How much can sub-4 minute milers bench?

Reports indicate that Robby "Bobby Fresh" Creese "Lightning" lifts two 16oz whole milk chocolate milk 30-racks at a time. But not Yoohoo, he don't f*** with dat garbage

jdjd wrote:

No, because the best in the world do 3x their body weight. So 2x bodyweight might actually be worse than a 4:30 mile

World record without a bench shirt,

: "On October 12, 2002, at 308.0 pound bodyweight Scot Mendelson bench pressed 701 lbs...for an all-time raw (unassisted) world record." So that's 2.33x body weight. 2x body weight is pretty darn close. The 3x thing only happens at the lower weights.

A proportion isn't the best way to think about it. Think about it instead as percentage of the population, in which case, yes, 2x bodyweight is probably as rare as a 15 mink 5k.

D.c. runner wrote:

jdjd wrote:

No, because the best in the world do 3x their body weight. So 2x bodyweight might actually be worse than a 4:30 mile

World record without a bench shirt,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scot_Mendelson

: "On October 12, 2002, at 308.0 pound bodyweight Scot Mendelson bench pressed 701 lbs...for an all-time raw (unassisted) world record." So that's 2.33x body weight. 2x body weight is pretty darn close. The 3x thing only happens at the lower weights.

A proportion isn't the best way to think about it. Think about it instead as percentage of the population, in which case, yes, 2x bodyweight is probably as rare as a 15 mink 5k.

I'd say you have a good point. Just as a single data point, take my friend:

Little guy (5'9", 155-160) in the big scheme of things, great build for benching (short arms, round chest, doesn't have to move bar far). Does a LOT of lifting and body weight exercises. Very strong, very ripped. For example, he talked me into doing tough mudder last year (yes, his kind of thing, not mine, but he knows I run and do a fair amount of lifting type stuff too). They have a pull-up contest, probably a 1000 or more people are at this event. Many have tried the pull-up contest to test their manhood in front of their friends. Marines are there to make sure pull-ups are legit. He strolls up, and knocks off 40 legit, no kip pull-ups to beat everyone. Then we do the tough mudder (12 miles), he nearly gets hypothermia (really cold day, ice bath, etc). He goes to car in fetal position to warm-up. Drinks a beer, and then the guy running the pull-up contest calls him out (not knowing he's already done it) and says, "hey cowboy (my friend is wearing goofy cowboy hat), wanna show us your pull-up strength?" trying to mock him a bit. My friend casually points to the top of the leader board and says: "see that name up there, that's me. But I'll try again." And then he knocks off 37 legit pull-ups to get SECOND for the day.

Very Strong guy for his size. Does lots of one-arm pull-ups. Does lots of lifting with bigger guys. He's edged up to 285 on the bench. He says he wants to see if he can do 300. Not sure if he has, but if so, he STILL won't be a 2 x body weight (probably weighs 160 now with additional lifting).

So yeah, I would think that while 2 x bodyweight is not exceedingly rare, I would think fairly exceptional.

themanontherun wrote:

It's incredible to me how many people don't realize that you can add strength without adding much (or even any) weight.

I do Webb doesn't

Middle distance runners need to concentrate on leg strength not how much they can bench press

D.c. runner wrote:

jdjd wrote:

No, because the best in the world do 3x their body weight. So 2x bodyweight might actually be worse than a 4:30 mile

World record without a bench shirt,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scot_Mendelson

: "On October 12, 2002, at 308.0 pound bodyweight Scot Mendelson bench pressed 701 lbs...for an all-time raw (unassisted) world record." So that's 2.33x body weight. 2x body weight is pretty darn close. The 3x thing only happens at the lower weights.

A proportion isn't the best way to think about it. Think about it instead as percentage of the population, in which case, yes, 2x bodyweight is probably as rare as a 15 mink 5k.

"The 3x thing only happens at the lower weights"??? We're talking about a 120 lb Sebastien Coe. Is that not a person of a lower weight?

No, a proportion of the world record is a much better way of thinking about it than comparing yourself against people that aren't even trying to bench press. I'd bet a signjficant part of the population doesn't even know what a bench press is.

It was reported a while back that Alan Webb benched 240lbs his senior year in high school.

When competing as an 800m runner in college, I ran a 4:12 mile and benched 260. Now I can bench 300 but probably can't break 4:40. I'm pretty sure none of my sub-4 teammates (4 of them) could bench over 200.

dmb wrote:

Joe Falcon did 275

Mexican peoples tend to be strong for their weight. I bet Leo can bench a gangload too.

the rocket. wrote:

How much a 4 minute miler can bench is equivalent to asking how fast can an NFL lineman run a marathon.

It does not matter. Bench pressing is a non-specific strength component and has no effect on running.

Exactly, but the high school fanboys want to believe there is something magical about running fast and that it translates to other things.

I remember a Galen Rupp bench press thread a few months ago and people were guessing insane numbers by virtue of him being an elite distance runner.

Some have even speculated that his running ability would automatically make him a good street fighter without any additional training.

guy i used to train with who is now collegian sub 4 could literally only do about 15 press ups, so not very much (like 100 pounds).

everyone on this thread is full of sh*t...ive run with several sub 4 guys and every single one of them has a hard time getting the lid off of a jar of jam. no way seb coe or these other guys put up 200 whatever weighing 120. they might be good at squats or something, but not bench, at least not when they were in sub 4 shape.

maybe at some point, but definitely not when they were running sub 4. a friend of mine is a 3:57 guy and he put up 215 in high school but he only ran like 25 miles a week back then. now he barely can put up 165 at 80-90 miles a week...that being said, he still runs sub 4, which is more important.

I trained with 8 sub 4 guys at the same time. We ranged in size from 5'10 to 6'3" and from a low of 140 to 160 lbs. Max bench was more for the bigger guys in general, but ranged between 165-225. I did see Falcon put up 275 -- that actually happened. Short guys with short arms bench the most, in any sport....but in general I felt like a good miler has the horsepower to bench somewhere between 1.25-1.5x their weight.

I would guess about 150,000 to 200,000 pounds. About 1000 total sub-4 guys at an average of somewhere between 150-200 lbs.

Never believe what anyone says they can bench...unless you walk into gym with them, load the Olympic bench, and watch him do it. You will see big popping arching, their buddy with both hands...""""Helping Balance """ for him..what!!! You will see monkeys, adding wrong or rounding the weight up. Had a guy said he could do one rep with TWO PLATES!!!! WOW!!!! That would be 225lbs. I said "No YOU Can't Monkey! I follow him in, he does 6 at 135lbs, he does 3 almost at 165, he puts on 185 and adds a 2/1/2 plate each side also. So now we got 190lbs. He says ok..1 rep!?! I say you got 190 there. He says "No well its just about 225. Like the rest of this country its all lies, smoke and mirrors and dream world. Never believe any monkey until you see him do it with your own eyes.