THE final countdown is on for thousands of runners who have two weeks left to train for Oxford’s biggest run of the year.

The starting gun for the Oxford Half Marathon will sound at 9.30am on Sunday, October 7, with the centre of the city grinding to a halt to cheer on the 12,000 dedicated athletes, many of whom are raising money for good causes.

It is the second year the run has been organised by Virgin Sport which last year brought a range of entertainment including live bands to the 13.1-mile route and a race village full of food and drink sellers.

Virgin Sport general manager Jessica Frey said she was expecting ‘record numbers’ to turn out this year.

She said: “Good luck to everyone running the Oxford Half Marathon on Sunday October, 7.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming record numbers for the most picturesque run in our events calendar.”

Joining the many amateur and professional racers on the start line will be Oxford-born runner Mara Yamauchi, Great Britain’s second-fastest female marathon runner of all time after world record breaker Paula Radcliffe.

Ms Yamauchi started her career with the Oxford club Headington Road Runners while still at school before going on to compete at the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing.

One of the event’s main charity partners is the John Radcliffe-based Support for Sick Newborns and their Parents (SSNAP) which has 75 runners taking part including nurses and doctors who work at the Newborn Care Unit.

Director Emma Cantrell said: “As a small charity every single penny makes a huge difference and we are humbled and grateful to have our biggest ever team in the Oxford Half this year.”

Other causes include Sobell House hospice and Cancer Research UK, which has 500 runners.

Abingdon-based Michelle Coles and Phil Rose are running for the Oxford Children’s Hospital Charity after Mr Rose's daughter Maizie was diagnosed with cancer when she was two.

It will be the first Oxford Half since the death of running legend Roger Bannister who was previously a big supporter of the race.

Sign up by October 1 at uk.virginsport.com/oxford