Scotland internationals Kenny Wilson and Jenny Bannerman head a strong field at Sunday's Back to Basics 10k road race starting and finishing at Benromach distillery in Forres
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
THE first conventional road race in the north since last March is set to take place in Moray this weekend.
Benromach Distillery in Forres provides the start and finish point for the third Back to Basics 10k race since the sporting lockdown.
The previous two races in November and last month involved runners setting off in separate waves but, barring any sudden change in regulations, all athletes can set off at the same time as per a normal race.
Read more:
Record-breaking Back to Basics run
Abernethy and Keith win at Forres
The race, over a single lap course on the outskirts of Forres, has attracted strong fields in the men's and women's contests.
Men's top seed Sean Chalmers of Inverness has had to withdraw due to back problem leaving the favourite as international road runner Kenny Wilson of Moray who finished third behind Chalmers in the December race and has since made a major breakthrough in the marathon.
Aaron Odentz of Aberdeen, Shaun Cumming of Highland Hill Runners, Finlay Todd of Ross County and Keith MacIntyre of Fraserburgh are also highly seeded, Cumming and MacIntyre having been highly placed in last month's second Back To Basics event.
The winner of the inaugural women's event, Scotland road internationalist Jenny Bannerman of Inverness is also back in the fray and should be hard pressed by Metro Aberdeen's Ginie Barrand.
Catriona Fraser, also Inverness, will be hoping to add another personal best here to the two she gained in the earlier races and the women's field also includes international hill runners Kirstie Rogan of Moray and Caroline Marwick of Highland Hill Runners.
Spectators are not yet allowed back to this event which starts at 10am on Sunday.
