The Toughest Event In Track And Field

I'm one of those "not very good at anything" guys, but the pain is there whether you are good or not.  I ran all three (400H, 800, 10K)  in college, and none of them comes close to the Steeplechase. 

Any event is as hard as you make it :) :) :) :)

The 800 is the hardest. It's  basically an all out sprint for 2 laps with lots of physical contact. There is less time to make decisions like you can in the 1500 and tons of contact unlike the 400 or 400h. It isn't long enough to make a mistake and recover and to fast to have a big strategy.

There is no way a 400 meter or 800 meter event is more painful than longer events that turn in to sprints at the end of a race (i.e. Gaylen Rupp 1:52 at the end of a 5,000 or 10,000). Both races are too short and lend themselves to anarobic pain that is short lived. The 10,000 meter has to be the most painful in a very competetive race (talking track not road race) and I would place the steeple as second. Only sprinters feel that the 400 is most painful, and I do not disagree that a a burning fast 400 or 800 is very painful, but not like the pain of a really fast 10K (which I have never experienced but have seen the aftermath at Oklahoma State, 5,000 and 3,000 steeple (steeple I have experienced many times). Amazed by those who think the 400 or 800 are the same and sure that those who have been world class runners at those two distances would not tell you the same thing if being truthful.

I'm an 800 runner but the toughest event in my opinion is the steeple chase!

Ive run many of races on the track and for me personally it was always the 800 that was the toughest to run, it was so fast, hard and when you were about to die at the end of one lap you still had another lap to go at a pace that made you feel like you never wanted to run it gain....the 10,000 was a race for me that I could pace myself. the 400 hurdles at least was just one lap..Only the 800 ever made me feel like I never wanted to run it again...

I believe the toughest event would be the 400IH because the 400 already being one of the hardest races in the track with 10 hurdles in front and having to maintain form down the last stretch....definitely the hardest thing to do in track and field

I be

Well, at least we all agree!

i love the "i've raced everything from 400m to 10K" guys...clearly weren't very good at anything

the hardest event is reading all of these dumb comments

the hardest event is reading all of these ed comments!!

Steeplechase is the most grueling. I trained for it after being in great shape from cross country and it was quite a surprise. You break your rhythm jumping those unforgiving hurdles when you're tired. A lot tougher than the pros make it look.As far as technical demands, of course the decathlon is toughest. 10 times the picky details to master than any one event. And the balancing act in training has to be murder.

Steeplechase is the most grueling. I trained for it after being in great shape from cross country and it was quite a surprise. You break your rhythm jumping those unforgiving hurdles when you're tired. A lot tougher than the pros make it look.As far as technical demands, of course the decathlon is toughest. 10 times the picky details to master than any one event. And the balancing act in training has to be murder.

Haha, it's pretty obvious people are going to be biased based on their personal strengths and what races they race mostly. Every race should hurt at the end if your pushing your body to new limits!!!!!!

all depends on what you are trained for...i ran 400 hurdles in college and ran all three 400m races in one day at our conference meet...i was exhausted but could walk after. If I ran one 10k i would have to be carted off the track. The only people who can credibly answer this question are those that know how to push beyond the mind to the body's max and have done so in every length of racing. Thats slim pickings. So I'll vote...... Race Walk haha

I have run literally everything on the track! The 400 hurdles were easy for me being a longer legged runner. I would have to say the steeple has been the worst race of my career. However when it is good its good! The 10k would definitely take the cake, cause its hard to run that fast that long every time you run it!

1. 3000mSC2. 10,000m3. 800m

I guess you could say to run at an elite level they're all the toughest - everyone is pushing the limits of human ability and 1% is an eternity. Running any race at 100% of your ability is equally difficult - in the shorter races it can be technical and minor details in comparison to longer events which may require a higher volume of training and a mental aspect, however every event is tough. If the body can only withstand so much of a beating before it quits, and everyone is running at this near maximum, all events would consequently be damn near equally tough. Just because a 100 runner isn't bonking in his race where as the 10k runner is doesn't mean his event is 'easier' - the 100 requires minuscule improvements to the smallest of details and a large amount of work in the weight room.

It probably varies person to person. I have done every distance from 100-half marathon, but never a hurdles event. Out of those, it has to be the 800 for me. I feel like the pole vault would be hard too..

id say the steeple

the 800 SUCKS!!!!!!!!! everything from the 1500 up is long enough that you actualy pace it like a distance event and endurance comes into play. all the sprints are so short you dont even have time to care. but the 800 is right in the middle. too long to sprint, and too short to pace

If you count the Marathon as Track and Field then I'd say that's the hardest. It's 4 times longer than any other Olympic race distance. If you don't count it, then the 10K for sure. Every 10K I have ever run has had DNFs. Especially if it's really hot out. Also there is nothing more disheartening then seeing a big 2 in the tens place on the lap counter.

