Any fellow long distance runners try an all out 800 without speedwork?

Yes

Hope this helps. Email me if you have any other questions.

I'm not even sure if this response was supposed to be a joke...?

If I were you, I would hold back for the first 200 (when you're so fresh that everyone runs too fast) and wait until the 3rd 200 to really start blasting. You'll probably run a faster overall time.

A couple of years ago I raced my first 800 in 17 years coming off roughly equivalent mileage and almost no speedwork. I managed almost my old high-school PR but only by pacing myself. But this was an 800 race, not a relay so I had people to pace off of.

you sound pretty fit. tuesday do 10 x 300 meters hard,

thursday do 400m 600m 400m (full rest) at race pace then 10 x 100m. That should help get the wheels going.

Thanks jorvack and Joe. I was thinking about getting in some speedwork this week too, but the 8" of snow we just got may not allow that. I'll have to find a parking lot or empty street or something. I think Joe's right about the pacing, since I probably won't be very good at dealing with the lactic acid levels I'll get to so quickly. I just don't want to run it too slowly and finish with too much left in the tank. Tough to pace yourself when you don't really know what your pace should be, you know? Anyone else with experience relative to this situation? Thanks again.

you are going to pull a hamstring.

Are you the opening leg of the relay? Can you request it? It would be a lot easier to pace yourself if you were.

Hi Greg. I recently ran the Millenium Mile on marathon training. I know the mile is downhill but I ran a mile PR. Since I didn't have any real speedwork and this was my first race after the marathon I started out relatively slow. Honestly, I think I lack the real speed to have started out faster but it seemed to have helped at the end when everyone was dying after busting the first 800. I would say to pace yourself at the beginning and then try to go all out at the end.

It will probably hurt like hell running a fast 800 but it is over so quick it doesn't seem so bad in the end.

Good job yesterday. Hope you're not as sore as I am.

Barbara

I recently ran an 800 with about 1/10th the work you've been putting in (seriously). 5 days before I ran a 400 TT to get my legs ready for some turnover. This was my first 800 in 7 yrs & I ran a 2:09. I'd hope to god you could run 2:02.

Also.. my game plan was go for a first lap no faster than 64 & then just go balls to the wall. I actually split about 64 flat & then hit 1:35 at 600, before I fell apart with about 150 to go.

With limited speed work, even splits is the way to go. Let your strength carry you thru.

high schooler - 60mpw - 4th at state xc - three days later ran 1:57 on track in 800 - not a touch of speed work - speed through endurance

Ran 2:00 in high school.

Because I was stronger at the mile and two mile, I focused on the 5 and 10 in college. Had lots of injuries. Never ran fast in either race.

With a little bit of training (geared towards the 3 and 5k), I ran a 4x8 senior year indoors and split 1:57 high. I hadn't done an intentional repeat under 60 seconds in four years.

Maybe I have speed-endurance, but I couldn't kick worth shit at the end of a race or beat too many teammates in a sprint. However, I knew I would never get my legs going if I didn't try immediately, so I went for it from the beginning. There is time in a mile, but not an eight. Use your competitors in a relay and try to pass as many as you can the first 300. That method kind of got the fear of being passed into me, and I held on even though I positive split (57 mid, 60 mid). I think my relative strenght helped me even if the lactic was dumping pretty heavy.

You sound strong. Don't sit around link a pansy and wonder 'what if.' You will not run fast if you don't go hard from the beginning. With your strength AND with some 800-specific work, I think you could run even and fast, but from where your training is now, it would be very tough to be conservative and run 2:01-02 if that has been your ceiling before.

Just Have fun. It's not your specialty so put yourself out there and the end result can't knock your confidence much at all. If you run well, it will only help as it did me.

Thanks for you input, everyone. I will continue to think about it, but I'm leaning toward trying to go out in 62ish (assuming I can even do that!), and then trying to maintain for the 3rd lap, before letting it all hang out on lap 4. I forgot to mention, I also ran a 9:02 3k a few weeks ago, if that means anything to anyone (2:03 equiv).

BEM wrote:

Good job yesterday. Hope you're not as sore as I am.

Barbara

I think I might be, Barbara. Punishing course. At least I have a SMALL fleece vest to show for my efforts. Good grief.

You got the small and I got the large! They must have switched them. I will exchange with you if you want, I just have to take it back from my husband.

Good luck on the 800.

You got the small and I got the large! They must have switched them. I will exchange with you if you want, I just have to take it back from my husband.

Good luck on the 800.

That would be sweet - email me if you want to swap. The small is useless to me.

Okay, time to fess up... Ugh. Lame!

I heard I ran a 2:11. I don't know how that broke down, but I would guess the 400s were pretty even. I ran a little wimpy I think, although I don't know how much faster I could have gone. It was clearly a case of my legs being restricted by the amounts and type of training I've been doing. I was hardly out of breath the entire time. Despite having not prepared at all for this kind of event, I was not pleased and a little embarrassed to have such a slow time. I think I've decided to transition out of "base" training, and start getting in more speed work. This was kind of an eye-opener for me.

Even with all that base training, dont forget to always touch up on speedwork during base phase, always.

I'd been doing strides consistently, and the occasional fartlek, but clearly not enough. Some photos from the evening. My slow ass can be seen on pgs. 5-7 (#6 on the hips). http://www.jimrhoades.com/06/bostonindoor/