Sub-5 Minute Mile Every Day for a Month

seriously bro, do you have any idea how many runners couldn't run one 4:xx mile?

How does it feel to squander that talent by chasing useless stunts?

Maybe I'm just uninformed and you're already there but seems like it should be easy for you to get an OQ.

this just in wrote:

seriously bro, do you have any idea how many runners couldn't run one 4:xx mile?

How does it feel to squander that talent by chasing useless stunts?

Maybe I'm just uninformed and you're already there but seems like it should be easy for you to get an OQ.

Are you for real???

It is not, by any means, "easy" to get an OQ. I don't care if you are capable of running a sub 4:30 everyday.

Believe me, if you told me that face to face, I would kick the living shit out of you.

I have spent over ten years of my life trying at an OQ and haven't. I know dozens and dozens of guys chasing that same goal that are way better than I as well and are having difficulty. This is my life and I am doing all I can so piss off!

I totally respect what this guy is doing. The "sub-5" stunt seems to be more about a personal challenge than anything else. there are many ways to push the limits.

I can speak only from personal experience that after 15+ years of running, working my ass off to try to shave a few seconds from a 5k PR becomes boring, mundane and somewhat frustrating. I long ago figured out that I am not an elite or Olympic hopeful. That is why I like to shake things up. Sometimes it is good to have goals that are about the process of training (i.e. the sub-5 challenge) rather than about race outcomes (a certain 5k time, for instance).

I was inspired by the sub-5 challenge and not training for anything in particular, so I took up my own slower version. the sub-6 challenge has been fun so far. It has been a real confidence booster. I did miss a day to run a 5k race (which went much better than my race a few weeks ago). Other than that I have been consistent with the miles; oddly the mile has felt easier each time I do it. I may taper for my January half-marathon, however. I'm not sure.

4:58...

umm... what's an OQ?

sorry... wrote:

umm... what's an OQ?

Olympic Qualifier.

[quote]Joe Mac wrote:

Believe me, if you told me that face to face, I would kick the living shit out of you. quote]

Okay, just lost a lot of respect for you after this last comment. Was that really necessary. The guy was saying what he felt and obviously isn't that talented as a runner or work hard enough to know what kind of training and racing effort along with a certain talent level it takes to run an OQ. Would it really be that necessary to kick the living shit out of him because of a lack of understanding and not much tact. Let it go. He is an anonymous poster who maybe has never even broken five. Who knows, who cares.

JoeMac, I don't know if you were drinking when you wrote that response or what, but it was disrespectful. Your stunt was cool because you were cool. But you're not anymore, so neither is your stunt. One less follower...

By the way JoeMac I think he was showing respect for you by saying he thinks it would be easy for you to get an OQ. Again, he is in nowhere near your league as a runner, so he just doesn't know and thinks based on what you are doing you should be able to get it. Yes, he could have said it nicer, but it really wasn't so bad what he said.

I admit Joe showed very little tact in jumping to the "I'd kick you ass" scenario, but have you all skipped the multiple posts that reveal his method of "insert dick, check gender and hole later?" Nevermind, that wasn't as funny as in my head, so let's agree the guy is 100% do first think after. He's going to apologize before he asks permission. I almost gurrantee he'll apologize for this because he is a good guy. Sometimes we all need that second look before we speak/act rationally.

No more respect wrote:

By the way JoeMac I think he was showing respect for you by saying he thinks it would be easy for you to get an OQ. Again, he is in nowhere near your league as a runner, so he just doesn't know and thinks based on what you are doing you should be able to get it. Yes, he could have said it nicer, but it really wasn't so bad what he said.

I don't agree with this. I really don't think the original post was respectful at all. The poster basically called it a stupid idea and said that he is squandering his talent away on a useless stunt, which most people who have been reading this know, this is not about "proper" training. This is about a personal challenge.

I agree with Joe's response - although it was a little harsh - it is insulting to Joe to think that an OQ should be easily attainable, especially after he has been putting in so much hard work for so long.

So as he said "piss off"...

I don't think Joe cares much about respect of online randoms. Say whatever you want. I still think these shananigans rock.

I'm all for stunts like this - go man

re; Joe Mac's verbal stunts - clearly he writes for impact - saying he would "kick the living %^*& out of you" is probably roughly equivalent to a normal person saying "no way"

So chill out.

ktown killa wrote:

I don't think Joe cares much about respect of online randoms. Say whatever you want. I still think these shananigans rock.

I agree that he doesn't care what I think or any other anonymous poster. Most people will be okay with what he said; I personally didn't and no longer will be following his sub 5 quest. Just my opinion.

If JoeMac didn't care about the respect of online randoms the guy wouldn't be going out of his way to write about himself daily. It's made even more clear that it's on a thread he made on Letsrun in addition to a blog he has made detailing his trials and tribulations. If it was solely about the challenge he would keep a private journal and not seek the support of the online community.

I completely agree with an earlier post that suggested JoeMac should be grateful for his durability. You can be an extremely talented runner but be relegated to low mileage when you're injury prone. I believe the mental anguish encountered from repeated season ending injuries is far more substantial that the mental fortitude required in order to run a 120 mile week injury free.

this just in wrote:

seriously bro, do you have any idea how many runners couldn't run one 4:xx mile?

How does it feel to squander that talent by chasing useless stunts?

Maybe I'm just uninformed and you're already there but seems like it should be easy for you to get an OQ.

How nice of you to belittle his hard efforts, and in the middle of the Christmas season, no less!

IllinoisMaster wrote:

this just in wrote:

seriously bro, do you have any idea how many runners couldn't run one 4:xx mile?

How does it feel to squander that talent by chasing useless stunts?

Maybe I'm just uninformed and you're already there but seems like it should be easy for you to get an OQ.

How nice of you to belittle his hard efforts, and in the middle of the Christmas season, no less!

Are you kidding? I would LOVE to be able to be anywhere CLOSE to where joemac is! I would take a PR of ONE 4:xx or to be able to run a single 100 mile week without breaking down of sacrificing the needs of daily life for a father of 2.

Ha. Looks like I ruffled some feathers here...good.

One:

I have absolutely no respect for someone that disrespects the event and or running. By saying an OQ is easily attainable for anyone is extremely disrespectful. Running has been my life's work and to stomp on that is going to get a very harsh response. Don't belittle my efforts because I do not belittle any other runner no matter what. I will run with anyone at anytime, 5 minute pace to 10 minute pace, serious about running, could care less about running. I truly enjoy running and saying an OQ is easily attainable completely cheapens what I do from day to day, how I work, and what I stand for.