Kevin Chang: So in
2021, we are looking at
race mob as a platform,
not just a platform
for you and I to speak
because you know,
that's just one voice.
But giving people and
lending people the
platform so that they
can have a voice so that
they can inspire the next
generation of fitness
Bertrand Newson: Others
have found running it
and fitness in general,
to be therapeutic as
a form of therapy.
, that's helped them
navigate and cope where
they can still find some
meaningful community and
we'd want to continue
to be an Avenue for
positive energy, for
hope and inspiration
Kevin Chang: hello,
and welcome to the
Racemob Podcast.
This is episode number 31.
I'm Kevin entrepreneur
technology and
fitness nerd, and the
founder of race mob.
I'm joined by master
motivator, founder of two
legit fitness co-chair
of the Taji 100 R R C
a certified coach USA
track and field certified
official the incomparable
Bertrand Newson.
This episode is brought
to you by race, mob,
and inclusive community
for endurance athletes.
If you like our podcast,
you'll love our YouTube
channel, where we keep
you up to date with
news for the running
world and give you
tips that will help you
improve your running.
Check us out by searching
race mob on YouTube
and subscribe today.
All right, coach.
We've got a very
special episode for our
podcast guests today.
We're taking a look at
20, 20 and 2021 taking
a look at where we've
been, where we've come
from, going back to our
very first episode and
talking about our goals
at the time, what we
wished for what we hope
for during that very
first episode and taking
a look forward to 2021.
What the future holds
and the initiatives that
we want to take into
this new year and bring
that to our audience,
to listen to you.
So, Matt, what are your hot?
This is episode number 31.
Can't believe that
we've been together
for 30 episodes now,
basically six months.
Close to 4,000 downloads
at this point in time,
maybe getting closer
to 5,000 downloads the
incredible number of
guests, the impactful
information that we've
taken away throughout
the last several months.
And so want to kick
it over to you.
What have been your
takeaways from the last
six months of working
on this podcast to go
Bertrand Newson: It
doesn't feel like
we're Kevin, because
it is so much.
Joy one.
I have the benefit of
having some conversation
time with you talking
to some wonderful
guests and we've had
so many inspirational
stories, so many great
fitness and wellness
knowledge shares as well.
It's been incredibly
rewarding, fulfilling,
and I just, I look
forward to each week
in each conversation
and that's taken us.
With guests in our own
backyard and from guests
around the world, which
is just been so cool.
And just getting the
feedback from our
audience on how the
podcast conversation has
kept them engaged and
where they felt they've
had some good takeaways.
It's just really cool.
I can't wait to continue
the journey that we've
we've started in six
months, 30 plus episodes,
like you said, closer
to 5,000 downloads.
And it just, um, and I
have to thank you your
vision when you had,
uh, you had podcast
production on your
personal calendar or
roadmap for a while.
And again, you put in
the time to study the
process, the impact,
and you sold me on the
vision of communicating
and sharing.
Relevant content that's
meaningful from the
heart being consistent
and for us to produce,
uh, you know, deliver
a podcast every single
week with some really
compelling guests.
It's been great, man.
So I, again, I'm having
so much fun and just
happy to kind of look
back and reflect and to
see the progress we've
made and where we're,
where we're headed.
Kevin Chang: Absolutely.
And taking a look
back at that first
episode, it's a little
bit cringe-worthy, you
know, our audio wasn't
exactly on point.
I ability to the
camera has definitely
improved over time.
My ability to interview
guests and get
conversations flowing
in a more consistent
and collaborative
manner, I think has
improved over time.
And so.
Yeah, personal growing
experience for the two of
us, which is fantastic.
I think we've gotten a
lot better over time and
just taking a look at
each of those nuggets
that we had touched on.
I think we have
almost checked the
box on most of them.
Hey, our goal is to
talk to like-minded
individuals and being
able to reach out to
professionals and experts
in the field and check.
Yes.
We've been able to do
a lot of that, right.
Taking a look at
techniques, different
training techniques,
running form.
Different, uh, you know,
different techniques
that will help people
both in their training
and on race day.
And I think we've
done a lot of that.
I think there's
definitely a lot more
that we can bring to the
table in this new year.
And so I love the
ability to dive in,
in, on different
techniques, on different
strategies on race day.
And we've been able to
talk to you both elite
athletes, like the Verity
brains of the world
who can really dive
into the intricacies of
warding somebody off.
