Non-runners often ask me what I think about when I run. Sometimes, random stuff like this.
How many of you can bench press more "weight in pounds" than your best marathon "time"?
For example, a 2:20 marathoner needs to bench press 221 lbs or greater. A 2:59 marathoner needs to bench press 260 lbs or greater. But a 3:00 marathoner needs to bench press 301 lbs or greater. Simply put, weight in pounds must be a greater number than time.
I would imagine that most guys that can do this are probably in the 2:10-2:59 range. I can't imagine any sub-2:05 marathoner putting up 206 lbs (maybe Mosop?). But I bet there are also some tough big dudes that have run 3:59 marathons or faster and have benched more than 360. Heck, there might even be a 4:59 marathoner that has put up more than 460 lbs! No matter the weight and time, I think such a feat is rather impressive and indicative of great athletic range.
Obviously, the scale needs to be modified for the women. I was thinking either using half-marathon PRs, or converting marathon times to minutes.
Example A: 1:35 half-marathon time needs to bench greater than 136 lbs, 1:59 half-marathon time needs to bench greater than 160 lbs, but a 2:10 half marathon time needs to bench greater than 211 lbs.
Example B: 2:40 marathoner (160 minutes) needs to bench more than 161 lbs, 3:30 marathoner (210 minutes) needs to bench more than 211 lbs, etc.
Still, this would seem to be more difficult for women than men. I think you need to be a fast half-marathoner (1:10-1:40) or an incredibly strong woman with superb marathon fitness to pull it off.
Personally, I just squeak into the category. Back in my 20s (when I weighed 185 lbs and wasn't focused on running) I could put up 265 lbs. Now in my mid-30s and tipping the scales at 165 lbs, I am a 2:55 marathoner. Neither mark greatly impressive, but a respectable combination. More impressive is the guy or gal who could do these in the same training cycle!
What say you Letsrunners? Anyone else out there?