An event that appeared in danger of collapsing in 2009 is now going from strength to strength.
Organisers had to put out the full signs when entries for Sunday’s Dundee half marathon hit the limit of 650.
It was a very different story two years ago when the original organiser pulled out, citing lack of sponsorship, and while the race was taken over by Eventfull Management Ltd, it attracted just 218 runners.
However, the company’s Nicholas Kydd said they haven’t looked back since, and the half marathon is proving increasingly popular.
“We have 650 people signed up for this year, the biggest number since we took over,” he said.
“It has steadily increased for the past couple of years and seems to be going against the economic downturn. I think that’s because we have basically strip-ped the event back to basics and it’s a reasonable cost for people.
“We seem to be getting more and more people from previous years coming back-and that’s the best indication of the fact we must be doing something right, because they would be the first to let us know if we weren’t.”
The event attracted around 500 entries last year, with just over 400 runners actually taking part.
“You always get perhaps 10-15% who pay and train and then for whatever reason don’t turn up on the day,” explained Nicholas.
Organisers and runners are taking a keen interest in the weather forecast for Sunday but unlike most of the country, they are not hoping for a warm, sunny spell.
“For the runners you actually want it a bit damp because it helps to keep them cool,” said Nicholas. “From the point of view of stopping people from dehydrating it is better not to be too warm.”
Though entries for the event have now closed, members of the public can still turn out to cheer on the runners.
This year’s event starts opposite the Mansion House in Camperdown Park at 10am and will take in Templeton Woods as the route follows the northern part of the green circular route, continuing out to Monifieth and finishing at the Barnhill Rock Garden.