I've noticed an unusual problem in my 800m races - after the race is over, I'm not tired or breathing hard, but my legs just won't move any faster. My legs are pretty relaxed during the first 300m or so, but they lock up and hurt so bad that it feels like I'm having cramps after a lap and a half.
Any ideas on what to do with this? Is the answer more speedwork or more long aerobic runs?
Uhhh...the answer is that that's just what happens when you run an 800.
Yes, but I'm often experiencing the same thing too when I run the 1500 and some longer races.
legs vs. lungs wrote:
Is the answer more speedwork or more long aerobic runs?
Neither, the answer is more hills.
I'm not an experienced coach, but sounds like you need more speedwork. An 800 runner who does TOO MUCH speedwork tends to feel great the first lap, then fades hard. You sound different than this. Do you have 200m (or 400m) splits from a race? If you legs won't move faster, you've got to teach them how!
777 wrote:
Do you have 200m (or 400m) splits from a race? If you legs won't move faster, you've got to teach them how!
200 mark: 28.1
400 mark: 56.9
600 mark: 1:26.6
Final time: 1:58.6
Try going out a bit faster yet relaxed, say 54-55 and see what happens. I was stuck on 158 for a while my senior year in hs until I did this and I dropped to 155 suddenly.
worth a shot...