July 01, 2020
###### Bertrand Newson: [00:00:00]
Flag in hand knowing at some point I'm going to see my father this is going to be great to hear the crowd cheering as I'm turning the corner and to see the re so much respect and dignity being paid to the veterans and to my father in particular, just a wonderful
###### Kevin Chang: [00:00:24]
hello and welcome to the RaceMob podcast. This is episode number two. I'm Kevin entrepreneur technology and fitness nerd, novice runner, and the founder of RaceMob. I'm joined by the founder of Too Legit Fitness co chair of the Taji - 100, RRCA certified coach, USA track and field certified official the incomparable Bertrand Newson.
Today we have a deep conversation into how family has been the driving force behind Bertrand running over 250 races, which include over 50 marathons and ultras in the last nine years. Why the hated Dodger stadium became the site of one of his greatest triumphs, how he's inspired hundreds in their fitness journey.
Why the word walk is not a dirty word. Plus we talk about how he's still breaking personal records and even winning races. In his fifties, we have all the show notes online at dot com slash podcast. And if you're interested in training with coach Bertrand, we are looking for applicants to help pilot our initial training program.
You'll get some one on one coaching with this legendary coach for yourself to join our wait list, just go to RaceMob.com/training. And without further ado, here's our conversation.
So excited to jump on another podcast with the incomparable Bertrand Newson, wanted to dive deeper into your history a little bit more about your past.
We got a little taste of it in episode one, but, Let's walk back a little bit. Let's walk back into, tell us a little bit about how, maybe your family or your family's health history, how that has impacted, your introduction into fitness,
###### Bertrand Newson: [00:02:16]
Kevin, and nice to be back, chatting with you. Another RaceMob.
Happy hour. Yes. Family mean, That's really what it's all about, man. I mean, your, your legacy is, is defined over time and as I've gotten older, I've just seen my circle of family mature and deal with chronic disease and I'm just more present and more aware of it. Namely with, aunts and uncles, grandparents with hypertension, diabetes, and every single one of my, Aunts and uncles are all living in mother and mother included, and father, father with hypertension.
it's, it's, it's, it's very present in our lives, you know, lost my grandmother. last year, 92, 93 years young. Oh, wow. I'm super spirited woman. I'm the rock of the family. But looking at my siblings, you know, we ourselves have, you know, dealt with some, health battles. Namely my brother Bernardo who's, three years, my junior in 2007.
you know, healthy by most standards, this guy has never smoked, never drank, lives up, fairly active lifestyle. You know, we both played baseball growing up, beer league softball, granted he never had a beer, during those softball games, but I remember like 2005, 2006, he would say, you know, every now and then the paid in the side, Little fatigued.
some weight gain kind of up and down and got to a point and it can 2006 where it's like, you know what? I just might as well go and get checked out. And surprisingly, he had high blood pressure and as his medical team started to drill a little bit deeper in this, and he's probably in his Oh, early thirties.
Okay. that they noticed his kidney function seemed a bit off. So they elected to do a biopsy and were unable to get a sample of one of his kidneys, because it was that undersized. And that's where the alarms went off. And, I think by, a birth defect that was just. Discovered in his early thirties, he was in the midst of renal failure, kidney disease.
And shortly thereafter, it became obvious that a transplant was going to be necessary for him to sustain, a healthy lifestyle moving forward, which completely shocked the entire family. We had no idea at all, and this is a guy who's, you know, full of life. you know, at the time of father of two married and, you know, we had lost a family friend, several years prior.
she was probably in her early twenties, did a kidney. I see. So, you know, that was all all present with all of us. And we're very fortunate that, you know, the family was tested for who would be the most compatible. from a kidney transplant perspective and it came down between my sister and myself and ultimately my sister was a person in 2007 March, gave the gift of life and that's what it really was for him.
Because at that point, Kevin,
he was on dialysis. And I remember going to those appointment it's with him and to see the people in, you know, getting the dialysis treatment, which is like a pumps, a transfusion of some sort, all in many cases, twice as age. You know, that have lived their full life, that are in some cases, you know, probably deemed by the medical community, maybe a bit too old to go through, or maybe not strong enough to facilitate a organ transplant, which my brother, you know, had to wait a year and a half through the testing, to where we were finally given a date and had that surgery.
Gift of life in March of, 2007 and knock on wood. My sister's doing incredibly well and bunny he's doing incredibly well. when I got into running in 2011, At some point, you know, he, he, that bug rubbed off on him and, the rest is kind of, just been a wonderful journey for all of us. My, my father, mothers, certainly, very proud that we have embraced a healthy lifestyle.
