LAST year, Ursula Wilson wasn’t entirely prepared for the Orange Colour City Running Festival’s toughest run and, by all reports, still managed a strong performance over the 42.2 kilometre marathon event.

This year, expect a much faster Wilson.

Set to celebrate her 43rd birthday by running in tomorrow’s JP Hotel Brokers marathon, Wilson is expecting to shave a staggering 18 minutes off her best time around the Bloomfield-Gosling Creek circuit.

And she’ll do so in a canter.

“It’s totally different,” Wilson said comparing the conditions in Orange to those in the United Kingdom, where she’s spent 10 years running.

“We used to run in cooler temperatures.

“I don’t think I was acclimatised to the heat (last year), and the off-road running. So I’ve learnt throughout the last year by doing a lot of off-road running.”

Of South African heritage, Wilson and her family moved from the UK to Australia and the Central West two years ago.

And while tomorrow’s epic run is all about her, today’s two kilometre dash is about so much more.

Taking the fun approach to today’s hugely supported run at Gosling Creek, Ursula and her intellectually disabled son Keagan will tackle the circuit together, both looking forward to clocking a couple more personal best times.

“I’ve always encouraged Keagan, from a young age with regards to his disabilities, to promote a healthy living through his exercise,” she said.

“And I’ve been running for 10 years, so it’s in the family. 

“It’s part of our life that keeps us healthy.

“We’ll just try and better our times, which is what everyone wants to do.”

On top of any physical preparation Ursula has undergone, the biggest hurdle she’ll overcome during tomorrow’s marathon will be the isolation associated with running in a country event.

“I was shocked last year with the minimal people out on the road, I’m used to the big support all of the way,” she said.

“I’ve prepared myself more mentally to be out there alone.

“But being in the Runners Club, the support there is fantastic.”

Today's 2km Dash at Gosling Creek starts at 4pm.

Tomorrow, the marathon sets off at 6.30am at Bloomfield, followed by the half marathon at 6.45am, the 10km at 9.30am and the 5km at 10.30am.