Lap by lap, explain to me what went through your mind during your 1500 or mile PR

400 M: happy to be here: just going with the flow

800 M: self-doubt: if I were running the 800M, I'd be done by now, why do I do this to myself?

1200 M: thinking about ordering out for something to eat--wait, did the announcer just say that the free pizza has arrived? whaaat?

1500 M: finishing strong--I can see the finish line: smoke 'em if you got 'em, ladies

female veteran (maybe even super veteran, can't remember, don't care) runner; 6:35

Hurts

Hurts

Hurts

Hurts...puke...4:38

pace

pace

build

race

words

words

more

words

lap 1: dam this is fast

lap 2: DAM THIS IS FAST

lap 3: i'm going to look like a fool if i get dropped

lap 4: KICK DAMMIT

I still remember my state of mind for my 1500m PR form many years ago.

Mo goal was to hit the Olympic Trials provisional standard (1996) which would be sub 3:43.

I was aiming for 59s.

The field was loaded. Ron Harris, Jim Spivey, Eric Nedeau, Paul Vandegrift, ...

I think 14 or 15 people on the line including two rabbits.

The weather was perfect - after 8 pm dusk.

They called us to the line and I rushed over as I threw my T short off and to the side.

Bang!

I was just rolling under control for the first lap and hit 59. Perfect.

For the second lap I was focused on keeping contact as I had lost contact the second lap of my previous race.

I ran that lap hard and kept up - I heard 1:58 as I passed the 800 mark (great!)

The third lap was about keeping control and pushing too hard.

I saw Spivey in from of me and latched on to him.

I saw the clock with a lap to go but I don't think of 1100m splits and just shut my mind off.

I hit the 1200 mark in 2:58. I felt good and was happy about the split.

I picked it up down the backstretch but under control. Didn't want to lock up too soon.

I just kept following Spivey.

Home stretch I kicked it in and finished strong but relaxed at the line and someone passed me (Bill Bland) right at the finish.

I saw 3:41 on the clock as I came to the line and just sat around waiting for the results.

I think it took a half hour or so but I was credited with 3:42.1.

Two weeks later I found that my time did qualify me for the Trials and I got to go to Atlanta.

1. aaaaahhhhhhhhhh

2. aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

3. AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

4. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaHHHHHHHHHH

4:55, old, slow

First quarter - damn I've never ran this fast before

half way point - okay, I fell off a bit, still under PR

Three quarters - hold it, don't let the dream go!

Last quarter mile - it's in the bag, faster, more relaxed

5:11 - hey, I'm slow!

My last race of the 2013/14 season, and meant to be a high-quality field... Only one other guy is on the start line, a 4:04 1500 man...

My coach told me to "tuck in" and I did just that...

Lap 1 - this feels good, bit slow but no worries (68)

Lap 2 - still feel good, can't believe there's only two of us running! (2:16)

Lap 3 - through the bell in 3:08 and I continue to sit on him. Still feeling good.

Lap 4 - 300 to go I throw down the fastest kick of my short career so far. Flat-out with 250 to go. This hurts like hell but I reckon I can hold it through the bend and down the straight. 120 to go and the guy blows by me, and I try to hold onto him, as my legs turn to jelly and my head spins... I cruise over the line and hear 4:08 as my time!

just turned 18, took 2 seconds off a much better-paced 1500 PB of 4:10.

Lap 1 - You imbeciles are going out way too fast.

Lap 2 - Imbeciles is the wrong word. Morons is a better word.

Lap 3 - I see you ...

Lap 4 - Thank you for running out of gas 1400 meters in and letting me win.

National Meet 1500

Lap 1--64 should not feel this hard. what if I DFL??

Lap 2--2:07 this is gonna be a looooong push for home

Lap 3--Didn't see a split. OHHH man everyone is moving ahhhhhhhhhh

Last 300--Latch on to those guys it's the freaking national meet sprint sprint sprint holy cow I'm leading oh crap I got caught.

3:47 low.

