When Efayomi Carr ran his first marathon in 2014, he finished in 3:45. Over the next decade, through consistency, discipline, and a little stubbornness, he chipped away at that time until he ran 2:43 at the Cape Town Marathon. That's when he discovered something unexpected: he was less than 10 minutes away from Sierra Leone's national marathon record.

For most runners, that would be a pretty incredible goal to chase. But for Efayomi, the possibility of breaking the record sparked a much bigger idea. Born in Washington, D.C., with deep family ties to Sierra Leone, Efayomi has spent much of his life moving between cultures and continents. He now lives in Kenya, works in venture capital, and trains alongside some of the world's best distance runners. Through his initiative, Run Salone, he's using his pursuit of the national record to create more opportunities for young runners in Sierra Leone, from access to races and running shoes to mentorship and potential scholarships.

One of the most memorable moments of this conversation came when Jon asked Efayomi what it would feel like to break the record. Rather than describing his own finish line moment, Efayomi talked about a hypothetical 12-year-old kid in Sierra Leone who discovers running through Run Salone, receives his first race bib and pair of shoes, eventually earns a scholarship to run in the United States, and someday breaks the national record himself. That's the outcome Efayomi spends the most time thinking about, and it's what motivates him to keep showing up, both for his training and for the community he's building.

In this week's episode of For The Long Run, Jon and Efayomi discuss his journey from 3:45 to 2:43, what training in Kenya has taught him, how his career in venture capital influences his approach to long-term growth, and why representation matters in running. They also explore the discipline that comes with chasing ambitious goals and how the habits we build through running can carry over into every other part of our lives.

It's a really thoughtful conversation about what it means to pursue your own potential while creating opportunities for others to do the same. Whether Efayomi ultimately breaks the record or not, the work he's doing through Run Salone is already making that pursuit meaningful.

Listen to Chasing Sierra Leone's Marathon National Record with Efayomi Carr, wherever you get your podcasts.

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Jon is a runner, cyclist, and podcast host from Boston, MA, who now lives in Boulder, CO. For The Long Run is aimed at exploring the why behind what keeps runners running long, strong, and motivated.

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