Athing Mu now running the mile at Millrose - let the predictions begin

How is the field in the 800m. Why do you guys think she's not running that distance? How come she's doing miles? Is this part of a plan to go for the 800m world record by building a better endurance. What about the 400? I was thinking maybe she's running the mile because she won't be expected to win so there's no pressure and she'll still get a nice appearance fee

You're definitely one of those people who have a victim mindset. Not one person has said she is lazy. Not one person has said she is slow. People are, however, saying she isn't quite a miler and this is the upper limit of her range.

TrackCoach wrote:

St. Pierre, KK and Hall are on another level and will be racing each other; however I fully expect Mu to be in that mid-4:20s second group.

I still wonder why we don't get a Mu - Wilson duel in the 800m. But I 'd find it also strange if she ran the mile race with the prospect of 4:29 and 10th place. This will certainly be paced for ca. 2:10 809 m or faster and Klosterhalfen and/or Hull will keep the pace up towards final times around 4:20, so this is not going to be a 4:25-29 sit and kick race. So I'd also expect Mu to run a bit faster than barely sub 4:20

Jo72 wrote:

Hull will keep the pace up towards final times around 4:20, so this is not going to be a 4:25-29 sit and kick race. So I'd also expect Mu to run a bit faster than barely sub 4:20

I meant of course "faster than barely sub 4:30", i.e. ~4:25-26 which would be surprisingly good.

Don't really understand the reasoning behind her entering the mile. She's been doing all the right things and it was working out great for her - running a 1:54 last summer was within reach.

Training for the mile will definitely kill some of her raw speed and worsen her chances in achieving big things in the 400m. As for the mile, she would have to improve A LOT to become a major international player.

Klosterhafen will lead (or be right behind the rabbit) like she always seems to do. If Mu tucks in behind her, it will be tough for everyone else to make a move - the combined stride length and back kick of those two will leave third pace 15 meters from the front! I'll go with an optimistic 4:23.

And, for people asking why is she racing this...how can you not be excited? This reminds me of what it would have been like if Bolt had ever tried the 800. Mu isn't Bolt, but it's always fun to speculate about how someone would do if they moved up in distance and now we get to see it.

I am neither a troll nor his father. Somebody said my son didn't exist, as in he is a unicorn, which is why I provided one example that people would have heard of. It was not my intention for people to think he was my son when I provided the link but merely to show that many good milers run 49. I apologize for the confusion

I feel like this is a 2 woman race (Purrier/Klosterhalfen), with a winning time under 4:20. Then most of the field goes mid-4:20s to low-4:30s. That's where I'd expect Mu to be. No idea if she can run 4:25 or if she'll go 4:32. Excited to find out. We'll probably get one or two surprises in the low-4:20s for 3rd & 4th.

Master of LolIy wrote:

Don't really understand the reasoning behind her entering the mile. She's been doing all the right things and it was working out great for her - running a 1:54 last summer was within reach.

Training for the mile will definitely kill some of her raw speed and worsen her chances in achieving big things in the 400m. As for the mile, she would have to improve A LOT to become a major international player.

Did I miss where it said she is training for the mile? Im sure she is still training as an 800 runner but nothing wrong with stepping up in distance early in the season. If she runs the 1500 at USAs this summer then it is fair to ask some questions.

Master of LolIy wrote:

Don't really understand the reasoning behind her entering the mile. She's been doing all the right things and it was working out great for her - running a 1:54 last summer was within reach.

Training for the mile will definitely kill some of her raw speed and worsen her chances in achieving big things in the 400m. As for the mile, she would have to improve A LOT to become a major international player.

I don't think she wants to move to the mile. She is probably in an off-season and far from peaking, building aerobic base. In this context, it makes sense for her to race a longer distance with no pressure, just to get a bit of extra stimulus and keep in touch with the racing feeling.

Master of LolIy wrote:

Don't really understand the reasoning behind her entering the mile. She's been doing all the right things and it was working out great for her - running a 1:54 last summer was within reach.

Training for the mile will definitely kill some of her raw speed and worsen her chances in achieving big things in the 400m. As for the mile, she would have to improve A LOT to become a major international player.

Running an early mile/1500 is exactly what she did when she did all the right things last year five months before peaking. So I think you answered your own question. World Championships are 5 months away.

There's no reason to expect low 4:20s in an exhibition season race, but there's also no reason to say that a 49/1:55 runner doesn't project out to low 4:20s. Should be interesting!

Hull and Norris ran sub 4 last summer and both seem in decent shape (Hull 8:39 3k, Norris 2:39 1k) so they could well be in the mix and also run around 4:20.

It will be Purrier's first race in a long time AFAIK (did she race at all after Tokyo?) and KoKo has run some good long distance after her injury but not really fast middle distances, so these two might be the favs but not without question marks.

snowdays wrote:

now post your son's profile coward

That's not called for.

It looks like she is working on her strength phase in training so it makes sense she is running the mile. I have no idea what she will run, but you have to think a sub 4:30 should be easy for her.

Last year she concentrated on speed before actually running the 800s, she ran really well in the 400M. I would like to see her run 49 low, 48 high in the 400M as that would bode well when she starts running 800s.

You have to think she will run 1:54 this year at some point and perhaps dip into the 1:53s, it is going to be fun to watch.

Do you understand how anonymous sites work? Does it matter which of the many guys who meet the criteria are a specific son? They are all sons of anonymous posters. Here are a few interesting ones from 2021 which show that Mu should be able to run a good mile with a 49 400.

Lester ran 49/4:06

Witt 50/4:04

Harrison 50/4:08

English 47/4:19

Mederios 48/4:19

Austin 47/4:18

Flatt 48/4:18

Leach 48/4:18

Of course it makes sense to also run a mile or 1500m in preparation. Somewhere at some meeting...

But Millrose is one of the top indoor meetings in the world and, like Brazier running 400m, Athing Mu, Olympic Champion, NOT running 800m which could have been a great match-up against Wilson and Goule, looks a bit strange.

Everyone's Dad wrote:

Do you understand how anonymous sites work? Does it matter which of the many guys who meet the criteria are a specific son? They are all sons of anonymous posters. Here are a few interesting ones from 2021 which show that Mu should be able to run a good mile with a 49 400.

Lester ran 49/4:06

Witt 50/4:04

Harrison 50/4:08

English 47/4:19

Mederios 48/4:19

Austin 47/4:18

Flatt 48/4:18

Leach 48/4:18

I have no idea who those people are, but the relevant piece is their 800 times. Of course a 49/150 guy who is a 400/800 runner can be expected to run a helluva lot faster for a mile than a 49/155 guy/girl who is a 400/800 runner.