How long should it take to run a mile??

Hi everyone!

I just started a running routine a few weeks ago and I love it!  I really did not think that it would be fun, but its a real rush.  I usually do a t least 2 miles a day 6-7 days per week.

My question is what is a good time to run a mile?  My lowest time so far has been about 8 min and 40 secs.  Is this good? Bad?  Mediocre?
I just need to know what my goal should be for improvement.

If anyone could help I would really appreciate it.  Thanks!

Whoa!! That's awesome!!! My best is like 10 minutes, I think a good base time for a beginnger is 12 minutes.

I typically run a 10minute mile.  I'm still a running newb tho.

If you're going to run just 1 mile competitively, IIRC in high school track a good time for 1mile was under 6minutes.   LOL I won't see those numbers anytime soon! 

Hmm yeh I am pretty much a beginner to. MY time was about 12 mins for a mile. You're doing pretty good then. :)

There is NO set time to run a mile....every person is different.  I generally run 8:45 per mile in training....7:30 in racing short races.  For longer runs, I go slower.  So, the answer to your question can't really be answered.  It's very personalized.

PLUS...the fastest in the world will break 4 minutes for one mile.  If you're looking for a comparison, that gives you an idea of how speedy these runners are.  Marathoners...professional...will run 26.2 miles in just over 2 hours....that's under a 5-minute mile.

Do what you feel works for you.  Look at race results online from certain races to give you an idea of how others are doing in your age group and distance.  That would be better.

I hope I've helped.

Good advise given so far..  If your looking for comparisons, When I run at the gym on a treadmil, I can do 9 min miles for a distance of 4 miles.  My best time for running 1 mile is 5:08.  It takes patience and persistance.  In today's world, we all want fast results or we get discouraged. 

thanks for the advice evreyone!  I went to do my 2 miles today but I just didnt have any energy.  My time ended up being about 11 mins 20 secs.   which is bad for me.  But oh well...hopefully I will have more stamina tomorrow.

If you ran 2 miles in 11:20, you're doing damned good. The fastest I ever covered that distance was 11:47 during a track meet in high school, when I was 17.

Now I can't run at all (arthur itis in my left foot), so I ride my bike instead.

my best mile time is a 6.40 and it placed at city. If u r trying to be able to do well in a big track meet or something, you should probably get under 7, but just for excersising, i think you've got a perfect practice pace.

i run in track and i run 530 ish but i'm gonna try to get sub 520 this year so thats my goal but if ur just running for rec purposes ... don't even time yourself until u've been running routinely. not only will you get a lot faster (i dropped a minute and a half in one season..... ) then u'll see where u are and then where u need to go if u want to run competitively