Rise and Run
Rise and Run
172: Running the Great White Way to Main Street USA: A Conversation with Broadway Star Caesar Samayoa
Prepare to be entertained and inspired as Broadway sensation and runDisney aficionado, Caesar Samayoa, graces our latest episode of the Rise and Run podcast! We’re thrilled to bring you Caesar's unique blend of theatrical charm and running passion, as he shares his journey from watching Sandy Duncan in "Peter Pan" as a child to lighting up the stage in "Sister Act" and "Come From Away." Get a behind-the-scenes look at the Broadway audition process and hear about his latest role in "Just In Time," all while exploring the dynamic synergy between his theatrical dreams and love for the running community.
As marathon weekend approaches, we dive into essential preparation tips to keep you healthy and ready to race. With the notorious 'corral crud' and frosty weather making their rounds, we discuss the importance of hygiene and share personal experiences to help you steer clear of any pre-race pitfalls. Exciting tidbits about the upcoming 2025-2026 runDisney race calendar will have you marking your calendars.
Our conversation with Caesar also takes us through the vibrant running culture in New York City, where he finds solace amidst the buzz of Manhattan and Brooklyn. From favorite routes like Prospect Park to captivating waterfronts, Cesar relishes the rhythm of his runs. We wrap up with Cesar's dreams of performing in a Disney musical and his ambitions to connect with fans during marathon weekends, as well as a sneak peek into his upcoming Broadway show. Remember to connect with him on Instagram or his website, and we can’t wait to see you at our Disney Springs meetup—happy running!
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Just in Time on Broadway
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3 am again.
Speaker 2:Why did I ever think this was a good idea? Welcome to the Rise and Run podcast. Join our group of Run Disney friends. As we talk about running at Walt Disney World and beyond. We'll discuss recent runs, training, upcoming races and surprise topics suggested by you, our listeners. Well, the alarm's gone off, so let's go.
Speaker 1:Hello, my friends, welcome to episode 172 of the Rise and Run podcast. No intros. We'll get some this week. We'll record them. While we're there, I'll say we're dropping this one early.
Speaker 2:Maybe John is getting them right now at the Expo as we speak.
Speaker 1:That's the thing. Well, first of all, before we go into this, hiya, friends, I'm Bob. I'm here this week with Greg hey, hey, hey. And with John, hey Bob. How you doing? John gosh, I guess I'm doing okay. I appreciate it. Thanks for asking Our special guest this week, broadway star and run Disney runner, cesar Samayoa. Looking forward to that interview. Like I said, no spotlight. We'll get back to the spotlight here in just a couple of weeks. So one of the fun things about this episode for me and some of the other episodes that we do on race weekends is, without fail, somewhere along the course, someone is going to be wearing headsets and then look over and do a double take and go. I'm listening to you right now. That's always fun. So if you are, just say hi. If you are in the act of giving John an intro as he wanders around the expo recording intros, you'll understand what that's for. And Greg won't be down for another couple of days, but he'll be there too.
Speaker 2:All I got to say is the FOMO is real and the FOMO is killing me. But I'll see you folks real soon.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you'll see Greg on the marathon course. Friends, if you enjoy the Rise and Run podcast, please share us with your friends. Introduce them to this wonderful Rise and Run family. We want to share in their Run Disney journey as well. Remember to follow us on Facebook, we're at Rise and Run Podcast and on Instagram, we're at Rise and Run Pod. You can check out our YouTube channel. I finally had a chance to look at Jack's 100 mile video. That was superb.
Speaker 2:No, that wasn't that great.
Speaker 1:It really, really was. Hope you get a chance to do that. You can visit our webpage, which is riseandrunpodcastcom, and if you got a question, you got a comment, you got a race report or you want to leave us an intro, you can call us at 727-266-2344. It's an automated system. It'll just go right to voicemail. You can leave us a recording.
Speaker 2:We'd also like to take this time to thank our Patreons, whose support helps keep the Rise and Run podcast rising and running. If you'd like to join the patreon team, please go check out patreoncom slash rise and run podcast. And we want to take this time to thank our patreon and loyal listener, holly, who upgraded from the plastic cheese level to the mandalorian level. So, holly, welcome to Back to the Future.
Speaker 1:Thank you for that, holly. That's very generous. We really appreciate it. Rise and Run podcast brought to you by our friends at Magic Bound Travel. Oh look, there's Maggie over there. I think Greg isn't that Maggie over there running. Some of your Magic Bound Travel guides or agents will be there because they're at every run. Magic bound makes sure that if you are using them to book a run disney event, that your agent will be an experienced run disney runner, and I think that's a good thing. Hey, I don't know if it's too late to look into dis accommodations for Disneyland weekend, but magicboundtravelcom is the website. Check them out In our little apologies and alibis section. This is again not one, but in the chaos that surrounds the holiday season and the multiple race reports we get, I missed some, and Mary Jo set a goal to run at least one race a month in 2024. And when she did the Santa's Twilight 5K she capped off that. So that's significant, mary Jo. We didn't want to let that go unrecognized.
Speaker 2:And then I guess I'm going call this a, a potential future apology.
Speaker 2:So I'm gonna, I'm gonna hop in the mandalorian, I'm gonna go to the future and then, and then come back but, just wanted to give everybody a quick breakdown of the episodes that will be coming up, uh, here in short order post marathon weekend. So obviously this week we have, as Bob said earlier, our new Broadway buddy, caesar, and then next week's episode is going to be a replay of the episode that was recorded live at the first ever Run Fit Fab pop-up that is taking place after the 10K, so you'll be able to hear that audio in your feed next Thursday. Then the week after that will be our 2025 Marathon Weekend Recap Show. The issue, hence why I wanted to possibly give this early apology is that and granted, I know I'm going to get a lot of groans from Bob and John, and probably audibly from the listening audience as well too is I go directly from Marathon Weekend and a post-family vacation right into a business trip to Hawaii.
Speaker 1:Oh, great Exactly.
Speaker 2:Again, I predicted this. So, due to time changes and work schedules and red-eye flights and everything like that, I'm not exactly 100% sure when I will have time to upload the audio for that episode. I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure that it will be in your feed that Thursday, but if it's later in the day on Thursday or happens to be Friday, I promise you nothing is wrong with your podcast feed. You can put all the blame squarely on me, but if I have a general idea of the timing, maybe I'll put out a Facebook post or something like that. But I just want to make people aware ahead of time of what you're going to be hearing in these next couple of weeks and of that potential delay as well too. So, and again, if you have any complaints, uh, you can send them to greg at rise and run podcast while he's sipping on my time I am sipping the mai tai watching the humpback whales uh in the pacific ocean.
Speaker 2:Yes, absolutely beautiful beautiful.
Speaker 1:I have a great time, man.
