umm... anyone do track and field here?

[andylawcc]

well, our company is doing an inter-branch sports competition. I got selected to represent my branch (since I face almost no opposition, mostly due to the fact that most of my coworkers are married, middle age men/women with kids). I will be running for 100m, 400m, and 1600m (1600m = 1 mile). Now, my time for 100m is like 15.58 seconds and 7:32 mins:sec for 1600m. Is that pathetically slow or meagerly acceptable?

also, any tips for training?

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

7:32 for a mile is not impressive. Then again my mile times aren't that impressive too. Maybe cuz I never tried in high school PE to get good times. I think my best was just under 7. But only once.

Edit: How old are you?

 

[JRich]

7:32 is pretty slow for 1600m. Age?

 

[andylawcc]

Originally posted by: DLeRium
7:32 for a mile is not impressive. Then again my mile times aren't that impressive too. Maybe cuz I never tried in high school PE to get good times. I think my best was just under 7. But only once.

Edit: How old are you?

25. Was never trained for any real competition.

 

[andylawcc]

Originally posted by: JRich
7:32 is pretty slow for 1600m. Age?

yikes... after that "record breaking" 7:32 of mine, I was exhausted. damn, what was I doing wrong? I started the first 100m with 1:40, then slipped to 1:50 for the second, and tried to hold on under 2:00/lap for the 3rd and 4th.

 

[notfred]

You're going to get completely owned by a middle aged man with kids who happens to also be a marathon runner.

 

[altonb1]

My best mile was 5:12. I think I was in 11th grade at the time. I also ran cross country (simply as endurance training) in the fall, indoor track & outdoor track in 10th, 11th & 12th grades.

Fast forward--my out-of-shape butt would be lucky to get under 10 mins on a mile now, I bet.

Depending on your age and what type of competition this really is will determine whether your times are competitive. If this is a fun picnic type thing for your company, you will be fine.

 

[JRich]

I can run sub 50sec 400's and around 5min for 1600m. I'm 25 also and I have asthma. For me it was all about conditioning.

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: andylawcc
...what was I doing wrong?

Not being in shape? Nor having practiced running at all? I don't know why you automatically assume you'd be good at an activity you never do.

 

[andylawcc]

Originally posted by: notfred
You're going to get completely owned by a middle aged man with kids who happens to also be a marathon runner.

ya... that's why I am here to find out the odds.

 

[intogamer]

I remember doing the Elmentary Track Olimpics @ 4th grade

I got put with the bigger kids at 150M

 

[andylawcc]

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: andylawcc
...what was I doing wrong?

Not being in shape? Nor having practiced running at all? I don't know why you automatically assume you'd be good at an activity you never do.

so instead of sarcasm, i would appreciate input, comments, and suggestions.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: andylawcc

Originally posted by: JRich
7:32 is pretty slow for 1600m. Age?

yikes... after that "record breaking" 7:32 of mine, I was exhausted. damn, what was I doing wrong? I started the first 100m with 1:40, then slipped to 1:50 for the second, and tried to hold on under 2:00/lap for the 3rd and 4th.

Nothing wrong, you just aren't in that great of shape. If the rest of the people you're racing against aren't in great shape, you'll be fine. If they're in good shape they'll beat you by a minute and a half or more.

How much time do you have to prepare? The easiest gains come at the beginning, so if you spend some time training you'll probably be able to get your time down quite a bit.

 

[sash1]

I ran track in high school. now I'm training for a marathon. in HS my mile was 4:45, my 800--best event--was 2:02. I only ran the 400 in relays when one of our duechebag sprinters cried and didn't do it. I ran around :53. I wasn't much of a sprinter.

Those times are pretty bad, even if you were in your 40s. Training? huh, tough one, but I'd say running is good training for, oh, running.

And get some Aasics running shoes. Been using them my whole life and I love 'em. Just go out there and run. Only upper body strength you should do is abs and back. A strong core will help your running posture and make running easier. And don't bend your elbows when you run. Just wastes energy, keep 'em at a 90 degree angle.

 

[Whisper]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: andylawcc

Originally posted by: JRich
7:32 is pretty slow for 1600m. Age?

yikes... after that "record breaking" 7:32 of mine, I was exhausted. damn, what was I doing wrong? I started the first 100m with 1:40, then slipped to 1:50 for the second, and tried to hold on under 2:00/lap for the 3rd and 4th.

