a 7 second mile pr isn't out of the question if she was a) young, b)not already in a highly optimized training plan, c) doping. She's already on the limit of what is possible, this isn't like a college guy dropping from 4:07 to 3:59 in a season. ridiculous to even entertain this
There is legitimately 0% chance that adding another pacer (Or multiple) for an extra 800m is dropping 7 seconds off your mile time. Have people lost their mind
I think we need to be a little more scientific here. When she's gone 3:49, how long has she had a pacer? What if she had male pacers 3 across running the perfect splits?
But I still don't think that is worth 7 seconds. But organizing this run could be done tomorrow. It's not hard to pull off at all. If Nike thought it was feasible I'm not sure the first place we would be reading about it would be some scientific journal. And if they think she ran run 4:02 the article doesn't get as much interest right?
From the NY Times article by Jere:
A lot of people said it was physiologically impossible for Bannister or anybody to break four minutes, and I’m sure lots of bros are going to say, ‘No way a woman is ever going to run four minutes; it’s seven seconds away,’” said Rodger Kram, a biomechanist and emeritus professor at the University of Colorado and one of the authors of the study. “But people have said women can’t do a lot of things, and then they have.”"
This has nothing to do with sexism at all. I don't think Jakob can get anywhere near 3:20.
And I haven't read the study:
"The study posits that the best chance for Kipyegon to break four minutes would be via drafting, or the use of pacesetters to help reduce wind resistance, with one pacesetter in front of her and another in back for the first half of the race. Those pacers would be substituted with two different escorts for the final two laps."
but it helps to have someone draft behind you?
Why do we need to have 2 new men jump in and 2 more jump out? There are a ton of male runners who could pace 4 flat with wavelight nearly perfectly. But if we don't want the human element what about some robot with a plexiglass shield setting the pace perfectly. Do something like that and you'll get better results right? But then again let's just make it downhill and get away from this:)
Wejo,
You are overthinking this. Find the next men's mile, international or collegiate, and invite her to run. You will have 8-12 men running from 3:50 to 3:56. All she has to do is go along for the ride.
Also the academics (lol) wrote this more so they can say anyone who doubts it possible for Faith is just a stupid evil sexist racist white guy. So FWIW. Not much.
we all wish drafting in a mile was worth 7 seconds lol...we all know thats non sense. These races are all in big stadiums in moderate climates, the conditions are near perfect every time they run anyways.
Rojo please don't threaten to close down my favorite site, I agree very minimal chance this happens in next 10 years barring shoe technology but even on a remote chance it happens I don't want you to have to go back on your word :)
I've got an idea. They take out the stands and widen the BU track to 24 lanes. They have the runners stay in lanes for the first turn, with Kipyegon in lane 24. This has her starting in the middle of the turn, at a height of about 30 feet. Any rules against this?
Nike is going to have a new peba foam replacement for 2028 with another +1% (or even +2%)
and all world-records, national records, course records, personal records will drop again and again
Since there are still people around here who think super-shoes don't do anything or all super-shoes are the same or everyone responds the same way, well surprises all around.
Wavelights have pretty much proven that drafting was a mental thing, as far as distance track racing. Far more common for a front runner to methodically drop everyone
I think with bicarbonate overload and Nike diaper with sifter for flatulence to emit and to keep in solid matter, shoes with good springyness it is possible
Faith is about 62” and under 100 lbs. Will a woman at 65” and heavier have a better shot mechanically. You just don’t see too many dudes running 3:59 in the mile at 98 pounds.
The current women's world record in the following events are:
1000m: 2:28.98 (worth 1252 points)
1500m: 3:49.04 (worth 1296 points)
Mile: 4:07.64 (worth 1287 points)
If Faith were to run a 3:59.37 mile, her splits would average out to:
1000m: 2:28.74 (worth 1255 points)
1500m: 3:43.11 (worth 1346 points)
Mile: 3:59.37 (worth 1352 points)
Make your own conclusions...As great as Faith is, I don't think she can pull off three new world records in one race.
In 1952, the men's world record in the 1000m was 2:21.2, and in the 1500m 3:43.0, so that showed that the four minute barrier (mile WR at the time 4:01.4) was indeed achievable at the time, albeit difficult.
If it's even possible, I think we're at least a generation away from a women's sub four. First, we need to see improvements to the 1000m and 1500m records (possibly even the long standing 800m record of 1:53.28), along with the mile record itself. 4:07.64 is a long, long way from 3:59.xx.
I agree. Definitely a generation away, but possible. The NYT article says, "under perfect conditions with ideal pacing and aerodynamics". Maybe if they create the same scenario that Kipchoge had for the sub-2:00 hour marathon she could cut a few seconds, but 7 seconds is a lot to cut for a mile. I'm willing to bet within 15-20 years they can do it.
A study published in the journal Royal Society Open Science on Tuesday evening theorizes that Faith Kipyegon of Kenya, who in 2023 set the women’s world record of 4 minutes 7.64 seconds, could feasibly run a time of 3:59.37 as soon as this year by sufficiently reducing aerodynamic drag with improved drafting off pacesetters. Critics might dismiss a woman’s bid for a four-minute mile as unlikely, a publicity stunt or a mere lab experiment. But the study’s authors believe a successful try would erase a mental barrier, inspire other women and become a symbolic achievement in a race where running four laps of a track, in just under one minute per lap, still holds a kind of mythical allure.
A study published in the journal Royal Society Open Science on Tuesday evening theorizes that Faith Kipyegon of Kenya, who in 2023 set the women’s world record of 4 minutes 7.64 seconds, could feasibly run a time of 3:59.37 as soon as this year by sufficiently reducing aerodynamic drag with improved drafting off pacesetters. Critics might dismiss a woman’s bid for a four-minute mile as unlikely, a publicity stunt or a mere lab experiment. But the study’s authors believe a successful try would erase a mental barrier, inspire other women and become a symbolic achievement in a race where running four laps of a track, in just under one minute per lap, still holds a kind of mythical allure.
The words "science" and "study" have been bastardized to limits never seen before. Articles like this are the thing that makes people stop believing in real science..
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scientists should look at the evidence before speaking
Wavelights have pretty much proven that drafting was a mental thing, as far as distance track racing. Far more common for a front runner to methodically drop everyone
Paris Olympic 1500m final?
Did I say it always worked? It's far more common. People were surprised to see it not work in Paris.
A study published in the journal Royal Society Open Science on Tuesday evening theorizes that Faith Kipyegon of Kenya, who in 2023 set the women’s world record of 4 minutes 7.64 seconds, could feasibly run a time of 3:59.37 as soon as this year by sufficiently reducing aerodynamic drag with improved drafting off pacesetters. Critics might dismiss a woman’s bid for a four-minute mile as unlikely, a publicity stunt or a mere lab experiment. But the study’s authors believe a successful try would erase a mental barrier, inspire other women and become a symbolic achievement in a race where running four laps of a track, in just under one minute per lap, still holds a kind of mythical allure.
Did I say it always worked? It's far more common. People were surprised to see it not work in Paris.
The last time it worked was probably Filbert Bayi in the Commonwealth Games in '74. Most championship 1500 titles are decided by who is the strongest finisher, not by a runner who has dropped the field by leading virtually all the way. Very very few runners have that kind of supremacy over their competition at that level.
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Of course is possible with the Kenyan doping labs behind her. Anyone celebrating anything coming out of Kenya is a clown.
Please does not spread hate, xenophobia, sexism and misinformation. Please does not. We is not need misinformation and xenophobia on LRC. LRC is an inclusives community.