Craig Engels, “I love pure racing and seeing who the best racer is.”
by Jeff Benjamin
Craig Engels has been at the Elite level now since 2017 & is 31! In 2019 he won the USATF indoor mile at Ocean Breeze and is returning to compete in the 3000!
1) How’s your training coming along?
Craig Engels: “Training is going great! Really balancing living life with hard training. I recently moved to flagstaff and started training with the Nike Swoosh team. Double threshold is new for me but has actually been kinda fun.”
2. I’d think after indoor season this is an outdoor track year to pursue records and personal bests – do you agree?
Craig Engels: “I actually hate going after records. You’re chasing something fleeting and temporary. I love pure racing and seeing who the best racer is.”
3. As a visitor here How do you like the Ocean Breeze facility?
Craig Engels: “This will be my first time returning since winning my first USA title! I’m stoked to be back.”
4. With all the changes in the sport throughout more than a decade of you competing – super shoes, nutrition, bi-carb – how do you still stay sharp & motivated?
Craig Engels: “I just keep the sport fun. I don’t make it my identity. I’m sure in 10 more years there will be a new training method of quadruple threshold every 6 hours and sleeping between. Technology and information will continue changing but in the end I just love competing.”
Eugene, Oregon, USA
July 31 – August 3, 2025, photo by Kevin Morris
