What's a good marathon time for the general population?

Just Another Hobby Jogger wrote:

I am Sam wrote:

Put it another way, if a really fat bloke, that was once skinny most likely, came to me and said "I will never ever be able to run sub 20 5km, because my PB is 40min", what should my answer be?

I don't know what your answer should be, but here is how I would answer.

"You may or may not have the potential to run sub 20 5k. But you will never know unless you try. And trying includes losing significant weight in your case.

You may never run under 20min no matter how hard you try, but losing weight is good for your health. So is engaging in regular cardio exercise. So if you can embrace the process, it will be rewarding for you regardless of the outcome."

AOL Lawyer wrote:

I am Sam wrote:

Of course we have...see above, they are on average obese according to statistics. But that doesn't mean that the OP is wrong, because almost all of those obese people ate themselves that way. If they were to train like the OP, then what would you have.

You are all misintepreting the point about what potential and talent really means. If I were to instead sat on my arse, shoved food down my throat all the time and blown out to obesity, my potential and 'talent' to run 2:30 wouldn't have somehow disappeared.

"To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go"

There are fantasy answers and there are answers based on times people actually have done.

I am Sam wrote:

Yeah, your fantasy is wallowing in your 'great' performance, because you compare ytourself against fat couch potatoes who couldn't care less about running. Well done , you...supreme athlete.

The realistic on the other hand are always trying to do better.

cheers

I am Sam wrote:

The OP is correct in the 'talent required' aspect, but of cause we are dealing with a population pool that is on average overweight, males at 30 BMI and females at 25

You'd think I would be happy to be labelled 'talented' or 'above average' simply for busting my gut to run 2:30, but I know how I went against 'real elite' athletes' , I'm not living in dreamland.

So yes, maybe our OP is 'average' but he did way more training than the 'average ' American

It's almost impossible to have an indication of average performance, when your sample pool is in no way inclined to train (relatively) the same as the elites.

SDSU Aztec wrote:

Next time they are out and about, some posters should check out the physiques of people they come across. Out of shape or not, a lot of people are too big to run a decent marathon and that’s the case for just about anyone that played football during school. Also look at the stride of joggers. Many of them have absolutely no giddy up in their stride and barely get their feet off the ground.

The average person is going to be a fish out water if they attempt a marathon.