Speaker 3:Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 1:That's a wonderful place to be. Uh, it's. It's been a. It's been a challenge keeping our heads into where we are, because we have time shifted so much of the recordings over the last four or five weeks that, uh anyway. So this is. Let's see, this is actually Wednesday now. This is actually Expo Day. Well, let's take a look Now. Look, training schedule Today's Expo Day. Like I said, look around John's over there somewhere I'm not sure where he is, that massive line for bibs.
Speaker 4:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I'm going to be getting there, probably I've got. I had to change plans a little bit. I typically get there right after lunch, but I'm going to be a little later than that this time. I'll probably be there mid afternoon. So again, if you're listening and you're at the expo in the middle of the afternoon, two, three o'clock, come say hi, I'll be hanging out somewhere. Who else is? Is Jack doing dopey? Yes, yeah jack's yeah, she'll be there jack will be at the expo sometime today also, but you'll be there, right, john?
Speaker 3:yeah and alicia usually goes the first day yeah, she usually goes first day too.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the only wild card they don't know is lei, because Lexi's doing the 10K.
Speaker 1:So I don't know if she's going Wednesday or Thursday. Hey, if I were her, I'd go Thursday. Thursday will probably be the lightest day of the week. No, I take that back, because the Goofys will also be picking up their bibs on Thursday.
Speaker 3:Well, the five people in line for Goofy.
Speaker 1:Right, right, I get you, but they can get there Friday. I forgot about that. I get those days, so yeah, so Thursday will probably be the lightest day of the week for the expo, so that's a good day to be there. It's also, if you're catching this in time, it's also a good day to go back. If you got caught up in the Wednesday crowd and you want to go back, thursday is a good day to do that. Thursday, or probably Saturday, are good days to go back.
Speaker 3:If you want to get KT taped up again like uh yeah. Like if you know you're going to do the marathon or the half and you want to get KT KT tape, go back Friday or Saturday.
Speaker 1:Hey, it's not like it's not like it's empty. There's going to be people there, I promise you. I'm fond of trying to catch one of those down days to go talk with Mr Galloway, and I can spend a couple of minutes with Jeff and not have to worry about holding others up who don't normally get a chance to talk with them. But let's go through as we typically do. It is friends. It's the one we've been waiting for all along. We are at marathon weekend. I'm so excited to see everyone here. Uh, disneyland half marathon weekend is coming up in just three more weeks. Three more weeks. You're in training. Week 15 and your distances this week for your long runs is four miles with a magic mile. I may mention this again at the end of the episode I did just post.
Speaker 1:Of course, we do have the chat group for Disneyland half marathon weekend. Now, sadly, none of the Rise and Run gang will be there, but I went ahead and created a meetup time, used our standard time, 3 pm Saturday, and there was just a terrific place at Disneyland. It's the picnic area, and the best way I can describe it is if you are in the Esplanade or the large open area that's between California Adventure and Disneyland and downtown. Disney is over there. Look at the entrance to Disneyland and then turn to your left and over there by the lost and found, in the restrooms there are signs for a picnic area. It's a great area. It's mostly hidden by hedges. It's encircled by hedges, but it's a great area. It's mostly hidden by hedges. It's encircled by hedges, but it's a great area. A lot of privacy, a lot of shade. If you need it, and I don't know what to expect, but I know our friends are going to get together there three o'clock on Saturday.
Speaker 1:That's Disneyland half marathon weekend. Princess is not far behind my friends. It's only six weeks away. You're into training week 11. If you're doing the challenge, you have three miles walk on the first day and 11 miles run walk on the second. However, you schedule your weekend and then we are into training for springtime surprise, which is now 12 weeks away. We're in training week six for this and your long run is six miles. Well, guys, any training updates?
Speaker 3:just trying to stay, stay healthy and injury free before we get down there. Wait, I should be down there, I'm down there, I am down there.
Speaker 1:Keep washing, keep washing your hands. I hear people talk about the corral crud. That's nothing more than the fact that you were in close exposure to a couple thousand other people. So if anybody has anything, it's going to spread.
Speaker 3:I was training today actually, so, yeah, good. So it's cold. It's cold up here, so I was practicing standing outside in the cold, uh, waiting to for the corral to go off that's very smart of you, john, very wise. I will not do that, but I did have a lot more layers on than I probably would have on Thursday.
Speaker 1:One of the things I like dopey weekend. I'm not out to break any speed records, so I walk a lot of it, so I can layer up a little more than I normally do. I did my last training run on Saturday. There's one on the schedule for Tuesday.
Speaker 2:I'm not doing it, so my next activity will be on thursday. No, I'm right there with you guys. I essentially have put myself into uh, bubble mode. I guess you know, I as much as I have wanted to run outside. You know we've had, you know, like little nuanced storms here in pennsylvania. So it, you know, it's to the point where, you know, even though the trail might be cleared, I just don't want to risk on stepping on some black ice.
Speaker 2:So you know all the runs, have been on the treadmill and then you know, in terms of health, I got a little scare over the weekend. I, I, I didn't feel so great, but but I'm gonna, I'm gonna knock on some wood here.
Speaker 2:I feel like I'm on the men and then should be good to go for marathon weekend but you know, just just you know, you know, there's so much stuff going around right now I've been hearing from various friends so just trying to, you know, avoid any of it at all costs. But yeah, it's, you know, thankfully I haven't experienced, you know, those. You know, thankfully I haven't experienced, you know those, you know those taper crazies. But I just, you know, to me, I'm, I'm just, I'm just filled with, with excitement and and and just itching to, uh, the hop on that plane and and get down to Orlando to see you guys and to here, except to say I was a visitor to the emergency room this week.
Speaker 1:I was not the patient, I was a visitor. But golly, I was in an emergency room this week. I was there for a couple hours, it was slam packed and I'm thinking I got to get out of here. Yeah, all the germs going around.
Speaker 3:Same with me, bob. I was there New Year's Day and I'm like oh.
Speaker 1:God, but it's been 72 hours and I think I'm good to go and look. As I said last week in the podcast, I am fastidious about washing my hands as we get to something like this. That's the best way to prevent or to reduce the spread of germs. Just keep washing your hands. So let's see Training update. Hey, I got an update for you. This still applies. It's not training update, but if you're at POP POP Century, don't forget to say hi to Myra and tell her. You heard her on the Rise and Run podcast. We got a tremendous reaction to that.
Speaker 2:Absolutely we did.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it was fun. And look, I don't know her that well, I've met her twice, I believe but she treats everybody the same and I think she would get a huge kick out of hearing a couple, a dozen or a hundred people telling her hey, I heard you on the podcast, myron, that was fun.
