Is Joel Reichow The Next Great American Marathoner?

Joel Reichow, 32, finished sixth at the TCS New York Marathon on Nov. 2 in 2:09.56, securing the top American finish on the day. It was a career performance for Reichow.

Brian Wilson

Not long after Joel Reichow became the first American finisher at the TCS New York Marathon on Nov. 2, claiming a sixth-place finish in a career-best 2 hours, 9 minutes and 56 seconds over 26.2 miles, his life began to change in pretty abrupt ways.

First came the realization that he was $10,000 richer, a fact not lost on the unsponsored runner from Minnesota who admits he makes “just enough to get by” without the added incentive of prize money.

Next was the exclusive right that he had been the top American at the world’s largest marathon, a 2025 installment that once again broke a record for most participants with 59,226 runners. Nobody had given the 32-year-old Reichow, whose hairstyle might remind some of “Weird Al” Yankovic, a chance to be that guy.

But he proved them wrong, clocking a negative split over his final 13.1 miles in 1:04.35.

“It felt really good to measure up against the top Americans,” Reichow told me this week. “I deserved to be there, and I deserve some credit for that.”

Next came the public displays of support and congratulations from runners he had just beaten on the course—names like Joe Klecker and Reed Fischer. They were athletes who were expected, at least on paper, to outlast the Minnesota Distance Elite athlete at the finish line. But even they knew that respect was due after a result like that.

Then there was the added media spotlight. Reichow’s Instagram count has doubled, going from about 800 to 1,700 followers. He’s also earned some nice publicity, scoring interviews on a few national running podcasts–despite being admittedly introverted.

But perhaps most importantly?

The tacit reward for such an expert finish. Reichow has since begun taking calls from agents. The right one could secure him a contract and afford him the opportunity to earn a sustained living from the sport he’s invested so much in.

“That will move things along,” Reichow said.

What Led Up To Joel Reichow’s Big Finish In New York?

Marathoning is not for the faint of heart. The sport can make stars out of anyone, but it can also just as quickly wear even the most gifted down. Injuries can curtail seasons and careers. Performance-anxiety can impact results. Suboptimal training conditions can even deter an athlete’s ceiling.

Reichow is a professional runner, but he’s never been some big fish. For years, he’s been working part-time at a running store in Minneapolis to supplement his marathon training. He’s secured good results over a variety of races over the last few years, from 25-kilometer road running championships to 10-milers and half marathons. He’s finished 56th and 28th at the last two U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. He was third at the California International Marathon in 2022.

Running the New York marathon for the first time a year ago, he was 18th.

But while he’s had pretty good moments, including his 14th-place finish of 2:10:37 at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in 2023, he’s also been on the periphery of American distance running.

That is, until things changed in 2025. In June, wearing the Puma FAST-R Nitro Elite 3 supershoes, Reichow won the Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota, a race that netted him $11,500.

About five months later, wearing the ASICS Metaspeed Edge Tokyo in New York and feeling confident of his race plan, he added another $10,000 to the pot, pushing his earnings into a level that will make sustaining life a bit easier.

“It takes some pressure off my financial situation,” he said. “Having (prize money) takes off some of the stress.”

Reichow came into the marathon knowing how he was going to race. Knowing the course was difficult to master, he showed conservatism over the first 13.1 miles, hitting the halfway mark at 1:05.21. But quickly, he knew things would change on the second-half. “I knew something would happen near Queensboro,” he said of the hilly section. He forced the issue at around the 16-mile mark, reattaching himself to the chase group on the leaders. That workmanlike decision ultimately gave him the edge he needed to finish inside the top 10—a goal he envisioned before the race.

“Obviously, I’m super excited how that went,” he said.

Who Is Minnesota Distance Elite Runner Joel Reichow?

Reichow grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota and attended White Bear Lake High School before he left for college and became a two-time All-American in cross country at South Dakota State University. He officially joined the Minnesota Distance Elite in 2018.

That same year, he was 12th in the U.S. Outdoor Championship men’s 10,000-meter final, but when COVID hit, he decided to move up to the marathon distance, following teammates like Katie Moen (now Jermann), Kevin Lewis and Dakota Lindwurm (now Popehn).

Popehn rose in prominence in 2024 when she finished third in the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, earning a spot on the line in Paris. Like Reichow, she performed well at a small college, turned pro and then gritted through a few years before massive success came.

Her experience may be the closest avatar to Reichow, whose ambition is to qualify for the U.S. marathon team ahead of the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.

“Everybody has the Olympic team on their mind,” Reichow said. “But my short-term plan is just continuing to move up and progress and get things in the right direction.”

What’s Next For Joel Reichow?

Reichow has earned himself some rest after a busy 2025.

Then again, with any success comes the reminder that you’re only as good as your last result. On a tough course in New York, Reichow proved his chops. But his career best time will finish the year 11th-best for U.S. athletes over the 2025 season and 332nd globally.

That means Reichow might not want to give up his part-time job. “I would still like to help out with the store,” he said.

In the meantime, he may be easier to spot in the time since his big finish. “The rising attention and popularity has been cool,” he said. “I haven’t gotten this much attention outside of Minnesota running before.”

But as any marathoner knows, what’s next are those miles on the road.

“The goal is a moving target,” he said. “There is no exact goal. But you’ll know when you start again.”