After running a marathon, the runner may be shorter than they were before the event. Meb- 5’5, 125lbs (65in x 2 – 5lbs = 125lbs) The average man is allocated 110 lbs (50kg) for the first 5 feet (1.524m) in height. . Women have a different body fat and body muscle make-up. Marathon- 2:31 (122lbs), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Hartmann. Your current BMI is … The stopwatch knows no difference in weight, height or girth. Haile G.- 5’4, 120lbs, Personally, and I really don’t like to talk about PRs, etc, but I have obtained my personal best race times while adhering to this formula. Some runners may have a BMI above the “normal” range of 18.5 to 24.9 but may have excellent cardiovascular health, low blood pressure and a slow, runners heart rate, while some within the normal range do not. I’m not grasping what exactly their body composition is? By giving your consent below, you agree that we place and read cookies on all our websites (see this overview) and combine these collected data. I agree with you that ultrarunners come in various sizes and builds. * When Tina contacted me about training and injury rehab in December of 2014, I was excited for the opportunity to train an elite distance runner, but I was also a little worried. They can then adjust training paces, perhaps incrementally as weight is lost, in line with this. The study is based on detailed testing of athletes who took part in Nike's Breaking2 project—an ambitious bid to break the two-hour barrier. For runners, an ideal BMI exists, as any race requires a certain amount of ground force that is dictated by your BMI measurement. While running a marathon can keep you in peak physical condition, it is important that you consult with your doctor to ensure you are healthy enough to engage in such a rigorous race. Dr Stillman's weight tables were an attempt to suggest ideal weights according to height, sex and runner type. She has a pretty low BMI tho' - 18.0. Paula Radcliffe- 5’8, 120lbs A recreational runner training 2-4 times per week or someone aiming to complete a target race distance may find these values hard to attain, but a top local runner, a college athlete, or a regional-class competitor should not be too far away from these values if their goal is to race as fast as possible. Peyton, is this height/weight formula to be used barefoot or while we are wearing our running shoes? Thanks for the advise, I thought there was something wrong with me when I could not get down to your weight! Failure to do so might result in health complications or rapid weight lose that will decrease your overall stamina levels. Ryan Hall- 5’9, 135lbs (69in x 2 – 3lbs = 135lbs) This scale says many of the top runners in the world are way too heavy. Peyton mentioned repeatedly that he was refering to runners that are trying to compete at their best level. I wrote that the numbers seem “reasonable”: I used that word because, for “optimal” weight, I think the numbers given are way too high. I’m almost 6’5″ or actually 77.7 inches with a medium build. I ran my marathon PR against a steady 15-20mph headwind, so more muscle might have been beneficial in that case, as well. Hard to say for certain, but I had unintentionally lost weight through high volume going into that race, 5K- 15:14 (125lbs) It’s clearly an oversimplification that, in reality, works for a small range of heights. The article seems to be written in reference to a specific set of circumstances and individual. If that is 160lbs, then so be it. In her case, this formula suggests that she should gain 21 lbs. According to Dr. George Sheehan, a former general practitioner in New Jersey who wrote a column in Runner's World Magazine for 20 years, the weight-to-height ratio of a marathon runner is the key factor in terms of increasing his speed and time. An assistant at Kagan Physical Therapy since 2009, Aberdeene has a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from the University of California, San Diego. Rather than trying to squeeze all runners into a tightly defined box, a better article would be helping runners understand their body type and how to leverage it’s strengths in the context of running. Note that most of these athletes are below the recommended guidelines, thereby making the formula used in the article somewhat easier to obtain in light of these figures. Two years ago, before I started running, I weighed about 145. Thanks for the info Peyton, I’ve been looking into this a lot lately….I get that the lighter you are the faster you can move, but what exactly are these guys carrying? As a result, a sprinter only needs to be 2 1/2 percent lighter than the average person of the same height. A runner who is slightly above their ideal race weight, and planning to lose that weight between now and a race, could use the calculator to help predict their probable race time. You can get a good glimpse at this formula’s origin at the below link. Internal Medicine - Cardiology. Bekele, at 5’5- 123lbs, does not either, so please do your homework before you assert a falsehood. If you run a 5:10, then you have successfully increased your power to weight ratio in the context of your normal training routine. He is harsher with women, giving them 100lbs (45.3kg) … Weight changes over time The weight of the Olympic marathon champion has … When preparing for her fall marathon, her weight will gradually drop through training to her optimum 125lbs a week or two before the race (or even slightly less). I'm 5'8" = 68 inches, so for me that would be 136 pounds. This will help her muscles recover from a season of training, protect her immune system, and allow her to train hard again in the spring. The L.A. Marathon’s route is one Angelenos would never dream of driving. Look for Nick Trefethen’s explanation of his modified BMI formula that corrects the height problem – he’s an Oxford professor and explains the math better than I. Peyton, Jason Aberdeene has been a freelance writer since 2008. In addition to running, eating foods that are low in fat, such as: * lean meat. Elite marathon runners are more economical, perhaps requiring as little as 180ml of oxygen per kilogram of body weight to cover the same distance. I don’t think this formula works for women. The height of the Olympic marathon champion has varied greatly over time, ranging from the 188cm (6 ft 2 in) Kenneth McArthur in 1912, to the tiny 1.58 m (5 ft 2 in) South African Josia Thugwane in 1996. A week later, she placed