MORE than 2,000 people will be lacing up their running shoes to sprint to Avebury this weekend as part of the annual Race to the Stones event.

It is the largest ultra-marathon in the UK and attracts some of the best runners from around the world to try and get to the 5,000-year-old stone circle in the quickest time.

It will start on Saturday at 8am from Lewknor in Oxfordshire and runners will travel 63 miles along The Ridgeway to get to the finish line. The organisers, Threshold Sports, have estimated the fastest runners will arrive in Avebury from 4pm on Saturday afternoon.

Some will also opt to complete the challenge without stopping, while others will complete it over the two days and stay overnight at Base Camp. There is also the option to cover half the distance on either Saturday or Sunday.

Scott Forbes, a 39 year old pilot from Reading won the 2014 Race to the Stones in 9 hours 4 minutes and is hoping to shave half an hour off his previous time at this year's event.

Six years ago, Mr Forbes was training to qualify for the 2012 Olympics when he was hit by a car and broke his neck in two places and suffered other serious injuries and is lucky to be able to walk again.

He said: “I have to have a goal and a focus. I should have been paralysed after my accident – I was incredibly lucky, but it was very frightening. Running makes me feel alive – I’m doing the Race to the Stones because I can do it – and that’s what keeps me going.”

Julian Mack, co-founder of Threshold Sports, added: “Different people have different levels of stamina and we want as many people as possible to experience the elation that comes with the first glimpse of the stones at Avebury and the finish line. It’s what makes Race to the Stones unique.”

You can follow the Race to the Stones via the live event page at racetothestones.com, on Facebook facebook.com/racetothestones, Twitter twitter.com/racetothestones and using the #RTTS15