What Is The Toughest Running Event In The World?

800m high hurdles

Also, I think 800m places the greatest demands in training. The widest range of abilities is required for 800m, in that speed and endurance must be utilized. I would think that training for some of these ultra / adventure events requires no intense running in training.

Discuss.

(800m High Hurdles? OUCH!!!)

You are an asshole.

Discuss.

There is a marathon on the original Inca Trail in the Andes.

I believe it starts just outside Cuzco (approx. 12k feet) and finishes at Machu Picchu (approx. 10k feet), going over two 13k+ passes, up/down long rock staircases and narrow ridges, ascending dry and descending into more humid jungle. I was told the record is under 3 hours by an Andean porter.

This one would rank pretty high on my demanding and pain meter.

Going by my own track experiences as a teen & as a young 20 something.

I would think the one mile would be the hardest in terms of getting the background of distance running, strength running via hills, then those laps & laps of 400 m intervals.

Maybe the or 800 m 1/2 mile (or 1/2 mile) I would think be harder or similar to the 400 m . Always remember my first time as a kid running the 440 yd., how the legs were practically nerveless somehow forced them into a kick finish to save my 3rd. place. Now the 1/2 mile? Tried that in Gr. 11 a few times, then a truely tough 880 yd., age 20..tried to take it to the leader after 1st. lap only to fade like I was running in slow motion. Time, 2:05?

I recall the difference, between the 800 m & the one mile, the 800 m was over so much quicker in terms of suffering the physical pain as well as the complete oxygen debt.

The one mile; completing lap 3, you are feeling like there is a sack of potatoes tied to each leg, then its 'clobbering time' every muscle is engaged to kick that last lap, all upper body strength...did you do enough work in the weight room as well as those Fall & Winter 60 - 80 mpw?

yeah maybe...i am a half miler and it is not nearly as physically demanding as cross country was for me. not to say that the distance events are harder but it depends on the person; their physical composition and training will make the difference.

2nd of all i think you can eliminate the 800 because it does not even win for being the most difficult middle distance event...that would be the 1k. it is run very similar to an 800 and i think it requires the same range of abilities, but it is longer and quite the brutal race.

of the shorter distance events (3k-10k) i think that the 3k steeple would be the most difficult. i would say that i am not the best to argue here as i have never raced over an 8k and only have 1 steeple under my belt, and it was the worst day of my life.

next up you got the long races and i am soo ridiculously impressed by those guys who run the marathon. this is probably a solid combination of the fact that i am weaker in distance races and the it is just ridiculous to be able to push ones body that far.

of the sprints i would say the 400 hurdles is the most demanding. while i take no credit away from the athleticism or greatness of the accomplishments by sprinters, i believe there to be little argument in favor of any of these events being the most demanding so we will discount them.

so in my eyes we are down to the 1000 (if we are considering all events, as i ran this since i was naia and many of you may not have, otherwise we will use the 800), 3k steeple, and marathon, with my vote being the marathon.

Shut In Ridge Trail Race in Asheville NC is a pretty tough race. Starts at 2500ft. and climbs 17.8 miles to the top of Mt Pisgah at around 6000ft. Probably is you also drop about 3000' during the race so you climb a good bit more than just the raw elevation change. Don't know if it's the 'toughest' but it's definetely up there...

Kipper wrote:

There is a marathon on the original Inca Trail in the Andes.

I believe it starts just outside Cuzco (approx. 12k feet) and finishes at Machu Picchu (approx. 10k feet), going over two 13k+ passes, up/down long rock staircases and narrow ridges, ascending dry and descending into more humid jungle. I was told the record is under 3 hours by an Andean porter.

This one would rank pretty high on my demanding and pain meter.

That sounds insane. I'm taking a class about old world civilization right now, so I've seen a lot of pictures of the landscape in this area. The elevation changes are increadible. I can't imagine trying to run on that terrain, much less race a full marathon.

1. steeple

2. 400h

3. 800

the 400 made me puke every single time i ran it.

Bad Water anyone?

There is a marathon held in South Africa called the Comrades and it's about 78 km and is pretty brutal. I think Salazar may have even won it some years back.

If you expand the debate to include endurance events then the Hawaian Ironman wins hands down.

I wouldn't consider any of those 24 hour or longer ultra events because the actual quality (or speed) of the top athletes doesn't rate a mention alongside say, the world's best marathon runners.

Renfrewshire Cross-Country relays 24/11/07

I've done Ironman Hawaii, it's like roasting your hand over a fire, but 400H is putting that hand right into the fire.

Skuj wrote:

You can list any road or xc course / adventure event, or, you may wish to simply give a track distance, if you believe that one of the track events is toughest.

Toughest = most demanding, most accumulated pain, or something like that.

Dammit, I think I gotta go with 800m on the track! This duration is the bastard bitch of all durations, imho. And the hardest one to get right. ie The most unforgiving if you start too fast.

Discuss.

That's funny; exactly two months ago your argument was different:

schizo wrote:

[quote]Skuj wrote:

That's funny; exactly two months ago your argument was different:

http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?board=1&id=2136926&thread=2136926

600, 800....it's close-ish, eh? :)

I'm re-thinking that the 700m is The One! :)

Baghdad Marathon.

Weren't many finishers last year.

Post race party was a blast though.

I just watched an outstanding DVD -- "Volcanic Sprint" It may show the toughest race. Check out its description at www.volcanicsprint.com

i feel like the "short" distance events are the toughest. for me this means mile-5k

the 800 hurts pretty bad, but all those shorter events are over so quickly and dont require as much patience/strategy in my opinion: just run really f***ing hard. If you die? well theres only a lap left anyway.

marathon is tough too, but the brute speed just isnt there - its a mental game which, given, is still very hard.

Im guessing something like a 5k on Van Courtland is most punishing/toughest/ whatever you want to call it. I just cant imagine that being an enjoyable experience.