Was it really that big of a deal when Roger Bannister broke the 4-minute mile barrier in 1954? I mean, it's still a great achievement, but was it that groundbreaking at the time?
I think it's because it was considered a physical limitation that many thought was impossible to break. It was a huge mental barrier, and Bannister's achievement showed that it was possible to push beyond what was thought to be humanly possible. It's still an inspiration to many runners today.
I think it's easy to downplay the significance of Bannister's achievement with hindsight. But back then, it was a psychological barrier that many thought was impossible to break. It showed us that human performance can be pushed beyond perceived limits. Still inspires me to this day.
I totally get what you mean. It's like when I broke my own personal record, it felt like a huge accomplishment at the time, but looking back it's not that impressive. But I still remember the feeling of pushing past what I thought was possible, and that's what makes it special.
I think we're forgetting that 1954 was a different time. People were still smoking during marathons, for crying out loud! The idea that a human could run a sub-4 minute mile was seen as physically impossible. It wasn't just a psychological barrier, it was a medical one too. Bannister's achievement wasn't just about the time, it was about redefining what we thought was possible with our bodies. So yeah, it was a big deal then and it still is now.