Could Lebron James Break 5 in the Mile?

kkksk wrote:And there is no body type unsuitable for distance running. Distance running has every body type represented.

Yes. This is true. What I said was "Not every body type is suitable for FAST distance running."

People w/ a body type that resembles Peter Dinklage can run distance, but not as fast as people w/ a body type like Mo Farrah. People w/ a body type like Stephanie Brown Trafton could run the marathon, but don't expect her to run w/ Shalane.

Lebron had to duck to avoid hitting his head on a rim 40 inches above his standing height while dunking. You don't think he is fast twitch

Ashton eaton has actually ran a 4:14 1500 at the end of his world record decathlon at the olympic trials in 2012.

400metersoffseason wrote:

The quicker players run 4 minute mile pace and beyond at peak speed during games, perhaps even approaching 3 minute pace (20) for a second in extreme cases.

Most elite 400 runners would have trouble hitting 20mph within 28 meters.

Basketball players aren't elite sprinters and don't have the full 28 meters to work with, so I doubt they hit 15mph. Even if they could, 15mph is too fast for agile movement. Try running a 30 second 200 dribbling a basketball and jumping from lane to lane.

LeBron doesn't have the necessary muscle fibers to break 5. The guy is a fast twitch athlete.

Average 250 pound man? Heck no. 250-pound man who happens to be one of the very best athletes in the world? I don't know, but I wouldn't dismiss the possibility. Knowledge of the average 250-pound man can do is irrelevant - Lebron James in no way resembles the average 250-pound man. Knowledge of the size of professional middle distance runners is equally irrelevant - they run more than a minute faster than what we're talking about here. Our sport doesn't give bonus points for being big - there is no serious reason for a man who can't run faster than about 4:02 to try to make a career out of running these days. That we don't see many 200+ pounders breaking 4 minutes tells us precisely nothing about who can break 5. I know a guy no taller than 5'10 who at a weight of about 210 pounds managed a 2:28 at Boston in 2002 or 2003. I'm 5'10, a slightly porky 175 pounds, and can run about 5:10 right now (PR 4:36, nearly 20 years ago at a weight of 140). If I can waddle my porky butt to a 5:10, I wouldn't rule out the possibility that one of the greatest athletes in the world just might be able to do a little better, even if he does have a few pounds on me.

subfive wrote:

Cleveland Steamer wrote:

My team has been having this debate for years. Personally, I think there's no way in hell king James' runs under 5 minutes in the mile. He's way to big to carry all that weight that far and that fast. Thoughts?

.

The odds are over whelming that LB can not run a sub 5 mile. His height-to-weight ratio is .32 (80"/250lbs) is probably way to low...even if he has exceptional aerobic ability (he does play most games at a high level for most of the game) Most runners capable running a sub 5 are probably above .38? Bolt is at .32 and a 5'9"/ 160 distance runner is .43. A 5'9" / 190 guy is .36. For reference, Nick Symmonds is .42 (70/165).

NO! NO! NO GOD NO!

LeBron cant run sub 5. Sub 6, probably.

You do know that Lebron rides his bike 20-30 miles a day don't you?

http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/229/files/2012/12/lebronbike.jpg

I do know that Keynon Martin has the University of Cincinnati mile record for the basketball team at 5:08 (all the basketball records hung up in our weight room), so although he is a little smaller than Lebron I wouldn't put it past him being able to do it or come very close.

NFL Expert wrote:

LeBron doesn't have the necessary muscle fibers to break 5. The guy is a fast twitch athlete.

I'm a fast twitch athlete and I can break 5. I did it 14 years in a row. My swimming buddy is fast twitch. No running background, 6'1" 200, 5:09 first attempt no warm up. Lebron would have no trouble.

Walker Red wrote:

NFL Expert wrote:

LeBron doesn't have the necessary muscle fibers to break 5. The guy is a fast twitch athlete.

I'm a fast twitch athlete and I can break 5. I did it 14 years in a row. My swimming buddy is fast twitch. No running background, 6'1" 200, 5:09 first attempt no warm up. Lebron would have no trouble.

You guys have no clue.

I can imagine some college bball player debating if mo farah can two-handed dunk. "I am fat and out of shape and can dunk now - I am sure mo farah can do it....one of the best athletes in the world."

cmon now boi wrote:

Walker Red wrote:

I'm a fast twitch athlete and I can break 5. I did it 14 years in a row. My swimming buddy is fast twitch. No running background, 6'1" 200, 5:09 first attempt no warm up. Lebron would have no trouble.

You guys have no clue.

I can imagine some college bball player debating if mo farah can two-handed dunk. "I am fat and out of shape and can dunk now - I am sure mo farah can do it....one of the best athletes in the world."

You do know Mo Farah is 5'2" don't you?

cmon now boi wrote:

You guys have no clue.

I can imagine some college bball player debating if mo farah can two-handed dunk. "I am fat and out of shape and can dunk now - I am sure mo farah can do it....one of the best athletes in the world."

I will compare Lebron to my swimmer friend who has no running experience. My swimming buddy's BMI is almost identical to Lebron's. Lebron could dribble a ball down a track faster than my buddy could sprint. Lebron actually competes in a sport that requires running. Lebron agruably has better endurance do to his cycling, lengthy practice and games.

Someone could pace Lebron through half in 2:30 and he could close in sub 2:20.

The individuals who dissagree simply do not have appreciation for the time a CONDITIONED LEAN ATHLETE can spotaniously run for a mile. I'm not even sure I would consider 5 minutes appreciable.

straighten up bucko wrote:

You do know Mo Farah is 5'2" don't you?

You do realize lebron is 6-8 250, don't you?

Didn't Shaq race Bolt on TV or some such nonsense? That should serve as a baseline.

Oh lord, this thread is the worst. Just like all the other "could Incredibly Fit Athlete X run mediocre time Y?" threads.

Look. LeBron does not have an "optimal" build for distance running. That's obvious. But a goddamn mile? It's obvious that most people here have not been a part of an actual basketball practice/workout, even at the high school level.

I can tell you from experience that you need a SHITLOAD of aerobic endurance to be a successful basketball player, let alone POTENTIALLY THE BEST BASKETBALL PLAYER OF ALL TIME.

Slow Bro wrote:

Oh lord, this thread is the worst. Just like all the other "could Incredibly Fit Athlete X run mediocre time Y?" threads.

Look. LeBron does not have an "optimal" build for distance running. That's obvious. But a goddamn mile? It's obvious that most people here have not been a part of an actual basketball practice/workout, even at the high school level.

I can tell you from experience that you need a SHITLOAD of aerobic endurance to be a successful basketball player, let alone POTENTIALLY THE BEST BASKETBALL PLAYER OF ALL TIME.

Your experience is obviously not significant if you think lebron could break 5. Have you ever seen a 6-8 250lb man run a TIMED DISTANCE RUN on an ACTUAL TRACK?

not likely that Lebron can break 5 minutes.

Can Ryan Hall dunk a basketball? Doubt it.

Lebron could easily break 5 in the mile. Having ran sub 4:20 in high school and having no serious athletic talent, there is no way you're telling me the greatest athlete in the history of the world can't break 5. Lebron is an athletic phenom. The dude plays 40 plus minutes a night, which would take a lot of endurance. Even through he is a big guy, I think his endurance is seriously underrated.