[FarmTeam]

The 400 is definitely a sprint; the athletes even use blocks.  I don't think the 800 is considered pure middle distance anymore. It's more of a hybrid. Runners in the 800 gun it the entire race. They don't pace themselves the way runners of longer races do. Often, 800 runners will also run either the 400 (those with more speed) or the 1600 (those with less speed, but potentially more endurance). I think the 800 is the hardest race in track and field.

Sorry to quibble, but the 800 is classic "middle distance." Along with the 1500/mile. Anything outside that range (such as 3k) is arguable. Sure the 800 is fast, but it's definitely paced. (400 is paced too, though relatively minimally. No one can run all-out the entire 400. To take an extreme example of an Olympic 200/400 great, Michael Johnson wasn't running sub-20 for the first 200 of his 400).

[FarmTeam]

The 400 is definitely a sprint; the athletes even use blocks.  I don't think the 800 is considered pure middle distance anymore. It's more of a hybrid. Runners in the 800 gun it the entire race. They don't pace themselves the way runners of longer races do. Often, 800 runners will also run either the 400 (those with more speed) or the 1600 (those with less speed, but potentially more endurance). I think the 800 is the hardest race in track and field.

Sorry to quibble, but the 800 is classic "middle distance." Along with the 1500/mile. Anything outside that range (such as 3k) is arguable. Sure the 800 is fast, but it's definitely paced. (400 is paced too, though relatively minimally. No one can run all-out the entire 400. To take an extreme example of an Olympic 200/400 great, Michael Johnson wasn't running sub-20 for the first 200 of his 400).