Latest news with #RobSimmelkjaer
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Runner, 31, Dies at Brooklyn Half Marathon During His First Time Competing
A 31-year-old man died while running the Brooklyn Half Marathon on Saturday, May 17 The runner — who was participating in the race for the first time — made it about eight miles into the course when he "experienced a medical incident," race officials confirmed "On behalf of the whole running community, we extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends and loved ones," New York Road Runners CEO Rob Simmelkjaer said in a statementA man has died after experiencing a medical emergency while running the Brooklyn Half Marathon this weekend, race officials said. The New York Road Runners (NYRR), which organized the 13.1-mile race, confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE that a 31-year-old man collapsed during the race on Saturday, May 17. The runner — who was participating in the race for the first time — made it about eight miles into the course when he "experienced a medical incident," officials confirmed. NBC New York reported that the incident took place along the borough's Ocean Parkway. "It is with sadness and heavy hearts that we confirm the passing of one of today's race participants," NYRR CEO Rob Simmelkjaer said in a statement. "On behalf of the whole running community, we extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends and loved ones." Race officials added that CPR was administered on-site, and the man was taken to Brooklyn's Maimonides Hospital. "Out of respect for the family, we defer to them for any additional details," NYRR officials added. "Runner safety is a major priority," the organization's statement continued. "As part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety — for both the running community and the broader public — we took proactive steps to strengthen on-course support and emergency readiness." New York City weather saw a high of 83 degrees on Saturday, up from 72 degrees on Friday. "In anticipation of the forecasted heat, we provided several additional resources, including supplemental hydration at the hydration stations throughout the course and the addition of misting stations," the NYRR noted. More than 28,000 runners were expected to run the 13-mile race on Saturday morning, the organization said. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. NBC New York previously reported that three years prior, a 30-year-old man identified as David Reichman died during the same Brooklyn Half Marathon. is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! According to the outlet, Reichman had just crossed the finish line at the Coney Island boardwalk when he experienced cardiac arrest. PEOPLE reached out to the New York City Fire Department for comment on Saturday, but did not receive an immediate response. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
31-year-old man dies running Brooklyn Half Marathon
A 31-year-old man collapsed and died while running the Brooklyn Half Marathon this morning, police and race officials said. The runner, who was a first-time participant in the race, made it to around the 8-mile mark at Ocean Parkway and 18th Ave. when he experienced a medical incident and collapsed at 8:11 a.m., race organizers said. Medics administered CPR at the scene, then rushed the man to Maimonides Hospital but he could not be resuscitated. 'It is with sadness and heavy hearts that we confirm the passing of one of today's race participants,' Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO of New York Road Runners, said in a statement. 'On behalf of the whole running community, we extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends and loved ones.' In 2022, 32-year-old David Reichman collapsed at the finish line of the Brooklyn Half Marathon and later died at a nearby hospital. Runners in the half marathon — which is 13.1 miles long — kick off by the Brooklyn Museum, complete a loop through Prospect Park, and finish at the Coney Island Boardwalk.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Runner dies during the Brooklyn Half Marathon: Officials
NEW YORK (PIX11) — A 31-year-old runner died during the Brooklyn Half Marathon on Saturday afternoon, according to a spokesperson for the New York Road Runners. It was the runner's first time participating in the race, according to officials. More Local News Officials say the runner experienced a medical episode around mile eight of the 13-mile course. CPR was administered onsite to the runner. He was taken to a local hospital to be treated for his medical episode. He was later pronounced dead, officials said. It is with sadness and heavy hearts that we confirm the passing of one of today's race participants. On behalf of the whole running community, we extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends and loved ones. Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO, New York Road Runners NYRR noted that each race has medical staff on-site, including doctors, nurses, physician assistants, EMTs, paramedics, and other trained personnel. Officials note runner safety is a major priority. The identity of the runner has not been released. Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Fast Company
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Fast Company
The nonprofit behind New York City's marathon is running toward a new goal: content creation
