Why is the 1500m so tough for women?

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9 years ago 08/22/2014 1:26am EDT

I've been genuinely curious about this for a long time. We have women who can run sub 14:40 for 5000m but struggle to break 4:00 for 1500m.

Dibaba has run sub 14:30 this year. I've never heard of a male sub 14:30 runner who couldn't run 3:55 any day of the week without much fanfare. And I've DEFINITELY never heard of a sub 8:17 runner who couldn't run 4:10 in the mile or under.

There was a time where I had slower 800m AND 5000m PRs than Simpson and Dibaba but could run 3:55-3:57 in every race. I just don't get it.

So the question remains, why is the 1500m so physiologically difficult for women? I'm genuinely curious in scientific answers since it seems like the fitness is definitely there.

9 years ago 08/22/2014 1:29am EDT

re: confused runner

I also wanted to point out Mary Cain:

1:59/4:04/15:40. That actually makes perfect sense. But if you told me that someone could run Cain's time in an 800m and OVER ONE MINUTE faster in the 5000m and struggle to break 4:00 in the 1500m I'd say you were crazy.

9 years ago 08/22/2014 3:08am EDT

re: confused runner

there are scientific answers.

dibaba is fitter than the typical 1430 runner.

her 3000m suggests 14:15 capability.

since her stamina is better, her speed must be a bit worse.

9 years ago 08/22/2014 3:36am EDT

Probably true. I ended up with PRs 8/10/60 seconds faster at the 800/1500/5000.Regardless, the point about natural speed is an interesting one. That's why I brought up the 800m PR. Dibaba can run sub 2:00 in the 800m (she closed a 3:55 1500m in 2:01 so that's a foregone conclusion) and sub 14:30 in the 5k. Find me one male, ever, who has gone sub 2 and sub 14:30 who struggled to break 4:00 in the 1500m.Similarly, find me one male runner who can run 1:58 in the 800m and 15:00 in the 5000m but struggles to break 4:00 in the 1500m.There has to be another reason, physiologically.

Half these broads wrote:
confused runner wrote:
There was a time where I had slower 800m AND 5000m PRs than Simpson and Dibaba but could run 3:55-3:57 in every race. I just don't get it.
That's a problem with you not them.

9 years ago 08/22/2014 6:49am EDT

re: confused runner

Let's push your thought a little further. Say Dibaba actually believes what you are saying.

That would be why she went out in 62. She thought that no matter what happened she would still break 4:00 and win.

I think you can think of many male runners who have run 1:58 and 15:00 who tried to break 3:50, all alone, who died and missed 4:00.

9 years ago 08/22/2014 10:30am EDT

re: confused runner

There is no shopping cart. duh

9 years ago 08/22/2014 10:56am EDT

re: confused runner

confused runner wrote:
I've been genuinely curious about this for a long time. We have women who can run sub 14:40 for 5000m but struggle to break 4:00 for 1500m.
Dibaba has run sub 14:30 this year. I've never heard of a male sub 14:30 runner who couldn't run 3:55 any day of the week without much fanfare. And I've DEFINITELY never heard of a sub 8:17 runner who couldn't run 4:10 in the mile or under.
There was a time where I had slower 800m AND 5000m PRs than Simpson and Dibaba but could run 3:55-3:57 in every race. I just don't get it.
So the question remains, why is the 1500m so physiologically difficult for women? I'm genuinely curious in scientific answers since it seems like the fitness is definitely there.

Very good question. I'm with you on this. I think women run the 1500 differently to men. 3.50 should be beaten often these days, but I think they watch each other too much in the race, whereas men tend to go for faster races more often. It could be a money thing?

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