THE countdown is on for the first ever Bournemouth Marathon Festival.
Thousands of people have signed up to take part in the marathon, half marathon, 10k, 5k, 3k and 1.5k runs which take place over the weekend of October 5 and 6.
Many people are running for a whole host of good causes - including the Daily Echo's Andy Martin and Paula Roberts who are supporting the John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation set up in memory of a young Royal Marine who died in combat in southern Afghanistan in March 2008.
To help them on their way they are being trained by Bournemouth's Fitness First under the expert tuition of personal trainers Karen Morison (www.karenmorisonfitness.com) and Kevin Hubble (www.kevinhubblefitness.co.uk).
To sponsor them visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/PaulaandAndy.
We'd LOVE to hear from festival competitors about how training for the big race is going. Tell us on Twitter using #bmf13.
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