Nairn 10k already has over 310 entries as town set to welcome runners from across the country on Sunday.
Nairn 10k is set to see one of its biggest ever entries of runners when the annual event takes place on Sunday afternoon.
Organisers are reporting that over 310 runners have already entered to take part in the event with entries still being taken.
Runners from across the UK are set to travel to Nairn to compete in this year’s race as the popularity of the competition is continuing to grow.
The event, first held in 1988, is organised by Nairn Road Runners, with chairman Kevin Reid saying preparations are going well.
He said the event could be on course for a record number of entries saying that competitive running is enjoying a boost with the amount of people taking part in events.
He said: “We have had over 310 entries so far. It is the most runners that we have had in recent years and could be one of the highest entries that we have ever had.
“We are seeing the number of people coming out to run post covid increasing and there seems to be a big upturn in most of the running events.
“The majority of entries are coming from the Highlands but we have also seen entries from England taking part this year too.”
Both last year’s men’s and women’s winners James Wilson from Moray Road Runners and Caitlyn Heggie from Inverness Harriers are set to return on Sunday to defend their titles.
In the men’s race last year, Wilson won the title for the first time in 31 minutes and 57 seconds. He was 32 seconds ahead of James Tole of Metro Aberdeen in second place who finished in 32:29 with Shaun Cumming of Highland Hill Runners third in a time of 32:36.
In the women’s race, Heggie recorded a winning time of 36:09.
Halina Rees of Highland Hill Runners took the silver medal with a time of 36:25 with 2023 champion Jenny Bannerman of Inverness Harriers in third place in a time of 37:14.
The event has a new sponsor with Haventus and as well as a major running competition, Reid says it is great for the Nairn economy.
“It is a fantastic event for the town and the only real issue we have to deal with is the road closures. But we are always given a good deal to organise that.”
“There is always a great turnout to watch the race as well and the club is always well supported.”
The race takes place at 2.30pm on Sunday and starts and finishes on the Nairn High Street which itself is closed to cars for the race.
The rest of the course is a fast open course which leaves the town and winds its way back in with few turns in it and has a fast finish down to the main High Street where it finishes under the Town Clock.
A limited number of entries for Sunday’s Nairn 10k are still available at racebest.com
