Can I run a sub 2 min 800 at 47 yo when pr is 1:54 at age 20?

Yes

Seems doable

pacing going to be key

if you can’t find pacers how about timers every 100 so you don’t have to time yourself

They can tell you whether you are on pace and cheer too

If you pull that off, that's an insane accomplishment IMO. I haven't come across many runners in their upper 40's who were anywhere near sub 2.

I have to admit I have had the same fantasy (41 yo with similar PR). But then I went to the track and ran an all out 400 that about killed me in... 61. Fantasy over.

What track work have you done that gives you the hope sub 2 is possible?

Not happening. Sorry. No way. No how.

It all depends on how good of shape you’ve stayed in and if you still have wheels/your body let’s you train to have wheels. Im sure you know that. A 200m TT might not be an awful start.

My uncle was a (lower division) state record holder with I think a 48.High second 400m, and he can still run sub 60 at 46, and he doesn’t train like a sprinter, just does lifting and 3 or so miles every other day, so I’m sure sub 2:00 is mechanically possible.

I believe that would put you in a place to be very competitive on the national level in masters too.

If I lived in DC I’d love to help pace but the best I can do is wish you good luck!

Just run baby

Before you line up some pacers, you might want to lace up the spikes and give it a go on your own. It’s not a marathon.

What would it have taken for you to go 1:48 back when you were 20?

When you know the answer to that question....

Then just do that.

I agree.

Great goal. But I can't imagine it working out. A pr of 1:46-1:48 would be necessary. I don't mean to be rude, but what do your current workouts actually show? It doesn't have to be killer workouts, just 5-6x200/30s rest?

i'd say yes but only if you are in a very good shape.

Find the right race. There's your pacemakers.

Is your weight similar to when you were 20?

Look up a guy named Mark Gomes, he wrote a book faster than 40. That would be an excellent resource on what can be done post 40 for talent runners. I wish you luck!

When I was 16, I was a 12 flat 100 guy. When I was 47, I was a 12 flat 100 guy.

Sounds like you wasted a lot of training for zero progress...

Not saying it’s impossible but I’d say it’s wildly optimistic.

I’m 45 now, ran 1.47 at 19, am still fitter than the vast majority at my age (33.50 10k about 6 months ago) and I KNOW that I wouldn’t be getting close to 2min for 800. Pretty sure I couldn’t run 60 for a 400 in fact

Seems like most of the people commenting have fallen off the wagon. You could totally do this assuming you're not starting from the couch again and that you've kept in shape since your 20s with some easy runs and speed work. Look at the semis of the masters worlds 800m going on right now:

https://live.tuloslista.com/live/11423/264366/265149

45 age group and a bunch are running 201-2:03

I personally know 2 guys in the top of these heats and their PRs aren't better than 1:57.

You need to be in the right racing weight with enough speed work under your belt to make 58 feel easy.

Depends on what work you were doing prior to that 61. If you just ran that with no short, fast reps in training, that’s a pretty good start. If you can get your 400 down to 54 at age 41, you should be able to go 1:59. It doesn’t take as long to get your aerobic fitness back when your older as it did when you were a teen.

To the OP, I think you can do it, but I’ll echo what others have said about time trialing and racing as much as you can prior to lining up this attempt. I’d say you’d want to have at least 4 “race efforts” under your belt, which can be anything from 600-1000m

Most likely not. Unless of course you have kept in shape for a number of years and now you are going to totally focus. Remember when Jim (3:51.1) Ryun took a year off in early seventies, trained for six months and his first mile time trial was over 5 minutes. It ain't easy for anybody, brother.