The race is on to bag a place in one of the most prestigious events on the north-east athletics calendar.
RunBalmoral 2014, officially launched at Aberdeen Sports Village yesterday, will feature seven races catering for all age groups and abilities and will take place on Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27.
Entries are now being accepted for next year’s events with demand to run around the Queen’s summer residence at Balmoral Estate in Deeside expected to be high once again.
Event chairman James Knowles said: “It is the 17th year and it has become such a success.
“It is a wonderful event for the participants who have the opportunity to run on royal property which isn’t available elsewhere.
“We are fortunate with the location and we have been fortunate with the weather in recent years. People love to come up to Deeside for the weekend and take part in one of the races.
“There can be few more stunning venues for running than the Balmoral Estate.”
The charity aspect of the event has become an increasingly important feature with more than £100,000 raised for good causes last year and the organisers hope the figure will be exceeded next year.
A new race has also been introduced for 2014. The Wee Trail race, designed to introduce beginners and young people to off-road multi-terrain running, will be held over a three-mile course on the Sunday.
Alastair Simpson, 67, will be race director for the 10th time, and says the event has grown from strength to strength over the years.
He said: “The race is unrecognisable from the first year where we had only a few hundred people taking part. Now we have 4,500-5,000 people participating over two days, which is incredible.
“One of the most pleasing aspects is seeing so many young people taking part in our primary and secondary school races.
“It is a unique race in a beautiful venue and we hope that 2014 can be another successful year.”
The MPH Primary Schools 1.5km race and the Kongsberg Maritime Secondary Schools 2.5km race will get the action under way on April 26 before the ConocoPhillips 5km and the Stena Drilling Tartan 10km for adults. There is also a 5km and 10km corporate challenge for companies and other organisations.
The Big Trail race staged over a 15-mile course for adults and a Wee Trail three-mile race for anyone aged 15 and over will be held on April 26.
Details on how to enter the event can be found at www.runbalmoral.com.