I've been following Steve Spence who has a streak of 43 straight years running a sub-5 minute mile. I was wondering if he was able to do it again in 2019. I heard he was injured this year. Does anyone have any information?
I've been following Steve Spence who has a streak of 43 straight years running a sub-5 minute mile. I was wondering if he was able to do it again in 2019. I heard he was injured this year. Does anyone have any information?
Hello friend! Thanks for following me. I did in fact run a sub 5 in 2019. I ran a 4:53 while on a trip to California on August 28. All thanks go to my friends Mike and Terry, who pulled me along. I was battling an Achilles issue earlier in the year but it’s mostly cleared up.
Boy, this does get harder every year! Already training for 2020!
Editor's note: This post originally came from someone claiming to be Mr. Spence. Spence emailed us to tell us he did not post it.
Way to go Steve! I follow your sub 5 minute mile streak! Heck of an accomplishment! Keep getting after Steve!
Spence wrote:
Hello friend!
This boy really said, “Hello friend”
bigrig420 wrote:
This boy really said, “Hello friend”
That “boy” is a former Olympian and an American legend.
This is incredible. I'm on year 23 and I'm having a hard time imagining another 10 years, let alone 20+.
Steve - if you are reading, can you weigh in on the decision to move the Olympic Marathon from Tokyo to Sapporo? You won bronze in Tokyo at the 1991 Worlds in oppressive conditions. Many, including me, think they should stay put in the Olympic city. What do you think?
I’m all onboard with the decision to move to Sapporo. Maybe I’m softening with age? Anyway, the 91 Tokyo was brutally hot. I ran the last few miles with tunnel vision and think I was getting close to heat stroke territory. I really thought I could catch Salah, even as I entered the stadium. But my legs just wouldn’t turnover. It was like one of those dreams where you try and try but you just can’t run. Yes, even Olympians have those! Haha
I’ve been to Sapporo a few times and I think it’s just a great idea in terms of runner safety.
This post was originally done by someone impersonating Steve Spence. It was not done by Steve Spence as he emailed us to let us know it wasn't him. We asked him if he has broken 5:00 this year and he wrote back, "I have not. It's been a rough year. "
That's fantastic and a total inspiration for me.
Sorry to bummer this but there wasn’t in track meet in Cali on that date with a mile.
Have you not been following him? He doesn't actually do them in races, but whenever he is ready and just get his kids/buddies to pace him on the track for 1609m. There are plenty of videos on YouTube, etc., of him running sub-5:00/mile. Not in races.
Great running! An amazing streak.
Wow, that’s seriously impressive. Nice job!
Spence wrote:
Hello friend! Thanks for following me. I did in fact run a sub 5 in 2019. I ran a 4:53 while on a trip to California on August 28. All thanks go to my friends Mike and Terry, who pulled me along. I was battling an Achilles issue earlier in the year but it’s mostly cleared up.
Boy, this does get harder every year! Already training for 2020!
Congrats Spence, that's a nice hobby jogger achievement.
Steve - The real question is how you fixed your Achilles problem... any tips? I’ve been running with sore Achilles for 2 years.
Thanks!
Dwight £ wrote:
Spence wrote:
Hello friend! Thanks for following me. I did in fact run a sub 5 in 2019. I ran a 4:53 while on a trip to California on August 28. All thanks go to my friends Mike and Terry, who pulled me along. I was battling an Achilles issue earlier in the year but it’s mostly cleared up.
Boy, this does get harder every year! Already training for 2020!
Congrats Spence, that's a nice hobby jogger achievement.
How many years in a row has someone who has no idea who he's talking about called the former world championship medalist a hobby jogger?
Someone does it one of these threads every year.
I remember my first college cross country meet, he was giving out mile splits for Ship, I was so excited to see Steve Spence out there.
Another Streak wrote:
How many years in a row has someone who has no idea who he's talking about called the former world championship medalist a hobby jogger?
Someone does it one of these threads every year.
I remember my first college cross country meet, he was giving out mile splits for Ship, I was so excited to see Steve Spence out there.
Cool story, changed my life.
Another Streak wrote:
Dwight £ wrote:
Congrats Spence, that's a nice hobby jogger achievement.
How many years in a row has someone who has no idea who he's talking about called the former world championship medalist a hobby jogger?
Someone does it one of these threads every year.
I remember my first college cross country meet, he was giving out mile splits for Ship, I was so excited to see Steve Spence out there.
I am surprised Matt London didn't chime in wanting to know if Steve had video of it on a YouTube Channel. No proof, then it didn't happen.
BTW, thanks for the update Steve.
Matt London_The Bald One wrote:
No proof, then it didn't happen.
The irony is that it's probably the truth.
awesome spence,we would love to see the video footage