Mile 20 Mindset Podcast Episode 015- Featuring Chris Rosenblum

In the latest episode of the Mile 20 Mindset podcast, host Allen Maldonado engages in a heartfelt conversation with filmmaker and marathon runner Chris Rosenblum. They explore the transformative power of running, the challenges faced during training, and the exhilarating experience of race day. 

**The Therapeutic Nature of Running**  
Chris Rosenblum shares how his journey into running was inspired by the people around him, especially Allen. He describes running not just as a physical activity but as a therapeutic experience. Chris reflects on how it serves as an escape from life’s stresses while also providing a sense of competition. He says, "It's such a therapeutic experience and honestly a lot to deal with you, know, you inspiring me being around you so often..." This sense of community and support is what allowed him to embrace the challenge of running marathons, especially when he was juggling a demanding work schedule in the film industry.

**Finding Time Amidst a Busy Schedule**  
Chris recounts the difficulties of fitting training into his hectic life, often working 60 to 90 hour weeks on major film projects. He shares, "Where do you have the time to train?" Despite the challenges, he found the process of training exhilarating. Chris emphasizes the importance of commitment and perseverance, saying, "Just stay committed. Like once it's introduced to you...you just stay with it."

**The Mental and Physical Battle**  
Training for a marathon taught Chris a lot about himself, especially regarding mental strength and perseverance. He explains, "Running long distance is such a beneficial part of the mental fight. Your mind is focused on the finish line, especially when your body is telling you no." This metaphor extends beyond running and applies to life’s challenges. He likens life to a lens, stating, "You think of life as a lens...with running, it's like, ah, you widen out. And then you see, you know, the day by day, like one step at a time." 

**The Race Day Experience**  
On race day, Chris faced the chaos of Dodger Stadium, where nerves and excitement ran high. He remembers the early morning logistics and the significance of carb loading the night before. "I remember waking up and I'm like, man, I'm like so full still," he laughs. As they lined up for the marathon, he felt the energy of the crowd and knew this was a special moment. Chris’s first thoughts as the race began were simple yet powerful: "Don’t stop. It’s like, you know, people take breaks and...the second you slow down is the second you’re letting those obstacles win." 

**Overcoming the Challenges**  
Every marathon runner faces a moment of doubt, and Chris was no exception. He describes a point during the race where his body and mind were at odds. Yet, he pushed through, reminding himself of the commitment he made to finish. "You have to conserve your energy, you know, cause everyone is running and it's like...it's not a race, it’s a marathon," he advises.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:04

Hey, what's up? It's your boy Alan Maldenado. Here we are with another episode of Mal20 Mindset. This is the running podcast for running enthusiasts, novice runners, and those that enjoy supporting the runners in their lives. I got another incredible guest, family, a great runner, a writer, director, Chris Rosenbloom. What's up, baby? Welcome to the show.

SPEAKER_01 0:27

How's it going? How's it going? Thanks for having me.

SPEAKER_00 0:30

No, no problem. No problem, man. I'm good. I'm good. I'm good. So I'm very excited to ask these questions as far as your running journey. As I've I've I've supported, I've helped inspire. But the details, I'm, I'm, I'm very interested in knowing where did the why come from? Like where did where did when you started to think about running is is was it for you know health, escape, competition?

SPEAKER_02 1:05

You know, I think it was kind of all of the above, you know, it's such a therapeutic experience and honestly a lot to uh to do with you, you know, you inspiring me, being around you so often and just kind of looking up, but man, this guy can run marathons too, and and it's just like, you know, inviting me into the whole knees out coalition was uh was kind of amazing. And and it was, you know, life uh comes at you in very unexpected ways. And I think I think it we you were kind of nonchalant. You're like, hey, you know, do you want to do you want to run the LA Marathon? And and I was like deep into I was like deep into a hard job. Like I was I think it was like doing a commercial or I was doing a movie or I don't remember what it was, but I was like, I really don't have time for this, but yeah, screw, let's do it. You know?

SPEAKER_00 1:59

Yeah, and these are big movies you're doing, don't just nonchalantly talk about you doing some some indie film in Missouri. No, no, no. You're working on major blockbusters. So your schedule was tight. Your schedule was tight. No, I know.

SPEAKER_02 2:17

Yeah, I know it was just like, you know, working on average like 60 to 90 hour weeks, and it's like, where do you where do you have the time to train? And and I think that was so much fun in that challenge, you know, when you take it on, let alone like not even the marathon, but just the the routine of running, you know, and that time.

SPEAKER_00 2:39

We're gonna get into that. Like, like, okay, so where did the idea, of course, me presenting it was there, but you understanding and you wanting to be like, hey, I want to run 26.2, what was that moment for you?