Nothing wrong, you just aren't in that great of shape. If the rest of the people you're racing against aren't in great shape, you'll be fine. If they're in good shape they'll beat you by a minute and a half or more.

How much time do you have to prepare? The easiest gains come at the beginning, so if you spend some time training you'll probably be able to get your time down quite a bit.

Agreed. I wouldn't necessarily say you did anything wrong, although you'll probably want to work on the pacing a bit so that your lap times are a bit more even. You just said it yourself: you haven't ever really been trained to run, and likely aren't in the greatest cardiovascular shape ever.

If you've got a couple weeks to prepare, just try walking or jogging a couple miles a day; then gradually increase your pace. I'm sure you'll be able to bring down that time at least somewhat without a problem.

 

[siameseplease]

Originally posted by: JRich
I can run sub 50sec 400's and around 5min for 1600m. I'm 25 also and I have asthma. For me it was all about conditioning.

sub 50 sec 400? youre what we call in high school track and field "godlike". i run the 400 in 54 800 in 2:00, 1600 in 4:30, (this year going for school record of 4:24). cross country is where its at. this year we are statebound...

quote/And get some Aasics running shoes. Been using them my whole life and I love 'em. Just go out there and run. Only upper body strength you should do is abs and back. A strong core will help your running posture and make running easier. And don't bend your elbows when you run. Just wastes energy, keep 'em at a 90 degree angle./endquote

QFT i have always had asics trainers, will stay loyal to my puma spikes too. if you have a while beforehand, get in some milage, that will always help.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: andylawcc

Originally posted by: DLeRium
7:32 for a mile is not impressive. Then again my mile times aren't that impressive too. Maybe cuz I never tried in high school PE to get good times. I think my best was just under 7. But only once.

Edit: How old are you?

25. Was never trained for any real competition.

That's fine. If I was told to run a mile for time, I would probably be just under 7. I've been running for the past few months, but nothing too fast. Just treadmill stuff around 2.5 miles each time, but my pace is around 8:20 per mile (7.1 mph) so I'm sure I can crank up the speed for a mile run, but I don't know how fast I would actually be.

You're probably gonna get beaten by some track people, but your time is not like horrendous or bad for someone your age. It's decent, and if you can pull a 7:32 anyday, then you're at least somewhat in shape (not some couch potato).

Ho wlong do you have till the event?

 

[Rufus12]

At age 15 I am running the 100m in 12sec flat. 15.58 is terrible.

Originally posted by: siameseplease

Originally posted by: JRich
I can run sub 50sec 400's and around 5min for 1600m. I'm 25 also and I have asthma. For me it was all about conditioning.

sub 50 sec 400? youre what we call in high school track and field "godlike". i run the 400 in 54 800 in 2:00, 1600 in 4:30, (this year going for school record of 4:24). cross country is where its at. this year we are statebound...

quote/And get some Aasics running shoes. Been using them my whole life and I love 'em. Just go out there and run. Only upper body strength you should do is abs and back. A strong core will help your running posture and make running easier. And don't bend your elbows when you run. Just wastes energy, keep 'em at a 90 degree angle./endquote

QFT i have always had asics trainers, will stay loyal to my puma spikes too. if you have a while beforehand, get in some milage, that will always help.

A kid in my school ran the 400m in 48.7 tying the state record. He also tied the state record for the 100m @ 10.8sec

 

[siameseplease]

Originally posted by: Rufus12
At age 15 I am running the 100m in 12sec flat. 15.58 is terrible.

Originally posted by: siameseplease

Originally posted by: JRich
I can run sub 50sec 400's and around 5min for 1600m. I'm 25 also and I have asthma. For me it was all about conditioning.

sub 50 sec 400? youre what we call in high school track and field "godlike". i run the 400 in 54 800 in 2:00, 1600 in 4:30, (this year going for school record of 4:24). cross country is where its at. this year we are statebound...

quote/And get some Aasics running shoes. Been using them my whole life and I love 'em. Just go out there and run. Only upper body strength you should do is abs and back. A strong core will help your running posture and make running easier. And don't bend your elbows when you run. Just wastes energy, keep 'em at a 90 degree angle./endquote

QFT i have always had asics trainers, will stay loyal to my puma spikes too. if you have a while beforehand, get in some milage, that will always help.

