How to Keep Going When You’re Over It: Taking the Hill with Marcel Dinkins

Summary

Podcast Summary: "How to Keep Going When You’re Over It: Taking the Hill with Marcel Dinkins"

Introduction

In this inspiring episode of She’s So Lucky, host Les Alfred sits down with Peloton instructor Marcel Dinkins to explore the resilience required to persist through challenging times. The conversation delves into their personal journeys, the significance of taking bold steps, and the importance of embracing discomfort to achieve personal growth.

Lucky Moments Shared

Les and Marcel begin the episode by discussing their respective "lucky moments" that significantly impacted their lives and careers.

• Les' Lucky Break with Peloton (02:14)

  Les shares her serendipitous journey to joining Peloton:

  “I put Peloton on my vision board a couple of years prior and was actively aligning my activities toward that goal. When COVID-19 hit, despite the setbacks, someone discovered her through Instagram and reached out about Peloton. It was a moment where preparation met opportunity.” (03:34)

• Marcel's Encounter with Michelle Obama (04:01)

  Marcel recounts how her book club led to a private meeting with Michelle Obama:

  “I hosted a book club in Seattle discussing Michelle Obama’s Becoming. A coworker on Michelle's book tour approached me, leading to a private 90-minute session with her. It was an unbelievably lucky moment that validated the power of persistence.” (05:35)

Career Transitions and Personal Growth

The conversation shifts to their diverse career paths and the courage to pivot when necessary.

• Les' Multifaceted Career Journey (06:03)

  Les outlines her transitions from being a Division 1 athlete to a military officer, then to fashion, and eventually to fitness and Peloton:

  “I always follow my interests. From athletics to the military, and then to fashion and fitness, each pivot was driven by a desire to find joy and fulfillment.” (06:20)

• Marcel's Insights on Pivots (08:49)

  Marcel emphasizes the bravery required to make significant career changes:

  “People are often afraid to make big pivots, like moving into the military or transitioning into full-time fitness. These changes are daunting but essential for personal growth.” (08:49)

Moving to New York: A Bold Step

Les shares her adventurous move to New York City, highlighting the risks and rewards of stepping out of her comfort zone.

• Les' One-Way Ticket to NYC (18:12)

  Detailing her impulsive decision to move:

  “I bought a one-way ticket to New York with just $1,200. The day before my flight, I informed my mom, knowing she would naturally let me go. Thirteen years later, I'm thriving in the city I once feared.” (18:12)

• Encounter with Tracy Ellis Ross (22:34)

  A humorous anecdote about meeting Tracy Ellis Ross on the subway:

  “I was so embarrassed that after whispering my admiration to her, I quickly exited the train to avoid an awkward situation.” (24:21)

Embracing Authenticity and the Beginner's Mindset

Les and Marcel discuss the importance of being authentic and embracing the learning process.

• Les on Being a Beginner (26:14)

  Reflecting on her own experiences:

  “It’s okay to suck at things initially. Sharing these authentic stories helps others understand that everyone starts somewhere and that perseverance leads to improvement.” (26:14)

• Overcoming Perfectionism (29:12)

  Addressing societal pressures to appear flawless:

  “No one starts out perfect. Embracing the journey, including the struggles, makes our successes more relatable and attainable for others.” (29:12)

Taking the Hill: Overcoming Personal Challenges

The episode delves into the metaphor of "taking the hill," inspired by Les' cross country experience.

• Origin of "Taking the Hill" (36:53)

  Les explains the significance:

  “Running up that challenging hill taught me that facing and overcoming obstacles is a privilege. It became a motto that I share with my students and now through my podcast.” (36:53)

• Impact on Students and Listeners (40:59)

  Highlighting how the ethos influences others:

  “One listener shared how taking the hill helped her secure a job she was initially afraid to pursue. It’s about pushing through discomfort to achieve personal victories.” (40:59)

Hyrox Race: Testing Physical and Mental Limits

Les discusses her experience participating in Hyrox, a demanding fitness competition, and how it symbolizes her resilience.

• Understanding Hyrox (45:05)

  Marcel seeks clarification on Hyrox:

  “Hyrox is a fitness competition involving multiple physical challenges, including runs, sled pushes, and wall balls. It’s both physically and mentally taxing.” (45:05)

• Les' Motivations and Challenges (49:12)

  Overcoming injury and the thrill of the race:

  “Despite tearing my ACL and spraining my MCL two years prior, I pushed through the Hyrox race. It was a testament to my physical recovery and mental fortitude.” (48:17)

• Future Aspirations (50:59)

  Planning to participate in more competitions:

  “I'm already looking to sign up for another Hyrox and a Chicago marathon. Proper training will be my focus, but the experience was incredibly rewarding.” (50:59)

Podcasting and Continuous Learning

Marcel and Les discuss Les' journey into podcasting and the continuous learning process involved.

• Launching "Take the Hill" (36:53)

  Les shares her motivations:

  “I started the podcast to have deeper conversations and learn from others' experiences. It’s about understanding how people take their own hills in life.” (36:53)

• Learning from Peers (34:18)

  Marcel praises Les' listening skills:

  “Your intentional way of listening is brilliant. It’s something I aspire to improve in my own interviewing style.” (34:18)

Conclusion

The episode wraps up with mutual appreciation and encouragement for listeners to embrace their own challenges. Marcel commends Les for her journey and the meaningful conversations she facilitates through her podcast.

“You are a podcaster now. If you have a podcast, you are a podcaster,” Marcel affirms, acknowledging Les' efforts and the impact of her work. (36:35)

Key Takeaways

1. Embrace Pivots: Personal and career transitions can lead to significant growth and unexpected opportunities.
2. Authenticity Matters: Sharing genuine struggles and beginnings can inspire and empower others.
3. Resilience Through Challenges: Facing and overcoming obstacles, metaphorically "taking the hill," builds strength and character.
4. Continuous Learning: Whether through podcasting or fitness, the journey of learning and adapting is ongoing and rewarding.

