It started nine years ago with one race and 350 participants but the Run Garioch festival has gone from strength to strength since and next year’s event is expected to attract more than 2,500 competitors.
Entries have now opened for the Ferguson Group 5km, the Dandara 10km, the Accord Energy half marathon and the CP&Co children’s runs which will be held at Inverurie on Sunday, March 23.
Among the first athletes to confirm they will be competing are two of the north-east’s most improved runners of recent years, George French and Tammy Wilson.
Both are members of Garioch Road Runners and both cut their teeth in the local 10km but have since gone on to hit the high spots on the local distance running circuit and beyond.
French said: “The Garioch 10km three years ago was the first race I did. My wife wanted to do it and she encouraged me to take part as well. I can’t remember how I got on but I think I took about 39 minutes.”
French has improved his times over a wide range of distances since then and last month won the Highland Perthshire half marathon at Aberfeldy.
He plans to run in next year’s Garioch event as part of his preparations for the London marathon.
He said: “I’m not sure if I’ll do the 10km or the half marathon. It will depend on how my training goes over the winter.”
Wilson also revealed that the Run Garioch event inspired her to become more involved in competitive running.
She said: “The first 10km I did was at Run Garioch a few years ago. I did about 44min and I enjoyed it. I then decided to get more involved with the Garioch Road Runners and I’ve kept it going since then.”
Wilson won the Garioch half marathon title last March and recently won the inaugural Beast adventure race at Banchory.
She is also planning to compete in next year’s London and New York marathons.
Top Scottish marathon runner Derek Hawkins, was another high-profile figure to express support for the event.
The Kilbarchan athlete, who has been selected for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, will miss the race as he is scheduled to be training in Colorado.
He said: “There’s going to be so much interest next year with the Commonwealth Games being held in Scotland and events like Run Garioch are fantastic for getting more people of all ages involved in the lead up to Glasgow.”