Episode Transcript

[00:41:00] Um, and I just was driven by that goal. Uh, and then also it just helps that, you know, you have the show and you got a clothing line that revolves around running. So my whole life at that point, other than like, you know, day job, um, really just is all geared towards running around that. So it’s pretty easy.

[00:41:17] And I felt really good though, too. Like, even though it was Michigan weather in February and all that stuff in March, and obviously just snowed a little bit. It wasn’t like snow, snow, it was like flourish, but you know, a lot of times you got run it a lot of times you got to run on the treadmill, you know what I’m saying?

[00:41:34] But I just, I just use that goal as, as my, as my benchmark and kept me pushing, you know, kept pushing forward. Um, and then also like. Just to be, you know, full disclosure. I mean, I have alcoholic tendency, you know, like, um, if I, either I do it or I don’t like, if I, if I’m not going to do it just, you might as well just let me exit, you know what I’m saying?

[00:41:55] But if I’m going to say I’m, I’m a, I’m a run, I’m gonna do the show. I’m, uh, you know, all [00:42:00] this stuff I’m going to, I’m going to go like to the point where it’s like, okay dude, chill out. You know? So that, that helps a little bit that I’m just kinda built like that

[00:42:10] Kim: [00:42:10] let’s get into the race. Okay. So the day before, the big day, what did your day 

[00:42:18] Tommie: [00:42:18] look like?

[00:42:20] The big day, um, was CA it was kinda, it was kinda, kinda cool, kind of chaotic in a way too. Um, because I was, you know, we had a lot of content planned, you know, for, to make sure that we kind of, uh, could document some of this stuff. Um, so we, you know, I had the, I was supposed to do a show like on the 50 yard line, inside the bowl where you finished and we had a little camera situate crew situation going on.

[00:42:48] Um, yeah. So, you know, so like that was cool and weird at the same time. Like, I’m pretty sure people probably saw it as like they’re gonna win or something. Cause we got camera crews foul, and these [00:43:00] guys they’re acting like the camera crew isn’t there. Like it was wild. Um, but you know, it was, it was very like, it was good because I think that I would have been a little bit more overwhelmed with the concept of running the golden that the next day.

[00:43:12] So I kind of kept myself busy, but really just towards the end of the day, just tried to chill out, um, you know, lay your lay your bit about, and you pack it and all that stuff and take the picture. Um, but it was just a lot of, it was a dope life, a pickup thing. Um, and then like flat lay, right? Yeah. I don’t know.

[00:43:33] I 

[00:43:33] Kim: [00:43:33] don’t know once. I said, this is the one time I’m doing this 

[00:43:36] Tommie: [00:43:36] and that’s it. That’s it? Yeah. I mean, look at my time, I did it, all these metals you’ve got behind you it’d be too many. It’d be too much. You’ll 

[00:43:43] Kim: [00:43:43] find 

[00:43:43] Tommie: [00:43:43] one. Maybe I’m just saying like, who would want to see all those things? Exactly. 

[00:43:48] Kim: [00:43:48] Cause at that point you would have one like every week.

[00:43:50] Yeah. 

[00:43:50] Tommie: [00:43:50] It’s like, like I don’t care, you know? And then you start saying like, Oh, is she gonna change shoes? Um, but, well, 

[00:43:57] Kim: [00:43:57] I always wear a different pair of shoes. [00:44:00] See, I don’t post as much as I used to come running. So y’all, don’t, y’all, don’t get to see all the flavors that, uh, encompasses my collection. 

[00:44:09] Tommie: [00:44:09] Yeah.

[00:44:10] Maybe, maybe once. Um, you know, maybe once, you know, all this stuff gets more in-person races, again, all that stuff. Maybe we’ll, we’ll start seeing the flavor more often maybe, maybe, but, so the day, the day before it was cool, like we had a, you know, we weren’t thinking it through was there and we had a bunch of people, um, you know, come to, they’re going to be the cheer squad next day, uh, where they kind of post up on different spots in the chorus.

[00:44:32] Um, but they, they cooked and had some pasta and stuff like that. So it was dope and we kind of gathered it for a little bit, talk labs, all that. And then we went our separate ways and, um, prepare for the next day. 

[00:44:46] Kim: [00:44:46] So race morning, what did you do 

[00:44:50] Tommie: [00:44:50] race morning? Um, so I went, I went to sleep at like 12 or 1230, woke up at four because the race started at six 30.

[00:44:58] Wait 

[00:44:58] Kim: [00:44:58] why’d you go to bed so [00:45:00] late. I mean, because you’re not following their run, eat, sleep and repeat 

[00:45:05] Tommie: [00:45:05] what happened. No, like I, I just, I think I just didn’t plan it out. Right. So I ended up, you know, getting back to the hotel room like 10, and then you gotta, and then Instagram kind of swept me away for a second.

[00:45:18] And then you’re doing all this stuff you talking about, you know, posting some picture that you responding to people and all this other stuff. And then next thing you know, I’m like, I ain’t do my Flatlight picture. So I got to arrange that. Um, but yeah, it just, the time flew by and I ended up going to sleep at like 12 and didn’t sleep very well, but woke up at four.

