Track & Field

Running

Was there a race where you suffered more than any other?

Greg's Marathon Suffering Turns into Olympic Triumph

Hi, Greg. I suffered in 2011 New York City marathon. I left-- unfortunately, my BreatheRight not on my nose, but on my foot, and I have to deal with it through the race. I suffer every step of the way, and got infected. But despite, I ran a PR and still made the Olympic team. Thanks.

Despite suffering from an infection, I ran a personal best and qualified for the Olympic team in the 2011 New York City Marathon.

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In the 2011 New York City Marathon, I experienced a significant amount of suffering. Unfortunately, I had placed my BreatheRight strip on my foot instead of my nose, which caused discomfort throughout the entire race. I had to endure every step with this issue and it even became infected. However, despite the challenges, I managed to run a personal record (PR) and still qualified for the Olympic team.

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

From Marathon Prep to Race Day Strategy: Covering the Distance Efficiently and Getting Faster

Peter, thanks for that question. The longest race I ever done is a marathon 26.2 miles, but the longest I trained for is 28 miles. I want to make sure that I can cover the distance and then on race day, I can concentrate on getting faster but I try to do a race pace for as long as 16, 18 miles and then the long run, 26 or more. And then add a filter that is and then hopefully I'm Each day I can cover the distance, quite efficiently, and also faster than I didn't train. So that's the goal of doing the long run, this wishes and good luck.

My longest run is 28 miles, which I use to train for a marathon (26.2 miles). In training, I try to run at race pace for as long as 16-18 miles, and then add a filter of distance and speed, so that on race day I can cover the distance efficiently and faster than I trained for.

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The longest race I have ever completed is a marathon, which is 26.2 miles. However, during my training, I have gone as far as 28 miles. The purpose of these longer training runs is to ensure that I am capable of covering the full distance of the race. By doing so, I can focus on improving my speed and performance on race day. I typically incorporate race pace segments into my training runs, aiming to maintain that pace for around 16 to 18 miles. The longest training run I do is usually 26 miles or more. The goal is to build the endurance and efficiency needed to complete the race distance comfortably and hopefully perform better than I did during training. This approach allows me to prepare both physically and mentally for the demands of the race. Best of luck to anyone undertaking similar training!

What tips do you have for racing a half marathon?

Master the Half Marathon: Tips for Racing Success!

Aloha, great question. What does he have a half marathon? Half marathon is a perfect distance to accomplish your goal and the key to racing is preparation. I love personally for me. I love them by the water, wherever I travel, if I can and imagine yourself racing at the half marathon. Even tho you are at the mouse 60 find some pills or downhill for whatever might be that you train for the course, you prepare them training. The key to success is preparation, the key to life is education or profession for If so I'm going to go out there and have fun and put the miles and just like today's Sunday, I'm not ready. Getting ready for a half marathon. A full Marathon by just for health and and visualize yourself being there on that day, to accomplish your goals, with the running, a half marathon, a full Marathon bus practically for half marathon. If you can make it to 10 miles, the enderlin and camaraderie of people get you to that finish line. So have fun and enjoy

For half marathon success, the key is preparation. Train for the course and visualize yourself on the day of the race. Have fun, put in the miles, and embrace the camaraderie of other runners to get you to the finish line.

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When it comes to racing a half marathon, preparation is key. Find a course that suits you, whether it's by the water or with hills, and train accordingly. Visualize yourself running the race and accomplishing your goals. Remember to have fun and enjoy the experience.

While the answer contains some fragmented and unclear sentences, the main tips for racing a half marathon are emphasized: preparation, choosing a suitable course, visualizing success, and enjoying the process.

When you break at the start in the 1500m, what is going through your mind? 

Elite runner reveals mindset behind 1500 meter race

What is going on through my mind when the 1500 meter at the start of the race, I'm thinking I'm ready for this race. I got four laps or three and three fourths to be the best that I can. And I train, let me show my God given talent and my hard work. And you're thinking about position at the beginning, position getting out of the starting line and before the turn. Try to be as much as you can. And at the same time, just know that you're there to celebrate your life and then trying to get the best out of yourself and how lucky are you. And I know mile is for me was a sprint the whole way through. So you're thinking of like, okay, just hold your composure, hold your forms and push as hard as you can within limits. And then it depends on who the other competitor are. So you're thinking I should get out really hard because this is my moment to be able to get away from people or if you have equally talented, I'm gonna work on my kick today. So it depends on what you are working on.

When the 1500m race starts, I'm thinking about getting out of the starting line fast, trying to get the best out of myself, holding composure and pushing as hard as I can within limits, strategizing on whether to push hard from the start or save energy for a kick at the end, and being thankful for the opportunity.

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When the 1500-meter race begins, my mind is filled with thoughts of readiness and determination. I remind myself that I have four laps or three and three-fourths to showcase my talent and hard work. I focus on positioning myself well at the start, ensuring a strong start and navigating through the initial turn. Simultaneously, I reflect on how fortunate I am to be able to participate in this race, celebrating my life and striving to give my best performance. Personally, I treat the mile as a sprint throughout, so I maintain composure, concentrate on my form, and push myself to the limits. The approach may vary depending on the competitors in the race. If I feel confident in my ability, I may push hard from the start to create distance between myself and others. On the other hand, if I'm up against equally talented competitors, I may focus on improving my finishing kick. Ultimately, my mindset is influenced by what specific aspect of my performance I am working on during that race.

