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Best Content of the Week

Do you now the history of the four-minute mile?

For a century, some of the world's most celebrated athletes had steadily lowered the record for the mile run. They inched closer and closer to the four-minute mile, but they always stopped just short. Many believed it was physically impossible to run a mile in less than four minutes.

That changed on May 6, 1954, when Roger Bannister ran it in three minutes and 59.4 seconds, breaking the world record by two seconds.

What's even more remarkable is what happened next. On June 21, 1954, just six weeks after Bannister's seemingly superhuman achievement, John Landy became the second person to run a sub-four-minute mile. A year later, three more joined the club.

The lesson here goes far beyond running.

Sometimes, in our lowest moments, we just need to know that success is possible, that someone out there has experienced a similar challenge and made it through to the other side. Knowing it's been done seems to expand our sense of our own potential.

That's the gift Dean Somerset offers this week when he recounts the monumental challenges he faced during the 2008 economic crisis. If you're struggling right now, and wondering how you'll ever put the pieces back together, you really need to read his story.

How to Retain Gains and Lose Fat in Crazy Times -- Sohee Lee, T Nation

There's been a lot of talk about how to pursue your pre-pandemic goals while you're locked out of your gym, or whether you should even try. Sohee Lee tackles those questions with actionable, research-backed advice, offering reassurance for those worried about losing the strength and muscle they've worked so hard to build.

— Shane McLean

Best Video

Have You Been Lunging Correctly? -- Kelly Starrett, The Ready State

With body-weight workouts being all the rage right now (by default, if you weren't quick enough to get your share of the strategic dumbbell reserve before it disappeared), this is the perfect time for a refresher course on the lunge. In this week's top video, Kelly Starrett explains why so many of us prefer reverse lunges to other variations, what it says about our mobility, and what to do about it.

— Esther Avant

Best Social Media Post

When we talk about personal training, we think of the "personal" part in terms of our clients. But as Brett Bartholomew reminds us, it's also about us, and how we evolve as people in our many roles. "Learn to periodize your career, your learning, and your life," he advises. That growth is the key to a long, successful career in the fitness industry.

— Christina Abbey

Best Podcast

Lean and Strong -- Josh Hillis and Jason Leenaarts, Revolutionary YOU!

— Mike Howard

More Great Fitness Content 

New Week, New Environment, New Strategies for a New World -- Bryan Krahn, bryankrahn.com

13-Minute Routine to Undo a Day of Desk Work -- Eric Wong, Precision Movement

How to Tell if Your Feet Are Pronated or Supinated -- Mike Wasilisin, MoveU

Promoting Physical Activity for Mental Well-Being -- Stephanie Cooper, ACSM

How to Get Out of a Rut in About 20 Minutes -- David Cain, Raptitude