They were both active in their own. Right. My father played competitive softball, you know, after his military and, police career. And actually won a senior world series on a traveling team in his mid fifties. And I remember thinking, Oh wow. So, yeah, yeah. I mean, it's, it's, we all are trying to find a way to stay ahead of father time.
And for me, from a fitness perspective, from a, just feeling good in your soul, Running and the running community, he has been profound and how it is influenced my circle of friends, my family. we have met because of my common, our common love of staying active. It's just been a wonderful experience. So, yeah, my brother is a driving force because he now with three kids married working now six plus days a week in the midst of the pandemic, as a, salesman for a prominent bread company.
Now he's back on the route. Never makes expenses never complains. And, and just his tenacity and always putting his family first. He's the first to host Christmas, Thanksgiving. He loves to cook. He's a comedian. He's funny as hell. and he's never done a, you know, woe is me pours me, petty party. He's just embraced it and said, you know what?
Each day is a gift and let's get after it. So I know that I may have to. Be considered to give an organ to him again, because in many cases, the lifespan of a donated kidney is 10, 15, 20 plus years. And you know, where, where it's, you know, he had that transplant in. Oh seven. Now we're 13 years in and knock on what he's doing well, but that's always a motivation for me.
I have to have a beer from time to time, you know, I'm a barbecue enthusiast, you know, this, but all the moderation, all the moderation and, you know, if, and when that data's come, I want to be healthy enough to be considered to pay it forward. As my sister did. in helping my brother, you know, sustain his, his journey.
Cause we need that dude around for another 50 plus years, you know? So, yep.
###### Kevin Chang: [00:09:14]
Well, I mean, I love Bernardo I've I've met him a couple of times. He's fantastic. Do you have any great stories or good stories of you guys, either anything that you want to share?
###### Bertrand Newson: [00:09:25]
this, it can be a podcast alone on. Big brother.
And you know, one of the little are brothers, cause I have two other brothers. but yeah, I have a couple of really cool stories and they all send you, you know, these will center around fitness, you know, we've enjoyed playing sports together and we're both baseball enthusiasts. We love baseball and in 2000 and.
12, we had the unique opportunity, through my job at the time in San Francisco, who we did some advertising with the San Francisco giants and my director of sales and marketing, had. Was able to get access to batting practice for corporate partners with the San Fran Cisco giants. And I thought, Oh, this is cool.
I want to watch, I just want to get, I just, if I can eat, sit in the dugout, let me just get down to field level. She's like, Nope, I got something better than that. Like what you are going to be able to take BP. I'm like, get the hell out of here. I didn't actually say hello. It probably said something else.
But moving on. I like, Hey, I, you know, I thought of my brother Bernardo said, Hey dude, what are you doing? He's like, I'm at work right now. I need you to make an excuse or whatever. I need you to get out to, the ballpark. And there's an opportunity for me to take BP and I'm going to do everything in my power to see if we can get you out there as well.
So we were able to get him. A pass and it was one thing to be out on the field with him. And the anticipation of taking BP was great, but it was us in the outfield, us in the infield, us shagging balls, us playing catch a technique it back to our little league days and playing soft toss with our father.
it was so surreal, man. It was our field of dreams. It was, you know, one of the most, special moments. two brothers can share over their common love of the sport and then us being in a professional field. And again, it was the us. You know, like pinching ourselves, is this really happening? and then the anticipation going to have to go and take batting practice.
That was all secondary, you know, it's us, you know, getting the balls, roll them into the infield. And they had former major leaguers out there throwing batting practice out there, shagging balls in the outfield. Marty Lurie, who's one of the radio. personalities on KNBR was the announcement for the event and they had a roster.
So they were actually calling out your name as you walk into the on deck circle. This is freaking awesome. and then I had some coworkers out there, that. You know, some had played a little bit of ball in the past and some did not.
I'll just leave it at that. And I think there were over 115, participants in the batting practice and two, two people that day hit home runs, so, Oh, wow. Yeah. Were you one of the two?
Wow. you know, they let us bat with, aluminum bats. So you have a bit of a, an advantage, but Hey, you know what,
###### Kevin Chang: [00:12:54]
out of 150, I mean,
###### Bertrand Newson: [00:12:56]
fantastic. fantastic, great photos from that day. And, my father in particular was so proud that his two boys had a chance. Again, less about the batting practice, but just knowing our love of the sport and us being able to share that experience that day, that way just in playing catch and, hamming it up and having some good back and forth with some of the former major leaguers that we followed growing up.
