January 23, 2025 • 63 mins
Randi Zuckerberg, yes that Randi Zuckerberg! (entrepreneur and bestselling author) joins Set the Pace this week to describe how her running journey has taken her from 10ks to 250 milers in only two years time, all while she balances her role as a mother of three and a leader in the tech and media industries. Hear about the powerful lessons ultra running has taught Randi about vulnerability, community, and mental toughness and find out how blazing new trails as an entrepreneur prepared her for blazing her own path to ultra running. Also joining for this week’s member moment is Kurt Farrell, a runner and neuroscientist whose lab received funding for CurePSP, an official charity partner of New York Road Runners.
Randi Zuckerberg joins STP (05:48)
NYRR Member and Neuroscientist Kurt Farrell (54:04)
Today's Meb Minute (01:01:00)
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
New York Road Runners is a non- profit 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.
(00:21):
Learn more and contribute at nyrr. org/ donate.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Thank you, New York. Today, we're reminded of the power
of community and the power of coming together, athletes, on
your mark.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
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
Speaker 4 (00:53):
Look at the emotion of Shalane Flanagan as she comes
to the line. Pointing to his chest, pointed to the
USA he so proudly wears across his chest, a great
day for Meb Keflezighi.
Becs Gentry (01:10):
Welcome to Set the Pace, the official podcast of New
York Road Runners, presented by Peloton. And today, I am
your host, I'm Becs Gentry. Thank you so much for
joining us, we have a really, really exciting guest on
today's session. But before that, we have a lot to
talk about, about this past weekend. Now, Rob cannot be
(01:33):
here today, he is in the air, so I'm just
going to banter amongst myself. You know that I'm really
good at doing that, especially when it comes to running,
and especially when it comes to records being shattered. This
past weekend it was a 2025 Aramco Houston Half Marathon,
and those records were broken by two very familiar faces
(01:56):
to New York Road Runners. On the women's side, we
had Weini Kelati, she broke her own American record, coming in
at 1
Now, she was a second place woman, finishing just four
seconds behind the winner who got a 1
(02:20):
to Senayet, that was such a stellar performance. Now, on the
men's side, someone we know and love, and have had many
New York Road Runners races, our lovely, Conner Mantz. He has
been a guest on this show, so if you want to
go back and listen to the episode, I highly recommend
it, but he came in at 59:17 at the half marathon, and
(02:44):
he broke an 18- year- old American record set by
Ryan Hall. Isn't that unbelievable? Wow. And it was a
photo finish, by the way, you should check out all
of the photos of that, because he was actually second
place with Ethiopia's Addisu Gobena. So, go and have a look
(03:04):
at that past weekend, Houston, fun. Now, coming up, the
first big half marathon for New York Road Runners is
happening this Sunday, the 26th of January. It is the
New York Road Runners, Fred Lebow Half Marathon, two loops
within the park. You go up Harlem Hill three times
(03:24):
people. Okay? So, get those legs ready to power. I
wish I was running it, I was actually supposed to
be running it, but forgot that I'm solo parenting. So,
make sure you look out for a few familiar faces
from the Peloton instructor crew, towing the line, and coming
over the finish this weekend. So, good luck to everybody,
(03:46):
getting out there, wrap up warm, it's going to be
chilly, but you'll be nice and warm by the finish.
Today's guest will be Randi Zuckerberg. You may know her
as a dedicated entrepreneur and best- selling author, but today
we are diving into an entirely different side of Randi,
her journey as a marathoner and ultra marathoner. Randi went
(04:09):
from completing her first 10K, the MasterCard New York Mini
10K in 2023, to signing up for a jaw- dropping 250- mile
trail race in less than two years. That is an
absolutely meteoric transformation, and I cannot wait to dive into
how it all happened with her shortly. And like Randi,
(04:33):
today's featured member, Kurt Farrell, is both dedicated to his
career, Kurt, by the way, is a neuroscientist, but he's
also dedicated to his newly discovered love of running. Kurt's
first race was Gretes Gallop in 2022, and since then, Kurt
has balanced his work in the lab with road races
that span every distance, from the mile to the marathon.
(04:55):
So, stay tuned for both of those incredible conversations. And
as the first 2025 marathon majors creep closer, and closer,
Meb is here to give us tips on the best
ways to adapt to the weather during your winter training.
So, stay tuned for the great Meb Keflezighi. Ready to
level up your running? With the Peloton Tread and Tread+,
(05:16):
you can challenge yourself anytime, anywhere. Whether you're building strength
or working on speed, Peloton has a class for every
goal, from five to 120 minute workouts. With muscle building
classes and flexible training options, you'll have everything you need
to crush your next race, and then recover from it.
All access membership separate. Find your push, find your power,
(05:40):
at onepeloton. com/ race- training. Peloton, the official digital fitness
partner for New York Road Runners. So, today I am
beyond thrilled to welcome our guest, Randi Zuckerberg. Yep, I'm
going to leave a pause there because if you know
her, you know this powerful, yet tiny female, is one
(06:04):
who is going to bring us some fabulous running stories, and
more. As some background, in the last few years, Randi
has taken on marathons, 50 mile trail races, 24 hour
runs, and all of this while balancing her role as a
mother of three, a leader in the tech and media
worlds, and an all around busy, busy human. Her journey
(06:27):
back to running after 20 year hiatus began with the
MasterCard New York Mini 10K in 2023. Since then, running
has transformed her life, turning her from a supporting character
in other people's stories into the main character of her
own. A story of grit, strength, and authenticity, she never
imagined writing for herself just a few years ago. Now,
(06:50):
Randi is gearing up for the incredible Cocodona 250. Yep,
that is a 250- mile ultra marathon this coming May. So,
we're going to hear all about her training in New
York City, her shift from road to trail running, and
the powerful lessons ultra running has taught her about vulnerability,
(07:11):
community, and mental toughness. Randi, I can never smile as
big as you because I think you have the biggest smile
I've ever known, and had the pleasure of meeting, but
it is so amazing to have you on Set the Pace.
Randi Zuckerberg (07:25):
Becs, I am the one that's smiling from ear to
ear, because first of all, this is one of my
favorite podcasts, and I just look up to you so
much. You're the most incredible runner, you have been in
my ear, coaching me through so many runs, and if I
could look back two years, and tell Randi entering that
(07:45):
first 10K that I would be here getting interviewed by
you, I wouldn't have believed it.
Becs Gentry (07:53):
Which is wild to me, because I equally look to
you with so much admiration and inspiration. Your journey that
we're going to talk about has been an unusual one,
to say the very least, and I will say, I
have the actual bonus of having gotten to know Randi,
(08:14):
and also your fabulous and wonderful husband and fellow running
buddy, Brent. So, this whole journey that you're going to
tell us, it involves him as well, so let's rewind.
Let's rewind a little bit here, because I want to
(08:36):
talk about something that you and Brent actually told Austin
and I at Knight of Champions last year. And that
was just about how you... You guys have been together
forever, right?
Randi Zuckerberg (08:49):
Yes, almost 25 years.
Becs Gentry (08:52):
25 years. College sweethearts, literally have gone through everything in
life together, and now it's even more coming your way.
But you did fitness at college sort of individually, hung
out together, and then your lives took on the trajectory
(09:15):
that it does for everybody, we have careers, we have
kids, we get married, we settle down... You've done all
of this with such passion, and such success, both of
you, and then 2023 rolls around, which is less than
two years ago, and Randi decides that she is going
(09:37):
to go and lace up those shoes, and suddenly go
for a run. What made you, something must have triggered
you to do that? What was it?
Randi Zuckerberg (09:46):
It was wild. So, I ran one marathon, back, right
after I graduated college, it was the Chicago Marathon, it was in 2003.
I had no Garmin, there was no Strava... I would go out and
run and not post it, like shocking.
Becs Gentry (10:06):
Sinful.
Randi Zuckerberg (10:06):
Sometimes I would go run and not even know how
long I had run.
Becs Gentry (10:12):
Those were the days.
Randi Zuckerberg (10:15):
Yeah, those were the days. And so, it was a fine experience, but I crossed that
finish line, I was like, okay, bucket list check, never
doing that again. And so, fast- forward 20 years, and
I came out of the pandemic, so lonely. I had
had a brand new baby right before we all went
(10:36):
into COVID lockdown, and I just felt so isolated with
this new baby, and so lonely, and I turned 40
during lockdown, and I kind of took stock of my
life. And you alluded to this a little in the
beginning, but I've had a lot of sidekick energy my
whole life, which is great, everyone needs a sidekick, but
(10:59):
I've always been supporting my brother at his startup, supporting
my husband, and being Asher and Simi and Shira's mom, and I
realized if someone wrote the story of my life, I
wouldn't even be the main character in the story of
my own life. And that was a pretty sad and
(11:19):
shocking realization to come to at age 40, and I
didn't really know what to do with that information, or
sitting with that, I just really thought, wow, I would
really like to step into the main character role in my own
life. And there were these women at a local gym
that I would go to, and they would run the
(11:42):
New York Road Runners races on the weekends, and go
have brunch. And I was like, I don't even think I like running, but
I really like brunch, and I'm very lonely, and these
seem nice women, and so that was kind of how
I got into it. I didn't even think I could
(12:02):
run on pavement... I hadn't even run one step on
pavement in 20 years, and I didn't know after having
three kids if that would be something that I could
do. But we entered the Mini 10K, the MasterCard Mini
10K, and it was, oh my gosh, Becs, it was so joyful
to just see thousands of women out there, of all
(12:24):
ages, and all body sizes, and just showing up for
themselves... I left that race, and I was like, I
think I could show up for myself in my own
life, I think I can do a little more of this.
Becs Gentry (12:42):
I remember seeing you there at that race, I remember seeing a bunch of you, and you were
all dressed up, you had your mini- skirts on, your
tutus, your sparkles, and I think we talked about this,
or I think maybe I read about somewhere, about you
saying how lonely you were.
Randi Zuckerberg (12:59):
Yes.
Becs Gentry (12:59):
And I was feeling that exact same thing, at the
exact same time, because I just had Tallulah in '22,
in October of '22, and the MasterCard Mini 10K was my
first race back.
Randi Zuckerberg (13:14):
No.
Becs Gentry (13:14):
And I just resonated with everything you said, of, wow,
I feel so lonely, gosh, I don't really know what
to do here. I'd never raced a 10K, but I
just threw myself into it because that was about the
distance I thought I could handle postpartum at that point.
And I just remember seeing you, and multiple other women
(13:37):
who'd come that day and been inspired by the community,
and you were vibrant, and just radiating this happiness for
running. And so, it's funny to think in that moment
you weren't actually 100% sure about that happiness in running,
but there you were, giving it a go.
Randi Zuckerberg (13:59):
Yeah, there's something so magical about, you're running alone, but
it was the first time I didn't feel alone in
so many years. So, yeah, then I decided to sign
up for a half marathon, I was like, all right,
we survived the 10K. And Becs, I guess every good runner had
(14:20):
left the city that day because I broke the tape,
I won the half marathon. I don't know what happened,
but all I know is I saw my daughter, who
was four years old at the time, standing by the
tape, and I just had the most profound experience as I
(14:43):
turned the corner and I saw the tape. And in
that second where I knew that I was going to
be the one to break it, I was like, this
is all mine, no one in my life can say
that this is because I'm someone's sister, or someone's wife,
or someone's mom... This is the first thing in my
(15:05):
entire life that is all mine. And it was just
this very profound realization that happened across four seconds, and
I was like, you know what? I think I found my main
character moment. And that was the moment that I really just
(15:26):
completely fell in love with running.
Becs Gentry (15:29):
Wow. So, I'm going to take from that that one
of the emotions you felt in that moment was happiness,
alongside, I'm sure, many others, pride, et cetera. That happiness,
okay, so it's something that we as parents, and especially
as mothers, is not talked about very often. And I
(15:51):
know we've had this conversation of how do you do
it as a mom of three, I'm constantly like, how
do you do this, Randi? I can't wait to be like
you as a mom, and just doing all these incredible things.
