How to Run Your FASTEST 800 Meters 

“How to run your fastest 800 meter dash” , run as fast as you can for two laps

“The 800 meter is not that hard” Me: laughs in lactic acid

pov: the night before you run the 800 in a meet

Nick Symmonds casually running a sub 2 min 800 by himself...

5000 like for nick then he will train for Tokyo

The dislikes are the people who can’t run 800 meters

You've got to kidding me how tf he been able to get all splits right I'm astonished

He casually hits all his splits Me: goes 5 seconds too fast or too slow😂

I looked him up he’s 35 in the world

I'm disappointed, I was expecting a ritual to give me superspeed.

Final time was 1:59.93. Very happy, very sore!! What do you think of my #1 tip for running your fastest 800?

These are my tips as somebody who went 1:51 in 4th grade. (Obviously im kidding -- in 12th grade and go 1:56.) Ok -- think about the race as a 4x200m. So, first 200 meters: Get out strong. At the 200m mark, you should be feeling good. If you are already tired after 200m, slow it down a little. Like you should be pushing it, but you shouldn't feel yourself getting drained. 200-400: Maintain. Keep the pace going. At the 400 mark you are gonna start feeling tired -- thats fine. That's good. You are getting ready for the step for 400-600 -- push it. Push. That. Shit. You need to feel like you are speeding up, BUT STAY CONTROLLED. DO NOT SPRINT. DO. NOT. SPRINT. DON'T DO IT. Start to use your arms a little bit more and start to get into a rhythm. This is by far the most important part of the race. No doubt about it. No hate, but anybody who says something else is wrong. This is the part of the race where, if you got out too slow, you pick it up. If you got out too fast, you try your god-damned best to keep that pace going. Remember, you will naturally slow down at this part of the race, so you have to feel like you are speeding up just to stay anywhere near your previous pace. (There is a reason why this is the most painful race in T&F.) Ok, now, time for the hardest part. 600-800. I have to split this into two more parts. Sorry, I know I'm breaking my own rules. Ok, 600-700: Pick it up even more. Don't sprint yet, but you should be feeling like you are like 80% of a full sprint. Your arms should be pumping, high cadence (meaning fast legs), pretty much getting ready for 700-800, where you: Send it. Just send it. This is it. There is nothing to wait for now. Just go for it. If you die, you die. Just fucking go for it. Balls to the wall. This. Is. Fucking. It. You should either be sprinting or on the fucking ground by now. No matter how tired you are, no matter what happened 700 meters ago, this is it. Go for it. Ok, that's all I got for how to run the 800. Now just a few things to not worry about: 1) Don't overthink it. These are just some guidelines that are helpful for me, but if something else works for you, do that. 2) Don't worry about heel/toe striking. I heel strike and I got to state finals, so really, just do what is comfortable. 3) Don't think negative. Don't think "aaah i feel so tired," think "I only have one more minute to go." Think about the clout you will get when you're done with your race and you broke two.

If you can still run that kind of time when you turn 50 years old, you might be able to beat the world age group record, 1:58.65, held by Nolan Shaheed which was set in 2011. I actually ran against him in an age group track meet and got left in the dust.

Y’all be hoping to break 2 when I’m hoping to break 3😂😭

I break 2 minutes in 3 year and nick break 2 after 3 year rest ,115 dislike are those who have not broken 2 minutes 800m yet feeling jealous 😂😂😂

You have an impressive PB, Nick. It is inspiring even for me who has reached the age of 60 and a pb 1.59 from 1976 to watch your videos. I still run a few times a week and will continue to do so for several more decades.

That +2 differential is a sweet spot. I ran my PR of 2:04 with 61,63. I came out in last place moved into the top 10 on the 2nd lap

The accuracy of those splits is just insane. He literally hit each split to the tenth of a second

Haha this was the motivation I need, I’m running an 800 in a random summer meet on Monday and I’m also shooting for the magical 1:59.9 so we will see how that goes 👀

I only ran in ONE track meet in high school ever. It was the Varsity 800m. I was surprised coach actually put me in for an event LOL and then I proceeded to run a 2:27 in that meet and I finished in last place lmao

Where my mid and distance runners at🙃

I do cross country yet i’m watching this

I can’t even run 100 Meters without breathing loud af

I ran track in my senior year. I had never run track b4. I ran CC then track 400 and 800meters in 1980... 9 months of training I hit 1:59.98. Imagine if I would have skipped baseball and basketball all those years, which is what made me fast, and gave me endurance; 50 line drills a day in basketball and a state berth. Then I changed schools, broke my collar bone; a new buddy talked me into CC and track. Best time of my life. Nearly qualified for state with bronchitis killing me the day I ran 1:59. Good memories..Thanks Nick.

