if you took a year off with no training at all, how fast could you run the mile?

I ran a 5:04 against the kids on the team I coach just the other day and I had not ran in 11 months.

I've taken 4 months off and was in the high 5 min range. If I took a year off I'd probably struggle to run 6:30. 2 weeks ago I ran 4:37 to put things in perspective.

how much weight did you guys gained?

what do you reckon el guerrouj could run for 1500m 1 year after retiring? Allow him 2 weeks jogging /striding to loosen up. I rekon sub 4 defo, 3.50?

I don't know, but at least now I have an excuse to stop running for a year to find out. I hate this damn sport.

After my college career ended i took off 7 months and put on 35 pounds - only running a few miles maybe once a week and could only manage about 6:15 the first time i tried a mile - within a few weeks i was back in the 540s

In July 2001 I ran 4:27. I had many months off after that, and a month after beginning running again, 5:45 was an ugly experience. July 2003 4:45 was a major achievement.

interesting thread, because i just did this. a little over a year off, havent gained any weight and remain "active". I ran 5:45 and it wasnt pleasant.

the 5 minute guy definitely has some talent, though i suppose it depends what kind of activity/x training you have done.

i think most distance guys, given any amount of time off, could probably muster under 6. Any faster than that is real tough.

oh just to add, "back running a couple weeks" is a different ballpark. What about waking up out of bed cold, no running, then going for a mile? Thought thats what was meant here.

Given 2 weeks of running, I could go under 5 no problem, but thats only because you gain back so much once you start again. The first day or 2 is whats ugly.

A WHOLE YEAR?? with NO training whatsoever?

hmm... id say righ under 5minutes.

Not sure about a mile. I took 10 months off and ran a 16:50 5k though.

would cross training count as off? biking, swimming but no running at all?

I don't believe half the times that are being submitted here..... I lost nine months when I tore my ACL and there is no way in hell I could have broken six minutes when I came back

I took 11 months off, and ran a 5:25 mile.

However, when I tried to run 2 miles a few days later I bombed a nice 12:34!

bullshit 430miler, once again you are delusional

i run 4:16-4:18 regularly and NO WAY could i run much faster than 6 minutes after a year off. no way.

Just had 11months out with no real training, 15min 5k guy and now I am in 16min shape. A lot depends on weight gain- I don't gain a pound (in fact I lose weight for a start).

I can always run sub 5min mile though.

I took four months off after college. I ran a 400 all out because I wondered the same things the original poster did... I ran a 65, threw up twice, and didn't run for another month because it was so horrible.

Then again, it was at altitude... and in Provo, Utah... both might have something to do with the puking.

You're bang on with the 2 weeks running making all the difference. I was in plaster for two months recently, and hadn't been able to run for a couple of months prior to that. My first run back it felt like I was wearing someone else's legs. Wobbly.

Two weeks in and I could go under 5 mins I'm certain.

Probably 4:35-4:40 range