Speaker 2:Hey friends, we interrupt this episode of the Rise and Run podcast to bring you some quasi-breaking news that broke after we got done recording but we thought would be vital information to pass along to you in this episode to kick off Marathon Weekend, and that is Run Disney has announced, I'm going to say, most of the race calendar for the 2025-2026 race season and I'll explain in a second why I mean most of the schedule. But here are the dates and races that were announced here at the start of Marathon Weekend. So technically, I guess the Run Disney season now starts with the Halloween half marathon weekend out in Disneyland. Again, that is occurring September 4th through the 7th 2025. But you know, believe it or not, we already had registration for that. That took place back just around the Thanksgiving holiday. So, again, that is the kickoff of the season. Then the next race and this is the first one in Walt Disney World the 2025 Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend. As we discussed a few weeks ago, this race is occurring a few weeks earlier than it has in the past, taking place October 23rd through the 26th 2025. Club Run Disney registrations opens in just about a month, on February 4th 2025, and general registration opens on February 11th 2025. Next up and I can't believe we're talking about this already, but the 2026 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend that will be taking place January 7th through 11th 2026. Club Run Disney registration begins on March 4th 2025, and general registration opens on March 11th 2025. Next up on the docket we have the 2026 Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend, and this is a slight change than we have seen in the past. This race weekend will be taking place February 26th through March 2nd 2026. Club Run Disney registration opens on June 17th 2025. General registration opens June 24th 2025. And in the round out the season, we have the 2026 Run Disney Springtime Surprise Weekend taking place April 16th through the 19th 2026. Club Run Disney registration opens on July 22nd 2025. And general registration opens July 29th 2025.
Speaker 2:Now the part that we're missing, and that is details for the second race weekend in Disneyland. Based on the graphic that you can find on the homepage of run Disneycom, you, you, when it says disneyland, it just shows the halloween half marathon weekend. It says 2026 race details to come. So no mention of the disneyland half marathon weekend. But you know this leads to some speculation of well, is this race going to happen? Will it happen at a different time? Are they going to rebrand it? Or is it just a situation which it very well could be, since run disney and disneyland has to work with the city of anaheim to get permits and and you know emt and police and you know various protections like that Maybe we just do not have the permits at this time, hence why we don't have any details. So we're going to have to keep our eyes and ears peeled to information and see if we are getting a second race weekend in Disneyland for this season and the first race weekend in Disneyland for 2026. And now back to your regularly scheduled podcast.
Speaker 1:All right, friends, look, let's visit with our guests for the week.
Speaker 2:Just a few weeks ago we did a rise and run rewind with our friend Taryn, who is our favorite stunt woman extraordinaire. And while Taryn is a star of the small and silver screens. And while Taryn is a star of the small and silver screens, this week we get to chat with a star of the great white way. Our next guest has graced various Broadway stages and productions, including Sister Act, come From Away how to Dance in Ohio and soon and this is very exciting will be appearing alongside Disney legend Jonathan Groff in the upcoming Bobby Darin musical Just in Time and apparently, as we found out a couple of weeks ago, is a massive Run Disney fan. We would love to welcome Cesar Samayoa to the Rise and Run podcast. Cesar, welcome my friend.
Speaker 4:Thank you so much. I'm so thrilled to be here.
Speaker 2:Cesar, welcome my friend. Thank you so much. I'm so thrilled to be here. We are excited to chat with you as well. So let's start real, real easy here, and I'm sure this is probably. Even though it's a short question, it's got a very long answer to it what inspired you to get into performing in the live theatrical arts?
Speaker 4:Oh, wow, I love this question because it was a teacher, actually, who inspired me to pursue theater or to actually love theater. You know, my family is from Guatemala and we immigrated to the United States and, to be totally honest, the you know, theater, broadway, was just nowhere in our sights. You know, when I was growing up and my teacher brought us to see a show, and I will never forget that feeling of watching a live performance for the first time and almost knowing I think I was in maybe fourth grade knowing immediately that that's exactly what I was going to do with my life. I didn't know how, I didn't know what I was going to be doing, I had no idea what it took to get there, or how to get there, or what even the next step was, but I knew that that's what I was going to be doing and I'll never forget it.
Speaker 2:Do you remember the show that you saw?
Speaker 4:It was Peter Pan starring Sandy Duncan, actually, and I saw. Captain Hook come onto the stage and I was like that's it, that's what I want to do.
Speaker 3:I remember those commercials back in the day.
Speaker 4:Right. You saw, Sandy Duncan flying over the audience and you're like whoa, what is that I can?
Speaker 2:still remember and I thought this was such a great touch. I think it was Springtime Surprise last year. Yeah, because that was the the neverland tinkerbell themed race, that's right, and and I thought that they were just going to play music from, you know, the disney version. But the fact that they were playing music from the kathy rigby version, oh wow, and just you know nothing better than running around Epcot and hearing I got a crow or I won't grow up is was such a awesome and very unique feeling.
Speaker 4:Wow, that seems like it would just be so joyful doing that, absolutely.
Speaker 2:Well you know. So it is so wonderful to hear that you know you have been able to perform in so many Broadway productions. I mean, every actor's dream or I should say actor in musical theater actor's dreams to be in a Broadway production. Maybe let's use the show that you just booked a couple of weeks ago with Just In Time. Talk us through what is the audition process like for a major theatrical Broadway production in New York City.
Speaker 4:Oh, wow, you know it's actually. I love this question. It's actually very different for every show. You know I'm so fortunate now to be, you know, to have an established career on Broadway right now. So this next show coming up Just in Time was a very different audition process because it's with a director that I've done four shows with Alex Timbers. He's just a renowned Broadway director and TV as well, and this will be our fourth project together and he basically asked me to do it. He asked me to work on the uh on a workshop production of this, and then asked me to join the, the Broadway company, which is amazing.
Speaker 4:But usually, uh, a Broadway production is cast through a very lengthy audition process. Uh, you kind of go through, you get screened first to see whether you're right for the project and then you go in for your first audition and you have a preliminary set of material that you kind of go through and you audition, maybe in front of a casting director and possibly a director, and every time you get called back you start seeing more and more people in the room. So by the time you get to a final callback for a Broadway show, it's usually multiple producers, sometimes investors in the show. It's usually a significant amount of the creative team, if not the entire creative team, in the show and you're pretty much doing every bit of material that you would be asked to do should you get cast. So it's a little bit of a mountain to climb, but man is it amazing when you get to the top of it.
Speaker 2:I got to know what are your go-to 16 bars for your audition.
Speaker 4:Wow, you know, luckily I haven't gotten, I haven't had to do a 16 bar cut yet, but I'm trying to think of, like back in the day when I was doing it. You know, I just take on it, so it was pretty different for every project that I went in. I tend to do a lot of multiple character roles where I get to play completely different characters all the time. So I love the creative process. I love the creative process of an audition.
Speaker 3:I'm sure anytime you're on stage is magical, but has there been one particular show or production that stands out as your favorite?
