THE 4 MINUTE MILE. LESSONS FROM ROGER BANNISTER

On May 6 1954 something happened that would change the course of history forever in the athletic world. A young man decided to break from the crowd mentality and societal barricade to do what everyone had termed impossible and what has never hitherto been done before.

Born on March 23 1929, he was only 24 years when he did what the world called impossible. In the world of athletics, no human had ever run a mile in 4 minutes. As far as the world was concerned, it could not be done, this was an impossible feat. But Roger Bannister decided to go against the grain and the normative norm. This day was going to be a different one as colors was about to be splashed on the canvass of history for all time. He wasn’t even an athlete, he was a medical student at Oxford University England at the time. He ran his famous mile race on the iffley road track. An amateur athlete to the core, yet he broke a barrier most thought impossible. In fact he was timed in 3:59:4, as the announcer started to get excited; the crowd drowned the sound in cheers thus making it 4 minutes.

The twist to this is that after that time, over twenty thousand people have gone on to do same including secondary school students. Question is why had they not been able to do it all these while? Professionals said it was impossible, society said it was not possible, it had never been done so therefore it could not be done. So when they got on the track, they got on it with a boxed mentality, their psychology was already predetermined and set to default by the environment and surrounding circumstance. They were thermometers, who adjusted to their surrounding and existing factors and limitations. But in steps a thermostat (Roger Bannister) who decided to adjust the temperature of his surroundings to suit his. He refused to conform to the existing parameters, breaking the box and eliminating any trend at all. What is funny is that he was an amateur, he wasn’t a pro. So when these other athletes got on the track, they remembered that this feat had been accomplished before, if roger could do it, I can do it.

Someone had to break the box first. Success can be replicated. That it was done before by someone, it can be done again by anyone. The only limitation is the one you set for yourself, it is in your mind only, it is imaginary, and it is a boxed mentality. Break free from the standards and set your own standards. It has never been done, it can be done, it has been done before, it can be replicated.

Proof that it could be done stripped away any remaining doubt. Other runners began to believe they could do the same. What people believed they could do, they focused on, and then they achieved. Since then many more have equaled this feat. And the record is now 3 minutes and 43.13 seconds.

The criteria for success were both constants. A mile has always been the same distance. And 4 minute the same length of time. It was self belief which had a transformative effect on performance.

LESSONS

• Attitude, belief, determination are more important in determining success than ability is

• Self belief creates a focus and a determination to succeed

• A motivated person can achieve almost anything.