This is the third week, second day of the Nike Talks World Indoors Series. Thanks to Nike Sports Marketing, @runblogrun will provide a Monday-Friday story on a key athlete from US, Great Britain, Europe, Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia. On the weekends, we will go back in World Indoor history and provide a favorite moment. This sponsorship goes from January1-March 5. We hope you enjoy. And please check out www.nikerunning.com. Remember to support our sponsors. They are supporting the heart of running.
Today, we are writing about double European Indoor Champion, 1,500m and 3,000m, Laura Muir, from Scotland, who is focused on the 2018 World Indoors in Birmingham!
And always remember to check out www.wicbirmingham2018.com!
Laura Muir, photo by PhotoRun.net
Laura Muir is well loved in the British Isles. She is worshipped in Scotland. And last year, after setting British indoor records at 5000 meters, 3000 meters (European Record as well), 1000 meters, showing some stunning leg speed.
Laura Muir, photo by PhotoRun.net
At the 2017 European Indoor Championships in Belgrade, I was fortunate, with the rest of the fans in Kombank Arena, to watch Laura Muir run away from the field in the 3000 meters. She came back and won the 1,500 meters as well, breaking both European Indoor records! Laura had some injuries building up to London, but she ran an 800 meter PB, a strong 1,500 meters, and then, a fine mile at the London anniversary games.
Laura Muir doubled at the World Championships. Her 1,500 meters was a fantastic race, and in battling the top six out of top ten athletes in world, she was outkicked by Caster Semenya, gold medalist in the 800 meters, and finished fourth. In the 5000 meters, Laura Muir finished sixth in the 5000 meter final.
People second guessed Laura and her coach, Andy Young. That happens anytime. Truth is, her 1,500 meters, 5000 meter double was set up so that the 1,500 meters was never compromised. Her 5000 meters, probably where she will send up in future years, was again, a battle with the finest runners in her event.
If you want to learn about her training, check out this FB video I did last year on the Birmingham Marathon Distance Clinic with Wendy Sly, Barry Fudge, Ian Stewart, Andy Young and Tim Hutchings: https://www.runblogrun.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-search.cgi?search=Birmingham+Marathon+Distance+Clinic&IncludeBlogs=5&limit=20
Laura Muir runs cross country, indoor races, road relays and a long European season. She continues to improvie and she has a great attitude and other life, she is training to be a large mammal veternatian.
Laura Muir will miss the Commonwealth Games this year, something that others want her to reconsider. But, Laura Muirs is in her final months, with papers due and examinationas in May. For Laura Muir, her goals are at the World Indoor Championships, and she has yet to decide if she runs the 1,500m, the 3,000 meters or both.
What do I say to her critics? Get over it. Andy Young is a fine coach, who has the trust of Laura Muir. Laura Muir is one of the finest young athletes that I have seen. She is racing against the likes of Jenny Simpson, Faith Kipyegon, Caster Semenya and Hellen Obiri. She does not have easy races, and she will win global medals.
Watch her race in front of her people, in the Birmingham Arena on March 1-4, 2018, and let's see how this fine Scottish runner performs!
Laura Muir, after 1000m NR, 2017 Muller Indoor GP/Birmingham, photo courtesy of British athletics
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