Rise and Run
Rise and Run
191: "So Here's the Thing..." The Pelkey Running Club Story
Have you spotted the hats and shirts with "Pelkey Running Club" at recent runDisney events? What began as a one-time costume joke has blossomed into a global running phenomenon, and we're bringing you the full story straight from the source.
We sit down with Grant, the club's founder, and John Pelkey himself—the beloved runDisney announcer who went from joking about runners' early wake-up calls to having his name on gear worn on all seven continents. Their chemistry is infectious as they share how a spontaneous gift of four embroidered hats at the 2023 Princess Weekend sparked something neither could have anticipated. As Grant puts it, the Pelkey Running Club is defined by one word: "community."
Ravi joined us for the Race Report spotlight, and we wrapped up this week's episode by drawing inspiration from our friends Tomi and Chad who completed the grueling Keys 100 race, this weekend.
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3 am again.
Speaker 3: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:Runners, start your engines. Good morning fellow runners. This is Kyle calling in from the Boilermaker State, and while it's always a good time to be back home again in Indiana, the month of May just means a little more. I just finished the Indy Mini Marathon 13.1 glorious miles, with the highlight of running 2.5 of those miles on the track at the Cathedral Speed, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Thank you all for tuning in to the Rise and Run podcast and happy running.
Speaker 4:Hi, this is Cyn and I'm an I-1 dispatcher and I'm here running with Rise and Run.
Speaker 5:Well, kyle, this turns out to be a timely intro. I know you recorded that for us several weeks ago after finishing the Indy Mini, but it's Indy Week, it's time for the big race, so there's an appropriate intro. Thank you for that, kyle. Cyn, thanks for your intro from Springtime Surprise. We appreciate it. Hello, my friends, we're glad you're here for episode 191 of the Rise and Run podcast. I'm Bob. This week I'm here with John hey, how you doing With Jack Hiya, with Greg, hey, hey. I'm here with John. Hey, how you doing With Jack Hiya With Greg, hey, hey, hey. And with Lexi. Hello.
Speaker 5:Good to see you, my friends, nice to have you here with us this week. In episode 191, we talk about the Pelkey Running Club. Maybe you've seen the shirts if you've been to Disney. If you haven't been before, you're going to learn all about it In our spotlight. This week our man from South Florida joins us Robbie's here to talk about a race he did in Orlando, along with a couple of other races he's done in the last couple of weeks.
Speaker 6:And if you enjoy the Rise and Run podcast, please share us with your friends and introduce them to the Rise and Run family, because we want to share in their Ren Disney journey. Remember to follow us on Facebook at Rise and Run Podcast. On Instagram, rise and Run Pod, visit our website riseandrunpodcastcom or check out our YouTube channel. If you have a question, comment, race report or you want to introduce an upcoming episode, call us at 727-266-2344 and leave a recorded message.
Speaker 7:We also want to thank our Patreons who support Help Us Keep the Rise and Run podcast Rising and Running. If you'd like to join the Patreon team, please check us out at patreoncom. Slash riseandrunpodcast. And we'd like to welcome our newest Patreon, bethany, who joined at the plastic cheese level. Thank you, bethany.
Speaker 3:The Rise and Run podcast is sponsored by our friends over at Magic Bound Travel. It is a big day in the travel world, especially in Central Florida. On behalf of everyone here at the Rise and Run podcast, with the probably exception of myself, day of release is the official grand opening of a new theme park down the street, in which the name I'm not allowed to say, but I'm sure it's going to be epic. I'm sure it's going to be an epic opening and it has epic rides and epic food and epic fun will be had. So to that other place down the street, congratulations. And if you want to go to that other place down the street and have an epically good time, go to that other place down the street and have an epically good time. Uh, you can go to magic bound travelcom. Uh, to ask one of their lovely agents for a no obligation quote and they'll give you a universal answer they will, they will probably give you a very universal answer yes, you guys are too cute, you see.
Speaker 5:You said it, you said it, he got you, he tricked you I'm expecting to wake up thursday morning and see people lined up in front of my house. It's only 90. It's only 90 miles away. Oh, by the by the way, this, I think, is interesting. Becky and I popped over, oh golly, last wednesday just to see the flowering garden. We were only there a couple hours. They've completed some road construction on Interstate 4 near Celebration. I don't want to jinx myself, but both coming and going, what a difference. What a remarkable difference.
Speaker 3:So does this mean that you're going to do the Princess the Pirate Challenge again and have a much smoother traffic situation?
Speaker 5:I would, except I think they're not the same week this time.
Speaker 8:Oh, okay.
Speaker 5:I think they're off weeks, but it was pretty encouraging. We didn't get stuck either way, and I cannot remember the last time that happened. And I cannot remember the last time that happened. Granted, I'm talking about a Wednesday when most kids are still in school, so it's not exactly a heavy traffic day, but, boy, I hope that's a sign of things to come. That was neat. Hey, I have this little tag on my show notes called Apologies and Alibis, and what this has become is just things I want to talk about before we get going, sometimes a follow-up. When we had our London Marathoners with us, we talked about how big that event was, and I remember mentioning in the episode that they set a record for the number of finishers in a marathon. Well, that record was 56,640. But what I think is neat is I'm seeing a lot of our friends posting their framed Guinness Book of World Records certificate.
Speaker 3:Oh yes, I saw Lindsay Henry had posted hers. That's very, very cool yeah.
Speaker 5:Jason posted, his Several friends did, and I think that's terrific. That's not always been available. I don't know if I've shared this story or not. I was back in the 80s yeah, part of a Guinness Book of World Records largest musical ensemble to ever perform in unison for the honolulu symphony fun run. They gave us all kazoos and famous amos. The cookie man led us in a kazoo rendition of when the saints go marching in, and at the time that was a guinness world record, but and I think it's since been broken too, neither here nor there I have no certificates, but those of you who ran London do, and I think that is really cool, so congratulations for that.
Speaker 5:Hey guys, let's take a look at the training schedule. Greg pointed this out to me and I looked it up and and in fact, the Run Disney, jeff Galloway training plans have changed just a little bit, so we may not have been entirely accurate the last couple of weeks. In fact, I know we were wrong last two weeks ago because we said two miles, it was three. That's okay. I want to point out that I don't think anybody is out there listening to the Rise and Run podcast and going. Better, pay attention. So I'll know what to do for training this week.
Speaker 5:I'm sure you have other ways of knowing what to do for your training, but it is a way of kind of getting us all together and making sure we're on track. It is a way of kind of getting us all together and making sure we're on track. So what we give you when we give you these numbers and we say, hey, your long run this week is X number of miles, we're always using the challenge. In this case, we're using the challenges for those. Now, when we get to marathon weekend, we'll give you a couple, we'll give you the marathon, we'll give you a couple, we'll give you the marathon, we'll give you dopey, we'll give you goofy. But looking at, if you're going out to Disneyland for Halloween in and we're down to 105 days now, guys, you're almost down to double digits. 15 weeks away, you're in training week three and your long run, if you're doing the challenge, is three miles this weekend.
Speaker 3:And I will say before we we move on here, you know some of the things that I know is digging through. Some of you know these updated training plans. I mean, obviously we're not in in the thralls of marathon weekend training just yet, even though that will be here before you know it. If you look at the marathon plan, the goofy plan, the dopey plan and again this falls under the experienced runner section- of that webpage on runDisneycom, they do introduce the concept of the mile repeat.
Speaker 3:Now, if you've never done a mile repeat before, make sure you read those instructions that are on the first couple of pages of those PDFs that are available to you. I know, bob, that's something you and I have done several times in the customized training program, have done several times in the customized training program. So again, it helps you get a little more granular in your training, especially if you do have, say, a specific time goal for one of these races. But a couple of other highlights I did want to point out is they now have added under the beginner section an official plan for the Springtime Surprise 10 miler. Okay, so that's new. The only thing that they don't have is they have not come up with and again I feel like this would fall under the experienced is they do not have a plan yet for the challenge for springtime, since that's a unique one in terms of three races that still totals 19.3, right, like you know.
Speaker 3:Like the two-day um 19.3 challenges right so that's something new.
Speaker 3:And then, uh, and grant, I think run disney and the galloway team has had this in the past, but they are offering it again. I and again slightly updated. Here we get a lot of questions from listeners about well, I'm running the challenge at wine and dine, or I'm running the half at wine and dine, but then I'm also doing something during marathon weekend. Uh, they do have a plan here that is a 10-week training program. Yeah, that is post wine and dine, but, as of now, this particular training plan, though, is only designed for the marathon itself. So, again, if you're going, say, two course challenge or wine and dine, to say goofy or dopey, you might need to make some you know adjustments here on the fly.
Speaker 3:Or again, customized training program, uh, with coach chris twiggs, is a phenomenal resource. Uh, it's something to look into. But what I really like about these training plans is it does build up that mileage for you, but it also builds it up for you safely, which I think is really really smart. Like, for example, I'm looking at this particular plan and in week five, your long run is supposed to be 24 miles, but the plan is calling for you to walk the first three to seven of those miles. So again, that will safely get you to those distances after such a great feat coming up this upcoming October. So again, slight changes here and there, but make sure you go to rundisneycom and then click on that training tab and you can see all the new information.
Speaker 5:Yeah, you mentioned it. There is a lot of helpful information in front of those training schedules, so read what's there. That's Jeff Galloway training 101 in there, and I noticed a change in there. Greg, I noticed that up till now it's been do your long run at two minutes per mile slower. Now it says two and a half. Oh, wow.
Speaker 7:Backing down even more. And also another thing that I've noticed for the first couple weeks of the plans there's a lot more magic miles in there and actually he's recommending on week one, week three of the half marathon training. I'm looking at the advanced one right now but it says a gentle magic mile which don't try to go out all out on that first magic mile.
Speaker 5:That's interesting, so that's something new too.
Speaker 7:I think that they added to this. So you don't want to go out week one and throw a magic mile and throw something out. So that's probably a good way to keep yourself going.
Speaker 5:So I think the bottom line is there's new information in there. Don't just look at the numbers, but read what's in those training plans. It should be very helpful for you. While we're on the training subject, friends, we have any training updates.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I have a slight training update, even though and granted, I was telling Coach Twiggs this this morning on the customized training call Even though I have not been following my plan exactly to a T, you know, similar to what I had chatted about a couple of weeks ago, because I have just had an insane travel schedule for the past month and a half. But what I will say is, the blessing of being away from home is that you get to experience running in so many different new areas, and to me that's super exciting. It just it's been really fun. I, I did a long run, uh, two weeks ago in new orleans and I I thought what was really cool was I felt like one of the locals because I was just sticking to the sidewalks of saint Charles Avenue and all of a sudden I saw everyone in the middle of the road where the trolleys are, and there the you know it was much softer ground, you know lots of you know harder grass, I would say, and everyone just stuck to there because then it was a little bit number number one, it was safer in terms of motor vehicles, but then also you didn't have to stop at as many red lights and such. Really the only thing you had to do was just get out of the way whenever the trolley was coming straight at you. So that was a lot of fun.
Speaker 3:And then this past week I was in Nashville for work, so I got to run down the famous Broadway for work. So I got to run down the famous broadway. And let me tell you, um, in the route that I took, I went, I went down broadway and then I went over to nissan stadium, uh, which is the home of the tennessee titans. Yeah and uh, if anybody lives in the greater nashville area and you need to do hill repeats, yeah, it's really my lord yeah, that I.
Speaker 3:I think I had close to 500 feet of elevation uh in a 35 minute run, so you could, you could definitely get some work done uh in there. So but again, you know, even though I have been following that training plan to a t and I'm looking to get refocused on it, um, it's just been a lot of fun to run throughout the entire country. That's not Pennsylvania and not Disney World.
Speaker 5:Good for you.
Speaker 6:So I have a fun little training update, since I haven't had any updates in a long, long, long, long time.
