glt wrote:
I'm pretty sure that the statement is untrue, although I would say at least half could with proper training & motivation. I was low varsity / high JV on our cross country team, and I ran under 30 during a track 10K time trial.
You ran under 30 during a track 10k time trial as a low varisty JV team member?
Letsrun is pitiful. This thread is full of excuses. If I went on any other thread and said "Hey my pr for 8k in cross country is 26:01." You guys would say i was a slow excuse for a runner.
I wholly agree with the above statement.
Your coach is a liar.
It is an understatement of the difficulty involved.
You runners always think that running is just SO easy, that it isn't really a talent at all. My guess is that this is because most of you are small and feel yourselves to be "unathletic." Well, you are mistaken - just like you could work out for the rest of your life and never bench 200, there are a huge number of people who could train until they fell over and never sneak under 18 minutes for three miles, much less 30 minutes for five. You have a specific type of athleticism and should be grateful.
I am a very fit Masters runner, 54 years old, and routinely win medals in every 5K race I run in. I train with 5 miles runs and I rarely break 35 minutes, much less 30 minutes. A sub 7 minute mile pace for 5 miles for anyone over 50 is very good. My 5K race times are in the low 21 range.
It's absolutely false. There are guys naturally built like linebackers. They'd never get near 30 minutes for five miles.
Doug Bonestroo wrote:
I am a very fit Masters runner, 54 years old, and routinely win medals in every 5K race I run in. I train with 5 miles runs and I rarely break 35 minutes, much less 30 minutes. A sub 7 minute mile pace for 5 miles for anyone over 50 is very good. My 5K race times are in the low 21 range.
um...you bumped a 3.5 year old thread to brag about how fit you are for your age?
Former runner (current fatso) wrote:
This is actually true, after 2 years of post-graduation sitting on my butt and gaining weight, I entered a local 8K and registered a blazing 31:30 performance. (I was 30 pounds over my racing weight at this point)
At that time, I was considered "obese" for my height based on some American medical association release.
2 months later I lost half of the extra weight (and dropped into the "healthy" zone for my height) and broke 30 minutes in a tempo run.
And because you did it ...nearly anyone can?! That's horribly misguided.
Just as less than 5% of that group will not earn $ 150k, score 1300 sat, bench 350, swim sub 60 100m, write a book, high jump 6 ft, sprint sub 12 100m and on and on you will not get nearly all of them under 30 min for 5 mi.
runallout (former terrier) wrote:
True or False? Discuss.
My former college coach used to say this all the time. Bearing in mind, I was one of only 3 members of our team that could do so. Therefore, is this a true statement, or an understatement of the difficulty involved?
Very false. I'd estimate that at least a third of the population couldn't even break 18 minutes for three miles with any amount of training. We are all limited by our genetics and by definition, the bell curve includes people are far below average in terms of ability. Many competitive runners have a badly warped perception of what average is and tend to assume that their ability level is the average for the general population when in reality, it's average for people who are talented enough to run competively without embarrassing themselves. I maxed out at 16:30 for 5K and I know that I am well above average for the general population. I smoked 99% of the kids in PE class and 99% of the runners I encountered in local road races. The average person is a shitty runner.
To max the Marine Corps PT test takes 18 minutes for three miles. 30 minutes is another two miles at that pace. We're talking about basically a standard that most Marines can't make and going 67% farther.
Marines are a well above average sample of healthy boys.
Doug Bonestroo wrote:
I am a very fit Masters runner, 54 years old, and routinely win medals in every 5K race I run in. I train with 5 miles runs and I rarely break 35 minutes, much less 30 minutes. A sub 7 minute mile pace for 5 miles for anyone over 50 is very good. My 5K race times are in the low 21 range.
You'd need to run faster than low 21 to place in the 50+ group where I live.
My team was the second best JC in the country for XC. We had some slow guys and a couple of 1:55 800 guys and they could not break 30 for 5 miles or 8k.
We did have like 16 guys who could break 26 though.
Most people boys could not break 30, unless they changed made some serious lifestyle changes.
My point was to say that not every healthy American boy can run sub 30 for 5 miles. When I was training hard in my mid-20's I ran a 31:40, which is good but not sub 30. Sub 6 for 5 miles is tough.
Look, there are healthy Amrican boys who are built more like linebackers who are never going to run five miles this fast no matter how much they train
much more believable than the sub 2:30 marathon
when I ran every day a ran a 5 minute mile up to 5 miles in a row
This is extremely false. I am a 17 year old male and am built like a distance runner (5'10'', 140lbs), have been healthy and training consistently for 6+ years, work my butt off as hard if not harder than anyone on my team, while still focusing on recovery and the little things (prehab, stretching, foam rolling, strength training, hydration, healthy eating) and my 5 mile PR is 35:13. I know how to run and push myself to my limits, and I'm sure I still have some room for improvement, but I don't ever see myself getting close to 30:00 barring a big breakthrough. I don't have good distance running genes. I have had to work way harder than anyone running similar times on my team to get to this level. There is no way that all American boys can break 30:00 for 5 miles. Not a chance. Not everyone is a gifted and natural athlete like elite runners. It takes way more than hard work to be good.
Of course he's right. Just like most people can run sub 50 400m with the right training
@ Mattaa99, let me provide some constructive feedback. 1. Stop doing whatever you are doing and run 35 - 40 E miles. 2. Read and study "Lore of Running" by Tim Noakes. 3. Develop purposeful workout schedule with at least 4wk forward visibility. 4. Stick to plan and ensure that each workout has a purpose. 5. Stop wasting time. There is absolutely no reason (except medically related) that after 6 years of injury free running you shouldn't be running 10M at 6:00 mile pace. Provided you are truthful about your complexion genetic predisposition plays absolutely no role in your case. What's more important is the appropriate mindset and your ability to tolerate discomfort. Test this on yourself by training on hard days to the point of vomiting and you will see results. One great thing about human body is that it adapts to stress, but the amount of stress endured vs performance gained is not linear. As you progress more effort has to be expended for much smaller gain in performance.