# Who can run five miles? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 5, 2014, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536 "2014-09-05T01:44:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/1 "2014-09-05T01:44:36Z")
In this sedentary society, I doubt many people can run five miles if they were asked today. I’m a tall active 20something man and I’d definitely struggle. _edit typo in poll, should be “were chasing me”_ ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/2 "2014-09-05T01:52:46Z")
I run three days a week. Each run is 4.5 miles. So I think I could manage 5. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/3 "2014-09-05T01:52:46Z")
I said "Yes, if I was sufficiently motivated… " I can do it if I have to. I did it a month ago on the treadmill but I wasn’t happy about it. Running is just not something I enjoy, I’d rather swim a mile. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/4 "2014-09-05T02:07:03Z")
I consider myself a fairly active person. But I can’t run one mile, let alone five miles. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/5 "2014-09-05T02:12:49Z")
Well I can’t walk but I could do the ‘wheelchair equivalent’ of running five miles, yeah. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/6 "2014-09-05T02:16:27Z")
I haven’t run since I was 40 , funny thing is that many times I have out hiked and outworked guys I know are in much better running shape than I am. This would be over a period of many hours of course. ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/7 "2014-09-05T02:20:48Z")
My first thought was yes. I walk lots! Many many miles! Very fast walking! Sometimes I pass slow joggers! See, I commute most days on foot, walking 1.5 miles in ~24 minutes (including a few minutes of stopping to wait at crosswalks). But then I recalled that a few weeks ago I was struggling with a 1 mile hike with a 1000 foot climb. I’m not sure how that would translate to running, but I’d WAG I could run a mile or three but five would be too much. ---
**Author:** ![AnaMen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/8 "2014-09-05T02:26:03Z")
Running five miles at no particular pace is something any physically able person should be capable of doing. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/9 "2014-09-05T02:32:19Z")
I’ve been out of practice for about six months now, but, yes, I’d be able to put on my shoes and give you five. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/10 "2014-09-05T02:35:34Z")
Yes, I can. I run regularly. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/11 "2014-09-05T02:36:00Z")
Depends - how fast? Jog, yes. Sprint? I wouldn’t last a mile. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/12 "2014-09-05T02:36:12Z")
Yes, I run at least one 5 miler a week. ---
**Author:** ![Razncain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@Razncain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Razncain)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/13 "2014-09-05T02:40:42Z")
Unless, you have serious health problems, I’m not sure why one isn’t capable of doing such. I’m 56, and just do 5k’s (3.1 miles) a couple of times a week going at a moderate pace. A few times a month I do 10k’s (6.2 miles) at the same moderate pace. I think I’m capable of a marathon, but just don’t think it is worth it. I actually have one of my customers who has been one of these ultra-marathon runners for a good part of his life. He will be 70 this year. He recently did the Death Valley run, which I think was 100 or 135 miles, I forget which. That’s just insane. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/14 "2014-09-05T02:40:43Z")
> [@AnaMen](#): > > Running five miles at no particular pace is something any physically able person should be capable of doing. If I’m running at 4.0 mph, then I can do it no problem. But at that pace, it would be more accurate to say I’m walking rather than running. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/15 "2014-09-05T02:41:14Z")
Presently doing 5km (3.1 miles) 5x/wk, so yeah. Might not be thrilled with it, especially if I wasn’t aware from the start that I’d be doing it and so hadn’t paced myself, but could do it. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/16 "2014-09-05T02:46:57Z")
> [@AnaMen](#): > > Running five miles at no particular pace is something any physically able person should be capable of doing. Having seen cigarette smokers get winded walking to their car, I question what the definition of “physically able” is. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/17 "2014-09-05T02:56:36Z")
I run daily, 2-3 miles, so could probably do 5 if the terrain isn’t too tough and I know I’m going to do 5. I would be more certain if I’m given a week or two heads-up, though. Oh, 47yo. I voted “Yes, definitely” for varying certitudes of “definitely”. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/18 "2014-09-05T03:02:14Z")
I can walk ten miles…but can’t run so much as 100 yards. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/19 "2014-09-05T03:04:51Z")
OK, I don’t usually brag but before The Accident, a 5 miler was my short, easy day. You may all hate me now. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/20 "2014-09-05T03:19:11Z")
I could still run 5 miles if’n I had to but I don’t find balloons all that threatening, even if they were rabid. 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536.md?page=2)