New to running in 2011? You can still give Chichester 10k a go...

The 2011 race takes place on Sunday, February 6, with an 11am start near Chichester Festival Theatre.

The race is organised by the Rotary Club of Chichester Priory who are confident the race, in its milestone 20th year, will prove as popular as ever.

It is the first major local running event in the New Year and gives all entrants an early assessment of their post-Christmas fitness.

This well-established event is very popular with a wide range of abilities of entrants, who come from all over the UK to take part.

It is hoped many of the faithful supporters will return as well as new entrants so the race limit of some 1,800 runners will be reached.

But if you are running a race for the first time or returning to sport after a lengthy absence there is a new initiative for 2011 which might appeal to you.

On the four Sundays in January the organisers are proving coaching sessions strictly for the beginner. The aim will be to give you basic preparations for the race.

Each session will last up to one-and-a-half hours and will be based at Westgate Leisure in Chichester, starting at 10.30am.

The sessions will be led by a student from the university specialising in sports sciences and will include advice on relevant items important on running a race including shoes, clothing, exercise, diet, race preparation and pre-race briefing. This will be followed by a short run with the distance progressively increasing each week.

If you are interested in joining and have proof of entry to the 10k, e-mail race co-ordinator Graham Jessop at [email protected] with some basic details about yourself including a contact number.

The race itself is open to everyone, so if you have been inspired by recent sporting events, now is the time to join in the action.

Forms will be available from Westgate Leisure, the tourist information centre and online from the Chichester Priory Rotary Club website at www.chichester10race.org.uk