On the topic of "why are we still running the mile" The 1500 m is also a weird stat line, it places you in a very awkward starting spot on the track whereas going to a distance of say 1600 m is just four times around a 400 m track which makes it a lot cleaner, in fact the mile is even that with just a couple of yards behind the start / finish line. We also run the marathon despite the distance being set by a messenger back in ancient greece and we also have the half marathon. So it isn't like it is only excluded to one distance, in fact I am surprised there aren't even more weirder distances that are currently being run.
The 26.2 mile distance actually comes from the 1908 Olympics. Courses varied in length before (and a little bit after) this time. Why 26.2 miles?The best explanation is that was the distance between Windsor and the Olympic stadium. As a 1500 meter runner myself, I agree that 3 3/4 laps is awkward as hell. 4 laps makes much more sense. 1600 is what we ran in high school, and it was so much more clean.
The 1500 whether or not we like it is now olympic and world chhampionships history and it is where the most rewarding records are to be made. The mile is an american only distance based on metrics that aren't used internationally. That said it makes sense that collegian athletes looking to pursue a pro carreer should run the 1500m instead of the mile, to meet international standards and be as competitive as possible...
I am a 8th grader (female) and I ran a 5:50 about a week and a half ago! I have a meet tomorrow and I'm hoping to get sub 5:50 so it's really helpful when you post videos like this!! Thanks! Edit: I ran 5:30.94!
I really dislike slow tactical races. I enjoy people going for the win at a hard pace. Not races with pacers set to make it a fast race but having somebody go out and try to run the kick out of everybodys legs
Cat & Mouse races are fun to watch I agree. But don't discount the magic that unfolds during a slow race. Seriously, each athlete in this race is worth a watch. As you watch them, imagine what must be going through their minds!
I agree in a regular racing setting but when it comes to a championship style race, the main goal is to win so if someone thinks they have the best kick, they’ll try to use that to their advantage. I’ve personally done this and it got me 2nd but I was just shooting for the win rather than a pr. Fast races are fun to watch but when you have a championship that has qualifying rounds, they can’t go fast every time
Some people like NASCAR, some like Formula 1. Checkers vs. Chess. I like the tactics, especially in the 800 where it can be more important than all other distances. Also, keep in mind that if it is a slow race, every single runner is going along with the slowness voluntarily. It's not like whoever is leading is running with a 2x4 to keep the others back. A kind-of-joke when you get to high levels like this is that every single runner out there thinks they have the best kick - because they almost always do, and that's why they are there. But of course it gets more complicated than that.
You know this NIck ! People like to break 4 min for the mile, so the distance continues (in the US). And that last lap was pretty spicy as one didn't know who would finish 2nd thru 5th until the last few strides!
Breaking 4 in the mile is cool and I think for that reason it's ok to occasionally race it at exhibition events. The mile should NEVER be run in a championship setting IMO.
@@americanninjawarriorkid2643 I was a 5:42 in high school, but funnily enough I got better after graduating high school and now at 23 can run 19 minute 5k and sub 45 minute 10ks.
Me; am 33 years old, haven't run competitively since middle school, hobby jogger/ runner. Fascinated and still watch all Nick Symmonds videos, the main channel, and this one. Keep up the great work Nick! from another Nick haha
All of your videos have been helping me over the year to get better and better. Now I'm running track and my event is the 800 like I've always wanted it to be.
The current international field will not allow a race like this happen. Jakob and the rest can run fast times on their own. Sometimes their rabbits are pushed out early cause they’re too slow. Understand a win is a win, but I’d rather watch the best run at their best.
Tactical races in my opinion are very enjoyable to watch. Funny enough, two days ago, at school athletics, I actually ran a very slow 1500m race, which ended up quite good for some other boys and I, as we all kicked at the last lap leading to a very tight race. Not only that but it provided great entertainment as it was very amusing for some of the older students looking at us run at such a slow pace for most of the race. That aside, it's definitely quite thrilling and exciting seeing athletes during track meets, as well as the pros on the television kick out for the last lap (or rather, any distance towards the end) when it comes to these kind of races.
All the racing strategy you talk about is awesome! I never knew there was this deeper level inside of racing. I definitely use a lot of that strategy now. Thanks!