SPEAKER_02 2:55

You know, I think it was it was the first time running more than five miles, like the first training session. And I was like, I could do this. You know, it was just like uh it was like the challenge, and it's like you have all this on your plate, and uh, and it's just the mental game of it, you know, and I'm like, it just you just stay committed. Like once it's introduced to you and you kind of I mean it's pretty straightforward, like it's you you lay the groundwork and you just stay with it, you know? Of like running like a few miles here, and then you try, you know, the next weekend you try more than 10 miles, you know, and then it it goes on and on, and then and then next thing you know, it's like a marathon day.

SPEAKER_00 3:39

And it's just like and then that and and that kind of leads to the next question as far as what it what did training teach you about yourself? Was it was was it, you know, the the the mental part, the physical part? What what did it teach you about yourself?

SPEAKER_02 3:54

It taught uh I think overall running long distance is such a beneficial part of the mental fight, you know, because it's like you know, your mind is just focused on the finish line, especially when your body ki is telling you like no, you know. And and and I think it's such a metaphor for life because you're gonna have so many obstacles you know introduce themselves to you. And and it's it's the the perseverance and the and the strength of just keep going one step at a time, you know? Yeah, and I think in life, if you literally just widen out, like you know, I'm I'm a filmmaker, so I I view a lot of things, and a mentor actually, funny enough, um brought this analogy up, and it's so true. But you know, you think of life as a lens, you know, and you have a zoom lens, and then so many of the day-to-day you think of like the macro, like you're zoomed in. And then with running, it's like uh you widen out, and then you see, you know, the day by day, like one step at a time, and it's all gonna fall into place. Yep. So I think it's that it's it's it's the mental strength and the perseverance that really it's it's that runner's high, you know, and and uh a lot of people are like ah that's a an incredible feat. Like I I can't do it. I that's not me. And it's like, no, everyone can do it, you know? Yeah, yeah. And I think that's what's so inspiring.

SPEAKER_00 5:32

And what was the what was the hardest part of training? Was it like is was it the mental? Was it injuries? Was it like managing your schedule? Like, what was the hardest part?

SPEAKER_02 5:42

Yeah, I think it was finding the time and then uh the the mental of like, you know, we would train at Venice and Santa Monica, and you know, once you get to like mile 12, you know, even then on a weekend, like on a Saturday, it's just like whoa, that now you gotta go back, you know.

SPEAKER_03 6:03

Right, right, right, right, right, right.

SPEAKER_02 6:06

Like that was a lot. And then, and then, you know, you have your small victories, like, you know, now I can drink water, now I can have a meal, but you know, it's like in it in that in that moment, you're just like, keep going, keep going.

SPEAKER_03 6:19

Yeah, you know, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 6:20

And especially like I think I think training like at the beach, we're so fortunate living in California, like we can just go to Santa Monica and just yeah, that whole the the view and the vista and the wind and just the beautiful people, you know, and and just the environment, it's it's that's a little nugget of what the marathon's like. Yeah. Because everyone, everyone kind of brings you up and you have all this great energy. And it's like when you train at a beautiful place like that, it's like, wow, this is this is amazing.

SPEAKER_00 6:51

Yeah, no, run it running Venice, you already know, uh, is my my weekly sort of um prescription. Like I I need it, man. It's it's it's such a um beautiful space to absorb, especially while training. And um, let's let's let's go to race day. Let's go to race day. We've been training, and of course, we got the beautiful beaches uh of California to train on, but it's the day of the race. We had the Dodgers and I remember I remember we was running late. We was running late and the traffic and all that idea. Yeah, take us to the day. Take us to the day of uh of the LA marathon.

SPEAKER_02 7:35

Yeah, I remember because you were like, oh, this is what you gotta do, all the the like prerequisites and the homework. And it's like the night before we have the carb load. And I was just like, okay, all right, carb loading, like I'm gonna eat like a lot of food, you know, for energy and to store that. And then I remember waking up and I'm like, man, I'm like so full still, you know, and then it's like you you wake up, you wake up at like 4 a.m., you know, because you want to be there, you want to be there early because it's like hundreds and hundreds of people. Yep. Um, and then you know, Dodger Stadium itself is always kind of a mess.

SPEAKER_03 8:11

Logistically, it's terrible, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 8:14

So then so then you introduce like everyone, you know, early on in the morning, and then the whole traffic jam and all. I remember we were we were like, all right, we're gonna get dropped off, and then we're and then we're we're off to it, you know. And then I remember we stretched for a little bit and we finally got there, it was just like, all right, you know, one step at a time, of course. And then we start stretching, and then we get to our we get to our section, and then you know, you hear you hear the horn, you go off, you know, and then you're just surrounded by all these different people and and and uh and you just see the energy like early on in the morning, and it's like you know, it's before the sun comes up.

