The Watford half marathon will take place this Sunday from Cassiobury Park and will see close to 2,000 runners completing the 13-mile course.

Ahead of the event, organiser Richard Parles spoke of what he felt the race offered the town.

He said: “It’s great to see the people out there and to be putting something into the community and it’s a good race for the town.

“I think this is the 38th consecutive year we’ve held it in Cassiobury Park so it’s pretty well established.

“Before that it ran from our track at Woodside and it’s been going for over 50 years.

“It’s good exposure, it’s good to show what nice countryside there is in and around Watford. There’s some really quite attractive countryside just outside of the town centre and it displays that well.

“It does draw a good number of people together and encourages people out there to get more active.”

This year’s race sees last year’s champion Paul Martelletti trying to win the race for the fourth time in five years.

Parles thinks Martelletti will be favourite to win, but says there is some stiff competition.

He said: “Paul is defending and I would say he’s favourite.

“We’ve got a chap from Devon coming up called Shaun Antell, he’s not far away from him.

“He’s pretty good, but I would think Paul is probably favourite because he’s got the considerable advantage of knowing the course. It is quite undulating out there.”

Meanwhile in the Women’s race, Rachel Felton will be returning to defend her title, but also has tough challengers competing against her.

Iron man world championship runner up Lucy Charles will be one of those hoping to take her crown.

Last year’s event drew more than 1,800 people and this year looks to be no different, although Parles is concerned that the weather forecast may put some people off.

He said: “I would think a similar number, you never know how many aren’t going to turn up on the day.

“We’ve obviously got concerns about the potential for some bad weather but hopefully we’re going to be okay. There’s not a lot you can do about it but hope for the best.

“It looks like it’s only going to be a flurry so hopefully we should be okay.”

The county senior championships will also be held during Sunday’s event, which will see Hertfordshire-based athletes competing for that title.