Pain In Front Tooth From Moving Around

Roger Bannister, the Miracle Mile

The May 6, 1954 fall of the mythical barriers Athletics: The four-minute mile (1,609 meters), the classic middle-distance test. The protagonist of the feat was a young medical student, Roger Bannister.

The day was windy, which was not exactly good news for Bannister, who hours later I had an appointment with history at the old stadium Iffley Road in Oxford. As usual, spent morning doing his internship at St. Mary's Hospital, then took the train from London to Oxford to play an athletic event that would involve an extensive list of British athletes (Chris Chataway, Chris Brasher, Alan Gordon, George Dole .. .) Traveled alone in second class, something unthinkable today for a sports star. Bannister

going to attack one of the great frontiers of athletics ("the wall", they called a few): the four-minute mile, the "test of the middle distance. Today may seem less than objective view of 3:43.13 that has El Guerrouj as world best, but then it was a huge challenge that remained for years the best athletes and coaches looking for ways to achieve this. " The four-minute mile had become a kind of Everest. It was a challenge to the human spirit, an obstacle that seemed to mock all those who tried to beat him, a poignant appeal against the man he struggled in vain " would write years later in his autobiography Bannister own First Four Minutes (The first four minutes).

not surprising, therefore, the enormous excitement generated when it was learned that the best British middle-distance runner would attempt such feat. Under the supervision of Austrian coach Franz Stampfl, took months training to lower this mark. Bannister trained alone, five days a week and just one hour a day, to avoid prejudicing their studies. In view of this challenge and to maximize their scarce time, looking for the quality of training, making continuous series, rather than quantity.

lunch in Oxford with a couple of friends and their daughters. Rain and the wind blows hard, which undoubtedly further complicate the challenge ... but he was determined to try. knew I had the record in his legs and would have many more opportunities for had already made the decision to quit athletics at the end of the year for a doctorate in Neurology. He also knew that the Australian John Landy was making marks ever closer to 4 minutes, and with the progression that could soon had exceeded the mythical barrier. "So now or never," he must have thought Bannister.

wall fell too far in an age of professionalism today, also selected track was far from the stage on which are achieved today major brands. Iffley Road track was just ash and a modest wooden grandstand stood next to the main straight. But the expectation was so great that some 3,000 spectators crowded around it to witness the test, which was broadcast by BBC radio, with the former Olympic champion in the 100 meters as a commentator Harold Abrahams. Barely half an hour before the start of the race the wind speed down to two meters per second, and stopped raining.

All participants in that race led dorsal two-digit numbers starting with 4 (referring to the four minutes that were meant lower) had the 41 Bannister. To help achieve his goal count with the collaboration Brasher and Chataway, who would make hares. The two athletes Londoners took the race to a lively pace, but Bannister seemed restless, anxious even faster. In the absence of 400 meters to go the weather was good (3:00.07) but not enough to achieve the desired mark. Would have to cover the last lap in under a minute. Were agonizing 400 meters in heavy fighting against the wind and fatigue, as reflected in his face contorted, mouth open, eyes closed ... In the stands and around the old stadium crowds cheered enthusiastically. When Bannister broke the tape marking the clock arrival ... 3:59.4!, Implying lower in two seconds the previous world record (4:01.4), held by Sweden's Gunder Hägg since 1945. The news came even to paralyze the activity of Parliament.

The young medical student had succeeded in defeating the "wall" had been for half a century that he had resisted the great middle-distance specialists. Therefore, some baptized this race as "Miracle Mile" (Miracle Mile) . Curiously, however, that one of the most famous record of the history of athletics was, in turn, one of the most ephemeral. On June 21, just 46 days later, Australian John Landy snatched The record, running the distance in Turku (Finland) in 3:58.0.

But that hardly mattered now. In 1953 Edmund Hillary first conquered the summit of Everest. Then many climbers follow their steps, but the unforgettable saga of Hillary continue forever and ever ... He was the first to do so. Similarly, this May 6, 1954 Bannister won their particular Everest and ephemeral, despite its record, and nobody will ever take away his privileged place in the memory of athletics. That day, finally, conquered eternity.



A brief career
Roger Gilbert Bannister was born on March 23, 1929 in Harrow (London). Son of a wealthy family, educated at some of the best schools in England. He studied medicine at the University of Oxford, he combined studies with athletics, a sport he practiced in his youth and soon came to the fore.

Since its inception Bannister-high (1.87 meters), thin (70 kilos), blond, with his thin face, very sharp cheekbones and exquisite manners, "he specialized in middle-distance tests. In 1950, only 21, won the bronze medal in the 800 meters in the European Championships in Brussels, and two years later participated in Helsinki Olympics, where he touched the medal in the 1,500 meters (finished 4 th with a time of 3:46.0). It was not until the recalling and May 6, 1954 when it reached the glory. Bannister's record was followed a month and a half later, Australian John Landy. Were the two best middle distance athletes worldwide, and anticipation was high to see a matchup between . The duel did not take long to arrive, on 7 August of that year in Vancouver, competed together for the first time in his life, during the Commonwealth Games. Bannister won his powerful end to end with a winning time of 3:58.8, 3:59.6 by Landy.

This race was a great event followed widely by the media worldwide, and the British celebrated with pride as a great national success. A few weeks later, have won the gold medal in the 1,500 meters at the European Championships played in Bern 3:43.8. But Bannister sporting life was inexplicably short. In late 1954, with just 25 years old, decided to retire from athletics to focus on medicine, an activity that would become a renowned neurologist . Once removed received numerous honors, was the first to be elected Sportswoman of the Year by American magazine Sports Illustrated (in 1954), was the first President of the English Sports Council, the Queen named him Sir (Knight) in 1975 for its sporting achievements ... The early withdrawal, at the height of his career, his fascination enlarged the figure. In fact, history has been taken twice to the small screen : in a 1988 miniseries entitled The Four Minute Mile , starring Michael York, and in the television movie produced in 2005 Four Minutes with Jamie Machlachlan giving life to Roger Bannister and Christopher Plummer as his coach.

Since Bannister broke the four-minute barrier, thirteen other athletes have possessed record for the mile, John Landy, Derek Ibbotson, Herb Elliott, Peter Snell, Michel Jazy, Jim Ryun, Filbert Bayi, John Walter, Sebastian Coe, Steve Ovett, Steve Cram, Nourredine Morcelli and Hicham El Guerrouj. Of these, only three have impressed Sir Roger: Elliot Australian, American and Moroccan Ryun The Guerruj. "Elliott had a large margin of superiority over his contemporaries, unlike other times, the Guerruj now has the record and is extremely good, especially built for this test, Ryun ran 3:52 on the old tracks and can ensure that value 3:48, a mark that currently amount to 3:43 or 3:44, "explained in 2004, to mark the 50th anniversary of his achievement: Miracle Mile.