Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Fifty Plus (50+)
Reload this Page >

How fast can you run a 40 yard dash?

Search
Notices
Fifty Plus (50+) Share the victories, challenges, successes and special concerns of bicyclists 50 and older. Especially useful for those entering or reentering bicycling.

How fast can you run a 40 yard dash?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 03-01-23 | 07:47 AM
  #26  
gthomson's Avatar
Senior Member
5 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 1,298
Likes: 545
From: Great White North

Bikes: 2013 Cannondale Caad 8, 2010 Opus Fidelio, 1985 Peugeot UO14, 1999 Peugeot Dune, Sakai Select, L'Avantage, 1999 Specialized Hard Rock, 1973 Raleigh Sport, Nishiki Probe

This sounds like one of these challenges amongst mates after a few beers. I can guarantee it will not end well! ha ha But being serious, I stopped running about 5 years ago due to sore knees so I would guess I am not fast at all. As mentioned above, why run when you have a bike?
gthomson is offline  
Reply
Old 03-01-23 | 08:25 AM
  #27  
PeteHski's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 11,620
Likes: 7,017
Originally Posted by rsbob
I would guess that most people in the age bracket would be afraid of pulling a muscle doing this which might inhibit their cycling. I know I would have second thoughts. But go for it you warriors!
That's exactly what happened to me last time I took part in the school "Dad's" race on sports-day. No warm-up and straight into a full-on sprint wearing inappropriate shoes. Pulled my hamstring and was sore for a couple of weeks afterwards. Not been there since!
PeteHski is offline  
Reply
Old 03-01-23 | 08:27 AM
  #28  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 4,081
Likes: 2,104
If it is a Grizzly, just a wee bit faster than OP

Otherwise, I ain't runnin full steam for nobody
GhostRider62 is offline  
Reply
Old 03-01-23 | 09:28 AM
  #29  
t2p's Avatar
t2p
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 5,093
Likes: 4,590
From: USA - Pittsburgh / Southwest PA

Bikes: Cannondale - Gary Fisher - Giant - Litespeed - Schwinn Paramount - Schwinn (lugged steel) - Trek OCLV

some of the guys I coached youth sports with would sometimes run with the kids

40 ... 60 ... even 100 yd dash

and of course they would often pull up limping lol

at one point - later years - my youngest kid ran 4.85 40 ... low 7 60 ...

that might not seem fast - especially compared to the large number of top athletes that run 4.4 40’s etc - but 4.85 40 is still honkin compared to the avg joe

one kid from his high school class ran a 10.27 100m this past year while competing in college ... he is a world class athlete / future Olympic hopeful
t2p is offline  
Reply
Old 03-01-23 | 10:39 AM
  #30  
GeezyRider's Avatar
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 823
Likes: 676
From: Delaware Sea Shore

Bikes: There is always room for one more.

I just had my wife put a stop watch on me. I'm proud to say that at age 75 I can run a 4.3 forty yard dash. As in 4 minutes and 3 seconds. Including rest stops.
__________________
Don
GeezyRider is offline  
Reply
Old 03-01-23 | 03:40 PM
  #31  
Senior Member
10 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
 
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,320
Likes: 2,542
From: Orange County, California

Bikes: Yes

Originally Posted by t2p
some of the guys I coached youth sports with would sometimes run with the kids

40 ... 60 ... even 100 yd dash

and of course they would often pull up limping lol

at one point - later years - my youngest kid ran 4.85 40 ... low 7 60 ...

that might not seem fast - especially compared to the large number of top athletes that run 4.4 40’s etc - but 4.85 40 is still honkin compared to the avg joe

one kid from his high school class ran a 10.27 100m this past year while competing in college ... he is a world class athlete / future Olympic hopeful
For 60meters you'd have to be under 7 seconds (consistently) to be competitive in college at the national leve, down around 6.60 sec. for world-class consideration. .

10.27 isn't that fast for the 100m by national or world class standards. Here in California we have a few 10.2 runners each year at the high school level. The competitors in the USA Olympic Trials need to have qualifying time of under 10.05 seconds (minimum), and almost all of the competitors that get into the trials have times under 10.00 seconds. In all the sprint races (100m, 200m, 400m, 110m hurdles and 400m hurdles) its so tough and competitive that (as the saying goes) the toughest part of getting to the Olympics is considered just qualifying for the USA team.
skidder is offline  
Reply
Old 03-01-23 | 05:10 PM
  #32  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 3,498
Likes: 646
From: Toronto

Bikes: Sekine 1979 ten speed racer

Originally Posted by Fredo76
The last time I tried a 40 yard dash was untimed, but pretty darn fast. But, I was being pulled along by a running donkey on a rope, so I can't claim all the credit. I let go, and managed to stop without falling or straining anything.

