16 May 2012

There are less than two weeks to go until the Bupa London 10,000 on Sunday 27 May – round two of the 2012 runbritain Grand Prix.

Last year’s event had an amazing turn out of British club and international runners and will once again host the UK Championship at 10k. Organisers hope that the fast Olympic-loop course, strong field, good conditions and the good prize money on offer will take 30 British men below the 30:00 minute barrier in the same race for the first time since the 1980’s.

The top British finishers in both the men’s race and the women’s race will receive £2000 for first place, £1000 for second, £800 for third…down to £100 for tenth.

There is also £2000 on offer to the best placed UKA team in both men’s and women’s events, with three to score.

Prize money is only available to runners who are eligible to represent Great Britain and Northern Ireland in international competition. In addition, for the team competition, athletes must adhere to UKA rules regarding club vests.

This position has been agreed by the London Marathon and UKA to enhance the development of UK runners.

Full details are on the Bupa London 10,000 event website.

12 months ago Mo Farah took the men’s title ahead of Andrew Lemoncello and 2011 runbritain Grand Prix champion Phil Wicks in second and third respectively.

In the women’s event, Jo Pavey raced to victory ahead of women’s runbritain Grand Prix champion Gemma Steel in second and Paula Radcliffe in third.

This year’s race, which moves to Sunday from its traditional bank Holiday Monday slot, starts (and finishes) in The Mall and follows a clockwise route around the City of Westminster and the City of London. Runners pass many of London’s famous sights including, Admiralty Arch, Nelson’s Column, St Paul’s Cathedral, Mansion House, Bank of England, Leadenhall Market, The Monument, Millennium Bridge, Tate Gallery, Cleopatra’s Needle, London Eye, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. Buckingham Palace acts as the backdrop for both the start and finish.

Entries are now closed for the Bupa London 10,000 but remain open for the three autumn runbritain Grand Prix events in Swansea, Bristol and Peterborough (the last of which also hosts the UK Half Marathon Championship).

Enter now through the runbritain website.