The OP strated this thread with a false title saying WIllis would run a sub-4 attempt in 2023 on XMAS day. That's not true. Jonathan Gault has reached out to him and Nick's not going for sub-4 this year so the streak will end.
No way. He was hammering training last time around and said how hard it was getting. I don't think he is taking another crack.
Had you written "I don't think he is taking another shot," I would have voted it for post of the day. (Or post of the year, if you could have worked a javelin in somewhere.)
discus
I don’t think he’s taking another SHOT, but if he was, I think he could HAMMER a sub-4 out if we had a pack of JAVELINas chasing him on each lap. Now that would be worth the WEIGHT!
If someone would have offered him 100k to break 4 this year and told him back on Dec 1st I wonder if he could have made it happen in a month
That's what I'm bummed about. No incentive to do it. I like your thinking. I was thinking something similar. If he was paid $1 million for every year he did it, how many years could he do it in a row?
I really picked up on some of his quotes back on #20. He doesn't just walk out the door on a month of training. He is superman, but still has to work hard at it, run hard with elite guys, run tune-up races, live like a pro. We would know if he was ever attempting.
I saw him jogging in a couple tracksmith 5000 heats this summer and he didn't look like he could run a 6 minute mile, much less a 4 minute mile. I pointed him out to a friend and they didn't believe me that he's an Olympic medalist
He's not an Olympic medallist. He's a 2-time Olympic medallist. Please don't disrespect Nick.
One of the all-time great streaks in running history appears to be coming to an end.
Who on January 1, 2024 will have the longest streak of most consecutive years with a sub-4?It's not Centro as he didn't do it in 2022.
Gregorek possibly for the mile (indoor included)? 2020 with covid might have broken everyones streak
That's what I'm bummed about. No incentive to do it. I like your thinking. I was thinking something similar. If he was paid $1 million for every year he did it, how many years could he do it in a row?
I really picked up on some of his quotes back on #20. He doesn't just walk out the door on a month of training. He is superman, but still has to work hard at it, run hard with elite guys, run tune-up races, live like a pro. We would know if he was ever attempting.
I'm curious as to how many people posting on this thread have ever run sub 4:00, and realize how difficult it is, even if you're the great Nick Willis. Given Nick's background of being an elite miler he doesn't need to "live like a pro" (whatever that means) or do anything special workout wise outside of running 30 or so miles a week and working his way down to hitting 60 sec pace intervals (100's, 200's, 300's and 400's). Mix in some LT runs, Fartleks, easy recovery runs, and DON'T GET INJURED. He's definitely going to need more than a month. I'd say 6 months and he'll nail it.
I can appreciate how great of a runner he was, and have the utmost respect for him, but again, I just don't get why such an accomplished runner who is past his prime would beat himself up again. Only this time around the pain is WAY WORSE.
Prakel has the longest current streak 2016-2023, followed by Eric Holt 2017-2023. After that it drops off as many missed a year in between of racing the mile.
I really picked up on some of his quotes back on #20. He doesn't just walk out the door on a month of training. He is superman, but still has to work hard at it, run hard with elite guys, run tune-up races, live like a pro. We would know if he was ever attempting.
I'm curious as to how many people posting on this thread have ever run sub 4:00, and realize how difficult it is, even if you're the great Nick Willis...
thanks for asking; yes, i've run a sub-4 so ask me anything ;). i'll agree and disagree here--i think nick could do it in 6 weeks unless he's had serious weight gain. like aouita 84 says, though, i don't know why he'd do it--i would really hurt, and at best he runs 3:58-ish, far off of his prime. his streak is already impressive, and will likely not get broken any time soon...
and yes, in response to zehn: i remember steve spence's streak; in fact i'm chasing it in about a month. should i break 5 minutes in january (that's just a target; i actually have until october), i will have tied his streak at 43 years.
If he is not going for sub 4, how does this rate a thread or any publicity? Anyone can go run a mile not for sub 4.
Anyone can go for sub 4 too, for that matter. They might not make it, but can at least try. Hell, I'm gonna go run sub 4 pace for as long as I can, if he's too chicken to try. And even if I fail, I'll still finish the mile.
I really picked up on some of his quotes back on #20. He doesn't just walk out the door on a month of training. He is superman, but still has to work hard at it, run hard with elite guys, run tune-up races, live like a pro. We would know if he was ever attempting.
I'm curious as to how many people posting on this thread have ever run sub 4:00, and realize how difficult it is, even if you're the great Nick Willis. Given Nick's background of being an elite miler he doesn't need to "live like a pro" (whatever that means) or do anything special workout wise outside of running 30 or so miles a week and working his way down to hitting 60 sec pace intervals (100's, 200's, 300's and 400's). Mix in some LT runs, Fartleks, easy recovery runs, and DON'T GET INJURED. He's definitely going to need more than a month. I'd say 6 months and he'll nail it.
I can appreciate how great of a runner he was, and have the utmost respect for him, but again, I just don't get why such an accomplished runner who is past his prime would beat himself up again. Only this time around the pain is WAY WORSE.
Let me help you out. Live like a pro means you don't have a full family, other interests taking your time, and a full time job etc... and you are training hard, eating right, weights, PT...... Stuff pros do.
He would disagree with you as far as training. He mentioned how hard he had to train to get sub 4 (at his age) last time. He cant just jog 30mpw. It actually took him a few attempts when he was training hard. It's not automatic.
He's not an Olympic medallist. He's a 2-time Olympic medallist. Please don't disrespect Nick.
One of the all-time great streaks in running history appears to be coming to an end.
Who on January 1, 2024 will have the longest streak of most consecutive years with a sub-4?It's not Centro as he didn't do it in 2022.
From World Athletics, it looks like Julian Oakley has the longest active streak at 10 years (his 3:59.93 from 2023 is not on there). After that, there are:
Sam Prakel: 8
Matt Ramsden: 7
Stewart McSweyn: 7
Cooper Teare: 6
Johnny Gregorek would have a 9-year streak, but he did not race a mile in 2020 (though he did run 3:36 for 1500). Likewise, Olli Hoare, Jakob Ingebrigtsen, and Craig Engels missed one year but had 1500m equivalents that would have brought them to 7 years.
Another fun fact: of the 217 athletes who broke 4 in 2023, only two did so for the first time within 10 years of Willis: Evan Jager (2009) and Andy Bayer (2010). Additionally, of the 55 athletes who broke 4 in 2003 (when Willis first did), only two besides Willis recorded a sub-4 within the last 10 years: Nathan Brannen (2016) and Bernard Lagat (2015).
This should put Willis's longevity into perspective. However, I wonder how these results would change if we counted sub-3:42.2 1500m marks.