Do you think an elite marathoner like Desi Davila could run a 55 second 400?

Yes

Not her, no

If she trained for it for a couple weeks, absolutely.

I can't imagine a true distance runner with 32:05/1:10:33/2:26:10 PR's being able to run 55 for 400. In fact, anything sub-57 would shock me. I wouldn't be particularly surprised if she hasn't broken 60, since even her distance running times are comparatively better as the races lengthen.

is the question.

1. can desi davilla run a 55 second 400? or

2. can any female distance runner/ marathoner run a 55 second 400?

1. i dont know

2. yes a few can, example if defar ran a marathon it would be an elite time and she would still be able to run a 55 or under in the open 400.

If Desi Davila could run 55 for 400, with her endurance she'd be 1:59 for 800. There is no way; not even close. A lot of people hugely overestimate the sprint speed of most distance runners.

Defar's best 1500 is 4:06. I could see her going sub-57 but not sub-56.

powerofreason wrote:

If Desi Davila could run 55 for 400, with her endurance she'd be 1:59 for 800. There is no way; not even close. A lot of people hugely overestimate the sprint speed of most distance runners.

Defar's best 1500 is 4:06. I could see her going sub-57 but not sub-56.

defar's best 1500 is 4:02 but her last 1500 when she ran her 14:12 for 5k was 4:05.

also in a race where she beat t. dibaba at 3k her last 400 was 56.6 to t. dibaba's 56.8, sure they both had a running start going into that final 400, but i think they could both go at least 55 if that is all they had to do.

You're right about the 4:02. Sub-56 is definitely possible. I still think sub-55 might be a stretch, although it is possible.

According to the IAAF scoring tables, 55.0 for a woman is about 47.5 for a guy, so it would be pretty fast for a marathoner.

I think you guys underestimate how much determination and overall unbreakability it takes to be an elite athlete at any distance.

I think Desi, if she dropped her aspirations as a marathoner, and trained for nothing but the ability to run a 55 400, in a couple of years would be able to achieve that feat.

Would it be worth it? no. she's a distance runner, she'll achieve more success there than anywhere else in a shorter amount of time and effort, and make more money as the #3-4 american woman marathoner than as the #25 american woman 400m runner.

dudewheresmycar wrote:

I think you guys underestimate how much determination and overall unbreakability it takes to be an elite athlete at any distance.

I think Desi, if she dropped her aspirations as a marathoner, and trained for nothing but the ability to run a 55 400, in a couple of years would be able to achieve that feat.

Would it be worth it? no. she's a distance runner, she'll achieve more success there than anywhere else in a shorter amount of time and effort, and make more money as the #3-4 american woman marathoner than as the #25 american woman 400m runner.

If she had sub-55 potential for 400m, she'd be a sub-2:00 runner for 800m, which is way better comparatively than her 32:05 PB for 10000m.

Her 800 PR is 2:10. (That was in university; she could probably run 2:08 now if she did some speed training for the event.)

Do you guys think an elite male could run a 47.5? That's pretty fast. Which american marathoners could run a 55(female) 47.5 (male)?

Affirmative; Her Pr's are mirror images of my own, with no outliers. My 440 PR. 61 sec.

It's entirely possible sub 60 is out of the question.

no way.

watched her run in high school. has a long distance gait.

probably breaks 58 at best.

dibaba and defar have both gone 53 seconds in the last 400 of a 5k so yes its possible

yes wrote:

dibaba and defar have both gone 53 seconds in the last 400 of a 5k so yes its possible

I'm going to need to see some sort of proof before I buy this. That would be a fast last lap for Bekele.

An incredible finish, but not even close to 53.

Concerned Citizen wrote:

According to the IAAF scoring tables, 55.0 for a woman is about 47.5 for a guy, so it would be pretty fast for a marathoner.

Okay, I was wrong, apparently the IAAF tables don't work for comparing men's and women's performances. Sorry.