i ran 6:20 pace on my run today. did onlookers think i was going 'fast' or 'slow' as i ran by?

Probably fast if passing a person walking on the sidewalk

If they were close to you, you would look fast at that pace. If they were far away, not so much

I've always wondered about this, too. What do you guys think is the cutoff pace for being seen as fast/slow when running past people on the sidewalk? I was once running at 7:30 pace past a mother and she told her children to "Stay out of the way, he's jogging."

jam8 wrote:

hard to say, for me, i have no idea. when i see marathoners runner 4;50's i think it looks like a cooldown.

The onlookers did not think about you at all.

This depends on what your stride looks like too.

This has always been a topic with my friends during races. When I watch myself on film, I can tell I'm running, but it doesn't look fast. However, when I'm on the track in first-person view, I feel like I'm screaming past the scenery. This may be one of the reasons track may not seem popular, because some people do not know how fast a 4 minute mile is. They may see it, but they can never truly conceive it unless they give that pace a go themselves.

A lot of times, onlookers who know nothing about running will think that the slower runners are faster. I've seen people watch guys with the smoothest strides cruise a 3:55 mile on youtube. Then they watch a guy run a 4:00, but because his choppy stride isn't as fluid, I guess he looks like he's going harder... and in their minds, faster.

I like looking fast wrote:

I've always wondered about this, too. What do you guys think is the cutoff pace for being seen as fast/slow when running past people on the sidewalk? I was once running at 7:30 pace past a mother and she told her children to "Stay out of the way, he's jogging."

this

there is no cutoff pace. it is a sliding scale

I've wondered this while on the treadmill. I will sometimes see another person on it, and think they look like they are moving pretty well. Then I'll peek at the mph and see that I'm actually going faster than them, and I haven't even really got into my run yet. So, do others look at me and think I'm going fast? Or is it like the other poster said, and it doesn't look like I'm going fast because the pace is "easy" for me and I look comfortable?

for me... wrote:

The onlookers did not think about you at all.

^this

they probably just thought you looked skinny

from far away, 620 pace might look smooth to most people, but if you run by them after they have been passed by the typical 9-10 min/mile people, you will look like an absolute speed demon. Anything near 6minute pace and compliments about my pace aren't unusual.

Depends on many factors including cadence, running economy, visual perspective of the onlooker, even what kind of shorts you're wearing. 6:20 pace in 1.5" split shorts looks a lot faster than 6:20 pace in basketball shorts.

At track meets, they should randomly pull people out of the stnds to run the race. That'd add a good perspective as to how fast these cats are rolling.

Really now, don't you think the answer depends on who's doing the onlooking, and how efficiently you're running?

venus might be a better contest wrote:

Anything near 6minute pace and compliments about my pace aren't unusual.

This seems to be consistent. If I am ever running sub 6 and pass someone I always get a "Nice pace" comment.

kruger wrote:

Depends on many factors including cadence, running economy, visual perspective of the onlooker, even what kind of shorts you're wearing. 6:20 pace in 1.5" split shorts looks a lot faster than 6:20 pace in basketball shorts.

This and a few other responses are the correct answer.

Running form seems to be the deciding factor. I've often seen two runners running together and one will look like he's flying and the other like he's jogging. One time, years ago, my girlfriend and I were running in our neighborhood when a 2:12 marathoner came around the corner just in front of us, we thought it would be fun to stay with him. Neither of us were that fast (just under 6 min pace for 10K) but John M pulled away from us like we were jogging (he wasn't aware of us) and I know we were under 6 min pace and he looked like he was jogging!