Percentage of Americans who can run at WR pace for the marathon for one lap of the track?

Do we get a flying start?

Of ALL women probably 3%

Of ALL men probably 30%

So about 16.5%

Considering all of the old/fat/etc, no more than 5% (and that might be about 4.9% too high).

I'm in my late 30s and would consider myself of decent ability. When I've taken time away from my running and am only putting in 3 runs /wk, so weekly mileage of 14-18mi, I can just barely run 68-69s nearly all-out if I jump into a group workout. A 5:45 mile would be nearly all-out as well. With a family and heavy work obligations only the really dedicated and highly organized guys that i know can log 40mi week fitness which would make either of those intervals a bit easier. So to answer your question, I'd say outside of the 14yr-22yr male demographic there's maybe 1-2% of the US population that could run a 70sec quarter.

less than 1% and you can take that to the bank

Yeah so many of you are going way too high. 1-2% I say

Less than 5%.

less than 1%, i.e., less than 3 million

been there done that wrote:

less than 1% and you can take that to the bank

Agreed

400m is a long way if you have zero endurace

Less than 1% when you factor in kids, old people and fatties. I ran 50.2 and 1:58 for 400 and 800 in HS. I'm now 35 and run 55 mpw to get in BQ shape. Based on general observation of my co workers and friends and results from big races (15,000-35,000 runners) I've run, I'd comfortably say I'm in the top 2-3% in terms of fitness. That said, I'm not totally confident I could break 70 for 400. Would have no reason to run an all out 400 so could be wrong.

The average American would jump in a car and drive a quarter mile, rather than hoof it

What % of Lithuanians can throw the javelin 21% of the distance of the women's world record - with their wrong hand?

Seriously.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziQEsdXMbi8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDs4j8ZHzVg

Toward the end of my freshman year in HS they had all of us run a 400m on the track. The freshman track guys ran ~58-60 each, but everyone else including WRs from football, pitchers from baseball, and basketball players ran no better than 75 each. Now some of those football and baseball players ended up running track sophomore and junior years and two of the 75 guys that day (the best non-track guys then) ended up running 53 and 56 respectively as Juniors after they ran track for two years, but on that day before they were trained at all in track they did 75 and they were the athletic guys.

So, if looking at entire population and what they can ACTUALLY do as opposed to what they POTENTIALLY could do then it's not going to be even close to 1% that would break 70 for a 400m.

47 yr old male here.....not on my best day! My claim to fame is a 7:49 beer mile but that was 12 yrs ago.

quit these meaningless statistics to try and boost your 17:20 5k EGO.