And it was just. Just wonderful. Just wonderful. So that's his baseball fast forwarding to, I can think so vividly of Bernardo's very first five K his very first 10 K his very first half marathon and his very first marathon. Again, this is somebody who, when, you know, parts of late 2005 and 2006, That is not even, not even a possibility, not even a thought.
and then when I started running in 2011, it's like, ah, I'm not going to push this on him. You know, he he's, he's finding his own rhythm, work and family are priority, but also knowing that. He has a responsibility to stay active and, you know, take care of his medication regimen and, and, eat what he's supposed to eat, because that also has a direct and indirect effect on the health of his kidney.
So, you know, me being big, bro, I felt I had the right to say, okay, now enough time has passed. You're going to join me in this running thing. So, and in running as you and I have talked about in the past and some of our guests that we've hosted have shared, you get out of running what you put into it.
So the, the more you run, your endurance gets better. You get the physical body dynamics change, you get faster. And if you don't. You're not as active and running, you don't see the results. So, you know, his first mile, his first attempt to, you know, put back to back one mile efforts together. It was a work in progress.
also there's a little bit of healthy competition between the two and in a positive way. And for him to build up the, the endurance to say, you know what? I think I want to officially sign up for a five K and for him to cross that finish line. And that was the, the, the difference for him is, okay, look how friendly this community is, is, and knowing all that it happened.
Leading up to him training the operation transplant and yeah, it was a, I mean he was hooked and you know, that progress to attend. K and then his very first half marathon was in San Francisco. I think, yeah, 2013 and. It was the San Francisco giants half marathon. And he had put in the training work, he was solid at 10 K you know, knocking out tin case.
No problem, you know, just around, you know, breaking that, you know, 60 minute barrier, which is a, you know, a measuring stick in some cases for that particular distance. And. The day leading up to it, you know, getting to the expo, getting the bib again, we're both baseball fans and it did, by this time we had already had the, the batting practice experience and knowing that we're going to finish that race in the stadium on the field was again, very exciting for both of us, but I remember a little, I can sense a little bit of self doubt and frustration because again, it was his first half marathon and he thought.
That, you know what, I'm glad you're going to be with me big bro, step by step. But my family seems busy. You know, they, they, you know, they, they aren't going to be able to make it out and he didn't want to admit it, that it was bothering him. But I mean, I know the dude, you know, I could tell that he was a little bit out of shape.
And then the morning of the race I'm coming from San Jose, he's coming from Berkeley, California. We find each other, we meet, we park, we're making our way over to. The stadium and he was quiet. I think maybe it's just nervous jitters. And it was, he was, again, I'm wearing the disappointment that his family wasn't going to be out there to watch him finish.
So we start the race and I think the pace he was running based on Phil and was probably running a little bit. Too fast. And if you start, we've all
###### Kevin Chang: [00:17:35]
been there before
###### Bertrand Newson: [00:17:37]
SAS. Ultimately I have to pay the price and he started paying the price around mile eight mile nine. And by a mile 10 he's like. Wait, is that the ground or are we running in a lava?
Because my feet, you are literally on site fire and he's a diabetic. So under understanding this, he may have sensations that, we, you know, and things going on in his body that I'm, or other runners may not feel. So I was being mindful of that, but it was starting with having to slow down and then get into a, a jog slash walk or trot trot, trot mile 11 mile 12, and then seeing the stadium silhouette and making that turn into the stadium, knowing that I had got a text message that I didn't share with him, we crossed that finish line, the metals put on his neck and Kevin, there are.
Hundreds or thousand of Pete, thousands of people that have finished at that point, you have family members that are sitting in this, in the bleachers. And it seemed like at one moment, the entire stadium went silent and we heard daddy,
###### Kevin Chang: [00:18:52]
Oh my God.
###### Bertrand Newson: [00:18:53]
Oh my God. His entire family was there. And, it was his youngest, that was calling him out Lucy.
And just to see the reaction. On him. And there were tears all the way around man. And when other people in our periphery saw what was happening, that he was surprised at his family was there and his daughters were there and it was his very first half marathon. And that he's a kidney transplant survivor.
What's a great, great date for the family. Great day for the family. And I'm fast forwarding to 2018 because after that race, he's like, man, I'm glad I am finished.
