Can most people run a mile non-stop?

[Thundercrack85]

So I got in a rather odd argument with someone, who said "anyone" can run a mile without stopping. I disagreed. But am I right or wrong?

For those who use the metric system, that's 1.6 kilometers. Or for Star Wars fans, that's the length of a star destroyer.

Now emphasis on non-stop.

 

[Liam_H]

Depends on your definition of run. But I would say a fair amount of people can't under normal circumstances.

 

[zeroapoc]

Well I would say even people in average shape could do it. I have no idea about the percentages though.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

I'd like to see Stephan Hawking run a mile.

I'm not really sure if I understand what your friend is on about. A lot of people, especially under 50 and in reasonable shape can run a mile without stopping. Then there's a lot of others who think they couldn't, but could if they were under duress like they had a gun to their head. Then there's some who are completely and utterly physically incapable of running a mile, such as the aforementioned Hawking.

 

[Spider-Fan83]

if your talking on the spot, with no preparation, just anyone random person... I'd probably have to say, no

however with training and preparation, I might say it is possible for anyone (short of having a handicap that they can't walk, let alone run) could be able to, under the right circumstances

I took up jogging last year, an it took me a good amount of time to work my way up to going a full mile none stop

 

[Godzilla2000]

If my High School gym classes are any indication only those with a passion for jogging can do this, which was roughly 5% of the people when it came time to "run" the mile. The rest of us treated it like it was a leisurely stroll and/or social time.

 

[the last son]

No most people cannot do it. I work out 4 days out the week and still struggle to get a mile in. I'm in decent shape as well.

 

[Tanin]

Are we talking an adrenaline fueled oh my god I'm going to die panic run.... cause I've done that when I normal can't.

 

[RetrogradeOrbit]

If we are talking about anything swifter than a fast walking pace then I would say most people can not do this.

At a leisurely walking pace, it would take around 18 minutes to walk a mile. My definition for running a mile is anytime under 9 minutes. Which is at least double a standard walking pace.
Doesn't sound much, but believe me, it is.
If we start talking around the 7.00 to 7.30 pace, that is getting brutal! Anything under 7.00, then you are getting towards athletic standard.

I'm training myself to run a marathon, hopefully being ready by the end of this year in terms of preparation. The average pace I am going for is 7.30 per mile for 26.2 of them...

 

[Sawyer]

I'd like to see Stephan Hawking run a mile.

I'm not really sure if I understand what your friend is on about. A lot of people, especially under 50 and in reasonable shape can run a mile without stopping. Then there's a lot of others who think they couldn't, but could if they were under duress like they had a gun to their head. Then there's some who are completely and utterly physically incapable of running a mile, such as the aforementioned Hawking.

 

[Hobgoblin]

I cant run a mile, even when I thought I needed to.

 

[Anita18]

Most? Probably not. Especially not with the horrific running surfaces we have here. You run on concrete in normal shoes, you're blowing out your knee in no time, even if you're genetically gifted in the respiratory area.

I'm on the very low end of normal weight and I can't run a mile without stopping. I get exercise asthma, which makes hate cardio. Plus I find it boring.

The only reason why I'm actually normal weight at all is because I've been lifting heavy weights, so I am fit in some sense of the word. Not in running though. I figure I'm going to lifting heavy things more often than I'm going to be running from zombies.

With consistent training, I do think any remotely healthy person can run a mile without stopping. Just as with consistent training, any remotely healthy person can lift 120% of their body weight, like I can right now. (And I'm a tiny Asian woman!) It's just interest that's the issue.

 

[Thundercrack85]

Well to put a little more context into it, someone said he just ran a mile for the first time on the track, and someone else dismissed it as something anyone can do. I told him he should go try it. Now I did it. But I go to the gym almost daily.

But can most people go to the track, and run four laps, without stopping, or walking? So your run time is between 8-12 minutes.

I call BS on that guy.

 

[James]

Under the circumstances you suggest, no I don't think most people could do it without stopping. At a light jog, with a monster chasing them, if they'd just sniffed a line of cocaine, etc etc, maybe the majority of people can do it. But if you're talking about a run, somewhere between a sprint and a jog, on a normal day with no added incentive other than to just run a mile for the sake of it, I don't think so.

I do think that the majority of people absolutely have the physical capability of running a mile without stopping, probably even much further. The human body is capable of amazing things, but there's few around who can break through that mental block and push themselves to the body's actual limitations.

No most people cannot do it. I work out 4 days out the week and still struggle to get a mile in. I'm in decent shape as well.

What kind of work out are you doing? If you're doing all weights and no/little cardio, then your work is almost irrelevant to how far you can run without stopping. But if you're doing all cardio 4 days a week, you should have no trouble running a mile.

 

[Dragon]

considering the obesity rate in the US, definitely no.

