Length of a 1500-Meter Run and Training Schedules Menu Verywell Fit Nutrition Weight Management Nutrition Facts Nutrition Basics Diets Meal Plans Meal Delivery Services View All News Fitness and Nutrition What to Buy How We Test Products Fitness Gear Nutrition Products Tools Recipe Nutrition Calculator Weight Loss Calorie Goal BMI Calculator Body Fat Percentage Calculator Calories Burned by Activity Daily Calories Burned Pace Calculator About Us Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Search Running Beginners Training for a 1500-Meter Race By Christine Luff, ACE-CPT Christine Luff, ACE-CPT Christine Many Luff is a personal trainer, fitness nutrition specialist, and Road Runners Club of America Certified Coach. Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 15, 2022 Reviewed Verywell Fit articles are reviewed by nutrition and exercise professionals. Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by John Honerkamp Reviewed by John Honerkamp John Honerkamp is an RRCA and USATF certified running coach, celebrity marathon pacer, and recognized leader in the New York City running community. Learn about our Review Board Print Cavan Images If you're running a 1500-meter race, you'll run just under one mile (0.93 miles, to be precise). It is also equal to 1.5 kilometers. The 1500-meter is a popular middle distance track event in track and field competitions, from youth participation all the way up to the Olympic level. This distance has been run at the Summer Olympics since the inception of the Games in 1896. It was only available as part of the men's medal sports until 1972, when the women's 1500 was introduced. It has three qualifying rounds to narrow the field of competitors to 12 athletes. Today, a lap of most running tracks is equal to 400 meters, so it would take 3.75 laps to equal 1,500 meters. Many American high schools feature the mile race or 1600 meters (four laps of the track) in their track and field competitions, rather than the 1500-meter race. How to Train for a 1500-Meter Race If you'd like to improve your time in the 1500-meter event or you're hoping to build up to running 1500 meters without stopping, you can use training programs and advice for the mile distance. The distances are so close that the approach is the same. 4-Week Beginner Program To be able to run a mile without stopping or taking a walking break, you can work on a few things. First, make sure you are breathing properly and taking deep belly breaths rather than shallow upper chest breaths. You need the oxygen so you won't be out of breath quickly and need to slow to a walk. Keep your posture straight and not hunched over. Keep your pace at a level where you can still talk in full sentences. Many beginner running programs incorporate a combination of running and walking in order to build up to running a mile. Each week, you'll make a slight increase in your running distance and a decrease in your walking distance. By the end of 4 weeks, you'll be able to run one mile without stopping. For measuring purposes, it's best to do the workout on a track, which is usually 400 meters, or about 1/4 mile. Start each run with a 5- to 10-minute warm-up walk, and finish with a 5- to 10-minute cool-down walk. When you're first starting out, it's best not to run two days in a row. Take a rest day or do another activity like walking, biking or swimming. If the pace is too challenging, repeat a week before moving on to the next week. Make the program work for you. If you are new to running, talk to a healthcare provider before beginning a new running program. They can advise you on what is right for your specific situation. Want to Run a Mile? This 4-Week Program Will Get You on Track Advanced Plan for Speed If you have been running the 1500 meter for a while, you may be more interested in improving your time. To run a faster mile, focus on your base and add speed and endurance intervals. You also can work on your stride turnover with drills for a faster step cadence. Interval training in which you include faster and slower intervals will help build speed, while hill repeats or stair running will build running efficiency and strength. You also must run farther than a mile in order to improve your endurance over the mile. 22 Tips to Improve Running Speed and Endurance What to Expect During a Race If you're running a 1500-meter race for time, keep your target finish time in mind when you approach the starting line. Perform a running warmup before you take off to prepare your muscles for the upcoming high-speed race. Once you start the race, split up the distance into four equal sections. The first quarter of the race will be the time during which you accelerate to your target pace. During the next two quarters, dial in to your pace, keeping your breathing under control and maintaining proper form. Finally, during the last quarter and as you approach the finish line, pick up the pace if possible and start your kick to the finish. This surge will carry you to the end. Many professional runners aim for negative splits where they complete the second half of a race quicker than the first half. In this strategy, you conserve energy at the beginning to power up toward the end of the race. Learn Your Pace With Our Running Pace Calculator How to Prevent Injuries Before beginning any workout, especially one which requires high levels of exertion, always remember to warm up and stretch properly. Dedicate at least 10 minutes before lining up at the starting line to stretch and warm up your whole body. Then, as you're running, remember to maintain good form. Whether you're a heel striker, forefoot runner, or hit right at the ball of your foot, run in whatever form comes most naturally to you. Studies have shown that there is no "perfect running form." In fact, running the most natural way for you is what will allow you to optimize your gait. Keep your elbows bent and arms swinging at your sides, remembering not to clench your fists. Maintain consistent and even breathing. Finally, after you've finished your race, take a few moments to cool down and allow your heart rate to decelerate. A proper cool-down is especially important after a high-speed session like a 1500-meter race. Cross the finish line and remember not to stop. Instead, keep moving your body and jog or walk slowly through the finishing area. When you return home, consider a short cool-down stretch or a foam rolling session to take care of your muscles. Common Running Mistakes That Lead to Injury A Word From Verywell Whether you're running a 1500-meter race as part of a competition or for fun, always remember to keep proper form and to take care of your body before, during, and after a race. If you have specific time goals in mind, consider connecting with a coach or trainer who will create a custom running plan for you. And regardless of your finishing time, be proud of having toed the starting line and taking on a demanding and quick distance like a 1500-meter race. Training Schedules for Running Races 1 Source Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Hamill J, Gruber AH. Is changing footstrike pattern beneficial to runners? Journal of Sport and Health Science. 2017;6(2):146. doi:10.1016/j.jshs.2017.02.004 By Christine Luff, ACE-CPT Christine Many Luff is a personal trainer, fitness nutrition specialist, and Road Runners Club of America Certified Coach. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Related Articles Walking Time for Mile, 5K, 10K, Half-Marathon, Marathon, and More How to Run Faster Running for Beginners: How to Get Started Learn Your Pace With Our Running Pace Calculator 8 Tips to Run a Mile Without Stopping Want to Run a Mile? This 4-Week Program Will Get You on Track 6 Track Workouts to Improve Your Speed and Finishing Kick What Is a Good 10k Time for Beginners and Advanced Runners? What's a Good Finishing Time for Running a Marathon? How Long Does It Take to Run a Marathon? How to Know How Fast You Are Walking Basic Half-Marathon Training Schedule for Beginners 4-Week 5K Training Plan for Beginners How to Start Running Again After You've Taken a Break How to Run Your Fastest Mile How Long Will It Take You to Run a 5K? When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept All