Shoes going fast!

[Gob]

The spikes worn by Sir Roger Bannister when he ran the first sub-four-minute mile have sold at auction for £220,000.



Sir Roger, now 86, achieved his record-breaking feat at Oxford's Iffley Road track on 6 May 1954 when he was 25.

The shoes, made by GT Law and Son, had a reserve price of £30,000 to £50,000 at Christie's in London.

Sir Roger said they were "the last tangible link" he had to his achievement.

The hammer price for the sale was £220,000 which rises to £266,500 with buyer's premium.

He said they had "served me great purpose, I'm grateful to them" but added: "I think it's the right time to part with them."

Kate Summers, from Christie's, said: "When bidding opened there was great anticipation. After two-and-a-half minutes of bidding, they were sold to an anonymous buyer on the telephone."

The shoes were presented with an accompanying letter of provenance signed by Sir Roger and a letter written to him by his friend Eustace Thomas commenting on their "lightness".



"I could see there was an advantage in having the shoe as light as possible," Sir Roger said.

"The leather is extremely thin and the spikes are unusually thin, as I used a grindstone to make them even thinner."

Sir Roger said he planned to give some of the proceeds to the Autonomic Charitable Trust, as it "encourages the area of neurological research to which I have devoted most of my life".

"Other worthwhile causes in which I have an interest will also benefit," he added.

[MajGenl.Meade]

Does that mean the shoes of Chris x 2 are worth 2/3 and 1/3 respectively?

[rubato]

The 4-minute mile was pseudo-barrier which only appeared to be real because so few people contested it.


US Highschool students break it now.


https://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index ... ol-records

Mile 3:53.43 Alan Webb (South Lakes, Reston, Virginia) Eugene, Oregon 5/27/01


yrs,
rubato

[Guinevere]

*Male* high school students started breaking that barrier in the 60s, and masters men in 1994, but no woman has yet to run a sub four-minute mile and it was more than just a psychological barrier. Physicians and physiologists didn't think the human body could make that mark.

[MajGenl.Meade]

no woman has yet to run a four-minute mile

My gosh! They've all run a four minute mile and I've never even run for four minutes! No woman also no cry

[Guinevere]

Fixed. Good lord, I'm tired today.

[wesw]

fix and re-fix were sittin' on a fence.

fix fell off

who was left?

[rubato]

*Male* high school students started breaking that barrier in the 60s, and masters men in 1994, but no woman has yet to run a sub four-minute mile and it was more than just a psychological barrier. Physicians and physiologists didn't think the human body could make that mark.

The physicians and physiologists of that time were talking out of their asses because the attention of the media was too much for them, as the history has shown.


yrs,
rubato

[wesw]

it s a worthless thing because an Englishman did it


yrs

rubato

[Guinevere]

*Male* high school students started breaking that barrier in the 60s, and masters men in 1994, but no woman has yet to run a sub four-minute mile and it was more than just a psychological barrier. Physicians and physiologists didn't think the human body could make that mark.

The physicians and physiologists of that time were talking out of their asses because the attention of the media was too much for them, as the history has shown.


yrs,
rubato

Or, science and the understanding of biomechanics has evolved over time.

[MajGenl.Meade]

Fixed. Good lord, I'm tired today.

No, sorry. It still claims that all women have run a sub-four minute mile.

I think you mean "but no woman has yet to run a sub four-minute mile"

Ain't I a little beam of sunshine?

[Guinevere]

No, you're a total pita.

You knew what I meant, so I was able to successfully communicate my point.

[MajGenl.Meade]

No, you're a total pita.

How'd you know my name? It's that FB thing again, durnit!

[Gob]

it s a worthless thing because an Englishman did it


yrs

rubato

Nailed it wes. But there again, it was only rubato, so don't get too excited.

[Long Run]

*Male* high school students started breaking that barrier in the 60s, and masters men in 1994, but no woman has yet to run a sub four-minute mile and it was more than just a psychological barrier. Physicians and physiologists didn't think the human body could make that mark.

Bannister's time on a mediocre cinder track, wearing those 220,000 pound spikes, on a less than ideal day, would easily translate to low 3:50s in the typical elite track event now. The only American high-schooler who approached Bannister's "conditions-adujsted" effort was Jim Ryun. And still, breaking 4 by a sub-19 year old is still a rare occurrence, at least in the northern regions.

[wesw]

yeah, I noticed how rough that track was. even with spikes it has to be slower than modern tracks.