cannot break 2:08 in 800m to save my life

Hey, I think it's mental. Last year as a junior I had about the same 400 time, but I sure as hell couldn't run a 4:36. Maybe like 4:55. But I ran 2:09 early in the season, eventually getting down to 2:04. My fitness didn't improve too much.

So you certainly have the speed, and you have loads better aerobic strength than I did. I can't think of any other reason than you're not mentally in it, your race strategy is poor...anything other than a physiological limiting factor.

Are your 400m and 200m times from this year? If you're somehow slower at those distances this year, this could make sense.

If you could provide a description of how some of your recent races unfolded, and your mental feeling throughout, that could help.

Definitely mental. I had similar PRs (slower mile time, actually) and ran 2:08 a number of times (and slightly faster.)

Try changing your race strategy; maybe go out slightly slower first 400 and push harder 2nd lap.

Hey I run a 4:34 mile and a 2:00 800 and I could prob run in the 52-53 range according to my coaches prediction. So I think you can do it

oof wrote:

Hi guys, I'm really at a loss here. I'm a junior with PRs of 4:36 in the 1600m, 54.52h in the 400m, and around 25 in the 200m, yet I've been stuck at 2:08 in the 800m for an entire year now. People I know that run similar times run at least a 2:04. I'm not sure if it's something mental, or if it's just not my race... In my sophomore year my PRs were 4:56 in the 1600m and 2:08 for the 8. I've consistently been between 2:10 and 2:08 for this entire season. My last chance to PR will be in a week at regionals. Are any of you in a similar situation?

You're going out too slow.

Get off the line much faster and accelerate to pace immediately. You have "free" alactic energy system that too many people mistakenly think they should conserve but that first 6 seconds is use it or lose it.

Try coming through 1st 200 in 29 and 400 in 61ish. Relax and keep form through next 200 and then dig deep and go!

You should be around 2:02 easily.

You're telling me you can run back to back 2:17s in a 1600 race but can't go faster than 2:08 open? Something isn't right. Are you running the 8 fresh? Go out in 60 (that should feel fast but not all out) relax the back stretch and then run all out the last 150. Dude, you should be able to run close to 2 flat for the deuce. You gotta' get out. 65 first lap will kill you.

Yup. At your age I was 4:22 and 2:01, but your 400 and 200 are faster by a long shot. You need to get out hard and hang on for dear life.

It's mental, the 800 is supposed to hurt after the first lap. Embrace the pain, use that 6-8 seconds of "free energy" to get out fast. Try going out at sub 60 and see what happens.

Read this classic, OP

Thanks guys, I'm glad to hear that it's all mental. I'll go out at 60s for the first lap (which I've been able to do multiple times before) and dig in for the last 400...

joecrunner wrote:

http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=2765071

Read this classic, OP

I'll also be keeping this in mind as I run, that was probably one of the greatest threads I've ever read lmao

Galen Rupp has the same problem with 2:08 but for the marathon. That’s why he’ll always be a 2:09 guy.

60/61 split only tells part of the story. What are 200/600 splits? Many 800 runners go out too fast after those first 6 secs of alactic burst. I’ve seen a lot of 13/26-7/59/1:33-4/2:07 kind of splits. There are also those who run a really slow 400-600 and think they will have extra at the end but it never makes up for a crappy third 200.

54.52h is that a handheld open, relay split, or FAT?

It seems you have enough endurance to go 60/62. 29/59/1:30/ and then go for broke.

Are you not relaxed enough? Wasting energy trying to pass people because of poor positioning? In high school a 4:36 runner with 54 sec 400 speed should be able to run 2:05 or better. Running a good 800 is similar to a 400. 1. 0-200. Use those 6 secs to get out and then maintain a solid pace the first 200. Don’t blow your wad.

2. 200-400. Stay relaxed and settle into cruise control. Way too many kids start jockeying for position and waste energy on th curve or homestretch trying to pass people .

3. 400-600. This is where you have to check in with yourself and the pain starts coming on. Try not to run extra distance on the third curve. You’ll have plenty of room to pass the dying at the 500m mark. Use the backstretch to start picking some people off and position yourself for the final turn.

4. 600-800. Start winding up your attack kick. The best 800 runners use the final turn to slingshot off them down the homestretch. Try to harness 90-95 percent down the straightaway. Go to arms pumping back the last 50-75m.

Watch Drew Windle or 2016 Clayton Murphy. Those guys are screaming down the homestretch but don’t look like they’re running on pure hate.

Sorry for the typos. Stupid iPhone on a bike at the gym. Best of luck!

Well, the race was yesterday and I managed to get a 800m split of 2:04 (which I will gladly take). I got even 400m splits of 62/62 somehow; I went out at 400m pace for the first 50m, backed off a little bit over the next 150 and let people who I knew would die out later pass me, held it for the next 200, started to accelerate for the next 250, and kicked it in for the final 150. I went from about 6th in the beginning, to 10th by the middle of the race, then handed off the baton at 5th place.

The second leg was a complete headass and failed to move up to lane 2 or 3 before I handed it off. I literally had to go from lane 1 to lane 7 to give it to him and basically hugged the person in front of him while trying to pass the baton off. I almost cussed him out afterwards because me and the coaches had been drilling him on baton handoffs for weeks before that and he was actually making good progress. Never been so angry after a race in my life. I didn’t run the race on pure hatred, but I certainly felt it afterwards lol. That cost us a good 4-5 seconds and we came in at a measly 8:59 overall. I know it didn’t affect our placing in the grand scheme of things but it definitely killed the mood for the last two legs.

In any case, I’m glad I could PR before the season ended. I felt great overall throughout the whole race; I know I could have gone out harder the first lap and shaved off a couple of seconds because I wasn’t completely dead afterwards. I wanted to focus on control and strategy more than anything, which obviously limited me a little bit during that particular race but now I won’t have to worry about it so much in future races.

I’ve got mixed feelings about my racing season being over, but now it’s time to focus on XC training. Thank you all for your help and responses!

Congrats on running a smart and controlled race. You PR'd by four seconds and ran a time more in line with your 8 and 16 times. You should feel very satisfied and excited about the upcoming season.

Great job, but where is track over in April?!? I know some states in the South run early but sheesh!

Well, the race was yesterday and I managed to get a 800m split of 2:04 (which I will gladly take).

LetsRun, where dreams become reality.

a 4 second pr!

congratulations.

cheers.

Sorry (not really...) to be the bearer of bad news, but a relay split does not constitute a PR at the distance.

unapologetic dream killer wrote:

Sorry (not really...) to be the bearer of bad news, but a relay split does not constitute a PR at the distance.

Also, since you ran even splits you left time out there. Planning for a slight positive split is the way to go in the 800. Like the earlier poster said 200 splits of 29/31/31/? Was the way to go.

OP, congrats on the race and PR, relay split or not.

Like others have said, try to get out faster, 800's are okay to positive split, as long as you aren't tying up too badly towards the end.

Maybe try running a 600 TT or do practice start 200's to get the feel?