COMPETITORS in next year’s Run Balmoral event will have an early opportunity to test their fitness.
Organisers of the April 25 race day have announced details of a warm-up series.
The Tartan Shorts events are designed to help runners get ready for Balmoral, the first will take place at Seaton Park in Aberdeen on December 14 with the second at Castle Fraser on February 15 and the final race at Haddo House on March 22.
Run Balmoral 09 was launched in Aberdeen yesterday and organisers are expecting to beat last year’s record of 7,000 entrants.
With a choice of 10k and 5k races over a course on the Balmoral Estate, this year’s event attracted competitors as young as five and as old as 75.
In addition to the individual races there will once again be a 5k team challenge next year for groups of four as well as an invitation 10k wheelchair race and school races for primary and secondary pupils.
Aberdeen athlete Kenny Herriot, who played a key role in persuading organisers to add a wheelchair race to the programme this year, performed the launch.
Event manager Alastair Simpson said: “All runners are welcome, from elite athletes to fun runners, young and old.
“Whether you are an aspiring Paula Radcliffe or are simply looking to set yourself a challenge, Run Balmoral is the ideal event for runners of all levels.”
The event will once again benefit from fringe attractions including dancers and sports activities to entertain spectators and runners between races.
Last year’s winner of the 10k race was Edinburgh athlete Ross Houston with a time of 32 minutes and 44 seconds.
Lyn Wilson won the women’s event in 36:36, narrowly missing out on the course record she set in 2006 by 13 seconds, and Jason Gill from Chester won the Aberdeenshire Dis- ability Sport wheelchair 10k race.
Further information and entry details are available online www.run-balmoral.co.uk.