South Africa
"I've had this question asked once before, right after the Olympic Trials: What would you tell Clayton of four years ago, three years ago, two years ago? I had to think about it for a while and I kind of came to the conclusion that I would just give him a big hug and say, ‘Keep doing what you're doing,’ because I wouldn't want to rob him of all of the experience that he had to gain. The only reason that ninth place finisher Clayton Young – 2:08 on the Paris course – exists is because of what I had to go through the last four years. So I wouldn't want to rob him of those opportunities. There's no shortcut to this. While I wish that podium would have come sooner, I think there were valuable lessons that I had to learn that are going to continue to pay off for the next decade, whether that's in life or whether that's in sport.
That’s all I would really do: Just give Clayton of 2019 when he's suffering, or 2020 in the marathon, a big hug and say, ‘It will all work out. That's all you’ve got to know’. And I could honestly say it has…"
My guest for today's episode is Clayton Young, fresh off his strong performance at the Paris Olympics Marathon, where he finished in ninth place with a time of 2:08:44. Clayton, along with his teammate Conner Mantz, ran smart and fearlessly on a challenging course that was anything but easy. The race took place on a hot, hilly course yet it ended up being a fast day as Ethiopia's Tamirat Tola ended up breaking the Olympic record in 2:06:26.
At one point, right before tackling the steepest hill of the course, Clayton and Conner even shared a high-five again – which just continued to highlight the camaraderie and confidence the former BYU stars carried into this race. Clayton held his own, hanging back slightly but managing to rejoin the lead pack before the final push. Despite the brutal conditions, he found a second wind in the last 10K, surprising even himself with how strong he felt in those closing miles.
This kind of strategic racing is a testament to his growth as a marathoner, and it’s no surprise that he’s emerged as one of the top Americans. He takes us through the highs and lows of the training block, how he executed the race plan, how much he fed off the excitement of Team USA at the Games and much more.
Time Stamps:
5:22 - His reflections on the Paris Olympics marathon.
7:41 - The factors that led to the Olympic marathon being so fast.
10:42 - What his build looked like heading into the Olympics.
14:57 - What his and Conner Mantz’s race plans were for the marathon.
16:49 - Breaking down the last half of the race after the top pack broke away.
22:22 - What was going through his head during the massive hill on the marathon course.
24:27 - His thoughts on his competitors leading into the marathon.
26:51 - How he approached the downhill stretch after the epic marathon hill.
33:08 - The story of him and Elroy Gelant working together and pumping up the crowd.
35:27 - How his wife, Ashley, has been his biggest supporter.
38:10 - The pressure involved with documenting his buildup to the marathon.
42:23 - How he was able to feed off the energy of Team USA’s performances at the Olympics.
47:00 - What he would tell his younger self.
50:32 - Goals for his next marathon.
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Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram
Guest: Clayton Young | @_clayton_young_ on Instagram
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