Versus, you know,
people brand new to
the sport and the
lessons learned on
their very first races.
And so that was the next
item on the list was
being able to talk to
the non elite athletes.
You mentioned endorphin dude.
And so yes, 2021 goal.
Let's get endorphin
dude, on the show, uh,
we had talked about
Jake McCluskey and
his incredible story.
So being able to
talk to non elites.
Um, we've had Joyce
Lee on the podcast.
We've had a number of
people who have just had
inspirational stories.
And so that has been
fantastic and wonderful.
And then being able
to talk to people,
not in our local area,
around the world, even
recently, we've had
people from Singapore.
We had, uh, Sam from Florida.
We've been able to
communicate with people
from Pennsylvania, New
Jersey, Louisiana within
our training programs.
So that has been really,
really rewarding.
The ability to talk to
people, not just in the
immediate area, but have
a more national reach.
And hopefully when
races come back, really
being able to meet with
all of these people in
person and have that
connection with them.
When we go to there on race day.
Bertrand Newson: Our
reach has been great,
and it is very fulfilling
to get validation that,
you know, just two dudes
having conversation
about life and health
and fitness and people
wanting to share their
own stories and how
our listeners are
benefiting from just open
meaningful conversation.
And, uh, regardless
on the person's
experience in running
mate, whether they're
they're relatively new,
like Samuel was in, in
Florida where he found
his fitness bug and
just changed his life.
Well, you know, 40
plus pounds of body,
weight loss, and avid
runner, two people,
who've been doing it
for a long time to very
fluid and efficient and
their willingness to
share their knowledge.
It's great.
Kevin Chang: Absolutely.
And I think another thing
that we had listed down
was being able to talk
to race directors, being
able to talk to races.
And I guess at the
time we didn't really
realize how devastating
this pandemic, would
continue to be even
this far in the year.
You know, I think it
was may at that time
period, it looked like
we had gotten over,
um, a hump, a hurdle.
Um, we didn't realize
there was going to be
a second wave now with
third wave going and that
races live racing would
be indefinitely delayed
in much of the country.
And so.
I think at the time
we were thinking, Oh,
fall, maybe we are
going to have some
of these libraries
and events definitely
into next year.
And yet when we talked
to Big Sur Marathon,
when we talked to a
couple of other races
here locally, and them
saying Q3 20, 21 might
not even happen, Q4 20,
21 might not even happen.
You know, we're, we're
definitely delaying for
a while that I think
has thrown us for a loop
a little bit in some
of our plans that we
had earlier this year.
And we've been
adapting as we go.
So yeah, it's been
really good having those
conversations and also
understanding how races
have been able to adapt
to the virtual world.
And we continue to have
conversations on how
we can help them adapt
to the virtual world.
I think as you know,
like my background
is in technology, so
helping people out
on that side, on that
front and figuring out
new ways for people to
experience virtual races.
That's definitely
something that's been
interesting to me,
intriguing to me.
And we keep diving
into that as we get
into 2021 as well.
Bertrand Newson: And
as, as much as we talk
about live races, the
impact, the significant
impact it's had on our
friends and as race
directors, how it's
affected the local
running communities, the
run clubs, how they've
had to change their
meetups or interaction,
the frequency and being,
you know, smaller groups.
If you don't feel well,
don't come out and just
being the importance of
sustaining community.
You've seen more
virtual happy hours
popup as well.
So people getting
more familiar with
the uncomfortable
with, uh, virtual
conversations in keeping
that running vibe.
Along and being able
to share and still have
some sense of fellowship,
which is it's been taken
away from us in many
ways, because we can't
get together in groups.
LIke we have in the past
and we've had race day,
we look forward to race
day and running together
their own races and, you
know, finishing, getting
that finished metal put
around our neck and then
turning around like, you
know what, there's still
other people out there
let's go back on and out.
Yeah.
And route them on
that that has not been
replicated that has
been lost, um, in this.
Current normal that we're
in and we will get back
to that at some point.
And for some it's tough.
I mean, I've had some
real open and candid
conversations with team
members who are really
having a tough time by
missing live racing, but
just the ability to get
together in, in groups
and to run as frequently
as we have in the past.
And just still finding
ways to still connect.
You know, even if
you're running solo on
a trail, you can still
share those photos
that you, you like.
And we can pick up on
that, you know, see
through your eyes and
what you know, and
support and give you
shout outs and accolades.
But there's still, you
know, for some, it is,
it's still an adjustment
period and, um, you know,
Here we are in 2021 back
scenes are happening.