Speaker 6:Day before yesterday, I took Scooby, my puppy, up to the track near my house and we did a run walk for the first time I thought you were gonna say scooby did a magic mile dude, he's so fast, like he runs so fast, um, like just whenever he, you know, goes out and chasing sticks and stuff, and so I was a little worried because I am slow, little worried because I am slow, like would he be pulling too much or like you know how how that would work. But he did so good and um, I don't know if it made a difference or not, but every time the little ding went off I was like, okay, run, and then we would run, and then I'd say okay, and then I'd stop whenever it was time to walk. I don't know if those verbal cues did anything, but they did something in my mind.
Speaker 6:Okay, but I mean it wasn't fast and I didn't do the whole. We did 1.3 because he's had a little sickness and so I didn't want to push him too much and it was hot. It is hot and I haven't run in, I haven't run in long time, um, uh, so I didn't want to push myself too much, but it was so good. Um, he, he just stayed right next to me and it was. It was a good little intro into running and maybe he can be my running buddy.
Speaker 5:Yeah, it helps. I mean I've told the story before how Lily got me back into running. But yeah, it's a good thing. We love our four-legged friends. We sure do. All right, good stuff. Uh, yeah, in there we mentioned, um, summer. Summer is here where I live. I woke up this morning it was 80 degrees at 5 AM. Summer is here where I live. I woke up this morning it was 80 degrees at 5 am. That's the function of living close to the Gulf. All I want to say, friends, is, if it's not warm where you are now, it will be, and when it gets warm, you have to temper your expectations, you have to slow down, you have to take it easy and just throttle back. Get through the hot weather, get through the high humidity and do the best you can, but you'll be okay on the other end. Hey, here's a surprise Disney's summer virtuals. Guess who signed up? Joe Graham Probably. He is signed up, joe Graham Probably.
Speaker 7:He is signed up. Trust me, john. Koki.
Speaker 5:That I don't know. We can ask him. He's coming up on an interview here in just a few minutes. We can ask him, but anyway, no, you've probably heard me talk before about I have a treadmill. I did my treadmill this morning with the 75 degree dew point we have around here and Echelon Fitness got 2,000 free entries into the Disney virtual summer run. So while I never sign up for.
Speaker 6:Disney virtuals and the other cool thing is Becky's signed up too up too.
Speaker 5:Ah, so we're going. She's out of retirement again, I guess, I guess, yeah, I guess. That's kind of unofficial, isn't it?
Speaker 3:yeah, but, uh, we're going to do a couple of three mile walks here this summer, when it cools off, yeah, which means november bob I, I wanted to ask you, since, you know, run disney refuses to give us news about princess themes or halloween medals and our a blocks have been low, lacking in terms of run disney news. You have the echelon treadmill and echelon and, uh, the galloway team have kind of collabed efforts together, you know, to make this. I don't know, I thought I would call it the official treadmill of of run walk runners oh yeah but, can you, can you?
Speaker 3:can you chat with us a little bit about what makes the the echelon treadmill unique and helpful to interval runners and yeah and what your thoughts are on it yeah, sure it won't take long.
Speaker 5:I I don't think I just Becky got it for me for her last Christmas slash birthday, which, as many of you know, are one day apart. It's a high-quality treadmill. She got in Becky fashion. She got the top end. You've got online classes that's a separate fee and there are Galloway classes on there. I mean, jeff and Chris appear on the screen sometimes for some of the training. What makes it I don't know if this is unique or what makes it accommodating to Run.
Speaker 5:Walk Run is the method by which you adjust your pace and you've got on the they're not hand handrails, but on the uprights that are next to your arms. On the left and right there are two track balls and the one on the left controls your elevation of the treadmill, which I don't mess with. I live, live in Florida. I leave it flat. Okay, you can use that, or you can press a button there and you can control the volume from which you hear your instructor talking. But on the right side, the trackball controls your pace and it's really easy to dial in, like this morning I was doing 45 seconds run, 30 seconds walk and I was running at six minutes per no. No, no, six miles per minute. 10 minute miles. I was doing the run segment at 6.0 and the walk segment at 3.7. That I just found to be comfortable for me but it was very easy when my beep went off to just I have a calibrated thumb now and I just scroll down a little bit and it's easy to gradually change from one to the other, so it works well.
Speaker 5:For run walk run, I haven't used many of the classes. Chris tells me that there is a feature where you can have your own icon and run, but I haven't found it. I need to get with Chris and have him tell me about it. But that's what makes it useful as far as I'm concerned. For run walk run, I actually use my gym boss timer because the instructors on there that do the Galloway they have this one female instructor who teaches the Galloway classes, but I don't think she knows Jeff or has ever met him because the timing on him. She may go four minutes and then stop for a minute or two, not stop but then walk for a minute or two.
Speaker 3:When it comes to the adjusting going from your run to your walk, is there a feature on Echelon where you can almost pre-program? You were saying you did six and then 3.7. Can you pre-program that in and then just hit a button to switch between no, no, okay.
Speaker 5:That would be nice, but no, Okay, you can't do that. But I find it easy, I find it worthwhile. I'm not a treadmill guy, but I don't mind using this and when, like I said, I've talked about dew point on the podcast before. I may do it more later, but when the dew point gets up to about 75, there's so much water vapor in the air that it's kind of like running at altitude. It's not quite the same, but there's so much water vapor in the air it's taking up the oxygen molecules. I find it at 75. And I've had dew points as high as 80 here in this area and it becomes well kind of like altitude. You can get used to it, but it's not easy. So I'd rather be inside. Now I'm still in the same atmosphere, but inside the air conditioner is running, the humidity is lower and I just like it better. I hope that answers your question, Greg.
Speaker 5:Yeah, no, that's great, that was great. I'm certainly not a echelon salesperson, but I'm happy with the equipment. I am and cool. Somebody asked me for a recommendation. I'd give you a thumbs up. I think it's a good piece of equipment. All right, friends, I'll tell you what you know that sounds. This sounds like a good time to cut what we're doing here and visit with our guests for the week. If you've been to a run Disney event in the last year or two, you've seen them. You've seen the Pelkey run club hats and shirts and maybe, just maybe, you're wondering where they came from. Well, tonight we are going to explain it all because we are so fortunate to have with us the founder of the Pelkey Run Club, grant. Hello, how's it going? And the reason this whole thing got started? John is with us.
Speaker 2:Yes, john would like to point out just to say from the beginning, and I am wearing one of our shirts because Grant got really, really great merchandise. But the level of narcissism I'm accused of now is the amount of clothing that I have with my name on it. But I would like to say that was Grant and Natalie's idea and I'm just because I used to be a member of the press and still nominally I guess I can be. I'm just anybody's for free clothing and having my name on it is that's the cherry on top stuff, man john can you refer to yourself in the third person the entire episode?
Speaker 3:I think that would.
Speaker 2:That would be great let me tell you something that's one of my and if you, if you ever hang out with me, one of my favorite things to do is refer to myself in the third person like somebody goes john, would you like a beer? Johnny likes beer, john. I will refer to myself in the third person. Absolutely the only celebrity who ever commented on one of my I think it was on the artist formerly known as Twitter is because it was Valerie Bertinelli, who I absolutely adore and love for so many reasons, including being Eddie Van Halen's wife for a while. But she said something about, she said the cooking thing she's like my French fries or something. And she goes oh, that sounds so egotistical about my French fries. And I put well, you can always refer to them in the third person, valerie Bertinelli, french fries are ready.
Speaker 2:And she commented she goes that's a better idea and funny. So God love Valerie Bertinelli. And yes, I will now refer to myself in the third person. John Pelkey will now stop talking.
Speaker 5:Well, grant, since John Pelkey has stopped talking, I'm going to. I really am interested to hear how this whole thing came together, whose idea? But I want to start with standard rise and run podcast question number one, and I want to know how Grant got into running, please.
Speaker 8:Yeah, that's a great question. I would tell you, my wife is probably the reason that I've done so many races and gotten into running in general. So my wife and I are both from the southeast and we got married moved up to Seattle back in 2015. I got relocated there for work. We spent eight great years up there, but in the process we learned about Run Disney as a part of it, and growing up I played basketball.
Speaker 8:So short sprints of running, but no way to perform going out and doing long runs by any means, shape or form. You know going out and doing long runs by any means. And back in 2016, my wife and I Natalie and I decided to sign up for the Disneyland half marathon and ended up not training for it, and so it didn't show up, didn't go run it. We just thought it wasn't worth it. You know, we didn't know if we'd even finish it. We'd never run a half marathon, let alone a 5k. So we decided not to go.
Speaker 8:And in 2017, we gave birth to our first kiddo and afterwards Natalie was really focused on getting back in shape and back on track and started running a bunch of 5Ks and 10Ks and, lo and behold, she decided to kind of pull up, run Disney registration again and signed up for the five, 10 and a half of Walt Disney World Marathon weekend in 2020 and drug me along with her and we did those together. And I will note that she was 25 weeks pregnant with our second kiddo when we did those. Yeah, so pretty incredible. But you know, the crazy, crazy person in me probably says you know, I could do the marathon tomorrow if I would have signed up for it, and so Natalie and I were hooked.
Speaker 8:After that, 2020 COVID obviously hit, so we signed up for Dopey, but that was the virtual, I guess, year of Dopey, which we don't count as our first Dopey. We count our first Dopey as 2022 and the rest is kind of history. Uh, we run every marathon weekend. Um, wine and dine and princess weekend of the 23, 24 season was our first events outside of marathon weekend and uh, yeah, the rest is you know we're, we're here today, basically, absolutely.
Speaker 5:Awesome. Now, John, I make I make a mistake sometime in making an assumption. I assume that almost all of our listeners know who you are, but it's possible that we have some folks who are.
Speaker 2:Rich lives with more to their lives, with things to do and families who don't know who.
Speaker 5:This Z-list celebrity is who are newly run Disney. Well, in our hearts you're an A-lister, john, thank you, thank you. But so we're a little bit more familiar with this story and your story in terms of running, and what we're mostly familiar about is, for years, you being on the stage and going uh-uh, I ain't doing it. Nope, I'm not going to do it. What happened?
Speaker 2:Well, much like Grant, I played in high school. I played team sports. I played football. I was on the football team I don't want to overstate that because somebody in my high school football team could be listening going playing and I did run track, but I was a sprinter and running long distances and we've talked about grant and I've talked about this so many runs gatloy and I've talked about this running long distances was punishment it was oh, you know what you missed?
Speaker 2:a block, pelkey, go run the stairs, go do a four, you know half mile and uh, so that just. I had never really been a long distance runner, other than when I was in college in Gainesville. For for the first couple of years I would run like maybe a mile, a mile a half a day. I'm just trying to stay in some sort of general shape and, being in a college town, god knows, my other indulgences were not good, particularly healthy. So I tried to do that, but yeah, and it just sort of became my shtick, because Carissa was obviously more athletic and she really got into the running early. So it seemed like a nice contrast with her being athletic and myself being the guy who's.
Speaker 2:You know, I was a performer, I was an actor, I was an announcer, that's what I did. So it seemed like fun shtick. And, quite honestly, when Grant said so, now that we've never done one before, so now that we signed up for the 5K, 10k and a half, I think there are some people who are frankly insane who do these sort of things and I thought, wait a minute, how many people say, oh, I've never done a marathon, so I signed up for the dopey.
Speaker 2:For dopey yeahy yeah no, no, no, no, no. I don't understand any of that. So I still don't understand any of that. Uh, but that was. I really just was not a distance running guy. I did again, for my general health, do a little treadmill work here and there. When I worked at the indiana jones epic stunt spectacular, I was the most out of shape human being in the trailer, so I tried to get in a little more shape there, but, uh, yeah, I never it. It. It was my shtick, but it was also. I just was not a distance guy and I could never imagine running more than two miles ever.
Speaker 5:Yeah. So what'd you start out with at Disney? What was your first Disney run?
Speaker 2:It was. It was the 5k in 2023, right Grant?
Speaker 6:It was 2023. It was the 5k of 2023.
