MORE runners than ever before are expected to take part in this year’s relaunched Swindon Half Marathon as over 1,200 people have signed up already.

Early bird applications closed at midnight on Tuesday, offering running enthusiasts a cheaper rate, and more than 400 people signed up for the half marathon in just seven hours when entries opened first opened last month.

Organisers are hoping the flatter and faster route will entice more to take up the challenge in the coming months.

Organiser Graeme Hardie from 113 events said: “We have done more in the first two days than the old race had done in a year. It was a hilly course and it seemed like they kept trying to refloat what was a sinking ship.

“The course itself can take around 12,000 runners and it doesn’t have any pinch points. It is quite wide and the start and finish area is much bigger than races you get at Oxford which cater for that number.

“Swindon has got such a big running community and we have never had the option of having such a flat course before. When I go running, I used to go to Bath or Bristol to compete and never went to the half marathon in Swindon because it has never been comparable to the others. But now, the route offers runner a flatter and faster course.

“Things such as not enough parking can make or break a race but we are confident that the car parking in the town centre will work the first time around. At the moment we have limited the race to 4,000 competitors but we can then increase the maximum number of runners once we’ve got an understanding of what the day will be like.

“It should be really good and we are looking forward to it.”

Last October, the event had to be cancelled due to a lack of funds but now the group of running enthusiast organisers hope the route suits all abilities.

The new course will take in many of Swindon’s best-known landmarks including the County Ground, the BMW plant and of course, the Magic Roundabout.

Graeme added: “We have got four hours to host the race which even by a medium to brisk walk can be completed.

“One other thing that we have done this year is that if you are a charity, normally with other events such as the London Marathon, you have to buy say five slots. The organisers can charge over £1,000 for a slot depending on which tier the charity comes under. Then the runners must raise that amount and more to cover costs and make a donation which I have always felt is unfair and almost a scam. What we are doing is that we are working with 13 different charities and we have given them five slots for free for runners but in return, we want them to come along and create an atmosphere station.

“We hope to have a charity at every mile whether there be music or dancing, we want them to have the chance to build exposure but also provide an atmosphere for the runners because someone cheering or dancing can bring a smile to the face of someone when they are tired and you can pick their spirits up to carry on.”

The event also needs sponsors from local businesses to secure the future of the event and a number of tiered advertising options for companies that would like to be on board with the exciting new event. For more information about sponsorship deals with local businesses, email graeme@113events.com or to sign up to the half marathon, visit www.newswindonhalf.co.uk.