Run Eat Drink Podcast
Welcome to the Run Eat Drink Podcast! This is the podcast where we embark on exciting adventures, combining our love for running, delicious food, and tasty beverages. Whether you’re an elite runner aiming for victory or just starting your “Couch to 5K” journey, we’ve got something for you. Let’s dive into the three pillars of our show:
Accomplish (Run): Accomplishment is deeply personal. Are you eyeing a race series win, planning your next “run-cation,” or hoping to set a personal record in your next half-marathon? Each week, we feature fantastic destination races from around the country. Discover scenic courses, learn about the charities they support, and get inspired to lace up those running shoes. And when we’re not on the road, we share interviews, training tips, and insights from our own running journey.
Explore (Eat): Running and traveling go hand in hand. As we explore new places, we also explore local cuisine. We seek out hidden gems—the eateries that locals rave about. Bold flavors, interesting dishes, and passion for food—that’s what we’re after. After each race, join us as we wander the city streets, discovering post-race refueling spots. Whether it’s a gastropub, a food truck, or a cozy café, we’ve got dining options to satisfy your cravings.
Indulge (Drink): When the running is done, it’s time to unwind. We raise our glasses to celebrate our accomplishments. Local breweries, coffee shops, speakeasies, and watering holes—these are our destinations. From craft beers to artisanal cocktails, we explore the beverage scene. Cheers to a well-deserved drink after crossing the finish line!
Join us on this journey of accomplishment, exploration, and indulgence. Whether you’re a seasoned runner or a curious foodie, there’s a place for you at the Run Eat Drink Podcast.
Run Eat Drink Podcast
RED Episode 307: Part 2 of Michael Leslie's Chicago and New York City Double
If you want a shout out for you or someone else you love on the show, email us at info@runeatdrink.net or call us and leave a message at 941-677-2733
Happy birthday month, JoJo!
Happy birthday, Susie!
Happy birthday, Dawn!
Join us as we honor Aimee’s dad at the 20th Anniversary Miles for Moffitt Race in November 2025! Join our team, donate to our fundraiser, or share this link:
https://runsignup.com/2025runcationnationteam
Runcation Recap with Michael Leslie, Patron and Proud Member of the Runcation Nation
This week, we give you part 1 of our 2-part interview with Michael Leslie. He inspires us to go for whatever our dreams are in the realm of running by talking about doing two Abbott World Marathon Majors in the short span of two months time! Shout out to Customized Training with Chris Twiggs that helped him get it done!
Chicago Marathon
https://www.chicagomarathon.com/
New York City Marathon
https://www.chicagomarathon.com/
Abbott World Marathon Majors
https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/
Galloway Customized Training
https://www.jeffgalloway.com/galloway-coaching/
Tony’s Di Napoli in New York
UCAN
Connect with Michael
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001164287701
https://www.instagram.com/rundisnerd/
THAT’S A WRAP!
Thank you for listening! Because of your support, we are in our eighth year of the podcast! Don’t forget to follow us and tell us where to find you next on our website, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Also, check out our store on the website and get some swag, thanks to Pure Creative Apparel. Thanks to www.PodcastMusic.com for providing the music for this episode, too!
Hi, this is Mike, also known as Run Dizner, proud member of the Runcation Nation. You are listening to the Run Eat Drink podcast.
Speaker 2:Welcome to the Run Eat Drink podcast. We feature destination races from across the country and after the race, we take you on a tour of the best local food and beverage to celebrate. So, whether you are an elite runner or a back of the packer like us, you'll know the best places to accomplish, explore and indulge on your next runcation. Hey, welcome to episode 307 of the Run Eat Drink podcast. I'm your host, amy. I'm not flying solo, that's right. Welcome back to the show. Michael Leslie and part two of his Chicago Marathon and New York City Marathon Double, that's right. I call it a double because it's two marathons in two months, just amazing. One for charity, one for both, for just the amazing experience. But Chicago for Charity, and Michael gave us such a great interview and so many wonderful tips, tricks, moments we just had to break it into two episodes. So this is part two, and I just want to give a shout out to everybody who has remained here in the Runcation Nation community listeners, patrons, everyone in the Runcation Nation, patrons, everyone in the Runcation Nation. Thank you so much for reaching out to us and giving us support and love while we make our way back to regular episodes like this, and the next few weeks are going to be amazing on the show. I just want to give one shout out before I turn it over to Michael for part two in this lovely and engaging and inspiring conversation.
Speaker 2:We had Just want to give a shout out to Bart Yasso. Bart Yasso just published his book with National Geographic 100 Runs of a Lifetime the Ultimate Races and Tra and trails, available now Hardcover book. It is beautiful and full of destinations where you can plan the perfect runcation for you Short races, long races, whatever they are. In the coming weeks we're going to have a very special chat with Bart Yasso, including a bonus interview for patrons only so. Bart Yasso has always been so generous with us.
Speaker 2:We saw him in Anchorage, alaska. He sat down to talk to us. We talked to him during the pandemic for, I think, three hours and now he's been so generous with his time and talking about his new book in partnership with National Geographic. The photographs are stunning. The featured races and runs are so enticing. So thanks to Bart Yasso. And that's just a little preview of some things that are coming up in the next few weeks on the show. Without further ado, here is part two of our talk with Michael Leslie about his Chicago and New York City marathon experiences. Oh, you know what I need to rewind. Did you carb load the night before anywhere?
