The eagerly-awaited 2019 Isle of Man Easter Festival of Running is little more than two weeks away.

Advance entries close this Sunday, April 7, at 8pm.

Entries will still be available after that date including on the days of the races incurring a £2 per race surcharge, but extras such as transport, festival t-shirt etc can no longer be ordered after that date.

Sponsored by newly-branded IQ-EQ Fund Administration Services (IOM) Ltd, the Festival attracts hundreds of visiting athletes as well as locals, consisting of three very different races in three days.

It begins with the Bushy’s 10-kilometre road race on Good Friday evening round Port Erin and Port St Mary.

It starting at 6.45pm, with men and women running together.

The action moves to Peel for the spectacular Full Factory Winnerswear hill races on Easter Saturday afternoon.

The men’s race will start at 2.15pm and the women following at 3.05pm on a slightly shorter course.

The Festival concludes on Douglas Promenade on Easter Sunday morning with the Outback 5km road races. The women’s race will begin at 10.30am and the men following at 11.15am.

Manx Harriers, the organising club, is keen to encourage local athletes to enter the events and take part in races that always have an exciting and vibrant atmosphere.

There is a team element in all the races for affiliated athletics clubs which includes the visiting university teams. Teams do not need to be declared until shortly before the first race.

The Festival is open to runners of all standards, the one stipulation being that there will be a 40-minute cut-off at the 5km point of the 10km race on Good Friday.

Full details and links to the online entry system are on the official website www.easterfestival.info

The event’s Facebook page is updated regularly with lots of information.

David Griffiths