ELITE runners from across the country will be among more than 2,000 competing in this Sunday’s half marathon.
The race starts and finishes at Cantley Park in Wokingham and the 13.1 mile course takes in much of the borough’s countryside.
And with temperatures predicted to be around freezing, it will be a cold but thrilling race.
The starting pistol will be sounded at 10am, with the first runners expected back just over an hour later.
Plenty of running clubs will be taking part including members of Bracknell Athletics Club, Finch Coasters, Reading Joggers and Reading Roadrunners.
They will be hoping to beat the course record set in 2012 for the men and 2008 for the women.
The fastest time was set by Phil Wicks and is one hour, three minutes and 14 seconds. If it is smashed on Sunday, organisers will be offering a £500 cash prize.
There are also smaller prizes for the first three runners home in the men and ladies race and the category winners together with trophies. All finishers will receive a medal.
With thousands of runners taking part, there will be a large number of spectators on the borough’s roads. Organiser Peter Evans said that a number of spots have become favourites for people to watch the runners go by.
He said: “Spectators are able to catch up with the race at the junction of Forest Road and Warren House Road, with the leaders getting there at just after 10.05am or both ends of Darvills Lane, with access from Sherlock Row. Here the leading runners should be approaching around 10.15am.
“Another popular place is the cricket club in Hurst, which is about seven-and-a-half miles into the race where the leading runners are expected shortly after 10.30am.”
Race sponsors include David Cliff Estate Agents, Herrington Carmichael Solicitors and Freeborn Motor Group, and there is also support from Wokingham Borough Council.
All profits go to local charities.
Don’t miss our eight-page half marathon special in next week’s Wokingham Paper!
