Welcome to the Allie on the Run show.
I'm your host, Allie Feller, and this is where I talk with people who are doing exciting things on the run and beyond.
From professional athletes and celebrity runners to the everyday amateur and back of the pack runner.
We are here to celebrate everyone and anyone who enjoys a life on the run.
Whether you are running towards something big or away from something that's been holding you back, I am here to hold your hand and help you pick up the pace.
My guest today is professional runner Sinclair Johnson, and she returns to the Alley on the Run show today with some very big news.
Sinclair Johnson, Hoka athlete.
Sinclair is a middle distance runner and she is the American record holder in the mile on the track and the road mile, both of which she set last year.
We talk all about that.
Last year was a big one for Sinclair.
She left Union Athletics Club to be coached by her fiance, Craig Nowak, which is a big risk and one that ultimately paid off.
Sinclair made two world teams last year, broke two American records and ran multiple personal bests.
And now she's kicking off 2026 with new shoes and a new kit.
Sinclair spent her entire professional career to date as a Nike athlete and is now all in on Hoka.
She explains how the deal came to be and talks about why it's such a good fit for her.
Sinclair will open her season this weekend at New Balance Indoor Grand Prix.
And we talk all about that.
We recap the highs and lows from 2025.
And of course, we talk wedding planning.
Sinclair and Craig are getting married in September.
Now, please enjoy this conversation with Sinclair Johnson.
All right.
Sinclair Johnson kicking off 2025 and you know, no, oh my God, it's 2026.
Yeah.
It takes a little minute to remember to say 2026 when you're just fresh in the new year.
That was bad.
And I had a lot of confidence too.
I was like full energy going in.
But what is fun is?
I was looking, I was curious when the last time you were on the show was, and it was at the beginning of last year.
And we kind of did a whole, let's look ahead and talk about what's coming up.
So all kinds of stuff to share today.
But first, what is something that's making you happy today?
Oh, being in the sunshine and the warmth.
I'm down in Phoenix for about six weeks.
And yeah, I just every time I come here, I mean I think in January and February, it's just unreal weather.
So I can't speak to being here in July and August, but Yeah, being in here in the winter is just absolutely perfect.
So that's making me happy.
Just yeah, running in the sunshine and sports bra and shorts.
Oh, stop.
I ran in one degree weather today.
So I'm so happy for you.
Yeah, I'm like it's definitely going to be a bit of a shock when we go to the East Coast for some racing.
Yeah.
So that's not going to feel very good, but at least the races are indoors.
Why is Phoenix your spot of choice?
I'm always curious from pro runners, like some go to, whether it's Flagstaff, Boulder, St.
Moritz, like it's so fun to hear about why certain runners go to certain places.
So why is Phoenix the destination of choice for you?
Yeah, I've done a lot of altitude in the winter in the past.
And sometimes these altitude locations can just be really snowy and just create a little bit more like a little bit tougher to train in.
And I don't know if it's exactly correlated, but I've gotten injured off a lot of those camps.
And so I we started doing a warm weather camp.
Um, i guess i've done it.
I did it once with union um, when i was on yeah, union athletics club, but we did it last year and phoenix is just.
I think phoenix is the spot because the weather is very consistent, like it's 75 and sunny every single day, and actually it's great training here i love.
So there's like a really good canal system with um, some crushed gravel dirt on the side that just goes for miles and miles and you can run out your door really easily.
And then track access is really easy.
Like I've been using ASU track, which they've been great to let us on the track.
And yeah, I think just in general, training is just really easy here and just kind of seamless.
There's a lot of good gyms, you know, we have access to.
So, yeah, I think just having it be, I guess, also familiar to since we've been here quite a bit.
But yeah, mainly because the weather is just very consistently nice and warm.
How does that work with the ASU track?
Is that you like, do you just show up and hope no one's there?
Are you emailing the athletic director being like, hi, I am Sinclair Johnson.
You might be familiar with my work.
I'd like to like, how does that work?
Yeah, no, definitely don't just show up.
But we we reach out to the coach before before coming here and just.
Yeah, making sure.
I think there's a lot more interest in using the track now, so they have a little bit more hoops to jump through, but honestly, it's fairly straightforward, fairly easy.
So yeah, just... letting them know that we're going to be there, who we are.
Um, and yeah, they're all.
Most of the coaches are always just like.
So gracious and and allow us to be on the track.
Um, um, but yeah, at ease.
So that's really nice.
Um, and then I also know Sheila Houlihan pretty, pretty well.
And she, uh, is the coach at, uh, Grand Canyon.
So, um, having like access to that track too, as well.
So yeah, it's pretty nice.
Um, just to have, yeah, multiple options.
I feel like I would be so honored if I were a coach and a professional athlete was like we would like to use your track.
I would just bow down and be like, whatever your needs are, I'm here to accommodate them.
Yes.
It's an honor.
What are you into right now?
Whether it is something you are watching reading, listening to what are you consuming that you're excited about.
Let's see, I actually just, I started watching Shrinking on Apple TV and I love the show so much.
I don't know why it took me this long to start watching it, but I was so sad last night when the episode of season two ended and I had no idea if it got re- like yeah renewed for a third season so I looked it up and the I think the premiere drops like January 28th 28th yeah yeah great so I don't even have to wait do you watch the show as well oh I what yes I watched it I think I got into it like a year ago so I had seasons one and two available to me but then a very long wait for season three but I'm also like list shows like that that I think are so perfect like Ted Lasso, Schitt's Creek, and Shrinking I think are perfect shows I get nervous when a new season is coming.
And maybe this is just the anxiety in me of I'm like, what if it's not as perfect?
Totally.
Yeah, no, I totally agree with you.
I'm like, sometimes, even though you want more, I'm like, maybe we should just end it here.
Because it's so good as is.
And I don't want there to be a season that just tanks it.
But I have high hopes for the.
There's just so many cliffhangers still that they left at the end of season two.
