FLYCARB Revives the Sub-4 Mile Chronicle

The athletics world has long been fascinated by the 4-minute mile. Since Roger Bannister first broke the barrier in 1954, just 2,349 athletes (as of 22nd Feb 2026) have achieved it. Remarkably, that’s fewer people than have stood on the summit of Mount Everest.

Until June 2021 a team at NUTS maintained the Sub 4 Chronicle. But in recent years, the record-keeping has faded away.

At FLYCARB, we think that’s a story worth preserving.

Alongside fuelling athletes chasing their fastest performances, we’re proud to sponsor the revival of Sub4Milers.com, now updated with interactive analytics and modern data tools to explore the history of the sub-4 mile.

The project is managed by FLYCARB's co-founder, Josh, [who was sub-4 miler #1884 in July 2022]. We’re always keen to keep the records accurate, so if you spot any missing athletes or corrections, please get in touch.

👉 Explore the data at www.sub4milers.com

Why the Sub-4 Mile Matters

The mile sits at a turning point in human physiology. It sits right on the boundary between aerobic and anaerobic energy systems. Athletes rely heavily on aerobic power to sustain pace, but as the race progresses the body increasingly produces lactate and hydrogen ions, contributing to muscular fatigue.

This is exactly the physiological space where sodium bicarbonate supplementation has been studied most extensively. By increasing the body’s buffering capacity, bicarbonate can help neutralise the acid produced during high-intensity exercise, potentially allowing athletes to sustain speed for longer.

In other words, the sub-4 mile isn’t just one of the most iconic achievements in athletics, it’s also a perfect example of the type of effort where bicarbonate fuelling strategies may provide an edge.

Which makes it a milestone we’re particularly proud to support.