Nice analysis of the situation, Sherlock. Never crossed my mind that Mu may have some sort of anxiety about racing, especially after wiping out in the Olympic trials and getting ridiculed for it.
I realize people have a good idea she has not loved running and has had some anxiety lately. But my analysis is more to the point that everyone is confused why she is doing this. Severe anxiety is real and the worry about enduring pain/discomfort in her races is probably the main culprit. She is racing in low key meets that are a stepping stone to get back to having the drive and mental state of embracing the discomfort.
Why I think she should be running 400m races, heck even some 200m instead of 800m & 1500m races. I dealt with this too, but the 400m is over fast enough that the pain isn't as scary and is more fun. Where the 800m and 1500m are just painful races and the fear of not being in shape, etc adds to the race anxiety.
She needs to mix it up and have some fun racing some 400m and 200m to get back into enjoying track again.
Why I think she should be running 400m races, heck even some 200m instead of 800m & 1500m races. I dealt with this too, but the 400m is over fast enough that the pain isn't as scary and is more fun. Where the 800m and 1500m are just painful races and the fear of not being in shape, etc adds to the race anxiety.
She needs to mix it up and have some fun racing some 400m and 200m to get back into enjoying track again.
I don't know how much pain is involved in a 400m at the professional level, but when I used to run 400m, a few seconds slower than Mu can, it was exhilarating and fun for about 280m, then rapidly the bear jumps on your back. I don't know if I'd describe the last 80m or so as very painful, just slower and difficult to maintain form and concentration, kind of like the pain when you're trying to put up a bench press rep and you're near failure. So she has to endure about 10 seconds of that. I seriously doubt she's afraid of that.
I wish Nike or whoever sponsors her would demand a coaching change. If Kersee can't get Mu ready to run at least a 400m, he has no business working with her.
She has severe anxiety about racing. I could tell this over the last couple of years while watching her interviews. She might be the best in the world, but it doesn't change how she is. I think the over thinking about each race and the pain that comes with it as you approach the start line is a huge issue for her. I assume that is why they are doing low-stress races to get her comfortable and enjoying the sport. Just my prediction. I have dealt with this in the past myself and it can be extremely over whelming.
She has been winning age group titles long before she got to High School, Likely running/competing since age 8-10, Why would Anxiety with racing just suddenly appear?
Maybe it started when a bunch of Yahoos like the ones posting on threads about here began acting like they knew what was best for her and opining loudly about how she should live her professional and personal life and openly speculating about much she loved what she does and how serious she is about her job.
Like Al Sal had no clue about female psyche. had a fragile woman and turned her into a basket case. that kid was not meant for pressure, but fun and guts stuff.
Mu however did manage to hit the top of the world on her own with her prior team. She's one of one.
have a good 1500
she's going nowhere against the "4" minute milers bearded ladies however
She has severe anxiety about racing. I could tell this over the last couple of years while watching her interviews. She might be the best in the world, but it doesn't change how she is. I think the over thinking about each race and the pain that comes with it as you approach the start line is a huge issue for her. I assume that is why they are doing low-stress races to get her comfortable and enjoying the sport. Just my prediction. I have dealt with this in the past myself and it can be extremely over whelming.
If this is the case then there is only one person to thank - that psychopath Bobby Kersee.
Then my next question would be where was Nike, her agent, her parents - someone, stepping in before it got to this? Because you know how you avoid/mitigate this? You get out there and you race. You don't just practice your craft (and your profession), you also practice facing that fear/anxiety and eventually that helps make it manageable - like you do with almost any fear/anxiety. The same way it was manageable at college for her.
How hiding away in this bizarre cult-like training group of Kersee where he deliberately ostracizes all his athletes (unless the price is apparently right) helps an athlete like Mu is f-ing mindblowing. And yet there is no way this just happened without anyone privy to it happening. I mean he is so insane that his athletes aren't even allowed to warm up in the same facility as every other athlete. Next time you are in Eugene and his crew are there (it will only ever be for a trials, national champs or DL final), go down to South Eugene High School if you ever want to see them when they aren't actually racing on the track because that is where they will all be - warm-up, warm-down, all of it.
I don't blame her at all, I just can't believe that nobody around her saw this happening and stepped in before it clearly became too late. Because right now this is absolutely comical - has there ever been a more bizarre situation surrounding an Olympic champion in the history of this sport? If there is one I'd love to know who it is.
This post was edited 53 seconds after it was posted.
She has severe anxiety about racing. I could tell this over the last couple of years while watching her interviews. She might be the best in the world, but it doesn't change how she is. I think the over thinking about each race and the pain that comes with it as you approach the start line is a huge issue for her. I assume that is why they are doing low-stress races to get her comfortable and enjoying the sport. Just my prediction. I have dealt with this in the past myself and it can be extremely over whelming.
Basically if you have such anxiety and issue with running then don't do it. Why waste sponsor and team money. It's obvious she wants the fame and money but doesn't wanted to work for it. In the ordinary world, she would BE FIRED
She is possibly the most talented female 400m ever and your flip “don’t do it” advice would be wasting a tremendous gift. I’m all in for her doing whatever it takes to be 100% for USATF.
I think the problem is that her name is athing. She's not a thing. She's a human. It should be illegal to give your child a name that dehumanizes them.
on her contract, it sounds cute to say "surely this kind of meet doesn't count" but remember that big picture the decision here would be do you invoke some fine print and end your deal with a gold medalist capable of <2 right now despite it all, who could return to being a beast any moment and chase gold at worlds this fall. there are a finite number of those here and abroad.
nike dumps her NB or someone else picks her up and maybe bashes them like a cudgel. or maybe not. but that's the bet. and that bet would be hanging out behind the legalese.
that and if she's having mental health issues would you get in trouble for discrimination.
the US national soccer team, to me, in recent years has become obsessed with schedule difficulty. even when they are playing poorly the answer always seems to be -- even if they just hired a new coach -- to schedule brazil and colombia as though success will somehow rub off. to me we always look like we barely played together before. and when you play colombia or brazil you are just trying to hold on much less execute how it was drawn up in abstract. so maybe schedule some crap teams and work on scheme and rapport.
i think they have a runner who was about to quit and this is them trying to rebuild confidence and mental health. i think it could be calibrated higher to give her some more competition but maybe they want to avoid the need to double and triple check if the entry list for their meets ended up as easy as hoped. it might not be good if it was like, oh, crap, "she" signed up too.
but, yeah, at some point this has to flip over to serious, finite time until trials/worlds, and i'd argue this race set up even easier than the last one, which is not the desired ratcheting up as that time shrinks.
This race this weekend isn’t even close to low key.
It’s like me racing my 5 yr old daughter .
really don’t understand it unless she has contractual minimums and it’s some negotiating tactic
This.
If I’m a show exec, I would see Mu as a “peaked potential” asset. She has already reached the maximum value she can bring to the brand by winning her Tokyo Gold. She is not going to be bring any further attention to the brand and further resources should now be allocated to whoever is leading the event (eg Keely)
She has severe anxiety about racing. I could tell this over the last couple of years while watching her interviews. She might be the best in the world, but it doesn't change how she is. I think the over thinking about each race and the pain that comes with it as you approach the start line is a huge issue for her. I assume that is why they are doing low-stress races to get her comfortable and enjoying the sport. Just my prediction. I have dealt with this in the past myself and it can be extremely over whelming.
Imagine Steph Curry, or Patrick Mahomes refusing to play or michael phelps refusing to swim because they got annnxxxioussssss. get a sports psychologist and get on the starting line jfc, absolutely embarrassing from a gold medalist