Memo: Let go early!
That's the same as hanging on to the frame of the treadmill while running very fast on it.
Daniel4 is offline  
Reply
Old 03-01-23 | 10:48 PM
  #33  
Thread Starter
Full Member
 
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 296
Likes: 140
I know a 47 year old guy named George Santos who is faster than most NFL players at 4.2 seconds. He was the guy who invented the bicycle.
AJW2W11E is offline  
Reply
Old 03-02-23 | 11:43 AM
  #34  
t2p's Avatar
t2p
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 5,093
Likes: 4,590
From: USA - Pittsburgh / Southwest PA

Bikes: Cannondale - Gary Fisher - Giant - Litespeed - Schwinn Paramount - Schwinn (lugged steel) - Trek OCLV

Originally Posted by AJW2W11E
I know a 47 year old guy named George Santos who is faster than most NFL players at 4.2 seconds. He was the guy who invented the bicycle.
lmao had to think about this for a second
t2p is offline  
Reply
Old 03-02-23 | 11:53 AM
  #35  
t2p's Avatar
t2p
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 5,093
Likes: 4,590
From: USA - Pittsburgh / Southwest PA

Bikes: Cannondale - Gary Fisher - Giant - Litespeed - Schwinn Paramount - Schwinn (lugged steel) - Trek OCLV

Originally Posted by skidder
For 60meters you'd have to be under 7 seconds (consistently) to be competitive in college at the national leve, down around 6.60 sec. for world-class consideration. .

10.27 isn't that fast for the 100m by national or world class standards. Here in California we have a few 10.2 runners each year at the high school level. The competitors in the USA Olympic Trials need to have qualifying time of under 10.05 seconds (minimum), and almost all of the competitors that get into the trials have times under 10.00 seconds. In all the sprint races (100m, 200m, 400m, 110m hurdles and 400m hurdles) its so tough and competitive that (as the saying goes) the toughest part of getting to the Olympics is considered just qualifying for the USA team.
I was referring to my kid’s 60 time - relative to baseball (60 yard) - not 60m track times

I think he recorded that time as a 14 yr old ... basically to be / play outfield at a high level needed a time in the low 7’s (minimum) - mid 6’s obviously better

the kid that ran the 10.2 100m is one of the current top ranked college multi-event decathletes - he is now at Arkansas after stints at USC and Michigan

https://arkansasrazorbacks.com/roster/ayden-owens/

.

Last edited by t2p; 03-02-23 at 11:57 AM.
t2p is offline  
Reply
Old 03-02-23 | 12:18 PM
  #36  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 811
Likes: 185
From: US
We are a family of sprinters. However, I tried to become a long-distance runner. With one leg shorter than the other, I am now reduced to hiking and riding a bicycle.
Chuck Naill is offline  
Reply
Old 03-03-23 | 09:44 AM
  #37  
ofajen's Avatar
Cheerfully low end
5 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,229
Likes: 1,298
Originally Posted by obrentharris
Why would I want to run? I own several perfectly good bicycles.
Brent
Opinions will vary. When it’s dark, cold or icy, I’d rather not ride outside. Personally I don’t like to ride a stationary bike, so I prefer to run at our indoor track at the rec center.

Also, having just turned 60, if I can run and enjoy it, I’d prefer to keep doing so.

Otto
ofajen is offline  
Reply
Old 03-03-23 | 12:41 PM
  #38  
Full Member
5 Anniversary
 
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 254
Likes: 97
From: NW Minnesota

Bikes: Lemond Poprad, Cervelo Soloist, Cannondale F4, RANS Velocity Squared

I was just going to say that "40 yards" and "dash" do not go together...in my world anyway. But good for those who are going for it.
BobsPoprad is offline  
Reply
Old 03-03-23 | 08:06 PM
  #39  
Banned
 
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 676
Likes: 348
With the heart problems I have, it could end up being 46 feet for me. Supposed to have a stress-test with an echo at the same time in the near future and will see what the sawz-bones has to say about it.
beng1 is offline  
Reply
Old 03-03-23 | 08:24 PM
  #40  
Bald Paul's Avatar
Senior Member
5 Anniversary
 
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 2,369
Likes: 2,483
From: Upstate SC
If you see me running, please shoot the bear chasing me.
Bald Paul is offline  
Reply
Old 03-03-23 | 10:02 PM
  #41  
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 8,841
Likes: 2,859
Maybe the more important question is:

When's the last time you even ran full throttle for any distance? In middle school I broke 3 vertebrae in a freak baseball accident. No more football after that. Just baseball, basketball, track.(and golf) High school/college ran mid 4 40s, but not low 4s.(early-mid 80s) Kept playing basketball into my early 40s till Plantar Fasciitis drove my out of court sports. Became an "endurance" athlete then doing the swim, bike, run thing. Run all distances including marathons. Now to answer your question. I think the last time I ran a timed 40 was around 2014 at the Chicago edition of the Men's Health Urban Athlon. It was one of the obstacles in the race. About the closest I come now is accelerating to cross a street during a run. No stomp on the gas explosions, though. More of a gradual push down the throttle. To much of a risk of blowing out a plantar, achilles, hamstring, etc.