10K, 800, 400H, mile, steeple, decathlon, 600, 400, 5K, 110H, 100H,3K, 300, 200, 100, 50-60H, 50-60m. The 800 is the most unforgiving because it has evolved into a 2 lap sprint-you need strength & speed. The 400 is at least over in a lap. The 400H complicates things because there are 10 hurdles not just a few & w/ constant changes of gears from up to . 10K track training is brutal at the elite level. It requires lots of aculated mileage over years & to sharpen the times-lots of mile repeats w/ little rest in between. The mile is perhaps the hardest to coach & is brutal because it is 50% aerobic & 50% anaerobic. You need a decent mileage base if you have no natural speed. You need plenty of speedwork to condition anaerobically. It is a painful race. The decathlon speaks for itself--so many events to concentrate on-little sleep & rest between events. It takes a particularly gifted athlete w/ innate strength & decent speed. You have to be able to clear a pole vault high & a high jump height. Speed & plyos will get you thru the other events. The throws-it helps if you have some height.As long as you can get the flexibility to throw-you can train that part. The 400-you have to have some innate anaerobic ability to put 4 x 100 meter pieces together without dropping hords of time. The hurdles-you got to 3-step & clear the height. The 1500 can be trained on with just a decent mileage base & some speed work.Steeple is harder because of the continual change of gears. You need to do more agility & strength training with that to keep the legs from getting too heavy. The short sprints of course rely on tremendous natural talent but you do have to put in your technique work & anaerobic stuff. High jumpers are born & have a good eye. Pole vault is the most technically challenging. The throws you can do but you have to watch the wear & tear on the joints in jav. The easiest race to master is the 3k. A good mileage base & adequate speedwork will make this even-paced race a joy to run.

i agree with this list of track's toughest events exactly. The 10k is tough on the track even though tracks are flat. The problem is lack of shade. To run a decent 10k calls for many mile repeats in order to secure them together. The 800 is now a sprint-about 1-maybe 2 seconds off one's personal pr at 400. Highly anaerobic. Lots of neurological & metabolic fatigue. Impossible to predict & even for a runner-never knowing if your legs will be dead. The 400H is grueling because it's a 400 w/ constant changes of up & down rhythm.

I do not think you should count out thhe deca. It is very difficult to compete at a high level. Having to warm up and cool down 10 times in two days, then exert maximum energy on a number of attempts and races . In high jump and pole vault you can end up 10 or more attempts in each event.Take a look at top decathletes efforts and tell me that would not be draining, it is not always endurance that burns you out the explosive events done repeatedly is sooo difficult.I say decathlon and 400m hurdles.

DID SOMEONE PUT CRACK IN YOUR COFFEE THIS MORNING?!?!?! The hardest event is definitly the one where you have to beat the cheetah in the 1mile hurdles to avoid fighting a grizzly bear with only num chucks

are you kidding me?? the hurdles are by far the hardest. think about it. it takes way more skill and when you start feeling like crap not only do you have to worry about running fast but you still have to worry about jumping over things and not falling on your face, which is absolutely terrible when you're kicking. Any of the other races all you have to worry about it running fast at the end!

"Sprinter is the polite term for those who aren't tough enough for the distances", and whoever said that shotput is the toughest, I'll just say that I've seen shotputters warm up, and their warm up is typically eating.

These questions are always a little stupid. Clearly, the farther you run, the tougher it is - providing that you are giving an all out effort. Ask any 400m runner to run a full out 800m and they will tell you which is tougher. The only exception to this might be the 3000st, which might be considered more difficult than a 5000m, but I'm not really sure if that is true.

The 400 and the 800 are equally painful for me. What I don't like about the 800 is that you feel the burn for twice as long compared to a 400. I love 'em both though.

I'm going with the 800m and the marathon. Two extremes but some great drama and a lot of pain!

I have ran everything from the 800 to the 10k! I think the toughest race is the 5k, you have to be mentally tough! I have found the steeplechase to be easier than the 5k!

This is almost impossible to pick because each person is different nobody is the best at all of these races. i.e. girl i dated loved the 800m found it too be the easy race there was. I hate the 8. I thought the steeple was the easy race there was but she thought it was too hard. So i mean everyone is different in that sense.But from being at meets and just running with people most people would say the steeple is the hardest because unlike most races you can build like a "rhythm" for running because with steeples you cant build a "rhythm" due to the jumping nature of it.Dale

All of you runners(sprinters and distance alike) dont no anything, becauase i bet none of you have ever thrown a shotput. Throwing is by far the hardesr event! You must eat properly train nonstop, and push your body past thr awful pain!

I agree that the 800 is the toughest to coach. I have not come across an event that requires such a high level of instincts (maybe the marathon).

i think the 400m flat is by far the hardest. Since lactic acid builds the most in this event and u try to battle the fatigue down the home stretch :S

This is a great topic among a group on a Sunday long run.  Here are my top three:

1.  10,000 meters
2.  400 hurdles
3.  800 meters

I have debated this several times with fellow runners over the years.  More suffering goes on at intense levels in those events than any other.