Milestone 1: The Early Years

The Early History of the Mile Race

The “mile” comes from the Latin mille passus (“a thousand paces”), measuring about 1,480 m. When Britain adopted the statute mile (1,609.34 m) in 1593, it became the common unit of distance in English-speaking countries. Competitive running in Britain often featured varied distances, but the mile became a popular challenge in professional “pedestrianism” matches (wagered races). The round-number familiarity of a mile made it easy to promote and measure.

Early Amateur Competitions (mid-1800s):

With the rise of amateur athletics clubs in England in the 1850s–60s, the mile became a staple event, partly because it fit neatly into both imperial measurement systems and public interest.
The Amateur Athletic Club in Britain (founded 1866) included the mile in its first championships, and the Amateur Athletic Association (AAA) followed from 1880.

Early Records and the “Four Minute” Idea

In the late 19th century, cinder tracks of 440 yards per lap made a mile exactly four laps, reinforcing its practicality as a main event.
The IAAF (now World Athletics) began ratifying world records in 1913; John Paul Jones of the USA held the first official mile record at 4:14.4 (1913).
Before this, Walter George’s 4:12.75 in 1886 (professional) and other amateur marks had already pushed the limit down.
Interwar Progress:
Through the 1920s–30s, milers like Paavo Nurmi, Jules Ladoumègue, and Sydney Wooderson chipped away at the time, lowering it to 4:06.4 by 1937.
Post-War Surge:
In 1945, Sweden’s Gunder Hägg set a world record of 4:01.4, which stood nearly nine years — close enough to four minutes that the barrier became an irresistible public and media obsession.

Stay tuned for the next episode in this series ...