SPEAKER_03 8:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 8:50

And you're like, and I think there there's something special about seeing that many people in a crowd like dark and early, you know?

SPEAKER_00 8:58

Right.

SPEAKER_02 8:59

Just ready, ready, ready to tackle it.

SPEAKER_00 9:01

Gladiators, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 9:02

Yeah, we just go after it's like you have to be you have to be a special kind of strong to wake up, you know, that early to run 26, you know, 26 punchy miles.

SPEAKER_00 9:13

It's like and and and and what were your your first thoughts? The gun goes off in your two, three steps into this marathon. What were the first thoughts that were running through your head or the feelings that were coming over you as you're you're beginning this this crazy feat?

SPEAKER_02 9:31

Yeah, the endeavor. You know, I think the first thing that kind of went into my mind because you know, I never was a runner, um, but you know, you in high school you do sports and all that, and and all my friends did cross country and track, and it was just like it it the first thought was don't stop. You know, it's something that simple. It's like you know, people take breaks and like the I feel like it being my first marathon, I was just like, I can't take a break. Because the second you slow down is the second, you know, you're letting those obstacles win. You know, mind you, like you have to you have to use the bathroom sometimes, but like other than that, that's it. Like don't do not slow down. Right. You know, keep keep your pace, keep jogging. Um, and I think it was that it was like conserve it was another thing of like conserve your energy, you know, because everyone's like I think the biggest surprise for me was you hear all these people running and it's like oh my my pace was like six minutes or seven minutes or whatever. You know, that was like an average mile for me. But then once you once you once you do the marathon, it's like you want to average like 10 minutes per mile. And I think that was the biggest surprise. It's like you know, there's that famous saying, it's not a race, it's a it's a marathon. And and I think that hit that hit me big time. It's like conserve your energy one step at a time, take it easy, you know. Like we're here for the long run.

SPEAKER_00 11:05

Yeah, yeah, beautiful, beautiful. So, so let's get to let's get to the nitty-gritty, let's get to to the to the to the to the moment, that mal 20 moment, that that that moment when your body sort of attacks you, your mind attacks you, your spirit attacks you, everybody is arguing with you on why did you do this? Like, why did you sign yourself up? What was that moment for you and what mal was it?

SPEAKER_02 11:31

Yeah, it's funny because I I'm spoiled and I had you, you know, for for all the weeks prior. And I remember from the beginning of when I signed up, you're like, you always told me it's mile 20 and onward. That's the real race, you know, that's the real fight. And and you were 1000% right, you know, because it's it's it's like all of a sudden, it's like sudden death, you know. Like you hit you you you hit you hit mile 20, mile 21, and I think it was probably 21 for me, where your your body just like switched. It was just like upside down, and you're like every step, every step it feels like every step it feels like you're about to pull a hammy or whatever, you know. Like, did I just tear my career ending injury one step away? And and I remember for you, you it was kind of like such a surreal, like serendipitous moment where we hit the mile marker, we hit like mile 20, and you just immediately lock eyes with me. And then you're like, now the real race starts, my friend. And then and then you went off, and I was like, damn, dude, yeah, it is. Yeah. And then and and you know, it it's so real, like every step it hurts, and it hurts more. And I remember you get you get towards like the finish line, like where the crowd is bigger, and uh and it just hurts more and more, you know, and and you're and your mind it's really like the struggle is your mind just keep going, man. Like you got this, like and and then of course the support of everyone around you too, kind of like that lifts you up big time. Cause because honestly, I don't know, man, like running a marathon without that support, like could you imagine? Like, I I mean you probably can because you're a renaissance man, but running a marathon alone in the wilderness, yeah, like that's that is a feat that I'm like, I don't know if I can do that.

SPEAKER_00 13:42

Listen, I just I I had a pot I just had a pod with uh Yinka and uh he ran the Santa Clarita marathon with me, which didn't have no fanfare out there, and he he hated every second of it every second.

SPEAKER_02 13:57

I mean it's it it it's it's I mean it feels like half of it is the support system you're I agree, I agree, and just the energy, and it and it's such like a tangible thing um when you have people like with signs on the sidewalk and you know, people giving Gatorade and oranges and bananas and all that stuff. It's just like and you do it, you know, on the weekend, and it's just like, yeah, this is awesome.

SPEAKER_00 14:24

Yeah, man. So how did it feel when you finally crossed the line? Like you you felt the energy from the support, you felt the energy of uh Mal21. Um you you did it.

