Consider this; The Feaster 5 in Andover MA on Thanks Giving day http://www.coolrunning.com/results/15/ma/Nov26_Feaste_set1.shtml had 5747 runners finish. Of that only 205 runners ran 7:30 or better. Granted this is a 5 k but I think it shows how hard that pace really is. I would say that 800-1000 meters would be it.
OK, I'll define "average male" as maybe 5'9" to 5'10", about 170 - 180 pounds, in reasonable health with a reasonable diet.
From there, I'll identify the question as irrelevant. It all depends on whether this average male dude has any interest in, or motivation to run.
Let's say they have motivation, for example they get to bof Emilia Clarke, if they run far enuff; or maybe they avoid being beheaded by ISIS. Or they get to eat a big pizza. Whatever. You're gonna get a guy in the mix who will run a marathon, or more. It is humanly possible.
Note: IN the 80s, Joe Strummer of the Clash claimed to have run the Paris marathon, and it looks like it was a hoax, a publicity stunt. However, Strummer, who was untrained, later DID complete the London marathon in a bit over 4 hours. Strummer was a rock star who smoked, and drank. I don't think he was a druggie, however. He kicked Topper Headon out of the band for being addicted to smack.
Not a bad definition for average, but I'd like to change the question slightly.
Since the obese folk are predictably useless, I'm going to ignore them. Since most Americans are some form of overweight or obese, though, I'm going to ignore those with a BMI of 24.x or lower. I'm taking SOLELY the guys with BMI's of 25.00 - 29.99.
So with that definition of the "average guy," what is the median distance run, and what is the maximum distance run?
Stipulation is pace of 8:00 / 1600m, measured every 200m (must be at or under 1:00 at 200m, must be at or under 2:00 at 400m, etc.).
"Athlete" / Participant / Guinea Pig / "Average Guy" can choose one of the following rewards: $1 / meter run, 1 oz. of booze of his choice / 10m run, or 1 minute of "fun" with girl (or guy?) of his choice / 50m run.
With that in mind, I'm guessing that the median performance is 1800m, with the max. being ~8km.
It depends, but I am frequently surprised by how unfit people are in general and especially when it comes to running. I think 7:30/mile is fast for most, unfortunately. I'd say 1000m.
OK, I\'ll define \"average male\" as maybe 5\'9\" to 5\'10\", about 170 - 180 pounds, in reasonable health with a reasonable diet.
From there, I\'ll identify the question as irrelevant. It all depends on whether this average male dude has any interest in, or motivation to run.
Let\'s say they have motivation, for example they get to bof Emilia Clarke, if they run far enuff; or maybe they avoid being beheaded by ISIS. Or they get to eat a big pizza. Whatever. You\'re gonna get a guy in the mix who will run a marathon, or more. It is humanly possible.
No amount of motivation will allow anyone matching that description to finish a marathon at 7:30/mile pace. At best, you\'ll get an outlier who can keep up that pace for the first hour and finish the marathon by walking and jogging the rest of it. The rest of them will beg ISIS to behead them to end their pain well before the 5 mile mark.
I mean able-bodied 25 year olds. Yes there are many who can go a few seconds... but consider that 5 min/kilometer pace (~8 minute mile for the centenarians out there) is a brisk pace for non-runners, but is only 3 meters per second and in 5 seconds only gets 15 meters.
Maybe not all that many, but a significant percentage can't go 5 seconds. Not so much from weight but from being out of shape.
If a 25yo man can't run for 5 seconds, I would not call him able-bodied. You realize how short 5 seconds/17 meters is don't you? I mean, that is really short man. What's your source/evidence?
Found this randomly... I'm not sure if anyone noticed or mentioned something along the same lines. My first thought was that even an athletic male (like a discus thrower for instance?) would be unlikely to run at that pace for very long. It's interesting in a way, but if the idea is to prove something, the whole idea is flawed.
As an example, I have a friend who's 5'10, 145 lbs. I'm 6', 195 lbs. In endurance running, I have absolutely no chance against him, I'm simply much too heavy. But that's irrelevant, we are both ATHLETIC, just in different ways. Sprinting, I can get very close and maybe surprisingly, I beat him in standing long jump.
If you practice long running, you're going to get good at that. If you don't, that doesn't automatically mean you're "fat", "out of shape" or whatever. A 7:30 mile is monstrous from an "average" persons viewpoint. I couldn't say how long I could keep that up, I've not even tried going that fast (for more than a minute). However, if you set the pace at 8:30 (which is still very much running, not jogging), I could keep going for at least 15 minutes. And I'm THIRTY-five, not 25...