Speaker 4:Absolutely. You know I was part of the original company of Come From Away on Broadway and that was, I believe, five years that we were doing this project together and talk about a life changing project. You know it was one of the honors of my life to be a part of it. If you're not familiar with the story, it takes place during 9-11, the week after 9-11, actually, when 32 planes landed in Gander, newfoundland, at the northeast tip of Canada, and this tiny town doubled in size with people from all around the world were stranded on these planes and it was about this community opening its doors to the world, basically in a time of huge need, and it became this phenomenon. It's still playing internationally. It's playing all over the country. We're starting to see regional theaters do productions of this and I can't wait to see high schools pick it up and it's kind of mind-blowing that I was part of it from the start and I was able to be part of the team that helped develop this piece.
Speaker 2:Is it still playing on Apple TV Plus?
Speaker 4:playing on Apple TV plus, it is it is and it's a it's a beautiful live capture of our show. It actually, uh, we actually recorded it during the shutdown, while Broadway was shut down. Oh, wow, okay, yeah, we. We rehearsed it, uh, in quarantine in a hotel in Midtown there were no Broadway theaters open and, um, after quarantining in the hotel, we rehearsed within the conference rooms of the hotel and then we walked into our Broadway theater for the first time, I believe after more than a year of being shut down, and we recorded the show and I believe it's so true to what the live production was like. So I encourage people to check it out. It's a beautiful show, it's a beautiful story, it's very inspiring and it's actually very joyful and very funny.
Speaker 2:I'm sure that had to be such a an emotional moment for you. You know, just walking back in there after a year, I mean I can still remember that Great, Not not come from away, but I remember there a video got released making a Disney connection here the cast of, or at least at that time, the current cast of the Lion King rehearsing Circle of Life for the first time, and literally just the entire cast, just tearful. It was amazing that they could still get through the song, even through rehearsal, because the fact that that was the first time they could all get together for, like you know, a read like that, you know just I'm sure the emotions were through the roof for that, oh it was through the roof.
Speaker 4:I mean, broadway is such an integral part of new york city and especially midtown manhattan, and during the shutdown it was just completely desolate. There was nothing there and as our cast was walking towards our theater for the first time, people lined up on the sidewalks and out of their fire escapes and were cheering this Broadway show finally coming back after so long. I'll never forget it. I'll also never forget walking into my dressing room and seeing everything exactly the way I left it the day before Broadway shut down Almost everything, including my coffee mug, which is a Mickey Mouse mug, and it was as if nothing had been touched that whole entire time. Wow, Unbelievable.
Speaker 2:So there you go, folks. If you're looking to see our guest on the on your small screen in your home and you're a subscriber to Apple TV plus, please go, go, check out, come from away it's. It is truly a magical production. But you know, let's let's keep going with the Broadway questions here. Describe the feeling knowing that your voice will be forever part of an original Broadway cast recording, like as I was, you know, prepping for this interview. Like I was, I was listening to the recording of how to dance in Ohio, which is a show that my wife and I wanted to go see so desperately and by the time we were ready to make the commitment. Unfortunately, you know, the closing notice had posted. But, like when you go to spotify and you look at the track listing for that show, like there are a couple of songs that have just your name on it. What, what does that feel like?
Speaker 4:I mean I'm I'm kind of getting goosebumps talking about it. You have to know this about me that I was a theater kid. I loved it so much, like in my heart, I just loved theater so much. When I had the wonderful opportunity to go see a Broadway show I would wait at the stage door just so I could see the actors coming out and possibly get their autograph and to think that I'm part of original Broadway cast albums. Now it has to be, it's a, it's a complete honor. You know it's it's. It's as if I'm I'm living a. You know, a dream come true, actually, all right.
Speaker 2:Cesar, you have, you know, in your latest run of of various Broadway shows, you have created original roles in these brand new productions, which is not a lot of people can say, and that's what makes you so unique and and clearly you know, such a respected and talented actor within broadway circles. But is there one role that you know, if there was ever a revival production or you were able to be part of, like a regional production of a show that like, oh, I've always wanted to play that role and that role is what Wow, what a great question.
Speaker 4:You know, I think of me and all my like musical theater, all my musical theater friends growing up and we were all obsessed with Sweeney Todd. I don't know if you know the Stephen Sondheim show, sweeney Todd.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. I just saw it a couple of months Stephen Sondheim show.
Speaker 4:Sweeney. Todd, absolutely, I just saw it a couple of months ago with Aaron and son before it closed. What an incredible like a couple to be doing. You know those roles, but if I ever had the opportunity to to play a role like Sweeney, that where you see such depths, you know of emotion and you get to explore so much. You know that that really, unlike you, know what most people are that that would be incredible to be a part of that and to sing Stephen Sondheim's music.
Speaker 4:Honestly, to be able to sing his music would be wonderful, so something along those lines. But you know, when I get this question, I always say that that role hasn't been created yet. I've been so fortunate to originate some incredible roles on Broadway and each one feels like it gets better and better, so I'm hoping that that role is out there.
Speaker 2:And actually, now that I think about it in the idea of creating roles, tell us a little bit about the role that you're going to be playing in Just In Time.
Speaker 4:Oh, this is a blast. I mean, if anyone wants to come see a quintessential Broadway show, this is going to be it. Jonathan Groff's turn as Bobby Darin is really mind-blowing and I've been able to see it for the last couple of months. And what happened is that Alex Timbers got a cast of kind of Broadway veterans actually to support Jonathan and we play all the people in his life. All our characters couldn't be more different. So you're going to see actors really transform all around Jonathan as he plays Bobby Darin. We have a big band on stage, the theater is being transformed into the Copa Club where Bobby Darin sang at his prime, and you get to see his life story and hear some of the most incredible music that I bet everyone knows. You know that the the depth of of his work is pretty astounding. Um, I'm excited to that that people are going to be able to see it now be honest.
Speaker 2:How many times does he bust out and sing lost in the woods? Though?
Speaker 2:I'm just curious you mean just randomly, yeah, he walks into the room I will say one of my favorite social media clips is I I forget what late night tv show was on, but but someone would. It might have been. Fallon was interviewing Lin-Manuel Miranda and he and Lin was sharing this story about how, like his children could not process that King George from Hamilton and Kristoff from Frozen were the exact same person and then, when they finally figured it out, like blew their minds.
Speaker 4:It's amazing. You know what I love so much about Jonathan. I've known him a very long time. He is an exceptional leader of a company. His heart is huge, His talent is huge and it's really quite something to be a part of a company with him.
Speaker 3:To be on stage, especially dancing, you have to stay in shape. But how did your running journey begin?
