The Final Lap: Evan Jager on Greatness, Pain, Loyalty — and Saying Goodbye to the Sport He Loves (The Official Exit Interview)

From American-record brilliance to a late-career grind, Evan Jager’s story has been one of constant adaptation. But now he’s ready to call it quits and move onto the next phase of life without running. The late-career push included an 8th place finish in the men’s 3000m steeplechase at the U.S. Championships in 8:28.21 this year. He also ran the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile in September of this year and came in 19th with a 3:54.9. Jager originally made a name for himself when he set the 3000m Steeplechase American Record in July of 2015 with a 8:00.45. His other PRs include 13:02.40 in the 5,000m; 7:35.16 in the 3,000m; and 3:32.97 in the 1,500m. After one year in the NCAA ranks as a Wisconsin Badger (he came in 8th in the 1,500m at outdoors during the 2008 season), Jager turned professional. He then went on to win seven consecutive U.S. steeplechase titles from 2012–2018. He made his presence known on the world stage, grabbing a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Games in the 3000m steeplechase; prior to that he came in 6th at the 2012 London Games in the 3000m steeplechase. After a serious foot injury, Jager burst back on the scene in 2022, nabbing a second place finish at the 2022 USATF outdoor games. Check in as we unpack the peaks, valleys, and lasting legacy of one of America’s most influential distance runners as he flips to the next professional chapter of his memorable career. Tap into the Evan Jager Special. If you enjoy the podcast, please consider following us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and giving us a five-star review! I would also appreciate it if you share it with your friend who you think will benefit from it. Comment the word “PODCAST” below and I’ll DM you a link to listen. If this episode blesses you, please share it with a friend! S H O W N O T E S -The Run Down By The Running Effect (our new newsletter!): https://tinyurl.com/mr36s9rs -Our Website: https://therunningeffect.run -THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQ -My Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -Take our podcast survey: https://tinyurl.com/3ua62ffz