800m - Half Marathon

[LazeeBoy]

I was just wondering with there being so much discussion about training (e.g.

Advice: Make me faster!!!

) for doing half marathons etc, How easy is it to go from track to longer road races?

The web page and forum are constantly looking for new runners to do relays etc, but surely a track runner would lose a lot of speed and be incapable of distance if they were to diverse to 10k+?

I personally can't see myself doing track for much longer, so is road running a possibility?

LazeeBoy

[Kevan]

Not being a track runner myself, I am not too sure. I would be inclined to say that if you have a good grounding in track running and the speed that goes with it then you have a good headstart on somebody who has run longer distances all their life. they always say that to run a good 10k you have to be able to run a good 5k and to be able to run a good 5k you have to be able to do a good 1500m etc.

If you have the speed then you just have to add the endurance but if you dont have the speed then you got to get it before you build your endurance, if you know what i mean?

So my answer is that road runnig is definately a possibility, you will probably even be good at it.

Sounds like we have a potential recruit for the roads ;D

[Kevan]

I think if you look at francis napier (logs on her and posts under a variety of identities) really good 800m runner and he has progressed into being one of the better 5k runners in ayrshire. would that be fair to say mr napier??? he definitely could run fast times over longer distances if he put his mind to it.

More people compete in road races and little differences get magnified much more over longer distances than on the track so its harder to do well i think.

Somebody else give their opinion please and try to encourage this fella to take up road running ;D

[tokenenglishman]

Next stage for a 800m runner is often 3000/5000m on track, you could do very well with the right training as standard is poorer than for 800m.
Autumn relays are a good test as they are usually 4k but there is always the 6 stage in March ( choice of 3 or 6 miles ).
I wouldn't jump sraight to 1/2 marathons, try 10k for a while or XC .
L

[colin]

hi lazzyboy having been an 800m runner for a period you can step up most definatly in any case a 800m runner should be able to run say 10k fairly comfortably best to mybe introduce obla type running which is done twice a week ideally on flat course 4 or 6 miles twice a week its a fast running at 3\4 paced ran evenly over each mile it takes a while to get the hang of but if you perseverve it will work out introduce a longer run usually sunday at a comfortable pace this will build stamina start at a distance and add a mile a week or fortnight , good advice from token englishman but if there is no stamina base then its got to be gradual build up a suggest 1500 as well as often 800m guys have speed but no stamina good idea also to run a fast but comfortable mile and there is a fair chance in time you could run each mile rep in that time in training and even run at that in races to xcountry excellent stamina and strenght builder and i would say a must do, even if its a struggle and you dont do so well possibly when you change your distance your 800m times wont change much and you will be more consistant at that distance , good luck