Roger Bannister breaks the 4-minute mile record on 6th May 1954.

By Don Hale

Roger Bannister breaks the 4-minute mile record on 6th May 1954.

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk

Television Newsreel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg7TwEhNqI8

Roger Bannister's epic race when he smashed the record for the 4-minute mile:

Bannister's time was recorded as 3 minutes 59.4 seconds. On the morning of May 6, 1954, a Thursday, Roger Bannister, 25, a medical student in London, worked his usual shift at St. Mary’s Hospital and took an early afternoon train to Oxford. He had lunch with some old friends, then met a couple of his track teammates, Christopher Chataway and Chris Brasher. As members of an amateur all-star team, they were preparing to run against Oxford University. About 1,200 people showed up at Oxford’s unprepossessing Iffley Road track to watch, and though the day was blustery and damp — inauspicious conditions for a record-setting effort — a record is what they saw. Paced by Chataway and Brasher and powered by an explosive kick, his signature, Bannister ran a mile in under four minutes — 3:59.4, to be exact — becoming the first man ever to do so, breaking through a mystical barrier and creating a seminal moment in sports history. Roger Bannister later spoke about how he did it. You can listen to it on the BBC Sounds Replay podcast. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p08bqk9k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg7TwEhNqI8




Don Hale is a former award winning investigative journalist and now a best-selling author who has created a very popular blog post linked to numerous social media sites. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025.

Comments

Post a Comment

Your comments are welcomed

Most recent posts

Superb gold medal run for young North Wales Regional champion Josh Mottram at the Twin Piers 10k.

By Don Hale
Image
* *A delighted young athletics star Josh Mottram after his race. Superb gold medal for young North Wales Regional champion Josh Mottram at the Twin Piers 10k. Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 A massive well done to the enthusiastic and very talented young athlete Josh Mottram, who won a prestigious gold medal last weekend in the challenging Twin Piers 10k race as the North Wales Regional champion for his age category. The Colwyn Bay AC runner was second overall in his age cat, to another excellent young runner in Ryan Rutledge in 36.47, but he finished first as the Under-20 champion in the NW Regional competition, completing his race in just 39 minutes and 59 seconds.  His friends and club colleagues helped him to celebrate this great effort, and said the were very proud, as he finally dipped under the 40-minute mark for the first time over this distance for a deserved new PB, and he knocked an amazing 3 minutes 30 seconds off his time from last year's race. Josh w...
Read more

Freezing cold gale force winds proved a challenge for parkrunners...and for the hardy volunteers and marshals.

By Don Hale
Image
*Some members of the hardworking team of volunteers (*above) at a bitterly cold and windswept Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun last Saturday with RD Dougie Graham in the blue vest. Freezing cold gale force winds proved a challenge for parkrunners...and for the hardy volunteers and marshals. Report by Don Hale. Conwy photos by Michael Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com   It was a very stormy and rather windswept morning across much of North Wales last Saturday as many hundreds of parkrunners battled gale-force and blustery headwinds during their challenging 5k workouts. At  the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun , it proved a particularly tough battle along the seafront to Colwyn Bay and back from Rhos for over 2k on the outward leg, against freezing temperatures, and a swirling, gusty wind, plus a sandy course, but it was pleasing to note that so many plaudits were deservedly given en-route and afterwards, to the hard-working team of RD’s, marshals and volunteers. Despite all the handicaps, a...
Read more

North Wales Regional 10k champs - Roll of honour – Twin Piers 10k - plus race summary and all NW results.

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above - Karen Butler from NWRRC crosses the finish line to win her F65 age cat at the Twin Piers race last Saturday. North Wales Regional 10k champs - Roll of honour – Twin Piers 10k - plus full NW results and race summary on links. A huge well done to all the age category winners from last week’s Twin Piers 10k Regional Championship race from Llandudno Pier to Colwyn Bay. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Michael Finnie and John Hatton. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   *Josh Mottram (*above left), who won the MU20 award, and (*left) Kevin Slattery with his M70 trophy at the Arthur Bebbington -Twin Piers 10k race. Male champions: U20M: Josh Mottram Colwyn Bay AC 39.59 Sen Men: Owen Roberts 31.59 M35: Ben Harding (Meirionnydd RC) 32.59. M40: Dean Thomas (Maldwyn) 35.45 M45: Graeme Tunstall (GOG Triathlon) 38.43 M50: Dafydd Gwynn (Eryri Harriers) 37.46 M55: Anthony Davies (Eryri Harriers) 41.49 M60: Paul Garstang (GOG Triathlon) 42.07 M65: Arwel Lewis (Eryri Harriers) 47.19 M70:...
Read more

Welsh Masters Indoor Championship results from Cardiff - and news about Newport Harriers athletes.

By Don Hale
Image
The Welsh Masters Indoor Championship results from last weekend's events at Cardiff...and some additional news from Newport Harriers athletes in action. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk Rod Davies from Welsh Masters Athletics has kindly compiled a list of the times and age category winners from last weekend’s – Welsh Masters Indoor Championships at Cardiff on 24/25/26th  January 2026. *The 400 & 1500m events were held on Jan 25th.  *Also details of individual results from Newport Harriers members: Newport Harriers Athletic Club   is with  Welsh Masters   and  Cardiff Met Athletics . Well done to our amazing Master athletes who competed this weekend - they all did fab  BMAF Indoor Pentathlon, 3k champs and open, at Cardiff on 24th January 2026. W70 Nicky B Pentathlon W55 Lou K 5th Pentathlon M60 Paul Y 6th Pentathlon and  400m W55 Juliet S 60m 200m400m M50 Jim M 200m400m LJ M40 Samson C...
Read more

Ben and Sarah tackled one of the new National Trust 10k trail events around the UK.

