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“There Aren’t Gonna Be 15 Majors”: NYRR CEO Rob Simmelkjaer talks NYC Marathon, Why the Pros Matter
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Oct 30, 202612:161.6K views
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Does doping threaten the appeal of the elites at the New York City Marathon? NYRR CEO Rob Simmelkjaer calls it an “existential issue” for the sport, warning that positive tests put fan interest and kids’ admiration for the pros at risk.
Simmelkjaer joins LetsRun.com’s Robert Johnson and Jonathan Gault at the NYC Marathon Expo to discuss why the professionals still matter, his concerns about a two-day NYC Marathon, and why he changed his mind about World Marathon Majors expansion.
Where will that expansion stop? Simmelkjaer says the Majors board is debating that question, but makes one thing clear: “There aren’t gonna be 15 majors.”
Plus, how can recreational runners become fans of the pros? And what happened when Simmelkjaer tried running Eliud Kipchoge’s then-world-record marathon pace?
What is he most proud of as he nears 4 years on the job.
Get this as a podcast: podcast.letsrun.com/episode/8c87689d/nyrr-ceo-rob-simmelkjaer-doping-is-an-existential-issue-when-will-the-majors-stop-expanding-plus-do-the-pros-still-matter-
CHAPTERS
00:00 Meet NYRR CEO Rob Simmelkjaer
00:40 His proudest accomplishments
02:10 Biggest surprise: demand for NYRR races
03:05 Would NYC consider a two-day marathon?
04:30 His running background
05:20 Turning recreational runners into fans of the pros
06:40 Why the elites still matter to the NYC Marathon
08:10 Doping: “It has to be clean competition”
09:05 Are the World Marathon Majors diluting themselves?
10:00 Why Simmelkjaer changed his mind about expansion
11:20 Where will Marathon Majors expansion stop?
Get a second LetsRun podcast every week plus bonus content:
letsrun.com
LetsRun.com NYC Marathon coverage:
letsrun.com/events/2026/11/2026-new-york-city-marathon
Find your next running shoe or submit a review:
betterrunningshoes.com
Watch NYRR’s Emmy Award-winning Final Finishers documentary:
nyrr.org/tcsnycmarathon/final-finishers-film
CONTACT US
Email: podcast@letsrun.com
Call or text: 1-844-LETSRUN (1-844-538-7786)
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12 minutes.