How fast can you run 1 mile?

I didn’t run track growing up so my introduction to running was 5k, but I have always wondered how quickly I can cover 1609m.  Without any MSC races on the horizon I figured there is no time like the present to find out.  On August 3 I am going to do a 1-mile time trial to set a benchmark, and then follow that up with a 6-week 1-mile training program.  On September 12, it will be my race day to really go for it to see how fast I can go.

To be honest, I am excited to have a goal and a purpose to my workouts for 6 week, but I’m even more excited about getting some friends who are new to running involved.  As triathletes we call races that cover 25.75km a Sprint, and we can forget just how overwhelming this distance is to someone outside the sport looking in.  The beauty of a 1-mile race is that it’s a distance just about everyone feels like they can manage.  Sure, some people might have different goals – one athlete might aim to finish while another has a time goal, but at the end of the day we are all covering the same course.

If you want to take on a 1-mile race (or even better, introduce some friends to running with a 1-mile race) I have created a simple 6-week training plan.  It’s all time based with perceived exertion, so you don’t need a GPS watch, HR monitor, or a track to follow along.  There’s also a range of 1-mile plans available for free online.

Now is a great time to introduce new friends to the endurance sport community.  It seems like more people are lacing up running shoes, or buying a bike than any time in recent memory.  It doesn’t have to be a 1-mile race, it could be a ride to a coffee shop, hiking a trail, or anything else that you can think of that will welcome new member to the community, and help ensure they stick around when this is all over and things return to usual.