Road runners heading for the final race of the season before the summer recess might well be munching on doughnuts and pastries before they make their way to St. George's next Tuesday evening.

The reason for the last minute carbohydrate and sugar loading has nothing to do with the race distance they will face when they get there – because the race isn't a marathon.

But the annual BF&M Weight Handicap 5K favours runners who are carrying a few extra pounds as long as they can still move at a respectable pace around the picturesque race route.

Competitors face a weigh-in the day before the race, and their race time in seconds will be divided by their weight in pounds to give them a handicap time.

So it's not all about being the swiftest runner on the day.

There is a prize for the fastest man and woman overall, but the prize list really kicks in with the weight handicap section where there the top three men and women will be rewarded for their endeavours.

There is also a top prize for the fastest boy and girl under 16. All entrants will be eligible for a $500 Meyer Travel voucher in the prize draw.

The race is organised by Mid-Atlantic Athletic Club and starts in York Street, runs up Barrack Hill, onto Cut Road and through to Gates Fort, Barry Road, Coot Pond Road from there it heads along Naval Tanks Hill and Government Hill Road then onto Sapper Lane and Old Military Road before returning to the centre of town for the finish in King's Square.

Such a course, while throwing up a few undulations to test runners, has plenty of scenic interludes to present distractions from the energy-sapping task at hand.

Last year the fastest runner of the day was triathlete Evan Naude in 16 minutes 20 seconds ahead of Otis Robinson, while the weight handicap winner for the men was Edward Eadie who was 31st overall in 22.42, beating Spencer Conway and John Legge as the fastest "heavy" runner.

The fastest woman was Alison Harvey in 20.46, who also won the women's handicap race ahead of Rachel Rothwell and Pattie Merritt.

Entry forms, which can be picked up at sports shops in town or downloaded from www.maac.bm, should be returned to the collection box at Sportseller in Washington Mall by 4.45 p.m. today.

The race starts at 7.15 p.m. on Tuesday, July 1, with the weigh-in for runner between –5 p.m. and 6 p.m. next Monday at the number pick-up at BF&M's offices in Pitts Bay Road.

There is also a fitness walk, which starts at 6.45 p.m. next Tuesday on the same course as the 5K.