Sir Roger Bannister's ‘impossible’ feat

Summary

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More or Less (BBC Radio 4)

Episode: Sir Roger Bannister's ‘impossible’ feat

Date: May 5, 2014
Host: Tim Harford
Notable Guests: James Fletcher, Sir Roger Bannister

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Episode Overview

This episode commemorates the 60th anniversary of Sir Roger Bannister’s legendary feat—becoming the first person to run a mile in under four minutes on May 6, 1954. Host Tim Harford unpacks the story behind this athletic milestone, examines the folklore and statistics surrounding the "impossible" four-minute barrier, debunks persistent myths, and features exclusive reflections from Sir Roger himself.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Legendary Four-Minute Mile

• Setting the Stage: Tim Harford recounts Bannister’s historic day—a lunch of ham salad and the journey to the Oxford University track where Bannister aimed to make history.
  • “On 6 May 1954, a young student doctor named Roger Bannister...aimed to run a mile faster than it had ever been run before.” (00:46)
• Historical Context: The world record had stood at 4:01.4 for nine years, contributing to the mystique of the sub-four-minute mile.
• The Achievement: Bannister finished in 3:59.4, instantly becoming an inspirational figure worldwide.

2. The Myth of the 'Psychological Barrier'

• The four-minute mile became a symbol, especially popular in motivational speaking. Tim references Tony Robbins as a typical example:
  • Quote (Harford reading Robbins): “Within one year of his triumph, 37 other runners also broke the four minute mark.” (02:19)
• Statistical Reality:
  • James Fletcher, with running records in hand, debunks the Robbins myth:
    • “In the 12 months after Roger Bannister broke the four minute barrier, only one other athlete managed it...John Landy.” (03:40)
    • It took over eight years for the 37th person to run a sub-four-minute mile.
• Numbers Breakdown:
  • Within 1 year: 1 additional runner (John Landy)
  • Within 2 years: 4 more
  • 24th runner: Over six years later
  • 37th runner: August 21, 1962 (eight years after Bannister)
• “It's not exactly pouring through the barrier as Tony Robbins put it.” (Tim Harford, 04:24)

3. Expert Perspective: Sir Roger Bannister

• Was it a Psychological Barrier?
  • Bannister offers context: The record stood still post-World War II due to various factors—not necessarily because of a "psychological wall."
    • “I realized that there could not be an absolute limit. There was no portcullis that came down. It was possible...” (Sir Roger Bannister, 06:28)
  • He notes John Landy’s psychological struggle after repeatedly hitting 4:02:
    • “John Landy...saying, 'it's like a brick wall, I shan't attempt it again.' And of course, he did ...and then broke my record.” (Bannister, 07:07)
• Personal Motivation:
  • Bannister reflects on missing out at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics as the catalytic disappointment that spurred him onward:
    • “Had I won that gold medal, I would have retired...But had I won that, I would be one of 20 holders of a gold medal...and would be, I suppose, relatively forgotten.” (Sir Roger Bannister, 07:32)
• Legacy:
  • Bannister values being part of running lore, even as the four-minute mile is far from "impossible" today:
    • “My mind doesn't instantly return to reflect on the details of that four minute mile, but I like to think it does still make athletes slightly breathless when they attempt it. Although many, many have now done it.” (Sir Roger Bannister, 08:09)

4. The Record Today & Closing Reflections

• Where Does the Mile Stand Now?
  • James Fletcher: “The current record is 3 minutes 43.13 seconds, set by the Moroccan runner Hitcham El Guerrouj back in 1999.” (04:51)
  • As of April 2014, 1,338 men have broken the four-minute mark.
• Final Thoughts:
  • Tim wraps with a note on Bannister’s autobiography Twin Tracks, and encourages engagement with the More or Less team.

