How much pain should be felt during an 800m

Metric Miler wrote:

Assuming you are trying to run a PB, at 500m you should feel uncomfortable/pain.

It is then you need to start pushing harder along the back straight, this is where most PBs are made or missed.

Keep pushing as you come around the final bend and in the last 100m give anything you have left, running strong through the line. No dying in the last 20m, you are wasting time.

Personally I don't see the 800m as two laps of 400m, it is more like a 500m then a 300m. Anyone can get to 400m at the required pace for a PB, but reaching 500m at that pace is more of a test; that is the halfway point with regards to effort.

This is a great idea but to be even more secure i'd shoot to get through 600m at your goal pace. Maybe even faster. The last 200 you will feel your legs burning but it's up to YOU to get that PR. My coach had us running 500m at race pace then a few seconds later the last 300m. This should get you ready for the lactic acid you will get on the second lap. Also, do 600m time trials to see your potential. You can split it up in 500m to 300m but to be safe i'd shoot 600m to 200m. Taking off immediately and keeping good form will get you that PR.

Running the 800 is like having an orgasm in public, its not about pain or lack of it , it's about shame or lack of it. And forget hate, who hates an orgasm?

The hardest 15 seconds in track is the 100 meters between 600 and 700 in a well-run 800. The lungs burn, the quads turn to stone ... etc. At 700 meters, it's just a matter of running as fast as you can, and hanging on to your lunch ...

Got it right wrote:

At 700 meters, it's just a matter of running as fast as you can, and hanging on to your lunch ...

In HS I could never for the life of me manage to finish an 800 without barfing across the finish line. Every time. Even the last 100 felt like just an ugly mess of constant dry heaving while stumbling in a vaguely forward direction. Ok so the 800 was not exactly my event, but does this happen to anyone else? Am I doing it wrong?

100m - too worried about being boxed in to realise any pain, legs and training carrying you along so you feel like you're cruising

200m - This actually feels pretty alright, I got this

300m - OK, I survived the bend, hey look there's the finish line! this time next lap I will be almost done... Is that my calf twinging

400m - shit was that my split?! that's quick! My calves definitely hurt now, WHAT DO YOU MEAN HALFWAY!?!

500m - this straight is so long... why, why did I do this race, oh my god he's kicking on! HOW IS HE DOING THIS

600m - Ok you've stayed with him, just hold on, every part of your legs is on fire but just hold on...

700m - I AM GOING TO DIE I AM GOING TO DIE I AM GOING TO DIE...

800m - Throwing up next to the track and/or collapsed on the floor

I never used to run the 800, but tried a few as a masters runner, just as a diversion.

I broke 2:00 once, 1:58, and it was the least painful 800m I ever ran. Obviously I have no idea how to run a good 800m, and I have no idea what happened, or what I did right, other than thinking that I went out too fast.

My other 800's, even in training, hurt like hell, especially at 2 points: 300m, and 300m-800m.