Queens-born rap veteran N.O.R.E. is adding a new milestone to his multifaceted career—marathon runner. Best known for his role in Capone-N-Noreaga, his solo music career, and as co-host of the Drink Champs podcast, the 46-year-old hip-hop icon is training to run the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon.
N.O.R.E., born Victor Santiago Jr., shared his fitness journey on the first video episode of NYRR’s Set the Pace podcast, presented by Peloton. Recorded at Peloton Studios in Manhattan, the episode revealed how a spontaneous winter jog through the snow sparked his unexpected passion for running.
“I didn’t wait for next month,” N.O.R.E. recalled. “I started right then.”
Wearing Timberlands and without any formal training, his first five-mile run became a turning point. Since then, N.O.R.E. has developed a consistent running regimen and formed a crew of fellow runners, aptly named Run Champs. He has logged miles in cities like Naples, Maui, Tampa, and Puerto Rico—destinations that once hosted his music tours but now offer new meaning through movement and reflection.
“I’ve done platinum records, performed worldwide, but nothing compares to this,” he said. “When you hit your goal—whether it’s five or ten miles—it’s a high that can’t be explained.”
Running, he explained, has given him peace, perspective, and a sense of equality he rarely found in the entertainment industry. “You could be rich or broke. But when the race starts, we’re all equal at the line,” he said.
Even hip-hop peers have taken notice. When Busta Rhymes asked what he hoped to gain from long-distance running, N.O.R.E. replied, “To be a better version of me. There’s no check at the end. I’m not doing it for money—I’m investing in myself.”
On November 2, 2025, N.O.R.E. will join thousands of runners tackling 26.2 miles across all five boroughs. For the veteran rapper, the road ahead isn’t about accolades—it’s about finding clarity and chasing peace instead of charts.
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