So I'm like, yeah, there's a lot of storylines we got to tie up.
So I'm hoping that, yeah, it'll be, it'll live up to the hype.
But yeah, other than that, I've been doing a lot of wedding planning.
As one does when they're getting married.
Yes.
Can we talk about wedding planning?
I was going to ask about that.
How's it going?
It's been really good.
I think it's been nice having so.
We got engaged in 2024, in November, and we're getting married September of this year.
So I had almost two years to, yeah, or yeah, the start of it had two years with the lead up.
So it's been kind of nice having the time, because I've just slowly been checking things off the list and not it hasn't been too stressful yet.
Hopefully it doesn't get stressful.
No, you're perfectly primed.
You're good.
But yeah, I mean, I feel like we've gotten a lot of the big things checked off the list in terms of venue photographer, dress.
Yes.
Dress.
I got my dress.
We got, we just did our catering tastings like last week.
So that was a lot of fun.
And so we've got that solidified.
Plus, DJ.
Um, what else have we done?
We're going to do a string quartet for a ceremony.
So we got that booked.
Um, yeah.
So a lot of the big things that need to be booked in advance, and then now will be kind of the fun part.
So I'm working with a day of coordinator, but she kind of helps me a few.
We have like three meetings before the day of
And so she's kind of helping me throughout the process.
But I'm still doing a lot of the grunt work.
But it's just nice to have like a second set of eyes.
And so our next meeting is kind of going through the.
There's like a big rental warehouse that they work with a company in Portland.
And so I get to go around and like choose, you know the napkins, or the linens, or the plates, or just any of the you know big rental pieces.
So I'm really excited about that meeting just to just kind of see the whole thing and pick out what I want.
How many professional or former professional runners are on this guest list?
There'll be quite a few.
I think off the top of my head, I want to say like current professionals maybe.
Actually, I guess it's not quite a few, but I think current professionals maybe like 15.
And then there was a lot of people that we ran with in college, or ran with in high school too, that will be coming or are invited as well.
So yeah, I would say there's a good majority of runners, but there's also like, a good majority of non-runners too.
So it'll be a fun mix.
Just having everyone from every step of your life come together for one night.
That's the best part.
So when you were choosing a date, obviously you have to factor in your own potential racing schedule, but were you cross-referencing?
Like, are there any marathons that weekend?
Are there any track meets?
Did you have to take all that into consideration?
Yeah, I think, because the nature of me already thinking about track season and how it conflicts with my schedule is There was kind of only one time frame that I was going to do it, and it was going to be in September.
And also our wedding is in Portland, but it's outdoors.
So you're kind of going into the window where, like September is kind of the last month, you can have an outdoor wedding in Portland.
So it's actually one week after the World Ultimate Championships.
So given I qualify for that.
I will have been in Europe for a whole month before and then I'll be flying back and I'll have like five days before the wedding.
Yeah, but that can be really nice, because then you're not just like home and stressing like you already have so much of the big stuff done and then you get to like go do your thing, come back and have a hell of a party.
Yeah, no.
Yeah, I think it'll all work out like having the day of coordinator, who obviously is going to help me a lot that week.
And then Craig's parents are going to come in town early.
My parents are going to come in town early.
So I feel like having their help, we'll get it all figured out.
And yeah, a lot of.
It's just like I won't be able to do any kind of final walkthroughs until a few days before.
But I feel like at that point, it's like it is what it is and everything's gonna be booked.
It's just like you just hope it comes together and it will.
Yeah, and I'm totally just like I.
I realize I have a very like perfectionist side of my personality, but I feel like for this day I'm really trying not to like dwell into that side too much, because it's just as.
All that matters is that you know you have all of our loved ones together and it'll be a good time, no matter what.
And if there's little hiccups, like I'm just trying to be like, it's not going to matter.
It's not going to matter.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It's not going to matter.
How are you factoring in the timing?
Is there a bachelorette party happening?
Yeah, that's something that I have to figure out.
I would ideally like to, but also at the same time, having a track season starting and having kind of minimal time time in between um indoors and outdoors kind of makes it a little bit tough.
But I think I'll do something.
It'll probably just be fairly local, or maybe in California.
Just um yeah, I'll have to do something like that.
So that's the only thing that's a little bit of a bummer, just having a September wedding.
I can't do like a, a bachelorette of my choice or like what I would hope to be, but I think it will still be fun.
So damn track season.
Yeah.
No.
Darn career.
Yeah, you're always making concessions, but it's okay.
It's okay.
Let's talk about that career.
Let's talk about some very big news in the running world right now.
Sinclair Johnson, Hoka athlete.
Yes.
Let's hear all about it.
Congratulations.
I want to know everything, but right now I'm just going to turn it over to you.
What do you want to tell us about being a Hoka athlete?
Yeah.
So yeah, freshly new Hoka athlete, which I am very, very excited about.
Um, I, yeah, recently signed my contract.
Honestly, it's been, I think a week today, so it's very, very new.
Um, obviously this has been something that's been in the works since I think my agent came to me in about September with um Hoka.
Yeah.
Hoka was interested kind of in September. about signing me onto their team.
So yeah, it was a tough decision, I will say.
I was very happy as a Nike athlete.
I loved my time as a Nike athlete.
And I think when you've built such a community with these people like I've been with the brand for seven years it's hard to let that go.
But I felt like, at the same time, the opportunities that presented itself with the Hoka deal were just kind of like too hard to pass up.
So, yeah, I'm really excited about representing a new brand.
Yeah.
Being being kind of like their their, their.
I guess their vision really is to kind of elevate their middle business program.
And they really want to. someone to help elevate that.
And that's why I guess they were looking at me to, to start that.
So yeah, just really excited about the potential of this company.
And I've already gone into the headquarters a couple of times which is their, their product and apparel.
So their product teams, their apparel and footwear is their headquarters in Portland, which is like literally five minutes from my house, which is insane.
