When I saw this email inviting me to run the Vitality Westminster mile on the year of the Queen’s 70th Jubilee around Royal St James Park, London finishing outside Buckingham Palace. I just had to sign up there and then!

The event was held on Sunday 1st May as a prelude to the 10KM race that was planned for the following days Bank holiday Monday!

parkrun wave

For the record I was in wave 10 group that was reserved for park runners and it was great to see to people from different parkrun decked out in their apricot event tops 🙂

Also, as always it was a pleasure to bump into fellow tourist friends again and catch up 🙂

Course

The mile course starts on The Mall, and you run in a clockwise direction around the closed roads outside St James park that includes Birdcage Walk. Finally, you sprint or jog up to right outside Buckingham Palace.

Points to note

• The course is very flat in nature and if you wish you can run a very fast time on the road
• Love the marker boards displaying how far to go from 800 metres out
• Marshalls controlling tourists points

For me I got a bit carried away with the occasion and started off way too fast for my current pace, but with the distance markers informing me how far to go I rallied with a OK mile time of 9:56

Facilities

As you would expect from the London Marathon organisers everything was perfect from the village set up in Green Park, to plenty of toilet facilities and a large well organise baggage drop off area!

For me the most convenient way too get to it for me was by Thameslink train, then London underground getting off at the conveniently located Green Park station.

Final Verdict

I would 100% recommend this event to everyone from fun runners to people who want to test how fast they can run a timed event mile in around an iconic venue!

You all have been told 🙂

Best Mark aka Silent Runner