Today's mile in London proves Alan Webb's AR was no joke

RoJo, what, did you want the AR choreographed in NYC during the halftime of the Super Bowl?

When you are ON, you are ON. Nature dictates. Not situation. If that was the case, everyone would run their best at the Olympic Final.

I would hate for you to be my coach with that attitude.

Don't worry. Webb will get his opportunity to shine at the Olympics... Oh but wait, he didn't make the team

I think you are confusing two different events.

With Santee due to have his crack at the 4:00 barrier, Bannister set up a shot at a break in a school meeting (Surrey Schools Championship) in June, 1953. The Australian Don McMillan set the early pace, for about 2 1/2 laps, and then Chris Brasher who had jogged the first two laps to let himself get almost lapped picked up pacemaking duties. The final time was 4:02.0, but as it wasn't a sanctioned event - basically an officially timed time trial - the AAA wouldn't ratify it.

The following year was a bona fide meet - AAA versus Oxford University at Ifley Road, Oxford. The race was broadcast live on the BBC, and having been tipped off by one of the McWhirter (spling) twins of Guiness Book of Records Fame, the BBC also sent a camera. Of course Brasher and Chataway did act as "rabbits" but the race was an entirely legitimate one in as much as if was part of an official sanctioned meet.

has to be asked wrote:

Both were set up as time trials without much publicity. That way if the goal was not achieved than it would pass unnoticed. By creating a lot of interest it also creates a lot of pressure and potential for disappointment if things don't go as planned.

Oh, call a wahmbulance, will you?

Who are you, Jeneba Tarmoh?

4 laps

Racing the sweep second hand on the clock

5280 feet

A 6-foot stride

5,280 feet, 880 steps

880 yards, 440 steps

440 yards, 220 steps

Racing the sweep second hand on the clock

That is the beauty of the mile.

The history of athletics proves that Webb's mile was not a joke of a time - London's race didn't prove anything.

Still, I'd take Willis' OG silver over Webb's career.

In all seriousness, it's because they run the 1500m

To them, the mile is a buffoonish race.

I mean really, when you're on the metric system and you're informed that you'll be in a race that's 1609 meters, what you'll probably think is that whoever came up with that distance is an idiot.[/quote]

That's not true. There used to be Dream Miles in Oslo. The Road Mile Series in the early 80's (started by the 5th Ave Mile) was popular world wide with races in Rome, Paris, and Rio.

Webb ran numerous big meets that summer, winning at NY Reebok and USATF over Lagat, destroying Baala at Paris, and beating 800m medalist Gary Reed in winning an 800m in 1:43.8 just after that, straining something in the process, thus ruining his WC's in his best year. So, the fact that his mile was a TT style race doesn't mean he was ducking anybody or anything. He plain and simple knew he was in American record shape and he needed something near his training base with great conditions at a time of year when there was no mile available elsewhere. And if he hadn't taken that opportunity, it likely never would have happened. When's the last time, all conditions, that anyone has run 3:46? Right, Webb in 2007. You can run 3:29 and get plenty of chances in the mile even in that very year without coming close to 3:46. Look at Kiprop and Kiplagat this year. They've had a combined four or five chances at mile this year and never run under 3:49 or 3:50 this year.

3:46.. good joke. Try a 40 pound weight vest and then we'll talk.

FogRunner wrote:

A 6-foot stride

Pathetic.

The flipside of the OP's argument is: why wasn't Webb ever able to win an olympic or WC medal with his 1:43/3:46 credentials? Willis was able to win olympic silver off of 1:45/~ 3:48 (coversion of his 3:31 pr) ability.