Some say only talent can get you that far, while others say anyone willing to put in a little elbow grease can get there. What is your opinion?
Some say only talent can get you that far, while others say anyone willing to put in a little elbow grease can get there. What is your opinion?
It's easy to achieve for some, impossible for others. Who specifically are you asking about? That guides the answer.
Your basic HS track athlete. Hypothetically willing to adjust diet and workload for whatever it takes.
9:59 is doable for most youngers willing to put 50 mi per week for around a year because its based on endurance (asuming u mean 2 miles time) Id say the others depends on raw maximum speed so hard to call
"That far"... lol. There are so many kids who get "that far" who are also laughably untalented.
1:59/4:30 I would say takes a little more elbow grease than 9:59, but all three are very doable if the kid isn't training like a dummy. Half of the battle honestly just comes from the two-way street of the kid willing to 100% submit (ok, 90%) to the runner lifestyle as a frosh, and the coach actually knowing what he is doing, periodization, etc.
Talent/good genes and athletic background would determine how fast the improvement takes place. So a more "talented" kid might be able to hit those times within a year of training, while the other kid might take all 4 years to hit that.
None are particularly easy.
Many can achieve 9:59 if they're willing to put in the mileage. 1:59/4:29 are somewhat more difficult.
9:59 only is equivalent to 4:42 and 2:07. As others have said it is the easiest of the 3.
As a female I’ve done sub 10 but never broke 4:30 or 2 minutes. I did run 2:04 and 4:38
Dang you’re fast! That must be a misconception my coach has... he says the three are equal.
The faster ones take more talent.
1:59 ~= 4:29 > 9:59. Maybe 1:59 is hardest.
The 800 time is the strongest.
I ran under 10:00 when my 800/1600 prs were 2:03/4:36. Went sub 4:30 soon after. It was another 2 years before I broke 2:00.
1:59 is definitely hardest. The strength required on the second lap of an 800, is what makes this achievement the hardest.
9:59 is cake- even a handful of girls have run sub 10
4:29 is not easy- but not as hard as sub 2
2:00-1
4:29
9:31
I did that in 1993. Not easy but doable for a decently talented teen willing to put in the effort.
9:59 is quite attainable for people who are the physical types drawn to distance running. As we've said here before, people built like linebackers or offensive tackles are never ever going to get 9:59 for two miles.