SALE and Wythenshawe residents are getting off their sofas and donning training kits.

In a local campaign supported by Wythenshawe Community Housing Group, Sale Harriers and the Wythenshawe Games, the campaign is called from ‘Sofa to Sizzler’ the objective being to get the region’s men and women, young and old, fitter, healthier and faster.

Groups have already been gathering over several weeks at the Wythenshawe park track on Wednesdays between 7-8pm and taken jogging around the Sizzler course by experienced Sale Harriers in preparation for the July 23 Sizzler when participants in this campaign will test their new-found abilities and be given free entry into the race.

They will run alongside some of the region’s really fast men and women and will be awarded medals by an Olympian at the closing ceremonies of the Wythenshawe Games on Saturday July 25.

It’s never too late to start so log on now to www.start-to-runeventbrite.co.uk to register or just turn-up.

More than 400 completed the first of this summer’s Sizzler 5k’s making it one of the largest ever numbers.

It brought to South Manchester several of the North’s top runners including last February’s Northern Cross-Country Champion Andrew Davies. The three remaining ones are on Thursday evenings (7.30pm), July 9, July 23 and August 6. For more information or an entry form telephone Fechin McCormick at 0161 972 5715.