With only days to go until the inaugural Dubbo Stampede, 1500 entrants are getting ready to hit the bitumen at Taronga Western Plains Zoo on Sunday.
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Organisers have been overwhelmed by the positive response to the race and are thrilled the community has so eagerly supported the event.
The Dubbo Stampede was designed to appeal to both the serious competitor and to encourage family participation.
The event has been broken up into three races which include the Dingo Dash at 5.5 kilometres, the Cheetah Chase at 10 kilometers and the Zebra Zoom (or half marathon) at 21.1 kilometres.
Dubbo Stampede Committee Chairman Ian Crafter said the community's response has been overwhelming.
"This has turned into an enormous event this year with 1500 confirmed competitors and plenty of sponsors," he said.
"Everything has fallen into place."
Mr Crafter said the 1500 available places in the races filled 10 days ago, with 970 entrants confirmed in the Dingo Dash, 300 in the Cheetah Chase and 230 in the Zebra Zoom.
Mr Crafter said he hoped the Dubbo Stampede would motivate people to get up off the couch and judging by the numbers, it had worked.
He said it was fantastic the schools had also got behind what will become a "fantastic" annual event for the city of Dubbo.
Local running legend Jane Fardell will also participate in the half marathon after taking out the Sydney Morning Herald Half Marathon in May this year.
Ultra marathon runner Par Farmer, who recently completed an epic 21,000 kilometre journey from the North to South Pole, will be on hand at Dubbo this weekend for the event.
The Pat Farmer Dinner will be held Saturday night at the Dubbo RSL at 6pm.
Tickets are still available and can be purchased at the club. Tickets are $20 and guests will be treated to a talk by Mr Farmer about his running career spanning 20 years.
Entrants are also advised to remember to pick up their race packs on Saturday, September 1 between 2pm and 5pm at the zoo.
