We have exciting news for fans of The Shakeout Podcast! After an extensive search, Canadian Running has found the perfect host to lead the next chapter—someone already well-known in the Canadian track and field community. Meet John Gay, the 2020 Olympic men’s 3,000m steeplechase finalist, who is ready to bring new perspectives and insights to the podcast each week.
The 28-year-old from Kelowna, B.C., sees The Shakeout Podcast as the perfect platform to merge his passion for journalism with his extensive knowledge of running. “I’ve always loved storytelling, and this podcast allows me to explore that in a space I know well,” says Gay.
Although he didn’t start running at a competitive level until Grade 11, his love for it began much earlier, sparked by weekly runs with his dad. “I remember we had this ridiculous static stretching routine—something that would definitely get some weird looks at start lines today,” he recalls with a laugh. “I had no idea back then what I was getting into, but running quickly became a part of who I was.”
Gay’s high school coach, Nathan Reiter, saw his potential and opened his eyes to collegiate opportunities. From there, Gay’s rise was meteoric; he won three NAIA championships for the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds and set school records in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase event.
When asked about his favourite running moment, Gay admits it’s a little cliché, but in 2021, he lived out every professional runner’s dream: competing in an Olympic final. He still remembers the moment he secured one of the six fastest non-automatic qualifying spots in the heats. “I was so happy everything came together, I just wept with joy,” he says. “I also learned what separates good athletes from great ones—being able to use the rounds as a stepping stone to get the absolute best out of yourself in the final.”
Beyond his personal success, Gay is invested in Vancouver’s running community. During the pandemic, when most races were cancelled, he and a few other Vancouver athletes organized opportunities for runners to work together and still chase their goal times at a local high school.
Gay says he’s excited about the current and next generation of Canadian runners, and one name tops his wish list of interview guests: Olympic 800m silver medallist Marco Arop. “I was his roommate at the Tokyo Olympics, and now he’s a global superstar,” Gay says. “He has such a compelling story, and I have so much respect for how he’s thrived at every level.”
As Gay transitions from a career on the track to road racing, he is excited about what’s ahead. “With a track meet, you are the entertainment. But on the roads, you’re part of something bigger—you’re sharing the same experience with thousands of others. I find that spiritual.”
The switch from the track to the roads isn’t the only major change for him; he and his wife, Cami, have also relocated–from Vancouver to Flagstaff, Ariz.–so he can train alongside some of the best distance runners in the world.
When asked what he was most excited about as the new producer and host of The Shakeout Podcast, Gay says it’s the opportunity to hear and share compelling stories from the running world. “The whole reason I was excited by this was to hear the passion from others. We all have a shared identity and value for running,” he says.
The first episode of The Shakeout Podcast with John Gay drops on Feb. 20, with new episodes available every Thursday on Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, or wherever you get your podcasts.
