Mile Run Times

[MustangIcon]

These are really some impressive times. Great to see that a lot of our guys have busted their butt throughout the off-season to be in great shape for the start of the Fall semester.

From Coach Doherty's blog a couple of days ago...

August 28
"Mile Run"

Today we had the team up for a 7am mile run. I like to test the players when we get back from the summer break to see what kind of shape they are in. Since we test them in the mile in October, this is a good opportunity for all of us to see where they are at in terms of conditioning.

Overall, I felt like our players ran very well. The most impressive performers were:

Ryan Harp 4:55 - this was the best mile time I have seen in a while from a basketball player. He has worked very hard this summer! Very impressive!

Justin Haynes 5:11 - one of the best times I have seen from a freshman! He looked good!

Bamba Fall 5:17 - he can run!! The most impressive thing about this run was that he did it in his stocking feet!! Since our running shoes haven't arrived yet Bamba ran with out shoes because he felt his basketball shoes were too heavy!! Amazing!

Rob Nyakundi 5:29 - this was huge! Robert has come full circle with his conditioning and his work ethic! Last year he was in poor shape! This year he has become a workout fanatic!! I am proud of Rob!

Tomasz Kwiatkowski 5:39 - TK can really run for a big man. He knows how to attack the mile as he did a great job of pacing himself to have enough for the end.

Pony Up!

Coach Doh

[CalallenStang]

Pretty impressive times.

[abezontar]

What time do they have to be under in October?

[KnuckleStang]

I think it's 5:40 or something close.

[Pony_Fan]

Bamba's time is good for a big man but I wouldn't let him run w/out shoes. That is stupid.

[Alaric]

Bamba's time is good for a big man but I wouldn't let him run w/out shoes. That is stupid.

a growing school of thought think it's pretty smart...lots of barefoot marathoners out there believe it or not. supposedly a person's biomechanics improve along with stabilizing muscles, etc. sounds crazy to me but i know a few people who swear by it

http://runningbarefoot.org/

[mustangbill67]

many of the top Africian distance runners grew up running barefooted. Still I believe a good pair of running shoes gives you less chance of being injured.

[papawasamustang]

I can remember back to the days when we had to run a mile.
Our best players could care less about their time, just wanted to finish ahead of the time that the coach said they needed to run it in.

Basketball shape & running a mile shape are 2 seperate issues.

The only time a mile matters is if you are on the track team.

Coaches BS !

[PoconoPony]

1964 Olympic marathon in Rome was won by Bibi Akila (sp) who always ran barefooted.

[SMUmessageboardScreename]

I can remember back to the days when we had to run a mile.
Our best players could care less about their time, just wanted to finish ahead of the time that the coach said they needed to run it in.

Basketball shape & running a mile shape are 2 seperate issues.

The only time a mile matters is if you are on the track team.

Coaches BS !

not much...

i am training for a < 5 min mile and I play a fair amount of pickup basketball and I run faster and a lot longer than most everyone.

Also, the only way to get in bball shape is to play a whole bunch of competitive pickup. It is probably real hard for a college bball player to find a competitive pickup game ("competitive" smu games were a joke for ike ofegbu) and they are going to eventually get injured. So, alternative is running a lot.

As for the barefoot thing, it is probably significantly safer/faster to run barefoot. We weren't designed to need shoes...

[MustangFan]

I can remember back to the days when we had to run a mile.
Our best players could care less about their time, just wanted to finish ahead of the time that the coach said they needed to run it in.

Basketball shape & running a mile shape are 2 seperate issues.

The only time a mile matters is if you are on the track team.

Coaches BS !

There are a lot of coaches — at SMU and other schools — who have their players run two-mile runs, presumably after consulting extensively with conditioning coaches, trainers, etc. You're right that they don't have to run two miles at a time, but if one mile is all an athlete can run, no way they can play a full game. Soccer coaches everywhere have their teams do this run, because many players run between 8 and 12 MILES in a game. They don't have to run two miles at a time in any sport (other than cross country), but they've got to make sure they're not going to run out of gas at the end, either.

Great to read that about Nyakundi — he really has come a long way. (Now wait until you see this guy shoot. It's unbelievable.)

[papawasamustang]

I can remember back to the days when we had to run a mile.
Our best players could care less about their time, just wanted to finish ahead of the time that the coach said they needed to run it in.

Basketball shape & running a mile shape are 2 seperate issues.

The only time a mile matters is if you are on the track team.

Coaches BS !

not much...

i am training for a < 5 min mile and I play a fair amount of pickup basketball and I run faster and a lot longer than most everyone.

Also, the only way to get in bball shape is to play a whole bunch of competitive pickup. It is probably real hard for a college bball player to find a competitive pickup game ("competitive" smu games were a joke for ike ofegbu) and they are going to eventually get injured. So, alternative is running a lot.

As for the barefoot thing, it is probably significantly safer/faster to run barefoot. We weren't designed to need shoes...

[papawasamustang]

Totally disagee. Running long distances & running, shuffling & jumping are 2 different animals. At a rec type level I can see how running a mile or 2 will help you out with your conditioning & help you play well.
I'll take the gym rat that plays ball everyday, shuffles his feet, jumps,
sprints over a long distance runner re: who is in better bb shape.
Like I said, I've played for years, I know many ex players who have played for years & running long distances is not mandatory for BB.
Getting your butt in the gym & playing everyday gets you in basketball shape, not running a mile or 2 or 3.

[MustangIcon]

We can argue the merits of a mile time until we are blue in the face but we are missing part of the greater point here...

COMMITMENT

A player busting his tail to meet this mile time shows a level of commitment and respect to his coaches, teamates, and himself. I'm proud of the guys mentioned in this blog and am wholly in favor of a coach setting expectations and expecting his players to meet those expectations.

[papawasamustang]

We can argue the merits of a mile time until we are blue in the face but we are missing part of the greater point here...

COMMITMENT

A player busting his tail to meet this mile time shows a level of commitment and respect to his coaches, teamates, and himself. I'm proud of the guys mentioned in this blog and am wholly in favor of a coach setting expectations and expecting his players to meet those expectations.

I'm not missing the point. The point is if you are in good basketball shape you should be able to run a little mile in the required time. If you can't than you haven't been in the gym enough.
Running a mile is so insignificant when it comes to hoops. I'm not impressed that any of them made their time. It does not show commitment or respect. It just one of the BS things coaches put you through that you know you have to go through.

Bottom line, can the kid play ball. Who cares who runs the fastest mile?

I guess we will just have to a to d.