800m runner build?

They’re bigger and stronger because they need to be to run fast. I would say some muscle can actually help in the 800m because it’s definitely part sprint. I’m definitely not 160, more like 135, but I’ve found that the stronger I am the faster I run in the 800m. (It also helps that I don’t gain much mass, just strength). On the flip side, I have a younger brother who works out a ton (prolly too much) and he benches 225 and deadlifts a ton. And while he can still run a 4:57 mile he would be much better if he dropped some of the working out.

But I agree with you, and I think 800m runners might be overall fitter because they’re not weak but they’re also freaking fast.

You need a good deal more fast twitch muscle, pro milers are opening races in 28 through 200m, pro 800m runners are opening races in 23-25. You also need to be running AT LEAST 47-48 in the 400m to be a pro caliber 800m guy, and the bigger guys are running 44-mid to 46.

My bro science theory is that stronger muscles help you power through the final 100m better, it closely closely mimicks the feeling of lifting to failure so that + a little experimentation with my physique over the years is my reasoning.

I also find when i’m doing 800m pace or faster workouts 1-2 times weekly I start putting on more mass in my shoulders, legs and lats, so the training is probably a good anaerobic muscle stimulus similar to lifting.

Because the 800m is run like a sprint. Get out hard, try to hold your speed, then control the deceleration. Plenty of muscular endurance involved.

A lot of reps 30m-200m with high turnover and force production will put some muscle on your armsabd shoulders. Absolutely not an efficient way to do it but it does happen a little.

Also: they are naturally built too big to run the 3k, aren't 100-200m guys, so they settle into the events that best suits their body (400 to 1500)

Consider swimmers. They didn't get big hands and feet, wide shoulders and long arms because they swim. They swim because they have big hands and feet, wide shoulders and long arms.

Speaking as an armchair fan, I always thought it was partly due to the 800m being the most physical event in terms of having to fight for your place and get past people, elbows and jostling.

I mean compare Coe and Ovett in the Moscow 800...Coe got by most of the time because he was so much faster than everyone but even that wasn't good enough in Moscow. No such problems in the 1500.

800 is probably the crossover point where muscle and skinniness meet. 1500m up, it's skinny guys with endurance. 400m down, it's sprinters who are naturally bigger and spend a lot of time in the gym.