Speaker 1:good Chicago it was not good. The place was so bad that I forgot the name of it. That's how bad it was. It was a buffet. Someone was like, oh, they do a runner's buffet. I was like, oh cool, I'll book that. I got there and took them like 20 minutes to seat me, 20 minutes to get my drink order. They sat me in a corner next to the buffet. I was like, okay, this is whatever. But New York City. I went to this place called Tony's DiNapoli. It's right over by one of the theaters in Midtown. Amazing Italian food. Bonkers Italian food. Okay, like some of the best meatballs I've ever had.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, so you had a traditional like spaghetti and meatballs type of situation.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm a creature of habit. I try not to go outside the norm night before race. It's usually one of two things it's either like a gnocchi dish or spaghetti meatballs.
Speaker 2:Yeah, those potato dumplings, those are good. Yeah, I like them. Okay, just your pre-race meal was not good in Chicago. I'm so sorry about that.
Speaker 1:It reminded me of wedding food, like wedding catering oh they have the little heat lamps under them.
Speaker 2:They're just really keeping it warm and did you end up leaving before you had the meal to get?
Speaker 1:I ate.
Speaker 2:I ate what was decent, and then bounced okay, so pre-race meal goes to New York.
Speaker 1:In all fairness, though, I've been carb loading since I showed up with all the pizza and bagels that I was eating.
Speaker 2:Oh pizza.
Speaker 1:Chicago. Yeah, this is the hard part, oh, oh.
Speaker 2:But we haven't talked about the race yet.
Speaker 1:We can talk about the race and the pizza.
Speaker 2:Yes, Don't let me forget to talk about this such debate. There's such debate like it's not pizza in Chicago. Yes, there's such debate. We have to talk about that, Other than what we've talked about in terms of race morning transportation. Do you have pre-race tips for anybody that we didn't talk about? You talked about the Dunkin'. You talked about for.
Speaker 1:New York. I would say if you're bringing things with you pre-race, put them all in a big ziploc bag just to get through security. I didn't have everything in a bag, so I had to empty my pockets, I had to empty my fuel, like, just have it all in a bag, let them see it, let them look through it, and then you can get through security much quicker. I didn't have that issue in Chicago, only New York.
Speaker 2:York. Okay, so Chicago, how was Chicago?
Speaker 1:It was thorough, but it was quick. They didn't have me empty out my pockets, they basically just had me go through the metal detector.
Speaker 2:Okay, and then what did you in terms of the weather? What was it like in each city, and how did you dress for that, Other than the throwaway robe?
Speaker 1:a better day. Oh, I did. I did bathrobes for both of them. You can have it shipped to your hotel where you're staying so you don't have to take up room in your suitcase so good, what a pad.
Speaker 2:That's it nice, yep, okay, so you were literally wearing the bathrobe as you arrived in each location. Oh, yeah, and, okay and.
Speaker 1:I would actually say, I mean, I couldn't have asked for better weather, perfect running weather.
Speaker 2:Not too cold In both cities, not too humid, not too.
Speaker 1:No, it was that crisp. It was crisp air. It was a little cool the morning of New York. Just because you're waiting around at the armory in Staten Island, Certainly that can feel a little bit cool. But then once you get going and you go over the bridge and you warm up a little bit, it was perfect.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so once you cast aside the bathrobe then you pretty much wore just like normal yeah.
Speaker 1:Singlet and shorts.
Speaker 2:Singlet and shorts and you carried with you, like you still, you talked about last time how you have your handheld. I have my handheld water bottle Inside that you had what Some nutrition.
Speaker 1:No, actually for Chicago, it was water For New York, I'm sorry, new York was water too. It was another race that I tested this stuff for Tokyo, so yeah, no, both of them were just water in my handheld. I like to have it in case the water stations are crowded or we won't get into Tokyo, because that was a whole other ball of wax for water stations. I get feelings on that. We'll talk about that.
Speaker 2:Hot take later Stay tuned.
Speaker 1:Sometimes I just get thirsty and I don't want a sport drink, so it's more just easy. Yeah, and it helps wash down my gels.
Speaker 2:So gels, I was going to ask you. So you have your handheld and then you had gels in that.
Speaker 1:I have them in my back pocket on my shorts, so I have a pocket that goes across my lower back. Oh, okay, I can fit two gels in there. In my phone, nice and in my handheld I had my other four gels.
Speaker 2:What kind of gels were they?
Speaker 1:So I've switched up Since we last talked, I was using I guess I think it's science and sport. I use those for Chicago and New York and I've recently switched over to UCANs. Flavors I need to change up. I can't have the same texture and flavor over and over again Every so often. Race-wise, I have to change it up. So for New York and Chicago I had switched to the Sport System pineapple and the orange. I'm team citrus when it comes to gels.
Speaker 2:You're team citrus. You had orange and pineapple and it was good.
Speaker 1:I've never had an issue with getting them down or keeping them down For some reason. My stomach is okay with them. I know some people after a while during a race can't take it down. For me it's never been an issue.
Speaker 2:There are some gels that are like that whole. It's like chocolate or like frosting, where it's oh your goo where it's like pudding. Yeah.
Speaker 1:I can't do that.
Speaker 2:No, so your team citrus. I get this and I feel it in my soul. Yeah, because I can't do chocolate, I just can't.
Speaker 1:It makes me think that I'm eating dessert. The only one that I thought was okay I don't even know if they make it anymore. I think it was goo, and they used to do one that tasted like cola.
Speaker 2:Yes, jesse and Eric talked about this last week about their different liquid cola without the fizz.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it tastes like cola. Yeah, I'm okay with that. It's a good way to break things up, but I couldn't do a whole race with just cola gels. Yeah.
