JOGGING Junkies Alfred Benjamin and Alan Wheeler will line up for their 24th Wycombe Half Marathon on Sunday determined to notch up more half marathon medals than the other.

The pair have competed in every single Wycombe Half Marathon since it started in 1981 and are now in competition with each other to be the race's most prolific entrant.

Neither has any plans to give up as they seek the title of being the race's most loyal runner.

Wheeler, from High Wycombe, said: "Maybe they should give us both gold numbers on our vests."

And the 56 year-old Handy Cross Runner, who has also run several full marathons, warned his fellow 100 per center: "I am going to keep on going. I've got several more Wycombe Half Marathons in me yet, at least a dozen."

But his younger rival, Benjamin, also from High Wycombe, has no plans to give up either.

The 50-year-old said: "I'm addicted to the race. I will do the Wycombe Half Marathon for as long as I can put one foot in front of the other."

Both will take their place on Sunday's starting grid on The Rye with an estimated 1,100 other runners over the 13.1 mile course. And, although neither of them expect to trouble the leaderboard, both want to post times around the one hour and 40 minute mark.

Both say their big motivation is overtaking younger runners. Benjamin will wear vest number 654 while Wheeler wears 291.

At the top end of the race, the competition looks to be wide open, with neither of last year's winners returning to defend their title.

Men's champion Huw Lobb the only man ever to beat the horse in the famous Man versus Horse Challenge is thought to be racing elsewhere while Ladies champion Annabel Grainger, from Bristol, has also failed to sign up yet.

In their absence, Paul Gregory from the Vale of Aylesbury running club, who won the race in 2003, and 2001 winner Derek Brown from Chiltern Harriers have emerged as favourites for the men's race.

Gregory wears the number two vest while Brown runs at number three for the Thrifty-sponsored race.

Lesley Whiley, 2,614, is one of the favourites for the ladies race as she bids to end a run of several podium finishes without the top prize.

But it is not just about the business end of the race. Ten per cent of the runners are doing a half marathon for the first time and the oldest competitor in the field is 80 year-old Peter Addis from Marlow. He wears vest number 208.

The oldest lady in the race is 71-year-old Patricia Chapman from High Wycombe.

The race starts and finishes on the Rye. It gets underway at 9.30pm. You can still enter on the day with registrations being taken between 8am and 9am.

See next Friday's Free Press for the full list of results, reports and pictures.