Uh, hopefully going
to be put on the fast
track a little bit
quicker with the new
administration and we
can get back to some, you
know, semblance of what
we were were used to.
But again, that could
be the second half
of this year or into
the fourth quarter.
We really don't know,
but the ability for
us to share, um, for
us to connect and
more importantly, our
listeners, um, the
race mob community,
to be able to show
them that, you know,
it's, it's great, man.
It's great.
Kevin Chang: That part of
it has been completely.
Fantastic.
I think the podcast,
in terms of the types
of guests that we've
been able to get on
the show, the types
of conversations that
we've had, it's gone way
beyond my dreams when
we first started this.
And, you know, I think
that's the piece that
we'll definitely be
continuing here in
2021 as we look forward
or, you know, being
able to invite these
types of guests, these
types of professionals.
And we'd love to know
what our audience.
We'd love to hear, you
know, if you've got
particular guests, if
you've got particular
topics, if you've got
particular interests that
you're interested in us
covering or people that
you think we should be
talking to reach out to
us, you know, my email
is
[email protected].
You can reach out to coach
[email protected].
Let us know if there's
topics that you'd
like for us to cover
in this podcast, and
we're happy to oblige.
We're happy to bring.
Guests and people onto the show.
Um, and I think really
that's been a really
rewarding part of it too,
is the ability for us
to talk to our audience,
communicate with our
audience as well.
And it's kind of
difficult to do on the
podcast side, which is
why we've also launched
a couple of different
other media outlets.
We've watched a YouTube channel.
We've started to get
more active on social
media, and we've really
started to talk to
the audience more.
So if you haven't
found this on YouTube,
if you haven't found
our Instagram account
on social media, come
out and find us just
search for race mob.
We're on those outlets.
We do hope that you
come join our community
and help us become
stronger as we move
into 2021 as well.
Are there any things from
six months ago that you
thought we would do or
would accomplish that we
didn't get into that you
think we should, or that
we had good reason to,
to not really get into.
Bertrand Ne: Um, let's see here.
That's a good question, KC.
I think the, this, the
reality, the clarity
of the gravity of the
pandemic and where for
some, it has propelled
them to get outdoors more
frequently experienced
local trails, you
know, uh, the family
getting more active.
And I think, I thought
with that, knowing that.
Okay.
Local races have been
taken away for now.
Live racing has been taken away.
Yes, there's going to
be more virtual races,
but I thought that we
might have maybe more
people in the race, mob
community being more
active in that platform,
but we also have to be
mindful of the backdrop.
People, you know,
are working very hard
just to maintain their
mortgage payment.
You know, and for
us, the drive was
never membership,
membership, membership.
We're offering a
wealth of just free
open knowledge.
And as we have expanded
our YouTube channel, um,
the variety and diversity
of our podcast, guests.
We are seeing now all
the work where more
people are joining the
community and realizing
that no, it takes time,
especially for those
people who don't know
who Kevin is, or coach
B is, you know, it takes
time to, and time is
very valuable, you know,
on how you spend it.
If you're going to
listen to a podcast
for an hour or view
a YouTube episode, or
potentially consider
retaining a coach
who are these dudes?
So for people to
understand our passion
and a desire to want
to help people, um,
as we've been inspired
as blue collar
athletes ourselves.
But I thought that
maybe initially, you
know, you're confident,
Oh man, this is great.
You know, this is passion.
Everybody wants to,
you know, everybody
wants to run.
And other people were
dealing with loss and the
ability to put food on
the table and navigating,
and are they going
to still have a job?
And those are real
life priorities
that supersede most,
anything else, so...
but others have
found running it and
fitness in general,
to be therapeutic as
a form of therapy.
Uh, that's helped them
navigate and cope where
they can still find some
meaningful community and
we'd want to continue
to be an Avenue for
positive energy, for
hope and inspiration
and yes, a level of
accountability as well,
because all of us are
looking to hold ourselves
accountable as we chase
these goals, we put in
our personal calendar.
Um, yeah, so that's just,
you know, as an example,
Kevin Chang: Yeah,
I think you touched
on something that is
probably interesting,
which is, I did think we
would get more downloads
up to this point.
I thought that there
would probably be
more of a following
up to this point.
You know, I think we
average around 200
downloads an episode,
which is great in
terms of, in comparison
to other podcasts.
And there's a wealth
of other podcasts
that launched during
the season, same time
period, you know?