Speaker 2:So variety is the spice of the race and the support, even though you carried your own water just in case, so you would have it at the time that you needed it with your gels the support for water in that Both races were stellar gatorade and water on every I don't know, maybe like 1.3 miles or something like that.
Speaker 1:The only time that you didn't have water is when you're going over the bridges, because they just couldn't set them up there. So in new york.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, um, yeah, port-a potty and medical and nutrition and hydration support stellar.
Speaker 1:It was up, I imagine. Yeah.
Speaker 2:What about on the course? I'm going to talk about the start. How was that? How did they compare?
Speaker 1:New York just does it with swagger. It's got that New York swagger Like they shoot off a cannon.
Speaker 2:They shoot a cannon.
Speaker 1:You hear this like howitzer go off. And then you hear Frank Sinatra, new York start spreading the news.
Speaker 2:It's synonymous with how can you not?
Speaker 1:That's just New York swagger. It was great. No disrespect to Chicago, because when my chorale was starting I don't know if you remember back in like the 90s when the Bulls would get introduced, they would play that theme music for Michael Jordan. When my crowd went off, they played the intro to the Bulls. I thought that was pretty cool. In my head I can hear you're starting for the Chicago Bulls.
Speaker 2:Number 23, Michael Jordan. They played that.
Speaker 1:They played that when my crowd went off. You felt like you were a superstar.
Speaker 2:Yeah played that. They played that when my car went off. You know, you felt like you were a superstar, yeah, but as soon as you started to talk about new york, does it with swagger. I was instantly, before you even said the name, thinking about frank sinatra yeah, do you hear?
Speaker 1:start spreading the news. You're like, okay, let's do this. It's that new york energy really emotional, like the beginning of the race is like I tense up like a minute before. Okay, let's do this, let's do this, and then you get those.
Speaker 2:Yeah goosebumps, yeah, oh. So then you were off and I feel like, in terms of let's talk about the terrain of each course and the capital h word that's a curse word for me hills or bridges.
Speaker 1:Chicago is super flat for the most part, like you run over a few little tiny bridges and then, ironically, the last I think like 0.6 of the race is all up this uphill in Chicago and that's pretty much it, new York City. If I never run over another bridge in my life, I'll be happy. Don't get me wrong. The course is great, but that course, in my opinion, will humble you right from the get-go. Going over that first bridge, it's about a mile and a half until you get to Brooklyn, brooklyn. Brooklyn brings the heat. Brooklyn was awesome. It definitely brought the energy. There was a guy, so you come over the top of the Verrazano.
Speaker 2:Bridge.
Speaker 1:I butcher it every time, so you come over that and there was this dude right at the bottom where the other corrals are meeting to go into Brooklyn and he just had on loop no sleep till Brooklyn on the speaker just playing over and over again with a big welcome to Brooklyn sign. That was pretty cool.
Speaker 2:Did you have to train for those bridges and hills?
Speaker 1:I was doing some hill work. Probably I could have used a little bit more, because the bridges towards the end really beat me up.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so running chicago was not really good hill practice for running. No, not really that was more.
Speaker 1:Just, I don't know pace, just want to make sure everything's consistent, yeah there's a few little ups and downs, but nothing to the extent of what in new york city with the bridges new york has many positives, and yet there are things you need to prepare for, like bridges and hills okay, the bridges.
Speaker 1:Like I said, the first one will humble you. If you think you're going to go out fast in the first two miles of that race, you're not. It'll check your ego. I've seen people go out fast, but it can really check your ego yeah and then there was the bridge towards the end.
Speaker 1:I forget the name of it, but it's where you come in, loop around, then back out onto the main streets in New York. There's a bridge where there's no spectators and all you hear is footsteps and breathing. It depends on your mental game if that's going to throw you off or not. That was the only time in the entire race where I had to put on music and my headphones to stay focused, so you didn't do any kind of music or headphones in either way.
Speaker 1:I like to just live in the moment. Yeah, sometimes, if I see someone struggling or something like that, give them like some word of encouragement here and there or something like that, or maybe like a joke about something stupid.
Speaker 2:Okay, We've talked about communicating with other runners. We've talked about whether you run with music or not On the courses. Let's talk about who wins for crowd support.
Speaker 1:It's not even a question. It's New York City. It's New York City energy. If you could bottle that and sell it, you'd be a millionaire. Even it's not even a question. It's new york city they. It's new york city energy there's. If you could bottle that and sell it, you'd be a millionaire oh, so where did you feel it the most?
Speaker 2:where do you remember?
Speaker 1:really like. I just mentioned the bridge where it's really quiet, and you basically you go over that and then you loop back on I want to say on to first ave and then you head towards central park, towards the end of the bridge. I'm not even joking, I can feel the noise in your body, you can hear it. It's like this wave of just people going bonkers and you come off of that bridge and you loop around and you would think that you are an absolute rock star. The way that people treat you in that city. It was awesome. You can feel the energy coming off of it. That, to me, will always stick out of my head. And then running through Central Park and hearing everybody yelling and screaming and cheering in Central Park was really cool.
Speaker 2:Did you high-five? Anybody see any race signs? That stood out?
Speaker 1:Yeah, there was a lot of really good race signs. I think Chicago may have had the nod on the cheeky ones because it was pre-election, so there was some stuff that was talked about, whereas New York was not as political.
Speaker 2:Oh, because it was post. Yeah, because Chicago is in.
Speaker 1:October and then signs were just. They were funny, but they were. There was just like you're in Brooklyn now and there was a lot of like stuff, like reference in the boroughs and but there was also in New York. They were more. At least I felt like they were more like maybe run clubs and stuff like that, like lining the streets and like confetti guns and stuff like that, whereas Chicago was more just people holding signs and cheering.
