I’ve recently become interested in the idea of running a 6-minute mile. My best mile was a 6:06 last year during a 5k race. It was the first mile of the 5k and I finished in 20:30, so pacing was definitely a problem.
I’ve never been a runner, but do I have what it takes to go sub-6?
Seriously, though, I know I could run a 6-minute mile if I tried. I’m amazed at those of you like Iron-Mike who can break 5, and you’ve inspired me to go try a mile on the track soon…
Any idea what sort of time might be realistic for me? My last 10k was 40:39 at the end of May, and more recently I ran a 20:54 5k after a 1500m swim (in a local swim/run race).
I know this is a dumb question, but have you tried running just 1 mile all-out? What was your time for a hail-mary 1-mile most recently?
However, based on your 1st mile split from the 5k last-year, you probably could have gone under 6 back then if you would have seen the finish line and kicked it into overdrive.
Here’s my suggestion: First put on your shoes. Second, proceed to local track. Third, run really, really fast in a circular motion, around the track 4 times.
While I agree with the others (just go do it), some “facts” to back it up:
According to Jack Daniels’ “VDOT” table, a 20:57 5K is about equal to a 6:00 mile. And given that you did a 6:06 and could still run 2.1 miles afterward( granted, slower), I’d say you should have no problem.
I’d guess you can actually do better than 5:50, maybe even 5:45, esp. with a few good speed workouts beforehand.
In a more constructive fashion… You probably are there or near the “6 min barrier.” If you need a little more speed to get there I would incorporate some faster running into your training. Maybe start with strides of about 75-100m after aruns 3 times per week. Also you could do some track work. This will sound stupid but to run faster you have to get use to running faster. By that I mean training faster at shorter distances. I think training for a decent marathon is way easier than training for a decent 10k, at least for me it is. The reason is the speed work.
NYCTri wrote: I think training for a decent marathon is way easier than training for a decent 10k, at least for me it is. The reason is the speed work.
Spoken like a true natural slowtwitcher! My preference is the opposite. I find it much easier to train for 200 meters than even a 5K! I don’t train for 13.1 miles, I just survive them! I don’t like long and slow: give me intervals any day!
i ran a sub 6 a few years ago, and it was a race on a road, total distance of just one mile. i had zero experience in something like this, but just stumbled upon it when i was already out on a regular run in my neighborhood–what the hell? I thought and ran home to get money to sign up and then ran back to the start line to do the race. all on a whim.
you can do it, it’s just all about being able to push through the pain. if you almost did it once, you can def do it. 6:06 isn’t far. just accept the pain and do it. BTW, my PR in a 5K is like a crack under 23 minutes…if you can run a 20 minute 5k then you can run a sub 6 minute mile!!!
OMG, cakewalk, man. I have a 22 min 5K PR and have done a 6:02 feeling like I could have gone faster. Just run till you feel like throwing up and hang on till the end.
True. I just find that for me to run what I think is a decent 10k (34 - 35 min) I have to “hurt” a lot more in training. For the marathon I did I just ran alot. Keep in mind most runs were in the 6 to 7 min per mile range but for me that is somewhat relaxed. For me LSD is easier than 1/4s or 1/2s etc. on the track or elsewhere.
I ran some sub-6 minute miles doing mile repeats this summer. They kicked my ass. It boggles my mind how I once ran 20 miles in 2 hours during a marathon (the last 6 were a little slower). What happened to my legs?
Your 5 and 10k times are faster than mine and I don’t have a problem running a single sub 6 minute mile. I’d be surprised if you weren’t capable of running a single sub 6 minute mile right now.
From personal experience, my best short-distance efforts have had rabbits leading me out.
This isn’t a revelation really, but it hasn’t really been mentioned yet so I bring it up. If you can recruit a 5:30 or better miler to pace you at 5:55 pace on the first 3 laps, you’ll increase your chances of a PR.
I have yet to do a decent PR mile for this very reason, but someday I will recruit someone to help me. It worked very well for my 3200 PR which I dropped by 13 seconds about a year ago.