Matt Tegenkamp Retires from Professional Running

Published by KIMbia Athletics on February 1, 2016

Saying that he wasn’t willing to give 105% in preparing for this month’s U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, Matt Tegenkamp, a member of two Olympic and three World Championship teams, has ended his professional running career.

“Throughout my career, I lived 24/7, 365 days a year as an athlete,” Teg says. “When I started the real build-up last fall for the marathon trials, I realized I wasn’t willing to live like that anymore. I wasn’t fully vested, and that’s not what my career has been about.”

Matt had one of the most distinguished careers of any recent U.S. distance runner. Between 2007 and 2012, he made every global outdoor track team: three times at 5,000 meters (2007 World Championships, 2008 Olympics and 2009 World Championships) and twice at 10,000 meters (2011 World Championships and 2012 Olympics). His highest finish in that setting was fourth at the 2007 Worlds.

Teg was also fast. In 2007, he set the American record for 2 miles (8:07.07). With his PR of 12:58.56, he’s one of only six Americans to break 13:00 for 5,000 meters. (And we’re pretty sure he’s the only person ever to go sub-13:00 in arm warmers!) In an era of specialization, Matt’s range was an anomaly, with PRs of 3:34.25 for 1500 meters, 27:28.22 for 10,000 meters and 212:28 for the marathon, and national road titles at 5K, 10K and 20K thrown in for good measure.