But it's very, very important for parents and moms to
find that joy because it's common, and not many people
(16:11):
admit that you can be joyously happy, so, so fulfilled
and happy at home with your kids and your partners,
but individually, your main character moment has gone. And you're
like, oh, I just need that back. So, thank you for
(16:35):
talking about that, and doing it with grace as well.
And for continuing to do it. So, we've got the
10K in June 2023, and fast- forward to November, she
toes the line for the TCS New York City Marathon.
Talk us through that 10K, half marathon, marathon.
Randi Zuckerberg (16:58):
Yes. About a week after that half marathon, I got
a call from the incredible Alysia Montañoo, who's putting together a
team of all moms to run the New York City
Marathon. And I wasn't even thinking of running a marathon,
but when you get a call from an Olympian, an
(17:19):
Olympian runner, inviting you to be on their team, you do
not say no to that. That's not a call that I
was going to get again. And so, I was like,
all right, I guess we're running the New York City
Marathon. And I started to train, and... Wow, being on
(17:39):
that starting line, I just remember standing on the Verrazano
Bridge, just weeping when they started to play New York,
New York, just being like, I can't believe the circle
that life has taken, from being one and done with
the Chicago Marathon, going on this wild journey... And I
(18:03):
ended up running the New York City Marathon an hour
faster in my 40s than I ran in my 20s.
And that was a big, I think, wake up call
for me, and a lot of women, we write ourselves
off in our 40s, we write ourselves off when we
become a mom, and that was a big moment where I was
(18:27):
like, maybe I'm just getting started. Maybe the best is
really yet to come, and I don't have to put
these limits on myself that I've thought I had to put.
Becs Gentry (18:38):
Wow. Wow. So, you're towing the line, you're standing there, you
are ready to rock the New York City Marathon, part
of the & Mother team, what was that experience like for
you, running through the city that you have lived in,
that you have had your children in... And the celebration,
tell us about that.
Randi Zuckerberg (18:59):
It was a 26.2 mile celebration, and one of my
first dates with my husband was running in Central Park,
so to finish the marathon almost in that exact same
park, where every monumental experience in my life has happened,
(19:22):
it's just so magical. And when you come off the
bridge, and you hear the screams of the crowd heading
up to the Upper East Side, I think I cried
six times during the New York City Marathon.
Becs Gentry (19:35):
Aw.
Randi Zuckerberg (19:36):
I had headphones, I never even turned them on, I
never even put music on.
Becs Gentry (19:41):
Understandable.
Randi Zuckerberg (19:43):
And yeah, it totally felt like a celebration. And yeah,
all I just remember thinking... And I remember when it
got hard, I really practiced talking kindly to myself, because
I think when things get hard, you can really descend
(20:06):
into negative self- talk. And I remember just saying things
to myself like, how proud would Randi from two years
ago be right now, and how proud are your kids
going to be when you cross that finish line, and
just that little shift in talking to myself positively made
(20:26):
all the difference.
Becs Gentry (20:28):
I'm sure it did. Okay, so then there's three of
the races, or the bigger ones under-
Randi Zuckerberg (20:36):
The we go full crazy from there, then we (inaudible) .
Becs Gentry (20:39):
Then... Yes.
Randi Zuckerberg (20:39):
Okay.
Becs Gentry (20:39):
Then the tide shifts again, and the positive self- talk
was clearly working, the main character role has already won
Oscars, and they are coming for more right now. Because
so soon after the New York City Marathon, Randi decides
(21:03):
that 26. 2, not far enough. No, what's next? What's
the next little hurdle she can get to? And it
was a 50- mile race, right? You went for an ultra.
Off she goes.
Randi Zuckerberg (21:19):
Yeah. So, this is... Now, I feel like the story was a
little normal to this point, and now we just descend
into the full crazy. But maybe there's a little meaning
to the madness because I have been reading a lot of
articles about how women, the longer a distance gets, women
(21:43):
start to outperform men, and actually the longer the distance,
the later in life your peak is. So, when they
look at 50 and a 100- mile races, women are not peaking until
they're late 40s and even later, depending on the distance.
Becs Gentry (21:58):
Fantastic.
Randi Zuckerberg (21:58):
And so, I thought to myself, okay, here I was being
like, oh shucks, I wish I came into running sooner
in life, why am I just discovering that I love
this, and I'm 42, and it's all over for me?
But when I started researching the longer distances, I thought,
okay, maybe it's not over, let me see if I like
(22:22):
these longer distances. And I ran the perimeter of Manhattan,
which I know is a favorite run of yours, that
you absolutely crushed in your training, I ran the perimeter
of Manhattan. I didn't even know what an ultra marathon
was, in fact, I was so embarrassed to be running
(22:42):
that long that I turned my watch off at 20
miles, because I was too embarrassed to tell anyone that I
was running that long. So, I did the perimeter, and
something really fascinating happened, which is that around mile 25, 26,
I got faster. I hit my second wind, and I
(23:03):
got faster. And I was like, okay, all right, I think there's
some data here that (inaudible) . So, I signed up
for that 50 mile race, which was wild, I'd never
run trails before, I showed up with a fanny pack
full of gummy worms, I didn't know what I was doing.
Becs Gentry (23:23):
That sounds perfect.
Randi Zuckerberg (23:23):
It was great. And I somehow had a second place finish in that
race, in my first ever ultra, so that unleashed the
full crazy.
Becs Gentry (23:38):
There it goes, it was there. So, how long after
the TCS New York City Marathon was that race?
Randi Zuckerberg (23:43):
It was two weeks after.
Becs Gentry (23:44):
It was two weeks. And you'd run the perimeter whilst
you were training for the marathon?
Randi Zuckerberg (23:48):
Exactly. I ran the perimeter about maybe three weeks before
the New York City Marathon.
Becs Gentry (23:54):
Okay. Also, wildly awesome. So, when it comes to that strength, and I
think if we put on the hat of, is it
beginner's luck? Is it because you're green when it comes
to these distances, that you bowled yourself in, you came
(24:17):
through with this second place finish, I think, initially, yes, absolutely.
Randi Zuckerberg (24:24):
Definitely.
Becs Gentry (24:25):
Because knowing your personality, of course, you are so bright
and bubbly, that I can just... If I want to
think a pile of mud is beautiful, I will call
you, I would just be like, Randi, just tell me
that this is wonderful, because right now I don't see
it, and you would somehow make me believe that a
pile of mud was sparkly and delightful. But you kept
(24:47):
doing it. And the more... Okay, in duration, in timeframe,
you are still " new" to ultra running, but in distance
completed, you are so tenured in these miles now. So,
your ability to keep achieving, I don't think, personally, is
(25:11):
because you are new and unaware of how this is
going to feel on your body. Because you have dipped
yourself into 50 miles, you've done 80, 90 mile trail
races, but then you've gone and done the things that
I would personally draw the line at. And you know this,
(25:35):
we've had these-
Randi Zuckerberg (25:36):
(inaudible) parking lots, and doing...
Becs Gentry (25:37):
There we go, this one. Being Nemo, stuck in a fish tank. You
know in the movie when Nemo gets stuck in the
fish tank, in the dentist office? And I'm like, this
poor baby fish, he can only swim in circles anyway,
and now he's in a teeny tiny fish tank. Oh,
boy, it's just made his circles even smaller. This was
Randi to me. I was like, what is she doing? She's
(25:59):
doing a 24- hour race, around a teeny tiny circuit. I'm
not even going to... Was it a track? I don't think it
was even-
Randi Zuckerberg (26:10):
It was a three mile, a three- mile loop.
Becs Gentry (26:12):
A three mile loop.
Randi Zuckerberg (26:14):
But yes, but I think I did that loop, I don't know, 30, 40 times.
Becs Gentry (26:16):
I was going to say, I feel like it was about 40 times that you did
that loop. So, Randi, what is in your brain, aside
from the family, the normal motivations, I want to dig
deep into what other things are going through your mind
(26:37):
to get you through that monotony?
Randi Zuckerberg (26:39):
Yes, I think... And I even ask myself this sometimes, because I know
from the outside it just looks absolutely insane, and so
I spend a lot of time, I feel like, justifying
my behavior to my friends, my family, myself. There's a
few things that I'll say, I think first, I have
this running alter ego, which, sorry if that sounds kind
(27:03):
of strange, but I call her Brandi.
Becs Gentry (27:05):
No.
Randi Zuckerberg (27:05):
And I found that in my life, Brandi's always been
with me, and if I didn't channel her, she gets
a little destructive. But running, I'm able to set her
free. I'm able to give Brandi permission to just... She
doesn't have to act like a lady, she doesn't have
(27:27):
to be perfect, the way women in business and society
have been taught to act our whole lives, Brandi can
just go full send. She can be unapologetic. And so,
that has really helped me to get to the start
of a race, and give myself permission to just do
(27:50):
it for me. I think also just the mental toughness,
I didn't realize what a big part of running and
ultra running that is, and how well being an entrepreneur
had trained me to have mental toughness. Because when you
are working 100 hours a week at a startup, and
(28:11):
you're blazing new paths, and you're just constantly having to
problem solve, on the front lines of Facebook, with my
brother, we were basically just problem solving for a decade
straight, and then, you get out into an ultra, and
an ultra is less of a run and more of
(28:32):
a series of problem solving.
Becs Gentry (28:34):
Ooh, I love that
Randi Zuckerberg (28:37):
You're just running from one problem to the next, and solving
it, and you don't know what's going to happen over 100
miles. Is it going to be a blister? Is it going
to be stomach problems? Is it going to be fueling?
Is it going to be the weather? You don't know,
and so I felt so comfortable in those distances, because
as an entrepreneur I was like, I've done this for
(28:59):
decades, I'm a problem solver, and I can dig deep.
And I didn't realize that I had been training to
run ultras my whole career.
Becs Gentry (29:10):
I love that parallel between the two. And you're right,
there's aid stations in these super long races, for somebody
who's never had that experience, would be a moment of semi-
panic, of like, okay, how are we going to get
through this? How are we going to do this? I'm
going to need to fuel, I'm going to need to
pop that blister, I'm going to need to wrap this,
and blah, blah, blah, blah. But you are probably strategizing in
(29:30):
the last mile, few meters before you get to the
aid station, of like, this is a B and C,
we're doing it in this order, we're getting it done,
and I'm moving on.
Randi Zuckerberg (29:40):
Yeah, I always, I come into an aid station, I'm
like, I have a checklist of things that I'm going
to do, but I learn something new about myself in
every race that I do. Becs, I will say I race
a lot, and I know that that is different from
what a lot of runners do. A lot of runners,
they'll have a couple of top races during the year.
(30:04):
I find, unfortunately, as a female distance runner, it's not
very safe to just go out and run 20, 30, 40 miles
on your own.
Becs Gentry (30:14):
I agree.
Randi Zuckerberg (30:15):
And that's why I'm constantly looking for races to run
because I feel like that's the only environment that I
don't have to spend 30% of my brain being alert,
and wondering if I'm safe, and if I'm going to
come home from my runs. So, I think if people
follow me on Strava, or they look at my runs,
it might appear that I'm over- racing or I'm over-
(30:38):
entering things, but I think women, long distance runners have
very different considerations than men.
Becs Gentry (30:44):
Absolutely. And I would add onto that is, you spend the
vast majority of your family's time, is New York City
based. You are here in the heart of the city,
and as much as people... In summer, fine, our daylight
hours are longer, but in winter, you aren't going to
(31:05):
step out after you've fed the kids, helped them with
their homework, put them to bed, you're not going to
step out into Central Park or the surrounding areas at 8:00, 9:
00 at night, in the dark, to go and run
20 miles, because it's just... I think, in my personal opinion,
it's a silly idea, by yourself, to do that. So,
(31:29):
thank you for that explanation because I'm sure there are
people out there who look at your stats, and are
just like, oh, she does a lot of races, but
that makes total sense. And it's also your personal opinions,
and your personal choices. But let's talk about the races
that you haven't finished. So, DNF for those of our
(31:53):
listeners who might not understand is did not finish. We
have DNS, did not start, and DNF, did not finish.
In the running world, these little acronyms have stigma attached
to them, because they are a question mark point to
anyone who stalks your running social. Everybody wants to know,
(32:15):
what happened? Oh my gosh, are you injured? But from
somebody who learned so many valuable lessons per run, you
do not just race, but per run, talk to me
about the DNS, when they happened, and what you've taken
away from them in this time period.
