Anyone ever used the Yasso 800m session as an accurate way to predict their potential marathon time? Triathlete Alex Yee who is competing in the London Marathon just did one of these sessions with an average 2:14. If accurate predicts he’s currently in approximately 2:14 marathon shape.
Yasso 800s are nonsense in terms of predicting marathon time. Literally take the least specific workout one might do in a marathon build and extrapolate a marathon time from it? How does that make sense?
Agreed. I would be pretty shocked if, assuming he’s fit and serious about the race, Alex Yee doesn’t run quite a bit faster than. This is a true world class talent we’re talking about, and an exceptional runner. Combine that with boing boing shoes + other marginal gains, 2:14 ain’t what it used to be. I’d bet $ he breaks 2:12 with a 2:10 bring the over/under.
Yasso 800s are nonsense in terms of predicting marathon time. Literally take the least specific workout one might do in a marathon build and extrapolate a marathon time from it? How does that make sense?
If they're "nonsense", why then do they predict a marathon time +/-5% every time?
It's not an argument if they serve as a high quality marathon workout, they're not. So it's a legitimate question as to why one would do them in the first place. But as a predictor they're pretty accurate, whether you like it or not.
Agreed. I would be pretty shocked if, assuming he’s fit and serious about the race, Alex Yee doesn’t run quite a bit faster than. This is a true world class talent we’re talking about, and an exceptional runner. Combine that with boing boing shoes + other marginal gains, 2:14 ain’t what it used to be. I’d bet $ he breaks 2:12 with a 2:10 bring the over/under.
Keep in mind he’s still almost 2 months out from the marathon so to be in 2:14 shape now for him is actually probably right where he wants to be. If he peaks right I’m sure he’s got a good shot of dipping under 2:10.
Agreed. I would be pretty shocked if, assuming he’s fit and serious about the race, Alex Yee doesn’t run quite a bit faster than. This is a true world class talent we’re talking about, and an exceptional runner. Combine that with boing boing shoes + other marginal gains, 2:14 ain’t what it used to be. I’d bet $ he breaks 2:12 with a 2:10 bring the over/under.
If it’s a complete nonsense predictor why do you think Alex and his coach thought it would be a good idea to do it?
Yasso 800s are nonsense in terms of predicting marathon time. Literally take the least specific workout one might do in a marathon build and extrapolate a marathon time from it? How does that make sense?
If they're "nonsense", why then do they predict a marathon time +/-5% every time?
It's not an argument if they serve as a high quality marathon workout, they're not. So it's a legitimate question as to why one would do them in the first place. But as a predictor they're pretty accurate, whether you like it or not.
I could bang out 2:30 800s all day because I was a decent 800/1500 runner and I have speed on my side. I will never, ever approach 5:00/mile pace for a marathon. More like 6:00 for me in my best shape.
Yasso 800s are nonsense in terms of predicting marathon time. Literally take the least specific workout one might do in a marathon build and extrapolate a marathon time from it? How does that make sense?
If they're "nonsense", why then do they predict a marathon time +/-5% every time?
It's not an argument if they serve as a high quality marathon workout, they're not. So it's a legitimate question as to why one would do them in the first place. But as a predictor they're pretty accurate, whether you like it or not.
It somewhat works as a predictor for slower runners and or runners doing less mileage. Faster runners can rip 800s over and over again predicting a marathon much faster than they can actually run. In Yee's case, I'd assume that he either took a much shorter rest than is traditional for this workout or he didn't hammer it. Considering that he recently ran a 10k averaging ~2:14 per 800m, I could see him doing the actual Yasso 800m workout in 2:05-2:08. That's far faster than he'll run in London.
Agreed. I would be pretty shocked if, assuming he’s fit and serious about the race, Alex Yee doesn’t run quite a bit faster than. This is a true world class talent we’re talking about, and an exceptional runner. Combine that with boing boing shoes + other marginal gains, 2:14 ain’t what it used to be. I’d bet $ he breaks 2:12 with a 2:10 bring the over/under.
If it’s a complete nonsense predictor why do you think Alex and his coach thought it would be a good idea to do it?
I could bang out 2:30 800s all day because I was a decent 800/1500 runner and I have speed on my side. I will never, ever approach 5:00/mile pace for a marathon. More like 6:00 for me in my best shape.
not how that works. If you run 2:30s that would predict a 2:30 marathon (5:45 pace).
