Lord Mayor's 5k City Centre Classic

17th edition - Saturday 7 July 2012, start 4.45pm

Run over two laps of a traffic-free city centre course, this 5k road race was first staged in 1996 and now attracts the best quality field for an event of its kind in the east of England.

The Lord Mayor's 5k City Centre Classic immediately precedes the annual Lord Mayor's Street Procession through Norwich city centre and gives competitors an opportunity to race in front of an enthusiastic crowd estimated to exceed 50,000.

Both our course records holders have a pretty decent pedigree. 1996 Chicago Marathon winner and double Olympian Paul Evans (then Belgrave Harriers, now City of Norwich AC) set the men's record of 14mins 11secs in 2000 while the fastest woman to date is current GB international Gemma Steel (Charnwood AC) who clocked 15mins 59secs in 2011.

Entry to the Lord Mayor's 5k City Centre Classic is limited to competitors capable of completing the 5k course in under 20 minutes. This is a police stipulation. Any competitor failing to reach the halfway point inside 10 minutes is directed to retire by the Race Referee.

We offer complimentary entries to last year's winners but that's as far as our benevolence stretches. So please don't approach us for a free entry but instead enter online and then take your chance with everyone else. We think we offer a decent enough prize list for those who can cut it ...

Every finisher receives a memento and goody bag. Prizes are restricted to competitors who have been bona-fide members of affiliated clubs in the UK for 9 continuous months immediately prior to race day.

The 2012 prize list is:

• First five men - £500, £300, £200, £100, £50
• First three women - £500, £300, £100
• First two veteran men - £50, £25
• First two veteran women - £50, £25
• New course record - men £250, women £250

Registration for this year's race is now open and costs £11 for members of UKA affiliated clubs and £13 for unattached runners - please click here to register online. In common with all road races organised by City of Norwich AC, registration for this event is online only with no postal entries and no entries on the day.

We thank Sportlink for their sponsorship of this year's race. Registration and chip timing services are being provided by Mucky Races.

If you would like any further information, please send us an email or call Richard Polley on 07767 205922.