Speaker 5:It was pretty recent yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it was the 5k of 2023. Uh, and they had been kind of badgering me about doing it and and and then there are other moving pieces involved because I'm supposed to announce and I'm grossly out of shape. So if I'm running the 5k, I will literally announce the last runner as I saunter across the finish line with them. And I'm not sure that that's going to work.
Speaker 2:But yeah, that was. But I finally gave into it. Everybody thought it would be a fun idea and I was. I did think I could finish a 5k. I'm like I think I can do this and when it actually started I rethought it a couple of times as I was running along. You know, you could pull a quad right here, johnny Johnny could pull a quad right here and he wouldn't have to finish his race, but I didn't and I ran it.
Speaker 2:Sadly in like a drizzly rain, with some of the most of the entertainment wasn't out on the course and everything. So I just I proved to myself that I could go the distance.
Speaker 5:That a boy, good stuff. So, grant, how do you and John get together? How does this?
Speaker 8:idea come about? How was the Pelkey Run Club born? Yeah, that's a great question. I would call it spontaneous planning.
Speaker 8:I have a kind of core group of friends that I randomly found in the corrals during Natalie and I's first dopey in 2022. We kind of noticed we were in the same crowd, generally get in there about the same time each day, and so we've kind of built this long distance friendship. We got one in Gainesville, two in Vegas myself and Natalie here in Memphis, and one who was a one and done out of Knoxville. It was her 50th birthday. That was Walt Disney World's 50th. She wanted to do the dopey and retired and has gone ever since.
Speaker 8:But our core group of friends has kind of stayed together and used marathon weekend every year as kind of that reunion, if you will, to kind of catch up with old friends and have some fun doing it, and so I would say it really kind of kicked around starting in 2023. After 2023, we're like, okay, what can we do? What's fun? And you know, john, from the very first race I ever ran the 5k of 2020, I just gravitated towards John, like his personality, I aligned with it, I understood it, I got the jokes, I got the humor. I was like this is my kind of guy, you know, and some people are there taking things way too seriously. I'm there hoping I can just finish a 5k, a 10k and a half marathon that first year, right. And so, uh, john has always kind of been memorably, you know, embedded into my head throughout weekends. And, uh, coming off of marathon weekend 2024. Um, I had talked to my friends.
Speaker 8:I was like all right, marathon weekend 25, let's do something pelky running club related, you know yeah um, but natalie and I had actually signed up for a princess our first princess weekend and she was planning on doing, uh, one of the you know, uh anne hathaway princess diaries kind of looks for one of her races. And I was like, okay, well, I've got to wear something other than just my typical, you know lululemon t-shirt and shorts. And so I messaged our friend group and I was like, hey, I think I'm going to try to design some logo for Pelkey running club. It's going to be a one and done, like this is a 10 K in and out. It'll be cool, we're going to do it Right.
Speaker 8:So I jump on to an online tool, design this logo, print it on a couple of t-shirts, take that logo and send it to an Etsy seller who can embroider a couple of hats for me. And just out of sheer luck, I picked a good hat. I didn't even know what hat I was buying, didn't know the brand, any of it, but embroidered four of them, one for Natalie, one for me and I was like I'll give one to John and Carissa. Let's just see where this goes. It's fun, one and done. Show up the morning of the 10K, go up to the reunion area stage right after John and Carissa.
Speaker 8:Actually, I think it was in the middle of the interview because Riley was talking about awkwardly passing and waving down a runner that was driving down the same highway to the race. Yes, it is a great story, but in the middle of riley kind of having a cutaway segment, I just went up to john and chris. I was like hey, here's a hat, showed him the shirt. It's like starting a running club.
Speaker 2:You know, as a joke, there's a video yeah, the saint jude's video that that grant put out actually has us reacting and that was it's honest, and chris goes. My favorite part about that is it's so honest that we're like are you kidding me? This is yes. I think maybe you held up a sign. At one point. There'd been a sign it's a pelky running club and we all were like, haha, isn't that funny.
Speaker 8:Yeah, and then they present me with amazingly great hat. Well, and that's what I kind of I kind of got. Uh, you know, after we started the club and I ran the race in the shirt, john and I met again. Again he cracked a joke which I think is John's most infamous, you know, finish line joke for a Pelkey running club member now, which is you're running too fast for the Pelkey running club, you just slow down.
Speaker 2:Always gives me a good laugh. Don't enjoy yourself.
Speaker 8:Yeah, but afterwards, you know, I was like, all right, well, that seemed to go well. And I asked Nat is like, do you think I should like start a Instagram account and, just you know, put it out there and see what happens? She's like, yeah, maybe. So we're back at the Wilderness Lodge, kind of you know, getting ready for our day, and I started one real quick and immediately get like 10, 15 followers from the Run Disney community and multiple people are pinging me going. Where can I buy this hat? How do I get this hat? Are you selling the hat? When can I buy this hat? How do I get this hat? Are you selling the hat? When can I get the hat? I'm like, okay, what was a one and done race costume now has become an issue that I did not foresee ever happening. All of this continues to be a massive surprise and blur to, I would argue, both john and myself john, you're not.
Speaker 5:You're just on the outside looking in.
Speaker 2:You're not part of this, yeah all I, up to this point, the grant's talking about. All I know is that he gave us these really great hats and we had a really fun moment with that, and isn't this funny? And somebody will cross the. Someone named pelky will cross the finish line at disney running a 10k half marathon. And it wasn't going to be this kid.
Speaker 8:So yeah, and so we, basically I, I set that up, I get those dms, I automatically shoot John a note and I had never interacted with John before, like never done interview, and not no finish line photo, none of it. So the hat giving it to him before the race first time, finish line second time. I DM him that morning I was like hey, like wasn't planning on doing any of this, but I got multiple people asking now if we will sell these hats. Like are you cool with that? Like are you cool with your name being utilized on merchandise? Like I, I don't want to do anything, I don't want to risk your you know career opportunity as well.
Speaker 8:Like I will shut this down at any point in time, that you say so, right, and he's like, yeah, it's fine, you know, go for it. And that's that's honestly been. The best part is John has been very supportive of us being able to, you know, go and do things, and I give him first looks at everything to be able to provide that.
Speaker 2:But uh, and I never mixed any piece of merchandise because again, grants this, this stuff is just. Again, it really should have someone else's name on it and I think we're probably moving in that direction.
Speaker 8:Yeah, yeah, I think Riley's going to some way get himself in there and the Claremont running club.
Speaker 2:Yeah, some way get himself in there and the Claremont running club will. Will take it.
Speaker 8:Well, and that was the funny thing too, after that race weekend, dw messaged me and I had never met or interacted with DW before. But you know, dw was like hey, a heads up. I was planning on, you know, coming out with the Riley Claremont run club at princess weekend because I think Riley John, keep me honest, riley was supposed to run the 5K of Princess Weekend, if I'm not mistaken, wanting to do it, yeah, yeah. And so it was just extremely amusing that it all kind of came together like that and then come to find out Riley Claremont run club was going to happen that weekend as well, and just pure coincidental timing, you know. But yeah, here we are and John and I have forged down this fun friendship path. I would say that has caught probably all of us by surprise a little bit. It's been a blast nonetheless.
Speaker 5:It has been fun.
Speaker 3:I think it's wonderful, Grant, that you run everything through John first. I think it's a very admirable thing for you to do. My question, though, is what percentage does John take home from all merchandise sales?
Speaker 8:Yeah, that's a great question. I would tell you that both John and myself take 0% home from any of this. We do not make much profit on anything. I try to keep it as close to cost as possible because I'm not in this for business, I'm not in my own name known, I'm really just there to build the community and have some fun with it. But the little profit that we do make, we donate it to charity, and so that was something that John and I talked about at Springtime Surprise Weekend, actually, when John and I met, when he was picking up his bib for his 10K, we talked about, ok, well, how does this go beyond a hat or what does this look like and how do we actually do some good with the club?
Speaker 8:And and John's you know kind of name and you know personality out there too, and so, um, john shared some of the you know kind of issues that are close to his heart. Um, you know childhood, you know cancer obviously being one of them. Um, you know some obviously pet related rescue, um, uh, you know kind of charities and topics, and World Hunger, another one, and so we've kind of talked through those and I evaluated a couple of different charities that I thought were important. We selected St Jude as one of them. Just being here in my hometown in Memphis, that one is close to my heart as well World Hunger. Jose Andres, and you know we did. We've done a lot of different charity, you know, selected a lot of different charities to donate to over our time, but we kind of do it by wave or by collection that we drop. We'll pick a different charity to support with each one of those and just continue that on, through, through perpetuity.
Speaker 2:So yeah, I just want to say something real quick, greg, for it is just just in case everybody thinks that I'm incredibly philanthropic. You know which which Johnny is Also I. It would be in violation of my contract if I were to profit for anything. Run Disney.
Speaker 3:Absolutely Yep.
Speaker 2:So and I mean not and again, the idea of giving stuff to charity, Again Grant and I talked about. We were both on board with that Well, let's give people some different charities and it'll be a fun thing. So I feel really, really good about that. But you know, I am I and I've said it on the on the podcast before I'm not a Disney cast member. They hire me to do the races and so you know I can't quite go out there and you know like, hey, here's me in front of the castle for fifty five, fifty five, yeah, all the good charity stuff, yeah all the good charity stuff and unless grant's- skimming off under the table and I wouldn't, I wouldn't be happy?
Speaker 8:no, I would. Yeah, I just did my tax return. I can guarantee you that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and he does all the work. So I would feel bad because all I've done is go yeah, you just spell the name right, because most time people don't, and that's. That was pretty my one thing no hearing.
Speaker 3:All the charity work is absolutely wonderful, uh, but I do want to circle back to the dw story in relation to the, the potential formation of the riley claremont running club and john, this question is for you. When grant approaches you, and this is getting a little bit more serious. You know, and even in in the infancy stages, what's the vibe like in the trailer with you and riley and tracy, you know, and carissa, what's going on there like? Is everyone busting on you or is everyone championing and rallying around you? What was the vibe like in the trailer? I gotta know it.
Speaker 2:You don't understand, riley and I have worked together since 1992 in many, many, many different forums, plays, all kinds of stuff, and so it would be like our relationship if we did bust on each other for that. But no, everybody thought it was really really cool and frankly started asking about merchandise themselves. And I think you know, think, thinking that it's really really funny of all the people to pick, you know, because riley's the one he's down there in the crowd and everybody you know uh, enjoys his shtick and all of that uh stuff. And carissa is a known quantity and, you know, travels the country doing all this stuff, and Tracy's Tracy, and we love Tracy and she is just such a fun addition and such personality For all of the people that they would choose to choose the guy who's up there going.
Speaker 2:Why are you getting up at 1 o'clock in the morning and running and then going to the parks afterwards? I don't want to do any of those three things at any point in time. What is wrong with you people? So I think they all kind of enjoyed the fact that. Oh, my God, it's so funny, it's so ironic. It would be like the John Pelkey Algebra Club.
Speaker 5:These are things that don't make any sense it's what makes it perfect, john, that's the hook. That's what makes it work.
Speaker 2:I think of it as a George Carlin joke, the whole George Carlin thing about words. You know, jumbo shrimp, yes, elky running, seems like it's a George Carlin joke.
Speaker 8:Well, and I'll tell you too I think that you know there was a little bit of nervousness on my end approaching John with that hat too Because, like, because, like, look, I'm sure that they see thousands of people every weekend to ask for photos. Do you remember me? Y'all have talked about that on your podcast as well, john. I know for a fact, you know. But it's one of those things like who is this guy and why is he randomly creating merchandise with my name on it? And is he cool? Is he legitimate? Is he like a freak? Do I need to file?
Speaker 3:john, I need to file a restraining order. John, what?
Speaker 5:did you file A restraining order?
