How can I, pyschologically, beat the 400m?

Question

In other words mentally prepare for the 400m, i'm 16, and my best time is 50 seconds

Answer 1

The best way to psychologically beat the 400 is to look at how long it is, and break it into sections, and listen to your favorite pump up songs. Forget about what is going on and concentrate on your race. If u can run a 50 for it you have a state qualifying time right their.

Answer 2

If you're running a 50s 400m at age 16, you really don't need much help.  I ran much slower at that age (admittedly I'm a 200m person).  Two pieces of advice I can give:

1.  Go out strong for the first 100m, relax the 2nd 100m, then open it up for the remaining 200m.  Some days you won't have it and you'll die on the straightaway, but there will be those special times when your body gives more and next thing you know you've turned in a sub-50.  Keep in mind that when I say relax the 2nd 100 I don't mean slow down, I mean relax your body.....you'll run that 100m as fast as the opening but you'll do it with very little energy.  It takes practice to master that but once you do, you'll find yourself halfway through the race and nowhere near tired.

2.  I once ran a 53s indoor 400m with a negative split (ie, 27s 200m followed by a 26s 200m); my coach was not happy (it was obvious I'd sandbagged).  He told me that it's important to go out and give it what I can because although I think I'll get tired, the reality is that I'll be in oxygen debt for less time and so the pain won't be as bad as I think.   I don't think I ran anything slower than a 50s indoor after that.

Answer 3

Well your doin pretty good. How you can prepare your your mind is practice by running miles so you feel that 400 meters is not far at all.