Q&A for How to Run a Faster 800m

Yes! Always stretch before you run as part of your warm-up. Stretching will help you run better.

Give it everything you've got. Don't drop off until the finish.

Carry on pushing, and don't give up. Take deep breaths, and at the end, walk around and stretch.

If you think that you're keeping pace on the 2nd lap you're not. You are actually slowing down so try to speed up a bit. Your legs will get tired if you're running the hardest you can. When you finish remember to stretch.

Do fast runs at moderate distances (usually about 3 miles) as well as regular sprint work (400s or 800s).

Breathe heavily from the start of the race to the end, as doing this helps to build up oxygen in your lungs.

If I am doing a race, go a little faster in the beginning to get ahead of most people. Once you have done that, slow down and properly pace yourself. Take deep breaths so you do not run out of energy, but most of all, how fast or how long you sprint at the end. Just train, practice breathing and sprinting at the end.

Just focus on striding, this helps you take longer steps while running any event.

If you experience heartburn, try push through it. It might slow you down, but don't let it stop you. If you experience an asthma attack, however, stop immediately and use a rescue inhaler. Don't run for the rest of the day.

You can do that but make sure you keep at a steady pace for the start so that you don't get tired when you try to sprint near the end.

Don't smoke anymore. It sounds simple, but for people who are addicted it is hard. There are rehabilitation organizations that can help you give up smoking. Quitting will make you feel so much better.

From a guess, that pain you feel in your side is probably a side ache, known colloquially as a "stitch". This answer space isn't large enough to detail the actions to take, but do check out: How to Prevent Side Aches for detailed help on this matter.

Two minutes isn't a very fast timing for 400m, so it should be quite manageable. Practice often and you'll be fine.

No. Run hard, but don't start sprinting until the last half-lap or quarter-lap.

Eat the right amount of carbs and protein. Make sure to eat more complex carbs and stay away from high sugar foods.

Some people rest for just one day. Experiment with this, and see what works best for you.

Compete against yourself. Try to run a given distance a little faster every time you run it.

It is possible, but depends on what kind of condition you are starting out in. To increase your stamina, find a medium pace to go at when you are tired that is not fast, but not slow, either. To not get tired too fast, take the first lap easy and then begin speeding up at the beginning of the second lap. By the last 200 meters, you should be doing the fastest sprint you can.

Settle into your pace-like sprint. Just keep running and make sure you save kick for the end.

Of course, it is necessary to have good timing and pump your arms hard.

Your hands should be up at your face, your fingertips should be seen at the corner of your eye for your sprint. Raise your legs up, and take small steps.

Yep! Feeling terrible while running is totally normal; It just means you're working really hard! After all, running is all about pushing through the pain. Just remember that everyone else you are racing is going through the exact same thing. Keep in mind that this might be a sign of dehydration. You should drink at least 8 cups of water per day. If your urine is often dark yellow, that is a sign you need to be drinking more water.

Long strides save more energy, so stretch often to get your muscles ready for long strides.

Many runners do that, but you should experiment to see what breathing pattern you're most comfortable with. If you don't think very much about it, you'll probably fall into a natural rhythm that's right for you.

The 800 is truly a sprint more than it is distance. What you have to do is work on speed training.

That's two laps on a typical track.

Try to give it all you've got. If you can't keep running, then try walking or jogging instead. Once you've gotten your strength back, start running again.

You definitely should slow down or stop running. What's happening inside your head is much more important than winning a race. See a doctor if symptoms persist.

Learn sprinting mechanics. After going on a long run, run 4 shorter faster intervals, about 100-400m, and work on your form.

Your body is just reacting to the strain you're placing on it. If you're serious about running, you'll train hard and find that the pain and fatigue will diminish (but never vanish completely).