Perfect Mile

Who's Roger Banister? Why would someone write a book about those guys? El G has broken 4 tons of times, and I don't see a book out on him.

Don't you see? Yes, literally thousands of men have now broken 4:00, it's not even unusual anymore, and for some it's expected. However, back in Bannister's time, people were saying not only that breaking the four minute barrier was impossible, but indeed it was very likely a deadly pursuit. Landy, Santee, and Bannister were each trying to be the first to breach that great mental barrier of running sub 4. Is 3:59.4 a world championship time now? Heck no. But to be the first to break the barrier is something incredible. Once Bannister broke four, many people started doing it. Was it because they suddenly all had breakthroughs in their training at the same time? No, it was because Bannister, and Landy soon after, proved that it was possible, and so they were able to remove that mental barrier. Obviously, I, too, recommend The Perfect Mile.

it's called sarcasm, there's advertisement for this book right under our posts as we speak.

It is a great book though, I just finished it. And the crazy thing is, Bannister was a medical student who had less than an hour a day to train.

hah. funny.

It is not all that new.

Great book. I knew a lot about Bannister (even met him once). Knew nothing about Landy or Santee. (Other than Landy racing Bannister in the Race of the Century).

Simple why someone would write a book about them. Hmm.. let see, oh right cause they were the first and yeah at the time they did it it was one of those things that wasn't supposed to be possible.

I really enjoyed this book. I felt bad for Santee, what with him coming so close to running sub-4:00, and then getting shafted by the AAU just as he entered his prime. Not to mention his childhood.

I downloaded this book from Audible.com and listened to it on my iPod while I was out injured. It was pretty sweet when I went to the gym and listened to it while I was biking.

If you go to audible.com and register they'll let you download your first 2 books for free.

I read the book a few months ago and felt it was one of the best running books I had read. The details in the book are great leading up to the Landy/Bannister race. The previous person talking about Santee was right. He was a kinda of tragic figure in the book. Battling the powers that be, his coach at times and unable to race the other two. Personally I feel Bannister's story is one most people can relate to. He had a busy life outside of running and had to fit his training into his limited free time. I know how big mileage is talked about and I know it is the way to go if you have the time, but Bannister shows there is another way depending on your goals.

Also, in Bannister's own book "The Four Minute Mile" the two pages from his training log leading up to his first sub 4 and then his European Games victory are very interesting.

'New book'? Didn't this get a lot of attention when it came out over a year ago for the 50th anniversary of the first sub 4? Or did I just get my copy months before it was supposed to be released?

Universal Pictures is going to release a movie based on the book. Directed by Frank Marshall . . . No word on when, but it was optioned in 2003 and been under development since.

I read it, its good. The book about Ovett and Coe is good, as is the Webb book [better then Running with the Buffalo, I think]. The one about Gebresallise is a little slow. But Geb hates socialism which is to my liking, just not what I was look to read about during my pre run dump.

I really enjoyed the descriptions of how race results would come in drips and drabs during that era. You'd know Landy was racing, but may not know his result for 5 weeks. Talk about suspense.

a 4 min mile is still a bench mark, hard, impossible for most and cool. Frig a 5 min mile is nice.

Even after it has been explained to you, you still don't understand the sarcasm in that post?

suck dick

Landy's the man!!! Ok Bannister broke it first. Big f ing deal. Bannister could only muster such a feat with pace makers, once in a blue moon. Landy could do it every week without pacemakers if he had to. Bannister was scared of the guy. Read the book the Englishman would have lost the mile of the century if it wasn't for Landy's injury. Landy for president!!!

I really think that both these guys could run faster both Bannister and Landy. They weren't pros, had other commitments like Bannister studying to be a doctor. Both a very interval style diet of running. If Wetmore was coach these guys would have made 4 mins mile seems like a joke. Look at Herb that came from Percy's coaching system. Plus Landy was a lone ranger he didn't have a mentor that caliber of Bannister. Landy is an animal.