How strong are sub 2 800m runners

Runx83 wrote:

I’m guessing most 800m runners with good speed could probably bench 1.5 their body weight, deadlift about twice, and squat 1.75.

If you are an 800m runner around that 2:00 level, what are your stats?

No way.

160lbs that's 240lbs bench, 320 dead, 280 lbs squat.

Nick Symmonds only benched like 205

Runx83 wrote:

I’m guessing most 800m runners with good speed could probably bench 1.5 their body weight, deadlift about twice, and squat 1.75.

If you are an 800m runner around that 2:00 level, what are your stats?

Yeah that’s too much for bench. Ran 1:52 with lifting PRs of 195lbs and 315lbs on bench and deadlift, respectively. Never squatted for max but would be surprised at over 300tbh.

I weigh 150-155

Does it count if I no longer run and can't do a sub 2:00?

Back in the college days I benched 310 as a 6’2” 165 lb 800m runner. Of course it helped that I played high school football and had been lifting all during those four years, and my college summer job involved moving around a lot of heavy items.

Weigh 71kg.

Squat 110kg.

Deadlift 130kg.

Why would I benchpress?

I'll leave it to you to convert to your backwards units.

Ha! I weighed 135 lbs and couldn’t bench my body weight. No idea how much I could squat because I never did a squat. Could easily crank out 50 push ups and 15-20 pull ups, along with one arm pull ups.

Runx83 wrote:

I’m guessing most 800m runners with good speed could probably bench 1.5 their body weight, deadlift about twice, and squat 1.75.

If you are an 800m runner around that 2:00 level, what are your stats?

It’s been 30 years since I broke 2.

At the time I was about 145lbs and I’m guessing I could have benched about 130lb

I was 140-145, 5’11”. Seems like I was benching 130. Definitely not my bodyweight. Never squatted or deadlifted, though I seem to remember leg pressing in the neighborhood of 160. Never tried for max, though ... that was for a couple sets of 10 reps.

I'm 44 years, 65kg and sub 2min - I don't lift anything heavier than me.

10 years removed from competition, but right now I can go 1:58 in the half mile and bench 260 lbs @ 170 lbs. I usually do 3 days of easy running per week. If I upped the mileage and added in intervals I imagine I could still drop 5 seconds, but the bench would start to plummet.

I would probably guess most of you that say you barely bench your body weight probably don’t lift and are really talented/experienced in long aerobic running. For most 800 runners without high aerobic ability you would probably need to be really fast, which equates to a good amount of strength. Thanks for your responses.

Thats just it; 2 flat you could run and be pretty strong, but you start chasing times and youre training speed, not strength. In Superstars Holyfeild ran 2:08, sure he had a good bench too. Sure he could break 2, running more, but it wouldnt be good for his bench. Sub 50 400 meter runners would be a stronger group. Depends on what you mean by strength though right, if its how much firewood you can move in 10 minutes, not 1RM the 800 guys would do pretty good.

1:52 at 152 pounds:

benched 175 (1.15x)

deadlifted 225 (1.48x)

squatted 215 (1.41x)

135 lbs bw

bench max was probably 135, definitely couldn't have done it for reps

deadlifted 300ish

Jah boi wrote:

Runx83 wrote:

I’m guessing most 800m runners with good speed could probably bench 1.5 their body weight, deadlift about twice, and squat 1.75.

If you are an 800m runner around that 2:00 level, what are your stats?

No way.

160lbs that's 240lbs bench, 320 dead, 280 lbs squat.

Nick Symmonds only benched like 205

Are you the Nick Symmonds who never posts on letsrun? Only Nick Symmonds would know he can only bench 205 lbs. None of my former teammates, coaches or even my close friends or blood relatives know exactly what I can or cannot bench press.

ironside wrote:

Jah boi wrote:

No way.

160lbs that's 240lbs bench, 320 dead, 280 lbs squat.

Nick Symmonds only benched like 205

Are you the Nick Symmonds who never posts on letsrun? Only Nick Symmonds would know he can only bench 205 lbs. None of my former teammates, coaches or even my close friends or blood relatives know exactly what I can or cannot bench press.

You are an outlier, then.

I ran 50/1:53/4:15 this last year, would be surprised if I could bench more than 130, squat more than 175, deadlift more than 225

Jah boi wrote:

Runx83 wrote:

I’m guessing most 800m runners with good speed could probably bench 1.5 their body weight, deadlift about twice, and squat 1.75.

If you are an 800m runner around that 2:00 level, what are your stats?

No way.

160lbs that's 240lbs bench, 320 dead, 280 lbs squat.

Nick Symmonds only benched like 205

Back in college I was 160 lbs 1:52 guy and I was right around these values (225 bench and 315 squat). However, I was by far the strongest 800m runner on our team.

I would generally agree with you that most 800m runners can't get close to those numbers with the exception of squat. I think the next strongest on bench was around 185 with most guys struggling to do their body weight. Squat, however, most guys could lift close to 1.75 their weight

Had a training partner back in high school who ran 1:55.2 and 50.3 and 4:22. He weighed 165Ibs and during winter training he would put up 245 bench, 210 power clean and 365 squat.