race pacing strategy

I think #2 just won't work. You'll be way too far off the lead pack by the time you get rolling in the last mile.

#1 and #4 are probably the best for winning.

Just about every world track record has been set using negative splits. The later in the race your body goes into lactic acid shock, the better. You have to be mentally tough to race this way in high school and college, but you will run faster times. Championship meets would be the only exception, there you have to run with the big dogs if you want to compete.

Most champions use #2

Two things... "going hard from the gun" means going out way faster than race pace, getting into oygen debt, and dying hard core later in the race. Also, the idea that if you run even or negative then you will be too far behind to go for the win is the biggest fallacy I have ever heard. It is a physiological fact that you will run fastest by going even or slightly negative. If you can't win by running in the optimal physiological manner then you would really suck ass by going out too fast. If you run the fastest time possible then it doesn't make a bit of difference HOW the other people run the race. If your time is faster then you win, it doesn't matter if yall didnt run together the whole time.

A great deal will depend on the terrain of the course you are running. What your strengths are and what the strengths of your opponents are.

Also brought into account, is what kind of shape you are in, this often determines the tactics.

Then weather needs to be brought into account as well.

Once you have done the homework the application is the final part.

In the number years of coaching, we adapted tactics continually. One of the top xcountry athletes coached on one occasion attacked the athletes on the flat, as his strength was known to be the hilly section. So he took out the pace at a steady tempo on the 1st lap [of 4 lap course], when going over the hilly terrain where the athletes expected an attack he maintained pace. As he came off the slope he attacked on the flat with ferocity, breaking away from his pursuers. Once he got to the hilly terrain, the opposition had to work hard to close the gap.

The victory brought him his 3rd title in a row, so the pressure and expectation was already there.

Hopefully, this gives you a different perspective to race tactics.