Tips on the 800meter dash?

Question

Tips on the 800meter dash?

Answer 1

USA Track & Field advises that an 800 meter race is the only race that should be positive split.  This means that the first half should be faster than the second half.  For example, if you are setting out to run 2:00.00, the pace should be something like 59 seconds for the first 400m and 61 seconds for the second 400m.

Answer 2

on your first lap, try to stay in the middle of the pack if you can. Its all about how you feel, if you really feel that you can comfortably lead, then go right ahead, and open up as big a gap as possible.

Your 3rd 200 is really the most important part of the race. This is the most challenging place in which to pick up speed because your mindset is "ughh, i still have another lap to go".

You must RUN here, and distance yourself from the pack. It will be painful, but its just the lactic acid.

You gotta slingshot into the turn of the last 200 and then your adrenaline and instinct will carry you home.

Run at 110% speed the last 100 meters.

Answer 3

Run even. Don't go out too fast or go out too slow and then hope to kick in.

Practice running intervals at your race pace so you will know how to run that pace during a race.

Break the race into 200s. The third is the hardest to maintain your pace.

It takes a little more effort on each 200, until you can smell the finish line.

Answer 4

I don't agree with the first answerer. I suggest maintaing a comfortable yet quick pace for the first 500-600m. Then build up to your fastest sprint, so that the last 150-200m are your fastest. Also, make sure you move your hands down to your sides and up besides your ears, but don't cross your body's center line - that just wastes energy. By moving your arms quickly by your sides, you're uncounsciously making your feet go faster - you're your own puppet master. Also, kick your feet so that the person behind you can see your heels. This propels you forward and lets them know that you've still got the energy to win.

Answer 5

Unless you have almost no competition at all, DO NOT take the lead. That way you won't be worrying about whether or not you're going fast enough and how close the 2nd person is behind you. Stay right behind the first person, don't let more than 15 ft between you and them.

Also, NEVER pass on a curve. You will be running three steps to every one of theirs.

Try to go for even splits. You don't want a 1:00 on the first lap and a 1:20 on the second, or something like that.

Answer 6

An 800 is not really about who goes the fastest at one point, but more of who slows down the least. Knowing this, it is more important to constantly be accelerating or maintaining an even pace. Look at it this way. If you run a 63 second 400 two times, that gives you a 2 minute and 6 seconds 800. This is not a shabby time at all. I usually look at the 800 as 8 100s and try to get each one even, or the next one a little bit faster.