Laura Muir wins the 3,000 meters in Boston, or how to dominate fifteen laps…

In this piece by RunBlogRun, we feature Laura Muir, in her debut over the indoor distances in North America. Laura won the 3,000 meters on February 4, 2023, on the TRACK at new balance, the fine facility on the campus of the New Balance brand. 

Laura Muir takes the 3000m

Laura Muir does not race easily. She is not the timid type.

Last summer, Laura Muir won the bronze at the 1,500m at the World Champs, the bronze in a tight 800m at the Commonwealth Games, and gold at the 1,500m at the CG. At the Europeans, Laura won the 1,500m, defending her title from 2018, the last time that the European outdoor was held.

So, in her debut indoors in North America, Laura Muir churned out a strong 3000 meters, in 8:40.31.

The first kilometer was run in 2:51.3, with only the pacemaker, Heather Archer, Melissa Courtney-Bryant, and the Scottish star in tow. After that, Laura was fighting fatigue, and her own demons, as the field could not challenge the Scotswomen. In this writer’s estimation, Laura Muir looks in 8:28-8:30 shape, but she needs to be pushed.

After the race, Laura told the inquisitive interviewer:

“It was hard. They did a good job setting up the first K with the pace. It was solid.”

Laura is fit, and as Coach Andy Young told me over a short chat, that Laura wants to run the European Indoors again, as does her training partner, Jemma Reekie, who took sixth in the mile on Saturday evening.

Laura Muir is a Scot, and she is also a veterinarian. Jemma Reekie tells the story of how Laura moved a snail off the track from lane two to the safety of the grassy field while they were beginning a workout.

I recall Laura taking a six-hour taxi drive to make the World Indoors in Birmingham, due to terrible cold and snow that closed down the train system, to double in the 1,500m and 3000m in 2018.

Laura Muir has paid her dues, out kicked by Jenny Simpson in the 1,500m on several occasions, Laura did not fear to battle with the best in the world. She learned from those experiences. She makes few mistakes in her racing.

In this race, Laura ran 8:40, lead Melissa Courtney-Bryant, who took third in the 3000m in 2019 European Indoors, and a host of other athletes (nine in fact, under 8:53) on this fast track and wonderful indoor facility.

What will Laura do next? Well, back to Europe, a couple more races, more than likely a big show at the Birmingham WIT final and then, the European Indoors.

Laura Muir did give us a bit to consider, in her final answer to the inquisitive interviewers, regarding her 800-meter racing at the Commonwealth Games: “Yeah, I love running the eight as well. So, I think I’ll probably do some of that and pick up the 5k in the summer.” How will the 800m and 1,500m speed assist her in the 5,000m at a championship? That will be fascinating.

One thing we do know, Laura Muir gave a textbook display of how to run a 3,000m almost by oneself in Boston to five thousand fans, what will she do at the European Indoors?