Speaker 8:A restraining order, yeah, there's a certain level there where, like in the back of my own head, like if I was in John's shoes, I would have some questions too right, and so that was always playing in my head until I think we kind of cleared that hurdle at springtime where I was like all right, this is good there, this is good, there's an opportunity to build something here. We've got a good foundation. Let's continue to move forward.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and frankly, 35 years in a theme park work, believe me I could, and not just about me, but you know my wife and other performers. I can tell you about crazy, crazy fans. But it was obvious to Grant from the beginning that he, you know, he kind of created the joke and we were all in on the joke. Well, isn't this fun? Because here's the guy complaining about it and, uh and again, quality merchandise, uh, a fun vibe about it all. So I think everybody kind of jumped on board in the trailer, uh, and enjoyed it, and they all started showing up wearing the stuff and I didn't even know they had to be quite honest, I just had to send me things and I'm like oh look, I got new free shirt merchant.
Speaker 5:Hey, here's a merch idea the john pelkey mylar blanket so you can make sure to tell you don't wear it across your start line.
Speaker 8:You got to dispose of it before you start.
Speaker 2:Johnny would actually pay for one of those.
Speaker 8:I will say, too, I'll give a shout out, because I know there are some people having only run Marathon Weekend up until 2023. I know there are some folks that have dressed as John in some of his other race weekend outfits or made signs before. Like I do not by any means claim to have been the idea man behind the Pelkey running club, I think I've just kind of fostered it and shepherded it into where it is today, but there are a ton of great ideas, great costumes, folks that have supported John along the way, and I would absolutely give those folks a shout out Cause I they've helped, you know, kind of grow this into what it is in some way shape or form over the years.
Speaker 2:So kudos to them. To the point where somebody once dressed as we dressed the year that we were in khakis and polos. People ran in the khakis and polos the one year that we had to do that. So that's when Chris and I were like this costume thing may have gone too far at this point, and then we were with the Doggy Running Club.
Speaker 7:This is not a joke club. This is not like a one and done thing. So there's actual members of this club, correct?
Speaker 8:Correct.
Speaker 7:So is there like any kind of group runs, group activities, what's going?
Speaker 8:on with this club? That's a great question. It continues to evolve and change. I would tell you, like I said from the beginning, we never expected to have a club, let alone it grow to this capacity. It's interesting, after each kind of major video or announcement or race weekend, to watch the numbers continue to climb. We only have an Instagram account. You know. We have almost 1500 followers now, which is 1500 more than that's good to have um, and so 97 more than grant.
Speaker 5:And I thought, and me, yeah, there's jody, there's grant, I'm thinking four yeah, it took my wife a while to get on board.
Speaker 2:She's like I didn't take my last name so I mean honestly like why is it not the chase running club?
Speaker 8:There you go. But no, I tell you, I think you know we've started out with some meetups before races. We did some midweek meetups during marathon weekend last year, which was great, and we had a great time seeing about 30 members there and talking. John came and got to hang out with the folks for a little bit too, which was awesome. And now I think we're kind of turning this corner to where we're thinking about how we go more broad with it.
Speaker 8:Obviously, john announces races across the country and does a variety of different things. We have members from all across the country, even the world. Karen in Scotland is our kind of most notable international member, but we got folks in South Africa, all all over the States. You know wide variety of places, and so we've started to think about how we, you know, break out of just those. You know four to six race weekends a year, Um, and that's kind of where the idea of Pelkey running club weekend came from, and so, uh, I'm sure we can get into it.
Speaker 8:But John is running his first half marathon here in Memphis at the St Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend in December, and that's where we're going to host our first Pelkey Running Club Weekend, and so the thought there is. We pick a different race across the country each year, we show up as a group and we just have a good time, we build community, we do some sightseeing, have some exclusive gear for those that can make it, and then we obviously run some sort of distance no guarantee that it's the same distance, no guarantee that John and Jody are able to make it every year, but I think it only makes sense for us to rally around John this year as he sets out to complete his first half marathon, for our first Pelkey running club weekend to be here. But, yeah, definitely events throughout the weekend at Disney races, and then this is kind of our next foray into getting together as a group.
Speaker 2:Disney races, and then this is kind of our next foray into getting together as a group. By the way, I don't know if you can see it behind me on my chalkboard, but it literally has the date of my happy hour written on the chalkboard to remind me that, hey, what is the date? John. December 6th. December 6th.
Speaker 5:Okay. It's a day that lives in infamy. No, that would be December 7th. You were very close, you were very close. As a history guy, I love that and.
Speaker 2:I saw the Rolling Stones for the first time on December 8th of 1981. So the early week of December has a lot of interest for me, so that's really why I'm doing it.
Speaker 4:Who chose the half marathon distance for this? Was it you, John? Were you the one that wanted to actually go half marathon?
Speaker 2:I think, uh, grant and natalie presented this to us when we went to dinner, I think, uh, initially we went to dinner in january and at that time it was left up to me, oh and uh. So john thought, hey, go to mem, get to go to. You know, see, graceland, have a great listen, some great music, run a 5K. So when push came to shove and Grant was finally like, oh, it's time to sign up and everything, and he's and I don't know if you even know this, grant, but basically you never, ever brought up the distance again. And then, when you laid out how I had to because we have to walk me through everything, because you know, man of certain age, the analog in a digital world, this is how you sign up for the race and then, when it comes up to the distance, you just put in half marathon. And I did not catch that.
Speaker 8:That is hilarious. I did not know.
Speaker 2:I did that and I said to Jody as I'm signing up, I go.
Speaker 1:well, I guess I'm going to run a half marathon because, according, to Grant, that's what I'm signing up. I go.
Speaker 2:Well, I guess I'm going to run a half marathon because according to Grant that's what I'm running and I will say that I talked to Jody a little bit about everything, Not all the way up to Memphis. All the way to Memphis it's a great Monta Hoople song for anybody who wants to check that out. Anyway, we'll get off on movie trivia here in a minute. Music trivia. But I thought you know what, if I'm going to do this, you know, go big or go home, and I will say, had it been a marathon.
Speaker 2:I probably would have turned that down. I'm not sure my 60s yeah, I'm going to be a 61-year-old and these could do that but I thought you know one of my mother's favorite charities and stuff as a kid growing up, so I thought you know he presented with the. What the folks at St Jude's are presented with. I, I, I can. I can run another another few miles.
Speaker 5:You can do it. Yeah, you can. You can. It's the training, John. The training is the key.
Speaker 2:Right and running is in air quotes. For anyone who doesn't have video that's cool brother, that's absolutely cool. Cross the start line, cross the finish line Success.
Speaker 5:I'm going to finish. I'm going to say that right now.
Speaker 2:I don't want to jinx myself, but I am going to finish this race and I'm sure you'll get across the finish line. Yes, you are this race and I'm sure yes you are. I think the fairest thing to uh that I can say is that once I cross that finish line, I'm sure within the first five minutes, I will say I'm never going to do this again oh no, you'll say it before then many times I'm never going to do that again say it around mile 10 or so, I'll just give you
Speaker 7:three the best part of it all is that saint jude campus.
Speaker 8:You get to run through saint jude campus and they bring out patients and families and around mile occurs around mile nine, so it's like the perfectly positioned location to give you that extra maybe a few tears as well, but an extra oomph to like get across the finish line and that that one always takes me back, but the whole city comes out and supports.
Speaker 8:You know all the runners, the St Jude heroes. Like John is, you know, fundraising for the kids and families of St Jude. You see patients, families or individuals who lost. You know kids that were St Jude kiddos out on the course as well. You have individuals running that are wearing you know, gear that are running in memory or in honor of someone who passed away or in you know for to support someone who is currently a patient of St Jude. So it's just really a cool race to be able to kind of rally around. You know those kiddos and those families as they go through something that is completely unimaginable, that never want, never want anyone to have to go through, let alone kids.
Speaker 6:So you mentioned training. Do you run the Galloway method, or what does your training look like?
Speaker 2:I'm assuming you're talking to me, Grant, being the veteran who apparently doesn't train.
Speaker 6:Oh yes.
Speaker 8:By the way.
Speaker 2:Grant, don't think that's not in the back of my mind. Signed up for a half marathon, didn't show up. Really Didn't know that was an option.
Speaker 2:Had to find somebody there, I do, I absolutely do the Galloway method, absolutely. And now, as I tell everybody, I'm doing maintenance training just to try to get my level of fitness up to where it needs to be. For when I start, I think August is when you set the dates up uh, uh in Jeff's app and uh, that'll be my. You know my full-on training, but we try to do a little more this summer, as much, as much as I possibly can, to get myself in a little better state of fitness. Um then, then I am right now.
Speaker 8:Yeah, I would tell you from a training perspective, I'm probably not the poster child for training. I run with Natalie and we run all the races together, side by side, every mile of each of those courses. Natalie had our third kiddo back in 2022 and I ran dopey by myself in 2023 and I PR'd all of them. I actually had to slow down because my family was trying to get to points where they could actually see me running on the course and I had to end up walking certain pieces. But I did not train for any of that and I do not advise it.
Speaker 8:I've since started to train and you know, get on the regimen. I do Orange Theory probably four to five times a week. Right now I'm training for 29029 Snow Basin at the beginning of August. So that's a little bit of a different training regimen that Brent Peace from the Kyle Peace Foundation has put together for us. He's one of the coaches for that event. But I will definitely be in the Galloway method. I use the Galloway method on the course, but we'll definitely be in training, leveraging the Galloway training plans for this upcoming Dopey, as I have my site set on some last feeds, that's 29029.
Speaker 8:Grant, that's the one where you go up and then you have 36 hours to complete the vertical ascent of Everest, which is 29 feet, and so it's a running clock, yeah, and you basically climb up a ski slope and then ride a gondola down and you have however long you need to, you know, do whatever you want, uh, from food, uh, you know, relaxing, sleep, climbing, et cetera. But uh, yeah, it was a new challenge for me. I'm going on my fifth consecutive dopey for next year, so 20 will be my fifth consecutive dopey Wanted something that kind of pushed me a little bit differently, uh, mentally, and that felt like the right challenge to go after it with, so looking forward to it.
Speaker 7:That's impressive I wouldn't even do that I think it's really cool you're signing up next week you would do it but you wouldn't realize you had signed up for it.
Speaker 5:Yeah, that's probably true. I wanted to warn john, yeah, that uh don't do, like jack, check into the elevation guide for the race in Memphis. I don't know what it's like, I'm sure Grant does.
Speaker 8:Yeah, Fairly flat. We go downhill, pretty nice downhill right along the Mississippi River at one point. And then I actually took a video when we were filming the announcement for Pelkey Running Club weekend. I took a video. We were sitting on Mud Island, which is an island that kind of splits the Mississippi right down the middle. It used to be a big, you know, concert venue area out there and everything here in Memphis. But I pointed out to John the steepest hill that he gets to run and it's, I mean, it's considerable elevation but it's like a city block and then yeah, so you're done with it.
Speaker 2:John has seen it.
Speaker 8:He's got a preview of what he's he's in for.
Speaker 2:But somebody said John has seen it, he's gotten a preview of what he's in for. Somebody told me after they go, you know that's a pretty hilly race and I was like, no, no.
Speaker 3:I did not know that, so here's the thing.
Speaker 2:So I don't know. I think Memphis, I think oh, we're going to run around, you know a nice flat run down by the Mississippi River. Maybe we're going to go to Graceland and run around there a couple of times and then no, but grant did show me the, the hill, and it did not look terrible. I have a feeling it will look much more terrible to me when I approach it on the city it will hey, hey, john, I've done that before.
Speaker 4:I thought a race was maybe only gonna be 5 000 feet ended up being 10 000 feet of elevation gain. So I feel you, you don't know, but that's jack's thing jack 5 000 feet of elevation.
Speaker 5:That's a lot it was only yeah, it was only two miles instead of the one mile, okay and also for hills.
Speaker 4:If I can give you any kind of tidbit that has helped me get through a lot of races personally is I don't ever look at the top of the hill. I only ever look at like maybe a few feet in front of me, because if I don't look up at the hill, it's not as bad as it seems.
