How many tennis players can run one mile in under 5 minutes 30 seconds?

[bobleenov1963]

For the past month, every morning during my morning walk at the local high school track, I see a 16 years old doing physical training with a trainer. He works with the physical trainer for two hours before going to the nearby tennis court to work on his tennis game with his tennis coach for another two hours.

In the past week, at the end of his physical training, I noticed that he ran 1 mile and the trainer timed him at 5 minutes and 30 seconds. That's very impressive for a 16 years old tennis player.

I wonder how many tennis players can run a mile in under 5 minutes and 30 seconds?

 

[nyta2]

9y ago i was at 5:25, would be happy if i could break 8:00 now.
i was targeting the 1M after reading various articles that used running metrics as a measure of tennis fitness:
* andy murray supposedly ran 10x400m <60s
* a well known d1 program "back in the day" used to require a sub 5:00 mile time just to be on the team
* steffi graf used to run intervals with the german track team
<i'm sure there are other references i'm forgetting>

in general i was trying to find a way to quantitatively measure how "fit" i was for tennis.
back then i was a grinder that relished making my opponents suffer (choosing to make them play one more ball over hitting a winner)... nowadays, i'm suffering, and want to end the point quicker

 

[cha cha]

Literally all of them except for maybe Evans and Fognini.
My ex recently ran it roughly a minute and a half faster. : - )

 

[bobleenov1963]

Literally all of them except for maybe Evans and Fognini.
My ex recently ran it roughly a minute and a half faster. : - )

I should have excluded ATP players because I am very aware of their physical fitness.. Back in 2015, I saw Feliciano Lopez ran 1 mile in just under 5 minutes at the CitiOpen, and that was after his hitting session.

How many college tennis and rec players can run a mile in 5 minutes 30 seconds or less?

 

[cha cha]

I should have excluded ATP players because I am very aware of their physical fitness.. Back in 2015, I saw Feliciano Lopez ran 1 mile in just under 5 minutes at the CitiOpen, and that was after his hitting session.

How many college tennis and rec players can run a mile in 5 minutes 30 seconds or less?

Aha, I misunderstood.
I would still say plenty. My league is dominated by 50 year-olds, and their physical fitness is admirable.

 

[bobleenov1963]

Aha, I misunderstood.
I would still say plenty. My league is dominated by 50 year-olds, and their physical fitness is admirable.

Yes, their fitness is admirable but can they run a mile in 5 minutes and 30 seconds or less, that's the question. I dont' think they can but I could be wrong.

 

[WildVolley]

Very few rec players can run that time.

I just saw a website that used an Army study to determine what a good 1-mile time would be. According to the study, the top 1% of the American population, even those in their late teens, would be a time slower than 5 minutes and 30 seconds. So, those able to run under that time would be a fraction of a percent of the population. While tennis players in general are in better shape than most of the population, playing tennis isn't optimal training for running the mile. So I'd estimate at most, about 1% of the rec tennis population could run that time. Of course, as people age the times get greater. In the sprints, the big drop off in record times occurs in the 40s, with another big drop in the 60s. I'm not as familiar with how distance running records change with age.

I'm in good tennis shape at the moment. I've been playing three set matches without too much difficulty, which I couldn't say earlier in the summer. I don't think I would be able to come close to running that time. I've got good speed and running form, but not the level of endurance to run a fast mile time.

 

[Injured Again]

According to this calculator:

VO2 Max Runners Calculator

The VO2 max runners calculator will help you become an aware sportsman. Use it to meet your maximal aerobic capacity.

www.omnicalculator.com

It takes a VO2 of 55 ml/kg/min to run a 5:30 mile.

From this article:

DEFINE_ME

the chart on page 1520 shows percentiles for various age groups of men and women, using a couple of different means of deriving the standardized values. In either case, the fitness levels required are at least 75th percentile for 20-29 year old men, increasing to 95th percentile for 40-49 year old men, and 95th percentile for 20-29 year old women. It's a pretty elite person who can run at that speed if running is not their primary sport.

 

[atatu]

Rec players ? Less than 10 percent probably. When my son was 18 he could break 5:30 but he was the only one on his high school team who could do that.

 

[Bender]

Thanks to denial, I can run faster than that

 

[Sentinel]

How many college tennis and rec players can run a mile in 5 minutes 30 seconds or less?

Pros probably all of them. Some endurance running (a year or two) should get a sportsman under 5:30 for the mile.

