Behind the Scenes of NYRR’s Trip to Kenya

Winning a major marathon goes way beyond the podium for a Kenyan athlete—it reaches their families, their communities, and entire towns. But for the women, success can also put them in danger. Check out this week’s episode as Rob joins a roundtable discussion led by NYRR's Head of Content Matthew Singer along with Chief Diversity Officer Erica Edwards-O'Neal and Director of Professional Athletes Dorian Kail—all reflecting on their trip to Eldoret, Kenya this past February. The group visited training camps, sat down with champions, and toured a children's hospital built with funds raised by TCS New York City Marathon charity runners. They also spent time with Tirop's Angels, an organization founded in honor of Agnes Tirop—a world-class runner who was murdered by her partner in 2021. Gender-based violence is something many women in Kenya face, and in some cases, it is their athletic success that makes them a target. New York Road Runners will continue to work with Tirop’s Angels and the organization’s founder, Viola Cheptoo.

Listen to past episodes:
Spotify: bit.ly/474e5Wa
Apple Music: apple.co/3IKaKSb
iHeart: ihr.fm/44L0zp3

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed by guests on the podcast are their own and their appearance on the podcast does not imply an endorsement by NYRR of them or their views.

00:00 Intro: A Warm Welcome in Kenya
00:34 Why NYRR Went to Kenya
05:15 Planning the Trip
08:25 First Impressions of Kenya
12:05 The Moment the Trip Felt Bigger
15:53 Inside Kenya’s Training Camps
20:23 Conversations on Clean Sport
24:14 Meeting Rising Kenyan Athletes
25:46 Dinner with NYC Marathon Champions
35:08 The Marathon Charity Program
38:18 Listening and Learning About Gender-Based Violence
43:32 The Work of Tirop’s Angels
46:19 Hearing from Survivors
49:20 Building Community Support
51:00 What Comes Next
53:14 Biggest Takeaways from the Trip

Learn more about New York Road Runners: nyrr.org
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