Leading a 1500m to ensure a faster time? Tired of sit and kicks.

Are there no open races or minor meets that don't matter you could go to with the intention to run hard there instead?

Bryan Berryhill won the NCAA 1500 outdoors in 3:37, leading all the way.

The sport is about winning.

However, you race a lot in the season. Picking a race to take the lead in the middle and keep the tempo up could help prepare you to win in certain situations and could make you a better runner.

Bad Wigins wrote:

Running fast is what matters! Nobody cares who scored how many points at which college meet. Your PR is the only thing that will matter to anyone once you graduate.

But you didn't run in college.

"I'm struggling to decide what's more important: winning or running fast. "

You originally said you were winning, but frustrated that you were not running fast.

Pick some races to try to run fast in. Winning isn't everything. Running fast is important to you because you wanted to do it.

_ _ _ _ what the coach says or wants. Its your senior year. What is he gonna do, kick you off the team? Take away your scholarship? Tell him what you would like to do and if he says no you need to try to do it anyway a few times.

Fast times do not always come if you only go for the win. This is not a discussion about Mo, but we all wonder if he can run faster because it seems as though he almost always goes only for the win.

Bad Wigglies wrote:

Bad Wigins wrote:

Running fast is what matters! Nobody cares who scored how many points at which college meet. Your PR is the only thing that will matter to anyone once you graduate.

But you didn't run in college.

Then again, maybe I did.

Jed Clampett wrote:Did you ever watch Dave Wottle's 1972 800 Olympics win? He ran 26, 26, 26, 26! You can't believe that if you just watch the race. (Try You tube.com)

that hoary chestnut needs correcting

the final time was 1'45.8 which is slow

the reason he ran even splits was because he was injured after trials where he did run an awesome 1'44.3WR with -ve splits

that was completely due to Ryun who ran a suicidal start to 2nd lap in 11.6 !!! forcing wottle to run out of his skin to catch up with 52.9 / 51.4

the official trials report says, which i agree with, that wottle off an unmentioned fast 1st lap was "capable of in heat of competition a 1'43"

his munich win was well over 2s slower than what he was capable if uninjured, so his "even pace" was nothing to be proud of : that's the only way he coud run because of the injury but fortunately he won gold

The idea of a heat is to qualify for the next round or final using minimal energy

Here's the problem. Your issue is the same issue many in the 1500 have. You want to run a fast time but don't want to lead until the end. You know leading is risky, you shield wind for others, but hit it yourself. You have to worry about setting the correct pace and then possibly loosing momentum at the end. Others key off you. Its easier to pass than be passed. It's mentally easier to follow and respond as needed the latter half of the race.

Many think this way, thus many 1500 races go out slow because whoever is in first is waiting for someone else to lead. Or everyone is afraid to risk the early pain or die at the end. Everyone is waiting for someone else to set an honest pace and lead.... And it never happens ... And the result is a sit n kick type race. So it Looks like YOU need to take a few races out...so have a smart plan and focus on that plan. Good luck

Bad Wigglies wrote:

Bad Wigins wrote:

Running fast is what matters! Nobody cares who scored how many points at which college meet. Your PR is the only thing that will matter to anyone once you graduate.

But you didn't run in college.

He's so slow that winning has never crossed his mind. His big goal in life was to break 5 for the mile. Something that never happened.