A friendship that started with a shy hello after yoga turned into a decade-plus of bridge walks, bodega quests, and a shared obsession with doing hard things well. We pull back the curtain on how two self-described lone wolves built chosen family in New York—first through daily practice, then through the scrappy reality of making rent, and now through a strangely joyful sport most people only touch for ten minutes: the stair climber.

You’ll hear how our rituals evolved from pre-Instagram yoga marathons to epic weekend walks and, eventually, to quantifiable stair benchmarks: the 400-floor club, 420 club, and a recent leap to 450 floors per hour. We break down why intensity beats endless volume, how momentum can make rest days backfire for some, and why an honest hour of focused effort can anchor an entire day. Beyond metrics, the heart of the story is mental health—how training quiets anxiety, strengthens self-trust, and shifts the tone of everything that follows.

We also get candid about fueling: raw-fruit eras, sardine emergencies, tofu salvation, and the practical truth that protein can be a game changer when you want power without the crash. Expect real talk on cortisol, recovery, and the double standard where men “biohack” while women get labeled for the same choices. Along the way, we reflect on leaving New York and returning, the third places that hold us together, and a city that still lets you belong without a resume or a brand.

If you care about sustainable performance, NYC life, or the craft of building a day that actually feels good, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a nudge to chase their 400-floor moment, and leave a review with your wildest frugal hack or training PR—we might read it on a future show.

On this episode of The Lucie Beatrix podcast, Lucie talks with friend Dan Meinhardt, a full-time musician living in NYC about living the dream and training for marathons. They discuss their time together altitude training in Park City, Utah as well as how Dan paced Lucie to win the Orchard Street Runners Prototype Half in NYC last fall.

This episode was filmed at Floored Media in Long Island, NY.

Jerry Francois, known as Coach J, is known in the New York running scene for creating diverse, empowering spaces for communities of color and runners of all abilities as the founder of Gold Finger Track Club.

• Started running in high school at age 17 after his mother passed away, finding it provided mental clarity and an emotional outlet
• Created Goldfinger Track Club from a clothing brand, establishing a team where everyone belongs regardless of pace
• Embraced the team's mottos "Gold Vibes" and "Diverse but not divided" to foster inclusion and community
• Founded Black Miles Matter after Ahmaud Arbery's murder, organizing solidarity runs including the Juneteenth 5K
• Transitioned from being a 400-800 meter runner to achieving a 2:42 marathon at Boston 2023 despite injury
• Worked with PYNRS, the only Black-owned running apparel company in the US, as creative director
• Credits his son Jaxx for inspiring his running success and giving him "superpowers" to chase his dreams
• Focuses on building family and expanding his brand while planning to complete his sixth marathon major in Tokyo
• Plans to run New York City Marathon aiming for a comfortable 2:50 finish while enjoying the experience
• Emphasizes faith as the foundation of his journey: "Faith makes things possible, not easy"

Follow Jerry on social media @kingparkergold2001 or @hirecoachj, and follow the team @gftc_brooklyn.