[quote]bryxcrunner wrote:
I like to get out quick because like I said I have trouble kicking at the end. quote]
You labeled your problem perfectly.
You'll hear a lot of people tell you the 3rd 200 is the best spot to really start picking it up in an 800 race...
Try this- start moderate the first 200 (it shouldn't really feel "hard"), then make a conscious effort to increase your stride rate the 2nd 200m. Then- pick up your "effort" of the 3rd 200m and race the last 200m.
The reasoning behind a conscious increase on the 2nd 200m is that for a lot of HS kids, this 200m kills them. They might have good intentions of picking up the 3rd 200, but if their splits look like 27, 33 for a 60 second opening lap and they want to run 2:02, the have to really hammer the third 200m to get back on pace (31ish). That's tough to do...
(27,33,31,31) 2:02 is a lot tougher than a (30,31,31,30) 2:02... trying to get back on pace for the first set of splits is very tough when you're already tired. The second set takes advantage of the rhythm you're already in...still going to be tough, but more do-able.