Someone tell me if 1:55 is reasonable or if it's not gonna happen

Should be able to go 1:55 or faster based on the 600 and 400 times.

Sounds a lot like my PRs w/ 51;02 and 23;65

I ran a 1:57;1 (18 years old) that year. Trained three more seasons and got away with a 1:51 low and 3:50 (1500) low before injuries hit me hard... (I also sucked at tempos)

So, yeah 1:55 is possible with a good coach

Patience! Seems like you have the tools, just pay your dues and get your work in. Keep doing those 400s (open & relay), a couple of miles races early in the season, and then focus on getting your rhythm in the 800. You should at least get your 1:55. Best o'luck to you.

I'd say 1:55 and then some. I ran 1:59 as a jr. and 1:55 as a senior. Your 400 times are superior to mine (a long time ago!). I was fairly strong at XC. (12:38 for 4K).

Don't sell yourself short. I had the goal of 1:55 and making it to state. Once I did it it was kinda "now what". Set a little loftier but realistic goal. Have fun and good luck.

Thanks to everyone that answered. I think that I can achieve this time but I guess I just needed some reassurance.

400800runner wrote:

Thanks to everyone that answered. I think that I can achieve this time but I guess I just needed some reassurance.

Knowing nothing about you except those times, if you struggle with longer stuff, I think 1:55 might be a long-shot. I'd put it at closer to 1:57. But I wouldn't say impossible.

IF you cannot run a 4:40 1600m, you will not be able to run 1:55. What is your 1600? It sounds as if you run like 4:50 now.

Put in some more EASY mileage runs in, it'll make your long runs and tempos better and you'll have no problem go SUB 155 with those 400m times dude.

Xgiuo wrote:

IF you cannot run a 4:40 1600m, you will not be able to run 1:55. What is your 1600? It sounds as if you run like 4:50 now.

I don't really know what my 1600 is, I've never ran it in a meet or a time trial.

I know what you need wrote:

Put in some more EASY mileage runs in, it'll make your long runs and tempos better and you'll have no problem go SUB 155 with those 400m times dude.

In training I'm basically doing 5 or 6 mile runs every other day with workouts on the other days. They're usually 7:00-7:10 pace but I wouldn't call it "easy mileage". That stuff is hard for me.

Don't listen to that 1600 garbage, not everyone goes down to run the 800. My son finally cracked 1.55 this indoor season with similar times as yours and he has NEVER even ran a 1600. You're on the right path just keep racing and get sharper.

Old Man 2 Lapper wrote:

Don't listen to that 1600 garbage, not everyone goes down to run the 800. My son finally cracked 1.55 this indoor season with similar times as yours and he has NEVER even ran a 1600. You're on the right path just keep racing and get sharper.

I mean, it's not really garbage, its just another benchmark time. Just because your son hasn't run a 1600, it doesn't mean he couldn't run 4:40 or so if he did run one.

There are no magic numbers that you MUST run in one event or the other to run a 1:55 800m. However, you can make pretty good guesses based on combinations of 400 and 1600 times.

I agree with the other poster about the 4:40 in this case. 51.29 400m obviously isn't slow, but it also isn't fast enough to just assume a 1:55 800m.

Based on my own experience as an athlete and coach, someone running 1:55 for 800 will be somewhere on the spectrum between being a 50flat 400m and 4:50 miler and a 52/53 second 400m runner and a 4:20 miler.

Those are just ballpark times, and obviously there are exceptions, but I think it generally holds true.

But, one thing the OP might have going for him is that if he really does have more trouble than most running indoors, maybe he has actually gotten quite a bit better from last outdoor season and just hasn't been able to show it on a full size track yet.

Do you run your tempos as tempos in practice or do you race them? This is a really important question.

The posters statement was exact, I was simply saying that it is garbage. There is no exact time in any distance that translates to a 1.55. He may be going up in distance and not have a good 1600. I agree that some are consistent, I ran the 800 myself and have good times in the 1600 and 400. Don't discourage this young athlete by saying that if he doesn't run a pedestrian 1600 that he won't be able to reach the 1.55 level.

But, one thing the OP might have going for him is that if he really does have more trouble than most running indoors, maybe he has actually gotten quite a bit better from last outdoor season and just hasn't been able to show it on a full size track yet.[/quote]

I'm not trying to make excuses, but I do feel my level of fitness right now is better than the times I ran in the winter. Last winter I ran a mix of 53/54 for nearly every 400, with my peak finishing at 52.5. In the spring I ran 52/51 for every 400, with my peak being 50.3. This winter all my fresh 400s were 51. So I think it's a strong possibility that my fitness is better than my winter times indicate. I've never felt like I've been able to run as hard as I can on an indoor track, and the banks mess me up too.

Old Man 2 Lapper wrote:

The posters statement was exact, I was simply saying that it is garbage. There is no exact time in any distance that translates to a 1.55. He may be going up in distance and not have a good 1600. I agree that some are consistent, I ran the 800 myself and have good times in the 1600 and 400. Don't discourage this young athlete by saying that if he doesn't run a pedestrian 1600 that he won't be able to reach the 1.55 level.

The OP came in asking what people thought of his goal. I'm not trying to discourage anyone, but based on the times he gave, I stand by my original post that 1:57 seems more likely. I don't think 1:55 is impossible, but I'm not sure what the people saying he'll easily run that or faster are basing those predictions off of.

400800runner wrote:

But, one thing the OP might have going for him is that if he really does have more trouble than most running indoors, maybe he has actually gotten quite a bit better from last outdoor season and just hasn't been able to show it on a full size track yet.

I'm not trying to make excuses, but I do feel my level of fitness right now is better than the times I ran in the winter. Last winter I ran a mix of 53/54 for nearly every 400, with my peak finishing at 52.5. In the spring I ran 52/51 for every 400, with my peak being 50.3. This winter all my fresh 400s were 51. So I think it's a strong possibility that my fitness is better than my winter times indicate. I've never felt like I've been able to run as hard as I can on an indoor track, and the banks mess me up too.[/quote]

Yeah there are definitely people who just don't run well indoors. Anyway, good luck.

otter wrote:

Do you run your tempos as tempos in practice or do you race them? This is a really important question.

I'm a little confused what you mean. I can get through the first 3 reps of whatever tempo stuff we're doing before I start to feel worn down. After that, I basically have to use more and more speed at the end of the rep for everything we do in order for me to keep up with the group. For instance if we're doing 8x800 I'll usually feel like this:

1, 2, 3 reps all feel fine

4 need to start "kicking" at 700 to keep up

5 need to start "kicking" at 600 to keep up

6 need to start at 500 to keep up

7, 8 just run hard cause if I slip into my "tempo" I fall way behind

By the end of the workout I get the same lactic acid buildup I do as after a race. I don't know if that's normal

So as we get further into the workout I basically need to "race" to keep up. If I don't use my speed I basically just cannot keep grinding with the other mid distance guys