OUTLEANED!! 😱 Race Recap: 2008 US Indoor Championships Men's 800m

I won some races, but I actually LOST the majority of races I ran in my career. And to be honest, I learned more form the losses than from the wins. This loss cost me big time, but I learned a lesson that paid dividends over the course of my pro career!
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Thank you for watching this video. My favorite days are those that stimulate me physically and mentally. Athletics keeps my body fit, entrepreneurial business keeps my mind fit. Welcome to the life of the ATHLETEPRENEUR!
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Nick Symmonds is a two-time Olympian and a serial entrepreneur. He is the founder and president of Nick Symmonds, LLC and the co-founder and CEO of Run Gum, a caffeinated chewing gum company designed to give people a quick boost in energy and focus.
Nick holds a degree in biochemistry from Willamette University. He is also an Eagle Scout, a published author, and an accomplished fly fisherman and mountaineer.
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People & Blogs

[@jimmy250]

I just want to say that I appreciate that you take the time to actually respond to all of your viewers. It may not be much, but a comment from a former Olympian means a lot.

[@nicksymmonds]

That makes me happy to hear! It takes a bit of time, but it is nice to connect with the people watching my videos.

[@brianbruno1786]

@@nicksymmonds Love you dog

[@mojubashonekan316]

2012 olympic trials and the 2012 olympics man, please!!!

[@nicksymmonds]

Ok! Coming soon :D

[@TheNoobProjectXD]

Really enjoying this series!

[@nicksymmonds]

Very glad to hear that!! :D

[@verycoyman]

A word of advice: You should have went to the future to 2019, taken extra strength Run Gum, then return to 2007 Nick Symmonds body and you wouldn't have to worry about a lean.

[@mikelifts8251]

You were one of my biggest inspirations for middle distance running in high school. Granted I was a 400 runner, I learned a lot from your strategies and training regiment!

[@RodPumell]

Mike Apex teach me tips for 400

[@ludvighansen1864]

0000000 go fast as you can the first 200 m and then go even faster

[@danielmachado3650]

Nick I love that you came out with this when you did! I finally had my come back race after 2 months of not racing because an Achilles injury and my coach had put me in with a 2:43 for my 1k which barely got me into the fast heat so I know I had something to prove and I raced it like you do your 800s and waited till the last 200 to go, went from 6th to 2nd but didn’t have enough gas to get 1st and ended up getting passed the last 10m all top 3 were less than a 1second apart with 2:38.8-2:39.8 which was what I ran so the way that you talk about losing in this video really feels like what happened Friday just connects to this video that much more!! Thank you so so much for the awesome content and for being an awesome inspiration!

[@nicksymmonds]

Really glad to hear you found the video helpful!! Best of luck in your next race.

[@danielmachado9371]

@@nicksymmonds Thanks so much Nick!!! i ended splitting a 3:10 for the 1200 in our DMR! Ran my 2:39 and then some!

[@monikad5561]

Lean!!! Damn he stole the race from you😜lol! Love the hair! It's all so crazy fast. So much power and stamina - beautiful to watch! I never get tired of this! Can't wait to see what's up next. Thanks, Nick!

[@nicksymmonds]

He was a GREAT competitor!!

[@JRT.1000]

Found your channel last week, havent stopped watching your vids since... lol not enough olympic lvl track and field youtubers in the world. Nick your definitely one of the ogs! love from syd (not even a middle distance runner, mainly jumps but still find your vids hella entertaining)

[@jkathletic8231]

I'm a Sprinter and I found it So Helpful... Thanks Nick.

[@chasedave]

Just want to extend a HUGE thanks to you. As a result of this video, I had a moment of coaching glory in my 1st year as a volunteer high school coach (I ran the 800 for UW back in the 80s). There’s a sophomore girl running in her first season and has been making strong progress in the 800 and 1600. The head coach is relying on me more for the 800 given my past. She made it into the district finals in the 800 seeded 7th but I thought she had a real shot at state (top 4 go) and gave her a race strategy that she put into action. I had a feeling it could come down to a very close finish so showed her this video the day before her final. In the last 60 meters she moved from 6th place and she shoulder leaned at the tape to get 4th by 0.07 beating out a girl from the powerhouse crosstown rival. Not quite the Olympics but it was fun to see. Being an old school runner, I didn’t know about the shoulder lean until this video. Been enjoying Run Gum too! Thanks again!

