What's the minimum speed needed to run a sub 5 minute mile?

Since you start at the line standing, the minimum speed would be zero.

Oldandaverage wrote:

30:.17 in flats 20:30 track 5k

What should mike be ?

Thanks

20:30 5k = 5:55 mile give or take 10 secs

fartleks and bagels wrote:

12 mph

That's actually the maximum speed needed to not run a sub 5 minute mile.

Moo Goo wrote:

Tomorrow land wrote:

I do and have been training exclusively for longer distance races. I've never trained for just a mile goal time, but I'd like to work on it this year. Just curious to know what kind of minimum speed I need in the 800m, 400m, and 200m. Thinking something like 2:20-2:25 for an 800m, 68 to 70 for a 400m, and 30 to 32 for a 200m I'm guessing these are close to the right benchmarks?

I think you have to be lot faster than that.

My guess is 400 at least 60 secs. 800 2:15.

My guess is you don't know what you are talking about. Off 60 you should be able to get down to 4:40 & plenty have run faster.

Your 800m time out as well other than school kids. You can get down to 2:06-2:10.

Low 30',s 200m is sufficient for sub 5 with reasonable training.

Depends on age. I once was pretty fast. I can still run 5 minutes but only 70 in 400.

Fast hobbyjogger wrote:

I used to be reasonably fast (3,41 1500 in 1996) but nowadays I´m a 49 year old masters runner, who is just racing for fun.

Last year I ran the mile in 4,48. Two weeks earlier I ran the 200 with a 5 meter flying start in 29,2.

That sounds about right. I ran about 4:40 mile/10:20 2 mile when I was 46 or 47, and I think I was able to do 8x200m in 31/32, and probably could just about have broken 30 for 200m.

I knew a runner called Martin Hyman (ran Rome Olympic 10000m) whose best 400m was 57, couldn't break 2 min for 800m (or at least 880 yards) and ran a 4:06 mile, but that's an extreme example.

I could see a 31/32 200m - 65/66 400m - 2:20 800m for a someone with more endurance than speed, or little speed background.

Anyone who breaks 5 without also being able to break 2:20 doesn't know how to properly race the 800m.

Tomorrow land wrote:

lollerama wrote:

I'm not sure about the speed needed (shorter distances) as I am a distance runner, but considering you run 50 mpw I assume you probably run longer distances as well, at least occasionally - so coming at it from the other way, I was able to break 5 around the same time I could break 10:00 for 3km. I was also somewhere in the 17:15 range for 5k at the time if I remember correctly.

I do and have been training exclusively for longer distance races. I've never trained for just a mile goal time, but I'd like to work on it this year. Just curious to know what kind of minimum speed I need in the 800m, 400m, and 200m. Thinking something like 2:20-2:25 for an 800m, 68 to 70 for a 400m, and 30 to 32 for a 200m I'm guessing these are close to the right benchmarks?

If you want to talk about speed, and pbs, the first time I broke 5:00 for the mile it was two summers ago I was 13 years old. My times from a meet a couple weeks prior to breaking 5:00 were 2:22 for 800m, 4:42 for 1500m and 10:14 for 3000m.

Fast hobbyjogger wrote:

I used to be reasonably fast (3,41 1500 in 1996) but nowadays I´m a 49 year old masters runner, who is just racing for fun.

Last year I ran the mile in 4,48. Two weeks earlier I ran the 200 with a 5 meter flying start in 29,2.

So not very fast, I can run the 200 about the same time, so my question is how low vo2max is needed for sub 5 mile (I am 60 next year so that will be a much more deciding factor).

SprintTriathlon wrote:

how low vo2max is needed for sub 5 mile (I am 60 next year so that will be a much more deciding factor).

*that is, what is the lowest possible vo2max to achieve this

SprintTriathlon wrote:

SprintTriathlon wrote:

how low vo2max is needed for sub 5 mile (I am 60 next year so that will be a much more deciding factor).

*that is, what is the lowest possible vo2max to achieve this

Probably around 53 - 55 ml/kg but the person would need at least a little bit of natural foot speed (and of course, to be in TOP shape).

Hi I am new here! Thanks for information!

To the OQ, there is no particular 400 speed necessary to run a 5:00 mile. Or, put another way, you obviously don't have the speed currently (in January, 2018), but traditional mile training will increase your 400 and mile times. No 5:40 miler needs to train like a sprinter to improve. Mile training already includes periodic short fast work.

The correct answer is just faster than 12 mph. That being said, most people who can run 25 mph probably can't touch a 5 minute mile, so there's that....

thegreathun wrote:

I've run 26 seconds for 200 and 62 for 400 and my best mile is 5:10. I never ran it in a race, though, just time trials. When I ran 5:10, I passed the 1200 mark in 3'36 and then died :)

Condolences to your wife and Attila.