You got me? I didn't think it was possible. but he was, I think sub two 34, his first time out. Wow. And gray is, I had to keep reminding him of the joy and the sense of accomplishment once seeing his family, that nobody could ever take that away from him. And I wasn't pressing a marathon on him at that point, because that's a distance you have to, you're going to have to want it because there's a level of level of training while you're juggling family obligations and work obligations.
But at that day, I thought, Oh man, he's, he's never going to join. He's ever got, they were going to join me for a marathon fast forward to 2018. I got a text message from him several months before that saying I've signed up for four LA marathon. 2018 and it's on big bro. I'm like, Oh, all right.
###### Kevin Chang: [00:20:47]
All on his own.
Any, any prodding, any like, Hey
###### Bertrand Newson: [00:20:51]
had that was my second marathon in 2013 and run it every year since for the most part there's a year or two that I missed. But, that course is wonderful. I mean, it starts out at the hated. Dodger stadium, you know, where it were big
Monica. And he's heard me talk about it on multiple occasions. his wife is from Southern California. he felt he had the time to put into the training, which he did, you know, it was a little touch and go where, you know, there was a training plan that he was working on and you know, sometimes when you're training, you're a family member.
That can be fantastic in times it can be a little tense. And there were times when it got a little tense, I'm like, you know what, I'm not making this any easier on him. And he feels like he's letting me down. I'm not, I wasn't being a hard ass yes. On him. Because I had to respect that this dude is working his ass off to put bread on the table.
Well, for his family. And then on top of it, dealing with that lifelong medical condition, that's to be mindful of that. So I had a. A friend who is a running coach who lived in the East Bay, who Bernardo noon. I thought it was best to have him be as the first point of contact and let the two of them work, work out.
What worked best from a timing perspective. and I could chime in, I can check in, but it, I didn't have to always be the person, you know, putting the hammer on him, like, okay, you were supposed to run, you didn't run. But if the time that you don't invest right now, you are going to feel it on a race day and we're looking at yeah.
You know, being able to run under the cutoff time and then. You don't want to just be trained enough to finish where, you know, after you hit the halfway point, because you didn't train that you're hating every single step we wanted to avoid it. Cause I've been in those shoes before. So I wanted his, his experience of Raul to be as best as possible.
So fast forwarding to that race weekend to legit fitness had upwards of, I think, 13 team members that went down. Awesome. Awesome. Three first-timers, Chris Smith, who's going to be a future guest of ours. but Nardo us and my brother and Lori Cortez, Luna. they were all first-timers in that event.
So we were all excited about that. and actually there was one more, Mario, super Mario also was his first marathon. I actually talked him in to that at the expo. So the day before Mitski, this guy is in fantastic shape. he's crushing half marathons and like, man, you're here already. Good.
###### Kevin Chang: [00:23:39]
Wait at the LA expo, like, like sign up tomorrow.
You're running a marathon. Oh my gosh.
###### Bertrand Newson: [00:23:49]
Alright. And yeah, he did. Well, he finished, he finished, but, back to Manardo on that day, again much like the very first, his very first half marathon started out a little spirited. You know, 10 K Mark. I'm like, Oh, okay. You know, both he and running together, you know, they've, they've known each other for many years.
We grew up together. We had done previous races together, obstacle course events, tough Mudders, et cetera. so they had a rapport. It was their first marathon. So the first, the first 13 miles. It was a blur. They breezed through it and I'm thinking to myself, Alrighty then, and I think mile, you know, 16, 17 that I think, you know, I'm not going to say.
Whose will started to wobble a little bit. I will just say that the groups, you know, there was some wobbling of wills and at mile 20, we knew that it was just going to be one foot in front of the other, that we, the group had run strong enough where we weren't in danger of not meeting the cutoff time.
but my brother and I failed to mention this. He didn't know that I'd reached out to my father. He didn't know that the night we checked into the hotel and we were going to dinner that my father was going to be there. And that just changed the entire dynamics of the weekend. He, I think it took out the nerves necessarily.
It's like, Hey, pops came all this way from Nevada to watch. You know, me and big bro, finished this race. And I think that helped him during the race, in those tough moments. when you start to question yourself, you know, what did I get myself into? Every part of my body is aching again. Is that the ground, are we running on a lava field, much like the first half marathon, but you know what Kev that dude alone, Chris and Lori and everybody in our group, we all finished and out of the 13, 12, 13 that participated that day.
I believe eight of us at mile 26 to 26.2 locked arms. And cross the finish line together, men. And one of our teammates, Jackie Silva, Torres, has a picture of myself and my brother embracing. It's a very emotional, you know, they say a picture's worth a thousand words. And I know when my parents look at that photo, I know when his wife looks at that photo, his, my niece has look at that photo.
