Coach says that in majority of high level 1500m races, the last 100m is NOT the fastest 100m of the "kick"? True?

Your coach is correct. The backstretch 100m or the turn 100m is usually the fastest.

How do I develop, the 100 meter speed to run that fast? What if, I run some long hill workouts?

Depends on the race and the guys in it. History shows that in the big championship races, sometimes it's the back stretch 100 which is the fastest, sometimes it's the last curve (penultimate 100) and sometimes it's the last one. The greats need to be able to produce their fastest in any of these last 3.

Here's a few examples from some of the classics over the last 35 years: -

77 World Cup ~ 3:34.45 ~ Ovett's last 4 100m went ~ 14.7, 14.4, 12.0! 13.1

80 Olympics ~ 3:38.40 ~ Coe ~ 13.5, 13.7, 12.9, 12.1

83 Worlds ~ 3:41.58 ~ Cram ~ 13.5, 12.6, 12.7, 13.3

84 Olympics ~ 3:32.53 ~ Coe ~ 14.0, 13.5, 13.0, 12.7

91 Worlds ~ 3:32.85 ~ Morceli ~ 12.8, 12.8, 12.7, 13.3

97 Worlds ~ 3:35.8 ~ EL Guerrouj ~ 12.7, 13.2, 13.1, 13.5

00 Olympics ~ 3:32.1 ~ Ngeny ~ 13.9, 13.7, 13.7, 12.8

So from the 7 above (and of course one would need to take a lot more races to get a more conclusive pattern), we see that in 3 of them, the last 100 was the fastest, in 2 of them the penultimate was the fastest, in 1 of them the backstretch 100 was the fastest and in the other (EL G's 97 World victory) it was the 100m straight after the bell.

So, I'd say your coach was partly correct but it isn't always the case.

Partly correct? The coach said a majority. Seems to me, your example backs that up, 4 out of 7.

Thanks deanouk for a great post. A few facts in a sea of letsrun opinions really stand out.

The grammar geeks will be pleased that the word penultimate was used twice in this thread and both times it was used correctly.

I'd say he's potentially correct, as this is a rather modest sample size. Definitely not way off-base though.

Pretty interesting. I never would have guessed it. I do wonder how much different the results would be if you could correct for winners coasting across the finish line after they have a safe lead.

One way to get at it might be to look at stats for WR performances in which runners are usually racing the clock right to the end. Another would be to look only at races with at least two runners in close contact for the whole final lap.

That does raise a converse threat: namely that runners who have a faster final 100 may be often be beneficiaries of drafting until the last turn, conserving energy for a final burst.

I conclude that any pattern in the speed of the final 4 100s is probably more closely tied to race-specific context than to universal truths about the 1500 or human physiology.

curious about splits wrote:

Basically, he's saying that in a race where the pace is modest, or even a bit tactical, that the last 100m isn't the fastest 100m. That its usually the penultimate 100m or earlier in the last lap. I immediately thought this was false, but dont' really have any way of proving it since there's not too many 100m splits out there these days.

Anybody have some knowledge on the subject?

Your coach is correct, generally the final turn is the fastest 100 or sometimes the first 100 of the race for young athletes. The last 100 looks and feels faster becasue guys are straining and their form is breaking down. For example, Robbie Andrews who looks like he was shot out of a cannon in his last 100m of an 800m, but I bet he is only running that last 100 in 13 seconds.

Every winner in a distance event in the last Olympics followed this model.

webby wrote:

That does raise a converse threat: namely that runners who have a faster final 100 may be often be beneficiaries of drafting until the last turn, conserving energy for a final burst.

Or it could be that the athlete whose fastest 100 is the last one, still has a lot left!

I think it also depends on how tactical the race is. The slower the pace the first half the more likely that the runners have a bigger burst the last 100m. Also depends on the tactics within the race, such as whether someone makes a big move early, like with 700m to go. If the move is covered than likely the guy who can hold on wins and the last 100m will not be the fastest; however, if runners let the leader go and than reel him in with a fast last lap, than perhaps the winner will have a faster last 100m.

The problem with the question is that the 100m splits given are for the winner only. The winner in some cases is the guy that goes early and holds on, and sometimes the guy (more often) that waits and kicks off the turn. But the 100m splits may vary significantly between runners in the same race.

The coaches hypothesis is kind of what I would expect and here is why:

A lot of the time, the winner has some clear separation from the field, and often times let up a little before the line. When we are talking about 1-2 tenths of a second, this here is the difference.

Thanks deanouk

I was wondering how that compares to World Record splits, where the races are obviously less tactical.

And "this model" refers to what, exactly? Yours is a completely meaningless post.

Sketic of it All wrote:

Every winner in a distance event in the last Olympics followed this model.

I think people get confused and think the last 100 meters is the penultimate stretch in terms of giving it your all and therefore speed, but i think your coach is right in saying that even though you may be giving it your all in the final 100, your fastest recorded 100 in your kick often comes when your legs were fresher.

So much for using "penultimate" correctly.....

asaccc wrote:

I think people get confused and think the last 100 meters is the penultimate stretch in terms of giving it your all and therefore speed, but i think your coach is right in saying that even though you may be giving it your all in the final 100, your fastest recorded 100 in your kick often comes when your legs were fresher.

asaccc wrote:

I think people get confused and think the last 100 meters is the penultimate stretch in terms of giving it your all and therefore speed, but i think your coach is right in saying that even though you may be giving it your all in the final 100, your fastest recorded 100 in your kick often comes when your legs were fresher.

Correct.

The last 100 looks and feels faster.

asaccc wrote:

I think people get confused and think the last 100 meters is the penultimate stretch in terms of giving it your all and therefore speed, but i think your coach is right in saying that even though you may be giving it your all in the final 100, your fastest recorded 100 in your kick often comes when your legs were fresher.

Correct.

The last 100 looks and feels faster.