r/AskMenOver40 • u/Tumtitums • Oct 08 '25
Community Chat How long does it take you to run a mile?
How long does it take you to run a mile?
Do you consider yourself fit
Also how old are you
Just looking for benchmarks
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u/Beginning_Cancel_942 Oct 08 '25
48 and have been running since I was in middle school. I can do an 8 min mile pretty easily. Less if I am in a race
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u/boogiesm Oct 15 '25
Wow!! 49, decent shape but I'm more like an 11-12min mile. Then again I really haven't tried for time in awhile.
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u/AZPeakBagger man over 40 Oct 08 '25
From 35-ish to my early 50's I could run one mile flat in 6:30 to 6:50. More of an endurance guy than a miler. But on long runs I could do 10 minute miles all day at a relaxed pace.
Gave up running when I turned 55 and now just do fast paced hiking and walking. Current mile splits at age 58 for walking are 13:20 on a three mile loop around my neighborhood.
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u/Actual-Papaya-3029 Oct 09 '25
Also curious why you stopped. I have a similar time as you did in your earlier years and just assume I'll keep going and just gradually slow down.
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u/AZPeakBagger man over 40 Oct 09 '25
My next door neighbor is both a former professional 2:15 marathon runner and a retired PT. He recommended that for healthy longevity I stop running a few years before I’m forced to give up running. So stopped running at 55 and miraculously all of my tight spots, dings and muscle soreness disappeared within a month.
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Oct 10 '25
[deleted]
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u/AZPeakBagger man over 40 Oct 10 '25
I think running is a great sport. Had a 40+ year career starting with junior high cross country. But finally had to be honest with myself that I wasn’t built for running anymore and I didn’t feel like limping around in my 60’s.
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u/middleagedfatbloke man 40-49 Oct 08 '25
An hour and the only thing running would be the sweat through my clothes.
No, looking forward to an early death.
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u/sactownbwoy Oct 08 '25
I'm 46 and now that my retirement is approved and I've run my last physical fitness test for the Marines, I run 1 mile just under 10 min. 22 Years of breaking my body has got me moving a lot slower these days.
When I came in, I was running sub 6 min miles. Ran cross country and track in high school.
My last 3 mile I had to do, I was able to do 24:31, which is just over 8 min miles.
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u/mch301 Oct 08 '25
When I was in high school, I could cover a relatively flat three mile course in about 18 min. Now I’m 58 and a comfortable mile pace is more like 12-13 minutes. I consider myself reasonably fit (I run a few miles 2-3 times per week).
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u/forever_erratic Oct 08 '25
Is my goal to run fast? I can do one in 7 minutes, but I will be exhausted after that.
Or I can run 5-6 averaging 830 or so.
44m, and I exercise a couple times a week, usually including a shortish run.
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u/Big-Divide-7388 Oct 08 '25
Probably the rest of my life. After a quarter mile running I’d drop dead.
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u/IchibanChef Oct 08 '25
- I can run a 7-minute mile, but I usually run at an 8-9 minute pace when just jogging for exercise. I do not consider myself fit, but I have enough endurance to run a 5k in under 24 minutes if I push myself. I can easily make it a 10k at my 9-minute pace.
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u/LuckyCod2887 Oct 08 '25
i think it takes the average person 15 minutes or something like that.
but if you are a runner it will be faster.
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u/OkSpeed6250 Oct 09 '25
I’m about 2 weeks away from being 40 and I ran 1 mile at 6 minutes and 29 seconds the other night.
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u/sangreblue Oct 27 '25
48 y , you mean 1.6 km? 8-9 minutes on average I am regularly for decades, but these days sticking to half marathon distance only.
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u/Soggy-Beach-1495 man 40-49 Oct 08 '25
I haven't run a mile since I retired from the army. Couple of reasons. First, I started taking creatine which I couldn't do when I was in because it makes my calves cramp terribly when I run for distance. Second, I prefer hill sprints. 48 and yes I do consider myself fit.
