The Jim Ryun Running Camp

I have fond memories of sitting on the hardwood basketball court of Wichita East High School where I was first introduced to “Timmie Talks,” by Coach Bob Timmons. These talks usually took place just prior to a competition. On occasion, when our attitudes during workouts needed adjusting, Coach Timmons would pause the work-out and would present what came to be fondly referred to as a “Timmie Talk.” 

It was during these brief moments, as a sophomore cross country runner, that he started instilling in me the need to train my thoughts while training my body. Coach would dare us to believe in something out of our comfort zone and then begin working to achieve it both mentally and physically. It was during these “talk times,” that God gifted me with three simple, self -centered as they were, steps to athletic success. 

These steps would begin setting the stage for my 3:51.3 mile world record in Berkeley, CA on July 17, 1967. I began to dream big with an expectation of setting a mile world record. As I look back on these moments, the friends made on the East High team, I thank the Lord for everyone's help. God definitely directed me to run cross country and to be surrounded by those who loved and participated in the sport.

Step #1 was actually making the East High cross country team. To do that I allowed myself to trust and believe in Coach Timmons’ training methods. After all, his cross country, swim and track teams were Kansas State Champions! Having never run or been in an athletic program, I did wonder if all the workouts (demanding energy I didn’t know I possessed) would really lead to success? 

Step #2 was rather silly. It involved earning an East High letter which would be applied to a jacket. The jacket served as a measurement of an individual’s success in the 1960’s. It not only gave you status at school and acceptance with your teammates, but it meant you were better than average at your given sport. This was particularly important for me after being cut from every sports team I had ever tried out for. I also had the idea that if I won the right to wear a letter jacket, that a girlfriend may come with it!!! 

Step #3 was in some respects the most challenging because it would require me to make friends. My initiation into the friendship arena started with a teammate, Don Walker, who was a year older and “knew the ropes” so to speak. It all began because I needed a ride to Saturday morning work-outs. These work-outs were held at such locations as East High, a designated area on a country road, Echo Hills golf course or College Hill Park. Don was willing to pick me up and believed in my running potential. He was a huge help to me because I could ask all the questions I wanted and he never made me feel my questions were without merit. He became the friend who would help me pick out my letter jacket. He eventually would introduce me to my future wife, Anne. I will save that story for later!! 

These are the steps that spurred me on to the memorable event of July 17, 1966.

Background to event:

The Vietnam War and the United States involvement in it caused the Soviets to pull out of the the 8th Annual USA vs USSR Track and Field meet scheduled for Los Angles, CA for July 23- 24,1966. Initially the entire meet was cancelled. The Soviets were unhappy with the USA’s involvement in the Vietnam conflict.

Prior to the USA vs USSR competition the USA vs Poland Track and Field meet was to be held on July 17 in Berkeley,CA. That too was cancelled. 

Both meets would have raced the Olympic distance of 1,500 meters in place of the mile. Because the Soviet and Polish teams cancelled on July 10, there ensued a scramble as to what the next steps should be. The AAU called an emergency meeting in San Francisco. What I consider to be a most fortunate decision was made during the meeting. The “Polish meet” would be held in Berkeley with all available USA athletes competing against each other. A side note: The “Soviet meet” would be held in Los Angeles July 23, 24 against British Commenwealth athletes.  

On Tuesday, July 12, I flew from Topeka, KS to St Louis, MO to photograph the 1966 MLB All Star Game for the Topeka Capital Journal. In those days an athlete had a real job to pay the bills and remain eligible for the Olympic Games. 

As the news continued to play out, with the July 17th meet cancelled and then rescheduled, I began to consider an attempt at bringing back to the United States of America the World Mile Record. Was there enough time before July 17 to rest and get ready? I’m not known for making snap decisions. I prayed. And, was in constant communication with Coach Timmons.

On Wednesday, July 13th, I made it my goal to attempt a world record in the mile. Initially, the race was to be at the distance of 1,500 meters. I arranged a call to the meet director and track coach at the University of California Berkeley, Sam Bell, to ask that the distance be changed to a mile race. His reply,“It's already changed to the mile.” 

After seeting the goal, I now needed a plan. I asked Sam for his help with pacesetters for the race confiding in him that I would like to attempt a world record, asking too that he not publicly advertise my intent. Coach Bell hesitated responding with, “Jim, I could sell more tickets by announcing your attempt.” Ultimately, he agreed to my plan. Because the details and planning had easily fallen in place, I started resting and ended any heavy training. 

Sam Bell and I both went to work searching for pacesetters.  

These would be individuals who would be willing to sacrifice their own races to help me.

Sam called Rich Rono for the University of Texas, “Ryun needs your help.” Rich wanted to run under 4 minutes. He agreed to run a fast pace in leading the second lap. Rich responded, “I’d like to see the record come back to the United States and Ryun is the only guy who can do it.” Prior to the race, Rich and I spoke. He told me he could take us through the half in 1:57 (turns out it was faster than that). Rich then discussed it with Tom Von Ruden from Oklahoma State who willingly agreed to help by running the first lap in around 57 seconds.  

In my mental preparation, I thought I could pass the 880 in around 1:57, but would need more help with pacesetting. If I could count on someone to help carry us through the third lap in approximately 59 seconds, I thought there was a real chance for a world record. Wade Bell from the University of Oregon stepped up to help and volunteered to push past the 880 yd mark as far as he could carry the pace. All the pieces were in place for the attempt. 

All four of us committed to a faster pace than any of us had ever run. However, there was another risk involved. According to International running rules, if I received pacesetting from my three teammates and one of them did not finish the race, the time and record would be nullified. 

Each of us confidently accepted the challenge. Of course, there was the thought of what happens if we commit to a fast pace and can’t carry it across the finish line? I’d never run a 3/4 mile in around 2:55 in a time trial. Now I had committed to a time close to 2:55 knowing that I would have another 440 to run. 

I didn’t spend a lot of time thinking through this as this is the risk one takes in chasing dreams. Was I concerned? Sure. Thousands of people would be watching witnessing a new world record or at least a gallant effort in trying. I was excited and at the same time at peace with my decision. It helped me to remain in a continual conversation with God.

The days leading up to Berkeley were interesting. There was an airline strike so flying to California was more difficult than usual. My friend and fellow photographer, Rich Clarkson, an experienced traveler, put together several alternatives for travel. We flew into San Francisco in plenty of time to prepare for the race. 

With all the additional rest from training, I felt good. I checked into the dorm where athletes were being housed. 

The night before the race, Rich Clarkson, fellow Jayhawker John Lawson and I went into San Francisco for dinner at Fisherman’s Wharf. I slept well that night and had a breakfast of cereal, eggs, sausage and 3 glasses of milk. I then headed back to the dorm for a nap.  At 1pm I started my day again. At 2:30pm, I headed to Edwards Stadium at UC Berkeley for the meet. 

When I arrived at the track, good friend and fellow miler, Jim Grelle, said, “Why don’t you go out fast, Jim, faster in your first half than you do usually and then come in as fast as you can. You’ve always gone out slow your first half and burned your last half.” Grelle was injured and was at the meet to cheer us on. He was unaware of our plan and yet, he had “prophetically” encouraged us to run the race we had planned.

At go time, the temperature was 75 degrees. No wind to speak of and a fast California track. As planned, Tom Von Ruden went directly to the front and led through the 440 in 57.3. Rich Rono led through the 880 in1:55.5. Wade Bell then took over the lead for a very important push. With approximately 600 yds to go, I felt the pace slow. I passed Wade. 

 My teammates had done a great job pace setting and it was now my turn to step up to the plate. Although it was very brief, I said a prayer for courage trusting that God and Coach Timmons had prepared me for this moment.

When running in front, it's both lonely and exciting. I was trying to relax and maintain the race pace. When I look back on photos from this race, I see a young Jim Ryun without any expression on his face without showing any pain. While there was increasing pain with every step, I knew if I gave into it, I would gradually tighten up. 

When I passed the 3/4 in 2:55, I could hear Coach Timmons in my head saying, “When you arrive at a split time faster than you expected, don’t be afraid.” With that thought in mind, I briefly reflected on my past finishing kicks in many races that Spring. All of them had been sub 56 seconds for the closing 440. I began what seemed like the longest 440 of my life. Going through my head were the words, “relax”, “push the pace”, “don’t tighten up.”

I had arranged with Coach Bell prior to the race for the public address system to call out every 220 yds. I knew with 220 yds to go, I was running toward a new world record. 

All went smoothly until the last 220 yds. The last 220 yds was a race in and of itself. I was tired and was experiencing an increasing heaviness in my legs. What had been relatively easy up to this point now became a struggle. 

As I finally rounded the turn and began the long straightaway, I started asking myself,”Where is the finish line?” It finally came and with it a new world record of 3:51.3. It was 2.3 seconds faster than the current world mile record of 3:53.6 held by France’s Michel Jazy

My spilts were: 57.9, 1:55.5, 2:55.3, 3:51.3  220’s were: 29.3, 28.6, 28.0, 29.6, 30.3, 29.5, 28.0, 28.0. My last 1,320 was 2:53.4, no wonder I was tired. I became the youngest (I was 19 years, 2 months, and 18 days) ever to break the World Mile Record and the last American since Glenn Cunningham (a fellow Kansan) in 1934 when he ran 4:06.8.

The accolades tumbled in following the announcement that it was a World  Record! I was told that Walter Cronkite interrupted his news program to announce that Jim Ryun had set a new world record in the mile bringing it home to the USA.

U.S. National Coach Stan Wright said, “It was just fantastic. He’s so great…the best. I feel sorry for the people who didn't come. It is a shame. They really missed something . He’s simply a physiological phenomenon. He’s got to be the greatest, the best of all time.”

Wade Ball said, “He's the greatest in the world. I’m only sorry I couldn't stay with him longer.”

Track & Field News reported, “Inside the quiet, gentle exterior of young Jim Ryun burns a fire as fierce as in any hero the world has known, and today he let us glimpse a concentrated jet of flame as it incinerated the world mile record and scorched the very soul of Michel Jazy.”

After the race, I sat with sports reporters for approximately three hours. When I went to retrieve my warm-up gear, I found it had been stolen. 

I started running back to the dorm carrying my spikes. That’s when I heard a voice calling after me asking for my autograph saying she attended Kansas State University. I slowed down and yelled back, “Catch me later.”

This was the first time my wife, Anne, and I would meet. She went away wondering when in the world she would ever see me again.

Fortunately, God already had a plan in place for us to meet again. 

My high school teammate and friend Don Walker was attending Kansas State University. He and Anne were in a Spanish class together.

Anne grew up in Bay Village,OH and was not going home for Thanksgiving, but would spend the holiday with Joan Booth and her family. Joan was a Kappa sorority sister and best friend who lived in Wichita, KS. 

When Don learned that Anne would be in Wichita over Thanksgiving break, he asked how she would like a blind date with Jim Ryun. Anne’s reply was, “No blind date for me!” She recounted her Berkeley autograph rejection, and agreed to the “blind date.”

Don Walker drove us that night to the East High Track reunion held at the home of Don Steffens who had been our high school track manager and was now at KU helping Coach Timmons with the track team . 

That night we played pool and Anne got her autograph as well as one for each of her 6 siblings and 7 cousins! We went to Pizza Hut for Anne’s favorite pizza - pepperoni! I was smitten!

Our date was the first of many to come. The more time I spent with Anne, the more I realized I wanted her to be wife. Even on the first date, I knew she would make a great mother! Two years later we became engaged and were married on January 25, 1969 in Bay Village at St Barnabas Church, the church she had grown up in. She has been a fantastic wife and yes, the best of mothers. Again, God moves in marvelous ways and answers prayers that often we don’t even know to pray.

One last story about that supernatural day in 1966:

After the race, back at the dorm, reporters figured out how to call into the dorm to interview me. Friends such as Neal Steinhauer (world class shot putter), were attempting to shield me from the media to give me some privacy. After several calls, one reporter became exasperated and told Neal, “You have told me three times now that he is in the shower.” Neal’s response, “He’s a very clean boy.”

Check out footage of the race here! And more coverage here.

I begin this time of reflection with the thoughts I have had after my race in Los Angles, CA on July 8, 1967 that resulted in a world record at 1500m of 3:33.1.

My thoughts and memories from this race are quite clear.

Be in prayer about everything that concerns you and all those you love. Ask God for guidance and trust that He is Sovereign. Had I not gotten out of my comfort zone and reserve to make breakfast with men who were knowledgeable about altitude in Detroit at the NCAA Indoor Track Championships in March 1967, I would have thought altitude issues were a bit of a myth.

Altitude training was quite difficult. Very little was known about how to use it correctly. Then, along came Dr. Jack Daniels. He educated, coached and encouraged me through the various aspects of altitude and literally saved the USA distance team from disaster at the Mexico City Olympic Games. He guided us as to how to adjust to altitude while running at maximum speed.

While altitude training was tough, I believe one of its greatest benefits is that it expands your pain threshold to heights that are never thought possible. While July 8 was a pain filled race, the pain barrier for that race was pushed to new heights. Funny how God answers prayers. Why should something be so painful and difficult and yet give such joy and satisfaction?

You are now thinking, “Why is Jim making altitude the central focus of this WR race in Los Angeles.? Los Angeles is at sea level.” 

Please keep in mind that my preparation for this race was all done in the altitude of Alamosa, CO. Under Jack Daniels’ coaching, I was training two weeks in Alamosa, flying back to Topeka, KS (where I was working for the Topeka Capitol Journal as a photographer) for two weeks and then returning to Alamosa to train (and work in a grocery store as a “sacker”) for two weeks. Adams State University housed five athletes who had “bought into” the idea that adjusting to altitude was a necessity if we were to be competitive in Mexico City. 

I had first learned of the 1968 Olympics being held in Mexico City during the Closing Ceremonies at the1964 Tokyo Olympics when it was flashed on the Jumbotron. As a 17 year old high school senior participating in the closing moments of the Games, my first thought was yeah, I live in the same time zone as Mexico City. Being young and an inexperienced runner, I gave no thought to the fact Mexico City was at 7,349 feet.

Until the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, no Olympics had been held at altitude. No big deal, or so we were made to think. Air is a little thinner in Mexico City and there might be some trouble breathing but the sea level athletes will simply have to spend a couple of days there in advance of the Olympics to acclimate. They will be fine, at least that is how the International Olympic Committee and it's President, Avery Brundage, promoted it.

Fast forward to March of 1966 Detroit, MI where the 1966 NCAA Indoor Championships were being held. On Friday, March 10, I had three races: a preliminary 880 yd heat qualifying in 1:54.8 that led to a second place finish in 1:50.7 (to Dave Patrick) in the final. Just prior to the 880 final I had run a 4:08 in a preliminary mile heat. Needless to say, I slept really well that night. 

Even though I was very tired, by the grace of God, I accepted a breakfast invitation for the next morning. Later on that same day I would run in the final of the mile. Normally, I would sleep the morning away.

That breakfast would literally change my life. The conversation was a “101” educational class on altitude training, a precursor to understanding Mexico City’s altitude and my introduction to Alamosa, CO. Dr Jack Daniels had gathered Wade Bell, Conrad Nightingale, Chris McCubbins, Tom VonRuden and me to inform us that altitude training was paramount to our success in Mexico City.

I will add here that Coach Timmons as well as so many others were of the mind set that sea level runners would need to simply make some breathing adjustments but that altitude wouldn’t impact Olympic race results. Dr Jack Daniels was swimming upstream. Many in the running world did not concur with his science.

After the Compton Invitational Track Meet, June of 1967, in the Los Angeles Coliseum where I missed the mile world record by one tenth of a second winning in 3:53.7, I arranged my return flight back to Kansas with a stop over in Alamosa, CO. My March 1966 breakfast friends: Dr. Jack Daniels, Conrad Nightingale (Kansas State University), Tom Von Ruden and Chris McCubbens (both of Oklahoma State) and Wade Bell (University of Oregon) had convinced me to fly through Alamosa and run an easy mile time trial to see how I’d react to 7,200 feet of altitude. I agreed with an attitude of “sure why not I’ve got the confidence of a fast mile, why not satisfy my curiosity and others and run an easy 4:10 mile.  This should be fairly easy, almost 17 seconds slower than a couple of days before in LA.”  Boy, was I SHOCKED with the results.

I had a good warmup, enjoying the beautiful Colorado scenery, good fresh air. Just before the time trial, Dr. Daniels confirmed that my time trial goal was a 4:10 mile. I did a few wind sprints and it was start time. 

My first 220 was close to the split time I expected. However, breathing was more difficult. Hmm. I must still be in recovery from LA. I was falling apart cardiovascularly (breathing  was very difficult and not getting any easier) by the 440 yd mark. By the 660 yd mark I was done and stopped. What had just happened? This experience reminded me of my first days of running as a sophomore on the high school cross country team. How is that possible? Since that experience, I’ve run thousands of miles. Wow, what to do next? 

I consulted with Daniels and my fellow milers. They suggested a second timed mile but try for a time of 4:32, a time I'd run as a sophomore in my first mile race ever. 

I took a full recovery time of approximately 20 minutes and took their advice. I did run a 4:32 mile with great difficulty. This was my welcoming debut to altitude and the reality that was to be Mexico City. The challenge with handling thin air and a massive misunderstanding of the impact it would have on all sea level runners was not to be taken lightly. Oh, did I mention an increase in pain tolerance due to breathing difficulties?

The July 8, 1967 1,500 meters race was to be held in the LA Coliseum. I was flying out of Alamosa, CO getting as much time training at altitude as possible before next summer’s Olympics. 

As a high school runner, Coach Timmons had me keep a running journal of my workouts, comments and related matters. Most of my running journals have been saved, a few lost. My 1967 journal is still with me and has some wonderful though brief comments.

Following are entries from the 1967 journal.

Sunday, July 2

Float the Rio Grande River-catch fish-got sun burned. The Rio Grande farmers/ranchers felt they owned parts of the river. They had stretched barbwire over the river at many locations causing us to duck under barb wire on several unplanned occasions.

Monday, July 3

Morning:

5 Miles- Sprint Type  (after a brief warmup, I’d do 3 sets of 10x110 at 3/4 effort with a 110 recovery jog between on either the grass or track at Adams State followed by a warm down)

Evening:

1 1/2 mile warmup

Mile time trial in much wind on a poor dirt/cinder track in 4:15.5. Went out much too fast, 67, 2:11, 3:16. Was tired from a long week and work but think that with what adjustments I have made, that next week I can run around a 4:03 with real rest. No real bad affects this time - no stomach pain (stomach discomfort was a huge problem for me at altitude), tired and heavy arms from carrying groceries.  5 miles afterwards 

12 miles for the day

Tuesday, July 4

Morning: 

5 miles easy

Evening: 

7 miles easy

(This was not in my notes but it was Independence Day. If I celebrated on the 4th, there would have been two options, ice cream from the local Dairy Queen in downtown Alamosa or play the only pinball machine that was in town)

Wednesday, July 5

Morning:

5 miles easy

Evening:

5 easy miles

10 mies for the day

(This was not in my notes as to when I left Colorado and flew to LA. I remember how tired I was when I got to sea level. I slept constantly, trying desperately to feel healthy and ready to race Kip Kieno from Kenya )

Thursday, July 6

30 minutes easy on the streets around the LA Coliseum.

Friday, July 7

30 minutes easy with Ron Clarke of Australia. Coincidentally, we met up near the Coliseum. He asked if I would like to do a light jog together. It would be the beginning of a lifelong friendship.

Saturday, July 8

1500 Meters-3:33.1 ( a new WR by 2 1/2 seconds that would last for almost 7 years)

60.9, 56.6, 58.5 (split times)

I feel that coming down from high elevations (altitude) that I must come down a bit sooner or will feel tired-either way, I must sleep a great deal. I was consistently tired living and training in altitude.

The actual race:

The race was part of the British Empire Games vs USA Track and Field. Keino and Clarke were there to represent the British Empire. It was one of those hot hot days on the floor of the LA Coliseum Track with little or no air movement. My usual prayer got expanded because the thermometer on the scoreboard read 95 degrees. I knew from experience that among other things my feet were going to burn and blister. However, in my head, I could hear Coach Timmons saying, “You can’t change the temperature so focus on your race plan.” 

My race plan was very simple, let Kip Keino lead until the final 300 yards. At that point, regardless of how I felt, I was to powerfully and steadily push past him and build a strong finish. 

By the grace of God, this race unfolded as planned. The first lap was run at a pedestrian pace. The remainder of the race was run at world record pace. 

I stayed in Kip’s shadow until the last 300 yards. I felt strong the entire race, but was aware of the difficult pacing of the race. I didn't really notice the heat until after the finish line. Then, I really felt very very hot and must have shown great discomfort because Dave Bailey, a Canadian1,500m runner, offered an ice pack for the back of my neck.

This race proved to me the value of altitude training. After training at altitude for two weeks, when I ran at sea level in LA, not only was a new world record set, but I experienced a breakthrough in pain tolerance. 

This day in my life was a surprise gift from God, totally unexpected. Its fantastic results continue to this day. 

If I could have dreamed this up it would have fallen short of what God gave me. It had a wow factor that was off the charts. And after all the excitement of that day, there was yet another surprise waiting for me at the Kansas City Airport.

This track and field meet, the Amateur Athletics Union (AAU) National Championships in Bakersfield, CA was to have two functions. First, it was our national championship meet. The best milers in America would be racing against each other. Secondly, it would determine who would represent the United States on the National team in Europe against the National Track and Field Teams of Great Britain, West Germany (East and West Germany were still divided), and Italy. 

It would also be my first opportunity for the 1967 outdoor season to run only one race in the meet - the mile. The NCAA track season had concluded. A typical track meet for me for the 1967 season was usually 3 races per meet, that is unless I had preliminaries. Usually, I was tasked to run an 880 yds race, followed by a one-mile race finishing with a 440 yd leg on the mile relay. I was not only feeling a bit giddy with getting to run only one race but honestly a little more rested as I headed to Bakersfield.

School was out for the summer, so training was a solo effort. For the week leading up to the AAU meet, I really wrestled with what workouts to execute. Coach Timmons had not designed specific workouts for me for the summer. 

I was quite relaxed as I gave consideration as to what my workouts would include. I prayed. Then I decided my training would consist of short multiple repeats often no longer than 110 yds with a 110 yds recovery jog between. Today, looking back at my running journal, I discovered that on Monday, June 19th I ran 60 x 110-yard repeats at a good pace (with 110 recovery jog between, I did 6 sets of 10), not all out. I was accustomed to long, arduous workouts. The short repetitions at about 3/4 effort left me feeling a little guilty (even as I ran 60 repeats). However, I definitely felt more rested physically and spiritually.

My goal for Bakersfield was to place in the top three in the mile championships. I was the World record holder in the mile at 3:51.3. To some my goal might seem a little less than the best use of my God given talents. However, in 1967 we had a great field of American milers, Jim Grelle, Tom Von Ruden, Roscoe Divine, to mention just a few. In addition, I never went to the starting line assuming an easy victory. Each competitor had earned the right to be on the start line and would, like me, want to run his best race.

The Bakersfield’s meet was to be broadcast on ABC Wide World of Sports and was to take place in the late evening of June 23,1967 due to the heat of the desert.

The track was a fast California sun baked surface. Fast if your event was early in the meet. As the meet would proceed, lane number 1 would be chewed up and get a little slower after every race. Today when we watch the race unfold during the Jim Ryun Running Camp (JRRC), I take note of the fact that I moved around in lane 1, nearly stepping on the curb as I searched for good footing.

The preliminary mile heats from the night before placed me in lane 1 for the final mile race. My preliminary heat was run in 4:07 with the final 3/4 run in 3:00. Not exactly an easy race heading into a final. My goal of making the USA team was already determined, to make the team. Now what was to be my strategy to achieve that goal? 

As I point out to our Jim Ryun Running Campers, it’s wonderful to have goals, but what is your strategy to achieve those goals? 

First, the starting line and the inside lane. I had two choices, one was to take the lead and control the race pace influencing the final time and outcome. Or, when the gun was fired to hesitate and start out slowly falling in behind my competitors. With a split-second prayer and a quick decison, I chose to go immediately to the lead. I did not want to take the chance of being in a pack of runners. If I found myself in a pack, I would risk the possibility of falling knowing that my balance with jostling runners could lead to a mishap. Because of a fever due to the measles as a child, I had lost 50% of my hearing. My sense of balance was always questionable. So, to the lead I went.

Now that I had the lead, what do I do next to achieve my goal for this race? As I share with our JRRC campers, set your goal, establish your strategy and be flexible. With the lead and running a relatively slow pace, I assumed a runner would pass me and increase the speed. With this case scenario, I would draft off whoever was leading.  Right? Wrong! 

Try as a might to set what seemed a slow pace, no other runner wanted to take the lead from me. Strange as it was, I felt very comfortable with a moderate race pace. My new “flexible” plan was to continue to lead. I would like to note at this point that it is imperative a runner “stay awake” throughout the race. Many have a tenancy to “sleep” while racing.

The 440 was passed at 59.2 and the 880 at 1:59. Not all that fast but certainly not a pedestrian pace. Shortly before the 880-yard mark, I got to thinking of how great I felt, physically, mentally and spiritually. This was really fun! This was not a typical emotion for me - especially during a Championship meet. 

Then the thought occurred to me, the other runners behind me might feel even better. Hmm, what should I do next? I quickly prayed and decided to throw caution to the wind and started to accelerate the pace. In doing that, I was taking the risk of entering a danger zone of running out of energy towards the end of the race, failing to meet my goal of making the team. While it was a bold step and demanded courage, in hindsight it was God leading me to heights of achievement I had never experienced before. 

As this part of my race was unfolding, I wanted to turn and take a quick look over my shoulder at my opponents to determine how they were feeling. In watching the race on ABC’s Wide World of Sports, I did take a partial peek at the pack, poor decision to make during a race. 

I passed the 3/4-mile time in 2:57.6, not world class race time but a respectable time. At this point in the race, I was unbelievably refreshed and decided to accelerate the race tempo even more.  As I pushed the pace, this overwhelming new strength and lightness in my legs carried me even faster than I could have imagined. This sense of strength and lightness was unusual for me. Every step was easier than the one before. 

God works in mysterious ways and this was certainly one of those moments when I felt His hand on my life. Usually, late in a race, I found myself gathering strength for a final push to begin sprinting to the finish line. I was already in full running mode typical of when I ran my leg of a fast 440 on the mile relay team. 

But this was a mile race not a mile relay leg. As approached the finish line, I thought, I can run another lap at this speed. My typicall physical feelings and emotions were to get to the finish line, run 10 yards beyond it to avoid someone catching me and possibly finishing second. 

However, this was anything but a typical race and finish. Although the TV broadcast does not capture it, I was experiencing a runner’s high of elation like I’d never experienced before in my career. 

The final time was 3:51.1! My final 440 was 53.5.  Easily the fastest mile race time in my life. A new World Record!!

In Berkeley,CA the year before, I had set the mile WR of 3:51.3. I struggled to get to the finish line to become the first American since the great Glenn Cunningham to set the mile WR. I was so tired that the last thing I wanted to do was to answer reporters’ questions.  

The 3:51.1 race was very easy. I didn’t say it out loud, but whispered, “God thank You for giving me the courage to risk a fast pace taking a chance that led to this life changing moment." Sadly, 55 years after that race, I’m the last American to hold the Mile World Record. Risk and adventure can lead to amazing results when they are blessed by a caring Father God!

After the race, full of energy and unsure of what to do with it, I greeted my competitors and congratulated them. The wise, older runner and friend, Jim Grelle, had stayed off my pace and timed his finish so that he made the USA track and field team to Europe by finishing second. 

Because my winning time was a world record, ABC’s Keith Jackson wanted to interview me about the race and how I felt. As I look back on that race interview, I was tentative in my answers. My tentativeness was in part due to my lack of hearing. I had often answered the interviewer’s question with the wrong answer because I hadn't heard the question. If you listen to Keith Jackson’s interview, I did stumble a bit in answering his questions.

Years later in an honoring ceremony commemorating my 3:51.1 mile in Bakersfield, the meet director asked that I take a victory lap to thank the crowd for their support throughout the race. 

What was the surprise when I returned to the Kansas City airport? Well, when I returned to the parking lot and attempted to start my 1964 Plymouth, it wouldn’t start. After several tries, I opened the hood of my car to discover that someone had stolen my car battery.  

Really, could this be true? Did this really just happen? It did. After a call to AAA for assistance and a new battery, I drove home to Lawrence, KS, back to the apartment I shared with my fellow KU distance runners. 

I was unable to grasp how this one race would influence my life forever. Gratefulness to my Father God overflowed through my spirit.

For more on this story, check out footage of the race here and these other sites too!

Bakersfield.com

Kget.com

Surprise and controversy! This is the overarching theme of this date and race in my life.

The surprise. This race would take place in Terre Haute, IN on one of the worst tracks I ever raced on. It was the first generation of all weather tracks composed of hard asphalt. All weather, yes. However, it was impossible to penetrate the surface even with track spikes. It was painful to run on because of its hard surface (causing possible shin splits). World Record 880yds? Yes! Totally unexpected? Yes!

During the Fall of 1965, I had expressed to a reporter, “I think I’m probably better at running 2 miles than an 880yds, but I have not run either that many times.” At the 1965 Kansas Relays, in the high school two mile relay, I had run the anchor 880yds in 1:47.7. Not too shabby for not being an 880yd runner as a high school senior. 

Reflecting back to the 1965 Kansas Relays, in January of 1966, Coach Timmons said,”I think his true potential is in the 880. Jim figures to improve in speed rather than stamina.” To make this statement even more interesting, May 1966, I set the American Record in the two mile at 8:25.2. 

The weekend before Terre Haute in Los Angles, I had run the mile in 3:53.7 with a closing finish of 26.4 for my last 220 and 14.4 split for my last 120yds. For you track buffs - why did they bother to time my last 120yds and not 110yds? Who knows!

A footnote: My last workout before the LA 3:53.7 mile was a series of 6x220yds repeats on the Kansas University track. The 6x220yds repeats were with a full recovery, meaning a slow walk jog over 220yds rest between each effort. I was to run "all out” to demonstrate how my leg speed was improving. My average for the 220yds was 23.6. This was a HUGE  encouragement because speed and a strong closing finish in the LA mile and Terre Haute 880yds would be significant factors.

To Terre Haute

The race was to be run at the U.S. Track and Field Federation Championships in Terre Haute, IN. Coach set a goal of 1:46 for the 880yds. Peter Snell of New Zealand held the then World Record at 1:45.1 for 880yds. I thought 1:46 was out of reach saying 1:47 or 1:48 was more like it. Other than the Kansas Relays anchor 880 in 1965 at 1:47.7, I’d only run a 1:50 time trial for the year. 

The track and field writers from Chicago wanted me to run a solo mile. In Los Angeles, I had just missed breaking the mile World Record (3:53.6) held by Michael Jazy of France by one tenth of a second. After my LA race, Jazy was reported as saying, “I have realized he is extremely talented. He can certainly do better than he did in LA. Will he take the mile record away from me? He certainly should. I hope he does do it. I say that sincerely.”

Why is this even mentioned or even considered for this story? The proximity of Terre Haute to Chicago meant that many of the Chicago sports writers would be covering the meet in Terre Haute. Coach Timmons had planned for me to triple in Terra Haute running a mile, 880yards and a leg on the mile relay team. The media was insistent that I try again for the mile world record.

In spite of the interest and media pressure, Coach Timmons stuck with his initial plan of having me run four races: 880yds preliminary heat and the 880yds final, a mile final and a leg on the mile relay. 

No solo mile effort or attempt at a mile world record was to be considered. Terre Haute was all about Kansas University winning the USTFF Team Championships. I wanted to contribute towards that title by winning the three events I ran in.

My preliminary 880yds heat at Terra Haute was run on Friday, June 9. I tried expending as little energy as possible and ran 1:51.0 with my friend Tom VonRuden of Oklahoma State winning in 1:50.9. The last 440 was 56.2. I had expended more effort than I had wanted. The 880yds final was to be run two hours later that same day. 

I told reporters after the race, “That was pretty close to my best open 880yds time. I felt bad, really bad after the race.” 

My dorm room for the meet was very close to the track. My throat was slightly sore, so I went back to my room for a quick nap and a prayer. They were brief as I still needed a full warmup. The warmup would take nearly a full hour just prior to the 880yds final.

My goal for the final was really simple, win and score points for the team. I didn’t have that much experience at this distance especially at a national event. To possibly win, I planned on staying near the front, not wasting energy and yards running in outside lanes. 

The 880yds final started just before the curve of the track. This would make for a long finishing straight away. This suited me if it turned out to be a close final sprint. 

John Tillman of Ohio University led the race at the 440yds with a time of 52.9, I was third at 53.3. My teammate Lowell Paul was in the mix running behind me. Oddly enough, having felt crummy after the preliminary 880yds heat and running faster at this point in the race than I ever had, I felt strong and comfortable. 

Answers to prayer come in a variety of forms. At the 550 yard mark, partly due to lack racing experience at this distance and because I felt like I was getting stronger as the race progressed, I moved quickly to the front passing Tom Von Ruden from Oklahoma State . To my surprise, no one moved with me. 

Strange, I thought, I’m a miler and these guys are half milers. Did I make my move too early? If I had, there was nothing to do now except to stay relaxed, maintain my speed, hold good form and be alert in fighting off challengers. 

In reflecting on this race I would later say, “I didn’t feel heavy, but I didn’t have any snap. I didn’t feel great at all. Going into the quarter, I started moving up. Physically I was depleted. I wanted to put myself in a good position to finish. I thought 53.3 was quite fast for the first 440. Von Ruden took over the lead after the quarter and started picking up the pace. I stayed on his hip out in the third lane. I wasn’t shooting for a great time but rather for a win to help the team. I knew I had to come back in the mile the next day and didn’t want to push it too much. My plan before the race was to move down the backstretch, at about the 300 yards, running all out. I was concerned about finishing…running well..maybe even winning. After I made my move, I had all this tremendous strength. That’s when I found myself really gliding.”

I passed the 660yds at a time of 1:19.4. Due to my loss of hearing, I did not hear the split time called. At that point, I was only four tenths of a second behind Peter Snell’s world 880yds mark. I was only going to need a 26 second or less closing 220 to give America a new 880yds world record. 

What I couldn’t compute then, but upon reflection could relate to is that between the 440yd and the 660yd, I had run a 26.1 220.  

My last 220 was an amazing 25.5; the final time being 1:44.9 - a new World Record for 880yds. My last 440 was 51.6.  That was not suppose to happen. You don’t run your last 440 faster than the first 440. I had a hard time believing I had accomplished this feat. The pace was too slow at the half way point (or so I had thought).

I always find it interesting how God answers prayers. Not only did I feel strong, but with every step my confidence grew. Now that I had the lead, my focus was to keep it.

I crossed the finish line in first place.

I turned to see my teammate Lowell Paul finishing third. 

After the race Coach Timmons told reporters, “It's unfair for anyone to insist that Jim is a miler, or for that matter, that he is a half miler. At 19, he just isn't old enough to decide exactly what he will run. I'm not sure myself which is his best event. It's somewhere between the half-mile and the two mile.”

Over in New Zealand, Peter Snell was told of the loss of his record in the half mile. While I was still in Terre Haute, I received the following telegram from Peter: “Congratulations on a magnificent run-a real surprise. Best wishes for the mile and 1,500 meters.” 

To this day I have the telegram in my running archives. Peter, though a tough competitor, was a thoughtful and kind man.

Snell later would say, “Now that Ryun has reeled off this half-mile, the 1,500 meter and the mile record must be his for the asking.”

Footnote: I thank the Lord for Coach Timmons and coaches in general who challenge their athletes to think outside their comfort zone, to take risks, to reach beyond what the athlete thinks is possible. 

Continue to enjoy reading “A Day in the Life of Jim Ryun.” As they say, “The best is yet to come!” 

While there was a plan to set a WR in the mile and 1500m, executing the plan makes for interesting reading.

Postscript: I won the mile at Terre Haute in the slow time of 4:02.8 and ran my leg on the mile relay in 47.8. Not great times, but I was able to contribute to Kansas University winning the US Track and Field Federation Championships in 1966.

For those of you who have been reading the earlier entries of, “A  Day in the Life of Jim Ryun,” you have caught a glimpse of the gift God entrusted me with. While the achievements were amazing, this date, June 5th, and the race results that followed would be the mark by which many would measure my life forever. June 5th would be both a blessing and a burden. I finished 8th in this race in Compton, CA.

It was a blessing. Hang on because this will take more than a few words. It began with failure. After being cut from every athletic team I tried out for, including my church baseball team, I would fall asleep almost every night with my Bible under my pillow talking to God, praying, “God, if you have a plan for my life, please show me because I’ve failed in all my athletic pursuits. Oh and if you could make it something in sports, I’d really appreciate it.” A prayer spoken from the heart of a young boy. An earnest and very real prayer.  

Looking back on those junior high prayers, they were very self-centered and selfish ( I must have been one of the firsts of the “ME” generation). Like most people, I desired purpose and direction. Even at a young age, I wanted my life to count for something. 

As we share with our Jim Ryun Running Camp campers, failure can be a temporary detour to success. These early failures were setting me up to meet one of the great mentors in my life, Coach Bob Timmons and his wife, Pat. Coach was the head track and field and cross country coach at Wichita East High School when I entered Wichita East as a sophomore.

The first of many answers to that junior high prayer began with a ride on an old yellow school bus the Spring of 1963. It was after my fourth high school mile race, my third win, run at the Washington Relays, April 4, in Kansas City. I won the race in a time of 4:33.2, yes that was the actual time. Really slow. Turns out the time was irrelevant. 

What took place on the bus ride back to Wichita was life transforming. Coach Timmons was always investing in his athletes by offering challenges to us. We were to take whatever was achieved in our races, learn from them and dream big for the future with our God given talents. 

On the bus ride back to Wichita, which lasted over 2 hours, Coach called us one by one to the front of the bus to talk over what we thought of our performance. My turn eventually came and I walked up and sat next to Coach. He began the conversation with, “Jim, you ran a really good race. Congratulations on your win.  How many seconds can you take off your best mile time of 4:21 (the time I had run at the East High Invitational)?” With my lack of experience in running, my reply was something like this,”On a good day maybe 2-3 seconds faster with the wind behind my back,” (which doesn't happen in Kansas or on any other oval track). Coach listened without comment to my reply. He then told me he had trained the current East High school and national record holder, Archie San Romani, to a time of 4:08.9. He then explained he thought I could break the record by the time I was a senior. He asked if I was willing to do the necessary training. 

While I sat there listening, my thoughts were on the race I had just run. It was hard. When I crossed the finish line in first place, my legs hurt, my head hurt, my lungs were burning, I was exhausted. How in the world was I going to run 13 seconds faster? 

I sat respectfully and continued to listen. What came next was a brief history lesson about the sport of running and then the challenge.

Dr. Roger Bannister at the age of 25, a Brit, had become the first man to run under four minutes for the mile on May 6, 1954 with a time of 3:59.4. Until then, it was thought by many that no one would ever run a mile in less than four minutes. The breaking of the barrier was a world wide phenomenon. It was the lead story in the news internationally. It moved Dr. Bannister from being one of many great runners to his personal place in the history books. He opened the door for many breakthrough barriers for runners around the world. 

Now came the challenge. 

“Jim, I think you can be the first high school boy to run a mile in under four minutes.” Hold on, Coach, I thought. I can do what? 

The Washington Relays race was only my fourth high school mile. I was frankly very puzzled. How was that possible? I don’t remember any more of our conversation as I returned to my seat in the back the bus in a daze. Coach had given me a lot to think about as we bumped along on the ride home.

How could this happen? What physical workouts would be required? Could I do them? Would I believe in and take ownership of Coach’s dream for me? Would I have the courage to take that risk knowing that hard work doesn't guarantee success? Was this part of the answer to that earlier prayer I had hounded God with in my youth searching for meaning in my life? Oh boy, what have I gotten myself into now? 

Little did I know or understand how this mustard seed of an idea would grow. I would become the first high schooler to run the mile in under four minutes. A skinny, shy kid from Wichita, KS. This milestone would become a blessing - answered prayer - as well as a burden, or better said, “living up to others” expectations. 

Failing to meet or exceed personal and public expectations become a heavy burden for me to carry. Please don’t consider this as whining. As an immature and unusually shy young man, I was ill prepared for the responsibilities that would come with “fame.”  How and why was I expected to become a role model?

It was only after becoming a Christian in May 1972 that I understood that losing, not performing well and failures were opportunities God provided for my character development. Little did I know when I prayed for God’s guidance, blessing, development and fulfillment of the talents He had blessed me with, that it was linked with responsibility to the public. I did not grasp the obligation nor the magnitude that was unknowingly thrust upon me. I rejected it. I wanted to run fast. That was all. I was in my own little world.

With the talent of running fast, I at first struggled to accept this gift. I had no idea that interviews, autograph requests and being available to speak came with the gift.

With time came maturity in this area. Coach was always working on my attitude. He would often say, “James, you don’t have to do this, you get to do it.” 

When I ran well, people loved me. Meet directors would sell more tickets. When I ran poorly, people would say nasty things, throw popcorn at me, write unkind letters. Newspaper reporters and magazine articles would criticize me for not living up to their standards of excellence. Eventually, the Lord through Timmie grew me up and thickened my skin. I began to embrace the responsibility that came with being the “fastest man” in the world and to acknowledge my life was not my own. Life was not all about me.

By the grace of God, blessings outweighed the burden of responsibility.

I began to appreciate the hard work Coach Timmons demanded of me. He believed in me, tested and challenged me to greater heights of accomplishment. 

June 5, 1964

Due to the fact I had run well at the Modesto Relays in May 1964, I was extended an invitation to the Compton Invitational which was held in Compton, CA. There were 2 weeks in between the two meets. Coach continued to persuasively convince me that I could run under 4 minutes for the mile. 

Coach dreamed up two especially good workouts to sharpen me physically and more importantly mentally. The first took place on Thursday, May 28th. It consisted of 8x440 yard repeats on the track with a 3 minute interval - which was a lot of rest between each repeat. If I ran a 440 in 60 seconds, I would have 2 minutes rest. If I ran faster than 60 seconds, I’d have a little more rest. That day I ran my 440’s in: 63, 57,57,57,57,55,55,53 for an average of 56.7 seconds. That one workout boosted my confidence concerning my speed. 

What about the strength needed to run under 4 minutes? That workout came on June 1 when Coach had me run 3x880 yards with a 660 yard jog in between in: 2:02, 1:58.5, 1:58.0. After the last 880, my legs felt like rubber. However, these two workouts convinced me that I could run with the world class field of milers at the Compton Invitational. California, here we come with my own high expectations and loads of prayers and much courage.

Race day preparation was very ordinary. I slept as much as possible to avoid thinking myself out of running well. I ate as needed but didn’t eat any closer to race time than approximately 6 hours. Coach and I arrived at the track early enough to avoid any unexpected delays. We checked the meet schedule and determined my race was on schedule. Finally, I started my warmup about one hour before the race. I prayed as I warmed up. 

I can’t over emphasize the importance of praying. I’d been running less than two years. I’m was about to run against guys known to run fast. Many of them were at the top of the world as milers. I was only a high school junior. My thought? What am I doing here?

Prayer helped me stay focused on the task at hand. I didn’t want to get side tracked by loosing my focus. “God, you have given me this opportunity, please help me to run wisely and with courage.” Mine were not long prayers, but they were very trusting and very sincere. The Lord was with me. After my warmup and on the starting line, I felt more confident and even found myself trying to take the lead. WOW!

After some race jostling, I settled into the pace set by the meet director’s rabbit, a pace setter to ensure a fast time. While I was alert and aware of the lap split times, at just past the 600yard marker, I was unintentionally bumped by one of the runners. I lost my balance, stepped off the track onto the infield and allowed the other runners just behind me to pass. I then stepped back onto the track. Now, I was really “awake” after the near fall. Once I regained a position in the race, last place, I started to assess my next move.

I had passed the 440 in 59.2 and would pass the 880 yd mark at 2:01.5. The pace was perfect for running under four minutes, if the third lap was not too slow. After passing the 1,320 (3/4 of the race) in 3:02.8 I began to think in terms of a strong finish. On the back stretch, I started foolishly to accelerate towards the front of the pack of runners. To accomplish that I was running almost all out in the fourth lane. This was the action of an inexperienced runner. I gave up valuable energy and yardage. 

With that herculean effort, I had miraculously moved into approximately the top four runners. I was soon to realize I had needlessly moved much too soon and wasted valuable energy. To put it bluntly, I was so overspent that the last 100 plus yards was a race in and of itself. It seemed like an eternity before I could reach the finish line. I felt like a bear had jumped on my back. My legs felt like tree stumps. I began to fade as I  watched the other runners pull away from me. Where is the finish line? I had never felt so tired in my legs. I finally finished in 8th place, last behind 7 others.           

Once I crossed the finish line and began to recover, Coach Timmons caught up with me. He was cautiously excited that he had witnessed history in the making with the first high school miler running under 4 minutes. Finally, the public address system, interrupted our conversation with, “For the first time in the history of running, 8 have run under four minutes for the mile. Jim Ryun, has run 3:59.0 becoming the first high schooler to run the mile in under 4 minutes.” 

After hearing that announcement, I remember nothing more from that evening. I HAD DONE IT!  3:59.0. Coach was brilliant in his planing for reaching the goal. All those long hours of hard training in the heat and humidity of Kansas’ summers and the bitter wind chills of winter had paid off. This kid who was cut from the church baseball team had accomplished what no other high school boy had achieved.

As I attempted to fall asleep that night, my thoughts floated back to the school bus ride, April of 1963, when Coach Timmons, challenged me to be the first high school boy to run a mile in less than 4 minutes. My quiet response had been, but how? 

I had dutifully gone along with Timmie’s thinking and training. Did I believe it could be accomplished? Due to my lack of experience and immaturity, I rode on the shoulders of Coach Timmons…. until tonight. 

While I talked about the possibility, the goal belonged to him, I was along for the ride. But, now that it had happened, 3:59.0, what was next? I wasn’t confident enough to embrace the goal of becoming the world record holder for the mile.

The 3:59.0 I had run was a world apart from the then world record mile time of 3:54.04. As I struggled to sleep, my thoughts began to coalesce not so much around the WR time but rather an attitude, “ownership.” Ownership would have to be defined as giving 110% effort in training in combination with mental strengthening. These components would shape my ability to run faster. Coach Timmons had trained and encouraged me to give an honest effort during workouts. This had been the hallmark in my development. Train hard and smart had become my mantra. 

As I gradually edged into a restless sleep, my thoughts centered on taking “ownership of my future” with God’s help. Those thoughts came to be understood as the “little extras”  . . . I could take responsibility. While I had ridden upon his shoulders up to this point, I sensed that my future in running was going to be resting on my shoulders.

This new attitude would demand: proper sleep, naps during the day before workouts, training my mind and body to think towards world record times, avoiding silly injuries, greater focus on working and helping my teammates, being more willing to sign autographs, willingness to answer reporter’s questions regardless of their understanding (or lack of) of running, adjusting my attitude from grumbling and negative thinking to being more positive and hopeful. While many of these were not physical, these new “ownership” ideas would become important in shaping my future. Slowly, I would begin to sleep as my world as I had known it would change forever. 

I have included the workouts leading up to June 5th as well as the split times every 110 yds, a practice Coach Timmons was committed to for all of my races.

Moving forward from June 5th, as I set world records, I received many accolades. Yes, God’s blessings overtook me (Deuteronomy 28:2). To name a few: I appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine 7 times (the most of any track and field athlete), was presented the Sullivan Award as “Amateur Athlete of the Year” (1966), named “Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year” (1966), won an Olympic Silver Medal in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, was elected to the US House of Representatives to serve my fellow Kansans in 1996 (serving 10 years). In 2003 ESPN.com selected me as the “best high school athlete  of the last century” over Tiger Woods and LeBron James. Most recently, I was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Trump (2020), the Nation’s highest civilian honor.  

Yes, blessings have certainly overtaken the burden of “fame.”

WHAT: One Mile, High School Record                          WHEN: May 29, 1965 

WHERE: Modesto, CA - California Relays                     TIME: 3:58.1

How do you celebrate having just run under four minutes for the mile in high school only competition and having graduated from high school? You go West to Modesto,CA to run for a second year in a row in the Modesto Relays!

In May of 1964, the Modesto Relays would be my introduction to racing on the big stage. By God’s grace and Coach Timmons’ persuasive powers (and perhaps a little confidence in my running ability), he had negotiated with the meet director for me to run in the Modesto Relays. The Modesto Relays was a prestigious track and field meet that highlighted the best athletes from all over the world. To get an invitation to compete was comparable to winning the Kentucky Derby. 

As a boy growing up in Wichita, KS, the furthest I had ever traveled West was to my grandparents home in Colorado Springs. Now, I was not only going to run in California, but to get there meant I would experience my first plane trip. WOW!  24 days had passed since my 17th birthday. I was going to run against a prestigious field of milers. I had just won the Kansas State High School Championships Mile in a time of 4:09.6. Very heady stuff for a skinny shy kid.

Due to a high fever from the measles as a 5 year old, I had lost approximately 50% of my hearing. This would come into play at the 1964 Modesto Relays and be helpful in an unusual way. For many fans of the sport,there was excitement that a high school boy was running in the mile race. Some though were not so pleased that I was running in this particular mile. Timmons recalled, “Prior to the race Jim and I hunted up an official to ask if split times would be taken at 1,500 meters. We were informed it would be for the better runners, ‘but not for Ruin or Runyon or however you pronounce it.’ “ Because of my loss of hearing, I missed those negative and unkind comments as well as the ones spoken by Mike Igoli, (one of the foremost distance coaches in the world from Hungary) who was quite disturbed that ‘the meet management invited an untried kindergarten to compete in the mile.’

Modesto was a huge step forward for me as a church attending young man. As a runner in high school competition, I always prayed that I’d run to my capabilities and beyond and with courage. That was all well and good. But now I’m about to race against men who were at the top of the world’s best mile times, had vast experience running internationally (in the Olympics) and had run the mile in under four minutes. 

The night of May 29th, as I warmed up for the race, I had a momentary confidence crisis. It’s one thing to race against high school runners and it is quite another to run against the best milers in America and in the world. I was very calm on the outside but my internal person was struggling with confidence. My doubt was whether I could really race against  these amazing runners. These guys were really good and I was JUST a high school runner.  

I realized I needed to make some good decisions quickly or the race for me would be over even before the gun sounded. In a split second, I began praying. I don't remember the exact words I prayed, but they were repeated again and again during my hour warmup. They probably went something like this, “Oh, please God, help me. I really need Your help.”

In church, I had learned to pray prayers sitting in a pew. However, I was now in completely foreign territory needing His help right then. I was aware I had access to God and  believed He answered prayers. 

As I finished praying, my thoughts turned from being anxious to reflection on the races I had run and the workouts Coach Timmons had carefully crafted for me to get to this moment in time. Anxious thoughts, in a brief moment, were replaced with a trust that the Lord had prepared me for this time in my life. My warmup continued with growing confidence and peace.

As I walked to the starting line in 1964, I only saw 8 other runners. They looked fit and ready to race. I noticed they were not giants I had imagined them to be but similar in height to me. For a brief moment, I wondered what they were thinking, had they any doubts about why they were there to race? These thoughts quickly gave way to the sound of the starting gun. The race unfolded rather quickly with me simply hanging on to stay in the race to keep up with my opponents. It was a faster pace than I had ever run. The results? I placed  third behind Dyrol Burleson and Tom O’Hara with a time of 4:01.7. This was an 8 second improvement from the State Meet results of 4:09.6 a couple of weeks earlier.

Fast forward to Modesto Relays 1965. I was no longer the unknown high school runner from Wichita, nor was I the favorite to win. I was now considered to be a serious competitor, in the mix of runners. I was a novelty in that I was an Olympian. However, I still needed to prove myself, that I was not a “flash in the pan” but had a bright future as an up and coming American miler.

I honestly don’t remember that much about the race. Coach Edminston was quoted, “Jim was still scared to death, like he is every time he gets on the track, ‘cause this is the kind of guy he is. I don’t think he’s ever so self-sure he is going to win.” 

Split times were 59.4 and 2:00.5. At the three quarters mark, I led with a time of 3:01.9. All the runners were in close pursuit. In the homestretch, several runners were closing in on me. There were 4 of us running shoulder to shoulder. And while I never lost the lead, it was time to start sprinting! 

My experience from the 1964 Olympic Trials had taught me that maximizing my ability to sprint successfully was directly related to my relaxing rather than “gutting it out” and tightening up. I began to both relax and drive my arms and legs simultaneously. To my surprise and delight, I gradually pulled ahead of the pack. In fact, I relaxed a little too much. At the finish line, I barely won with a time of 3:58.1. There was only .1 of a second that separated first place from fourth place.

I was elated with the win against a very talented field. This not only boosted my confidence but propelled me to a new status in the eyes of the track community. The race moved me to 9th on the all-time U.S. miler list as well as to 22nd on the world list.

When I returned to Wichita, several hundred East High seniors had planned on greeting me at the airport. Unaware that they were planning to surprise me and due to the fact my plane was early, I missed the celebration and headed home. 

But the seniors didn’t mind in the least. The next night during the high school graduation exercises, my name was called and as I began to cross the stage to receive my diploma, the other graduates rose to their feet giving me a prolonged standing ovation that brought the ceremonies to a halt. 

Since those many years ago, I have learned the truth of I Timothy 4:8 that while physical training is of some value, Godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. And while I value my years of running, the many friends made and the experiences presented to me (flying in an airplane for the first time), I treasure the blessings of God’s wisdom and faithfulness imparted to me. 

Those running years were spent being coached by two wonderful mentors who gave me a vision for how a man of integrity lived his life. Since then, I consider one of the highlights of my life as being the joy of loving and serving my wife, children, grandchildren, and the many individuals He has placed along my path. 

WHAT: One Mile, National Highschool Record                WHEN: May 17, 1965

WHERE: Wichita, KS - Kansas State Highschool Meet    TIME: 3:58.3

May 17th, 1965 is a day that I will be remembered for, for a lifetime. However, because there are no guarantees in life, many variables could come into play…weather conditions - heat, humidity, wind conditions. 

This would be my last opportunity to run sub 4 minutes in a high school runners ONLY mile competition. At this point in my athletic life, I had two coaches in my head talking to me. The first was Coach Bob Timmons who was my coach during the first two years of running as a sophomore and junior in high school. He had coached his athletes to look to the future in setting goals. Once you had accomplished a particular goal, you then started planning the next one.  By the grace of God and Coach Timmons revolutionary, ground breaking coaching, I had become the first high school boy to run under four minutes for the mile on June 5,1964, finishing last in a race at the Compton Relays (CA) against older and more experienced runners. 

Ten years and nearly two weeks earlier on May 6, 1954, Sir Dr. Roger Bannister became the first man to run a sub four minute mile with a time of 3:59.4, a time some experts thought would never take place. He was 25 when he ran into history books as a barrier breaker. 

On that epic day, June 5, 1964, I was able to take advantage of running with seven older sub 4 minute milers. They had assumed the responsibility of setting a race pace that would lead to a sub four minute mile. 

As I prepared for my last attempt (on May 17,1965) to run under 4 minutes with high school runners only, I would need to assume the responsibility of proper pacing and a strong finish to accomplish this feat. I didn’t want this aspect of my running history to come down to my last high school race. I had already made many attempts during the Spring of 1965, to no avail. 

These efforts were often influenced by wind and adverse weather: too cold, too hot, too windy. On one such occasion in May of 1965 at the Hutchinson Relays, the Hutchinson pep club girls lined up around the track and offered their encouragement! The result? I only ran a 4:02.0 mile. So close - but not the 3:59.9 time I had hoped for. 

At this stage, the entire state of Kansas was rooting for me (or so it seemed to me). One grammar school boy asked if I could go home with him one night so he could take me his Show and Tell class the next day. Looking back on that, wouldn't that have been fun? 

An interesting footnote to this time period is that Coach Timmons had left Wichita East in 1964 to accept the position of Assistant Track Coach at the University of Kansas. During the Spring of 1965, he accepted the position of Head Track Coach Track and Field Coach at Oregon State University (OSU). It was assumed I would follow Coach to OSU. I even received a letter from OSU notifying me that I had been accepted, stating: “Your high school grade point average qualifies you for this early admission.”  Done deal for college so I should pack my bags and plan on attending school in Oregon. 

That scenario changed dramatically when the Head Track and Field Coach at Kansas University was fired. Coach Timmons was offered the position and took it. So now I was heading to Lawrence, KS and not Beaverton, OR.

Presently, I was being coached by J.D. Edminston who had replaced Timmons’ as Wichita East’s head Track and Field Coach.

Preparation for the May 17,1965 race had actually begun on June 6,1964 the day following my first sub-4 mile. The work-outs were layered in gradually to achieve optimal results for the next goal of a sub 4 minute mile in “only high school competition.” 

After my 1964 Tokyo Olympics appearance, I returned home to win the 1964 Kansas State Cross Country Championship and immediately began outdoor winter training. 

Winters in Kansas are generally brutal with robust winds,  wind chill, ice and  snow.  While I had trained outdoors in previous winters, it was not something I looked forward to. That being the case, every workout and race was run  with the goal of running a sub 4 minute mile as a senior in high school without it coming down to the final attempt  at the 1965 Kansas State High School Championship. My preparation goals and thoughts were as follows:

1. To pray about it. Is the goal worthy of my efforts? Is it a gifting or talent God has blessed me with? (Note: I had experienced failures along the way, but had embraced them with the understanding that failure is a temporary detour to success.) Yes, it was worth the risk.

2. I had experienced small successes that would give me the confidence to believe for greater successes. These small improvements came during key work-outs and races during the Spring of 1965.

3. With God’s grace, to achieve this goal, I would need to become physically strong enough and mentally confident to lead the race every step of the way to have a strong finish.

4. Workouts and races were designed with this ONE goal in mind. A couple of helpful examples are: #1 running, in separate workouts, 3x880 yds under 2:00 with a 440 walk jog recovery. Times were 1:58, 1:58 and 1:58. The last 1:58 was a real bear of an effort. #2 example was 1x1,320 under 3 minutes, walk and jog a 440 and then run an all out 440 yds. The 1,320 was run in 2:58 and the 440 was run in 56. My legs were a little rubbery on the last 220 of the 440. This was purposeful for me to experience the pain needed to achieve the goal. More importantly, it was to visualize and have those timed distances filter though my mind during the race. Coach Timmons had trained me with the understanding that the hardest part would be to wrap my mind and thoughts around the idea this goal could be accomplished  even though no one had ever done it before. While Coach Timmons had executed these ideas, now it was Coach Edmiston's opportunity to implement them.This all took place about 3-4 weeks prior to the Hutchinson Relays mentioned above. Although Coach Timmons had left Wichita East, Coach JD Edminston would now execute the plan. He didn’t want this to come down to the last race of the season. Good intentions. However, it did come down to the last race of the high school season.

5. The last element was to run with courage without fear of failure. This was the toughest part: actually executing the goal.  A dream is just a dream until you write it down and then it becomes a goal (come join us at the Jim Ryun Running Camp (ryunrunning.com) to learn more about this!).

Race day: Saturday, May 17, 1965

Because the Kansas State High School Meet finals were held on a Saturday, I was able to sleep in until 8 AM, which was actually late for me. I remember sleeping very well. Somehow God gave me the gift of sleep before competition. 

After I awakened, I had a good breakfast of bacon, eggs, cereal and remained awake the rest of the day. I had a little tea and toast in the early afternoon. 

The Kansas State High School Meet was scheduled for the championships to be completed by 6 PM. I had prayed for mild weather and no wind (it was hot with gusty winds). Somehow, God missed the text or email I sent asking for a windless, mild day. But, as we teach our Campers, leave the weather to God and focus on what you can control. With that in mind, I was very relaxed heading into my race day with “game face” on. 

The expectations were very high throughout the state of Kansas and around the country. Channel 10, KAKE TV in Wichita was broadcasting the meet live. 

My own expectations were even higher. However, in my almost three short years of running, I’d learned to hold all my energy until the gun fired and then release that energy slowly. 

I met with Coach Edminston just before the race. He made two comments: “This is your last chance. By the way, did you notice that one small puffy cloud in the sky? That indicates there is more oxygen in the air. Have a great race.” I knew Coach was under a lot of pressure and this was his way of trying to ease the tension and get my mind off of things.

Coach Edminston had organized some of my teammates to yell out every 220 yard splits so I could stay on pace (which by the grace of God I did). I’ve mentioned several times the phrase, by the grace God, because it is one thing to plan a race and it's an entirely different matter to actually execute it.

The gun sounded. Off we went on the cinder track. I led the race from start to finish. I knew i could count on help from my teammate, Mike Petterson.  He  pushed me from behind, sacrificing his own race. He finished second, a great effort when you consider he could have run a more evenly paced race and experienced a lot less pain.

During a race, a runner has to depend on flashback memories that come from key workouts and previous successful races. A good memory bank at these moments pays large dividends. While I had already run 3:59.0 for the mile and had led many races, at this moment at the State meet these two elements and a lot of prayer, would carry the day! 

Because I had been close to a sub 4 minute mile earlier in the Spring, I was fully aware this would be my last chance. With 600 yards remaining, I made a conscious effort to ignore the pain (unpleasant as it was), push the pace and run through the pain barrier staying as close to the split times needed to run less than four minutes. The photo at the finish line completely shows how physically spent I was when I crossed the finish line. Mission accomplished, I could hardly believe my time of 3:58.3 (actual lap splits were 58.3, 2:00.8, 3:02.6). 

Years later, our son-in-law’s father, Howard captured some of the emotions and excitement of that day when he shared this story:

“I was up on the upper field throwing the shot put.  We were all aware of your mile race and anticipated when it would start. When the announcement was made that it was time for the mile, we stopped our competition and all got as close to the track as possible. The excitement and anticipation were palatable.  All the competitors, officials and fans were on their feet to watch you run. Wow, what a day. Under 4 minutes in an ONLY high school completion. We were watching history being made.”

WHAT:  Two Mile, U.S. Record                               WHEN:  May 13, 1966

WHERE: Los Angeles, CA - Coliseum Relays     TIME: 8:25.2

How do you improve your two mile race time (on the track) and end up setting the American record for two miles, just missing the world record? It truly is by the grace of God!

As I reflect on this race, I remain amazed at the results. After being cut from my church baseball team, my junior high basketball team and unable to make my junior high track team, I decided in September of 1962 to try out for a new sport that I knew nothing about. The Wichita East cross country team was a team with a rich tradition of winning state meets being coached by a visionary, Coach Bob Timmons. The cross country race distance was two miles. I had never run more than 440 yards. After a short time of training, I landed a position on the Wichita East “C team”, meaning I was 21st man on the high school cross country team.

Fast forward to May of 1966. I was now the American record holder in the mile with a time of 3:55.3 set soon after I graduated high school. I was feeling both internal and external pressure every time I ran the mile to not only win, but run under four minutes. That was then the standard of excellence in American track by which milers were measured. 

As a freshman runner at Kansas University in 1966, the NCAA would not allow college freshmen to run on the college varsity track team. This was a rule I never quite understood and one that had a short life span. Because of that ruling, I had the opportunity to race in open invitational meets around the country that, had I been on the varsity team, I would have been unable to compete in. 

The indoor and spring racing season of 1966 had gone very well. I was undefeated in races from 880 yards to one mile. I had been invited to run the mile at the Los Angeles Coliseum Relays. 

However, I soon learned that all the best milers at the time, Jim Grelle, Dyrol Burleson and Bob Day, had opted out of the mile for a chance to run the two mile. They wanted to compete against one of the best two milers in the world, Kip Keino of Kenya, who had a personal best of 8:25.2. What was I to do?

One of the wonderful qualities God has blessed me with is a curiosity of physical challenges, an interest in testing my human limits. After some careful consideration, prayer and consultation with my now college coach, Bob Timmons, I thought I too should run the two mile. It would definitely be less pressure on me to perform. I could actually run in a race with low expectations to win and run fast. After all, my personal best 2 mile was 8:47, a huge differential from Keino’s 8:25.2 two mile.

What I remember about this time period is that I was following the Timmons’ protocol which included varied workouts that would permit racing 880yds to a 1 mile. We did nothing out of the ordinary for the May1966 two mile race. I was confident I was in good racing form as I had just won the Glenn Cunningham Mile at the Kansas Relays in 3:55.8.

My biggest challenge in preparing for this upcoming two mile race was mental. I knew I was physically very fit but a mile is only 4 laps while the two mile demands 8 laps. I would be racing outdoors in the LA Coliseum for two miles. My thoughts were that I was in way over my head racing two miles. However, I was also excited about this new challenge. 

I had no intention of leading the 2 mile race. My plan was to follow the other runners. I did my due diligence before the race of figuring out split times based on an 8:47 for two miles versus an 8:25.

For a 8:47 two mile I would run 880 splits of 2:11.7, 4:23.5, 6:35.2. Splits for a 8:25 two mile would be 2:06.2, 4:12.5, 6:18.7. It doesn’t take a math major to realize the disparity of times per lap between the two times. By the grace of God and a great coach, I had trained my thoughts to look at the possible not the impossible, to dream BIG. While there was a considerable time difference between the half way splits of 4:12.5 and 4:23.5, I prayed that this physical adventure would go well.

My race day was very typical.  In my young days of learning how to prepare to race, I had recognized that if I was anxious about a race, it would only diminish my energy thus impacting my race performance. 

Leading up to race day, to prevent race day mental anxiety, I would run through an exercise of visualization. For example, if Coach had us running 8x440 repeats in 60 seconds, I would visualize myself being able to easily run 8x440, in a two mile at 62-63 seconds a lap, resulting in a time of two miles in 8:25. While there is a huge difference in racing those times in real life, this is how I was trained to race.

On the day of the race, I slept late, ate a big breakfast at about 10am, returned to my hotel room and slept until I couldn't sleep any more, sleeping most of the day! I had learned that if I slept prior to racing, I would not be thinking about the race and not become anxious about my performance. 

When I awoke, I would eat a very light lunch of toast and tea and remain awake the reminder of the day. I had previously learned as a young runner, that food and all out racing were not friends. I tried to have nothing on my stomach 6 to 8 hours before a race. I would limit my fluid intake after tea and toast to simply water. 

The two mile on May 13, 1966 was scheduled for the prime time of the meet -  about 8 PM.  

Another element in my race preparation that I learned as a young high schooler racing against older and more experienced runners was prayer. Being perfectly honest, I prayed before, during and after every race. I recall often asking God not so much for victory, (though I didn’t have trouble with victory and I don't think God has trouble with that either), but that I would run well, to my level of preparation and beyond and that I would have the courage to not give up. 

