WITH less than two weeks to go until the Commonweal 5, organisers are urging runners to make the most of a race in central Swindon.

The event is in its fourth year and popularity is building as it attempts to imitate the long-term success of its sister event, the Lethbridge 10k.

The longer distance race fills its quota of entries each year, with around 400 turning out, but the five-miler is catching up, and a turnout of more than 200 is expected on May 17.

The Commonweal School parent-teacher association (PTA) is the force behind the event, which will start at 10.30am on the school’s playing field. Entry on the day is available if the 300 limit hasn’t been reached, but Roger Bryan, one of the organisers, is urging runners to sign up now.

“It’s growing,” he said. “It looks entries are up this year and we hope we will get 200 people. In the first year we probably only had about 100.

“This is on a Sunday morning so we have a bit more time to hang around and chat with one another after the race.”

The course will appeal to mixed ability runners from across the town – ranging from the novice jogger to the more seasoned competitor.

The race starts on the Old Town railway path and heads across the canal bridge near Rushey Platt before looping back along the link road towards Wichelstowe.

The course weaves its way around the lakes and alongside a stretch of canal in Wichelstowe before a short climb up to the railway path, returning back to the finish line in the school’s playing field via footpaths between Field Rise and Roman Crescent.

Roger believes Swindon’s running community should make the best use of an official event held within walking or running distance of the town centre. He said: “It’s a hard course, but there are bits which are quite nice and run-able.”

The PTA is also responsible for homemade refreshments at the close of the event, with bacon sandwiches and cakes on the agenda for finishers.

Entrants must be at least 15 years old and all those crossing the line will receive a commemorative t-shirt, which have been provided by Richard James. Visit commonweal5.co.uk