[00:45:37] Um, and then just started the routine, got up, stretched, all that stuff did not stretch the hamstrings out weirdest thing ever. Like that’s like the go-to, but didn’t, for some reason I just got kind of carried away with other things. And then, um, did my normal routine, I guess, did a shakeout run before with some strides and [00:46:00] medical team and you know, me, Lance and Joe went to the, went to the corral and, you know, got into gear.

[00:46:09] Kim: [00:46:09] And, um, Lance and Joe, you guys kind of trained together. Yeah. 

[00:46:15] Tommie: [00:46:15] Yeah, for sure. They did the, they did the Hanson’s Hanson’s plan as well. Um, so it was very, it was, it wasn’t the exact as this one, I was on. But it was very structured, pretty much the same, like long runs and things like that and workouts on different days, but it just, they kind of lined up fairly well and we were able to kind of hold each other accountable.

[00:46:34] Um, and so that was fun to have to not, I mean, I was doing it by myself, but long runs and things were always with, you know, normally we’re with them, you know, if we could always make it happen or maybe even Saturdays or some of our easy runs where, you know, we ran together as well. So that, that does help to like, to kind of refer back to that question you asked before it helps so much to be able to connect with people.

[00:46:56] Like-minded individuals that, you know, [00:47:00] also like running, you know, and it doesn’t always have to be, you know, link up for the workout. You know, it’s cool to get together and just do some of those easy miles. Cause I mean, obviously, you know, running six miles easy or eight miles, whatever it may be fairly easy to do, but at the same time you do it for weekend week out.

[00:47:17] For six days a week, it can be pretty taxing mentally. So it’s really nice too, to be able to link up with people. And that’s why I’m it’s it’s, it looks good for, you know, 20, 21 to be able to see some of these cities and States kind of opened up a little bit and allowing people to go back to some semblance of normalcy or whatever.

[00:47:39] Um, and it’s just been, so that was cool to do that. So yeah, we did train together. So we, we lined up like knowing that each one of us put in an insane amount of work. 

[00:47:50] Kim: [00:47:50] Now, did you have any start line jitters because you told the world what you were doing, right? So you, you could, you could fail then you would have to cry about it on [00:48:00] Instagram.

[00:48:00] So were you like squeaky? Like I have to do this, I have to get it done. Like, what were you feeling when you. We’re getting ready to 

[00:48:07] Tommie: [00:48:07] take off now, honestly like this time, like I was expecting to, cause I was really nervous for the first marathon I did. I mean maybe cause it was just like, I hadn’t, I didn’t know what 26.2 miles even looked like at that point, even though I trained for it, um, this time around, I think I had that to lean back on to say like, you know, I’ve done this before, at least.

[00:48:24] Um, but then at the same time I had trained for this marathon. This training of black was any more than anything that I’ve ever done. And I hit every workout. I mean, they didn’t have, you know, I had maybe two bad workouts, but they were just, but I finished them. You know, like there was no, I was able to lean back on a great base of like you did this much stuff.

[00:48:46] Like today’s just a day where you only run 26.2. Like even though it’s a long distance, you can lean back on the fact that you put in an insane amount of miles and do a lot of work for this. Um, so I was really just quiet, you know, like I’m [00:49:00] not the, I’m not like the hype guy. Um, especially before a race.

[00:49:05] It’s just, I just got super quiet. Um, and then just was ready to go, like, you know, my wife and son and daughter were right there and it was really cool to see him. Uh, last time they, they sent me off to a marathon. For some reason, afterwards, I found out he thought that I was gone forever. Like, what do you mean?

[00:49:25] But, you know, so, so that, you know, they were there and, and it was just really cool to see them at that moment. I mean, the fact that it was a smaller race kind of helped too, because those bigger races probably get a little crazy, but they were like right there. Um, and our friends were there, all that. So it was like, I was cool.

[00:49:40] I talked to him, I was like, it’s going to be okay, good. I’m coming back. Right. Gotcha. 10. He was eight then, but he was like, cool, cool. And it was really the nest to see them when I took off. So it wasn’t too nervous. Really. I just knew I had put in a lot of work, you know, 

[00:49:55] Kim: [00:49:55] so walk me through your race. 

[00:50:00] [00:49:59] Tommie: [00:49:59] Okay.

[00:50:00] So, so it. Started off. Um, and you know, I started off a little, like w the goal was to start off right on pace. Like, um, I’m not really one of those ones that like, can start off slower and ease into it. I just feel like, cause then I feel like I would get too anxious and have to try to make up some ground.

[00:50:18] Um, so I just got out at six 29 first mile was exactly that, um, second mile was a little slower because I was purposely trying to like pull back in because I’ve heard many people about this race in particular, um, slow down in the beginning. It’s easy for you to prejudice go. And then that could have some effect later on.

[00:50:38] So I just try my best just to stay right there. Uh, did pretty well with that the first couple of miles, but like mild to, I felt like this tightness in my right hamstring. And it was the same issue that I had that I had at the end of my first marathon. Like Dan was the first month I was, it was really bad towards the end, but I was able to finish.

