Following a day-by-day, almost annual plan (sprinkled in with a couple of days of mountain-climbing!), the Oxford grad focused solely on May 6th of that year to be the day he would try to become the first man to run the sub-four-minute mile!
Even with windy, damp early-day weather, the Brit had no choice but to go forward on Iffley’s cinder track, as he had not run for 5 days, building up to the supreme effort!
“Those last few seconds seemed never-ending,” Bannister wrote in his book, “The Four Minute Mile”.
“The faint line of the finishing tape stood ahead as a haven of peace, after the struggle. I leapt at the tape like a man taking his last spring to save himself from the chasm that threatens to engulf him.
“My effort was over, and I collapsed almost unconscious. I felt like an exploded flashlight. I knew that I had done it before I even heard the time.”
One hopes that fellow Brit Josh Kerr may experience the same thing this upcoming Saturday!
Unlike Banister, Kerr is anything BUT lowkey as the Brooks miler has announced for all to see that he’ll attempt to break the Mile World Record in front of tens of thousands of spectators and a worldwide television audience at the 2026 London Diamond League meet, which is being held in London Stadium!
Living in an altitude-adjusted room, replete with the most up-to-date training and recovery methods, Kerr (who, like Bannister hasn’t raced very much this year) has also put his eggs all in one basket, as he attempts to break the current and last century time of 3:43.13, set by Morocco’s Hicham El- Guerrouj!
Kerr won’t be alone in the quest, as American Yared Nuguse (3:43.97) and other world – class milers will be toeing the line as well!
Some might say that Kerr has been “Too Loud”, especially on social media with his statements & workouts blasting out there for all to see. But, in a Sport that’s always jockeying to get a place in the sun, Kerr’s actions no doubt have generated interest and have got people talking! Kerr has also shown no fear in carrying the pressure on his shoulders!
Will he or won’t he?
One thing’s for sure – it won’t be boring!
Stay Tuned!