And so, you know,
compared to other
podcasts that launched
at the same time, I
think we're doing much,
much better than most
of them, but I had
expectations that we
could do extraordinary.
I think that the
production value of
this podcast is fairly
good and we spend quite
a bit of time on it.
But I understand that
these things take
time, it takes effort,
it takes consistency.
And I guess I didn't
realize how much time
it would take on the
backend of editing each
episode of uploading
them, of putting the
content up online.
And you know, the other
pieces that go into it,
as well as the marketing
of each podcast,
episode itself, creating
content and making
that more shareable
in and of itself.
And so.
That does lead me into
a 2021 goal, you know,
which is, I think that
we've created a lot of
useful information, a lot
of great content, a lot
of inspirational stories.
And my goal for 2021
is to a, have an
Avenue so that more
people can listen to
our podcast and, you
know, get access to our
downloadable content.
But B also being
able to splice the
information that we
get so that it is.
More relevant because
not everybody is going
to want the same type
of information or
need access to the
same types of experts
at the same time.
You know, somebody who's
just beginning their
running journey may be
far more inspired by, uh,
Jake McCluskey, uh, Joyce
Lee, even a J Ridgeway.
People that can help
them with their early
biomechanics can help
them with inspiration,
can help them put
schedules together for
going out the door of
Becky Sosa Hernandez,
for instance, whereas
people that may be
looking for an elite
event or maybe looking
to get much, much faster.
Are looking at Verity
brain's episode or
the Avalose siblings
and looking how they
qualified for Boston,
or might be much
more inspired by, you
know, Bob Anderson and
his long journey of
founding runner's world
and talking to, you
know, the elite Steve
Prefontaine and the other
elites of our field.
And, and so, yeah, I think we've
got, interestingly
enough, a lot of this
content, a lot of
these conversations.
But not everybody likes
to listen to podcasts.
Um, and some people
like to read information
or content, sometimes
it needs to be broken
down or put aside.
So I do think that that
is one of the interesting
things for us to take
a look at in 2021 is
how do we take a lot
of this knowledge that
we've now gained and make
sure that people can get
access to the knowledge.
When they subscribed
to race mob, when they
come in that we're
able to give them
kind of hand delivered
information for them.
So that's.
I guess, and hopefully
in, so doing, you
know, we can help
grow our user base.
And, you know, I guess
that is one thing
that we could ask our
audience today is, you
know, helping us by
sharing this episode or
sharing your favorite
episode with a friend
or leaving us a review
on your favorite
podcast platform.
Those are the two
things that really,
really help us out quite
a bit is by helping
us get the word out.
If you do like this
content, if you like
what we're putting out
there and you want to
help us continue the
conversation and keep
this thing going for
years to come, just help
us out in these early
days, it really, really
does mean a lot to us.
Bertrand Newson: Yeah.
And, uh, shout out
to some of our most
loyal avid listeners
and supporters,
uh, Jason PV house.
You know, certainly
comes top of mine.
He's, uh, you know, he's
on, on top of it and,
uh, routinely shares
his feedback and yeah.
What a great level
of support and so many others.
So thank you very much.
And as Kevin said,
we appreciate the
support that way.
If you could share your
favorite episode and
again, what you'd like
us to, maybe if there's
a topic that really
speaks to you, that we
can focus on, because
if it's relevant to you,
it means it's relevant
to others as well.
Kevin Chang: And I've
got to get a shout out
to my father-in-law Bob
Newman, who listens to
us and has walked over
2000 miles last year.
I mean, uh, you know,
went from not really
walking much to, uh,
really taking full
advantage of the
pandemic to get outdoors
and get a move on.
Bertrand Newson: That's awesome.
I love stories like that.
Kevin Chang: So another
goal that we have, or
I have for 2021 is,
you know, in 2020,
we launched coach B's
coaching service and
helping athletes really
achieve their goals
through one-on-one
coaching, as well
as group coaching
and group training.
And that was a pretty
big effort that we undertook on.
Our part is finding
the right types of.
Workout solution putting
together and, and
creating training plans
throughout the time.
And you launched
that service really
in September with
tremendous success
for your athletes.
Um, you've had a
number of new PRS, a
number of triathletes
going for half iron
mans for iron mans
all the way into 2021.
And.
Just raving, raving reviews
from your athletes.
