LAST week, I wrote in my SportsView column that this community should institute Operation 1000, a plan to break the 1000 for the first time next year in the Pentath-run.

I have heard a lot of positive remarks about the Pentath-run in the past week and it just seems to be growing and growing and the Warwick economy is the beneficiary.

A lot has been said and written about the need for us as a nation to get fitter.

You don't get fitter going for one run but going in the Pentath-run, even walking the 1500m, gives us a reason to do a bit of training.

There is no reason numbers can't grow and reach four figures in the next couple of years.

After a bit more analysis and adding on late nominations and obviously taking off a few who may have withdrawn, organisers have come up with a record 2359 total nominations, a record 333 in all five events and 740 athletes who went in anywhere from one to five events. Another 260 makes 1000.

Since David Trahair and his helpers started some Warwick adult fitness runs from WIRAC and then came up with a unique Warwick event, five races making up the marathon distance of 42.2km, the event has gone from strength to strength.

There is no doubt parkrun each Saturday at 7am has helped boost numbers in the Pentath-run.

One event in between each Pentath-run is the Cancer Council Queensland Andy Wilson Memorial Run at Maryvale each year.

Last August, Mayor Tracy Dobie was among the runners at Maryvale and told me she would present a prize to every runner who beat her in this year's run as a way to encourage participation.

She won the Sydney Marathon three decades ago but will give away a few years in age to some of her opponents this year at Maryvale.

So beat the mayor at Maryvale this year and join in Operation 1000 in May at the Pentath-run next year.

It will help our fitness.