She just looked sluggish on the final corner. It didn't look at all like the Mu of 2021. It is hard to imagine her not having the speed to go with the leader when she used to kick down everyone in the world in the 800m.
People get out of shape. It happens. Wasn't that one of the reasons Dallas gave for the Luka Dončić trade? Even super stars need to stay in shape.
Is there any anecdotal evidence (or otherwise) as to why she runs so wide all the time? Has she always run like this?
Yes, she has done this for her entire pro career. She has said she does it because she is worried about getting tripped because of her long legs. So she tries to give the other runners a wide berth.
Its really weird though because she also does it while she is in the lead, even when miles clear of the rest.
-She clearly still feels uncomfortable running near the rail...she swung way wide when she took the lead at the end of the final turn and had no urgency to cut back inside once she had the lead.
Why should she cut back inside if she takes the lead after coming around the turn? The shortest distance to the tape would be for her to hold her line from that point, which she appeared to do.
-She clearly still feels uncomfortable running near the rail...she swung way wide when she took the lead at the end of the final turn and had no urgency to cut back inside once she had the lead.
Why should she cut back inside if she takes the lead after coming around the turn? The shortest distance to the tape would be for her to hold her line from that point, which she appeared to do.
She was still on the turn when she had the lead. Cutting inside would have 1) allowed her to run less distance and 2) shut off lane 1, forcing anyone wanting to pass her from behind to swing wide and run extra distance.
Why should she cut back inside if she takes the lead after coming around the turn? The shortest distance to the tape would be for her to hold her line from that point, which she appeared to do.
She was still on the turn when she had the lead. Cutting inside would have 1) allowed her to run less distance and 2) shut off lane 1, forcing anyone wanting to pass her from behind to swing wide and run extra distance.
She might have been concerned that cutting inside would lead to her legs getting tangled. FWIW, the runner who beat her passed on Mu's outside, in lane 2.
In the big picture, I think Mu's race was encouraging. She appears to be working her way back into form, and being in 4:10 shape 10 weeks before the U.S. championships is not a bad place for her to be. I can see her progressively getting fitter over the next 2+ months and being ready when she needs to be.
She isn’t a Jake Wightman type that will quickly shift gears and and make aggressive cuts.
News reports last year said when she went down in the 800m at the Trials, it resulted in an ankle injury, track burns, and Mu being spiked by another runner, according to The Associated Press.
I am confident that the concern around her has more to do with the whole last year
Last year Athing Mu had a serious injury in the spring. She wasn't able to recover from that injury in time. Some of you posters have bad memories.
I know about the injury. I also know that she never recovered from the crash (at the Trials). And that she doesn't love racing. That is why "last year" was terrible.
The fact that this year has somehow been a mystery as well is why people are worried.
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Did she frequently kick them down? Her style was to run from the front, hold them at bay and then open up. I remember NYCGP I think one year (2023?) she did not lead and it was strange and she just unleashed the last 300, but more the exception than the norm. Also not vs any of the big contenders.
The thing that makes this new pack approach concerning is to me it shows a silly emphasis on the 1500 OR her team thinking she can’t get fit enough to win an 800 from the front. For someone with Mu’s stride , it is not the right move to run in the crowded pack. She should be worried about getting in 49/1:55 shape, not navigating packs in lane 2 and 1500s.
Yes, she is normally a front runner. I just meant that at the end of races she could power away from the field (kick) when she needed to. This 1500m was the opposite.
p.s. Here is a good example of her looking very fit, running in lane two, and cleaning up against the best runners in the world:
She just looked sluggish on the final corner. It didn't look at all like the Mu of 2021. It is hard to imagine her not having the speed to go with the leader when she used to kick down everyone in the world in the 800m.
People get out of shape. It happens. Wasn't that one of the reasons Dallas gave for the Luka Dončić trade? Even super stars need to stay in shape.
Looked to me like she just jogged it in, not wanting to go for the win in a race run for reasons other than competition. She looked like she wanted to pace more than race. Which I think fits what they seem to be after. If she has the fire when the time comes, I am not worried that she will do very very well.
She absolutely jogged it in. I wish I could post my video from the meet. Why would anyone intentionally loose? She was trying to kick, as she started getting passed she gives up and jogs it home. To me this was the part that sounded the alarm, she had nothing left and no fight. She should have been at the DL running an 800 in a field of 13 if she wanted experience running in a pack that would actually be helpful.
They really over think this. The reason Mu falls is the same reason she is so unique. Her stride is so long, and her kickback so high that OTHER RUNNERS misjudge how much room they have and accidentally clip her back foot.
It's not fun, but she should just lead or stay outside to avoid traffic and the clips. Sure may be slightly longer, but truth is she's good enough to cover that. Good thing is no road rash and DNF.
The OTHERS misjudge?? She’s the one who doesn’t know how to run in a pack and misjudges. Don’t make excuses for her causing the issues in the track
No excuse, but she can do all the prep work she wants for pack running, and then falls on her nose again, as someone behind her clips her extended leg. Can't really do much about someone running into you from the back.
Tsige Duguma (ETH) - World #3 Keely Hodgkinson (GBR) - World #1 Rénelle Lamote (FRA) - World #5 Shafiqua Maloney (VIN) - World #7 Mary Moraa (KEN) - World #2 Athing Mu (USA) - Unranked Halimah Nakaayi (UGA) - World #9 Jemma Reekie (GBR) - World #6 Prudence Sekgodiso (RSA - World #4
I really think she will reconsider this. After running 4:10.7 and getting beat in the slowest heat, does she believe she is ready for this crew? She has exactly 41 days to be ready for a stronger field than the Paris Olympic final.
I give her about an 80% chance of DNS to try to save her pride. She will not want to go to Hayward, get all kinds of media attention, have the entire American crowd expecting a big victory over Independence Day weekend, and instead get dead last by 10m or more.
The context of running 4.10 depends entirely on what she can currently do over 400m (especially for those making comparisons to previous years).
If she's in 49.x shape, then 4.10 is very encouraging. If she's closer to 51, and I suspect that might be the case although I have nothing evidential to back that up, then things look a little different
I'm glad to hear she's racing again and hopefully putting the misfortunes behind. It was disappointing to see her fall and miss a championship race with her potential. To see she's racing is a positive.
People are making this out to be way worse than it is.
In 2022, she opened with a 2:02 in April. She went on to win worlds.
In 2023 she opened her season with a 1:58 in June. Then in July ran a 4:10 in the heats and 4:03 to win the USATF champs 1500m. She went on to set her PB in 1:54.97.
I get that people don't like these training runs, fitness test races. But I think she'll win the US 800m title if she doesn't trip.
What do you think now? Is that US title wrapped up or what?