You have to realize that the average person assumes they are in better shape and they will inevitably take off too fast and grind to halt. They're going to have no concept of pacing.
How about using a rabbit to pace them? All they have to do is keep up with him/her...
The US Army reached the following interesting conclusions... (I'm assuming there's some kind of science behind it)
From Livestrong:The U.S. Army has devised standards for runners based on age that may offer a helpful target for running a mile.
Ages 17 to 21
A runner who is 17 to 21 and in good health runs a mile in about 6:30 if he is in the top 1 percent of that age group, according to standards set by the U.S. Army Physical Fitness Guide. Runners should shoot for a time of approximately 8:18 if they want to be in the 50 percent bracket for the age group.
Ages 27 through 31
As individuals get older, their physical fitness levels tend to diminish. This is the case when the age group is looked at as a unit, but it does not pertain to individuals who may be in much better condition as they get older because they make a commitment to exercise and live a healthier lifestyle. A runner who is 27 to 31 and can run a mile in 6:39 or better is in the top 1 percent for the age group. Runners who can finish a 1-mile run in 8:56 are in the top 50 percent for the age group.
Ages 37 to 41
At the onset of middle age, it is more difficult to retain physical conditioning. Physical strength can be maintained as long as individuals exercise, compete and work out regularly.
However, fatty areas on the body increase while reaction times and quickness tend to diminish. A lack of exercise can cause a dramatic fall in the overall conditioning level. An individual in this age group that can run a mile in 6:48 or better is in the top 1 percent of his age group. Runners who can finish a 1-mile run in 9:45 are in the top 50 percent for the age group.
In physical education in France, less than half were running faster than 4 min for 1000 m (that should be something like 8 min/mi). 25 year-old Americans are probably in worse shape, so there is no effing way they're running 1000 m at 7:30.
For the purposes of this thread, "running without stopping" is defined as maintaining at least 8 mph (7:30/mile pace) at all times. The runners won't be chased by angry pit bulls, but they'll be given a significant monetary incentive ($1 per meter run?) to continue as long as possible.
I think the average guy will last half a mile before quitting.
Most of the Army, guys who run at least 3 days a week, can't run a 15:00 2 mile.
This experiment was conducted in 1984 and the results showed that the average man could run 17.34 miles before fading out. I believe the results would be slightly diminished in our current, more automated, society. I think a reasonable estimate is 12.7 miles.
Source?
Because I recall that in 1984 I was in high school, and we had this thing called the 12-minute run. Of each class of 25-30 students, maybe four or five would run all 12 minutes, and they happened to be on the track team.
Today, given this exact question, I'd put the average at maybe 4 miles.
For the purposes of this thread, "running without stopping" is defined as maintaining at least 8 mph (7:30/mile pace) at all times. The runners won't be chased by angry pit bulls, but they'll be given a significant monetary incentive ($1 per meter run?) to continue as long as possible.
I think the average guy will last half a mile before quitting.
I would have said 800m but now that you put some parameters on it
1) maintain 7:30 pace
2) $1 per meter
I would say that he would get somewhere between 800m to 1200m.
Plus the average male is not a 25 year old but in their early 40s using government data. This makes the above even more ludicrous because the average club runner in their 40s has to put blood and sweat into running 17 miles. This is bearing in mind that the average club runner is in the top 20% of the total population fitness wise.
For the purposes of this thread, "running without stopping" is defined as maintaining at least 8 mph (7:30/mile pace) at all times. The runners won't be chased by angry pit bulls, but they'll be given a significant monetary incentive ($1 per meter run?) to continue as long as possible.
I think the average guy will last half a mile before quitting.
The average 25 year old American can't run that fast for a minute or two. You guys here way overestimate what the AVERAGE is capable of doing. You are the 1% of the movers no matter how quick you actually are.
If we choose 100 guys at random who are 25 and put them on the track tomorrow and pull them off the moment that they go above 7:30 pace. 20 would be out immediately, 20 more after a few seconds, and 20 more after 100 meters. That puts the median guy at 100 meters.
For the purposes of this thread, "running without stopping" is defined as maintaining at least 8 mph (7:30/mile pace) at all times. The runners won't be chased by angry pit bulls, but they'll be given a significant monetary incentive ($1 per meter run?) to continue as long as possible.
I think the average guy will last half a mile before quitting.
The average 25 year old American can't run that fast for a minute or two. You guys here way overestimate what the AVERAGE is capable of doing. You are the 1% of the movers no matter how quick you actually are.
Right. Past 100-200m, 7:30 pace is smokin fast for the AVERAGE 25yo male. On average, they would drop out by 300m-400m; that's nearly 1.5-2 min of heavy exertion. Like running a max effort 600-900m for trained athletes.