Rec players would depend. Some can barely move. The younger ones may be.
At 25, I would do 6-8 repetitions of a one mile in 4:40 to 4:48. But I was a long distance runner back then.
I would usually start at 5:10 or so and keep reducing a few seconds each week.

 

[atatu]

Pros probably all of them. Some endurance running (a year or two) should get a sportsman under 5:30 for the mile.

Rec players would depend. Some can barely move. The younger ones may be.
At 25, I would do 6-8 repetitions of a one mile in 4:40 to 4:48. But I was a long distance runner back then.
I would usually start at 5:10 or so and keep reducing a few seconds each week.

If you could do 6-8 reps at that pace, how fast could you do one ? I'm thinking you were at least a 4:15 miler.

 

[socallefty]

Most rec players don’t do any running or exercise outside of rec tennis and would not know what their speed is for a mile run.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

In my 50s, I could do the mile in under 15 minutes. Now, I'd be lucky if I could do it in 20 minutes.

 

[cha cha]

In my 50s, I could do the mile in under 15 minutes. Now, I'd be lucky if I could do it in 20 minutes.

Walking backwards that is, no?

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Walking backwards that is, no?

No, walking with a bad hip. Hoping to get it replaced later this year so that I can get back up to my 15-minute mile.

 

[cha cha]

No, walking with a bad hip. Hoping to get it replaced later this year so that I can get back up to my 15-minute mile.

Ajaj. Best of luck.
It will take forever that recovery.

 

[atatu]

Ajaj. Best of luck.
It will take forever that recovery.

Hip replacement has come a long way, it probably won't take too long !

 

[socallefty]

Hip replacement has come a long way, it probably won't take too long !

My friend played doubles 6 weeks after hip replacement and singles 9 weeks after the surgery. He is better than ever physically and playing tennis 3-4 times a week at the 4.0 level. They work miracles these days.

 

[Soul]

Not I! I'm a slowpoke at running the mile. I jog barefoot so speed isn't important to me.

 

[cha cha]

My friend played doubles 6 weeks after hip replacement and singles 9 weeks after the surgery. He is better than ever physically and playing tennis 3-4 times a week at the 4.0 level. They work miracles these days.

Say what?
There are people out here advocating 9 months off with an inflammated tendon in your elbow. : - D

 

[socallefty]

Say what?
There are people out here advocating 9 months off with an inflammated tendon in your elbow. : - D

Tendons can get damaged further by playing tennis and caution is advised.

When you get your knee or hip replaced, your doctor will advise resumption of normal activities once you can deal with the pain and stiffness in conjunction with a good physical therapy program.

it is the same with arthroscopic meniscus surgery for the knee. I played USTA doubles 3 weeks after meniscus trimming surgery and singles a week after that - meniscus repair takes 3-4 more weeks of recovery. I felt way better than before the surgery. My surgeon must have done a better job than Federer’s surgeon assuming he didn’t have ligament repair surgery.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Say what?
There are people out here advocating 9 months off with an inflammated tendon in your elbow. : - D

Sure, but with a hip replacement you get a new titanium ball & socket. Mine will have to be a posterior replacement which can be more susceptible to dislocation then an anterior replacement. One of the newer replacement methods, which I don't have access to, will have you in and out of the hospital in a few hours.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

In my 50s, I could do the mile in under 15 minutes. Now, I'd be lucky if I could do it in 20 minutes.

So that's including the time waiting for your Uber ride to arrive?

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Rec players ? Less than 10 percent probably.

I'd take the under on that. Probably closer to 1% than 10%.

I can't even remember the last time I ran a mile, let alone what my time was. It would be more appropriate using a calendar to measure my time, not a stopwatch.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Ajaj. Best of luck.
It will take forever that recovery.

It's probably heavily-dependent on how good a shape you're in and how diligent you are during rehab.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

@cha cha

It's probably heavily-dependent on how good a shape you're in and how diligent you are during rehab.

I've got quite a bit of pre-hab to do as well. A severe pelvic tilt / scoliosis manifested a few years back. I had assumed the hip necrosis was part of that. Turns out not to be the case and a hip replacement will not resolve the tilt / scoliosis.

