by Larry Eder
This is the second week of RunBlogRun’s Summer Mileage Program, day 6 and
On Saturday morning, if you were up early, you could have watched the London Diamond League meeting, held in the Olympic stadium in London, where I watched the London 2012 Olympics and the 2017 World Championships.
This year, there was a sell out crowd of 50,000 plus, the largest Diamond League crowd of the year. British fans are true athletics geeks, and they know the sport. Track and Field actually matters in the UK, but, just do not tell their national broadcasting, BBC that, as they have been throwing it on their streaming and seldom watched channels.
In the much anticipated 800 meters, Emmanuel Wayonyi, the Kenyan Olympic champion, just fought off the always tough Marco Arop, in 1:42.00 for the 800 meters. That is two 51 second laps, one after another, without a break! Your top high school 400 meter runner may run that, if you are in a pretty normal high school, or, if you are in a strong program, you may have three on your 4x400m who have dipped under 51 seconds.
If you look at results, as I do, you would have seen Donavan Brazier, the 2019 World Champion at 800 meters, having finished sixth in a 1:43.08. From earlier in the week, you might remember that Donavan, a Michigan high school cross country champ and 800m champ, has been injured for several years, having just returned to action in June with a 1:44 time. Just a bit of a time line of Donavan’s return. In 2019, Donavan ran 1:42.34, 1:43.15 in 2020, 1:44.21 in 2021, 1:46.29 in 2022, nothing in 2023, 2024, and now, in 2025, 1:43.08!
Each of the three races that Donavan Brazier has raced gives him hope. He is now down to 1:43.08. Donavan knows, better than most, that he needs to get down to 1:42 low to be a player in the US and to be a medalist in Tokyo, Donavan will have to be able to race at a 1:41 mid level.
The problem and challenges with the USATF champs and Tokyo is the rounds. The 800m rounds are one tough race after another, with no let up and few easy qualifying rounds.
Donavan Brazier is a champion. He knows what it feels like. He also knows that he is getting closer, but he must stay alert to his body, the races, and his desire to get back really fast. Wilson Kipketer, a former world record holder in the 800m, and world champion, was a Danish Librarian by trade. Wilson contracted Malaria and he had to be very careful as he came back to racing and training. Wilson told me, ” I knew what it felt like to be fit, and i wanted it. I had to be very careful not to come back too fast.”
Donavan Brazier is improving day by day, race by race. This writer has intervewied Donavan a half dozen times over the years. I recall Donavan telling me that his longest run in high school was 8 miles! In high school, Donavan ran a 15:15 for 3 miles I believe, and 1:47 for the 800 meters!
Now, in two weeks, this World Champion is seeking to make the toughest team to make in the world, the USA Track & Field team at 800 meters, we wish him luck.
For more on Donavan Brazier, check out this interview, it was done during the pandemic and was an early #Socialing the Distance Interview:
Socialing The Distance featuring Donavan Brazier (Full Interview)
The road to 2025 Cross country is just beginning
Time to build some mileage for fall cross country!
Today is July 19, 2025
Week One, Day Six, Summer Mileage.
Saturday , warm-up, 50-60 minutes of easy running in a park, have some fun, cool-down OR
3k-2 mile track all comers run, or 5k road race (hilly), then, 30 minutes of easy, easy running.
Some thoughts on summer mileage program.
Have you considered cross country?
Cross Country is offered in over 16,500 high schools and many junior high schools. It normally goes from mid-August to November for most. To prepare for cross country, we at RunBlogRun encourage you and your 550,000 closest friends who like the 400m to 5,000m, consider cross country!
It is a great way to stay in shape and it builds your fitness so that you are ready for the challenges of cross country.
What motivated Steve Prefontaine in the summer between his sophomore and junior year?
Was it the knowledge that he had not done his very best in track and field? Perhaps, he had not taken his commitment as serious as he thought he should?
When you have not achieved what you expected, how do you respond? Are you being called to put in some more effort? Many of us have had those challenges, and Summer mileage is a great program to get one self focused.
Think about five things you can do better for fall cross country, write them on a post card, and tape it to a place in your room where you will see it at least once a day!
Remember to drink 8 glasses of water, 12 ounces each a day!
When Pre was in high school, after he failed to make his State track meet as a sophomore, he became obsessed with daily training. These were not just easy runs, they were bone-churning, gut-wrenching efforts focused to make him unbeatable. In his junior year of cross country, Pre saw that his summer of running made a huge difference.
Do you want to be a better cross country runner than you were in the past? Focus and follow our training. It is all about the consistency.
Other book suggestions include Self Made Olympian by Ron Daws, A Clean Pair of Heels by Murray Halberg, and Pre! by Tom Jordan.
The Nike Pegasus PLUS is a great entry shoe for high school cross country. You should consider it, and learn more about it at nike.com. It is light, cushioned, a good summer mileage shoe. If you need a little more cushioning, try the Vomero 18. The Vomero 18 has more cushioning that the Pegasus PLUS. If you like NIKE, I would suggest high schoolers use the NIKE Pegasus PLUS for Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. I would suggest the Vomero 18 for Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I always suggest two pairs of training shoes. Why on Vomero 18? It is a cushioned shoe that feels great and is good on the roads and trails.
