2:05 fitness? (800 workout)

I’ll give you 2:09. That 400 tells me that had you run another 200 at the end of the 600 it would’ve taken about 40 seconds.

With a few races, you might be 2:05. I did that workout with the same splits when I ran 2:05, except 28 for the 200, but my ret imes were 6/4/3/2 and finished with a flying 100 in about 14.5.

When is your first race?

YMMV wrote:

With a few races, you might be 2:05. I did that workout with the same splits when I ran 2:05, except 28 for the 200, but my ret imes were 6/4/3/2 and finished with a flying 100 in about 14.5.

When is your first race?

Probably about 3wks from now. My rest was longer than it should’ve been, because of heat (compared to what I’m used to) and queasiness- not directly a consequence of legs being toast.

YMMV wrote:

With a few races, you might be 2:05. I did that workout with the same splits when I ran 2:05, except 28 for the 200, but my ret imes were 6/4/3/2 and finished with a flying 100 in about 14.5.

When is your first race?

2:05 after a few races? Did you see how even that 600 was? He might have run 2:05 right then if he had continued.

I don’t know what’s up with your workout YMMV. I think you had a faster 800 in there- more guts in the last 250 are needed.

IMO a 600 race in 1:31 would be worth about a 2:05- 2:07. (Per 1.4x conversion factor for pure 800 runners, slightly less for mile/800 types), and this is solo with more reps after.

I’ve seen runners who were aerobically stronger maintain a TT/ all out workout split like this one for a whole race. In a race in 3 weeks the kid can go 2:02.5-2:04.00 in my view (this is my range ofpotential fitness for a well executed race) Possibly slower if he’s inexperienced.

Also: totally aim for 2:00. With some luck you might run 1:59.99 this season. Have guts.

this - 2:00-2:03 should be reasonable, you're quick

Between the IAAF and WMA tables, 2:05.0 for 800 is 1:28.5-1:29 for 600. My split was 1:31.8, which is worth 2:08-high. I was thoroughly gassed, but recovered enough in six minutes to continue the session. Overall it was a very hard session, harder than the race in many ways.

My other PRs at the time were 55 for 400 and 4:19 for 1500. I consider all of those pretty solid, but 800 was my best event. I was also running more mileage than high school kids generally do for 800, competing up to half-marathon, and had only 25.8 200 speed. Most kids will suffer a bit more time decay over the final 200 of an 800 than I did.

You aren’t far from 1:59. Most people can’t hit times by themself without a coach. Anything that you can hit solo for 3/4 of goal distance is a good indicator of what you can run so you are ready for about 2:02 race now.

The IAAF tables compare performances of the same caliber at different events- an 800/1600 runner probably wouldn’t be able to run the same caliber performance in a 600 as their 800 or 1600 PR. Additionally, you have to factor in the effects of race conditions/competition.

Your anecdotal evidence IMO shows that he could go out and run 2:05.

IMO it’s not unreasonable to think that others might get more out of this workout than you.

Also in regards to the rest: 6min vs 10 min seems like a lot, but I think it’s possible to chalk it up to the heat for this kid. You both would’ve caught your breath in that time and reached a point where fatigue wasn’t decreasing at a rapid rate. If he was too hot (maybe poorly hydrated) I don’t think the 4 min made a massive difference.

Maybe he’ll only run 2:05, but I wouldn’t rule a faster time out. While you make the point that young runners are less aerobicaly trained than you were, I would point out that they also have surprising improvements on a much more regular basis.

I stand by my advice- aim for 2:03 soon and 2:00 by the end of the season.

I’ve often noticed people are significantly more conservative in their estimates of other’s fitness, when discussing someone who happens to fall close to their own PR...

The bottom line is we don't have enough info (as usual) about the OP's PRs, training, etc.. I just commented because his session was so similar to the workout I did (on at least six occasions, but only once with the above-mentioned splits). I agree they are likely in 2:05 shape, but some kids are "workout heroes", or take a few races to get the right conditions, competition, etc.. For sure sub-2:00 should be on the table for a seasonal goal.

