WITH January now behind us, a not-for-profit company which promotes everything Basingstoke is challenging residents to stick to their fitness regimes.

Organisers of the Basingstoke Half Marathon, Destination Basingstoke, have launched the Basingstoke 10k for this year.

With spaces for the Festival 5 race in May filling up quickly and the growth in those taking on the Basingstoke Parkrun distance, the organisation is challenging people to push themselves a little bit further and sign up to the new Basingstoke 10k.

The new event will run in tandem with the half marathon.

Managing director at Destination Basingstoke, Felicity Edwards, said: “With over 200 days to train, the new 10k race is an achievable challenge for the many people taking part in Parkrun and other events each week.

“Just as the half marathon has been embraced by the whole community, we believe the 10k gives the chance for more people to move from spectator to participant.”

With the event not being held until Sunday, 6 October, organisers hope to see more people than ever at this year’s event.

And to help people get in the mood, Destination Basingstoke will be there to help runners along the way.

Felicity added: “We will be adding special 5 to 10k training plans to our website to help with the transition and it is a great chance for businesses to promote fitness and well-being as well as some healthy competition, by getting staff to enter as teams.”

The Basingstoke Half Marathon and 10k is organised by Destination Basingstoke and it forms part of its ongoing strategy to create self-funding events and projects that actively demonstrate quality of life and business in the Basingstoke area.

Spaces for both the Basingstoke Half Marathon and the Basingstoke 10k are now open.

For those wishing to sign up or for more information, go to basingstokehalfmarathon.com.