shines through no matter where you're going or
whatever your importance is of the day. So, when it
comes to thinking back, from your days of your mom
inspiring you to run, her getting you into running with

(54:53):
New York Roadrunners as a kid, everywhere you've gone in
your amazing career and personally on this running journey, have
you got any advice that you would give our younger
listeners right now on how to keep fighting for their
dreams, their aspirations to become their reality?

Yeah. Younger listeners, older listeners, middle- aged listeners, I feel
like you have to continue to believe in yourself and
believe in the process. Again, for me, I've run the 11
consecutive New York City Marathons, but I still haven't reached

(55:36):
the goals that I want to reach. I'm continuing to
learn. And I think that's also a part of the
process, is learning and then application. So, all right, my
nutrition isn't what it needs to be. How do I
now apply information that I've learned to now, nutrition isn't a
problem. And I think that works in all parts of

(56:00):
life. It's just like, always continue to believe in yourself
and continue to chase your goals. Again, my goal for
running is to... I want to be the streaker that's
like 90 years old, God's willing, and people being impressed
by me, like, " Oh, you're still running?" Like, " Yeah, I'm
still running."

Still out there.

Yeah, that's literally my goal. As long as my body
and God see fit, I want to be able to
be moving. Because I'm super inspired by those runners that
I see. They're wearing a bib with the streaker, they've
ran 50 consecutive New York City Marathons and they're just
running away. So that's my goal in running. And in
terms of fashion, my goal is to really push the

(56:44):
boundaries of what's possible, whether it be with Noah Lyles
and track and field or, I'm also a designer as
well, possibly winning a CFDA award in fashion. So my
advice is to definitely have faith in yourself, believe in
yourself, and continue to trust the process. Tweak the process,

(57:09):
and learn from the process, and also apply what you've
learned to become better daily, for sure.

I love that. Thank you.

All right, so I'm looking ahead to New York City
Marathon November, 2025. And I'm thinking about... I'm visualizing this.
I'm visualizing you crossing that finish line in your Boston
qualifier time but-

In your mom's hat.

In your mom's hat, of course.

Mom's hat. Yeah.

But I'm trying to think about the rest of the
outfit. When will you figure out everything you're wearing? Would
you already know now what you're going to wear? I'm
picturing your flat lie. Do you do those flat lays?

Oh, yeah.

Do you post those on IG? You put those out for people?

I do. I do it on my stories. I do it on my feed sometimes
just for energy purposes, but I definitely do it on
my stories. I don't know exactly what I'm going to
be wearing at the moment, but I do know it's
going to have some hints of lime green.

Ooh, I like it.

Yeah, yeah. I like that color.

What's in inspiring that?

I just feel like it has a lot of energy.
I like to think of myself as a... I think we
all should, but I like to think of myself as a superhero
and that has some superhero, lightning bolt kind of electricity
kind of vibrations to it. So yeah, anything to give

(58:37):
myself a mental advantage, I always try to tap into.
Definitely some lime green is going to be in there,
for sure.

All right. I'm excited about this.

Me too.

So we'll be looking out for that outfit. We'll be
looking out for that lime green, the hat, and the
whole nine yards as Kwasi Kessie takes on the 2025 TCS
New York City Marathon. And I'm sure lots of other
runs along the way, including your 10K a day, which
I love. I'm actually-

Yeah, me too.

I'm really thinking about that. That's just a great way
to stay really fit. I mean 10K is no joke,
right, to do every day. That's a lot.

It's no joke. Yeah, it's a vibe for me too, because it me honest.
It's like, "All right, I ran today." And it makes me feel
accomplished like, " I ran today. I'm good." And again, I
used to do a 5K at one point. It just wasn't enough
And then I'm looking at the new CEO of Red
Lobster, a young gentleman and he runs eight miles a
day. And then there's this dude somewhere, I saw in the

(59:38):
United States on social media, he's been running eight miles
a day for decades and then people go and run with
him and I'm just like, " I thought my 10K was
good." Not to say it's not, but it's just like
there's levels. You know what I mean? So, (inaudible) -

One thing about this running thing, there's a lot of levels.
We have seen it all. We have met them all
from the 5K specialist to the ultra marathoner. So, however
you do it, that's how you do it, right?

Kwasi Kessie (01:00:03):
Right, right.

Rob Simmelkjaer (01:00:03):
And that's what you're doing out there. So Kwasi, awesome
talking to you, man. Really appreciate it.