And so I think a couple
of things that we're
looking at in 2021, one
to grow that coaching
service by coach B and
make sure that people
that are looking to hit
new goals in next year
have access to your words
of wisdom, as well as
your training plans that
you've put together.
We've got both free
training plans,
services for people
to try out and take
a look at as well as.
Paid training plans
and a training groups
going forward as well.
But I think it's
something that we've
realized while talking
with a number of our
guests and a number of
these coaches is they
may need help getting
their services online,
getting a voice out.
To their user base
becoming an influencer
in their own.
Right now we've developed
a lot of, um, internal
knowledge through
putting this podcast
together through the
YouTube channel, through
blog posts and putting
a website together.
And a lot of those other
things, as well as.
You know, how do you
get a membership site up
and running and people
paying and credit card
processing and X, Y, and
Z all in the backend,
as well as the training
plans and everything.
And so that's something
that we're looking to
develop in 2021 is.
Helping other coaches
reach success and get
their businesses up and
going and making sure
that it's not always
just a one-on-one
coaching relationship,
but that it can be a one
on many, um, types of
coaching relationship
that they can form
teams and groups.
In their own, right?
So that is definitely
a new initiative
that we are launching
here in 2021.
If you are a coach or
are interested in being
coming a coach or you
know, of a coach that
may look for help here
in 2021, we also urge
you to reach out to them
and have them talk to us.
We are really looking
to have new coaches and
see what are the ways
that we can provide
tools that we can help
coaches, um, throughout
the year, because.
Again, the goal
isn't just for us
to get a big group.
The goal is for
us to help as many
individuals live a
healthier and happier
life here in 2021.
And that probably
means lots of different
voices, lots of
different backgrounds,
lots of different
types of experiences.
You know, lots of
different types of
coaches can help this
entire community base.
And so that is something
that we're definitely
looking for in 2021.
Are you enjoying the
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Bertrand Newson: Well,
we've started some
of that groundwork
already by reaching
out to coaches.
Who have great
local athlete base.
And may be doing it as a hobby.
Some of them doing
it full time, some
of them with a desire
to want to do it.
Full-time but how
do you best connect?
It's one thing with,
if you have a local
geographical reach, but
with the comfort level
of virtual communication,
you can expand your,
your practice and
engage with athletes.
And this is not a matter
of competition because
there's a lot of people
who could benefit by
an experienced coach.
So helping coaches
as Kevin, I'm gonna
have to give you
credit here, man.
I mean, you really have
been, uh, you and Jim
Cordoba have been a
catalyst in giving me the
structural platform from
a technology perspective
to formalizing training plans.
To pricing out your
services or the value
is, I mean, typically
professional running
coach, which charge as
much as $500 a month
for their services and
looking how you can break
down those services where
it is either on a coach
to athlete, or coach
to group perspective.
And the ability to
manage their calendar,
having consultations,
where you really are
one-on-one with the
athlete assessing where
the athlete or their
goals and objectives are
being able to quantify
that with measurable
time-based training
practices, varying the
type of workouts by
week, understanding
injury history, and
some of the just life
barriers and be able to
navigate through them.
And then seeing breakthroughs.
Seeing the confidence
grow, seeing the
consistency happen.
And those milestones
reach has been
incredibly gratifying.
And I, after working
three decades in the
hospitality industry,
managing hotels, this is
where I'm supposed to be.
It is so clear.
And for coaches to be
able to network with
each other and not look
at another coach as
competition, but as an
ally, as a resource,
we are all together
working to help the
public run or be active
injury-free, which
means more workouts,
happier workouts.
Get those individuals
one step closer to their goals.
Plus coaches are
learning from each other.
We're sharing our
best practices.
And there's just not
one organized voice out
there where coaches are
being able to have that
form, that platform
and where there's
this direct engagement
between coach and athlete
on a larger scale.
And putting in work
from that space is, is
going to be fantastic.
And we've started
to lay some of that
groundwork out already,
but again, thank you.
And also Jim, for
helping me formalize.
Where I'm supposed to
be in that is helping
people and the health
and wellness space.
Yes.
Too legit fitness has
been around for a decade,
um, officially a decade
in March of this year.
So we're looking forward
to celebrating that it's
wonderful, but giving
coaches more resources
is important, especially
now, because in turn that
helps race organizers,
race sponsors,
race participants.
As we do not want races
to have to fold up,
fold-up shop and we do
not want the running
community to lose hope.
You can still stay active.
You can still make progress.
You can still have fun
and grow in the sport.
That is very assessable.