Speaker 4:You know I always. You know I did not run growing up, like I didn't run in high school or college, and it wasn't anything I did recreationally. And then I started reading about I'm a very big Disney fan and I started reading about Run Disney. I said, wow, that seems really cool Running through the Disney parks, would I be able to actually do something like a 5k or a 10k or a half marathon or a marathon? And I always had it in the back of my head and um, during the shutdown I believe they started these virtual runs.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 4:Right and and I said you know what, like, what do I have to lose? Like, why not, why not try this? And um, and I believe it was, it was something to do with villains. Is that correct? Am I? Am I thinking of the right one?
Speaker 2:that would have been. What was that, john the, the wine and dine from? Oh, is it? Because I think it was when they came. That was when that was that short stint where they were offering the in-person but also the virtual as well too, I think.
Speaker 4:Right, right. And I just remember seeing I'm a huge Disney villain fan and I was like, well, if I'm going to try, let me just try this. And I believe it was a 10K, it was an Ursula 10K or something like that OK.
Speaker 2:Yep, yeah, that's right.
Speaker 4:So I started training and I started doing the Jeff Galloway training method and I mean honestly, I started doing it and for the first time I said I love this. It's the first time my mind shuts down, it's the first time I can just focus on my body and what I'm doing and the couple of steps ahead of me and I started to really enjoy it. And I remember when I received my medal it came in this beautiful box. I happened to be working for Disney Theatricals at the same time.
Speaker 2:Oh, wow.
Speaker 4:Project I actually don't think I could mention it, but you know, really tries to do. You know, oh, wow, believe what I just got. And it's like this Disney villain medal, as I'm playing a Disney villain for a very short little workshop that they were doing. But that was my first run Disney race and ever since that one I started to do the virtual races and then I said you know what I really want to try for the half marathon? And when Disneyland opened up their half marathon, I said that's the place I want to do it, that's the place I want to do it at. So I started training and I never looked back. I love it. Now I'm a little bit addicted. I try to sign up for every race that I can do. I've been telling myself that the half marathon is as much as I'll go. And then I just finished wine and dine and said, huh, I wonder if I got a marathon there we go.
Speaker 2:It's the gateway drug, as we like to say.
Speaker 4:Yep.
Speaker 2:So we got to know those. I mean, you know it's, it's great hearing, you know your run Disney backstory, but how do you find time to train while putting on eight shows a week and rehearsal and probably dance rehearsals and stage combat and you know and just you know, maybe work with like a vocal coach or something like that? How do you find the time to train for something like this?
Speaker 4:It's I'm not going to sugarcoat it, it's. It's hard, right. You have to really schedule everything to within an inch of its life, especially because doing live theater you have to be at 100% for that seven or eight o'clock curtain. There's no way around it. You know these long runs close to the race get, get, you know, pretty difficult sometimes and and you just have to make sure that you're living your life in a way that that is beneficial to what I need to be doing in the evening, so that for me that means a lot of rest, that means really looking after my nutrition, that means really being careful. That's why I think the Jeff Galloway method is so incredible, because it really diminishes the possibility of injury and for me that's really important because if I get injured I'm out of a show.
Speaker 4:I'm out of a show, you know, like that is my job, so it was kind of a perfect combination of everything, and it was also a time. Working in midtown Manhattan is magical and it's also very overwhelming. So for me, running is my kind of Zen place. It's my place that really lets me just forget about everything and zone everything out and just focus on my breathing and kind of the beauty that's around me and watching New York, you know, go by me, or Brooklyn, go by me. So it really helps me. I love it. I want to say that when my cast, my how to Dance in Ohio cast, found out that I was doing the Disneyland half marathon First, they were really mad that I didn't have a costume.
Speaker 4:So like right before I left, they got me, like like you at least have to have, like a Disney hat. So they got me a Disney hat that I could, that I could wear for for my race. Send, yeah, send, send them over to costuming right?
Speaker 2:Yes, exactly, so you know, working in, in, in, living in the city, you know you. You talked about Brooklyn, but what are some of your favorite places in the city to go running? I mean, I'm sure Central Park is, you know, offers a lot of opportunities. But what are some other gems you know in such a major metropolitan city that you find great to run in?
Speaker 4:Absolutely. I live in Brooklyn and there are some gems here. You could run along the whole waterfront here and just watch Manhattan go by and pretty much do your entire long run there. There's tons of piers that you could go in and out of. There's also a beautiful place called Prospect Park that really is stunning to run in and that could pretty much take care of your long run there. So it's actually very easy to find some beautiful runs here. Also, parts of Brooklyn are very residential, so running through Brownstone Brooklyn can also be magical at the right time of day.
Speaker 3:You're a New Yorker, any chance of you running any of the New York Roadrunner races. I'm not putting you at the marathon yet, like the New York City half or the Brooklyn half.
Speaker 4:Absolutely. You know, I think this last race, this last run Disney race, which really was only my second kind of non-virtual race, really opened my eyes to how much I love running and how much I love the community. I mean, there is nothing like this community. So I'm really excited to start looking at races all around the country. Actually, and you know, knowing me, I'll probably start venturing internationally as well whenever I can, but but I can't wait to run some of the Brooklyn races and some of the Manhattan races as well.
Speaker 2:So now are you going to be like, you know, the tie in a modern day musical. Right now Are you going to be like Cynthia Erivo and you know, go run like the New York City Marathon and then, you know, go put on a show later that night. Is that a goal of yours?
Speaker 4:Hey, why not? Right? You know, every time I tackle I'm sure you feel the same way. Every time we tackle one of these challenges you start realizing that you have so much more in you and like you'd be able to do so much more. So like what a you know what an amazing accomplishment to be like. Oh yeah, I ran a marathon this morning and here I am doing my you know my Broadway show this evening.
Speaker 2:We gotta know, because you know we're always, we're always, dumbfounded by, you know the fact that you know, when we set out on this podcasting venture, you know, over three years ago, we're always, we're always, dumbfounded by, you know, the fact that you know, when we set out on this podcasting venture, you know, over three years ago, we're like, oh, like a couple of people are going to listen to us, and then you know, and that would be it. And now here we are, three plus years later and we're talking to a Broadway star. So I got to know how did you find the rise and run podcast?
Speaker 4:I mean, honestly, I I knew nothing about running nothing, so I did. I just started Googling and I was like, what gosh, what can I learn? Who can I learn from? And I started searching in my podcast and I saw, I saw rise and run and I saw like the Mickey hands, you know, within your logo, um. And I said, well, that seems like a thing that I could learn from. And I started listening to it and I have to say, I feel the opposite right now. I feel like I'm talking to the celebrities right now.
