How easy would it be for Eliud Kipchoge to run sub 4 for the mile?

It takes a surprising amount of speed and power to break 4 minutes. Marathoners basically don’t work on speed at all. Because of this, it would not be that easy for Kipchoge to break 4. If he trained for a few weeks to build power, he could do it easily. When training for a marathon a 3:59 or thereabouts would be an all out effort for him. The guys who have the easiest time breaking 4 are world class 1500m-5000m guys such as Joshua Cheptegai, who averaged 4:03 pace per mile for 5km.

thanks for the explaination! yeah cheptegai is abosolutely insane

The OP is right. The very best marathoners can hit 4 minute miles at will, just like Galen Rupp did at the end of this 5 x mile workout.

https://youtu.be/P2da7ETunf4

I agree. Kipchoge could easily break 4 rn

I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see him break the world record after a month of speed work.

I do agree they can run sub 4 easily especially if you are someone like Kipchoge who actually does put in speed work at the track you gave the worst possible example that is literally Rupp when he was in shape for the 2 mile American record smh

Noah Hansen wrote:

I agree. Kipchoge could easily break 4 rn

I would say he could barely break 4 right now. but it's likely.

the last time he ran a mile, 2007, he ran 3:57.

his last 1500 was in 2010. He ran 3:38.

this was at a time when he was a 12:50 type of runner.

He is more than 10 years older and not training for the same type of speed. he would most certainly not be comfortably under 4.

Oracle618 wrote:

Like, ok this might sound really dumb because I'm not a super experienced runner but here's my question: If Eliud Kipchoge can run at 4:31/mile pace for 26 miles straight, imagine how easy it would be for him to run a sub 4 mile? Like I know that he has done that before during his track career, but why would he not be able to do it now? Is his body just so good at running at marathon pace he doesn't have the ability to run 60 second laps anymore? I feel like he (and other elite marathoners) could still crush it on the track if they wanted to.

Why don't elite marathoners also run track and field?

Eluid kipchoge used to run the 5000 he ran 12:46 and he has a few world championship and Olympic medals.

Some marathoners run the 5000 and 10000 and move up after they have either accomplished what they want, or feel they will be more successful on the roads.

Back in his 5000m prime he could run 3:50 for the mile, I think he'd be at 3:59-4:03 today.

high school xc coach wrote:

Noah Hansen wrote:

I agree. Kipchoge could easily break 4 rn

I would say he could barely break 4 right now. but it's likely.

the last time he ran a mile, 2007, he ran 3:57.

his last 1500 was in 2010. He ran 3:38.

this was at a time when he was a 12:50 type of runner.

He is more than 10 years older and not training for the same type of speed. he would most certainly not be comfortably under 4.

Beat me to it by a minute

yup

I wonder what Kipchoge's fastest mile split in a marathon has been? Maybe 4:20 or 4:25?

Granted most of his marathons have been in Europe and may not have mile splits.

out of curiosity wrote:

I wonder what Kipchoge's fastest mile split in a marathon has been? Maybe 4:20 or 4:25?

Granted most of his marathons have been in Europe and may not have mile splits.

I know (think) he ran mid-4:20s for a mile toward the end of London in 2016

Random question xyz wrote:

out of curiosity wrote:

I wonder what Kipchoge's fastest mile split in a marathon has been? Maybe 4:20 or 4:25?

Granted most of his marathons have been in Europe and may not have mile splits.

I know (think) he ran mid-4:20s for a mile toward the end of London in 2016

Could not find support for this though it remains my recollection

Random question xyz wrote:

Random question xyz wrote:

I know (think) he ran mid-4:20s for a mile toward the end of London in 2016

Could not find support for this though it remains my recollection

Alright it seems I was wrong

Wrap this around your head...Kipchoge would in no way be able to beat a high school junior (Harrison) right now. Actually, he would get obliterated.

Jambo Cabao wrote:

I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see him break the world record after a month of speed work.

Lol.

Anyway, agreed that he couldn’t smash four minutes, but I’m pretty convinced he could have gone out and run 3:59 the day before the marathon if he’d wanted to.

No problem wrote:

The OP is right. The very best marathoners can hit 4 minute miles at will, just like Galen Rupp did at the end of this 5 x mile workout.

https://youtu.be/P2da7ETunf4

Rupp did this workout during indoor season when he had trained specifically to run fast 1500/3000 races.

he would easily run 3:59. wouldn't even break a sweat, and could do it solo in a workout. 3:55 would be a little tougher--he'd suffer a bit. 3:52 would take some sharpening and speed work.

that's my story and i'm sticking to it,

cush