They run multiple outdoor miles on the pro circuit each year outside the states. Oslo, Birmingham maybe and of course Eugene. The mile as you mentioned is iconic. Outside of the top pro ranks it's way easier to identify as a sub 5 mile or sub 430 than a 4:05 1500m runner IMO. Long live the mile!
But the mile is so hype in my opinion! Like the 1500 cool for sure and all but something with the mile hits different!😁 Also thank you a while ago for those shoes I got from you I ended up running down in the 17’s for most of my 5k cross country races! I got down to 17:39 so I was pretty happy about that! But now track started and doing the 3200, 1600, and the 800 medley got any tips for me for that? But love the content my man!
the mile is stupid but so is 1500 why can't we just have 1600 instead of 1609 or starting on the other side of the track. they call the metric mile 1500 but it should really just be the 4 laps.
Nick i loved this video. I could write paragraphs about it. Awesome. But I just want to mention, I agree with you about dumping the mile. High Schools should even replace the 1600m with 1500m outdoor. Cheers//
We race the mile because it's THE MILE. Every other event- I agree-use the metric system! But the Mile...is THE MILE. Not everyone knows what a 1500 meter time means...they KNOW what your mile time means.
I get that the mile has a lot of history behind it and that 4 minute barrier will always be iconic, but if I were to design the sport from scratch I would replace both the mile and the 1500 with the 1600. It's basically the same distance (unlike the 1500 which is 109 meters short of a mile) and it follows the progression of the other events. Why in the world do we run 100 meters, 200, 400, 800, and 1500? Running four laps around a track is a much more sensible event than either the mile or the 1500.
5:00 - What about Garcia Romo going wide into lane 2 on the home stretch? Was that an error (that did not cost him)? Seems like it opened a lane inside to allow a pass, vs. if he had stayed tight on the rail. As it was, if the Oregon runner behind him had just a little more gas, he could have passed easily in lane 1. But if Garcia Romo had stayed tight on the rail, Oregon would have needed to go around into lane 2, perhaps battling with others there. As Nick says, every inch counts here. Love the tactical races and Nick's analysis on them.
what is the significance to running the 1500m? it isnt double the 800 like the 800 is to the 400 is to the 200 and 100, 4 full laps makes the most sense not 1500 not 1608 or whatever to make a 'full mile'. It's all weird to me.
@The FOGDOG Exclusive Adam Fogg and Isaac Basten, that should be you guys getting praised by Nick Symmonds, not Romo, haha!!! Time for Nick to make a trip to Drake University and collab with the FogDog and Basten, the top running vloggers throwing down! #TeamFOGDOG
as an older oregonian...and a half mar. top placer.....i appr. your proff. wisdom..i will ZONK ..what you say about the mile!!!!..it will always hold more clout than the 1500...with exception 2 the olympics,
There are 8 running distances at the olympics, would you pick the same exact 8 if it was up to you? I'd like to add 300m & 3000m to make it 10 events. Get rid of the walking races, those are dumb.
Nick if you go to the bar and a girl asks you what you do and you say i run track and then you say 1500m no one knows what that means ... its already hard enough😂😂
Hot take on the mile, its because its an even lap count race. If you want to argue for the 1500 instead of the mile then why do we have the 400 and 800 instead of the 500 and 1000? I personally think the 1500 is kinda silly because it is not even an even number of kilometers, and its not an even number of laps either.
Yo Nick, I'm just wondering because you always teach to sit and kick, but here you said that you need to be upfront. Thats why my question is what is the better option?
While this type of race is interesting, watching guys run their fastest time and set PR’s is far better. This is your style of racing, and I respect the hell out of it... but this doesn’t grow the sport... setting records and running as fast as possible does. We have enough problems with people saying track is boring as is.
“Literally anyone can run fast” the fact that this is not true is literally why this is a sport. If anyone can run fast than there would be no point. We want the title going to the fastest runner. Running a slow race like this means this doesn’t always happen. That’s why these sit and kick races are dumb. If you are a 3:52 miler, why give the 3:58 guy a chance by running slow?
Why the heck do we run the 1500 m? Why isn’t it 1600 m, and we can call it a metric mile. It would be much easier to compare times that way to the English mile.
