It is very difficult to figure out who is going to be great in the sport of running. Sometimes it can be obvious and easy to pick out the kids who could possibly go pro in football and basketball at an early age. Which could often be as early as their early high school years. However, that isn't quite the case with running. No one really knows how many reps it takes along the spectrum of repetition to get so good that you'd one day become a professional runner.

Today's guest went from good to great rather quickly once he attended Akron University for both cross country and track and field. No one knows how long it takes to get great, but we can all look at Clayton Murphy's journey and see exactly how long it took for him.

Clayton progressed so quickly within the middle distance races while at Akron that he finished 3rd at both the NCAA Indoor & Outdoor Championships in just his sophomore season in the 800 meter run. During his time at Akron he became a 4 x All-American and a 3 x National Champion (2x 800 meters 1x1500).

In 2015 we would see Clayton win his first Pan-American games in the 800 meter run followed up by his bronze medalist performance in the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games in the 800 meter run.

Clayton currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio with his wife Ariana Murphy, who is an olympian herself.

In this episode we discuss:

How Clayton made the jump from good to great
Clayton's training in High School
How he handled Quarantine
How he was able to balance being a college student and athlete simultaneously during the time of his breakthrough
How important it is to be flexible throughout the training process
The advantage of having a support system and what drives him to be better
Fulfilling running moments
How he prepares in practice to execute in races and the importance of. Communications with your coach
Why Akron University decided to cancel the Men's Cross Country program
His current training and parting piece of advice

Accomplishments & Personal Bests

4x NCAA D1 All-American

3x NCAA D1 National Champion

He was the gold medalist in the 800-meter run at the 2015 Pan American Games.

He won the bronze medal in the 800-meter run at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

800 | 1:42.93 1500 | 3:36.23

Clayton's Sponsors | Nike, XENDURANCE, Firefly

Follow | claytonmurphy.com

Show is sponsored by | AUDIBLE

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