Speaker 2:That's actually pretty good. And, and my, I think people always ask you know how do you go when you're running out. You know, just keep yourself engaged. And I would sort of just pick a spot and go, I just need to get there, so I'll probably get to that hill. I'll pick a spot at about a hundred yards and go just get a hundred yards up the hill, get a hundred yards. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Thank you for that. That's probably a good idea.
Speaker 5:So, guys, we've talked about quite a bit. What are your goals for the Pelkey running club in the immediate future, next year or two, what do you, what do you see coming up?
Speaker 8:I would say continue to grow our membership. You know just other folks that are in the running community run Disney community in particular that you know just other folks that are in the running community run Disney community in particular that you know see us out on a course and want to be a part of it. I'm really proud of the membership that we've kind of grown here and the individuals that have joined the club. We've gotten many stories from folks that have been encouraged by or helped, you know, on the course by Pelkey Running Club members throughout different races when they've been in tough spots, and so I really enjoy getting those types of stories and my hope is that we continue to grow membership for the club. But also we end up doing some good with charitable work.
Speaker 8:Obviously, john fundraising for St Jude here there's an opportunity to donate his fundraising efforts but then all the gear that we sell and will continue to make in the future, being able to kind of give back to those that need it most or organizations that can do some good with it, I think are probably my main goals. Other than that we're taking it a day, a week, a month at a time. We really don't have a super long thought out kind of schedule or strategy. We're just in it for the fun and see where it takes us. So I don't know, john, I don't want to speak on your behalf, Do you?
Speaker 2:have goals for our club. I would just like to say not having a plan. That's the pelkiest thing, about the club.
Speaker 2:I mean again for Grant, and I talk about just any money that we can give to charity. I think that's terrific and what I really like about it when Grant told me that people had reached out and said hey, you know, some of your members of your club are really helpful to me. I hope that that's what it continues to be is an inclusive, helpful, fun thing. I have nothing against any of those runners who are at our races who are trying to PR and trying to run six minute miles. For all of that. I think that is great. I understand that what we do has very little to do with what you're doing, other than we say, go, and you guys are that and that's great.
Speaker 2:But for the people who are out there trying to have a good time, I think the thing I like the best about it is that there are people go, take what they're doing seriously. When they're doing it Don't take themselves terribly seriously and are helpful to other folks and just enjoy seeing where other members of the club are. For me, that's my favorite part of the whole thing is getting up on any individual day and seeing a hat or a sweatshirt or at either a race or a training thing. I think it's just a keep it to be a nice thing to motivate people to just keep moving, be it a 3K, 5k, 10k, half marathon. That's what I hope that it just continues to do that and that, as it is at this point that it's a lot of, um, nice and supportive people in in a in a very divisive time, I hope that, uh, that it's helpful for people in that way.
Speaker 5:John, you know that is, uh, that is the spirit of run Disney encapsulated, I think.
Speaker 8:For sure. Yeah, I was going to say too, I think, one of the most surprising, um fun facts of the club within the first year uh, we had the hat travel to all seven continents around the world.
Speaker 5:How'd you get it down to Antarctica?
Speaker 8:They did one of like the sailings and like did the Drake passage and did that. Gosh, it was a couple of months ago now I think, but yeah, literally all sides, and that was just mind blowing stuff to me, like again from a race costume, never going to do this again, to now this hat and this gear has made it to all corners of the earth.
Speaker 5:Oh yes, From Marco.
Speaker 8:It's pretty crazy to me, but that's the fun stuff, that I kind of feel the same, john, every morning when I wake up running this Instagram, it's like what are we going to find today? Who's doing something cool or different or unique with their gear out on the course? Things like that.
Speaker 2:And I think it's inspiring too, because you know you don't get people's daily training regimen most of the time on. You know there are a few people who put all that on to support people and to encourage them, but to see, you know, now somebody is like oh, I got the hat.
Speaker 2:Well, when I was in Rome it's like, oh, I want to show somebody of the hat in Rome and I was, I was working, doing something else, I wasn't training, but you see the hat on somebody, you know, in a cold morning in Detroit, who's getting out and it's snowing and they're going through it. I think that, at least for me, that's very, very helpful when I'm like, oh, you know, do I want to run today there's another World.
Speaker 2:War Two documentary I haven't watched this week. I haven't seen Hunt for Red October yet this week, so I need to watch that again. So, yeah, that again. Like I said in agreeing with Grant, it's just fun to see the merchandise all around the world. And, by the way, when people I do have to say this people will ask me if I'm wearing one of the hats, what's the Pelkey Running Club? And I promise you what I say to them is run Disney race announcer that a bunch of people, like somebody gave it to me.
Speaker 2:That's what I say to them Because I again the level of narcissism involved with hey you know, my name's at Antarctica, but it was that's cool, that's cool.
Speaker 3:Hey, grant, I do have one question before we start to wrap things up here, and I mean, obviously, in the times that we have interviewed john, um, you know, one of the fun facts about him that has always stick with me, uh, since I am also a big fan of musical theater, is that john loves the show 1776 will. Will the pelkey running club be putting on their own production of the musical, and, if so, would John be in the audience or would John be on stage?
Speaker 8:I mean that's a great question. I would say never, say never. You never know what we'll do, especially if charity is involved. You know, I'm sure we could pull some some strings and get some folks together. John and Jody know a lot of very talented people. I'll say never, say never. I think John probably would be best as the director, so he gets to cast everyone and kind of you know, lead it he may be like a dual threat.
Speaker 8:You know he could be the director and also maybe the leading man, so I don't know. I you know we'll, we'll see. Only time will tell.
Speaker 2:I played John Adams for the first time when I was 24. I can do it in my 60s. I know I can, or I could morph into Ben Franklin in that. Here's the thing with me seeing it. Seeing that show is very, very difficult for me now, having done it, because I'm just going, oh no, why. I saw Brent Spiner do it in New York in like 1997. And I'm like he was OK, but what happened to this guy right here? So a concert version of it? Absolutely I'd be, I'd be there tomorrow, uh, but uh, it's. I tell you that would be, uh, that'd be a tough one for you. Grant, it's a, it's a bitch to costume that show. We had 10 weeks of rehearsal when I did it in college and the reason was is because it literally took them 10 weeks to.
Speaker 2:They made all the costumes from scratch wow, wow so here we go, let's do it we have run disney people.
Speaker 7:They make costumes all the time they honestly.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you probably haven't done it about. We put it out there and it'd probably be in a week. We'd have costumes for everyone. So actually probably I'm just determining where I'm casting all of you, as we're looking great.
Speaker 5:I didn't know it would be fun, and it has been fun, but we have to wrap it up sometime. Let's wrap it up with a couple of lightning round fast answer questions. Who's got the first one? I?
Speaker 7:got the first question, bob. Uh, okay, guys, what's your favorite running shoe right now? Uh, brooks glycerin.
Speaker 5:John's. John, it's a uh, it's an audio only podcast. You have to hold that closer to the microphone so people can hear it.
Speaker 2:My Hoka's. I got my Hoka's right now. These are the runs I ran my 5k and my 10. For right now. That's it, Though I have a couple of other running chews that I kind of spread in there every now and again.
Speaker 5:With that bright orange color they're hard to miss. Oh, I love them. Nothing wrong with that. I like that. They're so light, they're so light. All right, best post-run meal or treat.
Speaker 8:I'm going to be really specific. It's after a run Disney race. The bacon, egg, egg and cheese croissant at the Wilderness Lodge, roaring Fork, that's my go-to Good.
Speaker 2:Wow, that's probably pretty good. I've had the same thing after both my 5K and my 10K and it's been pretty good. And it has been the breakfast sandwich at, because we're normally in Animal Kingdom Lodge breakfast sandwich with the potato barrels, which we can't call tater tots because can't forget the potato barrels, which we can't call tater tots, because Can't forget the potato barrels.
Speaker 6:But you didn't say plastic cheese.
Speaker 2:I like all of them so I'm fine with the plastic.
Speaker 6:Next question what is your favorite hype song on your playlist?
Speaker 8:Coming in Hot by Andy, mineo and Lecrae.
Speaker 5:Okay.
Speaker 2:I know those words, but I don't know those people. It's okay, john, we're okay. I'm a lot of them. I have two songs, and one of them is a song by Machine Gun Kelly called Bad Mother you figure the rest out. And there's another called Remember the Name, by a band called Fort Minor with Mike Shinoda from another band. Anyway, those are my two. Check them out, they'll get you all fired up.
Speaker 3:All right, and even though this is a lightning round question, it's a very philosophical one. Grant one word to describe the Pelkey Running Club.
Speaker 8:I think I have to go with community.
Speaker 3:Good one, very nice and John. I was going to say have to go with community. Good one, very nice and John.
Speaker 2:I was going to say inclusive, so that's in an inclusive community.
Speaker 5:Yeah, no, good one, Good one. I think this is terrific. I think what you started, Grant, I think what you, I think, John, your participation, your willingness to go along, it's all been great. It really does Run Disney means so much to me and to our friends who listen, and I think you guys are just right at the spirit of it and I think it's terrific and we wish you all the best of luck Before we go. Do we have any? For instance, Grant, if we're looking, is it at Pelky Run Club on Instagram?
Speaker 8:Pelky Running Club on Instagram, pelkyrunningclubcom for our gear. And then, if you want to donate to John's St Jude fundraising effort, I created a short URL you can use. Bitly forward slash pelkey half, so Pelkey half.
Speaker 5:And that's going to be on your website. All the links are in our bio too.
Speaker 8:We have Strava, we have Hollerhype. We're trying to be as engaging and encouraging as possible, so all the links are in the bio on our Instagram.
Speaker 5:Well, I think a lot of our friends will be looking for those. So that's cool. Guys, thanks for spending time with us. We enjoyed it. We're glad to see you and we look forward to seeing you in a couple months at Disney World.
Speaker 8:For sure, thanks for having us Looking forward to it as well.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'm thanking Grant, because you guys wouldn't have had me back on without the Pelkey Running Club and they made that perfectly clear. Well, thank you.
Speaker 8:John for being cool with this, because there wouldn't be a Pelkey Running Club without you being cool with it.
Speaker 2:See, we've completed the circle. We've completed the circle.
Speaker 5:I'd like to thank you both, because I don't know what we'd done for this episode Otherwise it would have been real short.
Speaker 2:Thanks everybody.
Speaker 5:So there you go, guys. You see the hats, you see the shirts. You know John. Most of you know John, as I said early in the interview. I'm sure there are some friends who haven't been to a Disney run before. You'll get to know John Carissa, riley Tracy very soon, but that was fun and I thank Grant for what he did and for joining us and getting that whole thing started. Uh, greg, let's see here you were up in New York this weekend, I believe, or recently, visiting with our friend Caesar.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I was in the uh, the big Apple uh, this past weekend. Uh, it took me a lot longer to get there thanks to the new jersey transit strike, uh, so nothing like spending an hour on the gw. John, I'm sure you've probably had had to do that a bunch, but uh, no, I was up there. Um, my sister this past christmas uh had bought me tickets.
Speaker 3:One of my favorite musicals of all time is, uh, a small show called last five years and this was the first time it has ever been um brought to broadway, so I was super thrilled about that. Wasn't really thrilled that the, the male lead, was being played by nick jonas. Um, yeah, needless to say, my quick review there is he should stick to singing pop music and never grace a Broadway stage again. Yeah, Great.
Speaker 6:I've heard reviews about it.
Speaker 3:Maybe I should just do like a side like Patreon recording of going on to my whole rant about how I did not like him in this role for any other running theater nerds out there. So if you want to hear that, let me know and maybe I'll record that and put it up on Patreon or something. But I figured, you know, since I was in New York, I figured I would try to kill two birds with one stone. And I have just been following along in Caesar's journey ever since we interviewed him at the end of last year and then finally got to meet him in person at our marathon weekend meetup this past January. And you know him and I have just been texting back and forth congratulating him on the opening. And then the wonderful reviews, and they got six Tony nominations, wow. And then the wonderful reviews, and they got six Tony nominations, wow. And so we were chatting and I was like I'm going to be in the city, I'm going to do my damnedest to get to see you. I got tickets Granted.
