I have a distance background and have ran XC for a few years. I'm a senior this year. My PRs are:
5k- 16:30
3 mile- 15:47
3200- 10:21
1600- 4:37
I ran the 800m a week ago with no competition and got a 2:05. The conditions were 22 mph winds and below freezing weather. It's hard to go one week between 3200 and 800 and I'd rather just stick with one or the other (in addition to the 1600). I feel that maybe I could run the 800m better but I'd like a second opinion. What do you think?
The best PR listed is the shortest. Look at McMillan's or some equivalency chart and you can see what events you're best at. If you're interested in anything 5k or longer there is no reason to participate in official school-sanctioned sports. Since you are (this is obvious since 1600 and 3200 don't exist elsewhere) you may as well run an event event otherwise difficult to access, like 800.
Oh, by the way, it's also the only one (besides 5k) mentioned that is a standard event and therefore performances can be compared to everyone else running it world-wide.
Ok Mr. Grumpy Pants. Who got you all riled up.
This kid is just asking what events he should run. Start your own thread if you want to talk about how awful high school track.
To answer your question OP,
I would recommend focusing on 800s and 1600s but still run a few 3200s every year.
I stopped running the 3200 after my freshman year because I was better at shorter distances. I graduated with PRs of 800 - 1:57 and 1600 - 4:25 but my 3200 PR is only 10:50.
Really wish I would have raced some 3200s during my last three years of high school.
If you're into PR'ing, go for the 3200. That's your weakest one and should be easy to improve. But as other commenters alluded to, you might want to give the 800 a try because it seems like you might have the speed for it.
I think you could be a decent 800m runner given your time in less than desirable conditions. I also don't think it is the worst plan in the world to work in a couple of 3200's early in the season--especially if the weather sucks. Then work your way down to the 800m as the weather improves and you start adding speed in your workouts. You might find that your 1600 sees the most improvement if you start focusing on running a good 800.
The 800 is tougher to train for than the 3200. I'm not saying you need to be mentally tougher, just that it's tougher to formulate a strong 800m plan than a 3200 plan.
The 3200 is more straightforward - do mile repeats, tempo runs, fartleks, long runs, and 1000's.
The 800 is tricky, since it has a much greater anaerobic element to it while still being somewhat aerobic. If you have a good coach, then you should be fine. But the range of workouts you'll have to do is much greater - short sprints, 200's-1000's, tempo runs, longish runs. I've heard it called the "decathlon of running" since it requires so much.
Depends on how you define "tougher" there is more variety in the 800m training. But 3200 training takes more time and harder efforts.
To the OP train for the 800 it can change your 1600
3200or800 wrote:
I have a distance background and have ran XC for a few years. I'm a senior this year. My PRs are:
5k- 16:30
3 mile- 15:47
3200- 10:21
1600- 4:37
I ran the 800m a week ago with no competition and got a 2:05. The conditions were 22 mph winds and below freezing weather. It's hard to go one week between 3200 and 800 and I'd rather just stick with one or the other (in addition to the 1600). I feel that maybe I could run the 800m better but I'd like a second opinion. What do you think?
I'd go the 800m route, that's going to help your 1600 more. The 3200m in High School is a different beast. In order to do well you'd have to focus on your aerobic system which is less developed, and you'd have less focus on your anaerobic system which is a larger component of the 1600m. You'd be better off adding more threshold work, in addition to the speed endurance work you'll need for the 800m...both of which will make you improve on the 1600m. If your goal is to run a faster mile...running the 800m is going to have a more immediate effect for one season. Then you could go into the summer and really work on your aerobic base, which seems to be lacking.
Cephus wrote:
I think you could be a decent 800m runner given your time in less than desirable conditions. I also don't think it is the worst plan in the world to work in a couple of 3200's early in the season--especially if the weather sucks. Then work your way down to the 800m as the weather improves and you start adding speed in your workouts. You might find that your 1600 sees the most improvement if you start focusing on running a good 800.
I second this idea. Early season 3200s will give you a bit more strength. As you move towards the 800 later in the season, that focus on speed will help sharpen you up for what seems to be your main event - the 1600.
Thank you for the advice, and thank you to everyone else who contributed to giving helpful advice as well!
My 4:37 was an 8 second PR for the season. I ran 4:45 in time trials, 4:50 in my first meet, then 4:37 so I'm thinking I can drop it a bit more, hopefully to low 4:20's if possible, but I understand it will be difficult.