[@cloudbudget]

Nick! Thanks for more great advice!! I show my kids your videos to inspire them to do their best, to enjoy running, and to learn what enthusiasm and charisma are. : ) Thanks for all the entertainment and help! Going down to Target to find that RunGum!

[@gradymcginnis5057]

Not to brag but I was your 69th like

[@nicksymmonds]

ha! Thanks for the like :D

[@CentsTwo]

Wow this was 2 years before Rudisha came on to the scene in a big way. Can you talk about what 2010 and after was like with him? Since he practically re-defined the event.

[@nicksymmonds]

I'll talk about that in an upcoming video. He definitely changed the game!!

[@ronbunn1349]

Khadevis is now the XC coach at Ohio State University, in Columbus, where I live. I see the squad out training on the trails sometimes; good to know you guys are friends. Thanks for the continued content giving us an eye into the pro life Nick- all my athletics heroes are under-documented in comparison to the major sports stars.

[@andyharshman]

Good video, Nick. Your race commentaries are really fun to watch and very educational as well.

[@nicksymmonds]

thanks for watching!!

[@mikefarrow9693]

Reggie Lewis center💯💯 so dope to see u racing there that’s where my indoor seasons are

[@nikhilfriedman9324]

I got outleaned in the 2-mile a couple weeks ago... went from second to third :(

[@pjswag2118]

You look super muscular for a 2 mile runner, gotta hunk of a neck in your profile pic 👍👍

[@evanrollins1338]

I want to hear about your wins also. I ran 4:39 for a mile in High School. Im 29 yrs old now and I lift weights. Deadlifts and squats. Im trying to learn to sprint faster for a 400m. So your videos are dope to watch!!!

[@duncanladuke1966]

How did you prepare mentally for your races? I know that physical strength is still important but I’ve always been taught that the mental aspect of racing is more important once you have the training in, so any tips on that would be super helpful. Thanks and keep making great videos!

[@nicksymmonds]

I worked with a sports psychologist. But until you can hire one, practice using visualization to be ready for anything that comes your way in a race!

[@derekdouglas5773]

Hey Nick! I have a question. How important is flexibility for running track? And how often should I work on my flexibility?

[@Robert-pm1uq]

In his biography Mo Farah says he stretches for 45mins after running! Obviously Mo’s distance so Nick may say otherwise

[@nc8186]

It's important lol. Lack of mobility fucks your stride

[@nicksymmonds]

Not that important IMO. I didn't worry about flexibility much during my career. But I am extremely inflexible today as a result, and I wish I had more flexibility. Will need to work on that soon!

[@alexhomovc8179]

Actually a good flexibility won't make you run faster. Flexibility it's really important to prevent injury so u should work a little bit on it (5-10 min before/after your workout)

[@swiftrtgamingfitness3698]

Great video Nick! The is so important when it comes to races. I know when you train for the 100m. You will break 11 seconds by leaning in with your shoulder. Being a runner myself, I should start doing that. I also have a question. How do you stay mentally strong when you are going through an injury? I have a meniscus tear and I am going to get surgery next week. How do you keep yourself motivated?

[@nicksymmonds]

just think about how many great runners have been through injuries themselves (ALL OF THEM!!!) I had lots of injuries and several surgeries during the course of my career.

[@brownmamba6538]

Nice! Do you think you could do a review of one of your high school or college races?

[@nicksymmonds]

I want to! Need to find video of those races.

[@Ak-ig8os]

The best channel I have view this video twice

[@nicksymmonds]

very glad you are liking the vids!!

