1600 race strategy

Of course you should go for it. Winning should always be your goal, especially when you have comparable times. You are going to have to take some risks. Being a sophomore you probably don't have race strategy down yet but you have to want it most of all. There is no better feeling than having skinny high school distance chicks cheering you on as you come to the finish line in first.

I would just through in a surge at about 600 left and hang on. Make sure you run smooth and keep your form intact. It is going to hurt regardless. Why not go for the win.

I can tell you with utmost certainy that if you just hang on to the pack you will not win.

Hang with pack until 1000 meters in. Then throw in a 31 second 200 to throw the other dudes off. Then try to maintain a 3-4 second gap on them until the finish. You need to want it badly.

First off, don't even consider being in the top 4 after the first lap. The last thing you want to do is accidentally go out in 62 with the guy who's going to end up running a 4:50. Second lap should be catching up with the lead pack that just killed themselves. Third lap should be were you make your move if you want to win, you don't want to leave it to the kicker. Usually what'll get these guys to kick early in the third lap with you is to inch past them on the outside. The trick is to not do it too quickly, give them time to respond and match your pace. Hopefully they'll speed up to stay in front of you, which is good if you want to take away some of their kick. Fourth lap is all out. The trick is to try run the 200 splits on the last 400 even, so you don't leave it to the guys who can out-sprint you. You'll do a lot better running 32/32 than you will 36/30 (math is useful sometimes).

Good luck. Keep us posted.

Remember you are running for place not time. From your times it looks like you go out fast and finish fast but go to shit in the middle. From my experience young runners don't think outside the box. They hang on and then the kick fest starts somewhere on the last lap.

Listen to ToMMoT above. He is so right about the 32/32 being better than the 36/30. I think that is excellent strategy for you. Just try to be as smooth and consistent as possible and put the gas peddle down slowly and gradually. Don't know if you drive yet but its similar to following the driver ahead of you and thinking you guys are going the same speed but then in the space of 10 seconds he is 100-200 yards ahead of you.

Good luck young man and leave it all out there.

finish through the line. best advice ive ever heard

The advice above about lap one is key. Someone is going to try to win it on lap one. You cannot win a 1600 on lap one, but you can lose it. Id even slow it down to a 68 in the first lap, let the race come back to you. run 2 seconds per lap faster on the 2/3 lap and your last lap will be a second better than normal too and you will have a nice time. i tell my kids run your times on laps 1/2 then start racing. Let the race come back to you because it is a high school race. the person leading lap one often is not going to be leading the last 100.

I guess I'm knew here, but what's a "gas peddle"?

Middle age fart wrote:

Remember you are running for place not time. From your times it looks like you go out fast and finish fast but go to shit in the middle. From my experience young runners don't think outside the box. They hang on and then the kick fest starts somewhere on the last lap.

Listen to ToMMoT above. He is so right about the 32/32 being better than the 36/30. I think that is excellent strategy for you. Just try to be as smooth and consistent as possible and put the gas peddle down slowly and gradually. Don't know if you drive yet but its similar to following the driver ahead of you and thinking you guys are going the same speed but then in the space of 10 seconds he is 100-200 yards ahead of you.

Good luck young man and leave it all out there.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I didn't win but I got 3rd. Winning time was 4:31xx, 2nd 4:33:xx, and 4:36:xx(PR for me).

Here's the breakdown.

Lap 1: 72

Lap 2: 71

Lap 3: 68

Lap 4: 65

Top guy took it slow first 2 laps. I had no problem tucking in behind him but the slow pace caused the field to bunch some. Lap 3 I was able to take lead for about 100m but couldn't hold it. Last 100 of lap 3 my teammate surged and put about 5m on the top guy and 10m on me. Lap 4 the top guy threw in his kick at 300 to go and passed my teammate for the win. I was actually passed by 1 guy at about 200 to go but was luckily able to out kick him with 50 to go.

Laps 1 & 2 definitely felt easy. Lap 3 not bad but I just didn't have it compared to top guy. Lap 4 harder but very happy with my kick. I really feel like getting to the front helped (in past races I have tended to get caught in the middle).

Run next Thursday (3200) and Friday (1600). Looks like I'm seeded in the middle of the pack in both races (5/12 and 6/12). Any tips or advice would be appreciated.

Not bad! It sounds like the top guy is dictating the race. He probably also believes that you guys dont have the experience or balls to try something different.

I would try to hit 68 to 69 on first two laps. Whatever you do don't let the top guy slow it down and do not go out faster than 68. (You need to know what everyone is capable of running). On 3rd lap try to speed in up to a 32-33 on first 200 and see where it puts you. If you can maintain that for the next 200, then the final lap is all about how bad you want it.

Also you need to have your coach or someone calling out splits every 200. Try to focus on your splits and being smooth and consistent.