Hello,
Reaching out to y’all for my D1 freshman runner. She’s moved from the 400 to the 800.
She says her lungs are killing her on the 3 lap of the 800. She also said after the race she feel nauseous for at least 30 min. She never feels like this in the 400. Distance running is no problem she can run 10 miles w a 7:30 pace. Thoughts?
lapenvose wrote:
Hello,
Reaching out to y’all for my D1 freshman runner. She’s moved from the 400 to the 800.
She says her lungs are killing her on the 3 lap of the 800. She also said after the race she feel nauseous for at least 30 min. She never feels like this in the 400. Distance running is no problem she can run 10 miles w a 7:30 pace. Thoughts?
Welcome to the 800m.
Lap 3? She’s doing it all wrong LOL
Ok I assume you are talking indoor. I am going to assume she isn’t properly aerobicly trained and someone is still trying to train her like a 400 runner. The 800 does burn but need that aerobic work.
Stepping up from 400 to 800 is not as easy for some as others. It might take a year or two of more specific training for a 50/50 aerobic/anaerobic plan to be effective. Some athletes are not mentally or emotionally capable either. Some coaches don't employ enough strength work or speed endurance either thinking they can get by on breaking up the training in smaller chunks especially in the first season of the change but thats just trying to overcome athlete apprehension.
For all of those that thought people like Jeremy Warner or the 400 hurdles types can just waltz into an 800 without a complete overhaul and still achieve their highest potential are just dreaming. Those athletes are maximizing their physiological abilities and I guarantee you their tanks are empty at the finish line of a 400/400H.
Think about how specialized the events are becoming. The days of Snell/Juantorena/Coe etc...are pretty much over with exception to maybe very few individuals. Yes, Rudisha, Brazier and the like might be competitive at distances above or below their specialty but they aren't likely to medal in an honest race.
If the athlete is agreeable to changing events or the strategy is to just avoid stronger competition it isn't likely to workout. I'd say its probably a lot easier transition for 1500/5000 runners like Coghlan or even Houlihan.
Oh yeah, and welcome to indoor 800 running when not in shape. Happens to movers as well. Dry, still air was always something to look forward to at the start of the collegiate competitive season.
Milers....not movers...
Truly appreciate your feedback. She said she’s the only one that can run a decent 800 on the team. She’s also a very hard worker and wants to do well. I am going to pass in this info, so she knows it will take time and it is a process. Anyway to combat the dry air?
Check ferritin, fix any dietary deficiencies.
lapenvose wrote:
Hello,
Reaching out to y’all for my D1 freshman runner. She’s moved from the 400 to the 800.
She says her lungs are killing her on the 3 lap of the 800. She also said after the race she feel nauseous for at least 30 min. She never feels like this in the 400. Distance running is no problem she can run 10 miles w a 7:30 pace. Thoughts?
Haha this is just how the 800 is. There's a reason people call it the hardest even despite it only being +/- 2:00 in length. You get used to it, but there's a reason a lot of 800 runners move down to the 400 or up to the mile.
I mean, have her go see her doctor for some labs and/or do a check for asthma but it sounds like a pure 400 runner is moving up to the 800 and that the event is hard.
Running a long run of 10 miles @ 7:30 pace doesn't tell us very much. A lot of 800 pros do strength workouts like 5k/10k runners. You'll see the Brooks Beasts have their 800 crew doing k's and mile repeats in the winter to get strong before getting into their speed work.
If you have a 400 sprinter and you're just having them do 800 specific workouts (dk if that's what's happening) then it makes sense that lap 3 is hard. They're probably going out too fast and probably aren't used to doing workouts with real volume.