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You are here: Home / Running / Average Human Running Speed – How Fast Can You Run?

Average Human Running Speed – How Fast Can You Run?

"July 28, 2021 By Jackie

Average Human Running Speed - How Fast Can You Run?
A person’s running speed can vary due to several factors. Your body, form, stride rate, environment, and clothing can affect how fast you run.

For instance, genetics can play a role in a person’s average running speed. Your physical health, daily nutrition intake, and body fat are a few factors to consider. These points can impact the muscles and joints when you run. Your age, sleep pattern, and diet can also affect how you metabolize food into energy.

Your stride rate is also another factor that can affect your running speed. A stride rate is your running cadence. It determines the area you cover every time your feet land on the floor. It determines the speed of your steps during a sprint.

Your shoes and clothing while you run also play a role in your running speed. Athletic shoes with great cushions reduce the impact of running on your body. Wearing this type of gear can help you run better and with ease, allowing you to run faster.

Your type of clothing can also affect a person’s running speed. You have to get the right gears that fit the temperature, environment, and wind conditions. What you wear plays a factor in wind resistance, which can make you run faster or slower.

A proper running form is also another crucial factor in your speed. Relax your body while you run by loosening your hands. Let your arms swing, run upright with your back straight, and avoid leaning far forward.

List of Contents

  • How fast is the average running speed?
  • How fast do normal humans run?
  • How do I become faster?
  • What exercises make you faster?
  • Does running long distances make you faster?
  • Are sprinters born or made?
  • Who is the fastest human?
  • 5 Must-Know Trivia About Running

How fast is the average running speed?

The average running speed for men is around eight mph. Women’s average running speed is about 6.5 mph.

As mentioned, each individual’s running speed varies due to several factors. Many athletes have an average speed of about 15 mph, while the top-performing ones can reach about 26 mph.

Your age also plays a role in your running speed. Between 15-35 is the best age for running at your top speed. Numbers below or more than this range means your pace is building up or declining. The changes happening to your body due to age contribute to your running abilities.

The average pace per mile varies depending on if you’re running for 5K, 10K, half-marathon, or marathon. The standard speed per mile among men who ran for 5K is 10:18:10, while among women was 12:11:10. The researchers based this data on a 2010 race involving 10,000 runners aged 20 to 40.

For 10K, the average pace per mile for male runners was 8:41:43, while 10:02:05 for females. Among male runners who ran for half-marathon, the standard speed per mile was 9:38:59. For female runners, it was 10:58:33.

Based on the data gathered from the 2010 marathon, male runners had an average pace per mile of 9:28:14. Female marathon runners had a median speed per mile of 10:23:00.

How fast do normal humans run?

Strava, an international tracking app for running and cycling, showed a report in 2015. Results say the average running speed for men in the US was 9:03 minutes per 1.6 kilometers (1 mile). Among women, the mean running pace recorded was 10:21 per 1.6 kilometers.

The average male aged 20 to 40 can run at a top speed of 5.9 mph. The average woman in the same age bracket can run at a top speed of 5 mph. The fastest man recorded had a running speed of 23.35 mph, while the quickest woman reached 21.32 mph.

As a comparison to other animals, cheetahs have a top running speed of 70 mph. A horse can run up to 40 mph, while bears can run up to 30 mph. Dogs can top up to 20 mph, and cats can go up to 30 mph.

Having more legs for running allows animals to run faster than the average human. When it comes to long distances, humans can still outrun almost all animals. A human can outrun a horse in a marathon of 26.2 miles on a hot day.

In a prediction based on a 2016 study, humans can run faster using four limbs in the future than running upright. In the Guinness World Record, experts tracked humans running on four limbs. The record was 18.58 seconds in 2008. In 2015, it improved to 15.71 seconds.

In another 2010 study, scientists used computer models to see how fast a human can run. They measured the highest speed possible before the muscle fibers break. The results showed humans could force the top running speed of up to 40 miles per hour.

How do I become faster?

You can become faster by doing particular exercises and training. These factors can help you improve your acceleration. Losing weight can also help, as well as maintaining a low-sugar diet. Running on hilly areas or an inclined treadmill can improve your running speed, too.

You can improve your running speed by practicing good form. Your body must relax, with the upper area standing tall to do the correct running form. Practice landing the ground midfoot. Let your arms swing forward and back at a low 90-degree angle.

You can also do interval training to improve your speed and endurance. You can do periods of high-intensity and low-intensity training mixed with weight training. Lifting weights can help you improve and maintain power, form, and endurance.

Performing short sprints can improve your acceleration. Begin practicing a comfortable series of sprints, which can be 8 to 12 times. The best distances for the sprints can be between 50 to 200 meters.

Alternating your jogs and sprints can also help you improve your endurance and speed. It’s called fartlek, which means “speed play” in Swedish. Fartlek can last 20 minutes or more, depending on the runner.

