Why do track races involve so much strategy? Shouldn’t runners just go at whatever pace gives them the best time?
In: 7
Sure, in a perfect world, but there’s so many variables. Competitive running is about the thrill of the race and out playing your opponents. Sure you want to get your best time, but you also want to win the race and the two don’t always go hand in hand.
In professional running, athletes are often so evenly matched that even the smallest error or misstep and your opponent will best you. We’re talking just a few seconds or even fractions of a second separate the best in the world. If you want to win you HAVE to race the man and not just run the track.
Humans are not robots. They have emotions and are psychologically influenced by other humans, race conditions, weather, their own internal thoughts, injury, fatigue, etc. Just because you ran your best time ever last race, doesn’t mean you’re going to do it again today. Perhaps it’s too hot out, or you had not much sleep last night. The mind/body connection is undeniable.
Going at my best pace on a solo track is different than racing in a pack. The adrenaline is different, the nerves are different. Also, runners don’t all race the same. Some go out fast, some finish with a killer kick. Almost no one runs an even/steady pace the entire time. You have to compete for space and a good spot in the pack. Oh, you wanted the inside? well guess what, someone else got it first. Now you have to go around them and run harder and faster to make up for it.
A lot of those athletes also run more than one event and have to consider the amount of effort they put into each race. They can’t go 100% every time, because they have more races to run later and will be physically spent.
At the end of the day, a race is about winning. Getting a personal best is just gravy.
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