By Don Hale
Image
*Ben and Sarah Hudson (*pictured above) completed the new National Trust 10k trail event at Aberdaron. New National Trust 10k trail events around the UK. Report by Don Hale donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   Do you fancy a run around an ancient World Heritage site, or through varied and rugged landscapes? The free monthly 10k Trust10 trail runs are a great way to get some exercise, make friends, and to enjoy nature? That is exactly what two experienced North Wales Road Runners and ultra-distance athletes tried out last weekend at Aberdaron, and although it was not a race, the fascination of a new event and the competitive nature of  Ben and Sarah Hudson  led to both members achieving first places in their respective male and female categories. After the event, Sarah confirmed: “ We did a lovely event at the weekend put on by the National Trust; the Trust 10k or Taclo 10. They are not timed (and it’s a case of bring your own watch) but they are at various National trust locat...
Read more

Entries now open for the Deganwy 5 mile Dash - see full details - 29th May 2026.

By Don Hale
Image
Time to enter the famous Deganwy 5-mile Dash - entries limited to just 350 places for this unique charity race. Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 Entries for the famous Deganwy 5-mile Dash are now open, and runners are advised to enter early as numbers will be limited to just 350 due to the popularity of this essential fundraising event for Children’s Cancer charities. *This is the important link for Deganwy Dash entries:   https://in.tdlentries.co.uk/2026-deganwy-dash The event on Friday 29th May 2026 starts and finishes on Deganwy Promenade close to the revamped shelter and follows a picturesque course along the river estuary and around Conwy Cob to the RSPB Nature Reserve, where it turns and returns back along the same route to the finish. Run director John Hatton confirmed this week: “The Deganwy Dash is now live now for entries. The aim of the race is to still raise money for Cancer in Children. Joshua Tree is our main recipient for money plus as before Young ...
Read more

The BMAF 10km championships at Chichester this weekend - and BMAF 30km Multi-Terrain champs at Gravesend.

By Don Hale
Image
BMAF 30km Multi-Terrain champs - Gravesend, 28 June 2026 and the BMAF 10K championships this weekend.. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 The North Downs 30k on the 28th June is possibly the best Trail Race in the South East.  It is also once more the BMAF long course Trail Championships. Each year numbers grow within the Championship with many returning joined by new faces. Entry instructions are explained on the   BMAF Opentrack entry page   However, if you are quick you can save money on your entry fee. T he cost of entry to the North Downs 30K Trail Race for UKA registered athletes is £38, but there is an early bird offer of entry for £36 valid   until 31st January , so you only until Saturday to enter. The cost of entry to the BMAF championships is currenttly free for area-club members and £5 for non-members. This offer last until the end of February, when there will be an extra £2 to pay.   Last year the race entry limit was reached long before the stated ...
Read more

A Journey Through Male Infertility: Stronger Together - A book for men that women should read by Pip Reilly.

By Don Hale
Image
A Journey Through Male Infertility:  Stronger Together - A book for men that women should read by Pip Reilly.   Coast and Country – Special book promotional feature: This is another superb book that is proving to be an essential read that finally offers clarity for men facing infertility: donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   The facts about this important new paperback and Kindle ebook: Now available on Amazon :   https://amzn.to/3ZCHuBW   By Pip Reilly.. Further details on his website:  Mensfe - the mens fertility forum     The primary aim of this book is to bridge the gap between confusion and clarity for men facing infertility, and by providing comprehensive and accessible information, it seeks to empower men to face their challenges with resilience and purpose.  Additionally, I aspire to foster a shared understanding among all involved: men, their partners, and healthcare professionals, encouraging open communication and collaboration. In doin...
Read more

BMAF 10km championships - Goodwood Motor Circuit, Chichester 1st Feb 2026 - Don't delay!

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above - a previous 10k start on the Goodwood Race Circuit. BMAF 10km championships - Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit at Chichester 1st February 2026. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 In its eighth year based at the Goodwood Motor Circuit, the 2024 race attracted a huge field of athletes, including some of the best masters athletes in each age group from across the UK.   We have already 63 entries for the BMAF 10k Championships to be promoted on Sunday 1st February 2026 at the Goodwood Motor Circuit, Chichester, Sussex.  Due to parking limitations at the venue, the event does have a strict entry limit.  Those 63 entries wanted to be the very first to enter before we announced there were only 600 race bibs left. The race organiser says they could all go before the end of the year.   So if you want to be part of a 5 Star competitive 10k experience on a traffic free fast course  please act fast.   We are awarding medals on this occasion based on chip timin...
Read more

Frank from Funchal meets Dancer by J M Martlew: A story of barriers, determination and cats.

By Don Hale
Image
Frank from Funchal meets Dancer: A story of barriers, determination and cats:   By J M Martlew. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 This is the link to the book: https://amzn.to/47qPdsd *NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON AUDIO LINK: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F3P7D9JF*Amazon   *ALSO ON EBOOK AND PAPERBACK : https://amzn.to/49SJmeC     A true account of Frank, a starving street cat from the island of Funchal who travels to the UK on a plane. There he joins Dancer; a traumatised street cat who was lost in London.  Both were emaciated and near to death when found but end up rescued and now living in their forever home in Sussex. Dancer hates Frank and would happily send him back on a plane if she could. J M Martlew recalls her own journey from a childhood rescuing street cats, lessons learnt as an NHS nurse in a children’s burns unit in Scotland; to finding street cats Dancer and Frank.  This touching memoir ends with her discovering no matter where you come from in ...
Read more