second at the Mountain to Fountain 15k in 53:03. There has to be a better formula also factoring in age, bmi, or body fat. If your BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9, you are currently at healthy weight. Tracking cookies may have an impact on your privacy. If your weight is fluctuating due to lifting, etc., you may want to test your power and lactic ability from time to time to see if you are at an appropriate weight. So, based on frame size, the following values would hold true. Your weight should be 15 percent lighter than the average man at your same height. If the fingers touch but don’t overlap, you have a medium bone structure and/or musculature. How do the stride lengths of the elite compare? This calculator will generate training paces, race prediction, with adjustments for temperature, body weight and altitude. Almost without exception, elite marathon runners stand 5-foot-7, give or take two inches, and weigh 140 pounds, plus or minus a few pounds. He fixes the non-active man's average weight for height with a simple formula. However, what is fairly apparent is the consistent pattern of small-framed, extremely lean runners making the podium. Two years ago, before I started running, I weighed about 145. So Dave is right - it's for "an elite runner that eschews all body mass that doesn't directly aid his running". During a single marathon, the feet hit the ground approximately 50,000 times. The ideal body weight for a runner who sprints is different from that of a distance runner. I really can not think of an elite runner who does not fall on this spectrum after you have allotted the weight difference based on body/bone size. If you are in good physical shape, chances are you burn calories at a high enough rate to keep a suitable body weight for your height. They also got shorter, from 1.73 m (5' 8.1") to 1.70 m (5' 6.9"). Ben Levine, M.D. I hate to tell you this, but “competitive runners” who are “seeking optimum running performance” probably are not coming to runningshoesguru for advice on ideal weight. The video below captured Kenenisa Bekele, Haile Gebrselassie, and Mo Farah, at mile 12 at the BUPA Great North Run in 2013. I am 5′ 7″(67″) and cannot touch fingers when I do the test. Have you ever seen big-boned or big-framed skeletons? Much like a car is most fuel efficient at a certain mph, your body maximizes fat burning at this speed. A counterexample to Galen Rupp is Chris Solinsky, the robust former Wisconsin Badger who, at six-foot-one, 160 pounds, is the heaviest man in history to run under 27 minutes for the 10,000. You can tell frame size by how much of your finger you can fit around your wrist? Usain Bolt is a SPRINTER. Using the index finger and thumb of your left hand, wrap these fingers around your right wrist. Her other personal bests include: 5k: 16:59 (road) 10k: 34:53 (road) 10-mile: 57:56; Half-Marathon: 1:14:22; Now, she’s training for several spring races including the Eugene Half Marathon with the goal of running a fall marathon. To do this, run a one mile time trial on the track after a thorough warm-up and on relatively fresh legs. I've read that for highly competitive (ok, so not average) marathon runners there is a rule of thumb: two pounds for every inch you are tall. If you ask 10 people what the perfect body weight is, you will probably get 10 different answers. Bekele would be listed as a fatty, according to you. If two pro runners of similar height, but on opposite ends of the weight spectrum can both have success at the highest level, it’s a clear indicator that “ideal weight” is relative. Click Accept to continue. I am 5’7, and typically try to have my weight around 124-126lbs on race day. One study on the effects of weight on running performance found that the addition of 5 pounds of weight to the body reduced running performance in a 12-minute time trial by 5 percent. In addition, burning calories and losing weight to improve your speed should be done with the help of a nutritionist or a health care specialist. I think most people are heavier than they need to be because they eat more than they need to eat, especially regarding carbohydrates. In addition, third parties (which are partly outside the EU) can place cookies on our websites, including tracking cookies that can also be used to build up a profile of you. This phase was focused primarily on continuing to address existing injury issues in conjunction with the physiotherapist while also starting on the process of improving their hip function. As background, I was the heaviest kid in my school through 3rd grade and among the heaviest of the distance runners on my high school track and cross country teams, so I’m not one of those who can eat anything he wants and stay thin. Most coaches use the Stillman height/weight ratio table for distance runners. A Formula to Calculate your Ideal Running Weight, by Coach P. Hoyal, NAIA Track & Field All American, The Adidas SL20.2 is a worthy upgrade to the popular SL20. As you noted above, we are certainly not trying to advocate unhealthy eating practices or obsession about weight. In addition to losing weight to increase your marathon time, strength and additional cardiovascular training will help you increase your speed. The exceptions to the rule are Japanese wrestlers, heavyweight boxers and certain rugby players, who aim to exceed this … This data reveals itself through past marathon winners as well as through the weight-to-height ratios of elite running athletes. Through proper diet and excercise your weight will decrease; this is a fact. I feel lighter, and I am able to run without any discomfort. Ridiculous. Light weight = performance is a FACT. After marathon training I got down to 138. As I write this, I am considered one of the largest ultra obstacle course racing (OCR) and ultra-running athletes in the world, at a height of 6-foot-2 and weight of 232 pounds. I dropped 12-15 pounds of predominantly muscle by reducing the amount of protein in my diet. If your fingers do not touch, you have a larger than average bone structure. I really enjoyed this article, but I read the comments, and I believe that many people are confused or their feelings are hurt. Best. Most sports have an ideal weight for competition. At 129, I found just did not have the energy to do the work outs-although I had a little less flab around the mid-section. Elite runner Tina Muir talks about how even elite athletes have weight changes throughout the year.