Beating John Landy was my defining race.

I raced supremely well. I felt I was as well fitted to do it as I had ever been, and as perhaps I might ever be. I went climbing three weeks before, because I was feeling fed up with running.

I wanted to be a neurologist. That seemed to be the most difficult, most intriguing, and the most important aspect of medicine, which had links with psychology, aggression, behavior, and human affairs.

I found longer races boring. I found the mile just perfect.

My introduction to track racing was through the background of cross country running, which is not a sport perhaps as popular in America as it is in England.

I lived on the top of one hill and the school was at the top of another hill. Nobody ever went to school by car - we didn't have any cars during the war. So that to and from school was itself a training.

Just because they say it's impossible doesn't mean you can't do it.