Dan Huling Announces Retirement From Professional Running

After 12 years of professional running, Bowerman Track Club steeplechase veteran Dan Huling, has announced his retirement from professional running.

Dan retires as one of the country’s longest-running and most-accomplished steeplechasers. Between 2006 and 2017, he made four global outdoor track teams, finishing a career high fifth at the 2015 IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China.

"[2015 World Championships in] Beijing was probably my proudest moment of my career. It felt satisfying to finally put something together after eight years of pro running that I thought I had been capable of for some time.”

Dan began his professional career in 2006 after graduating from Miami University of Ohio and immediately elevated himself to the top of the national scene with a third-place finish in the steeplechase at the 2006 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. What followed was a string of national podium finishes, claiming a top three spot seven times in his 12-year career, including a US Championship title in 2010. Dan retires with personal bests of 3:37.53 (1500), 3:57.99 (Mile), 8:13.29 (3000SC), and 13:18.42 (5000).

"My entire career I worked as hard as I could to be the best I could. The steeple morphed quite a bit from when I started to when I finished, so to be top 3, to be expected to make each team for so long is kind of cool. I'm extremely proud of my record at USA's and how I hung in after [missing the Olympic Team in] 2012, which was pretty devastating for me."

Since 2013, Dan has been a member of the Bowerman Track Club, providing a veteran voice and experience to the team that included fellow steeplechasers Evan Jager, Matt Hughes and former BTC member Andy Bayer.

Dan and Evan at 2015 US Championships where they went 1-3 in the 3000m Steeplechase to qualify for World Championships in Beijing, China. 

“Being part of the Bowerman Track Club was an unforgettable experience. I'll be forever grateful to Nike for giving me an opportunity to represent the best professional club in the world. The guys on the team are truly some of my best friends, and the camaraderie and rapport we have is something special. I don't miss racing or training at all, but "running with the guys" is something I think about almost every day and I miss it a lot.”

Those sentiments were echoed by Jager,

“Dan was an incredible teammate to have for the last 5 years. He joined the group and was able to have an immediate impact on my steeple career. Dan and I did almost every bit of training together and there was never a dull moment spent with him and I think every other BTC member would attest to that. At the end of the day, I wanted Dan to have success in the sport just as badly as I wanted to be successful and I think that says a lot about Dan's character. He is most definitely missed during the day to day grind.”

In his retirement, Dan looks forward to navigating the conventional 9 to 5 at his new career and spending more time at home in Portland, Ore. with his wife Kelly and their two young sons, Miller (3) and Adrian (6 mo.).

"The best thing about retirement is going to be spending time with Kelly, Miller and Adrian. Kelly put up with a lot for 12 years, especially in 2015 taking care of Miller while I was barely ever in Portland. I look forward to doing activities in which I'll have an over 60% chance of tearing my ACL."

Dan holds newborn son Adrian with wife Kelly and son Miller (3)

Weekend Action

The BU crew doing a tuneup workout on Tuesday.

It’s a promising and international weekend of racing for the Bowerman Track Club with marathon debuts in Tokyo and fast track races in Boston. We’ve got the details for your viewing pleasure.

Tokyo Marathon

Andrew Bumbalough and Betsy Saina will both run their debut marathons in Tokyo on Sunday (Saturday in the US). Betsy is coming off of a career year in which she ran 30:05 to place 5th in the Olympic 10,000m and ran 67 minutes for the half marathon. ‘Bumbi’ is returning to form after an 18 month struggle with two major injuries, hernia surgery and a sacral stress fracture. He has been rebuilding his fitness slowly since the summer of 2016 and ran 28:06 for 10,000m in November in Tokyo, a solid stepping stone to his marathon buildup. First marathons are unpredictable, but both Betsy and Bumbi have had a good block of training to prepare them for the challenge.

When: Saturday February 25th, 7:10 ET

Where to Watch: NBC Sports

BU Last Chance Invitational

Most of the professional men of BTC will be taking to the track in Boston on Sunday evening. Steeplers and rivals Dan Huling and Matt Hughes are in the mile along with a big portion of the deep NJ/NY Track Club middle distance squad. Watch this one with attention as there is a burrito bet* on the line between Matt and Dan.  The remainder of the squad (Ryan Hill, Moh Ahmed, Evan Jager, Lopez Lomong, Chris Derrick, and Woody Kincaid) will be in the 5,000m which has the makings of a cracking race. Word on the street is that the race will be rabbited at around 8:00 for 3,000m (13:20 pace). The very solid field also includes sub-13:10 performers Ben True, who edged Ryan and Moh at the Millrose Games two mile, and Eric Jenkins, who won the Millrose mile. 

After the Boston meet, Lopez, Evan, Ryan, and Woody will head to Albuquerque for the US Indoor Championships next weekend.

*Burritos are the preferred form of currency for wagers amongst BTC professionals.

When: Sunday February 26th, 3:10 ET (mile) and 4:55 ET (5,000m)

Where to Watch: Flotrack

Flotrack's Top 5 Events to Watch at Husky

Flotrack previews the top events at the Husky invite, featuring Evan Jager, Matt Hughes, Dan Huling, and Lopez Lomong.