advice on strategy for 1600m tomorrow

Pansy way to do it. Just go out as hard as you can for as long as you can, like this:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=IvKX22TOCCA

Your strategy is close, but not quite right, I suspect.

Yes, latch on to kid #2. Sit right on him until he drags you to catch up with kid #1 on the third lap. Then sit right on kid #1 until 150-200m left in lap 4. Then kick. You may have 62 speed, but you won't have that kind of speed for a whole lap at the end of a PR 1600 effort. You'll be able to kick, but not from that far out. If you go at 450, you'll take the lead and then fade, maybe badly. Be patient a bit longer, and you might have a chance.

Being patient also applies to laps 1-3. If the pace feels too easy while you're drafting and you go to pass too early, your strategy will fall apart. However, you also have to be prepared for the race not to go according to plan and adapt on the fly.

My advice is to run with their number 2 guy the first two laps. Most HS runners will fade the 3rd lap. the 3rd lap is KEY. Pick up the pace on the 3rd lap and on the last lap pick up the pace slightly at the 300 mark. With 150 meters to go, then throw in your kick. This is the strategy that I used in HS (4:23 miler) and the strategy I teach my runners. It has worked well and will cause many of your opponents to press too hard with about 500 meters to go. They will try to close on your at the start of the last lap and will die in the last 200 meters while you look super strong.

1600guy wrote:

So the strategy is:

I want to go out sitting on the second kid from the other school, the one who runs a more even race and catches their other kid. Their first kid has more speed, and second, like me, has more aerobic strength. I can still run like a 62 400m though.

If i can hold their #2 i want to use everything i can to surge with about 450m left and then just run my heart out on that last lap.

I agree with this except make sure that you're running evenly when you're following the other kid, because he might go out too fast with you there.

Better would be to aim for an even 79 second pace the first three laps.

Also, don't make a big surge, but just keep pushing and running faster throughout the last 500 meters.

thanks for the advice, from what i gather this is the general recommendation here:

Sit on kid #2 until I can follow him into a place where I catch kid #1 on the third lap.

Sit running with kid 1, and pick up pace slightly with 300m to go. Unleash full kick at 150m.

That sound about right?

That race never actually happened as that school was a no show at the invite for whatever reason. Just gonna keep using the same thread.

So i ran against a pretty good kid today, he ran 5:18 i ran 5:23.

Race went like:

1:20 first lap and i was 15-20 meters back

1:23 second lap i was 15m back and closed to 3-5 by end of lap

1:19 third lap and i hung on him for 200m of the Lap then past him. Held lead for 200m till he kicked for last last

1:21 last lap he just had more left and is a better runner and ran a 5:16.

I was happy with the race as it’s a 10 sec pr off my 5:33 last Friday i ran a 5:23 today.

I race him again Wednesday. Any chance i beat him? And if so any advice on how. Kid takes it out harder and pushes end harder so I’m thinking i could try and grab a better lead on laps 2-3? Idk

Hey, I’m also a 1600m runner and this is definitely late, hopefully you’re doing good, but I do have some tips for you. First lap, go hard on the start to get a good position, if you can, figure out who’s near your pace before and try to stay with them. Lap 2, push it, but don’t make it your fastest lap. Lap 3, it will suck, but run it like it’s your final lap. Then lap 4, this one will hurt like hell, but run it as hard as you can, and push last 150m-100m at full sprint. I used this on my last 1600m for a time of 4:47 with splits of 1:11, 1:11, 1:13, 1:12. Hopefully this helps you if you still run.