These team USA marathon runners are rooting for each other on and off the track
Jul 25, 2024
auto_awesome
Longtime training partners and friends, Clayton Young and Conner Mantz, share their journey as the fastest men's marathoners for Team USA at the 2024 Olympics. They discuss their bond, competition, race preparations for the Paris Olympics, and how faith helps them through challenges in their running careers.
Two fastest US marathoners, Connor Mance and Clayton Young, share a unique friendship beyond competition.
Their conversations during training runs encompass faith, engineering, relationships, and personal challenges, shaping their holistic approach to running.
Deep dives
Connor Mance and Clayton Young as Training Partners and Friends
Two of the fastest men's marathoners for the US, Connor Mance and Clayton Young, have a unique bond beyond their competitiveness. Starting as training partners at Brigham Young University, their friendship has grown stronger over the years of running together. Their close connection not only motivates them individually but also creates a supportive environment during races, as seen during the Olympic trials.
Influence of Faith and Conversations While Running
Apart from sharing a passion for running, Connor Mance and Clayton Young engage in conversations during their training runs that extend beyond running. Their shared faith as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints plays a significant role in their approach to running and handling setbacks. Their discussions cover various aspects of life, from engineering (their shared academic background) to faith, relationships, and personal challenges, providing a holistic perspective on their bond and mindset while pursuing their athletic goals.
Clayton Young and Conner Mantz are longtime training partners and friends. They're also the two fastest men's marathoners representing the U.S. at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
The pair met on a run at Brigham Young University in 2017. They've been friends, training partners and competitors ever since.
With years of friendship and thousands of miles binding them together, can Young and Mantz break away from the pack and take home the gold at the Olympic games?
For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.