How fast could the average American run 400m on the track?

Responding to the beginning of this message there is absolutely no way the "average" person from a group of the general population would run south of 1:40 for a 400 and most likely not less than 2:00. 1:40 would be a 6:40 min mile pace and 2:00 a 8 min mile pace. The average 10K finishing time in the US is right around 1 hour or a 9:40 per mile pace

I have run on many training teams for 10Ks up to full marathoners. My city has a group of over 1000 that train together in small groups by pace each year for the local marathon.Based on what I have seen in the results (50+ road races) less than 45% of all runners could run less than a 8 minute mile and less than 20% faster than 7:00 mile. Keeping in mind that only 15% of the population are "Active" runners that means that only about 3% of the population can run a 7:00 mile if you assume the people that are not runners can't do it.

Granted you can gut out a 400M easier than a mile and certainly the young people have a better chance since they are not that far removed from high school athletics but the average office worker /couch potato that is a 40 year old I would guess literally could not run 100 yards at a 8:00 m pace.

Just googled this and found it. I know it's a super old thread but looks like a few people are posting now and then.

I'm with the "no way anywhere near 70 seconds" crowd.

I used to run a bit, maybe 20 miles/week. Best 400 ~79, best mile 6 even.

I haven't run in about a year, but do race bikes and train 200-300 miles per week. I recently took my gymnastics class (kids) to the track and timed some 400s. Then I ran it and set a PR: 74 seconds.

So, a fit 30 year old racing cyclist is slower than the OPs suggested average. I'd guess the average would be around a 10 minute pace, so 2:30.

In my crossfit gym, which is a pretty big one with a lot of members, we don't specifically train running but every now and then it comes up as a workout to run 400m intervals. I'd say I'm in the top 25% of runners in my gym and my PR is just under 80 seconds and if I'm even slightly tired that drops to around 90 seconds. And these are people who care about their fitness and are trying really hard. I'd guess their median is around 100-110 seconds.

70 seconds is the most delusional thing ever, I strongly suspect that less than 1/100 random people could to this.

I am a 44 yr old male, I bike and run. I am fit.

As part of my training for half marathons, I do 400 splits.

Right now, I am at 80secs/400 split.

Average US person would not finish a 400 (running I mean), and if they do it's above a 12 minute miles pace for the average american. So probably in the neighborhood of 3 minutes or so.

I ran laps to kill time during my daughter's soccer practice. 30+ minutes at 8:30 pace with a few 400 pick-ups. Every single parent, including a few x-fitters and other cross trainers were blown away. I was embarrassed by their response and do it on the roads during practice now. But even fairly fit people really can't comprehend 400 speed

also, I just checked online what is "the average american".

For males, we are looking at a 37 yr/old weighing 194lbs. ouch!

That average american would probably think the track is food, let alone trying to run on it.

Average male army soldier. ..1:40. I've done a lot of 400 repeats with my fellow soldiers and most hit 1:40-45

Alan

I think we're in agreement that the median 20-30 yo American is overweight and can't run a continuous 400m. So what would a jog/walk 400m look like?

I think this median person would start out strong for the first 50m, but then struggle from 50-100m, and between 100-150m this median person would begin to wish never having been born.

Between 150-200m median person would be forced to come to a walk and would continue to do so until about the 300m mark, when median person would smell the finish and throw down a 30s last 100m!

Adding up times, I figure that the first 200m would be run at about 8:40 pace with a strong start but slowing to a walk. Total time 1:10.

The walk from 200-300m would be brisk (12' pace) and take about 0:45.

Then the final 0:30 sprint down the homestretch and we have:

1:10+0:45+0:30 = 2:25

That's good stuff. I remember for gym class we had to run Cooper test (run as far as you can in 12 minutes. I had never played sports, always ate junk food, and was lazy as hell. I ran 8 laps around the track (6:00 mile pace) and beat the 2nd place by almost a lap (he did soccer,hockey, and volleyball and he did jogging in his own time). When people asked me what I got and I replied "8" they looked at me like a god. I'm Ethiopian born by the way, and it just shows how naturally unfit the majority of the Americans are.

As for the average American I say two minutes. Americans are baseball and football players, 0.5% of them would be track stars.

The average American would want a technical tee, wear it during the "race", water stations at the 150m and 300m points, live bands every 50m, energy gels and bananas at 325m, a finishers medal, and a free massage. And finish in 2:37

I was wondering if anybody knew what would be a 'good' 400m running time for an untrained 12 year old female?

My daughter has recently expressed some interest in running, and I am trying to establish a 'baseline'.

She is getting excited because she typically wins her PE class races without much effort, so I am thinking there might be some talent there (definitely didn't pick it up from me :-)

Regards,

Most likely, they will run an average of 145... and that's IF they run a full out 400m. And because I feel generous. And also due to the fact that there will probably be a few "out of nowhere" guys that will run sub-70 and bring the overall average down to 145.

FatsoRunsDis wrote:

Most likely, they will run an average of 145... and that's IF they run a full out 400m. And because I feel generous. And also due to the fact that there will probably be a few "out of nowhere" guys that will run sub-70 and bring the overall average down to 145.

And by 145 I mean 145 seconds.. which equates to about 2:25 min.

The "average" A,erican can't even dribble a basketball for 5 seconds. What if you asked how fast the average weekend sportsman age 18-45 could run. This would include casual runners, basketball players, tennis players, bikers, etc. The entire group of men in this age group that are active in some sport on a weekly basis.

The other question is "of the US population between 12-65 yrs old what % could run 400M at a 10 min per mile pace without having to stop and walk?" I say only 25% could do it. I am 63 and I don't run anymore...I am going to go to a track this weekend and see what I can do.

About 2:25? So not exactly then?

It is odd that on LetsRun, the average 20-30 year old American is a man...

I would guess that the average (median) 20-30 year old man would run 1:45 for 400m and the average 20-30 year old woman would take 2:15.

I think the mean would be quite a bit slower as some would actually need 5 minutes or so.

I was a horrible high school athlete, not obese, but not trained, rather played video games and studied, couldn't finish a proper 800m without walking.

Started training on my own at 18, mainly with weights and did intervals with bodyweight exercises. Have never run a 10k in my life. Have run 5k maybe 20 times a couple of years ago, time was around 22minutes towards the end if I remember well.

At the moment I am 25, just a hobby athlete, decided to run a bit now and then, have run maybe 5 or 6 400m in the last 3 months. Best time is 64s, after a 3 lap warmup, average time is 67s.

My dad at 49 who was a national level rower in high school and excellent runner, even now trains regularly although mainly yoga, came down with me recently, and could just about run 85s.

Based on this, I am guessing the average american, - and I mean those who don't start walking at 200m- would finish at around 100s. No way the average would go faster than that.

Will people be sufficiently motivated to run fast? Need to make it like $500 for every second under 120 seconds they are. Get people killing themselves out there for the CASH.

70 seconds?

Are you insane?

If they sprinted all out, 70% of them would not make it without walking or slowing down drastically, and some would even stop.

I'd say the median time would be 100 seconds.

I coached high school track and it was incredible how fat and lazy 70% of all high school students are in this country.

More of them each year have "excuses" to not participate in phys ed.