Latest / C Tolle Run / 459: Jemma Reekie and Marco Langon - New Balance 5th Avenue Mile Champions

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459: Jemma Reekie and Marco Langon - New Balance 5th Avenue Mile Champions · C Tolle Run

• C Tolle Run: Hey everyone, I'm Olympian Carrie Tullifson and welcome to the C Tolly Run Podcast. Today on the show, we are sharing the live New York Roadrunners Set the Pace podcast. I had the privilege of sharing the stage with the one and only Allie Feller from Allie on the Run. We had a little race day conversation and we also shared lots of laughs. Then we hear from our champions, women's winner and new course record holder, Gemma Ricky and Villanova star turned professional runner Marco Langan. The energy was incredible, the racing was super fast. And these conversations were so much fun. So let's get after it. speaker-0: welcome. To the New York Roadrunners Run Center, featuring the New Balance Run Hub. If you have been here before, you might notice it looks a little different, redesigned, refurbished, so much excitement. We are gonna be spending a lot of time here over the coming weeks, months, and years. So thank you to everyone who's here with us in person today. I am Allie Feller, I am the host of the Ally on the Run Show. Thrilled to be joined by Carrie Tollofson, Olympian supermodel. Incredible legend also was on the broadcast today for the New Balance Fifth Avenue Mile. Carrie, how you doing today? speaker-1: doing great, Allie. This is so much fun. I mean you and I both have our podcast, but We're good friends off the off the mic. And you know, coming back to New York, I used to race this as a pro. And it was always like the end of the season for me. And it was just such an honor to be here. And now that I've been a part of the broadcast team, it's so fun to see these younger athletes get out there, hammer for 20 blocks. They get to go and party now afterwards. They get to like let loose, be human beings without being super human beings, right? And it's just a blast. So I love being a part of the team with you on the broadcast. speaker-0: What are your memories of running fifth F when you were a pro? speaker-1: I mean, getting fourth twice. I only ran it twice. I was fourth both times. And you know, we didn't really talk about podium. Like that word wasn't really obviously at the Olympics with the world champs, but you know, they talk about the podium all the time. Now we didn't really talk about that. But I do remember just getting kind of ticked off the second time I ran. I'm like, come on, the same place two years in a row. And I mean Gemma's won three times. We're gonna get to talk to her. That would have been really cool just to break the tape. But I loved it. I mean, the coming together with the world's best to be able to sprint down. Fifth Avenue. You know, they shut down Fifth Avenue. That is something as a Minnesota girl, like, you know, it was just like a dream come true for me. So it's still a dream come true every time I come here to New York and be able to sit in the studio and talk about being a runner and what these athletes go through. speaker-0: I get it. I get that when you're a pro, fourth is a rough place to be. You're just off the podium. Similarly, all the times that I ran this I got like six thousandth. So my gosh, stop it. We're the same. yeah. Yes, my daughter did run this two years ago. So yeah, this is, I think so many people have fond memories of this race. It's also, you know, we talked about this earlier today. It's such an attainable distance. Anyone can race a mile and it looks different for everyone. It might be the first mile someone's ever run or the absolute hardest. People yesterday were like, well, it's just a mile. I was like, no, no, no, no, no. If you're running it right, it is it it will hurt in ways the marathon could never speaker-1: It really does like the downhill start. Everyone gets off, right? They they want to get off the line and they also want to get into position. And then they have to climb that second quarter. And that it doesn't look that like high of a climb or a steep of a climb. But when you're racing it and you have lactic acid and you're, you know, thinking about the second half of the race, it hurts. And then you have that downhill in the third quarter and then that straight flat finish where we all get to see the finish line from way out. It is a crazy course, but it's so fun. And I loved seeing the toddlers running today, but then we saw the 90-year speaker-0: I know we're gonna talk about some of our before we bring our guests out some of our personal highlights and great memories from today. Before we do that, can you talk a little bit about your role today and what it was? Yeah. speaker-1: So super, super thrilled to be one of the, I guess you call us the running experts. I was doing like color for the broadcast. I was alongside Ryan Field and Sam. And like Sam was so great. Like she just she's the host, right? And then Ryan does the play by play, and then like Aisha Pratt Lear was there for the first time on a broadcast. She's a two time Olympian for Jamaica. Her husband is from Minnesota, was a former pro athlete, Will Lear. But that was my role with a league. Aisha. We were trying to just kind of portray what the athletes were going through and and talk about what it's like to be here as an athlete, but also what they're doing to prep for it, what they've done, what their resumes are like, all the things. speaker-0: This woman has Google Docs, she has binders. Carrie