Brothers Derek and Callum Hawkins to also split the 10 mile distance and run in the relay on April 19

Helen Clitheroe is to join forces with Susan Partridge for the Morrisons Great Edinburgh Run Team Relay on April 19.

Organisers of the 10 mile race in the Scottish capital are this year offering runners the chance to split the distance and tackle it as two-person teams, with Clitheroe looking forward to the challenge as she focusses on road race action rather than the track in 2015.

“It sounds like fun,” said the two-time Olympian. “It s something a bit different and it fits in well with what I m doing at the moment.

“I m doing things that I wouldn t have done if I d been focusing on the track,” continued the 2011 European indoor 3000m champion. “I m doing things for enjoyment, as well as to bring my fitness along.”

The 41-year-old, who in recent weeks has finished fourth in the Reading Half Marathon and won the Guernsey Easter Festival 10km road race, added: “I ll probably not do any track this year. I m doing a few road races that I ve mapped out for the summer. I m not saying I won t do a track race if I suddenly feel like I m flying but at the moment I have no plans to.”

The Morrisons Great Edinburgh Run Team Relay will involve one runner completing a hilly 4.75 mile section of the course and the other a more forgiving but longer 5.25 mile stretch. The race starts and finishes in Holyrood Park, with the changeover area in the Grassmarket.

Partridge has been steadily working her way back to full fitness after taking a prolonged break at the end of Commonwealth Games year where she finished sixth in the marathon for Scotland.

She will not be the only member of Scotland s Commonwealth Games squad lining up in the relay as brothers Derek and Callum Hawkins will be forging a family team.

Derek finished ninth in the men s marathon at the Commonwealth Games, while Callum was 20th in the 10,000m on the track at Hampden Park.

Overseas opposition in the team relay will be provided by Boniface Kiprop from Uganda and Kenya s Loitarakwai Lengurisi.

See www.greatrun.org

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