John Reniewicki has been burning up the track since the start of this year. The 28-year old from Scottsdale, Arizona is four years removed from graduating with a Master’s degree in Sports Law and Business from Arizona State University (where he also earned a Bachelor’s in Visual Communication), and is one of the founding members of Under Armour Mission Run Baltimore.
In seven questions with John, we talk a bit about his start in track and field, how he found his way from Arizona to Colorado to Baltimore, and what life is like off the track. Now that he is running consistently healthy, we can’t wait to see what this year has in store.
Take us back to the beginning, how and when did you get started with running and track?
Growing up I played soccer mostly but track was always around as my dad coached at Arcadia High School. Most day’s after grade school it was straight to track practice to jump around on the pole vault pit and watch my dad’s team train. Eventually I started doing some running with the slower groups around 4th grade. By sophomore year, I realized I wasn’t as good at the whole soccer thing so decided to stick to running.
You are from Arizona and attended Arizona State, how was your transition to the east coast?
It doesn’t feel like it now since the east coast has been home for a few years, but it was more of a transition than I had anticipated. Before Maryland I’d only ever lived in Arizona and Colorado and I definitely didn’t fully understand training in humidity until my first summer.
The rest of the transition was made pretty easy as we have a great setup, and we’re really enjoying it as a team. It definitely feels like home. I live just across the harbor from the Under Armour Campus. I usually take a quick boat ride across the water to get there from my side of town.
The thing I miss the most when I’m traveling is how walkable Baltimore is. Not having to get in my car to drive to a coffee shop or grab something from the grocery store is really nice.
To follow on that previous question, what drew you to Under Armour Mission Run Baltimore?
My situation of “joining the team” is a bit different than most of the group. Before Baltimore, I was with Under Armour individually out in Boulder with my coach Cory Leslie, who was working with Tinman Elite at the time. After USAs in 2021, it started to become a pretty real opportunity that Under Armour wanted to build a team out in Baltimore where our headquarters is and have Cory build it as the coach.
The first year and a half behind the scenes before we even had a name, it was just a lot of getting things set up and figuring out what training would look like in Baltimore. But for me, and I think it you would ask some of the first guys, Jackson Lewis or Casey Comber, they would probably agree, being able to start a group like this from the ground up has been so fun. That first year, year and a half, it was pretty ugly at a lot of times. So getting to the point now where we are having some success across both our men’s and women’s team is really special.
What has surprised you the most working with the group?
The thing that makes our group strong is we genuinely care about each other and want the best for each other. So I think when you combine that with some very very talented people you’re able to raise the floor of ability pretty quickly.
You have been on an absolute tear this year, setting a huge mile PR during indoors, joining Team USA at World XC, and recently setting a Drake Relays 1500m record that was previously held by Steve Scott. Safe to say you are having fun this season?
Having a lot of fun for sure. The big thing has been the consistency I’ve had in the previous year leading to this one. Until the end of 2022 I had never gone more than a few months of running without getting a pretty nasty stress fracture. But after the 7th one I think I’ve finally figured out how to catch them early if not avoid them entirely. So just being able to run period has been pretty fun.
When you are not training, what does your ideal day look like?
Something involving water for sure. In the off-season I love a lake trip or anywhere by the ocean. I think after this season a trip to our teammate Ahmed Jaziri’s home country of Tunisia will likely be in store.
Off the track, what is something you want people to know about you?
I try to have a decent balance of doing things outside of running. I do a good amount of freelance design work for a couple firms currently. Towards the end of college and before moving to Boulder, I was a volunteer firefighter for three summers in Arizona, something I’d consider going back to after running.
MORE ABOUT JOHN
- Post race indulgence: Usually ends up being a burger
- Warm up song: Right now either Dreams and Nightmares by Meek Mill or Go Home Already by projektbau
- Favorite workout: 4x4x400
- Favorite pro sports team: Phoenix Suns
- Dream vacation spot: Tunisia
- Favorite place to compete: Anywhere
- Hobbies: Anything outside- swimming, backpacking, basketball
- Favorite movie: The Italian Job
- Favorite book: Way of the Peaceful Warrior
- I most like competing against: Anyone
- Current training shoe: UA Infinite Pro
- Current racing shoe: UA Shakedown Elite 3 MD
PERSONAL BESTS:
- 1500m: 3:36.02
- Mile: 3:51.72
- 3000m: 7:47.28
- 5000m: 13:20.31
A big thank you to John for giving us the opportunity to connect with him, and to Hawi Keflezighi for assisting to make it happen!
