the 800 is not the hardest event
it "becomes" the hardest event because of nonsense pacing in the 1st 200 of many elite TTs
2s +ve splits is best for fastest clocking
the extrapolation from that is ->
800 = ( 4 * 200 opener ) + 3.0
now, you can dig up numerous vids on youtube where a damn good, elite 800 guy gets dragged thru opening 200 in ~ 24-flat & fades to ~ 1'44-flat ( win or lose no matter )
i'm not going fetching them but it is common
using formula above, forced thru in 24.0 -> pace for 1'39.00 !!!
that is why it hurts so much in last 200, with elite hanging on for ~ 1'44.0 !!!
they have committed suicide by going out in 24.0 & no easing off in next 400 is going to take that pain away from last 200 in a desperate effort to aim for best result, making it legitimately feel as "hardest" distance, but it isn't
it's made "hardest" race by nonsense opening 200
it is vitally important for guys to estimate 200 split of elite guy when chasing clock & input into above formula to see what they are potentially aiming at at 200 in
here is a near "ideal" 200 opener ( but nonsense split at 400), but you need to factor in clock error as no obvious stopping of clock at 200
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYfNElHP0OY
stop vid at finish line to ascertain 0.1 or 0.2 or 0.3s clock error, make clock-adjustment-error, then go back & stop clock as guy passes 200 mark - when his torso looks above 200m line or at least 1 foot well ahead of it
then using "adjusted" time, input in above formula for estimated finishing time from 200 opener & compare with result
here is classic undrafted run ( but not "solo" techinically, as useless chump pacer ahead ) which shouda been 1'41-high if split properly to 200 with drafting from 200 - 400 :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm_O53BP0dg
bottom line :
800 is only considered hardest race because of usual nonsense/suicidal opening 200s from peewee - elite level
it doesn't change from barely 1y to 30y of age !!!
if it was run properly thru 200/400/600, it woud be no harder than a 200 or or 400 or 1500
people, learn how to run a 800 !!!