“I Got Hit by a Car. Then I Ran 4:03 Mile.” — TJ Hansen’s Wild Rise to the Top of U.S. High School Distance Running

THE RUNNING EFFECT PODCAST

Dominic Schlueter

Running, Sports

4.8 • 686 Ratings

🗓️ 8 May 2025

⏱️ 35 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

For TJ Hansen, running isn’t just a passion — it’s the job. And business is booming.

Up next in our 2025 HOKA Festival of Miles series, we welcome the Michigan standout who’s made a national name for himself on both grass and track.

Representing Freeland High School, TJ is a two-time Nike All-American and finished runner-up at the 2024 Nike Cross Nationals, crossing the line in 15:30.60 — just 2.5 seconds off the win. That followed a top-10 finish at NXN in 2023.

TJ also claimed the Gatorade Michigan Boys Cross Country Player of the Year title for 2024–25 and double-won at the Michigan Division 2 state meet in both the 1600m and 3200m.

His PRs show he’s got range and firepower: he has run 1:54.27 in the 800m; 3:47.05 in the 1500m; 4:03.87 in the mile; 8:51.12 in the two-mile; and 14:24.40 in the 5,000m.

Originally committed to Tennessee, TJ made a game-time decision to head west — he’s now bound for the University of Colorado, joining one of the deepest distance squads in the NCAA.

In today's conversation, TJ walks me through his successful career thus far, how he's risen to be one of the best, choosing Colorado, his ambtions and journey for Sub 4, how Festival Of Miles plays into that, his training, getting hit by a car, and more.

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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	The Call Room Road to Records is powered by Hoka.
0:03.0	I've had the absolute ride of a lifetime releasing these call room series around track season,
0:09.0	cross-country season, and I've always been honored that Hoka comes on and sponsors them,
0:13.0	helps me produce the best possible episodes that I can.
0:17.0	This year's edition of the Colroom I'm so excited about it's leading into the 2025 edition
0:22.0	of the Hoka Festival Miles held June 5th in St. Louis, Missouri.
0:26.1	This year, the races are literally going to be bigger and better than ever.
0:29.7	The fields that have already been announced are absolutely remarkable, and Hoka is there
0:34.5	every step of the way.
0:35.5	I cannot wait to talk to both the top boys and the top girl contenders
0:39.3	as they journey to St. Louis, to chase records, to chase history.
0:43.3	It's going to be an absolute blast, and I can't wait for this podcast series
0:46.3	leading into the historic event that is the Hoka Festival Miles Meet.
0:50.3	If you're in the midst of your track season, I highly recommend checking out Hoka's Race Day products.
0:56.0	Join Hoka's Next Generation of Fast Family this year at the Hoka Festival Miles, the Summer
1:00.0	Mile Club, and the Foot Locker Cross Country National Championships.
1:03.0	Enjoy today's episode of the Call Room Road Records, powered by Hoka.
1:09.0	I think, in my opinion, it's going to be arguably the best race in high school history
1:13.0	with the type of names that are going to be all there. I mean, I think that's something crazy
1:18.3	is going to get thrown down. And I think, honestly, everyone expects it. So it's up to us to go on
1:23.0	and put on a show. That was T.J. Hansen today on the Cullroom Road to Records.
1:29.3	T.J. is going to be going for history on June 5th with a plethora of other boys across the country.
	...

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