Interesting that Steve Cram was considered a slow type of middle distance runner

[Guns 'n' Roses]

yet he ran the 400 m in 48 seconds which is FACKIN fast.

Coe was fast. But the fastest was Juantorena. Think he was below 44 on 400 m. Still, fast or slow type, no one can run the first round of the 800 m much faster than 51 seconds and get away with it.

[Billy Goat Sverige]

[Guns 'n' Roses]

Common rule is you can run the first lap on the 800 m between 3 and 4 seconds slower than your 400 m record. Unless you're a very fast runner. Then the gap is larger.

[Billy Goat Sverige]

[Guns 'n' Roses]

1.42.58. He turned at around 51 I think, maybe a tad faster. Although a lot of runners prefer to open a second or two faster than the final round, I think the most optimal is to have two equal rounds.Maybe an opening of 50.5 would gave given Rudisha a final time of 1.51.0?

[Dutch Gooner]

still a very good run and time though http://www.awimb.com/images/smiley_icons/wink.gif