426. Sam Grotewold, Director of Professional Athletes at New York Road Runners

Ali on the Run Show

Ali Feller

Fitness, Sports, Running, Health & Fitness

4.9 • 4.2K Ratings

🗓️ 23 September 2021

⏱️ 84 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

"Everybody who has ever run a marathon in the history of ever has run a first marathon. And I guarantee you that some of the concerns and doubts and fears that you or I had in our first marathon have crept into the minds of someone like Shalane Flanagan or Meb Keflezighi in the weeks and days and hours before they ran their first marathon."

Every year at races like the New York City Marathon and the Fifth Avenue Mile, dozens of professional runners assemble for their shot at glory. And in New York City, Sam Grotewold is the guy who brings them all together. As the director of professional athletes for New York Road Runners, it's Sam's job to recruit the professional fields at major events like the TCS New York City Marathon, the New York City Half, the Mini 10K, and the New Balance Fifth Avenue Mile. And on this episode, the self-proclaimed "running and track nerd" explains how he makes that happen. With more than 20 years of experience, Sam knows the wooing process well. Here, he shares his goals for the recruitment process, how he measures success in his role, and how this year's New York City Marathon field (which features professional runners from 25 countries and territories) came together. Plus, he shares some of his best stories from his time with the pros, and tells which athlete he reached out to first as he was assembling this year's NYCM field.

SPONSOR: AfterShokz — Visit ontherun.aftershokz.com for 15% off wireless headphones.

What you'll get on this episode:

All about Sam's role in the New Balance Fifth Avenue Mile (5:30)
On getting the athletes to the start line (19:00)
How Sam got his job (21:30)
How Sam assembles the fields of professional athletes (29:40)
The narrative for this year's TCS New York City Marathon (33:45)
Sam's process for recruiting athletes (39:00)
Sam's favorite thing about New York City Marathon week (46:15)
What goes into the contracts for professional athletes (48:50)
On schmoozing, socializing, and spreadsheets (51:20)
What New York City Marathon day is like for Sam — plus some of his best race day stories! (56:00)
Reflecting on the past year and a half at New York Road Runners (1:08:00)

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode of the Allie on the Run Show is brought to you by Aftershocks.
0:04.4	Go to ontherun.aftershocks.com to say 15% on all wireless headphones.
0:10.4	Welcome to the Allie on the Run Show.
0:17.1	I'm your host Allie Feller and every week I talk with people who are doing exciting things
0:22.2	on the run and beyond. We all share that love for running and that's what brings us all together.
0:27.7	But of course there is more to life than what happens on the run itself.
0:32.1	And this show is about those in-between.
0:34.9	About the moments and decisions that have shaped who we are today and the wise.
0:39.7	Why do we do what we do and how does getting sweaty factor in?
0:44.5	Now you know I love behind the scenes stuff when it comes to races and running and today is all
0:52.0	about the behind the scenes. I guess today is Sam Groatwald who is the director of
0:57.2	professional athletes at New York Roadrunners. It is Sam's job to recruit the professional
1:02.7	field of athletes at big events like the New York City marathon, the Fifth Avenue mile,
1:07.6	the New York City half and so many more. And that to me is so interesting.
1:13.8	How does Sam get started? How does he decide who to try and woo for each race each year?
1:20.0	How much wooing is actually involved? What is Sam's goal when he's recruiting these fields?
1:26.4	How does it all come together? And ultimately how does he measure success in his job?
1:32.6	On this episode Sam explains it all. Hey Clarissa explains it all. Wasn't her best friend Sam?
1:39.0	So that's perfect. Sam explains it all. He has been with New York Roadrunners for more than
1:43.9	two decades now so he knows his way around the block, around the burrows and around the industry.
1:49.8	And with this year's New York City marathon, which is the 50th by the way, with this year's
1:55.2	marathon coming right up, I wanted to hear all about it because this year's field features
	...

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