KS4 · Physical education · Year 10

Middle distance training

Non-examined assessment: athletics practical

Learn it. Recall it. Make it stick.

IllumED Slides

Download lesson + answers ↓

IllumED · 1/10

Your learning goal

I can maintain an effective running style at an ideal pace to complete 800m.

1 of 10

Middle distance training: slides adapted from the imported teaching text; recall questions created from its keywords, learning points and common mistakes. Self-check practice, with no automatic grading or XP. Answers stay on this page and are cleared when you leave.

What you’ll learn

I can maintain an effective running style at an ideal pace to complete 800m.

Key learning points

Move: maintaining an effective smooth, upright and relaxed running technique will maximise the use of energy.
Move: discovering a pace which is sustainable for you and performing it consistently will aid performance in races.
Think: making good decisions about the pace you can sustain will positively impact your personal best.
Feel: self-assessing your condition during performance will help to select and apply the optimal pace going forward.
Connect: working with others to discover your ideal pace will build confidence in your ability to apply it in a race.

Words to know

pace: the steady, controlled speed a runner maintains during the race
split time: time taken to cover a segment of the race
upright: a vertical posture maintaining a straight back

Common mistakes

Pupils may perform middle distances by jogging the majority to conserve energy and putting a sprint in at the end. This often leads to pupils wishing they had put more effort into the initial stages.

A well performed 800m requires a fine line between holding back some energy for the finish but also performing at around 80-90% maximum effort for around the first 600m.

For parents, carers and teachers

This lesson is designed with pupils performing 800m due to its accessibility to mixed ability groups. However, if you believe your pupils would suit 1500m, you can find alternative split times in the additional materials.