If you can run xx miles at x:xx pace, you are not slow.

1 mile at 4:05 pace

For the average person in America 3 miles at 7:00.

For a runner, half marathon at 7:00 pace.

I would say if you are male and you can run a 5k in a sub 6:40 pace you are not slow.

I'd say when you break 5:40 for the 5k is when you are really not slow, like you are decent.

It's a ridiculous question. "Slow" is entirely subjective and depends on age and sex. P.S. the average runner in America could not run seven-minute pace for a 5K even if they were being chased by a lion.

Sub 1:30 half marathon. Sub 19 5k. Sub 40 10k.

Excluding marathon as it's a completely different beast dependent on fueling and weather.

duhsquared wrote:

It's a ridiculous question. "Slow" is entirely subjective and depends on age and sex. P.S. the average runner in America could not run seven-minute pace for a 5K even if they were being chased by a lion.

Right on, everyone slows with age. The effort may be the same or even harder at 70 than 17. Speed AND time are relative and it takes some courage to keep going when a 9 mi mile feels exactly the same as a 5 min one but you are aware at how much you have "slowed".

For men, sub 1:30 half marathon I consider them a runner and not a hobby jogger at that point.

For women, not sure, maybe sub 21 5k.

Great topic. Short answer, it should probably be based on a cut-off number on the age-graded charts.

On a personal level, I've been thinking a lot about this in the past 24 hrs, because I just got a major dose of humility in the local New Years Day 5K.

Just 6 years ago, at age 43, I ran a 10 mile race in under an hour. Even 3 years ago, I ran an 8K in under 30 minutes, and won an overall 5K (albeit, in 18 minutes). Since then, I've been through some ups and mostly downs physically, mentally, and financially.

Long story short, I've finally been getting in some consistent running the past few months at about 30 miles/week base mileage (not tracking pace on anything), and starting to feel pretty strong, so I decided to jump into this race to see what I've got. What I got was shocking. Sorta felt like a nightmare.

While warming up, I was "opening up my stride", only to see that I wasn't gaining an inch on a 40-something, chunky-butted, shuffling female jogger that was up ahead of me. I began to realize right then that the perception of the speed I was running was not in touch with reality, but I told my self that it was probably just pre-race "fatigue" from being nervous.

Out on the course, more utter disbelief, as I was racing "all out", and was getting passed by people who didn't look at all like "runners" - large chubby guys jogging, old limping bow-legged guys who could have almost passed for race-walking, little kids passing me while calmly saying "good job", middle-aged women with no leg muscle-tone shuffling along, young guys zig-zagging, running backwards, goofing around, etc.

Final time - 22:43.

So I've gone through the 4 stages of grief - denial, depression, anger, and acceptance: reality check - I AM SLOW. But so what? I love to run, I love to compete, so I'm just gonna get back out there and do the best I can with what I've got and be the best I can be.

I'm going to throw out 60% WAVA as the bottom rung for competitive running. If you can't hit that, lay off the donuts, lose some spare pounds and jog a bit, then you should be able to run sub 7 for 5k (open class male) or a little under 8 (open class female). These aren't anything to write home about yet but they do at least entail completing a distance race at an honest jog.

Competitive runners typically want to get above 70% or 80% (this is approx sub 6 and low 16s respectively) depending largely on level of ability. Those who are hitting 80% consistently can start worrying about whether they win their races (depending on how soft your running scene is ~70% might get you on the podium ... )

Michaelchamp2112 wrote:

For the average person in America 3 miles at 7:00.

For a runner, half marathon at 7:00 pace.

Are we talking about the AVERAGE American...because remember that nearly 70% of Americans are overweight with close to 40% being obese. So for an Average....3 miles in 30 minutes. For an average fit American then I'd say 7:30 for 3 miles.

Well, what is the 99% for each the half, 10k, and 5k? This can easily be adjusted to every age and gender

Lets make it clear that one can be fast but not have endurance. And, one can have endurance and have zero speed. A 17min 5k guy can get smoked in an open 200.

Donuts cinnamon roll wrote:

Sub 1:30 half marathon. Sub 19 5k. Sub 40 10k.

Excluding marathon as it's a completely different beast dependent on fueling and weather.

Yes!!! I win!!!

Winner!!! wrote:

Donuts cinnamon roll wrote:

Sub 1:30 half marathon. Sub 19 5k. Sub 40 10k.

Excluding marathon as it's a completely different beast dependent on fueling and weather.

Yes!!! I win!!!

Aw damn... I've got a sub 19 5k but only a 1:34 HM. What does that mean?

areusure? wrote:

Michaelchamp2112 wrote:

For the average person in America 3 miles at 7:00.

For a runner, half marathon at 7:00 pace.

Are we talking about the AVERAGE American...because remember that nearly 70% of Americans are overweight with close to 40% being obese. So for an Average....3 miles in 30 minutes. For an average fit American then I'd say 7:30 for 3 miles.

What about the average Canadian? Is the average Canadian fitter than the average American?

Personally I think if a Canadian can run a 5k in under 16 minutes they're fit and if not they are a hobby jogger or obese

600 miles/14:24

For a male of normal statute (5'6+), sub-6:00 pace "looks like" running vs jogging.

If you are not national class at least it really doesn't matter what pace you run. Maybe if it gets a scholarship that's something, but after college it's pretty much nothing again, if it's not national class. Just another good runner. So running is either so much more than times, or it isn't all that.

Almost wrote:

Winner!!! wrote:

Yes!!! I win!!!

Aw damn... I've got a sub 19 5k but only a 1:34 HM. What does that mean?

You heard what the guy said. There are strict rules to this thing.