In our RT Snap Q&A series, we’ve had the privilege of interviewing some of the world’s best runners, delving into their extraordinary journeys, celebrating their achievements, and exploring the unwavering dedication that defines their careers.
CJ Albertson
- Born: October 11, 1993
- Nationality: American
- Long-distance runner
Clayton Jordan Albertson is a standout American long-distance runner and coach known for his bold racing style and exceptional endurance. Born in Fresno, California, Albertson made a name for himself as a marathoner with a unique approach, often pushing the pace early and leading races from the front. He gained widespread attention in the running community with his fearless strategies, particularly in the Boston Marathon, where he led the 2021 race for over 20 miles before finishing in the top 10. His aggressive racing style sets him apart from many of his competitors and has earned him both admiration and intrigue.
In addition to his marathon performances, Albertson made headlines with his world record for the 50km, which was officially ratified by World Athletics in October 2023. He ran an extraordinary 2:38:43 at the Ruth Anderson Memorial Endurance Run in San Francisco, shaving 90 seconds off the previous record set by South Africa’s Stephen Mokoka earlier in 2022. Despite his focus on marathon training, Albertson demonstrated his versatility by dominating the ultra-distance event, maintaining an average pace of 5:05 per mile on the looped course around Lake Merced. This achievement further solidified his status as an elite endurance athlete.
Outside of competing, CJ Albertson is a dedicated coach who shares his knowledge and passion for running with others. He serves as the head coach of cross country and track & field at Clovis Community College in California, where he trains and inspires young athletes. Albertson’s coaching, coupled with his unconventional training methods like frequent treadmill runs, has made him an influential voice in the running community. His ability to balance coaching and competing at an elite level is a testament to his commitment to the sport, and his career continues to inspire runners across the globe.
Personal Bests
- Marathon – 2:09:53
- 3000 Metres Steeplechase – 8:45.43
- 1500 Metres – 3:48.17
- 10,000 Metres – 29:37.89
- Mile Short Track – 4:18.80
- 4×800 Metres Relay – 7:57.03
- 800 Metres Short Track – 2:00.17
- 5000 Metres – 13:50.24
- Mile – 4:03.07
- 3000 Metres Short Track – 8:15.04
- 2000 Metres Steeplechase – 6:01.00
- 5 Kilometres Road – 14:31
- 800 Metres – 1:55.9
- 3000 Metres – 7:59.83
- 50 Kilometres Road – 2:38:43
RT: Looking back at your time at Arizona State University, what were some key experiences or mentors that shaped your approach to running?
CJ: At Arizona State, I struggled a lot in my first two years. I really wanted to be good, and I put in the effort/work, but I ran very poorly. I learned that ‘hard work’ isn’t necessarily the key to success, but rather, it’s doing the right work with the right mindset. Fortunately, my coach, Louie Quintana, was very supportive and continued to believe I was a great runner- even when my results didn’t reflect that. Over time, I was able to ‘relax’ a bit with training and still do the work, but not try to force results. Eventually, I got better and was able to enjoy training and racing again.
RT: What were some of the biggest challenges you faced when transitioning from collegiate to professional running, and how did you overcome them?
CJ: I didn’t really transition from college to pro-running. After college, I wasn’t good enough to run professionally so I ‘retired’ from competitive running- or so I thought. I just started working for a year and running when I could/wanted to. Once I moved back to my hometown to start my current job, I decided to run our local marathon for fun. I got in pretty good shape, ran 2:17 solo, and decided to keep running. After I placed 7th at the 2020 Olympic Trials, I signed a contract with Brooks and started running ‘professionally’.
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RT: You’ve managed to balance running and coaching. How has coaching others impacted your own running journey?
CJ: Coaching helps me the most on the mental and emotional side of training. As a coach, I see how much of a role your mindset plays and how important emotional consistency is. We discuss a lot of mental strategies related to running and performance which I try to implement myself. I’ve also learned to not care quite as much (or at least not have as much emotional response) to training and racing as I see how this can be very draining for my athletes.
RT: Can you tell us about a moment in your career when you felt the most accomplished, and what made that moment so special?
CJ: The further I get into my career, the more I don’t think about ‘special’ moments as much. I’ve had a lot of cool moments and good performances. It’s hard to rank them or determine which one was the ‘best’. Each moment is just its own moment. In general, I believe I, and everyone, feel most accomplished when they achieve something they know they’ve diligently worked for. Arriving at a race in good shape both mentally and physically makes it fun because you know you can be competitive and achieve something you’ve never done before. Then if you actually do it, it feels pretty good.
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RT: Can you describe a typical week of training for you? How has your training evolved since you first started running competitively?
CJ: My ‘typical’ week changes a lot. It really depends on my life schedule and the rhythm I’m able to get into. Training for each race looks a little different. The only consistent thing is that I generally have good long runs on Sunday. For this training block heading into Chicago and NYC, my training has been:
Monday: AM and PM easy runs
Tuesday: AM workout; PM Workout
Wednesday: AM and PM easy runs
Thursday: AM and PM easy runs *Sometimes Wed or Thurs only has one run if I’m tired.
Friday: AM Workout, PM Workout
Saturday: Easy AM Run
Sunday: Long Run; sometimes PM easy run.
*The last 4 or 5 weeks I’ve averaged around 20-25 total quality miles between Tuesday/Friday workouts and ~115-125 mpw with a long run 20+ miles somewhere close to 5:00 pace.
*Also, all training is on Strava.
I alter my workouts and schedule based on my life schedule. For example, this past week, we had to leave at 5 AM Friday morning for a cross country race, so I shifted my workout to Thursday instead.
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RT: Can you share a lesson or piece of advice from a fellow runner or coach that has stuck with you throughout your career?
CJ: One time I was complaining about how the workout times were really hard to hit, and my high school coach said, “did you forget who are you?”. I didn’t really think of it at the time, but as I’ve been running professionally, I’ve come to believe I can rely on being myself and leaning on my strengths. I don’t have to do everything the most common way because I’m me, and I do things how I do them.
RT: Looking ahead, what legacy do you hope to leave in the world of running, and how do you want to be remembered as an athlete?
CJ: To be quite honest, realistically I don’t believe I’m going to leave much of a legacy. With access to so much information and the ability to watch anyone in the world almost at any time, very few people will be remembered in “legacy” terms. People just move on from things quickly. Ultimately, I just enjoy running and racing. Some people seem to enjoy watching me race or talking with me at an event, and we’re all a part of the current community of runners. For the most part, I don’t think it needs to be any more than that. Just enjoy it, connect with people, and make the most of the moments. The only realistic long-term legacy is a financial one for my children. Because I’m able to run and have two incomes, I can put money into my children’s accounts each month to help them out when they’re adults. So prize money, bonuses, etc. gives me extra motivation when I’m competing.