[00:50:57] So I felt it in the second mile, just like some tightness. And I’m [00:51:00] like, Oh, this is not good. Like. I can’t have to worry about this. You know, I think it was, but like mile five, I realized like, bro, you didn’t even stretch this. It took, it took me a while to figure out like what was happening. And I’m like, and I started thinking like, did I have any issues like before, like in the training block, is it that I do on any of my tempos?

[00:51:21] And I was running this pace the other day, did I have an issue? Like, Nope, Nope, Nope. All of a sudden it was like, bro, you didn’t even, you didn’t reach them. You didn’t, you ain’t do nothing this morning. You know, I did everything else. I did stuff that morning that I never did before. I did like twist and all these things that I seen on Instagram, but I ain’t do, I ain’t I stretch my hamstrings at all.

[00:51:40] Right. Um, so it was so like at mile five I realized that and I was like, so it for a second, I was like, should I just, should I just pull over? You know? And then like all over. I mean, I know. And at that point, if three or four miles in. [00:52:00] Lance and I had ended up, we, you know, people talk, you know, so like, you know, you start talking to people and you’re like, what’s your goal?

[00:52:06] What’s your goal? And we ended up having like a pack of six or seven of us, um, that were looked at or aiming at two 50 as their, as their finished time. So were by that time, like by the time I decided maybe to pull over and that, um, we would like eight people like going and just locking in, you know? And I’m like, you just got to rock with it and just get as much water as you can and just keep, you know, keep the pressure.

[00:52:29] Um, but it just was, it was very mentally taxing at that point, you know, like to have something like that and know how bad it hurt the first time it happened to like, to be dealing with that from basically 20. I mean, from mile two until like, like 18 or 19, you know? So, and it never, it never hurt. Like, just to be clear.

[00:52:49] I mean, it didn’t hurt. It was just one of those things where it’s like, this is going to be a cramp, you know? And yeah. So I changed my stride a little bit and tried not to like. Do too much, like push off and, you know, kick or whatever in the [00:53:00] back. Um, but it worked out like in, in, I just stayed in there and the miles, like the splits were very consistent, you know?

[00:53:09] Um, and I think at one point, like we, cause we had the cheer squad out there, so it was like, you know, random or height moments. And then like the camera crew was on the course too. So every time we’d see a camera that we kind of sped up, just a Ted, you know, it’s just naturally see a camera. If you take, you go a little faster.

[00:53:27] But um, at one point, you know, Lance just kind of started peeling off and I’m like, all right, like, and I knew that because of his leg thing, I’m like, I’m not, I can’t try to cover that at all because I just need to stay here and see how long I can last. Cause I don’t want to ruin a day at, you know, mile 16.

[00:53:43] And, but eventually he just cause you know, Lance is like a gifted athlete. Like he just, he just started taking off. So I’m like, just let him go do his thing. I wish him luck, you know, he got, um, so I just stayed there for, for quite a bit. And that’s when I kinda got into this dark spot, because [00:54:00] like I started thinking of all these things, like not like, what if I don’t do it, but it’s like, this is like, it just, it sucked, it was tough.

[00:54:08] The course wasn’t flat. Like they said, um, you know, like, I don’t know how much longer I can, you know, keep at this pace. And you’re just in this dark tunnel, it seems like in your thinking these negative thoughts, you know, and I just, all I kept saying was like, yo, just you, you trained for this. You didn’t train for this marathon to be easy because there’s no marathon, that’s easy.

[00:54:33] You know, like for those people, that’s like, yo, like I train, why is the 5k is hard? Or why is this half marathon? It’s hard. Y’all know we don’t train them for it to be easy. We just train it for us to get the time that we want and to PR and all that stuff, you know, Um, it gets easier, you know, like I wouldn’t have been able to do the time that I just put up on a Sunday.

[00:54:50] I wouldn’t been able to do that a year ago, but it still is just as hard as the first one, you know, it’d probably be harder this time for me than it was the first, the first marathon, you know? So [00:55:00] I kept leaning on that. Like, yo, you train for this, you train for it to be hard, but you train for yourself to be able to keep going when times got tough.

[00:55:07] So I just kept going, stayed the course, you know? Um, and at mile like 20, this lady, um, she had been either before us or behind us at some point in the, in the, like this pack, you know, um, she never was with us though. She looked like she was definitely a loner type of lady. Um, but she was holding the pay strong or whatever.

[00:55:26] And at one point we got pastor and at mile 20 and a half, she just started like, she just served, like she just went past us. I heard somebody yell, let her through on the left, you know, like I’m like, all right, fine. Cause we was on a little trail area and she went past and somehow I found myself running with her for a second.

[00:55:43] And I’m like, okay, well, she’s moving pretty quick. It’s mile 21 almost. And this is the time when you’re supposed to go a little faster. Was that the lady 

[00:55:52] Kim: [00:55:52] you passed on Instagram, there was a video 

[00:55:55] Tommie: [00:55:55] Billy that was running with, I saw you 

[00:55:58] Kim: [00:55:58] like you were with a lady and it looked like [00:56:00] you ran past her. 

[00:56:01] Tommie: [00:56:01] Yeah.

[00:56:02] Well, so yeah, we, we had, I was past her on the turn, you know, like, no, no, no. I mean that by the time, no, we ran. So we ran together for like 21 to like 20, 21 to 26, like solid, you know, and it was really cool because, you know, I later later come to find out she won a couple of marathons in Texas and she’s from Austin, you know?

