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I was watching the Oslo Diamond League last night and kept an eye on the 100 meters (skip to video below) and 800 meters.
I’ll start with the 800m as all eyes were on David Rudisha of Kenya attempting to break the 1:42 barrier as well as the WR of 1:41.11
After his recent 1:42.01 in Rieti last year (video here), I wondered what are the optimal split times to race the 800 meters?
Even splits like Dave Wottle’s come-from-behind-victory in the 1972 Olympics?
Or about a 2-3 second differential? That would require 50-52 or 49-52 to run 1:41 – 1:42.
I compiled some data to give a snapshot on what it takes to run sub 1:42. Remember, this analysis is for running a certain time, not strategic pacing in a World or Olympic final where winning is more important. Also, please take these split times with a grain of salt as I have not confirmed if these are the leader or rabbit split times, compared with the actual winner’s split times.
The 800 meters is a Long Sprint
Based on the above, it’s pretty obvious you need to have a PR of 45 or 46 seconds in the open 400 meters if you are going through the bell lap in 48 or 49 second territory. Or else you’ll be in a World of Hurt.
Also, in the 1500 meters and up, we often see the last lap being the fastest. In the 800 meters, like the 400 meters, the second half is usually slower. That’s why the 800 meters is a long sprint in my mind. Soon you’ll see starting blocks and have them run in their own lanes for the first 300 meters like in 1976!
David Rudisha 1:42.06 800 meters Video
Here is the race on YouTube.
UPDATE: Sorry, the video is no longer on YouTube.
Asafa Powell 9.72 (+2.1 wind) 100 meters Video
In all fairness, to keep the sprint theme on this blog, here is Asafa Powell’s race on YouTube. With both Usain Bolt and Tyson Gay out with injuries, it’s time to let Asafa shine (again).
UPDATE: Sorry, the video is no longer on YouTube.
Jimson Lee
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Well, to threaten the 800 meter world record, one has to go out hard the first lap, and then hold on for a strong second one. A 2.5 second differential is not uncalled for. It certainly serves an 800 meter runner well to be able to sprint a 45-46 second 400 meters.
Technically speaking, “sprinting” means to dash at or near 100 % effort. So, there is not much room for “pacing.” In that regard, the 800 meter race cannot be considered to have any sprinting connotation, as the times (51 second laps average) are not that fast. In my personal view, I would not consider any race over 44.0 seconds in the 400 meter dash as “sprinting.” Or, put another way, any race which averages over 11.0 seconds per 100 meter segment is not “sprinting.”
Your comment on required 400m speed (45-56s) is a bit exagerrated.
Both Kipketer and Coe had pb’s of just under 47s (46.8). Their differential with the first lap shows that they were true 800m specialists. If you were an athlete coming from the 400m it would be a completely different story.