Until May 6, 1954, it had never been done, and even the idea was often scoffed at as impossible. Then, on a wet and windy day, Roger Gilbert Bannister did the unthinkable, and ran a mile in under 4 minutes. Unthinkable, for everyone except perhaps, by him. If he had listened to the critics, instead of playing his own music, May 6, 1954 would not have been an historical date in running history. But he played his own tune, performed it perfectly, and very soon after, others started singing his song.
The power of the mind. The power of positive thinking. The power comes from within. Even if the notion is inspired from external sources, it's the music that plays inside that's going to see you there. Once Bannister ran the mile in under four minutes, other runners started believing they could do it too. By the end of 1954, he did not stand alone in accomplishing the impossible. Today, a four minute mile is relatively commonplace.
We all have our personal 4 minute mile, our own personal marathon. That barrier of the unproven or unaccomplished that our hearts wish for our bodies. The goals that defy logic, or reason to anyone but ourselves. Sometimes, we don't even know why, but it's a song we can't get out of our heads. It could be anything from completing a marathon, to running a sub 20 minute 5K, or setting a lifetime PR at any distance, even though we're in our 40's. We can seek encouragement from the world, and the world can heap it upon us, but that alone, is not enough. If you are merely conducting the music, but don't have the song in your heart, the musicians will eventually stop following your baton, and instead tap to their own beat. You are left feeling frustrated, even betrayed, but it's as simple as the music being all around you, and having it drown out your own song.
The impossible is just that. Impossible. But by seeking to achieve the impossible, we can accomplish the previously undefined, within our own scope of accomplishment, and sometimes, within the world's. By attempting the impossible, we can accomplish the improbable, and every time we achieve the improbable, we raise our own personal bar a little bit higher. But the song we sing must be from within. Sir Roger played the music, and soon after, many others sang along. His music found its way into other people's hearts.
Sing your own song. Sing it loud. Sing it proud. Sing it for the world to hear. The name of the song is Our Personal 4 Minute Miles. Our Own Personal Marathons.