[00:56:27] So she’s like very, very strong awareness. So it was really cool to find out that afterwards, but I just kind of locked in with her. You know, he was a really straight shot, you know, going in, um, for like basically five miles just running on a straight road. Um, so I just locked in with her and when we pass somebody and they said, Hey, um, you’re, you’re the seventh female runner.

[00:56:48] So I’m like, okay, that’s great. You know, thinking about her, I’m like, that’s dope. Let me just stick with her. And maybe I can help her just keep going at this pace or whatever. And then we got down to like the last four miles we were at like [00:57:00] six, 15, six, 16, something like that, six 17. And so we just, I just stayed there with her.

[00:57:06] And a couple of times I wanted to, if she wasn’t there, I think I might’ve just backed off and just finished because I still wouldn’t be cued or whatever, but I’m like, just stay with her and see what happens. Um, and then like a mile 25 and a half, uh, one of the dudes that was there, Knox Robinson, like he, they didn’t expect to see us or see me at that point.

[00:57:26] Cause I think they were just happened to be right there. And then he screams out like, Like yo like yo Tommy, like Tommy, this is your day, reach out and take it. And I’m like, and I was already amped up cause it was 25 and a half. And I just kind of hit, hit the gas a little bit and finished out strong and, you know, saw the, you know, the cheer squad that’s when you saw that video.

[00:57:49] And I turned that corner. So cheer squad tried my best, not to cry because I knew at that point that I was about to pee. I was about to PR by a lot, I was about to at least hit the time I was looking for. [00:58:00] Um, and then the cheer squads right there and it just felt really supported. Um, and that’s one thing about we went through in three is like, it was 30 of us there and maybe like seven of us ran, you know what I’m saying?

[00:58:10] Or eight. And it was just dope to know that people would get in their cars and spend the night in Toledo just to come outside in the cold at six in the morning to cheer us on, you know? So that meant a lot. And, but the crazy part is the whole course. I didn’t see my family. Like, I’m like, okay, I’m every crowd I’m looking like to you.

[00:58:28] If I can’t see a kid or nothing. Yeah. And then, but I’m like, okay, well hopefully they at the end and I turned the corner and they were right there screaming, and it was just a dope moment. Uh, they couldn’t be at the finish line because it was like in a stadium thing. So you had to go up in the stadium and finish on like 30 or 30 outline or whatever.

[00:58:48] But that’s like the recap of the, of the race in short, because a lot of crazy stuff happened at the time. 

[00:58:56] Kim: [00:58:56] So how did you feel when you like crossed the finish [00:59:00] line? Cause you knew at that point, you had to know that, well, you had your watch and once I saw that you stopped on your watch. 

[00:59:06] Tommie: [00:59:06] So I got made fun of for stopping my wife’s like that though.

[00:59:09] Like, they’re like, man, you are a no, 

[00:59:12] Kim: [00:59:12] what’s 

[00:59:12] Tommie: [00:59:12] the one the same thing. Yeah, no, it’s all my friends because you got to picture like a Lance, he coming in like what? His arms spread wide screaming, Joe coming through in a great pose. And I’m like, you know, let me fix his watch, you know? But like, so the whole thing, like the whole time I had my watch and lap pace.

[00:59:29] So you can’t see the elapsed. Overall time. So I changed, I took it out of that pace at like 25 and a half miles. So that’s when I knew like, as long as I don’t fall or die, I’m going to like, literally, um, I’m going to, I’m going to come in under, under two 50, like this is going to happen today. And so when I turned the corner into the stadium, you could see the clock and I saw two 48 something and I’m like, don’t let this turn the two 49.

[00:59:57] Like, it was like the weirdest thing you did all [01:00:00] this stuff just to get to two 50 and then you see two 48 and then yo ma and my first thought was, don’t let this turn the two 49, you know, like as if like that was a goal, but that’s the thought that’s the, I just wanted to continue to push and break that barrier in my mind.

[01:00:14] And, uh, it felt really great crossing the finish line. All this was done for like to qualify for Boston. Didn’t think about Boston at all at the end for like, it took me a few minutes to like, register like, Oh, dang, like we just qualify for Boston. You know what I’m saying? Um, and I just that’s when it hit, like, this is a dope day.

[01:00:34] Um, my friend qualified to, uh, Joe PR by insane amount. Like his, his official marathon was like four hours in like 30 something. He ran three Oh six. Wow. You know? Um, so it was just a really good day all around. And I think the thoughts were like, at that moment, I knew all this, all these miles and time away from family and all that, it was worth it’s worth it because at [01:01:00] least, um, they can look at it and say like, you know, my dad like worked hard to go pick the goal that like most people that look like me, maybe wouldn’t pick, you know, um, or from here wouldn’t really pick.

[01:01:14] So I picked that goal and then I did it. A lot of work to get there when like it just happen, you know, like they saw me leave out, they see it’s snowing. I still leave. You know, they see me come back fingers, numb complaining about the code, you know, they see, you know, they see all that, where’s that, Oh, he’s went for a run.

