Why can't I run a good 800

Go out in a 51 1st lap and see what you can do from that point on...

Your 51 sec 400 predicts about a 1:54.5 800 in the McMillan calculator, and your 16:36 5K predicts about a 2:08.5 800. It would appear that you lack sufficient strength/endurance to break 2:00 right now. If I were you, I would practice broken 800s (600, 200 float recovery, 200) at 2:00 pace on my interval workout days. You can't force fitness. If you do not have enough endurance yet to sustain 2:00 pace for your 800, then it is going to take time to acquire it.

The thing is I've ran 2:04 for an 800 before I guess I'll work on my base training but my race is tomorrow

When I first broke 2 minutes, the splits prescribed from my coach were: 28,30,30,31 for 1:59. I ended up going out in 57 and closing in 62 to get 1:59.9. Since your race is tomorrow there isn't much you can do besides hydrating and rest. If you want to know, the workout 7-10 days before that was 600 time trial, 30 sec rest, 200 all out, then 10 minute rest and repeat for one more. The main workout was the second 600. Another workout my coach really liked to use when we tapered was 2x400 all out in spikes, 5 minute rest.

Go out in 54 and race the last 200 on hate

Be patient. You will eventually break that barrier. Like someone said above, Your times don't match to a sub 2:00 800. My best advice would be to do the little things as much as possible(eat well, sleep, recover). People do not think those things matter and they think in order to be your best, you just have to workout everyday. There is so much more to running then just running. Keep trying, and it will come! Try doing some faster speed stuff at that pace. Also, maybe do some cross training with quick speed and short recovery. Hang in there! I know what it is like to not get the times you want but you will if you keep believing! Have a good summer!

Instead of being on LR, you could gather research on the summer tech camps and programs.

I'm sure his 16:36 5k was run during XC so it points to better than 2:08.

My question is when/how did you run the 51.0?

If your 51.0 is a relay split and you are the anchor it might not be worth much more than 53.high in terms of predicting your 800. That still should get you there but it does explain why it is so hard.

How did you run your 2:04?

Was it 30, 30, 30, 34?

The question you need to answer is do you want to roll the dice for a shot at sub 2 or do you want to set a PR and run 2:01 or 2:02?

If you want to roll the dice, try 30, 29, 29, 31. It is harder to run these splits but my guess is you have just been blowing up big time for most of your races, yes?

This seems really odd. Is the 51.0 from a FAT open 400m race?

Too often, distance runners get an imprecise 4x400m split from a teammate/coach and quote that as a measure of speed when it is misleading. To put it in perspective, when I was running low 51 for the open 400m, I also ran 1:55high/1:56 but could probably only run around 17:10 for 5K.

Well, first thing I can spot right away is that you're a freshman. As someone sagely advised you earlier -- be patient. It's more important that you keep your interest and health than it is to run a sub-2 as a frosh...the big picture is hitting your peak when you're a senior. Keep your upperclassman years in mind as part of the big picture and enjoy the success you'll realize as you get stronger and faster with maturity the next 3 seasons.

Good luck!

Go out in 56 and work the back stretch of the 2nd lap

Llllllll wrote:

Go out in 56 and work the back stretch of the 2nd lap

+1

I, too, am finding the 800 to be a frustrating distance for PRing. It's easy to mentally let up between 500 and 700 meters because you want to save energy to look good coming in on the home straight, but then you can't accelerate like you imagined you could (although you feel like you're accelerating lol).