THOUSANDS of people will don their running shoes tomorrow for the annual Bournemouth Bay Run.

The races will take over the promenade around Bournemouth Pier as runners of all ages and abilities take on the four races on offer on the day.

Around 4,500 people will take part, beginning with those taking on the 10km race, which will set off at 9.15am from west of Bournemouth Pier.

Ten minutes later, aspiring athletes will challenge themselves in the 1km kids fun run, starting at 9.25am in Pier Approach.

Then, those tackling the longest race of the day, the half marathon, will be under starters orders ahead of their race start at 10am.

The race winds its way west of the pier, to Alum Chine and up towards Westbourne, before rejoining the promenade, all the way along to Southbourne.

Runners will head along Southbourne and Boscombe Overcliff Drive and down onto the promenade at Boscombe pier for the final stretch, finishing at Bournemouth Pier.

The final race of the day is the 5km, which will set off west of Bournemouth Pier at 12.15pm.

The event’s title sponsor this year is Vitality, and it will be supporting Dorset Mind, Lewis Manning Hospice Care, the RNLI, Age UK (North, South and West Dorset) and Helping Homeless Veterans UK.

Last year, more than £20,000 was raised for the race’s nominated charities.

If you fancy a spontaneous 5km, or your children would like to get involved in the 1km fun run, entries for both these races will reopen on race day.

The minimum age for entry to the 5km is 11, while there is no minimum age for entry into the fun run.

There will be road closures on West Overcliff Drive on the day, as runners join the road at Durley Chine and rejoin footpaths at Alum Chine.