I don’t agree with you on running the “mile” distance is not a good thing. There has been a recent push for some of the large and prestigious non championship meets to run the full mile, or at least more so than in the past. I think it is great. The “mile” measurement has a huge historic importance originating in Roman times as the “mille passus”, which was about 5,000 Roman feet. Then the “old London” mile was was redefined in approximately the year 1,500, which led to the modern mile being standardized at 5,280 feet at the end of the 1,500’s during Queen Elizabeth’s rule. People’s familiarity with the “modern” mile not as a running race, but as a measurement, is very significant, and therefore it is reasonable to see how it became a distance that people felt it would be good to race. Yes you are correct that much of the world is on the metric system so there will never be 100% agreement. Consider the absolutely beautiful history and obsession of breaking the four minute barrier in the mile. That story illustrates the relationship that athletics has with that distance even though they were running the 1,500 in the Olympics and other global championship stages. The mile race will never go away, and it shouldn’t. It is time for the top runners to start chipping away at El Guerrouj’s incredible record.
You really contradicted yourself who cares if it's the 1500 or the mile especially when it's a slow time like that they might as well run the 1700 if they are going to run a time like that you know it takes more guts to run a fast time running by yourself from the gun that does the wait for the last 200
@@americanninjawarriorkid2643 Yeah I was wanting for someone to just go for it. Even if you fail and fall back to 4th or 3rd at least you pushed the pace the first half. I was a back runner with a strong last lap. I was not great at the 400 meter, but I could split back to back low 60 second 400s to win or at least place high in races.
One more time for those who may have missed it: if the pace is slow, YOU MUST BE UP FRONT!!!
If the Highschool Arcadia 3200 is fast tonight you should review it
So Nick, say if you are a person in this race and you don't have as good as a kick as everyone else, what should be your strategy?
nick sounding like he has been coaching track for 60 years🤣🤣
Facts😂
LOL!! I do love talking race strategy. Way more fun (and hopefully helpful to more people) if I do so here on TH-cam.
Sounds like a coach with 60 years experience, actually, 100s. This guy is humble.
@@NickSymmondsToo dear Nick. Please give me a chance and let me work for you
@@gernotg8480 as in coaching?? lmaoo okay
I believe it took a 3:56 to make it to nationals this year.
that's insane. My 3:58 got me a Nike deal back in 2006. Wouldn't even get me to NCAA these days!!
@@NickSymmondsToo Shoes and tracks are faster now lol
Thank you Nick! I have always been a huge fan of yours, I wasn’t up all night watching the race but I have definitely watched it a couple times 😂
CONGRATS ON THE WIN!!!!!
On the topic of "why are we still running the mile" The 1500 m is also a weird stat line, it places you in a very awkward starting spot on the track whereas going to a distance of say 1600 m is just four times around a 400 m track which makes it a lot cleaner, in fact the mile is even that with just a couple of yards behind the start / finish line.
We also run the marathon despite the distance being set by a messenger back in ancient greece and we also have the half marathon. So it isn't like it is only excluded to one distance, in fact I am surprised there aren't even more weirder distances that are currently being run.
The 26.2 mile distance actually comes from the 1908 Olympics. Courses varied in length before (and a little bit after) this time. Why 26.2 miles?The best explanation is that was the distance between Windsor and the Olympic stadium.
As a 1500 meter runner myself, I agree that 3 3/4 laps is awkward as hell. 4 laps makes much more sense. 1600 is what we ran in high school, and it was so much more clean.
@@arogueburrito i think the starting line is in an awkward spot for the 1500. I have only ever ran 1600s but dont like breaking to lane 1 on a curve
The 1500 whether or not we like it is now olympic and world chhampionships history and it is where the most rewarding records are to be made. The mile is an american only distance based on metrics that aren't used internationally. That said it makes sense that collegian athletes looking to pursue a pro carreer should run the 1500m instead of the mile, to meet international standards and be as competitive as possible...
I am a 8th grader (female) and I ran a 5:50 about a week and a half ago! I have a meet tomorrow and I'm hoping to get sub 5:50 so it's really helpful when you post videos like this!! Thanks! Edit: I ran 5:30.94!
That’s really good for a middle school girl, keep it up!
awesome edit! well done!
That’s awesome! Wishing you the best!!