Yeah um, and so yeah, just being able to go in there and meet the team and everyone is just i mean, it's a running focus company, so everyone is there because they love running um, and they're just so eager and um yeah, it's just cool to be kind of you know going going from nike, who's like a massive corporation, who is kind of like you know you're there to to learn and grow and um, kind of just be among the masses.
Whereas, like now with Hoka, it's like it feels like this opportunity to kind of be, you know, one of the premier athletes for them and something that you know they can work with me on footwear and apparel and I'm working side by side with, with all those people.
So I'm really, really excited about that.
Well, congratulations.
This is really exciting news.
When I got this in my inbox, I gasped.
I think you've been with Nike for your entire professional career.
And so this is a huge move.
So to bring us back to, let's say September, when you hear from your agent.
And I never know how much athletes can share about contracts and negotiations and all that.
So shut me up at any point if I ask too many questions.
But at this point, was it OK?
My Nike contract is up at the end of this year.
So let's keep an eye out.
Let's talk.
Or was this out of the blue of Hoka being like, hey, we're obsessed with you.
We'd love to bring you on.
What did things look like at that time?
Yeah, in September, so my contract with Nike was ending in December, December 31st.
So my agent was kind of already not that he was really like putting feelers out, but I think just talking to different companies, kind of seeing what was out there.
And I think actually Coca came to him before, kind of early on in the process.
And mentioned actually at World Champs.
He came into contact with Steve DeCoker, who is kind of my point of contact and sports marketing.
So, yeah, so he kind of brought this to me early.
And and at that point it was like I wasn't really thinking about what I was going to do next, kind of was like okay, just end of track season.
Kind of want to, you know, shut my brain off for a few weeks of track and and just like, enjoy an off season.
Um, and then I came, I came back into it and and honestly, I didn't really think that I was going to go with anyone else besides Nike, and Nike expressed interest in resigning me.
And I thought that that was kind of like, you know, what I was going to do.
Um, but then um, so the window opens up in like uh, early November, when you can actually talk to other companies.
Um, and so that's when I went and took a visit to the headquarters of Hoka in Portland, just to like I'm not going to rule out anything.
Um, I think like I was walking in with a pretty open mind but also, you know, maybe a little bit in the back of my mind, like I, I don't.
I'm not unhappy with Nike and I would totally be, you know, happy continuing this journey as a Nike athlete.
So, um, I would, wasn't really sure what to expect.
And then when I took that visit to Hoka, I was like, oh my gosh, this is going to be a really tough decision, because I was just really blown away.
Um, and Craig came with me.
Um and yeah, I just feel like their, their vision, just like kind of exactly matched.
Like you know, my vision.
And I feel like there's been a lot of years where I'm figuring things out with training and coaching and you know that kind of situation.
And I felt like, you know, last year was a huge step with having Craig coach me.
And that was a huge piece that I needed to put together in the puzzle.
And I feel like even throughout this past year, we put a lot of little pieces together.
So yeah, it kind of felt like this opportunity of being with a company that's, you know, like I said, trying to elevate their, their distance program, their middle distance program.
And and me just also Being at this point in my career where I feel like a lot of these pieces are coming together, and it just felt like a perfect match.
So, yeah, that was in November.
And then yeah, then it comes into the contract terms and salary and that kind of um thing.
That is what my agent deals with.
I don't deal with any of that.
Um, that's what I pay him for.
So um yeah, he did a lot of that and there's a lot of back and forth and just trying to negotiate and um, just trying to make make sure you know I feel um financially set up and valued and um in both my Hoka and Nike contract.
And yeah, there was just.
I think it comes down to things that were just felt like very priceless to me.
And yeah, that's kind of why I went with Hoka and yeah, it's already been pretty exciting.
It feels, it feels very surreal to have been given this opportunity after kind of this year that Craig and I put together.
And although I wouldn't say it was, you know, a perfect year, there was a lot of good that happened and a lot of growth and progress.
And so, Um, it's just cool to see a company kind of recognize that and value that.
And you know I get to stay with Craig as my coach and we get to stay in Portland and you know they're just like.
We just want to help you and we just want to elevate you.
So, um, yeah, I feel pretty lucky.
Well, and I love you just answered a couple of my questions right off the bat, which was sorry.
I was just like rambling.
Oh my God.
That's all I want in life is to just sit and listen.
Are you kidding?
I love this. but Craig is still coaching you and you're not relocating.
So what are the biggest things that, that change other than the shoes that are on your feet?
Yeah.
I mean, not much.
Yeah.
Like you said, shoes on my feet, obviously I'll be wearing a hookup when it comes to, um, racing.
So, and obviously training too.
So that changes.
Um, There are some other things that are in the works with this deal that I can't exactly speak on yet, that are really exciting as well.
But yeah, nothing really changes for us, which is kind of why we were like this seems like a no brainer.
I mean, there's this company that, um really values what we're doing and they don't really want to change that.
But all they want to do is just find a way to support us and i think um, you know, they're really trying to.
You know, hoka kind of started out as this trail company and they've really grown into the road running space and and now i think they kind of want to elevate more of their track space and that's just like a really cool place to be.
And I think they kind of needed someone who was local to to be able to, you know, come in and work with the product team and work with the apparel team and yeah, create some some really good stuff.
And I mean they already have great footwear out there and I'm hoping that yeah, with the addition of me, we can just like bring it to the to the next level.
So when in that process did you first go for any kind of run in a pair of Hocus?
Um, so I was, I was being pretty.
Um I was, I was trying to stick to my contract of like I was with Nike, obviously until December 31st.
And so I was like, I didn't want to do anything that would jeopardize that.
And just like yeah, we're technically not allowed to wear other apparel, other footwear and apparel.
So I honestly didn't wear anything until January 1st.
And so it was a lot of like kind of trying a lot of stuff that first week before eventually like signing.