Notable Quotes

• Les on preparation meeting opportunity:

  “Luck is preparation meets opportunity. I have been preparing for it, and then opportunity presented itself.” (03:48)

• Marcel on career pivots:

  “People are often afraid to make big pivots, like moving into the military or transitioning into full-time fitness. These changes are daunting but essential for personal growth.” (08:49)

• Les on handling perfectionism:

  “No one starts out perfect. Embracing the journey, including the struggles, makes our successes more relatable and attainable for others.” (29:12)

• Marcel affirming Les' role:

  “You are a podcaster now. If you have a podcast, you are a podcaster.” (36:35)

Resources Mentioned

• Marcel Dinkins:
  • Instagram: @officialmarcelfit
  • Peloton Classes: onepeloton.com
  • Podcast: Take the Hill on Spotify and YouTube

Final Thoughts

This episode of She’s So Lucky serves as a powerful reminder that resilience, authenticity, and the willingness to embrace change are key to creating one's own luck. Through heartfelt stories and practical insights, Les Alfred and Marcel Dinkins encourage listeners to take their own hills and persist through life's challenges.

Transcript

[Les]

The following podcast is a Dear Media production.

[Cassandra]

Welcome back to she's so Lucky, the podcast where we are creating our own luck now. I cannot tell you how often I am doing things that I frankly don't want to do. Whether it is in the gym, whether it is in my business or just life admin. There is so much pushing through sometimes that is required to get to where you want to be. That is annoying. And the meme or TikTok sound that I am often repeating to myself is the I'm tired of this grandpa. But then I also have to be grandpa and say to myself, that's too damn bad, because sometimes we just gotta push through. And I don't necessarily mean that in a, you know, harming way where it's like, we don't deserve rest and softness, of course. And sometimes to reach new levels requires being able to sit with and move through discomfort. And so if that's something that you need help with, the same way I need help with it at times. Today's episode is for you, and it's also equal parts fun and inspiring. I am joined today by Marcel Dinkins. Marcel is a creative force. You may know her as a Peloton instructor, inspiring you to push your limits on the tread. Sometimes when you have big goals or aspirations, it requires a deeper level of grit. And Marcel knows exactly what to say to inspire us to keep going and to actually feel good about it. So let's get lucky with Marcel.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Marcel, welcome to the show.

[Les]

Thank you so much for having me.

[Marcel Dinkins]

I'm super excited to have you.

[Les]

I'm excited.

[Marcel Dinkins]

We met last year at a panel at Peloton that you moderated.

[Les]

Yes.

[Marcel Dinkins]

That was a really cool. It was just like a really beautiful, like, mindful event.

[Les]

Yeah, I really enjoyed it. And I feel like now I'm on the opposite side.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Exactly. Now I get to, like, interview you and moderate a convo with you. So the question that I've been asking everybody to start off is to share a moment or an experience they had when they felt really lucky.

[Les]

Honestly, I would say, like, my lucking upon, like, peloton. It was just such a strategic moment. I had put it on my vision board, I want to say, like, two or three years prior, and I really wanted to do it. I. I had found this space where I was personal training, and I kind of reached, like, this plateau where I was just like, I'm not top at my gym. Like, I'm doing this, but I don't really love this part of it anymore, and what could I do? And what's out there in the world. That includes all the things that I love to do. And Peloton was it. So I put it on my vision board, and I started doing all of these things that kind of I felt were in alignment with that. And I finally got to this studio where I'm, like, a founding trainer, and I'm in the boutiques that I know that they, like, usually, like, search at or what have you. And then, like, Covid happens. Oh, no. And, like, everything is shut down. And I am like, okay. But luck would have it that they started scouting through Instagram, and I was one of the few people that had gotten, like, a business coach, and I'm doing SEO and I'm putting all of my classes online. And so someone slid in my dm and they were like, hey, have you ever heard of Peloton? And I was, like, looking at my vision board, like, yep. So I would say that was a really lucky moment.

[Marcel Dinkins]

I love that so much. That is, like, such a fun lucky moment, right?

[Les]

Yeah. I thought it was like, you know what they say, luck is preparation meets opportunity. And I have been preparing for it. And then opportunity presented itself.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Yeah.

[Les]

Yeah.

[Marcel Dinkins]

If you were ready for it, I was. Right. Yourself in the position for it. Yeah. I love that.

[Les]

Okay, so can I ask you, what's your look?

[Marcel Dinkins]

Oh, yeah. Not me not knowing. And I'd be asking everybody this every time now.

[Les]

A lucky moment.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Maybe one that I haven't shared on the podcast because I've had a few about my experience. Moving to LA was a lucky moment. Moving to New York was a lucky moment. A lucky moment. Back when I first started this podcast, and back when it was still named Balance Black Girl, I also started it with a book club component. There was, like, Balance Black Girl, the podcast, and there was also Balance Black Girl, the book club. And it was like, every month we read books by black women authors, and we would gather and talk about it. That was, like, the initial premise. And the very first book that I selected was Becoming by Michelle Obama because it was right after she published it. This was late 2018, early 2019. So I selected that book. I was living in Seattle at the time, so I posted on Instagram, you know, this is a book we're reading for book club. Come talk about it, have a book chat, whatever. So we end up reading the book. I host a book club in Seattle to talk about it. I got a local brewery to sponsor it and give us the space and, like, cider or whatever. And, you know, we have our book club Chat, and all is well and good. Over a weekend. That Monday, I'm walking to work and my coworker calls me and she's like, hey, Les, you just had a book club to read becoming, right? And I'm like, yeah, I did. Why? She was like, well, I'm on the team that's helping Michelle Obama with her book tour, and she likes to meet with a book club at every stop. So would your book club want to meet with her when she comes to Seattle?

[Les]

And I was like, stop it.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Why are you asking? Yes. Like, just tell me where to be, what is it that I need to do, and when. So through that, we ended up getting selected to have, like, a private book club with Michelle Obama. That's crazy.

[Cassandra]

We got to sit down with her.

[Marcel Dinkins]

For, like, 90 minutes and ask her a ton of questions, and it was the most, like, lucky survival.

[Les]

Yeah, you're very lucky. Great name for the podcast. Great.

[Marcel Dinkins]

I mean, and then I stopped doing.

[Les]

Book clubs because I'm like, where do.

[Marcel Dinkins]

I go from here? One book club and Michelle Obama comes.

[Les]

Wow.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Where do I. Where do I go?

