Clayton Young

Which America Marathoner do you want to be? Zouhair Talbi, Charles Hicks, Vinny Mauri, Conner Mantz, or Clayton Young? Full podcast here: https://www.letsrun.com/news/2026/10/vinny-mauris-chicago-gamble-who-is-americas-best-marathoner-adidas-shoe-takeover-and-the-ncaa-foreign-runner-debate/ VKTRY Carbon Fiber insoles: VKTRY makes carbon fiber insoles you can use in any running shoe. They offer a 90-day risk-free trial. USATF Half Marathon Champion Wesley Kiptoo runs in VKTRY. Check them out here. https://vktry.com/pages/running-insoles?utm_source=LetsRunDotCom&utm_medium=partnership&utm_campaign=LetsRunBannerAds&utm_id=LetsRunDotCom 00:00 Debate on America's Next Marathon Star 01:23 Clayton Young 05:33 America's Best Marathoner: Mauri, Hicks or Young? 06:59 Adidas Super Shoes & Amos Kipruto

00:00 Race Recap: Kiplimo Beaten, Kipruto Wins 03:44 Jonathan Gault Calls In From Chicago 06:10 Broadcast Malpractice: Missing Mari's Meltdown 08:28 The Shoe Wars: Adidas Dominates Chicago 10:09 Women's Race: Feysa Outkicks Lokedi 12:34 American Men: Fast Times, Still a Gap 16:21 Notable Results: Centrowitz, Jager, Mary Ngugi 18:52 Early 2028 Olympic Marathon Trials Picks 22:55 Clayton Young's Remarkable Hamstring Run 27:16 The Gap: Americans vs. The World 31:45 Closing Thoughts and Supporters Club 🔥 Support independent journalism • Score a free t-shirt by joining our Supporters Club: https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe Let’s stay connected: ▶️ YouTube (Subscribe to our channel): https://www.youtube.com/@letsrundotcom?sub_confirmation=1 🏠 Homepage: https://www.letsrun.com 🗣 Forum: https://www.letsrun.com/forum 💛 Supporters Club: https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@letsrundotcom?sub_confirmation=1 🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/letsrundotcom 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letsrundotcom

The 2026 Chicago Marathon almost matched the hype. Amos Kipruto stunned Jacob Kiplimo, winning in 2:01:09 as the favored Kiplimo blew up to 2:04:18. On the women's side, Hawi Feysa dropped a five-minute final mile to outkick Sharon Lokedi and defend her title, while Emma Grace Hurley ran the fastest American marathon debut in history. Both winners wore adidas, raising the question are we in a shoe arms race? Vinny Mauri captivated the field, surging away from the American pack on sub-2:04 pace before a mysterious lower-leg issue forced him to stop multiple times. He still ran 2:06:45. Clayton Young, running on a torn hamstring, emerged as top American in 2:05:23, one of four U.S. men including Galen Rupp under 2:07. VKTRY Carbon Fiber Insoles 90 day risk-free guarantee: https://vktry.com/pages/running-insoles?utm_source=LetsRunDotCom&utm_medium=partnership&utm_campaign=LetsRunBannerAds&utm_id=LetsRunDotCom *** As you watch the Chicago race, listen to the LetsRun.com team break it down live. The official Chicago stream is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHR9eC_qgW4 Full Chicago coverage here: https://www.letsrun.com/events/2026/10/2026-bank-of-america-chicago-marathon 00:00 Welcome to the First Ever LetsRun Chicago Marathon Watch Along 03:10 Chicago Marathon Storylines and Favorites 07:28 Weather Impact and Early Pacing 12:25 Prediction Contest and Syncing Up 18:08 First 5K Splits: Men's and Women's Leaders 25:08 10K Splits and TV Coverage Frustrations 28:48 27 Men Under 2:06 Pace and Women's Depth 33:20 10K Updates: Mauri, Hicks, and Rupp 35:59 Women's 10K and Weather Conditions 42:38 Back From Break and 15K Splits 47:39 Mari Mania: Breaking From the Pack 54:56 TV Coverage Fail and Forum Frenzy 1:00:53 First Look at Mauri Running Alone 1:03:53 20K Splits: Mauri Pulls Away 1:06:17 Mauri Separates: Nobody Can Keep Up 1:13:19 Women's Halfway: Lokedi Catches the Leaders 1:20:05 Mauri Accelerating: 14:28 5K Split 1:24:55 Deepest Women's Field in Marathon History 1:32:17 Mauri Slows Down and Kipruto Surges 1:37:06 Mile 20: The Pace Starts to Crack 1:41:57 Kipruto Stuns Kiplimo for the Lead 1:44:30 Mauri Hits the Wall 1:51:24 Men's and Women's Final 10K 1:54:46 Kiplimo Blows Up 2:00:01 Kipruto Wins the Chicago Marathon 2:04:22 Women's Final Miles: Feysa vs Lokedi 2:12:08 Feysa Defends Women's Title 2:15:50 Post-Race Results and American Wrap-Up 2:20:25 Clayton Young's Gutsy Run and Forum Reactions 2:24:39 Amos Kipruto Interview and the Shoe Debate 2:29:49 Post-Race Recap Show Begins 2:34:03 Jonathan Gault Joins from Chicago 2:37:48 The Shoe Wars: Nike vs Adidas 2:41:04 Women's Race Recap with Gault 2:46:53 2028 Olympic Trials Outlook 2:52:42 Olympic Team Predictions 2:57:34 American Results and Final Thoughts 3:02:37 Supporters Club and Wrap-Up

