The end product of training is to race successfully. There is plenty of statistical evidence to show that in a six-month period the fifth to seventh 800m raced is most likely to be the fastest. However, it is for each athlete to check his or her racing diaries to find out when peaks have been achieved in the past. The aim is to perform well on the right day, which may be an Olympic final. The races should be arranged so that the likely peak will occur when it matters most.
Tactics are important.
Although it is the contemporary trend to cover the first lap two-seconds off one's best 400m time, this is physiologically unsound, because races executed in this way inevitably have a second lap at least five seconds slower than the first. The last 200m is often the slowest of the race. Level-pace running is a powerful weapon. The world-record 800m indoors was broken this way, as was the 1992 Olympic women's 800m gold, in two almost identical laps. The time to increase effort is in the third 200m of the race off a moderate first lap, with all-out effort over the last 200m.