I mean, it just takes,
you know, pair of
shoes and, and some
motivation to get out
there and to really
start to enjoy the sport.
Kevin Chang: Well,
I mean, all the
credit goes to you.
You've done a lot of
research on your own
in terms of training
platforms, you know, the
training tilts versus
training peaks versus
final surge, as well as
bringing forward other
technology like on form
where you can actually
do running form analysis.
Remotely, people can
record their own running
form in their own
driveway and their own
streets, and you can
help analyze what they're
doing right and what
they're doing wrong.
And if you look at our
running fundamentals
course, Winnie basically
knocked 15 minutes
off of her 5k time.
And a lot of it was
thanks to just taking a
look at her running form
and realizing she was
overstriding realizing
that she was landing
on her heels and seeing
how we could shorten
her stride up, how we
can make sure that she's
landing on the mid-foot
or forefoot of her feet.
And helping basically
reduce the impact on her
knees, some of the knee
pain and knee problems
that should was having
all by just taking a look
at the form and hoping to
point a couple of things
out, which then she could
take away and really help
her own form over time.
So kudos to you for
putting that together.
And there's no substitute
for the work that you
put in for your athletes.
You know, we can all
give you all the tools
in the world, but the
fact that you're in
there all the time,
giving people, props,
and death and motivating
them along the way,
helping them navigate,
you know, again, the
problems and schedules,
whether we had all those
fires over the fall
where people couldn't
really go outside.
Helping them navigate
obviously the pandemic,
when we had races on
the calendar that had
to be canceled or moved
to virtual, having
that coach there that
can help you navigate
those situations will
really help people
see those gains.
And it's really interesting.
What we've seen in terms
of people might not think
that they're ready for
a coach immediately,
which is fine.
Putting some training
plans in front of them,
a roadmap for here's
how you get from here
to there still come
out to happy hour, come
ask us questions, come
let us know what we can
help you with along the
way, even if you want
to self navigate and,
you know, make sure that
you're, you're doing
your own training and
putting your own work
in, we can still help
you at that group level.
Um, if you're not ready
for one-on-one coaching
or if you're not ready
for individualized,
personalized intention.
There's still that Avenue
and that opportunity and
that I think is something
that we're taking to
the market that a lot of
coaches haven't figured
out yet, you know, and
I think that's, what's
really exciting about
2021 is taking that
type of mentality to
the market as well.
And, you know, can we
bring a lot of coaches
together to help each
other out to help the
whole community out?
So that's definitely
something that I'm
extremely excited for for 2021.
Bertrand Newson: Well
said, and you know, we've
talked about the athlete.
We've talked about
running coaches, but
running teams as well,
teams versus group.
I mean, Jason PV house
sent me a link to a
running strength podcast.
And the key note guest,
his name escapes me, but
he's the founder of the.
10 men running group.
And I know that you
have Matt Fitzgerald had
talked, referenced him as
well during his podcast,
but he mentioned,
I think the podcast
guests said, so how are
your running groups?
And he's like,
timeout, no, I don't
coach running groups.
You know, groups are
people that kind of
come and go with no real
commitment to each other.
What a running
team is different.
They are, they
support each other.
There's a level
of accountability.
There's emotional
equity into the,
and there's a center
synergistic approach.
Versus groups that
are kind of more
non-committal people
can kind of float
in and float out.
And that really, you
know, I'd step back
and say, you know, what
kind of resonates with
me bringing together,
running groups?
No, running teams.
Teams that, again,
it's not competition.
We are all out there,
you know, trying to just
stay engaged and keep
the work floor moving
forward and having
fun in the process.
And we have some
wonderful running
teams here in the Bay
area, but also we've
discovered there are
so many running teams
across the United States
and being a vehicle
for them to communicate
and to share and to
inspire again, each.
Individual team and
those individuals
within that team
have their own story.
And being able to
hear those stories, we
just look forward to
connecting those dots and
bringing our incredibly
friendly and outgoing
running community
closer together.
And you referenced some
recent additions to our
RRCA and having a voice
at that national table.
Um, being a
representative to share
the thoughts of just
rank and file blue
collar runners, which
is very important.
And our mission, um,
with Racemob, and Too
Legit is being open and
inclusive and supportive.
I just want to make
sure that, you know, as
we're playing our role
in the running community
and connecting, running
teams, It just, again,
we need more of that,
uh, with a focus on that.
So I trust when we look
back at 2021, we'll
see some huge gains in
this area, along with
the coaches as well.
