#24: Why New York Is the Perfect First Marathon | Racing, PRs & NYC Run Culture w/ Patryk Odedina

Patryk Odedina didn’t grow up loving running he came from basketball, where running usually meant punishment. But after starting in 2019, everything changed.In this episode, we talk about why the New York City Marathon might be the perfect first marathon, even though it’s one of the hardest. Patryk shares what keeps bringing him back year after year, how crowd energy can completely change a race, and why comparing marathon times across courses misses the point.We also get into racing smarter after a marathon, using lower mileage to unlock PRs, experimenting with nutrition without overtracking, and how NYC run clubs shape one of the strongest running cultures in the world.From Tokyo to Jersey City to five races in ten days, this conversation is about learning the sport through experience and letting running fit into your life, not take it over.Chapters00:00 Introduction to the People Run Podcast03:23 Patrick's Running Journey06:25 Transition from Basketball to Running09:20 Experiences with Marathons and Major Races12:22 Cultural Insights from Running in Japan15:13 Future Plans and Upcoming Races22:35 The Best Marathon Experience27:29 Personal Bests and Race Experiences31:09 Training Philosophy and Race Strategy37:46 Nutrition and Performance Insights51:47 Exploring the Science of Running Nutrition54:17 The Unique Experience of Project 13.157:15 The Culture of NYC Running Clubs01:01:18 Balancing Life and Running in NYC01:06:05 The Journey of a Content Creator in Running01:16:54 Looking Ahead: Future Projects and CollaborationsFollow Us:IG: instagram.com/thepeoplerunpodcast/YT: youtube.com/@ThePeopleRunPodcastMusic: instagram.com/mech__beats/Follow Patryk:IG: instagram.com/regularpatryk/👉 Subscribe to The People Run Podcast for more real stories from everyday runners, and don’t forget to rate, review, and share this episode with a friend who needs some inspiration.