# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2014, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/81 "2014-09-06T20:58:48Z")
Run 5 miles without slowing to a walk at any point? No, don’t think so. I can run 3 to 3.5 miles at a time without breaking, that’s the best I’ve done, after running 3-4 times a week for several weeks. A week or two off for illness and I’m back to building my way up to that level. I could certainly do 5 miles overall - I usally run 3+ miles, walk for a quarter mile, then run some more - but at this point in my life I can’t run 5 miles straight. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2014, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/82 "2014-09-06T21:15:13Z")
With no problem, unless it’s really hot and humid. I tried running earlier in the day over the summer, but I found that as my age advances running too early in the day can be worse than running in the heat; it just takes my body longer to loosen up enough. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2014, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/83 "2014-09-06T21:52:32Z")
I used to run up to 8 miles a day but that was a long time ago before my joints rebelled and I gained weight. Now, I might make it to the end of the block. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2014, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/84 "2014-09-07T03:12:47Z")
When I was in my 20’s, sure. In my early-to-mid-30’s, probably. Since then it’s continued to drop. Now I’m nearly 61 and I have severe bronchitis, so nope. ---
**Author:** ![EnginNerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ea924/32.png) [@EnginNerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnginNerd)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/85 "2014-09-08T04:27:49Z")
No problem. I’ve done races as long as the Leadville Trail 100. Five miles is about a good warmup distance. ---
**Author:** ![DrumBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e79b87/32.png) [@DrumBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrumBum)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/86 "2014-09-08T13:16:09Z")
Sure. That is probably the distance of a Hash run around here. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/87 "2014-09-08T13:34:02Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > You may want to ask your doc about the approach of taking 2 puffs of your bronchodilator 10 to 15 minutes before running. That’s the standard and those puffs used in that preventative manner do not usually get counted as “rescue puffs.” In any case the goal for asthma care, and a reasonable one, is to not have your activity limited. > > If you tell your doc you want an approach that allows you to take up running again they can help get you there. Thanks for the advice – I do use 2 puffs of the bronchodilator as you mentioned. But running still won’t happen, I’m afraid. I don’t know why running is out, but it is. Shuts the lungs right down, even if I try to go slow and work up, and run indoors to avoid pollen. Just as well, tho – I also have a knee that needs to be replaced and some seriously wonky toes from ballet that curl weird ways and don’t do well with running. I’m doing pretty well for a lifelong asthmatic (with the “severe and sometimes not well-controlled” dx – bastard-bad pollen allergies in FL, part of why I moved). I use an indoor stationary bike, walking, and swimming. Both my office and apartment complex offer a small gym, so there’s also weight machines to help with the knee. 🆒 I shall just have to carry a crossbow and/or firearm to deal with the rabid baboons! ---
**Author:** ![Aro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Aro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aro)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/88 "2014-09-08T13:50:22Z")
Yep; I currently run about 20-25 miles a week. I’d run 5 miles or more three times a week at least, with my Saturday morning run being usually 12-15 miles. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/89 "2014-09-08T14:28:29Z")
I really don’t like running, it’s my least-favorite form of exercise. I’m in good enough shape that I could do it, if sufficiently motivated and I didn’t have to run terribly fast. I wouldn’t like it, though. I could probably walk 15 miles without a break. ---
**Author:** ![Boomstick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d07c76/32.png) [@Boomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/90 "2014-09-08T17:22:54Z")
No, I couldn’t do a mile run in school. I probably can’t do a five mile run. ---
**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 8, 2014, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/91 "2014-09-08T17:45:43Z")
> [@BigDadWolf](#): > > If I had to run file miles in 40 minutes (8 minutes per mile) I would say no way no matter what was chasing me. Five miles in one hour (12 minutes per mile) I could probably do but it would be painful and I would be amazingly sore for days afterwards. Yeah, if we put an 8:00/mile time limit, it would most likely not happen, as I’ve been a bit out-of-practice for awhile. Usually, after an absence of around 6 months, I start up at around 9:30/mile, plus or minus 0:30. I could be sufficiently motivated to do 8:30 I think, but 8:00 is stretching it. Three years ago, I could do around 7:00/mile for that distance. ---
**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 30, 2014, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/92 "2014-09-30T17:38:58Z")
I ran 5 miles this past Sunday, so “Yes, definitely.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/93 "2014-09-30T17:48:34Z")
Probably. I ride at least 20 miles a day on my bike and up to 110 miles on random occasions. I imagine I could tough it out, even if I’d be sore for a few days from using muscles that don’t get used much. ---
**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 30, 2014, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/94 "2014-09-30T18:20:54Z")
65 here have not run for well over 20 years I smoke and have just recently taken up walking not so religiously. Last week I did 4 miles in 1 hour and it almost killed me. I was exhausted. Mostly walking with short bursts of a not so fast run. I think if I keep at it I will improve quickly though. I did notice my wind improving thoughout the hour but my legs were feeling terrible. ---
**Author:** ![Clawdio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d07c76/32.png) [@Clawdio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clawdio)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/95 "2014-10-01T15:37:28Z")
Yes, i’m an avid runner. If i run to the nearest lake and run around it and run back to my apartment it is about a 5.1 mile route, so that is about the shortest run i will do. I’ve run 21 marathons / ultramarathons (including 2 100 mile races). ---
**Author:** ![jsquire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce73a5/32.png) [@jsquire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsquire)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/96 "2014-10-02T07:59:56Z")
I don’t run that far every day but mostly only because I lack time. Ironically, my time drain is being a high school cross country coach. I’ve recently taken over responsibilities for the girls team too because the girls coach is having a baby tomorrow. She ran every day until today. Now that’s impressive. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/97 "2014-10-02T08:54:01Z")
I could maybe run five metres. I did vote ‘yes if I was being chased by baboons’ but, on mature reflection, I doubt I could. I walk a lot and try to break into a run from time to time but I just get too puffed out. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/98 "2014-10-02T09:43:04Z")
What Nava said. I can walk for hours. Bike at a leisurely pace for hours. But running, no. Thee years ago , I did a couch to 5 k. I joined the official run with thousands of other people. I had trained about 10 times and I trusted i would be able to make it if I would alternate my slow jogging with my very brisk walking. I was still overweight at the time. I started out in the group that was scheduled as the last to depart. And oh horror: the organization told me and other stragglers, half a mile from the start, to leave the road because they wanted to remove the roadblocks so that traffic could resume. I left the road and cried my eyes out. I have never been so humiliated in my life. And this was a walk meant for people like me. A health walk, not an athletic event. Now i’m thin, I sometimes run 10 minutes around the block just to burn some stress. But i’m never going to run again. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/99 "2014-10-02T10:08:57Z")
Yes, definitely, but barely. Five miles would be my absolute limit if I had to run today, say, and I’d be sore for three or four days – REALLY sore for the first day afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536/100 "2014-10-02T12:11:52Z")
I run 5K regularly, which is 3 miles and change, but I could certainly do 5 miles if I had the time. I won’t do it fast, but I’ll do it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-run-five-miles/697536.md?page=6)