How to win these particular races?

High School Running Distance

7 years ago 04/24/2017 10:21am EDT

Hi. I am a HS sophomore who has run a 4:37 1600 and 10:17 3200. I am in a weak state and a weak division, so I may have a shot at winning state. I would like to know what my strategy should be for the 1600 and 3200. Here is my main competition:

Runner A: 2:01, 4:42, 10:08

Runner B: 2:02, 4:36, 10:11

Runner C: 2:01, 4:49, 10:30

Runner D: 2:09, 4:43, 10:10

Runners A and B are from the same school, as are C and D They may work together.

How should I do the races, given the strengths of each runner?

7 years ago 04/24/2017 10:26am EDT

re: hs1600q

Run your own races. For the 1600, hit the bell at 3:24 and hang on for dear life.

In the 3200, hit 1600 in 5:06 and gut it out the last four laps.

Don't focus so much on the specifics of the other guys. For instance, don't be thinking halfway through the 3200, Oh there are the two guys from School X who have run close to 10:10. Just run a race against your competitors. You're overthinking it.

7 years ago 04/24/2017 12:16pm EDT

re: hs1600q

These are all the same. Don't get on their shoulder if they're bulkier than you or have better sprint speed. Don't let the 10:08 pull away. It is FAR MORE IMPORTANT to not get boxed in. That is how some jackasses "work together."

Run your own race and go for even pacing before dumping in the last 300 of each race. Don't worry about the others.

7 years ago 04/24/2017 1:57pm EDT

re: hs1600q

I'll disagree a bit. You can run your own race to a fast time, but winning means keeping track of the competition.

First question: How do these guys usually pace themselves? Is one of them a consistent even pacer? Do any of them tend to go out too fast? Any notorious for sitting and kicking?

Stay out of the lead for at least the first half of the race, and probably the first 75%. In the 1600, what will Runner B do? If he tends to go out faster than 2:18 for 800, hang back a bit. Don't get so far behind that you can't catch him, but stay relaxed through 800. Get up on his shoulder from 800-1200, and kick him down at some point on the last lap. The idea is to run not even splits, but more even splits than he does so you have more left for a kick at the end.

The 3200 may be tougher, but could still be doable. Same plan: sit on Runner B and D for the first 6 laps, at least if they run sensible splits. Otherwise, work your way up to them between 1600 and 2400. The place to kick could be anywhere from 600 out to 100 out.

7 years ago 04/24/2017 3:38pm EDT

re: free tech help

I cannot run faster than 2:08 for 800 or 58 for 400 no matter how hard I try. I have no speed. That means that the 3200 will be close to 10 or under 10 for me. (statsgangsta)

7 years ago 04/24/2017 3:54pm EDT

re: hs1600q

Huh?

hs1600q wrote:
I cannot run faster than 2:08 for 800 or 58 for 400 no matter how hard I try. I have no speed. That means that the 3200 will be close to 10 or under 10 for me. (statsgangsta)

7 years ago 04/24/2017 5:06pm EDT

re: Thinkster

I saw people posting about statsgangsta's calculator so I put my times into the calculator and it says I can do 9:58 for 3200 based on my 800 and 1600.

6 years ago 04/27/2017 2:04pm EDT

re: hs1600q

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