Once a year, a crowd of thousands of runners fill Central Park as they look up at the sky with joy, relief, exhaustion, and tears, knowing they just completed the iconic TCS New York City Marathon. Recognizing the endless storytelling opportunities that come from the event, New York Road Runners (NYRR), the nonprofit behind the marathon, is launching its own production studio, East 89th St Productions. 'It was clear to me that this was a huge opportunity for the organization from the first day that I went to the finish line of the marathon,' NYRR CEO Rob Simmelkjaer says. 'It's rare that you can look and see total strangers by the hundreds, having a moment that you know they're never going to forget.' Named after NYRR's early headquarters on Manhattan's Upper East Side, East 89th St Productions partnered with Tribeca Studios to produce Final Finishers, a short documentary film showcasing the last tens of thousands of runners crossing the finish line in the final hours of the NYC Marathon. The film is set to premiere at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival on June 12. 'A very significant next step' The launch of NYRR's production studio is a continuation of a larger effort to reach and connect with wider audiences through content creation. Prior to assuming his leadership position in December 2022, Simmelkjaer spent almost 10 years at ESPN and eight years at NBC Sports. At the start of his tenure at NYRR, he set out long-term plans, including broadening awareness of NYRR's initiatives beyond organizing over 60 local races. Due to his background in media, Simmelkjaer saw content creation and storytelling as the logical next step towards building awareness and community. 'I had to sell both internally and externally the idea that this was an essential part of what we do, because we needed to be talking to our existing audience of runners and members and stakeholders in a new way,' he says. In addition to expanding its existing content creation team, which focused on broadcasting the races and managing the organization's social media, Simmelkjaer branched into podcasting. With over 100 episodes, ' Set the Pace ' features stories from runners, as well as running tips, every Thursday, in partnership with Peloton. 'The podcast was like a beachhead for us. It kind of planted our flag on the beach in terms of content,' Simmelkjaer says. 'The studio is a very significant next step in the evolution of this vision.' Take the money and run In addition to building community engagement, content creation is also driving the nonprofit toward another goal: diversifying revenue streams. While NYRR relies primarily on race entry fees and philanthropic donations, content creation opens the door for monetization, new partnerships, and the creation of a deeper connection between donors and the nonprofit's mission. 'At the heart of every nonprofit is a mission and that mission can always be told as a story or a set of stories,' Simmelkjaer says. The expansion to content creation as a broader strategy can also be adopted by other mission-based nonprofits, visually showcasing the impact of an organization. 'When donors support a cause, there is something that is moving them to support that cause,' Simmelkjaer says. 'There's something the nonprofit is bringing about a world that the donor wants to see. When you can see in really human and understandable terms what impact that an organization is having, I think that's going to be more powerful than any PowerPoint presentation can ever be.'
Reuters
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Reuters
NYC Marathon's 'Final Finishers' celebrated in Tribeca Film Festival documentary
NEW YORK, May 8 (Reuters) - The New York City Marathon's often unheralded "back of the pack" runners will get their place in the spotlight at Tribeca Film Festival next month, as race organisers debut their first documentary under a newly launched content studio. While the fastest runners usually dominate headlines, "Final Finishers" focuses on the last to cross the line in Central Park late into the night, as fans and race officials cheer them on. This approach differs from many large-scale marathons, where slower runners are "swept" from the course and not allowed to finish. "We have really prided ourselves for a long time on the inclusiveness of our event and the fact that we know there are people who dream of running the New York City Marathon who don't have the ability to run in four or five or six hours," said New York Road Runners CEO Rob Simmelkjaer. "The sun goes down, the music starts and it really turns into a party scene - we are celebrating with music and we've got thunder sticks and a whole party to celebrate these runners." One featured runner was 62-year-old Janelle Hartman from Queens, who was the last person to cross the line in 2018 at 10:07 p.m., finishing in 10 hours 57 minutes and 56 seconds. Hartman, who began volunteering at the marathon in 2013 and will hand out medals this year, hopes her story will inspire other runners who don't believe they fit the part. "There's personal pressure. I thought, 'oh, I have to lose weight and look a certain way to do this'," said Hartman, who will attend the Tribeca premiere. "And part of me thought 'if I wait till I am at a certain weight or look... I'm not gonna get this goal'." The New York City Marathon benefits from a Central Park finish line, where operations can continue without disrupting traffic, and dedicated workers and volunteers who keep runners safe after the roads reopen. The documentary is the first under NYRR's new content studio - East 89th St Productions - as it expands media offerings under Simmelkjaer, a former ESPN executive. Since he was named CEO in 2022, NYRR hired its first head-of-content and launched a podcast amid booming popularity in distance running. More than 200,000 people applied for the marathon lottery this year, up 22% from 2024. "What makes us interesting and special is the quote-unquote ordinary people who do extraordinary things," Simmelkjaer said.
