I like Miller's personality and his go-for-it approach. I am critical of his tactics, as are numerous posters here, because we can all see a dude who should be at 1:42 and at the least in the medal mix. He has a certain number of opportunities to deliver at the highest level, and wasting prime form on poor tactical races like that last clanger is costly. Hoey and Hoppel and Kessler get the most out of themselves at 800. Miller, by miles, does not.
LR poster Kobbs' shock collar idea for both him and Boling is a good coaching plan. To reinforce, these dudes should train together and cultivate the mindset that there are times to self-restrain and there are times to go insanely all-out.
But mental prep needs to augment the Pavlovian aspect cultivated above.
The SNELL thread contains the blow-by-blow of the legendary 800 on 3 Feb 1962. In SNELL's own words as recounted in "No Bugles No Drums." These guys - everyone - should read that and absorb. SNELL's total self-certainty and knowledge allowed him to make the necessary lightning-fast in-race decisions and commitments at the perfect moment for each race to maximize his performance.
Let's analyze the legendary run first. In the Christchurch race, there are multiple points where the clear-minded and fast-thinking SNELL assesses his condition and elects promptly to act perfectly to deliver #performancemax.
1. Robinson (NZ 440 champ, OG competitor at 400) tears off the line at international 400 pace. SNELL doesn't immediately pursue all-out but settles into a fast stride, with gaps between him and Robbo, and then him and the pack.
2. SNELL tries to reach Robbo, calling "Barry! Wait!" Robinson does not hear, according to SNELL. Robbo maintains his mega-cadence.
2. SNELL sees this... elects to press harder "I stretched out in pursuit...almost sprinting but not quite..."
3. At 400, the epic audible call begins "forty...." SNELL is shocked but instantly computes his condition, and realizes, this is a lifetime run. He can attack. He MUST attack.
4. Just after the bell "Suddenly for some unaccountable reason, Barry moved out a lane... Now there is no holding back. "I threw caution to the wind and sprinted..."
4. Knowing the fatigue would overwhelm him at 660, preparing to keep legs churning and maintain form.
5. Result. 1:44.3. One of the most epic WR's in history.
IMO this is unparalleled tactical genius in the 800. But that's just one example of his complete tactical mastery.
SNELL's total and prolonged dominance of the 800 - imo the most difficult event to dominate because of the random nature and costs of tactical mistakes as well as unpredictable pace - is worthy of detailed study by young grasshoppers.
His 800 in Germany when he reeled in Paul Schmidt (German champ, 4th placer in 1960 OG 800) is forgotten in the statistical lists - "merely" a 1:48 - however, as SNELL stated, Arthur Lydiard himself said that was the best race he ever saw SNELL run. Because he fell near the start. And got up and chased the receding field. And steadily, laser-focused, closed on Schmidt steadily and took him down at the line.
Nobody falls and wins against world-class opposition in an 800, whatever the era. Except SNELL.
Even the 1962 EG 880y, where he was not in his very best condition (it was late in the year, months after his miraculous Jan/Feb WR spree in 1962) his tactics accounted for his condition, the hot and windy day, and his competitors powers. He assessed precisely what he needed to do to beat George Kerr, who was in good form, and when he committed to the charge at 250 out, he gapped everyone immediately except Kerr. "I knew he would go with me.....When he was not able to pass with fifty to go, I knew I had him" Look at Kerr's silky form, always elegant, and SNELL's "Sherman tank with overdrive" SI style, in that stretch. Again, cold-blooded tactical perfection, planned well in advance and executed 100percent in the heat of the race.
Then we have the 1964 OG, where he was boxed, in fact this race unfolded almost exactly like 1960 for the first 500. Conscious of his super-powerful form, no panic. He drops back out of the box at 500, voluntarily assuming last place for a moment, then swings wide into lane 3 to mow down the field down the backstretch and by the final turn he is ahead of Crothers and Kerr knowing he just needs to maintain for the gold. At the time that was run, his 1:45.1 was the second fastest of all time. Ice-cool composure indeed. We could argue that him allowing himself to get boxed at 400 was a tactical mistake but he dealt with this minor inconvenience like the champ he was. Total race- and self-awareness and confidence in abilities, underwritten by training, are necessary to operate in this way.
SNELL himself "I couldn't have done that in Rome"
That's why BMill needs to study and learn from the master.