Photographer: Maiwenn Raoult; Photo Assistant: Joshua Hammaren; Creative Director: Colleen Lennon; Sr. Art Director: Meg Konigsburg; Visual Designer: Binlin Cao; Producer: Alex Friedlander; Original Reporting: Stephanie Nguyen
Production Credits
I love being
a beginner
as often as I
can be.
bother? If asked, British marathon runner and former running coach Rebecca “Becs” Gentry will say that discomfort is where humans thrive. “We need to have that combination of comfortable and uncomfortable in order to progress,” she tells The Cut while on set with Nike for the brand’s new interview series, Comfort Zones. Fittingly, Gentry is the host.
In an ironic turn of events, L.A. brought anything but perfect running weather for Gentry’s second day of the series’ shoot. Intermittent showers and a temperature that refuses to go above 55 isn’t any runner’s ideal climate. In fact, bad weather is just one thing on Gentry’s long list of external factors likely to push her out of her comfort zone. Even so, she stands vibrant in her new Nike Vomero 18 running shoes and matching hot-pink leggings while coming off of an interview with content creator Quenlin Blackwell where she asked, in the heat of a run, what crime Blackwell thinks she’d most likely be arrested for.
Before now, fans of the internet-famous budding actress probably didn’t even know running was on her list of hobbies — but that’s the point. Comfort Zones isn’t a masterclass in long distances or training for a 5k — it’s putting famous faces, like Blackwell and Jordan Chiles, in comfortable shoes (Nike Vomero 18) while asking each guest increasingly uncomfortable questions. Relying on pure instinct, they give Gentry an unfiltered answer that probably feels both agonizing and freeing. A really hard run usually stirs similar emotions — you could say it’s why Gentry even bothers. After all the sweat and sometimes literal tears, Gentry knows what happens when she leans into discomfort: She gets better. Ahead, Gentry shares her advice for new runners ready to push their limits and reach new heights.
ust like the sky is blue, running can get uncomfortable. And that discomfort can come at any point, whether it’s within the warmup or an hour into a marathon. So if running is so uncomfortable, why
J
Running is uncomfortable — and the fact of that bears repeating. While this may be an uncontrollable side effect of the sport (you’ll learn to love it), there are some elements you can control, like picking the right shoe. Gentry suggests going to a running store (a Nike store counts) to talk to a specialist, find out what shoe will work for your discipline (treadmill, road, trail runs, etc.) and your foot. If you can, bring an older pair of shoes to analyze the wear pattern. This can tell someone a lot about how a runner moves and how they strike the ground. While everyone’s needs are unique, beginners and born-again runners may prefer a shoe that’s soft, responsive, and lightweight enough to welcome the new discomfort, like the Nike Vomero 18.
The Nike Vomero 18 ushers in a new era of maximum cushioning, the kind that can inspire a tired runner to push their limits. For Gentry, there are shoes you race in and immediately take off (Nike Vaporfly 3) and shoes you keep on long after the cooldown (Nike Vomero 18) — and, in her case, shoes you steal from set (allegedly). The double-stacked cushioning makes the Nike Vomero 18 an overstuffed respite for feet that need to run a loop and then head right to the grocery store to pick up more oat milk. It’s all-day, durable, responsive comfort in a 46mm heel that, for the first time, combines Nike’s advanced foam cushioning technology (ZoomX and ReactX) designed to deliver a greater energy return in one midsole. It gives a runner power when they think there’s nothing left.
On the power of a good shoe
Gentry says to park your ego before you begin, and when you do start the clock, go easy. “Everybody wants to be really good at something straight away, but the honest answer is it’s really difficult to be good at running,” she says. “Build up your cardiovascular capacity in the easiest way first.” This might look like getting off the bus a stop earlier and walking the rest of the way home or skipping public transport entirely and walking to work. Once you’re finally comfortable with this, add in 30 seconds of running while walking, and increase the intervals as you go.
