Marco Arop finding success with adjusted 800-metre race plan after Olympic disappointment

Canadian middle-distance runner Marco Arop has never been afraid of being the frontrunner. 

For years his race plan to lead the pack had been mostly successful, until on a sweltering night at Tokyo in his Olympic debut Arop ran out of steam in the final stretch. 

After leading most of the race he faded in the last metres, an agonizing scene as the pack caught him and passed him. Arop would miss qualifying for the final, finishing 14th. 

"I used to think if you're in the best shape you can win the race any way. I've learned the hard way that's not how it works," Arop said. 

As painful as that experience was, the 23-year-old from Edmonton was graceful in his defeat. 

"It was a huge learning experience. I felt that to this point that was my biggest learning experience. I'm really grateful for it. I wouldn't have it any other way and I think I'm a better person because of it," Arop said this week at the national championships in the Township of Langley, B.C. 

Since then, Arop has moved away from his singularly focused race plan of trying to be the frontrunner, now paying attention to how his body is feeling and how the race is going. 

On Friday night he put his athleticism and race tactics on full display at McLeod Athletic Park Stadium, winning his semifinal in a time of 1:48.44. He'll compete in the final on Saturday evening. 

"I felt it at the end there. I had to make sure I wasn't playing around. I have to take these guys seriously," Arop said after the race. 

"It wasn't until about the 700 metre mark I put my foot on the gas."

With a new perspective on how he wants to run, Arop says he's been feeling amazing of late. He says he had a somewhat rough start to the season laced with injuries. But as of late, Arop has been