• Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home European Athletics

The Dream Mile, The end of an era? by J. Stuart Weir

Stuart Weirby Stuart Weir
June 15, 2017
0
0 0
0
SHARES
31
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Ingebrigtsen_Jacub-Pre17.JPGJakub Ingebrigtsen, Pre Classic 2017, photo by PhotoRun.net

Wightman_Jake-BosOut17 copy.jpGJake Wightman, adidas Boost Boston, Somerville, photo by PhotoRun.net

RelatedPosts

Marcell Jacobs will be ready!

Femke Bol and Jessica Schilder eagerly anticipating Hengelo: Both in top form for the 44th edition of the FBK Games

European Athletics Euro Cup 10,000m 2025 (27th edition), Pacé, France, courtesy of European Athletics

The Bislett Games is one of the most inconic of athletic meetings. It was during the era of the great Ron Clarke, Australian distance runner, who, in all honesty, helped build the summer European tours in the 1960s with his 25-30 races during the summer season.

Stuart Weir wrote this piece on the Dream Mile, one of the true iconic events over the past four decades. This year, Bislett shook it up a bit, with an Under 20 Dream Mile, won by Jakub Ingebrigtsen and the DL 1,500 meters, won by Jake Wightman.

Stuart Weir wrote this piece on the mile/1500 meters races. I liked the affection for the events noted by some of the greats of the mile, Steve Cram and Seb Coe.

The end of an era?

The signature race in the Bislett Games has traditionally been the Dream Mile. If you go back to the 1980s there were epic battles among the British trio of Sebastian Coe, Steve Ovett and Steve Cram with all three winning the dream mile and setting at least one world record in the Bislett Stadium. The Dream Mile also saw 16 national records established.

The fastest ever Dream Mile in Oslo was in 1997 when Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco recorded 3:44.90. Arguably the best race was in 1979 when Seb Coe won and the first ten finishers were under the 4 minute mark. Last year Asbel Kiprop won the race for the third time in 3:51.48.

This year there is a “dream mile” in the programme but a dream mile with a difference. It is an Under 20 race, billed as the “1 Mile Men – U20 Dream Mile” with the elite men contesting the Diamond 1500 metres race.

I was wondering if this was the end of an era. Then, I happened to find myself in the hot-dog line behind Steve Cram, now a TV commentator. He was bound to know the answer. He told me that it had not been discontinued but was having a break possibly because it was so much associated with the former sponsor, Mobil. Speaking exclusively to RunBlogRun, Cram added that even in his day the Dream Mile had not taken place every year as an elite race.

Lord Seb Coe, President of the IAAF, was also in Oslo for the meet. He told me what Oslo meant to him: “It was a good stadium for me – five races and five world records! That’s a pretty good strike rate. What I remember about the stadium is something that I still recognise, that it is an extraordinarily knowledgeable crowd. The history of the sport is deeply ingrained in the city. When the sun sets and the summer evening closes in a bit, you probably have the most perfect conditions for a middle distance race and I experienced that on a number of locations. The atmosphere in the stadium when they know that something is going to happen are someone is going to make an attempt on something is extraordinary”.

Jakob Ingebrigtsen won this year’s Under 20 Dream Mile in have 3:56.29 – a PR. He said of his performance: “This was completely crazy. I felt really strong and the crowd was awesome. It was a nice experience. At the end of the race I was strong. A nice experience”.

Jake Wightman (GB) won the senior 1500 in 3:34.17 again a PR. Filip Ingebrigtsen was unable to pull off a family double, finishing fourth. Wightman, who only got his place in the race on Monday, admitted to being shocked by the win: “My race plan was to start off pretty settled because I knew if they went off hard they would come back. I am usually quite strong on the last lap so I put all my money on that – to come through on the last 300. I felt pretty good on the home straight so I just about got away with it”.

His success was all the sweeter knowing that he was being watched by Steve Cram and Seb Coe. He said “I have known Steve for some time as his son went to my school, but Seb Coe is a massive, massive idol of mine. Hopefully, I impressed him tonight”.

So middle distance is alive and well in Oslo, even if it is a dream 1500m rather than a dream mile.

Author

  • Stuart Weir

    Since 2015, Stuart Weir has written for RunBlogRun. He attends about 20 events a year including all most global championships and Diamond Leagues. He enjoys finding the quirky and obscure story.

    View all posts
Previous Post

A Hometown Race Still Going Strong- The Middletown Crystal Run Healthcare 10K Classic

Next Post

2017 Bislett Diary: Karsten Warholm debuts at 48.25, Barshim gets 2.38m MR and Jakob Ingebrigtsen runs 3:56.29! Meet synopsis from EME News

Stuart Weir

Stuart Weir

Since 2015, Stuart Weir has written for RunBlogRun. He attends about 20 events a year including all most global championships and Diamond Leagues. He enjoys finding the quirky and obscure story.