Tollofson's notes are an art to be studied. speaker-1: but tell us what you did too, because you got I mean we love we love the job that you get to do. speaker-0: I have so much I have the most fun job in the world. So today, also as part of the broadcast team, I was at the finish line. So I was set up there for the entire day. And I got to interview a couple key people. So I interviewed the usual host of Set the Pace podcast, New York Roadwinner CEO Rob Similcare. I got to interview Nikki James, who's a Tony Award winner. and it was really cool. My One of my friends who I met when I was training for my very first half marathon here in New York City, he was the stage manager for Book of Mormon when it opened. He just left the show this week. Like he's been there forever. so I got to go to opening night of Book of Mormon, which was like star-studded. It's so cool. And this was back in what twenty like two thousand nine or something when it opened. So anyway, I got to have a minute with Nikki James where I was like, I was actually at opening night of Book of Mormon, and we got to chat for a little bit. I'm like a lifelong Broadway lover, so that was a very fun, a very fun moment. And so I got to interview people like her. I got to interview Gemma Ricky, who we're going to talk to, and went on to win the race. I got to chat with her before. I got to interview Drew Hunter before. And then I am the first person who gets to talk to the winners after they cross the finish line. They bring them right to me. And as they're catching their breath, I am that annoying person that sticks a microphone in their faces. they're always very gracious about it. And I always feel bad and I'm like, I'm so sorry that I'm interviewing you right now. but it's always really fun because you get to hear like what is going through their mind right when they win that race. And so it's such a privilege to get to have that job and I am nosy by nature and so I get Today I got paid to be nosy. speaker-1: you do such a great job. Sam Ryan was su we were prepping before we were doing our rehearsal and we look behind and I mean Pierce. Pierce speaker-0: Okay, so these are our highlights from the day. Yes. Such an only in New York moment. So who that's here in person with us who ran Fifth Avenue Mile today? Okay. Yeah. Was anyone out cheering in the rain, which we thank you. We appreciate you. We appreciate you. Thank you for your service. So the finish line is Grand Army Plaza, the Manhattan version, and there's a lot going on there, right? There's the actual finish, there's the broadcast setup. There's all the people cheering. There's the VIP area, but it's not completely roped off. Like people can walk through there and it's New York City. And this morning, as they're prepping for the broadcast, Pierce Brosnan walks by and is so there's a picture of all of our reporters sitting at the desk prepping, and Piers Brosnan's in the background, just like looking. Yes, speaker-1: Danny and is like looking at the camera and then he's watching her and the rest of us had no clue. I mean speaker-0: He was right behind you. speaker-1: that is a legendary actor of our time and it was so cool to see him like trying to figure out what we were doing. speaker-0: Well, and all of you were like, my gosh, James Bond. And I was like, my gosh, Mama Mia. yeah. my gosh, Mrs. Doubtfire. Like those are we have different cinematic preferences, perhaps. but that was cool. And then they were whispering that there were claims that Harry Styles walked through. Yep. I'm I went to his show last night. Yep. You did too? my gosh, me, you and Jalen Bronson. Huge night. Yeah. speaker-1: Sorry. speaker-0: So apparently someone said that they saw Harry Styles walking through. And I'm like, he came looking for me, obviously. He was like, I heard you were at my show, wanted to say He's obsessed. speaker-1: Yeah. speaker-0: but that's such like so anyway, those are rumors. Pierce Brosnan confirmed, but it was so only in New York, yeah, where that happens. And also where no one like bothers them. They're just like, Pierce Brosnan's there. Another highlight of the day, Aisha Protler joining the broadcast. speaker-1: Aisha is was so good. And you know, we we get to hear her every week on her podcast, but she was so calm. She was just so smart and brilliant and beautiful. And I loved it. I just hope we get to see her much more on air. speaker-0: Well, we are going to bring out our guests in just a few minutes, but anything else as we are recapping today and actually do you want to give us the results from the day? yeah. speaker-1: Yes, let's do that. Okay. So exciting, as I said, three-time winner now. Gemma Ricky won today in four thirteen point eight. And not only did she run fast, she broke the record. Faster than anyone has ever run in Fifth Avenue mile history. And we're gonna get to talk to her shortly. Yeah. speaker-0: Did you well we'll we'll ask when you cut out here. Save. Okay, save a question. speaker-1: and second was Josette Andrews from America and she Was super surprised with her race. She's been injured. And she said I had we did not plan to run the fifth AB until a little bit later in the summer. And she just went for it. And she was so happy. I mean, anyone who knows just that, like she has just this beautiful big smile. But you could just feel like that weight lifted from being so nervous about being injured and getting back. And it was just a thrill to see her run so well. And then again, in third, another American, Rachel MacArthur, who