Becs Gentry (01:00:08):
Yeah, thank you so much.

Love what you're doing. Keep going. Good luck with all
the training and we can't wait to see what it
is you're wearing, but more importantly, you hopefully having a
great day, accomplishing your goals and everything you want to do with running this year.
So thank you so much.

Thank you for having me. Thank you Rob and Becs.
Also, I want to say a special thank you to
New York Roadrunners and Erica for granting me this opportunity.
I appreciate telling my story on your platform. Thank you.

We loved having you. Appreciate you.

All right, have a good one.

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

(01:01:13):
and contribute at nyrr. org/ donate. New York Roadrunners member,
Stephanie Sokol, didn't always love running, but when she picked
it up in 2019, she was quickly hooked. Since then,
she has completed five of the six Abbott World Marathon
Majors and is preparing for her final one, the 2025 Boston

(01:01:33):
Marathon, training with Team for Kids. Stephanie has raised over $ 14,
000 for New York Roadrunners youth and community programs, and
she's committed to raising 2000 more to support youth fitness
programs. As a back- of- the- pack runner, Boston presents
an added challenge with its strict time cutoffs, but Stephanie

(01:01:54):
is determined to cross that finish line in time.

Meb (01:01:57):
Thanks Rob. Stephanie, welcome to the Set the Pace Podcast.
You have completed five of the six world major marathons
and about to run the Boston for the final star.
What does this milestone means to you?

Stephanie Sokol (01:02:13):
Oh yeah, I don't even know where to begin. It means so
much. Having the privilege to have run all of the majors
so far and the opportunity to run Boston this year
is just incredible. I'm really just proud of myself. It's
so difficult. The time commitment to run a marathon, train

(01:02:36):
for a marathon, it's been crazy. So, I'm so proud
of myself that I've gotten there. I just can't wait
to take on Boston and see what it has in
store for me.

Meb (01:02:48):
Well, you didn't love running in 2019, but now you are
running the number five. What inspired you to start and
how did you evolve in the beginner runners to almost
six stars runners in just six years?

Yeah, so I hated running so much to the point that
I actually quit lacrosse because the coach was telling me
that I wasn't fast enough. So what did I do?
I quit. Back in 2019, I had moved to Hoboken,
I moved out from living with my parents and I
was living in a place where I didn't really have
a lot of friends and I didn't know what to

(01:03:25):
do. So I took on running, which looking back is
so funny because I took on a solo sport to
make friends, but ultimately, I actually have in the long
run. So when I set out to do something, I don't
go small. For that very first half- marathon I ran,
I actually had a second one a few weeks later,
so went right for it. I didn't think I wanted

(01:03:48):
to run a marathon, this was just something that I
was doing to meet people and have a good time
and stay healthy. But I had signed up for the
2020 New York City Marathon Lottery and when I didn't
get in, that's when I realized I actually really wanted
to, and I realized how much it meant for me.
And that's, at the time, is when a friend told

(01:04:08):
me about Team for Kids. So within a few minutes
of not getting in, I was already signed up. Unfortunately,
2020 never happened because of COVID. So I took a
little bit of time off from running and that first
practice for the 2021 New York City Marathon with Team
for Kids is where everything really changed for me. That's

(01:04:29):
where I met people that I'm still friends with today
and coaches that still coach me today. And that is
the reason that I'm still running. That's what took me
from being someone who didn't really like running to someone
who loves it and is held accountable and I keep
coming back from there. It just kept snowballing and here
I am ready for my sixth star. So, thank you

(01:04:49):
Team for Kids for getting me here.

Meb (01:04:52):
Amazing story. Here you are now, you thought you were (inaudible)
sport by making friends left and right or front
or back. Now, you are running the Boston Marathon for Team for Kids. Why
is this cause so important to you?

Yeah, so like I said, a friend had told me about Team for
Kids, so I will be completely honest, when I first
signed up, I really didn't know what the cause was
for. But I'm so grateful that I found such an
amazing cause. Team for Kids helping youth with fitness programs
across the country is just incredible. So looking back on

(01:05:25):
my journey here, I didn't find that love for running,
so at this point in time, I just hope that
Team for Kids is able to provide kids with finding
a love for something that I didn't love before. So
I keep fundraising for such an incredible cause and I'm grateful
to everyone who's donated to me and to Team for Kids along the way.

