Clayton Young
Pro Runner & U.S. Olympian
Clayton Young is an American marathon runner who rose to prominence after winning the 10,000 meters at the 2019 NCAA Championships for BYU.
He turned professional with Asics and secured a spot on the U.S. Olympic team by placing second at the 2024 Marathon Trials.
At the Paris Olympics, he finished ninth with a time of 2:08:44, one of the fastest ever by an American.
“It's an optimisation game. Once you get in rhythm, there's no getting out of it. You're in sync, it becomes who you are. The Daily Discipline - that's the hard part. That’s the plan that you've got to execute, day in, day out.” - Clayton Young
What is your pre-race ritual?
Since 2019, I’ve listened to “In the Blood” by John Mayer before every race.
What is your favourite meal after a workout?
Get me some tacos al pastor and ice cream, and I’m a happy guy.
What's in your race bag?
My bag would rival Mary Poppins’s bag—it's got it all! Gloves, hats, eye mask, earplugs, socks, charging bank, camera, sauna cap, sunglasses, safety pins, Cadence sachets, gels, almond butter bars, tuna packets, headphones, racing flats, water bottles, rubik's cube . . . you name it.
What got you into the sport?
In 5th grade, my elementary school started a program called Mileage Club. Every Friday during lunch recess, kids could go out to the field and run laps, and for every lap you ran you would get a ticket. At the end of recess your teacher would tally up all of your tickets. It was both an individual and classroom competition. Well, needless to say, my best friend and I got super competitive, and we each ran over 100 miles that year during Friday lunch recess.
What does Daily Discipline mean to you?
Daily Discipline is the hardest part of all the easy stuff. It is easy to be excited to toe the line on a race day, but hard to do the small stuff day in and out that gets you ready for that race day.