2,000 ready to line up for first Shrewsbury marathon
More than 2,000 people have signed up for Shrewsbury's first ever marathon – double the number expected, stunned organisers revealed today.
Initially it was hoped a maximum of around 1,000 runners would take part in the inaugural marathon and half marathon on June 23.
But now around 2,200 runners are expected to take part in the town centre race, which has been organised by Market Drayton-based company, In the Running.
In the Running's director David Downes said: "We didn't expect it, it is has shocked us. The demand has been unprecedented.
"We set a bench mark at 500 entrants and thought we would get a maximum of 1,000 runners.
"With this amount of people it has given us leeway to look at the route and use more main roads in the town centre.
"A lot of the runners come from Shropshire but mainly Shrewsbury, the town has really got behind the event."
He said he hoped entries to Shrewsbury's marathon would continue grow each year, enabling the town to compete with big city races across the country, including the Edinburgh Marathon, which attracts about 10,000 runners each year.
Mr Downes said: "When Edinburgh Marathon first started in 2003 it had 2,700 runners.
"Last year 9,700 people took part," he said.
Town centre traders are expected to benefit from the influx of people cheering on runners on June 23.
Mr Downes said: "You will have 2,500 families coming to watch the race in the town centre so it will raise a lot of money for the town."
The event will have a party atmosphere with Shrewsbury Brass Band set to regale runners in The Quarry, while more live music is planned for The Square.
Radio Shropshire DJ Paul Shuttleworth will compere the event.
The race will start from the Statue of Hercules in The Quarry before snaking around the town centre via Smithfield Road, Castle Street, The Square and Town Walls.
It will continue through Longden Coleham and Kingsland before returning to the finish line in The Quarry.
Water stations will be set up every two miles. The course will be fully closed with local firm Traffix providing traffic management.
All runners will receive a medal and T-shirt for taking part.