Agreed. I would be pretty shocked if, assuming he’s fit and serious about the race, Alex Yee doesn’t run quite a bit faster than. This is a true world class talent we’re talking about, and an exceptional runner. Combine that with boing boing shoes + other marginal gains, 2:14 ain’t what it used to be. I’d bet $ he breaks 2:12 with a 2:10 bring the over/under.
He did say he's had two bouts of illness that's effected his buildup so I've lowered expectations. If you check his Strava there's a week where logged zero recently.
If they're "nonsense", why then do they predict a marathon time +/-5% every time?
It's not an argument if they serve as a high quality marathon workout, they're not. So it's a legitimate question as to why one would do them in the first place. But as a predictor they're pretty accurate, whether you like it or not.
I could bang out 2:30 800s all day because I was a decent 800/1500 runner and I have speed on my side. I will never, ever approach 5:00/mile pace for a marathon. More like 6:00 for me in my best shape.
I could bang out 2:30 800s all day because I was a decent 800/1500 runner and I have speed on my side. I will never, ever approach 5:00/mile pace for a marathon. More like 6:00 for me in my best shape.
Actually, you are doing this wrong.
Looks like I was wrong. Yasso is still wrong and dumb and I stand by that.
I would never have a shot at a 2:30 after doing 10x800 @ 2:30, even off of marathon training. 2:40 at the very best for a guy like me.
Looks like I was wrong. Yasso is still wrong and dumb and I stand by that.
I would never have a shot at a 2:30 after doing 10x800 @ 2:30, even off of marathon training. 2:40 at the very best for a guy like me.
I should say, as far as I know, Yasso himself said it's not that great at predicting.
Club runners have taken it to some weird, rarified workout air. Kinda like Crossfitters do with their workouts. "The Murph," "The Michigan, and "Yasso 800s." All the same stuff. Alex Yee probably just did it for something a bit faster than normal training paces, to mix it up. He could go waaaay faster.
It's probably better/closer for slower and newer people. If you have more speed than endurance, it all goes out the window.
Agreed. I would be pretty shocked if, assuming he’s fit and serious about the race, Alex Yee doesn’t run quite a bit faster than. This is a true world class talent we’re talking about, and an exceptional runner. Combine that with boing boing shoes + other marginal gains, 2:14 ain’t what it used to be. I’d bet $ he breaks 2:12 with a 2:10 bring the over/under.
If it’s a complete nonsense predictor why do you think Alex and his coach thought it would be a good idea to do it?
I don’t think the article says Yee was doing Yasso 800s I think the article is just saying they did a workout that reminds the writer of Yasso 800s and the author is extrapolating?
If they're "nonsense", why then do they predict a marathon time +/-5% every time?
It's not an argument if they serve as a high quality marathon workout, they're not. So it's a legitimate question as to why one would do them in the first place. But as a predictor they're pretty accurate, whether you like it or not.
They have a certain amount of accuracy simply because they might be "equivalent" in some way. E.g. a 19-minute 5k is approximately equivalent to a 3-hour marathon but it's not a great predictor on its own
While I don't doubt a 28:07 guy could run 2:14 in modern shoes, yasso 800s have never been a good predictor for competitive-level athletes.
If you are running 3:30-4:00, completing a workout like that, alongwith your other training, does show you could probably maintain 8 minute pace for a while but not much else.
Plenty of college guys could knock out ten 800s under 2:20 but could not get anywhere close to that in a marathon. You probably would need about 14:40 5k fitness depending on the rest.
If they're "nonsense", why then do they predict a marathon time +/-5% every time?
It's not an argument if they serve as a high quality marathon workout, they're not. So it's a legitimate question as to why one would do them in the first place. But as a predictor they're pretty accurate, whether you like it or not.
I could bang out 2:30 800s all day because I was a decent 800/1500 runner and I have speed on my side. I will never, ever approach 5:00/mile pace for a marathon. More like 6:00 for me in my best shape.
This is a great point. I think where the Yasso test is most accurate is when you do the test during a high mileage marathon training program. If you’re an 800/1500m runner running 40 miles per week it’s going to be a very poor predictor.
This is a great point. I think where the Yasso test is most accurate is when you do the test during a high mileage marathon training program. If you’re an 800/1500m runner running 40 miles per week it’s going to be a very poor predictor.
"Great Dane" is closest to the truth. If you are doing proper marathon training, which makes it hard to rip your best 800s, I've found that the workout can be fairly indicative of the upcoming marathon.
