Kent’s biggest road race is all set to run on Sunday when over 2,000 athletes are expected to line up for the 20th Brooks Paddock Wood half-marathon.

With a total climb of 40 metres in 13.1 miles, this is one of the flattest courses in England and certainly one of the most attractive as it passes through the hop fields and orchards of Kent.

More than 1,500 advance entries have already been received but there is still time to register online at www.sportssystems.net/paddockwood in order to secure a place in this ideal warm up event for the Flora London Marathon.

There is ample parking, a supervised baggage store, physiotherapy and refreshments at the race HQ in Eldon Way and the start is only 10 minutes walk from the railway station.

Results will be posted on the internet and race photography is available through www.Marathon-Photos.com

The course is suitable for wheelchair racers and all competitors will benefit from accurate chip timing technology and a race memento at the finish.

Half-marathon entrants must be a minimum of 17-years-old on race day.

Younger competitors are well catered for by the Joe Cartwright Fun Run, starting in Eldon Way at 10am on a flat, traffic-free course of two kilometres. This is purely a fun-run and no results are published, although there will be a clock at the finish line.

There are no upper or lower age limits but entrants must be able to complete the run by 10.30am to allow the half marathon runners to assemble at the start.

Full details are available on the race website www.paddockwoodac.co.uk and the Kent Air Ambulance is the main charity to benefit this year.

The winners in 2008 were Jamie Atkinson of Blackheath Harriers in 1hr10min37sec and Tina Oldershaw (1.21.09) of the host club, Paddock Wood AC, but the fastest time on the course last year was set by Andy Cheek (63.30) representing British Wheelchair Racing Association.