Hardest event in track to Run

lolcats wrote:

ukathleticscoach wrote:

10,000m or 3,000 s/c

s/c because of the barriers.

Any shorter event mentioned is a joke as the pain even if greater is over quicker

If run it the correct way, slightly positive splitting or just barely evenly splitting it, the 800 or mile are the hardest without question. 3k steeple is up there as well. No way is it the 5k or 10k or anything farther. Different kind of pain and the shorter distances definitely hurt more, even if it is for a shorter period of time. Last lap of the mile hurts far worse than the last lap of a 10k.

It's not the last lap in the 10k that hurts more than the last lap of the mile. In the 10k, the last 1600 is a pain in the ass. Of course, if we are talking about a slow race + kick, then the mile would be harder but not by that much. The 800 is only painful in the last 200-250m. It's very painful but only for 30-35 seconds (feels much shorter when racing).

High hurdles. I could finish a 10K, I could finish a mile, I could finish an 800, but I would not physically be able to finish the 110m sprint hurdles. My brother ran it in college. He called it 14 seconds of pure terror. But I guess it depends upon your definition of \"hard.\" As in most difficult in terms of technique, the sprint hurdles. Most difficult in terms of effort, something else perhaps. Most difficult in terms of pain....if you don\'t know how to run them, the sprint hurdles! I\'ve seen broken bones from bad falls.

Track is hard wrote:

What do you think is the hardest track event to run? And why?

I think it's the 800 because it's mentally tough after the first lap. Also, it's almost like your sprinting two laps. At least it feels like you are.

I have competed in every event except for the discus and the high hurdles, although in some cases it was just in a summer all-comers' meet. I think it's the steeplechase hands down. I thought the 400H was fun, and would have run it in regularly if I had 47-second rather than 53-second speed. 800 hurts but for only about 45 seconds.

Hardest field event is the triple jump for the beating you take.

Hands down the 800m.. I understand the 400m is dificult due to the oxygen conversion that kicks in around the 110, but the half proves most difficult as it is nearly impossible to pace this event. Once the bell lap begins ... IT'S ON!!!

In all honesty, 800m is not that difficult. You just need to be mentally prepared for a sprint for the last 200m. Pacing in the mile is extremely difficult to get right, 400H must be very tiresome and tortuous, and the 3000SC has got to be difficult, clearing 35 barriers over 7.5 laps. The 10K is only difficult if you are going for a PR or fast time, otherwise you just need to be mentally prepared for 25 laps. And if you fall behind in a sprint and trying to catch up again, that's got to be difficult.

The reason the 800 hurts is because of how quickly and intensely the pain increases while making you slow down. In the 10k you at least have time to adapt to the pain and you're never running your fastest until the last 100, so mentally you know you have at least a little left in the tank unlike the 800

800 is hands down the most painful.

I've also run 400 and 400 hurdles in competition, and didn't mind them so much, apart from the last 75m or so. I ran the 110 high hurdles once (filling in for our injured high hurdler in a dual meet). It was very technically challenging. I've never run the SC. Ran a few 5ks and 10ks; I characterize them as mostly uncomfortable, with the last bit being painful but not so stark as with the 800 as it is more of a gradual build

Depends how good you are. Take the 800m. In the last 20 yrs its become fashionable to refer to it as a 'sprint'. Indeed, to elites it is, and for them I think that may be the toughest. To the rest of us - not so much. I ran 1:58 and never ever felt that it was a sprint. I ran all normal distances up to 10K and was best at 1500 and 3000SC. I could hurdle so 110H was not hard at all (just slow!). The 5/10K, as has been mentioned, are not as intense and long enough that early errors can be rectified. If you are having a good day the 10K is actually easy, but for me the 3KSC was ALWAYS tough whether you are having a good day or not. I also felt like that in 400m. So SC and 400 are my votes.

Everyone on my track team who is a real mid-d runner hates the 800 with a passion even though it is their best event. 1500 is about the lowest distance I'm actually good at but I still love the 800. It's so relaxing to know it's only two laps as opposed to 8+ laps.

I was originally a 400h who moved up to the sc. Let me tell you I've never experienced the pain that the 400h gave in any other race with the consistancy that it happened it the 400h. Every single race your legs would tie up and getting over the last hurdle never seemed possible. That being said I've never run a track 10k as that sounds miserable.

In today's society, its the 10,000. Over 30 mins (for an average runner) with no cellphone? Most kids today can't go that long without their apps.