Take the shot.
What Faith Kipyegon’s sub 4 attempt can teach us about the beauty of bold attempts.
Mantra: Take the shot.
It was a moonshot.
Faith Kipyegon’s attempt to run the first female sub 4-minute mile would require her to take 7 seconds off of her previous personal best, already the fastest time ever run by a woman. The goal was bold and very public - supported by Nike and culminating in a live full production broadcast designed to capture the historic effort.
I was among the many watching. I had planned to start my strength workout before the attempt, but instead found myself on the floor of the gym, eyes locked on the screen as the commentators laid out the stakes, the preparation, and the significance of what we were about to witness.
When Faith Kipyegon finally stepped onto the track she looked calm, composed, and ready. I could only imagine how much belief it had taken from Faith and the team around her to even make this moment a reality.
When she began to run, I burst into tears. It was deeply moving to watch someone show up willing to strive so brilliantly. For four minutes and six seconds, I held my breath and felt the nervous, electric hope of watching history unfold.
And it did.
Faith crossed the line in 4:06.42 - a new women’s world record. Short of her goal, yes. But now the fastest mile ever run by a woman. I didn’t know how to react. So I watched her face at the finish. And I saw her smile - not the elated grin of victory but not the downturned eyes of defeat. She had the kind of smile that only comes when you’ve given everything you have. A smile that says: I held nothing back.
And isn’t that the point?
How we tell the story of Faith’s brilliant attempt says a lot about what we value. Some headlines led with “World Record.” Others focused on the so-called “failure” to break 4. But for me, the real success wasn’t in the time. It was in the courage to take the shot.
The best way to inspire the person next to you to push their limits is to be actively pushing your own. It’s only a matter of time before a woman breaks the 4-minute mile. And I’d bet that when it happens, Faith’s effort will have played a critical role.
When Roger Bannister became the first man to break 4 in 1954, it wasn’t very long before others followed. Not because something dramatically changed physically, but because the impossible had been redefined. The door flew open - and others ran through.
Faith may not have blown open that door. But she knocked harder than anyone else has. And maybe she cracked it just enough for the next attempt.
To me, that’s the ultimate inspiration. Record or not, the world I want to live in isn’t the world of the doubters. It’s the world of Faith.
So this week: take the shot. And if you’re not too busy taking your own?
Be the reason someone else takes theirs.
Message: because it is hard…
“Breaking4 was about showing the world that we have to push ourselves. This one was for all the young girls and women out there to show that you have to believe in yourself in everything you do.”
- Faith Kipyegon
“We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.”
- John F. Kennedy, September 12, 1962, Rice University
Musing: you never regret taking the shot…
What is a moonshot that you would regret not taking?
It is always interesting how many people think the four minute mile was just run by an individual. It took a team with a plan. The video of this shows that so clearly as well. I think that reinforces your point about the courage to put yourself out there not only with the knowledge it’s going to be hard for you, but others are going to have to work hard for you. Brave attempt.