Why does my mile time suck compared to my 800 meter time?

What’s your 400m?

You could get as fast as 4:15 in a perfect world, but a more realistic goal would be 4:25.

If you want your mile time to improve? Go longer on your easy runs, even if that means you run slower, and see if you can do some longer/more intervals at a slower pace.

TheMidistanceman wrote:

Hello everyone, I run a 1:58.00 800 meter but my mile time is trash. It’s a 4:37.05. Then again, I have only ran the mile 3 times this season and had literally no competition at all destroying everyone by over 100 meters. On Saturday, I am running the mile and seeded with people that are all 10 seconds faster at 4:27. Do you think I will be able to keep up and do you think the reason for my trash mile times is lack of competition? Thank you. Also I run like 30-35 miles a week. Also, in your opinion, given my 800 time, what kind of mile should I be running?

Possible the time will drop right away first time with competition. Also possible that you are a 400-800m type or 800m specialist with little overlap to 1500m (cf.

)

I run 51.7 seconds for the 400 but that was with someone to chase in the 4x4

Low mileage

TheMidistanceman wrote:

I run 51.7 seconds for the 400 but that was with someone to chase in the 4x4

Ok, so your best bet is to improve aerobic fitness/ Vo2MAX if you are trying to get better at the mile, you’ll be able to improve in the 800m by a few seconds as well if you keep at it. For a well developed middle distance athlete, 52 speed can mean 1:55 and 4:15-4:20, just realize you probably won’t continue improving in the 400m if you choose to focus on aerobic strength.

99% of younger runners have this problem. You can get stronger at the mile with:

-more threshold training

-more volume

-more 5k pace training

-patience

My friend ran 4:37 and 1:58 next year 1:58 and 4:27, you might just need more aerobic development and could get there with 40-50 next year

Good luck!

I knew guys in high school with 1:58ish 800m with 1600m and one mile times far worse than yours. Why not continue to improve your 400m & 800m events? Why do you need 1600m or one mile to equal your 400m & 800m?

You have some good times. I was able to run the 800m up on my toes but couldn't run this same way for a 1500m. I think the new spikes with more of a heel would have helped me out. It was something biomechanical with me that may have been resolved with a shoe assist.

Well I ran 2:12 and a 4:39. You probably just need better competition. For the record I ran both with competition and in high school too.

And I did it all on 20-30 miles per week that season. Sometimes 3 workouts and a race per week.

hey that was me that said that i should have been nicer since i am an adult. sorry dude. i shouldn't have said "trash" but rather "underdeveloped." i guess i was feeling sassy since the premise of your other thread was somewhat preposterous. most guys who can run 1:58 have little trouble breaking 4:30 if they train for it. yours truly never broke 2 in an open and ran 1:59 in a relay. that same season i ran 4:28 a couple of times. so if i can do it so can you! i did a lot of 40ish mile weeks in the offseason.

You are probably more of a 400-800 person, as your 400m time is even better than your 800m time, so it is kind of normal that your mile time suck. Regardless, with a 1:58 800m time you should be able to break 4:30 in the mile with a bit of competition. In the race, I would plan to hang on with the other guys and see what happens.

TheMidistanceman wrote:

Hello everyone, I run a 1:58.00 800 meter but my mile time is trash. It’s a 4:37.05. Then again, I have only ran the mile 3 times this season and had literally no competition at all destroying everyone by over 100 meters. On Saturday, I am running the mile and seeded with people that are all 10 seconds faster at 4:27. Do you think I will be able to keep up and do you think the reason for my trash mile times is lack of competition? Thank you. Also I run like 30-35 miles a week. Also, in your opinion, given my 800 time, what kind of mile should I be running?

Have you only run it in races? No time trials?

Do you filter in and race tactics? Do you get out front and try to stay there?

TheMidistanceman wrote:

I run 51.7 seconds for the 400 but that was with someone to chase in the 4x4

Then you should not be worried about your mile time at all just yet. You're a 400/800 type and running a goot time in mile is not neccesary.

Right now you need to work on translating your good 400m speed into 800m. With your speed you could get down to 1:54 at least.

200-300m interval workouts with short recovery in between are effective.

Do not listen to people who recommend to significantly up your milage or run XC, they will most likely ruin you, as nobody here has any speed and absolute majority has no clue how it is to run 51s 400m split.