The 27th running of the Grizzly and Cub runs start together on Seaton Esplanade at 10.30 am on Sunday, March 9, writes Dave Mutter.

This years event runs under the banner of ‘Withering Heights’ (featuring Heath and Cliff) – for obvious reasons - and they remain one of the toughest Multi-Terrain challenges you are likely to come across.

The 20-ish mile Grizzly will finish at the same location from approx. 1pm, while the shorter 9-mile Cub Run which is run over part of the main course will finish from approx 11.30am.

There are 1,966 entrants in the Grizzly with Benfleet RC bringing 53 runners, Honiton RC 32, Sandhurst Joggers 23 and host club AVR 59. There are 20 grizzly runners from the Netherlands, 18 from Germany, four from France plus a few more overseas entrants.

The Cub Run has 327 runners and there’s also the ‘Grizfest’ and junior runs on Grizzly Saturday.

The Headquarters this year will be at Seaton Town Hall where the Runners Need shop open to all will have super bargains.

There is a fantastic Grizfest being planned that is crammed full of activities for locals and visitors alike starting on Friday (March, 7), with home cooking and music at various venues around Town, then on Saturday at 10am the Grizfest will get underway at Windsor Gardens. Grizfest races will be at 1.45pm and 2,15pm from outside the Hook and Parrot. From 12 noon to 4pm the Town Square will host a heap of activities and from 2pm to 5pm the Great Grizfest Bake Off and Cream Teas will be in the United Reformed Church Hall opposite the Artisan Market on Windsor Gardens. On Saturday evening at 7pm for 7.30pm there is the Annual Griz Quiz at The Gateway, Seaton Town Hall for teams of eight. There is so much going on so please check out http://www.axevalleyrunners.org.uk/info/grizfest.pdf for all the activities.

On Grizzly day at 8am you can get a Runners Breakfast in a Bap at The Gateway, Seaton Town Hall then for the spiritual side of the event an open air service is being organised by Christians Together in Seaton from 9.30am to 10.15am at Beer Head car park (look out for the gazebo).

The main race sponsors are the technical Sportswear Specialists Scimitar, East Devon Sports Therapy and General Injury Clinic, Seaton and Everys Solicitors. Other race sponsors are Seaton Town Council, East Devon District Council (car parking), Axe Skip Hire, Axminster (skip at finish), Fyffes Bananas, The Grove Niteclub (baggage store), Harris Lets, Seaton (franking), Marshlands Centre (massage and first aid centre), Tesco Seaton (car parking and bottled water), Quicks Engineering, Axminster (trophies), Seaton’s Fish Bar (marshal bibs), SAK Logistics (van hire) and photography by photo-fit.net.

Huge thanks all the shops and local businesses as always getting completely behind the Grizzly and going to town with their decorations and activities - it’s going to make the Town come alive for the weekend.

So all is set for a great Grizzly and Cub 2014, let’s hope we have a fine day to enable you to come along and join us in all the fun.