Is there a limit just how fast a can human run a mile?

Question

Just how fast can a human run. will it ever come to pass that a human can run the Mile in 2 minutes? what is the actual limit of human speed. does that mean that we are close to the end of the human race?

Answer 1

The progression of human running is remarkable if you see the first recorded time for the mile 4:14.4 John Paul Jones, USA Cambridge 31 May 1913 to the current world record for the mile 3:43.13 set by Hicham El Guerrouj, Morocco Rome, Italy July 7, 1999 shows that it may be possible but noone can really say when that will happen. It's taken 86yrs to drop so hopefully it won't take another 86yrs.

to the answer above, the record for the 4 X 100M relay in track & field is 37.40 set in 1993. No one has even run the 100m in 8.6secs whose record is only 9.77 secs

Answer 2

Yes, people are getting faster and faster. Just a little over 50 years ago, a human broke the 4 minute mile barrier for the first time. Nowadays, the record for the mile is 3:43.13 and there is occasionally a high school runner who will break 4 minutes for the mile. Sure the human race will eventually plateau, and advancement will slow down, but we might not reach the threshold for much longer than expected. New advances in technology and and training methods, although may seem unfair, will change the face of running. Elite runners will soon not be able to even compete unless they train on mountain tops, and sleep in pressure chambers.

Answer 3

Although far from factual, I would believe the limit a human can run a mile would be in the three minute range. This takes into consideration human endurance and maximum level of speed that can be achieved. World champion sprinters run at speeds in excess of twenty-five miles per hour but only for short distances. No one could sprint a mile. A three minute mile would mean that a person would be running at an average of twenty miles per hour for that mile. The men's olympic 4x400 team runs the mile in slightly under that time. I don't think this signifies anything other than the fact humans are mechanically limited in certain ways.

Answer 4

There are indeed mechanical, and biophysical limitations. Unless we sprout two more legs, and a different metabolism, it will take many, many years to get anywhere near 3 minutes. When a person can go anaerobic for a long period, we'll see.

Are we near the end, no. It could take hundreds of years. If you believe in evolution, forces will exert themselves to force change in the species. We will get faster, if based on nothing less than superior nutrition, training improvements, and drug enhancement.

Answer 5

yes, everyone body is different though. just because someone ran really fast doesn't mean you can too. This girl in my highschool could run a mile in 4:35(fastest in the nationals) but i could only run it in 5:30.

Answer 6

i think the fastest anyone has ever gone was 8.6 for the 4x100 relay
so that would mean that the fastest mile possible would be about 2:15
but then fatigue sets in after at least 400m so
its highly unlikely
no the human race is not about to end

Answer 7

Of course, anything is possible. But there is a limit. The increases are going to go up by smaller and smaller amounts until there is no perceptible change.

Answer 8

probably not,

BUT
im willing to bet that it wont be under 1minute anytime soon.
or maybe 2 minutes.

my friend runs a mile in like 4:30some..
so im guessing olympic people run it in like..
3:30s?


edit:
Pre's best mile was like 3:40 some..

Answer 9

Yes there is a limit.

Answer 10

I am never in that big a hurry so I will just take my time and enhoy the walk.