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Nick Symmonds:
Outdoors is Here!
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #12)

Posted May 6th, 2008 at 11:30 AM by Nick Symmonds

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Elite Athlete Blogs, Nick Symmonds

Welcome to the official blog of elite American middle-distance runner Nick Symmonds. Be sure to check every other Monday at http://nicksymmonds.thefinalsprint.com/ for Nick’s latest entry! For more information about Nick, also please visit: www.nicksymmonds.com

I freaking love the outdoor season. After a long, cold, and wet winter / early spring comprised of boring days filled almost entirely with training, the track season comes and we get to finally see our hard work pay off. I got to see a bit of this over the last two weeks as I opened up my outdoor season in Philadelphia and Palo Alto.

Going out to the Penn Relays wasn’t originally in the plans but Coach Gags and I thought it would be a good idea to get a nice effort in before my first 1500m. Also, Penn is the most exciting place to race and nothing like it will get you as pumped up for an upcoming season. I ran a 1200m in a U.S. DMR [Distance Medley Relay] and was very pleased with my performance. I basically decided to treat it as a workout and just ran it as hard as i could. In doing this I split 2:51.1 and found out that I am really really strong right now! I was able to give my USA team a good lead but we were unable to finish that way and the Kenyans won (yet again!).

As exciting as Penn is for me it has left a rather bitter taste in my mouth over the last couple years because despite out best efforts we haven’t won. I feel this is partly because the best mid-distance guys never show up. I find this curious as most of the best sprinters are always there. As I looked around the infield I saw Tyson Gay, Jeremy Warner, Allyson Felix, etc. but where were Webb, Lagat, Robinson, and the rest of the Americans? Its frustrating to go to a meet billed as USA vs the World when you don’t send your best squad! Despite this, I still had a lot of fun and accomplished the goals I wanted to at the Penn Relays.

I returned to Eugene and had about 5 days to train before going to Stanford for the Cardinal Invitational. Stanford was to be my true season opener and I was in an absolutely stacked 1500m heat. On paper all the big names were there; sixteen of the fastest milers in North America all toeing the line and pushing each other to fast times. However, we never got to race each other because the day before the meet the A and B heats are combined and then split, essentially watering down the premier heat.

While I understand the reasons for it, I am also extremely frustrated that it happened. There are very few opportunities for us professional runners to toe the line at a place like Stanford where conditions are often perfect and there is very little pressure to perform. At most races there is money or a title on the line and this adds a certain amount of anxiety. At Stanford one is able to try something new and perhaps take risks that we wouldn’t normally take. I wanted to run fast and that meant pushing the pace from the gun. As it would happen I was able to race a few very fast milers and placed second behind Canada’s Kevin Sullivan. I finished in a time of 3:40.98; just a fraction of a second off my PR. I led most of the race and feel that this cost me a lot of energy.

The second heat was won in a similar time and I cant help but wonder if we could have run closer to 3:36 or 3:37 had we all worked together. Fortunately, I will be in Carson, California in two weeks to race another 1500m and this one is guaranteed to go fast. It will be the first time I toe the line with Bernard Lagat who has been an inspiration to me for as long as I can remember. I’m looking forward to running with him and hopefully coming home with a nice PR before I kick off the 800m portion of my season!

-Nick

Be sure to check back on Monday, May 19th, 2008 for Nick’s latest entry at: http://nicksymmonds.thefinalsprint.com/

To comment on this entry and to send feedback & questions to Nick, please click here.

Tim said:

Nick,

I haven’t seen your Stanford race yet, but you looked amazing in your 1200 at Penn Relays! Good luck on your shot at a 1500 PR in 2 weeks!
May 6th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Malcolm said:

Nick,
I watched your 1500 metres in Stanford on the internet and I was disappointed that you had to lead most of the way (the pacemaker was so far in front he was of no assistance whatsoever).
The metric mile is a distance that you have raced infrequently but always seem to have done well at both outdoors and indoors.
Obviously, it would be foolhardy to switch focus so close to the Olympics but maybe you would consider running 1500 metres at the next World Champs?
Without wishing to stretch your patience , would also let me know if you did any specific sessions to race this longer distance or are they just part of the process of honing your speed for the 800 metres at the US Trials?
Thanks once again.
Malcolm McCausland
Derry
Northern Ireland
May 9th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Jason Kerr said:

Nick,

Hey man, congrats on the success. I was at DIII nationals (Monmouth College) in ‘03 and saw u beat Groose in the 800 as part of your double. Congrats on everything man, you’re a strong runner. I hope that you continue to represent for DIII and the country as the year goes on.

J
May 10th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Sue Roesler said:

Nick,
Our family is having fun following your success! Congrats on your career to this point, and we hope Summer ‘08 is everything you hope & strive for!

The Roesler Family
May 11th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
Nick said:

First thanks to everyone for reading this weeks blog! I am getting very race ready for my 1500m this weekend in Carson.

To Malcom,
My training for this season has been very similar to last season although my long intervals have been a bit longer and my long run is a bit longer (1-2 miles) as well. Also, my speed intervals (200s, and 400s) are much faster this year. Generally, Gags and I are trying to keep everything as similar to last year as possible but just a tiny bit faster. If it aint broke, dont fix it! But with that said, I would very much like to run more 1500s in the future and possibly even try and make the 1500m World Team next year. I believe that my speed comes from my strength and certainly dont think I would have to sacrifice my ability to really race a good fast 800 by training more for the mile. Thanks!
-Nick
May 14th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Jim Tweeten said:

Best wishes from the Tweeten family. Waiting for today’s result.
May 18th, 2008 at 1:33 pm