improving my times

[runr0822]

hi, do any of you guys have suggestions to improving my times. i run anywhere from the 200m to the 800m. right now in the 200, i last ran a 26.33 at the start of the season, i am capable of running a 57 in the 400, and i recently ran a 2:20.71 in the 800. what can i do to bring any of these times down. i am a female freshman...

[basehead617]

Re: improving my times

>hi, do any of you guys have suggestions to improving my times. i run anywhere
>from the 200m to the 800m. right now in the 200, i last ran a 26.33 at the
>start of the season, i am capable of running a 57 in the 400, and i recently
>ran a 2:20.71 in the 800. what can i do to bring any of these times down. i am
>a female freshman...

those are fantastic times for a freshman girl, just so you know, especially the 400. for people with your similar talent and training experience, you should get involved with the www.dyestat.com forums. there are a lot of scholastic runners there. you won't get nearly as much help here.. we like to bicker about whether a 3:35 1500m in may is good enough =)

[tafnut]

Re: improving my times

Don't be in any rush! Get a good coach who will help you work this summer. Run cross country in the fall to get stronger and your natural maturation will make you faster. Most of all - just enjoy running now.

[The Fern]

Re: improving my times

runr, I coach high school track in New Zealand and used to coach in New Jersey. If you are excited about track, the advice to join cross country is good. Over your sophmore year you could still run a lot of things but you could start to think about which distances you A) Like and B) are suited for after consulting your coach. 2:27 is a good time for a frosh as is the 26 in the 200. Being capable of running 57 and actually running it are two different things.
How good is your high school track program? Does it have Winter track? These are things to be considered. Don't hesitate to ask questions here, there's actually some smart people here.
Cheers.

[nbonaddio]

Re: improving my times

>runr, I coach high school track in New Zealand and used to coach in New Jersey.
>If you are excited about track, the advice to join cross country is good.
>Over your sophmore year you could still run a lot of things but you could
>d start to think about which distances you A) Like and B) are suited for after
>consulting your coach. 2:27 is a good time for a frosh as is the 26 in the
>200. Being capable of running 57 and actually running it are two different
>things.
How good is your high school track program? Does it have Winter
>track? These are things to be considered. Don't hesitate to ask questions
>here, there's actually some smart people here.
Cheers.

I have a tangentially related question. This is my second year of track (I am currently a Junior in college, DIII), after having played tennis as my spring sport of choice in high school. I have progressed down to a low-48 400m, and I am looking to maximize my results next year as it is obviously my last year of competition. Because I run more even splits than the average 400m runner (usually 23.1-23.3/24.9-25.1), my coach feels I should move up to the 800m despite my having been my conference's champion in the 400m (48.24) and the anchor of the winning 4x400m (47.9/3:15:34), or failing that, mix 30 minute runs in with my fall training/sprint workouts.

Any advice?

Thanks,
Nik

Nik Bonaddio
Carnegie Mellon University

[EPelle04]

Re: improving my times

>Most of all - just enjoy running now.

I can not agree with you more! Enjoy the excitement, fun and comradarie which surrounds competing for your school and training with your teammates! You will improve as you get stronger, wiser and more experienced. Your greatest gift to yourself in your effort to improve is this: believe in yourself. Trust, listen, ask questions and be natural.

[The Fern]

Re: improving my times

Hi Nik

That 400 time looks pretty good, but it's up to you if you want to go up to the 800. First and foremost, your heart has to be in it. If you only plan to compete one more year, I don't think it would be a valid experiment, and I would say stick to what you know you're good at. On the other hand, if you were willing to commit to the 800 and actually work at it over the next couple of years I would say go for it. I didn't effectively retire from jumping till I was 44 and all those years of competng added to my motivation to train every year. Think about it.
Cheers

[Cyril]

Re: improving my times

>>runr, I coach high school track in New Zealand and used to coach in New
>Jersey.
>If you are excited about track, the advice to join cross country is
>good.
>Over your sophmore year you could still run a lot of things but you
>could
>d start to think about which distances you A) Like and B) are suited
>for after
>consulting your coach. 2:27 is a good time for a frosh as is the
>26 in the
>200. Being capable of running 57 and actually running it are two
>different
>things.
How good is your high school track program? Does it have
>Winter
>track? These are things to be considered. Don't hesitate to ask
>questions
>here, there's actually some smart people here.
Cheers.

I have a
>tangentially related question. This is my second year of track (I am currently
>a Junior in college, DIII), after having played tennis as my spring sport of
>choice in high school. I have progressed down to a low-48 400m, and I am
>looking to maximize my results next year as it is obviously my last year of
>competition. Because I run more even splits than the average 400m runner
>(usually 23.1-23.3/24.9-25.1), my coach feels I should move up to the 800m
>despite my having been my conference's champion in the 400m (48.24) and the
>anchor of the winning 4x400m (47.9/3:15:34), or failing that, mix 30 minute
>runs in with my fall training/sprint workouts.

Any
>advice?

Thanks,
Nik

Nik Bonaddio
Carnegie Mellon University

What do you want to do? It sounds to me like you would prefer to stay with the 400. If so, stay. Other than even 400 splits does anything else indicate you can run a good 8? 600m time trials, longer intervals? The 4 & 8 are two completely different races. Some 4 guys adapt fine and quickly, others are never able to run an 8.

I would suggest you try a couple low-key 8s and see how you do, just run all-comers, while you are still in decent 400 shape. If you do o.k. (1:55-56), you might want to pursue it next season. Otherwise, you may be looking at a season of learning and possible frustration and would likely be better off sticking to what has worked.