16 minutes used to be about right. But this latest generation of letsrunners believes in getting jacked like Ryan Hall after their college careers are over. So if you're 28 and still running under 16 in the 5k without a pro contract, you are considered a beta weakling. It's much cooler to bench 300+ pounds and be like "Ya, but sometimes I still jog a 5k fun run in 20 minutes with my smoking hot girlfriend who is 5 years younger than me."
From a past life, my PRs are 3:54/4:11/8:29/14:33. I took time off after college, gained some weight and then got back into it in my early 30s.
My PR since coming back is 17:43. There is likely a high rate of progression and regression from that actually. What I mean is, if I got ahold of a good race, I might be able to get down below 17 but if having a bad one, I could end up in the 19s.
No shame there but I also do not race often. My fire for that is gone. I more so like training hard, getting in good miles and being rather fit. I heard Jerry Schumacher talk about liking his 10 mile leisurely morning runs. I wasnt as good as he was but I am sort of like that too.
I’ve seen some posters snickering over Nuguse’s 13:02. So I would say anything 12:35 or faster and you’ll be fine 👍
Actually if you run 12:35 or faster the LetsRun trolls will be snickering calling you “doped to the gills” so basically there’s no 5km time you can run without been made fun of by someone on here.
Many on Letsrun are young runners unaware of the reality of talent distribution; many are living in a running environment where only the top 5% are allowed, and they don't see that 95% as being serious...
So, they think I am slow with a PR of 16:44...but to get there I had to train hard for 20 years, averaging 80-100 miles per week, doing all the requiered intervals...
I did my PR in a collegiate track meet, at 35, where I finished not far from last. But in more than 400 road races I finished 85% of the time in the top 3 for my age group and 30% of the time on the overall podium. So if I am slow or nor serious by Letsrun users standards, it really means that the best on most road races are not. You can't say that.
As a coach for 25 years, I can tell you that many sub-16 runners are mostly very talented and not connected to people running outside of top clubs and school's program. I know, I coach one of these. And, yes, now 45 and at 18:00 for 5k I am out of the boys league and more challenged by the girls. But I still train harder than all of them and get ranking medals in many low key races.
I thinks 30 min is slow and 25 not fast. Under that it gets too over average. Elite starts somewhere in the "17:xx", where less than 5% of the people are.
I thinks 30 min is slow and 25 not fast. Under that it gets too over average. Elite starts somewhere in the "17:xx", where less than 5% of the people are.
17:xx is not elite in any sense unless you are a masters female - for a male elite is more like under 13:30. While your overall point may be taken, you grossly misuse the word elite here like many do when describing a sub 5 minute mile as 'elite'.
Being top 1% in road races doesn't really matter, an elite is someone who can potentially make a living or at least a secondary source of income off of their running. A 17 minute 5k male isn't going to make any money off of their running unless they going into coaching or work at running store.
No one is laughing at anyone unless they say they are better than another runner
while having obviously slower times.
I think most would agree
20 minutes is a respectable 5k for the average joe who takes fitness seriously
anything better is more respectable.
Heck anything under 25 min is respectable.
Over 25 min and you are either overweight or not athletic.
I ran 5km in 28 minutes today, but I was diagnosed with pulmonary embolisms in both lungs a week ago. Do I at least get street cred for still running while I’m half-dead?
I'd appreciate anyone with a goal who works hard. Not everyone has immense talent. But I'd say if a young man can't break 18, they are not a fast distance runner by any stretch of the imagination.
I'd also say that people are discredited when others attribute ability to pure talent. It's not like they sat on their couch their whole childhood. The "talented" ones were outside running around, busting their butts playing sports or exercising with a dedicated mindset. None of them were couch potatoes. They earned that astute physiology.
No, the fact is some people DO get off the couch and run under 17:00 for the 5K. I knew one that claimed it was "Bee's Honey" that got him there! It helps to be built small and have a small head. The old saying "Some people were born on third base and go through life thinking they have hit a triple" applies.
No, the fact is some people DO get off the couch and run under 17:00 for the 5K. I knew one that claimed it was "Bee's Honey" that got him there! It helps to be built small and have a small head. The old saying "Some people were born on third base and go through life thinking they have hit a triple" applies.
Out of interest, how fast do you think Jakob Ingebrigtsen could go if he was built smaller and had a small head?
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