Similar Post

Seven Scandinavian takeaways
Uncategorized

Seven Scandinavian takeaways

June 18, 2025
Aussie, Aussie High Jump – new run-ups aplenty in Nanjing 2025!
Diamond League

Women’s High Jump in Stockholm

June 18, 2025
British triumphs and disappointments in Stockholm
Track & Field

British triumphs and disappointments in Stockholm

June 18, 2025
This Day in Track & Field History, June 9, Stanford dominates NCAA (1928), Michel Jazy runs 3:53.6 (1965) Mile WR, Craig Virgin gets HS 2 mile record (1973), by Walt Murphy’s News and Results Services
Athletic History

This Day in Track & Field, June 17, Glenn Cunningham wins 880 yards/Mile at NCAA (1933), Craig Virgin breaks Pre’s 10,000m AR (1979), by Walt Murphy

June 18, 2025
FBK Games FBK Stadium, Hengelo (NED), 9 June 2025
Continental Tour Gold

FBK Games FBK Stadium, Hengelo (NED), 9 June 2025

June 17, 2025
Is Beatrice Chebet Quietly Building the Most Dangerous Range in Women’s Distance Running?
Spring Training

2025 Spring Racing/Training Program, June 17, 2025, week 14, day 2, Third week of sharpening, Third week, transition from track to cross country.

June 17, 2025

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Subscribe to RunBlogRun's Global News Feed

Wake up to RunBlogRun’s news in your inbox. Sign up for our newsletter and we’ll keep you informed about the Sport you love.

*we hate spam as much as you do

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Clyde Hart’s Guide to 400 meter training (from 1996 Super Clinic Notes/World Coaches Notes)

Clyde Hart’s Guide to 400 meter training (from 1996 Super Clinic Notes/World Coaches Notes)

April 5, 2023
2023 Nike Pre Classic: Two Amazing Days of Track & Field!

Noah Lyles, The Clock Doesn’t Lie

March 7, 2024
Grand Slam Track’s Kingston Slam Comes to a Close with 12 Slam Champions

2025 Spring Racing/Training Program, April 11, 2025, week 4, day 5, fourth week of year, Friday is an easy day!

April 12, 2025
USATF / Day Four:  USA’s Assembled Team Is Ready!

Abby Steiner replies via twitter, on the curiosity about her new professional running contract

February 6, 2025
Mondo Duplantis and the Jump that made him the greatest of all time

Mondo Duplantis and the Jump that made him the greatest of all time

8
What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

7
My Five Biggest Takeaways from the Men’s Olympic Trials Marathon, by Oliver Hinson

My Five Biggest Takeaways from the Men’s Olympic Trials Marathon, by Oliver Hinson

7
Asafa Powell, Considering Longevity in Sprinting

The RunBlogrun Interview: Asafa Powell

5
Seven Scandinavian takeaways

Seven Scandinavian takeaways

June 18, 2025
Aussie, Aussie High Jump – new run-ups aplenty in Nanjing 2025!

Women’s High Jump in Stockholm

June 18, 2025
British triumphs and disappointments in Stockholm

British triumphs and disappointments in Stockholm

June 18, 2025
This Day in Track & Field History, June 9, Stanford dominates NCAA (1928), Michel Jazy runs 3:53.6 (1965) Mile WR, Craig Virgin gets HS 2 mile record (1973), by Walt Murphy’s News and Results Services

This Day in Track & Field, June 17, Glenn Cunningham wins 880 yards/Mile at NCAA (1933), Craig Virgin breaks Pre’s 10,000m AR (1979), by Walt Murphy

June 18, 2025

Popular Stories

  • Clyde Hart’s Guide to 400 meter training (from 1996 Super Clinic Notes/World Coaches Notes)

    Clyde Hart’s Guide to 400 meter training (from 1996 Super Clinic Notes/World Coaches Notes)

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Noah Lyles, The Clock Doesn’t Lie

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • 2025 Spring Racing/Training Program, April 11, 2025, week 4, day 5, fourth week of year, Friday is an easy day!

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Abby Steiner replies via twitter, on the curiosity about her new professional running contract

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • An epic pole vault competition

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Seven Scandinavian takeaways
Uncategorized

Seven Scandinavian takeaways

June 18, 2025
Aussie, Aussie High Jump – new run-ups aplenty in Nanjing 2025!
Diamond League

Women’s High Jump in Stockholm

June 18, 2025
British triumphs and disappointments in Stockholm
Track & Field

British triumphs and disappointments in Stockholm

June 18, 2025
This Day in Track & Field History, June 9, Stanford dominates NCAA (1928), Michel Jazy runs 3:53.6 (1965) Mile WR, Craig Virgin gets HS 2 mile record (1973), by Walt Murphy’s News and Results Services
Athletic History

This Day in Track & Field, June 17, Glenn Cunningham wins 880 yards/Mile at NCAA (1933), Craig Virgin breaks Pre’s 10,000m AR (1979), by Walt Murphy

June 18, 2025

Recent Tweets

Next Post

2017 Bislett Diary: Karsten Warholm debuts at 48.25, Barshim gets 2.38m MR and Jakob Ingebrigtsen runs 3:56.29! Meet synopsis from EME News

runblogrun

RunBlogRun comments on the global world of athletics, sports & ethics, and the Olympic movement. @runblogrun

Browse by Category

Newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list to receives daily updates direct to your inbox!

  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
  • Home page
  • My Account
  • Sample Page

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

Select a password for yourself. (minimum length of 8)

Paste here the user biography.

Provide here the twitter screen name. i.e. @RunBlogRun

Provide here the instagram screen name. i.e. @RunBlogRun

Provide here the facebook profile URL. i.e. http://www.facebook.com/RunBlogRun

Provide here the linkedin profile URL. i.e. https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-eder-5497253

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
  • Home page
  • My Account
  • Sample Page

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved