Could Serena Williams break 5 minutes for the mile?

I wonder if the tennis world debates whether distance runners could return Serena's serve? Nah....

Qualifier.. wrote:

dkny64 wrote:

Among women tennis players, Steffi Graf might have been able to take a shot at 2 flat for 800m - she actually talked about trying the event at one point.

There was some talk about her entering the Olympics in 88 as a runner. She's said have been able to run at least the qualifying standard for either 400m or 800m but I've never seen a definitive source.

This is the best source I was able to find in a few minutes searching,

!topic/alt.fan.steffi-graf/nU7HoH4xW_g

5k is a long way. Taxi! Good job not a 1/4 marathon...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3358335/Serena-Williams-spotted-getting-TAXI-finishing-line-charity-run-foundation.html

31:47 5K time for Venus. No time for Serena so at least that is something.

Great Apes wrote:

How is that even considered female? Shit! Not racist here, but what a monster.

LOL

"not racist" = racist

I actually find Serena extremely attractive. I think some of you really lack experience and/or imagination.

100M: 13

400M: 65-70

800M: 2:40-2:50

MILE: 6:30

jamin wrote:

It's funny how LetsRunners are so insecure about their running ability, that they can't fathom the idea of a non-runner being able to run a 4:59.99 mile. A sub-5 mile is usually just a baramoter for having a good fitness base in a sport that involves lots of running. I could do it easily when I was playing tennis in high school and using running as supplementary exercise.

Actually it's the opposite. It's funny how much LRCers overestimate the ability of other people to run fast. I go to all comers meets in the Bay Area and 1 or 2 runners out of 50 break 5 mins, and all 50 who bother to attend are semi-serious runners who gave up their Saturday to go to a track meet.

I got an 800 on SAT math without studying. But I don't think the average person could get an 800 if they just studied harder. Enjoy your talent, but don't patronize me or anyone else who trains hard and will never break 5 mins.

EPOpian wrote:

Great Apes wrote:

How is that even considered female? Sh1t! Not racist here, but what a monster.

Seriously...she could kick my A$$ and probably bench more than I can...sick.

people's perceptions can be skewed by pictures and tv. but if you saw Serena in real life she is actually very tiny. She is 5'9 155lbs.

Not in a million years, she would have to lose a lot of weight (muscle weight) and devote at least 5-10 years to running a lot of miles each week and even then I’m not sure she could do it. Yes, she is strong and powerful but being strong and powerful is more useful for sprinting. I know guys who can’t even do a pull up who break 5 in the mile. As far as endurance goes, I think with training she would find it way easier to break 60 in the 400m than 5 or even 6 in the mile. She might even be ale to go sub 55. She is a million times better suited for sprints.

Right now, she would probably break 8 minutes if her life depended on it but I doubt she could get under 7. I’m almost certain she could run all over 90% of LR anywhere between a 20m-100m sprint though. I’d say 200 but that’s a bit far, I think the wheels would fall of quite a bit after about 70m.

It’s not so much the muscle weight that’ s slowing her down. It’s the excess fat.

Don't forget she's in her late 30s. She could train the rest of her life and she won't break 5 minutes. A few years ago she ran a 5K where she started with everyone, then jumped in a cab and hopped out right before the finish.

If she devoted the next year to training:

100 13

200 27

400 68

800 3:15

Mile 7:30

5k 27 minutes

I read somewhere that she runs 5ks at 12:00/mile pace. I think she is capable of more obviously but it wouldn’t surprise me, most non-fat chicks would probably consider running 12:00/mile for half an hour a good workout. Runners forget how long anything over a mile really. Is for people who don’t train running, even fit people who don’t particularly focus on running. Serena is in great condition with a powerful and strong body but probably not strong or powerful for distance running. At the other end of the spectrum, I think she could probably smoke 90-95% of people (young men included) in a 400m right now. I could see her running in the 1:05-1:15 range for a quarter mile give or take 5 seconds. Honestly her mile being anywhere between 6 and 9 minutes wouldn’t shock me. I’m going with about 7:30.

She’s more of a sprinter, I think she could run sub 13/27/60 in the sprints without training in her prime. Faster if trained. She is probably slower than that now. If she started training endurance right now, within a few years she would max out her genetic potential running about 6 minutes flat for the mile and around 21-23 minutes for the 5k. Although dubbed as slow, most forget that even those times require above average genetic athletic talent for women. Many middle aged women runners train for years and struggle to break 8 in the mile and 27 in the 5k.

Imagine what Bekele would do for a mile if he had the exact drugs she is on. He would be sub 3:40.

PoisonIvy wrote:

Yes! wrote:

Serena would make a better shot-putter or discuss thrower than miler! Seriously.

With her hand speed and overhead power, as shown by her serious serve, I bet she could be world class in the javelin.

This is the best hypothesis yet. She would have a natural block and huge mobility.

Juppyrunner wrote:

100M: 13

400M: 65-70

800M: 2:40-2:50

MILE: 6:30

To be fair, this thread was started over five years ago. If OP had stated a reasonable one mile time, his thread would have been ignored. I've seen high school female sprinters with similar builds to Serena Williams race 5:40 1600m on 200/400/300H training. Sub-5 mile? No. Could a young Serena Williams have raced sub-5:30 one mile? Yes. If Serena Williams were only a 6:30 one mile runner, should would not be the elite athlete she is today.

Mile time means nothing in tennis. She could run a 6:30 mile and be totally fine.

Could serena williams break 6?