When I look at that photo man, along with Bernardo just brings back. So, so like so many. Like a flash of memories from Oh seven through 2018 of all that, that dude has gone through. and no one himself included would have thought that a marathon was in his, in his future. And he did well men. he did well, so proud of him.
So yeah, those are just a couple of, of, coach B and Bernardo stories that come to mind. Again, I have. A lot and some that are probably not, probably can't don't want to reshare, so yeah, man, that's my dude, you know, love the guy. He's just a wonderful human being as you, you, you see clearly you've you've met him.
Yeah, yeah, yeah,
###### Kevin Chang: [00:27:12]
yeah, yeah. I mean, he is. He's awesome. He is the man. And I mean, I think, I think you go off Stover or something that you kind of innately do, which is being able to motivate people both to get into the sport. And you've grown one of the largest, fitness groups here in the South Bay. how did you get Bernardo to even go out for that first mile or even sign up for that first five?
K and how have you, and you've done a countless. Countless times for, for people that you've kind of run into 'em or people at your workplace. I guess what is, what is the secret sauce be? What is the secret sauce to getting to getting people who might not be that fit today to get them more active and get them there?
That's a
###### Bertrand Newson: [00:27:56]
good question, Kat. I mean, I've been, and I've been, I've been overweight, you know, I've been an, an accomplished athlete growing up. And life happens. You know, you get married, you, you work, you know, grow a family. your metabolism starts to change. They're starting to read mostly it's diet driven and just, a sedentary lifestyle.
And, either you are embracing your inner athlete or the points when you lose your inner athlete. And when I rediscovered running, I mean, I always still stayed active, either getting some time into the gym, always playing. Beer league softball. I mean, that's been a constant, but running for me, I just felt I was able to have, I can wrestle with father the time a little bit more.
And. The friendliness of the community, just, it, it really spoke to me. I've always been a social individual. I've always enjoyed group, you know, getting groups together, whether it be Dodge ball, trampoline tournaments, raising money for the boys and girls club, where I grew up in seaside, California. That, those kinds of things, you know, house parties and themed parties, you know, blah, blah, blah, blah.
I've always enjoyed being in the hospitality business for, you know, 25, 30 plus years, all people-driven, but helping others realize that no matter what shape size, or how old or young we all have. A inner athlete in us. And some of us have no inner athlete from previous years and some of us have never.
People have never really discovered it. And I enjoy just saying, Hey, just it's re it is as simple as one foot in front of the other, you know, it's a commitment and you know, it's a team sport. It can be. And with two legit fitness, I can say that, you know, we are a wonderful, group of individuals that enjoy supporting each other.
So there's a real strong. Fellowships fitness aspect. That is a huge motivating force. But once people from an individual perspective, realize that if I, you know, I don't need a basketball court know I don't need a football field. I don't need cleats. I don't need a helmet. You know, I don't need a, a soccer gear.
I just need commitment. Shorts or sweats and shoes and just get outside and move forward. It is that simple. and to see the confidence grow, you know, after people, you know, realize that I'm not being judged, because that is an issue in itself as a point of entry to getting back into fitness as a, as an adult is people feel that they're being, they're either comparing themselves to others.
Who've been doing it longer and we've all dealt with this. I dealt with that when I got into running as well. You know, but getting past that and making people, helping people understand that it's all time, effort and level of support. It, it becomes easier for them. Once they see that wasn't so bad, you know what that is suggestions they made regarding shoes or running gear, that those things are starting to pay off.
And when they look at the watch. As far as time, they look at the GPS tracker as far as distance, and to see those things progressively grow, getting out on having running buddies, a group group runs with a sense of fellowship. It just makes the growing process in the sport of running easier to assimilate.
And, you know, I've been successful in some of my previous, jobs in implementing. The wellness program and everyone wants to lose some weight. And that to me is the easiest thing. Maybe not the easiest thing to do, but it's real easy to say, Hey, anybody want to lose some weight? And, you know, I've had, you know, to the hotels that I've managed, three month long, six month long, 12 month long wellness challenges were.
Just get up. I bought a digital scale team team members that would get on the scale. I'd take their weight. And every week people weigh in with simple as that. And we, you know, there's a time or two where we had a nutritionist come in or there would be some events going on in San Francisco where I worked.