Have been engaged in PT to partially correct the scoliosis for the past year so that it will not compromise the hip replacement. My concern is that inflammation and the pelvis / spine issue might increase the likelihood of a dislocation or damage of the new hip

 

[McLovin]

I work out daily, and will run in various forms 3-4 times a week. For example, we'll lift for 40 minutes, then go out for a 1+ mi run. Or we'll do what we call 'Rugged Maniac Training', where we setup 5 exercises, 30 seconds each, and run ~ 1/8 mi in between doing each exercise. Additionally, Thursdays are reserved for running exclusively, where we alternate weeks between doing a 5k, and jogging from our gym to the local high school (~ 1/2 mi), sprinting the football bleachers 10 times, then jogging back to the gym. I turned 53 a few weeks ago.

Having said all that...I'd be lucky to run a mile in under 8 minutes today. Getting under 9 is a huge win, and usually calls for a beer or two afterwards (maybe that's my problem? nah...). Granted, I have asthma, and am probably ~ 15lbs overweight, but still...I don't think even in college I could have run a mile that quickly. I think I ran a 5k in just under 22 min back then, and I was probably in my peak physical condition (~ 165 lbs).

 

[cha cha]

I work out daily, and will run in various forms 3-4 times a week. For example, we'll lift for 40 minutes, then go out for a 1+ mi run. Or we'll do what we call 'Rugged Maniac Training', where we setup 5 exercises, 30 seconds each, and run ~ 1/8 mi in between doing each exercise. Additionally, Thursdays are reserved for running exclusively, where we alternate weeks between doing a 5k, and jogging from our gym to the local high school (~ 1/2 mi), sprinting the football bleachers 10 times, then jogging back to the gym. I turned 53 a few weeks ago.

Having said all that...I'd be lucky to run a mile in under 8 minutes today. Getting under 9 is a huge win, and usually calls for a beer or two afterwards (maybe that's my problem? nah...). Granted, I have asthma, and am probably ~ 15lbs overweight, but still...I don't think even in college I could have run a mile that quickly. I think I ran a 5k in just under 22 min back then, and I was probably in my peak physical condition (~ 165 lbs).

This baffles me.
I was once pouting at elementary school. Refused to run, did not even bring a change of clothes. The teacher made me take the run anyway, and I literally pout-speed-walked the distance in just over 8 minutes, which equalled an F at that time.

 

[atatu]

This baffles me.
I was once pouting at elementary school. Refused to run, did not even bring a change of clothes. The teacher made me take the run anyway, and I literally pout-speed-walked the distance in just over 8 minutes, which equalled an F at that time.

Interesting, back in the day kids had to take a Presidential Fitness test and according this chart, an 8 minute mile would put you in the top 85 percent up until age 10. More than likely, what you thought was a mile in elementary school was a roughly measured 600 meters around the school playground.

https://gilmore.gvsd.us/documents/Info/Forms/Teacher%20Forms/Presidentialchallengetest.pdf

 

[cha cha]

Interesting, back in the day kids had to take a Presidential Fitness test and according this chart, an 8 minute mile would put you in the top 85 percent up until age 10. More than likely, what you thought was a mile in elementary school was a roughly measured 600 meters around the school playground.

https://gilmore.gvsd.us/documents/Info/Forms/Teacher%20Forms/Presidentialchallengetest.pdf

It is all starting to make sense to me now. You people are actually trained to be soft from young age. : - )

Granted, we do not run a mile in here, we run 1500m, and our elementary takes 9 years, so you have 15 and even 16 year-old children there.
I believe I was 13 or 14 at the time I am describing. When I actually tried, I was running it just under 6 minutes, and I was not even close to being the top of the class.

 

[Dartagnan64]

5:30 was my fastest mile when I was in my 20's. No way I'd get close to that now. 8 min mile would be more likely.

 

[McLovin]

This baffles me.
I was once pouting at elementary school. Refused to run, did not even bring a change of clothes. The teacher made me take the run anyway, and I literally pout-speed-walked the distance in just over 8 minutes, which equalled an F at that time.

Forgive me, but I'm goin to have to call 'BS' on that claim. For starters, we did our bleacher run tonight. It's a little over 1/2 mil to the local high school, and we did a decent clip, and my watch said we were going at an 8:32 pace as it's mostly downhill. My friend's son, who's 12, ran the first 1/4 mile, then dropped back and walked the remainder. He was ~ 2 minutes behind us...and this was only 1/2 mile.

Additionally, a quick Google search shows a "smoking fast" race-walk time at 5 MPH, or 1 mile in 12 minutes.

