Hello All,
Obviously, this depends entirely on the athlete in question, but what are some minimum requirements it takes to run under 4 minutes in the mile? I've heard around 8 minute 3k and 1:52 800m are some general rules of thumb for time performances.
I've gotten close in the past, won't say my PR's as to protect my identity at this time. Training to finally break it this indoor season.
Regards,
Nick Willis says, 12.5 for a flying 100m and a 20 minute 4 mile tempo. Take that as you will
I heard Lydiard speak in the late 80's, and he mentioned an athlete that he had "who could not break 56 sec for a 440." Yet, his endurance was so great with Lydiard's training, he just squeaked under 4. His name escapes me. There's a great thread on here from about a year ago where a guy talked about breaking four for the first time, using training suggestions from the thread and explaining what he'd done to get there. At least, I think that was here? I'm too lazy on a Friday to look it up.
I disagree with the requirements of an 8 minute 3k. I say that because I look at guys like Michael Slagowski who was never close to a time like that for that distance, but he had such amazing speed. I think you can have crazy speed like Slagowski or crazy strength like some other guys. If you can run sub 8 for 3k I think you can get close to sub 4, and If you can run sub 1:47 you can probably break 4.
29029 wrote:
I heard Lydiard speak in the late 80's, and he mentioned an athlete that he had "who could not break 56 sec for a 440." Yet, his endurance was so great with Lydiard's training, he just squeaked under 4. His name escapes me. There's a great thread on here from about a year ago where a guy talked about breaking four for the first time, using training suggestions from the thread and explaining what he'd done to get there. At least, I think that was here? I'm too lazy on a Friday to look it up.
This it?
http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=4471789You'll need a VO2 of at least 70, probably closer to 75 .
Pretty much everything else will be secondary to that.
VO2 is King wrote:
You'll need a VO2 of at least 70, probably closer to 75 .
Pretty much everything else will be secondary to that.
With respect, that's not accurate. Craig Virgin, Alberto Salazar, Bill Rodgers, Frank Shorter, even Dathan Ritzenheim likely had Vo2s in the high 70s but none of them ever broke 4.
I highly douby Nick Symmonds or Robby Andrews for that matter have particularly remarkable VO2 max scores but they can/could break 4 with ease due to superior speed/strength.
52 -400/ 1:53 800 are oft quoted speed requirements for miler to 5k types trying to break 4.
If you have a college aged 1:48.x half-miler who didnt race the mile much in hs I'd run him in xc on reduced mileage and see if he can run at or below 25 flat for 8k xc before pushing serious mile training on him.
OWG wrote:
VO2 is King wrote:
You'll need a VO2 of at least 70, probably closer to 75 .
Pretty much everything else will be secondary to that.
With respect, that's not accurate. Craig Virgin, Alberto Salazar, Bill Rodgers, Frank Shorter, even Dathan Ritzenheim likely had Vo2s in the high 70s but none of them ever broke 4.
I highly douby Nick Symmonds or Robby Andrews for that matter have particularly remarkable VO2 max scores but they can/could break 4 with ease due to superior speed/strength.
.
At no point did I say that a high number guaranteed a sub four. But you must have a high number to break four.
You may doubt that they have higher numbers. I don't.