Track & Field

What’s the longest distance you’ve ever raced, and how long was your longest training run while preparing for it? Why?

World-record sprinter reveals training secrets for 400m race

What's the longest distance I've ever raced? And how long was the preparation in training for that run? So as a 200/400-meter sprinter, my longest distance was 400 meters. And starting off as a 200-meter sprinter, and rarely running the 400 other than being a member of the 4 X 400 meter relay, the 400 meters was not my first event. I was a 100/200-meter sprinter, then just pure 200. And it wasn't until later that I added the 400. And as a 200/400-meter combination sprinter, and typically, where the 200-meter sprinters are just 100/200 sprinters, the 400 was a bit of a stretch for me from an endurance standpoint. Although I won gold medals in it, and broke the world record, competing against other 400-meter runners, they had a strength and endurance advantage on me. Where I had the advantage was with my speed and my ability to maintain and carry that speed for a majority of that 400 meters. So if you imagine where the speed can come into to play, is the first 200 meters doesn't take nearly as much out of me because I'm able to run it faster than my competitors, that I can be a little bit more relaxed through that first 200 meters. And then on the back end, when they're starting to get their endurance, I can match them because I've conserved on the front end of the race. So with the speed advantage, I worked a lot in practice, and in training, on speed endurance, and also on endurance itself. So that was what we really focused on in my 400-meter training, so that I could-- I sort of trained to my weakness in that way. So the furthest I would go in training would be 600 meters, or 500 meters, but repeats of those. So two times, 500 meters, or two times, 600 meters, or [? a 6,4,2 ?] step down. But the biggest training advantage, I think I had in preparation for the 400, was focusing on a three times, or a four times 350 meters, so just short of the distance. But the rest factor was very, very short. And that was the key.

As a 200/400-meter sprinter, my longest distance was 400 meters. To prepare for this, I worked on speed endurance and endurance in my training, and focused on doing sets of 350 meters with very short rest periods to maximize the effects of the training.

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The longest distance I've ever raced was 400 meters as a 200/400-meter sprinter. Initially, I focused on the 100/200-meter events and only later added the 400 meters, primarily as part of the 4x400-meter relay. As a combination sprinter, the 400 meters posed an endurance challenge for me compared to dedicated 400-meter runners. However, I utilized my speed advantage to maintain and carry my speed throughout the race.

In training, I worked on speed endurance and overall endurance to address my weakness in the 400 meters. The longest training runs I would do were around 500-600 meters, often in repeat sets. For example, I would do two sets of 500 meters or 600 meters, or a step-down sequence like 6, 4, 2. However, the key training advantage for me was focusing on shorter distances, such as three or four sets of 350 meters, with very short rest periods.

By training to my weakness and emphasizing speed endurance, I was able to excel in the 400 meters despite not having the same level of endurance as dedicated 400-meter runners.

Unlocking My Potential: Harnessing the Power of Complementary Races

Hi Suzanne. Thanks for your question. My favorite race was whichever race. I was running actually. I was at my best when I was running the 200 and the 400. Both of those races actually helped me with the other race. So when I was running the 400 Iran, better in the 200 faster than 200, when I was writing it, 200 around faster in the 400. So my coaching, I really figured out a way to make one event complement the other. So the strength from the 400 sort of I helped my 200, the speed from the 200 helped my 400, and I found that I was at my best when I when I ran both in terms of just which one I enjoyed, it was different at different times depending on the competition. So when I had a competition, it was stronger in the 400. I enjoyed that race and it became a favorite when the competition were stronger in the 200. That was my favorite. So I hope that answers your question. Thanks for the question.

My favorite race was whichever one I was running at the time, as I enjoyed different races depending on the competition. My coaching also helped me to make one event complement the other, so that I could perform to my best ability in both races.

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My favorite race was whichever race I was running at the time. I excelled in both the 200 and the 400-meter races, and each race helped me improve in the other. The strength from the 400 benefited my performance in the 200, while the speed from the 200 enhanced my performance in the 400. My coaching helped me find a way to make each event complement the other.

As for which race I enjoyed the most, it varied depending on the competition. When I faced stronger competitors in the 400, I found that race to be my favorite. On the other hand, when the competition was tougher in the 200, that became my favorite race.

So, my favorite race was not fixed and changed based on the circumstances and competition. I hope this answers your question. Thank you for asking.

Can you tell me the story behind the gold shoes?

