Queens rap icon N.O.R.E. is stepping into a new lane on the pavement.
The artist, known for his legacy with Capone-N-Noreaga, his solo hits, and his cultural impact as the co-host of Drink Champs, is now preparing for one of his biggest challenges yet: running the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon.
Victor Santiago Jr., better known as N.O.R.E., shared his journey on the first video episode of the Set the Pace podcast by NYRR and Peloton, recorded at Peloton Studios in Manhattan. The rap vet revealed that his running story began on a whim during a snowy winter day, with no gear and no plan, just motivation.
“I didn’t wait for next month,” he said. “I started right then.”
That first five-mile jog in Timberlands lit a fire that hasn’t gone out. Since then, N.O.R.E. has built a solid training routine and launched a community of like-minded runners called Run Champs. His new passion has taken him across the map, clocking miles in places like Maui, Naples, Tampa, and Puerto Rico, cities once tied to tour stops, now transformed into meditative routes of growth and reflection.
“I’ve done platinum records, performed worldwide, but nothing compares to this,” N.O.R.E. shared. “When you hit your goal, whether it’s five or ten miles, it’s a high that can’t be explained.”
That part.