by Larry Eder
This is the third day of the first week of Summer Mileage, this is about your future.
Niels Laros, NED, just won the Bowerman Mile on July 5, 2025 in 3:45.94, NR. Niels was two seconds back at 1,500 meters. His amazing finish caught Yared Nuguse, USA in the last centimeters of the race, with Yared at 3:45.95!
I watched Niels finish 11th at the European Indoors at 3,000m. He has set NRs at 1,000m, 1,500m and this past winter, 7:29.49 for the 3,000m on 13 February 2025. Recently, Niels won the 5,000 meters at the European Team Championships Division 1 in Madrid, Spain. From that 5,000m, Niels moved to the Bowerman Mile, where he absolutely shocked the 12,606 fans!
Niels won the European U 20 XC in 2024. In 2023, Niels doubled at the 2023 European U20 and took gold in the 1,500m and 5,000m. In 2022, Niels doubled over the 1,500m and 3,000m, at the European U18.
Last year, Niels took sixth in the Paris Olympics 5,000m and set a NR of 2:14.37 for the 1,000 meters but also a World record for U20.
Niels has serious wheels, running a 1:44.78 at 800 meters. Watch this young Dutch star go to super stardom!
The road to 2025 Cross country is just beginning
Track & Field 2025 season is over.
Time to build some mileage for fall cross country!
Today is July 9 , 2025
Week One, Day three, Summer Mileage.
Wednesday, warm-up, 60 minute relaxed run, cooldown. Keep it easy, but enjoy the scenery. Time is now to build some miles, and keep the pace conversational.
Hydrate and stretch. Always hydrate.
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.