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On motivational myths:

  • Harford (about Robbins): “Tony Robbins. Are you sure about that? ...Ah, 37 within two years. So you're absolutely sure about that, Tony?” (03:03-03:08)

• On the reality of breaking barriers:

  • James Fletcher: “Well, Tim, 37 in one year is way off the mark...in the 12 months after Roger Bannister broke the four minute barrier, only one other athlete managed it...” (03:40)

• From Bannister himself:

  • “There was no portcullis that came down. It was possible to find some errors in training...so that the four minute mile could be broken.” (06:36)
  • “Had I won that gold medal, I would be one of 20 holders...and would be, I suppose, relatively forgotten.” (07:36)

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Key Timestamps

• 00:46 - Tim Harford introduces Bannister’s goal and the historical attempt.
• 01:39 - Bannister’s finishing time is announced—3:59.4.
• 02:19–03:24 - Tim Harford unpacks Tony Robbins’ motivational myth and varying claims.
• 03:40–04:50 - James Fletcher details the actual timeline of subsequent sub-four-minute mile runners.
• 05:23–08:09 - Sir Roger Bannister on the reality of the 'psychological barrier' and his own motivations.
• 04:51/08:25 - Status of the current mile world record and total number of sub-four-minute milers.

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Summary

This episode artfully blends the statistical scrutiny for which More or Less is known with powerhouse historical storytelling and Bannister’s own voice. The myth of the sub-four-minute mile shattering a psychological barrier for dozens of runners is dispelled—progress was much more incremental. Bannister’s achievement remains a beacon, but not for the simplistic reason so often repeated. By zooming in on both the facts and the folklore, the show reminds us to look beyond the headline narrative, and to embrace the nuanced reality, both in athletics and in statistics.

Transcript

[BBC Announcer]

Thank you for downloading from the BBC. For details of our complete range of podcasts and our terms of use, go to bbcworldserveys.com podcasts

[Tim Harford]

hello and welcome to More or Less on the BBC World Service, the show that takes the numb out of numbers and the tat out of statistics. I'm Tim Harford. The Statistical annals of the world are full of record breaking sporting achievements. And next Tuesday, May 6, is the 60th anniversary of what may be the most famous of them all.

[Narrator]

The most sought after target in athletics, the four minute mile, was achieved yesterday evening on the Oxford University track at iffley Road.

[Tim Harford]

On 6 May 1954, a young student doctor named Roger Bannister caught the train from London to Oxford and visited friends for a lunch of ham salad. His aim was to run a mile from faster than it had ever been run before. Much faster. If Bannister broke the four minute mark, he'd be over nine yards ahead of the previous record pace.

[Narrator]

Up till yesterday, the world record for the miles stood at 4 minutes 1.4 seconds. But as Bannister lined up for the start in this race between the three A's and Oxford University, he knew that he had two colleagues with him who'd help him beat that time. 250 yards to go and Bannister takes over. Watch his giant stride take him to the front as he races the last lung bursting furlong to the finishing post. This was it, the final effort against the seconds that have kept him and many others from the 4 minute mile.

[Tim Harford]

Despite intense competition. The record of 4 minutes 1.4 seconds hadn't moved for 9 years, adding to the sense that breaking through the 4 minute barrier would be a huge achievement.

[Narrator]

The tape is broken and so is the record athletes have long been dreaming about. But at first Bannister knows little about it. He stumbles into the arms of his coach, completely exhausted by his magnificent effort. And that's how Roger Bannister, the 25 year old medical student became the first man in the world to run a mile in under 4 minutes. 3 minutes 59.4 seconds to be exact.

[Tim Harford]

A famous record for the man we now know as Sir Roger Bannister. His achievement is an inspiration to people around the world striving to do what seems impossible. It's particularly popular in the world of motivational speaking. I'm just opening up my well thumbed copy of Anthony Robbins. Awaken the Giant Within. Robbins says that Bannister destroyed forever a forbidding belief barrier almost as soon as he'd Demolished that barrier. Others poured to after him. Within one year of his triumph, 37 other runners also broke the four minute mark. 37 within a year. That really would be a testament to the power of positive thinking. Tony Robbins. Are you sure about that?

[Tony Robbins (referenced)]

After Roger Bannister ran that four minute mile within two years, 37 people ran a four minute mile.

[Tim Harford]

Ah, 37 within two years. So you're absolutely sure about that, Tony?

[Tony Robbins (referenced)]

Well, somebody said 37. The real number is 24. 24 people within a year.

