Sub 5s

I just read an article about a man that broke 5:00 for the indoor mile. 4:57.06 to be precise. There is nothing over the top outstanding about running sub-5. There are long lists each year of men that average faster than that for a marathon. However, what is way over the top outstanding about this particular sub-5 mile is the fact that its author, Nolan Shaheed, is 60 years old. Yes, 60 years old. His time is a new World Indoor Record for 60 year olds and also eclipses the American outdoor record for the same age group. I guess he is not slowing down simply because Father Time can’t keep up!

Part two of my jaw on the floor: I was running some 200s on the track with PRR owner Ray Pugsley last night. It was cold and windy (huge surprise this winter). Needed to be done, though, as Ray is soon to head off to compete at the Boston Indoor Games in the master’s mile (his first indoor race in 12 years). We all know that distance runners tend to chattiness, and Ray and I got to talking. He let slip that he currently has a 26year streak of running a sub-5 mile. Since 1984, he has run a mile each year under 5:00. What’s more, this is not even the longest streak among his friends! Some of you may remember Mark Coogan (UMaryland ’87) as one of the United States most versatile distance athletes. He’s run sub 4 for the mile, made US teams in the steeplechase, and owns a 2:13 marathon PB. Mark had a streak of 30 years going sub-5 for the mile. I say “had” because he ruptured his Achilles tendon 1k into a sub-5 attempt last year and was not able to recover before the new year began. 30 years!

Quoting longtime track and field broadcaster Larry Rawson, “Go down to your local track and run a lap.” If you hit 75 seconds, know that all you have to do is keep that pace for 3 additional laps. You’ll have to kick a little on the last lap to make sure you break 5minutes. Now do it again next year, and the next, and the next, and the next, and the next, and the next, and the next, and the next, and the next, and the next, and the next, and the next, and the next, and the next, and the next, and the next, and the next, and the next, and the next, and the next, and the next, and the next, and the next, and the next, and the next. At that point, you will have equaled Ray’s current streak of sub 5s. Good Luck!

Become a fan of the Boston Indoor Games and Potomac River Running Stores on Facebook! Check your local listings to watch PRR's Ray Pugsley battle some of the nation’s top masters athletes in the mile.