[Les]

Shut that down. It's done. So I shut down the book club. Yeah, you just, like, mic dropped the book club.

[Marcel Dinkins]

But it was very lucky.

[Les]

That was really great. Yeah. That's awesome.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Thank you for asking.

[Les]

Oh, my gosh.

[Marcel Dinkins]

No one ever asked me. But you have also lived a lot of lives, and so I would love to talk about that. Just all of the different things that you've done leading up to where you are now as a peloton trainer, with you being an athlete, an army vet, fashion career, like, you have done so many things.

[Les]

Yeah, I. Yeah, I. I always think that, you know, we are as humans, very much so, like cats. I really do think that every four or five years, like, you can potentially be living an entirely different life. And I feel for myself, starting out in sports and being an athlete and being a Division 1 track and field cross country athlete, it was just an interest that I had. And then I just kind of poured myself into that interest. And then my next interest was the military. And then I became a army officer. I've jumped out of helicopters, I've jumped out of airplanes. Like, when I did it, I was like, I don't want to just be sitting behind a desk. I want to be one of the, like, cool people. Like, that's what we call in the military. So I was like, I don't know. I want to be an engineer officer. So I became an engineer officer. I know nothing whatsoever about math. So I was one of the, like, you know, I learned how to do more of the combat engineering stuff. And that's like, you know, with explosive and all that stuff. And I really enjoy all of that. And then it was like, okay, honestly, I don't want to do this anymore. I really love working out. It's one of those things that really centered me, really grounded me throughout my life. Like, I have really anxious tendencies. And so moving to New York, I was just kind of looking around, like, what can I do that can pay me well and follow some of my interests? And so then here I am, like, in the gyms. And that was after just leaving fashion, because fashion was just like, blah. Like, I love to dress well, but I hate everything about the ins and outs of, like, the fashion scene at that time. And so I was like, all right, let's go into the gym space. And, you know, went through personal training, one on one training, was really top trainer at my clubs, and then was like, ah, this is boring. And then got into the group fitness space, and now I'm at Peloton. So I just kind of follow my interests. I think that a person that's really inspiring to me is like, Maya Angelou. If you've ever sat down and just really dissected her story, it's insane how accomplished this woman is. It's insane. And it's just because anytime she had an interest, she'd just say, all right, I'm doing this now, and I'm gonna take it to the end of the road. And then when I no longer want it or to no longer need it, I'm just gonna go be something else. So.

[Marcel Dinkins]

And I think a lot of people are afraid to make those types of pivots. Cause those are big pivots. To go, like, into the military, to go into fashion, to go into working full time in fitness. What were those transitions like for you amidst those changes?

[Les]

Honestly, I feel that, like, my soul kind of says I can't do it anymore. Like, I honestly will push until I really physically can't do whatever I'm doing anymore. When I don't, like, I'm a very joy driven person. And when I no longer have, like a distinctive joy for it, I have to pivot. I remember getting into fitness. When I got into fitness and personal training, I started out as, like, I was making like $12 an hour at Lucia Roberts. It was. It was really bad, but I really enjoyed it. I thoroughly enjoyed what I was doing. And so I just kind of like, all right, how can I make More money at it, but still do what I enjoy doing. And so then I became a fitness manager. I managed other trainers, I developed other trainers. I. I helped them build their businesses. Like, my clubs became some of the top clubs in the city. Eventually I was just like, I'm just only learning how to sell at these clubs. I'm learning how to develop other people, but I'm really learning how to sell. And this is not me learning fitness. And so I just, honestly, I get bored. And I said, okay, I'm going to start over. And then I went to Equinox and they had like this great trainer development program. And so then I went through that and I was like, okay. And when I got through that, I became like a tier three plus trainer. And I'm one of the top instructors in my. In my club. And then I became the top instructor in my club. And then I was literally like, one day, I kid you not. And I tell everyone this story because this is it. This is the moment for me. Every time I was on the top floor and at our club, you had the functional area at the top floor and you could look out the window. And so my clients are always new to come up there. And at that time, I was training maybe like nine or ten clients a day. And so I got there at like 5 o' clock in the morning. It was dark out. You know, New York City, you've been here for a little bit now, so New York City, summer life can be crazy. So it was dark when I got there. The sun came out, it snowed. The rain came out to melt the snow. The sun came back out again and it was dark and I was still standing in the same place. And I was like this, like, that was the moment where I was just like, I have to do something different. Because I felt that day was like a montage of, like life passing me by. And I just feel that need, that itching, and I say, what can I do? Just minimal, to get me to where I just feel good. Like, I just really like to feel good in my life. And so, yeah.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Yeah. And when you're looking for those things, those opportunities that make you feel good, what are some of those things? Is it like, dynamic, working with people?

[Les]

For me, at that particular point in time, what I liked was I liked the fitness component. I just enjoy wellness even at this stage in my life. I think, what can I carry on to the next stage in my life? And I'm like, wellness will always be there. I think that for me, that's really important. It piques my interest. I'm always trying to learn about him when I travel. I'm always traveling with that in mind. So at that particular point, what I enjoyed was I enjoyed the wellness part, enjoyed the fitness part. I enjoyed the fact that like, I could kind of come in to the gym and like lift weights and like not have to dress up for work because I hated that about my fashion life at the time. And so I was like, okay, I want to keep these things now. What don't I like? And what I didn't like was I didn't like the one on one all the time. That was just. It was suffocating to me because a person can come in and have a really bad day and it translates over to your day. And what I liked was I liked having my mood dictate. You know, I was like, I want to feel good and I just want to make other people feel good. I don't want to have to muddle through whatever it is that you went through today. I don't want to do it. Honestly. I want you to leave here feeling better. And so I just started looking for that. Honestly, that was the first thing I was like, this is what I like. This is what I don't like. How can I do less of this? And I just kind of go with that. I don't really give it any deeper thought. I feel like I'll get there. I'll cross that bridge when I get there. What do I like? What do I want more of? What do I want less of? And that's the start of my pivots.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Yeah. And letting it be an intuitive process.

[Les]

Yeah.

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[Marcel Dinkins]

I used to be a personal trainer too and can confirm sometimes you're almost put in like a pseudo therapist.

