Nick Willis Runs 4:00.22 in Midnight Mile

I was there. He didn’t make it. DNF

Already 10s + slower than his PR form. Is he even 40 yet?

Greg wrote:

michiganrunner55 wrote:

My prediction

I thought it was real. If he breaks 4 it gives me inspiration, maybe I can PR still.

Which PR?

You have to train to PR. I understand that you don't run much. Are you planning to run more?

We've merged two threads on this into 1. Someone started a thread on this asking if he ran it entitled, "Nick Willis 3:59.11" which was his or her prediction.

It appears that he did run but the time isn't public. The rumor is he didn't break 4:00.

Matt Taylor (TrackSmith founder) and Nick Willis are two of my favorite people in running. That being said, I find it lame that this wasn't broadcast live when it happened. Literally, last night around 10 pm, I was like, "Is Nick Willis running tonight?"

What's the point of running at 12 midnight if it's not live?

Apparently, they are going to release a documentary about it

Considering Willis has the rest of the year to go under 4:00, I think it is a gimmick (albeit an entertaining one if we get the result sometime soon). I think as long as he has a number of races and stays healthy/motivated, there is no chance he doesn't break 4 in 2022. He ran a 3:35 1500 in 2021, so even taking it "easy" I imagine he could get into 3:58 mile shape. The question at that point is certainly motivation, for someone who has a lifetime PR much faster than that.

Honestly, I'm most interested in seeing how Kessler, Ferlic, and the others ran (if they all ran as planned).

Mini documentary is coming. I think it is great marketing by tracksmith. The interest is high on did he break 4 or not…puts the tracksmith brand in a very visible spot in the running world

michiganrunner55 wrote:

Mini documentary is coming. I think it is great marketing by tracksmith. The interest is high on did he break 4 or not…puts the tracksmith brand in a very visible spot in the running world

Only in the running world would fans consider a delayed, secret event followed by what's going to be a D-tier production quality, straight to YouTube "documentary" release a good marketing strategy.

FartKing69 wrote:

michiganrunner55 wrote:

Mini documentary is coming. I think it is great marketing by tracksmith. The interest is high on did he break 4 or not…puts the tracksmith brand in a very visible spot in the running world

Only in the running world would fans consider a delayed, secret event followed by what's going to be a D-tier production quality, straight to YouTube "documentary" release a good marketing strategy.

Salient point, FartKing69.

michiganrunner55 wrote:

Mini documentary is coming. I think it is great marketing by tracksmith. The interest is high on did he break 4 or not…puts the tracksmith brand in a very visible spot in the running world

Honestly, very few care. Just the little poser rich kids who pay ridiculous prices for running clothing with a stripe on it.

stars and stripes. wrote:

michiganrunner55 wrote:

Mini documentary is coming. I think it is great marketing by tracksmith. The interest is high on did he break 4 or not…puts the tracksmith brand in a very visible spot in the running world

Honestly, very few care. Just the little poser rich kids who pay ridiculous prices for running clothing with a stripe on it.

I’m a late 40s Muslim who is not well-to-do and I am interested. Granted I raced against him at one time.

The concept of waiting the release the result with a mini doc is a nice marketing strategy on paper. The reality is that most will find out the result after a few people watch it and then post to twitter/letsun.

MohammedA wrote:

stars and stripes. wrote:

Honestly, very few care. Just the little poser rich kids who pay ridiculous prices for running clothing with a stripe on it.

I’m a late 40s Muslim who is not well-to-do and I am interested. Granted I raced against him at one time.

If you raced against him,. maybe you're still fast enough to run the first 45-49 sub 4. Lagat can but he won't.

slowpoker wrote:

The concept of waiting the release the result with a mini doc is a nice marketing strategy on paper. The reality is that most will find out the result after a few people watch it and then post to twitter/letsun.

I think that, sadly, only a handful of die hards really care about this result & would have watched it live. It'll get thousands of views on YouTube & that's more valuable for Tracksmith.

I think this was supposed to be the sub-4 mile for 2021. I guess he didn't run a mile earlier in 2021? Of course he could have broken 4 easily when in 3:35-shape, but harder to do it this time of the year.

cramberrys wrote:

I think this was supposed to be the sub-4 mile for 2021. I guess he didn't run a mile earlier in 2021? Of course he could have broken 4 easily when in 3:35-shape, but harder to do it this time of the year.

Midnight = 2022

He ran 357 with Hobbs Kessler in 21’ he has all 2022 to run under 4 . Again the track and field World trying to get some interest completely bombs out . It never fails and no one but a few hundred would of watched it anyway . Yea YouTube after will get some views for sure !

MohammedA wrote:

stars and stripes. wrote:

Honestly, very few care. Just the little poser rich kids who pay ridiculous prices for running clothing with a stripe on it.

I’m a late 40s Muslim who is not well-to-do and I am interested. Granted I raced against him at one time.

Why did you feel the need to include your religion?

It would be more exciting if he started his only mile of the year right at 11:56pm on 12/31/22.

stars and stripes. wrote:

michiganrunner55 wrote:

Mini documentary is coming. I think it is great marketing by tracksmith. The interest is high on did he break 4 or not…puts the tracksmith brand in a very visible spot in the running world

Honestly, very few care. Just the little poser rich kids who pay ridiculous prices for running clothing with a stripe on it.

They make nice stuff and the price of high quality Nike stuff is honestly even more expensive so idk what your point is