Ep. 155 - The Most Underrated Runner In the PNW | Bad Luck, Nothing To Lose, & 2 State Titles with Dylan Weniger

This week on the show is Dylan Weniger.

Dylan is a graduated senior from Sherwood High School in Oregon and will be running for Gonzaga under Pat Tyson this fall.

Dylan is the most underrated runners in the Pacific Northwest. This man flies under the radar like no other. Yet somehow, he is a 4:06 miler, he ran 8:14 for 3K, and is a 2x Oregon 6A State Champ (1500m & 3K).

How can a two-time state champ fly under the radar?

Dylan flies under the radar partially because he only has come on as a dominating high schooler in Oregon late in his career. As you will learn today, Dylan had the worst luck (at least that I have ever heard of) in a postseason during his senior cross season, where he pulled his oblique in a fall at Districts, got sick the next week, right before State. And then, NXR… it’s a crazy story. You will be shocked to listen to it today.

Today, Dylan and I chat all about his thoughts of his narrative of flying under the radar, what it means for him to leave Oregon and continue his career is Spokane, developing under Coach Tyson at Gonzaga. We also discuss Dylan’s stunning and memorable track season, where he went from bombing the Oregon Relays 2-mile, to finishing THIRD at the Jesuit mile as the LAST SEED.

Dylan and I also discuss the lowest point of career in that aforementioned senior cross-country season, and the road to redemption, completing the double in the 1500 and 3K at the State meet.

There’s a lot of athletes who let bad luck and misfortune become the narrative that defines their career. But to learn about the tenacity, resilience, and quick, yet powerful mental shifts that Dylan is able to employ, it’s impressive, to say the least. I don’t want to give too many spoilers, but this was a good one. Lots to learn from Mr. Underdog himself.

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I hope you enjoy this episode of The Sunday Shakeout!