Mile run club

Did you know that today, the 6th of May, is the 60th anniversary of the four minute mile? No, we didn’t either but seeing as though it’s one of the most famous and historical moments in athletics, of all time we thought it was something worth celebrating here at the Oakeley Arms!

Today, the four minute mile is the standard speed in athletics (a pace of 15 miles per hour), and in fact the record has been broken many times over, but Sir Roger Bannister was the first to smash it, 60 years ago today. Sir Bannister was just 25 years old in 1954 and studying at the University of Oxford as a Junior Doctor. He was interested in athletics and had begun his running career at the age of just 17. He was a promising athlete, despite only training three times a week for just half an hour each time! He competed in the 1952 Olympics, setting a British record for the 1,500 metres but he left empty handed as far as medals were concerned.

This gave Sir Roger the determination he needed to push himself a little harder and he became absolutely determined to be the first man to run a mile in under four minutes. Just two years later in 1954, he succeeded, at the Iffley Road running track at Oxford University – a now famous sports venue. He smashed his opponent and ran the mile in 3 minutes and 59.4 seconds.

by user Jonathan Bowen on Wikimedia Commons

Sir Roger’s winning run was one of the most historic moments in British history, as well as the history of athletics. Sadly, the record was beaten just 46 days later, but Bannister was the first.

Interestingly enough, a four minute mile has never been completed by a woman. So, do you fancy the challenge?

Here are our ideas for local one mile walks – and if you’re not up for the run, then a nice gentle amble will suffice. And for your reward? How about a delicious lunch and a refreshing drink with us here at the Oakeley Arms bar?! See you soon…..

One mile walks close to the Oakeley Arms Hotel

• The Cob, Porthmadog – the length of the Cob is one mile! And to reach it you could try a trip on the Ffestiniog Railway.
• Tan-y-Bwlch – and by happy coincidence, to walk to the Ffestiniog Railway station from the Oakeley Arms is just about one mile!
• Afon Dwyryd River Walk – from the Oakeley Arms walk along the road towards Maentwrog. Turn left over a stile and along the river, then when the path meets a lane turn left and follow it back to the hotel. Just a shade over a mile!
• Penrhyndeudraeth to Minffordd – again you can use the Ffestiniog Railway to explore the little town of Penrhyndeudraeth. Alight here and walk to the next station at Minffordd – you guessed it, it’s just about a mile!
• Minffordd to Portmeirion – walk from the Ffestiniog railway or the bus stop at Minffordd right into the beautiful village of Portmeirion.
• Porthmadog to Borth-y-Gest – use your mile walk to amble from Porthmadog to the pretty village of Borth-y-Gest. It’ll be two miles if you walk back though, oh dear!!

Happy walking!

Image by dimitri_c on freeimages.com