Conner Mantz returns from injury for World Half-Marathon

Conner Mantz will race at the World Athletics Half-Marathon Championships in Copenhagen this Sunday, September 20. The 29-year-old American returns to major competition after a long recovery from two sacral stress fractures that derailed his season.

Mantz set the North American marathon record of 2:04:43 in Chicago last October. He told Race Results Weekly he felt surprisingly good the next day, which led to overconfidence. "I think that gave me a false sense of confidence, and how recovered I was," Mantz said. He resumed training too quickly and even paced his wife in a marathon last November, which he attributes to the overuse injuries that followed.

The injuries forced him to miss the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee last January and the Boston Marathon in April. He was unable to run on land again until mid-May.

A Cautious Comeback

His buildup to Copenhagen has been deliberately cautious. Instead of a full racing schedule, Mantz spent the summer at home in Utah gradually rebuilding fitness. A key part of his current regimen involves using a treadmill attachment called the LEVER for two recovery runs each week. The device reduces the load on his legs by about 15 percent.

Coach Ed Eyestone suggested the change after Mantz's second major injury. "Coach and I were like, we've got to change something," Mantz explained. The goal is to aid recovery while maintaining training volume.

Mantz said he only began to feel like his old self about two weeks ago. His first official race back was the Falmouth Road Race on August 16, where he finished fourth in 31:19 for 7 miles-a performance he found encouraging but revealing. Falmouth was a really good test, he said. I felt like I could hold the pace I was running, but I couldn't speed up and make any pace changes.

Tempered Expectations for Copenhagen

His goals for the World Half-Marathon Championships are more modest than they would have been a year ago. In 2025, he would have targeted the podium, a feat achieved only once by an American man when Dathan Ritzenhein won bronze in 2009.

Realistically, I'm not in that shape so I can't go in with the same confidence, Mantz admitted. He estimates he is maybe in 59-minute shape, but notes that windy conditions on Copenhagen's flat course could affect times. He is more focused on competing against the field than on the clock.

Despite not being at peak fitness, Mantz is clear that he is in Copenhagen to race, not only train. You don't fly halfway across the world to go get a workout in, he stated. The event serves as key preparation for the TCS New York City Marathon on November 1. He views it as an opportunity to practice matching moves in a competitive environment.

Life Beyond the Track

The past year has also brought profound personal joy for Mantz and his wife, Kylie. Their son, William, was born last January. Mantz says fatherhood has provided a positive grounding force during his challenging comeback.

Being a father has been great, he said. It makes life more fun, more enjoyable and, in turn, makes running more enjoyable. He now looks forward to returning home to his family after training sessions.

The 26th World Athletics Half-Marathon Championships are part of the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen. The event schedule for the weekend is as follows:

For viewers in the United States, the events will be broadcast on Peacock TV.