[01:01:33] You know, they see me come back after 16, 18, 20 miles around, you know? Um, so hopefully they, that translate to them as maybe not being a runner, but, you know, I pick a goal, um, and don’t just have a dream or whatever. Cause dreams kind of like are good. Those are cool, but pick a goal and, and find out the way to get there.

[01:01:57] You know? Cause even if things, things haven’t been [01:02:00] done before, you know, in your knowledge, I mean there isn’t, there’s not many things in this world that just haven’t been done. So there’s, there’s a structure somewhere for you to follow, you know, or at least know where the first step is. And the first step for me for that was to find a plan that I could train under that would help, you know, give me the best chance.

[01:02:17] And so my daughter, she wants to go travel Paris and be an artist there’s there’s there’s framework for that, you know, um, it starts with you, you know, eighth grade, but getting good grades, you know? Cause you gotta, you gotta, you know, go to a college that suits you, that you get to pick because you know, Oh, you know, community colleges, they, art programs don’t really be slapping like that, you know?

[01:02:38] Nope. Um, so it’s just like, Hey, pick a goal. That’s scary. Don’t be afraid to say it either. You know? Cause I should, I could have just said, I want to qualify for Boston. I didn’t have to save two 50. I could have said three, three hours and not have been fine, but you know, pick a crazy goal and go after it and do some work.

[01:02:57] Kim: [01:02:57] So what’s your for your age group? What’s the qualifying [01:03:00] time. 

[01:03:00] Tommie: [01:03:00] Oh three Oh five. Cause I’m old. 

[01:03:03] Kim: [01:03:03] So you.

[01:03:06] Tommie: [01:03:06] I mean, I’m just saying, I feel old. I feel old because like Joe and Lanza so much, like not so much, but the younger than me and they’re, they’re, they’re qualifying time as three hours. So minus three. Yeah. You don’t 

[01:03:15] Kim: [01:03:15] look old though. You’re not old for the record because I’m probably older than you. 

[01:03:23] Tommie: [01:03:23] We don’t have to discuss 

[01:03:24] Kim: [01:03:24] this.

[01:03:25] I’m 30 now I will be 40 years old. And I was, 

[01:03:29] Tommie: [01:03:29] I swore that she was going to say younger than me and I was going to be happy about it. Oh, that’s dope. That’s dope. That was dope. Yeah. So keep eating what you eating cause we need you at 90 years old, run a marathon. 

[01:03:40] Kim: [01:03:40] Yeah. I mean, I need to turn vegan cause I, I eat.

[01:03:43] Okay. But you know, as you get older, when you’re a woman, you know, the pounds come on and you gotta work hard to, to stay in shape and try to keep them off, you live with a woman, 

[01:03:52] Tommie: [01:03:52] you know? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, maybe you just got to keep, you just got to keep pushing. I mean, it’s just really, it’s, it’s really cool to [01:04:00] see.

[01:04:00] I just love seeing like, you know, more and more of us. Well, men and women are out doing this thing, you know? Um, and like I was talking to my sister, she’s like, yeah, I’m going for a job. Um, I’m gonna stop calling it jogging after what you did on Sunday. I mean, I’m stop calling it running after what you’d done.

[01:04:17] It sounded like now you’re a runner. Like you run. That’s what it is. You know, if you go outside and you walk job a couple of times a week, are you jog the whole time or you run or whatever it is, if you just step up in the houses, lace-up shoes, you, you run, you, you belong in this community. It ain’t just the people that don’t look like us, that, you know, that been doing this forever.

[01:04:39] For some reason. It’s not just them. We part of this community too. 

[01:04:42] Kim: [01:04:42] And you know what? I was just on, um, another runners podcast. And I call those people who think that, you know, people that walk, run or jog run snobs, because that’s what they are, you know, where, you know, we may not be as fast as the next [01:05:00] person, but you’re stepping out the door is the first step.

[01:05:03] And everyone should be commended for making that first step, because most people are not doing, especially people that look 

[01:05:10] Tommie: [01:05:10] like us. Yeah, absolutely. Like it is same on whoever it is and same on them, especially if, if they look like us and they like to it and they nose up or whatever, to somebody trying to get into it, or just their goal is just to run one 5k or whatever it is, because that’s what, I mean, other people was doing that to us for too long.

[01:05:35] Why would we do it to each other? You know, there’s a reason why when you go to a race is, um, the only black people I see is the ones I know, you know? Um, and that’s not, that’s not true for every race in every city, but the, you know, is predominantly one, one race and it’s not us, you know, and we need to, there’s so much out here, like, you know, running is so [01:06:00] transformative.

[01:06:01] Um, it’s such a Keystone habit, you know, like people I’ve seen people start running and decide to go vegan or vegetarian because they just want to feel better and they want to run faster and they want to be out there with us or whoever, you know? Um, it’s just one of those things. It’s like, like alcohol was it for me.

[01:06:20] And then it led to running, you know, I took alcohol away and then I ended up getting a runner. Um, but I’ve seen people treat running the same way and it just absolutely changes their lives and shame on whoever it is saying that like, No, like just say that we not runners or something, you know, because they started somewhere too 

[01:06:41] Kim: [01:06:41] and people forget where they’re started.

