PLACES for next year's Mizuno Reading Half Marathon - taking place on April Fools Day - are up for grabs today.

Registration is open for the 29th running of the event, which is limited to a maximum 18,000 runners, with entry costing £31.50 for affiliated athletes and £33.50 for non-affiliated runners.

CLIC Sargent and the Royal Berkshire Hospital Charity are the official charities for 2012, alongside other causes including The Fire Fighters Charity, Pancreatic Cancer UK, Duchess of Kent House Charity, MS Therapy Centre, Against Breast Cancer, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Sue Ryder and Autistica.

The 13.1 mile run on Sunday, April 1, starts in Green Park and finishes in front of the main stand at the Madejski Stadium after one of the world's fastest half marathon courses has wound its way past some of Reading's best known landmarks.

Go to www.readinghalfmarathon.com