RUNNERS who are taking on this year’s Basingstoke Half Marathon may find themselves heading in the wrong direction.

With around 250 days to go, plans are already well underway for this year’s race on October 7, and in a bit of a twist to the route, this year much of the race will be run in the opposite direction giving runners a new challenge and a new view.

The race will still start and finish in the same place as usual, the route out of town and back into town does not change.

The change in direction only affects the route from mile two to mile 10 around Cliddesden, Farleigh Wallop and Ellisfield.

Jonathan Pender director at Phillips Solicitors, the main sponsor of the event, said: “We think its great idea to change the direction, it’s like a new race and a new challenge, but with the reassurance that it is the same great race with all the organisation and support that that brings.

“If you ran the race a couple of years ago and don’t like to do the same thing twice, here is the chance it give it another try – compare and contrast! It may even be quicker in the opposite direction – and there is a new course record up for grabs. I’m certainly looking forward to the new view,”

Andy Dow, marketing director at Tech Data, which also sponsor sthe event, added: “I recently promised myself not to run the same race twice, so I’m delighted that I can now run the Basingstoke Half again, and join my team mates in this fantastic challenge.”

To sign up for this year’s race or for more information visit basingstokehalfmarathon.com.