This year’s event marks the 30th anniversary of Steve Cram’s world mile record

The third edition of the Bupa Westminster Mile on May 24 will salute one of Britain’s greatest middle-distance runners as well as his mile record.

Steve Cram broke the world mile record in the Dream Mile in Oslo thirty years ago this July as part of a 19-day period in which he set three world records, with his mile time of 3:46.32 still standing as a British record today.

The 2015 Bupa Westminster Mile will commemorate Cram’s mile mark as runners of all ages from elites to families with young children contest a series of races in St James s Park, starting on The Mall and finishing in front of Buckingham Palace.

To launch this year’s event, teams of London school children attempted to break Cram s mile record in a 100m shuttle relay at Paddington Recreation Ground on Wednesday, though his time remained unbroken.

“The mile is the perfect distance for any age and any ability,” said Cram.

“It’s wonderful to see so many young athletes here today inspired by what I did 30 years ago. I m looking forward to seeing thousands of runners, young and old, running the mile in May.”

Event director Hugh Brasher added: “We have set a target of 9000+ entries for this year to make this the biggest timed mile event in the world.

“In support of the This Girl Can campaign, there will be a number of all-female races for girls and women of all abilities, including the opportunity for mums to run with their daughters, sisters, friends and family.”

Entry into the Bupa Westminster Mile events is now open, with races for families, adults, female-only, veterans, juniors, elite athletes and senior and junior wheelchair users.

The entry fee is 8 for those aged 18 and over ( 7 for Westminster residents) and 6 for nine to 17-year-olds ( 5 for Westminster residents). Entry for children under nine is free.

The Bupa Westminster Mile also acts as the official British Athletics One-Mile Road Age Group Championships, with sponsorship contracts from adidas to be awarded to the winners of the races in the under-15, under-17 and under-20 age-group categories.

See www.bupawestminstermile.co.uk

AW’s editor spoke with Steve Cram about his world mile record in 2014 and you can read an online piece here

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