What do you think of the 2x2x400 relay?

Watcha think wrote:

The IAAF is adding a mixed gender 2x2x200 relay and also mixed shuttle hurdles at the upcoming World Relays. They’re getting rid of the 4x800 for this.

I personally believe that this isn’t a good move. The 4x8 is one of the most exciting races to watch. If they’re going to mix the genders, you might as well just run the usual race. Overall, it’s just a bad move for the sport. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

That's probably not the quote I'd use when talking about T&F as a spectator sport.

New ideas/more exciting races is a good thing. I love the mixed shuttle hurdle idea, 2x2x200 too, speed = excitement for the current generation, no one has the attention span to sit through longer races.

Good idea

I thought you meant 2x2x400 with just 2 guys on a team running 2 legs each. Now that I would like to see.

Zoltan wrote:

I thought you meant 2x2x400 with just 2 guys on a team running 2 legs each. Now that I would like to see.

That is what I meant, well 1 guy and 1 chick. I accidentally put 2x2x200 in the original post. It is 2x2x400.

That's pretty cool. I'm definitely interested now to see how it goes.

The worst event in athletics is the shuttle hurdle relay. It requires judges to determine if the runner goes to early.

It's definitely a sprint-heavy schedule and this will make it more so, but I like the idea of mixing it up. I love the mixed relay races in the Edinburgh XC events, it's a fun way to mix things up.

Watcha think wrote:

The IAAF is adding a mixed gender 2x2x200 relay and also mixed shuttle hurdles at the upcoming World Relays. They’re getting rid of the 4x800 for this.

I personally believe that this isn’t a good move. The 4x8 is one of the most exciting races to watch. If they’re going to mix the genders, you might as well just run the usual race. Overall, it’s just a bad move for the sport. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

What's the point of it? What are we proving? I guess if you can prove that it's getting more people to

watch or participate in T&F then it's worth it. Try it.

I like the idea of mixed relays. But this is really gimmicky. So Runner A runs 400, runner B runs 400 and then Runner A runs 400 again and Runner B runs 400 again. Ugh. Just do 4x400 with mixed sex.

Luv2Run wrote:

Ugh. Just do 4x400 with mixed sex.

The olympics already did that.

Watcha think wrote:

Zoltan wrote:

I thought you meant 2x2x400 with just 2 guys on a team running 2 legs each. Now that I would like to see.

That is what I meant, well 1 guy and 1 chick. I accidentally put 2x2x200 in the original post. It is 2x2x400.

2x2x200 would be a lot more fun, since they would have to run across the infield to get to the next handoff. At least if you are going to make a stupid race, make it extra stupid like that. We literally do this as a joke workout once a year with our high school kids.

I would like a mixed gender 4x400. 2x2x4 I agree is lame.

I'd like to see a meet with top notch high school boys and world class women clash.

Why is IAAF addicted to binary genders? Should be ∞x1x400. If you change your gender after one lap, you can run another. And so on.

Des Femmes, Des Hommes et des Autres

I enjoy the European mixed cross country relays, so this should also be fun.

Drainthefecesswamp wrote:

...

2x2x200 would be a lot more fun, since they would have to run across the infield to get to the next handoff. At least if you are going to make a stupid race, make it extra stupid like that. We literally do this as a joke workout once a year with our high school kids.

....

That is an entertaining idea.

Track & Field certainly needs all the help it can get, to draw any kind of spectatorship.

In high school me and 3 friends would run a 2x2x400 relay at all comers meets. It was really fun and requires a bit more strategy since you run 2 legs each.

sbeefyk2 wrote:

In high school me and 3 friends would run a 2x2x400 relay at all comers meets. It was really fun and requires a bit more strategy since you run 2 legs each.

Three friends and I

it's broke, fix it wrote:

Watcha think wrote:

Overall, it’s just a bad move for the sport. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

That's probably not the quote I'd use when talking about T&F as a spectator sport.

New ideas/more exciting races is a good thing.

Agreed.

Track IS broke. Fix it.