Winning the Mental Game: What Runners Think About While Training and Racing

When I'm running and training thinking a lot about the competition, I'm going to face with and I do a lot of visualization at that time to see how am I going to do a mile 16 of the New York City marathon or the Boston Marathon. So I start visualizing placing yourself in the moment. They know how many people will be there and how are you going to do compared to those and then also analyze what their strengths and weaknesses. If it's a hill, you think about conquering that hill in training? So when it comes on race day, it would be a second. Nature and competition. There you just try to calm as much as you can and be prepared. Obviously, it's mental game. So you think about sometimes he breathe harder, just to kind of fall other people that, hey, he's tire, and they will make a move. And then a minute later, or two minutes later, you make the move because they already shaded the move. So there's a lot of things that wanders your mind, but at the same time, you think about this competitions, what their strengths is what their weaknesses and I able to allocate them, or you have to be able to make that. That move way early. And obviously I also think about the audience and the the crowd and I've got a lot of feedback from them and you look at your Shadow to see you know if that person is next to you or how they're coming along. So it is fun to be interactive and have fun during competition and but more importantly training is the key to success. If you can do those important thinking then it becomes comfortable on race day so visualize have fun at the same time. I'm be cognitive of what's going around yourself.

When running or training for a competition, I like to do a lot of visualization so that on race day I know what to expect and how I'm going to do. I think about the other competitors and their strengths and weaknesses, and I plan out strategies based on that. On race day, I also take into account the crowd and the atmosphere, as well as any competitors around me. Training is key in order to be prepared and successful, and having fun is important too.

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While running, my mind is occupied with various thoughts and strategies. I often think about the upcoming competition and engage in visualization exercises. I imagine myself running mile 16 of the New York City Marathon or the Boston Marathon, placing myself in that moment. I consider the number of participants and how I will perform compared to them. I also analyze their strengths and weaknesses, especially when it comes to tackling hills during training. By conquering those challenges in training, I am better prepared for race day.

During the actual race, I try to stay calm and focused, as it is a mental game. Sometimes, I intentionally breathe harder to give the impression that I am tired, which can prompt others to make a move. Then, a minute or two later, I make my own move, taking advantage of their earlier exertion. There are many thoughts that wander through my mind during a race, including analyzing the competition, their strengths, weaknesses, and how to strategically respond.

I also pay attention to the audience and the crowd, drawing energy and feedback from their support. I may even glance at my shadow to gauge the proximity of other runners. It's important to interact with the environment and enjoy the competition while staying focused.

Ultimately, training is the key to success. By engaging in these thought processes during training, race day becomes more comfortable and familiar. Visualization, having fun, and being aware of my surroundings all contribute to a successful running experience.

How did your race at the 2012 Olympics differ from 2004?

From Fourth to Fourth: An Olympic Marathon Journey

My 2012 Olympic Games and 2004 Olympic Games are different for many reasons. My 2004 Olympic Games was my fourth marathon. I was 29 years old. I was excited, new to the sport. I was looking forward to do great things and I came home with the Olympics of the first American in 28 years. And going to the 2012 Olympic Games was different because I did not get an opportunity. Well, I didn't get a chance to participate in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Olympics, because I did not qualify. I fortunately had a pelvis fracture due to an injury. I was not able to represent the United States. But I wanted 2012 was more like I got to prove to them that I'm still competitive. And I was 37 years old. Carlos Lopez from Portugal wanted as a 37-year-old. I was trying to do similar things. So I pushed as hard as I could and I came in fourth place. Even though it was faster than 2004 Olympics, that fourth place got motivated to go because I didn't know I was 21st place with halfway to go and I struggle. I want to drop out, but at the same time, I just kind of prayed and collected myself and then Coach Larson, he was at the 5K to go. And I was in sixth place. So I wanted to win that, try to win for the bronze medal. I pushed as hard as I could. And guess what, if one of them get busted with drugs, I want to be the one moving in from fourth to bronze. So I pushed it and came fourth place.

In 2004, Mike participated in his fourth marathon and won a silver medal. In 2012, he was unable to participate due to injury but still pushed himself to come in fourth place at the Olympics.

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There were significant differences between my race at the 2012 Olympics and the 2004 Olympics. In 2004, it was my fourth marathon, and I was 29 years old. I was filled with excitement and new to the sport. I ended up becoming the first American in 28 years to win an Olympic medal. However, in 2008, I had a pelvis fracture due to injury and couldn't qualify for the Beijing Olympics. So, when it came to the 2012 Olympics, I wanted to prove that I was still competitive despite not participating in the previous Games. At 37 years old, I aimed for similar achievements as Carlos Lopez from Portugal, who won as a 37-year-old. Although I came in fourth place, it motivated me because it was faster than my performance in 2004. During the race, I faced struggles and even contemplated dropping out. But with prayer and collecting myself, along with encouragement from Coach Larson at the 5K mark, I regained my focus. I was in sixth place at that point but pushed hard to try and win the bronze medal. The determination paid off as I finished in fourth place and remained hopeful that if any of the medalists were disqualified for drug use, I would move up to claim bronze.

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Meb Keflezighi is an Olympic Marathoner, best-selling author and co-founder of 26. He is the only runner to win the New York City Marathon, the Boston Marathon and an Olympic medal. Meb's "Run To Win" philosophy encourages runners to prioritize their own wellness. He is a highly regarded keynote speaker and global ambassador for running.