Speaker 2:Ah, so like you feel like maybe the New York road runners had an influence, have an influence in that?
Speaker 1:I just think that city as a whole treats that day like a holiday where everybody comes out and they really new york stops. That's like the one day, that and new year's eve the only days in that new york city stops.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, people really, they come out and it was great but you had less, I would say less, less crowd support, but you had in Chicago there was some.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, yeah, there was not a shortage of it. I just don't think that they they weren't as deep Like in New York city, like there were parts where it was like seven people deep on the side of the road. There was just a lot of people.
Speaker 2:So if you did have Kelly at, like you talked about in London, her meeting you at mile 25.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:It would probably be like she'd have to at mile 25. Yeah, it would probably be like you she'd have to work herself somewhere.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Somewhere, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:It was pretty deep yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah. And so then, did you have any moments that were where you saw any runners, or you saw any people, or you like high-fived somebody, any anything where you might've been overcoming, maybe hitting a wall, or you were inspired by something on? On either course, that stands out.
Speaker 1:I thankfully I don't think I fell apart in either race Solid training. It's luck. You never know if you're going to get hurt or not. I don't know. There was a lot of just people, a lot of you got this and there was a guy that was asking people if they wanted pizza and stuff like that. He was just walking down the road with a pizza box. Yeah, I know.
Speaker 2:With pizza. I almost took a slice, did you? I almost took a slice? I was going to ask you if people were giving things away that you ended up taking along the course at all.
Speaker 1:One person gave out Twizzlers in Chicago. That was a nice little treat. I don't tend to eat much during races.
Speaker 2:Every once in a while. If it's something, it's just to break up the monotony of Gels and whatnot. Yeah and what whatnot. Yeah, like I can just. There were some people out in california in the run disney races that would give away, like the twizzlers, or orange slices right there around angel stadium yeah, uh, no, there were.
Speaker 1:I didn't see any orange slices or stuff like that. But there were people like, if it was one guy, he had a sign. I think it was in chicago and he had a tissue box, oh, and he gave out tissues, but the sign behind him says I have daddy tissues.
Speaker 2:I have.
Speaker 1:Oh daddy. I have daddy issues I have daddy tissues, which I thought was really funny but I'm pumped, that was funny. That was a cool one.
Speaker 2:So you said you get like excited and ramped up and a little bit emotional at the start. What were each of the finishes like for you?
Speaker 1:New York was one where it was just like I can't believe I'm doing this, like I can't believe I'm finishing the New York City Marathon, because it's just the history behind it. It was Central Park and it's just, it's a whole, it's a thing. Chicago was when I finished, it was another wow, I did this Like I number two of three this year. It was definitely. For me it was just like saying okay, you're, you're almost done, like you got one more to go.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, nothing to take away from the finish for Chicago. I just maybe it's just because it's Central Park. Yeah, it's just something Iconic, it's iconic.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah. So you just what you have that iconic Central Park finish, and then you have the Chicago finish. What? How is the bling for you?
Speaker 1:One thing I do like about New York City because it's the time of year, it's colder, they give you these fleece-lined ponchos. Oh, excellent, oh, and they're like super warm, super comfy, and it's really funny because when you finish in New York you have to walk a considerable distance to get off, like the finishing shoot area. So all you see, I I'll send it to you. I have a print that I got and it's a picture and all are people in the nyc ponchos walking after the race and it just says new york or nowhere, and it's just you've all gone through battle and now you're all walking it off. Yeah, but as far as bling, oh yes, look at this.
Speaker 2:So chicago actually says chicago in the metal yeah, which I think is pretty cool that's pretty cool and it almost looks like it would be a spinner, but it's not yep, nope, just solid and then the ribbon is like that maroon yeah, it's actually.
Speaker 1:It's really cool. It's got little little sayings on it for east side, this and that little italy, like you can't really see until unless you can magnify it.
Speaker 2:But it's like little sayings of the areas that you run through nice and then new york is obviously new york is you got the orange, the signature orange and the blue, and it looks like you have the statue of liberty in the front, holding up the yeah and the or the outline of the orange and then inside the outline of the orange it has all the burrows that you run through around the top oh, fantastic look at that.
Speaker 1:It goes around the top of it.
Speaker 2:Oh, and then it has the year on it it's gold versus the silver of chicago. Yeah, which one do you prefer?
Speaker 1:chicago. I just I love the fact that it's the detail, I love that it says chicago. It has a little bit of the route along here. Then, like you have the area, like the park, it's just I don't know. And then, obviously, because it's the four stars for the Chicago, because you always see that on the flag Nice, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:What about, so, the merch, when you the like the included race shirts?
Speaker 1:Included race shirts. So Chicago it's Nike and for New York City it is New Balance. Chicago was a short sleeve. They're both super high quality in my opinion. I like the New York one better because it's orange long sleeve. I just like that color combination better.
Speaker 2:Chicago was like a grayish blue, but like really nice, like screen print logo on the front so it's good to know, though, that the nike because nike, it tends, like different ones, tend to run smaller or larger, so it's good to know what brand it is, so that you can determine, because I don't know if you have to, if you have the opportunity to swap out sizes or anything like that, if you I didn't see that.
Speaker 1:But another thing too, like that nike store I went to in chicago. They had all the race stuff and the shirts were basically that they were selling were similar to your participation shirts, but just different colors, so like you could technically try one on and know which one what's gonna?
Speaker 2:fit you what's gonna fit? Yeah, is there a after marathon celebration, or is it everybody just in those with their medals and just going back to their hotels respectively?
Speaker 1:So in Chicago they had a beer garden. It was like a half mile walk to the finish line. I didn't go, you did not go.
Speaker 1:No, I did not go. I met up with I don't know if Tony from Wisconsin. I met up with Tony real quick just to say hi because he was running and a shout out to him for having a great race. I just saw him briefly and then I was like I'm just going to go back to the hotel. I had plans later on that night to do something. Anyways, new York City you finish. Their after party is actually a little bit later and it's in a different location and you had to buy a ticket for it. Oh, interesting, they had a ticketed after party. I didn't do that one either. I kept both finishes pretty simple. I knew what I wanted to do, just doing my own thing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, if there are ticketed events or you have to consider the costs too, yeah, and you had to get there.
Speaker 1:Transportation Like I would have had to take a couple different subways to get there and I was like I don't know if I really want to, Maybe not Okay, but it's good to know that they do have a ticketed event. That's the first time I've heard that and it's super easy to get, like it's through the event bright app like you have on your phone, you can actually Nice, okay, okay.
Speaker 2:So what were your plans post-race?
Speaker 1:So Chicago was very specific. I was going to a tiki bar because it was a tiki bar I'd never been to, so I had made reservations to go to three dots and a dash.
Speaker 2:Oh my, oh listen I. We live two or three, four, four doors down from a retired Chicago PD officer sergeant. So shout out there Tim and Lauren from Chicago, and he is obsessed with that place, the Three Dots and a Dash.
Speaker 1:The food was amazing. I was so hungry I smashed the entire poo-poo platter and I ate the whole thing to myself. My server looks at me. When I ordered it I was like, yeah, I'm gonna get the poo-poo platter. And then I forget. I think I ordered the original three dots in a dash cocktail. And he looks at me. He goes poopoo platter. I'm like bro, I'm like I just I just ran. I'm like I'm gonna destroy this thing and I absolutely housed the entire poopoo platter. Oh, it was good too. It had everything like teriyaki, crab, rangoon all my favorite stuff on there oh, okay, okay, I don't imagine there are pictures of this thing.
Speaker 2:Probably not, because after a race. You want to just rest, and then you just, I don't know.
Speaker 1:Oh, look at that Like sliders all the fun stuff on there.
Speaker 2:Oh, nice Okay.
Speaker 1:And the drinks were awesome. Drinks were super good. And so you had their okay the traditional three dots and a dash comes in this mug which I did bring home. Oh, skulls, like when you walk in there's a wall of skulls, so this kind of is their nod to that. Okay, and I got two other drinks and one of them was a piranha, which was pretty cool. Came in a golden piranha mug.
Speaker 1:Oh, okay but yeah, their cocktails were fantastic. I think I had like three cocktails while I was there and then I just went back to the hotel.
Speaker 1:Um, after new york I had found an irish bar oh, there you go the next street over from my hotel because I'd gone there a couple nights ahead because I knew they had non-alcoholic Guinness. So I don't drink before a race. So I was like, oh, I want a beer. So I went there and I had a non-alcoholic Guinness and it was great, they're good. And then I got to talking to the bartender and he's like, yeah, I'm running the marathon on Sunday as well. I was like, oh, cool, you should come by here and celebrate. I was like, okay, cool, finished, went back showered, I went, walked. It was right on the corner. So walked right on the corner, I had a Guinness and a big old smash burger and some bourbon and then called it a night.
Speaker 2:Some bourbon Yay.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and then the table next to me were a bunch of runners and they were slamming tequila shots and they're like you want one? I'm like nope, you. You're like I don't know, I'm gonna regret that in the morning. Yeah, like I gotta fly out tomorrow morning, I'm just gonna, I'm gonna enjoy my burger you said it was a smash burger and did you say super good smash burger yeah with the onions into the burger with a nice sauce on it, and and then I got some really hot Buffalo wings with it too.
Speaker 1:That were really good.
Speaker 2:Okay, so you said this was an Irish pub somewhere around the corner.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so like the next street over begins with an M I can't remember the name, but it's like the next year over from the Midtown Hilton. It's in that general vicinity. Okay, really nice. It's small bar, so it was loud.
Speaker 2:People ball bar, so it was loud.
Speaker 1:People were celebrating, like a lot of runners were there, so it was just people having a good time. It was a really good energy in that place and you didn't need reservations anything. Nope rolled up, they saw the medal and they were like come on in.
Speaker 2:Do you for three dots and a dash? Did you need a reservation over yeah?
Speaker 1:definitely got to get a reservation because that place gets busy. When I was there I think they were quoting people behind me that excited reservation so I had when I was about to get sat. I think they were quoting like an hour and 10 behind me or something like that.
Speaker 2:This is not dana approved. He would be like I'm not waiting an hour, especially after running a race, if you're, yeah, hungry if it's a friday night and it's a place I want to go to, yeah, yeah. But if I'm on wobbly legs, yeah, you just want so, yeah, so, and then you go home the very next day after both races.
Speaker 1:Yep. So up early, check out and hop a flight.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so is there anything else that you haven't mentioned? That would be you can't miss it in either destination Chicago or New York.
Speaker 1:Oh wow, chicago food is really good.
Speaker 2:Oh, portillo's, you mentioned earlier.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Portillo's. Their Chicago beef sandwiches are great. Their hot dogs are great. I went to Lil Malnati's Deep Dish.
Speaker 2:Oh yes.
Speaker 1:That was a really fun experience Great waitstaff, like just all good recommendations. I was like, hey, what pizza do you eat? And he's like, oh, I get it with spinach and tomatoes. So I was like, okay, cool, so I had that. They have great wings there too, they're super crispy. I that they have great wings there too, they're super crispy. I went to a place called Ramen San in Chicago. It's a little bit farther away from my hotel, but it is a Japanese whiskey and ramen bar that specifically plays hip hop.
