S0603: Is It LEGAL to Run a Marathon BACKWARDS? | Loren Zitomersky Explains

Is it actually legal to run a marathon backwards? In this episode of Talk About It with Greg Grunberg, Greg sits down with attorney, advocate, and “Legal Beef” creator Loren Zitomersky — also known as the guy who ran the Boston Marathon… backwards. But this conversation is about much more than a Guinness World Record attempt. Loren shares the deeply personal story that led him to the epilepsy community, including the loss of his brother to SUDEP, and how that loss inspired decades of advocacy, fundraising, and awareness. From cross-country bike rides to Ironman competitions to running marathons in reverse, Loren has raised nearly $400,000 for the Epilepsy Foundation — all while helping break stigma and starting conversations. The episode also dives into Loren’s widely followed platform, Legal Beef, where he breaks down real-world legal questions in simple, entertaining ways — including: • Is it legal to film people in public? • Can you eat food in a store before paying? • What actually counts as theft, assault, or fraud? • And yes… is running a marathon backwards even allowed? 👉 New in this episode: Talk About It and Legal Beef are teaming up to bring short, practical legal tips specifically for the epilepsy community — helping people better understand their rights in everyday situations. You’ll hear a preview of this collaboration in the episode. This is a conversation about advocacy, awareness, and using creativity — even something as unexpected as running backwards — to make a real impact. This episode of Talk About It with Greg Grunberg is proudly supported by Neurelis and Jazz Pharmaceuticals. Theme music courtesy of J. J. Abrams 00:00 — Running a Marathon… Backwards?! 00:42 — Meet Loren Zitomersky 02:42 — Why He’s Connected to the Epilepsy Community 03:12 — Losing His Brother to SUDEP 05:17 — The First Fundraising Ride at Age 12 08:06 — Why Epilepsy Stigma Still Exists 08:52 — How “Backwards Guy” Was Born 12:13 — Training for a Backwards Marathon 14:25 — How Much He’s Raised for Epilepsy 16:43 — Awareness vs Fundraising 18:53 — How Anyone Can Get Involved 20:18 — Using Social Media for Impact 24:13 — The Birth of “Legal Beef” 26:29 — Can You Film People in Public? 29:34 — Talk About It x Legal Beef Collaboration Preview 32:59 — Is It Legal to Eat Before Paying? 35:42 — Calling Out Bad Behavior Online 38:39 — Final Thoughts & Giving Back #talkaboutit #knowyourrights #TheLegalBeef #epilepsyawareness #epilepsycommunity #SUDEP #seizureawareness #endepilepsystigma #disabilityrights #legaleducation #firstamendment #PublicRights #Marathon #GuinnessWorldRecord #Advocacy