ONE of the most exhilarating events on Colchester’s calendar returns this Sunday.

The eighth annual Griffin Chapman Colchester Half Marathon is popular with both participants and spectators and also looks set to raise around £60,000 for good causes.

A total of 4,000 runners will line up on the start line at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Hundreds of spectators are expected to line the popular town and countryside course which spans 13.1 miles.

Clacton and Frinton Gazette: Route - guide for runners and spectators of the 13.1 mile course

And an army of at least 20 running pacers and 300 marshals will be supporting the organising committee from Colchester Colne Round Table.

Race director Liam Austin said: “We have done an awful lot of planning over the last 11 months and we have got some really good sponsors this year. They have all really pulled together. We have worked to make sure this event is going to be the biggest and best yet.”

All 4,000 places - the highest the race has had in its history- sold out earlier this month.

“Last year capacity was 3,750.

“Once we closed down the website for new registrations we were continually bombarded with people still trying to get in,” Mr Austin added.

“But the moral of the story is get in early."

Clacton and Frinton Gazette: Colchester Half  Marathon  on Sunday..

Mr Austin reminded spectators others good locations to support the runners include through Langham and especially on Straight Road in Boxted which are in the latter miles of the race.

Race pacers will be at the 9am start and staying through the whole route to help runners reach target times if they wish.

The runners set off from the stadium and head towards Colchester town centre running through the High Street which will be closed to traffic for the race.

Then the runners will go out and along Ipswich Road, via Highwoods towards Langham before making their way back through Boxted to the stadium.

Mr Austin said the emphasis is on making the half marathon a family orientated event and to raise cash for the two chosen causes, the Essex & Herts Air Ambulance and MS-UK.

The air ambulance is even scheduled to make a flyover at the start of the race.

For the first time, visually impaired runners will be alongside some of the pacers.

Mr Austin added:I’m checking the weather forecast every half an hour at the moment and at the moment it says 11 degrees Centigrade and drizzly which is perfect running conditions “We have learned lessons from last year and are providing more water stations too. £60,000 is a phenomenal amount. I am excited about the start, hoping the weather stays kind to everybody and for those who haven’t run before, don’t set off too quickly, and enjoy the experience.”

n Monday’s Gazette will feature an eight-page Colchester Half Marathon special of Sunday’s event.

SAMANTHA Leftwich will be taking part in the Colchester Half Marathon with a little help from her friend.

Samantha, who is 28, has suffered sight loss due to Type 1 diabetes.

However, she was inspired to take up running after she watched the London Marathon on television last year.

Samantha started taster sessions with a visually impaired club through the Blind and Sight Impaired Society in October.

Her run in Colchester this Sunday will be preparation for her next challenge, the London Marathon next month.

Samantha has a guide runner, Jennifer Wright, who has become a good friend alongside Samantha’s three-year-old guide dog, Lizzie.

It has been a journey for Jennifer too.

Jennifer, 37, from Colchester, never considered herself to be sporty until she was challenged to run the Langham 10k in 2013.

She joined the Visually Impaired club at her Ipswich Jaffa running team in 2016.

She said: “You have to be so much more aware.

“I have glasses anyway so I’m always looking around making sure I don’t fall over but you have to do it for two people.

“I absolutely love it. When I’m helping other people my problems have gone.”