We suggest doing the run on trails or in a park. Always hydrate, we suggest 8-12 glasses a day of water (around 2 liters), lots of fruit, veggies and lean meats (or veggie protein) with good, complex carbs. Fuel the mortal engine well!
Craig Engels is coming to Eugene, the long story
Craig Engels is a middle-distance runner. Craig Engels is also one of the most popular athletes in our sport.
Craig Engels was a fine high school runner, setting records for the 800m, mile, and 3,200 m at Ronald W. Reagan High School in Pfattown, North Carolina. At the adidas GP dream mile, Craig ran 4:03.96 for the mile! At the time, Craig Engels had the state high school mile time in North Carolina.
Craig had a tough year at NC State as he moved from high school to college, where he was injured most of the year. During that summer, on limited training, Craig won the Pan Am Junior 1,500 in 2013. He was about to give up running, but, his high school coach, Chris Catton, convinced him to not give up.
Ryan VanHoy, then, the coach at Mississippi , convinced Graig to transfer from NC State to Ole Miss. VanHoy and Engels worked.
In 2016, after a very good NCAA career, Craig Engles took 4th in the Olympic Trials 800 meters and fifth in the 1,500 meters. Craig ran PBs of 1:46.03 PB and 3:37.66 PB. Craig went pro, running for the NIKE Oregon Project.
In 2018, Craig Engels finished third at the USATF Indoors, then finished 7th in the World Indoor Champs in Birmingham, England.
Craig Engels was the USATF Indoor Champion in 2019 in the 1,500 meters and also the USATF Outdoor Champion in the same event that year.
Craig competed in hot and humid Doha, Qatar, in the World Championships. Craig made the big leagues! In Doha, Craig finished 10th in an insanely fast 1,500m, where he just missed his 1,500m PB in 3:34.24.
Craig Engels’s social media commentary, his mullet and his absolute joy of running is contagious. In his second Olympic Trials, in 2021, Craig Engels finished oh so close, 4th in the Olympic Trials, probably the most heart-breaking position in our sport.
Craig Engels, 2025 Ed Murphy Classic, photo by Kevin Morris
Craig ran with NIKE Oregon Project for five years, coached by Pete Julian. In October 2022, he announced on Instagram that it was time to make a change. Here is what he said:
“With that said, I’ll be moving down to San Luis Obispo, California to chase after teams and medals with my college coach Ryan Vanhoy. I decided to go to Mississippi in 2015 after almost quitting running where Vanhoy got me to 4th and 5th in the Olympic trials in 2 years. My goal is to be the best American miler and to enjoy the all the adventures along the way and I think a change for me was necessary for this to be possible. Thanks for making it this far in the post lol and for following along in my career.”
In 2023, we did an interiew with Craig Engels, where he spoke of mental health challenges and how he was trying to change his approach. In the interview, Craig talked about how he was training, how he was trying to change his approach and how he was enjoying a bit of golf.
In 2024, Craig competed in the Olympic Trials. He gave it all he had, but that was not enough, as Craig finished ninth.
In 2025, Craig is building to the US champs, and it has gone well. He began with a 14:09 for the 5,000m in April. A 1:45.73 for the 800 meters (24 May), after a mile on the roads in 3:55.09, (April 22). A 3:56.28 for the mile (5 June), a 49.90 for the 400m (7 June) for fine tuning.
Craig’s most recent 1,500m, at the Sound Running TrackFest, was a fine 3:35.83, where he finished second to Brandon Miller.
How will Craig Engels do in the US Champs? You will just have to wait!
In his sophomore year of track, Steve Prefontaine did not make the state meet. He was embarrassed and upset with himself. That summer, he planned, with his coaches, a ruthless series of training runs over the summer. He not only did mileage, he made himself stronger. He made himself tougher. That fall, Steve Prefontaine was ready for his junior season of high school cross country.
Steve Prefontaine, during summer of his sophomore year in high school, photo courtesy of Marshfield High School/TFN News
Will. you be ready? Follow our daily training suggestions, and daily athlete stories and you will be ready to race in the fall!
One of the shoes we are liking in Summer 2025 is the Vomero 18! Check it out at #NIKERunning
The Nike Pegasus PLUS is a great entry shoe for high school cross country. You should consider it, and learn more about it at nike.com. It is light, cushioned, a good summer mileage shoe. If you need a little more cushioning, try the Vomero 18. The Vomero 18 has more cushioning that the Pegasus PLUS. If you like NIKE, I would suggest high schoolers use the NIKE Pegasus PLUS for Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. I would suggest the Vomero 18 for Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I always suggest two pairs of training shoes. Why on Vomero 18? It is a cushioned shoe that feels great and is good on the roads and trails.
Do you want to be a better cross country runner than you were in the past? Focus and follow our training. It is all about the consistency.
The Nike Pegasus PLUS is a great entry shoe for high school cross country. You should consider it, and learn more about it at nike.com. It is light, cushioned, a good summer mileage shoe. If you need a little more cushioning, try the Vomero 18. The Vomero 18 has more cushioning that the Pegasus PLUS. If you like NIKE, I would suggest high schoolers use the NIKE Pegasus PLUS for Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. I would suggest the Vomero 18 for Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I always suggest two pairs of training shoes. Why on Vomero 18? It is a cushioned shoe that feels great and is good on the roads and trails.
Remember, one day at a time!!!! #SummerMileage, #CrossCountry,
Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys.
Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys.
Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."
by Larry Eder
