“My Most Memorable Mile” Essay Contest
Honors anniversaries of the first sub-4 minute Miles by Roger Bannister and Don Bowden; 359 words or less; winner receives Bring Back the Mile Lap 4 VIP membership and more
May 15 UPDATE: In honor of Jim Ryun becoming the first athlete to go under four minutes in a high school-only competition (May 15, 1965 @ Kansas State Meet), the Grand Prize winner will receive a "I AM THE MILE" t-shirt signed by Ryun himself.
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – (May 3, 2012) – Bring Back the Mile has announced its “My Most Memorable Mile” essay contest in honor of the 58th anniversary of the first sub-4 minute Mile by Roger Bannister on Sunday, May 6. The rules are simple: in 359 words or less, and if you are age 13 and older, tell BBTM what Mile was the most memorable and why. The grand prize winner receives a BBTM Lap 4 VIP membership package (a $359 value), including a limited edition 3:59 "I Am the Mile" t-shirt signed by Jim Ryun. Four runner-ups will receive an “I Am the Mile” wristband and limited edition 3:59 t-shirt. Essay deadline is Friday, June 1, 2012 – which also honors the 55th anniversary of the first sub-4 minute Mile by an American, Don Bowden.
“The Mile has a unique place in our culture and in sports, particularly since Roger Bannister broke 4 minutes in 1954, and we know that there are many wonderful, interesting personal stories surrounding this iconic distance,” said Ryan Lamppa, Bring Back the Mile Founder. “We look forward to reading the 'My Most Memorable Mile’ essays from Milers, coaches and fans and selecting and celebrating the best essays at bringbackthemile.com.”
The rules are simple:
- Visit our I Am the Mile page.
- Share Your Story; Photos & Videos also welcome, but must include written story.
- In 359 words or less tell us your most memorable Mile story either run or witnessed.
- Click submit (must be 13 years or older to participate).
Contest period:
- Start: Sunday, May 6 - The 58th anniversary of the first sub-4 minute Mile by Roger Bannister
- Finish: Friday, June 1 - The 55th anniversary of the first sub-4 minute Mile by an American, Don Bowden
PRIZES
- Grand Prize: 1 BBTM Lap 4 VIP membership package ($359 value)
- Runner-ups: 4 BBTM Lap 3 VIP membership package ($35.94 value)
Visit http://www.bringbackthemile.com/jointhemovement for more information on membership levels.
The Mile holds a special place in Track & Field and beyond because no running distance, or field event for that matter, has the history, the appeal, the “magic” of the Mile. The first sub-4 minute mile by Great Britain’s Roger Bannister in 1954 is regarded as the greatest individual athletic achievement of the 20th century (see Forbes November 18, 2005 article HERE), and no other event has produced an equivalent of the sub-4 minute Mile standard in the sport, in the media and in the public’s mind.
Unfortunately, the Mile has lost some of its luster over the past decade, and the Bring Back the Mile mission is: To return the Mile to prominence on the American sports and cultural landscape by elevating and celebrating the Mile to create a national movement.
Visit www.bringbackthemile.com or contact media@bringbackthemile.com for more information.
