The clock is quickly ticking down for runners hoping to take advantage of the attractive early bird discounts being offered on entry fees for the 2014 Global Energy Inverness ½ Marathon, of which Highland Hospice is the official nominated charity.
The popular race around the Highland capital will celebrate its 30th anniversary when it takes place on Sunday 9th March 2014 and already hundreds of people have signed up to join what promises to be another wonderful day of running.
Participants have little more than four months to get into shape for the big day and those who choose to make an early commitment by registering before midnight on Thursday 31st October 2013 can benefit from special entry fee rates. Full details can be found on the event website www.invernesshalfmarathon.co.uk.
Race Director Malcolm Sutherland is delighted by the high level of interest being shown in the 2014 race and he expects a rush of entries before the early bird deadline passes.
He said: \"It’s great that so many people are planning ahead and committing themselves to taking part in the race. We are only too pleased to reward them by offering a discount on the entry fee.
\"Once folk have signed up for the ½ Marathon it gives them a strong motivation to keep their training going over the winter months knowing they have a guaranteed place in the race.”
The Inverness ½ Marathon has grown in scale and popularity over its 30 year history and the 2014 event is likely to attract more than 2,000 entrants of all ages and abilities.
Sutherland said: “We hope to see some of Scotland’s top athletes taking part, possibly as part of their preparations for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow later in the year.
“Ross Houston, who finished a close third behind Ethiopian Hailu Million and Great Britain mountain running international Joe Symonds in the 2013 race, recently achieved a Commonwealth qualifying time in the Frankfurt marathon and we would be delighted if he would return to Inverness in 2014.
“Throughout the field we’ll also have many people running for charities, raising funds for a wide range of worthy causes. Our official race charity for 2014 is the Highland Hospice. It’s the only hospice serving adults with incurable life limiting disease in the Highlands of Scotland and is widely acknowledged as a resource of specialist palliative care expertise in the region.”
While the Inverness ½ Marathon is the premier event on the programme, the Global Energy 5K Fun Run and the Global Energy 5Km Team Attack are also expected to prove popular again this year.
Individuals can take part in the 5Km Fun Run while the Team Attack is open to clubs, businesses, or groups of friends who can enter teams of four. Prizes will be based on the cumulative time of the four runners.
Entries for the Inverness ½ Half marathon, 5Km Fun Run and Team Attack can all be made by visiting www.invernesshalfmarathon.co.uk