was fourth at USA's outdoors this year in the 1500s. I feel like she just is getting better and better every single year. She won the US championship on the roads in the mile two years ago in 2024. And she just keeps kind of coming back. No matter if she gets knocked down, she keeps coming back. She's got a new coach and a new location this year and really excited to see her. speaker-0: Yeah. And her boyfriend Cooper Tear was in the men's field and he finished where was he? Six. speaker-1: Yeah, always always a factor. speaker-0: I can bring anything back to being like a love story. speaker-1: Cute love story, those two. Yeah. They really are nice. So then on the men's side, we have Marco Langan in the house, Villanova. Sorry guys, I'm a Villanova gal, so I am putting my Vs up all the time, you know, talking about all the Villanova people, but he ran super fast. He's new to the pro field, so we're gonna get to talk to him about being in the pro world now. And then Jake Hayward, he's back. So Jake ran here in 2022 and has had six years of injuries. Four years. I'm gonna do my math. Four years of injuries. He's had two Achilles injuries. He's had two surgeries. And he was so thrilled to be back and so we're just thrilled to have him back because he's doing great. And then Adam Spencer from Australia was third. Very tight race on the men's side and really exciting stuff. speaker-0: Well yay, we are super excited to get to chat with our men's and women's champion. We are going to take a quick break, and when we return, we will welcome our now three-time Fifth Avenue mile champion, Gemma Riki. speaker-1: Volvo. speaker-2: Proud to be the official colour. speaker-1: We are excited to have our speaker-0: Yes, New York City Marathon. Have our all new electric Volvo EX sixty car. All right, we are back with our three time Fifth Avenue Mile Champion, Gemma Ricky. Gemma, congratulations. In this moment, how are you feeling? speaker-3: Just so pleased and I came here to hopefully win and it's I executed that race today and I just find this race so special. They took a chance on me when I was young in twenty twenty one and yeah it's it's meant a lot to me to come back here. speaker-1: won in twenty twenty one though. Yeah. speaker-0: They took a really good chance on the speaker-1: I mean, you know, we have some good recruiters here, but Yeah. speaker-3: They they seen something. speaker-1: So tell us a little bit about okay, we want to hear your journey, but this summer has been a heck of a journey for you. Give us a little bit. You got sick, then you got injured, you had like five weeks off. So I wanna hear it in your words. speaker-3: Yeah, it was really tough. I had the best winter I've ever had, no disruptions. I went out to South Africa as my usual camping, came off the camp a bit unwell and then I just was finding my feet, then didn't find my feet and fell over in a race and got concussion and it probably took like I'd say five weeks to feel normal again and probably two months just to be back to where I wanted to be. it was a huge mental challenge to keep going throughout that and like show up because I still wanted to race, I still wanted to have a good season and yeah, I started I'd say Europeans showed that I was like, Okay, I'm getting there and then I wanted to really come out to these road races and yeah, run the way I knew I could. speaker-1: I wanna give some background because you are too humble to tell what's going on. So you fell in Poland in May and got a concussion, had five weeks of no running or interrupted training. Yeah. Then went to Europeans fifth. Yeah. Runs really well. I'd be honest, looking at her results, I kind of thought, I was like, I wonder how this this is before you ran last weekend in Germany. I was wondering if the 800 is gonna be your best event this year. And And then she goes to Germany last week, you guys. She runs a road mile, runs a European record in that road mile. Surprising to you or no? Not surprising. speaker-3: Me, I was actually aiming for the world records out there. I knew what I was capable of doing. I really believed in myself all season. Like though I was running 158, I 155. I don't want to be running 158. But like I just believed so much in myself that like I knew what I was capable of doing. yeah, so I was like really pleased to run that European record, but I was also had my eye on the world record. speaker-1: Hmm. So that that fueled you coming into this weekend. Yeah. speaker-0: That piece there where you said you really believed in yourself, have you always had that innate belief in yourself or did something have to happen for you to get to that point? speaker-3: I definitely grew up with that belief and it got lost a little bit in the past like few years I would say and but I've been working with a great psychol like performance psychologist Maya who's been unbelievable and I think like things are just clicking together and I think we're seeing that and it's so exciting. speaker-1: So fourth in the Olympic Games in the eight hundred in twenty twenty one. Yeah. That's an awesome position, but it is a heartbreaking position. It's kinda like my fourth year. My two fourths here. but no. You know, being fourth at the Olympic Games, how does that fuel you for twenty twenty-four and then beyond? speaker-3: I think coming forth in Tokyo was it was really tough at the time, but it was a blessing in disguise. It taught me a lot about myself, it taught me what I wanted to do with my career. and then going into Paris as the second quickest