Stud Bunnies

[26mi235]

The rabbit is indeed useless and not doing his/her job if the pack doesn't keep up.

Even when there is a big gap the rabbit is giving a time perspective of pacing, so people know where they are. If the rabbits job is to make the race a 'semi-record' kind of run, then maybe they should not be going back to the pack, instead the pack as to learn how to race, like happens in real races.

[Trickstat]

running on the outside they've always got an escape hatch on their right if somebody in the main pack gets over-ambitious; not the case in lane 1 where they could easily end up boxed and have to fight their way through. There is no perfect way, but I think tradition has gotten it right in this case.

Surely this would only be likely to happen if he or she is careless enough to allow someone to get to the break line first.

[rsb3]

Rabbiting from Lane One ??? Ridiculous idea ... Coming down from Lane 8 on the backstretch, a good rabbit will aim to be at the front of the pack by the 200 metre mark, and thus have contact with the pack, while adjusting to the required pace.

[booond]

recipe for collision disaster

How many collision disasters do we see during competitive 800 m races on the first turn? The rabbit gets to see everyone in front of them and judge their speed.

[NotDutra5]

Outside for the rabbitsky in the 800m

[Atticus]

running on the outside they've always got an escape hatch on their right if somebody in the main pack gets over-ambitious; not the case in lane 1 where they could easily end up boxed and have to fight their way through. There is no perfect way, but I think tradition has gotten it right in this case.

I agree that lane 8 is a great place for the rabbit to start, but they often get over-excited to make sure they get the lead and sprint out TOO far to do any good.

[gh]

running on the outside they've always got an escape hatch on their right if somebody in the main pack gets over-ambitious; not the case in lane 1 where they could easily end up boxed and have to fight their way through. There is no perfect way, but I think tradition has gotten it right in this case.

[Trickstat]

recipe for collision disaster

But if they are in lane 1 they can see exactly how fast they need to run the bend to have safe daylight when the others have to break. This seems better to me than the situation where they often have to kick like mad down the backstraight to get ahead whilst moving across the track safely from the outside lane.

[Master Po]

I wish Yosemite Sam could read this thread.

I thought Harun Abda handled his recent role re pacing Nijel Amos rather well. And Bram Som seems to pretty good at the role, too.

[gh]

Placement of the rabbit for the 800 should be in lane one so they don't have to race to the pole, which is why u may have quicker paces. ...

recipe for collision disaster

[Big Tusk]

El Guerrouj had some decent rabbits. For his 1500m WR Ngeny was a rabbit. Ngeny was "only" a 1'45"/3'32"/3'50" guy at the time, though he did run 3'30" in Monaco a couple of weeks after the Rome meeting. William Tanui, with PBs of 1'43" and 3'30", paced him the next year for the mile WR.

Of course, Kipchoge had a host of elite pacers for the sub-2 ordeal.

[NotDutra5]

Sounds like some of my (poorer) education colleagues:
"Hey, I give them the material; if they don't get it, that's their fault."

It's a bit of something else to me.

[booond]

Placement of the rabbit for the 800 should be in lane one so they don't have to race to the pole, which is why u may have quicker paces. I hate rabbits for the 800 meters.

[Atticus]

The rabbit is doing what the rabbit is (likely) paid to do. Up to the rabbitees to follow along.

Sounds like some of my (poorer) education colleagues:
"Hey, I give them the material; if they don't get it, that's their fault."

Of course it's the teacher's fault. If you're not teaching them anything, you're not a teacher. It's all about addressing the needs of the class (running pack).

Take again the example of a m800 race that's supposed to go out in 50. If the rabbit goes through the 100 in 12 and the 200 in 24, as I have seen them do, that's not a smart pace for someone who wants to run sub-1:44. The best place to draw the field forward is from 200-400.

[NotDutra5]

The rabbit is indeed useless and not doing his/her job if the pack doesn't keep up. That is precisely the rabbit's job - to tow the field to a certain split, not just run a solo effort to a certain time. If s/he doesn't bring the field along, the rabbit has failed. You go back, re-engage and slowly (actually, acceleratingly) get back to the desired time. It may not happen, but running away from the pack is pointless.

The rabbit is doing what the rabbit is (likely) paid to do. Up to the rabbitees to follow along.