I took a study break and went downstairs to watch a few minutes of some weight loss contest show with my girlfriend (the show was on Lifetime channel, but I’m not sure what it’s called). The trainer had the female competitors run one lap of the track to assess their fitness. He claimed that the average American should be able to run a 1:30 1/4 mile. What do you think? I thought that seemed pretty quick for the “average” American.
90 secs for 1 lap around a track (6 min/mile pace) for the average American … I highly doubt it.
No chance…90 second 400m would be top 0.001 percentile of the general population and top 1 precentile (or lower) of a mass start marathon.
dude there is no way
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I took a study break and went downstairs to watch a few minutes of some weight loss contest show with my girlfriend (the show was on Lifetime channel, but I’m not sure what it’s called). The trainer had the female competitors run one lap of the track to assess their fitness. He claimed that the average American should be able to run a 1:30 1/4 mile. What do you think? I thought that seemed pretty quick for the “average” American.
If they said should then yes they should be able to. But should is a lot different then can.
You can’t compare a 1:30 quarter mile to the pace for a mile. Most people can go that quarter mile a lot faster then then can run a full mile.
Grant
No chance…90 second 400m would be top 0.001 percentile of the general population and top 1 precentile (or lower) of a mass start marathon
Didn’t you try that arguement once already when comparing everyone to an elite marathoner and it backfired??
people being able to run 90 seconds for a 1/4 mile is a lot different then being able to run it for a marathon.
Grant
"You can’t compare a 1:30 quarter mile to the pace for a mile. Most people can go that quarter mile a lot faster then then can run a full mile. "
I agree. I told my girlfriend that I would be surprised if 5% of the US population could run one 6 minute mile. I could do it, but it would hurt 
No way in hell. Next time you are at the mall…look around and tell me that 50% of the people you see can even run once around the track yet alone in 90 seconds!
No way! I would be surprised if the “average” American can run a 2:30 quarter mile.
No way average Joe runs a sub 90 sec. 1/4. I would be curious if the trainer could run a 90 sec. 1/4. Even your average gym rat weight room fit person would have trouble with it unless they run a bit, or do sprints for training, or play a sport that involves running like soccer etc…
I suspect that even your average 10 minute miler that runs 12-15 miles/week would have trouble with it.
The average varsity high school athlete? I would hope so. That would be about 5 % of teenagers. Adults? One percent. Maybe. I agree with the “should” part, though.
I took a study break and went downstairs to watch a few minutes of some weight loss contest show with my girlfriend (the show was on Lifetime channel, but I’m not sure what it’s called). The trainer had the female competitors run one lap of the track to assess their fitness. He claimed that the average American should be able to run a 1:30 1/4 mile. What do you think? I thought that seemed pretty quick for the “average” American.
these shows just like to make weight loss seem insurmountable. it works better that way with the viewing public.
the public likes heros, but they also want to see themselves. tv gold.
Average american… probably not. People everywhere else in the world…probably
no chance…the “average american” has what, 20%+ BF (however you “measure” it) and is 30? lbs overweight (however you classify normal). Those are complete estimations from myself. So the “average” american doesn’t work out and probably doesn’t even know what running is, aside from watching those guys with pads on Saturday and Sunday
I thought that seemed pretty quick for the “average” American.
I would tend to agree. I am basing this on stats that I have read and from my travels just looking at people. The “average” American beyond their teen years has zero amount of physical activity in their day - walking from the front door of the house to the car and then from the car to their office each day, is about it - if they even do that.
Given that, one lap of a 400m track in 90 sec., is a tall order, Better have a trained in CPR person and a deFib machine at the ready.
When I was in university and we were doing exercise physiology lab reserch, we would often needed to get a base-line of the V02 max of the general population. So you would need tio get a range of man/women-in-the-street types into the lab to do a sub-max Vo2 test on them. Everything would go well - you get them set up on the bike hook everything up and then get them going. The all of a sudden you look over and they have stopped pedalling. You ask them why? Typical answer, " I was starting to sweat"!!
I would tend to agree. I am basing this on stats that I have read and from my travels just looking at people. The “average” American beyond their teen years has zero amount of physical activity in their day - walking from the front door of the house to the car and then from the car to their office each day, is about it - if they even do that.
I live a block from a high school. That describes MOST of them, and them’s prime teen years! And this is Colorado, where we are reported to have a higher percentage of in shape people.
Given that, one lap of a 400m track in 90 sec., is a tall order, Better have a trained in CPR person and a deFib machine at the ready.
I told my father (100#+ overweight, retired doctor, granted an ObGyn) I was participating in the 100/100 challenge. I still think he was trying to be funny when he pulled out his “and you need to see a psych to figure out WHY your doing this” joke.
I’ll let you know in March or April, after the 100/100 base, and some speed work if I can hit 400m in 90s… at least without puking.
YMMV, Joe
As it has been established that “anyone” can finish an I’m in 12 hours and a marathon in 4 I do not see what is so hard about one 1/4 in 90 seconds ;-).
BTW I consider myself a pretty average merican and I can easily do a 90 second 1/4
90s would be about 2x slower than the fastest HS track star. Seems do able as a fitness test. If you are in any shape, you should be able to do this.
I would bet that with a trained attack dog making chase that the % that could run a 90 second 1/4 would dramatically increase. Its amazing what is achieveably with the correct motivation
If you are in any shape, you should be able to do this
agreed. The problem is most people are in terribel physical shape as it pertains to this sort of physical effort. It’s a pretty hard efort in a short period of time. It’s the type of effort that has killed more than a few weekend warriars who play pick-up hockey, basketball, football or soccer. It’s the sudden very hard effort that puts their heart over the edge - and they have some form of heart attack right on the spot ranging from mild to severe - sometimes even leading to death.
That’s why I said, you better have a deFib machine at the ready and someone trained in CPR on site, and a cell phone pre programmed with 9-1-1( if your cell can dial 911)