It's a shame I can only like this video once.

Mr.Symmonds, You're looking like you are going back to your roots... I am proud to see you getting back on the right track. You're making me proud - John Adams

Today I ran a 3 sets of 800. And it took me 2.58, 2.59, 3.5 sec. Got really exausted in the end. I am an average runner and your video helps me to motivate myself more. Thank you pal. 👍

just found this and i’m super glad to have stumbled across it. i’m on the US national team for canoe sprint and i’m gonna try this tip out for my 500m (PR is around 2:00 flat)

Thanks to you I went from 2:22 to 2:17 today. Thanks a lot

You're still in shape and I hope you maintain it. You might consider Masters Track when you turn 40. Last year, M40 World Masters 800m medalists were in the 1:55s. As a masters, I've raced a few former Olympians. I know you love a challenge. It would also give you an opportunity to market your products to the huge masters community.

cross country season coming to an end so hyped for track season!!!

Very happy to see Nick still there. I remember that iconic race. In my mind the greatest race of all time. Nick came out of nowhere in that last 200m. 🙌🙌

My best is 2:05... On 600 meters ;-;

Nice tip! And the big bonus is you went out and did it. I think I want to give the 800m another shot this spring. Only ran it once last year while prepping for my first sub 5 mile race as a 30+ year old. Went out a bit too hard and had about 4s differential and ran 2:20. It’s 5k time now so lots of time to think about it and keep this tip tucked away. Thanks for the awesome content!

running my first 800 this wednesday for high school track ! super nervous but this helped get those nerves away :)

This dude is the definition of hard work. No special gift for the 8 since he ran 1:57 in highschool (while Rudishas first 800 ever was 1:50), just an athlete who knows how to train and put 100%.

It’s great how he’s still running, even when retired

Very nice. The 800 was my event in Jr high and high school. Went from a high 2:20’s in 7th to a 2:15 (with no one pushing me.. usually won each race by 70+ yards) in 8th to a 2:07 in 9th and I didn’t break 2:10 my sophomore year. That’s around the time my knee started giving out (running on an asphalt track really sucks), so I gave up track to focus on basketball and to not completely ruin my knee before high school was over. I have great respect for anyone that can or has gone sub 2, it’s definitely not easy to do. I always wondered what I might have been able to do had I just focused on track and my joints stayed healthy.

A better title would be : How to ruin your lungs in 6 minutes

Nick is here pacing a perfect 30.5+30.4 second lap while the rest of us are just trying not to die the entire second half

Want to run a PB today in little athletics and this video came out 👍

I’m gonna make thousands of accounts to like this video cuz I really want to see you in Tokyo !!

Thanks, Nick! I was waiting for this video!

My guy Nick still got it👌👌 getting better each and every week

You just proved i have no chance at breaking 2 at 66 even though i ran 2:08 at 43 and have been tying to get back in shape. I had a 4 second dif. 62,66. Had 51 400 in college and 22.7 220 in H.S. Great video!!

This video would have been so helpful 3 years ago I never knew how to pace it cause I mainly ran the mile

Wow that was super exciting. You are as solid on a track as you are with a camera. Great vibes.

Love your videos from Seattle WA, thanks for the tips my next meet is in a week, doing a 800, will help me alot!

This video was so satisfying to watch! Predicting each 200m split and then running it was simply amazing. I could probably hit each 200 split within a second for the first lap but after 600m predictions go out the window.

For aspiring athletes and people into running in general your channel is paradise

wow. you paced that perfectly and just how you said you would before you started!

My best is only a 2:22 but then again when I tell my coach I wanna run distance they put me in the 800 😂

Everyone’s talking about breaking two while I’m out here and I haven’t broken 3😂😂

Damn nice job, Nick!! Made that look easy.

These tips were rlly useful, thx

I AM EXCITED TO SEE THE NEXT VIDEO WITH YOUR DIFFERENT SECRETES TO A TACTICAL 800M RACE !!!