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“I called my shot. I’m confident in my ability to still chase the American record. I’ve already learned so much this build that it’s already been a success.” My guest today is Brooks professional marathoner and Suunto-supported athlete Clayton Young, joining us two weeks before the 2026 Chicago Marathon. Earlier this spring, Clayton finished 11th at Boston in 2:05:41 after a ten-week build that followed a significant injury and a change in sponsors. He’s spent months preparing for Chicago with a bigger goal in mind: chasing Conner Mantz’s American marathon record of 2:04:43. Part of that ambition came from watching Josh Kerr call his shot at the mile world record. Clayton took to heart the idea of creating the conditions for a breakthrough, and he’s written the same declaration in his journal every day: “I, Clayton Young, will break the American record on October 11th, 2026 at the Chicago Marathon.” But his tune-up at the Great North Run didn’t go as planned, and he had an MRI afterward. For the first time, Clayton shares the extent of the injury and what it means for Chicago. We also talk about the psychology of stating his goal publicly, the data behind his training decisions, how Coach Eyestone has adapted, and what Clayton makes of Chicago competitors Charles Hicks and Vinny Mauri. He explains why this race feels different from Boston—and what he wants spectators to yell when they see him on the course. We discuss: – The daily journal ritual – Having fun is a skill he has had to practice – Josh Kerr’s mile world record as the direct inspiration for calling his shot with the American record attempt – The contrasting psychologies with Charles Hicks – Dr. Craig Manning and the purpose of a goal – Abundant mentality on the field – Coach Eyestone’s adaptations to recent success by other runners – The data gathering from Commons Clinic, Stride, Suunto, Brooks Sports Research Lab – The build being the best training of his career– The injury and the first public disclosure of its extent – What it means for the 2026 Chicago Marathon – What he learned from The Great North Run – What to yell on course for him + More Take this interview on-the-go in podcast form: APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clayton-young-reveals-hamstring-tear-still-plans-to/id1204506559?i=1000792166147 SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3IUsTBAtUd8DIWP8HjSDZm ____________ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS OLIPOP: Like sparkling apple juice and gummy apple rings blending into one, Olipop's Crisp Apple is so tantalizingly sweet and refreshing it makes every day feel like a celebration. If you haven't had tried Olipop yet, grab a can and see what the hype is all about!⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Head to DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://olipop.pxf.io/GmBDD6 SUUNTO: The Suunto Run 2 is their new flagship watch built specifically for road running and the marathon. You get around 10 days of battery with daily use and 24 hours in performance mode with dual frequency GPS. The watch also tracks your sleep, HRV, and training balance, so you know when to push and when to back off in your workouts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you're in the market for a new watch, check out the Suunto Run 2⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. https://suunto.pxf.io/7XBXMA KAIZEN: kaizen is a training app that starts with your running history to set the baseline and then updates around the training you do. kaizen looks at the bigger picture of your training to know your current fitness. The app translates your last few months of training into an accurate view of how your current fitness, taking a big picture view that quiets the noise of individual workouts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download today in the App Store or Google Play and get two weeks free with code CITIUS within the app here: https://kaizen.app.link/citius FOLLOW CITIUS MAG ▶ Subscribe to the podcast: https://apple.co/3Byp72I ▶ On Twitter: http://twitter.com/CitiusMag ▶ On Instagram: http://instagram.com/citiusmag ▶ On Facebook: http://facebook.com/citiusmag ▶ Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/citiusmag ▶ On our website: http://citiusmag.com

