The Tasmanian Running Festival incorporates not only the regular 10-kilometre road race but also 5km and 2km events.

And the event continues to pull in the big names with two-time winner Liam Adams among the first to sign up.

The Victorian took out last year’s race by a comprehensive 31 seconds and in his victory of 2011 became the sixth fastest in the race’s proud tradition, clocking 28 minutes 56 seconds.

The 28-year-old said he was looking forward to returning to Launceston.

‘‘Like always, the Launceston 10km will have a strong field so it will be quite tough for me to defend my title,’’ he said.

 ‘‘There are quite a few young guns at the moment that I’m sure will be racing the Lonnie 10 and wanting to take me down.’’

Adams, who expected last year’s third-place finisher Jack Rayner and Stewart McSweyn to be among his biggest challengers, has had a breakthrough 12 months internationally, running a gallant seventh in last year’s Commonwealth Games marathon and was a member of this year’s Australian team at the world cross-country championships in China, his seventh time at the event.

‘‘I’ve struggled a bit with sickness since racing the world cross-country championships, but I’m finally finding some fitness now. By the time Launceston 10km comes around, I should be in pretty good form. I should be into my preparation for training for a marathon that I’m using to try to gain Olympic selection from.

‘‘Hopefully conditions at Launceston 10km are suitable for fast running and I can run a sub-29-minute. If I can do that then I know my preparation for the marathon is going well.’’

Race director Rob Gillard said there would be $4500 on the line for the first male and female, making the race one of the most lucrative in the country.

‘‘It’s exciting for the general public to be able to line up side by side in an event featuring Olympians,’’ Gillard said.

‘‘Now the event has evolved to include the Running Edge 5km and Examiner 2km, there really is a distance for all fitness levels.’’

FAST FACTS

WHAT: B&E Tasmanian Running Festival

WHERE: Launceston

WHEN: Sunday, June 14

ENTRIES: launcestonten.com.au