RUNNERS are limbering up for this year’s Oxford Half Marathon.

Headington father-of-three Tim Wraith is training hard and hopes to raise as much money as possible for the event’s official charity, East Oxford children and young adults hospice Helen and Douglas House.

Entries are open for the 13.1-mile run on Sunday, October 13, which takes participants through the streets of the city and finishes at the Kassam Stadium.

Mr Wraith, a hospice fundraiser, said: “There were lots of people out supporting the half marathon last year.

“It is a real feel-good day. It is good to be part of it.”

He is hoping to run in less than two hours, having completed the route in two hours, four minutes last year.

Mr Wraith, who will also be taking on the Great North Run on September 15, added: “I work for Helen and Douglas House and I know they are a great organisation.

“It is good to be running as well, because it is a great cause.

“It provides such amazing support for the people who stay here, but also to their families.

“I think what we do extends far beyond the care that takes place in the building.”

Bret Nicholls, 40, from Banbury, will be running the half marathon for the second time for Helen and Douglas House.

He said: “Last year I had only been running for 18 months.

“It was one of the most fantastic days in my life. I think it is a beautiful route.

“The support from the people of Oxford was quite incredible on the day.”

The run, now in its third year, takes participants through the Cowley Mini plant, past the Iffley Road running track and over Magdalen Bridge into the city centre.

It then continues through Christ Church Meadow and along part of the Thames Path before finishing at the Kassam Stadium.

Entry to the race costs £31 per participant plus £2 registration fee. Affiliated entry is £29 per participant plus £2 registration fee.

For more information, visit oxfordhalfmarathon.com or oxfordmail.co.uk/halfmarathon.

  • Are you running the Oxford Half Marathon and have a story to tell? Email reporter Emma Harrison on eharrison@oxfordmail.co.uk