Hella fast for an 8th grader, AND girl, no offense. I ran a 5:57 pr as an 8th grade boy so hats off to you
I really dislike slow tactical races. I enjoy people going for the win at a hard pace. Not races with pacers set to make it a fast race but having somebody go out and try to run the kick out of everybodys legs
Cat & Mouse races are fun to watch I agree. But don't discount the magic that unfolds during a slow race. Seriously, each athlete in this race is worth a watch. As you watch them, imagine what must be going through their minds!
I agree in a regular racing setting but when it comes to a championship style race, the main goal is to win so if someone thinks they have the best kick, they’ll try to use that to their advantage. I’ve personally done this and it got me 2nd but I was just shooting for the win rather than a pr. Fast races are fun to watch but when you have a championship that has qualifying rounds, they can’t go fast every time
Some people like NASCAR, some like Formula 1. Checkers vs. Chess. I like the tactics, especially in the 800 where it can be more important than all other distances.
Also, keep in mind that if it is a slow race, every single runner is going along with the slowness voluntarily. It's not like whoever is leading is running with a 2x4 to keep the others back.
A kind-of-joke when you get to high levels like this is that every single runner out there thinks they have the best kick - because they almost always do, and that's why they are there. But of course it gets more complicated than that.
@@aidanbrad1709 id rather run in a slow tactical race but like watching fast races
You know this NIck ! People like to break 4 min for the mile, so the distance continues (in the US). And that last lap was pretty spicy as one didn't know who would finish 2nd thru 5th until the last few strides!
Breaking 4 in the mile is cool and I think for that reason it's ok to occasionally race it at exhibition events. The mile should NEVER be run in a championship setting IMO.
The "mile" is still run because of its history. It's THE distance runners were measured by for over a century. Enjoyed your take on the tactical race.
96 collegiate athletes went sub 4 this indoor season. 90 in D1, 4 in D2, 1 in D3, and 1 in NAIA
I just got 6:37 in the mile at a middle school meet!
That’s pretty fast for a middle schooler! What grade? 6, 7, or 8?
@@americanninjawarriorkid2643 I was a 5:42 in high school, but funnily enough I got better after graduating high school and now at 23 can run 19 minute 5k and sub 45 minute 10ks.
@@zaynes5094 that’s pretty fast!
Well done!!! Keep up the great work.
Me; am 33 years old, haven't run competitively since middle school, hobby jogger/ runner. Fascinated and still watch all Nick Symmonds videos, the main channel, and this one. Keep up the great work Nick! from another Nick haha
All of your videos have been helping me over the year to get better and better. Now I'm running track and my event is the 800 like I've always wanted it to be.
The current international field will not allow a race like this happen. Jakob and the rest can run fast times on their own. Sometimes their rabbits are pushed out early cause they’re too slow. Understand a win is a win, but I’d rather watch the best run at their best.
Tactical races in my opinion are very enjoyable to watch. Funny enough, two days ago, at school athletics, I actually ran a very slow 1500m race, which ended up quite good for some other boys and I, as we all kicked at the last lap leading to a very tight race. Not only that but it provided great entertainment as it was very amusing for some of the older students looking at us run at such a slow pace for most of the race. That aside, it's definitely quite thrilling and exciting seeing athletes during track meets, as well as the pros on the television kick out for the last lap (or rather, any distance towards the end) when it comes to these kind of races.
All the racing strategy you talk about is awesome! I never knew there was this deeper level inside of racing. I definitely use a lot of that strategy now. Thanks!
Great commentary from a legend.
They run multiple outdoor miles on the pro circuit each year outside the states. Oslo, Birmingham maybe and of course Eugene. The mile as you mentioned is iconic. Outside of the top pro ranks it's way easier to identify as a sub 5 mile or sub 430 than a 4:05 1500m runner IMO.
Long live the mile!
I really like your videos, you got a lot of experience, it's like you teaching us, and the most of athletes don't do this kind of stuff, so hands up!!
Even though the speed was super slow in the middle of the race, this was one of the most fun miles to watch I've seen in years!
