Middle-distance running facts for kids
Middle-distance running events are exciting track races that are longer than sprints. They usually go up to 3000 metres. The most common middle distances are the 800 metres, 1500 metres, and the mile run. Sometimes, the 3000 metres is also considered a middle-distance race. The 1500 m race became popular because it's about 3 and three-quarter laps on a 400 m outdoor track.
What Are Middle-Distance Races?
Middle-distance races are a mix of speed and endurance. Runners need to be fast, but they also need to have enough energy to keep going for several laps. These races are often very tactical, meaning runners think about when to speed up or slow down to win.
Popular Middle-Distance Races
800 Metres: The Two-Lap Dash
The 800 m race is two laps around a standard 400 m track. It has always been a part of the Olympic Games. Women's 800 m was first included in the Olympics in 1928, then brought back in 1960.
The men's world record is held by David Rudisha from Kenya, who ran it in 1 minute, 40.91 seconds in London on August 9, 2012. For women, Jarmila Kratochvílová from Czechoslovakia set the record of 1 minute, 53.28 seconds in Munich on July 26, 1983.
1000 Metres: A Less Common Challenge
This distance is not raced very often, but it's more common than the 500 m. It's sometimes part of indoor events like the men's heptathlon or high school competitions.
The men's record for 1000 metres is held by Noah Ngeny from Kenya, with a time of 2 minutes, 11.96 seconds, set in Rieti on September 5, 1999. The women's record belongs to Svetlana Masterkova from Russia, who ran it in 2 minutes, 28.98 seconds in Brussels on August 23, 1996.
1500 Metres: The Metric Mile
The 1500 metres is also known as the "metric mile." It's a very important middle-distance race, covering three and three-quarter laps on a standard Olympic track. These races have become very fast, almost like a long sprint.
Hicham El Guerrouj from Morocco holds the men's world record with an amazing time of 3 minutes, 26.00 seconds, set in Rome on July 14, 1998. For women, Faith Kipyegon from Kenya set the world record of 3 minutes, 49.11 seconds in Florence on June 2, 2023. This race is tough because it needs both speed and smart race strategy.
The Mile Run: A Classic Distance
The Mile run is a very famous middle-distance race, measuring 1760 yards (about 1609 metres). It's still very popular, especially in countries that don't use the metric system. Even though most world records are for metric distances, World Athletics (the global governing body for athletics) made an exception for the mile, so records are still kept for it.
Running a mile in less than four minutes was once thought to be impossible! The first person to break this "four-minute barrier" was Roger Bannister from England in Oxford in 1954.
The current world record holders are Hicham El Guerrouj from Morocco (3 minutes, 43.13 seconds, Rome, July 7, 1999) and Faith Kipyegon from Kenya (4 minutes, 7.64 seconds, Monaco, July 21, 2023).
2000 Metres: A Longer Middle Distance
The 2000 metres race is a bit longer. The men's world record is held by Jakob Ingebrigtsen from Norway, who ran it in 4 minutes, 43.13 seconds in 2023. This beat the previous record by Hicham El Guerrouj.
For women, Sonia O'Sullivan from Ireland holds the outdoor record with 5 minutes, 25.36 seconds, set in Edinburgh on July 8, 1994. Genzebe Dibaba from Ethiopia ran even faster indoors, with a time of 5 minutes, 23.75 seconds on February 7, 2017.
3000 Metres: Borderline Distance
The 3000 metres race is right on the edge between middle and long distances. It's 7.5 laps around a 400 m track. This race was a championship event for women at the outdoor World Athletics Championships and Olympics from 1983 to 1993.
It's still a main event at the World Athletics Indoor Championships. To do well in this race, you need good speed, but strong endurance and smart race plans can help a lot. The records are held by Daniel Komen from Kenya (7 minutes, 20.67 seconds, Rieti, September 1, 1996) and Junxia Wang from China (8 minutes, 6.11 seconds, Beijing, September 13, 1993).
Steeplechase Events
Steeplechase races are special middle-distance events that include obstacles.
3000 Metres Steeplechase: Jumping and Running
The 3000 metres steeplechase is a tough race that needs a lot of strength, stamina, and agility. Runners have to jump over five barriers in each lap, after a flat first 200 metres. One of these barriers is placed in front of a water pit, so runners also have to deal with wet shoes!
The world records are held by Saif Saeed Shaheen from Qatar (7 minutes, 53.63 seconds, Brussels, September 3, 2004) and Gulnara Samitova from Russia (8 minutes, 58.81 seconds, Beijing, August 17, 2008).
Other Middle-Distance Races
600 Metres: A Sprinter's Test
This 600 metres distance is not very common. It's mostly run by sprinters who want to test how long they can keep up their speed. It's also used by 800 m runners early in the season to build fitness.
Johnny Gray from the United States holds the men's record: 1 minute, 12.81 seconds, set in Santa Monica on May 24, 1986. Caster Semenya from South Africa holds the women's record: 1 minute, 21.77 seconds, set in Berlin on August 27, 2017.
1600 Metres: The High School Mile
This race is exactly four laps of a 400 m track. It's often run in US high schools as a replacement for the mile. It's very close to a mile, just a little bit shorter.
The final part of a distance medley relay is also 1600 metres.
Two Miles: A Longer Challenge
The two-mile race is a long middle-distance or short long-distance event, measuring about 3520 yards (3218 metres).
Jakob Ingebrigtsen holds the current world record in the two-mile, running 7 minutes, 54.10 seconds in Paris on June 9, 2023. Meseret Defar from Ethiopia is the fastest woman: 8 minutes, 58.58 seconds, Brussels, September 14, 2007.
See also
- Long-distance running
- The Flying Finns