[01:06:44] Yup. Unfortunately. So what’s next for you? You got your beak, Hugh, you’re running a little fat. You always ran fast. You now you just run faster. So w w what’s next for you? What’s on your 

[01:06:57] Tommie: [01:06:57] schedule? The goal [01:07:00] is to just get back in the lab, keep working, um, do like some shorter races this summer, like switched the training plan a bit to make it, and you know, not so much about the marathon.

[01:07:10] Um, run some fast as possible, five Ks and 10 K stuff like that. Do like a faster half, like in half marathon in the fall. And then after that, um, start trying to for Boston wait. 

[01:07:25] Kim: [01:07:25] So if Boston happens in October, you’d be doing blessin and April 22. 

[01:07:32] Tommie: [01:07:32] Yeah, because, so the one, the one in October was, is the delayed COVID version of the one that’s supposed to happen.

[01:07:40] Um, like a couple of weeks ago, you know, the Patriots day. Um, and the cutoff for that, coincidentally was the 23rd. We raced on the 25th. So he just said, but I like it. I think it’d be better that way. It’ll allow me some time to train and get faster. Cause I want to go to Boston and I want to PR again, [01:08:00] you know, um, it is not easy.

[01:08:03] No, no, no. And then Dakota, I lived in Boston for like six, seven years. And that’s why I wanted to go back there and run that race because I know how important it is to the community on the, how hard it is to run that race. I know the history and all that stuff. So it was like, Oh, that’s what I want to do.

[01:08:18] So I’m very like, so I’m very aware that it’s, that’s a tough course and that’s why I want to get back into the lab, started training and working on different things to make me just a stronger runner for that. For that moment, because, I mean, I don’t know, people say like go to Boston and enjoy the experience or whatever.

[01:08:32] Um, but like I said, um, this whole, yeah, my personality doesn’t work like that, all that. We just move all the way. Um, and that’ll be fun to me. And, you know, I’d rather, I’d rather hit heartbreak Hill and like, and just not finish because I went so hard and try to then like, then go for the first time in like, just enjoy it.

[01:08:56] Maybe I’ll go back another time and then just jog it out, you know, but I want to [01:09:00] go hard there and finished strong and, and have a, have a great day. Um, so the plan is just to get back in the lab and keep going. 

[01:09:08] Kim: [01:09:08] Well, Boston is great and all, but I’m going to need you to add the New York city marathon to your list 

[01:09:14] Tommie: [01:09:14] because 

[01:09:15] Kim: [01:09:15] that’s the best marathon in the world.

[01:09:17] And the 

[01:09:17] Tommie: [01:09:17] world is in the world, in the world, in the 

[01:09:19] Kim: [01:09:19] world. Okay. Blessing. I got in the inner 

[01:09:22] Tommie: [01:09:22] city. Okay, well, I’m not going to repeat that out loud because I need to, well, yeah, no, I definitely want to run my bed. I definitely want to run all of them. Like I want to run all the major marathons. I think that’s really cool.

[01:09:34] Um, and to be able to kind of, what is it like the seven six, eight, six, six. I don’t know where I’m going. Seven. 

[01:09:44] Kim: [01:09:44] There they’re scouting a seventh, actually. So I hope that I get my sixth before at the seventh. Hurry 

[01:09:51] Tommie: [01:09:51] up, man. Um, what’s one, are you missing Berlin? 

[01:09:54] Kim: [01:09:54] I have Berlin. I’m missing London, Tokyo Boston 

[01:09:59] Tommie: [01:09:59] also, [01:10:00] also.

[01:10:00] So you already did in New York and now Boston seems to be more important than the list. Now I’m just saying 

[01:10:05] Kim: [01:10:05] now blessing I’ll have, I’m not fast. I have to fundraise. So Boston is last on my list. The least of my concerns is Boston. Tokyo is like the hard one to get into 

[01:10:15] Tommie: [01:10:15] now. Is it a lottery or what. 

[01:10:19] Kim: [01:10:19] Um, they have a lottery which barely anyone gets into and they have something where you can pay money, um, like to get a spot, but they go so quick now that, and their charity, like you can raise money for charity and still not get in, which is crazy.

[01:10:38] Yeah. Yeah. Like you raise all this money and you don’t get a spot. So I don’t know what I’m going to do about Tokyo. Like I should’ve did Tokyo years ago before it got popular. Cause I would’ve just paid that money and got in, but now it’s like so popular. It’s just going to be, yeah, 

[01:10:55] Tommie: [01:10:55] I think the cool part of the cool part about the running and what the time I did it, as long as I [01:11:00] applied for some of these within the right timeframe.

[01:11:02] Like I won’t have to worry about the lottery. Yeah. So that’s, that’s a, that’s a good part of it. Um, but yeah, I think that it would be really nice to travel and do those things and run the big marathons. Absolutely. You know, run New York obviously, because it’s so legendary. Um, and then we will figure it out from there.

[01:11:21] Yeah. 

[01:11:21] Kim: [01:11:21] Did the three month, three boys bring your talents over to the big Apple so we can show you what a real marathon course looks like, run over these five bridges. 

[01:11:30] Tommie: [01:11:30] Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I’ve seen it on TV. I’d have watched it. I think that, I mean, it’s definitely would be super dope to do and, um, you know, say less we there.