YMMV wrote:

The bottom line is we don't have enough info (as usual) about the OP's PRs, training, etc.. I just commented because his session was so similar to the workout I did (on at least six occasions, but only once with the above-mentioned splits). I agree they are likely in 2:05 shape, but some kids are "workout heroes", or take a few races to get the right conditions, competition, etc.. For sure sub-2:00 should be on the table for a seasonal goal.

Ok 50-55mpw. This is my first real track workout of the season. I did tempos in the winter, with some sprints like 5x60 and strides after my runs to develop speed. Also long runs as mentioned (12@7:30 or 10@slightly

You'll all hate me for this wrote:

YMMV wrote:

The bottom line is we don't have enough info (as usual) about the OP's PRs, training, etc.. I just commented because his session was so similar to the workout I did (on at least six occasions, but only once with the above-mentioned splits). I agree they are likely in 2:05 shape, but some kids are "workout heroes", or take a few races to get the right conditions, competition, etc.. For sure sub-2:00 should be on the table for a seasonal goal.

Ok 50-55mpw. This is my first real track workout of the season. I did tempos in the winter, with some sprints like 5x60 and strides after my runs to develop speed. Also long runs as mentioned (12@7:30 or 10@slightly

Post cut off: 10 @ slightly sub-7 pace. Also the occasional set of 200s @ 1600 pace.

PRd in the 1600 indoors in 3/4 races- 4:49-4:52(tiny track)-4:44-4:36

Outdoor PRs: 4:50, 2:10 relay split. - I didn't really train much in the winter last year.

I don't know what's wrong with the predictions on this thread. 2:08-09 is the right answer. OP has noooo speed. Kudos on being aerobically trained enough to get 4:36 out of that.

Based on that info, I will stick to 2:05 on your second or third try. Congrats on that massive 1600 PR. It sounds like you haven't run any 200 or 400 races. You might consider a 400 time trial as you focus on peaking for the 800.

By the end of season you are well set up for sub-2:00, providing you do the proper speedwork and race sequencing. Good luck.

My guess is that 600 wasn't all out even if it felt like it. If you were doing it alone and knew you had other reps to follow, you probably held back whether that was a conscious choice or not. I agree with some other posters that you probably could've kept going off those pretty even splits and run a 2:05 right there. Definitely aim for around 2:00 - if you go out in 60 and then fade to a 66 you still aren't far off where you want to be and you'll know where you made mistakes. Good luck.

Also - if your race isn't for another three weeks you could still realistically get some good work in and be in better shape when it's time to race.

Reptilians wrote:

My guess is that 600 wasn't all out even if it felt like it. If you were doing it alone and knew you had other reps to follow, you probably held back whether that was a conscious choice or not. I agree with some other posters that you probably could've kept going off those pretty even splits and run a 2:05 right there. Definitely aim for around 2:00 - if you go out in 60 and then fade to a 66 you still aren't far off where you want to be and you'll know where you made mistakes. Good luck.

Also - if your race isn't for another three weeks you could still realistically get some good work in and be in better shape when it's time to race.

It turns out our first meet isn't until the first week of April. Our coach doesn't like to schedule too many meets (and never on Saturdays unless necessary), because they don't like to miss time from their BBQ business, but that's another issue.

I guess I'll aim for sub-2, though that seems crazy (maybe 2:00 is a mental barrier too?). I'm guessing the right call is to do some longer interval workouts for now, since I aim to peak (for both 1600 and 800) in the last week of May (or first week of June if I go to states).

sub-2 for the season,

will try to go out in like 60 for the first 800 race. (is 58 the ideal first lap split for 1:59? later in the season)

Interestingly the school record is 1:59.7, which has me kind of amped up. Whatever happens It's fun to be excited about a crazy goal...

I could crush that 600 time and I only run 2:03-4. That should be your goal for this season. You’ve already improved a lot.

Quicker than thou wrote:

I could crush that 600 time and I only run 2:03-4. That should be your goal for this season. You’ve already improved a lot.

You're either a 400 specialist who ran that in race conditions or a troll.

By the first week of April this kid might be ready to run 1:59. I peg him at 2:02-3 right now in well run race.