Lets all remember that its possible she just doesn't enjoy pro running. Before you all disparage her, remember that she almost didn't compete at worlds. No healthy athlete would pass up the World Championships - unless they simply don't enjoy pro running. She has the right to not want to run, and she the right to stop when she wants or take a break when she wants. Everyone writing angry posts at her is just salty they won't ever run with in 20 seconds of her time. Don't get mad at her for having other hobbies, don't be mad if she decides to stop running and be a model - and don't be if she wants to race less and walk runways more. It's her prerogative.
I do think that athletes only racing twice a season is bad for the sport, but its worse to have athletes unhappily, unenthusiastically competing. An athlete motivation / mental health crisis is worse for the sport than slightly less competition. And if she starts to regain motivation, it's likely that she will race more. Let her do her own thing.
I'm not mad at her for having other hobbies, or wanting to be a model, nor do I think it's anyone's decision except hers.
Still, I feel bad complaining about my job because it's way better than the retail job I worked in high school. After getting back from working 8-5 today, it's almost unfathomable that someone could complain about a 7-figure job with flexible hours and a flexible location, where you get paid extra to travel to some of the most beautiful places in the world. And all you have to do for your job is run. Like bro, I'd be on that Stewy McSweyn schedule racing in like a dozen countries every summer.
If she's so weighed down by the pressure on her that she feels like she can't race, she needs to see a medical professional of some kind. I hope for her healthy recovery, and prosperity in whatever she pursues.
If she doesn't need to see a doctor about it, then she just needs to get over it and do her job. Can you imagine working on a project for 6 months, then telling your boss that you're gonna skip the presentation to your client (and also throw away all of your work) because you feel pressure to perform well?
I can understand the why her current state might not seem logical, but remembor that she has been lighting it up since high school. Her last break was 2020, and since then, she ran a record setting collegiate season that turned into an gold medal winning olympic season. Then a pro season that ended in a world title, and she faces an Olympic campaign followed by another world championship in 2025. She's young and ten+ seasons left in her. It seems fair to take one off, reset, and lock in for the next two years. She's had two years in the spotlight, and she's about to have ten more. Let her orient herself. A locked in, motivated Athing Mu is a Olympic medal winning Mu
Also, we don't know that she hasn't been to the doctor or seen a specialist. But she could have, and probably has been, forced to push through her troubles. Hopefully she can reset in the off season, lock in, and come back stronger, but I fear that making her run when she clearly doesn't want to will only make her retire at 24.
Mu could walk into every grocery store and have no one recognize her. How are these athletes so worked up by the spotlight? Because a group of 1000 idiots on letrun expect more?
What a bunch of delusional, clueless bubble boys! LMFAO!
She never said anything about Let's Run, she said Social Media. The "I Love Track & Field" private group on Facebook has 481,000 that regularly bash the sh!t out of everyone whether they can take it or not and you think she is talking about LRC? The "I love Track & Field 2.1" group is public and more tame, but still pretty harsh, that has 111,000 and the granddaddy of them all, the Real Deal Track & Field Group only has 19,000 members, but you definitely need thick skin to be in there.
It's just running. Some athletes just need to get some perspective. Any hardships in sport are a hell of a lot easier than what millions of people go through.
Some folks are critical but most fans love Athing. We want the best for her. I wish she could understand that more. My wife and I met and talked to her briefly at NCAA indoor in Birmingham a couple of years ago as she was there with TAM. She was fun, kind, gracious, engaging and took time with us. She laughed and joked and smiled constantly during that conversation. During the meet last week, she seemed completely the opposite. Could just be the pressure of the competition, which is real regardless of how many fans there are but looked like more than that. None of us have any idea of the real issues but want the best for her.
1. Today's youth are figuratively tied by umbilical cords to social media. Some live for the number of likes they get on their posts. It's reached addiction levels. Negative comments hurt, especially when the targeted person thinks subconsciously that there is some truth to the comment.
2. Nike obviously monitors the social media of its athletes. I wonder if it was Nike that pressured her to participate?
3. She should talk with her friends, old coaches, and older athletes she trusts about her coach. Many here think that she should fire Kersee. I agree. As a 400/800m runner myself, I found that I was drained and discouraged when I tried to move up to the 1500. It is a LONG way for a 400/800m runner to race.
This post was edited 44 seconds after it was posted.
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It's a failed media show. No watchers at all. No interest.
no interest because NBC, USATF, and World Athletics don't market - people know when the premier league season starts because ads are everywhere - we need more ads.
It's hard to market when athletes just randomly decide to not show up for races, or they don't even schedule them in the first place.
I'm not mad at her for having other hobbies, or wanting to be a model, nor do I think it's anyone's decision except hers.
Still, I feel bad complaining about my job because it's way better than the retail job I worked in high school. After getting back from working 8-5 today, it's almost unfathomable that someone could complain about a 7-figure job with flexible hours and a flexible location, where you get paid extra to travel to some of the most beautiful places in the world. And all you have to do for your job is run. Like bro, I'd be on that Stewy McSweyn schedule racing in like a dozen countries every summer.
If she's so weighed down by the pressure on her that she feels like she can't race, she needs to see a medical professional of some kind. I hope for her healthy recovery, and prosperity in whatever she pursues.