Speaker 1:No, I was eating ramen listening to Wu-Tang. It was really fun. They have ube cheesecake. It was a really good meal. So those are some places I would recommend for Chicago. Okay, in New York. So I got to hang out with Mike and Aaron and Tom from Will Run For.
Speaker 2:Excellent. You're going to talk about the subway deal, aren't you?
Speaker 1:The subway pizza. Yes, yeah, oh yeah, here at Cino Evil Pizza. Cino Evil Pizza. Yeah, so it's a pizza spot in.
Speaker 2:You have to go into the subway to get to it.
Speaker 1:Oh, so it's a pizza spot in. You have to go into the subway to get to it. Oh, so it's in like the New York subway, and it was like really good New York style pizza. What else did we get? They gave us anchovy butter and radishes and it was so good. We did some arancini oh rice balls. Yes, oh yeah, really good food there. Pizza I zucchini, oh rice balls. Yes, oh yeah, really good food there. Pizza I'm trying to remember which one we got.
Speaker 1:I think we got one with prosciutto and something else on it always good topping on a pizza yes oh just, but just quality, really quality pizza like just everything there I thought was banging. I think we got a beet salad too, with some goat cheese.
Speaker 2:That was good, that sounds good, yeah, although dana would say beets are like tasting your front lawn beets are actually good for you before run.
Speaker 1:They're supposed to help oxidizing another tip, another tip, okay and we did a traditional pepperoni new york.
Speaker 2:Okay, so so much pizza. So here's the question though which one, Chicago or New?
Speaker 1:York pizza. I am a New York pizza guy. I like the crispier, fold, the crust and yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:Ok, you would fall in the New York camp. I know it's a hot take, but it is New York pizza. It is because there are some people who are like that is not pizza over in Chicago, that's.
Speaker 1:But then you could argue I had pizza when I was in Tokyo and it was completely different. Pizza is pizza, it's regional.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, but that Lou Malnati's over there in Chicago.
Speaker 1:I had to take half of it home. I was like back to the hotel, I was just like I ate half and I was like man, this is heavy.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but a good late night snack though, if you get up in the morning, a good morning snack.
Speaker 1:The next morning I didn't have to get breakfast, so I was eating Lou Malnati's for breakfast the next morning.
Speaker 2:Was that like a pre-race meal?
Speaker 1:That was so. I went to Lou's, I think so I flew in on Wednesday.
Speaker 2:I went to Lou Malnati's on Thursday, so it was my breakfast. Friday morning was pizza You're oh so, but before the race, that's okay.
Speaker 1:Yeah, before the race yes, Not the day of the race. No, no, no no, no. I don't roll that.
Speaker 2:I don't know. Well, I mean, you have bagels.
Speaker 1:You talked about the bagels.
Speaker 2:Yes, but in Chicago did you have bagels before.
Speaker 1:Yeah, actually. Um, I found a bagel shop. It was on michigan, actually. Michigan. I've had a lot of really like good hole in the wall, quick, quick, grab and go stuff. I got a killer italian sub, like a few. Oh yeah, yeah, it was, and it was so cute. It was three people working the place. It was the guy that takes your order, the guy that makes your sandwich and I swear to God it was their mother that was ringing you up. So it's just like this you come in, you order, you get it, you go boom, and they made me this Italian sub. I think they called it the wise guy. It had extra prosciutto in there too. It had some soppressata. It was just like a really well-made with oil, salt, pepper, oregano.
Speaker 2:Oh, that sounds good.
Speaker 1:That was two doors down from where I got my bagels, so there was all kinds of stuff in that one row on Michigan.
Speaker 2:So it just sounds like Michigan Avenue is the place to explore and indulge.
Speaker 1:There's two sides of Michigan. So the side I was on, I think, is the south side and then the north side. That's where the Nike store is, that's where there's tons of restaurants. Michael Jordan's Steakhouse is up on that side. Oh, like all the high-end retail, your Coach, your Louis Vuitton, that's all in north side Shopping. I was, I think, on the south side of Michigan great food and beverage. Yeah, in both cities. Honestly, right next to my hotel was I don't know if you're familiar with the Halal guys.
Speaker 2:No.
Speaker 1:They do falafel and they do all these really amazing like pita sandwiches and pita bowls and stuff like that. Okay, we actually have one here in central Florida, not too far from UCF, but their original street cart was right next to my hotel, so I got to go there and then get food that I know and it was even better there. That was great. I went to a bunch of different walk-up pizza places that just like you see the sign like New York's best pizza places You're like okay, get a bunch of that New York.
Speaker 1:Then when I was with Mike, Aaron and Tom, we went to a winter market over a little bit beyond the Rockefeller Center and they had all different types of booths that you could get, like french fries, dumplings. I got a pickle flight and it was like all different types of pickles, like spicy, yeah, so there's, if you're willing to walk, there's a lot that you can, especially in New York City, like you throw a rock and you're hitting three or four different places, like wherever you are. I went to a Greek diner.
Speaker 2:A Greek diner.
Speaker 1:Oh my God, the guy was great. Yeah, I had moussaka and it was great. That's one of my favorite dishes. It's like a Greek lasagna. It's amazing.
Speaker 2:Oh, yeah Need to have that. It's a thing I need to have that. Okay, I'm learning all sorts of things.
Speaker 1:That was another place that, like I'm sitting next to businessmen, like I found the local spot, like all the local businesses, where they're having lunch.
