How strong are sub 2 800m runners

Are you assuming that 800m is a pure Sprint or feat of strength? Because you shouldn't.

I had a son run 1:53 in Hs and he couldn't bench 80 pounds. Most 2 minute high school runners are skinny weaklings who also run the 1600 and 3200.

Horizontal jumper/mile relay leg/pentathlete who only ran the 800 a couple of times in competition but did go 1.58.7. Bests were 3 reps in the bench at my body weight (180lbs.) and 315lbs. for 2 reps of deep squats (butt to the ground). Didn’t deadlift, but used to go pretty heavy on Olympic Lifts (225 Snatch, 275 Clean and Jerk).

Yes there are a lot talented runners out there that don’t have to be really strong and are naturally fast. There are also extremely well trained distance runners that can run 800m under 2 just off of aerobic capacity. However, if you don’t have that natural speed you must supplement your running with some sort of heavy strength training and powerlifting, because that developes a lot of your fast twitch fibers, contributing to your speed. I feel as if a lot of the responses back that up. Especially with responders well under 2 and into the 1:55 range, who report high squat and deadlift range because there natural speed and aerobic alone can’t get them where they are.

Also sorry for double posting but I’m more talking about 800m specialists then very experienced talented distance runners that are able to move down and perform well.

I was 175 pounds and ran 1:52. I was more of a 400m guy than a 1500/Mile type. Benched 270 at that time. I never did heavy squats or DL until I got older. 15 years later I’m 195-200 pounds and have benched 350.

I don’t think the example of symmonds benching 205 is a great one. He’s said he used to steer clear of lifting when he was younger because he would put on weight easy. And when he lifted as a pro he pretty much avoided all upper body work to avoid putting on mass. So 205 isn’t bad for someone who never benches often. I think you’d find most of the kids who were sub 2 and can only bench 0.75x their body weight would improve quickly if they consistently benches for a couple months. But not that bench itself is all that helpful for running. Even sprinting. It’s just fun to do.

I was about 125 -130 lbs in high school and ran 1:59, could bench 165lbs but never tried to max on squats cause I always felt it would effect recovery from runs

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.

I ran a lot quicker than 2:00 and didn't get close to those figures in my running days.

Also if you break 2 at 14 years old, how could you be expected to deadlift twice your weight?

I run 2 flat as a 14y.o. I was so skinny I'd be surprised if I could have benched 40 pounds.

I could do about 10-15 pushups, that was about it. I could not do a pull up to save my life.

All the top elite long distance runners run sub 2:00, and some may even run sub 1:50- Bekele, Kipchoge, Geb, el G, Rupp, Lagat etc...

So my question is- this guys who appear to be very slim and fragile can squat a lot relative to their body weight?

I was a more endurance oriented miler, but could break 2:00 without much of a problem in my prime (I actually opened up in 1:59 en-route to my PB 4:08). When I was in my running prime, using strict form I could bench around 195 (if I cheated the lift a bit I could push that number up into the 200s). I was about 162 lbs (at 6' 3") so closer to 1.2 x body weight. I do have long arms which hurts my bench press a bit compared to a more compact lifter, but I still think that's better than most middle/long distance runners could actually do... Especially because it's difficult and not at all advantageous to seriously focus on maxing out your bench press when you're training as a runner.

Body weight around 150lb with a 1:50 pr. 190lb bench and 275lb squat same year as the pr

And then there is the great exception to this thread … guess who ran 1:58 and later bench pressed 500+ pounds?

Wilt Chamberlain

All the people here that claim they squat 300 pounds, is that a deep squat (ass to grass) or 90 degrease squat? Because I can squat almost double in a 90 degrease relative to deep squat

2.00.00 800m

Bench: 101kg

Deadlift: 190kg

Squat: 140kg

Hfdghv wrote:

All the people here that claim they squat 300 pounds, is that a deep squat (ass to grass) or 90 degrease squat? Because I can squat almost double in a 90 degrease relative to deep squat

When the topic of weights comes up on this site, everyone can bench 100kg and squat 150+kg at a body weight of 60kg.

Just like when the topic of speed training comes up everyone can run 11 seconds flat but could only manage a 1:59 800m.

we are talking about 800 specialists, not distance runners moving down.

Gdfbh wrote:

All the top elite long distance runners run sub 2:00, and some may even run sub 1:50- Bekele, Kipchoge, Geb, el G, Rupp, Lagat etc...

So my question is- this guys who appear to be very slim and fragile can squat a lot relative to their body weight?

Mo and Rupp squat 200+ lbs routinely.