HARDEST EVENT IN TRACK IS...? *DRUMROLL*

Swaglord_the_real_one_1_one wrote:

I’ve always heard it’s been 800m and 400m hurdles.

Thing with the 800 is that it’s mentally exhausting too. You never know when everybody else is gonna make their move. You need to make split second decisions, do I cover it or do I bide my time? You could get boxed in etc. pushing and shoving while you’re blasting like 4 secs off your best 400m for the first lap.

400m hurdle is prob like a 400m but even harder. That sucks but you basically just learn how to blast it and keep the legs working the last 120m. Not much else to it.

I never found the 800m to be too mentally taxing. As the brojos always say, you only have 1 move to make in the 800m. Once you do, you've committed to red lining till the end. Usually go into a race with an A plan for when to make that move. Dont need to think about it too much, but for whatever reason if something instinctual causes you to make that move first, then not much more to think about - you just go. I found the 15 WAY more mentally taxing. You have multiple moves to think about, wider range of possible tactics, more people in the race to deal with. Yes, you have more room for tactical error in the 15, basically none in the 800m, but it doesnt mean it takes more thought in the 800m. I found having less room for error in the 800m made for the need for having a simpler strategy. Really only a plan a and possibly a plan b. After the move, there only one thing to do, go for it. 15 you might have plans a b and c for firs two laps, plans a b and c for 3rd lap, and plan a and b for last lap. 18 different scenarios and multiple decisions to make. 800m its only like 2 and 1.

Steeple. Not even close. Anyone who has not raced it would immediately choose it as the hardest. Those who have raced it know it is the only correct answer.

400 is the easiest event. You don't need a particularly good start, there's very little (if any) strategy, and it's all in lanes.

Glad to see a few votes for 110H. That's my pick for toughest track event. I think the poster fanfare made a sound and concise argument there.

the correct answer wrote:

400 hurdles.

Have to agree. I've never run a 400H but I could not begin to imagine adding hurdles to an open 400.

123 5 wrote:

800 m and steeplechase.

This is the correct answer.

I would say any event indoors during this pandemic is pretty tough.

As a 100% slow-twitch marathoner, I'd say the 800. You have to run almost as fast as you can for much, much longer than you can.

High school and younger = 400m and 300/400m hurdles.

College and beyond = Steeple and 800m.

im not even reading all of your posts and assuming everyone said the 400 hurdles

Based on what I'm reading, there have been cogent arguments for the 400m hurdles and the steeplechase that make sense. The 800m seems to be the third hardest.

So my vote is for the 5000m....except done like a triathlon where the first event is the 800m, there's an immediate transition into a 3000m steeple, and then the last 1200m are done with the 400m hurdles up!

"Harder" is the word that I get stuck on. If you mean requires greatest concentrated effort over any given period of time, then I think it's all relative to too many variables.

But if you mean requires the greatest collection of skills, talent, effort, and dedication, I can't see any event other than decathlon as being primary.

Sham 69 wrote:

The 800 is the easiest track event IMO.

The 1600 is the hardest IMO. It's hard to get the pacing right. The first lap is easy no matter what time you run it in, but if you go too fast, it will screw up your whole race. In Gerry Lindgren's book he told a story of when he was in high school and thought he was going to break the mile world record. He cleared 440 in less than 60. He finished in 4:30. He later got a 4:01 in high school.

The third lap of the 1600 is the make-or-break. You have to run that lap all out. The last 400 is always faster than the 3rd somehow, even though it feels just as hard.

You run the 3rd lap all out and then run the last lap even faster? Stember was the closest I've seen of someone using that strategy but it still wasn't quite all out. In a 5000 against Pre, Yifter ran the penultimate lap all out and it didn't work out so well.

Lindgren was a nut and told many ridiculous stories. He once ran an unofficial 4-mile WR on a hilly XC course. Running the 1st lap of a mile too fast is not uncommon.

fastboy77 wrote:

Obviously track and field is a very tough sport and all events are tough and challenging in their own regard. With that being said, what is the single hardest event in the "track" portion? I personally vote for the 400m. 400s are hard enough, but try full on sprinting a full 400. It's hell and the last 50m feels like a drag. My second vote would be for the 800 because its a hybrid event. If you're a sprinter, it's way longer than you're accustomed to and that sucks. If you're distance, you're forced to run way faster than any other distance events require. It hurts like hell for everyone.

WBU?

Steeple - you never see the little people jacking up the hurdles after each lap...

If by “hardest” you mean most instant pain it’s the 400 hurdles

If by “hardest” you mean the most enduring pain it’s the steeplechase

If by “hardest” you mean the most technical it’s the pole vault

If by “hardest” you mean the most dangerous it’s the pole vault

If by “hardest” you mean the event you need the most natural ability it’s the 100

If by “hardest” you mean the event the takes the greatest work ethic it’s the Marathon

I used to say that it was the 400 hurdles, but then I spoke with a top hurdler, who said the flat 400 was harder, because in the hurdles, you got a momentary rest when you went over the hurdle.

Obviously no distance is easy but I'd have to say the 3k.

100 doesn't hurt but it's definitely nerve-wracking.

200 gets a bit uncomfortable towards the end but really isn't that bad.

400 is REALLY tough last 100 but the pain is purely physical.

800 is very intense and hurts a lot but the pain is over in a matter of seconds.

1500 is probably 2nd toughest in my opinion as it's very intense and you have to endure for several minutes.

But the 3K is still very intense from the start and it takes over 7 minutes to finish (over 8 for me, and most people!) and I find myself to be in a lot of pain from very early on.

5K the pace is just relaxed enough that I don't think it's quite as bad as 3k, but still very tough.

10K seems like it takes forever but 2/3rds of it should feel fairly relaxed if you pace it well and have a positive mindet, then the final 3rd is a lot about mental toughness.

peace in the east wrote:

If by “hardest” you mean most instant pain it’s the 400 hurdles

If by “hardest” you mean the most enduring pain it’s the steeplechase

If by “hardest” you mean the most technical it’s the pole vault

If by “hardest” you mean the most dangerous it’s the pole vault

If by “hardest” you mean the event you need the most natural ability it’s the 100

If by “hardest” you mean the event the takes the greatest work ethic it’s the Marathon

Speaking of things people find hard, reading people's posts must be one of them for you. Can't say I've ever done a pole vault or a marathon on a track.

123 5 wrote:

800 m and steeplechase.

The 800 meter is the hardest. Litmus test: most people in the event don't really want to run it. They only do it because coach made them, and then they realized they were good at it. The reason why 800 m is the hardest is best explained by the fact that it is NOT a combination of sprint and distance, it's BOTH at the same time. Sebastian Coe called it his favorite event partly to intimidate his competition.

Mine is reluctant testimony-- the most credible--coming from a marathoner with no speed.

If we include non-traditional events I'm saying the 1000. The 800 has had a good bit of votes on here but the 1000 is like it's big bad brother. You can't cruise like a 1500/mile. You have to press more like an 800 and that's a long time to press like that folks.