Speaker 3:I don't know if Caesar pulled this string for me or I just got lucky, but I was sitting fourth row in the Circle of the Square Theater, which essentially the seating arrangement is like a big U, and what was so cool about it is that you know there are things happening all around you in this show Just In Time, which again, is the story of Bobby Darin, and at one point in the beginning of the show, I feel this presence over my shoulder, even though my attention is drawn elsewhere uh, in the theater, because, again, you know that's what it was designed for. And then, all of a sudden, the spotlight turns on and I look behind me and who is literally standing right behind me? But caesar, and it was his first big entrance into the show and I was like, thank God you did not tell me that that's where you start the show, because I was so afraid that if I locked eyes with him, the last thing I would want to do is throw him off or anything like that. But let me tell you I know I put this on Facebook and Instagram. I know I put this on Facebook and Instagram, but if you're in the greater New York City area and you are really into musical theater or you love the music of Bobby Darin, please go see this show.
Speaker 3:It was probably some of the most fun I have ever had seeing a Broadway show and you know, and Caesar is just such an amazing performer because he starts off the show as Bobby Darin's musical writing partner and then over the course of the show because it is a very small cast he plays other roles in Bobby Darin's life, you know, over the course of the rest of the production. So it just really goes to show how he can change his accents and, you know, in his vocals and everything like that. You know, it really just goes to show how amazing of an actor that he is. So again, from a rise and run perspective, if you want to go support caesar, um, you know, definitely, you know, go and get tickets right now. I think they're selling tickets through the end of november. The show is fabulous.
Speaker 3:Jonathan groff, let me tell you, I know he just won the tony award for for best actor in the musical last year. I think he can damn well win it again. He was absolutely, absolutely incredible. He's on stage, I would say, about 90% of the time in this show and he is just vocally and emotionally giving it his all. And I know a few people reached out, especially our friend Lizzie, and she was like let me know if he spits like he does in Hamilton and let me tell you from the moment he opened his mouth for the first time, you could just see it spraying everywhere. And then she, she made up. She actually came up with a really funny joke when I turned my phone back on an intermission, when she saw the instagram story that I did. She said you know, for those people that are sitting like super, super close up, they should call it the splish splash zone, because bobby darren wrote the song splash I'm taking a bath boom boom, boom
Speaker 3:you know. So I was like that that is brilliant. But yeah, show was great. And then Cesar had told me to just stay in the theater afterwards and he came out. I got to give him a big hug, we got a couple of photos on the set, didn't get to spend too much time with him because he also did have family in the audience, so I didn't want to take up too much of his time so he could go attend to more important things than me. So, cesar, if you're listening, thank you for an amazing weekend, an amazing performance. You were absolutely brilliant. Continued success in this show. And yeah, folks, if you can go see it, go see it, you will not be disappointed.
Speaker 5:Sounds great. Greg, glad you had a good time. Cesar. Greg Glad you had a good time. Caesar. Thanks Glad you're a friend of the podcast. It's exciting you talk about multiple roles. I saw the TV production of Come From Away and he played multiple roles there too.
Speaker 3:In fact, most of the performers in that play played multiple roles, but very exciting you know, the more I think about when we talk to grant and pelkey, about the pelkey run club putting on a production of 1776. Maybe we could get caesar involved with that, so so uh so grant uh. If you need caesar's contact information, I'll make sure that uh gets you in touch with his agent.
Speaker 5:Well, there you go. There you go Good stuff. Thank you, greg. Upcoming my friends, next week we are going to be talking with a race director, not just any race director, but the race director for Bird in Hand, one of our favorite non-run Disney races. So we look forward to that. Okay, my friends, it's time for the Race Report. The Race Report is brought to you by Thomas Stokes of Stoked Metabolic Training, stokesfit slash riseandruncoaching for more information on Tom's programs of strength training and nutrition. I'm back in the fold with Tom. I goofed off no excuses, but I'm having a hard time raising my arms up because I was at the gym yesterday. So we're good to go. Tom will be with us next week. Let us know what he's got planned for the summer for all of our friends.
Speaker 5:All right, friends, let's kick it off on Saturday in Brooklyn, new York, the RBC Brooklyn half. We had a lot of friends there. Let's go down the list. Brenda Brenda's ending her spring season, as several of our friends mentioned, with a joyful victory lap through one of her favorite cities. She comments that there were water hoses along the course, which really helped because it was warm. They helped her stay cool. Brenda wants to wish congratulations to all of her fellow finishers all 28,500 of you. That's pretty cool.
Speaker 5:Danielle was there, as was Doug. Doug loves this one. Doug loves this one because it starts out really close to where he lives, ends on the boardwalk in Coney Island. I saw great photos there. Little cloud cover made running on Ocean Parkway which is a paved area. No shade goes from Prospect Park to Coney Island. The cloud cover helped a lot, made it a lot easier. Doug didn't make his A goal. He's happy with his overall results and he's also thinking that the spring season is over. This may be his last one until he gets to Disney. Our running sisters, emily and Jen, were both there. Season is over. This may be his last one until he gets to Disney. Our running sisters, emily and Jen, were both there. Emily said she hit a wall around mile nine because of the heat. She managed to make her seagull which a. That's seagull, john, not seagull.
Speaker 7:Seagull on the boardwalk right.
Speaker 5:Right Close, right Right Course PR hour 54. That's great, yeah, good job. Emily sets a good pace. Jen was there. Jen says the training leading up to this was so rewarding and so empowering. She really wanted to hit a new PR on her third attempt on this course, had to dig deep. She locked into her playlist, switched to some run-walk intervals for the last 5K and she shaved six minutes from last year to get a PR of two hours and 20 minutes. Way to go, emily and Jen.
Speaker 7:And we have another, Jen, that did this race Last September, had a stress fracture in her hip. By some miracles and pixie dust finished dopey healthy and knew her big goal was going to be to run an injury-free sub two. Well, 152.55, which is 11 minute pr great job jen killed it way to go.
Speaker 7:Julia was there. Julia is finished up the spring season with lots of miles or six star and memories, but now it's time to rest before chasing some big goals this fall. And uh, my fellow new jersey and rob was there there you go says what can you say? What can I say? That hasn't been said? How about getting a huge adrenaline boost when you realize you're overshot?
Speaker 7:the subway stop yeah and need to get off at bag check was was closing in 15 minutes but an age group pr of 159, it was a great day, a wonderful borough, and someday I'll stick around to ride the Cyclone afterwards. I know Rob had an early morning start there, because getting to Brooklyn and getting there from Jersey is not an easy thing. I think he said he was starting at 4 o'clock in the morning to get out there.
Speaker 5:Ouch, I believe it. Good job, though Robert. Robert had a fun experience, a little rough towards the end Heat and humidity, a little high for New York at that time of year. Also, the hills in Prospect Park. Robert says they just don't end the hills. Yeah, that's kind of tough Special on a warm day. Gretchen Gretchen wraps it up for us saying New York City never disappoints, and Brooklyn really showed out for today's race Spectators, signs, music, cheers, all fantastic. She ended up with a PR and had an amazing day. So that's it, the RBC Brooklyn Half Marathon. So that's it the RBC Brooklyn half marathon. Great job everybody.
Speaker 7:And, uh, San Francisco, the beta breakers, 12 K Brandy was there. Uh, the unicorn herd. Brandy and her friends set a PR for the most naked people seen, on course most naked people, so that's one of those races I heard that they run naked. I know when do you put your bib. That's another story. They started with beach balls and tortilla throwing at the start, proceeded to taking jello shots from naked strangers and going through two car wash teams. Waldorf and Stratler were there heckling along the course, already signed up for next year.
Speaker 5:That is an iconic American run. Beta Breakers has been around I didn't look up how long, but it's been around for a long time and at one time it was one of America's largest runs in number of total runners. I don't know that that's still true. But, brandy, I'm glad you had fun. That's cool. On the other side of the coin, our buddy Allie without an E and Allison were both in Atlantic City, new Jersey, for the Monopoly Run Half Marathon. Now, john, you and I know and I'm sure Greg does too Atlantic City is the home, the birthplace of Monopoly Correct. City is the home, the birthplace of Monopoly Correct.
Speaker 5:You drive into AC. You see those streets, baltic and Ventnor and St James and all of them till you finally get to the boardwalk. So you would think if any place was going to do the boardwalk run right, atlantic City would do it. Not so fast, my friend. You know we heard about this one in Orlando a little while ago and the reports from Orlando was not good. Well, reports from AC weren't good either. First of all, it started 40 minutes late because they did day of big pickup, which took forever, as complained about in Orlando. Very few signs, very few decorations on theme Course, support virtually non-existent. Now, despite all of this, allie, without a knee, did snag a PR. Of course she didn't have a PR bell to ring at the end, so she had Joe pull up a bell on his phone and she pretended to ring that, and of course that one had to be the Liberty Bell, because well go birds, and, as I said, allison was there also. Ladies, I'm sorry to hear about these, but I hope you had managed to have fun anyway.
Speaker 7:Well, it's a new race too, I think, bob. They just started this, so hopefully they get more support and actually do more.
Speaker 5:Yeah, I guess it's going to be a race series, but, like I say, you would think that would be the place where they would nail it. So, all right, Well, we'll see what happens with that one. Let's go to Sterling Heights, Michigan. The 5K for Foster Kids run Christina was there finished age group second place. Yay, Christina Participated in this run with some of her coworkers they heard some of her coworkers and Step Challenge Club members. Weather was windy, a little chilly, but the course was very flat and fast. Up in Ashford, Connecticut, Sue ran the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang Camp 5K. This is race number 170 out of 169 for Sue. I don't think they keep counting after that. Well, I guess they do. They can do it again, but anyway, Sue's done the 169. Now she's going back to do the one she loves. She says this one weaves all throughout this wonderful hole in the wall gang camp that Paul Newman started for critically ill children. Now, John, you get the reference there the hole in the wall gang camp right.
Speaker 5:Yeah, For our friends who probably are too young to remember Butch Cassidy and the Sundance.
Speaker 7:Kid, that's good.
Speaker 5:Yeah, the hole-in-the-wall gang. Sue did finish first in her age group, but there were no age group prizes. That's okay, sue, we still know you did it.
Speaker 7:That would be my luck too.
Speaker 5:I'd win first in my age group and there'd be no prizes when I was running fairly well I was in the early sixties or late sixties age groups I would finish fourth a whole lot and that would really tick me off. Let's see Marty. Marty was in Flowery Branch, georgia, for the Flowery Branch Spring Run 5K In St Michael's, maryland, the St Michael's Half Marathon.
Speaker 7:Jen was there. She said it was very humid and it rained a little, but compared to last year when it poured buckets the entire time, this weather was great. It's her first race since Marathon marathon weekend, when she broke her wrist. It feels great to be back.
Speaker 5:Yeah, good to have you back, jenny, congratulations. Becca was there. Becca's done some halves before, but this was her. She ran the 10K in this weekend. This was her first official 10K. Oh, of course that's a PR. And Catherine was there. Catherine also ran the half. Catherine would like to thank the Rise and Run family for all the hypes. And Catherine ran a new PR. Let's move now to Orlando, florida, where they ran the Purple Pride 5K, and our man from South Florida, robbie, was there. And Robbie joins us on the Race Report Spotlight. Hey, robbie, good to see you man, how you doing?
Speaker 9:Hey Bob, Thanks for having me on.
Speaker 5:Glad to be here. You're welcome. You've been a regular race reporter now for a good 16, 18 months and I figured it's time to get you on here and chat you up a little bit, see what's going on, see how things are going down in South Florida.
Speaker 9:Well, it's hot.
Speaker 5:Yeah, buddy, buddy, it's hot in central Florida. I'm sure it's as hot or hotter in South Florida. How about and we've talked about it already how about the guys who did the Keys 100 this weekend?
Speaker 9:Yeah, that's.
Speaker 5:Can you imagine that?