Um, so I did kind of go into it a little bit blind.
Um, but I also felt very, but also Craig was, was wearing a lot of their footwear too.
So he was so smart.
Yeah.
And so he kind of already did a lot of that um R and D, I guess of, like you know, just kind of it's really.
And the thing is now is, like you know, a lot of these companies have the same access to the same materials and they're kind of creating the same stuff.
And and now, with world athletics kind of putting a cap on on innovation, it's like you kind of just need a rise, rise to that threshold.
And you obviously you can't go above it because there's rules in place.
And so it really was just about kind of finding.
Like you know, I've worn structures for um majority of my training runs now um you know what's a comparable option?
It's like, oh, now I'm running in the Arahis and they feel great and I love them.
And so just kind of feeling like out, you know, what their shoe line is.
It's just, it's learning a completely different shoe line and, you know, what is used for what.
So that's really what a lot of that was about.
But yeah, I love actually have been really genuinely surprised with how light and good their footwear feels on my feet, just because I've literally worn nothing else but Nike's my entire life.
So I sometimes you just kind of get, you know, narrow vision or tunnel vision, and you think that this is the only thing that's that works for you.
So it's been nice to just kind of seamlessly go into their footwear and I love it.
So it's been, yeah, good.
So what are you going to do with all the Nike stuff that you have?
Who gets that?
I have a lot of stuff.
Yeah.
It's over the years.
Yeah.
I think, you know, give it to friends, um, and family, um, wedding favors.
That's not a good look giving out Nike when you're a Hoka athlete now.
Yeah.
I guess.
Yeah.
Maybe.
Yeah.
Yeah.
This like, yeah, a lot of friends and family, um, and then donating a lot of it, I guess.
Yeah.
I've been really haven't really thought about too much of uh.
I didn't really have much time between signing and us leaving for camp.
So I didn't really do a whole closet clean out.
So I'll have a lot to do when I get back in, in March.
But yeah, so we'll have to, it's good.
It's going to be a work in progress.
Cause my, and look at my wardrobe.
I'm like, Oh my gosh, there's just So many like random things that I just didn't even know were Nike that I'm like oh, I can't wear that anymore.
Yeah.
What a fun way to like have to overhaul your wardrobe and closet though.
Like we all need to do that.
I am in desperate need of just going through and like cleaning my stuff out.
And I kind of like the idea of like just a new brand being like, you can't wear any of that anymore.
You have to get rid of it.
Yeah.
Yeah.
No, it is good.
It's like it requires me to not hold on to things that I've probably been holding on for.
You know, I wore it a lot maybe three years ago, but now I never wear it again.
So I am bad about getting rid of stuff.
So this kind of forces me to.
And yeah, I'll just have a whole new wardrobe, which I'm really looking forward to.
Yay.
That's so fun.
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So I want to go through.
You shared a 2025 recap.
See, now I'm getting the years right.
You shared this on Instagram and I kind of wanted to break it down, if we can, because you shared a lot of different types of things that went on in 2025.
And I want to break it down.
You said 2025 was the year of the first one you said was making changes.
What is that one?
Yeah.
So I guess the big thing was having a coaching change again.
But this one I felt I feel so confident.
And so, yeah, making changes.
And then also I, just in terms of training, I completely changed my training style, my kind of even like, just like in a very micro sense my, my weekly training um schedule, like what it looks like, and kind of um a lot of yeah.
So a lot of changes in that I introduced using a lactate meter um just doing been experimenting more with like more frequent workouts um and a little less mileage, more cross training.
So kind of just 2025.
Um, like the, I guess the training structure looked completely different than 2024.
So that was like the biggest change that I made.
And then yeah, coaching change as well too.
It's gotta be and we're going to get into some of the specific races that you did in 2025, but how satisfying and rewarding is it to make those huge changes which, especially for a professional athlete, those are massive risks.
You don't know if they're going to work. but they did.
2025 was a hell of a year for you.
How good does it feel to know that the changes that you made paid off?
Yeah.
I mean, it obviously feels really good.
I think, as a highly competitive athlete, I think there's always things where I'm like oh, I didn't get that 100 right.
And not that you're gonna get everything 100 right, but I do think that there were there were some mistakes that we made going into championships.
So indoors and outdoor world championships that you know we definitely cooked it a little bit too much and learned some lessons there.
But yeah, it is a huge risk.
I think, like going into the indoor season last year, I was really struggling with just the mentality of feeling confident in what I was doing because it is new and I just have no idea how this is gonna work out and play out.
So I think it took a while for me to kind of build my confidence back up and feel like okay yeah, when I get to the start line, I can compete with anyone.
And so I think I quickly was able to.
With with how well indoor season went, I think I was quickly able to reframe my mindset.
And I brought that to a lot more of my outdoor races.
I wouldn't say I brought it to every single outdoor race.
But yeah, that was tough to navigate.
And I think, having had you know, two coaching changes previously, it was kind of like you're back to square one.
And I think the only, my only saving grace, I will say, is like I truly like, deep down inside, felt like this was the best situation for me.
So, like I knew that, like there was no other you know coach or situation that I wanted to do, or I felt like I needed needed.
But yeah, just change is hard.
It feels very uncomfortable.
But it ultimately, like allows you to grow in ways that you needed and didn't know you needed to.
When you were going into some of those races early last year and you might not have yet had full confidence that what you were doing was the right thing or that you were getting it all right.
Where was Craig at?
Do you know, like he's, he's your coach, but he's also your fiance.
Was he ever like, yeah, I don't know if we're doing it right either.
Or was he like, did he present to you with full confidence that you're in good hands?
What do you think he would say?
Yeah no, he was full confidence that.
He was like I think there were races where I didn't race full with confidence and then kind of at the end I was like, oh my gosh, I had, you know, way more than than I should have at the end of the race because I didn't put myself in the mix early on and you know I walk off the track.
And he was like like why?
