WHY CANT I BREAK 2?!

Most of the time 800 runners do not get enough endurance, they have the speed but they cant hold it. I don't think that adding mileage would help very much at the end of the season. It could also be a mental thing you could try neg. Splitting it but that might not work well without the endurance

Your 800 time right now is better than your 1600 time. There is not enough information to give you an answer. I think doubling does effect your times on the second event. Are you saying you have never run the 800 at an invite with fresh legs?

Make sure to race to make the finals and then you can race for points on Saturday. Ask your coach what place he expects you to run in the finals. Focus on that goal. Nothing should distract you from that goal.

Your 800 time should be signif lower with those 400 times I would think. What are you going out in for your opening 400 during your 800 races??

HS Track Guy wrote:

Ok, so I have the state meet next week. top 8 advance to finals and im going in seeded number 10. I cant seem to break 2 in the 800 for some reason. ive ran 2:01 two weeks in a row, both after running PRs in the 1600. the first week I ran 4:40 and 2:01.53 at regions then the second week at sectionals I ran 4:38.3 and 2:01.00. I have a week off this week and then state is on next week. 1600m Thursday night, 800m prelims Friday, then if I make it 800m finals on Saturday. why cant I break 2? can I break 2? is it because of the previous fatigue from the 1600? my PRs are

1600m- 4:38.3

800m- 2:00.4

400m- 52.4

4x400m split- 49.6

It sounds like you are missing some strength and endurance to get over that 2 min barrier. I was a 4:19 / 9:28 guy in HS, with a 400m PR of 57.0 (which was a relay split). I had the exact same 800m PR as you (2:00.4, ran it twice). Your 1600 time suggests that you are not getting enough mileage. With your 400 speed you should be able to go under with some more distance work. I would ask your coach to allow you to train with the distance runners 1-2x per week on their easy days. The slight increase in mileage should give you enough strength to take off .5 seconds.

I wish my state was this slow. I ran 155.8 and didn't advance to the State meet back in the day.

Weird. I had essentially identical times senior year of high school.

Anyway, do you run your 3rd 200m hard during your race? I noticed that helped me a lot. My coach would point out that some people like to sit back a little at that point to try and conserve for some kind of big kick at the end.

Once I picked it up at the bell or a little after, and then told myself that the last 200m was going to be a sprint anyway, I dropped a couple of seconds. Doesn't work in every situation obviously, but it might be worth a try.

Work the backstretch on the 2nd lap! Honestly, take the lead on the backstretch and hang on for dear life.

Had similar times to you in HS and couldn't even crack my team's 4x800 squad! Ran 1:58.9 and 4:38. Granted I only ran one 1600 in a dual meet so I'd like to think I was faster there but who knows. My progression was something like this during the season:

Feb-Mar: 2:05-2:06

Apr: 2:03-2:04

May: 2:02, 1:59.9, 2:01, 1:58.9

I would say that in Apr and May I was always running the first 400 in 57-58. Got my 600 time down from 1:32 to 1:28 in that stretch.Had a stretch where I'd die the last 200 and run 2:02 to 2:04. Finally got to where I could go 58/61 with a decent last 200 (30-31). Moral of the story being that you need to learn to have some balls on the last 200-300 when it really hurts. If you push hard with 300 to go you might get lucky and have adrenaline carry you the last 150. Then again you might fade and run a 34 sec last 200 like I would do every other race.

Your endurance is a bit slow. You obviously have some speed with a 49.6 split, but your 1600M time is lacking.

I ran 2:01 when I was in 4:30 shape. Work on your endurance.

Do you run cross country in the fall?

probably going out too slow. Start in 56 low.

HS Track Guy wrote:

Ok, so I have the state meet next week. top 8 advance to finals and im going in seeded number 10. I cant seem to break 2 in the 800 for some reason. ive ran 2:01 two weeks in a row, both after running PRs in the 1600. the first week I ran 4:40 and 2:01.53 at regions then the second week at sectionals I ran 4:38.3 and 2:01.00. I have a week off this week and then state is on next week. 1600m Thursday night, 800m prelims Friday, then if I make it 800m finals on Saturday. why cant I break 2? can I break 2? is it because of the previous fatigue from the 1600? my PRs are

1600m- 4:38.3

800m- 2:00.4

400m- 52.4

4x400m split- 49.6

Don't run the 1600 before the 800. Make sure you are rested. It's a bit late to gain ability ...so the best you can do is to rested when you attack! You can do it.

not enough endurance. i had nearly identical prs (along with a horrid 10:12 two mile time!) as a senior off ~20mpw. 9 months later after a season of college XC & winter base of 50-60mpw, i blasted the 800/mile/3K times.

so it may be tough to break 2 next week, but if you are undertrained endurance-wise, stick with running! those are decent wheels!

Have you run a 3200? If you've run around 10:35 that would fall in line with other 3 times you listed.

You're unlikely to have a big breakthrough at this point. You need to work on your lactate threshold over this coming offseason, which appears to be approaching fast for you.

Lots of 40-70 minute runs that have 20-40 minute stretches at about 6:15 pace will do you wonders.

You have the speed to break 9:00 for the 3200. Put the work in.

tryna roonalot wrote:

Most of the time 800 runners do not get enough endurance, they have the speed but they cant hold it.

Funny - I find it's usually the other way around.

How fast are you going out? The best 800 times are run with a positive split. Go out in 57-58 next race and you'll probably run 1:58 if you're fresh.

Nice PR list but what work are you doing now? Strength stuff is over with at this point. You just need to be sharping up. 300-200 repeats. It is championship rounds. Times will take care of them self if you race smart and qualify.

Good luck

im kind of agreeing with the general consensus that I don't have enough endurance. my 2 mile is only around 10:45ish now I don't know exactly because I haven't ran It since the beginning of the season when I was in horrible shape and then I ran 11:01. also I think I might be going out a little too fast? I usually split 56 or 55 the first 400m. I think the fact that I have never ran a fresh 800 might also be affecting me a tiny bit. its always after running the 1600m. going into the state meet im seeded #10 top 6 are all running faster than 1:58 but everyone else from #7-12 are all running in the 2:00-2:02 range

Your 400 and 800 times are better than your 1600 yet you always double into the 800. You are seeded 10th in the 800 but can't be seeded better in the 1600 with a 4:38 can you?

Up until this point you can claim you were doubling for points or to prove you could do it. Now you need to pick your best race (the 800 from what you have told us) and do it fresh.