Athletics (British Sports Library)

CHAPTER VI ONE MILE AND OVER FEW people, I feel sure, realize just how fast it is possible for a first-class athlete to run a mile. As long ago as 1895, the famous American, T. P. Conneff, covered the distance in 4 minutes 15f seconds, which was then world's amateur record. Since that time John Paul Jones and N. S. Taber, both of America, have returned respectively 4 minutes 14t seconds and 4 minutes 12! seconds, while the British runner, A. G. Hill, has set our own record at 4 minutes 13! seconds. All these men followed an orthodox scheme of training and diet and used an orthodox style ; but recently there has arisen Paavo Nurmi, of Finland, who states openly that he eats what he fancies and drinks large quantities of coffee, and who yet has brought the world's record down to 4 minutes !Of seconds, and confidently anticipates running a mile in 4 minutes 6 seconds before he finally hangs up his spiked shoes. In the meanwhile it is interesting to note that 107