For a variety of reasons, the Festival Run organised by Sidmouth Running Cub will not be taking place this year, writes John Perratt.

However, there have been calls to put on something in its place so we have come up with the an event that will carry the title, Not the Festival Run.

This will take place on Wednesday evening August 7, (in the middle of Folk Week) and will be an informal run with no entry fee, no prizes, no marshals, no water points, no route marking, no published results, no nothing, but hopefully a bit of fun!

The course will be the normal Festival Route, but there are a few options. Runners can either start at the normal start which is at the bottom of Cliff Fields (park in the nearby Manor Road Car Park).

That will start at 7pm and will involve the whole 10k course including the big climb at the start or we can offer two shorter options.

These will entail meeting in Muttersmoor Car Park and joining in at around 10 or 15 minutes past seven as the main runners come through.

One group will do the rest of the run back to the car park giving them about 8 km whilst the rest will just do the first loop out to the ninth tee, cutting out the Bulverton loop thus giving them around 4km.

After the race we can all retire to the Sailing Club which will probably be heaving with Folkies and they are sure to put a smile on your face even if the run doesn’t.

All are welcome, just turn up at either of the two starts.