“I’ve allowed my brain to anchor on the fact that I can run 2:04. It’s physically possible — and that’s as good as it gets as a signal. Now let’s go find out what the trend looks like.” My guest for today’s episode is Charles Hicks and the last time we had him on was right after he ran 2:04:35 at the Boston Marathon. A lot has happened since then. His wife graduated law school. They got married. They went on a honeymoon. And then Charles moved out to Park City, Utah, to train at altitude for the first time in his career — no tent, no simulated environment, just real air at real elevation — for what will be his third marathon in less than a year. That third marathon is the Chicago Marathon, and Charles is going into it with a specific goal he’s been comfortable saying out loud: he finished second American in New York, second American in Boston, and now he wants to be first American in Chicago. The American record conversation is happening around him — Clayton Young has called his shot publicly — but Charles’s approach to it is characteristically his own. Beat the guy next to you. Let the record follow if it’s going to. In this conversation, he takes us through how Chicago has been on the plan since a text thread in 2024 where he and Jerry mapped out New York, Boston, Chicago in sequence; we get into some of his training and what organic altitude training has taught him about pacing discipline that sea-level training couldn’t and much more. He’s one of the most philosophical marathoners you’ll find. Discussed in this episode: – Organic altitude — why no tent in Park City – What altitude training actually teaches you – The timeline from Boston to Chicago – The goal for Chicago — first American, not the American record – “Anchor” versus “ceiling” — a key distinction – The mileage log for this block – Daisy-chaining — the philosophy behind the continuous training – The earache that set up the best workout of his career – What the taper feels like after 125-130 mile weeks – The Vinny Mauri subplot – The track work – Training alongside Cole Sprout and Kieran Tuntivate – The brain podcast on solo easy runs – Race day logistics + More Take this interview on-the-go in podcast form ⬇️ APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/charles-hicks-on-his-biggest-marathon-build-yet-what/id1204506559?i=1000791700172 SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/episode/29iSvBH58z0t3rUfUpXhF7 SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS OLIPOP: Like sparkling apple juice and gummy apple rings blending into one, Olipop's Crisp Apple is so tantalizingly sweet and refreshing it makes every day feel like a celebration. If you haven't had tried Olipop yet, grab a can and see what the hype is all about!⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here https://olipop.pxf.io/GmBDD6 use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SUUNTO: The Suunto Run 2 is their new flagship watch built specifically for road running and the marathon. You get around 10 days of battery with daily use and 24 hours in performance mode with dual frequency GPS. The watch also tracks your sleep, HRV, and training balance, so you know when to push and when to back off in your workouts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you're in the market for a new watch, check out the Suunto Run 2⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ here: https://suunto.pxf.io/7XBXMA KAIZEN: kaizen is a training app that starts with your running history to set the baseline and then updates around the training you do. kaizen looks at the bigger picture of your training to know your current fitness. The app translates your last few months of training into an accurate view of how your current fitness, taking a big picture view that quiets the noise of individual workouts. ⁠⁠Download today in the App Store or Google Play and get two weeks free with code CITIUS within the app.⁠ https://kaizen.app.link/citius FOLLOW CITIUS MAG ▶ Subscribe to the podcast: https://apple.co/3Byp72I ▶ On Twitter: http://twitter.com/CitiusMag ▶ On Instagram: http://instagram.com/citiusmag ▶ On Facebook: http://facebook.com/citiusmag ▶ Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/citiusmag ▶ On our website: http://citiusmag.com For other inquiries, contact us: chris@citiusmag.com Thanks for watching - please like, share and comment, and subscribe! Help us continue to bring track and field to your home and become a member today! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjyDlyHPHLhcIT8ov53d5qg/join

