The Comeback Is Greater Than The Setback: How NCAA Champion & Adidas Pro Will Sumner Is Using Lessons From His 2024 Setbacks & Using Them To Make 2025 His Best Year Yet

THE RUNNING EFFECT PODCAST

Dominic Schlueter

Running, Sports

4.8 • 686 Ratings

🗓️ 25 March 2024

⏱️ 46 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Mid-distance star Will Sumner is back on the show after smashing the Millrose Games 600m record in February, clocking an impressive 1:14.04

The former Georgia Bulldog, who attended Woodstock High School in Georgia, comes from a lineage of stand-out runners. Will's parents, Brad and Tosha, both ran collegiately in the 1990s–Brad at Villanova and Tosha at Georgia. Will's sister, Brynne, has run for Villanova and Clemson and specializes in the 800m and 1500m.

In high school, Will ran the (current) fourth-fastest outdoor 800m with a time of 1:46.53. He was named Gatorade Georgia Track and Field Player of the Year in 2021. He has since lowered that to an eye-popping 1:44.26 in 2023 when he won the NCAA Championships in June of that year as a freshman.

Will then went on to compete in the stacked 800m field at the 2023 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Oregon and finished fifth with a time of 1:47.41.

Will has a gold medal to his name, competing as part of the winning 4x400m team at the 2023 U23 NACAC Championships in Costa Rica.

After an accomplished year with UGA, Will decided to turn pro in 2023, signing with Adidas. Will has current PRs ofWhile the USA 800m scene is chock full of all-time greats, Will is primed to be in the mix for years to come.

Will's career PRs include 21.55 in the 200m, 45.78 in the 400m, 1:14.04 in the 600m and 1:44.26 in the 800m.

In today's conversation, Will takes me through his setbacks and challenges in 2024, insights from them, how to overcome your own challenges, what his training is looking like these days, his goals for 2025, and his Hot Wheels collection.

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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	I think it's so important that you nail these things down while you can because at the end of the day, like most people don't, I feel like don't really take that route.
0:10.0	They don't really like take that stuff as seriously as they should.
0:12.9	And I think like your long term health is way more important than your short time training, your short time goals.
0:19.6	So if you can, you know, like nutrition,
0:22.4	mental health and like physical, like overall, like your symmetry, your tension, all that stuff,
0:27.2	that will go a long way. That was Will Sumner today on the Running Effect podcast. I'm thrilled
0:34.1	you've clicked on to this episode because Will is a good one. He always brings a lot of
0:38.7	wisdom to our conversations. I had him on the podcast almost two years ago, July of 2023 after he won
0:44.5	the 800 meter NCAA Championship Outdoors in Austin, Texas, running 144.26 just as a freshman,
0:52.3	shortly thereafter, he signed a professional contract with the Ditas.
0:55.2	And then unfortunately last year, 2024, he had a bunch of setbacks, which he goes,
0:59.4	really in depth and detail in today's conversation. And I think that will be helpful for
1:03.5	anyone out there who's experienced setbacks or is going through one currently, provides a lot
1:08.3	of context on not to just how to get through setbacks physically, but also
1:12.7	mentally. And then we recap his 2025, which is off to a crazy start where he won the Millrose
1:18.2	Games' 600 meter race in a record running 114.4. We talk about all his ambitions for this year
1:26.0	and beyond. If you enjoy this one, share it with
1:28.1	a friend, give us a five-star review, and hit the follow and subscribe button so you never miss
1:32.4	another episode. And with all of those notes aside, I hope you all enjoy this conversation
1:36.0	with the man the myth the legend, Will Sumner. Mr. Will Sumner, welcome back to the Renner Effect podcast. How are you doing this afternoon?
1:46.8	Thanks, thanks. I'm good. How are you? Doing really good. Diving right into things, man. I think
1:52.3	2023 was your breakout year. It was like, hey everyone, I'm Will Sumner. I'm coming for it all. I'm
	...

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