'Top dog': How pro runner Lucia Stafford changed her approach to become a contender

In a matter of minutes, Lucia Stafford began her 2023 track running season indoors with two personal-best times, including a Canadian record in the 1,000 metres.

While the process to achieve this level of success took years, she has witnessed dramatic improvement in her results the past 18 months.

Often consumed by the outcome of her races, Stafford stopped worrying about time or other runners in her 2020 Olympic debut, focusing on each lap and being present in the women's 1,500.

"If you focus on executing every lap the way you want, feeling strong and making sure you do your best … you should run fast and place high," Stafford said this week from her Toronto residence before flying to New York to race the indoor mile at the 115th Millrose Games on Saturday.

The Tokyo Olympics, delayed a year by the COVID-19 pandemic, was "a huge learning experience" and turning point in Stafford's athletic career.

"I grew a lot in the mental game, [how to handle] pre-race nerves and anxiety," said last year's Canadian champion in the 1,500. "Once the [start] gun went off in my heat and the semifinals, I felt like my body knew what to do."

Stafford delivered a 4:03.52 PB on Aug. 2, 2021 to qualify seventh for the Olympic semifinals ahead of her older sister, Gabriela DeBues-Stafford, who holds a combined seven indoor and outdoor records. Two days later, she ran over a second faster in 4:02.12, 43-100ths of a second shy of Spain's Marta Perez, who grabbed the last qualifying spot for the final.

"I went from a 4:05, 4:06 runner to Olympic semifinalist and almost Olympic finalist," said Stafford, "and I honestly think it was purely because of my mindset."

Stafford remembered when she almost felt intimidated by her own drive, competitiveness