The Four Minute Mile
Can Namban Rengo run a 4-minute mile?
The first 4-minute mile was run by Roger Bannister on May 6, 1954, 50 years ago today. After our workout (5 x 1,000m) on Wednesday night (the 5th), we decided to mark the occasion with a special event. What to do? Well, let’s run a 4-minute mile. The first idea was to divide everyone into 4-person teams, to position ourselves at 100m intervals on the track, and have each person run 100m 4 times (jogging back to where they started between each run). In other words, each 100m in 15 seconds. To test how fast 15 seconds is, I ran 100m. Time, 20 seconds. Whoops, not nearly fast enough. Ran another, at high speed. 15.5 seconds. This may not be so easy.
After many people claimed not to be able to run even one 100m in 15 seconds, the plan was changed. One team of the four fastest people, same format, others cheering us on and timing. The anchor man would be Jason (5,000m in low 16:00s). I would start (17:30 for 5,000m). Second leg was Craig, who had doubts, so Steve volunteered to run two. Third was Jurg, with Gareth volunteering to run once (all 18:00, 19:00 runners). In other words, 6 guys, all of whom are in decent shape. Should be no problem. Plus, we get a running start at each handoff (hand touch).
Positioning ourselves in the middle of the track and the middle of the turns, with cheerers/timers also at each location, Pete gives the signal to start. I take off, going all out, touch off to Craig gasping. Have a laugh with Nicola, “this may not be so easy,” start jogging back. Get halfway there, look up, Jason is already taking off on the far turn. Wow, have to hustle back. Got there just in time to get turned around and take off. Next one a bit slower, but the jog back a bit faster. Everyone was working hard, Craig, Steve and Jurg doing well, Gareth turns in a fast leg and we were just a bit behind time after each 300m, whereupon Jason would burn his leg and get us back.
Last lap, I go all out, as do Steve and Jurg, looks like we’re close, but a little slow, but… Jason has to run an extra 9m (one mile = 1609m). He blazes by Pete at the finish line, all watches click, everyone looks down, and a collective shout goes up—it’s EXACTLY 4:00!! High fives all around.
We did it, and folks, let me tell you, a 4-minute mile is damn fast! It was fast when Roger Bannister did it on a dirt track 50 years ago and it’s still fast. 6 guys, all in good shape, one of them real fast, and we just made it by the skin of our teeth. We walked away from that track with profound respect for Dr. Bannister and for every other person who has run a 4-minute mile since.
(Posted by Bob Poulson May 6, 2004)