Randi Zuckerberg (32:32):
Absolutely. And one thing, if people aren't ultra runners, on
the site, Ultra Sign Up, you have a ranking. And
so, when you do a road race, or you do
a marathon, you have your standalone result from that, it
doesn't impact your whole career as a runner, but in
ultra running, every race that you do, you kind of
(32:53):
get ranked against the field, and then you have an
overall ranking, and that shows how you slot. So, dropping
out of a middle of a race really tanks your
ranking. And there are certain races that you can't even
register for unless you have a good enough ranking, because
they want to make sure that you have a good chance
(33:15):
of finishing. And so, for me, I've always been taught
to finish what you start, and dropping out of a
race is a really... I would almost rather collapse on a course
than drop out. But this summer I did have my
first DNF. It was a trail race, 60 kilometers, and
(33:39):
about three miles into the race I fell and hurt
my hamstring really badly, and I was sitting there... Even,
this is how crazy runners are, I was like, can
I still... Can I find 33 more miles on this
injured leg? I actually thought that I should do that.
And then, I ended up calling one of my best
(34:03):
friends, who is also my PT, very helpful best friend
to have when you're a runner.
Becs Gentry (34:09):
Very.
Randi Zuckerberg (34:09):
And he was like, do not finish this race, walk it in, and-
Becs Gentry (34:15):
Good job.
Randi Zuckerberg (34:15):
... let's make a new plan. And I beat myself
up about that for a long time. Yeah, when I
start something I like to show my children, I like
to show myself that I finish what I start, but
sometimes quitting is a win.
Becs Gentry (34:33):
Yeah. And accepting the vulnerability that you talk about, of
having to deal with that moment of beating yourself up,
or moments, as I know runners, we're all the same,
it lasts a little longer than a moment. But you've
talked about this, and I'm going to quote you, something called "
Confident terror." And was that a moment where you felt that?
Randi Zuckerberg (34:57):
Yeah. Absolutely. I think anytime you're doing long distance running, or
any kind of endurance sport, there's a chance of failure
when you walk out onto that start line, it is
not a given that you're going to make-
Becs Gentry (35:12):
It's like roulette.
Randi Zuckerberg (35:12):
Yeah, it's roulette. Anything could happen, I've had great races and I
have had terrible races... We can talk about the Boston
Marathon in a second, if you want. But I also think
that's what's so thrilling, and so exciting about it. If
there wasn't a chance of failure, is it even a
(35:34):
goal that's worth pursuing? Are you even pushing yourself hard
enough in life? And so, when I step onto a
start line, and I do feel those butterflies, and I feel
that terror, I think that it's just a reminder that I've
picked the right goal to chase. And yeah, we're always
a little bit walking that line of failure.
Becs Gentry (35:55):
Yeah, absolutely. And I like to remind people that if
you're not feeling those butterflies, or whatever it is in
the pit of your stomach, it almost means that you don't
care. You have to feel nervous or excited, whatever you
want to label it, you have to feel something to
be aware that you care about what you're doing.
Randi Zuckerberg (36:16):
That resonates so much with me because I do a
lot of public speaking, I speak all around the world
about technology, and even though I've given hundreds of speeches,
I still get stage fright.
Becs Gentry (36:27):
Really?
Randi Zuckerberg (36:27):
And people are always a little confused about that, and
I'm like, no, I love that stage fright because it
reminds me that I care. I care so deeply about
connecting with an audience, I care so deeply about what
I'm doing, and the second you don't care, why are
you even doing it?
Becs Gentry (36:46):
Absolutely. Okay, talking about caring. This past year, so 2024,
we step into spring, you've had a winter of running
some pretty wild distance races, you ran the United Airlines
Half in March, and you didn't have the best of
(37:09):
days, but you didn't have the worst of days. I
remember seeing you and Brent at the finish, together, and
then that's when we really started talking a lot, because
you had Boston coming up.
Randi Zuckerberg (37:25):
I'm sitting here, I know this is an audio podcast, I'm sitting here cringing at my
desk, thinking about Boston. But it's all right, no, can't
win them all.
Becs Gentry (37:35):
You can't win them all. And your honesty and openness, and I
don't know whether that is a reflection of my honesty
and openness, in when I talk to fellow runners, when
I talk to people who I feel I have an
immediate bond with, and you are one of those people.
And also, in my Peloton classes, I'm an open book. And
I know Randi has taken a few of them. And
(37:56):
I think, at that moment, pre- Boston and post- Boston,
you were like, Becs is somebody I can tell this
to, with no judgment.
Randi Zuckerberg (38:08):
(inaudible) .
Becs Gentry (38:07):
But talk us through the excitement of towing the line
to Boston and the, should we call it the relief of finishing it?
Randi Zuckerberg (38:17):
Absolutely. So, first of all, I should start by saying
that in February of last year, I tore my hamstring
in the middle of a half marathon. I was running
the Disney Princess Half Marathon, and at mile nine I
just felt this pop in my leg, and I was
like, oh gosh, this is not good. Still somehow managed
(38:38):
to finish the race, but I was out for about
six weeks from running after that. So, the United Half,
when I saw you, was my first return to running
after that injury. So, even though it was not a
PR for me, it was just an incredibly joyful day
to be just back running the distances that I loved.
(39:00):
So, there I was, training for Boston a few weeks
later, having done no running because I had a torn
hamstring, only training on the bike, and doing things, and
I made... Oh my gosh. I made every beginner rookie
mistake in the book. I went out blazing, I PR'd
(39:22):
my half marathon inside the Boston Marathon. It's like when
you're watching a train wreck, but you are the train, that was
what my race was like. And at mile 14, I saw my parents on the
side, and I started to cry.
Becs Gentry (39:43):
Aw.
Randi Zuckerberg (39:43):
I should also remind everyone it was like 80 degrees that
day in Boston, it was a fluke hot day, and
I was the slowest, I think I was... Your bibs
are the order you're ranked in, of qualifying. And so, out of 40, 000
runners, I think I was bib 39,997, the third- worst
(40:04):
person in the Boston Marathon. And so, I had the
latest start time, so I was like the latest start
time in-
Becs Gentry (40:11):
What was that, like 11?
Randi Zuckerberg (40:12):
It was 11. So, I hit the uphill heartbreak hill, at
peak heat one, and I stopped to a walk, and
my heart rate was 203. And I was like, I
am going to die on this course. And I remember
(40:33):
I saw my husband, Brent, at mile 17, I somehow
made it to 17, and I was like, I can't
breathe, my heart rate is so high, and I was like,
okay, bye, and (inaudible) , and he was like, no, stop running. And then, this is where it
gets real fun, at mile 23, I saw Josh Vernon,
(40:58):
who's a friend of both of ours, I had only
known him on Instagram. We had never met on person.
And he was like, " Randi, it's Josh," and I went
over to high five him, and instead I hit the
ground and just vomited everywhere. I just died. And the
medics, two medics came out on the course to try
(41:20):
to pull me, and I started screaming, I was like, "
I already bought the finisher jacket, I need to run
in Central Park with a Boston jacket." (inaudible) and I
thought I was beasting it, I was running like a fifteen- minute
mile. I somehow-
Becs Gentry (41:40):
But still moving,
Randi Zuckerberg (41:42):
Yes, still moving, and I somehow made it to the finish line.
Becs Gentry (41:46):
Wow.
Randi Zuckerberg (41:46):
The worst marathon ever, but I earned that finisher jacket.
Becs Gentry (41:51):
You really, really did. And I wish I could show
people, but I never would, the message you sent me,
and it was so blasé, of like, " Yeah, it wasn't the
best of races, I had some GI issues." And then,
when I next saw you and you told me about
it, I was like, GI issues, sure.
Randi Zuckerberg (42:09):
(inaudible) it was real bad. But what I will say
is I ran London six days later.
Becs Gentry (42:16):
Six days later.
Randi Zuckerberg (42:17):
I did the Boston- London double-
Becs Gentry (42:19):
You told me it was going to be your redemption race.
Randi Zuckerberg (42:21):
Yeah. And I ran a BQ time in London, six
days later.
Becs Gentry (42:30):
You did.
Randi Zuckerberg (42:30):
And so, I think just another takeaway from that is
that you can't judge yourself as a runner or as
a person by how you show up on one day.
Same runner, six days apart, two totally different conditions, almost
an hour difference in how I raced. And so, if
you have a bad race, if you have a good
(42:51):
race, you just move forward because it's not indicative of
your self- worth or your value as an athlete.
Becs Gentry (42:59):
I love that, that is so true, and something I
think every runner needs to hear. So, on that note,
I want to ask you how, because I'm intrigued, how
do you balance the main character of Brandi, and the
(43:22):
entrepreneur, businesswoman Randi Zuckerberg, and Brent's wife and lifelong partner,
and being a mother of three, how do you do
all of that with this joy?
Randi Zuckerberg (43:38):
Oh my gosh. First of all, same right back at
you, you balance so much with such beauty and grace.
There are definitely trade- offs, I wake up at 4:
30 or 5
get my run and my training in really early, so
that starting at 7
(44:02):
mom duty. And so, there are definitely sacrifices that come
with balancing all of that. And I think it's beautiful
in life to have a mix of sidekick and main
character energy. If you're the main character all the time,
that means you have no community, you have no one
(44:22):
else around you that you're supporting, but if you're the
sidekick all the time, you get a little lost. And
so, I find for me, I love balancing these roles,
I love being the mom, I sit on a bunch
of boards, and advise entrepreneurs, and I love being a
sidekick in those roles. You're a racer and you're a
(44:45):
coach, you're the perfect blend of main character and sidekick.
And I think if you're going to be part of
a community, and invest in it, you need that full circle.
Becs Gentry (44:55):
Yeah, absolutely. On a mom personal front, what has been,
or has there been, a ripple effect of something that has
come from Brandi and running all these miles that has
(45:16):
come into your life as mom?
Randi Zuckerberg (45:18):
So many. Oh my gosh. Just this morning minutes before
we taped together, my 13- year- old and I ran
10 miles together.
Becs Gentry (45:29):
What?
Randi Zuckerberg (45:29):
It was his longest run he's ever done, we're training
for a half marathon together-
Becs Gentry (45:36):
Wow.
Randi Zuckerberg (45:36):
... and he was his first ever double- digit mile.
Becs Gentry (45:40):
We are so proud of him.
Randi Zuckerberg (45:43):
It's six degrees outside. (inaudible) -
Becs Gentry (45:45):
It's freezing.
Randi Zuckerberg (45:46):
... we bundled up, and we got it done. And
I've seen... My 9- year- old ran 365 miles last
year, he entered one of the loop ultras that I
did. Again, for anyone who's not familiar with ultras, not
(46:07):
every race is for a distance, some are for a
time. And I enter a lot of races where it's
like, how many loops can you run in four hours,
which is a great ultra for beginners, because you can
stop and rest, and you can... My son did 16
miles at one of those-
Becs Gentry (46:24):
Your nine- year- old?
Randi Zuckerberg (46:24):
... (inaudible) . Yeah, at nine years old. And so,
it's now become this beautiful thing that our whole family
shares. My husband and I ran the New York City
Marathon this year, together, hand in hand. And-
Becs Gentry (46:41):
And you've stayed married.
Randi Zuckerberg (46:41):
We've shockingly stayed married, after doing that. But it's so beautiful
to really see the whole family start to care about
health and wellness and fitness, being on this journey together.
Becs Gentry (46:58):
Yeah. All because they're inspired by their incredible mom, who they
got to cheer at a podium finish this past weekend,
by the way, congratulations. Randi came in first overall female
at the Frozen Looper, which was the four- hour constant running.
Randi Zuckerberg (47:14):
This might've been, I've done a lot of psycho things, Becs, This
might've been the most psycho. It was a half a
mile loop that you ran for four straight hours. So,
I ran that loop 48 times. But one thing I've
learned about myself as a runner is I cannot outrun
(47:35):
most people, but I can out suffer most people. And
when you're an ultra, or a very long distance runner,
that's almost a better skill to have than the running.
