600m to 800m times

i run 1.26 600m after a 30K SLOW run. my best 800 is 2.03

time trial and race conditions are not necessarily the same.

that said, 600 time trial is a great predictor of 800 race.

my guess is you were solo for 1:29 and had a pack of runners

pulling you along for 1:58+ (more adrenaline, less wind, perhaps

a better track or spikes versus racing flats).

my guess is if you drop to 1:27 you should be able to race 1:57

as you progress in the 800, the benefit of pacers diminishes for a speed-based runner and increases for a strength-based runner.

It has been discussed here before, but a solo 600m time trial in training is very different to a competitive 800m race. In my experience it is completely possible to run 1.33 x your 600m time trial for an 800m race later in the season. Despite what some people say, this holds true for faster times such as 1:50 and lower also.

That said, if you go and target a 600m race with competition, do not expect to hold anywhere near that pace for an 800m, the conversion will be closer to 1.38.

I must add also, a 600m TT or race or a 600m in training is really a useless way to tell what you could run for 800m, unless you know what that performance means for you. There are 400m guys that can break 1:20 indoors and not get close to 1:55. And there are distance guys that can't break 1:20 but can smash through 1:50. It is very individual and no good just saying "I'm a distance guy so therefore x". Just know that if you ran 1:29 in training last year and found you were good for 1:59, then this year if you run 1:27 you are probably good for a 2/3s faster in the 800m also.

Metric Miler wrote:

I must add also, a 600m TT or race or a 600m in training is really a useless way to tell what you could run for 800m, unless you know what that performance means for you. There are 400m guys that can break 1:20 indoors and not get close to 1:55. And there are distance guys that can't break 1:20 but can smash through 1:50. It is very individual and no good just saying "I'm a distance guy so therefore x". Just know that if you ran 1:29 in training last year and found you were good for 1:59, then this year if you run 1:27 you are probably good for a 2/3s faster in the 800m also.

All very true. You can say, though, that on average a 600 solo TT equates to 800 race pace. It doesn't work for everyone as you point out, but it is generally representative on average.

How you ran that 600 is important, if it was 30-30-30, then you're probably right around 2:00 shape.

If it was 28-29-33, that's actually a little better for 800 predictions.

I never did 600 TTs, but I ran a 2x 500,300 workout and that predicted my 800 almost exactly:

500: 1:11 (57/14)

30 sec rest

300: 46

6 minute recovery

500: 1:10 (56/14)

30 sec rest

300: 46

Ran 1:57 the next week.

crete wrote:

Metric Miler wrote:

I must add also, a 600m TT or race or a 600m in training is really a useless way to tell what you could run for 800m, unless you know what that performance means for you. There are 400m guys that can break 1:20 indoors and not get close to 1:55. And there are distance guys that can't break 1:20 but can smash through 1:50. It is very individual and no good just saying "I'm a distance guy so therefore x". Just know that if you ran 1:29 in training last year and found you were good for 1:59, then this year if you run 1:27 you are probably good for a 2/3s faster in the 800m also.

All very true. You can say, though, that on average a 600 solo TT equates to 800 race pace. It doesn't work for everyone as you point out, but it is generally representative on average.

I don't understand any of this logic. Both efforts are all out. If you are all out and can't run another step after a 1:30 600 then how are you going to hold the same pace for another 200m? Either you can't, or you did not put in an honest effort in the 600.

Old Miler Guy wrote:

I don't understand any of this logic. Both efforts are all out. If you are all out and can't run another step after a 1:30 600 then how are you going to hold the same pace for another 200m? Either you can't, or you did not put in an honest effort in the 600.

I guess I've never put an "honest effort" into any workout, then. I've never been unable to run another step at the end. I kind of thought that this was how workouts were supposed to work.

Old Miler Guy wrote:

crete wrote:

All very true. You can say, though, that on average a 600 solo TT equates to 800 race pace. It doesn't work for everyone as you point out, but it is generally representative on average.

I don't understand any of this logic. Both efforts are all out. If you are all out and can't run another step after a 1:30 600 then how are you going to hold the same pace for another 200m? Either you can't, or you did not put in an honest effort in the 600.

Well, it's true. You must understand how much more difficult a solo time trial or run in training is compared to a proper race with competition. The environment of the latter is conducive to putting in more effort than you thought you could.

I've seen it be true in many 800m guys and I found it true for myself also. A 600m time trial, especially in training, is nowhere near the effort you can put into a race where you are towed around by other guys and you are trying to win.

A little anecdote that I'm sure will be familiar kid of story for many here.

Last year in training I had a session on my own of 3 x 750m with 6 mins recovery. I was in good shape, and holding the 1500m pace of a recent race result was very, very difficult by myself. I don't mean the 3rd rep, I mean the first 2.

It is just so different in training to a race, especially if you step up to the occasion in races.

Okay, so l just ran a 600 TT in 28 30 32. Solo and blowing 18 knots on the 200 and 600 stretch. Also speaking it is day 5of the start of track season. What do you guys think l could run for 800. Thank you

I was a 29:05 10,000m runner that could run a 1:19 600m and my best 800m was 1:52

i think you are underselling your endurance ability. <2 for 1:29 is a tight squeeze and holding up well. likewise, 4:33 for right around a 2 is holding up well. i'd say counter-intuitive try and find some faster gears because you're not fading badly as the races extend.