NYRR Set the Pace Presents: 850 Million Reasons to Run

Updated June 11, 2025

This powerful five-part audio documentary shares the extraordinary story of Peter Kirk: entrepreneur, proud New Yorker, father of three, cancer survivor, stem cell transplant recipient, and marathoner.

This special spin-off of NYRR Set the Pace Presented by Peloton offers an intimate and deeply moving portrait of Peter’s journey—one that began with a sudden, life-threatening diagnosis and led to the finish line of the TCS New York City Marathon less than a year later. Told in Peter’s own voice, and with heartfelt insight from his wife Torun and his stem cell transplant donor Sam, the series charts a course through illness, hope, and the healing power of movement.

Peter is the CEO of Sermo, the world’s leading online community for physicians. A longtime advocate for collaboration in healthcare, Peter’s personal story has also inspired the launch of his nonprofit, Be Your Possible, which aims to empower others facing health challenges by promoting the transformative connection between personal purpose and physical activity.

Across four beautifully crafted episodes, "850 Million Reasons to Run" explores how Peter went from barely being able to walk to running 26.2 miles through the five boroughs—and how he found deeper meaning and motivation along the way. The fifth and final episode was recorded live at a special event on June 5, where Peter reflected on his journey and shared the stage with fellow members of the NYRR community.

"NYRR Set the Pace Presents: 850 Million Reasons to Run" is available now.

Listen to all five episodes below.  

This series is more than a story about running. It’s about resilience, renewal, and realizing what makes life truly worth running. "850 Million Reasons to Run" is the first audio documentary produced by East 89th St Productions, an NYRR Studio.