The dreaded loop of Green Park at the end of the 13 mile run before going into Madejski Stadium has been removed.

Instead the 20,000 runners will complete the lap of the business park at the beginning of the race when legs are freshest.

In addition, a couple of hills have been taken out with organisers predicting it to be one of the fastest races in its 32-year history.

From Bennet Road at the second mile the route moves on to Basingstoke Road and Hartland Road, missing Northumberland Avenue and part of Whitley Wood Road, eliminating one of the dreaded inclines so early on in the course.

Race director, Nick Pearson said: “We’re very excited about the changes to the 2015 Vitality Reading Half Marathon – it’s flat, it’s fast and now allows the runners to take in the scenery of Green Park and momentous finish of the Madejski Stadium.

“Having taken on board runner feedback we’ve moved the Green Park loop to the start of the course, eliminated one of the early inclines and promised the runners an uplifting final stretch to the Madejski Stadium.

“The race will be the perfect platform for so many runners - seasoned runners to set brand new personal best race times, those mid-way through their training programme for the London Marathon and newcomers to the running community.

“Runners will be aiming to beat last year’s winner Scott Overall who won with a time of 1.04.44. The first woman home was Susan Patridge with a time of 1.12.20.

The world record half marathon for men belongs to Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea who clocked a 58.23 at the Lisbon Half Marathon, Portugal, in 2010. The women’s world record belongs to Florence Kiplagat, of Kenya, who ran a 1.05.12 in Barcelona Half Marathon, Spain, last year.

The race is now a must on the athletes’ racing calendar with it being a perfect training run for the London marathon on April 26.

The first ever Reading Half Marathon was organised and run in 1983, when the start and finish venue was Reading University at Whiteknights Park.

There were 5,000 runners and it was won by a 21-year-old local university student, Mark Curzons, in a time of 67.45.

In 2003 Sweatshop took over the organisation of the Reading Half Marathon. Sweatshop’s aim was to make the event all about the runner and ultimately create an experience that is worthy of this prestigious half marathon.

Sweatshop have made numerous changes to the course which has resulted in a fast and flat route and an amazing finish in the magnificent Madejski Stadium where 15,000 people cheer runners over the line.