Reaching 40 is something of a landmark age, as a good number of our readers will know, and it’s certainly a big milestone for the organisers of the ever-popular Stroud Half Marathon, an event which hits the big four-O in October.

And it’s a milestone that Jim Adams, chairman of Stroud Athletic Club, is understandably very proud of, saying: “There can’t be too many half marathons around the country running for 40 years, it’s a big year for us.”

This year’s race, which is organsied by Stroud AC, will take place on Sunday 23^rd October and Adams is hoping that a couple of thousand of runners will take part in what is the club’s flagship event of the year.

“We want as many people running as possible,” he said. “And if not running, supporting the runners and just having fun.”

The race, which will get under way at 9am, starts and finishes as usual at Marling School but there will be a small but significant change to the route.

“This year the runners won’t be running on the A419 for nearly so long,” explained Adams. “The new route takes them through the new Great Oldbury estate, they’ll be on the A419 only for a short time.”

Adams is hoping that people from the estate come out to support the runners and they, along with all those cheering the competitors on, will want to keep an eye out for two runners in particular – Stroud AC’s Jeff Waters and Kevin Jackson of Dursley Running Club – who have taken part in every Stroud Half Marathon since 1982.

That first race was won by Dave Cowles in a time of one hour, seven minutes and Adams is expecting a fast time this year.

“Our club runners are going exceptionally well,” he said, “I’m expecting the winner to finish in about one hour, 10.

“Most of the runners who take part are local but we do get people from all over the country taking part such is the popularity of the race.”

To find out more about the route, the race itself and how to enter, visit www.stroudhalf.com