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What were the biggest lessons and takeaways from your first full season as a professional runner training with Bobby Kersee out in L.A.? What did you take away from that experience?

“It was an amazing experience. I love Bobby, I love that group. The biggest thing I took away is that it’s always a transition coming out from college to the professional ranks. You’re not running as much, maybe not having 4x400’s, or having a set schedule for you to run. But the biggest thing is it really taught me how to be a professional athlete… All of those people in that group really taught me what it was to be a pro as far as preparation, as far as everything off the track and things like that. So I'm really glad that I was able to have that experience to carry into the rest of my career.”

One of the biggest things that sticks out to me when you hear these interviews with Sydney or Athing or even Keni and yourself is this trust that everyone has in Bobby Kersee. It’s like, ‘Bobby knows’ and ‘it's a part of Bobby's plan’. And it's similar in the sense of the program you're going to now with Danny. There's a lot of mindset work and telling yourself that you belong on this stage, that you can make these teams and you can make finals. What has been the biggest step forward in your mental approach as a professional athlete?

“It's just like you said. You dream your whole life about this moment, about making it to this stage. And when you finally get there, it's kind of surreal in a sense. You're racing against people that you've grown up watching. So for me, it was like, ‘okay, I do belong,’ you know what I mean? And your coach plays a huge part in that. Bobby always told me that I belong. Bobby always spoke life to me. And the first time that I started speaking to Danny, he did the same thing. So that gave me an assurance that Danny believes that I can be what I believe that God called me to be. Danny's the man with the plan and I'm excited to start working with him.”

This past year was maybe not the year you hoped for. I remember at USAs you came through the mixed zone afterwards and were talking about dealing with a hamstring issue and not having enough time to come back. How did you take the ups and downs of this year and assess the year as a whole?

“It's about finding the little victories as well as the big ones. But really just focusing on the process and continuing to push forward. Every athlete faces adversity and I'm no stranger to adversity… It's just about counting your blessings and realizing that this is what I prayed for and this is the stakes. And, you know, with COVID, it’s about getting over yourself a little bit. It happened to everybody, you're not the only one affected by it. So it's about going back to the drawing board and coming back better.”

What did you learn from your first trials experience that you're hoping is valuable to have in your back pocket this time around? You've elevated to this whole new level where you got a glimpse of what it's like to compete against the best in the world.

“I think it's just realizing that the trials are a grind, especially for the 800… It’s not only being physically prepared for the rounds and everything that entails, but also getting yourself mentally ready as well. So that's the biggest thing going into this year. The ultimate goal is making the team. You know, everybody wants to make the team, it's not just my dream. So it's just being able to sit back and put my head down and enjoy the process and let God handle the results.”

The 800 was globally pretty wide open this year. Was there any part of you that was like, ‘if I were 100%, I'd be in these races and in contention to win’?

“Of course. I'm a competitor. I like to say I'm a dog. You always think that you have what it takes. And I know that I have what it takes. It was great though; it grounds you and roots you and makes you hungry. Everything happens for a reason. Every race that I'm in, I'm going to try to win. I don't like to lose. But when I do lose, I lose with grace. So for me, it was great for my career – what I just went through – for the sheer fact that it made me hungry, humble and focused for this year.”

One of the storylines all throughout your career, even while you were in college, is that you were always like, ‘I'm doing it for the little guys’.

“I've always been the smallest one on the track. And to me, I wouldn't have it any other way. Everything that I need in order to be successful is already in me. God prepared me, God equipped me, and I wouldn't be Brandon Miller if I were any different than I am right now. And I think that's what people have to understand – who you are is who you are. And your story wouldn't be the same if you were any different than who you are right now. So I just embrace it. I'm glad to hopefully be an inspiration to a lot of people out there.”

You have an eye for how the sport should be presented. If you could change one or two things about how athletes’ stories get out there, what would it be?

“Getting more stars into track and field. Like when Travis Scott came to Worlds, that was great for the sport. A lot of the time, my friends that don't know about track will come to a track meet and will be like, ‘oh, I love this!’. So I don't think it’s the sport itself. I think it's just getting more exposure towards the sport…

It just has a lot of potential, especially with the Netflix stuff coming out and things like that. I think track is growing and people are trying to get into it right now and it's a process, you know what I mean? Hopefully by 2028 the sport will have grown to where people are really paying attention to it when the Olympics are on American soil.”

Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram

Guest: Brandon Miller | @bmillertrackstar on Instagram