The minute-mile benchmarks, a six-minute mile, an eight, a nine, a ten, are how runners describe their speed in one round number. Each is a pace, and asking whether a given mile time is good is really asking where it sits against other runners. This page gives the pace and the honest context for each.
What the benchmarks mean, from a 6 minute mile to a 10 min mile pace
A 6 minute mile is a quick pace that marks a well-trained recreational runner; an 8 minute mile is a solid steady pace many runners hold for miles; a 9 minute mile and a 10 min mile pace are common comfortable paces. Each is simply that speed sustained for a mile, and the round numbers stick because they are easy to remember and to aim at.
Is a given mile time good
Whether a six-minute mile is good, or an 8 minute mile, or a 10-minute one, depends on the runner and the context. A six-minute mile is fast for most recreational runners; an eight is a strong steady pace; a ten is a comfortable jog that most people can build to. Is a 6 minute mile good and is an 8 minute mile good are both yes for the right runner, which is the honest answer.
Single mile versus race pace
A minute-mile benchmark is usually a single hard mile, which is faster than the pace you could hold over a 5K or 10K. So a runner with a seven-minute single mile races longer distances slower, and reading a one-mile time as if it were race pace overstates the fitness. The mile benchmark is a speed marker, not a race predictor.
Questions people ask about 6 minute mile
Is a 6 minute mile good?
For most recreational runners, yes; a six-minute mile is a quick single-mile pace that marks a well-trained runner and is faster than the pace most hold over a 5K.
Is an 8 minute mile good?
An eight-minute mile is a solid steady pace many trained runners can hold for several miles, and a good benchmark for a recreational runner.
Is a 10 minute mile good?
A ten-minute mile is a comfortable pace most people can build to, and a reasonable starting benchmark for a newer runner.
Is a 9 minute mile good?
A 9 minute mile is a common, comfortable pace for many recreational runners: a steady effort they can hold for miles rather than a fast single mile.