Revamping Pace Distribution: A Case Study on Elevating the Men's 400 m Track and Field Japanese National Record After 32 Years

Abstract Chiba, Y, Sato, K, Yoshimoto, T, Ohnuma, H, Yamanaka, R, Takahashi, K, Kobayashi, K, Matsubayashi, T, and Takai, Y. Revamping pace distribution: A case study on elevating the men's 400 m track and field Japanese national record after 32 years. J Strength Cond Res 39(4): e610–e615, 2025—Many studies have investigated the 400-m sprint, and the optimal pacing strategy is subject to debate. Little information is available regarding the effects of changes in the pacing strategy on running speed and spatiotemporal variables in the official 400-m race. This case study analyzed changes in running speed and spatiotemporal variables of a Japanese elite long sprinter who set a new Japanese national record in the 400-m race by modifying his pace distribution based on the analysis of his previous races and the performances of world-class long sprinters. To revamp his pace distribution, 25 preceding races (ranging from 45.47 to 46.95 seconds) were analyzed, spanning from June 2015 to June 2023. The independent variables were the 50-m split time, average running speed, percentage of the 50-m split time relative to the 400-m record, step length, and step frequency. K.S. broke his own record by modifying the pacing distribution based on the development of his previous race and the world-class long sprinters. The modified pacing strategy increased running speed in the 200- to 300-m section. Step lengths were longer throughout the 400 m, and step frequencies were higher in the last 200 m than before the alteration in the pace distribution. Modifying the pacing strategy from leading to driving may enhance the personal records of long sprinters. This improvement is attributed to the maintenance of longer step lengths over the entire 400-m range and an increase in the step frequency in the last 200 m.