Speaker 9:At any time of the year. That seems like.
Speaker 5:At any time. It'd be tough, but golly Robbie, you know the question I love to ask all our friends when they get on here the first time how did you get started running?
Speaker 9:So, you know, growing up I always played like team sports. You know soccer in the fall, baseball in the spring. You know running I was not. I was never into cross country or track and field. Yeah, I think when I first started running I was just looking for a way to, you know, be consistent with my with with going to the gym. That's what I think. I'd go to the gym and then quit for a couple of days and maybe go back a week later to the gym that sort of thing.
Speaker 9:I'd go to the gym and then quit for a couple of days and maybe go back a week later. So you know, I really I kind of remembered I had gone to um support uh some friends who ran the uh disney world marathon in 2004, I think.
Speaker 1:I think okay one ran the full one ran the half.
Speaker 9:So so fast forward to 2012. I'm like, oh, I'm gonna sign up for a run and I remember the disney run. So back in those days you could sign up for a run, and I remember the Disney run. So back in those days you could sign up a few months before a run so. I ended up signing up for the Jingle Jungle 5K in November of 2012.
Speaker 5:You have to tell me about. I'm not even familiar with that one.
Speaker 9:So it ran through Animal Kingdom it had a. Christmas theme, obviously from the title, and it was a 5K and I think that was my first race, and from there I did a couple more 5Ks and moved up to 10Ks and then finally I did the Tower of Terror 10-miler, that last one before they stopped it, and then moved on to half marathons. So that's how I started with running.
Speaker 5:All right, Well, a lot of your runs. You're in sunny South Florida, which is pretty warm. How about this one? You went up to Orlando for this one, the Purple Pride 5K. How was this?
Speaker 9:one. It was good. It was put on by the two professional soccer teams in Orlando the Orlando City team and then the women's team, the Orlando Pride. Okay, so it took place in the neighborhood around the MLS stadium. We started right next door to the stadium, we ran through the neighborhood and then we ended up finishing in the stadium on the sideline.
Speaker 5:All right.
Speaker 9:The mascot was there for the team. He was out there high-fiving people at the finish line, so it was a good time. It was a warm day. It was actually a very big race for a local race. It was probably about 1,600 people who ran this race.
Speaker 5:Oh, not bad Okay.
Speaker 7:You didn't go on the field, you just went alongside the field, right we?
Speaker 9:ran into the stadium and then finished on the sideline. We didn't go onto the actual, you know where the playing field, but we were right next to, I guess, where the players would be waiting on the sideline.
Speaker 5:Touchline, robbie Touchline, it's soccer.
Speaker 7:I mean, I'm being obnoxious, you got a soccer referee with you over here.
Speaker 5:I'm being obnoxious, it's what I do. Well, cool Sounds like a fun one. Hey, you've. I mean you've done a bunch of others recently. Any other highlights the last couple of weeks?
Speaker 9:Yeah, I did the Cinco de Drinko 5K.
Speaker 5:How was that?
Speaker 9:It was good it was, uh, they actually had, uh, it was a 5k. It was on the uh campus of Nova Southeastern university, so we ran through the campus. Uh, they, uh, they also had a margarita mile after that. So people who signed up for that one had to drink a can of margarita mix and then run a mile. Oh wow, I did not do that.
Speaker 7:A can of margarita mix. Okay.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so I did not do that, but I'm sure you've heard of beer runs, where people run a beer or drink a beer and run a mile.
Speaker 9:This was the same thing, but with a margarita mix.
Speaker 5:Yeah, I may have one next week, I'm not sure. We had one that was canceled, delayed, I don't know if it's next week or not. And Nova Southeastern I actually have a degree from there, robbie, they didn't have that Cinco de Drinco run when.
Speaker 9:I was down there, though I think it was like the third or the fourth of this particular race.
Speaker 5:Any other exciting. I mean, you just seem to. I seem to see your name on the race report almost every week.
Speaker 9:Like Fleet Week right, yes, fleet Week was a couple of weeks ago. They have this event every year where the Navy has some ships that come into the Port of Fort Lauderdale and then they have events around town. The sailors go to the local the Marlins game or the Panthers game, and they had this event this year where we ran along the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk so they had some of the sailors and the Marines from the different ships were also. You know they were runners and we got to run with some of those servicemen who were in visiting from the ships, so that was right up and down the beach. You know Hollywood Beach is a tourist spot down here.
Speaker 5:Yep, yep, yep. I know those guys and girls enjoyed that too. The the service members. They get a kick out of that, I promise.
Speaker 9:Yeah, and they had a. There was. They were competing between the different shows.
Speaker 5:Oh, yeah, oh, big time.
Speaker 7:Oh, I can imagine.
Speaker 5:Yeah, that's, that's, yeah. I take that stuff seriously, baby. What's up next at Disney? Robbie, when are we going to see you at Disney?
Speaker 9:World. I will be at Wine and Dine doing the half. I will be there in January doing the half as well. I always sign up for Springtime Surprise. I haven't done Princess in a couple years, so I may do Princess again, but we'll see.
Speaker 5:I get it. They're all good runs. Springtime has developed its own feel since they. You know it's only been run what four years or so now.
Speaker 7:Yeah, it's four.
Speaker 5:But it's kind of it's kind of grown into. It's kind of grown into the farewell tour you know.
Speaker 9:I like a 10 mile. I think the 10 milers is is is a good distance. So, you know, I don't feel, I feel like when I in my times between 10 and 13, my time, you know, kind of drops off a little, I feel, you know, I don't feel, as I don't really feel tired after the 10 mile, when I finish those.
Speaker 5:I think a lot of people share that feeling. They kind of enjoy the fact that it's just a couple of miles shorter and the challenge because the challenge is all three, the challenge is the same 19.3 miles. So it all works out Well. Robbie, good talking to you. Any parting thoughts before we let you go?
Speaker 9:Yeah, I just wanted to mention the Holler Hype app. It's really nice to be out there running and then, all of a sudden, my music pauses and I know I'm going to get someone with some words of inspiration. So it is appreciated for all of those who are out there jumping on there and and and, uh, you know, you know, yeah, they're out there running, so I appreciate it for anybody who's, uh, who's done it for me.
Speaker 5:That's great, I do know. I think it's so interesting that they actually approached us. We had, uh, the young woman on a couple episodes ago and they actually approached us. We had the young woman on a couple episodes ago and they actually approached us just before springtime. I think we didn't get them on until afterward and as soon as I heard about it, I said this group is going to love this thing. And the first time we got active, when we explained it on the podcast and everybody signed up, we actually shut it down. We had so many people sending hives that it shut down for a bit, but they got with the program and brought it back up and, yeah, we get nothing but positive reviews. So thanks for sharing that man. That's nice. I appreciate it.
Speaker 9:My pleasure. I mean the podcast itself. It's a part of my week. It's my Thursday morning drive to work. Good deal. Well week, it's my Thursday morning drive to work Good deal.
Speaker 5:We like sharing the drive with you, my friend. We appreciate you sharing your time with us. We look forward to seeing you again. Thanks, Robbie.
Speaker 9:I'll see you out there.
Speaker 5:Thank you, bob. In Washington DC, kate did the Hero Dogs 5K9 race. That's a 5K for canines, 5k pretty clever. It's put on by Hero Dogs Incorporated, who provides service dogs for local veterans and first responders. Kate really didn't feel like she ran as well as she could have. Yeah, but I don't know. She ended up first overall female so.
Speaker 5:I guess that's pretty good. Oh, and by the way, it was a PR, Kate. I guess you done good girl. Way to go In Woodbury, New York. The Macho Trail Run, 5 miler, MA, etc. Stands for my Actions Can Help Others.
Speaker 3:Wait, this wasn't a village people race. Macho macho man.
Speaker 5:No, I don't think so. Okay, no, we could ask Megan. Megan did it. As Megan quotes Jack about trail races, they aren't as concerned about advertised distance, so this five-mile was actually 5.7. And they found some pretty steep hills somehow on typically flat Long Island. Nonetheless, megan finished 17th overall, 6th overall female, second in her age group, which got her a medal Well-deserved. It's kind of neat. The medal's made out of charred wood, so the metal still has a little of that campfire smell to it. Pretty cool, good job megan.
Speaker 7:In townsend, tennessee, we have the little river rush half marathon. I was going to say little river band, but little river we got two bands. We got two bands there, John. Yeah, Rush is probably my favorite. Lessa did that. We recognize her this week. She has no wig on, so she wasn't Dolly Parton last week. There you go. Perfect morning, beautiful course with excellent weather after the storms passed through. I mean, Lessa's been on this thing every week. Now she's got something going, it seems.
Speaker 5:Yeah, plus she's doing a lot of running, doing well.
Speaker 3:In New York there was a half marathon celebrating one of my favorite salad dressings.
Speaker 8:Thousand.
Speaker 3:Island. Oh sorry, this is the Thousand Islands New York half marathon. Allie ran this race. She goes on to say that there's a slight rain delay, but it cleared up enough to be a great morning for some scenic miles along the St Lawrence River. It was a great course with no pace requirement, she said. But if you ever are going to run this race, just be ready for a lot of rolling hills.
Speaker 5:Heather was in Orlando, which is nice because that's where she lives. She was doing the Nona 5K, which ended up being a 4K because the race organizer shortened it due to the heat. Great race, the course and the kids run, both sponsored by the hospital that Heather works at. So since it's a 4K, I reckon it's a PR for Heather Around 22 minutes, first place in the wheelchair division In Irving, texas, we have the Fiesta de Mayo 10K.
Speaker 7:Amanda was there. She did the half last year. This year she did the 10K. She's running along the water. It was so beautiful. It got a bit warm this year so she had to slow down, but still finished with the impressive one hour 10 minute 10K.
Speaker 5:Yeah, that is very good.
Speaker 3:Molly ran the Arizona Sunrise Series 5K in Tempe Arizona. This is the first race of seven.
Speaker 5:Yeah, that rise and run sign is part of the series. It's a huge sign. It's not one of ours and I remember this series from last year, the Sunrise Series in Arizona. Running in the Arizona summer sounds tough, unless you're doing it right at sunrise Sounds tough. Let's go to Savannah, Georgia, where Melissa did the Miles to Margaritas 5K. Two friends from her CrossFit group joined her. They got to run in a beautiful Daffin park and run around the historic Grayson stadium which is home to the Savannah bananas. Melissa carried a rock with her to prepare for a Memorial day event and she PR with the 12, 12-pound ruck. All right.
Speaker 5:Wrapping up Saturday, Lori did the Cleveland 5K. Lori walked this event. The race took her through landmarks around Cleveland the Brown Stadium, the Science Museum, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Public Square. Now Lori did that 5K walk on Saturday. Then on Sunday we actually had the Cleveland Marathon and Half Marathon. Now Lori did the half, Ran it with her friends Teresa and Deb.
Speaker 5:This is Lori's first half since having her total knee replacement a couple months back. She did it in just over three hours. She's so happy that she finished in good shape. She's got to tell herself this is a PR for what she calls her post-bionic knee and she'll get her time back. And, Lori, you will. Don't rush it, okay, Just be patient. You're doing great. You're right on track, maybe even ahead of pace. It's frustrating at times, it's going to take a little while. You're doing great. Just be patient, Keep it up. The Cleveland Marathon Erin ran it, Melanie ran the half. This is her first half in a long time. It felt great and she pr'd shauna did, I believe, the marathon. She comments also what a great course it was going by the cleveland landmark, cleveland rocks. You know, you guys know that right yes, it does, cleveland rocks.
Speaker 5:Yeah, love the Ohio-shaped pin and metal. It was really windy. Shauna managed to grab a run Disney proof of time in this race.
Speaker 7:Nice job, guys. This weekend on Sunday, Chicago Spring Half Marathon. Erica and her husband ran that race.
