Why does Athing My run outside of lane 1, even when she is leading the whole race???

No, it's not a strategy. That's just how Mu usually runs. Even in college when she was way in front by herself she would run on the outside of lane one.

That's a problem, but her coach doesn't help Mu with those kinds of things. He only understands 800 training, but not 800 racing. He wasn't a mid-distance runner and doesn't understand the finer points of 800 racing, so he doesn't talk to Mu about those kinds of things.

Because when she swings her arms a lot, runners have to go to lane 3, or even lane 4, to pass her.

Does she realize she's running about seven extra meters by doing that?

I don't think she's a great tactical racer, if she tries to front run the finals someone might catch her at the line

She seems to like to run in the center of the lane, maybe it's just what feels right to her, guess she's a centrist

So does everyone else.

She has run that way since she was a sophomore in hs.

And she will keep doing it, because her coach is a sprinter and he doesn't understand 800 tactics well enough to tell her to change.

Don't believe me? Come back next year when someone asks the same question at the 2023 World Championships.

I guess someone needs to tell her when she runs the entire 800m on the outside of lane 1 she is actually running 806.5m. Imagine if she were near the rail how much faster she would run.

Her coach won't tell her, but yes, someone should.

I am sure she knows.... and I am sure she has her reason.

Of course she knows she isn't running next to the rail.

But there isn't a good reason to run like that. It's not even some kind of race tactic to throw off the other runners, because she runs like that even in races when no one else is near her.

Oh my God somebody make this guy a coach! We know he understands 800 racing because he italicizes it.

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There are a few reasons why I prefer to run in lane 2. First of all, I feel like I have more control over my race when I'm not boxed in by other runners. I can focus on my own form and race strategy without worrying about bumping into someone or getting jostled around. Additionally, I find that running in the second lane allows me to better gauge my competition. I can see how the other runners are doing and make adjustments accordingly. Finally, running in lane 2 just feels more natural to me. It's where I feel most comfortable and it's where I perform my best.

I think it's either personal preference or a feeling of some tactical edge, or some combination of the two! I mean she must feel like this something or else she would run on the rail! Personally I think that she does it for a way to keep the competition guessing and a little unsure of what to do... That's just a bit of a hunch I have

Of all the idiotic questions that the LRC “reporters” ask the athletes, this would be one worth asking. We’ve all wanted to know for a while now, and yet, no one seems to ask it. 🤷‍♂️

The answer is that when you have 49/1:55 speed, you can run in whatever lane you want.

I think she is more comfortable off the rail because her legs are so long that she needs more room than most for her long stride. She really can't get compact and increase her turnover if someone passes her on the outside and cuts in front of her and she gets boxed.

You were right about someone asking this question again but we didn't even have to wait until the 2023 World Championships because she did it again at this year's World Championships.

Either you're right about her coach not talking to her about race tactics, or he told her and Mu refuses to listen. Either way it's very strange that she keeps doing it.

After the 800 final, a reporter finally did ask Athing Mu why she runs on the outside of lane one, and she said that she doesn't pay attention to things like that when she runs.

Hopefully Keely Hodgkinson almost beating her will make her pay more attention in the future.

Unfortunately the reporter didn't ask the obvious follow up question which was "Are you going to stop running on the outside of lane one?" I would have liked to hear her answer to that question.