# He Trained 9 Miles a Week… Then Became an NCAA Champion. The Eric Jenkins Story

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/free-outside-6909507/he-trained-9-miles-a-week-then-became-an-ncaa-champion-the-eric-jenkins-story
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/free-outside-6909507/he-trained-9-miles-a-week-then-became-an-ncaa-champion-the-eric-jenkins-story.md
Podcast: [Free Outside](https://stenobird.com/podcast/free-outside-6909507)
Published: 2026-04-01T19:01:51+00:00
Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/freeoutside/episodes/He-Trained-9-Miles-a-Week-Then-Became-an-NCAA-Champion--The-Eric-Jenkins-Story-e3h9u6b
Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/eaf7016c/podcast/play/117814923/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-3-1%2F421223072-44100-2-4d68a941cdfa1.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/free-outside-6909507/episodes/he-trained-9-miles-a-week-then-became-an-ncaa-champion-the-eric-jenkins-story
Duration seconds: 5787

## Resource

Eric Jenkins joins the podcast to talk about one of the weirdest things in sports, retiring in your early 30s… and then figuring out what comes next. Follow Eric online: https://www.instagram.com/_ericjenkins/ We get into his career from running 9 miles a week in high school (with snorkel training and backyard workouts) to becoming an NCAA champion and professional runner. Then we talk about the part nobody really prepares you for, what happens when it all ends. We also dive into: Why track struggles to grow compared to other sports The Olympic Trials pressure and the “one race” problem His transition into media and podcasting What trail running actually looks like from the outside Pacers in ultras and whether they’re cheating (kind of) Why a 100-mile race might be the hardest thing he’s ever attempted And yes, we try to convince him to run a 100 miler. This one is part running, part life after sport, and part figuring out what to do when your identity changes overnight. Follow Eric's podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/7L5aLeFO5zDMcinUfrm8oV?si=0e59984bb5cc4e7d Support our Sponsors: Sawyer: https://sawyerdirect.net/Janji (code: Freeoutside): https://snp.link/a0bfb726CS Coffee: CSinstant.coffeeGarage Grown Gear: https://snp.link/db1ba8abSubscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.comSupport this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutsideBuy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSFEmail me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at jeff@freeoutside.comWatch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outsideWebsite: www.Freeoutside.comInstagram: thefreeoutsidefacebook: www.facebook.com/freeoutside#Trailrunning #Runningnews #Outdoors #Outdooradventure

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