Kevin Chang: Yeah.
And congratulations on
joining our RCA in a
more official capacity.
I mean, I think can't
be praised enough.
I can't tell you how
appreciative I am for
having you on that board.
Representing so many
blue collar athletes,
as you like to put
it, and minority
athletes as well.
You know, I think we
talked to George and
we talked to Jean
about the need for
both racial diversity,
gender diversity, all
sorts of diverse voices.
To be able to really
impact running in the future.
And so having that reach
not only be within race
mob, but nationwide,
worldwide, really being
able to impact and affect
the running community at
that level, I think kudos
to you or being able to
reach out for, you know,
just bringing that, that
presence and that sense
of community, which our
RCA really is striving
for and looking for.
I can't wait to have
deeper conversations
with you as those
conversations are
happening, you know,
really bring to light
all of the amazing
things that they are
RRCA does for the entire
running community and
seeing how we can help.
If there are any ways
that, you know, we can
help that our platform
can help, you know, that
our technical background
in technology, any of
that stuff can help
with runners across
the country across.
Across the world.
One of the other goals
that I have here for
2021 is to, as we talked
about inspire, inspire
community that's social.
And so I think we talked
about this a while ago
about you remember that
first day at school or
that first day in a new
group, in a new group
setting and being unsure.
Being a little bit shy, not sure
where you fit in.
And sometimes those
groups would be able to
grab you and take you.
invites you and help you
along the way and make
you feel warm and make
you feel welcome and make
you feel comfortable.
And.
Really when you get
invited into a group
like that, it feels
like a team, like
you mentioned, right.
It feels like you're
all working together
and it's not just
like, Hey, there's
a group over there.
There's a group over
there, but you do
feel warm and you do
feel welcome and you
do feel like a team.
So in 2021, we are
looking at race mob as
a platform, not just a
platform for you and I to
speak because you know,
that's just one voice.
But giving people and
lending people the
platform so that they
can have a voice so that
they can inspire the next
generation of fitness
so that they can take
a look at our community
site and take a look
at people's new goals.
And Hey, join people
together that have
similar goals so that
they can strive together
for a similar mission.
At the same time,
you know, we launched
the community sites
back a couple months
ago, and if I were to
look at something, I
think you touched on
this a little bit.
It's something that has under.
Performs my expectations.
It would probably be,
you know, I wish that we
could get more people,
both on the site as
well as communicating
through the site.
And so that is definitely
something for me to take
a look at in 2021 for
us to take a look at in
2021 to see, okay, is
this the right platform?
Are we giving people
enough prompts?
Are we asking the
right questions?
Are we having stuff
that is engaging
enough for people to
come back to over and
over and over again?
Are we over-complicating
it by not just putting
it up on Facebook and
having it separate
and what are the real
benefits to having it
on a separate site as
well as, Hey, if we see
real benefits to having
it on a separate site.
Does it make sense for
us to let other running
groups and rather running
clubs know that there is
a separate other site.
Here's how we got
new side of it.
Here's how you could
bring your own members
over there, conversations
or communications over there.
If you feel that that
would be valuable to you.
So I think a lot of
interesting conversations
to be had over there,
but definitely looking
at 2021 at a, how do we
get more people to be
communicative, how do we
get more people to share?
And that at the end of
the day, if we want to
build a community, we
have to have one where
people feel included,
feel welcome, understand
how they can share, how
they can contribute and
want to contribute to
the general community.
Yeah.
Bertrand Newson: We're
talking about, you know,
early, when we recorded
our race mob, weekly
episode is community and
the importance of it, the
relevancy of it, how the
emphasis on it coming out
of a very challenging.
2020 and how the first
week of 2021 was that
there's going to be
adversity, but we can
still all come together
and support each other
for one common goal.
And in the running
community, in the
fitness camp, it's
easy to do that.
It is, um, cause it's
just friendly and
outgoing by nature.
Kevin Chang: One more
thing to, to peel back
the curtain on what 2021
looks like a little bit.
I've mentioned this to
you coach, but the last
several months I've been
full time on Racemob
and trying to grow the
website, the community,
a lot of the backend
infrastructure on, you
know, helping athletes
get fitted for the right
programs, for the right
training, for the right
training plans, coaches
and putting new contents
live on the site.
And, um, everything
that goes along
with that in 2021.
I am probably looking to go back
to a corporate job.
I will still continue
to work on race mob.