Either five Ks or charitable events where the team can get out and meet, which also helped generate some, fellowship in camaraderie and sense of teamwork, which benefit the workplace, especially with the employee to boss relationship or employed employee relationship. so from a team building perspective, that was fun, but the people checking in week to week.
And the level of accountability of, okay, here, you know, good week. And not that it was always under a very positive, supportive, you know, team members were sharing recipes or lest less drinking of sodas, more water, people, bringing in healthier lunch options into the workplace versus relying on local fast food restaurants.
and. I mean, people were, were losing weight, which is really cool. And I would, you know, that outside of just taking the weight, there was a roster of by name and how much that person had lost. Or gained. So, and people just accept that. That's just what it, what it was. And no one was, you know, if you know mr.
Newson or coach B had a week where he gained two pounds, everybody knew that. And I was just like everybody else. so those things, it is being supportive and realizing that it is as simple as just. A little bit of dedication, you know, one, one step at a time, you know, one step leads to one lap, one lap, least one mile.
and then the rest kind of takes over from there. So
###### Kevin Chang: [00:34:08]
that is, is so true. You know, it just, that. One step makes all the difference. I'm taking one step, right? And it's not that we all started running. We were running at a very high pace or fast. We weren't, I think when all of us start, we start by walking and we start by something small, something simple.
And I think that's another thing that a lot of people get wrong when they think about runners is, You know, the majority of the time that we're out there running, we're running at a very slow, moderate
###### Bertrand Newson: [00:34:40]
pace
###### Kevin Chang: [00:34:41]
that we are yeah. That we're able to talk with each other that we're able to. And that's really how you build up your insurance, endurance over time.
And, And so I think, you know, it's sometimes hard to bring newer runners or, or newbies into the sport because they have kind of these preconceived notions of what is running, what is running a marathon. And they might think that, Oh, it's only the most fit athletes could ever run a marathon. The truth is.
All any of us, have it within us to, to run those distances. And we'd say run loosely because sometimes it's walk, run. Sometimes it is walk. We've seen a lot of
###### Bertrand Newson: [00:35:18]
character that is not a bad four letter word. I mean, people ask me all the time. Yes. But I don't want to walk. I just like, Hey, timeout. You were still making forward progress and, you know, walk is not a, it's not a bad word.
I will walk. I do. I have run a good portion of my marathons. I've had bouts of when I'm, I'm walking. and as you put more work in, sometimes the amount of time that you walk, or maybe depending on the distance and you know, now I can run a mile without stopping. That it took for someone to get to that point, man, it's profound and I'm excited to see because we've all been there.
You know, I can want to run one lap without stopping that's significant significance. You know, it is two too understand that that's where somebody is in their running journey. and that it's only going, you know, I can run. I've ran a mile without stopping, even if that mile was, you know, 15 minutes, if they're in a little truck, that's fine.
And then it's, I ran a mile and I broke the 10 minute barrier, you know, or I finished a five K. Yeah. Walking and it was under an hour or that it was under 50 minutes. I mean, just so many personal milestones that mean so much to someone's self-confidence and that's one, that's a great thing about. The running community and running itself as again, you get out of it, what you put into it.
So if you can find the time and you have the dedication again, managing family and work and navigating injuries, which happens sometimes, it can be incredibly rewarding, incredibly rewarding. And, as we both know, I mean, we wouldn't be having this conversation right now. What's proper common law, just staying active and it, whether it be running, cycling, You know, there are a lot of different ways where people are defining their inner athlete and re redefining its right.
so I don't want to be only focused on running, but I'm running a simple it's it's it's moving forward again, you know, walk to jog, jog to run. then I'll be talking about some of that tomorrow morning at 5:00 AM or 5:30 AM at the hammer time. track speed
###### Kevin Chang: [00:37:38]
workout.
###### Bertrand Newson: [00:37:39]
He was parked. There you go. South San Jose.
So,
###### Kevin Chang: [00:37:44]
and I think the other thing that you kind of glossed over a little bit, well, not glossed over, but it's, the importance of both goal setting and accountability and having people say. That they have a goal, you know, whether that is walking a 5k under an hour, you know, and, and saying, okay, I want to do that.
That is something that I want to do, writing it down and telling others, telling their friends, telling him, you know, It then holds them accountable. And you do this with a, with the weight loss a little bit is like, Hey everybody, you are accountable to yourself. And the best way to be accountable to yourself is to say out loud what you want to get out of it, what you want to accomplish, and then you will put it.
