Unique Aspects Of The Pacing Pattern In 800m Running And 200m Swimming

Abstract

The pattern of energy distribution, reflected by movement velocity is thought to be negatively accelerated in 800m running and relatively even in 200m swimming. However, official split times may lack the temporal resolution to fully appreciate the pacing pattern. PURPOSE: This study was designed to make high temporal resolution observations of the pacing pattern in WR performances for 800m running and 200m swimming (time base ∼2 min). METHODS: Archival video records of WR performances were reviewed and hand timed, using natural markers in the environment (with official race splits as a correlating factor) to allow measurement of mean velocity at ∼12% distance increments (100m and 25m for running and swimming, respectively). Velocity curves were fitted using a best fit polynomial (3rd order) and with a simple linear model. RESULTS: The mean (with official split) performances were: 102.28+0.99s (49.72+1.03, 52.49+0.37) for 800m and 104.31+1.04s (25.74+0.98, 25.97+1.03, 26.19+1.14, 26.34+1.32) for 200m. With velocities expressed relative to the mean velocity of the race, using a linear model, both the 800m (R2=0.22) and 200m (R2=0.25) were negatively accelerated, with the negative acceleration more pronounced in the 800m. This pattern persisted even when the opening segment (100m or 25m) was removed. When a best fit model was applied, the 800m (R2=0.42) was described by an overall negatively accelerated biphasic curve, with evidence of an end spurt during the last 100m. For the 200m (R2=0.46), there was evidence of large velocity differences during the first and last 25m of each length of the pool, associated with an increase in speed from the push off and progressively slower free swimming velocities during the last 25m of successive pool lengths. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the concept that the pacing strategy during 800m running and 200m swimming is more complex than reflected by official race splits, and that velocity data with higher temporal resolution may be of considerable value relative to understanding the energy distribution of competition.