[Les]

Yeah. Role.

[Marcel Dinkins]

And it's a lot. And back when I used to work in fitness, what ultimately made me stop working in fitness is I also think too as a woman trainer, I was training women. Yeah. There's often a lot of body messaging, body image things. So it's like if a client is having a bad body image day or is saying bad things about body image, then that would kind of get into my head and just all.

[Les]

Yeah, that's, it's really. You have to have a really not even just like a strong sense of self. I think that most people that go into training do already have a strong sense of self. I just kind of feel that you have to have a very great ability to disconnect. And I don't really have that ability to just kind of disconnect is you're a Pisces. I'm a Pisces. Yeah. I don't really have that ability to disconnect. So because I don't really have that extra wal wall, I have to build that wall into what I'm doing. And that's what I really liked about the group fitness space. Is that there's already a wall there. It's only so much that I can do with everyone, but I can give you exactly what I need to give you and what I want to give you without having to kind of muddle through those things. I can do those things intimately. But I, as a. I would call myself an introvert. I just can't. I get exhausted. I can't do that all day. That just. I would go home and just felt like I just got hit by a bus. And then I'd have to sleep for like 10 hours and then reboot to do it again. Yeah, it'd be a lot. It was a lot.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Especially if you don't have any time to recharge.

[Les]

Exactly.

[Marcel Dinkins]

That's hard.

[Les]

Exactly. Exactly. It was just like. It was tough. It was tough. There were some moments where I literally just had to like, sit people down. I would literally sit people down, my clients down. Look, you cannot come in here this way. If you want to have this type of attitude, I need you to leave and come back tomorrow. Like, that's, for me, was like, this is crazy. Like, I was just like, no, I can't do this.

[Marcel Dinkins]

It's hard. Yeah.

[Les]

I was like, I can't do this.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Yeah.

[Les]

Yeah.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Because then it's also managing other people's emotions too.

[Les]

Yeah.

[Marcel Dinkins]

There's a lot of labor.

[Les]

Yeah. Like, no, I don't. I don't want to do this. Yeah. Yeah.

[Marcel Dinkins]

I would love to rewind a little bit. I've heard that you have a kind of a funny story about how you moved to New York that I've heard you talk about, but I would love.

[Les]

If you could share it here. Oh, yeah. So when I went to school, I did track and filled across cross country. To be completely transparent, My freshman year in school, I was crazy. I didn't go to class. I just skipped class. I would party all the time. And so the money that I did have for school, I lost it. And so I joined the army. I joined the army National Guard and I was in ROTC program throughout the college. And it was so great for me because it provided me with a little bit of structure, a little bit of discipline, some direction. And with that I was still studying fashion. Like, I still have my like free flowing side, but I had this structure in this discipline alongside that. So then when I graduated, it was time for me to go and get a job. But I still have military obligations. So you have to do your military training the year prior to you going to wherever you're going to move to. And so because I was reservist, I could do my training wherever, but I needed to make sure that wherever my job was, my duty station was also there. Wherever I'm going to work, it's also there. And so I had intentions on going back to Milan because that's where I interned in college and I had everything situated. But as a first generation college student, I had no idea about the process of getting my visa before securing any of these things prior to. And so the military was like, you're going back to Mississippi where you went to school. And I'm like, actually I'm not doing that. So I was kind of like at a loss. I didn't know what I was going to do. Honestly, I was just like, well, how long would it take me to get to Milan? You know, all of this? And I just honestly didn't want to get stagnant. I didn't want to get stuck. And so I was at home in Memphis, or I want to say about four, four months before I decided, you know what? New York is a big fashion place. Like if I wanted to get a job in fashion, I could just move to New York. And if I lived in Milan for like three months without knowing the language fully, I mean, how bad could it be to move to New York? And so I knew my mom would freak out being the Southern Christian woman that she was. And so what I did was I bought a one way ticket to New York. I think at that particular time I maybe had like twelve hundred dollars. I bought a one way ticket here and I decided, hey, like I'll give myself a couple of months. I didn't set a deadline, but I did say I'll give myself a couple of months. I'll see if I can find an apartment, if I can find an apartment. My military checks will be hitting soon. I'll pay up a couple months rent and then I'll go from there. And so I booked a one way ticket to New York City. The day before my flight, I told my mom, hey, I'm moving to New York the day before, the day before. Because I know my mom, like she, my mom would have tried to talk me out of it. My mom would have talked me out of it. She would have just gave me the money back for the plane ticket. But I also knew that if I put it like that she would let me go. And she'll be like, oh, she'll be back, you know. So I was just like, hey, I'm moving to New York. I need you to take me to the airport, and she was like. And she just, you know, like, almost like a dare. Like, yeah, okay, sure. Like, I'll take you. And she took me. And then she was like, are you really getting on this plane? I'm like, I'm going. I am going to New York. And so, yeah, like, I moved here, and it's been 13 years, so I think I'm doing it. Yeah. From that one way tickets. Yeah, I think I'm doing good.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Oh, my goodness. I love that story. You gotta know how to finesse.

[Les]

Yeah. I was just like, I knew my people, so, like, I'm like, look, I know her. And I also just really felt like, if not now, then when? Like, I just knew that if I stayed at home too long, I would get comfortable. As I said, I was a first generation college student. Like, I had went to Milan. I had been really putting myself out there, and I knew that if I didn't just go and try it, then there was a chance that, like, you'll just kind of like, all right, I'm a big family person. I would be obsessed with. Like, I don't. I would get too tangled, and I'd be like, I don't want to leave my family. So I was like, let's just go. Let's just try. And if you don't, at least I could always come home. Yeah, yeah.

[Marcel Dinkins]

But you can say you tried.

[Les]

Exactly.

[Marcel Dinkins]

And then you don't wonder what if.

[Les]

Yeah, exactly.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Yeah.

[Les]

Yeah, exactly.

[Marcel Dinkins]

I also heard that you had a funny subway story that involved Tracy Ellis Ross not long after you moved here.