A kid in my school ran the 400m in 48.7 tying the state record. He also tied the state record for the 100m @ 10.8sec

orly? where do you go to school?

 

[Rufus12]

Originally posted by: siameseplease

Originally posted by: Rufus12
At age 15 I am running the 100m in 12sec flat. 15.58 is terrible.

Originally posted by: siameseplease

Originally posted by: JRich
I can run sub 50sec 400's and around 5min for 1600m. I'm 25 also and I have asthma. For me it was all about conditioning.

sub 50 sec 400? youre what we call in high school track and field "godlike". i run the 400 in 54 800 in 2:00, 1600 in 4:30, (this year going for school record of 4:24). cross country is where its at. this year we are statebound...

quote/And get some Aasics running shoes. Been using them my whole life and I love 'em. Just go out there and run. Only upper body strength you should do is abs and back. A strong core will help your running posture and make running easier. And don't bend your elbows when you run. Just wastes energy, keep 'em at a 90 degree angle./endquote

QFT i have always had asics trainers, will stay loyal to my puma spikes too. if you have a while beforehand, get in some milage, that will always help.

A kid in my school ran the 400m in 48.7 tying the state record. He also tied the state record for the 100m @ 10.8sec

orly? where do you go to school?

NH

 

[John P]

How long do you have to train? That's a pretty wide breadth of distances to train for. You could train for the middle distances and just wing the 100.

Assuming you have several weeks to train, try running 2-5 pyramid workouts a week, depending on where you are at now. For example:

Monday - 200m - 400m - 600m - 400m - 200m

Wednesday - 400 - 800 - 1600 - 800 - 400

Friday - 200 - 400 - 800 - 400 - 200

Walk 200m-400m between each interval

A single 400m will seem like cake after a few of those workouts

Always do slow 1 or 2 lap warmup and stretch before and after.

Saturday or Sunday - slow 2 mile run

Make sure you have a good pair of running shoes.

Hopefully that gives you some ideas.

 

[andylawcc]

Originally posted by: DLeRium
Ho wlong do you have till the event?

Originally posted by: mugs
If the rest of the people you're racing against aren't in great shape, you'll be fine. If they're in good shape they'll beat you by a minute and a half or more.
How much time do you have to prepare? The easiest gains come at the beginning, so if you spend some time training you'll probably be able to get your time down quite a bit.

the rest of the people should be in shape, since the company had this competition before but this is a first to include our branch... so I guess I will a lot to work on.

I have until Nov 4th. So in less than 3 months time i need to get it going... I already been running every Thursday and Saturday night. I am pretty sure I will need a more rigorous routine...

 

[andylawcc]

Originally posted by: sash1
And get some Aasics running shoes. Only upper body strength you should do is abs and back. A strong core will help your running posture and make running easier. And don't bend your elbows when you run. Just wastes energy, keep 'em at a 90 degree angle.

where do I get them, just any store? which model and how much do they normally run for (no pun really intended)

granted, equipment should be of my lesser concern. How should i train though?

so "working on upper body strength / abs and back" = situps?
and thanks for the "not bending elbows" tip.

 

[andylawcc]

Originally posted by: Whisper
you haven't ever really been trained to run, and likely aren't in the greatest cardiovascular shape ever.

Originally posted by: siameseplease

QFT i have always had asics trainers, will stay loyal to my puma spikes too. if you have a while beforehand, get in some milage, that will always help.

I don't need spikes right? and they are for x-country right?
and which model for Asics?

oh, siamesepplease: to quote, use [ q ] TEXT [ / q ]

 

[andylawcc]

Originally posted by: John P.
How long do you have to train? That's a pretty wide breadth of distances to train for. You could train for the middle distances and just wing the 100.

Assuming you have several weeks to train, try running 2-5 pyramid workouts a week, depending on where you are at now. For example:

Monday - 200m - 400m - 600m - 400m - 200m

Wednesday - 400 - 800 - 1600 - 800 - 400

Friday - 200 - 400 - 800 - 400 - 200

Walk 200m-400m between each interval

A single 400m will seem like cake after a few of those workouts

Always do slow 1 or 2 lap warmup and stretch before and after.

Saturday or Sunday - slow 2 mile run

Make sure you have a good pair of running shoes.

Hopefully that gives you some ideas.

thanks you,... so why is it called the "2-5 Pyramid" I can see the "pyramid" pattern, but not the "2-5" part...