Becs Gentry (47:46):
Okay. So, if I see you with our good friend, Sanjay, at 3,
100 this year, I shouldn't be shocked, is that what
you're telling me?
Randi Zuckerberg (47:55):
Sanjay tried to pitch me on the 3, 100.
Becs Gentry (47:58):
I'm sure.
Randi Zuckerberg (47:59):
He's like our loop is 0. 08 miles longer than the
one you ran, so come do it. But I was at my wits end after four hours
of running a half mile loop, I don't know how
people do that for months.
Becs Gentry (48:12):
No. Sanjay would be able to educate us all on
transcendence and self learning.
Randi Zuckerberg (48:20):
Yes. The spiritual, you break through the barriers, mental and spiritual
barriers. I have not figured out how to break through
that yet, but I'm working on it.
Becs Gentry (48:27):
Same. I'm so far behind you on the distance, but
he also, for the past six years of my life,
every year he's like, " Hey?" I'm like, " Nope, we're good." I
will come every year and support you, and walk a
lap, and then I remind myself that I couldn't do
this for weeks.
Randi Zuckerberg (48:43):
That's right. Yeah. Every time that I hit a new
distance or something that I think is crazy, I just
research some of the other things that people are doing
and running, and I'm like, nope. Wow. There's still a long
descent into darkness for me.
Becs Gentry (48:59):
There is. So, I'm going to wrap this up by
taking your own words there. There's a long descent into
darkness, Randi Zuckerberg, you are about to run one of
the toughest and longest races on the trail running calendar.
People are like, oh, she's doing Bad Water, nope. No, no,
(49:20):
no, we're going deeper. We're going harder, we're going longer
here. Randi is running Cocadona 250. 250 mile ultra race this May.
What on Earth made you think, sure, let's do it, this year?
Randi Zuckerberg (49:41):
Yeah. So, first of all, I wake up every day
feeling so excited and so terrified about this race. I
saw all the coverage of the race last year, and I
got those butterflies in my stomach like we were talking
about, and it's so rare to get that feeling in
life, when you're so excited about something, and you know
(50:04):
it's attainable, but just a little bit beyond what you're
capable of. And so, I just did it, I signed up.
Becs Gentry (50:13):
Just did it.
Randi Zuckerberg (50:13):
I was like, I'm just going to do it before
I chicken out here, and then I called four friends
to tell them. And I think this was the thing
that really gave me the confidence boost, not a single
of them told me I was crazy. In fact, they
were all like, can I be on your crew? The
first four people I called were like, so glad you're
(50:36):
doing this, can I be part of that? And I was
like, okay, maybe that just shows that I've surrounded myself
with other psychos, maybe that's just what it shows. But
I was like, wow, the first four people I called didn't
say, you're nuts, why did you do this? They were like-
Becs Gentry (50:54):
Fantastic.
Randi Zuckerberg (50:55):
Hell yes. And that's how I knew I chose the right
thing. It is challenging being an urban mom in New
York City, training for a race like that, because I
don't live in Flagstaff, or Colorado, I don't have access
to trails. So, I do a lot of crazy things,
Becs, like I run up and down flights of stairs.
(51:17):
I do crazy things. I run a lot of back
to back really long runs, or sit in saunas and
do crazy things. But you just make it work, wherever
you are, and whatever you have access to, you just
do what you need to do.
Becs Gentry (51:36):
If you had to pick one thing that is scaring
you more than any other race, because this will be
the longest you've run, right?
Randi Zuckerberg (51:46):
Yes.
Becs Gentry (51:46):
What would be the one thing right now that's inciting
that fear in you about this race?
Randi Zuckerberg (51:53):
I think the scariest thing is that you have to
go the first 80 miles alone, without your crew, without
any support. So, you have an unsupported 80 miles. I've
never run that length in the darkness by myself, and
on trails. And so, that definitely scares me. And I
(52:15):
think a lot about how to train that, how to
get a little mentally tougher, and how to face some
of those fears that I have of being a woman
out in the desert, running for 80 miles by myself. But
we are tough, we're warriors. If you can have children,
and start a company, and do these things, you can
(52:38):
run 80 miles through the desert. And so, we're just
going to find a way.
Becs Gentry (52:42):
And you'll have your fanny pack full of gummy worms
with you as well.
Randi Zuckerberg (52:46):
Yes. All the gummy worms.
Becs Gentry (52:49):
Well, Randi, we could sit and talk running for hours
and hours together, I am just constantly in awe, I
cannot wait... I wish I could come and crew you
as well for Cocodona, but I will be cheering you
on from the other side of the world at that
point. I'm so excited to watch you train for this,
(53:12):
and I'm sure, see you at many New York Road
Runners events between now and your takeoff for Cocodona. But
thank you for being a light in the running world,
and in the world of business, and female, you're a
force to be reckoned with on the business and entrepreneurship
(53:33):
side as well. So, bringing everything together, you are an
inspiration, so thank you for all you do, and thank
you so much for being our guest today on Set The Pace.
Randi Zuckerberg (53:44):
Well, when you do your crazy ultra one day, you
have to let me be on your crew.
Becs Gentry (53:50):
Deal.
Randi Zuckerberg (53:50):
(inaudible) . Becs, thank you so much, what a pleasure to chat with
you today.
Becs Gentry (54:07):
As our listeners know, a critical element of New York
Road Runner's commitment to transforming the health and well- being
of our communities is our official charity partners program. The
program offers hundreds of charities the opportunity to raise vital
funds via runners who are looking to gain guaranteed entry
into our sold out premier events. In fact, we had
(54:28):
runners supporting 570 official charity partners at the last 2024
TCS New York City Marathon. One of those incredible charity
partners is CurePSP, a nonprofit that raises money to support
research into neurodegenerative diseases. That connection leads us directly to
(54:49):
today's featured member, Kurt Farrell. Kurt isn't just here because
he's a dedicated New York Road Runner's runner, he's here
because of his groundbreaking work as a neuroscientist, which has
received funding from our charity partner, CurePSP. In his lab,
Kurt focuses on studying dementia and aging, and he was
(55:09):
honored as the 2023 recipient of CurePSP's prestigious Pathway Award.
Today, he's joining us not only to share his experiences
as a New York Road Runner's member, who has run
an impressive 35 races since August of 2022, but also
to talk about his unique perspective as somebody whose vital
(55:30):
research has been supported through the NYRR Charity Partners Program.
Please welcome, Kurt Farrell.
Speaker 5 (55:37):
Thanks, Becs. Kurt, welcome to the Set the Pace Podcast.
Can you tell us a little bit about the work
you are doing as a research scientist studying dementia and aging?
Kurt Farrell (55:49):
Absolutely, I'd be happy to. So, I am at a
medical school here in New York City, I'm an assistant
professor, most of my work focuses on dementia and aging,
particularly I'm interested in a rare disorder called progressive supranuclear
palsy. So, this presents as a movement disorder, and eventually
(56:09):
becomes dementing. Unfortunately, it is somewhat rare, but we have
seen more people being afflicted by it, including a congresswoman
in Virginia, Jennifer Wexton, unfortunately, she had to step down
this year. And the way that I tackle this disorder
is using genetics to understand common risk associated with the
(56:31):
disease, so eventually we can design some therapeutic targets to
hopefully one day cure the disorder.
Speaker 5 (56:39):
Sounds some great work. Can you explain how CurePSP, a
charity partner of the New York Road Runners, supports your research?
Kurt Farrell (56:48):
Yeah, absolutely. So, I've been working with CurePSP for almost
a decade now, they are a nonprofit that raise money
for research as well as patient advocacy, other things related
to the disorder. One of their research programs focuses on
doing biomarker and therapeutic research, so it's a competitive process,
(57:11):
I write grants to the nonprofit, and their scientific advisory
board reviews them, they get multiple, if not upwards of
50 grant applications per year, and then they fund a
select number that's selected by their advisory board. And as
was stated earlier, most of the money that's raised comes
through donations, through things like running through the Road Runners.
Speaker 5 (57:36):
Incredible. You have run a lot of races, to be
exact, 35 New York Road Runners races in the past two and a half
years, what inspires you to take up running in the
first place?
Kurt Farrell (57:47):
So, actually, originally I was a skier until I moved to
New York, and I realized I needed to do something
to keep active, so one day when I got back
to skiing, I would still be in good shape, and
a friend suggested that I start running with the Road
Runners, and my first race was so hot, it was
in the summer, I forget which one, but I was
(58:08):
just hooked, and it was so much fun, there's such a
sense of community, and it gives me a minute to
just focus on my research, and other things, as I'm
just running through the park. And it's really been a
great way to not only exercise, but to refresh myself
mentally, and allow me to continue in my research career.
(58:29):
So, I can't say anything negative about my experience with
the Road Runners thus so far.
Speaker 5 (58:34):
Well, awesome. I was encouraged to take up on skiing,
but preventing injuries I never tried, but definitely it builds
stamina. But how does your running helps you in your
professional life as a neuroscientist?
Kurt Farrell (58:47):
Yeah, so it gets back to the point I was
saying earlier. For some reason, just when I'm running, I
can shut a lot of the noise off and really focus
on really specific research questions that I'm trying to overcome,
something that might've happened in the lab, a result that
I didn't expect, something I really need to just figure
(59:08):
out. Take the time to really focus my brain on
what's going on there. And I've had some really good
moments in the middle of some really long runs, and
particularly when I was training for the marathon, sometimes we're
on these long runs that are hours upon hours, and you
just really have some time to yourself to work through
some complicated problems. And I think that's how running has
(59:30):
really helped my research career.
Speaker 5 (59:32):
Pretty awesome. I vaguely remember a little bit when I
was at UCLA, trying to study formulas (inaudible) runs,
you got to think, and then jot down notes, what you have memorized,
what you have to study more. But how has NYYR
shaped your running journey and sense of community in New York?
Kurt Farrell (59:50):
Well, I really think it has brought me a better
sense of community in New York, I previously spent my
whole life in the state of Ohio, where I grew
up, where also I went to undergrad and eventually grad
school. So, New York is the first place I moved
to outside of Ohio, and it took me a minute
to find my place. I was enjoying my research, but
(01:00:12):
I needed some community engagement and involvement, and that's what
the Road Runners provided me, and that's why I continue
to run, looking forward to many races this year. So,
I'm still actively involved and it's really been a great
part of my community.
Speaker 5 (01:00:30):
Well, finding your space in New York is interesting compared to
Ohio, but what has been your favorite memory of the TCS NYC Marathon?
Kurt Farrell (01:00:40):
Oh, I was one of those runners that decided to
print their name on their shirt, as many others do,
and there's just this awesome feeling of total strangers just
saying your name and cheering you on, especially when you're
reaching mile 18/20 into the Bronx, where you're just digging
for any little bit of gas to keep going, and
(01:01:02):
that to me was the funnest part, just having random
strangers yell my name as I was inching closer to
the finish line.
Speaker 5 (01:01:09):
Yeah, the New York Road Runners did a phenomenal job and the crowds behind
it, so we are so grateful to you, for all the work that you're
doing, Kurt, and thanks for being on the podcast.
Kurt Farrell (01:01:18):
Thanks for having me so much, this has been a
wonderful experience and opportunity.
Becs Gentry (01:01:22):
Thank you so much for joining us, Kurt, and for
being a member of New York Road Runners. Now, onto
the final part of our show, a Meb Minute.
Meb Keflezighi (01:01:30):
Thanks, Becs. Adapting to the weather. For those training for their first
spring marathon, you may be realizing winter marathon training requires
some adjustments. But with the right mindset and preparation, you
can make the most of the season to get there, (inaudible)
starting line. First, dress a layer, or stay warm,
but be mindful of not overheating during your runs. Moisture
(01:01:54):
wicking fabric are key. If condition are icy or snowy,
consider swapping for a few outdoor runs for a treadmill
session, or use a soft surface like trail to reduce
the risk of injury. And don't forget the warmups and
cool down, cold muscles are more prone to injuries, so
(01:02:15):
take extra time to loosen and before heading out, for
stretches afterward. Winter training can be tough, but it builds
mental toughness that will pay off on race day. You
have to be able to be flexible, if it comes a
really windy or icy day, it's a good time to
pass the outdoor run and change it for a treadmill.
