NYRR launches first audio documentary from new content studio East 89th St Productions
Powerful five-episode series, “850 Million Reasons to Run,” is a spinoff of the NYRR Set the Pace Presented by Peloton Podcast
New York, June 6, 2025 — Nonprofit New York Road Runners (NYRR), which produces 60 annual adult and youth races including the TCS New York City Marathon, today announced the release of its first audio documentary series, “850 Million Reasons to Run.” A five-episode narrative podcast, the series shares the inspirational story of cancer survivor Peter Kirk, the CEO of physician-first healthcare platform Sermo who ran the 2021 TCS New York City Marathon three months after receiving a life-saving blood stem cell transplant.
A special spin-off of the NYRR Set the Pace Presented by Peloton podcast, all five episodes of the series are now available to stream on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeart Radio.
This podcast series comes after New York Road Runners recently celebrated the 100th episode of the its NYRR Set the Pace Presented by Peloton podcast and announced the launch of East 89th St Productions, the nonprofit’s studio dedicated to producing original content that aligns with its vision of building healthier lives and stronger communities through the transformative power of running. This is the first audio documentary produced by East 89th St Productions.
“This audio documentary featuring Peter’s remarkable story is an example of how we’re expanding our content ambitions following the launch of our new content studio East 89th St Productions,” says Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO of New York Road Runners. “We hope audiences are inspired to move after hearing Peter’s journey of resilience and renewal that showcases the truly transformative and healing power of running.”
The series is told in Kirk’s own voice and chronicles his journey from receiving a sudden, life-threatening diagnosis and barely being able to walk to running 26.2 miles and crossing the TCS New York City Marathon finish line in Central Park three months later.
“My experience running the TCS New York City Marathon helped me find a deeper meaning and motivation for life,” says Kirk. “Following that experience, I founded the charity Be Your Possible to raise awareness and funds for medical research, and host an annual ‘Run for Research’ event, which has unlocked $850,000 from Sermo to support more than 50 organizations developing life-saving treatments like my blood stem cell transplant. My goal is for listeners who hear my story to discover the transformative connection between personal purpose and physical activity in their own lives.”
“850 Million Reasons to Run” episodes:
- Episode 1 – Decimated: Meet Peter Kirk—a father, a New Yorker, and a runner—who found himself facing something far bigger than 26.2 miles. “850 Million Reasons to Run” is the true story of Peter’s journey—not just to the start line of the TCS New York City Marathon, but back to life itself. It’s about what happens when everything changes in an instant … and how running became the thread that helped put it all back together. Told in his own words—and through the voices of those closest to him—this is not your typical race story.
- Episode 2 – Tour de France: A Tour de France postcard is all Peter clutches as he steps back through the hospital doors, determined to earn a permanent cure. He’s about to take on the most demanding stage yet, flanked by bossy nurses, amazed pulmonologists, his devoted cavapoo, and his wife, Torun—all rooting for him along this personal, indoor Tour. (It will feel like the toughest climb—until he laces up for the 2022 TCS New York City Marathon … but that’s the next episode.) This Tour de France doesn’t just aim to save Peter’s life—it promises to change it forever.
- Episode 3 – Ninety-Nine Seconds: Ninety‑nine seconds—that’s all Peter’s lungs can manage on his first post-transplant run. But the shock of those agonizing, 200 meters ignites an out‑loud promise to himself: Peter pledges he will run the 2021 TCS New York City Marathon, just 12 weeks away. Starting with small steps, Peter shrinks the city into single‑block laps, keeping the memory of coughing up blood in reserve, inspiration to keep moving forward, step by step, to the start line in Staten Island. Race day erupts in tears and cannons and unexpected angels. Peter attempts to leave the patient behind on the roads, and to cross the finish line into a new story.
- Episode 4 – The Man Who Said “Yes”: What happens when the person who saves your life is someone you’ve never met? A year after his transplant, Peter is finally allowed to contact the donor whose stem cells now run through his body and an eight‑page letter, dashed off at 38,000 feet, transforms into the meeting of two, forever connected humans. How do you pay it forward after the unthinkable? What do we owe others when someone else’s good deed changes a man, a family and a future, forever? For Peter, the answer is RUN.
- Episode 5 – Memento Mori – 850 Million Reasons to Run LIVE: It all started with a devastating diagnosis in the fall of 2020. Multiple chemo treatments, a stem cell transplant and many marathon finish lines later, Peter joins New York Road Runners CEO Rob Simmelkjaer for a special live taping of “850 Million Reasons to Run.” Rob and Peter dive into the “memento mori” moment that reframed the meaning of Peter’s life, turning a business leader into a global philanthropist with one singular quest- to turn his newfound love of running into a global movement to empower life-saving medical research.
Launched in September 2023, NYRR Set the Pace connects the running community and inspires runners through conversations with everyday enthusiasts and professional athletes sharing stories of perseverance, drive, and dedication. To date, the podcast has garnered more than a quarter of a million total downloads.
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About New York Road Runners (NYRR)
A New York City-based nonprofit, New York Road Runners’ vision is to build healthier lives and stronger communities through the transformative power of running – serving nearly a half a million people annually through its races, free community events, youth running initiatives, and school-based programs across the five boroughs. During its nearly 70 years, New York Road Runners has grown from a local running club to the world’s premier community running organization, producing more than 60 adult and youth races each year, including the TCS New York City Marathon. Held the first Sunday each November, the TCS New York City Marathon features more than 50,000 runners—from the world’s best professional athletes to a vast range of runners across experience levels, ages, genders, abilities, and backgrounds. To learn more, visit www.nyrr.org.