Competitive Pacing Strategies Used In Olympic Track Races

Abstract

Most of the literature on pacing in long distance running events is either on World Record or on best pace performances, with few data regarding how races at high level championships are actually contested. PURPOSE: To determine the pacing strategies used in the 800 to 10,000 m track finals. Specifically, we asked 1) if Olympic pacing strategies were different from World Record pacing, 2) how constant the running velocity was, 3) whether runners faced catastrophic events after dropping off the leading group, and 4) what the winning strategy amongst the medalists was based upon. METHODS: We used publically available data from the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games gathered by transponder antennae under the 400m track at 0m, 100m, 200m and 300m. In a descriptive approach, we plotted velocity by distance to visualize 1 & 2) individual velocity of all runners in comparison to the world record, 3) velocity collapsed into groups of runners as well as 4) individual velocity of the three medalists only. RESULTS: Most finals were won in a time within 4% of the World Record. No clear pattern of velocity was evident, and plots differed from the 'inverted U' pattern reported for World Record races. The coefficient of variability of running velocity was 3.6-11.4 %. The variation in running velocity evident in the 100m data was greater than was evident in the traditionally used 400m split data. In the longer events, the runners who were 'dropped' from the field appeared to achieve a stable running velocity and displayed an endspurt. Following the reduction in the size of the field by 'dropping' the majority of the competitors, most races were not decided amongst the top contenders until the final lap. DISCUSSION: The pacing strategy used in Olympic track races differs from the strategy employed in World Record or best pace races. There is a high degree of variation in running velocity evident in the 100 m data, which is not adequately represented by 400m lap 'splits'. Dropping off the pace of the leading group is not a catastrophic event, but seems to be an active step designed to prevent a catastrophic event. Finally, the race among the medalists is decided by differences in the endspurt, with the peak velocity achieved during the last 400m.