Sam Ruthe Just Became the Youngest Person to Break 4 in the Mile—And His 3K and 1500 Are Even Scarier

At 15, Sam Ruthe is breaking records and shattering expectations. With a jaw-dropping 3:58.35 mile, he became the youngest human ever to break four minutes, vaulting himself into the global spotlight. But if you know his story, none of this feels like a fluke. Running is in Sam’s blood. His grandfather was a Commonwealth Games steeplechaser. His parents? Both competitive runners. You can’t fake that kind of DNA. The stuff he has accomplished outside of just the mile already are dumbfounding: In November of 2024 he broke the New Zealand U17/U18 3000m record (with a time of 8:09.68). On February 1 of this year he won the senior national 3000m title in 7:56.18, becoming the youngest ever to do so. On February 9 of this year he ran 3:41.25 in the 1500m, which was faster than Jakob Ingebrigtsen did at the same age. On March 9 of this year he went toe-to-toe with Sam Tanner at the NZ Senior Champs, tying in 3:44.31 in the 1500m. And then on March 19 he blew past the four-minute mile barrier with a 3:58.35. And those are just the headlines. In 2025 alone, he clocked 1:50.57 in the 800m, 3:39.17 in the 1500m and 7:56.18 in the 3,000m. These aren’t “great for his age.” They’re just great. Full stop. Sam is humble, calculated, and deeply thoughtful—the kind of athlete who makes you rethink what’s possible at any age. If you coach, compete, or love seeing the future before it’s fully arrived — don’t miss this one. In today's conversation, Sam takes me through his training, mindset, and ambitions. We go into him being the youngest person to ever break 4 minutes in the mile, training with professional runners, and so much more. Remember the name. Tap into the Sam Ruthe Special. If you enjoy the podcast, please consider following us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and giving us a five-star review! I would also appreciate it if you share it with your friend who you think will benefit from it. Comment the word “PODCAST” below and I’ll DM you a link to listen. If this episode blesses you, please share it with a friend! S H O W N O T E S The Run Down By The Running Effect (our new newsletter!): https://tinyurl.com/mr36s9rs BUY MERCH BEFORE IT’S GONE: https://shop.therunningeffect.run Our Website: https://therunningeffect.run THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQ My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en Take our podcast survey: https://tinyurl.com/3ua62ffz