A few minutes with Don Bowden - first American to run under four minutes in the mile

A few minutes with Don Bowden - first American to run under four minutes in the mile - 3:58.7 - American Record (1957)

RUNOHIO
Tell us what you remember about breaking 4 minutes in the mile.

Bowden
Well it was a great thrill for me. I was primarily a half miler and it was going to be my last mile of the year. I had worked for it and I had a great coach, Bruce Hamilton, in California and he said “you are really in shape to run under 4 Don, so lets give it a go..run as close as you can to 3 minutes for the first three laps. IT just happened to be a beautiful day in the Valley. Everything went right for me. I guess at the day I could really celebrate. Because, when really work for something, I don’t care if it is in business, athletics or what it is. When you really work hard for something and she see the goal come true and you have that sense of accomplishment and you achieved the goal that you really wanted. I think that is a great sense of satisfaction. I really appreciated that and it has been fun thru the years. Now I think I am an interesting trivial question and it is kind of fun being like that. The one thing I remember the most is my teammates and the people I have associated with, like teammates from Cal who I would go on trips with. I just got back from Italy with Lonnie Upshaw, who jumped 25’ 04” in high school. So I have really had lifetime friendships and that is what I think I appreciate getting out of the sport of track. No one has ever done professional track so we all had to go to work. The friendships I have had over the years have been very meaningful.

RUNOHIO
Is this the first time you have seen some of these guys (Distance Legends) when Bob tried to get everyone back together.

Bowden
Yea, I haven’t seen them for many many years. I haven’t seen Bob Schul and I haven’t seen Bob Seaman who went to UCLA and I competed against many times…I haven’t seen him for years and years. This is really neat of Bob to organize the old timers here.

RUNOHIO
Any suggestions for young runners to be successful in the sport?

Bowden
Well, you got to go where there is coaching. But you have to have the desire and you have to put the time in and you have to maximize your ability. You just have to know yourself and really have to work hard especially these days to get up on top. The awards are there for those who have the ability and make the sacrifices to get there.