Celebrating 100 Episodes of NYRR Set the Pace Podcast
Set the Pace hosts Rob Simmelkjaer, Becs Gentry, and inaugural host Meb Keflezighi on The Public Theater stage.
This week we celebrated the 100th episode of NYRR Set the Pace live at the iconic Public Theater in NYC. Rob and Becs kicked off the show by bringing back the podcast’s inaugural host, Meb Keflezighi, to talk about his incredible running career and his philosophy “run to win” about getting the best out of yourself in racing and in life.
Janelle Hartman joined the stage for the Member Moment. Janelle is the recipient of the 2018 Joe Kleinerman award and longtime volunteer with New York Road Runners. She crossed the finish line as the official final finisher of the 2018 TCS New York City Marathon at age 55.
Check out photos from the event.
Looking back at 100 episodes with guests ranging from professional athletes to run community leaders, Rob and Becs choose a few of their favorite episodes of NYRR Set the Pace Presented by Peloton. Check out the list below.
Rob’s Favorites
Episode 1: Meb Keflezighi's Journey to Marathon Glory
“Talking with Meb was a master class in resilience and mindset. It was especially meaningful to really get to know him for the first time in the podcast setting—his warmth and humility shine just as brightly as his accolades. Hearing about his journey from Eritrea to the U.S. and how his childhood shaped his passion for running added a whole new layer to his story. The way he connects running to life lessons made for a conversation that stayed with me long after we wrapped that first episode,” Rob said.
Episode 3: A Conversation with Susannah Scaroni
“Susannah’s energy and determination are absolutely contagious. Hearing how she balances elite competition with her work in dietetics brought a powerful dimension to her story. It was incredibly empowering to hear how she came back from injury stronger than ever—her perspective on growth through challenges is unforgettable. Her candid reflections on training, adversity, and joy made this one of the most uplifting interviews I’ve ever done,” Rob said.
Episode 66: Janie Deegan's Journey From Homelessness, to Pie Crust Cookie Entrepreneur, to the TCS New York City Marathon
“Interviewing Janie was one of my favorite conversations because of how powerfully she connected her personal journey with running — her story is both inspiring and deeply human. Her resilience, from overcoming addiction to building a thriving business and running marathons, left me in awe. I could have talked to her for hours — her energy, honesty, and the way she described finding strength in running was unforgettable,” Rob said.
Becs' Favorites
Episode 93: Olympian Sharon Lokedi Is Inspiring the Next Generation of Kenyan Runners
“Interviewing Sharon was deeply inspiring—her humility and drive as a first-time marathoner winning the NYC Marathon left me speechless. She spoke so passionately about her role in inspiring young Kenyan girls, which hit home for me as someone who believes in the power of representation. Sharon’s grace and quiet strength truly moved me, and I left our conversation feeling completely uplifted,” Becs said.
Episode 88: Ultra Runner and Entrepreneur Randi Zuckerberg on Blazing New Trails
“Randi brought such infectious energy and an unexpected perspective to the world of endurance running. Her journey from Silicon Valley to ultramarathons is a wild, empowering ride that challenged so many stereotypes. She reminded me how redefining your identity through sport can be both powerful and joyful,” Becs said.
Episode 56: Paralympic Power Couple Oksana Masters and Aaron Pike Take On the Paris Paralympic Games
“Oksana’s story of overcoming adversity was one of the most emotional and motivating interviews I’ve ever done. The sheer determination she and Aaron share—both as elite athletes and as a couple—is unmatched. Speaking with her reminded me why movement matters so much, not just for performance, but for survival and hope,” Becs said.
Memorable Member Moments
Each episode’s Member Moment is a chance for the podcast to highlight an NYRR member who has experienced the transformative power of running for themselves and others in their community.
Some of our most memorable Member Moments include Meb’s second interview with Sofia Camacho Ferral, the winner of last year’s nonbinary division at the marathon who discusses what it’s like being both an accomplished marathoner and drag performer in NYC.
Another NYRR member featured was the legendary Lynn Blackstone, a woman who made history at the third New York City marathon in 1972 as one of the “six who sat” women entrants who protested unequal treatment by staging a sit-down strike at the start.
Meb also interviewed nonbinary runner Rob Roberts who was awarded NYRR Runner of the Year last year in the nonbinary category for ages 45 to 49. Rob discusses what it’s like to represent nonbinary runners in the NYC running community and outside of New York.