This Sunday, 13th March will see the culmination of many months of training in all weathers, as local runners take to the city of Bath for the Vitality Bath Half Marathon. The fast, flat course always inspires many, with its lively crowds, charity fundraising and music for runners and spectators. Amongst many of the charities represented will be Coleford charity, Time is Precious, which, in its fifth year at the race, will have a whopping 126 runners taking part, aiming to smash last year’s total of £16,000 for local children and their families who have to spend time in hospitals across the district.

As the charity grows, so has the amount of people wanting to represent it on the course, starting with ten runners back in 2012.

This year, the runners have been coached by Westfield Marathon Man, John Reynolds, who, in true style, will be running a whopping 160 miles before the race even begins, to raise awareness for Time is Precious. He will be joining the runners and offering support on the day as they all complete what has been an amazing journey for them all – some of which had never run before training began, but will now be able to complete the 13.1 mile course.

Such has been the support for the charity, that it will need a bigger marquee this year, and with help from volunteers offering their photography skills, a ‘cheer’ bus for supporters and massages for sore legs, plus the continued support of actor Will Thorp and celebrity comedian, Russell Howard and his family, there is much excitement about this year’s event.

The charity would like to thank Shaun Burton Transport, which has sponsored the race vests for this year’s event. Nicola Andrews, from the company, says: “Shaun Burton Transport Ltd is proudly sponsoring team Time is Precious for the Bath Half Marathon 2016.

“We came across the charity at the Wessex Truck Show and after a lengthy discussion with Neil from the charity, we decided we would love to get involved for such a worthwhile cause.

“The help and support Time is Precious has already given to local hospitals is fantastic and their continuing fundraising will no doubt help many other children and their families at difficult times.”

Time is Precious has already provided comfortable chairs at the RUH, Bath, so that parents can sleep beside their children if necessary during their time in hospital; a sensory room and have fundraised for a teenagers’ ‘chill out’ room so that siblings have somewhere to go. They have provided a children’s room at Yeovil Hospital’s A&E Department and a sensory room and interactive projector costing £15,000 in Bristol.

Neil Halford, from Time is Precious, told The Journal this week: “There are many local runners taking part in the race on Sunday, raising vital funds for the charity. Our name is growing – we even have a runner from Newport, two from Yeovil and some from Bristol this year joining us. John Reynolds has done a fantastic job getting them all trained up and ready to go, and we have been very lucky to have his support. Good luck to all of Sunday’s runners!”

Full details of road closures with important information for residents, businesses and churches is available online at: www.bathhalf.co.uk/race-day/information-for-residents-businesses

The Vitality Bath Half Marathon attracts a good field of elite runners, as well as a number of celebrities, including Russell Howard, Will Thorp, Greg James fresh from his ‘Gregathlon’ for Sport Relief, Lewis Moody, Eboni Beckford-Chambers, Rob Deering, Paul Tonkinson, CJ de Mooi, Sophie Raworth and Chrissie Wellington. The 2015 race was won by Paul Martelletti in 1:05:28 and Emma Stepto in 1:13:50.