Teacher Rebecca is in the running for personal best

Rebecca Tester has joined a team of 10 women selected to take part in a special training programme as part of the run around Titanic Quarter.

The programme aims to help individuals or teams prepare to the best of their ability and achieve a personal best during the October 4 race.

Established in 2007, Belfast Telegraph Runher is Northern Ireland’s largest female only running event

Rebecca, a substitute primary school teacher, has taken part in every Runher event since May 2013 including last year’s pop up race at Carnfunnock.

“I love running to help keep me fit and combat the daily life stresses. I believe taking part in the group will give me the motivation and training to push harder and faster,” she said.

Organisers are encouraging local women to take part in the event, for which a new 5k route has also been introduced alongside the 10k event.

Both take in iconic views, locations and roads close to Titanic Belfast and the Slipways, Harland and Wolff cranes, Victoria Park and the Sam Thompson Bridge.

The training programme has been devised by Belfast Telegraph Runher’s official trainer, Melissa Eccles.

“We’ve signed up ten women from throughout Northern Ireland who each have different running and fitness objectives and we hope they will inspire other ladies to sign up to Runher, from beginners to those who have already completed several Runhers and want to improve on time and technique,” Melissa said.

“Each member of our ‘Team Telegraph’ won the opportunity to be part of the training group and we’ve already kicked off our weekly training sessions which follow the online Runher training plan. I’m looking forward to supporting our team within the training programme and help them achieve their goals. It’s brilliant for them to train with like-minded people while having fun and meeting new people.”

Runher event director Michael Jenkins added: “We had a huge response to our first ever Belfast Telegraph Runher Titanic last year and we’re looking forward to many more girls making their Runher debut on October 4.”

As per previous years there will be a pre-Runher ‘Dash 4 Kids’ (under 10s) at 1.15pm.

It will be followed by the Belfast Telegraph Runher 5K event at 2pm and the 10K at 2.45pm.

Online entry costs £18 until September 20 and from 21st September until 4 October Race Day will cost £20 per person.

A course map and video of the route is available at www.runher.co.uk.