1500m Race Times

Vivara

Hi Guys,

I'm preparing for a 1500m race. Only a bit of a laugh, not really competitive to be honest.

One thing I'm wondering is what time a fifteen year old of better than average fitness would do a 1500m race in? I'm not looking for world record times — I just want to be able to mimic a race on a treadmill!

If possible, I know it would be difficult and I know every race is different, could someone do something like the following? (All speeds and times are totally made up.)

1st Minute: 5km/hr
2nd Minute: 6km/hr
3rd Minute: 4.5km/hr
4th Minute: 3km/hr
5th Minute: 5km/hr
Last Thirty Seconds: 8km/hr
Etc.
Etc.

If it's easier to do it in distances, e.g. 1st 200m: 5km/hr, then please do.

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Ed.

mrak

if it's pb you're after I would divide the distance by your target time and target that for the whole race. I.e. keep the pace even. If you want to do 1500m in 5 minutes then you're talking nearly 4x80 second laps so go to a track and practice at that pace.

If it's a race then it's simple - just pick the lad you want to beat and make sure you get to the finish line before him (either by running faster or by surprising him near the end with your finish. Most common strat is for a hard 3rd lap.). A good time for a 15 year old could be anything from 5:20 to 3:55. If you're faster than that and in the east galway region then send me a pm and I'll send you a club membership form .

Also you can't simulate a race on a treadmill - if it's on a treadmill then make sure to add an incline.

robinph

Would a treadmill even go fast enough for a 1500m?

mrak

robinph wrote: »

Would a treadmill even go fast enough for a 1500m?

Just about - the best treadmills I've seen max out at 20kph which is about 4:30 for a 1500. Cheaper ones max out at 12. Haile's world marathon record would be about 22 on a treadmill which really puts it in perspective.

robinph

He would kill the motors after 2hrs going at that speed, even if he took it easy at a mere 20kph.

Vivara

Thanks for your help! The race is four weeks away, but I know no-one else is really even thinking about it so I have an advantage.

Do you have any tips you could give me? How would I work up to that time in four weeks?

Would you recommend just setting the speed at 12km/hr and trying to run for six/seven minutes or what? How much of an incline should I use? I have access to a track as well, but want to primarily work on a treadmill.

mrak wrote: »

If it's a race then it's simple - just pick the lad you want to beat and make sure you get to the finish line before him (either by running faster or by surprising him near the end with your finish. Most common strat is for a hard 3rd lap.). A good time for a 15 year old could be anything from 5:20 to 3:55. If you're faster than that and in the east galway region then send me a pm and I'll send you a club membership form .

Are you sure it's that simple? LOL. In theory everything sounds great, but what if he is just fitter than me?!


Thanks a million again.

Regards,
Ed.

myflipflops

Vivara wrote: »

want to primarily work on a treadmill.
.

Why do you want to work on a treadmill?

Getting familiar with track conditions is important. A treamill will in no way replicate the experience of running outside on a track.

robinph

I've never used a treadmill, but can see that they would be useful on very rare occasions when you cannot get outside for some reason or other. For 1500m training they can't have a whole lot of use at all I'd have thought.

If the race is going to be around a track though, then get out and do some laps as well as doing your other training miles. I've done a lot of miles running, but I have no idea of how to pace myself around a track so in the few occasions last year when I raced on a track I messed it up each time as I still didn't know what I was doing.

TrackFan123

Stop faffing about with a treadmill, get out on the track or on a field somewhere

clonliffe 22

If the race is on a treadmill then stick to it if not get on a track.
getting the pace right is so important.U see guys going of way to fast in graded meets every year,this is due too not knowing what pace to run at and not simulating it in training.
do a time trial soon and work of that pace,with improved fitness int he next 3-4 weeks you should be ready.ps give your body proper rest between workouts and dont go back to back with some easy running in between.
stay fresh int he week leading up to it and do some sharp work at slightly faster than race pace in the last week.

moonshadow

So how did the race go?did you get a good start off the threadmil?