Why did you think that?
You know you couldn't handle that pace, or you know.
So I think he had full confidence in me and I kind of had to get out of my own way.
And I think he was, yeah, he was a huge proponent of just having belief in myself.
And I think I just needed to catch up to that belief that he held in me.
So It was none of his doing, which is why I felt this way.
I just was anxious and in my own head about it.
Yeah, but when he's the one making the training plans and calling a lot of those shots, that's a ton of, I imagine, pressure responsibility.
Totally.
If he let you know.
You know, it's the Taylor Swift pilot analogy of like if he freaks out, everyone on board is going to freak out.
Totally.
I mean, if he was freaking out, he never really showed it.
So I really appreciate that about him.
He's pretty like calm, cool and collected and kind of knows like the things that I need to hear.
But at the same time, you know, I feel like we have just such good communication where some things that I don't necessarily want to hear but I need to hear he's, he's very willing to, you know, say those things to me.
And so yeah, I think it's, it's a fine balance, but at the same time yeah, I mean I he, I know he was nervous, definitely in the indoor season.
But I felt like he was, he didn't really show it much and which was nice.
Cause I was, I was probably more nervous.
Are you writing your own vows?
Yes.
Yeah.
I love it.
2025 was a year of taking risks.
What risks come to mind?
Yeah.
So kind of like going into indoor world champs and outdoor world champs.
I think we took some big training risks and really tried to make sure I was ready to to go for a medal.
Um, and then yeah, some of those risks didn't play out but um yeah, I think we were.
I think I think even just changing up your whole entire your training regime is also taking a risk.
So yeah, yeah.
So that was also a huge risk.
Um, but then yeah, there was like a couple micro risks that we did in there that you know.
At the time we thought like this is what we needed to do to to be ready at world and indoors and and um, or indoors and outdoors.
But, um, sometimes it was like, actually you didn't really need to take those risks.
You kind of just needed to stay on the trajectory that you're on.
So, um, yeah, those were kind of my risks of 2025.
And that's the only way to find out, right?
Yeah, exactly.
Test them out.
So you did it.
Check.
Yep.
In what ways was 2025 a year of failing?
And everyone knows those are your words, right?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
No, I think just yeah, like I kind of was reiterating on and just I think indoor world's I was in such I felt like I was in such good shape and I was truly like felt like ready to to go for a medal, um at indoors and yeah, that didn't happen and I was pretty disappointed with that.
Um, I don't think the race was anything so crazy out of my wheelhouse that you know that wasn't um a potential so um, that was definitely a little bit disappointing um, and then I guess like failing in the sense of um outdoor world champs as well.
I felt like the final just didn't go my way.
Um, I feel really proud of how I competed through those outdoor world champs because I really put myself in every single round and really truly believe that you know, I could hang on to the best in the world.
Um, but yeah, again, we took took a little bit of risk before outdoor worlds.
And I think that just caught up to me in that final.
And yeah sometimes, like you said, you kind of have to cross that line to find the boundary, and which is yeah, I think we definitely did.
So lessons learned and I can still hold my, hold my head high.
And I think, you know, it doesn't take away from the rest of the season.
But yeah, there are definitely things where you know when the the kind of like the um, the standard to to rise up to is at world champs and Olympic games and and um, stuff like that.
That's where I want to be, um, the most successful.
So what were those hours and days like after the world championships final when, like you said, it didn't play out as you had hoped?
How did you handle that?
Yeah, it was tough.
I think, I think like initially you're just so emotionally drained because it's four days of just hyper focusness.
I mean, you just can't think about anything else but racing and you try to distract your mind.
But it's just it's really hard to.
And so I think just emotionally draining and kind of like, oh, glad I was over it.
Um, but I think like this I like the structure now where world champs is is the end, but it also was hard of that being my last race.
And I'm like, oh no, I want like another opportunity.
I want, you know, a good note to end on.
Um, and so I think that was the hardest part was like I felt like having that be my last race this season.
I just kind of totally forgot about all the other good that happened this season.
I just thought about that one final and I was like, oh, that season sucked, you know?
And so I think that was the hardest thing to get over.
It was like, okay, one race didn't go well, but like, look at all the other races that did.
And then, yeah, just a lot of like reflecting.
And luckily we had a big trip planned with our friends and after world champs.
So it definitely was able to.
I was able to kind of take my mind off of it, but then it only kind of delays all of the the reflection.
Yeah.
So that wasn't very fun coming home.
Cause I think it was like delayed by two weeks.
And then all of a sudden, like Craig and I were like had to deal with kind of the emotions and and the reflection of like what, what went wrong and and all that which I felt like you know we, like I was saying earlier, we have such a good communication style that I feel like we were able to sit down and kind of talk about things without it being like emotional, I guess, and and kind of looking at more of like a rational way.
Um, and maybe that was because it was two weeks after it happened.
I think if I would have sat down and had that conversation with him, I would have been like a wreck and so yeah, I think um, in that way, it was uh, it was good to to have some time to reflect um, a little bit removed from world's.
Well, let's talk about the ways in which 2025 was a year of succeeding.
Yes.
Yeah.
I mean, I would say back on Team USA, which you know after 2024, not making the Olympic team.
That was very heartbreaking.
So, yeah, I made an indoor world team.
I made an outdoor world team.
I made the final in both of those, which is great.
Always, always like ecstatic with being back on, back in a final, especially at a global championship.
I broke two American records.
I had probably the most I mean not probably I had the most healthy, consistent year of training like honestly, to date since I've started running.
So that was really exciting.
And yeah, I think there were just a lot of other little wins of just.
You know, I really wanted to spend more time in Europe on the Diamond League circuit and race more with that.
And I feel like I did that last year and I got so much more comfortable with those.
Those races are intense.
And I think if you don't do them that often, they can feel like really, like really, really intense.
And so I think being able to have more of that experience just made even going to Tokyo like so much easier to deal with.
