Following on the success of last month’s Mizuno Mile in Peterborough which saw Cardiff’s James Thie run close to 4 minutes for the flat road mile and a dominating performance from Steph’ Twell, the Japanese sporting goods giant has announced the next two races in their series. On Wednesday 8 August the Stormont Estate in Belfast will host an open mile run alongside two invitation mile races. The fast route will descend the Prince of Wales Drive, a superb back drop for a fine evening of running. On Wednesday 15 August a challenging ‘up-hill’ mile race will be run from the village of Rivington in Lancashire. Rivington is renowned for the ‘Pike Race’, but this road mile will be a test for the best hill and fell runners against those more experienced on flatter tracks and roads. A generous prize fund should attract quality fields in the men’s and women’s races. The prize fund for the Stormont Race will see a cash prize of £750 awarded to the winners. Second prizes are £400 and third £200. The winning under 20 year old will receive a £100 prize. In Rivington winners will receive cash prizes for £500, second prizes are £250 and third £150. The winning under 20 year old will receive a £100 prize. Commenting, Julian Moorhouse of Mizuno said, “We are proud to sponsor the over 30 running events in the UK and Ireland. The Mizuno Mile series is a new initiative and we hope to run mile races at a number of locations and on a range of surfaces. We have some interesting ideas in mind and a number of locations. We hope to challenge the athletes and provide some interesting racing for spectators”. James Thie from Cardiff has been confirmed for Belfast. He has run international mile races all over the world - including Bermuda and is a sub 4 minute miler and 3'37 1500m runner. There should be plenty of local competition for the Welsh man with the likes of Paddy Hamilton, Paul Pollock, and Michael Dyer all likely to enter. As the mile is downhill, we might see some of the fell runners coming out to have a go. Fiona Maxwell has been extremely successful of late, winning the British Over 40 Mountain title. On the night the Open Race caters for everyone of all ages and abilities and provides the opportunity to see how fast they can run the classic distance of a mile. The cost if only £7 and online entry is available on www.niathletics.org. After the success of the recent Spar Mile Challenge throughout Ireland, the Mizuno Mile offers a second chance to challenge the mile! Full information on the vent can be found on www.niathletics.org Athletes keen to compete in these races should contact Julian Moorhouse at jmoorhouse@mizuno.co.uk or call 07725 372082.