Legendary Gold Shoes Reveal Story of Innovation and Speed

Can you tell me the story behind the gold shoes? The gold shoes were a project that I worked on for two years with Nike to make this very lightweight-- there it is. Lightweight shoe. I wanted my shoe to be light. I wanted my footwear to-- I want it to fit like a glove, but I wanted it to be-- what was most important, I explained to them-- I wanted it to be light. And I wanted it to be very stable. And there was a certain thing that I wanted to feel around the curve, especially in running the 200 meters. One of the advantages for me, as a 200 meter runner, was my ability to run the curve really fast. And there was certain footwear that wouldn't allow me to be as fast as I felt like I needed to, and I felt like it was restricting me. So those were the things that I said to my shoe designer, Tobie Hatfield at Nike. And so we worked on it for two years and used some very innovative techniques and materials even that had never been used before in footwear. And then ultimately, the color was just kind of a-- it just happened. The final prototype, when it was brought to me, it looked like a mirror. And it was really cool, and I liked it a lot. And my coach said, I think it's going to just look like a silver shoe from the stands or on TV. And as soon as he said that, I turned to my designer, and I said, can you make that in gold? And he said, I think we can. And I think he was pretty shocked. But yeah, so we worked on this for two years-- all of this technology, all of this innovation that ultimately found itself into a lot of the other Nike footwear products outside of just track and field and running. But what everybody remembers is the color.

The gold shoes were a project two years in the making with Nike. The focus was on making them lightweight and stable, as well as comfortable to run curves quickly. The color was decided when the prototype was made to look like a mirror, and the athlete asked if it could be made in gold. The shoes are remembered by everyone for their color.

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The story behind the gold shoes is a two-year project I worked on with Nike. I wanted a lightweight shoe that fit like a glove but was also stable. As a 200-meter runner, running the curve was crucial, and I needed footwear that wouldn't restrict me. I shared these requirements with my shoe designer, Tobie Hatfield, and we used innovative techniques and materials that had never been used before in footwear.

The gold color was a spontaneous decision. When the final prototype, which looked like a mirror, was presented to me, my coach mentioned that it might appear silver from the stands or on TV. In that moment, I turned to my designer and asked if he could make it in gold. He was surprised but agreed to the challenge.

This project involved years of technology and innovation that eventually influenced other Nike footwear products beyond track and field. However, what stands out in everyone's memory is the striking gold color of the shoes.

Olympic Village: What One Professional Athlete Reveals

What's the Olympic village like? I don't know really that much, I know a little bit. My three Olympics I didn't stay in the Olympic village, which is always surprising to people. So as a professional athlete, I was very fortunate in the sport to do really well. And there's a spectrum with regard to track and field athletes. Some are truly professionals and some are more amateur, so they're supported by their federation or whatever, they're not really at the professional level. That when you think of professional athletes who financially are compensated very well for what they do. I was fortunate to be one of those on that end of the spectrum. So when I was competing as a professional in all of the races during the season, I'm always staying at a very nice hotel where I can be comfortable, where I can have my team with me, my manager, my massage therapist, my physio, all of those people with me. We're all in our own little camp and creating the environment that allows me to produce the best performances that I can. So when you get to the Olympics, it would be very difficult, and I probably wouldn't be able to produce the same performances if all of a sudden now have to change my whole format, I'm away from my team. They're staying somewhere else because they can't stay in the village with me. Yeah, so it's a very different situation. So I didn't ever stay in the village. I hear it's a lot of fun [LAUGHTER] And it's great, it's a great atmosphere. I did go there in 1992. My first Olympics I went to the village and visited some friends of mine. And yeah, it was a great atmosphere, it was a lot of fun. And you can see how athletes for a few weeks stay in there, just the camaraderie and meeting people from different backgrounds and different cultures. And I got to do that every day in my sport. Because fortunately as a track and field athlete, we compete all around the world with athletes from all around the world, which is fantastic. But yeah, I hear the village is a lot of fun and crazy a little bit too. Not sure it's the best place for focus. But yeah, I didn't stay there.

I have never stayed in the Olympic village, but I have visited there. It is a great atmosphere and fun for athletes who stay there for a few weeks. It can be crazy, so it may not be the best place for focus.

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What's the Olympic Village like? I don't have much personal experience with it, but I can share what I know. Surprisingly, during my three Olympics, I didn't stay in the Olympic Village. As a professional athlete in track and field, I was fortunate to be financially compensated well for my performances. This allowed me to stay in comfortable hotels during competitions, where I could have my team with me, including my manager, massage therapist, and physio.

Staying in a hotel with my team created an environment that helped me perform at my best. It would have been challenging to suddenly change that format and be away from my team during the Olympics. They couldn't stay in the village with me, so I opted not to stay there.

However, I did visit the Olympic Village in 1992 and had a great time. It's known for its fun atmosphere and the opportunity to meet athletes from different backgrounds and cultures. As a track and field athlete, I had the privilege of experiencing that camaraderie and cultural exchange every day during my competitions around the world.

While the Olympic Village is said to be a lot of fun and a bit crazy, it may not be the best place for maintaining focus. Though I didn't stay there, I can appreciate the unique experience it offers to athletes during the Games.

What's the story behind your food poisoning at the 1992 Olympics leading up to your world record anchor leg in the 4x400?