And I'm not getting.
Like you know, I'm not getting in over my head when I walk onto the stadium and there's 50000 people.
Cause that was what was a London diamond league, you know, it was the same thing.
So, um, yeah, in those ways, I think, um, that's, I would say, where are the successes of 2025?
Yeah, 416.32, Sinclair.
American record in the mile on the track.
Let's hear about that.
Yeah, that was such a fun day.
I think that mile record was definitely in the back of my mind going into the race.
But obviously everything kind of has to come together on the day.
And walking out into that stadium was absolutely unreal.
There was, I think, 60000 fans there and it's, you know, the London Stadium from the Olympics.
So it was so cool, such a cool experience.
And then yeah, the cherry on top was definitely breaking the American record and I just like just snuck under there.
But you know, I like to say I'm like American records and American records, so I was super stoked with that.
I think it was just kind of like I went over to to Europe and and race uh a one K at Monaco, which went really well.
We're in second, fast American time, um, all time.
And then to cap that off with the American record and the miles like yeah, it was just a lot of fun.
I think obviously it's fun when you do well, but, um, just even racing that distance is fun.
Cause it felt even very different than racing the 1500.
And I know it's not technically part of the season and it's a road race.
So it's much later and it's thrown in in December.
But you go to Hawaii and you run the merry mile for twenty one sixty six second fastest time in the world in the road mile.
Another American record.
Like you said, let's talk about that day because I watched it live and you took off.
And listen, Sinclair, as a fan, I trust you like full faith in you.
But when you watch someone take off early, you're holding your breath the whole time.
Can she hold it?
Are they going to catch her?
And especially with then the men's field.
You know they're charging, trying to like listen.
So stressful for the fan.
But you pulled it off.
Yeah, you're controlling.
I know.
So hard to be a fan, but so paid off.
That was awesome to watch.
I want to hear more about that day because, you know, we talked earlier about taking risks.
I imagine going to the front of that race and just absolutely barreling toward the finish.
Did that feel like a risk or did that feel like this is very much in my wheelhouse right now?
And I've got this.
Yeah, I think I mean that race is.
I feel really proud of that race because I kind of had no expectations going in.
I kind of just was like I want to win the race and and obviously beat the guys too, but I also, you know, want to beat the women's field as well.
So, um, that was kind of my goal going in.
And I think a lot of times when you race like that time is kind of not a factor or you just don't really focus on that.
So um, i so the meet the technical meeting beforehand.
So, if you guys aren't familiar with the hawaii mile, there there is a, it's kind of like a gender chase, so the men or the women get a head start and the men have to come chase us, which makes it super fun.
Um, and just like a different element, just something honestly, just something fun to break up fall training, and the race is at 8 am, so it's and it's humid and it's there's a hairpin 180 degree turn.
So it's not a race where you're like I'm going to go, you know, balls to the wall.
Like it's not something that you're targeting.
It's just, it's honestly just kind of like, like I said, for fun, um and a way to break up training.
But then the technical meeting the day before Josh, how he was asking for one, 54 through 800, which is, if you do the math of that that's, you know three, 48 mile, maybe a little bit slower, maybe three 50, which is super fast.
And also, If they're going that fast, I'm like, oh, my gosh, what are we going?
But the women kind of decided on going out in 213, 214 through 800, which sounded great to me.
But I was also kind of thinking, well, the men are going out that hard and we're going 213, 214.
Like we have to at least be on the pace because we had a 31 second head start.
And you know, if we decide not to commit to the pace like the men are going to roll us up with 200 to go.
And that's just not fun.
So, yeah, I think that was kind of my plan where I was like, I'm just going to go with the pace.
And I figured kind of everyone else would do the same thing.
So I was a little bit surprised when I made that turnaround and I kind of saw that I had, I don't know, maybe like 10, 20 meters on the rest of the field.
And then I think at that point I was like, well, there's no slowing down now.
Like I got to kick it home to the finish.
But, yeah, it was a really exciting day.
I felt like – this is kind of this new mindset I'm trying to approach to racing is just not being scared of the what could go wrong and kind of being more intrigued about the what could go right.
And so I felt like this was a perfect opportunity to practice that, because it doesn't matter if it goes wrong and there's no pressure.
And just yeah, committing to what are the paces like racing hurts whether you're out the back falling off or you're up front pushing it.
So I'm like, you can't really be chasing a feeling of feeling good.
And yeah, just trying to really really practice committing and kind of turning off my mind and just just yeah, like I said, just going with the pace, no matter what it is, no matter how I feel.
And I feel like you know I've watched Jessica Hall race like that so many times and I've seen it pay off for her a lot and I really respect that aspect about her.
And um yeah, I really want to bring that more to racing and in 2026 and not be timid.
And um yeah, and be fearless.
I think that was kind of my.
My little uh spiel after the race was just to be fearless out there.
So um yeah, and then I saw the clock and it was like ticking it was.
I think I saw it.
I like 416, 417.
And i was like, oh my gosh, i did not, because you're blind running out there, you have no idea.
There's no splits, there's markers every 400 meters, but i have no idea what time i came through for any of that.
Um so yeah, that was a genuine surprise when i crossed the line and there was 421.
Did you know what the record was?
Like, did you realize right away?
I mean, they were screaming it on the broadcast, but did you know that you broke the record?
Well, so the day before they there was there, so there was.
This is the only bummer about that race.
Is that there or not that race, but my race in particular, it was that there was a world record bonus of an extra 10000.
And I was off of it by like less than a second.
So that that was a little bit that stung a little bit.
But so I knew about the world record, but I don't know why.
I think I just thought the day before I was like, we're not going to run 420.
That's crazy.
That's so fast.
And so, yeah, I did.
But I didn't know about the American record until after.
And I mean when they said it was the second fastest in the world all time, I was like well, I guess I assume that that.
That's the American record.