On starting from scratch
“It's been the most valuable thing for me,” she says. “It organizes the massive Rolodex in my brain when I go for a run.” Anyone who has jogged, skipped, or sprinted before can tell you it can be as effective as screaming into a pillow or listening to a sad playlist. And while Gentry knows running can’t solve her problems, it can make them manageable. “I feel calmer or better or stronger because I’ve released something,” she says. “And, sometimes, yes, I cry when I run. It just comes out.”
On running as a release
Embracing discomfort also means embracing intrusive thoughts, and running comes with a lot of those. Long-distance runners like Gentry are experts at dealing with them — and finding better distractions. Dig deep and focus less on how sore you think your legs are and focus instead on another part of your body that won’t slow you down, like your hands. If you run in a populated place, count how many runners pass you by. Do whatever you can to not think about your run, she says. Gentry’s early coaching days in London started with a Nike running club, and it’s what she suggests new runners try if they struggle to push through. “That’s probably the best thing you can do for a distraction because when you’re solo, you’re staring at your watch, or if you’re on a treadmill, you’re staring at the screen,” she says. “If you’re running with other people having a conversation, it’s fun, it’s lively, and before you know it, the run is done.”
On intrusive thoughts
It may be easy to assume that the woman who placed fourth in the 2021 Olympics Marathon Trials for Great Britain and was the first non-elite female finisher in the 2019 New York City Marathon would find running with anyone who doesn’t classify themselves as “a runner” uninspiring. But this is Gentry’s bread and butter. “As a running coach, that’s my day in and day out,” she says. “I normally do it through a screen, so for me to actually be side by side, running with people of different levels, is a new education. I love being a beginner as often as I can be.” It’s what Gentry appreciates the most about Comfort Zones — she gets to experience running through the eyes of beginners who dabble in the sport; she gets to experience that particular level of discomfort all over again.
On the beauty of beginners
Fast Questions
Becs gets straight to the point
START
PREVIOUS
Favorite music to run to:
Q
Classical remixes
A
The song you run to on repeat:
Q
Disclosure's Where Angels Fear to Tread
A
The best song to end a run to:
Q
A Birdy remix. It makes me want to run through a brick wall.
A
Most valuable winter running tip:
Q
Layers and sunglasses!
A
Best time of day to run:
Q
Morning!
A
Favorite post-run treat:
Q
I make a mean peanut butter smoothie. It's my favorite.
A
SHOP NOW
In Nike Vomero 18,
Becs Gentry thrives in discomfort.
Leaving
the
Comfort
Zone
BY SAMANTHA SASSO
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id. Nam eleifend maximus felis ornare sem pulvinar. Nunc sit amet magna massa arcu consectetur, blandit purus id, maximus ex elit. Cras hendrerit ex a sem faucibus orci dictum. Quisque a mollis metus, vel nec.
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D
can come at any point, whether it’s within the warmup or an hour into a marathon. So if running is so uncomfortable, why bother? If asked, British marathon runner and former running coach Rebecca “Becs” Gentry will say that discomfort is where humans thrive. “We need to have that combination of comfortable and uncomfortable in order to progress,” she tells The Cut while on set with Nike for the brand’s new interview series, Comfort Zones. Fittingly, Gentry is the host.
In an ironic turn of events, L.A. brought anything but perfect running weather for Gentry’s second day of the series’ shoot. Intermittent showers and a temperature that refuses to go above 55 isn’t any runner’s ideal climate. In fact, bad weather is just one thing on Gentry’s long list of external factors likely to push her out of her comfort zone. Even so, she stands vibrant in her new Nike Vomero 18 running shoes and matching hot-pink leggings while coming off of an interview with content creator Quenlin Blackwell where she asked, in the heat of a run, what crime Blackwell thinks she’d most likely be arrested for.
Before now, fans of the internet-famous budding actress probably didn’t even know running was on her list of hobbies — but that’s the point. Comfort Zones isn’t a masterclass in long distances or training for a 5k — it’s putting famous faces, like Blackwell and Jordan Chiles, in comfortable shoes (Nike Vomero 18) while asking each guest increasingly uncomfortable questions. Relying on pure instinct, they give Gentry an unfiltered answer that probably feels both agonizing and freeing. A really hard run usually stirs similar emotions — you could say it’s why Gentry even bothers. After all the sweat and sometimes literal tears, Gentry knows what happens when she leans into discomfort: She gets better. Ahead, Gentry shares her advice for new runners ready to push their limits and reach new heights.
