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Thursday 5 June 2014

Middle-distance running

Middle-distance running 


 events are track races longer than sprints, up to 3000 metres. The standard middle distances are the 800 metres, 1500 metres and mile run, although the 3000 metres may also be classified as a middle-distance event. The 880 yard run, or half mile, was the forebear to the 800 m distance and it has its roots in competitions in the United Kingdom in the 1830s. The 1500 m came about as a result of running three laps of a 500 m track, which was commonplace in continental Europe in the 20th century.

Events

600 yards

  • This was a popular distance, particularly indoors, when imperial distances were common. In 1882, American Lon Myers set what was then a world record at 600 yards, running it in 1:11.4.[4] The event was a common event for most American students, because it was one of the standardized test events as part of the President's Award on Physical Fitness.[5] In the early 1970s, Martin McGrady was unsuccessful at longer or shorter races but made his reputation, set world records and drew a lot of fans to the arenas to watch him race elite Olympians at this odd distance.

600 m

This middle distance length is rather uncommon, and is mainly run by sprinters wishing to test their endurances at a longer distance. Like other middle distance races, it evolved from the 600 yard race. The 600 m is also used as an early season stepping stone by 800 m runners before they have reached full race fitness. The record at this distance is for men:
For women:

800 m

The 800 m consists of two laps around a standard 400 m 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. Without the benefits of modern training, men of the era were, in contrast, expected to run themselves to complete exhaustion during competitions.
The current record is for men:
For women:

1000 m

This distance is not commonly raced, though it is more common than the 500 m event is for sprinters. This is commonly raced as an indoor men's heptathlon event, or as an indoor high school event. In 1881, Lon Myers set what was then a world record at 1000 yards, running it in 2:13.0.[4] The record at this distance for men is:
For women:

1200 m

Three laps. A distance seldom raced on its own, but commonly raced as part of the Distance Medley Relay.

1500 m

Also known as the metric mile, this is a premier middle-distance race, covering three and three-quarter laps around a standard Olympic-sized track. In recent years, races over this distance have become more of a prolonged sprint, 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. This is a difficult distance at which to compete mentally, in addition to being one of the more tactical middle-distance track events. The distance is often witness to some of the most tactical, physical races in the sport, as many championship races are won in the final few metres. The record at this distance for men is:
For women:

1600 m

At exactly four laps of a normal 400 m track, this distance is raced as a near replacement for the mile (it is, in fact, 9.344 m, about 30.6 feet, shorter; however, it is still colloquially referred to as "the mile"). The 1600 meters is the official distance for this range of races in US High Schools. The 1500 m, however, is the most common distance run at thecollege and international levels.
The final leg of a Distance medley relay is 1600 metres. While that race is rarely run outside of high school and collegiate invitational competition, it has been held at the international level.
An accurate way to run an actual mile on a metric track is to run the additional 9.344 meters before starting the first marked 400 meter lap. Many tracks, especially high-level tracks, will have a waterfall starting line drawn 9.344 meters back for this purpose. Otherwise, on a metric track, there will be a relay zone 10 meters before the common start/finish line, frequently marked by a triangle pointed toward the finish. In many configurations, that triangle is about half a meter wide, making its point extremely close to the mile start line, which would be slightly less than two feet from the marked relay zone (the widest part of the triangle, or line).

Mile


This length of middle-distance race, 1760 yards, (1609.344 metres), is very common in countries that do not use themetric system, and is still often referred to as the "Blue Riband" of the track.
When the International Amateur Athletic Federation decided in 1976 to recognize 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 usually only at select occasions, like the famous Wanamaker Mile held annually at the Millrose Games. Running a mile in less than four minutes is a famously difficult achievement, long thought impossible by the scientific community. The first man to break the four-minute barrier was Englishman Roger Bannister at Oxford in 1954. The record at this distance for men is:
For women:

2000 

  • Another event that is rarely run, a miler's speed will generally allow him/her to prevail at this distance over less balanced challengers. The record at this distance for men is:
For women:

3000 m


  • Truly on the borderline between middle and longer distances, the 3000 m (7.5 laps) is a standard race in the United States, though it is not raced at the outdoor IAAF World Championships. This race requires decent speed, but a lack of natural quickness can be made up for with superior aerobic conditioning and supporting race tactics. The record at this distance for men is:
For women:

3200 m

At exactly 8 laps on a standard 400 m track, this event is typically run only in American high schools along with the 1600 m. It is colloquially called the "two-mile", as the distance is only 18.688 metres shorter than two miles. In college, the typical runner of this event would convert to the 5,000 metre run (or potentially the 3,000 metre run during indoor season). It should be noted that in most Eastern-American high schools, colleges, and middle schools, this event is usually considered a long distance event, depending on the region. It is the longest distance run in most high school competitions.

Two Miles


This length of long middle-distance or short long-distance race was 3520 yards, (3218.688 metres).
Historically, the 2 mile took the place that the 3000 m and the 3200 m have today. The first man to break the four-minute barrier on both miles for a total of less than 8 minutes was Daniel Komen in 1997, and his time of 7:58.61 remains a world record. The record at this distance for men is:
For women:

2,000 metre steeplechase[edit]

Another race only run in high school or Masters meets. The typical specialist in this event would move up to the 3000m steeplechase in college.

3,000 metre steeplechase


  • The 3,000 metre steeplechase is a distance event requiring greater strength, stamina, and agility than the flat 3,000 metre event. This is because athletes are required to jump over five barriers per lap, after a flat first 200 m to allow for settling in. One barrier per lap is placed in front of a water pit, meaning that runners are also forced to deal with the chafing of wet shoes as they race. The world record for men is:
For women:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_distance_track_event
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