Socialing the Distance, featuring Clayton Murphy - Clip 8, Competing in the Wanda League vs Championships, What's the Big Diff?

In this clip Clayton discusses the difference between competing in the Wanda League and competition at Championships (Speed vs Tactics).

One of the things that totally irked me in the 1980s and 1990s was how many American athletes had absolutely no clue about racing. They would get bumped, and damn, the party was over.

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Clayton Murphy, 2018 US Champs, waiting…photo by Mike Deering / The Shoe Addicts

I have had the same feeling when I would watch Diamond League events, which set up distance events to go fast. The same athletes who go fast, in many cases, get totally destroyed by someone who knows how to use tactics and remember the key rule of championship racing: there are only 3 medals and you will fight past the line to hold on to that medal.

We asked Clayton to speak on the challenges in the two types of events, Wanda League versus World Championships and Olympic finals.

Clayton Murphy, 2018 US Champs, waiting…photo by Mike Deering / The Shoe Addicts

Clayton had some telling observations. Murphy understands the challenges of both types of racing. My take? Clayton Murphy is a championship racer. When he is fit, he will once again be dangerous at 800m.

Special thanks to Mike Deering of The Shoe Addicts. The Shoe Addicts managed and produced this series for RunBlogRun.

Author

Larry Eder
Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys. Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."
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