Speaker 4:Oh, no, no, no, sir, it's so cool for me to be talking to people that I listen to every day. You have no idea the amounts of long runs that you have gotten me through. When I was exhausted from a week of performances I didn't know what to do and I turn on your podcast and I put on my running shoes and I head out to Prospect Park and you got me through it. And especially, I want to commend you for being so honest on your podcast and talking about the challenges that you go through sometimes, because I don't think it's such a solitary sport when you train for running and you forget that other people are going through the exact same thing. So it's really inspiring. It's really inspiring to me. So I'm just so grateful that almost the perfect podcast kind of landed in front of me as I started my running journey, as I continue it. That's awesome to hear.
Speaker 2:Now I just want to go back to the celebrity thing real quick here. I will remind you, sir, that when you're done with the show and you come out the stage door, there will be people there waiting for your autograph. When John and I come through the finisher shoot, there is no one waiting there for us to sign any paraphernalia or bibs or anything like that. So again you sir, are the celebrity.
Speaker 4:I believe that's a challenge, so I'm going to start having you sign stuff as soon as I can start having you sign stuff as soon as all right.
Speaker 2:So you, you've talked about running in Disneyland and you, you know, and also wine and dine. So you know, obviously you know it sounds like you're you're still rolling into the in-person run Disney journey, but what has been like your top run Disney highlight that you've had so far?
Speaker 4:I did not think that I would be able to do the 5k, the 10k and the half marathon this past. Wine and dine. I just didn't, I didn't think it was in me. Um, and and being able to do that challenge was, um, it really opened my heart. It opened my mind to possibilities of, of what I'd be able to do down the line. Um, and there's something so magical about running through Epcot during the morning and, you know, seeing all the different uh countries, seeing the lights, uh, going through the resorts. Um, for me, what I what has really taken me back, both in the Disneyland run and the Wine and Dine run, are the people helping each other out during these runs, because, you forget, there's all types of people running in these races and there's all types of different needs and all those needs are being met and that's really inspiring to watch. It's really inspiring to hear about why people are running and everybody cheering everybody on. It's a beautiful community and I'm really honored to be a part of it.
Speaker 2:We got to know. So you got two race weekends under your belt so far. What's next on the docket for you?
Speaker 4:I'm coming in for the marathon weekend. I'm not doing the marathon yet, but I'm doing the half.
Speaker 3:I'm doing the 10 and a half.
Speaker 2:I'm so bummed I'm not going to be there, because I would love to be able to cheer you across the finish line. Oh my God.
Speaker 3:I'll be there for the half. I'm there already.
Speaker 2:Yes, so you can sign John's bib when you're done. But actually, well, I mean, grant, I don't know what your plans are, but we highly encourage you to come to the meetup on Saturday afternoon.
Speaker 4:Oh, I will definitely come. I will definitely Amazing, amazing. I can't wait to meet everybody.
Speaker 2:So you have Marathon Weekend in the books. Do you have anything else for the rest of the season, or is that it for now? Obviously, I'm probably with the show starting up soon. You probably can't commit to too much yet, right?
Speaker 4:I couldn't commit yet, but I know I will be finagling my way into a couple more Disney races. I really have my eye towards that Halloween race.
Speaker 2:Hopefully this time around it won't be 106 degrees, I know.
Speaker 4:I know Much more enjoyable experience for people. Yes, definitely.
Speaker 3:And since you're our local, you've got to come out to Bird in Hand with us one time too. Oh, there we go.
Speaker 4:Absolutely. I mean, I'm hooked. I love this. I really love doing it. I can't wait to start exploring other races.
Speaker 2:I will say that's the one thing that we enjoy about this community is that you know, especially listen to, like the race report or something like that. You know you get to hear about all these races that would have never have been on a radio, like you know, like john just said, with burden hand I I'm about an hour outside of burden hand and up until four years ago I I never knew about this race and now it's one of my favorite non-run Disney races and the fact that I think we're going to be taking over Lancaster County next September is going to be awesome.
Speaker 4:Oh my gosh, I would love to do that. You know, where else I would love to run is Washington DC. I was doing a show there and I was doing some of my training for the for the Disneyland half marathon in DC. Wow, talk about some beautiful runs and an amazing kind of running community. So I'm I'm going to be looking for some races there too.
Speaker 2:Well, if you ever have to go back there, you know, you just run really fast along someone and pull a captain America and just say, on your left, then you'll, you'll turn some heads, so it'll be great. So, Caesar, one last question that I thought of here, that that I think this would be perfect to to round out this interview. You know, encompassing all your passions in life. If you could perform in a Disney parks production or Disney on Broadway, what show would it be?
Speaker 4:Wow, if I could perform in. Well, you know, I I keep on hearing stirring like little rumblings about Coco being made into a musical and I would always. I was just, I would love to be a part of of that company and you know, I have a massive dream of being able to sing for a Disney ride or a Disney fireworks show. Um, and that that's always kind of like been something that that I would just love to do. It'd be like one of the top kind of dreams.
Speaker 2:Um well, this is what you have to do when you're, when you're done, rehearsing at the theater. Just walk over the Hades town, knock on the stage door, ask for Jordan Fisher, and I'm sure he'll be able to give you all the ins and outs of how to make that happen.
Speaker 4:There we go.
Speaker 2:Awesome. Well Caesar, thank you so much for you know taking the time to be a part of this. If people want to follow along on your not only your running journey, but your your Broadway journey as well, how can uh, how can people reach out to you?
Speaker 4:Yeah, the easiest way, um, just write on my Instagram, which is my name, at Cesar Samayoa, or, uh, my website, cesarsamayoacom. Um, and please say hi. I just uh. I love meeting people. I love meeting people with, uh, with run Disney and in this community. So I'm here.
Speaker 2:And also let's plug the show too. When can people start buying tickets for just in time you?
Speaker 4:can start buying tickets right now, just in time, we'll be at circle in the square and we start performances on March 28th on Broadway.
Speaker 2:Oh, wow, okay, so you guys are kicking out Romeo and Juliet, is that right?
Speaker 4:Romeo and Juliet ends its run. I believe January. I believe it ends in January. And then we swoop in.
Speaker 2:Excellent. Well, I feel awkward saying this, but in terms of the theatrics, break a leg. But in terms of running, please don't do that please don't.
Speaker 4:That's so good. We'll see you soon. I'm very excited to see you. Thank you so much for having me on well, caesar.
Speaker 2:Once again, thank you so much for your time. It was an absolute pleasure, uh, getting a chance to chat with you, and, for those of you that you know are are listening to this marathon weekend, you know, as Caesar said, he is there at marathon weekend. He is running the uh, he's running the 10 K and he's running the half marathon. So if you see him on the course, be sure to give him a shout. And John and I have continued ever since we recorded that interview a couple of weeks ago. We have continued to be in touch with Cesar and highly encouraging him to come to the meetup that we're having this weekend as well too.
