Unexpected Surprises: Friendship & Sheer Determination at The Great World Race — with Becs Gentry, Jenny Simpson, Chirine Njeim and Hillary Kupish
Happy New Year, Collective Wisdom listeners!
Today, Lucy is joined by a group of extraordinary women who recently completed The Great World Race — running 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days.
It’s hard to believe that Becs Gentry, Jenny Simpson, Chirine Njeim, Hillary Kupish and Ashley Paulson didn’t know each other when they started running, but this experience bonded them like nothing else as they supported each other to and through their limits over the course of the race. With many of them even winning awards for their finish times!
In this conversation, Becs, Jenny, Chirine, and Hillary share how they decided to run this race and everything they yielded from making it to the finish line together. We dive deep into the expansive mindset, the grueling reality, and the lasting impacts. They also offer the pearls of wisdom they’re taking away from their once-in-a-lifetime event.
Tune in for a huge dose of inspiration to dream big in 2025 and a reminder that we often find our people along the way to our goals.
Jump into the conversation:
[3:00] Meet these extraordinary women
[10:30] How they each mentally + emotionally prepared for this experience
[27:00] Advice from Becs for moving beyond your fears
[44:45] Chirene shares exactly how the group supported each other
[50:00] Finding your people along the way to your dreams
[58:50] The exact lessons Jenny learned about herself
[62:45] How this experience inspired Hillary to dream bigger for her life
[68:05] Pearls of wisdom + advice
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More about our guests:
Becs Gentry: Originally from the UK, Becs moved to NYC to work for Peloton in 2018 after her fitness career began in London with Nike. As a Peloton instructor Becs challenges the members to run into their unknown while remembering that Forward Is A Pace. In her personal running career Becs finished first non-elite female in the 2019 TCS NYC Marathon, then went on to compete in the GB Marathon Olympic Trials in 2021: while she didnt make the team she ran a personal best of 2:32:01. After this success Becs took a break from professional running, focusing on enjoying the sport as a hobby and had her daughter Tallulah in 2022, since then her world has been reframed around this tiny growing human. As a veteran Peloton instructor and a mum she recently completed The Great World Race, finishing second overall. Becs teaches on the Peloton platform 5 days a week and can be found getting miles in anywhere she goes, all with a smile on her face.
Jenny Simpson: Having run competitively from a young age, Jenny went to college at University of Colorado and competed for the Buffalos on the cross country and track teams from 2005-2009. During that time she won four NCAA championships for CU and made her first Olympic Team competing for Team USA in the 3000m steeplechase in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing where she set the American Record for the distance.
Jenny graduated from CU in 2009 with her undergraduate degree in Political Science and Economics. Immediately following graduation, she signed a professional contract with New Balance to continue her competitive running career. In her second year as a professional, she switched events to focus on the 1500m and won the World Championships that summer. She continued to qualify and compete for Team USA in the 1500m distance at the London Olympics and Rio Olympics, winning a Bronze medal in Rio and two Silver medals at the 2013 and 2017 World Championships in Moscow and London respectively. Most recently, Jenny has tackled the unconventional jump from the mile to the marathon. In 2024 she competed in the U.S. Marathon Olympic Trials, Boston Marathon, and the New York City Marathon.
Throughout her professional running career Jenny has also looked for opportunities to serve. She accepted a role as Ambassador and Special Advisor to the New York Road Runners in 2017 and worked in that position through 2021. Her role with the youth program RisingNYRR was particularly rewarding as she was able to share her love for running and movement directly with children in public school classrooms across New York City and at special events in Colorado. She also served as a volunteer coach for the university of Colorado cross country and track teams from 2013 through 2023.
Simpson currently sits on Advisory Boards for the University of Colorado’s Center for Leadership and Still; I Run, an organization advocating for mental health through running.
In 2025 Jenny and her husband will be launching a new project called “RUN USA.” A running-focused exploration of America highlighting people, places, and running events across the country. You can follow their adventures across all the major social media platforms @JennyandJasonRUNUSA.
Chirine Njeim: Chirine is an accomplished four-time Olympian representing Lebanon. Her journey began as an alpine skier at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, followed by participation in the 2006 Torino Games and the 2010 Vancouver Games. In 2012, after moving to Chicago, Chirine transitioned to marathoning, ultimately qualifying for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
As a distance runner, Chirine has shattered multiple Lebanese records and competed in numerous international events, including the prestigious 2025 World Cross Country Championships in Bulgaria. She has also made a significant impact in her Chicago community by founding an elite running team called "Nameless," which has grown to include 30 dedicated runners.
In November of this year, Chirine achieved a remarkable feat by completing The Great World Race, a challenge that involved running seven marathons on seven continents in just seven consecutive days. She finished with an impressive average time of approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes, ranking 4th overall in this grueling competition.
Chirine balances her passion for running with family commitments and her full-time job at Transcarent in Chicago, showcasing her dedication both on and off the road.
Hillary Kupish: Hillary is a brand strategist and corporate consultant, a RRCA Run Coach & NASM CPT, a Deschutes Women in Business Founder and a start-up advisor. She’s also the solo mom of Ezra (6) and Arlo (3). You can find her living her best life in Bend, OR.
Photo credit: Mark Conlon / Rodolfo Soto / The Great World Race
