If you watch the 1996 Olympic Semi-finals of the Men's 400m then you'll see that Michael Johnson JOGGED 44.66 for the win. Even the announcer said he jogged it, and if you really take a good look at it, it absolutely looked so easy to him. Its incredible to even see. With his unique "upright running style" and his very smooth efficient running, there's no doubt in my mind he could have broke Wilson Kipketer's former 800m World Record and go under 1:40 for 800m.
Ok, we all know that Johnson was the greatest 400m runner ever. But you really think he would not only beat Rudisha, but dip under 1:40 while doing so? Not unless he was on copious amounts of EPO, HGH, and a low grade beaver tranquilizer. Spare me.
Watch the video of the Semi-finals of the 96' Olympics. You will see that 44.66 WAS ABSOLUTELY NOOOTHING to him. So for him to go out at 49. and come back under 50 would be easy.
You obviously have no idea how fast this man was, or have any idea on the emphasis on speed.
That is a lot harder than you think... If that was the case we would see a lot of 400 guys running the 800. There is a sacrifice you make when you decide on sprints or distance. You sacrifice the other when you gain something.
MJ if he moved up would have to be a 50/50 guy to run 1:40
only way even splits. 8 sequential 100s in 12.5.
A slightly + effort on the turns to get even 12.5's
The level of pain he took over the last 120-150 of the 43.18 is going to rise 8-10% and last from 230-250 out.
Most 400m runners wants to know that they can outrun someone and he's fasters than the next guy or his opponent. A sprinters mentality is different from a distance runners' mentality. Regardless a good quarter miler will be able to run a good 8. For instance, if a 44 second quarter miler went through the 400 in 50 seconds, its not inconceivable that he would come back in 55. And the 44.6 that Michael Johnson jogged was his third 400 of that Olympic Games.
JUST LOOK AT THE RACE in the semi-finals. HE JOGGED TO THE FRONT PEOPLE while running 44.6. So your telling me if he went 4 SECONDS SLOWER that he couldn't have come back in at least 52? Absolutely absurd guys. C'mon.
Johnson ran full speed miles in training, and never came anywhere close to 5 minutes.
Full speed miles????? dude, what are you talking about. your not making sense at all.
He looks more relaxed here:
Yeah good example but you got to watch that 96'semi-finals race. he made it look like a joke running it. But i get what you mean. He did look very relaxed in that World Record race.I mean read his training books as well. This guy was coming through his 450's in 50 SECONDS.
Chad wrote:
Yeah good example but you got to watch that 96'semi-finals race. he made it look like a joke running it. But i get what you mean. He did look very relaxed in that World Record race.I mean read his training books as well. This guy was coming through his 450's in 50 SECONDS.
A potential problem is the energy systems. If you "jog" through 200m you can cruise the next 200 or more because you are relying mainly on anerobic power and creatine phosphate.
However, the 800 relies significantly more on aerobic conditioning. Just because you can mechanically jog a 50s quarter doesn't mean you will be able to run the next in the same time, or even 10s slower. You just can't rely on the same energy system that got you through 400 to get you through the next 400.
Chad, you've never run a 800 before have you? To even remotely believe that it would be able to cruise along for another 400 at 50 seconds is laughable.
Now, if you're comparing him running relaxed to how Alan Webb is relaxed when he runs, then you might be on to something.
Summary: if you're serious, this post is absurd. If you're being silly, then good trolling!
Relaxed, but not easy. He had to change gears to get up on that race. It would have been awesome to see what he could do for an 800m, but yeah, you know...
How many athletes do you think would not like world records on multiple distance if they just could? What you write sounds possible on paper, but may not be practical. Johnson broke records in 200 and 400 and I am sure if he could have take 100, and 800 to marathon, he would have. Funny thing life doesn't work that way. First reason maybe because they really may not have that endurance to. Think about it, it seems sensible that an good 400M sprinter can do first 400m in 45sec and the next 400 in 55sec in an 800M race. That give you 1:40 for a world record! You think they are all fools for not realizing this and letting millions in future earnings float away? Second case may be because in an event where you have to run opposing distances, you may end up losing both, therefore making it more sensible to concentrate and win one. If you think about it, with several heats for 800M and several others for 400m in an Olympics, it might be punishing enough that when it comes to the finals, even a runner of MJ's caliber might falter. Something makes me think that you also Lesson here is just because it is true theoretically, doesn't mean it is practical. The way you know it is by the fact it was not done by MJ. If he and his coaches and friends did not see this opportunity, then they are all stupid. Something tells me that the most likely scenario is that in such an actual race, he would perform worse than what you have on paper.
MJ carried a lot more muscle than 800m guys do. Nobody runs the 800 with that kind of physique. He would tie-up before the end at world-class pace.
43 second guys that cruise 44 and 45 in heats have 50 meters more left in them.
so MJ could run 44 mid pace to 450 or 470 meters.
from a physical point of view, 400 guys sprint the first 200m in 21 ish, then glide sprint to the 300m mark, at which time they are under water and running backwards. some 100 m specialist guys are under water at 170m even. after they try the 4 a couple of times - they won't touch it.
the best 400m runners learn to run under water for the last 70 or so meters. moving to the 800m now they have to run about a full lap under water. without the aerobic component, no one can do that.
i see no evidence that MJ had a good aerobic component.
so without someone reporting that MJ did a great set of 600m repeats or something like that - further speculation is pointless.
with EPO you can get a 200m guy going 400m just like that.
and you can increasing his volume a lot, while decreasing recovery times. with even more advantage in heats where non users just can't recover like the user.
i don't believe anyone has cracked 44 flat without epo type ped. as for the 800 i think there were several 141's clean.
MJ looks sooo relaxed running 20.5, so it's strange he couldn't come back with a 21.5 and run 42.00!
I think with a few attempts, MJ would run 1:44 mid, but there is no chance of him getting under 1:41.
A 600 between Rudisha and MJ would be amazing to watch.
are you joking? have you ever run an 800? they are LITERALLY worlds apart. want proof? go look at Oregon 44.x 400m Mike Berry's 800m PR. 2:01. Lashawn Merrit 1:58!! you people CLEARLY don't know ANYTHING about energy systems in running. Michael Johnson would tie up at 500m and DNF and ANYONE who thinks otherwise has ZERO running knowledge/experience
Here is the 96 semi in question:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPJXtNN2qa8
Seville in 99 Semi where he jogged a 43.95.
LM, Longjack, and humBOLT have it correct.
Ridiculous.