Janitor in my building was a 3:44 1500m and 13:51 5000m runner. He's currently 31 years old.

No. He's probably lying/exaggerating his times, and he's too old to get back to it and do well. Do you know how many 13:51 guys there are in the US alone? You've never even heard of most of them. He has 4 children and responsibilities.

Hooma wrote:

No. He's probably lying/exaggerating his times, and he's too old to get back to it and do well. Do you know how many 13:51 guys there are in the US alone? You've never even heard of most of them. He has 4 children and responsibilities.

I don't think someone lying would have the knowledge to spit out those reasonably comparable times at various distances

He would get back into it if he so felt the desire. Maybe invite him for a jog if you care so much

This is what I was thinking. Do you think it would be bizarre to ask him this? I don't think we've gotten to know each other long enough where I can just "ask" him to go on a run with me.

sak9 wrote:

This is what I was thinking. Do you think it would be bizarre to ask him this? I don't think we've gotten to know each other long enough where I can just "ask" him to go on a run with me.

Once you've had a few polite conversations over the course of days or weeks, I think it would be fine. Worst case scenario is that he appreciates the offer and you've made an acquaintance out of someone who probably feels ignored all the time

There's probably a lot of used-to-be 3:45ish guys on here. Its about the worst PR to have, unless you're a college freshman. At that level you're close, but not close enough.

If you're still a bachelor, and like the spartan lifestyle of a distance runner, keep at it. If you have four children and financial responsibilities, and you're not a 3:33 type, its time to move on.

Appreciation?? wrote:

I don't think someone lying would have the knowledge to spit out those reasonably comparable times at various distances

He would get back into it if he so felt the desire. Maybe invite him for a jog if you care so much

I'm not saying the OP's janitor is lying. But I know somebody who lied to me about their times. I worked worked with him every day. Eventually I looked up his PRs when he started to claim similar level of PRs in swimming, so it sounded too hard to believe. He was a former collegiate runner, so he knew the sport, so it wasn't hard for him to know how to lie in a consistent way across multiple events, tell details of workouts that fit, etc.

I never confronted him, I have no idea why he felt the need to lie about it. We got along well, and if he had told his true times, he was a little better than me in some events, and a little slower in some others, so we had plenty in common without him claiming to be elite level.

But OPs janitor could very well be telling the truth. Those times are fast enough to make a few bucks here and there, but not fast enough to make a living, much less support a family.

No clue, but as someone else said, 3:44 and 13:51 aren't numbers you just pull out of your behind. 3:44 isn't surprising for someone in the low 13:50's.

Those are good times but u wouldn’t make much money so I get it he probably has to work all the time to support his family therefore no time to train or socialize by running with you. That’s my guess

Most people that I have known that have lied have had no clue about running and their claims didnt sound reasonable to anyone that knows the sport. The last guy I remember claimed he used to be able to run a 4:30 mile and an 11:00 2-mile. I told him those two times are not equivalent ability levels and he proceeded to explain to me that you will run slower over longer distances because you have to pace yourself to run farther

Appreciation?? wrote:

Hooma wrote:

No. He's probably lying/exaggerating his times, and he's too old to get back to it and do well. Do you know how many 13:51 guys there are in the US alone? You've never even heard of most of them. He has 4 children and responsibilities.

I don't think someone lying would have the knowledge to spit out those reasonably comparable times at various distances

He would get back into it if he so felt the desire. Maybe invite him for a jog if you care so much

What you talking?

Anyone who has run competitively on any level and admired or followed those faster would know what equivalent faster times are.

+1

If you’ve talked about running to the depth you have there then there’s no harm in asking if he’d like to go for a jog, and I’m sure the effort would be really appreciated

FWIW, I ran 4:32 and 11:03 in HS so those pbs aren't crazy if you're talking about a middling runner who is faster than strong. The 2-mile was indoors, junior year, and certainly not all out, but it was and still is my official PB. This has little to do about lying about times.

Still, I've found that most people that don't follow running very closely can't equate times over different distances. I doubt this guy is lying, they're too specific. OP, ask his name and look him up.

Why are so many people thinking this East African dude might be lying? A 3:44/13:51 guy has close to zero chance of making a better living by racing than as janitor.

That's unless that are also good at marketing themselves such as having a popular youtube channel (much less likely for immigrants - see all the "greatest white/American born" thing), and can also run very competitive ultras. Sad, but true.

There are thousands of Americans in their 20s and 30s who ran those times. My son is 7th man on his college team and he ran similar times. He will graduate in a year and probably give up running at age 23. I hope you don't track him down.

I think it would be great if you got him back into running since I am a big believer in exercising. I am not quite sure why everyone on here are making the point that those times aren’t good enough to give up his job. No kidding. I didn’t realize if you can’t make a living out of it you shouldn’t bother. He could have some fun just running some local races and staying fit.

What’s with all the dads with sub-elite sons posting these days? This is the third time this week I’ve seen a post like this. How many XC teams are there with a 3:44/13:51 7th man?!

NJ NY wrote:

There are thousands of Americans in their 20s and 30s who ran those times. My son is 7th man on his college team and he ran similar times. He will graduate in a year and probably give up running at age 23. I hope you don't track him down.

Er... wrote:

What’s with all the dads with sub-elite sons posting these days? This is the third time this week I’ve seen a post like this. How many XC teams are there with a 3:44/13:51 7th man?!

NJ NY wrote:

There are thousands of Americans in their 20s and 30s who ran those times. My son is 7th man on his college team and he ran similar times. He will graduate in a year and probably give up running at age 23. I hope you don't track him down.

WA lists 469 Americans running 13:51.00 or faster since 1/1/2000. The list for 1500 m goes to 3:43.00 and shows 483 different runners. There are definitely not thousands of Americans in their 20s or 30s who ran 3:44/13:51.

Yes there are. Do you know what the word similar means?

Coach of coach wrote:

Yes there are. Do you know what the word similar means?

This season's lists go deeper. There are three times as many running sub 14:15 than 13:51 and also three times as many running sub 3:48 compared to 3:43. So if the ratio has been similar, there are maybe ~2000 Americans in their 20s and 30s who have run 3:48 or 14:15. But is 14:15 really similar to 13:51?