in the world that year, it was really tough to walk away without even making the final. But again, like I believe every single thing happens for a reason and I want to have a really long career, I still want to run for many years. So I think all these things I'm learning is taking me to where I need to be. Yeah. speaker-1: Where do you want to go with your career? You've done so well. So what is I mean, obviously you're thinking world records and you're thinking of those kind of things. So tell us your goals. speaker-3: I mean I wanna be Olympic champion. speaker-0: Yes! speaker-3: I don't know, I just think if you shoot for the stars or you shoot for the moon, you fall in the stars. And I believe I can do it. obviously like yeah, there's always it's really tough. This athletics, like everyone's up in their game all the time, but I could believe in myself and yeah, I just want to have these goals because I believe I'm capable of doing them. speaker-0: Alright, well let's talk about today's race. When you woke up this morning, how were you feeling? Did it feel like, okay, I'm gonna break some tape today and where are you at? speaker-3: Yeah, I definitely came into these road races with a bit of a different frame of mind of like actually how can I run the best race for me? Doesn't matter who's on the start line. And I wrote out what I wanted to do and what I thought was the best race for me and I executed that and yeah, both weekends it's worked and today I was really pleased the start list was stacked. Yeah. Well with loads of different athletes with different capabilities, some really strong fifteen, five K. runners, some really good eight runners with good kicks and yeah it was really tough. I mean we had the British champion for the 1500 there, Sarah, who's really strong and as well. So yeah, I was I respect every single person on that start line, but I knew if I could put together the race I I knew I was capable of doing, I would win. speaker-0: But then something terrible happened on the start line. speaker-3: I broke my nail. speaker-1: Didn't stop. speaker-0: You. Okay. But the you know, we can we can giggle and we can laugh, but also when you are standing on a start line and any little thing goes wrong, goes awry, doesn't go according to plan, a lot of people would get completely thrown by that. So I hope it doesn't sound like a frivolous question, but can you tell us about breaking your nail on the start line? Does stuff like that rattle you at all? speaker-3: I definitely thought no not my nails and but also like I think it's like okay be where your feet are in this moment and yeah just do your job speaker-0: Just do your job. I love it. So walk us through the race. speaker-3: It went out hard and there was like f ghetto pushing it, which I was really pleased about, and I think Fifth Avenue always goes out hard. speaker-1: Like sixty one, I think. Yeah. speaker-3: Yeah, it was it was good. so I was really happy that it went out so hard and I just kind of like was like relax, relax and then off of that halfway I was like, okay, like I actually feel really good, let's see if I can get my legs rolling. And I can't actually remember like when I took it on from, but it was further out than what I'd planned. But I had so much trust in my body, it felt really good and I just thought, let's go for it. speaker-1: There was one moment on air where we saw a grimace. Is there I mean, we talk about how far away that that finish line is. I mean it looks closer than it actually is, but there was a grimace. Was there a moment where it was like you had to go to a different spot mentally and really dig in to to win this race? speaker-3: Yeah, I really dug in. Like 200 to go, I was like, okay. But I could see the finish line. I was like, just keep going. and it was hard, but like that's what I like doing. I like running hard and I love pushing to see how fast I can go. And I do that in training a lot and I yeah, I think it's bringing that into racing. And there was one thing in my head, I was like, It's the last race of the season. Doesn't matter how hard it is, how sore you are, get to the tape first. speaker-1: And we wanna hear about what you're gonna do after, but when you go back and watch that will you go back and watch it? speaker-3: Yeah well. speaker-1: It is amazing how strong you are over that final hundred meters. It was just like all grit and you could just you could feel that passion that you had to get there. Did you know you were gonna be able to break that record? Did you look at the clock at all? speaker-3: Into this week I'd watched a few of Fifth Avenue's back just to refresh my memory and I actually ran like four nineteen, I think was the quickest I'd run here and I seen the the I knew the record was four fourteen 'cause Laura was my training partner at the time. and I it'd be really cool to break records. And but also like today it isn't about it wasn't about running a record for me. It was about yeah, just enjoying the race and being competitive and also just finding that fight in me again. I think it was lost when your confidence is down, you lose a little bit of that fight. And I've definitely found that. speaker-1: So not only did you break the record, but you were the first international female to win three in row. Wow. Or three overall, yes. Any speaker-0: I I mean truly and all of our love to Jenny Simpson who of course is forever the legend of the Fifth Avenue mile. speaker-1: row eight overall. speaker-0: Yeah. And speaker-3: Amazing. speaker-0: and is coming back