Meb (01:05:49):
Yeah, absolutely. The New York Roadrunners does a great job to fundraise through Team for Kids for young kids to
have the ability to sports because running sometimes is not
seen as a popular, especially in middle school and high
school. So New York Roadrunners does a great job to be able to change that. As you have self- describe back- of- the-
pack runner, Boston comes with the extra challenge of strict

(01:06:10):
time limits, how are you preparing for that?

Yeah, so I was slow back then and I'm still slow now and that's
okay to me. I am finishing and I've run these marathons and
that's really all that matters. So I've come to terms
with that in terms of-

Meb (01:06:27):
Let me just interrupt you, Stephanie. When you're running 26. 2
miles, it's not slow, you are accomplishing something that isn't
1% people around the world accomplish. So don't call yourself
slow. You are out there getting from point A to
point B to the best you can.

That's absolutely true. And what's always been important to me
was finishing. The New York City Marathon really helps that
anybody finishes, there's no questions asked there. But some of
the other cities that host the World Major Marathons don't
necessarily have that time. They have to open the roads
back up and we have to follow their rules and

(01:07:02):
guidelines. So I know going into Boston that there's a
strict cutoff. That I have roughly six hours, maybe a
little bit more than that. So I'm doing everything in
my power to prepare for that. I'm getting the hill
work in, I'm mentally preparing myself that I know I
can do it.

Meb (01:07:20):
Stephanie, you're going to crash it. Just keep being yourself, don't change anything now.
You just had done the United Airlines NYC Half and
you're ready to go, so-

Yes.

Meb (01:07:28):
As you are a big Peloton fan and love running to Becs Gentry's class
who hosts the show here on Set the Pace, what
is that her coaching that you like about and motivate you?

Yeah, so from the very beginning when I first found Becs, 2019, I couldn't run a mile. I really couldn't
run it. And Becs would always say, " Forward is a
pace," and that's really what resonated with me. I continue
to run with Becs when I do my long runs.
I'll just stack a bunch of 45- minute runs on,

(01:08:02):
so I'm taking my fuel and I'm putting on the
next Peloton class. Having that community, having Becs in my
ear and all of the other coaches has been really
motivating throughout all of my training.

Meb (01:08:15):
Awesome. Just absolutely amazing story, going for your sixth star
in Boston. We are so grateful for all the work
that you do for Team for Kids and wish you
all the best on April 21st, 2025.

Thank you so much, Meb. It's been amazing talking with you.

Thank you so much for joining us Stephanie, thanks for
being a member of New York Roadrunners and good luck
in Boston. Now, it's time for the final part of
our show, today's Meb Minute.

Meb (01:08:40):
For those of you training for this year's Boston Marathon, we are almost
three weeks out from the race day. And if it's
not too late to prepare yourself for these legendary hills.
Focus on hill repeats, find a steep incline and run
hard uphill, then recover by jogging or walking down. Don't
neglect the downhill running either. As Boston has a steep

(01:09:03):
descent that can really strain your quads, incorporate strength training
for your legs, core. To build your power, you need
to tackle both climbs and descents. Also, try to simulate
the course by doing long runs and variety terrain, keeping
your pace steady despite the hills. The Boston hills are
tough, but with the right preparation you can win on

(01:09:26):
those hills. I've done the Boston Marathon many times, people
focus on the hills, but don't forget about the descents
of the hills. You have to be patient. You have
to be on goal, visualizing what you're going to do
on race day. So when you're training, wherever you might
be, when a hill comes up on your course, start
running that hill hard and visualize like Heartbreak Hill or

(01:09:47):
the Newton Hill so that way, on race day, you'll
be ready to tackle it and you will win those hills.

And that does it for another episode of Set the
Pace. We want to thank our awesome guest today, Kwasi
Kessie and our member, Stephanie Sokol. If you liked the
episode, please make sure you go ahead and subscribe, rate
it, leave a comment for the show. Send a question
to me and Becs, we'll be happy to answer it. It helps
other people find the show as well. Enjoy the miles,

(01:10:12):
everybody. We'll see you next week.

All Episodes

Episode Transcript

Popular Podcasts

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

Stuff You Should Know

Dateline NBC

.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;}How Kwasi Kessie Merges Marathoning and Fashion

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;}On Purpose with Jay Shetty

Stuff You Should Know

Dateline NBC

All Episodes

How Kwasi Kessie Merges Marathoning and Fashion

On Purpose with Jay Shetty