[Les]

It was literally, like, I want to say, maybe four or five months after I moved here. It was so close to after I moved here. I am obsessed with Tracy Ellis Ross. Like, I have always been obsessed with Tracy Ellis Ross. So when I first moved here, again, like, doing that duality of, like, being in fashion and working, like, as a reservist. So I would just go on model mayhem at the time, which y' all don't know. Y' all don't know nothing about model mayhem. So being in the fashion industry, I was, like, booking modeling gigs. I was booking stylist jobs. I was kind of doing whatever hustle that I could could to just pay the rent and also, you know, make connections in the fashion industry. And so I was working for this stylist part time, and I am taking her clothes to Brooklyn. Honestly, y', all, I have, like, two garment bags full of clothes, and I'm going to Brooklyn, and I get on the train. I think it Was like, the R trainer, the N train or something like that. And I get on the train, and I sit down, and I'm just like, oh, my God. And I look to the side, and it's Tracy Ellis Ross. Like, it's Tracy Ellis Ross sitting right next to me. And I was just like, I want to play it cool. I want to play it cool. And I'm just like, I'm not going to talk about. I'm like, you know what? I'll talk about her mom. And I'm just like, I love your mom. Like, dead interrupt. That was. That was like, the only thing you said. The only thing I could say was like, I love your. And I whispered it. Like, I whispered it because I didn't want other people on the train to hear me. So it was just so, like. Like I'm this close to her, and it's, you know, one of those. If you've ever been on, like, the subway, it's like one of those seats close to the door, so it's really tight. And I'm sitting right next to her, and I just turn and whisper to her, I love you, Mom.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Did she say anything?

[Les]

No, she looked at me like. Like. You know how she, like, created separation? Oh, it was so embarrassed. Like, if I wasn't so dark, I would have turned red. Like, I was so embarrassed. And so I took a deep breath, and I was like, like, bye. And then I, like, grab my bags. Like, the subway door open. I grabbed my bags. I got off the train, y'. All. I had a whole nother hour to be on that train, but I was so embarrassed that I just, like, got off, like, the next one. I was like, yeah. And so I'm hoping that one day I get to run into her again and just. I know she won't remember, but she'll.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Probably think it's funny.

[Les]

Yeah, she probably won't laugh, but I will definitely. I'm like, I loved her. I, like, loved girlfriends. I was obsessed. But I thought, oh, it's gonna be weird if you just say, like, I love you sitting so close, or, I love your work. I should have said, I love your work. But at that time, I couldn't get that far. So I was like, I love your mom.

[Marcel Dinkins]

That's such a, like, sweet, wholesome story.

[Les]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Marcel Dinkins]

And also such a testament, because I've now lived in New York and la and in New York, I just feel like you can run into anybody, anytime, anywhere, in the most just random place.

[Les]

Yes.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Yeah.

[Les]

I ran into it. Like, I saw Chris Rock the other day, just like it always. I feel like that's always. Because everything is. We're on foot all the time, and everything's kind of just right there in the center. Whereas, like, when I was in la, I didn't live in la, but when I was there, it was just like, everyone's kind of at their homes, and so it's. Yeah, exactly in the car, and so it's really hard to just pass by someone, so. But yeah, that's New York. Yeah.

[Marcel Dinkins]

That's so funny. I'm curious in your time here whether it's from like, leaving your hometown, moving to a new city, making pivots in your career, all the different things that you have tried. I'm curious what those experiences have taught you about yourself.

[Les]

You know, one of the people that I follow a lot, and, you know, he's controversial, but I really love, like, David Goggins. I'm obsessed. And one of the things he talks about is, like, keeping a cookie jar of all the things that you've done or things that you've accomplished and. And just being able to, like, pull back and draw back on those things in order to get you to the next thing or whatever. And I really do believe that what my life has taught me is that I'm strongest in my pivot. I'm strongest in when my back is against the wall. So when I got ready to teach my premier class at Peloton, it was insane. My music didn't play. I think I got my period that same day. It was crazy. But I am the calmest in that moment. I am my calmest I could possibly be when everything goes crazy, because I know for certain that I'm good in a tight spot. That's something that my life has really taught me, that, hey, 1200. Moved to the most expensive city in. In the world. Like, not a problem. Don't know anybody. Not a problem. I literally, when I first got here, I stayed in. If you are familiar with New York, if you're a New Yorker, you understand this. I stayed in a hotel and, like Hollis, Queens, it was not nice. I thought that the L I R R was the actual subway. Like, I took that every day. So my money was, like, just really burning. Like, I was burning, and I only had 1200 bucks, you know, burning through it. And then I found, like, the first apartment that I had was in La Frac City. Like, if you know anything about New York, you know how ratchet everything that I'm saying really is. But I've, you know, like, you just figure it out. Like, that's kind of one of the things that I just really feel confident about is that no matter how ratchet it is on the surface, like, you just wait and see. Like, I'm going to finesse this. Like, I'm going to figure this out. And so I think that that's what everything has taught me. Like, it's okay. Like, it's okay to. It's okay to suck at things. It's okay to be a beginner at things. It's okay to, like, start new. And I really think that. That it's, like, kind of frowned upon in this moment of social media where everything looks perfect. And so I was talking about this the other day. One of the things that I love to do is go all the way back to the beginning of people's things. Like, all the way back to their first Instagram post. Go back to the beginning. See how ratchet it actually was. Like, no one started out perfectly. And I say this with all the grace and all the respect in the world. Go all the way back to Beyonce's early photos. Like, go all the way back. Like, you know what I mean?

[Marcel Dinkins]

Like, old Instagram.

[Les]

Go all the way back and see how this has been a meticulous, thoughtful evolution. No one shows up perfect and, like, you can be in a corner, you can suck at stuff. It's okay.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Absolutely. I do think there is so much pressure, particularly over the past several years, for everything to be a very polished brand or to have to brand ourselves as experts. I was recording another episode earlier today, and we were kind of talking about that a little bit, where it's like, we have to establish this authority and have this expertise. And it feels like if we don't have this very specific expertise or we can't prove our value in that way, then, you know, what do we have to offer? And it's like, well, we're human beings. That's quite a bit to offer.

