| The 800m run is a race for only the toughest | | | | don't get behind a slower runner who is dying, and |
| track and field athletes. It is a grueling race for | | | | then sling shot off the corner and find room to |
| sprinters, as it asks them to run at almost 90% | | | | run, like a race horse. |
| speed for 2 full laps, a lot longer than any sprint | | | | Not much strategy really, just balls to the wall. |
| race. For distance runners it asks them to run | | | | These races are over almost as fast as they |
| their fastest for the entire distance. | | | | start, they don't last over 1:48 seconds. So, you |
| Not long ago, I was discussing this with an | | | | commit to that speed level and then go out and |
| acquaintance and he used the analogy of an Indy | | | | give it all and agree to die at the finish line if you |
| Car Race, and stated; "I went to the Indy 500 a | | | | win or lose, leaving nothing left. |
| couple years ago and it became clear how 99% | | | | If you do not agree to forfeit your life and every |
| of that game is just to stay in and be within | | | | ounce to win, you won't; at least not at the upper |
| striking distance at the end; Never learned that by | | | | levels in the championship races. Some runners |
| watching races on TV for years. Is that what | | | | run the race to pick up extra points for their |
| you mean?" | | | | team in dual track meets during the season, but I |
| Indeed, it is kind of like that. Yes, you have the | | | | run races to win. I don't understand why anyone |
| first lap in lanes, and you have to be close to the | | | | would run that race, unless they wanted to win |
| front, but you don't want to be in the front, to | | | | so bad, that nothing else matters, it just hurts too |
| get there you have to run a 52-55 second first | | | | much otherwise. |
| quarter, then hold that pace, hug the corner, but | | | | |