from a pretty significant setback right now, but in true Jenny fashion is coming back and it's incredible to watch. So what are some key as you head into the offseason, what are some key learnings, takeaways, how will you reflect on a race like today? speaker-3: I think it is I said to my coach on the phone when I was cooling down, like I've really found to trust myself and trust the team of people around me and that's something really special that I can take to the indoor season and then onto outdoors and Ellie twenty twenty is gonna be on her doorstep before we know it. So yeah, I'm really happy that I could come to these road races and learn something about myself. speaker-1: Well you run well in the States, yes for sure. speaker-0: Exact thoughts. You also you had at the finish line, I loved, you were styling up, you had two flags. Can you tell us about the significance of having the two flags that you are representing at the finish today? speaker-3: Yeah, it's so special. Like even this year Commonwealth Games I got to run in a Scotland vest and we're in a British vest a lot and I'm so proud to be British but also so proud to be Scottish and the Scots love Fifth Avenue. Like they show up for it and I was really happy to get handed a Scottish flag because I was trying to balance it both, keep everyone happy. speaker-0: I don't know if you know this, but here in the States we are obsessed with the Scots ever since the World Cup this summer. Thank you for all that you did here in America because it was truly an incredible, incredible summer with some really great Scots. So we love you. We hope you know you're always welcome here. speaker-1: And you brought a fellow Scott with you. speaker-3: Yeah, brought Emma, my best friend from Scotland and yeah, we're so happy to be here in New York. speaker-1: Gemma and Emma are taking the streets of New York tonight, people. What are you gonna do? speaker-3: So we're gonna head to the three monkeys with the team and yeah, just have a good night. Let my hair down. speaker-0: Love it. Well you got a good head of hair. Gemma, congratulations on three Fifth Avenue mile victories. We love having you here in New York. Enjoy tonight. Enjoy the off season and we cannot wait to see what's ahead for you. Thank you so much. Thank you. speaker-3: No, I need to come back and break it again. speaker-1: See you next year. speaker-0: Thanks, Gemma. And after this brief break, we will be back with our men's champion. Marco Langan is here. Every marathon run speaker-3: has a reason. speaker-0: a promise. A purpose. A finish line to reach. And that speaker-3: Culligan. speaker-0: your reason to run is their reason to serve. speaker-3: To speaker-1: That means that speaker-3: certified Culligan for tasting speaker-0: Filtration cleaner safer better taste. speaker-3: water, ready for every mile, every refill, and every finish line. Because when you're putting in the work to go farther, Culligan is doing the work to serve water you can trust. Culligan is the official water speaker-1: The T speaker-3: New York City Marathon. speaker-1: Hey everybody, well, we are back. We are here with Marco Langon. But you know what, Marco? Real quick, I want to give another shout out to a gentleman that won the open division. I thought it'd be fun for Marco to give you a little shout out as well. Brandon Nicholson, hey, congratulations. Tell us your time today, Brandon. 358 flew in for the race, and big shout out to our open division and to anyone who ran the race today, watching or here in the crowd. Congratulations again. Okay, Marco. I mean this has been a huge season already, but this is a big win. Do you feel like this is one of your biggest yet? speaker-2: Nah, probably pen relays. speaker-1: pen relays, I mean, you know, totally Philadelphia guy who went to Villanova. So yeah, we are super proud of you though. It was really fun. The way you ran today was awesome. Maybe we should have you walk us through your race. speaker-2: yeah, no, I thought yeah, I forgot I can speak to this. nah, yeah, it was good. yeah, no, it was good. Yeah, I got on the line and when they put me in the front bro, I was like, all right, yeah, I could definitely win this. I didn't realize I was gonna get like boxed in the first five hundred meters. I didn't even realize you could get boxed in in a road race. but yeah, all I did was just be patient and then at like five hundred I didn't know if I was gonna win. And then once we got up the hill at 800, I I I just knew I had it at that point. And then at 1500 I saw Hayward and like I like that we call him the chosen one. Okay. Because he's the he's the chosen one. Like he he's got it. And at 1500 I was like, I gotta get him. Like I need this 5k. So I yeah, that yeah, just five bands for that. So it was good. speaker-1: So coming into the race though really, you did you not really think you could win this one until you got put to the front? speaker-2: no no no I I knew I would win it. Yeah you'd say that I knew I would win it. I just like I I heard like, there's like three rows and I like bro if I'm in the third row that that's like one disrespectful and two like I just I would have been like damn like I'll I'll find my way to win. Yeah. But yeah it would have definitely been a bit rougher. So yeah. speaker-1: Yeah. speaker-0: Okay, so what did you know about this race? This was your first Fifth Avenue mile. But as you told us at the finish, your you met your girlfriend here. You or you asked her out. Tell us that speaker-2: yeah, I asked her to my