Aden first attended and ran for West.T. Woodson High School, for which he won the men"s 1000 meters at the 1990 VHSL Group American Automobile Association State Indoor meet. After his sophomore year, however, he transferred to Fork Union Military Academy.
He is the younger brother of Jama Aden. High school Collegiate Aden attended and ran for George Mason University after transferring from Central Arizona Central Committee. He ran in both the men"s 800 meters and 1500 meters at the 1996 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Post-collegiate Aden ran for Somalia at the 1999 World Championships in Athletics, and made it to the semi-final round of the men"s 1500 metres.
In 2000, right before that year"s United States Olympic Trials, he got United States citizenship and opted to represent the United States in international competition.