Food poisoning at 1992 Olympics: A career disappointment turned cherished gold medal

So, what's the story behind my 1992 food poisoning? The short answer is, is it was the biggest disappointment of my entire career. It was my first Olympic games. I was ranked number one in the world, defending world champion, and the overwhelming favorite to win the 200 Meters at that Olympic games. Unfortunately, I did get food poisoning just before the game started. It wrecked the remaining part of my preparation. And I wasn't really sharp when I started the 200 Meters, and just didn't have any energy, just didn't have anything. I did go ahead and run on the four by 400 Meter Relay and we won the gold medal. At the time, it was no consolation for me because I wasn't there to be a relay member, I was there as a 200 Meter Sprinter. But later, I learned to really cherish that gold medal, and I still do.

I was the number one ranked 200 Meter Sprinter in the world heading into the 1992 Olympics, but unfortunately got food poisoning right before the competition that prevented me from performing to my full potential. Despite this, I still managed to win a gold medal with the 4 x 400 Meter Relay team.

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The story behind my food poisoning at the 1992 Olympics leading up to my world record anchor leg in the 4x400 is a significant disappointment in my career. It was my first Olympic games, and I was the top-ranked athlete, defending world champion, and the favorite to win the 200 Meters. Unfortunately, I fell ill with food poisoning right before the competition, which greatly affected my preparation. I lacked energy and wasn't at my best when I started the race.

Despite this setback, I still participated in the four by 400 Meter Relay and we won the gold medal. At the time, it didn't fully console me because I had come to the Olympics as a 200 Meter Sprinter, not a relay member. However, as time went on, I learned to appreciate and cherish that gold medal. It holds a special place in my heart, even though the circumstances surrounding it were not what I had envisioned.

What is your greatest achievement on and off the track?

Unprecedented Olympic Gold Streak and Overcoming a Stroke

What is your greatest achievement on and off the track? So I'll give you on the track and off the track. I think that the thing that I'm most proud of and I feel is my greatest achievement on the track is my consistency and longevity. I went four Olympic-- won four Olympic gold medals, eight world championship gold medals, no silver medals, no bronze medals. I'm very proud of that, and that's very difficult to do to show up at every major championship, deliver your best performance and come home with a gold medal. So I'm very proud of that, and I think that rather than singling out any one of those, what I'm most proud of and I think my greatest achievement is the entire collection of work. Off the track, I think overcoming a stroke. That was tough. It was really hard, almost four years ago now having suffered a stroke and being unable to walk, unable to stand, and told that I may be able to make a full recovery, I may not, and I just needed to get-- my doctors told me, hey, you just need to give it everything you have and we'll see what happens. And they were very encouraging, but I think it was just the drive that I have, the things that I learned as an athlete when I was able to apply that mindset and what I learned as an athlete to my recovery. I was able to recover, make a full recovery, and relatively quickly. And I think it was because of my experience as an athlete. So those are probably my two greatest accomplishments, and certainly the latter one, recovering from a stroke, was my most important accomplishment.

My greatest achievements on the track are my consistency and longevity, winning four Olympic gold medals and eight world championship gold medals. Off the track, it is overcoming a stroke and making a full recovery.

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My greatest achievement on the track is my consistency and longevity. Winning four Olympic gold medals and eight world championship gold medals without any silver or bronze medals is something I am incredibly proud of. It takes immense dedication to consistently perform at my best and bring home gold medals from every major championship.

Rather than singling out any one of those achievements, I believe my greatest accomplishment is the entire collection of work throughout my career.

Off the track, my greatest achievement is overcoming a stroke. It was a challenging and difficult experience, almost four years ago. I was unable to walk or stand, and there was uncertainty about whether I would make a full recovery. However, with the encouragement of my doctors and my own drive, I applied the mindset and lessons I learned as an athlete to my recovery process. As a result, I was able to make a full recovery relatively quickly. This accomplishment holds great significance to me and showcases the power of resilience and determination.

In summary, my greatest achievements include my consistent success on the track and my recovery from a stroke, with the latter being the most important accomplishment in my life.

Michael Johnson answers your Track & Field questions. See all the advice Michael Johnson has and get answers to your own Track & Field questions.

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Michael Johnson is one of the greatest sprinters of all time, and in the 1990s he dominated the 200m and 400m, going undefeated in the latter for seven years. Born in Dallas in 1967, he studied at Baylor University and was spotted by coach Clyde Hart. After gaining a degree, he committed to full-time athletics and in 1991 won the 200m world title. Sadly, food poisoning denied him individual success at the Barcelona Olympics, but he helped the US 4x400m relay team to gold. From 1993, Johnson went undefeated in the 400m for 58 races and in 1996 achieved the 200m-400m double at the Atlanta Olympics, setting world records in both. He retired in 2001 having won 8 world and 4 Olympic gold medals.