girlfriend here. Well, yeah, so I met her at NCAA's in Virginia at the after party for the first time. Which are Virginia speaker-1: Okay. speaker-2: Beach. Yeah, at Virginia Beach. And then we we were like talking and everything for like the next few months, and then yeah, like she just like like there was a point like in April or May, like right after Penn relays, like stopped talking. I don't think she liked me too much. And then yeah, and then we saw each other again at NCAA. AA's in Oregon, saw each other in Europe when we were in Ireland and and we were kind of like still talking when after Morton games and then I went to go watch her race fifth half. I like took off school and then yeah, I just like I like spent the night here and I was and went to the after party and we were together and I was like, Yeah, like you wanted my girlfriend and all that. So fun. speaker-1: She's she's a professional runner as well. speaker-2: Yeah, yeah, she runs for New Balance, Alex Millard. So yeah, it was it was it's like cool that she was able to come come out and watch and like she's gonna be training for Eurocross so that'll be exciting. speaker-1: Well you've had a phenomenal year. You just wrapped up your NCAA career at Villanova. Yeah. signed your professional contract. Yeah. went over to Europe and raced a road mile there last weekend, the one that Gemma won, you won as well. Yeah. Talk a little bit about that and the confidence you got in race of the guys in the field today as well. speaker-2: No, it it's actually funny, like when I heard she won, I was like f like now I gotta now I gotta double back and and d Dusseldorf went it's gotta win again but I was like my goodness like it's crazy. so yeah but I I knew I would be able to win it. Dusseldorf was fun though. That was I actually d will say like I loved fifth Ave and the straight like road mile with the uphill because it feels like a cross country course. But what I liked about Dusseldorf was like how it was there were turns and I was like if I just get to the lead on the last turn and put it in a surge while everyone else is making the turn 'Cause you slow down on the turn, so when you make the surge, you can put a gap and then slow down a bit, conserve energy, and then you have to work hard to get back up to you and you just surge again. Yeah. It's just like bit common knowledge. So I was like, damn, like I'm gonna just do that. and I was like, Yeah, no, I got it. speaker-1: Definitely a different course though today, point to point, straight line. speaker-2: Yeah, I knew I would win though, so it was fine. Yeah. speaker-1: Yeah. When you race against these guys, I mean, you know, we saw Jay K word run so well in that world record race where Josh Kerr, who's won this race before, set the world record, and then you just beat Adam Spencer who ended up being third today. I mean, you are in a whole new ball game, but we know that you want to be the world's best. You even said it with Ali. You want to be the best five K athlete in the world. Yeah. Like what what goes on in your brain, Marco? Like I wanna hear it because everybody just loves hearing from you the drive, the determination. And even just like the ability to tell everyone what you want to do. I mean, that's that's kind of a trait not all of us have. speaker-2: Yeah, no, I mean like you just gotta believe it. At the end of the day, like gaming based on sympathy, so you gotta just like be brutal with it. Like you gotta like aggressive with your mentality and like i in anything. Not even just like running or anything like that, but you gotta be like aggressive and I feel like everything you do, like 'cause i at the end of the day, like like unless it's like your family member or anything, even for some people not their family members, like people don't really care about you. So you just gotta you you just gotta attack everything, like in everything you do. So yeah, that that's all that's the way I always looked at everything, is like it at the end of the day It it's just you. It's just you and your and your loved ones and those are the only people that matter. no one else really matters. yeah, so that for me that's that, but like I'm not really scared going up against these guys, you know. Like obviously we call Jake the the chosen one because you could take two years off and go pop a three forty six and break some records. Like I was like damn and I had beaten him in April, when I ran I ran like three thirty two so that was my PB at the time and he was like three thirty four and I was like damn like that's pretty crazy like coming back from that like second race back and then I see he runs like three thirty one and I was like what the like what? And then and then he runs three forty six and I'm like yo what the f like what the hell? And I'm like, all right well I could definitely run three forty six and it's funny me and my high school coach had this workout and it was two sets of two hundred, four hundred six hundred four hundred and it's all 45 seconds between reps. and five minutes between the sets and it's just two of them, but it's all at mile pace. And it's like you don't know what pace it is, but it's you just go out and run and see a and whatever you average for the set averages for a 1600 and a 1600 and I average 343. And like for a mile that's like three forty five to three forty six. So I'm like, all right, well I could definitely do that. And then and then yeah, I mean I ran like three I this obviously doesn't count like as a track time, but like I'm definitely in that like area where I think I could run like three forty five, three forty six right now. So yeah. speaker-1: Tell us a little bit about your situation, because you mentioned your high school coach, and then you have your the assistant coach from Villanova, Matt, is helping you, but also Marcus O'Sullivan is in your back pocket if you need it. and those of you who know Marcus O'Sullivan ran over a hundred sub four minute miles, four time Olympian. I mean, we can go on and on and on, multiple time. Marcus, Marcus. speaker-2: He only he only got second, but speaker-1: yeah, I love the guy though. but you know, you have this tight knit team around you. You're from Jersey, went to Villnova, you know, gonna live on the East Coast now in Boston. I don't know, I just what is it about having that tight team? 