A special sponsored bonus episode for you, diving into a topic that’s become one of the biggest trends in endurance sports over the last few years: heat training. Olympian and CORE-supported athlete Clayton Young joins to share what it is, why it works, and how to do it safely at every level. Discussed in this episode: – Why heat training has gone mainstream in running: Running follows cycling, and the data has finally caught up to what some athletes like Clayton were already doing as far back as 2019. – Heat training isn’t just for hot races: The cardiovascular adaptations — increased plasma, blood volume, red blood cell production, VO2 max, recovery — translate to cool races just as effectively. – Clayton’s heat training origin story: NCAA 10K in Austin, 2019 — hot, humid, and Clayton was the only guy in the field who didn’t grab a water cup at a single aid station. He’d been implementing sauna sessions based on his own reading of the literature. – The near-blackout story: Ten days before that same national championship, Clayton pushed too far in the sauna, blacked out twice in the hallway and it only got scarier from there. – The Core body temperature sensor: Provides real-time zone tracking (Zone 1-2 = safe, Zone 3 = target for heat adaptation, above Zone 3 = stop). Takes the guesswork out of a discipline that was previously measured with nothing more than a watch and willpower. – Heat adaptation score: Ranges from 0-100%. You gain benefits quickly and lose them slower than you think. Even one to two sessions per week during peak training blocks can maintain most of the adaptation. – How Clayton structures heat training into his week: Key workouts are done as cool as possible — that’s the time to get fit, not to heat adapt, per USOC researcher Randy Wilbur’s framework. – For everyday runners: Start with 15 minutes every other day and build from there just like mileage. Adjust your paces for heat and humidity the same way you would for altitude. – Safety guidelines – Special offer: If you’re interested in trying the CORE 2 Body Temperature Sensor yourself, CITIUS MAG podcast listeners can get 10% off with the code CITIUS10 at https://corebodytemp.com/collections/products/products/core2

“I had every excuse in the book. The perfect narrative to show up and have fun and chalk it all up to injury and sponsor change. But there was this constant question: how can I be true to myself and respectful of the fitness I’ve gained?” My guest for today’s episode is Clayton Young. He’s back after the 2026 Boston Marathon, which was his tenth marathon and this his tenth appearance on this podcast. He ran 2:05:41 for 11th place in the fastest and deepest field the race has ever seen. That time makes him one of the five fastest American men in marathon history on all courses. What makes this performance worth a full conversation is everything that went into it. Clayton came into Boston off a foot and ankle injury that kept him cross training for sixteen weeks. He switched sponsors to Brooks, he had ten weeks of actual running, and he made the decision, consciously and explicitly, to compete — not to show up and let the circumstances be the excuse, but to play to win. The result was a two-and-a-half-minute PR and a Wellesley College high-five moment that went viral. In this conversation, we go deep on the psychology of that decision, the Coach Ed Eyestone mantra of “fresh, flow, fearless, and faith,” the intel Clayton gathered from Rory Linkletter the night before that told him exactly how the race was going to go, the power data that said he was 1-2% less powerful than the year prior, and what it felt like to relive Chicago 2023 while dueling Ryan Ford in the closing miles of Boston. We also get into the top 10 streak that Boston broke, what Clayton thinks about his spot in the American marathon pecking order heading toward LA 2028, and the sunglasses saga involving my own pair of shades. Take this interview on-the-go in podcast form ⬇️ APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clayton-young-after-running-2-05-41-at-the-2026/id1204506559?i=1000763480786 SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0M0b2Ato4C6ZoxfeeFl5wU?si=rXPcu-xeRyuKB-iNOFfOew Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez Guest: Clayton Young | @_clayton_young_ FOLLOW CITIUS MAG ▶ Subscribe to the podcast: https://apple.co/3Byp72I ▶ On Twitter: http://twitter.com/CitiusMag ▶ On Instagram: http://instagram.com/citiusmag ▶ On Facebook: http://facebook.com/citiusmag ▶ Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/citiusmag ▶ On our website: http://citiusmag.com For other inquiries, contact us: chris@citiusmag.com Thanks for watching - please like, share and comment, and subscribe! Help us continue to bring track and field to your home and become a member today! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjyDlyHPHLhcIT8ov53d5qg/join