Could anyone run a 5 minute mile?

Ummm.... My interval speed training is ran at 12mph. I do 400 meter intervals and have only been back training 6 weeks since I stopped running two years ago. I am a 35 year old woman btw. I plan to run a 1600 meter 12mph by December. It's all in the mind and the heart. I do think you need your body to be peak before this goal is set.

Good god you people are insufferable. 99% of you missed the whole damn point of the thread. The point isn't CAN 100% OF CURRENT HUMANS TRAIN TO RUN A 5 MINUTE MILE? The point is, if humans specifically trained for it from birth and had proper nutrition, is it achievable for everyone (excluding defects, injuries, etc)?

All the people out there throwing numbers about how many people can currently do it are missing the damn point. There's ONLY 347 people who broke a 4 minute mile, sure. But what percentage of the American population has actually tried for this goal? Probably like a million, tops, in our whole countries history which constitutes of over a billion people cumulatively. Then, you have to add in that the majority of these people who ran track or cc weren't even putting much effort into it and just did it as a hobby for colleges to see. You also have to add in the fact that none of them ever trained specifically for it or received proper nutritional support for it from birth. Not only that, but you've strawmanned the argument from his original and main claim of 5 minutes by using 4 minute data.

It's pretty clear looking at the data for the median high schoolers around the nation who have around a 5 minute mile that it would probably be possible. Many of these kids probably only started in high school. Some obviously did it from middle school. Almost none did it in elementary school. So if they can pretty much get to a 5 minute mile, is it so hard to think anyone could if that was humanities goal from a child'a birth?

Just wanted to note that less than 1% of the American male population can even think about running a 5 minute mile and that some of the comments claiming otherwise are among the most insane I've come across on this website, and that's really saying something. You are patently, verifiably insane to suggest that anything approaching a majority of the population could run a 5 minute mile, training or otherwise.

NateOGrate wrote:

Just wanted to note that less than 1% of the American male population can even think about running a 5 minute mile and that some of the comments claiming otherwise are among the most insane I've come across on this website, and that's really saying something. You are patently, verifiably insane to suggest that anything approaching a majority of the population could run a 5 minute mile, training or otherwise.

Nah. 5 minutes isn’t absolutely insane for a well-trained 18-25 year old athletic male, and actually would be 100% expected if the guy had “decently” competitive in any sport requiring good endurance (think soccer or boxing) for at least a few years.

If we were talking about females then I would agree with that 1% figure - a 5 minute mile for a woman IS insane and would require sub-elite genetics. A sub 6 mile would probably be the corresponding measure for ladies which again, I don’t think would be insane for a naturally athletic lady in her 20s who had a competitive streak.

However, I do agree that not every male could do it and the ones who self select for competitive sport are normally more aerobically talented than the average person anyway due to higher testosterone levels. Also, you can’t really be “decently competitive” in sport unless you have a body type that is at least somewhat geared towards higher performance.

So yeah, a 5 minute mile guy does have some talent but at the same time, I would wager it is a feat that a good 20-25% of the male population could achieve if they started training while young and healthy and weren’t a complete donkey about working out and pushing through pain.

oldhalfmileguy wrote:

funny you should mention that

My schools basketball coach wanted his team to be in the best shape. EVERYONE had to run a sub 5 minute mile before they could be on the team. Funny to see these big guys with basketball shoes run. Most made it in the first attempt. They all made it by the third try. a 6 ft 5 fwd/center had the fastest time 4 39.

Interesting. Very complementary situation existed at my high school. Every track and field candidate had to be able to be able to jump up and touch the rim as prerequisite for being on the team. Most succeeded, and even some of the distance runners were able to dunk it after a few tries.