I gotta tell you, in the midst of a political world, this message board is a lot of fun.
Just called dad for kicks-asked him about his 3:52 mile in Toronto. His first comment was, "Oh, that was the worst track in the world. It was the hardest, asphalt track you've ever seen. And after the half, there was no one around to help on that one. I think I was easily 10 seconds ahead of 2nd place."
I asked him about 1972, pre-Olympics-"Best physical and mental shape I was ever in. I ran some ridiculous workouts. Started one with 2x800 in 1:50 then some very fast 4s and 3s. I also ran one where we started a series of 12x400 at 56 and ran cutdowns-I'm pretty sure the last one was right at or just under 50. Timmie wanted me ready for any scenario in the final."
All I can say is this. One, the 1972 tracks (sans the Olympic Games) were nowhere near the Mondo tracks of today. Two, I really need to find dad's 1972 journal. Three, Ken Popejoy told me once as we sat in the stands at Iffley Road Stadium in 1994, "If your dad had had a rabbit or rabbits to take him through 3/4s in 2:50 or faster, there is no doubt in my mind he would have been well under 3:50 in the 1960s. The problem was none of us could run a fast enough 3/4s to get him there."