Last year, half marathon winner Keith Macpherson clocked a lightning fast 1:11:36 and with a change in the track, times in 2018 are expected to get close to that.

“It’s a flat course this year. We’ve done away with the King George Avenue bit,” Poetschka said.

“The whole lot of them – the five, 10 and half marathon – are on a good, flat course.

“It’s a good all weather, hard course – it’s good for quick running.

“I’ve been speaking to Warren Ansell [Tamworth Triathlon Club president] and he’s had a bit of a look and is expecting the first few to come in under one [hour], 15 [minutes].”

As is always the case, entries for the festival have ballooned in the past few days.

Just two days ago, organisers were expecting 400 entrants but that number has increased by 25 per cent since then.

“I think, as of last night, we’re up about 30-odd runners overall from the previous year,” Poetschka said.

“All in all, we’d be looking at getting over 500.

“That’s the nature of the beast.

“Most leave it until the last couple of days to register.”

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