A high school friend/teammate & I had discussions about that (many years ago) - we agreed they're probably to 2 most grueling/challenging. He ran 400 hurdles and made it to state (I never did hurdles of any length). I did 400/4x400 and I couldn't imagine doing it while having to clear barriers.
I think they’re equally evil. I thought hurdles were harder on the legs while 800 harder on the lungs.
I was a career cross country runner (2 miles at that time) before I got on the track and started running the 400 and 800 so lungs weren't an issue for me.
Agree. I also ran cross country. What held me back on 800 (ran about 2:03-2:04) was leg strength. Just saying relative to each other.
Seems the XC runners always have a shorter stride whereas the pure 800 track guys (sub 2) will be almost at that 400 glide stride.
Yes. My coach brought in a former runner of his who was running in college at the time to help me a little with my form when I was training for State my senior year. I could run with the form they wanted me to but it broke down my last 300 everytime and my calf strength was the culprit.
I had a really long stride for cross country which made my transition to the track easier. I only ran on the track my senior year but won our district and made it to State.
Our youngest did the shuttle hurdle in Jr High and the 100m hurdles in High School. He filled in once on the 400 hurdles. He was a pretty cocky kid and didn't think it would be much more of a task.
This is why I have a ton of repect for the 400M H and steeple chase guys and gals. Those are real men races whether on the men's or women's side.
It’s always fun to watch the sprinters do distance stuff. Was standing by a friend who coaches our old HS. Had this kid in a DMed take the baton and take off like his hair was on fire From last to first in 150 meters. I told my friend that he found himself a guy for the 800 leg, my friend said he wondered if he forgot what he was running. At 200 meters the kid was looking around and starting to gas. He was walking out of turn 4. He thought he was running the 4x2 at first, then thought he had a 400 so when he crossed the line after the first lap, he stepped off the track, a teammate pushed him back on and he went 10 meters and walked back off the track.
That’s well said. The pain for the 400 Hurdles around the final turn is something to behold. But yes the lungs for an 800 burn to no end.
Biggest mistake for XC coaches and runners is not focusing on strength and speed work. You should still be doing speed training for XC.
The other Big 10 schools don't like inviting Iowa to their meets. That's interesting. And not at all surprising.
Good excuse to move to Iowa, they can only run in 3 events in MS.My daughter‘s first middle school track meet she ran the open 400, open 800, 4x400 and 4x800. I wondered if they wanted her to quit or something.
Now she’s in high school. Open 100, 4x100 and long jump