If she doesn't need to see a doctor about it, then she just needs to get over it and do her job. Can you imagine working on a project for 6 months, then telling your boss that you're gonna skip the presentation to your client (and also throw away all of your work) because you feel pressure to perform well?
I can understand the why her current state might not seem logical, but remembor that she has been lighting it up since high school. Her last break was 2020, and since then, she ran a record setting collegiate season that turned into an gold medal winning olympic season. Then a pro season that ended in a world title, and she faces an Olympic campaign followed by another world championship in 2025. She's young and ten+ seasons left in her. It seems fair to take one off, reset, and lock in for the next two years. She's had two years in the spotlight, and she's about to have ten more. Let her orient herself. A locked in, motivated Athing Mu is a Olympic medal winning Mu
Also, we don't know that she hasn't been to the doctor or seen a specialist. But she could have, and probably has been, forced to push through her troubles. Hopefully she can reset in the off season, lock in, and come back stronger, but I fear that making her run when she clearly doesn't want to will only make her retire at 24.
Name another sport where a pro athlete takes a year off because the schedule is too busy. Baseball...162 games a year plus playoffs...they don't take time off.
In what other sport is the World/League/National Championship NOT the end of the season?
Alpine skiing. The world championship happens in the middle of the season, and the world cup circuit goes on after that. Unlike track athletes, skiers take the circuit very seriously.
Tennis has tournaments after the last major of the season (US Open), and ends with tour championships. (ATP Finals / WTA Finals.) That's like having DL Final after the World Championships in track & field.
NFL / NBA / MLB is not the global standard in pro sports.
Mu could walk into every grocery store and have no one recognize her. How are these athletes so worked up by the spotlight? Because a group of 1000 idiots on letrun expect more?
What a bunch of delusional, clueless bubble boys! LMFAO!
She never said anything about Let's Run, she said Social Media. The "I Love Track & Field" private group on Facebook has 481,000 that regularly bash the sh!t out of everyone whether they can take it or not and you think she is talking about LRC? The "I love Track & Field 2.1" group is public and more tame, but still pretty harsh, that has 111,000 and the granddaddy of them all, the Real Deal Track & Field Group only has 19,000 members, but you definitely need thick skin to be in there.
What a bunch of delusional, clueless bubble boys! LMFAO!
She never said anything about Let's Run, she said Social Media. The "I Love Track & Field" private group on Facebook has 481,000 that regularly bash the sh!t out of everyone whether they can take it or not and you think she is talking about LRC? The "I love Track & Field 2.1" group is public and more tame, but still pretty harsh, that has 111,000 and the granddaddy of them all, the Real Deal Track & Field Group only has 19,000 members, but you definitely need thick skin to be in there.
They get afraid to lose. They look fir the perfect moment to race, and that us never.
Bol raced 25 + times. She seems to have a healthy attitude to winning and losing. She's a great team mate and is precious about what others think about her.
Not sure if this factors in for her at all, but I found the 800 to be a fairly stressful event to train for. You have to balance so many different energy systems over a training cycle, plus a bigger emphasis on all the extra strength work & technique. When you're sharp and firing on all cylinders it's amazing, but if you're a little off it's very noticeable and that lack of "pop" can really get in your head.
In the last couple years I transitioned to more of a 5k focus and found the day-to-day training a lot more relaxed mentally. Maybe that's just me though.
Imagine if pro athletes had to deal with real pressure. Like where does their next meal come from or how they are going to pay rent this month or my child has a terminal illness. Let's keep things in perspective.
Imagine if pro athletes had to deal with real pressure. Like where does their next meal come from or how they are going to pay rent this month or my child has a terminal illness. Let's keep things in perspective.
This post is excellent and one we should all keep in mind. We likely all get "stressed out" over things that don't really matter, and it is rather insulting to people who have real problems.
Mu could walk into every grocery store and have no one recognize her. How are these athletes so worked up by the spotlight? Because a group of 1000 idiots on letrun expect more?
What a bunch of delusional, clueless bubble boys! LMFAO!
She never said anything about Let's Run, she said Social Media. The "I Love Track & Field" private group on Facebook has 481,000 that regularly bash the sh!t out of everyone whether they can take it or not and you think she is talking about LRC? The "I love Track & Field 2.1" group is public and more tame, but still pretty harsh, that has 111,000 and the granddaddy of them all, the Real Deal Track & Field Group only has 19,000 members, but you definitely need thick skin to be in there.
And that’s real people not hiding behind unregistered usernames
Pressure from the media and fans? Hardly anyone cares about track and field. If Josh Kerr walked into a Firestone store tomorrow in the USA to get his oil changed no one would know who he is. They would have him sign his name, get his phone number, and call him when it's done having no idea that this guy just won a gold medal. Same goes for Jakob.
If Y isn’t something substantial, then the pressure you feel about X is probably self-imposed and not that big of a deal.
For example:
If I don’t work, then my rent won’t be paid and I’ll be homeless in 3 months once my landlord kicks me out (Real pressure, albeit something that most people live with everyday).
If I don’t run well in this track meet, then another athlete will get the gold, I’ll get criticized by a small amount of people, and I may get paid less down the road (not real pressure).
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