This Sunday will see a record number of runners taking part in the 20th Aberystwyth 10k race, so the Cambrian News has taken a trip down memory lane with race organiser Carl Williams.

It was 1998 when the former Ceredigion county councillor came up with the idea for the race.

In its first year it attracted almost 100 runners. This year 750 have signed up to take part, with another 80 people on a waiting list.

Over the years it has raised over £200,000 for local charities and Carl hopes it will continue to raise more in the future.

Looking back to when it all began, Carl said: “I was working for a charity and looking to set up a fundraising event in town.

“I was also a county councillor, so I had two reasons to set something up.

“There was nothing athletic in Aberystwyth in December so I thought it would be a good idea to organise a race around the town.

“Sunday trading was in its infancy at the time and I thought the race could also help shopkeepers by bringing more people to Aberystwyth.”

The race started outside Woolworths on Great Darkgate Street (where Poundland is now) and finished - after several laps of the town - outside the old town hall, now the site of Aberystwyth library.

The inaugural race was won by Richard Szlade, in a time of 30 minutes and 52 seconds.

The Cambrian News reported that the race drew entrants “from as far afield as Leeds, Liverpool, Middlesex, Bournemouth and the Midlands as well as north, mid and south Wales”, and was hailed a success.

“The response to the race gave me the incentive to do it again the following year,” said Carl, “and the event has escalated from there.”

For the first few years, the 10k raised money for Marie Curie. Macmillan was the chosen charity for the next few years before Carl introduced a change.

“I decided to open it up so participants could generate income for their own charities and that’s how it has remained,” said Carl.

Whilst entrants can raise sponsorship for their chosen charity, entry fee money “minus necessary overheads” is donated to local charities.

“To date this has generated in excess of £200,000 for local good causes,” Carl explained.

See this week’s south papers for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition now