THE RACE OF THE CENTURY

Three world-class runners, one impossible dream: to run a four-minute mile.

In 1954, American Wes Santee, Australian John Landy, and Englishman Roger Bannister each independently endeavor to achieve the never-before-accomplished and seemingly superhuman goal of being the first person to ever beat the four-minute barrier that runners for decades had been unable to best. The three runners’ grueling training regimes as well as the wins and defeats they experience along the road to breaking records are recounted in this riveting work. This is a who’s who of iconic midcentury runners, the contemporaries of Santee, Landy, and Bannister who both challenge them and help them hone their techniques. Each race on the track becomes a race against time as the men strive to be the first and come ever closer to their goal. An overview of the history and science of running adds valuable context and emphasizes the historical significance of this feat. Heart-pumping, detailed play-by-plays of the tight races and devastating losses that shape the runners during their pursuit of a faster mile will bring readers trackside. Suspense builds as readers wait to discover which of the three athletes will achieve the ultimate win. Bascomb brings his signature meticulous style to this gripping narrative nonfiction tale. The focal runners in this book are White.

An impressive addition to the sports history catalog.