Speaker 2:That's good to go where the locals go. That's really good.
Speaker 1:I try to do that. Or I'll ask somebody if I'm at a restaurant or like a hotel. I'm like where do you go eat and drink? Not what's good, where do you go? That's usually my first question.
Speaker 2:Yeah, because then you'll find what's not.
Speaker 1:What do you order when you're there? Oh yeah, like how do you get your pizza or what don't. What shouldn't I order off that menu?
Speaker 2:If you had to choose one New York or Chicago as a runcation experience, what would you choose?
Speaker 1:Ooh, that's a tough one. Maybe New York, just because of the selection and everything you have. Chicago, I felt, was a little bit more convenient because it was everything right on Michigan and not too far away, whereas New York it's so sprawling and spread out. Manhattan is huge.
Speaker 2:And I think it might be overwhelming before the race.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but then again I don't know. I will say where I stayed. We were really close to everything. Rockefeller Center was not too far from us.
Speaker 2:Did you go ice skating?
Speaker 1:No, they had just opened it up. No, when I walked by there, they had closed off the ice skating rink because they were doing a photo shoot with what's his name, the former goalie for the the rangers okay, I forget his name. He was doing a photo shoot like he was, like they were new merchandise or whatever, and they were doing a photo shoot with him. So they closed off the whole rink.
Speaker 2:Ah okay. Okay.
Speaker 1:We were right there. I was two-minute walk from Radio City Music Hall, not too far from Times Square.
Speaker 2:Nice.
Speaker 1:Like where we were there was just a lot of stuff that you could do. I was bummed because I found out I want to say it was either the day before or the day before the race that there were open tickets for a Saturday Night Live taping. Oh, but I'm like I'm running the next day. I can't quite go to this.
Speaker 2:So you didn't do it.
Speaker 1:No, I didn't. No, but I saw where Jimmy Fallon has the whole 30 Rock thing.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:That was cool yeah.
Speaker 2:That's cool, yeah, yeah. 30 rock thing yeah, that was cool. Yeah, that's cool, yeah, yeah. So I think that there are experiences you can have in either one and you would recommend them both, yeah yeah, I, I think they're both great destinations.
Speaker 1:they bring obviously a different energy and a different vibe, but they're two great we use the term. They're two great american yeah, they're just two great spots to go. There's so much and if you can extend your trip or whatever, like you can see a lot in both places. I don't think that you're going to see everything in either place.
Speaker 2:And if you're going to do a back to back, like you did, coming off of Chicago and, in the in between, heading up to or leading up to New York, what would you recommend for somebody who was going to take that on in terms of training and recovery?
Speaker 1:I would say definitely recover from the first race, make sure that you're okay, do a head to toe check, make sure you're not hurt. You didn't, you know, pull anything, strain anything, and but then don't try to do too much between the races. I think I did one long run between those two races just to make sure I kept my fitness up. Everything else was more like recovery runs or maybe a little bit of speed work, but nothing too crazy.
Speaker 2:You remember how long that long run in between was.
Speaker 1:That's a good question.
Speaker 2:I could probably look at my calendar and see it's just interesting, like how are you going to do another one, because there are different philosophies, like how Higdon has different philosophy from Jeff.
Speaker 1:Actually it's funny. So now I'm going back and looking in my. It was more. There were some hill workouts in there too, but I actually had a race, five miler that was turned into a tempo race. I pushed it on that one and then I think I had a six or seven miler after that and then that was like the most as far as mileage leading up to it, in addition to my weekly runs of tuesdays and thursdays yeah, because they're, because those two races like chicago was almost like a last big long run before New York.
Speaker 1:That really is your big long run.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:You don't need to pack another 26er in there or another 20 miler in there.
Speaker 2:No, so it's a big accomplishment what you did and you should be so proud of it. For Chicago. You did the, the connection, you did the charity bib. Were there any charity like meet and greets, anything that you did around that in Chicago when you went?
Speaker 1:No, not with the charity directly. It was more leading up to just a lot of communication. Leading up to they had a, a tent, but like they, there's a section of the chicago marathon they call charity row where all the charities kind of line both sides of the street. So we had a tent or people cheering, all the different charities had something going on, and there was some running clubs mixed in there too.
Speaker 2:So that was cool oh, and I meant to ask that when we were talking about the course and everything like, and we were comparing, like if you had any events around that. So, yeah, yeah, they're both such must-do races and you're right, I think that they would have a different feel. They would have a different feel, the they would have a different feel. The accomplishment is just huge and you're just one star away.
Speaker 1:I know it's crazy.
Speaker 2:What do they give you when you get Berlin done? What do they do?
Speaker 1:You get your six-star medal.
Speaker 2:And are you planning to celebrate that in any big way?
Speaker 1:Or this is my honestly don't know what my headspace is going to be like when I finish. Like, am I going to be super emotional? Am I going to be just exhausted? Think about it. I think about the finish and you always have that planned finish in your head. Oh, I want to do this when I finish and you never do. You always do something stupid, put your hands in the air or make a really funny face.
Speaker 2:Oh, did they? Hey, did they include photos in New York or Chicago?
Speaker 1:No, they did not. You could purchase them ahead of time and they were at a discounted rate.
Speaker 2:And did you?
Speaker 1:Yeah, um, I got a ton of photos, so I think I got like 160 from New York and and 90 something from chicago and are there tips where you know the photographers are coming?