[Les]

Yeah, I. You know, and it's. Who is saying this? Was it Gary? How do I say his last name? Yeah, Gary V. I think he was saying this the other day. It's like, because we're beginning to hit this sweet spot of interest media as opposed to social media. And when you're just searching or listening to everything, that's just your interest, the person they're interested in listening to. You need to be the know it all in that area. Like, you need to know and have everything figured out. And I'm like, no one has it all figured out. And one of the things I learned really early on as a military officer was that you trust the officer that says, I don't know, but let me go find out. And for some reason we no longer trust those people. Were like, we want to go with a person that's like, oh yeah, I know. And it's totally bullshitting. Like, totally bullshitting. Like, I don't know why we we're doing that now, but I feel like that's where we've gotten. Because if it looks good, then it must be good. And that's not always the case.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Yeah. Or if it's the loudest, then it must be. Right.

[Les]

Yeah.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Oftentimes it's actually the opposite.

[Les]

Exactly. That's not always the case.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Yeah.

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[Les]

I.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Want to talk to you about creation as well, because you're now podcasting and you're now in your creation era and I want to hear how that's going for you.

[Les]

You know, honestly, again, it's one of those places where like, I'm interested. I'm gonna tinker with this. I'm gonna figure this out. You know, I started the podcast Take the Hill, started it via social media. So honestly, I was saying it in my classes and I was like, it would be so interesting to pull these conversations out because I really love having the same thing, having these conversations where I'm getting to learn from a person and also about a person. And so I started doing video kind of podcasting over on Instagram. And I was like, I like this. And so then I'm like, okay, let's take it over to Spotify. Let's take it over to YouTube. And it's been, this is like my third season. I go in seasons and I'm looking to do about like, my goal is to do about like 15 episodes a season. I'm about like six right now. But it's really hard. I respect. Like, I was talking to you about. I'm like. Like, it's really hard. I've gone all the way back through your podcast as well. Yeah, no, but that's what I. Like I said this off camera, y', all, so I have to say it on camera because I have to give her her flowers on camera. I go through and I just try to learn how to evolve as an interviewer, as a podcaster. And one of the things that I really love about you is that from the very beginning, you've had this very intentional way of listening. And as an interviewer, it's really hard to just listen because you want to jump into the conversation. It can be messy. And you also want to interject with just confirmations. I feel like confirmations are my. Like, oh, my God. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And so you have had this brilliant use of just your listening skills from the very beginning. And I'm like, maybe other things have evolved, but that has just been solid through and through. And so as I'm learning and going back through all of my favorite podcasts and learning from them, I'm just really like, oh, my God. Like, I can't wait to get to that point where I'm five years in and it's finally something that I'm like, I'm a podcaster now. Like, I don't call myself a podcaster now. I'm like, I'm learning. I'm a novice right now. But I can't wait to get to that point where I'm just like, yeah, I do have a podcast, but I will say I'll be a full podcast, full fledged podcaster, like, maybe three or four years.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Yeah, well, thank you for that. And I will say, you are a podcaster now. If you have a podcast, you are a podcaster.

[Les]

Yes.

[Marcel Dinkins]

And you are facilitating great conversations.

[Les]

Thank you.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Yes, thank you. And can we talk more? I know you touched on it, but I want to talk a little bit more about the significance of Taking the hill and what that means and what that means to you.

[Les]

Yes. So the title of the podcast is Taking the Hill. And the reason for that is that when I was in school, like I said, my first year was just so garbage. I was spilling everything. And it was more or less having that first opportunity to be away from home, having this first, like, taste of freedom. And what I realized very quickly is that you have to choose your friends very wisely, and you also have to take pride in, you know, what you want to do. And so I ended up walking onto the cross country team, because sports was just always, like, a grounding thing for me in high school. And so I walked into the cross country team. I was not a good runner whatsoever. I actually was. I was horrible. I sucked so bad. But the coach, she gave me an opportunity anyway. She was like, yeah, you know, this girl has heart. To come out here and embarrass yourself like that. Like, you have to have some heart. And no, it was bad, y'. All. I'm not even exaggerating. My coaches also confirmed this, so. So. But she really liked the fact that I willing to do this. And I don't think that any of us really had any high hopes for my improvement, But I did really improve, like, to the point where I was actually traveling. I was on the traveling team. So one semester, she would always take us out to these trails, and we went out to this horse trail in Alabama, and there are these great hills there, and it's really good for some speed work. It's really good for development for the athletes. And so she took us out to this hill. And I will never forget this because my coach was so nice, so sweet. And I'm running up this hill and I'm complaining. Like, I'm complaining. Like, I'm vocal about it. And everyone else here, for the most part, is like, scholarship. And I'm the only one out here just, like, you know, running my mouth. And she just simply walked up to me and she was like, well, quick. I mean, like, you know, I was just like, well. And it was a gut check. Like, obviously, you know, you're in that moment. You're like. Your feelings are kind of like, oh. But also, I can honestly say it was a stern gut check. And I checked myself right away. And I think that that was also a reason why she put me on the team, because I. Okay, yeah, I'm accountable for that. I'll hold myself accountable for that. But she checked me, and she was like, well, quit. And I had this moment of thinking to myself immediately, I'm not going to quit. Like, I'm not quitting. But then I also had this moment of checking, like, why are you complaining so much? Like, either do it or you don't do it. And so the next hill that I did, I did, like, faster, and I did better. And the next one, I did faster and better. And honestly, after that, like, hill repeats became. I decided in my mind, like, this is going to be my favorite workout. I'm going to make this my favorite workout. And so then after that, everywhere, I would Go. Anytime I would travel, if I see a hill, I'm like, I'm just going to go run that hill. Like, I'm just going to go take the hill. Because it just kind of reminded me that it's a privilege. It's a privilege, honestly, to take the hill, and it's a privilege to be challenged. It's a privilege to go through hard things and learn from them. And so that was honestly where that came from. Like, if something is in front of you and it's hard and it's challenging, yeah, it does suck. But, like, it's a privilege to go through that. And so I developed that as, like, a motto and an ethos for myself. And then I started sharing it with my students in my classes. And, you know, I would share it because of the workout. It had its own meaning for me, but I would share it because of the workout. And they were like, well, this is how I took the hill in my life today. Marcel, you would be so proud of me. I took the hill. Like, you know, I really didn't want to do this. I was so afraid to submit for this job, but, like, I felt like it really reminded me of taking the hill, and so I did it, and then they got the job, you know, so it's. It was just stuff like that when they started sharing that with me, that I was like, hey, there's something here. Like, let's go have these conversations out in real life and. And ask people how they've taken the hill in their own lives. And I started to learn so much. One of my colleagues was the first interviews that I had, and I learned so much about her in that conversation. I was blown away by that conversation. I was like, I want to keep doing this. I was literally just, like, hooked. I was like, I want to keep doing this. I want to keep having these conversations.