'Cause you really stick with your peeps. speaker-2: Yeah, no, like just muds thicker than blood, you know. You gotta like you gotta be able to find people around you that are that like that wanna start with you 'cause those are the people that are gonna like drive you to perform and drive you to get even better, you know, when like you're hurting a race, like the only thing I'm thinking about is my family, like my mom and my sister. Like those are who I'm thinking about when I'm f and when it when when shit gets rough, 'cause it's like you can't give up. Like you may not win, but like you still can't give up, you know? Like that that's like you can't you can't do any of that. So I remember my college coach, Matt, so Marcus more like a mentor like he's like what's his name? Mr. Miyagi Mr. Miyagi yeah yeah Mr. Miyagi like like he's like a Mr. Miyagi type of character. Yeah he's yeah yeah yeah and like speaker-1: Yeah, he's standing over on the sideline with the drumming. speaker-2: Exactly. nah, he's tough. So like he's good like to have 'cause he's done it all, you know. So we always get like he literally told me he said to like before you run the course, go to it and or before you race, go to the course and figure out where two hundred meters left is. And like I know it says it on the on the sign. But you gotta feel but you want to have a feeling like you have another little spot that you know. So like it was like the spot that I started to go was bit was like this little fire hydrant between sixty third and sixty second street. It was closer to sixty third. But yeah, so I I was just like, all right, cool. So I had that. And then Matt, like, he's the one training me, making my training program. And then Rob is kind of the one, like my high school coach, one driving the ship. And then my agent JT, like he's just like, get me the bag and and get me into good races. And and he's really, yeah, I mean he's managed the best. He's managed like Legat, Radisha, Gaut, like Am, Mazoy, Chogi, like all these like crack guys. So yeah, no, I like I mean I have a lot of confidence like going into every race because I know I got like the best team around me, you know. So yeah, I'm really happy. speaker-0: Well now that you got the bag, where are you going? speaker-1: Yeah. speaker-2: Yeah. well I was thinking going to the casino, put it all on black and see if I could double it. But but then I my girlfriend talked me out of that and so I'll probably just go to the Diamond District or something with my friend with Abel Tefra. He just raced today, he was like eighth or tenth or something like that. and we'll probably just go get a bracelet or something. For speaker-0: your girlfriend? speaker-2: Not for me, but like I'll I'll I'll I'll g I'll get her like earrings or some shit. So yeah. my god. But no yeah. But yeah, but like no, it was it was fun. Like we were literally like the entire day yesterday, we just kept going downstairs to like the front of the hotel and there's people selling like the fake Louis bags and everything. We were just like bargaining trying to get this down, so I'm gonna try to do the same thing with these bracelets. speaker-0: All right, you got this. The day's going well so far. So we believe that you will be successful in the Diamond District today. speaker-2: That's all. speaker-0: An absolutely amazing race and the men's race today had the number two through number seven fastest times in race history. Woo! That's insane. So you know what you gotta do next year. speaker-2: When worlds. speaker-0: Well yeah, I'm thinking fifth halve. If today we had two through seven, that's one spot that's open. So let's see what you can come back and do. We break speaker-2: Yeah, yeah, I probably could. speaker-0: I probably could. You heard it here, folks. Marco, congratulations. Do you have more questions? Well I do speaker-1: I know you do. I can see it in your face. I think the diehard track and road racing fans wanna know you are getting ready to go over and you train a little bit with Cam Myers. He just won the Diamond League young athlete front. So you're gonna go over there and train with him in November? speaker-2: Yeah, we're I'm going to Perecha, which is like the mountain. I don't even know if I'm saying it right. Sorry if you're Australian or listening, but but there's like a mountain range that's like six thousand five hundred or something like that. And it's my fur I've never been to altitude or nothing like that, so it'll be good. Like I might do like the five K in New York, just to kinda like get a gauge of where I'm at fitness wise and then Yeah, Doreen. speaker-1: Did you hear that? speaker-2: I would I would like I would cut I would go down to Australia, train for five weeks