What does it take for a woman to break the 4-minute mile? In this exclusive and groundbreaking interview, Dr. Andy Jones—one of the world’s leading exercise physiologists and the mastermind behind Kipchoge’s sub-two-hour marathon—reveals the science, strategy, and secrets behind Nike’s latest audacious project: Breaking4.
Dr. Jones has worked with legends like Paula Radcliffe and Eliud Kipchoge, and now, he’s applying decades of research and experience to help Faith Kipyegon achieve what was once thought impossible: the first sub-4-minute mile by a woman.
In this interview:
00:00 – Intro: Who is Dr. Andy Jones?
01:00 – The Origins of Nike's Breaking4 Project
03:00 – Faith Kipyegon: The Athlete at the Center
05:15 – Physiology of the Female Mile Record
09:00 – Can Faith Kipyegon Really Break 4 Minutes?
11:30 – VO2 Max, Running Economy & Anaerobic Contribution
15:15 – Pacing, Drafting, and Racing Strategy Insights
17:00 – The Science of the Perfect Mile Race
19:25 – The Role of Wavelight Technology & Aerodynamics
21:00 – Breaking2 Lessons Applied to Breaking4
23:25 – Pacers, Coordination, and Logistics in Elite Events
26:00 – Ideal Race Conditions for a Sub-4:00 Attempt
29:00 – Warm-Ups, Priming, and Race Day Preparation
33:00 – Training the Body to Hit VO2 Max Quickly
36:00 – Bicarbonate, Nitrate, and Legal Performance Enhancers
39:00 – Will There Be a New Nike Super Spike?
41:15 – Apparel, Drag, and Thermoregulation Science
42:50 – Will Wavelight Be Used for Breaking4?
45:00 – What Does Success Look Like (Even If She Doesn’t Break 4)?
47:00 – Why Scientists Won’t Collect Race-Day Data
48:50 – Was Breaking2 Ever Almost Indoors? (Behind-the-Scenes!)
50:50 – Why Breaking4 Must Feel Like a Real Race
53:00 – Dr. Jones' Prediction for the Record Attempt
54:20 – What Is Resilience in Endurance Running?
57:10 – How Kipchoge and Radcliffe Excelled in Resilience
58:45 – How Runners Can Train for More Resilience
01:01:00 – Fasted Training, Long Runs, and East African Methods
01:03:15 – Paula Radcliffe’s Steady Running Philosophy
01:06:00 – Is Easy Running Overrated?
01:08:00 – Will There Be Other Women in Breaking4?
01:10:00 – The Pacers of the Future: Could Young Stars Join In?
01:12:30 – Who Is Faith Kipyegon Beyond the Track?
01:14:00 – Closing Thoughts on Risk, Innovation, and Belief
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