OVERWHELMED organisers of the rejuvenated Tenbury 10k say they are blown away – after entries for this year’s race sold out inside a fortnight.

The race – which raises money for the Love Tenbury charity fund – returned in 2018 after a six-year absence, with 200 runners taking on the picturesque route, starting at the Burgage.

Places were in such demand that organisers increased the field to 250 for the 2019 instalment – taking place on Sunday, August 4 – but the spots were snapped up within 13 days.

Joint organiser Oli Prouse said: “We weren’t expecting it to sell out as quickly as it has but we think it went really well last year.

“Clearly the runners and the local community all think it did too and they are keen to get involved. We already have a waiting list of 30.

“Now, we have to make sure it is as good as it was last year, if not better. That’s the aim, to get better each year.

“I think this is what Tenbury needs. People want to get involved, they are raising money and are fully behind their own community.”

Prouse says the organisers will consider upping the field again next year but not if it is to the detriment of the Run Britain approved event.

He added: “The capacity is there to increase the field but it’s important for us that we maintain a good experience for everybody involved.

“If we go too big, we might lose that personal touch – we don’t want to ruin anyone’s experience by it being too much of a mass start.

“The worry is that the community aspect might get lost so it’s about trying to find that balance of making it a brilliant event for everybody involved and achieving what we’ve got to achieve.

“If we went bigger, I definitely think we would sell out again. But it’s small steps, getting it right each time. We’re proud of what we achieved last year and we are hoping to build on that this year.”

This year’s event will also feature a 1.4km Fun Run for children aged 14 and under, for which places are still available – see https://www.facebook.com/Tenbury10k for more details.