and may do Zadapec or something like that and just kinda get like a little like just like see how where I am fitness wise and see how respond to altitude which would be pretty important. So yeah, I I definitely got a good plan going into next year and speaker-1: Isn't it fun having like Dorian Cale and you know Sam Grote will like h hold your hand basically through this weekend and have that kind of treatment? speaker-2: Yeah well yeah, well I'm sure they were scared when I didn't check into the hotel. It was probably a nightmare. Yeah. So like 'cause like the people at the hotel it was like they were like, you gotta wait till four to check in and I'm like, it's three thirty five, like just fucking put me in speaker-0: I was in that line too. speaker-2: They're like wait and just go back in line and I'm like no like what the f like no and then I was like yeah like absolutely not so I had already like my friend Abel like he had a free room no one was rooming with him I think the person I pulled out or some And I was like, yo, I'm just gonna stay with you. And then I wake up the next morning and like I have like eight missed calls from my agent, five missed calls for my coach, two missed calls for my mom. Everyone's saying, Where are you? I'm like, and I will call like Rob. And I'm like, I'm in the fing hotel, bro. Like what? And then and then he was like, Yeah, just don't scare us next time. And I'm like, all right, yeah, like speaker-1: what is up with Villanova in this city? The Nova Knicks, now Marco, like what's going on here? Sorry people, but we are giving Villanova. speaker-2: Speaking of that, me and Jalen Brunson or Jalen Brunson and I, we have the same birthday. You do? Yeah. speaker-0: You celebrate together? speaker-1: No. speaker-2: Well we had the same like athletic advisor to Alison Vanella and and she was like you know like you and Jalen got the same birthday and it was like it was early like last week, August 31st. So yeah, I was like damn that's pretty tough. speaker-1: we need to call speaker-0: Happy belated. What'd you do? speaker-2: thank you, yeah. drink speaker-0: Okay, well what's your drink of choice? speaker-2: Corona. Alright. speaker-0: I don't know. speaker-2: Yeah. Yeah, probably PBR. but yeah, we were in Berlin. So I actually got to see one of my cousins. He lives in Berlin. that's pretty cool. Yeah, we just like we just spent the night in the hotel bar and just like chilled and like got to hang out with the other athletes that had raced in Berlin at Issaf, which is a great meet. That stadium's unbelievable. So yeah, I honestly had like a really great time. It was cool like being on the road in Europe and like ac people still like actually like celebrating your birthday with you. I was like, damn, that's sick. So yeah. Thank you, man. Thank speaker-1: Congratulations today. It was awesome. speaker-2: you. speaker-0: Congratulations. Thank you so much. We will take one last quick break and then we will wrap up with some final thoughts on Fifth Ave. Marco, thank you so much. Congratulations. speaker-3: Instructor-led runs and walks that are built to fit into your routine. speaker-1: What speaker-3: Help you stay consistent, speed, speaker-1: Belt spot. speaker-3: and be in the moment. speaker-0: Track your metrics, see your progress Hopefully your goals and stay on. speaker-1: Peloton. speaker-3: The official digital fitness partner of New York Rice. speaker-0: All right, thank you so much for joining us for this special edition of the Set the Pace podcast. Guest hosted by Carrie Tollifson, Olympian and host of the C Tolly Run podcast. And I am Allie Feller, host of the Allie on the Run Show, and also two women who are very happy to be on the Fifth Avenue Mile broadcast today. I think I speak for both of us when I say that despite the rain, and my gosh, was there rain, my feet are still soaked. We had an amazing, awesome day. The vibes are always incredible. So to all of the runners, congratulations to all of the fans and spectators. Thank you so much for coming out. And of course, to the teams at gosh, New York Roadrunners at New Balance and beyond, thank you for all that you do to make these days so magical for the running community. speaker-1: Love New York. That's all I gotta say. speaker-0: Okay, there's nothing like it, and we'll be back soon. I know a lot of you are local, so you're not going anywhere, but for Carrie and I who are not local, we will be back because there is a big, big day coming up on November 1st, and there is nowhere else in the world to be on that day. So we will see you at the TCS New York City Marathon, and until then, thank you so much for joining us for this special edition of Set the Pace, recorded live at the New York Roadrunners Run Center, featuring the New Balance Run Hub. C Tolle Run: What an incredible day. A huge thank you to Allie Feller and congratulations again to our champions, Gemma Ricky and Marco Langan. Thanks to everyone who came out and brought so much energy to energy to the show. Thanks to everyone who came out and brought so much energy to this live show. And thank you for listening to See Tolly Run. Big shout out to everyone at New York Roadrunners for making this happen and to Rundot for helping me re air it. The episode was sponsored by Rundot and supported by Tailwind Nutrition. Hey, remember to head on over to TailwindNutrition.com and use the code TOLLY20 for 20% off your order. That's T O L L E 20 for 20% off your order. Thanks everyone for joining us today. And don't forget to get after it. Yeah.