So...yeah...I highly doubt you did 1 mile, or even 1500m, in a little over 8 minutes. @atatu's 600m mark is probably more accurate, especially given you didn't even want to do the thing in the first place.

 

[Rattler]

Really it depends how fast the cops are…
Or the size of the dog

 

[atatu]

Forgive me, but I'm goin to have to call 'BS' on that claim. For starters, we did our bleacher run tonight. It's a little over 1/2 mil to the local high school, and we did a decent clip, and my watch said we were going at an 8:32 pace as it's mostly downhill. My friend's son, who's 12, ran the first 1/4 mile, then dropped back and walked the remainder. He was ~ 2 minutes behind us...and this was only 1/2 mile.

Additionally, a quick Google search shows a "smoking fast" race-walk time at 5 MPH, or 1 mile in 12 minutes.

So...yeah...I highly doubt you did 1 mile, or even 1500m, in a little over 8 minutes. @atatu's 600m mark is probably more accurate, especially given you didn't even want to do the thing in the first place.

Remember when you were in elementary school and the football or soccer field seemed huge ? Then when you went back a few years later when you were in high school it was tiny ? It probably looked like 1500 meters when he ran it.

 

[Sentinel]

If you could do 6-8 reps at that pace, how fast could you do one ? I'm thinking you were at least a 4:15 miler.

I doubt. I was a long distance runner. 4:40 to 4:48 meant a mere 70 - 72 seconds per lap which gets you to a 15 minute 5000 meters. A 4:15 mile would translate to 3:58 1500m IIRC.

I think I had a sub 2:40 marathon in me, since I was running 34km in 2:05 on Sundays. (Route calculated by car, so maybe not accurate).

 

[Rosstour]

Don't know, don't care. Distance running is terrible for your musculoskeletal system. Sprinting and explosion are the way to keep fit (tennis).

 

[Permitlady]

P e d s

 

[Sentinel]

Forgive me, but I'm goin to have to call 'BS' on that claim. For starters, we did our bleacher run tonight. It's a little over 1/2 mil to the local high school, and we did a decent clip, and my watch said we were going at an 8:32 pace as it's mostly downhill. My friend's son, who's 12, ran the first 1/4 mile, then dropped back and walked the remainder. He was ~ 2 minutes behind us...and this was only 1/2 mile.

Additionally, a quick Google search shows a "smoking fast" race-walk time at 5 MPH, or 1 mile in 12 minutes.

So...yeah...I highly doubt you did 1 mile, or even 1500m, in a little over 8 minutes. @atatu's 600m mark is probably more accurate, especially given you didn't even want to do the thing in the first place.

A few years back, we had a very nice poster here who was discussing running. He insisted that almost everyday he would head out to a track and run two miles in (IIRC) ten minutes. This included his warmup. I tried to reason with him that if he did a first warmup mile of six minutes, the second would have to be four. I told him that he probably did a warmup separately but he insisted that the first mile was slow and it was two miles cold. No prior jogging.

I had to leave it there since the poster was a nice guy and I had to assume the measurement was really off or maybe the timing.

 

[Sentinel]

Don't know, don't care. Distance running is terrible for your musculoskeletal system. Sprinting and explosion are the way to keep fit (tennis).

In what way ?

I understand that imbalances are created, but that would happen with sprinting as well. Distance running strengthens the hamstrings, for examples, leaving the quads relatively weaker. Sprinting strengthens the quads. Similarly, iirc distance running strengthens the abs. So you have to do some exercises to balance out, either way.

Okay, was your comment related to tennis only?

 

[Rosstour]

In what way ?

I understand that imbalances are created, but that would happen with sprinting as well. Distance running strengthens the hamstrings, for examples, leaving the quads relatively weaker. Sprinting strengthens the quads. Similarly, iirc distance running strengthens the abs. So you have to do some exercises to balance out, either way.

Okay, was your comment related to tennis only?

Catabolic effects

The average trained long-distance runner has a vertical leap 7" shorter than the average untrained athlete.

The worst part is that people get into it as they get older which is absolutely the worst time to do so. Causes muscle weakness which leads to injuries.

Read this:

Does Running Build Muscle? All You Need to Know

If you're looking to gain muscle, you may want to know whether running will help your efforts. This article explains whether running builds muscle.

www.healthline.com

 

[cha cha]

Remember when you were in elementary school and the football or soccer field seemed huge ? Then when you went back a few years later when you were in high school it was tiny ? It probably looked like 1500 meters when he ran it.

