Runners are under starter's orders

RUNNERS taking part in the second Plymouth 10k race have just days to go until this year's event kicks off.

The event, which ran for the first time in 2011, has returned with a new and improved route taking runners through the city centre up and along the Embankment before heading back towards the finish.

On Sunday Caprice Cavill will be one of those running.

She also completed the event last year but just the day before she received shocking news that her had been found dead at his home.

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This year she will be commemorating her friend, Terry Veen, who died suddenly at the age of 35.

The 33-year-old student paramedic from Hartley Vale, explained: "I found out about Terry on Friday evening, I worked a day shift at Derriford Hospital on the Saturday and then the 10k race was Sunday morning.

"I contemplated not doing it, but me and my mates said he would have wanted us to do it. I did the race with a heavy heart and it was very emotional crossing the finish line.

"We signed up for this year's event because of the date - it's the same weekend.

"I thought I pushed on and did it last year, and I need something to aim for – some motivation to get the training done."

She described her late friend of ten years as "the most giving and friendly person".

"If I needed him to help, he would have," she added.

The Plymouth 10k is run by the same organisers as the Plymouth Half Marathon.

Also taking part in this year's race is Sam Morgan, from Ivybridge, who will be raising funds for the Fragile X Society, named after the syndrome that affects her five-year-old boy, Daniel.

Sam is new to running, but has harboured ideas about hitting the tarmac.

"I have never run before, I'm not really cut out for it but it's something I've always wanted to do," she explained.

Fragile X is the most common cause of inherited learning disability, although Down's Syndrome is much more widely known.

"It's not heard about a great deal but affects roughly one in 2,000 boys and one in 3-4,000 girls," said Sam.

City councillor, Philippa Davey, will also be lining up at the start in Sunday morning.

The Stoke Ward representative for Labour said: "I've really got the bug, I started running about 18 months ago to do a half marathon for charity with less than eight weeks training. And I loved it.

"Since then, I've done about five half marathons and I'm doing the Istanbul marathon in about five weeks."

For more details visit www.plymouth10k.co.uk.