Lap 1: Relax

Lap 2: Relax

Lap 3: Relax

Lap 4: Race

3:56, age 23

First: smooth, fast, mild trepidation about what's to come

Second: maintaining, doing work

Third: despair at the half, keeping panic at bay, resolve when I hear the bell

Fourth: focus on form, relaxed neck, running from hips, hard push off, accelerate painfully on clubhouse turn, nearly dead within 50 yards of tape

I ran 4:04 at a college that has given us a number of Olympians and NCAA champions and two American record holders in the middle distances. I was just good enough to get into some big races and lose by a lot. My 4:04 went something like this:

Lap 1: 60 point something

Hey, I'm in striking distance, and I feel relaxed. I can run 60s in practice all day!

Lap 2: 2:01 point something

This doesn't feel too bad, but I'm not sure what to do about the gap that is opening up between me and my two roommates and those other guys. Screw them. They're crazy and are going to die.

Lap 3: 3:02 point something

This really sucks. Bigger gap, and I would rather be in the stands at this point because I might just blow up. Mathematically I'm thinking 4:02 at the finish, but I know it might be 4:07, too.

Finish: 4:04.04. Almost a two second PR. 4 guys under 4. I'm 8th. I'm elated but I'll pretend that I'm disappointed.

previous pr, 4:29 mile

lap 1: relax, stop running in lane 2 dammit. get situated. wow, that guy out front is making a bold move going this early. what an idiot!

lap 2: ok, we came through in 66. perfect pace. i'm sitting pretty in 4th or 5th just following the pack, still feeling pretty good. looks like that guy who went out too fast is getting reeled in. should i move up? nah. too early.

lap 3 first 200: f**k, now things are starting to hurt. looks like the guys ahead of me are picking it up. i feel like crap right now. uh oh. now i'm in like 7th

lap 3 last 200: you know what? f**k this- time to pull a wildcard move. time to blast off.

the bell: good lord, 3:20? i really slowed down on that third lap. time to turn on the turbo jets

300 to go: passed two guys already. i'm flying!- now i'm in 5th. keep on moving, you're catching these f**kers

200 to go: hah! got another one. time to break into full sprint. got another one!

homestretch: f**k you, guy in second place! dig deep, holditholditHOLDITHOLDIT

20m to go: got him!!!

finish line: 2nd place in 4:25 not too shabby

5 minutes later: *vomits* but with a big ol' smile

in retrospect i should have hung with the leaders more aggressively on lap 3 and ran for the win (winner was already out front at the bell and won it in 4:22).

Lap 1: God I hope my gf isn't preggo. By balls feel drained. Stay with the pack.

Lap: 2 I wish she'd try anal. Stay with the leaders.

Lap 3: OMG this hurts, I wanna ..ck my gfs mom.

Last 300: Think I'll watch Cheers tonight. My coach is a gay scumbag.

Very few people who read lets run will understand this but...

Lap 1: Is that Gricey

Lap 2 : That's f**king Gricey

Lap 3: You can't let f**king Gricey have you

First 200m of last lap: Do NOT let f**king Gricey beat you

Last 200m of last lap: You've got Gricey. Thank F**k...3:53 (1500m)

"Damn, it's hot... Gatorade Invite... ready... still feeling those 300s in my legs... who's in the race? Spring Break for these Penn State and Tulane guys... there's Amos Biwott... wow, he's thin... smooth as silk... alright, let's go, basically feels like a dual meet with some UM guys and this Kenyan... BLAST!! out.. get going.. am working hard, gotta be 95-degrees on the track, just tuck in, keep working, you're feeling good... what was that a 63? Alright, this is good, keep working, you're catching some of your teammates... the Milers are coming back to you, wilting in the heat, 2:06-high... ugh, keep pushing, this is getting tough, you've caught Monty, now you're going for Reed, hey, Biwott ain't too far ahead, let's dig, 3:11, come on, push, you're into the top five, now the last straightaway, dude, you have no kick, just keep working, pass that Pitt guy in the last 20m... way to work for third.. did I see 3:57... 3:58.15 final. PR. Nice.. what did Biwott run? 3:45 solo? Damn."

1500m

Before race: Damn i'm a bit heavy, but this is last chance suck it up!!!

Lap 1: Good positioning just stay in the pack, No Gaps...

Lap 2: Damn it, why does it already hurt?!?! Just stay here, lets see what happens. No Gaps....

Lap 3: Sh!t C'mon, it's hurts someone trip me so i can stop...wait no....Breath....I said NO GAPS!!!!

Lap 4: (technically last 300) Run as hard as you can, you made it this far. (last 100) omg my knee just gave out don't fall.

Lifetime pb 3:37