Thanks for all these tips Nick can’t wait to use all these tips at my first track meet of the season Monday
Great analysis
Man I love your office nick
But the mile is so hype in my opinion! Like the 1500 cool for sure and all but something with the mile hits different!😁 Also thank you a while ago for those shoes I got from you I ended up running down in the 17’s for most of my 5k cross country races! I got down to 17:39 so I was pretty happy about that! But now track started and doing the 3200, 1600, and the 800 medley got any tips for me for that? But love the content my man!
the mile is stupid but so is 1500 why can't we just have 1600 instead of 1609 or starting on the other side of the track. they call the metric mile 1500 but it should really just be the 4 laps.
Love the new setup
just run the damn 15 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Nick griggs 3:56 mile at 17 might make a good video
Nick: calling 2:10 slow
Me: Having a PB of 2:06
Nick i loved this video. I could write paragraphs about it. Awesome. But I just want to mention, I agree with you about dumping the mile. High Schools should even replace the 1600m with 1500m outdoor. Cheers//
We race the mile because it's THE MILE. Every other event- I agree-use the metric system! But the Mile...is THE MILE. Not everyone knows what a 1500 meter time means...they KNOW what your mile time means.
I get that the mile has a lot of history behind it and that 4 minute barrier will always be iconic, but if I were to design the sport from scratch I would replace both the mile and the 1500 with the 1600. It's basically the same distance (unlike the 1500 which is 109 meters short of a mile) and it follows the progression of the other events. Why in the world do we run 100 meters, 200, 400, 800, and 1500? Running four laps around a track is a much more sensible event than either the mile or the 1500.
I agree I like the non rabbited races
5:00 - What about Garcia Romo going wide into lane 2 on the home stretch? Was that an error (that did not cost him)? Seems like it opened a lane inside to allow a pass, vs. if he had stayed tight on the rail. As it was, if the Oregon runner behind him had just a little more gas, he could have passed easily in lane 1. But if Garcia Romo had stayed tight on the rail, Oregon would have needed to go around into lane 2, perhaps battling with others there. As Nick says, every inch counts here.
Love the tactical races and Nick's analysis on them.
For indoors the mile is a really convenient race that makes sense, I agree though that outdoors it shouldn’t be ran as much and it really isn’t.
3:56.10 was the standard to get in
Did anyone notice that 1st place,s bib number was 407 and the time he got was 4:07?
bc indoor is track with some fun events such as mile, dmr, smr, etc... outdoors is more serious and so you dont see these races as often if at all
React to cole hocker’s double gold
Do a video on Newbury Park cross country & track
What is the song you use for the first part of the race? I love it!
Sup nick what was ur 400m progression during hs
plz nick do Hicham El guerrouj olympic finals plzzzz
Great vid 🔥🔥🔥
Thank you!!
I think the 1600 is the way to go. The 1500m is such a weird distance and the mile is imperial system
Poor Reed Brown being spared no mercy in the thumbnail. Lots of people “blew it.”
what is the significance to running the 1500m? it isnt double the 800 like the 800 is to the 400 is to the 200 and 100, 4 full laps makes the most sense not 1500 not 1608 or whatever to make a 'full mile'. It's all weird to me.
@The FOGDOG Exclusive Adam Fogg and Isaac Basten, that should be you guys getting praised by Nick Symmonds, not Romo, haha!!! Time for Nick to make a trip to Drake University and collab with the FogDog and Basten, the top running vloggers throwing down!
#TeamFOGDOG
D2 Indoor mile championships
as an older oregonian...and a half mar. top placer.....i appr. your proff. wisdom..i will ZONK ..what you say about the mile!!!!..it will always hold more clout than the 1500...with exception 2 the olympics,
The mile is still run for one reason. Tradition.
Not Nick Symmonds disrespecting Reed Brown in the thumbnail
NCAA basketball game national championship game
There are 8 running distances at the olympics, would you pick the same exact 8 if it was up to you? I'd like to add 300m & 3000m to make it 10 events. Get rid of the walking races, those are dumb.
Can you recap the 800?
you had to be 356 to qualify
Nick if you go to the bar and a girl asks you what you do and you say i run track and then you say 1500m no one knows what that means ... its already hard enough😂😂
I want Yearian to win cause his Dad was one of my main competition in high school.
