THOUSANDS of runners will descend upon the seafront to take part in an annual test of speed and endurance.

The Grand Brighton Half Marathon on Sunday will offer people the chance to cover a 13.1 mile course through the city.

The race is famed for its fast, flat route and many athletes will be hoping to beat their previous personal bests.

The course will see runners set off from Madeira Drive at 9.30am, arcing around into Marine Drive before setting off west towards Ovingdean.

They will then bend back on themselves shortly before Roedean Road, near Brighton Marina, and run along the seafront back towards the Palace Pier.

At the pier, the landmark-laden route cuts right to take athletes up through the city and passed the Royal Pavilion and St Peter’s Church.

A loop of The Level follows with runners then pacing their way back to the pier through Grand Parade and Old Steine.

Another right at the Aquarium Roundabout will see the course return to the seafront as athletes head east, reaching sponsors the Grand Hotel at the seven mile point of the run - with motivational music being blasted out from the event’s Community Stage.

Continuing in this direction, they will also glimpse the Queen Victoria statue in Grand Avenue and Hove Lagoon.

Here, they will again perform an about turn and head onto the promenade, enjoying a flat track next to Hove’s colourful beach huts.

It then finishes with a seafront sprint back to the finish line, where it all began, in Madeira Drive next to the Steve Ovett statue.

Though the race starts at 9.30am, runners are advised to arrive at least an hour early with the Race Village and help desk being open from 7.30am.

This will include a massage marquee and bag-drop, and will be open until 2pm. Race staff will also offer drink stations at the two, six and nine mile points.

There will also be a youth race and a wheelchair race on the day.

This starts before the main event, at 9am, and is open to children aged between seven and 17.

Five age groups will each have the chance to experience the crowds as they run a mile of the half marathon track.

The wheelchair race returns for its fourth year and will follow the same route as the half marathon, with athletes setting off at 9.27am.

As a result of the race, several roads will be closed during the day.

Madeira Drive will be closed from 2am until 7pm and Old Steine, Marlborough Place, Gloucester Place, Grand Parade, Pavilion Parade, Richmond Terrace, St Peter’s Place will be blocked off to cars between 8.15am and 12pm.

Marine Parade and Marine Drive will be shut between 8.15am and 11.45am, Kings Road to West Street will be shut from 8.15am to 1.30pm and Kings Road, Kingsway and Grand Avenue will be closed between 9.15am and 1pm.