It put it in and then having that community to help support you, you know, and we we've all had issues along the way. We've all kind of, you know, at some points in time running, his injuries are falling off the wagon, but, but having that community, you be able to help lift you back up and get you back to that.
The finish line. I mean, I think, I think it's so powerful and it's something you do innately that's your, you already, you know, but you you've had these years and years and years of experience. Doing it and helping others also get to those goals,
###### Bertrand Newson: [00:39:04]
which is, I feel like Workman, it does not feel like work. It is truly a joy.
It is truly a labor of love. It truly feeds my soul. and this, this sense of joy and inspiration, I get just understanding people's journey and where they're at. And once things start clicking, they can see that. Wow. I didn't think that was possible. Yes, it is possible. You got this. it's just great, man.
It is great. And it's, you know, especially in this, during these times, you know, when people are dealing with, you know, living through the pandemic, People are living through some civil and social tensions right now. people weren't worrying potentially an am. How am I gonna make my house payment? You know, what's the security, the security of my, my job moving forward.
You know, people, you know, we're dealing with, you know, inflation and double digit unemployment, finding a, a means to cope. and have some, some semblance of order and routine and support. It's been a wonderful in my circle of friends, being able to have that connection and not feeling lost, where you still have something in common, where people may have some chaos going on in their lives, but being able to have the, the ability to connect.
Through positive support and being able to get out. And sometimes you can't get out as we have in the past due to social distancing. but being creative, certainly, you know, being mindful of, you know, wearing face coverings and practicing, you know, six plus feet of distance, not getting together in larger groups that we have before in the past, but getting out and being active, or if you're doing it on your own.
Still sharing because we all, there's a part of us on that journey with you as well. So people sharing, you know, exploring new trails, getting their family members out and friends into them, walking or hiking or running or cycling, seeing people have those, aha moments and their inner athletes being discovered has been really cool as well.
So it's just been seeing so many resilient stories, that have been inspiring and people who like really turned it up and are just crushing miles stones, either if it's speed base or distance base, and it's making the best use out of their time, transforming their mind and body, And just helping motivate others in the process.
Some really cool stuff again, through some of the most turbulent times in our lifetime. And that was, you know, I've heard that from my mother, you know, she hadn't seen as much, civil tensions since dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated in 68. So for her to say that knowing that her oldest son is an avid.
Runner, you know, a man of color. and you know that I was on vacation recently traveling through New Mexico and through the South. yeah. That you know, parents you'd have to worry about things like that. You know, I'm 51 years old. My mother shouldn't have to worry about her some that way. And I trust that we all will be resilient enough and learn the lessons.
And there has to be some level of a silver lining that will make us all better. Appreciate each other on a deeper level, because we all bleed red. No matter what, no, we all bleed red and, I'm field spill, very fortunate that, you know, our, our, our common fitness family through race mob, through to legit fitness and so many other wonderful running clubs here in the Bay area.
And we, you know, we had a conversation with J T service would run local yesterday. That dude is all about everybody. He gets it. He gets it. And it's people who understand and are willing to have open conversations. And in some cases with some topics that may be uncomfortable. but knowing that we can agree to disagree or to gain a better perspective just makes us all better in the long run.
No pun intended. So, yeah,
###### Kevin Chang: [00:43:24]
I love it. I love it. Talk, talk to us a little bit about, your travel, your trip. I know that you visited some very special places. What all, you know, what that was like, what that meant to you and you were visiting during very turbulent times as well.
and any conversations that you were having?
###### Bertrand Newson: [00:43:40]
Yeah. Who's taken a road trip via the airplane, multiple airplanes, in the midst of a pandemic and, all the social tensions that are so prevalent. but it's something I needed to do, Kevin. You know, it was part of the reason that I elected to, make the career change and reduce my commute. Take some time off for me and the family reset mentally.
Listened to my inner voice and, and embrace my wonderful running group in to legit fitness and see what opportunities can, can grow from me being, having more time on my hands, and that I wanted to get out and did it. I needed to spend time with family. my immediate family, you know, mom and New Mexico pops and family in Nevada.
And I wasn't able to travel as early, because of the pandemic. I mean, I was fortunate enough to get out to Atlanta in late February, early March for the U S Olympic marathon time trials with my brother Bernardo crushed the half marathon, and actually was paying it for that weekend and paced two of his friends to their very first two.
Two of his buddies and one of his buddies, sons to their very first half marathon finished, who was at how cool was that he was mentioning them on the training, all that good stuff. And when he learned that I was going out there, you know, months, you know, when you say there's a half marathon, do you want to go?
He's like, yeah. You know what, let me reach out to a couple of parents and see if they might want to join. And it was a great. Great experience. I got a chance to see the, the, a little bit marathon time trials. And then I ran the full on March 1st. He and his buddies and his buddy, his son ran the half. We saw Matt Fitzgerald.
Who's going to be one of our guests, right? Yes. So I got a chance to hang out with him the Friday before the race, we watched a time trials together. just, and we'll talk more about that during the podcast. I don't wanna, you know, I want to save some of that before then, but that experience overall, again, traveling with family, I was hoping to see my mother in New Mexico in the month of March, but because of the pandemic and all that, just the world came to a standstill from a traveling perspective, this wasn't smart to travel.
but once some of the shelters place orders were started to loosen up a bit in late may. I just, you know, I wanted to be proactive and, got tested and, you know, since I was going to be seeing my mother who's in a, at, at risk age category with some preexisting conditions, a test came back positive.
I'm like, all right, I'm hitting the road. So I got on a plane, a full plane. I'm like, Oh, okay. face covering the entire way, a little bit anxiety. they don't serve drinks on the planes anymore, so I wasn't able to, you know, to, to take the edge off that way. But from San Jose, went to Texas initially had a long layover there.
So I said, I'm going to make the best of that layover and got out and about took an Uber and found a great. Local barbecue joint. And you know, that love me some barbecue. We both do so. Oh yeah.
###### Kevin Chang: [00:46:48]
Yeah. Oh, we're foodies for sure. Yeah.
###### Bertrand Newson: [00:46:51]
The future food reviews. Oh yeah. Yep. We'll be talking about that stuff. So, had a great time and then my mother had no idea I was coming to visit her.
She had no idea. So, when I knocked on the door, Yup. Like 8:45 PM. Nope. She didn't. Didn't like, we're, I'm like out there for like three or four minutes. And then I hear the porch light turns on she's like, who is it? And I had it all in video and I was recording that. excellent. And yeah. It was another one of those just moments.
I'll always cherish just by her reaction. So I was there for about a week and nothing like mom's home cooking and we got out and walked, you know, got in, you know, did some so cool, great discovery, a local trail that now she started doing on her own and is now involved with my aunt, which is great. and then from there.
flew back to Texas discovered another barbecue joint that was had just reopened and was, had been closed down due to the pandemic. But this joint served over 2000 pounds of brisket. It's the largest ever seen as the best commercial barbecue experience I've ever had. And I've eaten at a lot of joints Jew.
###### Kevin Chang: [00:48:16]
Alright. When things open up yeah,
###### Bertrand Newson: [00:48:20]
for sure. and then from there I spent some time in Tennessee, surprise my sister's kids in Atlanta, Georgia, who is so cool. And then I get here, my niece she's like, she calls her mother. On the phone. Her mother is at work. My sister she's like mom, it's uncle B. He's outside.
What should I do? I'm thinking what they are. I'm not hearing Atlanta open the door, open the door, open the door. Oh, okay. Great chance. And I brought lunch for her and, in my, my nephew and spent some time there, spent some time in Alabama, spent some time driving through North Carolina. Good food. Southern hospitality.
Fantastic. did some canoeing while I was out there as well. ran a bit. But, I was coming off a month where I'd run a lot. So the travel time, right in the air, not running as much in New Mexico with my mother. it allows the body to reset and which I think was good, you know? yeah, but yeah, fantastic.
And I'm looking forward to traveling. I'll be traveling next week, actually making my way out to Nevada and spending some time with my father and family and ironically Bernardo and his family are on vacation and they'll be out there as well. So we'll have kind of a, like a mini family reunion and to be good for my father.
I don't think he knows. That I'm coming right now. So we'll have to put up with the temper, but we're going to share this podcast. I may want to surprise him as well, so I love surprises. That's awesome. Yeah. That's awesome. Want me to share
###### Kevin Chang: [00:49:49]
yeah. Something, something you kind of glossed over quickly and, it's just.
Your innate ability to also make friends with people. And, you know, as somebody who's run over 250 races, probably nearing what, 300 races. I think you've mentioned. I mean,
I mean, you seem to have this ability to just say hi to the people around you when you're at the expos meeting people at booths. and when we started talking about this podcast, you immediately have this Rolodex of, friendships that you've made over time. talk to me a little bit about, you know, some of these memorable moments of, of people that you've met, some of the, You know, show us, you know,
###### Bertrand Newson: [00:50:35]
well,