This is the third year for the event, officially known as the Mablethorpe Festival of Running, and its popularity appears to be growing each year.

Event secretary Philip Heath said: "We are anticipating around 4,000 people coming to Mablethorpe to support the festival, and many will likely stay on with their families or visit the town again."

Brave new entrants taking part this year include a liver transplant patient Mark Greenfield from Lincoln and an 81 year-old Dennis Holt from Grimsby.

Mr Heath said: "We have 730 registered runners so far, with numbers coming in every day. "There are coach loads of people from runners clubs coming, with entrants from all over the country, including Scotland, Cornwall and Ireland."

Since being founded three years ago, the event has been organised by a small band of local volunteers who make up the organising committee.
Mr Heath said: "We are really doing this for the benefit of Mablethorpe, so I hope people enjoy it. Plus it's a very flat course so runners can aim for their personal bests."

Referring to these ideal running conditions, he concluded: "There could be a world record broken one day in Mablethorpe if we attract the right people here – anything's possible."

Runners can take part in three races, the full marathon, half marathon and 10K run which start and finish at Sherwood Fields, Quebec Road from 09.35am.

* To become a volunteer at the event contact 01507 478218
* Details visit www.mablethorpemarathon.org