Running a mile in under 6 minutes is impressive, especially if you're a girl competing against others. You are doing incredibly well if you can run a mile in 5 minutes or less. Your body is constructed for the mile, and with repeated practice and patience, you may improve your performance. To run a mile in less than 6 minutes, you need to be able to cover the distance in less than 5 minutes. A mile takes between 3-4 minutes to complete, so running the entire race at less than 5 minutes means that you need to be starting and stopping often. This is difficult to do if you aren't used to running fast. The first thing you need to know about improving your mile time is that it's not possible to outrun your age group. No matter how fast you go, other runners will beat you by seconds, even if you run all day every day. There are two ways to improve your time: use technology to measure more accurately or reduce your effort. Measurement accuracy can be improved through using GPS devices, which show you exactly where you fell during the race, allowing you to learn from your mistakes. Electronic watches also help you monitor your progress over time. Reducing your effort means training hard but also taking rest days so that you don't injure yourself. Following a regular schedule when training for speed events will help you keep up your pace over time.