How Long Does It Take to Run a Mile? (Averages Times For Adults And Kids By Age and Sex)

How long does it take to run a mile?

The time it takes to run a mile can vary importantly dependent on several factors, including:

Your fitness level: A well-trained runner can run a mile much faster than a beginner.
Your gender: On average, men tend to run a mile faster than women.
Your age: Younger runners tend to be faster than older runners.
The terrain: Running on a flat surface is easier than running on a hill or trail.
The weather: Running in hot or humid weather can make it more difficult to run a fast mile.

Generally, a beginner runner can expect to run a mile in about 12-15 minutes. An midway runner can expect to run a mile in about 9-12 minutes. An elite runner can expect to run a mile in under 5 minutes.

How Far Is A Mile?

A mile is a part of distance in the imperial and United States customary measurement systems. It is like to 5,280 feet, 1,760 yards, or 1.609344 kilometers.

The mile is derived from the Roman mile, originally equal to 1,000 paces of a Roman legionary. The Roman mile was slightly longer than the modern mile, equaling about 1,619 meters.

Women’s Average Mile Times

Women average mile time depending on age, fitness level, and experience. However, as a general rule of thumb, the middle mile time for women is around 7-8 minutes per mile.

Here is a table of average mile times for women by age group:

Age	Average Mile Time
10-14	8:30 minutes per mile
15-19	7:30 minutes per mile
20-29	7:00 minutes per mile
30-39	7:30 minutes per mile
40-49	8:00 minutes per mile
50-59	8:30 minutes per mile
60+	9:00 minutes per mile

These are just averages, and there will be a significant range of times within each age group. For example, some women in the 10-14 age group may be able to run a mile in 6:30 minutes, while others may be closer to 9:30 minutes.

Men’s Average Mile Times

Men’s average mile time depends on age group, and there will be a significant range of times within each age group. For example, some men in the 10-14 age group may be able to run a mile in 5:30 minutes, while others may be closer to 9:30 minutes.

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10-14 7:30 minutes per mile

15-19 6:30 minutes per mile

20-29 6:00 minutes per mile

30-39 6:30 minutes per mile

40-49 7:00 minutes per mile

50-59 7:30 minutes per mile

60+ 8:00 minutes per mile

Here are some average mile times by age and sex:

Age 10-19:

Male: 7:04
Female: 8:04

Age 20-29:

Male: 6:37
Female: 7:37

Age 30-39:

Male: 6:57
Female: 7:57

Age 40-49:

Male: 7:17
Female: 8:17

Age 50-59:

Male: 7:37
Female: 8:37

Age 60-69:

Male: 7:57
Female: 8:57

Age 70+:

Male: 8:17
Female: 9:17

If you are interested in improving your mile time, there are a few things you can do:

Train regularly: The more you run, the faster you will get.
Run longer distances: Running longer distances will help you build endurance, making it easier to run a fast mile.
Do hill sprints: Hill sprints are a great way to improve your speed and power.
Improve your lung capacity: You can do several exercises to improve your lung capacity, such as running in a high-altitude mask or doing breathing exercises.
Use proper form: Running in good condition will help you run more capably and avoid injuries.
Run with a friend: Running with a friend can help you stay interested and push yourself harder.
Rest: Giving your body time to recover after running is important.

Regular training and effort can improve your mile time and help you reach your fitness goals.

AVERAGE MILE RUN TIME – ADULTS

how long does it take the average person to run a mil

Male average pace per mile: 9:38 (calculated from an average distance of 4.1 miles and average duration of 0:39:30)

Female average pace per mile: 11:08 (calculated from an average distance of 3.4 miles and average duration of 0:37:42)

Some average mile run times for adults:

Age 18-29:

Beginner: 12-15 minutes

Intermediate: 10-12 minutes

Advanced: 8-10 minutes

Age 30-39:

Beginner: 13-16 minutes

Intermediate: 11-13 minutes

Advanced: 9-11 minutes

Age 40-49:

Beginner: 14-17 minutes

Intermediate: 12-14 minutes

Advanced: 10-12 minutes

Age 50-59:

Beginner: 15-18 minutes

Intermediate: 13-15 minutes

Advanced: 11-13 minutes

Age 60-69:

Beginner: 16-19 minutes

Intermediate: 14-16 minutes

Advanced: 12-14 minutes

Age 70+:

Beginner: 17-20 minutes

Intermediate: 15-17 minutes

Advanced: 13-15 minutes

What factors affect your mile time?