Speaker 3:Heading across the pond to dublin, ireland, we had the lifestyle sports fast lane summer edition. Lauren ran this a very unique distance. Hey, bob, remember the first time you and I ever met, we ran a quarter of a marathon. Yes, we did. Lauren ran a three-quarter marathon. So I guess, since this is a three-quarter marathon, that's a pr? Uh, she did have a? Uh, a goal of four hours and came in at three hours and 42 minutes. So that is super, super impressive. Uh, here she dressed as snow white, but she lost her, uh, her 19.3 bow, uh, somewhere along the course. Uh, and she hopes that some kid uh just found it and it brings them joy over in dublin, um, and and brings that same joy that that bow brought her during the princess races in 2025. So, lauren, way to go.
Speaker 5:Let's come back to the States, to Needham, massachusetts, for the Great Bear Run. Jake did the 5K in the mile and his 8-year-old son, teddy, did the mile. Let's see, jake got a new 735 Magic Mile. In the process they gave out teddy bears and medals for the kid finishers and lots of prizes. The mile was Teddy's first road race, so that's a PR. Congratulations, teddy. Jake thinks maybe Teddy's got the bug because he's asking about 5Ks that he can do. Next We'll see him at Disney, I hope.
Speaker 7:In Northumberland UK. Our friend Andy ran the Run Northumberland Anik Castle Trail 5K. Northumberland Anik Castle Trail 5K. This one takes part less than a mile from Anik Castle, the original filming location for Hogwarts in the Harry Potter series. It was a small field for this 5K. He did manage to snag his first top 10 finish in a running event, finishing 7th and looks like he would have been third in his age group if they had age group categories.
Speaker 3:Way to go, andy. Coming back over to the United States, in Boston, massachusetts, we had the Harpoon 5-Miler with a couple of rising runners there. Avery ran this race, kirsten also ran this and she says that you really cannot beat their after party. Our buddy, rob, was also there. He said it was a fantastic day. The out-and-back route through South Boston offers some great views and lots of community support and, just as Kirsten said, an amazing post-race party at the brewery. And also, to round it out, lauren was there and she got to spend some time with all the fellow rising runners that I just mentioned. Way to go, everybody.
Speaker 5:Mm-hmm Love brewery runs. Can't get enough of them. Don't have them around here, at least not many. Let's see Denver, colorado, denver Colfax. They had a half marathon and a marathon relay. Cree Kelly was one of the announcers there. Now Cree used to do run Disney races. I only met Cree once, had a chance to say hi to him. But the other person who was doing the race announcing there we know fairly well Brittany. Oh, that's right, I forget Brittany always does this one.
Speaker 5:Brittany was doing the race announcing, and Brittany had Hugo with her. Nice, that'll be great. We've got to get Brittany back on pretty soon. It's just been too long. We haven't talked to her for a while.
Speaker 3:Can we also get Hugo on, because I think he would be a fascinating interview.
Speaker 5:If we ask, I'm sure Brittany will bring him. Let's see. Kenda did the half marathon there. It was a gorgeous day. She felt really strong. Gorgeous day. She felt really strong. Came away with a brand new PR. Really proud, because she rallied after a hill at mile 11, ran her fastest mile at mile 13. That is something to be proud of, kenda, that's great.
Speaker 5:Sia participated in the marathon relay. The school she worked with, the school that she works with, sponsored a team for the relay. She got to run the first leg, which was a little over 10 kilometers. Now, sia wore Raven's wings as part of her costume, because the Raven is their school mascot, but she couldn't convince her non-run Disney friends to do the same, so she was the only one with wings. They may have helped her out because she ended up knocking out a PR for that 10K leg. She got in that leg. She got to run through the firefighter station and then the Bronco Stadium, which we used to call Mile High I don't know what they call it now. After she got done running, she got to relax and cheer for everyone else as they finished.
Speaker 7:It's always going to be Mile High Stadium to me, Bob, yeah.
Speaker 5:I agree, john. It's probably got a sponsor name, but I don't know what it is. In Rye, new York, the sole riders half Rye, new York Riders R-Y-E-D-E-R-S. Beth was there Can't recommend this one enough. Wonderful support, water, electrolytes and goo every two miles. Beautiful course, Only one big long hill and it ends in the famous Playland Amusement Park behind the rides. Best Son finished 10th overall and second place in his age group and the prize, john, was a beer. But Best Son is 20 years old so he couldn't claim the prize. Oh yeah.
Speaker 7:The 20 to 25 age group, nice.
Speaker 5:Yeah, good job, Good job. Asheville, North Carolina, the 5K at the Biltmore House Season and Season was there with someone else and I don't have a note of who it was, but they crushed their PRs. Season says the cicadas provided the perfect soundtrack, Not unlike the crickets provide the perfect soundtrack for Rise and Run. Oh, I don't think they're out quite yet. A little early for the crickets right now. Up in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the Good Life Fitness Form 10K which is part of the Blue Nose Marathon weekend. Lori was there. This was part of a two times 12K workout day for Lori, so she worked this 10K into her first 12K workout. It was cold and wet up in Halifax 48 degrees, wind, rain, lots of hills, almost 400 feet of elevation gain. Despite the adversity, she was happy with her result 58 minutes and just a little change. That's a great 10K.
Speaker 7:In East Providence, rhode Island, the Rhode Island half marathon. Charlotte was there. In Indianapolis, indiana, the she Power 10K. Julie and Emmy were there. They enjoyed a great weekend. In Indy Ran into two new rising runners, bobby and Ruby. It's a beautiful morning and fun to see Indy preparing for their big weekend. Do you know what that is, bob right?
Speaker 5:Oh Indy, yeah, of course I think everybody does. In fact, they ran into Bobby and Ruby at Flying Pig.
Speaker 7:And this weekend is the Indy 500. It sure is. And Callie was there. Oh, it's a first for her. My trusty Costco Lagans kept trying to slide down on the first mile or so, but luckily I got them to stay put somehow for the rest of the race. It was a good time and they gave me, and they gave us cake.
Speaker 5:That's always nice.
Speaker 7:I hope I went at what the tip was to keep those leggings up.
Speaker 5:Yeah, tie the drawstring. I guess Katie was in St Louis for the make tracks through the zoo 5k. Unfortunately it didn't run. I'm sure you read the news. The horrible weather to hit that area, it affected the zoo. The animals are okay but a lot of trees down, so no race. Katie's going to do it virtually In Greenville, south Carolina, the mountains to Main Street half marathon. Couple of runners. Susan said they got wet in the first three or so miles while running through the residential area but the last 10 miles were nice, uh, lovely swamp rabbit trail into downtown Greenville. She finished her first sub three hour half marathon, which of course is a PR. John was there too. It says his John's comment was the Not me Okay. Okay.
Speaker 5:The event seems to be getting bigger every year. Cynthia ran the average Joe run 5k in Orlando. I was looking forward to a report. Didn't hear any. This is the one where the average runner in each group actually gets the first place award.
Speaker 7:They'll run Houston's Clear Lake 5K. Katrina and family were there. The Demon Slayer family PR'd in the slowest 5K. Also PR'd in helping 76-year-old grandma to cross the second ever 5K, ever Heath Wow. We stayed with her from mile one, one and a one and a quarter all the way to the finish line. We were the last four finishers and had our own police escort. That's great. And Orion Michigan the dragon dash 5k. Bethany was there. It's a local race on gravel trail. Haven't done a 5k in years, except for a run. Disney, and I assumed I'd come in at a 1230 minute mile. The whole race I maintained a 50 second run, 25 second walk. She was shocked and so happy with her 1107 pace. Very nice, that's great.
Speaker 5:Yeah, up in Green Bay, wisconsin, the epic running festival half marathon. Jenna Lynn said it was perfect weather made for a great day to PR. Course was pretty flat. Wouldn't have been a Wisconsin race without cheese. At the post race snack pack Her kids showed up with a piglet poster because any race can be a Disney race with piglet and our buddy Tony was there.
Speaker 5:Tony says the year of PRs continues. Temps in the 40s Felt great. Most of the race Knew he was ahead of his 840 pace, which was his goal. Kept pushing and he got a shiny new PR of just a touch over an hour 52 minutes. When did PRs become shiny? But all of a sudden PRs are shiny and I'm good with that. Looks like a corral at Disney for Tony. Alexandra was at this race. Also, rand said the weather was a little different than it was at Springtime Surprise. All right, let's finish the weekend with an absolutely incredible event. All right, let's finish the weekend with an absolutely incredible event. This thing started early Saturday morning down in the Florida Keys the Keys 100. The respect I have for the people who do this knows no limits. Look, I was out doing a silly magic mile here and it's almost the same temperature where I am, but not quite the same.
Speaker 5:It's warmer down in the keys it is brutal and yet we had two friends who finished that 100 mile event and they both finished it. I don't have their times down here, but they're very close to one another. They were both at about 26 hours and I'm talking about Chad and Tommy. Now our other friends, tony and Adam, are all there Also. They're running support for Chad. I looked and I couldn't find the names of Tommy's support crew. But look, this was amazing. Chad finishes with an age group third place finish. Tommy wins her age group Absolutely incredible Just amazing.
Speaker 3:Here, bob, I do have their times up here. So Chad finished in 27 hours 2 minutes and 59 seconds minutes and 59 seconds, and Tommy finished in 25 hours 52 minutes and 19 seconds. Wow.
Speaker 5:Wow, that's absolutely amazing. That's great. Yeah, I know they were together for a little bit on the race course, but we have friends do this every year. We have different friends do it every year. It's I don't know. It's brutal.
Speaker 3:I go back to that episode where we talked to all the guys who ran the Keys. Was that episode maybe two years ago? Yes, and it always boggles my mind reliving that episode and hearing Chris Twiggs a man who has done Hard Rock, how many times 15, 16, I'm not sure yeah so over a dozen, and he's like I won't even do this one ever again.
Speaker 3:No, you won't do it again, so I mean it goes to show how difficult it is and the fact that I know Tommy has done it. I think this is her second time.
Speaker 5:I think she did the 50-miler last year.
Speaker 3:Oh, okay.
Speaker 5:Yeah, I hope I'm not wrong about that, because I don't want to take anything away from her, but I think this is her first 50-miler, or? But I think this is her first 50-miler or her first 100-miler down there.
Speaker 3:Oh yeah, Just so impressive across the board.
Speaker 5:Well, we know Chad does long-distance, ultra-long-distance running. He runs that event across the years, across the years yeah, he'll run 400 miles in six days, but he was talking about it this morning on Customize. It's different, it's different and across the years he may run 15, 18 miles and then he stops for a meal and and takes a nap and rests up and changes his clothes. This is go, and basically don't stop till you get to the end all right, actually keys.
Speaker 3:Keys has a great website here on their results. I did look it it up. Tommy did do the 100 mile last year.
Speaker 5:Oh, okay, I'm sorry, tommy, I thought you did. My apologies.
Speaker 3:This is a PR for her. Two years ago she did it in just over 31 hours. She did it this year in 29. Yeah, way to go, tommy.
Speaker 5:I'm glad you looked that up, Greg. Yeah, glad you looked that up.
Speaker 7:Thanks, and they did have a great support team in Tony and Adam. Those guys I know they ran that what two or three times themselves, yeah, so they know the ins and outs of that course.
Speaker 5:Yeah, they ran it last year and they finished in under 24 hours. Very impressive, Very impressive, Very impressive. Well, that's it for the race report for episode 191, my friends, Friends and if you run, you know you are our friend Thank you for hanging in with us. We hope you enjoyed it. We hope you enjoyed listening to John and Grant. It is a Zoom weekend. I will be there. I'm sorry it is a Zoom Thursday. I will be there. I'm sorry it is a Zoom Thursday. I will be there for this Zoom. Barring something unforeseen. I will be there for this Zoom. I really enjoy them and I hate that I missed the last one. Information is on the Facebook page. Meanwhile, stay cool if you can. If you're still in an area that's got cool weather, enjoy it. It's going to go away. If you're in an area that's in hot weather, okay, Just get used to it and we'll be talking later. But until then, happy running.
Speaker 3: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 healthcare provider or event organizer.
