Runners beat a path to Stirling

Top international cross country runners will be heading to Stirling early in the NewYear.

And organisers are hoping local sports fans will turn out in huge numbers to support them

Elite athletes will take part in the Great Stirling XCountry event, which moves from Edinburgh’s Holyrood Park after 13 years in the capital.

Alongside the race on Saturday, January 12, the Simplyhealth Great Stirling Castle Run will see runners taking on a 7km off–road course, starting and finishing in King’s Park, and taking in the King’s Knot, Beheading Stone and Stirling Castle before crossing the finish line.

On the day, the Scottish Inter-District Cross Country Championships and an International 4x1K Relay event will also be run.

In recent years stars including Sir Mo Farah, Laura Muir and Callum Hawkins have taken part in the televised event and it is hoped the two Scots stars will be among those on the start line.

The elite race will be televised on BBC 1.

It is organised by the Great Run Company, which is also behind the Great Stirling Run Marathon and Half-Marathon which will be run on Sunday, April 28 next year.

Chairman Brendan Foster said:“As we have already learned over the last two years, Stirling is a city that embraces sport and activity.

“The cross country is a world–class, prestigious event with a rich history and a bright future.”