I run a variety of 400m, 600m and 800m and this video really helped!

I was talking about this earlier at a track meet and this was on my recommended

800 meter 2 minute me nikalna mai aap se hi sikha sir.or mai 50 ke group me excellence time de paya.or aaj cgpolice me m constable hu.ye sb aapke nam se.bahut sara dhanyawad jeevan banane ke liye.

Im amazed at the accuracy of your splits and pacing... great channel btw. subscribed

Instructions unclear: i tried running an 800 and ended up in another country Tips plz?

Cool down time!!!

Who else was watching this before your track meet and coach put you in the 4x8 even though you a distance runner 💀

True inspiration! Love this!! Great work man!

I feel like the differential should be slightly different depending on your ability. If you run a 1:40-1:41, 2 seconds is 2% of your race, but running 2:20+ means your differential would get over 3 seconds if you want to keep the percentage the same

Nick you break 2 superb bro soo happy ATHLETE ASKING TO COACH= HOW TO BREAK 2 COACH SAY =DO PROPER PACING. BUT NICK SAY= DO WHAT I DO YOU PROMISE IT U DILIVER IT ........ SO HAPPY

Nice.Smooth.Well done.Thanks for this.

Amazing job man! Really impressive to see how you knew exactly what you should be capable of so you made a plan and stuck do it and dayyyyum breaking 2, that’s impressive...

Its really weird to watch this having ran a cross country meet there only a couple weeks ago.

Started running a month ago 8:42 mile.. 25 days later I was at 6:30 mile Going for 6:00 at day 45.. Did 3 800s yesterday 2:49,2:59,3:07 So I feel good aBout where I am at and where I am headed !!

Love you, Nick!

Nice bro i'll try that 2 Seconds Strategie next time in run , good Video btw

Sick man to hit exacly what you say each 200 that's really good and still sub2min shape probz to you gonna try to hit that time aswell in 2020.

Buy an adrenaline+endorphin pack in the black market.

GOOD job man, keep going, nice video

Thank you for the information my son just made valley and he’s 9 old this is really helping him out

I ran 800 metres without stopping and it was at a steady jog and almost threw tf up. I am hella unfit.

I want to see him in Tokyo

I am big fan of you when i saw your final sprints on your US championship. I love that race😊

I am in athletics for 10 years (17 years old) but I cant believe to hit the time right every time. Well done !

This stuff about splits is mentaly complicated. I never was able to maintain even pace. :)

He needs 5000 likes guys... you heard his coach! ;D XD

I have no idea why some people dislike that amazing 800m run, love it 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏💪💪💪💪👏👏👏👏🐅🐅🐅👏👏thank you Sir

I am 35 inspired by your 800m I ran a 1:56 in high school won 🏆in Alaska and your doing basically my time at 37 I ran the track the other day at 35 and I felt so old my split at 400m was 1:07 I was running 56 splits and age does a number to the body good work bro I subscribed and love your videos

For a fitness test I do in the military, I have to run 880 yds, do you think your workouts would help me get my time down as well? Not as fast as I was in high school lol

Me trying to get running tips but not knowing any of the terms

Awesome Nick! You are a BEAST!

You made it look so easy😄👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

The reason why im watching this cos at my athletics im doing 800m so i can finish 1 place

Hey man just found your channel what shoes do you recommend for running 800 and 400

when you were talking about using your energy evenly or spreading the pb, I've only done that twice ever and it's a great feeling you just like want to laugh for a second bc you got it right and you just feel good

Hi Nick...i use to to set vibration on my Garmin. In my case it's every 32 seconds for 200m. Totally helpful for me...

Come on guys, 2 more thousand likes to go.

We have the 5000 likes. sooooooo start training nick😉

Well done nick ❤️🏃🏻‍♂️

Big fan you were my 3 fav at London after Amos, rudisha becz for your phisque 😎 love you man and run gum too

Im so scared i have my first 800 tmr and i am so scared of failing

i did 515 meters in 2 mins without training or any sport activity

You are a really good runner I wanna like it twice

Hey Nick!! I’m a new subscriber and love the content and am looking forward for new videos. I was wondering if taking phycodelics as and athlete can affect your success long and short term. I would love for you to answer this comment and love your Gum. Thanks!!!