<p>Yeah, 800m is pretty hard. 400m as the hardest event, no way in hell. I run the 1600 and the 3200m, and used to do the 4x400m right after the two mile. Waaaaaay easier than a 4:25 1600m.
Decathlons are so crazy that they should not be considered in hardest event discussion.
On the 800m. My experience has been that it is less painful when you are trying your hardest and running a fast time rather that not and running slower.</p>