SPEAKER_01 14:37

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 14:38

You did it. How did it how did it feel finally crossing?

SPEAKER_02 14:42

I mean, it was just such a you know, flood of emotion, and it was like surreal that you hear about marathons and runners, and I mean, at least for me growing up, it was just like I'm never gonna do that. Like that that that's just like not not in my cards, like I'm not capable. And then it it's just uh proving proving yourself that you know you can do anything, I feel like once you once you cross that finish line, you get your medal. It's like all right, what's next? You know, did it did that on to the next. It's it's it's uh it's like you feel like you went through the trenches, you came out on top, and uh you can do anything.

SPEAKER_00 15:28

Yeah. Yeah. And w and what um or how has the marathon changed you afterwards as a person?

SPEAKER_02 15:38

Um, I think it's it's changed how I approach obstacles. You know, like there's times where you know, s something gets in your way in the day-to-day, and then there's times where it'll pile up and you just like think about giving up or like I'll get to that I'll get to that later or you know, this is too much for me. You know, and and people like crash out or have mental breakdowns and and I think it it it's that muscle, it's like it's kind of like training that sort of strength to you know, it's it's like when those when those obstacles happen in life, that's the mile twenty-one introducing itself. You know. And and it's you know, one step at a time. Like you think, all right, I'm gonna I'm gonna you have all these problems, all these obstacles or whatever, all these things all these things that you have to do, it's just one step at a time. Like I'm gonna do one task here. And you know, I feel like it's okay if you don't get to it all.

SPEAKER_01 16:43

You know, because that that metaphor too is like um the goal of like people wanting to run marathons in under four hours, you know.

SPEAKER_02 16:55

Or under three hours or two hours. It's like there's always room for growth. There's always, you know, you can always d try better on the next one, you know. It's not the end all be all right now. Right. You know, I think that would that's another lesson in that like you have all these obstacles that introduce itself one step at a time. You don't have to finish all of it today like you have tomorrow, you know, and and each day is like one step.

SPEAKER_00 17:21

So no, that's beautiful, man. Uh yeah. My uh my last question as far as in uh the interview is um there's runners right now that are considering and on the fence of running their first marathon. What would be your biggest tip to them?

SPEAKER_02 17:39

Uh just do it. Just just prove it to yourself. Like, you know, it's it's I think every single person that that crosses that finish line, it's such a it's such an overwhelming, you know, experience and level of success where if you don't do the marathon you'll never feel that.

SPEAKER_01 18:03

Wow. You know?

SPEAKER_02 18:04

And um and and it is an incredible feature objectively, but once you do it yourself, you know, it it it's just uh it's just a mind game, you know? And and it's you against your mind and and once once your body and your mind are in harmony, you know, a post post mile 20 it's uh I think anyone can do it, you know. It it it's it's it's uh it's definitely attainable. So I'd say just keep going one step at a time.

SPEAKER_00 18:41

Okay, okay. Um all right, so our next our next segment is called the knees out speed questions. So uh it's about five questions. You answer uh knees out if you want it to be yes, and knees in if you want the answer to be no. All right. So first question is um were there any moments in your training where you wanted to quit, but you still showed up for yourself?

SPEAKER_01 19:10

Knees out.

SPEAKER_00 19:11

Okay. Um do you believe that everyone has at least one marathon in them? Knees out. All right. Um is the marathon more mental or physical?

SPEAKER_01 19:28

Uh knees out.

SPEAKER_00 19:30

Um lastly, oh no, I got two more questions. Um would you run another marathon?

SPEAKER_01 19:39

Knees out.

SPEAKER_00 19:40

All right. Uh lastly, do you think running changes the person beyond the mouth?

SPEAKER_01 19:46

Knees out.

SPEAKER_00 19:48

Dope, man. Dope, dope, dope, dope, man. Um, well, listen, man, thank you so much. I'm I'm proud of you just because listen, man, you made it, you made it seem, you made it seem easy, brother. Uh you you you never complained, and I appreciated that. Like a lot of people when they say it's their first time, they're like, oh my God, I gotta do this. Yeah, no. And you you made it look easy, brother, because it wasn't. And I know it wasn't. And you you went out there and you showed up and you accomplished your goal. And coming from, you know, I know you you did sports in high school and different things like that, but you weren't out there being a superstar athlete at the time when you agreed to do this. Stop at all. So, man, I I just I just want to share with you how proud I am of you uh for just getting up and getting to it and getting it done, baby, because LA Marathon is ain't no joke. It's it's a bunch of heels. And uh yeah, you you killed it, brother. So listen, everybody out there, please follow and subscribe. It's another episode of Mile 20 Mindset. Peace and love, everybody.