[Marcel Dinkins]

That is such an amazing story. I love that. I love it literally. I love it metaphorically. I think it can apply to so many different things. And, I mean, I think that's a big part of what I love about fitness, is that it will then teach you so much. Fitness is often proof of concept of what we're capable of, that while we're physically doing it, it is hard and it sucks. And then you do it, and you're like, oh, well, what else can I do? And then it seeps into every other area of your life.

[Les]

Yeah, that's exactly it. And for me at that moment, I don't think that it made sense at that moment, but all I knew Is that something clicked. Something clicked. And after that clicked, it was. That workout changed my trajectory on the team. Like, after that, I remember, like, we did eight hundreds, and I had beat the girl that had came to do eight hundreds on scholarship, and I was like. Like, something clicked, and I was just like, yeah, just do it. Like, it all sucks. And I think one of the reasons why I really love doing the podcast is that I think you could get trapped in your suck. Like, you can just be so obsessed and so just wallow, and you just realize, like, it equally sucks in different ways for everyone. And everyone is taking the hill. Model that behavior. Yeah.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Yep, Absolutely. I think we can get such tunnel vision if there's something we're focusing on or something that we're struggling with in that moment, and we feel like that is it. That's all we see. When we're able to zoom out, hear other people's stories, talk to them. We just gained so much perspective.

[Les]

So much perspective. I had one person on my. On Take the Hill, and his story was so. I was just like, oh, my God. Like, he had immigrated. He was, like, 19. He, like, it was just so, like, profound that I was just like, what was this thing I was complaining about yesterday? You know, Like, I'll be fine if he can get through all of that. Like, this is not a problem. This is actually like a little molehill. Like, I'll be absolutely fine.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Yeah. I think what is also really inspiring about that story that you shared, I really appreciate you sharing that. When you first started cross country, you kind of sucked at it, because I think if someone were to see you now as a fitness professional, as a peloton instructor, they would just assume that you have, like, always been either super athletic, really good at any physical thing that you try, and that that's just that we sometimes project these stories onto other people where it's like, oh, she's always been like that.

[Les]

Yeah.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Getting to hear those stories of. No, we haven't necessarily always been like that. And here's how we got.

[Les]

And this is how we got here. So, yeah, I think that that's, again, going all the way back to the beginning stages of their Instagram. Go figure it out. Like, go look at it. I try to keep myself as an open book for the most part. I mean, obviously, there are certain things in your life that you keep private, but I'm very open about the process because I think that that's. The cheat code is knowing the process, and a lot of people won't let you in on how the process goes, because they want you to believe that they're uniquely positioned to be in that place and you are somehow unequipped for it. But I think that if you really want to empower a person and inspire a person, you teach them the cheat code, and then they have to go do the work, obviously. But, yeah, like, I was not good. And I'm okay with saying that because I know that now. Like, and. And also, when I was doing it, like, I got phenomenally better. But at the beginning, I was not. And to lie about it, I don't know who that would help. But, yeah, I think that that's really important to share that story with people. And you don't have to share it right away. Like, you don't have to share it while you're going through it. I don't think that it would have helped me telling people, like, how, you know, bad I was during the process, but after the fact, like, girding yourself up once you get it. Yeah. Share that story. Because someone else can be helped by that.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Most definitely. Yeah. Speaking of physical challenges, I would love to talk about your experience with Hyrox, because it just happened.

[Les]

Oh, my God.

[Marcel Dinkins]

And also, let's explain what Hybrid is if people don't know. I recently learned what it was because somebody DM'd me, asking me if I.

[Les]

Want to do it. Are you gonna do it?

[Peyton Sartin]

Absolutely not.

[Marcel Dinkins]

I said, are you new here? I said, oh, no, honey.

[Les]

Oh, my God. No, no, no. Honestly, it's so addicting. You might try it. Do you know Chelsea, Dr. Roberts?

[Marcel Dinkins]

I know who she is. Yeah. I've never met her, but I've taken her classes.

[Les]

Chelsea is yogi on our team. And even Chelsea said she would maybe.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Do it after seeing it, maybe after witnessing in person. I mean, sometimes I feel that way about the marathon when it's like, marathon Sunday, it's like, oh, this is so inspiring energy. But then when you leave it, like.

[Les]

And then once you leave, you're like, I'm not doing that. So it could be okay. Like, yeah, it might be like that. I get that. So Hyrax is a fitness competition or race, and it's separated by 8, 000 meters. So every competition that you do or every workout that you do, you do a thousand meter run. So you do a thousand meter run, and then you do the ski, or you do a thousand meter run, then you, like, do sled pull. You do a thousand meter run, sled push, and so forth and so on, and ends with a hundred wall balls and you can do it either as a team or as a single. You can do it as like a co ed team or a mix. They call it mixed doubles. But yeah, in total you run about 8, 000 meters and. And you're doing all of these events in between and it's crazy. Honestly, it's not the craziest thing I've ever done, thank God, because of the military, like. But it is extremely challenging. It's very humbling and in a way that you're just like, wait, it's still going. Like, wait. Like, wait. I'm still like, I'm so serious. I was like, at the end, I was like, wait, am I. I'm still doing this. Wait, I have station. What? Like, you know. But I had the most fun. I had the most fun because it was really challenging. I couldn't breathe a lot. It taught me that I really need to work on like some of my conditioning. But I kicked butt on those train stations because, like, what's my zone of genius? And it was really rewarding for me because two years ago, at the end of 2023, August 2023, almost like literally coming up on my anniversary, like, I tore my ACL and sprained my mcl. And so then that was like almost seven or eight months. Like, no teaching, not doing anything physical. And I've been playing basketball or some. I've been on a team sport or doing some type of activity since I was in the sixth grade. And so to not physically work out for seven months. Well, I mean, not run. I did work out because, like, my brain wouldn't take it. But to not be able to be really active, truly for seven months was the longest I've ever gone in my entire life. So even after that process, it's taking me up until this year, so two years later, to finally feel almost myself in my body again, like, to move without hesitation to move and not have to contemplate the movement. I'm just getting back to that place. And so for me, I really wanted to do it because I was so happy that I can. And at the end of the race, I was just like, I didn't think about my leg once. I was so happy. I was just telling my partner, like, I didn't think about my leg once. And you know, it's hard, but what a rewarding feeling this is.

