To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the first sub-four minute mile, run by Roger Bannister at the Iffley Road track in 1954, Oxford University athletics, cross country clubs and the British Milers Club have organised the Bannister Community Mile.

Taking place on Bank Holiday Monday, 6th May 2024. It has two main parts: a road mile in the morning and track event in the afternoon.

It will start on St Aldates, go along the High Street, over Magdalen Bridge, down Iffley Road, and finish by the track. Participants will then walk down to the track and receive finishers’ medals. This event is open to everyone, so students of any age or speed could participate. Waves of runners will go off starting at 9.00 a.m. The staging area will be on the Broad Walk at Christ Church Meadow.

In the afternoon on the track there will be competitive mile races to watch, from U-13s to veterans and some paralympic events, culminating in international-standard races at 6.00 p.m. (when the gun went off for the sub-four minute mile). Entry is free but registration is required to control numbers.

Further information on the event can be obtained from the website here:
https://www.bannistermiles.org.uk

• Unique day – 70th anniversary of the first sub 4-minute mile
• First-ever event of its kind in Oxford
• Chance to run along Oxford’s main streets free of traffic
• A manageable distance to introduce people into jogging and running
• Runners from the same school all starting together in the same wave
• Accurate chip recording of each runner’s time
• A medal for each finisher
• Access to a one-day exhibition on mile record-breaking the Iffley Road Sports Centre