Seb Coe returns to racing action at the Vitality Westminster Mile – Run Britain – News

The man who set three world records over the mile distance during his incredible track career will take part in the Olympians Mile, open to athletes in any sport who have represented Great Britain in a Summer or Winter Olympic Games.

Coe famously won Olympic gold over 1500m, the metric mile, in 1980 and 1984 in addition to the silver medals over 800m he won at both Games.

On 28 May, Coe will line up on the famous start line on The Mall with more than 100 Olympians including ice dance legend Jayne Torvill, rowing gold medallist Greg Searle and five-time Olympian Jo Pavey (handicap 0.2).

Coe visited Hallfield School in Westminster yesterday to meet children who have been participating in The Daily Mile initiative and who will be running in The Daily Mile London wave at the Vitality Westminster Mile. Children participating in The Daily Mile go outside every school day, whatever the weather, to run, jog and walk for 15 minutes. The children run in their school clothes and no special kit or trainers are required.

“It’s fantastic to see these children so excited about taking part in the Vitality Westminster Mile,” said Coe. “The London 2012 Olympic Games aimed to inspire a generation and this event, created in 2013 as an Olympic legacy event, is doing just that.”

Created by former primary school headteacher Elaine Wyllie at her school in Scotland, The Daily Mile initiative is now being rolled out nationwide. Schools across all of London are now participating in the scheme and The Daily Mile London wave on Sunday 28 May will feature children from every London Borough.

Elaine Wyllie was at Hallfield School, which has operated The Daily Mile for more than a year, to talk to other head teachers in Westminster about the scheme, which now operates in more than 2,500 schools.

“The aim of The Daily Mile is to improve the physical, social, emotional and mental health and wellbeing of children – regardless of age, ability or personal circumstances,” said Wyllie. “It is a profoundly simple but effective concept which any primary school can implement. It needs no set-up, tidy up or equipment and children run in their school uniform and day shoes. Its impact can be transformational – improving not only the children’s fitness but also their concentration levels, mood, behaviour and general wellbeing.”

The Vitality Westminster Mile features 30 races for all ages and abilities. With a spectacular start on The Mall, the course of the world’s most famous mile takes in Horse Guards Parade and Birdcage Walk and finishes in front of Buckingham Palace. Entry is £8 for adults, £6 for juniors (£1 reduction for Westminster residents) and free for children aged 11 and under. There’s a host of free family-friendly activities all day long in Green Park at the Vitality Wellness Festival too.

Entries close at 17:00 on Monday 8 May. Find out more and enter now at www.vitalitywestminstermile.co.uk

For help with training for a mile go to our Training Wizard who can give you a schedule each week as you train towards your mile race.

Simply tell the Wizard that you want to:

Run a mile

Your target

• Get round
• 8 minutes
• 7 minutes
• 6 minutes

Your training focus for the week

• Build aerobic base – if you are starting from a low fitness level
• Build strength-endurance – if you start quickly but can't keep the pace to the end of the mile
• Build speed-endurance – if you can get round and now want to make your legs turn over to hit your target time
• Improve running economy – if your running technique could be better

Whether you want an easy, moderate or hard week

The Wizard will then set you a bespoke programme for the week. All you have to do is follow the instructions and you will be raring to go on 28th May!

For more advice on how to develop endurance, speed and strength visit our Training Zone.

Run Britain – News