How fast can the average american run a mile? Can anyone train and go under 6 minutes?

This specific thread was about people that train for it. Not people who do the elliptical twice a week. How fast do you think these guys could have run if they ran 30-40 miles a week with a couple weekly workouts? Just having them walk/run 15 miles a week would improve their mile time by minutes within the first month.

Not a chance. 10 minute mile would be a daunting challenge for the average person.

I think the correct answer is about 1 to 2% of average men could run sub 6:00. Many of you grossly underestimate how fat and slow most people are.

Now for the small percentage of people that consider themselves competitive runners, this time is not impressive or good at all.

I can run sub 6:00 but I'm a 45 year old hobby jogger with no real talent FWIW.

Not Fast but Furious wrote:

I think the correct answer is about 1 to 2% of average men could run sub 6:00. Many of you grossly underestimate how fat and slow most people are.

Now for the small percentage of people that consider themselves competitive runners, this time is not impressive or good at all.

I can run sub 6:00 but I'm a 45 year old hobby jogger with no real talent FWIW.

If you can run sub 6 you have some degree of talent. Period.

I said in my original post they would improve if they trained. A walk run/training 15 mpw would help for sure. 30-40 mpw even more, although whether the average person with no running background could even handle that sort of mileage (especially with workouts) is debatable.

For the "average person" cited in the OP's post, running a mile is a long way. Just completing that mile at any speed is difficult for many of them. 6:00 pace would be completely unfeasible for many, regardless of training.

Donnie wrote:

I said in my original post they would improve if they trained. A walk run/training 15 mpw would help for sure. 30-40 mpw even more, although whether the average person with no running background could even handle that sort of mileage (especially with workouts) is debatable.

Any one without serious disabilities could handle 30-40mpw, or even 60-80mpw. You just need to gradually build up the mileage.

And I bet 97-98% of men under 40 could break 6min if they really tried. Most of them just don't have the motivation.

The OP asked 3 separate questions:

how hard is it for an average person to run under a 6 minute mile?

He doesn't define average but let's narrow it down to healthy men/women 18-40 (a big qualifier). If they are not running regularly, the answer is very hard to impossible. If they *are* running regularly (a small % of people) then the answer is still almost certainly no.

Could a lot of people just go do it or would they need to train?

For non-runners, virtually no one could "just go do it." If they ran mileage, trained for a significant amount of time and didn't get injured the answer is still probably no.

And, can anyone train enough so that they could run under 6 minutes for a mile?

"Anyone" is very broad. It includes a huge % of people who could not run 1 lap, or mile at any speed. Again, let's narrow it down to the group mentioned above. With an unlimited time frame, ability to train, run decent mileage, not get injured or lose motivation, yes some people could do it. It certainly isn't 97-98% of people. And obviously, the amount of qualifiers needed for this basically means the person is a dedicated runner and not "the average person" that is the subject of the original question.

Do you happen to have a pic of yourself without a shirt? I'm also 6'1" but about 197 lbs currently, and I'd guess I'm around 15% BF, but I'd be curious to know what a hydro-verified 15% looks like on someone around my size.

Donnie wrote:

And, can anyone train enough so that they could run under 6 minutes for a mile?

"Anyone" is very broad. It includes a huge % of people who could not run 1 lap, or mile at any speed. Again, let's narrow it down to the group mentioned above. With an unlimited time frame, ability to train, run decent mileage, not get injured or lose motivation, yes some people could do it. It certainly isn't 97-98% of people. And obviously, the amount of qualifiers needed for this basically means the person is a dedicated runner and not "the average person" that is the subject of the original question.

In other words, the "average" person cannot run a sub-6 miles because he lacks the dedication. He just does not want to work hard enough. After all, who wants to work hard to run what is essentially a mediocre hobby jogger time?

The average American cannot break 8 min mile.

Look at the median 5K times across the country. 28+. Those are the people who run. A fraction of a percent break 20 min 5Ks.

90% of the population can't run the below average LRer's marathon pace for a single mile.

That won't improve either.

I estimate the average human male at his peak reaches his genetic potential around 5:45. It's crazy that I managed a full minute faster than that.

Exerciseologist wrote:

I estimate the average human male at his peak reaches his genetic potential around 5:45. It's crazy that I managed a full minute faster than that.

Famale @ genetic potential?

Exerciseologist wrote:

I estimate the average human male at his peak reaches his genetic potential around 5:45. It's crazy that I managed a full minute faster than that.

No way, most males can go faster than that.

Runningart2004 wrote:

Y'all don't even know what average is.

Alan

Because nobody has said whether it's the mean, modal or median, whether it is just males or both sexes, or just approx prime age, or all ages.

I can run a 10 minute mile!

Here's an "average" American couple doing their version of all the jets on:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vyNZ9Gfxu4

95% of American adults can not run a mile without stopping.

These threads that talk about what the average American can run are always WAY off.

6 minutes is freakin' flying for ~98% of the population and simply not possible. Let's not forget that 51% or so are women.

There are two reasons why people are so wrong about this:

1) Running came easy to them (which is why they became runners) and so they think it is similar to that for other people.

2) They believe they got where they are on training, mental attitude, and dedication alone...that inherent natural ability had nothing to do with it.

The answer is NO, not just anyone can go train and actually run a 6 minute mile. Most would have trouble training and getting under 9 minutes for a mile even (and probably even under 10 minutes).

Average person (male) could definitely run under 6 with some training but to get under 5 would a certain body type and naturally more-efficient-than-average lungs. The average female may fall short of 6 but some could do it if they really, really dedicated themselves and took training/diet seriously for quite some years, too many women are afraid to strength train and are too dependant on chocolate and wine to get them through the week - throw these habits out the window and a lot more could do it. Sub 6 for women is relatively similar to approaching 5 for males so again, would probably require some natural talent in the cardiorespiratory department that not all females are going to have. Also, body type matters and women with an android shaped body would have a slight advantage not really/only because of gait problems but because that body type offers a hormonal advantage (more testosterone).

75% of the genpop could do it if they applied themselves for a while. Discipline is the exception and not the norm in today’s society.

Barely half of letsrun posters can run sub-6 for the mile.