Whether you’ve just started running or have been running for a while, there comes a time when we start playing the comparison game. That’s when questions like ‘is a 10 minute mile good?’ come up the most.
We can’t help but look at pace because it’s right there on our watch! It’s in the results of every race we do and of course it’s a really easy way to measure progress.
But it’s not the only way and there are a lot of nuances. Like remembering that your easy run pace should look nothing like your race day pace!!
If you’ve already reached this milestone, then this article will answer this question and set the record straight. Remember we are focused on road running in this article. PTrails add a whole different dimension of intensity and often the pace is much slower.
Let’s look at some useful statistics and how to make a 10 minute mile goal a reality.
What’s the Average Pace for Runners?
Did you know that the average pace for new runners is between 12 and 13 minutes per mile?
Strava reports that the typical male runner completes a mile in around 9 minutes and 15 seconds. Women’s average mile time is about 10 minutes and 40 seconds.
According to this, the typical runner has a time of around 9:48. By that standard, a 10 minute mile is definitely good…