In the spirit of the marathons-are-easy discussion.
Given total dedication.
Not counting the disabled.
100 percent?
In the spirit of the marathons-are-easy discussion.
Given total dedication.
Not counting the disabled.
100 percent?
There are reasonably life-long runners who don't ever BQ, so consider that. IF you're taking for granted no injuries or waning motivation for 3-5 years (which is no easy task for even the most enthusiastic runner), body mass alone will still rule out a ton of people. Lots of people aren't thin even if they work out, even if they slim down and tighten up. Lebron will never be sub-200.
I think a person with some talent who works out enthusiastically and misses the injury bug would make the mark a decent chunk of time, but those people comprise a vey small percentage of people.
Rippling Hysteresis wrote:
There are reasonably life-long runners who don't ever BQ, so consider that. IF you're taking for granted no injuries or waning motivation for 3-5 years (which is no easy task for even the most enthusiastic runner), body mass alone will still rule out a ton of people. Lots of people aren't thin even if they work out, even if they slim down and tighten up. Lebron will never be sub-200.
I think a person with some talent who works out enthusiastically and misses the injury bug would make the mark a decent chunk of time, but those people comprise a vey small percentage of people.
OK, so what percentage of humans adults are capable of it, do you think?
Rippling Hysteresis wrote:
There are reasonably life-long runners who don't ever BQ, so consider that. IF you're taking for granted no injuries or waning motivation for 3-5 years (which is no easy task for even the most enthusiastic runner), body mass alone will still rule out a ton of people. Lots of people aren't thin even if they work out, even if they slim down and tighten up. Lebron will never be sub-200.
I think a person with some talent who works out enthusiastically and misses the injury bug would make the mark a decent chunk of time, but those people comprise a vey small percentage of people.
OK, so what percentage of humans adults are capable of it, do you think?
Rippling Hysteresis wrote:
There are reasonably life-long runners who don't ever BQ, so consider that. IF you're taking for granted no injuries or waning motivation for 3-5 years (which is no easy task for even the most enthusiastic runner), body mass alone will still rule out a ton of people. Lots of people aren't thin even if they work out, even if they slim down and tighten up. Lebron will never be sub-200.
I think a person with some talent who works out enthusiastically and misses the injury bug would make the mark a decent chunk of time, but those people comprise a vey small percentage of people.
This.
I am a fairly serious hobbyjogger, and I have qualified 3X. Each time, I got in some consistent training, and had a good race day. No surprises or issues. Lucky me.
But here is the thing, and a lot of you might not get it. There are a lot of other fairly serious hobbyjoggers who would dearly love to, have tried many times, and just can’t do it. Some are only a few minutes away, while others are - gasp! - 30 minutes or more from it. I know, I know, many of you find this unbelievable. But it’s true. I have many running friends, and probably ~30% have qualified. Of the ~70% that haven't, almost all would love to.
So my answer to the question is 12%.
I am glad you said "human" because I was going to calculate hyenas.
try-ath-uh-leet wrote:
This.
I am a fairly serious hobbyjogger, and I have qualified 3X. Each time, I got in some consistent training, and had a good race day. No surprises or issues. Lucky me.
But here is the thing, and a lot of you might not get it. There are a lot of other fairly serious hobbyjoggers who would dearly love to, have tried many times, and just can’t do it. Some are only a few minutes away, while others are - gasp! - 30 minutes or more from it. I know, I know, many of you find this unbelievable. But it’s true. I have many running friends, and probably ~30% have qualified. Of the ~70% that haven't, almost all would love to.
So my answer to the question is 12%.
Sure, some will do ANYTHING to BQ... except run higher mileage and lose a few lbs
This. Most people don't train like they should. Most people that run marathons do it on 30 miles a week of easy runnjny. I suspect that if you took a group of fully dedicated people and gave them good coaches, 75% of them would bq
This. Most people don't train like they should. Most people that run marathons do it on 30 miles a week of easy running. I suspect that if you took a group of fully dedicated people and gave them good coaches and they did everything their coaches asked with complete dedication, 75% of them would bq and the ones that didn't, just had too much muscle.
I met a typical ultra runner the other day. 5 miles a day and then 1 long run a week, while training for a 50k. He said he wished he could run faster than 8 minute pace. I asked him how much speed work he does and he said hes never done one workout....... That's why most people don't bq
People are spot on in this thread. I would say that are a fairly high percentage of hobby joggers that pine on and on about how they "just wish the could BQ" that simply don't have the discipline to do what is required on a consistent basis: lose weight/control eating and do the mileage in a way that makes sense with targeted workouts (long runs, easy runs, hills, speed, tempo, etc). Let alone spend a day or two per week in the gym doing some strength and maintenance work...
Nub-alance wrote:
People are spot on in this thread. I would say that are a fairly high percentage of hobby joggers that pine on and on about how they "just wish the could BQ" that simply don't have the discipline to do what is required on a consistent basis: lose weight/control eating and do the mileage in a way that makes sense with targeted workouts (long runs, easy runs, hills, speed, tempo, etc). Let alone spend a day or two per week in the gym doing some strength and maintenance work...
When people here talk about strength work, do they mean legs or upper body work?
Eye on the Prize wrote:
In the spirit of the marathons-are-easy discussion.
Given total dedication.
Not counting the disabled.
100 percent?
And WTF not count the disabled? Many run although few can meet the "able bodied" times. They do have to meet times to run Boston in their divisions however.
luv2run wrote:
I am glad you said "human" because I was going to calculate hyenas.
This is an excellent question. What percentage of the combined population of Hyenas and humans could run a BQ?
Assume human population of 7.4 billion and hyena population of 47,000.
1%
People suck at running
According to LR pisters, everyone should be able to run an OTC.
Nub-alance wrote:
People are spot on in this thread. I would say that are a fairly high percentage of hobby joggers that pine on and on about how they "just wish the could BQ" that simply don't have the discipline to do what is required on a consistent basis: lose weight/control eating and do the mileage in a way that makes sense with targeted workouts (long runs, easy runs, hills, speed, tempo, etc). Let alone spend a day or two per week in the gym doing some strength and maintenance work...
It does sound simple enough, but I don't think that's quite the case. What you're seeing is skewed bc you think it's simple so you think average person can easily do it. It is. It quite that simple. First of all about losing weight, if it was that simple, most people wouldn't be a fat lard. Second, running is very difficult activity for many people. Third, BQ time is very difficult to achieve for many people. I'm a serious hobby jogger, and I've been running around 40-50mpw and ran 1:25 in half but ran 3:10 in marathon. I don't have typical fast runners body where I'm super lean, but I'm fortunate to have lean enough body to run. Even for me, I need to commit myself fully to BQ, so for majority of people, there's no way they could BQ.
IndianaJeff wrote:
Nub-alance wrote:People are spot on in this thread. I would say that are a fairly high percentage of hobby joggers that pine on and on about how they "just wish the could BQ" that simply don't have the discipline to do what is required on a consistent basis: lose weight/control eating and do the mileage in a way that makes sense with targeted workouts (long runs, easy runs, hills, speed, tempo, etc). Let alone spend a day or two per week in the gym doing some strength and maintenance work...
When people here talk about strength work, do they mean legs or upper body work?
Yes
My question is what percentage could do it tomorrow given the shape they are in now.
Because they don't/can't try hard enough.
Given total dedication and say a boot camp environment for years I don't see how any one couldn't do it?
It's really hard for a hobbyjogging cube dweller at 30mpw, but it's really easy for the dedicated runner right?
Don't look at me, I hobbyjogged my first marathon on 20mpw and missed the cut by 20 minutes. Would I make it on 50mpw? I think so. I'm one of if not the least talented runners in any group. (Came in with the fat kids in the sprints and mile in middle school always)
I'll say 80-90%, those that don't get injured I'm guessing