So cute. This place is so used to mediocrity that anything sounding even remotely good elicits an immediate immune response.
I will forgive you. And then I will go back to my elementary and take a photo of the athletic wall of fame for your soft arses.
I have not seen it for 20 years, but I am fairly certain times under 6 min. will start somewhere around 9 year-old children.

 

[McLovin]

Sprinting and explosion are the way to keep fit (tennis).

Which is why we work in 'hill training', ala 1/2 mile light run to the high school, sprints up & down the bleachers (we transition to a hill on the other side when teams are using the field), then 1/2 mile run back (sprinting the last 1/10th of a mile).

I do believe the occasional longer distance (3+ miles) is good for cardiovascular fitness, but I'm not putting in 25 miles a week (like my office mate). If I'm going long distance (8+ miles), I'm going hiking.

 

[onehandbh]

Pretty sure I cannot run a 5:30 mile. I have only jogged more than 3 km a few times in the last 10+ years.
I do hike in steep terrain and can climb a little bit, though.

 

[onehandbh]

Interesting, back in the day kids had to take a Presidential Fitness test and according this chart, an 8 minute mile would put you in the top 85 percent up until age 10. More than likely, what you thought was a mile in elementary school was a roughly measured 600 meters around the school playground.

https://gilmore.gvsd.us/documents/Info/Forms/Teacher%20Forms/Presidentialchallengetest.pdf

I don't understand how the sit & reach is measured. Reaching to your toes is counted as 23 cm ?

 

[ChaelAZ]

I lettered in track and cross country in high school, so I could back then. Oh, the good old days...back to reality though.

Now at 52 my best run was 5 miles at just about 50 minutes, so a 10 minute mile. My VO2 Max is a decent 34 (according to Apple Watch, which is at least a good measure, if not exacting), but my goal is to get back toward the 40 range. That means getting my 5 mile run down under 40 minutes, or an 8 minute mile. Knocking 2 minutes off each mile is no small task and that would put me in at least the top 25% of guys my age for fitness. Won't help my failing, vertigo laden overheads! lol.

 

[bobleenov1963]

Saw the kid again at the local high school track and tennis court this morning, and I had an interesting conversation with both his physical trainer and tennis coach.

The tennis coach, from Romania here in the US on six months visitor visa, will not coach any tennis player who can not run a mile in 5 minutes and 30 seconds or less. Not only that, he will not coach any tennis player who can not run the full marathon (26.2 miles) in under 3 hours and 30 minutes. Otherwise, he will not waste his time on a player. His reasoning is that in today's tennis, fitness is the most important thing. He said that just about all Jr. tennis players, 16 years old and above, in Romania can run a mile under 5 1/2 minutes and 3 1/2 hours on a full marathons.

Today is the last day of the kid's training because schools start next week here. He ran a mile in 5 minutes and 25 seconds. The tennis coach is also going back Romania next week.

Interesting conversation.

 

[Ronaldo]

Just two. Second performed this feet today

 

[Stratotanker]

Catabolic effects

The average trained long-distance runner has a vertical leap 7" shorter than the average untrained athlete.

The worst part is that people get into it as they get older which is absolutely the worst time to do so. Causes muscle weakness which leads to injuries.

Read this:

Does Running Build Muscle? All You Need to Know

If you're looking to gain muscle, you may want to know whether running will help your efforts. This article explains whether running builds muscle.

www.healthline.com

Agreed. Serious distance training is just not great for you (obvious cardiovascular benefits aside).

Ryan Hall (former top American marathoner) is a great example of the quality of life improvements that come from switching away from long distance running. I used to run a sub 5 mile in college and a sub 17 5K - can’t get near that now but I’m much happier and stronger.

 

[atatu]

Yeah, Chuck Kriese used to make his guys at Clemson run 5:15, here is an excerpt from his book:

"The players meet every morning at 6am for the first two weeks of their college careers. Many who attempt the regiment quit soon after the running begins. Those who stick it out get to finally hit tennis balls during the third week. But more importantly, they gain a special sense of pride that they continue to build on throughout their careers and lives....The challenge that the athlete faces through basic physical training is important on more than a physical level. The experience tears away the props that are often used to hide any of those initial insecurities encountered by young athletes....I sincerely believe that a tough program of running and physical conditioning is an essential component of excellence for any and all athletic teams."