FOLLOWING the success of this year's half marathon, early bird entries for 2018's event are now open.

The Vitality Reading Half Marathon and Green Park Challenge are set to take place on Sunday March 18 next year.

Judith Manson, race director, said: “We’ve never opened entries to Reading so soon after the event before, but we are very excited to give runners the chance to sign up again while they are still on a high from finishing this year’s race.”

She added her thanks to the Madejski Stadium and their partners for their help this year as well as her excitement to welcome old and new runners in 2018.

The popular course will be entering its 35th year and is expected to welcome over 14,000 runners.

Nick Rance, a runner this year on behalf of Cancer Research UK said: “Yesterday’s race was even better than I could have imagined, the support the whole way around the course was phenomenal. Everyone involved in making this event happen did a fantastic job and I can’t wait to come back next year. The stadium finish is definitely a unique draw, it allows us mortals the chance to feel like an Olympian for just a few moments.”

This years course saw runners start at Green Park and cross the finish line inside Reading FC's Madejski Stadium and families run together in the 3km Green Park Challenge.

To register for next years race visit www.readinghalfmarathon.com