Source
r/running•
reddzeppelin

Any 400m recruits here?

Training

I think that it would be interesting to have a group of runners from r/running challenge the assumptions on r/sprinting by seeing what they can do over 400m coming from a higher mileage than would ever be suggested there. The goal wouldn't be to run extremely fast, but to put down an honest time trial over 400m and then improve on that as much as possible by the end of the spring track season. Even if it doesn't impress anyone else, the goal is just to improve your own time as much as possible (without injury/loss of endurance) and reap the benefits.

When I was first reading about running online as an XC/distance team guy in high school, the name Alan Webb was everywhere. Discussion forums would always talk about him and you could see he was so fast he was seen as a prospect to break records ( I don't know if he really broke Steve Scott's mile record but it was close). Anyways, looking at the stats I noticed that he actually had quite the 400m to back up his mile. Nobody ever really mentions this in all the discussion about him, but I think that not focusing on the 400m and 800m and moving up the the 10k, while impressive, meant neglecting his strength in terms of his quote "speed is quite the weapon". So, basically this is my pitch on why working on the 400m may be worth it to you a 5k/ mile guy, I think that at the competitive level it actually is needed to improve running economy while kicking in a race. 10km pros apparently have tons of fast twitch fibers, though we see it as a distance race at the recreational level.

It would be cool if we could get a group together and work on the 400m time and I would be able to provide updates on my own training (2 reps of sub 60 is my goal right now to see if I can do that without injury). Also, I would be able to provide feedback both in terms of, how to use spikes and blocks to go faster, when and how to work on your 150-200m speed for the 400 m, and when you're getting so fast at the 400m that it's time to move up to focusing 800m (or 500-600m), if your goal is aerobic ability.

Posted Dec 29, 2023, 8:37 PM UTC

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danDotDev•

I can do the inverse maybe... My college pr was 49 about 15 years ago. Currently training for my first marathon in March, though my goal time isn't anything special (3:30), I'm still about 20lbs away from my running weight and only about 11 months of consistent-ish running again.

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reddzeppelinOP•

at least you have a lot to gain in terms of losing weight

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danDotDev•

Indeed. Lost about 10lbs from January to June last year from running and just making some smarter food choices (still too much pizza and beer). I did keep it off though.

I've been actively dieting for my marathon and on track to be at 165 by the marathon. Still heavier than I'd like to run it at, but should give me a nice performance bump.

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reddzeppelinOP•

yeah part of the reason why I want to focus on the 400m is that I don't really want to have to be so skinny, but there's still a fine line where you're too sluggish and running with too much impact. Of course it's individual, but I wouldn't want to be less than a certain weight even for a marathon, because I'd rather risk running a little slower than lacking nutrients and strength. Your body craves that beer and pizza for a reason you know, though the tendency is to overdo it (and of course the alcohol/oils are empty calories).

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SlickMick6Three•

I like the idea. I'd be in.

I haven't been doing it consistently, but once in a while I'll put my watch on interval mode and run some 400s for my speed work - it just happens that it's almost exactly a quarter mile from the end of my street to the first stop sign.

I'm mainly running 5ks and 10ks now, so I definitely think this could help me. I put down a decent 200 time in the one year I ran track in HS so I'm hopeful there's still some speed left in me somewhere.

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1
Runningprofmama•

I love this idea! My issue is that I don’t have access to a track in my area to do it properly 😩

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reddzeppelinOP•

You have a baseball field?

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Runningprofmama•

Nope. I live in the Netherlands…

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PatronOfLostCauses•

There are over 160 tracks in NL, maybe this will help you find one near you: https://atletiekbanen.nl/

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Runningprofmama•

What a cool resource! Unfortunately the one that’s within reasonable distance from me isn’t open to casual (non-club) use. But thanks for sharing this anyway!

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