what is the best way to split an 800 meter race?

You should be aiming for around 2:25. For 1600 just project from that. Around 5:15 or so

Don't know if I can quite hit those times, but I really appreciate the vote of confidence lol, I'll try my ass off to hit those marks :). Thanks for the help friend. Does the above gentleman/lady and other people have any advice on what kind of splits I should be hitting for a fast (for me lol) time in the 800 and 1600 meters?

The 800 is the hardest distance to nail down.

You have to run it a few times and get a feel for your best approach.

Assuming this isn't a troll, you're going to want to come close to even splits. Ideally, slightly positive. I'm telling you even so you don't go out too hard just because of the word positive.

If you're shooting for 2:29, that's right about 37 pace per 200m. (actually 2:28)

So I'd take it out in 35-36, no faster.

I'd try to stay comfortable and maintain as best you can. Ideally you'll come through in 72-74.

Now the fun begins. You gotta really make an effort to push from 400-600, This is often where people lose the most time without realizing it. It feels like you're going fast even though you're slowing down. So make sure to push and keep your stride rate up.

Hopefully at this point you're at around 1:50-1:51.

Nothing left to do but hammer for home from here. All out, everything you got. It's going to hurt but you can't leave anything left at the finish. You gotta go now.

To sum up:

200m: 35-36

400m: 72-73 (37 split)

600m: 1:50-1:51 (38 split)

800m: 2:29 (38 or 39 split)

Thanks for the solid advice guys, great point Star and ThatAverageGuy thanks for the depth and specificity of your answer; I read your thread and congratulations on your big 800m PR! and I swear I'm not trolling LOL.

Will report back tomorrow with my time. Don't know if I mentioned this or not (too lazy to go back a page and have to rewrite my reply haha) but this is a time trial, how much would you guys say an actual race with competitors would subtract for a given time trial result? is 1-3 seconds realistic for my level of fitness?

Thank you!

And its hard to say how much better you may do in a race.

Some people are good at getting pumped up for a practice and others not so much. I'd say around 3 seconds is at least reasonable, it may be more or it may be a little less. Regardless, good luck! Look forward to hearing your report back.

Best way to split it is at the 400m mark.

any idea of you 400 ability?

most good 800 runners will go through the 400 about 3 seconds slower than their 400 PR, then hang on until the finish

it's not a matter of negative splitting, but rather how close you can get to an even split

Go out in 70 and hang on. A race will usually be worth 3-5 seconds over a TT.

King Duane Solomon wrote:

Best way to split it is at the 400m mark.

Best way to split it is into quarters, aka every 200m

Well my 400 best is 67 but I'm fairly sure I can beat that right now, as paces that once almost or did feel like a sprint to me are not anymore. I used to feel like 4:30-5:00 mile pace was insanely tough to run at but now it feels like a fast but manageable pace; I guess my only problem is my poor aerobi endurance which needs to be developed.

If I ran an all out 400 I think I'd get 64-65, but maybe I'm overrating my potential which can be easy to do. Thanks for the help guys, about to head out and get this time trial done; going to run my a55 into the ground haha!

get in the race wrote:

Go out in 70 and hang on. A race will usually be worth 3-5 seconds over a TT.

Similar to this, but go out in 72.

Only one way to find out what you can cope with.

King Duane Solomon wrote:

Best way to split it is at the 400m mark.

49.2/51.5

49.50/50.49 = legend

As even as possible

sh!t guys my time trial kind of got derailed :(

Went through 400 in 1:13, 600 in 1:50.13 and a kid rode his tricycle right in front of me, dodged him and fell over :/

I was hurting really bad but I think I could have toughed it out to run 2:28 or 2:29

I'm going to try again on Saturday or Sunday or might do a 1600 and leave the 800 for the middle of next week. What do you gentlemen think I can run the 1600 in?

ps. thanks for all the help again guys, really appreciate it; even the trollish answers a bit lol :D

Go through 200 in Pure Hate Mode and hold on

slowerthanud3423 wrote:

49.50/50.49 = legend

48.72/49.83

Its a long video but if you don't want to read this should cover your basis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c7dhdS81Tw