Why do you think...

I imagine the running start might, just might, have something to do with it, especially in races 400 meters and below.

"I'm picking up on your sarcasm."

"Well, good, cause I'm laying it on pretty thick."

--A quote from my favorite movie...

But really, I was focusing more on the 400/800 level. Perhaps it is not always true that professionals run faster in the 4x4, but look at college. In DMRs, SMRs, 4x8s, etc, etc, I read/seen so many guys run PRs.

Now let's ponder...

Perhaps because there is less individual pressure when you are part of a relay than when you are just running one out-and-out race?

relay times are almost always faster because you get a running start, and depending on where you get the baton in the exchange zone you could be running say 780 meters instead of 800 so your time could be 2+ seconds faster than an open 800.

Actually, "Stupid" (you made up the name, not me), all properly taken relay splits are started and stopped when the baton, not the runner, passes the finish line. It has nothing to do with when you get the baton.

however, most of the time the athlete has already received the baton before the line - - ergo he has a running start.

additionally, especially in the 400m (can't really comment about the others, don't run 'em too often), most people tend to compartimentalize the open race too much. Get out hard, relax, pick it up, give it everything, maintain your form, lean at the line etc. In a relay, especially when you have the running start combined with someone of similar ability perhaps right in front of you, throw in the cool sound the baton makes, and you typically run more even, which leads to faster times. All of the fastest 400m times ever have been quite close in split (Butch Reynolds was 21.5-21.9). You have a better chance of running even in a relay than in an open.

Km - Good point. In addition to that, the situation of the race might help set up a great performance. For example, let's say you are running an 800 leg but you are not the first leg and when you get the baton you are in third place. If you were just running an open 800 then lots of times you are running to win which doesn't always equal a fast time. In the relay situation I mentioned above, you might be still running to win, but since you are behind, you need to run as hard as you can as long as you can to make up ground - this might produce a faster time than you have run in an open race.

[quote]elguapo16 wrote:

"I'm picking up on your sarcasm."

"Well, good, cause I'm laying it on pretty thick."

--A quote from my favorite movie...

quote]

what movie was that from. it sounds so familiar and i cant put my finger on it. lol

Most of my best 1600m races were in relays( DMR, and 4xmile). They are accurately timed on my video after I'm done racing, so I know I didn't run anything short of the intended distance.

I think the reason is that you run all out from the start. It's no tactics or BS, it's just all out racing. In my best relay race I was 8 seconds down going into my leg, so I didn't worry about splits or anything and just halled ass from the start and PR'd by 5seconds.

First, BillCarr, I also thought of that, but to me it seems that running start would be cancelled out by handing the baton off to the next guy -- as in you slowing down to hand off the baton to the other guy who is gradually speeding up negates the running start you get from receiving the baton.

I do agree with Zipperman though in that having someone else of equal ability ahead of you would drive you faster.

And to Overseer, see if this hint helps (my personal favorite quote from the movie):

"The point is, how do you know the Guarantee Fairy isn't a crazy glue sniffer? "Building model airplanes" says the little fairy, well we're not buying it. Next thing you know, there's money missing off the dresser and your daughter's knocked up, I seen it a hundred times."

holy shit man. i cant think of it but i know the movie. i reconize all of the quotes.

"Did you hear I finally graduated?"

"Yeah, just a shade under a decade too...all right..."

"You know a lot of people go to college for 7 years."

"Yeah, they're called doctors."

sjm1368 - That would be just what I said, so good job there.

elguapo16 - Man that last bunch of quotes completely gave it away. I will keep him in suspense though until he either figures it out or you put him out of your misery. Good movie, but far from my favorite. This Is Spinal Tap is the greatest of all time, and Goodwill Hunting and Pee Wee's Big Adventure are in the top 10.

elguapo16 - That's put him out of "his" misery.

elguapo16 wrote:

"Did you hear I finally graduated?"

"Yeah, just a shade under a decade too...all right..."

"You know a lot of people go to college for 7 years."

"Yeah, they're called doctors."

From the everlasting tribute to Chris Farley's genius -- Tommy Boy.

P.S. My best standing start 400 was 56+change, but I always claim my 4x400 split of 53.6. I have to admit my running start did not save me 3 seconds. I think relay splits often suffer from inaccurate timing by asst. coaches or others who have a lot going on and can't get really accurate times.

In a good baton pass the baton does not slow down that much (4x1-4x4). . . maybe in longer distances but if you take some time and practice your pass you would be surprised how fast that ole baton moves.

"Oh no ! BEES ! SAVE YOURSELVES !"

You run hard in relays (and you never pack it in) because you have 3 other guys relying on you. Most people have (especially in longer relays) have comparable PRS relay vs non-relay. But, I would wager that people more consistently put out in relays because of the team factor.

Running start, inaccurate timing, maybe a second at most. I go along with elg-16. When you have guys depending on you, you can't get to the halfway mark and say, well, f--- this, I don't have it today. You have to have it or suffer the consequences of your peers. Have you ever run the old "sprint medley," 200-200-400-800 (or was it 4-2-2-8?). Anyway, a bunch of sprinter/football guys warning you not to blow it for them is pretty good motivation for a scrawny ass middle distance guy.