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On the track or road, when a runner sets a world record, often he or she is far ahead of any rivals. The record becomes a time trial more than a race. Once the pacers have completed their duties, there is nothing to feed off other than the clock itself.

Time Trialling to a record is an incredible accomplishment. But when a record comes down to a drag race between two or more runners, the excitement you experience while watching is palpable.

In the runners’ attempts to outdo one another, they are each elevating each other’s performance. The result is a race that is “greater than the sum of its parts.” The results achieved are beyond what the runners could have done alone racing against the clock.

I love that.

There is a comradery underlying the machismo of racing for the win, the gold or the money. There is a tie that binds runners chasing mastery of their sport at the highest level – the spirit of competition. Aiming to be the very best a person can be. We are going to watch two such races today.

But first, a bit of background.

The Prince of Middle Distance

Hicham El Guerrouj, known the Prince of Middle Distance, is without a doubt the greatest Miler and 1500m runner of all-time. He holds the world record in both events and is a seven-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist in the 1500m.

Combine this with his accomplishments in 2000m (world record holder), 3000m (world indoor champion 2001) and 5000m distance (Olympic gold in 2004), and you can make a strong argument for El Guerrouj being the greatest runner ever.

El Guerrouj was known for ramping up the pace from a long way out during a race. His continuous gradual pace would run the kick out of the legs of his rivals. If runners were close to him with 400, 600 even 800 to go, he would ramp up the pace even more. The two races we are going to watch include El Guerrouj.

There is a lot more to say about El Guerrouj. But we will save that for another time.

The Mile World Record Race

In the Mile, El Guerrouj claims seven of the Top-10 all-time Mile race times. See for yourself over at All-Time Athletics. The other three on the top-10 list include:

• Noah Ngeny of Kenya. He has the second-fastest time of 3:43.40.
• Noureddine Morceli of Algeria, the last person to hold the Mile world record. He has the third- and seventh-fastest times of 3:44.39 and 3:45.19

It just so happens that El Guerrouj and Ngeny ran the two fastest ever Mile times in a head-to-head competition. Let’s watch!

This race is the epitome of two runners feeding off one another. And it allowed them to achieve a level of performance never reached before or since: cross the finish line in under 3:44 for the Mile.

Almost The 1500m World Record Race

In the 1500m, El Guerrouj also claims seven of the Top-10 all-time 1500m race times. Again see for yourself over at All-Time Athletics. The other three on the top-10 list include:

• Bernard Lagat of Kenya and later the United States. He has the third-fastest time of 3:26.34.
• Asbel Kiprop of Kenya. He has the fifth-fastest time of 3:26.59. Unfortunately, Kiprop was recently banned from competition due to the detection of banned substances during out-of-competition doping controls.
• Noureddine Morceli of Algeria, again the last person to hold the 1500m world record. He has the tenth-fastest time of 3:27.37

At the 2001 Ivo Van Damme Invitational, El Guerrouj and Lagat went head-to-head. It was in this race that, unexpectedly, the second and third fastest ever times were set. Lagat is known for his devastating kick in the final lap of 1500m and 5000m races. It might very well be the best kick in history. If he within striking distance with 100m to go, he usually wins. El Guerrouj knows this. And with Lagat close, he must up his game. Let’s watch.

Do you Race of Time Trial?

Often in amateur competition, we only have a time goal. Essentially we are always racing the clock. That’s ok. But if the opportunity to race a competitor of similar abilities to the finish does become available, forget Time Trialing and Race instead.

Race for the win. But don’t race to beat your rival or rivals. Race to elevate both yours and their performances. Let the spirit of competition turn the event into something “greater the sum of its parts” like El Guerrouj, Ngeny, and Lagat. And win or lose, the moment the race is done, thank your competition for helping you be the best you can be.