Running Triples in a meet

If you maximize your point potential by competing in these three events, then it makes sense. Be a team first guy, dude.

Seems overkill as hell. The only time I ran triples (and even quads) (4x8, 1600, 800, and 4x4 or 4x8, 1600, and 3200) was for the conference meet or sectionals since team score was a big deal to my coaches on those days. They knew they were working me like a horse those meets and made that ask sparingly.

Yeah, we don't get points by placing me in the 2 mile, I don't place top 3 for the 2 mile.

3200, 1600, 3rd leg of 4x400.

This is what dual meets are for. I used to run on average 3-4 of either the 800, 1600, 3200, 4x8, or 4x4 in dual meets in HS. Depending on the level of competition in the races, I would either run for place or to execute some sort of race plan, which was usually a more conservative start with a fast finish.

It will get you in shape, yes. And it will also just get you more familiar with being in races, which is a skill in itself.

Tough triple no doubt but ok once a season or so for fitness and training. I call BS on the 4 str8 dual meets. If true, coach pretty stupid.

I like it. Lots of race-pace work and racing experience.

It’s reasonable to run 3 events. But they can’t/won’t all be bottom-of-the-well, maximal efforts. It’s a great opportunity to try different tactics. Try out what it feels like to go out faster/slower, practice drafting and switching off the brain.

And at least a few times, some races should be no holding back, maxed out. Just pick your spots a little bit so you’re not toasted by the time those important races come around.

they are not straight, they are about 1-2 weeks spaced apart, with other events in between (which our distance runners are not good for anyways)

OK. Still a bit much IMO. Running 1600, 800 and leg of 4x400 is a tolerable triple, but adding the 8 lapper with very little rest a much different beating, especially if they are all at race-level effort.

Is everyone replying with takes like this doing some elaborate troll joke that I am not picking up on? I feel like I’m taking crazy pills!

high schoolers have been running 3+ events at dual meets since the beginning of time. It’s not a “beating.” We’re talking less than 20 minutes of running over the course of a two hour track meet.

I did this a lot 25 years ago as a HS senior. 800m was my worst event. 4x800m was first race of the meet so I would go all-out there. In the 1600m I would sit and kick and the 3200m was just a hard tempo run.

Alan

The time in your life to triple is definitely high school. I did it fairly often and turned in some good performances. Not to toot my own horn, but my senior year I qualified for the state meet (small school division) in the 4x8, 1600, and 3200. So at regionals and sectionals I ran all 3 to qualify, then at state the 4x8 and 3200 were on day 1 and the 1600 on day 2. Ran PRs in both events day 1 and ~5 seconds off in the 1600 the next day. In college I pretty much always did 1 event and usually sucked. Fresh legs are nice, but they aren't everything.

what's the order of events?

either way it's potentially reasonable sure, especially if you're newish to the sport and need race experience more than anything.

but i'm curious the order you'll run these in. they didn't have 4x8's in our state so not sure where it's slotted in.

assuming you run in the boys races yeah?

I believe most states would have them as:

4x800

1600

800

3200

4x400

other shorter races in between, except that you usually see the 3200 and 4x400 as back-to-back.

Its not too bad, high school kids recover quickly. I was on a small-ish team, and ran 3 events (max allowed for us) all 4 years. Many of my distance teammates did the same. The races usually weren't all time trials anyway.

as long as your coach is treating this as your big workout day for the week, it is fine. hopefully they are not dropping other huge workouts on you.

that said, this is difficult for somebody of your ability. Not sure you are even scoring points for the team, just getting the work in.

My best runners commonly run 4 events, but they are not even close to running any of them at max effort, with the exception of the 4x400. In our league, a 4:30/9:30 kind of runner will ease through a 1600, 800, 3200, 4x4 with times in the neighborhood of 5:00-5:10, 2:12-2:15, and 11:15.

yup. and always blows my mind to see the great 4x4 splits good runners will hit immediately after a 3200.

Well, if you’re only gonna be a part time runner you might as well be a full time racer.