Athletics: Capital race given new slot in the calendar

One of Scotland's most popular athletics events, the Bupa Great Edinburgh Run, is to move from its traditional date in May to Sunday 2 October in 2011.

Entries for the 10km event opened at midnight last night and organisers believe that the new date will be popular with runners and will fit well into the autumn running calendar.

Lynsey Stephenson, communications manager of sports marketing agency Nova International said: "Autumn is a very popular time of year for running and we feel the time is right for the Bupa Great Edinburgh Run to have a more prominent space in the Scottish running calendar."

The run, which attracts runners of all abilities from across the UK, has grown significantly in terms of the number of participants in recent years. It is televised live on Channel Five and in 2010 was the subject of a one-hour highlights programme on BBC Scotland.

The Bupa Great Edinburgh Run will follow the same course as in 2010 after the success of the event starting and finishing in Holyrood Park for the first time earlier this year. The 10km route takes in many of Edinburgh's most famous historic attractions and is regarded by many as one of the most scenic city centre running events in the world, as it passes Edinburgh Castle, the famous cobbles of the Royal Mile and the Scottish Parliament building.

The day also features the Bupa Junior and Mini Great Edinburgh Runs, suitable for youngsters of all abilities aged 3 - 14 years covering 2.5km and 1.5k respectively, which also opened for entries yesterday.

Kenya's Titus Mbishei won the event in May this year in 28 minutes and 46 seconds. Team-mate Edwin Soi, the Olympic bronze medallist over 5000m, was 14 seconds behind, while Vincent Yator was ten seconds further back as Kenya dominated the podium.

Kenya also swept the podium in the women's race as Florence Kiplagat kicked for home to cross the line in 32:10.