Becs Gentry (01:02:35):
That does it for another episode of Set the Pace.
Thank you to today's guest, Randi Zuckerberg and Kurt Farrell.
If you like this episode, please go ahead and subscribe,
rate, or leave a comment for the show on whatever
platform you are listening on. This not only helps us,
but it helps others find out about the show too.
Thank you so much for listening today, once again, I'm
(01:02:58):
Becs Gentry, take care.
New York Road Runners is a non- profit 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.
(00:21):
Learn more and contribute at nyrr. org/ donate.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Thank you, New York. Today, we're reminded of the power
of community and the power of coming together, athletes, on
your mark.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
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
Speaker 4 (00:53):
Look at the emotion of Shalane Flanagan as she comes
to the line. Pointing to his chest, pointed to the
USA he so proudly wears across his chest, a great
day for Meb Keflezighi.
Becs Gentry (01:10):
Welcome to Set the Pace, the official podcast of New
York Road Runners, presented by Peloton. And today, I am
your host, I'm Becs Gentry. Thank you so much for
joining us, we have a really, really exciting guest on
today's session. But before that, we have a lot to
talk about, about this past weekend. Now, Rob cannot be
(01:33):
here today, he is in the air, so I'm just
going to banter amongst myself. You know that I'm really
good at doing that, especially when it comes to running,
and especially when it comes to records being shattered. This
past weekend it was a 2025 Aramco Houston Half Marathon,
and those records were broken by two very familiar faces
(01:56):
to New York Road Runners. On the women's side, we
had Weini Kelati, she broke her own American record, coming in
at 1
Now, she was a second place woman, finishing just four
seconds behind the winner who got a 1
(02:20):
to Senayet, that was such a stellar performance. Now, on the
men's side, someone we know and love, and have had many
New York Road Runners races, our lovely, Conner Mantz. He has
been a guest on this show, so if you want to
go back and listen to the episode, I highly recommend
it, but he came in at 59:17 at the half marathon, and
(02:44):
he broke an 18- year- old American record set by
Ryan Hall. Isn't that unbelievable? Wow. And it was a
photo finish, by the way, you should check out all
of the photos of that, because he was actually second
place with Ethiopia's Addisu Gobena. So, go and have a look
(03:04):
at that past weekend, Houston, fun. Now, coming up, the
first big half marathon for New York Road Runners is
happening this Sunday, the 26th of January. It is the
New York Road Runners, Fred Lebow Half Marathon, two loops
within the park. You go up Harlem Hill three times
(03:24):
people. Okay? So, get those legs ready to power. I
wish I was running it, I was actually supposed to
be running it, but forgot that I'm solo parenting. So,
make sure you look out for a few familiar faces
from the Peloton instructor crew, towing the line, and coming
over the finish this weekend. So, good luck to everybody,
(03:46):
getting out there, wrap up warm, it's going to be
chilly, but you'll be nice and warm by the finish.
Today's guest will be Randi Zuckerberg. You may know her
as a dedicated entrepreneur and best- selling author, but today
we are diving into an entirely different side of Randi,
her journey as a marathoner and ultra marathoner. Randi went
(04:09):
from completing her first 10K, the MasterCard New York Mini
10K in 2023, to signing up for a jaw- dropping 250- mile
trail race in less than two years. That is an
absolutely meteoric transformation, and I cannot wait to dive into
how it all happened with her shortly. And like Randi,
(04:33):
today's featured member, Kurt Farrell, is both dedicated to his
career, Kurt, by the way, is a neuroscientist, but he's
also dedicated to his newly discovered love of running. Kurt's
first race was Gretes Gallop in 2022, and since then, Kurt
has balanced his work in the lab with road races
that span every distance, from the mile to the marathon.
(04:55):
So, stay tuned for both of those incredible conversations. And
as the first 2025 marathon majors creep closer, and closer,
Meb is here to give us tips on the best
ways to adapt to the weather during your winter training.
So, stay tuned for the great Meb Keflezighi. Ready to
level up your running? With the Peloton Tread and Tread+,
(05:16):
you can challenge yourself anytime, anywhere. Whether you're building strength
or working on speed, Peloton has a class for every
goal, from five to 120 minute workouts. With muscle building
classes and flexible training options, you'll have everything you need
to crush your next race, and then recover from it.
All access membership separate. Find your push, find your power,
(05:40):
at onepeloton. com/ race- training. Peloton, the official digital fitness
partner for New York Road Runners. So, today I am
beyond thrilled to welcome our guest, Randi Zuckerberg. Yep, I'm
going to leave a pause there because if you know
her, you know this powerful, yet tiny female, is one
(06:04):
who is going to bring us some fabulous running stories, and
more. As some background, in the last few years, Randi
has taken on marathons, 50 mile trail races, 24 hour
runs, and all of this while balancing her role as a
mother of three, a leader in the tech and media
worlds, and an all around busy, busy human. Her journey
(06:27):
back to running after 20 year hiatus began with the
MasterCard New York Mini 10K in 2023. Since then, running
has transformed her life, turning her from a supporting character
in other people's stories into the main character of her
own. A story of grit, strength, and authenticity, she never
imagined writing for herself just a few years ago. Now,
(06:50):
Randi is gearing up for the incredible Cocodona 250. Yep,
that is a 250- mile ultra marathon this coming May. So,
we're going to hear all about her training in New
York City, her shift from road to trail running, and
the powerful lessons ultra running has taught her about vulnerability,
(07:11):
community, and mental toughness. Randi, I can never smile as
big as you because I think you have the biggest smile
I've ever known, and had the pleasure of meeting, but
it is so amazing to have you on Set the Pace.
Randi Zuckerberg (07:25):
Becs, I am the one that's smiling from ear to
ear, because first of all, this is one of my
favorite podcasts, and I just look up to you so
much. You're the most incredible runner, you have been in
my ear, coaching me through so many runs, and if I
could look back two years, and tell Randi entering that
(07:45):
first 10K that I would be here getting interviewed by
you, I wouldn't have believed it.
Becs Gentry (07:53):
Which is wild to me, because I equally look to
you with so much admiration and inspiration. Your journey that
we're going to talk about has been an unusual one,
to say the very least, and I will say, I
have the actual bonus of having gotten to know Randi,
(08:14):
and also your fabulous and wonderful husband and fellow running
buddy, Brent. So, this whole journey that you're going to
tell us, it involves him as well, so let's rewind.
Let's rewind a little bit here, because I want to
(08:36):
talk about something that you and Brent actually told Austin
and I at Knight of Champions last year. And that
was just about how you... You guys have been together
forever, right?
Randi Zuckerberg (08:49):
Yes, almost 25 years.
Becs Gentry (08:52):
25 years. College sweethearts, literally have gone through everything in
life together, and now it's even more coming your way.
But you did fitness at college sort of individually, hung
out together, and then your lives took on the trajectory
(09:15):
that it does for everybody, we have careers, we have
kids, we get married, we settle down... You've done all
of this with such passion, and such success, both of
you, and then 2023 rolls around, which is less than
two years ago, and Randi decides that she is going
(09:37):
to go and lace up those shoes, and suddenly go
for a run. What made you, something must have triggered
you to do that? What was it?
Randi Zuckerberg (09:46):
It was wild. So, I ran one marathon, back, right
after I graduated college, it was the Chicago Marathon, it was in 2003.
I had no Garmin, there was no Strava... I would go out and
run and not post it, like shocking.
Becs Gentry (10:06):
Sinful.
Randi Zuckerberg (10:06):
Sometimes I would go run and not even know how
long I had run.
Becs Gentry (10:12):
Those were the days.
Randi Zuckerberg (10:15):
Yeah, those were the days. And so, it was a fine experience, but I crossed that
finish line, I was like, okay, bucket list check, never
doing that again. And so, fast- forward 20 years, and
I came out of the pandemic, so lonely. I had
had a brand new baby right before we all went
(10:36):
into COVID lockdown, and I just felt so isolated with
this new baby, and so lonely, and I turned 40
during lockdown, and I kind of took stock of my
life. And you alluded to this a little in the
beginning, but I've had a lot of sidekick energy my
whole life, which is great, everyone needs a sidekick, but
(10:59):
I've always been supporting my brother at his startup, supporting
my husband, and being Asher and Simi and Shira's mom, and I
realized if someone wrote the story of my life, I
wouldn't even be the main character in the story of
my own life. And that was a pretty sad and
(11:19):
shocking realization to come to at age 40, and I
didn't really know what to do with that information, or
sitting with that, I just really thought, wow, I would
really like to step into the main character role in my own
life. And there were these women at a local gym
that I would go to, and they would run the
(11:42):
New York Road Runners races on the weekends, and go
have brunch. And I was like, I don't even think I like running, but
I really like brunch, and I'm very lonely, and these
seem nice women, and so that was kind of how
I got into it. I didn't even think I could
(12:02):
run on pavement... I hadn't even run one step on
pavement in 20 years, and I didn't know after having
three kids if that would be something that I could
do. But we entered the Mini 10K, the MasterCard Mini
10K, and it was, oh my gosh, Becs, it was so joyful
to just see thousands of women out there, of all
(12:24):
ages, and all body sizes, and just showing up for
themselves... I left that race, and I was like, I
think I could show up for myself in my own
life, I think I can do a little more of this.
Becs Gentry (12:42):
I remember seeing you there at that race, I remember seeing a bunch of you, and you were
all dressed up, you had your mini- skirts on, your
tutus, your sparkles, and I think we talked about this,
or I think maybe I read about somewhere, about you
saying how lonely you were.
Randi Zuckerberg (12:59):
Yes.
Becs Gentry (12:59):
And I was feeling that exact same thing, at the
exact same time, because I just had Tallulah in '22,
in October of '22, and the MasterCard Mini 10K was my
first race back.
Randi Zuckerberg (13:14):
No.
Becs Gentry (13:14):
And I just resonated with everything you said, of, wow,
I feel so lonely, gosh, I don't really know what
to do here. I'd never raced a 10K, but I
just threw myself into it because that was about the
distance I thought I could handle postpartum at that point.
And I just remember seeing you, and multiple other women
(13:37):
who'd come that day and been inspired by the community,
and you were vibrant, and just radiating this happiness for
running. And so, it's funny to think in that moment
you weren't actually 100% sure about that happiness in running,
but there you were, giving it a go.
Randi Zuckerberg (13:59):
Yeah, there's something so magical about, you're running alone, but
it was the first time I didn't feel alone in
so many years. So, yeah, then I decided to sign
up for a half marathon, I was like, all right,
we survived the 10K. And Becs, I guess every good runner had
(14:20):
left the city that day because I broke the tape,
I won the half marathon. I don't know what happened,
but all I know is I saw my daughter, who
was four years old at the time, standing by the
tape, and I just had the most profound experience as I
(14:43):
turned the corner and I saw the tape. And in
that second where I knew that I was going to
be the one to break it, I was like, this
is all mine, no one in my life can say
that this is because I'm someone's sister, or someone's wife,
or someone's mom... This is the first thing in my
(15:05):
entire life that is all mine. And it was just
this very profound realization that happened across four seconds, and
I was like, you know what? I think I found my main
character moment. And that was the moment that I really just
(15:26):
completely fell in love with running.
Becs Gentry (15:29):
Wow. So, I'm going to take from that that one
of the emotions you felt in that moment was happiness,
alongside, I'm sure, many others, pride, et cetera. That happiness,
okay, so it's something that we as parents, and especially
as mothers, is not talked about very often. And I
(15:51):
know we've had this conversation of how do you do
it as a mom of three, I'm constantly like, how
do you do this, Randi? I can't wait to be like
you as a mom, and just doing all these incredible things.
But it's very, very important for parents and moms to
find that joy because it's common, and not many people
(16:11):
admit that you can be joyously happy, so, so fulfilled
and happy at home with your kids and your partners,
but individually, your main character moment has gone. And you're
like, oh, I just need that back. So, thank you for
(16:35):
talking about that, and doing it with grace as well.
And for continuing to do it. So, we've got the
10K in June 2023, and fast- forward to November, she
toes the line for the TCS New York City Marathon.
Talk us through that 10K, half marathon, marathon.
