Help me run the 800m

[jji7skyline]

So a few years ago at my school's athletic event I came 3rd in the 800m run. I hadn't trained at all, and running is probably my weakest point athletically. Probably because I loved cycling my legs are too heavy lol.

Now it's my last year of school and I want to beat that achievement. Last week I ran on the treadmill until I was exhausted, 4 laps (quarter mile/400m each). Decided to do one extra lap every day and now I'm up to 8 laps. Over half of that distance was at 6mph, around 200m of it was at 7mph and I had two rest laps at 3mph.

Since it's been a while since I've done a running race, I'm just not sure what the benchmark is. What should I be aiming for? Is my strategy of running longer and longer to maximise my stamina a good choice or should I be trying to run shorter and faster?

I'm 175cm (5'9") and 72kg (158lb). Male.

 

[FiLeZz]

Fartlicks. Shorter sprints eventually make the sprints longer until you can do the 800 meter in a full out sprint. Same training works for longer distance running. Sprints are the hardest thing to to but best results. Be carful rnot to injure yourself.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

I can only speak in minute miles. This whole meter thing has me confused.

 

[jji7skyline]

Fartlicks. Shorter sprints eventually make the sprints longer until you can do the 800 meter in a full out sprint. Same training works for longer distance running. Sprints are the hardest thing to to but best results. Be carful rnot to injure yourself.

Good point. Also I don't know what you mean by Fartlicks.

I can only speak in minute miles. This whole meter thing has me confused.

800m is around half a mile.

 

[blackdogdeek]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fartlek

Fartlek, which means "speed play" in Swedish, is a training method that blends continuous training with interval training.[1] Fartlek runs are a very simple form of a long distance run. Fartlek training “is simply defined as periods of fast running intermixed with periods of slower running."[2] For some people, this could be a mix of jogging and sprinting, but for beginners it could be walking with jogging sections added in when possible. A simple example of what a runner would do during a fartlek run is “sprint all out from one light pole to the next, jog to the corner, give a medium effort for a couple blocks, jog between four light poles and sprint to a stop sign, and so on, for a set total time or distance."[2] The variable intensity and continuous nature of the exercise places stress on both the aerobic and anaerobic systems. It differs from traditional interval training in that it is unstructured; intensity and/or speed varies, as the athlete wishes.[3][4] Fartlek training is generally associated with running, but can include almost any kind of exercise.

 

[jji7skyline]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fartlek

Wow that's basically exactly what I'm doing! Thanks haha

 

[inachu]

I will help you run the 800M but you need a power cord that is over 800m in length and will need a wheel barrow to carry your pc and monitor and speakers.

Remember to keep the speakers on so that Chariots of fire can play as you run.

You may trip and fall as I give you advice as you run as you will look down often to read the monitor.

Not sure why you need this sort of help because it could hurt you and disqualify you from the run.

 

[PenguinPower]

What was your time when you came in third? At the pace you listed above, you're looking at a >4min 800m time which is horrible.

Do you have a recent 1 mile/5k time? That would really help in providing training advice.

 

[Koing]

How long do you have to train for your race?

If you can indicate times and things that would help people give you answers.

Koing

 

[jji7skyline]

I ran the 800m in 4 minutes just now.

 

[StinkyPinky]

I can run 2000m in 10 minutes. That's about my limit though, I haven't really improved from there in some time. Still, when I started running it was taking me 15 minutes.

 

[tsiunltdus]

What is the school record? That is what you want to try to accomplish. beating the school record. Find that out then you know what you have to strive for to compete.