Running is uncomfortable — and the fact of that bears repeating. While this may be an uncontrollable side effect of the sport (you’ll learn to love it), there are some elements you can control, like picking the right shoe. Gentry suggests going to a running store (a Nike store counts) to talk to a specialist, find out what shoe will work for your discipline (treadmill, road, trail runs, etc.) and your foot. If you can, bring an older pair of shoes to analyze the wear pattern. This can tell someone a lot about how a runner moves and how they strike the ground. While everyone’s needs are unique, beginners and born-again runners may prefer a shoe that’s soft, responsive, and lightweight enough to welcome the new discomfort, like the Nike Vomero 18.
The Nike Vomero 18 ushers in a new era of maximum cushioning, the kind that can inspire a tired runner to push their limits. For Gentry, there are shoes you race in and immediately take off (Nike Vaporfly 3) and shoes you keep on long after the cooldown (Nike Vomero 18) — and, in her case, shoes you steal from set (allegedly). The double-stacked cushioning makes the Nike Vomero 18 an overstuffed respite for feet that need to run a loop and then head right to the grocery store to pick up more oat milk. It’s all-day, durable, responsive comfort in a 46mm heel that, for the first time, combines Nike’s advanced foam cushioning technology (ZoomX and ReactX) designed to deliver a greater energy return in one midsole. It gives a runner power when they think there’s nothing left.
On the power of a good shoe
It may be easy to assume that the woman who placed fourth in the 2021 Olympics Marathon Trials for Great Britain and was the first non-elite female finisher in the 2019 New York City Marathon would find running with anyone who doesn’t classify themselves as “a runner” uninspiring. But this is Gentry’s bread and butter. “As a running coach, that’s my day in and day out,” she says. “I normally do it through a screen, so for me to actually be side by side, running with people of different levels, is a new education. I love being a beginner as often as I can be.” It’s what Gentry appreciates the most about Comfort Zones — she gets to experience running through the eyes of beginners who dabble in the sport; she gets to experience that particular level of discomfort all over again.
On the beauty of beginners
as often
Gentry says to park your ego before you begin, and when you do start the clock, go easy. “Everybody wants to be really good at something straight away, but the honest answer is it’s really difficult to be good at running,” she says. “Build up your cardiovascular capacity in the easiest way first.” This might look like getting off the bus a stop earlier and walking the rest of the way home or skipping public transport entirely and walking to work. Once you’re finally comfortable with this, add in 30 seconds of running while walking, and increase the intervals as you go.
On starting from scratch
Embracing discomfort also means embracing intrusive thoughts, and running comes with a lot of those. Long-distance runners like Gentry are experts at dealing with them — and finding better distractions. Dig deep and focus less on how sore you think your legs are and focus instead on another part of your body that won’t slow you down, like your hands. If you run in a populated place, count how many runners pass you by. Do whatever you can to not think about your run, she says. Gentry’s early coaching days in London started with a Nike running club, and it’s what she suggests new runners try if they struggle to push through. “That’s probably the best thing you can do for a distraction because when you’re solo, you’re staring at your watch, or if you’re on a treadmill, you’re staring at the screen,” she says. “If you’re running with other people having a conversation, it’s fun, it’s lively, and before you know it, the run is done.”
On intrusive thoughts
as often
Becs gets straight to the point
START
NEXT
Favorite music to run to:
NEXT
PREVIOUS
Q
Classical remixes
A
The song you run to on repeat:
Q
Disclosure's Where Angels Fear to Tread
A
The best song to end a run to:
NEXT
PREVIOUS
Q
A Birdy remix. It makes me want to run through a brick wall.
A
Mos valuable winter running tip:
Q
Layers and sunglasses!
A
Faster Answers
CLICK TO START
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PREVIOUS
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