What are your thoughts on the optimal BMI for the 800m, top end distance is 1500m, no 5ks?
I primarily run the 800m and am currently trying to move up in weight from 65kg to 70kg for a variety of reasons. Height is 5-10.
How will it affect my times?
What are your thoughts on the optimal BMI for the 800m, top end distance is 1500m, no 5ks?
I primarily run the 800m and am currently trying to move up in weight from 65kg to 70kg for a variety of reasons. Height is 5-10.
How will it affect my times?
If the weight you are gaining is muscle it should help you, fat is just dead weight
dsjafldj wrote:
If the weight you are gaining is muscle it should help you, fat is just dead weight
Yes muscle mass, by body fat is low (7%) and I plan on keeping it that way.
However majority is going to be upper body muscle
It won't slow you down as much if your main goal is the 800m, but upper body muscle isn't going to help you with much of anything. I was running my best at 155lbs, 5'11. But I typically hang more around 148-150lbs for most of the year. Leg muscle will most certainly help you, upper body muscle may help provided it's not in the arms, but its negligible compared to the legs.
5 '9, 145 ibs, plus or minus 15 pounds for 1500m
6 '0, 160 ibs, plus or minus 15 pounds for 800m
ThatAverageRunner wrote:
It won't slow you down as much if your main goal is the 800m, but upper body muscle isn't going to help you with much of anything. I was running my best at 155lbs, 5'11. But I typically hang more around 148-150lbs for most of the year. Leg muscle will most certainly help you, upper body muscle may help provided it's not in the arms, but its negligible compared to the legs.
It will help with much of females. Far more important than running.
I ran 1:50 at 60kg but I don't want to be skinny.
I'd like to keep competing, but yes the aim is mostly arms and chest...
I think the answer to your question depends on which type of 800m runner you are.
if you are the top down type of 800m runner who is very quick over 400m and the 800m for you is an endurance race with a lightning fast finish then I think you should perhaps use 400m racers as your guide. they are not emaciated stick-figures with pigeon chests and arms like pipe cleaners, they have a well honed physique, a muscular chest and clearly defined muscles in their shoulders and upper arms. when you get to 200m-to-go and want to accelerate the emphasis is on arm drive and you will need some muscles to drive with so I think that upper body and arm development is important for this type of 800m runner.
however, if you are the bottom up type of 800m runner who is more of a 1500m or 5000m type of guy and the 800m is under-distance speed work for you then your race tactics will be more tactical, more cut and thrust with a long drive for home rather than a super fast finishing burst and the extra muscle is not so much of an advantage in this situation.
so the key here is to know yourself, to understand what you are trying to become and train accordingly. as so often in athletics, there is no one correct answer for everyone.
as for BMI, this is a metric used by health professionals to make comments about the statistics of populations and it has no bearing on athletic ability and there is nothing about it worth discussing. ignore BMI. eat well, train hard, your body will find its own best weight for you.
Cheers.
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