Carroll and Reale look to break four minute barrier

IF YOU ever wondered how fast you could run a mile you can find out and, in the process, help a very worthy charity by participating in the SPAR Mile Challenge in your area over the coming weekend.

The SPAR Mile Challenge, which will be one of the biggest participation events in the country during this year, will take place in 28 venues across Ireland tomorrow and Saturday.

The event kicks off at The Mardyke in Cork tomorrow evening when Mark Carroll will attempt to break the four minute barrier for what could be for him the last time.

His personal best time for the mile is 3:50.62 and he has a personal best of 3:35.00 for the metric mile and many, including the Irish record holder, Ray Flynn, insist he never realised his full potential over that distance.

He will be joined by Liam Reale from Limerick who made the final of the 1,500m at the European championships in Gothenburg last year, as well as a number of notables at The Mardyke.

But the SPAR Mile Challenge is all about the masses and The Mardyke, where everyone and anyone can run a mile and will get an official time and certificate between 6.30pm and 8.30pm, is one of four Cork venues over the weekend.

Race walker, Robert Heffernan, who set a new Irish record for the 5,000m walk on the track in Barcelona at the weekend, will surely set a new best for the mile walk.

Apart from the certificate those who enter will receive a sports bag and a wristband denoting the time-band in which they finished based on the colours of the rainbow and all the information collated on the day will be available afterwards — age groups, occupations, etc, for perusal afterwards.

Athletics Ireland are offering a €1,000 incentive to any Irish person who runs a sub-four mile over the weekend.

And while participants can select their own charity, SPAR’s chosen charity is the Irish Hospice Foundation.

On Saturday morning from 11am both CIT and Ballincollig will host the Spar Mile Challenge. People will have the opportunity to take up the challenge at CIT track in Bishopstown or, alternatively, run their mile in the town park in Ballincollig.

From 1pm Bandon AC will host the SPAR Mile Challenge accompanied by a brass band and other forms of entertainment throughout the afternoon on the grass track in Bandon which should be a great day out for the whole family.

While hundreds have already signed up for the challenge, registrations can still be placed on-line at www.sparmilechallenge.com or entries will be taken on the day at the various venues.