Before this particular race, I said to myself, “I see the race breaking down into two cozy little groups. The real two milers will be in front trying to set a fast pace. The rest of us, the milers, Grelle, Burleson and me, will be trailing behind hoping we can stay close enough to out sprint the others in the last quarter. My idea before the race was that if the time was close to an 8:40 two mile, I could possibly win. If it was any faster than 8:40, I was going to follow the others and get the best time I could.”

It was RACE time!!

The gun went off. Instead of running in a gradual diagonal from my position (in the middle of the pack) to the bend in the track (we started in the middle of the straight away), I headed directly to the inside lane - lane 1.

This was NOT great race strategy, but I wanted nothing to do with leading. I was so relaxed that as the lap splits were called, I was both surprised and embarrassed at how easy the first mile split was. Wow, I thought this is great. Keino set the first lap pace at 61.6. He would pass the 880 in 2:05.1. That would change in a couple of laps. I was still comfortable with the race development, Keino was still leading and I was gradually feeling an increase in pain and discomfort. Keino led through the mile at 4:13.6.  My mind was slowly comprehending how fast this was and that I was still in the mix to win the race. 

Then came the last 500 yards. Keino was still leading, grabbing his famous orange baseball cap. This was Keino's signal to his opponents as well as to the crowd that he was going to start his  final sprint to the finish line by tossing his cap into the infield. 

Grelle was just off my right shoulder and following very closely as we chased after Keino. Would we be able to stay with Keino’s sprint? 

Being fully awake (versus going to sleep mentally during the race), my thoughts were, “Boy, if Grelle can keep up the kick from here on in, he can have it.” To the surprise of Grelle and me, the running pace only picked up marginally. 

What now? One of my prayers while racing was to disregard how I felt physically and to be alert to the best race tactics in order to win. Keino started to fade on the pace. I ignored how I physically felt. I accelerated around Keino fully aware that Grelle, who was just behind me, was positioning himself in a better place to accelerate past me in the short straight away to the finish. 

By the grace of God I was able to hold off Grelle’s well timed sprint and won in a time of 8:25.2.  While I had won, because the race was so close, both Grelle and I were awarded the same time. Kenio was third in 8:29.8. After this race, Keino retired his famous orange ball cap!

Ten steps past the finish line, it hit me physically how tired and exhausted I was. I could walk but that was it. No slow running warm down. Slowly the time of 8:25.2 began to sink in. WOW!! God, thank You for the help. As I focused on the results, the lingering pain flew away. Lord, thank You for BIG DREAMS being fulfilled and for answered prayers! The results for me were other worldly. I had improved my two mile time by 22 seconds -  quite exceptional.

After the race, Coach Timmons said, “I felt all along that he could run a half mile, I thought it might be his best race because he had developed speed. He has run as fast as 46.9 after a 3:55.8 mile, so you can see that’s pretty doggone fast. So I felt he was on the speed side of the mile, or the half-mile, rather than the two mile side.Then the rascal goes out to California and gets in a race where he is 12 seconds slower than the slowest man in the field. He followed them till the last lap, opened up and broke the American record the second time he runs against quality opponents in a two mile. I said, ‘Jim, you wanted to prove me wrong, didn’t you?’ You see, he’s been saying that his best race is on the distance side of the mile. I tell you, I wouldn't argue with him either way. It looks like he’s going to be able to run different events, and this will take a lot of pressure off him.”

Today as I look back on that day, it was all by the grace of God that He gave me the courage and the ability to accomplish this amazing feat. To God be all the glory!

The lead up to the February 19, 1971 race was very different and ended with surprising results. During the winter of 1970, Anne, baby Heather then 6 months, had made a life changing decision. We were going to move from Lawrence, KS to Eugene, OR. After much prayer, we had decided that our future plans to return to being the best miler in the world and to once again pursue the Olympic 1,500-meter Gold Medal would best be fulfilled in Eugene, OR.

After making the choice to move and train in Eugene, there was one remaining challenge. As a true amateur athlete, not getting paid illegally under the table, meant that I needed to find a job that would allow me to provide for my family as well as have enough time and energy to train.

By the grace of God and the generosity of the Bohemian Lumber Company, I landed a job as the company photographer. It was a perfect fit as I had graduated in 1970 with a photojournalism degree from the University of Kansas.

The adventure began. We rented a 20-foot U-Haul truck, packed our earthly possessions, put baby Heather in her car seat between Anne and me and began the long drive through the Southwestern United States. Anne was very patient during this drive even when I had misjudged the head winds impact on our gas consumption and ran out of gas twice. What would an adventure be without some unexpected excitement? The unexpected was God’s opportunity to show His love while still protecting all three of us. God did find gas for our truck with the two unexpected stops and we continued on to Eugene.

Along the way, to allow for my training which mostly consisted of distance runs of 10-15 miles every day after 6 hours plus of driving Anne became an expert in entertaining Heather. My sprint workouts were narrowed to stepping on the gas through a street light to avoid stopping when the light changed.

When we arrived in Eugene in was a sunny day. We saw the sun for 7 days. That would be the last sun we would see for months as rain would settle into the normal Oregon drizzle (Oregonians refer to this a liquid sunshine). We knew we would experience rain in the Northwest. It was a vast improvement over the cold frigid weather and winds of Kansas.

As we settled into our apartment on Donald Road just below Spencer’s Butte, we were helped by a couple Oregonian athletes, shot putter, Neal Steinhauer and steeplechaser, Bill Norris. The transition from Kansas to Oregon was made a lot easier with their physical help and humor. Because Neal was 6 ft 5 inches and weighed about 270 lbs, Heather was not quite sure what to make of Super Duck Neal.

After settling into a training routine, my focus started to shift to a race to test my fitness level. My only race after a long layoff, had been in San Francisco on the boards of the Cow Palace with a 4:04 mile. After an 18-month layoff from racing, dipping my toe in the water was encouraging.

The next race I planned to run was Feb. 19, 1971 in San Diego at the Sports Arena. After a quick call to the meet director, Al Franken, Anne and I boarded a flight to the meet. Heather remained in Eugene with one of Anne’s sisters. Because I like to travel early to a meet, we arrived the night before the race. With a free evening, Anne and I decided to take in a movie, “Love Story.”

Since I was the current world record holder in the outdoor mile, I was very aware the competitors in the San Diego race would be gunning for me. I hadn’t talked with the meet director, Franken, about any pace setters or rabbits for the race. I approached the race in my usual fashion. It was customary that I prayed before my warmup asking the Lord for perfect timing with the right strategy.

About an hour before the race, I began a slow warm up that ended with wind sprints to get my heart rate up and make certain I was ready the moment the gun went off!

San Francisco had not been a true test of my fitness. From the very start of this mile race, the tone and pace were quite different. It was brutally fast. I was 50 yards down at the half mile that I passed in 2:01.0 At that moment, my first thought was I’m in trouble. I was not exceptionally tired. I still had a lot of lift in my legs, but the pace setters were way out in front. As was often the case I said a simple prayer of “Help me God.” I next began relaxing and slowly started to reel in the rabbits. To my surprise and astonishment, they were coming back to me. As the drama in this race continued to unfold, I started to feel physically better. With a couple of laps to go, I had caught the early pace setters and was trying to maintain form and finish well.

Finishing the race, I lost all awareness of pain and fatigue as it was announced I had tied the current world mile indoor record of 3:56.4. WOW was I surprised!

Very quickly I found Anne and gave her a great big sweaty victory hug. I also thanked God for a most unusual race result.

My progress to greater fitness and preparation for the Munich Olympics was very much on course. The bonus was that a fellow Kansan from Fort Hays State, John Mason, had finished second in 3:58.0.

I’m often asked what my thoughts are while running a race. Honestly, not a whole lot. I do my best to stay alert, awake and aware of my opponents. In the San Diego race, prayer was certainly a big part of what I did during my warmup and race. When doubt or nervousness entered my thoughts, I’d pray. I also replaced those thoughts recalling a recent workout, canceling out the doubt to elevate my confidence. This was never a long process, usually very brief, a matter of seconds or a few strides I would then return to silence, letting the race unfold before me.

Years later in 2010, Anne and I would meet Ron Baniaga. We were driving around the San Diego area looking for housing for our youngest daughter Catharine who had recently taken a job with the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series. Ron was out working in his yard. Anne hopped out of the car. She introduced herself. Ron about fell backwards sharing with her that he had been at the San Diego Sports Arena the night I tied the indoor mile world record. He had been a long time fan and was pulling for me to do well. He recounted that as the race developed and I fell further behind at the start, a hushed silence had quieted the crowd.

Like many at the Sports Arena that night, he had come to watch my come back. Then as I slowly drew up alongside the lead runners, the hush turned to loud cheering. Ron said the cheering was thunderously contagious. He said as I moved to the front, the time was announced. He began to cry with excitement for me. It was a great night for many of us!!!

Anne and I returned home to Eugene where Heather greeted us with baby giggles. I would resume training. For a short time, I had a training partner, Steve Prefontaine. As Steve and I got to know each other, we arrived at a training strategy to benefit both of us. We mutually agreed that we would train together, not compete against each other. This way, we could help each other to a higher level of fitness.

The University of Oregon track was where we did our interval training. It worked well until Coach Bill Bowerman, Pre’s coach, put a stop to it. While it was disappointing for both of us, we honored Bowerman’s mandate that we discontinue training together. Both Pre and I held our coaches in high regard. Those were the days when an athlete did what he was told.

A footnote for this time period. Due to being allergic to grasses grown in the Willamette Valley that landed me in bed, we would have to move my training site to Santa Barbara, CA. Prior to our move, Anne, Heather and I would attend the University of Oregon track meets at Hayward Field. Without fail, Pre would spot us and make an effort to greet us. We had a friendship until his death on May 30,1975 taking runs together whenever we were in Eugene visiting family.