[@runzmsp7947]

Watching this in February 2020 bc Nick Symmonds is the bomb.com

[@darthsilversith667]

During my 8th grade season, I had been undefeated all year in the 400 until the championship meet and ended up losing by .01 because I also had a horrible lean lol

[@ganeshgajavelli1487]

This is actually really really cool content cause I see plenty of fantastic races and times but never do I see the thought process behind it or an in-depth analysis like you've made. The only other channel that kinda does this is Sage Canaday's VO2MaxProductions and there was noe video where michael johnson broke down usain bolt's triple triple 100m race, but besides that this is the most consistent and humble stuff I've ever seen from such a prolific athlete! Thank you for the content👍

[@umbrella0110]

Thank you for sharing your leaning tip! 👏🏽🙏🏽👍🏽🏃🏽‍♂️ Also, that hair though! 😂

[@nicksymmonds]

ha! I know :D

[@alejandrotorres712]

Should Eliud Kipchoge learn to lean at the line? 🧐

[@nicksymmonds]

Yes! probably wont ever need to use it, but you never know. Takes two seconds to learn!

[@tylerbrubaker_7]

Could be the difference between winning or losing so yea prolly

[@ABeehler629]

I'm shocked that nobody commented about the 2003 World Championships in the 5000m yet. If you don't know what happens, give it a watch...

[@Ak-ig8os]

Nice video nick Plzz make a video on drill or abc exercise for proper running form

[@nicksymmonds]

ok, coming soon!

[@ikesweitzer9815]

much much lower stakes but i beat a guy out with a lean by a hundredth of a second in my freshman conference mile. yep... walked away with 7th place instead of 8th in a field of 9 runners. 💪💪

[@kofinater]

Thinking about doing some all comers meets this summer, havnt ran track since highschool 8 years ago lol. Shoulder tip is cool, was taught the chest lean.

[@nicksymmonds]

have fun getting back out there!!

[@muhammadjararhassan3635]

Very good race 🙂

[@samburgess1440]

Love this man

[@jnuno9877]

Do the 2012 Olympics, but show us the semi-finals and final

[@nicksymmonds]

I'll see if I can find a copy of the semi's

[@stevew5146]

Great video on importance and strategy of leaning. Great flash from the past race too! Very intense. Nick, do you train to maximize your lean without falling over? Sort of reach that lean threshold?

[@nicksymmonds]

yeah! sometimes people lean so hard (or dive) and they do fall to the track.

[@MrTrackman100]

Nick's head is actually leaning BACKWARDS in that 800 race.

[@turtle207]

Such a beast back then...

[@shazam9014]

You look like Matt boling back then

[@haydenpike8586]

Aye at the Reggie Lewis center. All my indoor high school meets are there

[@nehemiahfuller3075]

Nice video keep going

[@nicksymmonds]

ok!! :D

[@jansmid2960]

Hey Nick, I would love if you did a review of one of your really bad races. I think it would be quite insightful for us to see what went wrong. To see why you weren't able to run what your sessions were indicating you should have been able to run. If it was mindset or you went too hard in training prior to the race or you were tired etc.. I often struggle a lot to be able to run as well in my races as I am able in my sessions.

[@nicksymmonds]

Ok! Will pick a race where I REALLY got my butt kicked :D

[@jansmid2960]

@@nicksymmonds Perfect :D Looking forward!

[@user-ro7ee7]

O. Run you. Great.

[@AvidRunner437]

Thats great race finish advice. Did you ever have a time when you were very late to a race and didn’t have time to prep? Also do you use the same warm up drills for mileage runs compared to track workouts/races? If you dont what do you do to warm up for a regular training run?

[@brendanjeans4423]

It’s the Reggie!!!!!

[@matthewfrench2343]

Can we get a full commentary over the world record 2012 Olympic final ?:)

[@zachmessaros9482]

Wow👀 not an expert on running, but u was leaning way back near the end. Still mad fast tho🔥

[@nicksymmonds]

always hard to finish those 800s!!

[@Biggiecheese222]

You should race in the Olympics this year, 2024 🙃

[@kaireed634]

This guy would high key be able to compete in the Olympics.

[@paddyhickey2211]

Got my first 800m indoor race next week, any tips?

[@TheNoobProjectXD]

sit and relax for first 400, exert no energy on stupid overtakes on bends and random spurts until you've got 300 to go(assuming the leaders don't get too far away) Get into an unblocked position on the bend and back straight then and kick at 200 to go with everything you've got.

[@nicksymmonds]

Get good position early! It can be really hard to move up through a pack in the indoor 800m.

[@keatonmcgrath1471]

Comment on the 2012 Olympic final!