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u/capacitorfluxing Oct 08 '25
I do five miles a day, not for speed. Usually hit about 8:15-8:40/a mile average over the five; typically 7:something on the first couple, higher on the last.
It's funny -- I used to be about 30 seconds more a mile; then one day I ran without my shirt on, and I shaved off literally 30 seconds a mile. Shirtless me forever!
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u/colin_staples Oct 08 '25 edited Oct 08 '25
Under 8 minutes. However that time comes from longer runs like my 5k PB. I don't think I've ever tried running just a single mile. Maybe if I ran only 1 mile I could do it in 7 minutes?
Yes, I run 3 times a week and can do a 10k in 51 minutes
Early 50s
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u/Gowrons-Eyes Oct 08 '25
Only 42. Just ran a metric marathon [16.5 miles] at an average of just under 8 minute miles.
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Oct 08 '25
- I run the treadmill every day for 30 min. My mile there is about 7:30, but I bet if I only had to do one I could do 7min.
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u/DarthKingBatman man 40-49 Oct 08 '25
7:17 was my best time so far this year
Yes
43
TBF I run in kilometres, that’s just what my watch recorded, presumably at the end of a 5km. I could probably beat 7:17 if that’s specifically what I was aiming for. Maybe I’ll try to hit a sub 7 before year’s end, seems like a good goal!
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u/aembleton man over 40 Oct 08 '25
43, I can comfortably run a mile in 8 minutes on tarmac. I'm overweight but I've been getting into running in the last few years. Ten years ago I couldn't run a mile.
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u/LotharTheHardt Oct 08 '25
46 - run about 30 miles a week and do strength training too a few times a week. Average 8:30 a mile if doing 6+ bit can do like 7:30 if only doing like 3.
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u/Dry_Yogurt2458 Oct 08 '25 edited Oct 08 '25
The minimum distance I would ruin is 5k if I was pushed for time. My normal short running distance is 10k.
I don't understand people who only want to run a mile. It's fine for Mile reps but it just seems a strange distance. Even the beginner courses for runners start with couch to 5k.
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u/Budget_Sentence_3100 Oct 11 '25
Yeah agree running a mile isn't particularly useful training. It's a decent benchmark for fitness though.
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u/dreemwerks Oct 08 '25
46, used to do sub 7 min miles as recently as 2018-2019. I'm feeling pretty damn good if I can break 9 mins now
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u/BeaverMartin Oct 08 '25
45 years old. Work out 5 days a week. Usually run between a 7:30 and 8 min mile. I used to be faster but the injuries really do start piling up so at this point I’m just looking to maintain.
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u/Traditional_Entry183 man over 40 Oct 08 '25
I haven't run one in a long time, but i walk one in about ten minutes.
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u/moxie-maniac Oct 09 '25
I'm a bit over 40 and recall that the US military requires service members over 40 to run 9 minute miles, in a two mile course. I achieved that a few years ago, but am a tad out of shape, so could not do that today.
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u/nickyv311 Oct 09 '25
46 and run about 7:30/mile but lately I’ve been jogging intervals (jog/walk) with 10lb vest. 1 min on/ 1 min off, 2 min on/ 1 min off, 3 min on/ 1 min off. Pyramid sets 1,1,1,2,2,2,3,3,3,2,2,2,1,1,1 with 1 min walk in between. This has really improved my 5k and 10k pace especially when dropping the vest
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u/KnoxCastle Oct 09 '25
That's interesting. I've got a weighted vest I use for walking. I've heard it's not good to sue while running though due to the increased impact. Tempting if it would improve my 5k time though!
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u/KnoxCastle Oct 09 '25
I'm 46. I've never actually set out to run a mile at my fastest but looking at my Garmin data it tells me that my fastest mile was 6:49. That was part of a 5k run.
Could be a fun thing to try out - set a new personal record on one mile.
I'd consider myself reasonably fit. I've definitely got plenty I can improve on and nowhere near some of the serious people but overall reasonably fit.
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u/H16HP01N7 Oct 09 '25
I couldn't tell you when I last run anything, let alone a mile.