Speaker 2:So hopefully we'll be able to, um, you know, meet another guest in real life and, uh, an extremely talented one at that too. You know, and you know, I did double check and we had talked during the, the interview about, you know, his time, uh, in the production of come from away, and I just did double check that, um, that production is still available to view if you are a subscriber to apple tv plus. Uh, you can. You can watch the original company of come from away as part of that streaming service, and even when you look at, like the artwork that is part of apple tv plus, their sees are right dead center uh in the frame.
Speaker 2:So an extremely talented fella again. Best of center in the frame. So an extremely talented fellow Again. Best of luck in the races and definitely break a leg in your upcoming production of Just In Time, especially if you're a fan of Bobby Darin's music. This is a whole jukebox musical dedicated to him and if you live in the Northeast and want to head to Broadway, you can go see a. Who would have ever thought you could go to a live theatrical performance, and a former guest of the Rise and Run podcast would be on stage.
Speaker 2:That's pretty cool.
Speaker 3:Hey, maybe we have a Rise and Run Broadway meetup.
Speaker 2:There we go. That would be awesome.
Speaker 1:Well, I hope he gets there. I hope Cesar gets to the meetup, that would be great. Speaking of the meetup, he gets there. I hope Cesar gets to the meetup, that would be great. Speaking of the meetup, it's not too late to remind your friends. 3 pm, food Truck Area, disney Springs. We're hoping the weather holds out. We won't know until we get there, but right now it looks like whatever rain is in the forecast is going to be earlier in the day. Hopefully it'll be after the half but before the meetup and get out of the way. But we'll manage regardless. I'd like to remind everyone. 3 pm. We're typically there a little bit early, sorry about that. We're typically there a little bit early and at 3.30, weather permitting, we'll gather for the group photo. So if you can, please try to be there and hang around till 3.30. If you're new to our meetups, they go until we have dinner reservations most of the time, so you can expect folks to be there till 4.30 or5 o'clock. So if you can't make it by 3.30, but you can come later on, we'd still love to see you.
Speaker 1:A quick announcement I talk about run gum from time to time. I'll be using it, probably on the half and definitely on the marathon, and I'll have some with me. I'll have some with me to give out. So if you want to try some run gum, please hit me up. I'll try to bring as much with me as is reasonable. Uh, if you like the product and you know about it already and you want to order, you can use my code bob r20 bob r20 or you can use the code rise and run and I think either one of those will save you 20 on your run gum order. My friends, it is time for the race report, race report sponsored by our buddy, thomas Stokes. We should. Is that Tom John? Is that Tom over there? I know.
Speaker 3:I think that's him.
Speaker 1:It's in the tutu. I think he's probably wearing a shirt this weekend gonna be my guess. Tom's pretty bold, but I'm not sure he's gonna be able to go shirtless this weekend. We'll see. Of course, if he hears this, he'll take it as a challenge and do it anyway.
Speaker 1:Stokesfit slash rise and run coaching is the website you want to go to to take advantage of the several terrific offers Tom has for the Rise and Run family. Most notably, right now he's got a challenge that starts in two weeks and this will be an eight-week challenge. If you're not used to Tom's program, this is a great way to get introduced to it. The cost for the eight-week challenge is $97, but if you use the code RISE50, you'll take $50 off that and make it $47. And, friends, it's a great deal, great deal for a great program.
Speaker 1:I've never been much of a gym rat. I got actively involved in it. I have to admit I've gotten away over the holidays and between chopping part of my thumb off and all that, but I am excited to get back just as soon as Dopey is done and I'll definitely be part of that challenge. All right, let's take a look at the race report and we're going to go all the way back to New Year's Eve. Grace was all lined up for the New York Roadrunners midnight run for Mylar. But if you'll recall, and I know John, you and Greg will, we were recording an episode at about that time. Yes, we were, and you remember the lightning and thunder.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Yes, this event was canceled, no surprise. Good move. Grace went out the next day, ran four miles in central park because she wasn't going to be defeated good job. We had several runs on new year's day. Rob did one in glen rock, new jersey, the glen rock midnight run. I think this was probably midnight New Year's Eve, going into New Year's Day, because he also mentioned the thunderstorms but they got a break at about 1130. Rob went over to the start of the race expecting to see maybe he'd end up running solo but to his surprise he saw a couple of people there, including a friend who doesn't see enough now, now that their kids are out of high school. And they were there, had a very pleasant 5K to start out 2025. A friend, jennifer, did a New Year's Day 5K and I'm not sure where it was, but I'm sure it was great.
Speaker 1:Jessica was in Safety Harbor, florida, very close to where I live, for the New Year's Day First Chance 5K. It's a lovely course. Safety Harbor is a lovely small town, kind of a Nazi town. Of course it goes along Bayshore Drive. It's an out and back. It did get a little bit warm. It was getting up into the 70s mid-70s, had about 100 people there. Some had kids, some had dogs. Jessica got a lot of compliments on her outfit but no PR. That's okay. When they finished they came back to the Union Steakhouse to mimosas and barbecue sliders Cool. And one of the race directors played trivia to keep everybody entertained, got two medals for this race and a tech t-shirt. Shortest commute yet for Jessica to a race Only two stoplights between her home and the start of this race in Safety Harbor In Wittonsville, massachusetts.
Speaker 1:The Tri-Valley Frontrunners first day 5K Brian with his sister-in-law and his oldest son, graham. By Massachusetts standards it was reasonably warm, kind of drizzly. This is a birthday run for Brian. Happy New Year's Day birthday. That's an interesting one. Hey, everybody, you got to be born sometime, right? Anyway, he starts off the year on the right foot. For this. It wasn't fast, got it done. Pr for Brian fast, got it done. Uh, pr for brian. He says it wasn't fast but got a pr. And then graham who his oldest son, who is 15 did his first 5k. So that's pr. Also in st louis the snowball series 5k. It's a series In St Louis, the Snowball Series 5K.
Speaker 1:It's a series of four races. This was the first one. Katie did it In the low 30s but lots of sunshine. That helps About 1,000 people on this one Everybody from competitive runners to casual walkers, every pace in between. Not Katie's best 5K Cold really kind of zapped her lungs a little bit, made it tough, but uh, watch her, watch her garment, whatever she's wearing, says she did just fine, ran a little faster than she felt she was doing up in erie, pennsylvania, where just last week we heard about how much it was snowing in erie, the erie runners club new year's day five miler michmiler.
Speaker 1:Michelle Rennett did not set out to PR the five-mile. It was freezing, rain, yuck. Her goal was to enjoy the morning with the community. However, she is happy to start off 2025 with a whopping 15 minutes off of her previous time. I assume she's talking about her previous time in that race, which is great. That's three minutes a mile. That's outstanding. Good job, michelle. Speaking of series, we were talking about the series in St Louis. There's a series in Houston, texas, the Sam Houston Race Park 5K. This was race number one. Katrina, her husband and her two children, the Bear family, is back at the race and they get shouted out by the race announcers there. That's kind of neat. I know they look forward to that Dead. Last start for this race Started to drizzle a little bit but then stopped as the rain started. They all had a great time.