[@nicksymmonds]

coming soon!!

[@harrispentecost4292]

Hi Nick, big fan of yours from Scotland. Love your channel. Question for you, how often per week / per month would you run training at 100% (as fast as you can go) ?

[@ronsample6116]

I'm curious. My grandson is 13 and in his first year of cross country (7th grade), he has been playing soccer since he was 5 and is very good, he also the number 1 runner on his cross country team and is a natural. With some work I think he could be very good, he is very competitive. My question is, at what point did you recognize that you had more potential as a runner than a soccer player. He loves soccer and I don't want to discourage him, but I also want to encourage and build on his running talents.

[@matthewpallotta1945]

As an ex-sprinter I’ve won many a races with a killer lean!!! Such an underaged skill Nick, love the vid as per usual 👌

[@nicksymmonds]

gotta have a good lean!

[@jnuno9877]

2012 Olympic games!!

[@nicksymmonds]

coming soon!!

[@thesoccertrotter1]

Kept thinking of the song shoulder lean by young dro

[@forrestgump8717]

I remember 1 time a couple of years ago and I had a 200 m race and my dad yelled at me to "lean"! I leaned too hard and faceplanted over the finish line. You' think a rubber cement would be more forgiving. I still have scars. I was 9 at the time tho and didn't known how to lean. I probably still don't. Luckily, though I won the race because the person closest to me was 5 or meters behind me. I'm not sure why I leaned in the first place lol. I

[@alexlakeland4738]

I have an indoor 800m coming up soon, do you have any advice on how to run it indoors compared to outdoors?

[@nicksymmonds]

get good position early! it is very hard to move through a pack in the indoor 800m

[@jaimanparekh4616]

Did u run xc in hs while doing the 800 in track

[@nicksymmonds]

yep. every year!!

[@pascanlons400kg8]

@@nicksymmonds were you good at xc?

[@shangrila73eldorado]

How come you're not coaching?

[@sofiaperalta9091]

Should practice that diving form.lol. I've seen quite a few runners diving across lines lately. Lol

[@erwinleell8023]

What would be your advice for someone who's trying to break 2 minutes in the 800?

[@nicksymmonds]

run your first lap in a VERY even paced 58.XX

[@erwinleell8023]

@@nicksymmonds thank you!!

[@peterfenter8800]

What is the best way to get your 800m time down, I never ran faster then a 2:05.00 in high school, which I know is not very good, but I know I should be able to break into the 1:50s now pretty easily, just not sure what I should be focusing on

[@thygaaa_982]

How hard do someone have to practice to run a good time? And any strategy?

[@natetweedy8024]

Hey ya all Jesus loves you! I hope that news makes your day better! Have a good one!

[@aidanwagner118]

How do I pace it if I’m running by myself. We have time trials next week for track and I have a 2:07 pb. Goal by end of season is hopefully sub 2.

[@aidanhoidal-bui2738]

Whats the name of this track?

[@nabala8906]

How do u run 800m?

[@alilove2970]

How the hell did they look like they were sprinting the entire race

[@derekcoulter9490]

Please do Olympics recap!!

[@nicksymmonds]

coming soon1!

[@waltpro1945]

With all that outside running you probably ran 800 meters before he did though

[@tilendobnikar8051]

maybe not running on the outside lane would bring you the win also

[@steeveslearning1114]

Will run gum sponser me

[@JayB2]

That easily could have been your race. Not just the lean but also u staying on the outside the whole last lap.

[@Ash-wu9yx]

Lol u actualy did the worst thing you took you head backwards 😅....you were the better runner but

[@Mmmmericaaaa_USA]

What a terrible lesson to learn, the hard way 🤦‍♂️

[@fidelbanuelos9601]

Hey! I think I have that race on VHS.

[@nicksymmonds]

very cool!! :D

[@antoniopietrangelo6567]

Great analysis ans summary

[@saulgoodman372]

Hey Nick what would be your approach to running a 1:59 indoor? Split wise

[@julianmora3383]

Jack Scafide 58-60 second laps. normally there should be a two second differential between the first and second lap

[@nicksymmonds]

yep, I'd go out in 58.XX and come back very low 60.XX