Steve Cram goes slow
1:04pm Saturday 15th July 2006 in News By Anna Youssef
OLYMPIC running star Steve Cram gave Bolton a head start in raising cash for Sport Relief when he took part in a charity fun run at the Bolton Arena.
The legendary sportsman-turned-commentator joined more than 80 members of staff from the Reebok Stadium yesterday to complete four-and-a-half miles of the track and cover the Sport Relief Mile.
But the Olympic hero was in no hurry to complete the course or beat his personal best of 3.46 minutes.
He jogged along at a leisurely pace with the rest of the runners, who included the 15,000-metre Welsh indoor record holder James Thie.
Steve said: "I've been involved in Sport Relief since its launch in 2002. The Sport Relief Mile was first held in 2004 and tied in with the 50th anniversary of Roger Bannister running the four-minute mile.
"It was huge success and this year 15 major race events will be held across the country on Saturday, including one in Manchester which I am also going to be taking part in.
"There are also going to be hundreds of smaller races. It doesn't matter how fast or slow you run the race, just as long as you take part, finish it, and help raise money for the charity."
Yesterday's race winner was 37-year-old Paddy Mulhall, from Gateshead, who completed the run in 5.21 minutes, more than three minutes ahead of the Olympic athlete.
He said: "Something tells me he wasn't trying too hard. When they blew the whistle to signal Steve's personal best time, I was only three laps in, but it's not every day you can say you've beaten an Olympic hero!"
Hundreds of Bolton residents were joining in the Sport Relief fun today in the mile run at Bolton Lads and Girls Club. There will be a five-hour Sport Relief TV special on BBC 1 today hosted by Davina McCall, Chris Evans and Gary Lineker.
Highlights will include a special from the cast of Footballers Wives, "All Star Boxing" and "Peter Kay Live from the Phoenix Club".
Bolton's Vernon Kay is taking on snooker ace Steve Davies in a Pot Black special, and band McFly, featuring Danny Jones, from Bolton, is hitting the road in London with the official Sports Relief song a double A side of Please, Please and a cover of the Queen song, "Don't stop Me Now."
