i ran 6:20 pace on my run today. did onlookers think i was going 'fast' or 'slow' as i ran by?

You weren't running 6:20 pace. I drove next to you and measured your speed. Those were 9 minute miles. Pick it up next time.

webfoot wrote:

One time I was running 6 minute pace on a treadmill next to a guy who was running just under 7 minute pace. I was also running farther. A young woman walked up to us and gushed all over him about how fast he was running and how impressed she was. My initial thought was wtf, but then realized the contrast between a young attorney versus middle aged software developer in the young woman's eyes.

Perceived speed is probably not the reason she chose to flirt with him instead of you.

I once watch the Houston marathon the year they had the US half championships on the same day. At @ mile 6, the elite E. Africans were shooting for 2:05-06 in the marathon and came through ahead of all the US half runners (winner was @62). The E. Africans looked like they were just gliding along. The US runners were just starting to feel some strain, but still looked good. By contrast, when the 2:40-45 guys came around, they looked like they were doing a cool down compared to the elites. The sub 3 pace group looked like 9 min mile pace. It all depends on who you are comparing people to.

This is true, and pretty depressing, as a non-2:04 guy.

Precious Roy wrote:

I once watch the Houston marathon the year they had the US half championships on the same day. At @ mile 6, the elite E. Africans were shooting for 2:05-06 in the marathon and came through ahead of all the US half runners (winner was @62). The E. Africans looked like they were just gliding along. The US runners were just starting to feel some strain, but still looked good. By contrast, when the 2:40-45 guys came around, they looked like they were doing a cool down compared to the elites. The sub 3 pace group looked like 9 min mile pace. It all depends on who you are comparing people to.

My high school girlfriend, a non-runner, said this about me one time: "He runs the distances, yuo know, the ones where you run slowly for a long time". I was a state finalist at 3200.

This is a very interesting topic. I've actually been thinking about this for a while now. I really think it depends on the perspective of the viewer. The faster the person is traveling in a car the slower it looks like you're running. I've been in the car and seen people run at like 6 min pace and it looks like they're jogging at like 9 min pace. I think it's really hard to assume someones pace unless you're running right next to them. It also depends on the persons stride and how smooth they look while running. I think if you're in a car going 40 mph, 6 min pace and 9 min pace would look pretty similar.

Interesting discussion - I also ran around 6 miles this morning at 6:20-6:30 pace. I do all my recovery and "junk" miles on a main boulevard where there are plenty of exercisers from my neighborhood. They all proclaim that I'm blazing out there - the funny thing is they never see my threshold, tempos or other speed workouts because I go elsewhere. Wonder what they'd think if they saw mile repeats in 5:05 or 6 miles at 5:20 pace. Everyone likely thinks you are fast if faster than 7 min pace, but you likely look so comfortable they don't realize actually how fast or tough 6:20 is.

go to the Chicago Lakefront on Saturday mornings(thousands of runners on saturdays), try running a 6:20 mile pace.....you will be preceivedd as flying...by other runners.

Onlookers prolly thought you were the manifestation of the Greek god Achilles in human form.

David Brent wrote:

webfoot wrote:

One time I was running 6 minute pace on a treadmill next to a guy who was running just under 7 minute pace. I was also running farther. A young woman walked up to us and gushed all over him about how fast he was running and how impressed she was. My initial thought was wtf, but then realized the contrast between a young attorney versus middle aged software developer in the young woman's eyes.

Perceived speed is probably not the reason she chose to flirt with him instead of you.

Well yeah, no sh!t. Didn't he already say that in the last sentence of his post?

where do you live? in nyc they say 'get the hell out of the way idiot/get a life' and then you have to go back and bit** slap them. it's great fun

I'm one of those people that looks really slow at anything other than a full out sprint. I think it's because I have long legs and pretty smooth form.

I had someone film me for a few minutes the other week during an 800 meter interval so I could get a look at myself. I was running a comfortable 2:55, but I looked like a 10:00/mile jogger when I reviewed the video afterward.

Slow Bro wrote:

I'm one of those people that looks really slow at anything other than a full out sprint. I think it's because I have long legs and pretty smooth form.

I had someone film me for a few minutes the other week during an 800 meter interval so I could get a look at myself. I was running a comfortable 2:55, but I looked like a 10:00/mile jogger when I reviewed the video afterward.

I'm always suprised by this. The difference between 10 and 6 pace in stride length and cadence here is dramatic. A non runner wouldn't have a clue...but someone going a minute per mile difference is pretty clear. Not so much 15-20 sec/mile....maybe not so much. This is from a side view.

From front on or other odd angles it can be harder to tell. I think people with higher back kicks tend to be perceived as a faster, and cadence can play a roll. Once someone gets up close though it becomes really obvious that theysare flying.

More than likely, they were wondering what YOU thought of THEM.

Slow Bro wrote:

I'm one of those people that looks really slow at anything other than a full out sprint. I think it's because I have long legs and pretty smooth form.

I had someone film me for a few minutes the other week during an 800 meter interval so I could get a look at myself. I was running a comfortable 2:55, but I looked like a 10:00/mile jogger when I reviewed the video afterward.

This is a big thing. Shorter individuals with higher cadence appear to be moving quicker due to "leg speed velocity". Bekele, Geb and Tadese look like they're doing just under a sprint when they run.

also depends on your height. The shorter runners will always look like they are going faster at cerain pace then a taller person because there stride would probably look longer and faster than the taller persons.

It also depends where you are. Do you live and run in Iten?

Are you serious guys??

If you are running by yourself, people will think you are running VERY fast.

Most people run at above 9min/mile pace (if not slower) COME ON!!!

I do my tempos at around 6:20 pace and people think I`m flying.

Of course, in a race setting it is different because everyone is going pretty fast.

In the treadmill, a slower pace seems faster...

Someone videoed me running at 5:50 pace, with a turnover of >200. I looked like I was jogging.