But yeah, they kind of didn't really discuss to us about the American record beforehand because there was only a world record bonus.
So that's kind of the only time I knew about.
So it wasn't even like that.
That didn't even cross my mind as soon as I crossed the finish line.
And then obviously people were like, oh, my gosh, you just ran the American record.
That's kind of fun.
You're like, yay, I won the race.
And then there's like, all these additional reasons to celebrate on top of it that you just keep finding out.
Can you explain?
You talked a bit about the at the technical meeting the day before and people asking for certain times or paces.
Can you explain how that works?
Is that, are they like And we'll now open the floor.
All the athletes, what do you want to happen?
And do certain athletes carry more weight than others?
Like is preference given to you, to Nikki, or to some of the fastest athletes in the field?
How does that work?
Yeah, definitely.
This one is so much more relaxed.
I think, like at the big time Diamond League races, they kind of just go to the best in the field and ask what they want it to be paced for.
Um, and this particular race, but it's kind of the same.
I mean they were asking primarily Nikki um what they wanted, um the pace to be um, since obviously they were the fastest in the field and had one last year.
And then for the men, I think, like most of the men were kind of just like you know, we don't, we don't really have a preference but um Joshua, we had like a strong preference that he wanted that.
And so I think that they just kind of like defer to him.
Um, i think i remember them asking yarid what he wanted and he was just kind of like i'm just, i just wanted, like just go race.
You know what i mean?
He's for my turtle to come out of hibernation yeah, yeah.
For the eras tour to come back yeah, that's what i want.
To be a dentist yeah um, but that's kind of like.
But that's kind of the vibe of the hawaii mile, like it's just so relaxed and it's just so much like it's so much more of we're just kind of ending the 2025 season and this is kind of like a reward almost, for you know what all of us athletes have done in the year um, and that's so much more of the vibe of the race.
So, when josh and we was asking for 154, we're all kind of like come on man.
Yeah, chill out, dude.
Yeah, like you're on vacation, we're in Hawaii, you know um, but yeah, it was.
And it was funny though, because I do feel like now, because I think that like Nikki got second and then Josh was third and but I think the differentiation between me and Josh was like seven seconds maybe.
Um, So I'm like Oh, we're screwed next year.
They are not going to give us a 31 second.
I'm like, I messed it up for everybody.
Like an absolute stampede.
Everyone is just absolutely racing for their lives, which is what happens anyway.
So like you said, it's going to hurt no matter what.
Yeah.
We might as well make it, make it hurt more, I guess.
Cause you're not going to make it hurt less.
Well, all of these what I see as great successes in 2025, but then you went back to failing again.
You said
What's failing again?
Well, I guess like I meant like failing again was kind of like the end of the outdoor season.
So it was like succeeding, or like taking risks indoors failing, but then kind of having like a good outdoor season, succeeding again and then kind of failing again at World Outdoors.
And then I guess I didn't include the succeeding again.
Yeah, we need to edit it.
Yeah, I needed a second succeeding.
Yeah, but you did end it with ultimately growing.
So let's hear about some of the ways that you ultimately felt 2025 was a year of growth.
Yeah, I mean I felt like I learned so much about myself as an athlete this year and kind of had a lot of mindset reframes on kind of what training looked like for me.
I think there had been so many years where a coach was kind of like telling me I need to do high mileage and super high intensity all the time.
And so I think this year was was definitely eyeopening and kind of like learning what works for me is what works for me.
And there's not this like one size fits all model.
And so I think I really grew in terms of that.
And in terms of kind of letting go of these stipulations or these, you know, certain workouts that I felt like I had to do to be successful,
So yeah yeah, and then just even growing in terms of my mindset when it when it comes to racing as well and um, I felt like there were yeah, a lot of mistakes that we made and ultimately, you learn and grow from those as well.
So um yeah, just a lot of I think.
I think this has kind of like been a very common theme in my career is like there, I've made a lot of changes throughout my career, but they've always end up in positive growth.
And so that's kind of why I'm really excited about this.
Hoka thing is like I'm not someone.
That and as uncomfortable as changes.
And honestly, I don't really like it, but I think it's like really good for me.
And I think like being stagnant is not good for me.
So I felt like this was kind of an opportunity to kind of grow in a different way that I obviously haven't for the past seven years because I've been with the same company.
So that's what I'm really excited about.
But it also doesn't like change anything too many things because I don't need.
I don't need more more, more change.
Yeah, you've got a ton of change.
I just want like a little bit of change.
You know fair well you are about to open up your 2026 indoor season, your first professional race as a Hoka athlete.
You will be at New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in the weekend.
How you feeling that's?
Yeah, I'm excited about it.
Um, I think Hawaii was a good confidence booster and just have had a good training block since then.
So kind of just really ready to start getting into racing.
And yeah, I'm just excited that the new Hoka kit is really, really good.
I can't wait to show it off.
And yeah just, I think this is just a cool, exciting opportunity to kind of start the brand off um in terms of their middle distance program and like in a good way, and I'm really excited to to yeah, represent them to the best of my ability.
And how are you feeling physically?
Are we racing our way into the season or are you going into this first one ready to rip where you at?
Yeah, I feel like I'm ready to rip.
I think I'm, I think I'm in really good shape.
I think obviously, you know, when it translates to racing, you know it takes a couple.
It takes a couple um hits at it.
But I think, with having new balance, be my opener and 15 there um, it's kind of just like uh, getting my feet wet, getting back into racing, kind of rust buster type thing.
Um, and then I'm really hoping to, to go lights out at, at Melrose.
So really targeting that race.
And then I'm actually going to do a three K indoors this year, which I'm really excited about too.
Cause I think my strength has just improved like so much over the past year and a half.
So I'm really excited to test that out over a little bit of a longer distance as well.
Yeah.
Okay.
You're so good at.
You've answered so many of my questions before I even got to ask them, which is like my favorite thing.
But I was going to ask if we were more likely to see you go up in distance or drop down at distance at any point this year.
