An interview with Tony Blair after the run

Tony Blair shows his support for Sport Relief by completing a mile in a very respectable 7:56 mins

Blair was joined by London 2012 chairman Lord Sebastian Coe for the mile in Stratford, the venue for the London Olympics.

The Prime Minister, 53, completed his Mile in a very respectable 07:56 mins before outlining his support for Sport Relief:

"It's great," he said. "It's a good idea to encourage people to take some exercise. I try and train two or three times a week.

Sport Relief aims to get as many people of all ages and abilities across the UK to sign up for a Sport Relief Mile.

The idea is that anyone of any fitness level or ability can complete a mile, you don't have to run - walking, or even rolling is fine!

Sign up for the Sport Relief Mile

Mr Blair was a little short of breath after his exertions but found time to tell BBC Sport's John Inverdale about his usual fitness routine.

"I try and do some running - although as you can see clearly not enough," he joked.

"I also do some weights and I play tennnis and football when I can."

"I couldn't do this job unless I kept a certain level of physical fitness and as you go on in it becomes more and more important to keep yourself reasonably fit physically so you can be fit mentally.

Mr Blair was joined in Stratford by the UK's leading Olympian, Sir Steve Redgrave and a host of top athletes and enthusiastic local schoolchildren.

Find your nearest Sport Relief Mile

The Prime Minister was keen to emphasise the important role that sport can play in the health of the nation.

Tony Blair cools down after completing his Sport Relief Mile

"If you want to have a health care system that's capable of dealing with all the problems people have in the long term their physical fitness is a big part of it.

We have got a big opportunity with the Olympics, all of this whole place is going to be utterly transformed, we are putting a lot of money into sport in schools now."

The Olympics in 2012 may seem like a long way off but you can get involved right now by signing up for Sport Relief.

There are 15 massive National Miles taking place on July 15 and over 250 Local Miles - so there is sure to be one near you.

So please register now and you will get your first red sock - when you do the Mile we will give you the other one!

It's that simple so please sign up now! Everyone is doing it - even the Prime Minister!