This is the video in question:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_ai2VYYRoM
The claim is that 225 lb Jeff Lingenfelter runs a 5:01 1600m off of 14 days of training. On the surface, this video seems highly suspect due to a few factors:
-The basketball shorts
-The "14 days of training" comment in the title
-The informal nature of the trial
-They don't "look" like they're running that fast, particularly compared to other 5 minute mile videos on youtube
However, the more I've looked at this the more I think this is a legitimate time. Here are a few thoughts:
-This took place at UMass Amherst. I have found the track on google maps and i've mapped it out to be 400m. The shape of the track however is a little strange.
-At the end of lap 2, the leader has a stride rate of ~177 strides per minute. Jeff's rate is even faster
-Jeff is 6'5" and at the time was a Wide Receiver for the UMass football team. He also threw discus in high school
At the end of the day, I think this is legit and Jeff just has a very efficient stride. I think those of us who have struggled to break 5 in the mile want to believe that only certain kinds of people (people with more training or better genetic gifts) are better than us.