Speaker 1:like some, yes, some no, uh, some of them. They were just there and they were snapping away. Some of them you didn't even see yeah. But you have some moments from the course where you're like, yeah, this was, oh yeah, worth it, yep yeah, like coming over the bridge or like something like that, where you see this shot and you're like, yeah, this was worth it. Yep, yeah, like coming over the bridge or something like that, where you see this shot and you're coming over and welcome to New York City. That's just pretty cool.
Speaker 2:Yeah, oh, I can't imagine. I can't imagine.
Speaker 1:Who knows what the Berlin photos are going to look like. It could be me just being absolutely emotional. It could be me just being exhausted. So we'll see.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but then you'll have Oktoberfest.
Speaker 1:Yeah, celebrate.
Speaker 2:To celebrate because you'll go.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'll take. It's a four hour train from Berlin to Munich and then we'll be in Munich for a few days.
Speaker 2:That'll be incredible, and your bride will come with you.
Speaker 1:Yeah, she's making this, she's making this trip.
Speaker 2:Or for that one. So she'll be there. She's going to plan on being at mile 25, I imagine, as you talked about in London.
Speaker 1:If she can find a spot. If not, we'll figure it out.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Do you plan on. So you're going to do that one with a travel company.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it just. It makes it so much easier with the accommodations in Berlin. The only thing I'm going to be paying, doing on my own, is booking flights. They take care of everything while you're there. You just book the flights to get there and then, for me, I'll be paying for, obviously, the train, for the transfer and then the hotel in Munich.
Speaker 2:Outside the race. Yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:So I just you have inspired us and I imagine, so many people in the Runcation Nation, I that was my roundabout question of what's next for you. I imagine that is. I don't know if you have any other training races coming up um, nothing until then.
Speaker 1:I'm trying to think. I think maybe the only thing I'll run is like a fourth of july race or something like that just to have some fun. Yeah, all my other races are going to be after berlin, so I'll be doing space coast again. Oh, and then I'll be doing mount dora, and this year will be my five-year mount dora, so I get the five-year jacket, which is pretty cool good for you.
Speaker 2:When is that one?
Speaker 1:mount dora is going to be this year. I just got the dates, so let me get those for you. And if you're anywhere in central Florida and you're looking for a really fun marathon I'm sorry, half marathon I recommend. Dora is on the 21st of December this year and Space Coast is on the 30th of October. I'm sorry, 30th of November this year Right after Thanksgiving. Yeah, three days after Thanksgiving, and then the other one's right before the Mountain Tours, right before Christmas.
Speaker 1:Yep, the holidays Both really great races. Yeah, they're just a lot of fun and I would recommend, if you're going to be in the area, to check out either one of them, especially Space Coast. If you want to make a weekend out of it, which course area to check out?
Speaker 2:either one of them, especially space coast if you want to make a weekend out of it, which I love. Which course? Which course are you?
Speaker 1:gonna like. But like I'm south course, I am south course, I am party course that's what aaron says too from will run for it. It's. It is so much fun because the neighbor it's basically you're running through a neighborhood like a one, it's mountain back and people are out there. And uh, last year I'm trying to think what mile it was where a guy had bacon, pancakes, mimosas, fireball beer, like they have people that are parrot heads, that like have their own little section and it's just, it's super rad. I recommend it and you can make a good weekend out of it because I mean for for us, where we live. The coast is not too far for us, but if you get a hotel and you can go out there, you can obviously go to Kennedy Space Center.
Speaker 2:You can go check out Cocoa.
Speaker 1:Village which has some great food.
Speaker 2:What village did you say?
Speaker 1:Cocoa Village Cocoa Village. There's a lot of fun stuff there, so you could make a little mini runcation weekend out of it, like it.
Speaker 2:You're just full of knowledge, not only of the Abbott Marathon majors but of like, where to go to accomplish, explore and indulge, and where can people connect with you.
Speaker 1:I am on Instagram, run Disney nerd and also sometimes on threads under the same name, Sometimes as much. I'm still getting used to the whole threads thing, but yeah no, you can find me there, and if you're in any of the Galloway customized Facebook groups or I think I'm in some of the run Disney ones you can find me there too.
Speaker 2:Oh, we will link to that and all of the places that you mentioned, everything that you mentioned in the show notes. But we can't thank you enough for you taking such a great deal of time to recap races that may be just once in a-a-lifetime experiences for people in the Runcation Nation. I really think that every time you're on the show you share things. People can walk away and say, okay, if I'm going to plan to do this race, I know I have some good advice from this episode. So, michael Leslie, mike aka Run Diz Nerd, we cannot wait to accomplish, explore and indulge with you really soon. Thanks for having me Appreciate it that we can set a goal, whatever that goal is, dedicate ourselves to the hard training, to the steps, to the nutrition, to everything that we need for it all to come together and make it happen. Thanks for your interview last week and this week and stay tuned. Like I said at the top of the show y'all, we have amazing interviews coming up in the month of May and I just want to thank again the Runcation Nation for sticking with us and, if you have a chance, please join our Miles for Moffitt team. They just opened up registration for Miles for Moffitt.
Speaker 2:It's the 20th anniversary of the race. They have a special anniversary race. They have 5k, walking 10k. They have a 5k for running as well. Just fun runs for the family. The link is in our profile on our social media and we will put a special page up on runnydrinknet as well. It's the 20th anniversary of that race. It's a race that we are honoring the life of my father and the support that Moffitt Cancer Center gave to him in his battle with stage four non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and thank you all for your support, whether you donate to the team or run with us or run it virtually. We thank you for all the support and the love this past year, especially at the start of 2025. For joining us on your long run, your commute to work around the house or wherever you are. I'm your host, amy. Stay safe and well and we will accomplish, explore and indulge with you really soon.
