Okay, so someone, who I won't mention there name was talking with me at the beginning of the year about running. This person is a former Army guy, who has ran many a miles. Anyways, I was talking about my running and I mentioned that my runs are at a 10 minute mile pace, not my all out runs, just my normal training runs.
Anyways, when I mentioned my 10 minute pace, this person blurted out, HOLY CRAP that is SLOW!!! So, then this person tried back pedalling. "Well, when I was in the Army we ran 6 minute miles with 60 pound ruck sacks on our backs. Now I run at a 8 minute mile pace, so that is really slow for me." (Note: Okay, maybe they were running 6 minute mile paces in the army, but in my head, I doubt that. They run for distance, not for speed. I know guys who can't run 6:00 paces and they are damn fast) I was very doubtful of this pace. So, I challenged this person, considering they haven't been in the military for a few years, and have not ran religiously since he got out. So, I challenged this 8 minute pace. The person said they were game. I said, great, lets go run a 5k and you show me an 8 minute pace, cause I really want to see it. He then said, oh, I don't run those distances any more, but I could do it for a mile. I argued that a mile at 8 minutes is not acceptable. We agreed on two miles. Well, I have offered many times, and he has always found a reason not to go show me that 8 minute mile pace.
Well, I am calling you out, publicly. Come out for a run with me, you can take my garmin, it will record your data, show me a consistent 8 minute pace for 2 full miles.
Now, for all of you on the side lines. I did some reasearch while writing this call out, and I found some Army PT run data taken with Garmins, and they actually range from 9:17 per mile to 14:00 per mile. I found a triathlete for the Army who runs 8:00 miles, but that would be one of those seriously above and beyond PT guys. I also found references to military guys who were trying to find ways to break a 6 minute mile, and other Seargents were saying these guys were seriously going for it, so, 6 minute as a regular run pace. Uhummm!!
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Calling out the 8 minute miler
Posted by Nick at 8:43 PM
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Hey Nick, Tim.O here...10min mile is for my out shape pace. In my best shape 8k I did 5:30 per mile.
8m/mile...are you still looking for takers?
Let me know and I might take you up on it...later
In the Marine Corp. perfect PFT was 18:00 for 3 miles. Most of our unit could do that. Our Company record was 15:25, four or five could do it in the 16's. Most of us though were in the high 17's low 18's. That was with running shorts, shoes, and a light t-shirt. We were a SOC qualified infantry company that trained with Scout Snipers and Recon Marines. Nobody we knew could do that with a ruck sack. -Shaun
Post a Comment