How to run a mile in 8 minutes or less?

Question

I am trying out for the basketball team in 4 days. I tried out last year, but did not make it. Last year they had us run a mile first thing in the morning and i wasn't in the physical shape to complete it in the time given. Now, I feel like i could be ready in a couple days because I have been practicing running for awhile. Problem is, even with all the running I do, I still have only gotten my time down to 12 minutes. What should I do to shave 4 whole minutes off my running time? please help..thx

Answer 1

Running in a crowd helps....set your pace by someone you think is going to beat that 8-minute mile, and keep up with that person.

And keep running. You're doing fine for distance, but your problem is that you just haven't paced yourself for speed. Try to do a mile a little faster each day that you run.

Answer 2

Your physique style concerns. notice that maximum somewhat reliable distance runners are skinny (ectomorphs) and whilst you're stocky and muscular you isn't as reliable of a distance runner. additionally, scientists have shown that some human beings's bodies are merely genetically extra effective at handing over oxygen to the muscle mass throughout the time of exercising, and no be counted what you do you won't be in a position to alter your DNA. All that pronounced, whilst you're purely some seconds away i'm guessing which you have a psychological block. i'd say discover somebody who can run a 5:forty 5 mile and characteristic them run with you, and then stay on their heels the entire time. yet another ingredient which will help is to start (whilst you're actually not already doing it) working extra sprints - 100m and 200m and artwork on recovering a while on those. Then i'm guessing your mile time additionally will develop.

Answer 3

Achieving a balance between anaerobic (muscular strength) and aerobic fitness (i.e. endurance for distance-running) is a tricky proposition.

I don't know you so I don't know how much you weigh, but I would imagine you're either just too overweight to perform well in a distance run. Maybe you're too "built-up", i.e. you're carrying around too much muscle mass which is hindering your staying power. I don't mean to say that you're necessarily out of shape, just that you're not in shape for running.

To be a good runner, you have to be prepared to trade the "Arnold Schwarzenegger" physique for more of a "Brad Pitt" physique.

If you're going to be a decent distance runner, one of the things you're going to have to learn is to discipline yourself to run with pain. That boils down to a question of your work ethic.

Forget about building up your leg muscles with gym equipment and don't stress yourself with unnecessary wind sprints. To be a good distance runner, you have to practice running long distances. Start out running two miles (or whatever you can manage) at 1/2 to 3/4 speed every other day for a month. Then increase to 2-3 miles every other day (same speed). Try to get some hills in there as well.

Concentrate more on time than distance (your runs should be at least 20 minutes). Speed will come automatically, but your goal is to also build endurance. Running the mile incorporates both, to some extent.

Be prepared to push yourself and tolerate a little pain and soreness (don't worry, your body and simple common sense will both tell you when too much is enough).

I would recommend running in the afternoon rather than the early morning. For some reason I always seem to have more energy after a hard-day's work than I do immediately after crawling out of bed.

Good luck.

Answer 4

You should be able to walk a mile in 8 minutes. That's only 660 feet per minute. If you take three large steps per second, you can cover a mile in 8 minutes.

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Achieving a balance between anaerobic (muscular strength) and aerobic fitness (i.e. endurance for distance-running) is a tricky proposition.

I don't know you so I don't know how much you weigh, but I would imagine you're either just too overweight to perform well in a distance run. Maybe you're too "built-up", i.e. you're carrying around too much muscle mass which is hindering your staying power. I don't mean to say that you're necessarily out of shape, just that you're not in shape for running.

To be a good runner, you have to be prepared to trade the "Arnold Schwarzenegger" physique for more of a "Brad Pitt" physique.

If you're going to be a decent distance runner, one of the things you're going to have to learn is to discipline yourself to run with pain. That boils down to a question of your work ethic.

Forget about building up your leg muscles with gym equipment and don't stress yourself with unnecessary wind sprints. To be a good distance runner, you have to practice running long distances. Start out running two miles (or whatever you can manage) at 1/2 to 3/4 speed every other day for a month. Then increase to 2-3 miles every other day (same speed). Try to get some hills in there as well.

Concentrate more on time than distance (your runs should be at least 20 minutes). Speed will come automatically, but your goal is to also build endurance. Running the mile incorporates both, to some extent.

Be prepared to push yourself and tolerate a little pain and soreness (don't worry, your body and simple common sense will both tell you when too much is enough).

I would recommend running in the afternoon rather than the early morning. For some reason I always seem to have more energy after a hard-day's work than I do immediately after crawling out of bed.

Good luck.

Answer 5

4 days is not a long time to shave off that kind of time. i find the easiest way to run is to run with someone because it helps pass time and before you know it you have run a mile. during the tryouts, find a buddy and run with him and try to keep pace. you want to find a speed comfortable to you and maintain that speed the entire time. you do not want to be changing speeds. good luck

Answer 6

You should be able to walk a mile in 8 minutes. That's only 660 feet per minute. If you take three large steps per second, you can cover a mile in 8 minutes.

Answer 7

Try running faster!