Many factors can affect your mile time, including:

Age:

Age is the time someone or something has been alive or has existed. In humans, age is typically measured in years. However, age can also be measured in months, days, or even hours.

The age of a person can be counted differently in different cultures. In most Western countries, age is calculated from the date of birth. For example, a person born on January 1, 2000, is 23 years old on January 1, 2023.

Yes, age does affect running speed. As we age, our bodies naturally decline in several ways that can impact our running performance, including:

Decreased muscle mass and strength.
Reduced flexibility.
Decreased cardiovascular fitness
Increased risk of injury.

Gender:

Gender is a social concept that refers to the roles, behaviors, expressions, and identities of girls, women, boys, men, and people of other genders. It is a complex and dynamic concept influenced by various factors, including culture, religion, and personal experiences.

There are two main sexes in humans: male and female. A combination of chromosomes, hormones, and anatomy determines sex. Gender, on the other hand, is not determined by biological factors. It is a social construct that is learned and performed.

On average, men tend to be faster runners than women. This is due to several factors, including:

Body size and composition
Social factors

WEATHER

Temperature
Humidity
Wind
Rain
Snow

The temperature has been connected to slower times in various race distances.

ALTITUDE

altitude can affect running speed. As you go higher in altitude, the air becomes thinner. This means that less oxygen is available for your muscles to use, making it harder to breathe and run at a fast pace.

In addition, the lower air pressure at high altitudes can also make it harder for your body to regulate its temperature. This can lead to overheating, which can also affect your running speed.

However, the effects of altitude on running speed vary from person to person. Some people are more affected by altitude than others.

BIOMECHANICS

Biomechanics studies how the body moves and how forces act on the body during movement.

Biomechanical Factors affect running speed:

Stride length
Stride frequency
Contact time
Ground reaction force
Body alignment

WEIGHT

The heavier you are, the more force you must apply to the ground to move forward. This means you must work harder to run at a given pace.

Extra weight can stress your joints, increasing your risk of injury.

Increased energy expenditure
Increased ground reaction force
Reduced running economy

The effects of weather on running speed var

Your fitness level: The more fit you are, the quicker you can run a mile. This is because your body will be more efficient at using oxygen and energy.
Your gender: On average, men tend to run a mile faster than women. This is due to several factors, including muscle mass and body composition.
Your age: Younger runners tend to be faster than older runners. Their bodies are more resilient and can quickly recover from exercise.
Your weight: The heavier you are, the harder it will be to run a mile quickly. This is because you must work harder to move your body weight.
Your terrain: Running on a flat surface is easier than running on a hill or trail.
The weather: Running in hot or humid weather can make it more difficult to run a fast mile. This is because your body must work harder to regulate its temperature.
Your running form: You cannot run as efficiently as possible if you have poor running form.
Your motivation: If you are motivated to run a fast mile, you are likelier to put in the effort and training necessary to achieve your goal.

If you are looking to improve your mile time, there are a few things you can do:

Train regularly: The more you run, the faster you will get. Aim to run at least 3-4 times per week.
Run longer distances: Running longer distances will help you build endurance, making it easier to run a fast mile.
Do speedwork: Speedwork is training that helps you improve your speed. This can include running sprints, hill repeats, or fartleks.
Improve your running form: Several resources are accessible online and in books that can explain you how to improve your running form.
Stay motivated: Set goals for yourself and track your progress. Find a running mate or join a running club to help you stay motivated.