Distance runners have a new challenge to tackle on their doorsteps.

Huddersfield is set to get its marathon back, just a few weeks after the famous London Marathon takes place.

While the town has had a Hilly Half Marathon for the past three years, it is more than 20 years since a full 26-mile route was officially organised for athletes. That was the Pennine Marathon.

Now a group of running enthusiasts, Kerry Noble, Wane Law and Matthew Kelly, have taken it upon themselves to right that wrong and have quickly devised a testing route.

The Huddersfield Marathon is now set to take place on April 27, two weeks after the world’s premier marathon.

Kerry said they had come up with the plan while chatting over a drink.

She said: “It was a case of a few of us having too much coffee and deciding we should launch one.

“We’re all involved in Huddersfield Park Run and we thought it would be nice if Huddersfield had one again.

“My father-in-law ran it the last ever time and he was saying what a great marathon route it was.

“We can’t do that route anymore as there are too many cars on the roads but we’ve planned a new one and agreed it with Kirklees Council.”

The marathon will be two 13-mile laps of the Colne Valley. A half-marathon route is also available but the entry list is almost full.

The lap will start at the YMCA at Laund Hill before heading up to Outlane and out to Scammonden. Runners then descend through Pole Moor and Golcar and then its up again into Lindley Old Village before tackling it all over again.

“You’re not going to get a flat 13 miles in Huddersfield,” said Kerry.

“The old one was a lot worse, besides there’s so many flat ones around we thought it would be nice to give people an alternative.

“A marathon is pretty tough anyway, but this will make it a lot harder. But we’re still hopeful that one of the elite athletes can do it in a quick time.”

One of those taking on the tough challenge is rugby league legend Keith Senior.

The former Great Britain and Leeds Rhinos star will tackle the route as the last of his four marathons in four weeks fundraiser for the Laura Crane Trust.

The Huddersfield Marathon team are still looking for two charities to help man the water stations on the route. In return they will donate £200 to each charity.

Contact: www.huddersfieldmarathon.co.uk