[01:11:41] Kim: [01:11:41] Well, yeah, invitation is open. Maybe, you know, if you want to get in your girl hook y’all up and help y’all instead of race. 

[01:11:50] Tommie: [01:11:50] Yeah. I know. I knew. And I noticed you, you, you connected over there. You a big deal. That’s why I said I talked, like I told you before. Um, when I used to ask [01:12:00] me what my thoughts were when I crossed the finish line and I had a few thoughts, one of them was like, while I was stopping and I looked at my time or whatever on my watch, I’m like, God, I’m about to be on a railway for sure.

[01:12:12] That’s I was like, God, this is wrong. This is a runway of time right here. I think, 

[01:12:18] Kim: [01:12:18] you know, I had two of the fastest black men on Instagram, Ronald Joseph and Philip King, you know, Phillip 

[01:12:27] Tommie: [01:12:27] King. No, I dunno, but I know Ronald Joseph 

[01:12:30] Kim: [01:12:30] though, look up Peking duck on Instagram. That dude is like, he’s fast. That’s my boy.

[01:12:39] And you know, Ronald Joseph. Yeah. Joseph was the first guest on The Run Wave Podcast. 

[01:12:46] Tommie: [01:12:46] That’s dope. That’s dope. Yeah. Like he hit me up the other day cause he saw what we did. And when we posted his art brothers, y’all got to keep pushing. I mean, know if y’all need anything, we need more of us out there. Um, and it’s just like, you just.

[01:13:00] [01:12:59] Yeah, I just, I, I, uh, that if we could somehow just change the narrative or continue to push that and just get more of us out there running, and it’s not even like, it’s gotta be like a race thing. Like we gotta, you know, it’s just, w we just know that running is such a huge help to so many people, you know, and it just starts good things and there’s good people in it.

[01:13:23] Like the Joe was talking about, he had some at one of the points where he was having a, he didn’t hit a wall, but he had some tough times. One of the guys who was running, it was like, so hype, like, you can do it, you know, like, you know, really getting into it. And, uh, this community is full of such great people.

[01:13:40] Like other than the run snobs, there’s so many great, nice people. And, you know, the fact that we all lined up to go run that stupid 26.2 miles brings us together. And we’re all supportive. You meet so many different people, like. You know, like, I’m sure like tons of your Instagram followers right now [01:14:00] you’ve run with or met somehow, you know, through running.

[01:14:03] Um, and it’s just such a nice community and we just need to get more of us into it. And it’s not just a white sport, you know, it’s not just a white thing, you know, like we got, no, we got legs and feet too, you know, and you 

[01:14:15] Kim: [01:14:15] know what being we’re in this whole social movement right now, you know, these racing directors, these racing companies, these shoe brands, they’re looking toward us, you know, to not, you know, I don’t like really promoting certain brands, but you know, they’re giving us a spotlight on, you know, their pages and they’re putting us out there, which is, you know, it’s a good thing to get the word out about the sport to others.

[01:14:45] But yeah, I’ve just seen like such an evolution. Like I started in 2012 and yeah. We didn’t have incident. There was Instagram, but we were in posted on Instagram. We have Facebook back then, and it’s just, things have changed so much and evolved [01:15:00] too. Even for me, like, I never would have thought today that I would have a podcast or, you know, I would run the world.

[01:15:08] It was when I started the one that was never in my mind of what running would take me. So, yeah, it’s just, it’s been a wild ride and I’m glad to see you guys coming up. I feel like a veteran now, you know,

[01:15:24] Tommie: [01:15:24] young bucks coming up, 

[01:15:26] Kim: [01:15:26] see new runners coming on the scene cause they can, you know, scrolling on the gram gets boring. And when I get to follow new people like you guys and see what you’re doing, it makes me to S you know, it gets me excited to keep running because you know, I I’m skating now. I haven’t even run in like over a week because of, 

[01:15:44] Tommie: [01:15:44] we need you back out there.

[01:15:45] No skirtings dangerous. 

[01:15:48] Kim: [01:15:48] But talking to you has motivated me to run tomorrow. Not today, tomorrow. I’m 

[01:15:53] Tommie: [01:15:53] going to run. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Don’t, don’t, don’t go crazy, you know? Um, yeah, but it, yeah, I just think [01:16:00] that, um, just the more of us out there, the merrier, you know, um, it’s just it’s and I like the, like the brands are rocking with us, you know?

[01:16:07] Um, and even if it’s, even if it’s for, even if it’s good for business, I was listening to Selema on, um, I remember his last name at the moment, but he was on the rich roll podcast and he was saying, even if it’s, um, just good for business at the moment to rock with like black folks. Sure. You know, um, as long as, you know, we’re prepared to utilize that opportunity, you know, and do something with it, you know, and not just be like the representation for representation sake.

[01:16:38] Um, so that’s like, that’s what, we’re what, I’m what I’m seeing. And what I’m trying to do with anybody that I’m working with at the moment is to make sure that I. Use that, um, as a platform to continue to grow into whatever way that, you know, we see fit. Um, but representation definitely matters. And I’m liking that.