Randi Zuckerberg (16:58):
Yes. About a week after that half marathon, I got
a call from the incredible Alysia Montañoo, who's putting together a
team of all moms to run the New York City
Marathon. And I wasn't even thinking of running a marathon,
but when you get a call from an Olympian, an
(17:19):
Olympian runner, inviting you to be on their team, you do
not say no to that. That's not a call that I
was going to get again. And so, I was like,
all right, I guess we're running the New York City
Marathon. And I started to train, and... Wow, being on
(17:39):
that starting line, I just remember standing on the Verrazano
Bridge, just weeping when they started to play New York,
New York, just being like, I can't believe the circle
that life has taken, from being one and done with
the Chicago Marathon, going on this wild journey... And I
(18:03):
ended up running the New York City Marathon an hour
faster in my 40s than I ran in my 20s.
And that was a big, I think, wake up call
for me, and a lot of women, we write ourselves
off in our 40s, we write ourselves off when we
become a mom, and that was a big moment where I was
(18:27):
like, maybe I'm just getting started. Maybe the best is
really yet to come, and I don't have to put
these limits on myself that I've thought I had to put.
Becs Gentry (18:38):
Wow. Wow. So, you're towing the line, you're standing there, you
are ready to rock the New York City Marathon, part
of the & Mother team, what was that experience like for
you, running through the city that you have lived in,
that you have had your children in... And the celebration,
tell us about that.
Randi Zuckerberg (18:59):
It was a 26.2 mile celebration, and one of my
first dates with my husband was running in Central Park,
so to finish the marathon almost in that exact same
park, where every monumental experience in my life has happened,
(19:22):
it's just so magical. And when you come off the
bridge, and you hear the screams of the crowd heading
up to the Upper East Side, I think I cried
six times during the New York City Marathon.
Becs Gentry (19:35):
Aw.
Randi Zuckerberg (19:36):
I had headphones, I never even turned them on, I
never even put music on.
Becs Gentry (19:41):
Understandable.
Randi Zuckerberg (19:43):
And yeah, it totally felt like a celebration. And yeah,
all I just remember thinking... And I remember when it
got hard, I really practiced talking kindly to myself, because
I think when things get hard, you can really descend
(20:06):
into negative self- talk. And I remember just saying things
to myself like, how proud would Randi from two years
ago be right now, and how proud are your kids
going to be when you cross that finish line, and
just that little shift in talking to myself positively made
(20:26):
all the difference.
Becs Gentry (20:28):
I'm sure it did. Okay, so then there's three of
the races, or the bigger ones under-
Randi Zuckerberg (20:36):
The we go full crazy from there, then we (inaudible) .
Becs Gentry (20:39):
Then... Yes.
Randi Zuckerberg (20:39):
Okay.
Becs Gentry (20:39):
Then the tide shifts again, and the positive self- talk
was clearly working, the main character role has already won
Oscars, and they are coming for more right now. Because
so soon after the New York City Marathon, Randi decides
(21:03):
that 26. 2, not far enough. No, what's next? What's
the next little hurdle she can get to? And it
was a 50- mile race, right? You went for an ultra.
Off she goes.
Randi Zuckerberg (21:19):
Yeah. So, this is... Now, I feel like the story was a
little normal to this point, and now we just descend
into the full crazy. But maybe there's a little meaning
to the madness because I have been reading a lot of
articles about how women, the longer a distance gets, women
(21:43):
start to outperform men, and actually the longer the distance,
the later in life your peak is. So, when they
look at 50 and a 100- mile races, women are not peaking until
they're late 40s and even later, depending on the distance.
Becs Gentry (21:58):
Fantastic.
Randi Zuckerberg (21:58):
And so, I thought to myself, okay, here I was being
like, oh shucks, I wish I came into running sooner
in life, why am I just discovering that I love
this, and I'm 42, and it's all over for me?
But when I started researching the longer distances, I thought,
okay, maybe it's not over, let me see if I like
(22:22):
these longer distances. And I ran the perimeter of Manhattan,
which I know is a favorite run of yours, that
you absolutely crushed in your training, I ran the perimeter
of Manhattan. I didn't even know what an ultra marathon
was, in fact, I was so embarrassed to be running
(22:42):
that long that I turned my watch off at 20
miles, because I was too embarrassed to tell anyone that I
was running that long. So, I did the perimeter, and
something really fascinating happened, which is that around mile 25, 26,
I got faster. I hit my second wind, and I
(23:03):
got faster. And I was like, okay, all right, I think there's
some data here that (inaudible) . So, I signed up
for that 50 mile race, which was wild, I'd never
run trails before, I showed up with a fanny pack
full of gummy worms, I didn't know what I was doing.
Becs Gentry (23:23):
That sounds perfect.
Randi Zuckerberg (23:23):
It was great. And I somehow had a second place finish in that
race, in my first ever ultra, so that unleashed the
full crazy.
Becs Gentry (23:38):
There it goes, it was there. So, how long after
the TCS New York City Marathon was that race?
Randi Zuckerberg (23:43):
It was two weeks after.
Becs Gentry (23:44):
It was two weeks. And you'd run the perimeter whilst
you were training for the marathon?
Randi Zuckerberg (23:48):
Exactly. I ran the perimeter about maybe three weeks before
the New York City Marathon.
Becs Gentry (23:54):
Okay. Also, wildly awesome. So, when it comes to that strength, and I
think if we put on the hat of, is it
beginner's luck? Is it because you're green when it comes
to these distances, that you bowled yourself in, you came
(24:17):
through with this second place finish, I think, initially, yes, absolutely.
Randi Zuckerberg (24:24):
Definitely.
Becs Gentry (24:25):
Because knowing your personality, of course, you are so bright
and bubbly, that I can just... If I want to
think a pile of mud is beautiful, I will call
you, I would just be like, Randi, just tell me
that this is wonderful, because right now I don't see
it, and you would somehow make me believe that a
pile of mud was sparkly and delightful. But you kept
(24:47):
doing it. And the more... Okay, in duration, in timeframe,
you are still " new" to ultra running, but in distance
completed, you are so tenured in these miles now. So,
your ability to keep achieving, I don't think, personally, is
(25:11):
because you are new and unaware of how this is
going to feel on your body. Because you have dipped
yourself into 50 miles, you've done 80, 90 mile trail
races, but then you've gone and done the things that
I would personally draw the line at. And you know this,
(25:35):
we've had these-
Randi Zuckerberg (25:36):
(inaudible) parking lots, and doing...
Becs Gentry (25:37):
There we go, this one. Being Nemo, stuck in a fish tank. You
know in the movie when Nemo gets stuck in the
fish tank, in the dentist office? And I'm like, this
poor baby fish, he can only swim in circles anyway,
and now he's in a teeny tiny fish tank. Oh,
boy, it's just made his circles even smaller. This was
Randi to me. I was like, what is she doing? She's
(25:59):
doing a 24- hour race, around a teeny tiny circuit. I'm
not even going to... Was it a track? I don't think it
was even-
Randi Zuckerberg (26:10):
It was a three mile, a three- mile loop.
Becs Gentry (26:12):
A three mile loop.
Randi Zuckerberg (26:14):
But yes, but I think I did that loop, I don't know, 30, 40 times.
Becs Gentry (26:16):
I was going to say, I feel like it was about 40 times that you did
that loop. So, Randi, what is in your brain, aside
from the family, the normal motivations, I want to dig
deep into what other things are going through your mind
(26:37):
to get you through that monotony?
Randi Zuckerberg (26:39):
Yes, I think... And I even ask myself this sometimes, because I know
from the outside it just looks absolutely insane, and so
I spend a lot of time, I feel like, justifying
my behavior to my friends, my family, myself. There's a
few things that I'll say, I think first, I have
this running alter ego, which, sorry if that sounds kind
(27:03):
of strange, but I call her Brandi.
Becs Gentry (27:05):
No.
Randi Zuckerberg (27:05):
And I found that in my life, Brandi's always been
with me, and if I didn't channel her, she gets
a little destructive. But running, I'm able to set her
free. I'm able to give Brandi permission to just... She
doesn't have to act like a lady, she doesn't have
(27:27):
to be perfect, the way women in business and society
have been taught to act our whole lives, Brandi can
just go full send. She can be unapologetic. And so,
that has really helped me to get to the start
of a race, and give myself permission to just do
(27:50):
it for me. I think also just the mental toughness,
I didn't realize what a big part of running and
ultra running that is, and how well being an entrepreneur
had trained me to have mental toughness. Because when you
are working 100 hours a week at a startup, and
(28:11):
you're blazing new paths, and you're just constantly having to
problem solve, on the front lines of Facebook, with my
brother, we were basically just problem solving for a decade
straight, and then, you get out into an ultra, and
an ultra is less of a run and more of
(28:32):
a series of problem solving.
Becs Gentry (28:34):
Ooh, I love that
Randi Zuckerberg (28:37):
You're just running from one problem to the next, and solving
it, and you don't know what's going to happen over 100
miles. Is it going to be a blister? Is it going
to be stomach problems? Is it going to be fueling?
Is it going to be the weather? You don't know,
and so I felt so comfortable in those distances, because
as an entrepreneur I was like, I've done this for
(28:59):
decades, I'm a problem solver, and I can dig deep.
And I didn't realize that I had been training to
run ultras my whole career.
Becs Gentry (29:10):
I love that parallel between the two. And you're right,
there's aid stations in these super long races, for somebody
who's never had that experience, would be a moment of semi-
panic, of like, okay, how are we going to get
through this? How are we going to do this? I'm
going to need to fuel, I'm going to need to
pop that blister, I'm going to need to wrap this,
and blah, blah, blah, blah. But you are probably strategizing in
(29:30):
the last mile, few meters before you get to the
aid station, of like, this is a B and C,
we're doing it in this order, we're getting it done,
and I'm moving on.
Randi Zuckerberg (29:40):
Yeah, I always, I come into an aid station, I'm
like, I have a checklist of things that I'm going
to do, but I learn something new about myself in
every race that I do. Becs, I will say I race
a lot, and I know that that is different from
what a lot of runners do. A lot of runners,
they'll have a couple of top races during the year.
(30:04):
I find, unfortunately, as a female distance runner, it's not
very safe to just go out and run 20, 30, 40 miles
on your own.
Becs Gentry (30:14):
I agree.
Randi Zuckerberg (30:15):
And that's why I'm constantly looking for races to run
because I feel like that's the only environment that I
don't have to spend 30% of my brain being alert,
and wondering if I'm safe, and if I'm going to
come home from my runs. So, I think if people
follow me on Strava, or they look at my runs,
it might appear that I'm over- racing or I'm over-
(30:38):
entering things, but I think women, long distance runners have
very different considerations than men.
Becs Gentry (30:44):
Absolutely. And I would add onto that is, you spend the
vast majority of your family's time, is New York City
based. You are here in the heart of the city,
and as much as people... In summer, fine, our daylight
hours are longer, but in winter, you aren't going to
(31:05):
step out after you've fed the kids, helped them with
their homework, put them to bed, you're not going to
step out into Central Park or the surrounding areas at 8:00, 9:
00 at night, in the dark, to go and run
20 miles, because it's just... I think, in my personal opinion,
it's a silly idea, by yourself, to do that. So,
(31:29):
thank you for that explanation because I'm sure there are
people out there who look at your stats, and are
just like, oh, she does a lot of races, but
that makes total sense. And it's also your personal opinions,
and your personal choices. But let's talk about the races
that you haven't finished. So, DNF for those of our
(31:53):
listeners who might not understand is did not finish. We
have DNS, did not start, and DNF, did not finish.
In the running world, these little acronyms have stigma attached
to them, because they are a question mark point to
anyone who stalks your running social. Everybody wants to know,
(32:15):
what happened? Oh my gosh, are you injured? But from
somebody who learned so many valuable lessons per run, you
do not just race, but per run, talk to me
about the DNS, when they happened, and what you've taken
away from them in this time period.
