re: If you are reasonably healthy, how fast should you be able to run a mile?

It obviously doesn't appeal to everyone but there is nothing boring to me about running at 95% of my max HR trying to catch the guy in front of me and not let the guy behind me catch me.

The battle lies within when you're racing. You have to fight the demons that say it's okay to slow down a little. The internal struggle that says you didn't train your best and you would be okay with a 4th place age group finish rather than 3rd.

You find out alot about yourself through training and racing. When it's just you, doing something you love and not getting paid and your results are a direct correlation to the training you put in and how much do you want it. Everyone has a reason to not succeed and there all valid to a degree, but the excitement comes when you push beyond those reasons and achieve something truly remarkable.