400m ---> 800m <--- 1500m

stepperupper

Which is the best way to become a great 800m runner. Run loads of miles and do 1500s then tune yourself with some speed work or do loads of speed and run 400s then do some stamina work? Obviously this would all need to be done over a few years and not during one season. But which is better 400/800 or 800/1500? Of course there's an argument for strictly 800 but that's SH1T.... you'd get so bored. You need a bit of variation. What are ur thoughts???

epo addict

Last year all i did was 800's so this year i decided to try different distances as you are correct you do get bored..Early in the season i did a 400m then a couple of 800's and im mixing 800's and 1500's till the end of august..I raced yesterday at the Dublin games in the 800m and another runners father came up to me and said i looked more like a 1500m runner in the race..Since i've started doing 1500m races my 800m times have goin down but i've enjoyed the challenge of changing distances and have 3 new pb's in the 400,800 and 1500 so i think a lot more 800m runners should try it!

Domer

My event when I used to race was the 800m...last ran one in 1992. My best was in the 1:48/1:49 region...

I find that the best way to come at the 800 as a racer is to come from a 400 up. To be a good half miler, you need raw speed in abundance. Being able to run 3:40 for 1500 may help you get over the dreaded 3rd 200 in the half, but it will not help you win races, and at the end of the day, that is why you race. The judge of a good half mile racer, as opposed to a time trialist, is there time for the 400m. If a runner cannot run a competitive 400m against his peers, he will find it hard to stick with the pace over the last 200 of a half.

For someone coming at the 800 from 1500, the race needs to be different. They may prefer more even splits, and may not have the blistering speed to overtake with 120 to go, but running consistantly may be able to run as good a time as the half miler coming from the 400m side.

In summary, (and IMHO), the best half mile racers come from 400m to 800m. Those that come from 1500 can be great half milers and run great times because they are strong, but may not necessarily win races or have strong finishes.

Obviously there are cases around for both approaches that extole the virtues of each.

Again, all in my opinion!!

Squirrel

I came from a more 1500 background, although I haven't done many becauseof injuries, but high miles. The strongest part of my race is my kick

Common Sense

I guess it all depends on the athlete. 'Sprinter' types will move up from 400 to 800 without too much difficulty, whereas 'Endurance' types (1500m) will have no trouble accommodating 800. Interestingly as a sprint coach I took on a 17 year old boy a few years ago who's training was geared towards 800 and who had PBs of 52 and 2:01. In his first year under my coaching I concentrated completely on 400m training - longest session 600m and no 'miles'. He improved his 400 PB to high 49s during the following season and 'for kicks' at the end of the season decided to run an 800. Lo and behold he ran 1:57, slicing 4 secs from his PB. That athlete had never done a cross country race or 1500 in his life!! I also coached a very good female 400m runner who moved up to 800 and within the space of 3 months, without any specialist training for 800m reduced her 800 pb from 2:16 to 2:09. All this proves is that these athletes were suitable for the 400/800 combination whereas others are 800/1500 people.