Hot take on the mile, its because its an even lap count race. If you want to argue for the 1500 instead of the mile then why do we have the 400 and 800 instead of the 500 and 1000? I personally think the 1500 is kinda silly because it is not even an even number of kilometers, and its not an even number of laps either.
hey nick i'd suggest you move the podium up on the screen a bit, it looks tiny compared to you lol
Awesome
Yo Nick, I'm just wondering because you always teach to sit and kick, but here you said that you need to be upfront. Thats why my question is what is the better option?
The Thumbnail on Reed Brown 😭
Nick we run the 1500 outdoor. Let us have the mile indoor😭
6 inches is indeed huge nick
While this type of race is interesting, watching guys run their fastest time and set PR’s is far better. This is your style of racing, and I respect the hell out of it... but this doesn’t grow the sport... setting records and running as fast as possible does. We have enough problems with people saying track is boring as is.
But doesn't it take more energy to lead?
Do a Western States 2010 breakdown :D
Bro I ran my first ever indoor race on that track and I got lapped😭😭😭
“Literally anyone can run fast” the fact that this is not true is literally why this is a sport. If anyone can run fast than there would be no point. We want the title going to the fastest runner. Running a slow race like this means this doesn’t always happen. That’s why these sit and kick races are dumb. If you are a 3:52 miler, why give the 3:58 guy a chance by running slow?
Nice
should've had run gum hahahahahahaha
Why the heck do we run the 1500 m? Why isn’t it 1600 m, and we can call it a metric mile. It would be much easier to compare times that way to the English mile.
Run the 15? What about the 16?
Please use one of my beatz for your videos.
You should try training for a half marathon or marathon.
You had to be sub 3:57 to even qualify
From europe I get that americans like running the mile but... why the 1600 and 3200? what is that?
USA mid distance running is soft, esspecialy the 1500/mile. That is what Josh Kerr said, and this just prooves him right.
Four laps makes sense. 3 3/4 laps does not.
Cool
I don’t agree with you on running the “mile” distance is not a good thing. There has been a recent push for some of the large and prestigious non championship meets to run the full mile, or at least more so than in the past. I think it is great. The “mile” measurement has a huge historic importance originating in Roman times as the “mille passus”, which was about 5,000 Roman feet. Then the “old London” mile was was redefined in approximately the year 1,500, which led to the modern mile being standardized at 5,280 feet at the end of the 1,500’s during Queen Elizabeth’s rule. People’s familiarity with the “modern” mile not as a running race, but as a measurement, is very significant, and therefore it is reasonable to see how it became a distance that people felt it would be good to race. Yes you are correct that much of the world is on the metric system so there will never be 100% agreement. Consider the absolutely beautiful history and obsession of breaking the four minute barrier in the mile. That story illustrates the relationship that athletics has with that distance even though they were running the 1,500 in the Olympics and other global championship stages. The mile race will never go away, and it shouldn’t. It is time for the top runners to start chipping away at El Guerrouj’s incredible record.
I got a 6:27 in the 1600 and I'm 13 :)
Nice job u have so much potential. When I was 13 I went from 5:40 to 4:50.
Wouldn't you rather have the world record in the mile rather than the 1500M?
The 1500m is much more prestigious because only the USA measures using miles
#runthe15
Now react to the womens mile from the same meet. It was honestly better.
I had to turn off the sound so I could enjoy the race. 🙄
You really contradicted yourself who cares if it's the 1500 or the mile especially when it's a slow time like that they might as well run the 1700 if they are going to run a time like that you know it takes more guts to run a fast time running by yourself from the gun that does the wait for the last 200
How to turn a mile into 600 meters.
I disagree with you Nick, this slow race was boring
It’s better for someone like him who has a great kick. Slow races make the finale better though I agree, most of the race was more boring.
@@americanninjawarriorkid2643 Yeah I was wanting for someone to just go for it. Even if you fail and fall back to 4th or 3rd at least you pushed the pace the first half. I was a back runner with a strong last lap. I was not great at the 400 meter, but I could split back to back low 60 second 400s to win or at least place high in races.
@@zaynes5094 cool
Uhhh not for nothing didn’t you blow the 2012 London final? You went out too slow and got destroyed and are gonna say someone else “blew it”? Lmao
Races like that are the worst
DISAGREE!!! But thank you for the comment :D
Why do they race 15 and not 1600? Seems like it would make sense to do 4 laps of the track rather than 3 and 3/4s
Nice
Nice