Sunday, May 30, 2010

My Perfect Mile

It is important to take pleasure in the small things, especially when there are no big things that are pleasing. Several weeks ago I was very excited because I ran a perfect mile. I don't recall the order of the splits but the important thing is that I ran a 7:54 mile that was composed of the following 4 quarters: 2:00, 1:59, 1:58, and 1:57. It wasn't planned--it just happened.

This mile was perfect not only because of the splits themselves, but because it was 6 seconds faster than 8 minutes. And 6 is truly a perfect number. And not only is 6 a perfect number but it is the smallest perfect number. For those who don't remember, a perfect number is one who factors, excluding the number itself, total to the number. So with 6, since the factors are 1, 2, 3, and 6, we add 1, 2, and 3 and get 6.

I think the only was to top this accomplishment will be to run a 3:54 mile comprised of the following 4 splits: 1:00, 59, 58, 57. To do this is going to take some very serious training so I better stop blogging and start running.

2 comments:

Sub 5 at 50 miler said...

This is what comes of being a mathematician, I guess. Anyway, interesting analysis regarding the number 6. Also interesting that a book has been written called the Perfect Mile, yet it was about Bannister's 4-minute mile. Quite interesting that your perfect mile was pretty much the same, just double the pace!

Sub 5 at 50 miler said...

Oh, don't forget to correct the title of this post - it says "The Perect Mile" (missing an f).