 

[The Apocalypse]

I ran a mile once in 4 min 18 seconds. I'm so out of shape now though that I think I'd have to stop at least once before finishing. When I was in High School it wasn't hard at all though.

 

[Lantern Venom]

So I got in a rather odd argument with someone, who said "anyone" can run a mile without stopping. I disagreed. But am I right or wrong?

For those who use the metric system, that's 1.6 kilometers. Or for Star Wars fans, that's the length of a star destroyer.

Now emphasis on non-stop.

I'd guess it would be something like this:

18-39: Large Majority

40-59: Small majority or 50/50

60-79: Minority

80-up: Very small amount

 

[bullets]

I remember in basic training the first time we had to "run a mile" . That ended disastrously with people falling out , puking , and one guy collapsing from dehydration. Anyone without a preventing injury or disability can "run a mile" , but it has to be something you prepare yourself to do.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

No most people cannot do it. I work out 4 days out the week and still struggle to get a mile in. I'm in decent shape as well.

C'mon man. If you're working out 4 days a week and you can't run a mile, you're either doing strictly weight-training or you're not working out hard enough. I ran over 2 miles at the gym today and the last time I worked out was 2 weeks ago.

 

[Silicon Surfer]

At 57 and sedentary I doubt that I could do it. When I was in high school and college it was easy. Virtually everybody could do it. I once did a mile in 5:15 and after two or three minutes rest did it again. Biologically humans are the greatest long distance runners of any animal. In ancient Rome messengers used to run 150 miles a day over the roman roads. During the Civil War soldiers would travel 75 miles a day with a 150 pound pack and when they arrived fight a long battle. It does however take a reasonable amount of exercise on a daily basis which the bulk of the populace does not do.

 

[gohei_]

Most? Probably not. Especially not with the horrific running surfaces we have here. You run on concrete in normal shoes, you're blowing out your knee in no time, even if you're genetically gifted in the respiratory area.

I think this has a lot do with running technique than anything actually. I usually wear my five fingers or a pair of indoor shoes with minimal sole underneath, and I get absolutely no problem with my knees running on a normal street. The shins and calf muscles however, that's a different story t: But that just has to do with proper preparation, as in not running too much too fast in the beginning.

 

[the last son]

C'mon man. If you're working out 4 days a week and you can't run a mile, you're either doing strictly weight-training or you're not working out hard enough. I ran over 2 miles at the gym today and the last time I worked out was 2 weeks ago.

I mean I can, but there are a few issues. One I have to urinate every 10 minutes when I run. I always just do a light jog and get a mile in in 10 minutes. Never really tried to go further than that. A full out sprint for a mile if I was in fear, I still probably could but who knows.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

I ran a mile once in 4 min 18 seconds. I'm so out of shape now though that I think I'd have to stop at least once before finishing. When I was in High School it wasn't hard at all though.

At 57 and sedentary I doubt that I could do it. When I was in high school and college it was easy. Virtually everybody could do it. I once did a mile in 4:15 and after two or three minutes rest did it again.

You do realize that's like Olympic pace right? Are you sure you're not thinking half mile? If you could run that fast without any type of trainning/preparation you'd be in Kenyan terroritory for running.

Biologically humans are the greatest long distance runners of any animal. In ancient Rome messengers used to run 150 miles a day over the roman roads. During the Civil War soldiers would travel 75 miles a day with a 150 pound pack and when they arrived fight a long battle. It does however take a reasonable amount of exercise on a daily basis which the bulk of the populace does not do.

So in ancient Rome messengers ran 150 miles a day. However, it was huge deal for someone in ancient Greece to run 26 miles to the city of Marathon once and he died when he got there. That's the inspiration of the Marathon. You're 150 mile run, that would take the faster runner in the world who has all the greatest modern training techinques 12 hours, if he was able to sustain his marathon pace for 6 times the distance. Those stats just sound very, very off.

Although, I do think anyone without a disability can run a mile nonstop. For some people it might take some training, but they'll get to that point. Look arond your city there's always 5k's going on and that's three miles, people are doing them with little problems. A mile isn't really that far or tough, if you're in halfway decent shape, you should be able to do it.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

It's possible people are getting miles and kilometers mixed up, but 150km a day is still ungodly.

 

[Anita18]

I think this has a lot do with running technique than anything actually. I usually wear my five fingers or a pair of indoor shoes with minimal sole underneath, and I get absolutely no problem with my knees running on a normal street. The shins and calf muscles however, that's a different story t: But that just has to do with proper preparation, as in not running too much too fast in the beginning.

All I know is that my sister, who's also on the low end of normal weight, had knee/ankle pain when she ran daily. She was taking glucosamine when she was 20, until I finally convinced her to splurge for good running shoes. And then magically, her joint pain disappeared.

Also, women and men's knees connect in different angles because of the way our hips are built. Could be that.