Working Out With A World Champion: 800m Record Pace With Ajee’ Wilson

The first time Ajee' Wilson broke two minutes for the 800m was at the USA Championships in 2013 when she ran 1:59.55 to finish third and qualify for Worlds. She has done it every year since.

That’s why no Ajeé fan should be worried about what is a Halley’s comet-level rarity: her running a bad race. Remember, her 1:58.16 from Paris is still the US leader.

We went to Philadelphia to join her for a workout the week before her off day at the NYC Grand Prix and Kyle Merber can personally confirm she is fit!

In the latest edition of The Lap Count Newsletter, Kyle shared a bunch of takeaways from the workout – without going into the excruciating detail, first and foremost it was a good one!

On tired legs from the 800s and one set of 300-200-200, our first set, we ran another 700m at WR 800m pace with a total of 60 seconds rest. As a refresher, the WR is 1:53.28!

It’s rare for an athlete to stay with their coach from their youth track days all the way through their time on the professional circuit. Think about how much you evolve as a person and an athlete in that timespan – so it’s a testament to Wilson and her coach, Derek Thompson, that they’ve not only made it work, they’ve thrived. And they’ve done it their own way.

Full Workout:
4 x 800 w/ 45 sec rest
6 min recovery
300 - 200 - 200 w/ 30 sec rest
6 min recovery
300 - 200 - 200 w/ 30 sec rest
[2:36-2:35-2:33-2:33]
[44.9-30.0-29.4]
[42.3-29.1-27.6]

Video shot and edited by Xavier Gallo.

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[benyam]

how she answered the Q about the 1500m tho. she a real one 😅😂😂

[dnolte]

dang this was great, loved the music too

[jsematimba]

Her response to a Diamond league 1500. “I am not about to play myself, i see how this races be goin closin in sub 2 like what are we doing 😅” she aint lying thats how Kipyegon and Sifan close in the 1500.

[ozzierun]

Impressive video! I wish every pro runner would do this at least once a season. I remember one time I walking in Wissahickon Valley Park and saw her running it was pretty cool and best part when I waved she waved back she’s a great role model.

[RunnerBoi]

Pretty much all I'm asking for in a workout vid; solid stuff. Would have liked to see more raw footage of the workout itself, but neat watch overall.

[charleshenry]

I love Ajee! She is my favorite track athlete! She always brings it and is a true 🐐🐐🐐. So humble, so sincere and so consistent!

[MrJeweledfez]

I know this is probably not going to happen, but I really wish she would somehow win a gold medal, at either the world championships or the Olympics. Got to give her respect, I love the way she is always out there running races.

[mattsilva]

What are you talking about Kyle! You are a beast! I remember watching you at the armory and being in awe! You steel got wheels!

[aaronbeane]

Love this! In all the years I’ve seen her race, this is the most I’ve gotten to hear from her perspective. Keep it up!

[jacquelinejuana]

Wow being able to run sun-2 minutes since 2013 is incredible and inspiring 💕🙏🏽

[hasansmith]

Derrick is amazing tell him hasan smith said hi…dying at his practices makes the win all well worth it❤❤❤❤❤

[richardmannion]

Nice to see Ajee being a bit more relaxed. Most of the time when interviewed after races she seems a bit having you public persona consist of interviews done within minute or two of finishing a fast 800m is not very fair. Everything hurts and now Lewis wants to ask the same questions he asked after the last race. The 800m runs looked like an extension of the warm up. Those 3, 2, 2 runs with 30 secs recovery are impressive. i know it looks like it should be easy to do 700m at 800m race pace with the two 30 seconds rest, but anyone who has trained for 800m knows it isn't. There's a huge difference in how hard race pace feels on a "normal" track training day v when rested and up for it at a big meet.

[ronniejohnson]

Ajee Wilson Is My Favorite 800 meter Female Athlete. Wishing Her The Very Best!!!

[laurapalmer]

Chris, you *made* poor Kyle go out there and run this?