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