You can also improve your running speed by working out your core. At least 15 minutes of core workout a few times a week can make you run faster. Improving your core muscles can also enhance your running economy. Your running economy plays a role in keeping a consistent running speed.

What exercises make you faster?

Exercises that can make you run faster focus on the legs and the core. Consider squats, dead-lifting, step-ups, hill sprints, and workouts using a resistance band. These exercises can help you improve your speed.

Bulgarian split squats and box squats can help you speed up. Squats can improve your leg muscles. You can do ten reps of these exercises every time you work out.

Hill sprints or running on an inclined treadmill can also help you speed up. Try an all-out speed in about 10 to 20 seconds for the hill sprints every time with enough recovery time. You can begin in small hills and progress to steeper tracks with more reps and less rest time.

Workouts using a resistance band such as dead bug can improve your core, as well as your arm and leg muscles. It’s an excellent exercise for improving your speed as it hits different body areas in one go.

Does running long distances make you faster?

Running long distances can improve your endurance, which can improve your speed. Increasing your mileage allows you to get more comfortable when you run. When you improve your stamina, you get to improve your strength and your pace.

Before you work on your speed, it’s crucial to work on your endurance first. You will be comfortable with running when you add distance to your training. When this happens, then you can improve working on your stride.

It is critical to work first on your endurance to avoid injuries. As running is a high-impact sport, it puts stress on your joints, muscles, bones, as well as your heart and lungs. Your aerobic capacity depends on your stamina. Improving your endurance will also improve your ability to run long distances.

In conclusion, there is a correlation between stamina and speed. When you improve your strength, you can also increase your running speed. It can happen when you add distance to your training.

Are sprinters born or made?

Most of the top running athletes are already fast before they begin training. Although not always, world-class runners have natural abilities. Many coaches see this ability in their first run. Yet, the true potential of the athletes comes out after engaging in a series of hard training.

In one study, experts showed that in 10 years of deliberate training, anyone could be an expert in any sport. World-class sprinters achieved their highest potential within five years of training. These professional runners were already fast as children.

Your body measurements also contribute to your speed. The length of toes, ankle structure, and lever arms play a role in your acceleration. These factors affect your pace. It determines your contact to the ground and your production of force.

The longer the toes, the more the sprinter has the advantage of keeping contact with the floor. The distance between the heel and the toes contributes to the ankle’s motion when running. You can produce greater force when the distance between these body areas is shorter.

The lever arm is the distance between the end of the toes and the heel. Having short lever arms and long toes allows you to get better acceleration.

Your body type, muscle fibers, and cardiovascular physiology also affect your top speed. You must consider the said factors when determining your fastest running pace.

Who is the fastest human?

Jamaican sprinter, Usain Bolt, set the world record as the fastest human in history. In 2009, he sprinted at 9.58 seconds in the 100, which translates to 37.58 kilometers per hour or 23.35 miles per hour.

Tyson Gay is second to Bolt as the fastest sprinter who ran 9.69 seconds in 100 meters. He set the new American record for the first to run under 10 seconds in the 100. He also reached under 20 seconds in 200 meters and under 45 seconds in 400 meters.

Jesse Owens topped the Berlin Games at 10.3 seconds in a 100-meter sprint and 20.7 seconds in 200 meters. It was in 1936 and running on dirt, which is an impressive factor as a runner during those times. If Owens ran in a synthetic track, he could top up to under 9.7 seconds.

Justin Gatlin won a bronze in the Summer Olympic Games of 2012, topping 9.79 seconds. He also won the 2012 World Indoor Championships. It was when he ran at a top speed of 6.46 seconds in a 60-meter competition.

The fastest woman in history was Florence De Lorez Griffith Joyner. She set the record in 1988 for both 100 and 200 meters. Her mark was 10.49 seconds in a 100-meter run. When she died, Shelly-Ann FRASER-PRYCE from Jamaica held the record as the fastest woman in the 100. She topped 10.63 seconds.

5 Must-Know Trivia About Running

#5 You can get addicted to running due to a phenomenon called “runner’s high.” After an intense or lengthy run, your body produces endorphins. When it happens, you will experience euphoria or feelings of extreme joy. Runners get addicted to running due to the “runner’s high” they experience during training.

#4 Listening to music while you run can boost your performance by 15%. In a 2008 research, experts found out that listening to music can improve your running endurance up to 15%. Running with music can also make you feel positive, enhancing your experience while you run.

#3 You can burn up to 104.3 calories with every mile you run. You can lose the said amount of calories if you run about 10 minutes per mile.

#2 The best way to prepare your muscles for a run is not by stretching. High knees or heel flicks are a better option for warming up your muscles.

#1 Researchers found, wearing red can help increase the chance of winning sports to 10% more. Wearing red can help you win a race due to the effect of the color red on our subconscious.

Related posts:
Are Dunlop Volleys good for running?
Are deadlifts good for running?
Are sweatpants good for running?
Are Kuru shoes good for running?

Filed Under: Running

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Hi, I’m Jackie
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