Rather than lament the delay and possibly lose concentration, Lagat relished the disruptions as a unique opportunity.

"I was glad it happened," he said. "You don't want anyone to get hurt but it's a situation you can grow from. When something like that happens you have to recoup again real quickly.

"I've been in a few collisions before. It doesn't happen often but you have to always be prepared."

STRAIGHT ANSWERS

The favourite for the 1,500 and a contender for the 5,000 in Beijing, Lagat has been working hard on his running patience which was on full display in Carson where he kicked into high gear for the final 200 metres, breaking away from the pack to win in 3:35.14.

Lopez Lomong, a 23-year-old Sudanese-American who finished fourth despite falling early on after being pushed from behind, regards Lagat as a mentor.

"He's so well prepared and he knows everything about racing -- every turn and every part of the track," Lomong said. "I use him a lot as a benchmark because of his running ability and when I ask him questions he always gives me straight answers."

In his final preparations for Beijing, Lagat will spend most of his time putting himself through endless drills including running 10 miles at a 55-minute pace. He will also enjoy family time with his wife and son.

Most of all, though, Lagat will keep on learning as much as he can.

"In racing, you have to be smart and use tactics," he said. "For me, it's all about patience. I have to learn how to ration my energy, but I'm a quick learner."