Kenny Moore's review of The Perfect Mile in Sports Illustrated May 24 says a runner drafting on a leader does about 7% less work because "the air stays parted." For Moore, this becomes the major factor in Bannister's breaking the barrier.
This seems high -- and could it really hold as an average for an entire race (which would be something like a 16-second differential for a 4-minute mile), with runners both going into and away from any ambient breeze? I'm sure this figure comes from somewhere -- but there are just too many front-run fast races to think that suddenly the leader is giving away 4 seconds a lap to his chasers! Tell me what I'm missing --
If I've missed a recent thread on this, just refer me there --
Also, is Moore right to think that Santee could have been a part of the Perfect Mile in Vancouver? That was the British Empire Games -- I wasn't aware that those not within the Empire could compete.
This seems high -- and could it really hold as an average for an entire race (which would be something like a 16-second differential for a 4-minute mile), with runners both going into and away from any ambient breeze? I'm sure this figure comes from somewhere -- but there are just too many front-run fast races to think that suddenly the leader is giving away 4 seconds a lap to his chasers! Tell me what I'm missing --
If I've missed a recent thread on this, just refer me there --
Also, is Moore right to think that Santee could have been a part of the Perfect Mile in Vancouver? That was the British Empire Games -- I wasn't aware that those not within the Empire could compete.
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