Middle distance track event

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Middle distance track events are track races longer than sprints up to (and arguably including) 5000 meters. Biological factors that go primarily into a middle distance racer are developed fast and type 1 slow twitch muscles, adrenaline (usually for the final kick), anaerobic respiration (bringing it in after the final kick), racing tactics, and aerobic conditioning. The 1500 m has been estimated to require an equal contribution from fast and slow twitch muscles.

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Common distances (and not so common ones):

The standard middle distances are the 800 m, 1500 m, mile (in the US), and the 3000 m (which is often seen as a long distance event). The 3000 m is more common in the US at the high school and collegiate level (along with the US two mile) and is in fact not run at the world championships.

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600 m

  • This middle distance length is rather uncommon, and is mainly used for sprinters testing their endurance at a longer distance. The record at this distance for men:

For women:

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800 m

The 800 m is run over two laps of the track and has always been an Olympic event. It was included in the first women's track programme in 1928, but suspended until 1960 because of shock and the exhaustion it caused the competitors. By contrast, without today's training regimes, male competitors of the day were expected to run themselves to exhaustion in competition.

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Tactics

In a modern competition, the first 100 m is run in lanes, after which competitors may break for the inside without deliberately obstructing or pushing another competitor (In High School Competitions in the NE USA, races are started in lanes and the break to the inside can be made immediately, again without obstructing another competitor). Running flat out for this distance is impossible and tactics can be a factor in reaching the finish line first. Running in the lead is often considered a disadvantage as trailing runners can choose when to accelerate past the leader, and because of the effect of wind resistance. Runners not in first place on the inside can find themselves boxed if other runners start to overtake them. Running in last place is not recommended as there may be too much ground to make up when the final sprint for the finish starts.

In top class races, the lane start usually ensures a brisk pace for the first 200 m. Occasionally, no one will be happy to lead and the field will bunch for the remainder of the first lap leaving a sprint on the second lap. More often, one runner will ensure a fast first lap and the winner will be the one who slows least on the second lap, despite the appearance of sprinting at the finish. However, the occasional 800-meter runner is able to produce a world-class 800 with even laps, or even negative split.

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Records

800 m runners are often fast enough to run in the 4 x 400 metres relay but only Alberto Juantorena and Jarmila Kratochvilova have won major international titles at 400 m and 800 m. Competing successfully at 800 m and 1500 m is more common.

World Record for men:

World Record for women:

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Trivia

In the last 11 Olympic Games, athletes from 10 different countries have won the men's 800 metres title.

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1000 m

  • More popular than the 500 metres is to the sprints. The record at this distance for men:

For women:

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1200 m

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1500 m

  • The other premier middle distance race. Is becoming more of a prolonged sprint nowadays, with each lap averaging 55 seconds for the world record performance by Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco in 1998 at Rome (two 1:50 s 800 m performances back to back). Thus, speed is necessary, and it seems that the more aerobic conditioning, the better. Three and three-quarter laps around the track. Lots of tactics can be employed in this race, too numerous to discuss here. A very tough distance to perform at mentally. The distance is often witness to some of the more tactical, more physical races in the sport, as many championship races are won in the final few meters.

This is also known in the US as "the metric mile". The record at this distance for men:

For women:

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1600 m

Mostly popular at the middle/high school level as a near replacement for the mile on many metric tracks due its 9 meter difference. However the 1500 is the official distance at the college and international level and 1600m runners change to the 1500m when they go into college or become professionals.

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Mile

This length of track, 1760 yards, (1609 metres), is very common in countries that don't use the metric system, and is still often referred to as the "Blue Riband" of the track.

When the International Amateur Athletic Federation decided in 1976 to recognise only world records for metric distances, it made an exception for the mile and records are kept to this day.

Historically, the mile took the place that the 1500 m has today. It is still raced on the world class level, but only at select locations. It can be romantically appreciated as a remnant of the past but is still fiercely contested. It is famous for its 4 minute barrier that so many people tried to break. The term "miler" is sometimes also applied to a 1500 m runner. The record at this distance for men:

For women:

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2000 m

  • Another event that is rarely run, it is one where a miler's speed will generally prevail over that of anyone challenging him or her. The record at this distance for men:

For women:

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3000 m

  • Truly on the borderline between middle and longer distances, the 3000 m are a standard race. Requires decent speed, but can be made up with superior aerobic conditioning and race tactics to support that. The record at this distance for men:

For women:

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See also

Template:Track eventsde:Mittelstreckenlauf es:Atletismo velocidad fr:Sprint ja:中距離走 no:Sprintløp pl:Bieg średniodystansowy ru:Спринт zh:短跑

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