Randi Zuckerberg (32:32):
Absolutely. And one thing, if people aren't ultra runners, on
the site, Ultra Sign Up, you have a ranking. And
so, when you do a road race, or you do
a marathon, you have your standalone result from that, it
doesn't impact your whole career as a runner, but in
ultra running, every race that you do, you kind of
(32:53):
get ranked against the field, and then you have an
overall ranking, and that shows how you slot. So, dropping
out of a middle of a race really tanks your
ranking. And there are certain races that you can't even
register for unless you have a good enough ranking, because
they want to make sure that you have a good chance
(33:15):
of finishing. And so, for me, I've always been taught
to finish what you start, and dropping out of a
race is a really... I would almost rather collapse on a course
than drop out. But this summer I did have my
first DNF. It was a trail race, 60 kilometers, and
(33:39):
about three miles into the race I fell and hurt
my hamstring really badly, and I was sitting there... Even,
this is how crazy runners are, I was like, can
I still... Can I find 33 more miles on this
injured leg? I actually thought that I should do that.
And then, I ended up calling one of my best
(34:03):
friends, who is also my PT, very helpful best friend
to have when you're a runner.
Becs Gentry (34:09):
Very.
Randi Zuckerberg (34:09):
And he was like, do not finish this race, walk it in, and-
Becs Gentry (34:15):
Good job.
Randi Zuckerberg (34:15):
... let's make a new plan. And I beat myself
up about that for a long time. Yeah, when I
start something I like to show my children, I like
to show myself that I finish what I start, but
sometimes quitting is a win.
Becs Gentry (34:33):
Yeah. And accepting the vulnerability that you talk about, of
having to deal with that moment of beating yourself up,
or moments, as I know runners, we're all the same,
it lasts a little longer than a moment. But you've
talked about this, and I'm going to quote you, something called "
Confident terror." And was that a moment where you felt that?
Randi Zuckerberg (34:57):
Yeah. Absolutely. I think anytime you're doing long distance running, or
any kind of endurance sport, there's a chance of failure
when you walk out onto that start line, it is
not a given that you're going to make-
Becs Gentry (35:12):
It's like roulette.
Randi Zuckerberg (35:12):
Yeah, it's roulette. Anything could happen, I've had great races and I
have had terrible races... We can talk about the Boston
Marathon in a second, if you want. But I also think
that's what's so thrilling, and so exciting about it. If
there wasn't a chance of failure, is it even a
(35:34):
goal that's worth pursuing? Are you even pushing yourself hard
enough in life? And so, when I step onto a
start line, and I do feel those butterflies, and I feel
that terror, I think that it's just a reminder that I've
picked the right goal to chase. And yeah, we're always
a little bit walking that line of failure.
Becs Gentry (35:55):
Yeah, absolutely. And I like to remind people that if
you're not feeling those butterflies, or whatever it is in
the pit of your stomach, it almost means that you don't
care. You have to feel nervous or excited, whatever you
want to label it, you have to feel something to
be aware that you care about what you're doing.
Randi Zuckerberg (36:16):
That resonates so much with me because I do a
lot of public speaking, I speak all around the world
about technology, and even though I've given hundreds of speeches,
I still get stage fright.
Becs Gentry (36:27):
Really?
Randi Zuckerberg (36:27):
And people are always a little confused about that, and
I'm like, no, I love that stage fright because it
reminds me that I care. I care so deeply about
connecting with an audience, I care so deeply about what
I'm doing, and the second you don't care, why are
you even doing it?
Becs Gentry (36:46):
Absolutely. Okay, talking about caring. This past year, so 2024,
we step into spring, you've had a winter of running
some pretty wild distance races, you ran the United Airlines
Half in March, and you didn't have the best of
(37:09):
days, but you didn't have the worst of days. I
remember seeing you and Brent at the finish, together, and
then that's when we really started talking a lot, because
you had Boston coming up.
Randi Zuckerberg (37:25):
I'm sitting here, I know this is an audio podcast, I'm sitting here cringing at my
desk, thinking about Boston. But it's all right, no, can't
win them all.
Becs Gentry (37:35):
You can't win them all. And your honesty and openness, and I
don't know whether that is a reflection of my honesty
and openness, in when I talk to fellow runners, when
I talk to people who I feel I have an
immediate bond with, and you are one of those people.
And also, in my Peloton classes, I'm an open book. And
I know Randi has taken a few of them. And
(37:56):
I think, at that moment, pre- Boston and post- Boston,
you were like, Becs is somebody I can tell this
to, with no judgment.
Randi Zuckerberg (38:08):
(inaudible) .
Becs Gentry (38:07):
But talk us through the excitement of towing the line
to Boston and the, should we call it the relief of finishing it?
Randi Zuckerberg (38:17):
Absolutely. So, first of all, I should start by saying
that in February of last year, I tore my hamstring
in the middle of a half marathon. I was running
the Disney Princess Half Marathon, and at mile nine I
just felt this pop in my leg, and I was
like, oh gosh, this is not good. Still somehow managed
(38:38):
to finish the race, but I was out for about
six weeks from running after that. So, the United Half,
when I saw you, was my first return to running
after that injury. So, even though it was not a
PR for me, it was just an incredibly joyful day
to be just back running the distances that I loved.
(39:00):
So, there I was, training for Boston a few weeks
later, having done no running because I had a torn
hamstring, only training on the bike, and doing things, and
I made... Oh my gosh. I made every beginner rookie
mistake in the book. I went out blazing, I PR'd
(39:22):
my half marathon inside the Boston Marathon. It's like when
you're watching a train wreck, but you are the train, that was
what my race was like. And at mile 14, I saw my parents on the
side, and I started to cry.
Becs Gentry (39:43):
Aw.
Randi Zuckerberg (39:43):
I should also remind everyone it was like 80 degrees that
day in Boston, it was a fluke hot day, and
I was the slowest, I think I was... Your bibs
are the order you're ranked in, of qualifying. And so, out of 40, 000
runners, I think I was bib 39,997, the third- worst
(40:04):
person in the Boston Marathon. And so, I had the
latest start time, so I was like the latest start
time in-
Becs Gentry (40:11):
What was that, like 11?
Randi Zuckerberg (40:12):
It was 11. So, I hit the uphill heartbreak hill, at
peak heat one, and I stopped to a walk, and
my heart rate was 203. And I was like, I
am going to die on this course. And I remember
(40:33):
I saw my husband, Brent, at mile 17, I somehow
made it to 17, and I was like, I can't
breathe, my heart rate is so high, and I was like,
okay, bye, and (inaudible) , and he was like, no, stop running. And then, this is where it
gets real fun, at mile 23, I saw Josh Vernon,
(40:58):
who's a friend of both of ours, I had only
known him on Instagram. We had never met on person.
And he was like, " Randi, it's Josh," and I went
over to high five him, and instead I hit the
ground and just vomited everywhere. I just died. And the
medics, two medics came out on the course to try
(41:20):
to pull me, and I started screaming, I was like, "
I already bought the finisher jacket, I need to run
in Central Park with a Boston jacket." (inaudible) and I
thought I was beasting it, I was running like a fifteen- minute
mile. I somehow-
Becs Gentry (41:40):
But still moving,
Randi Zuckerberg (41:42):
Yes, still moving, and I somehow made it to the finish line.
Becs Gentry (41:46):
Wow.
Randi Zuckerberg (41:46):
The worst marathon ever, but I earned that finisher jacket.
Becs Gentry (41:51):
You really, really did. And I wish I could show
people, but I never would, the message you sent me,
and it was so blasé, of like, " Yeah, it wasn't the
best of races, I had some GI issues." And then,
when I next saw you and you told me about
it, I was like, GI issues, sure.
Randi Zuckerberg (42:09):
(inaudible) it was real bad. But what I will say
is I ran London six days later.
Becs Gentry (42:16):
Six days later.
Randi Zuckerberg (42:17):
I did the Boston- London double-
Becs Gentry (42:19):
You told me it was going to be your redemption race.
Randi Zuckerberg (42:21):
Yeah. And I ran a BQ time in London, six
days later.
Becs Gentry (42:30):
You did.
Randi Zuckerberg (42:30):
And so, I think just another takeaway from that is
that you can't judge yourself as a runner or as
a person by how you show up on one day.
Same runner, six days apart, two totally different conditions, almost
an hour difference in how I raced. And so, if
you have a bad race, if you have a good
(42:51):
race, you just move forward because it's not indicative of
your self- worth or your value as an athlete.
Becs Gentry (42:59):
I love that, that is so true, and something I
think every runner needs to hear. So, on that note,
I want to ask you how, because I'm intrigued, how
do you balance the main character of Brandi, and the
(43:22):
entrepreneur, businesswoman Randi Zuckerberg, and Brent's wife and lifelong partner,
and being a mother of three, how do you do
all of that with this joy?
Randi Zuckerberg (43:38):
Oh my gosh. First of all, same right back at
you, you balance so much with such beauty and grace.
There are definitely trade- offs, I wake up at 4:
30 or 5
get my run and my training in really early, so
that starting at 7
(44:02):
mom duty. And so, there are definitely sacrifices that come
with balancing all of that. And I think it's beautiful
in life to have a mix of sidekick and main
character energy. If you're the main character all the time,
that means you have no community, you have no one
(44:22):
else around you that you're supporting, but if you're the
sidekick all the time, you get a little lost. And
so, I find for me, I love balancing these roles,
I love being the mom, I sit on a bunch
of boards, and advise entrepreneurs, and I love being a
sidekick in those roles. You're a racer and you're a
(44:45):
coach, you're the perfect blend of main character and sidekick.
And I think if you're going to be part of
a community, and invest in it, you need that full circle.
Becs Gentry (44:55):
Yeah, absolutely. On a mom personal front, what has been,
or has there been, a ripple effect of something that has
come from Brandi and running all these miles that has
(45:16):
come into your life as mom?
Randi Zuckerberg (45:18):
So many. Oh my gosh. Just this morning minutes before
we taped together, my 13- year- old and I ran
10 miles together.
Becs Gentry (45:29):
What?
Randi Zuckerberg (45:29):
It was his longest run he's ever done, we're training
for a half marathon together-
Becs Gentry (45:36):
Wow.
Randi Zuckerberg (45:36):
... and he was his first ever double- digit mile.
Becs Gentry (45:40):
We are so proud of him.
Randi Zuckerberg (45:43):
It's six degrees outside. (inaudible) -
Becs Gentry (45:45):
It's freezing.
Randi Zuckerberg (45:46):
... we bundled up, and we got it done. And
I've seen... My 9- year- old ran 365 miles last
year, he entered one of the loop ultras that I
did. Again, for anyone who's not familiar with ultras, not
(46:07):
every race is for a distance, some are for a
time. And I enter a lot of races where it's
like, how many loops can you run in four hours,
which is a great ultra for beginners, because you can
stop and rest, and you can... My son did 16
miles at one of those-
Becs Gentry (46:24):
Your nine- year- old?
Randi Zuckerberg (46:24):
... (inaudible) . Yeah, at nine years old. And so,
it's now become this beautiful thing that our whole family
shares. My husband and I ran the New York City
Marathon this year, together, hand in hand. And-
Becs Gentry (46:41):
And you've stayed married.
Randi Zuckerberg (46:41):
We've shockingly stayed married, after doing that. But it's so beautiful
to really see the whole family start to care about
health and wellness and fitness, being on this journey together.
Becs Gentry (46:58):
Yeah. All because they're inspired by their incredible mom, who they
got to cheer at a podium finish this past weekend,
by the way, congratulations. Randi came in first overall female
at the Frozen Looper, which was the four- hour constant running.
Randi Zuckerberg (47:14):
This might've been, I've done a lot of psycho things, Becs, This
might've been the most psycho. It was a half a
mile loop that you ran for four straight hours. So,
I ran that loop 48 times. But one thing I've
learned about myself as a runner is I cannot outrun
(47:35):
most people, but I can out suffer most people. And
when you're an ultra, or a very long distance runner,
that's almost a better skill to have than the running.
Becs Gentry (47:46):
Okay. So, if I see you with our good friend, Sanjay, at 3,
100 this year, I shouldn't be shocked, is that what
you're telling me?
Randi Zuckerberg (47:55):
Sanjay tried to pitch me on the 3, 100.
Becs Gentry (47:58):
I'm sure.
Randi Zuckerberg (47:59):
He's like our loop is 0. 08 miles longer than the
one you ran, so come do it. But I was at my wits end after four hours
of running a half mile loop, I don't know how
people do that for months.