Speaker 2:Wait, so it wasn't actually a family of bears that was on the course, Okay. I understand that I thought we were in a potential Goldilocks situation. Your dad ran too fast, mama ran too slow the baby bear ran just right.
Speaker 1:Just right, yeah, no, neither Yogi nor Boo Boo were there either.
Speaker 3:No Boo Boo.
Speaker 1:And the Lehigh Valley, pennsylvania. The Lehigh Valley, new Year's Chaser 5K Denise with her dad, bruce. Bruce is still out there running at age 81. Way to go, buddy, way to go, buddy, way to go, bruce, you're my hero.
Speaker 2:I'll have to ask Denise about this one, because I looked it up after she posted in the Facebook group and this race takes place very close to where I grew up. Okay, and the medal looked awesome and it's more than just a 5K they do. I think there's a 10K and a half marathon associated with this. So, yeah, I'll have to look into this one for the future.
Speaker 1:Well, denise said she did some run-walk intervals instead of all walking Coming back from any injuries. Slow but steady, that's the way to do it. And Bruce, congratulations winning your age group. Don't tell me how many people were in your age group, bruce, 81, you crossed the start line. You deserve a medal, congratulations. Let's see here in Indianapolis, indiana, the cheers to New Year's. 5k Kathy did it, first race of the new year, which is good because it was January 1st. It was a cold one Wind and ice pellets, yuck and yuck. Getting out of a nice warm bed to do a run in freezing temperatures. That's dedication. Either dedication or peer pressure, or Kathy's just plain crazy. I'll let you decide. Panama City Beach, florida, the ball dropped. 5k Lenore did it. 60s and sunny at the start in Panama City Beach. Guys, you know what they drop in Panama City Beach.
Speaker 2:I can't wait to hear this On New Year's.
Speaker 1:It's perfect Iguanas A beach ball.
Speaker 3:Okay, a beach ball.
Speaker 1:Yeah, panama City is up on the panhandle.
Speaker 2:Uh, not far from where I used to live in alabama well, I remember uh on the customized training call uh that week. I know coach twigs was talking about I guess his town drops a shrimp, yep, and then uh and I was telling him about uh again, the area where I grew grew up in the town of Bethlehem, right, that is the location of the Just Born Candy Company. So, if you like, mike and Ike's or Peep's, it's all made there, and every New Year's they have a big celebration. They drop a giant Peep.
Speaker 1:They drop a Peep in golly I think it's Mobile they drop a moon pie.
Speaker 2:Okay, I don't know what Tampa does he told me about, I think somewhere in Indiana, I think, someone dropped a pierogi.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes, yes All sorts of unique stuff they
Speaker 2:drop besides a crystal ball.
Speaker 1:Potato in Idaho, I'm not sure which city Boise. I don't know what tampa does. Tampa has their own, but I'm not sure what. It is all right enough. Uh, let's see. Uh, let's wrap up. Where are we're still on new year's day in western arkansas, the western arkansas runners annual frozen buns, 5k Joe did this one. Good weather in the 40s, nice crafted metal, delicious chili after the race Best way to start the new year every year. Good job, joe.
Speaker 1:On Friday, the Hill and Dale 8-Miler in Memphis, tennessee. Suzanne was there. We had a bunch of friends running the inaugural Polar Opposite Peachtree Race in Atlanta, georgia. It's like the Peachtree which is run on the 4th of July, but it's backwards. I mean you don't have to run backwards, but the course is laid out backwards and it's cold instead of really hot as the Peachtree and the fourth almost always is. Let's see, megan was there. Brooke said it was in the 20s and windy. Gosh, fingers and toes were frozen even before the start. Hot hands, hot hands, brooke, I'll be. I'll have hot hands with me this race weekend. Uh, brooke ran into an old coworker before the start, so that was a nice distraction from the cold.
Speaker 1:Race itself was fun. Not much crowd support? I wouldn't think so. I wouldn't think people would be hanging out on the course to cheer for random strangers when it's 20s and windies. Energy from the volunteers and the other runners made up for it though. Sweatshirt at the end worth the price of the race and the medal was a nice bonus. Medal was a nice bonus. Kim also loved the medals. Loved that hoodie sweatshirt. Thought it was a great course. She ran it with her friend Allie. Andrew and Molly ran. It had a lot of fun. No PRs, unless you count finishing their coldest race ever. Well, it counts, andrew and Molly, it doesn't count as a PR, but it counts. Good for you.
Speaker 1:Allison was there. Katie had an absolute blast. She said, coming from Minnesota, she thought the weather was just fine. Didn't know what all these Georgians were complaining about. Let's see who else was there. Matt was there, marty ran it and loved it. Matt was there with Tucker and Kessler and Sherry was also there. So for inaugural event, quite a few Rise and Runners attending that one Sounds like you had a good time. I'm glad to hear it. Still, on Saturday in Redding Pennsylvania, the Pretzel City Sports Frigid Digits 5K. Denise ran that one. We had Denise earlier. Denise was there. Yes, we did Yep, so she was busy. Thisk Denise ran that one. We had Denise earlier.
Speaker 2:Denise was there. Yes, we did Yep, so she was busy this weekend.
Speaker 1:Yeah, she was Well good job. On Sunday we had a couple in Fort Myers, florida, the Hooters River, roots and Ruts 10-mile trail race. Rob ran that. And let's wrap it up with the new year, new me 5K in Port St Lucie, florida, where Amber had a great last training run prior to this very weekend. Course was super flat, temps were right around 50. Not usually a fan of 5K medals, she she says, but this was a good one, looked good. All right, friends, congratulations. That's the race report for episode 172. All right, my friends, and if you run, you know you are our friend. We are hoping to see you real soon. Just look around, we'll be somewhere. I promise that one of us will be somewhere at all time. I don't know who and I don't know where, but one of us will be somewhere at all time, down there at Disney World, and we'll be excited to say hi to you.
Speaker 3:And something else, Bob, just like what I mentioned if you see us, don't be afraid to say hi, Just come up to you. And something else, Bob, just like what I mentioned if you see us, don't be afraid to say hi, Just come up to us. We don't bite. You know, Maybe if there's like a Dole Whip or a pretzel by, it might be a little iffy, but we're pretty good.
Speaker 1:It's my favorite part of the weekend. It is my favorite part of the weekend. It is meeting new and old friends. Absolutely love it, so we look forward to seeing you there.
Speaker 2:But until we do happy running. The Rise and Run podcast discusses general information about Run Disney and is in no way affiliated with Run Disney or the Walt Disney Company. Any information or advice discussed on this podcast should not be considered medical advice and should always consult with your health care provider or event organizer. Thank you.
