Subtitle: The Ultimate Generalist Event
Introduction
Posted on February 13th, 2024
By Olivia Baker
If you ran track at any point in life, from age-group level up through the pros, I feel confident saying that at some point, you carried the baton on a 4x400m. It didn't matter whether you were a sprinter, jumper, distance runner or even thrower—you likely found yourself in a situation at the end of a track meet where the team needed four people to line up, and your coach called out your name. This is because the 4x400m is the ultimate generalist event in track and field (hear me out).
The 4x400m demands both speed and endurance, strategy and adaptability. It's not just about being the fastest sprinter or the strongest middle-distance runner; it's about blending multiple skills to excel. Most runners don't specialize in running the 400m, but every track runner (and very many field eventers too) needs to be capable of running a respectable 4x400m leg in order to be good at their own primary event. Your high school coach didn't pull you off the track after your 100m final to put you on the 4x4 just out of necessity, but because your elite speed and power out of the blocks makes the 4x400m team better, running a 400m will make you better, too. As a matter of fact, many of the best 4x4 teams in the world are those made up of people across multiple events. Look no further than the 2021 Tokyo Olympic gold-medal winning U.S. women's 4x400m team. The team consisted of two 400m hurdlers (Sydney McLaughlin and Dalilah Muhammed), a 200m runner (Allyson Felix), and an 800m runner (Athing Mu). This blend of backgrounds created a team that could handle the unpredictable nature of the race: Dealing with different track positions, adjusting to fatigue, making split-second decisions in high-pressure moments and, ultimately, winning Olympic gold.
Just like the best 4x400m teams—those that bring together the pure speed of a sprinter with the speed endurance of a mid-distance runner—David Epstein argues that success in life often comes from drawing on diverse skills rather than hyper-specializing in one area. I chose Range by David Epstein for the 24th installment of Runners Who Read because I believe that everyone should be ready to pick up a leg on the proverbial 4x400m if your name is called. At a time where technological advances, automation and artificial intelligence are continuously changing the ways we live and work, it's important to have the skillset to adapt to ever-changing conditions, just like in a 4x400m. Whether in a field of work, running or life, choosing to become well-rounded prepares us for the challenges we will inevitably face in this day and age.
Discussion Questions:
Did you run track at any level growing up? What was your experience like running the 4x400m with your team?
Do you consider yourself a generalist or a specialist in your field of work? In what way?
What are you most looking forward to explore in this book?