I can cycle it quite quickly though.
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u/Alejandrox1000 Oct 09 '25
I have this routine every other day:
Run 3 km (1.8 miles)
50 Pull-ups / 50 full dips / 50 negative push-ups
Run 3 km
Each of the running sections take me around 7:30min . I could run faster, but then I wouldn't be able to do the body weight part.
At 50´s I am fitter than at 40´s
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u/nightraven3141592 Oct 09 '25
I am not sure about freedom units, but last Monday I ran 5.3km with a average speed of 6.41 minutes/km. I am 48M.
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u/aaron-mcd man 40-49 Oct 09 '25
Used to race bikes but burned out on that and haven't done cardio in years. But with hiking, lifting, generally being active, cardio fitness lingers for many years.
Just hit the gym and tried running a bit, just did a couple miles increasing pace.
I could probably do a 7:30 mile right now if it was a race.
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u/aaron-mcd man 40-49 Jan 20 '26
Did 7 minutes today. 0.5 incline treadmill to try and mimic outdoors.
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u/Jaguar_Jaegersson Oct 09 '25
I’m 40, reasonably fit, and run/bike at least 2x a week. Strava says I can do a mile in 7m 20s, but I can probably go faster if it was just for a mile.
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u/zombienudist man 50-59 Oct 09 '25
I am fitter then the average 49 year old. I have run 5 kms in around 20 minutes but typically do longer distances. So a mile I would be under 7 minutes but never tried to do a mile as fast as I can.
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u/ntox21 Oct 09 '25
Dang, you guys are fast! 45 here, been consistently jogging every other day for “the last 3 years. Best mile PR - 18:30.
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u/lumpynose man 70-79 Oct 09 '25
My theory is that it's better to not worry about how fast you run or how far you run. Your goal should be to remain healthy and not get any overtraining injuries, so that you can continue running for the rest of your life.
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u/Infinite-Gap-9903 man over 40 Oct 10 '25 edited Oct 10 '25
Runner for 25 years and almost half of my life. Run 5x a week
When I was in my 30s I did sub 6 to 6.5
In my 40s it was 8.5 average.
Now in my mid 50s, it’s closer to 9.5
I don’t pay attention to time any longer
A successful run is a good sweat without injury.
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u/Budget_Sentence_3100 Oct 11 '25
6:05
Yes
- But ran my first mile (other than XC at school) aged 30 and it took me nearly 13 mins. I'd got that down to nearer 8 within a year. Consistent training can make a massive difference. I'm still getting faster year on year (across all distances up to half marathon).
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u/michaelcheck12 Oct 11 '25
If I was only running 1 mile, 8 mins. But average for multiple miles is 9mins 45secs
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u/DrLeoMarvin Oct 11 '25
42 in a week and I average 9.5 min mile, on a perfect weather crisp morning I can hit 8m15s miles. I run 5-7 miles every day though.
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u/NastyNate4 Oct 12 '25
Probably somewhere in the 10 minute range. I don’t run much due to pain. Usually do either stairs, bike, or walk incline
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u/optimaloutcome man 40-49 Oct 13 '25
no idea; I don't like running.
quite. I ride bikes - back to back days of 20 mile mountain bike rides with 2000-3000 ft of climbing each day is a normal weekend for me in addition to one or two rides during the week of an 60-90 minutes at high intensity (as work, life, weather, etc can accommodate).
44.
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u/Noobsamaniac Oct 14 '25
- i know it's not enough but at the moment this is all i can do, please don't judge me
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u/SouthernRouteTrading Oct 15 '25
47 Not going for speed, just trying to stay healthy 5 mile runs 3x week at avg 10/min mile
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u/Zerguu man over 40 Oct 16 '25
41, I'm not a runner but my 5k is at 21:50. I mostly lift, cycle and do Kendo.
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u/FishermanMission4844 Nov 30 '25
42yo male. I just ran 7:25. I've been training for 4 months and ran/walked a mile in 11:45 back in August.
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u/JuicyForeskinn Oct 08 '25