i broke 6:00 for the mile running 35mpw but if one is just running everything easy (for them - so basically whatever their jogging pace is), no way in hell are they breaking 6 at 40mpw.
i broke 6:00 for the mile running 35mpw but if one is just running everything easy (for them - so basically whatever their jogging pace is), no way in hell are they breaking 6 at 40mpw.
I did it off 10-15 mpw with no speedwork and I have average athleticism. I would say it's very unlikely a guy isn't able to break 6 off 40 mpw unless he's over 50. It's a lot of miles.
DoorRight wrote:
Or at 40 miles/week it's almost a given, even if zero emphasis is put on mile training. (no speed/strength workout..).
Assuming these conditions :
- No particular physical issue that would prevent someone to run "fast", no injury etc.
- Easy run being at least 9:45-10 min/mile.
If your easy running is 9:45-10:00 pace then you're probably not breaking 6:00 for the mile. My guess is that this is pretty common for newer runners, masters runners, people who came to running later, etc. Plenty of people run ~40 miles/week & can't break 6. Mostly easy miles, 1-2 days off, limited workouts -- maybe a club speed workout here & there.
Me. Even though back in the day I ran well under six minute pace for a marathon - I now cannot run under 6 for one mile at age 62 averaging 50 miles/week.
There are lots of "physical issues" that prevent many people from running sub 6 for a mile.
These include, but are not limited to:
-genetics, no "talent", almost all slow twitch muscle fibers
-stiff, inflexible
-low strength
-poor biomechanics
-overweight
Some of those can be changed with training, some cannot. Some of the physical traits you were born with will prevent sufficient training for sub 6 without injury.
Sorry but not everyone was born to run like that.
One caveat - assuming this is in decent temperatures. I've done easy/recovery runs in texas summers in that range and am a ~5 min miler. winter vs summer here can be a 2 min difference easily if you aren't heat adapted
Me. I ran 40+ miles a week for years, usually at around 8:00-8:15/mile pace. It look great effort for me to get under 3:00 for half a mile.
Yes, it's very possible. Don't ask me how I know.
Yes, many women, and many men over 50 would not break 6:00.
From ages 15-30, I could have broken 6 on 1 mile a week of training. Now at 47, I run 40 miles a week and I fear attempting to run sub-6 because I fear I could not make it. . . . 5:40 tempos are now 7:40. 6:40 easy runs are now 8:40s. . . . Age is a bummer.
Most recreational runners averaging 40 miles/week probably wouldn't break 6 in a time trial.
The majority of ultra runners fit this description.
Most people are not capable of running sub-6 regardless of training. Of the remaining population that is capable of sub-6, most could do it off 10-20 miles/week (or less). Leaving only a very small fraction of the population where significant training would make the difference between being able to break 6 and not.
I am F 50. Running 45-50 a week. I do 1 speed workout a week, lots of progression runs, and tempos.
My average pace on non workout days is probably 8:00.
I think I could run around 6:00 but it would not be easy.
Absolutely impossible, as mile time is more or less determined by weekly volume. Regardless of talent, If you run 40 mpw, you’ll break 6. 80 miles will take you too sub 5. 160 mpw and you are sub 4. No one has done it yet, but if you run 320 mpw, you’ll for sure run sub 3.
ordersofmagnitude wrote:
Most people are not capable of running sub-6 regardless of training. Of the remaining population that is capable of sub-6, most could do it off 10-20 miles/week (or less). Leaving only a very small fraction of the population where significant training would make the difference between being able to break 6 and not.
IMO and in my experience this is correct.
I am 55. Run 40 Miles a week. 35 of those miles are ZONE 2. Just started doing intervals.
I have not done an all out mile but finished my last mile (7 mile run) in 6:23!
How many old guys are running in the 5's?
Yes, I do it all the time, sadly.