Becs Gentry (48:12):
No. Sanjay would be able to educate us all on
transcendence and self learning.
Randi Zuckerberg (48:20):
Yes. The spiritual, you break through the barriers, mental and spiritual
barriers. I have not figured out how to break through
that yet, but I'm working on it.
Becs Gentry (48:27):
Same. I'm so far behind you on the distance, but
he also, for the past six years of my life,
every year he's like, " Hey?" I'm like, " Nope, we're good." I
will come every year and support you, and walk a
lap, and then I remind myself that I couldn't do
this for weeks.
Randi Zuckerberg (48:43):
That's right. Yeah. Every time that I hit a new
distance or something that I think is crazy, I just
research some of the other things that people are doing
and running, and I'm like, nope. Wow. There's still a long
descent into darkness for me.
Becs Gentry (48:59):
There is. So, I'm going to wrap this up by
taking your own words there. There's a long descent into
darkness, Randi Zuckerberg, you are about to run one of
the toughest and longest races on the trail running calendar.
People are like, oh, she's doing Bad Water, nope. No, no,
(49:20):
no, we're going deeper. We're going harder, we're going longer
here. Randi is running Cocadona 250. 250 mile ultra race this May.
What on Earth made you think, sure, let's do it, this year?
Randi Zuckerberg (49:41):
Yeah. So, first of all, I wake up every day
feeling so excited and so terrified about this race. I
saw all the coverage of the race last year, and I
got those butterflies in my stomach like we were talking
about, and it's so rare to get that feeling in
life, when you're so excited about something, and you know
(50:04):
it's attainable, but just a little bit beyond what you're
capable of. And so, I just did it, I signed up.
Becs Gentry (50:13):
Just did it.
Randi Zuckerberg (50:13):
I was like, I'm just going to do it before
I chicken out here, and then I called four friends
to tell them. And I think this was the thing
that really gave me the confidence boost, not a single
of them told me I was crazy. In fact, they
were all like, can I be on your crew? The
first four people I called were like, so glad you're
(50:36):
doing this, can I be part of that? And I was
like, okay, maybe that just shows that I've surrounded myself
with other psychos, maybe that's just what it shows. But
I was like, wow, the first four people I called didn't
say, you're nuts, why did you do this? They were like-
Becs Gentry (50:54):
Fantastic.
Randi Zuckerberg (50:55):
Hell yes. And that's how I knew I chose the right
thing. It is challenging being an urban mom in New
York City, training for a race like that, because I
don't live in Flagstaff, or Colorado, I don't have access
to trails. So, I do a lot of crazy things,
Becs, like I run up and down flights of stairs.
(51:17):
I do crazy things. I run a lot of back
to back really long runs, or sit in saunas and
do crazy things. But you just make it work, wherever
you are, and whatever you have access to, you just
do what you need to do.
Becs Gentry (51:36):
If you had to pick one thing that is scaring
you more than any other race, because this will be
the longest you've run, right?
Randi Zuckerberg (51:46):
Yes.
Becs Gentry (51:46):
What would be the one thing right now that's inciting
that fear in you about this race?
Randi Zuckerberg (51:53):
I think the scariest thing is that you have to
go the first 80 miles alone, without your crew, without
any support. So, you have an unsupported 80 miles. I've
never run that length in the darkness by myself, and
on trails. And so, that definitely scares me. And I
(52:15):
think a lot about how to train that, how to
get a little mentally tougher, and how to face some
of those fears that I have of being a woman
out in the desert, running for 80 miles by myself. But
we are tough, we're warriors. If you can have children,
and start a company, and do these things, you can
(52:38):
run 80 miles through the desert. And so, we're just
going to find a way.
Becs Gentry (52:42):
And you'll have your fanny pack full of gummy worms
with you as well.
Randi Zuckerberg (52:46):
Yes. All the gummy worms.
Becs Gentry (52:49):
Well, Randi, we could sit and talk running for hours
and hours together, I am just constantly in awe, I
cannot wait... I wish I could come and crew you
as well for Cocodona, but I will be cheering you
on from the other side of the world at that
point. I'm so excited to watch you train for this,
(53:12):
and I'm sure, see you at many New York Road
Runners events between now and your takeoff for Cocodona. But
thank you for being a light in the running world,
and in the world of business, and female, you're a
force to be reckoned with on the business and entrepreneurship
(53:33):
side as well. So, bringing everything together, you are an
inspiration, so thank you for all you do, and thank
you so much for being our guest today on Set The Pace.
Randi Zuckerberg (53:44):
Well, when you do your crazy ultra one day, you
have to let me be on your crew.
Becs Gentry (53:50):
Deal.
Randi Zuckerberg (53:50):
(inaudible) . Becs, thank you so much, what a pleasure to chat with
you today.
Becs Gentry (54:07):
As our listeners know, a critical element of New York
Road Runner's commitment to transforming the health and well- being
of our communities is our official charity partners program. The
program offers hundreds of charities the opportunity to raise vital
funds via runners who are looking to gain guaranteed entry
into our sold out premier events. In fact, we had
(54:28):
runners supporting 570 official charity partners at the last 2024
TCS New York City Marathon. One of those incredible charity
partners is CurePSP, a nonprofit that raises money to support
research into neurodegenerative diseases. That connection leads us directly to
(54:49):
today's featured member, Kurt Farrell. Kurt isn't just here because
he's a dedicated New York Road Runner's runner, he's here
because of his groundbreaking work as a neuroscientist, which has
received funding from our charity partner, CurePSP. In his lab,
Kurt focuses on studying dementia and aging, and he was
(55:09):
honored as the 2023 recipient of CurePSP's prestigious Pathway Award.
Today, he's joining us not only to share his experiences
as a New York Road Runner's member, who has run
an impressive 35 races since August of 2022, but also
to talk about his unique perspective as somebody whose vital
(55:30):
research has been supported through the NYRR Charity Partners Program.
Please welcome, Kurt Farrell.
Speaker 5 (55:37):
Thanks, Becs. Kurt, welcome to the Set the Pace Podcast.
Can you tell us a little bit about the work
you are doing as a research scientist studying dementia and aging?
Kurt Farrell (55:49):
Absolutely, I'd be happy to. So, I am at a
medical school here in New York City, I'm an assistant
professor, most of my work focuses on dementia and aging,
particularly I'm interested in a rare disorder called progressive supranuclear
palsy. So, this presents as a movement disorder, and eventually
(56:09):
becomes dementing. Unfortunately, it is somewhat rare, but we have
seen more people being afflicted by it, including a congresswoman
in Virginia, Jennifer Wexton, unfortunately, she had to step down
this year. And the way that I tackle this disorder
is using genetics to understand common risk associated with the
(56:31):
disease, so eventually we can design some therapeutic targets to
hopefully one day cure the disorder.
Speaker 5 (56:39):
Sounds some great work. Can you explain how CurePSP, a
charity partner of the New York Road Runners, supports your research?
Kurt Farrell (56:48):
Yeah, absolutely. So, I've been working with CurePSP for almost
a decade now, they are a nonprofit that raise money
for research as well as patient advocacy, other things related
to the disorder. One of their research programs focuses on
doing biomarker and therapeutic research, so it's a competitive process,
(57:11):
I write grants to the nonprofit, and their scientific advisory
board reviews them, they get multiple, if not upwards of
50 grant applications per year, and then they fund a
select number that's selected by their advisory board. And as
was stated earlier, most of the money that's raised comes
through donations, through things like running through the Road Runners.
Speaker 5 (57:36):
Incredible. You have run a lot of races, to be
exact, 35 New York Road Runners races in the past two and a half
years, what inspires you to take up running in the
first place?
Kurt Farrell (57:47):
So, actually, originally I was a skier until I moved to
New York, and I realized I needed to do something
to keep active, so one day when I got back
to skiing, I would still be in good shape, and
a friend suggested that I start running with the Road
Runners, and my first race was so hot, it was
in the summer, I forget which one, but I was
(58:08):
just hooked, and it was so much fun, there's such a
sense of community, and it gives me a minute to
just focus on my research, and other things, as I'm
just running through the park. And it's really been a
great way to not only exercise, but to refresh myself
mentally, and allow me to continue in my research career.
(58:29):
So, I can't say anything negative about my experience with
the Road Runners thus so far.
Speaker 5 (58:34):
Well, awesome. I was encouraged to take up on skiing,
but preventing injuries I never tried, but definitely it builds
stamina. But how does your running helps you in your
professional life as a neuroscientist?
Kurt Farrell (58:47):
Yeah, so it gets back to the point I was
saying earlier. For some reason, just when I'm running, I
can shut a lot of the noise off and really focus
on really specific research questions that I'm trying to overcome,
something that might've happened in the lab, a result that
I didn't expect, something I really need to just figure
(59:08):
out. Take the time to really focus my brain on
what's going on there. And I've had some really good
moments in the middle of some really long runs, and
particularly when I was training for the marathon, sometimes we're
on these long runs that are hours upon hours, and you
just really have some time to yourself to work through
some complicated problems. And I think that's how running has
(59:30):
really helped my research career.
Speaker 5 (59:32):
Pretty awesome. I vaguely remember a little bit when I
was at UCLA, trying to study formulas (inaudible) runs,
you got to think, and then jot down notes, what you have memorized,
what you have to study more. But how has NYYR
shaped your running journey and sense of community in New York?
Kurt Farrell (59:50):
Well, I really think it has brought me a better
sense of community in New York, I previously spent my
whole life in the state of Ohio, where I grew
up, where also I went to undergrad and eventually grad
school. So, New York is the first place I moved
to outside of Ohio, and it took me a minute
to find my place. I was enjoying my research, but
(01:00:12):
I needed some community engagement and involvement, and that's what
the Road Runners provided me, and that's why I continue
to run, looking forward to many races this year. So,
I'm still actively involved and it's really been a great
part of my community.
Speaker 5 (01:00:30):
Well, finding your space in New York is interesting compared to
Ohio, but what has been your favorite memory of the TCS NYC Marathon?
Kurt Farrell (01:00:40):
Oh, I was one of those runners that decided to
print their name on their shirt, as many others do,
and there's just this awesome feeling of total strangers just
saying your name and cheering you on, especially when you're
reaching mile 18/20 into the Bronx, where you're just digging
for any little bit of gas to keep going, and
(01:01:02):
that to me was the funnest part, just having random
strangers yell my name as I was inching closer to
the finish line.
Speaker 5 (01:01:09):
Yeah, the New York Road Runners did a phenomenal job and the crowds behind
it, so we are so grateful to you, for all the work that you're
doing, Kurt, and thanks for being on the podcast.
Kurt Farrell (01:01:18):
Thanks for having me so much, this has been a
wonderful experience and opportunity.
Becs Gentry (01:01:22):
Thank you so much for joining us, Kurt, and for
being a member of New York Road Runners. Now, onto
the final part of our show, a Meb Minute.
Meb Keflezighi (01:01:30):
Thanks, Becs. Adapting to the weather. For those training for their first
spring marathon, you may be realizing winter marathon training requires
some adjustments. But with the right mindset and preparation, you
can make the most of the season to get there, (inaudible)
starting line. First, dress a layer, or stay warm,
but be mindful of not overheating during your runs. Moisture
(01:01:54):
wicking fabric are key. If condition are icy or snowy,
consider swapping for a few outdoor runs for a treadmill
session, or use a soft surface like trail to reduce
the risk of injury. And don't forget the warmups and
cool down, cold muscles are more prone to injuries, so
(01:02:15):
take extra time to loosen and before heading out, for
stretches afterward. Winter training can be tough, but it builds
mental toughness that will pay off on race day. You
have to be able to be flexible, if it comes a
really windy or icy day, it's a good time to
pass the outdoor run and change it for a treadmill.
Becs Gentry (01:02:35):
That does it for another episode of Set the Pace.
Thank you to today's guest, Randi Zuckerberg and Kurt Farrell.
If you like this episode, please go ahead and subscribe,
rate, or leave a comment for the show on whatever
platform you are listening on. This not only helps us,
but it helps others find out about the show too.
Thank you so much for listening today, once again, I'm
(01:02:58):
Becs Gentry, take care.
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