The Mental Mile

In 1954, Roger Bannister ran a mile in 3 minutes and 59.4 seconds. No one had ever broken 4 minutes before. It was thought to be impossible.

Six weeks later, John Landy, an Australian runner, shattered this barrier again, improving on Bannister's time by over a second. A year later, three runners broke the four-minute barrier in a single race.

What changed in 1954? The shoes? The training methods? The diet? No. What changed was the belief. Bannister believed it could be done, and he kept trying until he did it. After that, middle-distance runners stopped asking if it could be done and started wondering if they could do it too.

Bannister broke the record and shattered a mental block in the minds of others.

It's a reminder that limitations are often self-imposed.

We put up barriers in our mind that prevent us from achieving things. Learning an instrument, or a new skill, maybe starting a side hustle - these goals seem out of reach.

Not enough time. Too much on. No idea where to start.

These are just stories we tell ourselves to avoid trying.

Work on your mind as much as your body. Know that it can be done.