by Stuart Weir
Shaunae Miller-Uibo, 2018 adidas Boston Boost, photo by PhotoRun.net
Dina Asher-Smith, 2018 European Athletics Championships, photo by Getty Images/ Berlin 2018
The Birmingham DL is one of the most underrated DL meetings each season. This year, again, after a major Championships, Birmingham’s timing is impeccabe. Spencer Barden, has again orchestrated fields that will shake up the cosmos. The 200 meters for Women, with the best women’s sprint field of 2018, will be followed by the Men’s 100 meters, the only race more hyped.
In this article, our long suffering traveling journalist, who I used to call a Scotsman but know better now, has discovered the secret to success in sprinting. Lucky for you, you are reading RunBlogRun, as we try to know all. Of course, our presumptious approach to athletics is only to serve our readers (or, to make them laugh). Thanks to Stuart Weir for his amazing discovery.
The secrets of successful sprinting revealed, by Stuart Weir
RunBlogRun has picked the confrontation between Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Dina Asher-Smith as the highlight of the Muller Grand Prix in Birmingham [https://www.runblogrun.com/2018/08/2018-birmingham-diary-dina-asher-smith-versus-shaunae-miller-uibo.html]. The strange thing is that neither of these amazing athletes really knows which event is their better one!
I have asked Dina several times if she thinks she is better at 100m or 200m. Her answer is always that she honestly doesn’t know. Earlier this year she said: “Obviously in the past I haven’t done too many 100s which is a combination of being injured and having to make teams for the 200m, meaning that I didn’t have the luxury of trying new things and different distances. But now that I’m fit and in good shape we thought let’s go out there and try some new things so here I am doing the 100m”.
The 2018 Europeans was her first senior championship 100m. That said, she has broken the British record in the 100m twice this year.
Similarly Shaunae is elite at two distances, 200m and 400m. The question as to which she prefers is not a new one for her: “I’ve been asked that a lot of times. I love both events but I love the 400m a little bit more. Even though some people think I’m better at 200m, I would still put the 400m ahead. I feel with the 400m I’m still learning a lot of things so hopefully when I put it together we can see the times drop but it’s my favourite and the one I think I’m better at.
“I feel that 400m there is a very hard event, the hardest in the sport. That it is a tough event that not everyone can do, makes me like it even more. The pain is not the best but the results make me happy. It’s a tough event but that’s what I love about it. It’s not an event that anyone can just pop in and do it but that’s what makes me love it a bit more. It’s a tough event and I love to go at it”.
She also feels that the two events help each other: “I know that there are different types of 400 metre runners – some speed and some endurance. I try to capitalise on my speed, obviously. I feel the quicker I am in the 200 the more chance I have of running a quicker, more relaxed 400. Like I said I’m learning and this year we’ve been working on the whole lot of new things. And learning to put it all together and definitely using my speed to my advantage”.
“I don’t think we’ve ever had a season where we just focused on the 200m. We train more for the 400m and use the strength from that. When it’s time for a 200m we do more speed work and let that kick in. The majority of the training is 400m and using the strength of that in the 200m”.
Finally, RunBlogRun has cracked the secret of women’s sprinting, you need a double-barrelled name Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Dina Asher-Smith, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Blessing Okabare–Ighoteguonor or Florence Griffith-Joyner for example. And if you want to be really successful go double double like Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
I shared my findings with Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake in the event hotel this morning. He was impressed, having not realized previously his potential advantage.