[Tim Harford]

I love the fact Tony's now dissing his own claim. So 24 people within a year, is that the final offer?

[Tony Robbins (referenced)]

Once that happened, 24 people run a four minute mile within a few years. And now high school students run four minute miles.

[BBC Announcer]

Right?

[Tim Harford]

Well, we're all allowed to change our minds, of course, more or less is. James Fletcher is here armed with his book of running statistics. So James. 37. 24. One year. Two years. A few years.

[James Fletcher]

Well, Tim, 37 in one year is way off the mark. In the 12 months after Roger Bannister broke the four minute barrier, only one other athlete managed it and it was his great Australian rival, John Landy. Just six weeks after Bannister set his record, Landy lowered it by almost two seconds. The two of them then met on the track at the Empire Games in Vancouver. And you can imagine the only two men ever to break four minutes facing each other. This generated huge interest and in a thrilling race, Bannister overtook Landy on the final bend to win. That race has become known as the Miracle mile and both men finished under four minutes. But that's it for that first 12 months. Roger Bannister plus John Landy.

[Tim Harford]

It's not exactly pouring through the barrier as Tony Robbins put it. What about after that?

[James Fletcher]

In the following 12 months, four other men beat the four minute mark and it was another five in the year after that. But it was more than six years before 24 people had run sub four minutes. And it wasn't until the 21st of August in 1962, over eight years later, that that 37th person broke four minutes for the mile.

[Tim Harford]

And where does the record stand today?

[James Fletcher]

The current record is 3 minutes 43.13 seconds set by the Moroccan runner Hitcham El garouj back in 1999. That was 15 years ago. So that record has stood for a fair bit longer than the supposedly impossible record that Bannister broke.

[Tim Harford]

Well, thank you, James. It's part of the folklore surrounding Bannister's run. That four minutes was considered some sort of Impossible barrier. Was it really a psychological brick wall or just a nice round number? Who better to ask than the man himself, Sir Roger Bannister.

[Sir Roger Bannister]

Three Swedes, Arne Anderson, Gunda Haig and Leonard Strand. They brought the record down to 4 minutes and 1.4 seconds. That was in 1945 and then there was no improvement for nine years after the war. And it seemed incredible that the record was seemingly stuck. I think the reason was that the Swedes were declared professionals and that was the end of their careers. And the rest of the world was catching up with the troubles with rationing and other difficulties of a post war recovery. And it wasn't until 1954 that I realized that the 4 minute mile was absolutely possible. As a medical student, I realized that there could not be an absolute limit. There was no portcullis that came down. It was possible to find some errors in training of the previous runners or find better conditions on the day and so that the four minute mile could be broken. I think it was a psychological barrier. John landy, after running 4 miles each in 4 minutes and 2 seconds, reached a position of disappointment, saying, it's like a brick wall, I shan't attempt it again. And of course he did. He came to Europe and then broke my record.

[Tim Harford]

It turns out Sir Roger had an extra motivation to break the four minute barrier, his failure to win a medal in the 1500 metres at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics.

[Sir Roger Bannister]

I had bitterly disappointed myself and the press and the public by not winning the gold medal in Helsinki. Had I won that gold medal, I would have retired because it was getting difficult to combine my sport with my life as a medical student. But had I won that, I would be one of 20 holders of a gold medal for the 1500 meters in the 20th century and would be, I suppose, relatively forgotten. My mind doesn't instantly return to reflect on the details of that four minute mile, but I like to think it does still make athletes slightly breathless when they attempt it. Although many, many have now done it.

[Narrator]

The tape is broken and so is the record. Athletes have long been dreaming about

[Tim Harford]

Sir Roger Bannister. As of mid April 2014, 13:38 runners have broken 4 minutes. If you're keen to join them and want to find out exactly how you break a world record, training for just half an hour on your lunch break and eating ham salads, Sir Roger has just written an autobiography. It's called Twin Tracks. That's all we have time for today. Please keep your questions and your comments pouring in like freshly inspired four minute milers. We're at more or lessbc.co.uk and as always, there's further information and a downloadable edition of the show [e-mail] more or less. We'll be back next week. Until then, goodbye.

[BBC Announcer]

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