[Marcel Dinkins]

And I'm sure so freeing after having an. I mean, because that's a very.

[Les]

It's a very difficult. Yeah, it's a very difficult injury. And my job is running, you Know, so I was just really. That whole process was very interesting. It taught me a lot about myself. It was not until toward the end that I was like, okay, if I can't do this ever again, you know, obviously, you know, you're. It's an injury. Some. Everybody has come back from it, but you do kind of contemplate what if I can't ever do what I love to do again. It was freeing to know toward the end, I finally got to that place where it's just like. Like, this doesn't define me. Like, I will be okay. Like, I will pivot, I will figure out something else to do. But it did take me that whole, like, seven month process to get to that place mentally. So it was a very mentally taxing thing too. Sure. But I really enjoyed Hyrax. I think that everybody should do it at least once.

[Marcel Dinkins]

What did training look like for you? How did you prepare?

[Les]

Honestly, y', all, I didn't really properly train, girl. Oh, my God.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Oh, my goodness.

[Les]

I didn't really properly train.

[Marcel Dinkins]

That is honestly even more impressive.

[Les]

So I had all intentions of really training. I really did have all intentions of properly training for it. And I did some training, I did some running. But to say that all of my training was geared toward hierarchs would be an absolute fib. I kind of was like, I'm going to work on things that I think that I really need to work on. And that's why the conditioning really kicked my butt. I had, like, two weeks where I, like, had like a surgery doing that process, like, of the training process. So there was like two and a half weeks, three weeks prior to the race that I couldn't work out at all. Like.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Honestly, I think it's even more impressive that you did it. Yeah.

[Les]

But I had, like, I signed up for it. I was like, I'm gonna do this because I needed something to do to really, like, I really. I'm like, the fact that I can move and I. I'm like, I'm gonna do it. Like. And I also didn't really have. I really wanted to just do it. Like, I wanted to have fun. I want. I like being athletic. I am an athlete. I will say, like, go to my grave saying, like, I'm an athlete. This is what I do. Like, I'm physical person. Like, I want to be box jumping in my 80s. Like, I don't care how small the box is. Like, I want to do that. And so for me, I was just like, yeah, I might not have, like, the greatest time or Something. But it's not about that for me. It's literally the fact that I can move. I can go out here and move. That's so impressive.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Would you do it again?

[Les]

I'm already looking to sign up. I'm. And I'm gonna properly train. And that's what I was like, I'm gonna properly train for. Because I felt like if I properly train for it, I could. Well, so I'm looking at doing in, like, maybe a November, because I'm going to do Chicago marathon. So I'm like, okay, maybe November. Yeah. But I'm already looking into it now.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Oh, my goodness. To do a marathon and high rocks twice in one year is.

[Les]

Yeah, I'm really excited about it. Honestly, I think that, like, what I've learned is that the things that I used to tell my mom when I was a child, I'm not having kids. I don't need to know how to cook because I'm going to get a cook and I'm gonna be fine. My whole life, like, I'm gonna work out. My whole life I've been telling my mom, like, these are things that I have been. And I'm like, how do you make these things apart? Like, I'm like, I'm gonna work out my entire life. Like, this is such a part of me that, hey, like, if I can do it, I'm gonna go out there and do it. And so, yeah.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Reminds me of that tick tock sound from Euphoria that was like, Maddie knew who she was from a. Or whatever her name is.

[Les]

I know these. These things, these truths I know to be true. I'm not gonna have it like, yeah, and here I am. I'm the oldest and like, I have like eight nieces and nephews. And I'm like. And I told you, I told you this when I was like 6 and I. And fit and fine, you know, I was like, I'm gonna tell you. Like, I told you. This is not happening for me. I did learn how to cook, though, so there you go. Yeah.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Because it's a good skill. Yeah.

[Les]

Yeah.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Marcel, I love this so much. Thank you so much for being here.

[Les]

Thank you so much for having me. I really enjoyed this.

[Marcel Dinkins]

I had so much fun chatting with you. Can you please let the girls know where they can find you, where they can find your podcast, where they can take your classes?

[Les]

So you can find me on Instagram at official Marcel Fit, and then you can take my classes on one peloton.com you can also come into the studio. We are here in Hudson Yards in the city and then you can find my podcast on Spotify at Take the Hill and what else? And also on YouTube on my YouTube page. Official Marcel Fit It. Thank you so much. Thank you.

[Marcel Dinkins]

And I'll make sure all of your information is linked in the description.

[Les]

Thank you so much.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Thank you for being here.

[Cassandra]

Thank you for tuning in to this week's episode of she's so Lucky. If you're ready to create your own luck, hit that subscribe button wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube so you don't miss an episode and head to the show Notes for resources, Resources.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Links and discount codes. And if you are really feeling lucky, we would appreciate your rating and your review. It really helps us be able to improve the show, to get great guests and to understand what you want to hear more of.

[Cassandra]

Thank you for tuning in and I'll see you next week.

[E]

Hi everyone, I'm Peyton Sartin, host of the Note to Self podcast. Note to Self is a space to embrace your unique qualities, get grounded, and ultimately have honest conversation. No topic is off limits. I began doing social media seven years ago and since then I've started a clothing line and this podcast, Note to Self is a place where people from every stage of life can come for advice, new perspectives, and to feel a little less alone. Whether I'm recording by myself or bringing along a friend, we will explore topics ranging from relationships and mental wellness to social media and entrepreneurship. Tune in to Note to Self every week for the sisterly advice you didn't know you needed and raw conversations you've always wanted.

[Marcel Dinkins]

Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.