And they're off ... nearly!

1:17pm Friday 29th August 2008

IT’S time to start training for a town’s fun run, which organisers hope will be bigger and better than ever.

Team HG, for the Halstead Gazette, has started warming up, and will enter a team of four to September’s run.

Reporters Anna Brett, Mariam Ghaemi and Ryan McCarthy ran last year’s event, and will this year be joined by their colleague, retail sales manager Alison Griffiths.

Miss Brett will again write her ‘reluctant runner’ blog on the Halstead Gazette website, charting her training ups and downs throughout the next month.

The 30 year old, who now counts herself as slightly less reluctant due to having run two whole races, said she hopes people will log in to encourage her.

“Last year I found it hugely motivating, knowing I would have to be accountable to readers on a weekly basis,” she said. “I’m hoping for the same motivation this year, as I haven’t felt much so far.”

The adult leg of the Halstead Fun Run will be held for people aged 16 or over, on Sunday September 28 at 11am.

For younger runners, aged eight to ten or 11 to 15 years old, there will be races starting at 11.10am.

Entry costs £6 for adults and £2 for children. Adults will pay £8 on the day.

For more information, keep checking the blog at www.halsteadgazette.co.uk or see www.halsteadtowncouncil.co.uk