Yeah.
So indoors I go up in the three K and outdoors I'm hoping you'll see me a lot more in eight hundreds.
I think I have definitely some untapped potential in the eight hundred and really want to update my um PB in that.
So I think I'll focus mainly on fifteens and eights, um, and outdoors.
So, um, yeah, excited about that, but also kind of excited to test my strength over 3k indoors.
I've only done one ever and, um, So I'm a little bit new to the distance, but it should be fun.
I know.
Each race is of course so unique, both because of the race itself, but also because of the field, the time of year, like so many variables.
But if I were to ask you total, blanket statement of which event is the hardest track roads?
I've heard people say the 800 on the track is the hardest event.
What do you say?
What do you think?
That's tough.
I mean, I have I don't I would I will like a caveat.
I haven't been in enough 800s at the professional level to really give that an honest opinion about.
I think in my own opinion, I think the mile on the track is the hardest.
There's something about starting on a turn.
Yeah.
And you do four full laps that.
I don't know if it makes it feel longer or what, but I think with the 1500 you the the first straightaway is just like kind of non-existent.
So the, really the race feels like 1400 meters to me.
Um, whereas like in the mile, it's like, you're going 1609 or whatever it is.
So I think that was probably the hardest, um, one in my opinion on the track.
Um, but yeah, we'll stay tuned.
Maybe the 800 will, will move into its place.
What else can you tell us about?
You know, 2026 is a unique year based on these past few, because for the past few years, because of the pandemic, every year has either been an Olympic year or world championships year.
So much happening 2026.
What kind of year is it for Sinclair Johnson?
Yeah, I think like this year is kind of about putting all those pieces together, as I was saying.
So I think you know I kind of look at this year and next year like really important building years to 2028.
And there's still a lot of opportunity.
I mean there's a world indoor championships, there's this ultimate championships.
There's a lot of opportunity to have really high, high level racing.
I'm kind of really excited to have a year, since this is my first off year as a pro.
I'm really excited to not have USA's be so and so much focus on that particular weekend that you kind of have to, like you know, make your whole outdoor schedule around that.
So I'm really looking forward to that, because to just be able to target some big diamond leagues but yeah, like I said, just um, putting all the pieces together and And I'm hoping to kind of really solidify, you know, what Craig and I have built last year and just really fine tune it.
And yeah, hoping to have a big year this year.
I have some big goals, so I'm excited.
And after September, 2026, will you be Sinclair Johnson or will you be Sinclair?
No lack.
I'm going to keep my last name at least while I'm running.
And then I think you know I'll probably change my name eventually when we start to have kids, just so I can have their last name as well.
But yeah, I'll be Sinclair Johnson as long as, you know, I'm running professionally on the track.
So that won't change.
And one of my favorite things about following you online is you are always cooking stuff that looks so good.
And I feel like a creep because I think I always respond like yum or I want that, like an absolute weirdo.
What are you cooking in these days?
What's tasting good in the kitchen?
Oh, my gosh, I've been we've been a little bit on the lazy kick.
So, like right now yeah, I'm like I've just I've had a whole lot of inspiration, motivation to, to do any kind of elaborate meals.
Also, I feel like when you're in the thick of training, it just is like so much more energy.
Um, so we've been grilling a lot.
We just throw everything on the grill and call it a day.
Oh, because you can, because you're in Phoenix and you can just cook outside.
You know what happened if I tried to cook outside right now, it would freeze.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Probably not a good idea.
Um, but yeah, just a lot of we'll throw like veggies, chicken steak, doing a lot like baked potatoes, just anything on the grill that can go on the grill.
And easy.
No, there's no cleanup um, and yeah, the girl just makes everything taste better too.
So um, that's what i've been kind of doing, which is like, probably not the answer you wanted to hear, but that's no, i like it.
I like an honest answer.
I'm just, i'm still, i'm jealous of your warmth, but you're, you're coming my way, you're gonna be in the northeast in just a couple days so uh, he's spending a lot of time in the northeast, so i'll get my fair share of winter.
So you're out here for New Balance and then for Milrose, and then what?
Um, and then we'll be back out there, for I'm going to race the 3k at the.
There's a new sound ace or sound invite.
That's at JDL track, um, and it's in Salem.
So hopefully that won't be as cold as the Northeast, but I'm sure it'll still be cold.
Um, But yeah, I'll do that.
And then U.S.
Indoors is back at Ocean Breeze, Staten Island.
So back to the Northeast.
All right.
We're getting you out here quite a bit this indoor season.
Happy to have you, Sinclair.
I can't wait to cheer for you and see you next weekend at New Balance.
Congratulations on this massive announcement, this big change.
I'm really excited for you and for the Hoka team and to see all that you can do together.
And can't wait to hear about what else is in the works.
We'll have to do a catch-up episode soon.
And just know that we're all cheering for you and rooting for you.
You're a fun one to cheer for.
And keep us on the edge of our seats watching these races.
Just keep taking it out and let us do the sweating at home and you just go crush it.
Oh, thank you so much.
I really appreciate it.
Thanks for doing this.
Of course.
Thank you so much for being here for this episode of the Alley on the Run show with my guest, Sinclair Johnson.
Make sure you tune in and watch Sinclair race this weekend at New Balance Indoor Grand Prix.
I will be there cheering and screaming and going absolutely crazy.
I love this event.
I love these races.
I love these athletes.
Looking forward to it.
It's indoor track season, baby.
Let's have some fun.
For more from me, I am AllieOnTheRun1 on Instagram.
And you can subscribe to my newsletter at AllieOnTheRun.substack.com.
Thank you so much to Lagoon for supporting this episode and for being such an amazing, wonderful partner.
So happy to have them back here for 2026.
And we're going to have some fun this year.
Stay tuned.
All right.
As a reminder, you've got this.
You are doing great.
And thank you for joining me on the run.