It is a passion of mine.
It's something that
I love to do, but
my skills are in
the technology side.
And so on race mob,
we've both got some
infrastructure here.
So this podcast.
A lot of our content, we
will be able to continue
putting out great content
week after week for all
of our listeners, for
all of our audience,
there is quite a bit of
work for us to do on the
technology side, in terms
of revamping what we do
for our race platform,
revamping potentially
what we're doing for
our information, for
our articles, for
everything on that side.
And we will continue
to work on a lot of
that over the next
couple of months.
That is our goal.
But personally and
professionally, I think
that it makes a lot of
sense for me to return
to a corporate job in the
next couple of months.
So you may see a little
bit less of me on some
of our content platforms,
but rest assured I'm
going to be working
extremely, extremely
hard behind the scenes
to make sure that we
continue the momentum and
that we continue going.
And if we do gain
traction and things are
starting to work out, um,
that I can come back and
continue to work on this.
But I think from the
pure perspective that I
want to continue offering
free advice and not
really be scrambling for
looking for funding and
scrambling to look, to
pay the bills and all
of that from a personal
perspective, and that we
can grow this organically
and make sure that.
We are giving the right
types of information
and not trying to
oversell and not trying
to throw marketing
budget at everything.
It makes sense for me
to go back to a week by
week paycheck and allow
us to grow organically,
but still have this
amazing conversation.
All of this content
live and continue to
help people that are
looking to get towards
their goals at, or again
at a reasonable price.
To them, or for free,
if they, if they want
free content, we'll
be able to deliver a
bunch of free content.
So that is to peel back
a little bit of the
curtain going into 2020.
Bertrand Newson: It will
say KC, and I mean, wow.
Look at what you have built.
I mean, going back
to 2012, 2013, this
is not a, it's not
like a hobby here.
He really built something
substantial and I've been
grateful on many levels.
First, when we first
met in 2013, July of
2013, to be specific.
And then when you
approach me and probably
your birthday month,
April and say, Hey coach,
what are you up to.
It's going out to legit fitness.
I told you I had walked
away from a hospitality
career and wanted to take
a break, you know, tired
of the commute and wanted
to focus on, um, you
know, to legit fitness
and health and wellness.
And you were at a point
where you were, you
know, revisiting the
mission statement and
pivoting with race mob.
And initially it was
podcast was the primary
objective and getting
out meaningful, relevant
content for listeners
and it morphed into
you helping me shape
my chosen profession.
You know, I'm, I'm all
in 100% coach B corporate
America, you know, suit
and tie and all that good
stuff, you know, maybe
consulting in the future.
Um, but going back and,
and managing hotels
as I have done for the
last, you know, two plus
decades not looking to
do that, this is where
I'm supposed to be.
And.
I, uh, wouldn't realize
the success that I have
without your direct
influence, your support,
your trust, your vision
just has been, uh,
incredibly grateful
and the timing couldn't
have been better.
So thank you very much,
Kevin, from the bottom of
my heart, um, then I, I.
I have all the respect and love
for your brother.
So, and Hey, the
best is yet to come.
You know, we're just
getting, we're getting
around, you know, that
400 meter trench, uh,
first lap, you know,
we got, uh, we have
a one mile time trial
5k in the future of
building up to 10 K
half marathon marathon.
You know, the best
is yet to come.
Kevin Chang: That's right.
I mean, goal number
one, when we started
this podcast, at least
for me was just the
ability to hang out with
you on a weekly basis.
And that has been more
rewarding than anything.
Just having somebody
to hang out with,
laugh about things, cry
about things sometimes.
You know, it has meant
the world to me, um,
to call you a friend
and to continue this
fantastic conversation.
And so, yeah, I mean, I
guess, like we said, in
that very first podcast,
we could talk for hours
and hours, um, and we
will continue to talk
for hours and hours.
Well, we appreciate
you, the audience for
giving us a couple of
minutes to talk about
and reflect on the last
six months, as well as
talk about 2021 and our
goals for this year.
We hope that you're
enjoying the show.
If you are again, we
would love a share.
We would love a review.
We would love an email.
Telling us about
yourself and, you know,
finding new ways that
we can help you, um, in
your running journey.
So again, thank you
guys so much for the
opportunity and the
time coach I'll be
chatting with you.
Awesome.
See you guys.
Well, I hope you
enjoyed this episode of
the race mob podcast.
Check out all of the show
notes or find a running
buddy
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Keep on moving.