HUNDREDS of local runners will take to the streets of Stroud this weekend for the 41st Stroud Half Marathon.

The event, which had over 700 runners compete in the 40th edition of the race in 2022, will start and finish on Cainscross Road and will take competitors through and around the town.

Supporters and spectators will be hoping for a similarly competitive race this year, but will perhaps appreciate better weather conditions than 2022.

Last year, the top three men were separated by less than 30 seconds as they hammered out sub-72 minute efforts. And further joy was unleashed as local lad Lee Stopford (Stroud & District AC, 1:11:23) was the narrow winner from Adam Stokes (Bristol & West AC, 1:11:41) and Alex Lee (Western Tempo, 1:11:50).

The first M40 master was Lonely Goat representative Andrew Kirkup (1:15:48).

Annabel Granger (Bristol & West AC, 1:23:30) led seven women under 90 minutes. She was followed through the finish gantry by Gemma Wilks (unattached, 1:26:23) and W35 Hannah D'Ambrosio (Western Tempo, 1:28:06).

Rebecca Vincent (Hatch Warren Runners, 1:29:03) was the first W40 master in fifth overall.

For this year's edition of the run, organisers have adopted a new 'cupless' scheme in an attempt to cut down on waste.

This means that they will not be providing disposable cups at water stations. Volunteers will be happy to fill bottles/cups but in their quest to reduce the waste produced by running events, the organisers have asked runners to respect this and run with their own drinking vessel.