Ideal 5k-10k Body Composition/Weight

Fitz- Just run more and stop worrying about this crap.

Tergat was 5'11" and 137 lbs. No one who has run the 10k under 26:50 has weighed more than 140 lbs. This is just fact. Dropping your weight to the 130s doesn't guarantee you fast times but it's impossible - based on history - to run super fast being a 140+ guy. Same holds true for sub 12:50 5ks. You need to be super fine tuned.

Chris Solinsky was an anomaly - but he ended up breaking down.

Solinsky broke down as he tried to lose weight.

It's "impossible- based on history" to run super fast being a 140+ guy?????? Cam Levins ran 27:07 two days ago and is 5'10, 143 pounds.

The dude said he ran 32:06... you're making a comparison to runners running over 5 mins faster at the same distance. And another poster is correct that Solinsky ended up hurt after he started losing weight.

Those body fat scales are horribly inaccurate. 6% BF would be bodybuilder territory and near the limit of what you can maintain without drugs and be healthy.

Hi Katz, great thread. My weight has fluctuated greatly throughout the years. Would like to see if anyone else has similar numbers.

College (Age 20): 5'10" 160 lbs

5k: 14:52

10k: 30:58

Salary: $0

Girlfriend: 6.5

My Prime (Age 29): 5'10" 145 lbs

5k: 14:18

10k: 29:43

Salary: $150k

Girlfriend: 9

Current (Age 43): 5'10" 170 lbs

5k: 16:44

10k: 34:08

Salary: $275k

Wife: 7.5

Thosr fancy scales are highly inaccurate, especially toward the extremes. The technology used has a +/- 6% error.

Lowest maintainable body fat and lowest maintainable muscle mass are highly determined by genetics and is one of many reasons why great runners are equal parts genetics and training .

I ran upwards of 100-140 miles a week, for 15 years from high school soph thru age 30 rarely ran less than 70 a week, and most of the last 8 years avg 90 a week with months over 100/wk, routine 20-22 mile long runs....and I maintained 5'6" 140lbs with 8-9% bf measured through 7-site skinfold as well as hydrostatic. I didn't even look at a dumbell until I was nearly 30. I even went on a low protein kick to try to muscle...didn't work

So what does this tell you? Just train and don't eat like an idiot (lots of beer and icecream). Your weight will settle at a INDIVIDUAL NATURAL LEVEL FOR PEAK PERFORMANCE.

Of course you could always just take winstrol....

Alan

@runningart2004 What kind of times did you run off of all that training?

I am a high school sophomore cross country runner, I started cross country in freshman year

I am 5'6" and weight 144 lbs.

My 5k PR last year is 21:07 and as of this season so far it's 19:54.

Is this good or what can I do to lower my time?

Conscious1133 wrote:

I am a high school sophomore cross country runner, I started cross country in freshman year

I am 5'6" and weight 144 lbs.

My 5k PR last year is 21:07 and as of this season so far it's 19:54.

Is this good or what can I do to lower my time?

Focus on getting in better shape than losing weight.

Why would you include your salary?

45yw45 wrote:

Why would you include your salary?

As his wage increased the rating of his wife decreased. Seems like an anomaly. We need to do some additional research.

Fat is dead weight. Ideally a runner should have the lowest amount of fat that they can without compromising their recovery and muscle development. This is not the same for everyone. Never ever starve yourself, just eat with the purpose of giving your body the best fuel you can and rarely eat for pleasure.