Let‘s_Get_Uncomfortable

Episode 27: Jean Bell, Coach and founder of Jeuness Track Club, on building Black Girl Magic

Jean Bell, a judge for New York State and former college track runner, has been coaching girls in Brooklyn through Jeuness Track Club, the grassroots organization she founded in 1985. Jeuness athletes, ages 5-17, learn not only how to train for athletic excellence, routinely competing in national and world championships, but how to become dedicated students with the goal, often attained, of earning a college scholarship. Join us for Episode 27 of the Let’s Get Uncomfortable running podcast to hear how Jean Bell has overcome barriers of personal and institution doubt to become an inspiration to thousands of young girl runners in Brooklyn—and how she feels about the acclaimed Netflix documentary Sisters on Track, featuring three of Jeuness Track Club's runners.

Episode 26: Kim Rodrigues on using running to manage depression and stay in touch with herself

While attending Tilden High School in Brooklyn, Kim Rodrigues ran the 600-, 800-, and 1,200-meter dashes, and the 400-meter hurdles, mainly to stay out of trouble. Years later, as she celebrates her 57th birthday with 15 marathons under her belt and more to come, she reflects on how running not only set her on the right path in fitness, but also helped her manage bouts of depression. Kim has become a premier fixture in the New York City group running scene, but she continues to find solace in the internal nature of the sport. Join us to hear how Kim is redefining expectations for master’s runners—and doing it with an unmatched sense of style—on the first 2022 episode of the Let’s Get Uncomfortable running podcast.

Episode 25: Boogie Down Bronx Runners on building a vibrant running community from scratch and cheering at mile 20 of the New York City Marathon

When Lenny Grullon and Jean Paul (JP) Fontana, former basketball players from the Bronx, founded the Boogie Down Bronx Runners in 2017, they were their group’s only members. It took a few tries, but soon a few people showed up, including Chris Guzman, who wanted to get healthy and model an active lifestyle for his son. Today, the three of them lead well over 100 members, including 50 marathoners, throughout the Bronx, going beyond Van Cortlandt Park to Pelham Bay Park and down to the South Bronx. Their runs are inclusive by design, so that beginners feel welcome alongside experienced racers, and embrace the community, showing that running is happening in the Bronx, and not just with fast white guys. With a budding partnership with Nike and a raucous cheering section at mile 20 of the New York City Marathon, which returns this Sunday for its 50th anniversary after a pandemic hiatus, the Boogie Down Bronx runners show how investing in your community takes time, effort, dedication, and love — and pays off big time. Join Lenny, Chris, and JP for an inside look at how it happened and where it’s going, on the first episode of season two of Let’s Get Uncomfortable. (Note: JP had to leave the live recording but chimed back in for the hot mic segment.)

Episode 24: Mitchell Silver ”The People‘s Commissioner” on running, diversifying outdoor spaces, and never buying his wife flowers

Mitchell Silver’s drive and determination is the kind of story that inspires generations. The kid from Brooklyn who dropped out of high school after just two years, made his way back to earn degrees in architecture and urban planning, the first black president of the American Planning Association to then become New York City Parks Commissioner. His road had many turns and valleys, and deeply marked by the his mother's death at a young age, and the death of his brother and best friend Sam as an adult. His legacy as a runner and Parks and Recreations Commissioner will be felt for generations to come. His goal at the helm of the agency was to make public spaces more equitable. His decision to rename the Central Park loop after Ted Corbitt, the co-founder of New York Road Runners and its first and only black president is one of the many outdoor spaces he renamed under his tenure. Silver is training for the Chicago and New York City marathons in 2021, and memories of running with Harlem Run and the diverse NYC running community is what keeps him going.

Episode 23: Ashley Davies, the coach, runner and fitness instructor fighting for body positivity

On her calendar for 2021, Ashley Davies has marathon number 15 circled for October. It is going to be Boston. Marathon training is always a challenge, and her road to Boston is paved with learning to heal from an eating disorder at age 11. On episode 23, Ashley shares her difficult journey with anorexia, the prevalence of eating disorders in running, and why she entered a body building contest. For the past six years since moving to Seattle, Ashley has also made waves as a fitness instructor for Shred 415 Seattle, FlyWheel, as well as co-founded Seattle Club Runners Division.

Episode 22: Resident Runners on tacos, the NYC marathon after party and the freedom of running without pacers

The foundation for why Resident Runners was started in 2013 is pretty simple: three men who enjoyed each other's company, getting together for run and then grabbing a beer. In 2021 the bond between Rashaan Rogers, Eric Blevens and Raymond Hailes is stronger than ever, a global pandemic and fatherhood during social unrest would do that. Because now as fathers, they understand the impact of their contributions in running will have for their children, on and off the course. Whether it is supporting a local business like Gueros for their taco runs, collaborating with other crews under the Under Armour family, and hosting the best after party for the New York City marathon. Were you there when Method Man performed? or Jadakiss? Or Busta Rhymes? IYKYK

Episode 21: Harold Dale Jr. Southern Hospitality with The 504th Crew and NOLA

Before the United States and practically  the entire world went into lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The 504th hosted the Bridge the Gap NOLA in March 2020. The event, as with previous host cities, served as a gathering of like-minded run groups from all over the world. The recipe was simple: run together, run for a cause, run free, and party. All the money from the event was donated to Youth Run NOLA, in line with the mission that Harold Dale Jr., Trey Monaghan, Lindsey Dennis, Denali Lander and Marquest Meeks have for The 504th. bringing running to areas of New Orleans often overlooked by the larger running community since 2017. Harold Dale aka the Black Korean, also shares how his identity allows him to bridge two cultures with honesty and authenticity and why collaborations to make running accessible are starting to bare fruit. 

Episode 20: Coach Kai Ng and Leland Yu on Asian representation and Running for Chinatown

When Leland Yu found himself unemployed due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, he decided it was a good time to start running. Then Asian hate crimes became a byproduct of the pandemic, and Leland saw running as the best tool to raise awareness against Asian hate crimes. Running also became an outlet to support the businesses in Chinatown and essential workers.  With the help of running coach Kai Yu, Leland went from being comfortable at running 5 miles, to one day running 61 miles in 12 hours and raising $25,000 for Chinatown businesses. You can catch them every Monday night with their new group, Run for Chinatown. 

Episode 19: Mixpe Ley and Raquel Roman of Running Mamis

When Mixpe Ley and Raquel Roman met through social activism circles  in Los Angeles, they knew that were kindred spirits. It wasn't long after that, the two young mothers quickly noticed how running was different as a parent. Running Mamis was founded in 2018, to give moms a place to be active and find support in sisterhood. But it is much more than a running group. Through their activism and teaching background, Mixpe and Raquel are also championing for representation of the working class mom to have access to affordable running strollers, more inclusion in races that allow strollers, and helping women rediscover their strength after becoming moms.

Episode 18: Let WEPA Show You How Queens Is Doing it, Doing it, and Doing it Well!

Everyone has a different origin story for why they started running. For Gerardo Rodriguez, it was the death of a former student to cancer at just 24 years old. Gee aka El Oso Blanco then decided to turn his own life around and dive into running. It was 2015, and he has not looked back. The founder of the WEPA run crew in Queens, now has the 2017 NYC Marathon and multiple half marathons on his running resume. On our latest episode, he discusses sharing the running journey with his students, creating the Queens Running Collective, and never letting the naysayers get the last laugh.