Episode 19: Joe Klecker - 2020 Olympian and 2022 USATF Men's 10,000m champion

Ready to Run

In today's episode of The Ready to Run Podcast, we are joined by professional runner, Joe Klecker. Joe competed at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado where he was a 9-time All-American and is currently the school record holder in the 5000m. He turned pro in 2020 with the On Athletics Club in Boulder and became an Olympian in 2020 in the 10,000m.

Joe is originally from Minneapolis and both of his parents were professional marathoners and US National record holders in the ultramarathon.

He won his first national championship in 2020 where he edged out Grant Fisher in the 10,000m. He went on to finish 9th at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon later that year.

In this episode, we discuss some highlights from last season and some factors that have led to his success and his ability to overcome past injuries including a foot injury that happened prior to some of his breakout performances last year. Joe also shares some of his goals for the upcoming season and beyond. Hearing his take on how to maintain Achilles strength provided a unique perspective in our conversation and ties in nicely to a previous recording where Kurt and I discussed Achilles tendon exercise strategies.

This episode was recorded just before his 2023 season opener at the BU Invitational where he achieved his goal of breaking the 13-minute barrier in the 5k by going 12:54 which is now the third-fastest indoor 5k for American men!

What we talked about:

3:40- Introduction to Joe Klecker and how training has been going

6:40- 2022 highlights

11:55- Preparing for racing the best in the world

16:20- Racing strategy

19:05- Other factors in training

23:20- Achilles injuries

37:40 - Imaging of his Achilles

47:20- Takeaways from his first two years running professionally

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