Running the 400m?

Question

I'm a frosh in highschool.

I was a sprinter up until last year (Feels like forever ago)

This year I ran xc, 800m1000m in winter track and I mostly run 800&1600m this season (I ran 3200m once).

So tomorrow's the last meet and I'm running a 400m and 800m.

My PR is 1:12 from 6th grade.

7th grade: 1:20

8th grade 1:17

This year in practice I was timed somewhere between 1:15-1:16. Don't know how accurate that was.

The thing is I'm so used to just starting on the same line as everyone and just tagging with people and burning them out the last 100-200m. The staggered starts for 400m, it won't be as easy. Last time I had a staggered start, it was a nightmare because I had no one to pace off of.

Any tips? I want to break my PR finally after three years. It's been my goal.

Answer 1

Just try to slowly pull in the person ahead of you in the stagger.  Hopefully you won't draw the outside lane. ;)

Answer 2

just look at the person in front of you untill you pass them and then aim for the next person in line.

just remember "the faster you run the faster you finish"