Last edited by seypat; 03-03-23 at 10:19 PM.
seypat is offline  
Reply
Old 03-03-23 | 10:18 PM
  #42  
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 8,841
Likes: 2,859
So, speaking of the 40, the Urban Athlon I was talking about in the previous post had the 40yd dash obstacle after 10 miles of running and obstacles. The next obstacle immediately after that was the military crawl under barbwire strings. Everyone would come out of the 40 and get down/start crawling. Then they'd start screaming and grabbing their hamstrings in pain. Not me. I "rolled" through like a log and was able to get through the rest of the obstacles. The last obstacle before the finish was an 8ft wall you had to go over. Never saw so many adults crying like babies cause they couldn't get over the wall.

Last edited by seypat; 03-03-23 at 10:30 PM.
seypat is offline  
Reply
Old 03-03-23 | 10:45 PM
  #43  
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 8,841
Likes: 2,859
Even funnier as it relates to 50+, one of the obstacles in that event was the steps of Soldier Field. You had to go up/down the steps 4 times. There's an usher/volunteer at the start shouting encouraging remarks. One year I'm in this group starting up. The volunteer is shouting, "Come on, you got this! Go for it!" Stuff like that. Then he shouts, " Come on old man, you got this!" I look around at the rest of the group to see who the old man was, and they're all younger 20-30 somethings. I was the old man.

Last edited by seypat; 03-05-23 at 07:55 AM.
seypat is offline  
Reply
Old 03-08-23 | 09:56 AM
  #44  
BlazingPedals's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 12,560
Likes: 799
From: Middle of da Mitten

Bikes: Trek 7500, RANS V-Rex, Optima Baron, Velokraft NoCom, M-5 Carbon Highracer, Bacchetta Quattro, Catrike Speed

40 Yard Dash? Is that a new musical group?
BlazingPedals is offline  
Reply
Old 04-05-23 | 05:33 AM
  #45  
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,638
Likes: 1,251
I'm 65, and can run a 400 metre dash at 1:40 all morning long. I was just born with strong hips.
1989Pre is offline  
Reply
Old 04-05-23 | 12:04 PM
  #46  
Biker395's Avatar
Seat Sniffer
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,916
Likes: 3,086
From: SoCal

Bikes: Serotta Legend Ti; 2006 Schwinn Fastback Pro and 1996 Colnago Decor Super C96; 2003 Univega Alpina 700; 2000 Schwinn Super Sport

The bigger question is how long will it take to heal after pulling all my tendons trying to run a 40 yard dash. lol
__________________
Proud parent of a happy inner child ...

Biker395 is offline  
Reply
Old 04-05-23 | 01:40 PM
  #47  
I-Like-To-Bike's Avatar
Been Around Awhile
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 30,679
Likes: 1,988
From: Burlington Iowa

Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi

Originally Posted by AJW2W11E
I'm 60 and the sad thing is I probably couldn't run 40 yards at high speed. For now I can hold my own on a bike with youngsters who are very fleet, but for some reason the muscles that let you sprint are gone.I'm curious what everyone else's thoughts on this matter are? I'd love to hear that some 60 year old guy can run a 6 or maybe 5.5 second 40? Maybe we should all try and post our times? Leave me out, one if my legs might fall off.
I always run a 40 Yard dash just before I take a blood pressure reading or lab tests so that I can post my "scores" on social media and compare/compete with "youngsters" curious about such stuff.

Last edited by I-Like-To-Bike; 04-05-23 at 01:44 PM.
I-Like-To-Bike is offline  
Reply
Old 04-05-23 | 02:25 PM
  #48  
gthomson's Avatar
Senior Member
5 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 1,298
Likes: 545
From: Great White North

Bikes: 2013 Cannondale Caad 8, 2010 Opus Fidelio, 1985 Peugeot UO14, 1999 Peugeot Dune, Sakai Select, L'Avantage, 1999 Specialized Hard Rock, 1973 Raleigh Sport, Nishiki Probe

Originally Posted by Biker395
The bigger question is how long will it take to heal after pulling all my tendons trying to run a 40 yard dash. lol
LOL that's for sure. Ever try and join some mates for some pick up softball? No one can walk the next day from the hammy pulls.
gthomson is offline  
Reply
Old 04-05-23 | 03:09 PM
  #49  
Terex's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,708
Likes: 73
From: 5200' Boulder, CO Area

Bikes: Specialized 6Fattie, Parlee Z5, Cannondale SuperX

National Senior Games as of 2019. 50 meters is close to 55 yards.

https://nsga.com/wp-content/uploads/...TF50mTop10.pdf
Terex is offline  
Reply
Old 04-06-23 | 04:03 PM
  #50  
bruce19's Avatar
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 9,158
Likes: 1,743
From: Lebanon (Liberty Hill), CT

Bikes: Canyon Aeroad, CAAD 12, MASI Gran Criterium S, Colnago World Cup CX, Guru steel & Guru Photon

I've got nothing left at age 77. But, back in my HS and college days I could throw a football 60 yds and once ran 100 yds in 10.9 seconds in sneakers from a standing start.
bruce19 is offline  
Reply


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.