Episode 665: Drew Hunter on Going Pro at 18, Building a Life in Boulder, and New Running for Asics

I’m excited to share this conversation with Drew Hunter. I’ve wanted to have Drew on the show for a long time, and this episode did not disappoint. Drew runs professionally for ASICS and lives in Boulder, Colorado, but his path in the sport has been anything but typical. He went pro straight out of high school, turning down a full scholarship to Oregon, and has now spent nearly a decade navigating the ups and downs of professional running before making a sponsor change to ASICS last year.

In this conversation, we talk about what it was really like going pro so young, how different that decision might look today with NIL, and how his perspective has shifted ten years into his career. Drew opens up about setting goals based on what genuinely excites him, why road racing has become such a big focus, and how he’s thinking about longevity in the sport as both an athlete and a dad. We also talk about family life, faith, and the importance of community, especially as he and his wife prepare to welcome their third child.

What I appreciated most about this episode is how grounded Drew is in who he is now. He reflects honestly on early loneliness, big expectations, and how his definition of success has changed over time. This conversation goes well beyond race results and gets into what it looks like to build a meaningful life alongside big athletic goals. I really enjoyed this one, and I hope you do too.

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Topics Discussed:

• Drew’s indoor season plans, upcoming 3K, and building toward Millrose

• How he’s thinking about 2026 goals and the World Road Running Championships in Copenhagen

• What excites him when he sets goals and why he likes mixing in road racing

• Why road racing feels like the future of the sport and how it brings fans into it

• Becoming a dad young, building a family, and how that shifts his mindset around running

• Community, church, and why having people nearby matters for parenting and life

• Converting to Catholicism and how he explored faith through reading and learning

• How he met his wife and how COVID changed the timeline

• Choosing to go pro out of high school, how NIL changes that decision now, and the realities of pro life

• Loneliness early in his pro career, moving to Boulder, and building Tin Man Elite and his training setup with his parents

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