It may seem slightly odd to be talking about things like ‘summer sizzlers’ just days after the county was caught in the grip of the Beast from the East for the second time in as many weeks.

But the Summer Sizzler, the popular evening 10K run by Cirencester Athletics and Triathlon Club in June, is actually less than three months away.

And given the weather we’ve had this winter – particularly since the turn of the year – it’s almost harder to believe that the Summer Sizzler actually takes place just eight days before the longest day of the year!

This year’s event takes place on Wednesday 13th June, starting at 7.30pm, and will be preceded by a fun run for juniors over approximately three kilometres. The junior race, which last year attracted 60 runners, gets under way at 6.30pm.

And like the 10K, the fun run will be held in the beautiful Cirencester Park.

Cirencester AC chairman Pam Wheeler, who is also the 10K race director, said: “We’ve already got up to 100 entries which is very encouraging.

“We had just over 400 entries for the 10K last year and we’re hoping to get in the region of 500 this time.”

The road race consists of two traffic-free laps of Cirencester Park and Wheeler added: “This event is a chance for us to showcase the club and Cirencester Park.”

The course will be the same as the one used by the club in last Autumn’s 10K but Wheeler, who has been chairman of the club since 2013, won’t be taking part because she’ll have too much to do on the day.

However, the 62-year-old recently took part in the Bourton 10K, finishing in “55 something”, which was a minute quicker than she ran 12 months earlier.

“It was a long way from a personal best though,” chuckled Wheeler. “My PBs were a good 20 or 30 years ago. These days I just enjoy running.”

Last year’s Summer Sizzler was won by Dave Bell, one of Cirencester AC’s standout runners.

To enter this year’s event, visit www.entrycentral.com