You start running at your 1 Mile race pace with NO warmup whatsoever. How far do you make it at that pace?

One mile

This would be an interesting experiment for someone who didn't care about getting injured. I suspect the mile with no warm-ups would be slightly faster due to tighter muscles.

Depends on the scenario instigating that and your general activity level relative to the time of day.

Gravy wrote:

I suspect the mile with no warm-ups would be slightly faster due to tighter muscles.

Yeah - that makes sense.

I’ll be sure to tell the professionals that their warmups are pointless.

serious answer i feel it would be tough as hell to finish even 1 lap. 2 laps, absolutely not.

Didn't this happen at the Olympics or world championships recently because of a bus issue?

I think the women affected did fine

what if... wrote:

serious answer i feel it would be tough as hell to finish even 1 lap. 2 laps, absolutely not.

hahahahahaa I've done 400 break 400 break 800 all at mile pace with no warmup before. you are so wrong

Probably not very far as I usually run my best mile races negative splitting a little bit.

I could probably make it 900-1000m if it was mid day and i really wanted to press. Would probably run 15-20 seconds slower than my PR.

50 miles easy

This was pretty much my go-to, hardening summertime workout in high school. No time, because there's a party to attend? Head out the door at 5K PR pace and hold it as long as possible. Done.

Warming up is overrated, anyway. You ever see a jaguar warm up before running down prey? Didn't think so.

I wouldn't do this now, three or four decades later, but it worked for me back when running a fast 5K was my thing.

(And FWIW, I'd run a high-16 when I was turning high-15s later in the season, or 30 seconds or so from the previous season PR.)

In college, on the days I'd need to get in a second run, I'd do much the same when up for it. Or, a 3 or 4 mile effort out the door, then head back for a 6 or 7 mile outing. Aim for 5 minute pace on the fast ones, then probably mid-6 back.)

For most, they could make it through 800 and then would slow a bit for the next 800 to about 15 seconds off their normal mile.

it would feel horrible

Not sure of the logistics of starting running immediately at my mile pace. However say I attempt to jump forwards from a low platform on a moving vehicle going at just below my rather slow mile pace I think I would probably manage a few strides at bests before hitting the deck...

400m

Mile pace is something I have to mentally and physically prepare for. I could barely run a mile at threshold pace straight away without feeling like crap.

Some not well known science to back up anecdote:

The free energy of ATP due to hydrolysis actually increases as the temperature of your muscle increases. Essentially, you get more energy from each molecule of ATP when you are warmer. More energy -> stronger forces of muscle contraction + faster velocities -> increased speed. I think it peaks at around 50 degrees celsius (122F) - can't really remember off the top of my head. That being the temperature of the working muscle itself, not your core temperature.

It takes a while for your muscles to get that hot so this would definitely be a big factor in slowing you down with no warm up.

When I was in high school, I think I'd get just about a full mile.

30 years later, I'd be lucky to get 500 meters.

The older you get the more important the warm up is.

In college I had morning runs a couple times a week with the team, we would meet a mile from my house (It was measured with GPS watch, so the split I'm about to say is definitely accurate within a few seconds.

One day I woke up and wanted to see if I could run sub 5 minute mile on the way there. At the time I had a 4:10 mile PR. I ended up running 4:55 and it really wasn't that crazy challenging. I'd say someone wouldn't be THAT far off their best if they did it, maybe I could've gone 4:20 if I was on a track and trying 100% that day instead of on the road just trying to hit a modest sub 5.

I’ve done this. I had an IB test the day of a meet. So I stayed at school and finished th test, then went to the meet (2 hours away). My coach called and wanted me to run the mile (true team section meet).

I got out of the van, put my uniform on, put spikes on, ran to the bathroom, and ran to the start. I had just sat in the van for 2 hours drinking water preparing for the 800m (much later on). My Season best was 4:53. I took the first lap out in 1:10 feeling really fresh. It was an easy first lap. Third and fourth laps were not so good. Finished in 4:57. Granted it was fairly windy.

I ran 4:45 a month later, so I was probably in low 4:50s shape.

So in my experience, it feels really good for half the race. Then you suffer.

Your body has to warm up. Either before the race, or during it.

FFF wrote:

Warming up is overrated, anyway. You ever see a jaguar warm up before running down prey? Didn't think so.

Actually, the big cats do warm up before running down prey. When hungry, jaguars, pumas, cheetahs, mountain lions, lions, tigers, etc. will lay there and repeatedly flex their muscles while waiting for their prey. When their prey is near, they are warmed up and ready to go.