[01:17:00] [01:16:59] It’s, um, I’m starting to relate to more of the, of that representation and 

[01:17:04] Kim: [01:17:04] listen, I’m a need, you don’t be doing these posts for free. Okay. We need to be getting paid for our representation. Okay. We not don’t be giving it away. Yeah. They got the money. So the free kicks are nice and everything, 

[01:17:17] Tommie: [01:17:17] but show me the money.

[01:17:20] Yeah, for sure. I mean, cause like that’s like the cause and I think that like just being new in this space and trying to make it work is, you know, you, you see, you see what other people are doing and getting, you know, issues and things like that. Um, and just being new in the space, you’re like, yo that’s dope.

[01:17:39] Yes. Send it, send it along. Uh, but you don’t know what the other people, you know, have behind the scenes. And that could just be getting the same thing you’re getting, but you don’t know. So it’s like, you just have to learn to figure out like, okay, well, you know, if there is no money, you know, at this moment for this thing or for whatever it is, make sure, like I [01:18:00] was saying, make sure that you’re, you’re able to take whatever this is, whatever this relationship is or means, or however it’s shaped, make sure that we’re able to, you know, move something forward in that sense.

[01:18:11] And it’s not just, uh, you know, grab a couple of two or three followers or something like that. And, and you get the, they, you know, and then they sell 20 shoes, you know? Um, but it’s like, you make sure that whatever it is that you maximize that opportunity. Cause there’s a lot of opportunity right now to work with a lot of these brands.

[01:18:27] So it’s like, you gotta just be aware that like, while this thing is happening, even if it’s for the wrong reason on their, on their part, you know, make sure it works for you and, and make it negative what to do. Cause that’s one thing about black posts. We will make it do what to do for sure. You know, and as long as, as long as we use it now, more than ever, you know, cause it’s not just running and just so many industries are tapping in, you know, because of, you know, what’s been transpiring and the world seems to kind of be waking up a little bit [01:19:00] to some of the things that have been happening that just way out of pocket, not alive.

[01:19:04] Um, so it’s like whatever industry you in, make sure that you, you know, use this opportunity to promote growth in your family, your community, um, and all that. And that’s definitely a thing right now. 

[01:19:20] Kim: [01:19:20] And on that note, I would like to thank Tommy. Tommy runs for being on The Run Wave Podcasts. Um, let everyone know where they can find you on 

[01:19:32] Tommie: [01:19:32] socials.

[01:19:34] Okay on socials. Um, you can find me on, uh, I’m not sure how you can find me on app links. You gotta let them know that it’s coming. 

[01:19:42] Kim: [01:19:42] Yeah. We’re not going to put that link up. It’s a, you, uh, change that picture and update your results. 

[01:19:46] Tommie: [01:19:46] So embarrassed by that. Oh, we’ll go right there. Like right now I’m on Instagram.

[01:19:52] You can follow me at, at Tommy runs is T O M M I E. Underscore runs with a Z. Tommy underscore runs [01:20:00] a and then also you can check out the other Instagram it’s at chip time running on Instagram. So everything starts there. Just check the Instagrams out, timey runs and ship time running. And do you have any questions on how to get anywhere else?

[01:20:14] I’ll help you 

[01:20:15] Kim: [01:20:15] pick you up some gear from chip time running, you know, this cute 

[01:20:20] Tommie: [01:20:20] friendship and newest shirt is from what about the wrench manure? That’s another thing about the running community is so many entrepreneurs in the run community. So I made the word. Entrepreneur. I’m 

[01:20:30] Kim: [01:20:30] going to go take a picture.

[01:20:31] My photographer just got home, my son. Wow. So 

[01:20:37] Tommie: [01:20:37] help me, help me out, bro. 

[01:20:39] Kim: [01:20:39] I’m going to take a picture in my wrench of canoeing, clean zone. 

[01:20:44] Tommie: [01:20:44] I’m about to, I’m about to have you sign this waiver cause I’m using you on goodbye. Hey, like, uh, let me get in there. Um, yeah, I’m gonna make you sign this waiver cause I’m gonna use that picture on my Instagram pages.

[01:21:00] [01:21:00] You 

[01:21:00] Kim: [01:21:00] can I’ll tag you. You can feel free to use my picture. We have to support if we don’t support each other. Well, 

[01:21:08] Tommie: [01:21:08] I don’t know. That’s when you get support that you throw that emoji and the guy’s like, I don’t know. 

[01:21:16] Kim: [01:21:16] All right. So thank you again for being on the show. 

[01:21:19] Tommie: [01:21:19] Thank you. Thank you. Thanks so much. 

[01:21:22] Kim: [01:21:22] I hope you enjoy listening to Tommy.

[01:21:25] Tell us his incredible story about running the glass city marathon and getting that coveted Boston qualifying time and then some, so we should be seeing him in the Boston marathon next year, April, 2022. I am so looking forward to seeing him crush that chorus as well. So I want to thank you again for tuning into The Run Wave Podcasts and I will catch up on the next one later.

[01:21:57] Thank you so much for tuning into [01:22:00] the show. Be sure to subscribe to The Run Wave on your favorite podcast app and leave us a review of the show on Apple podcasts. It would really help me out if you are a runner that has a story to tell, and you would like to be on the show. You can email. hello@therunwave.com or send us a DM on Instagram to the run wave.

[01:22:22] See you next time. .