"Hard."

The Riverside 16-year-old, whose long-term goal is to run the New York Marathon when he turns 18, and his mum Natalie were among a record 25 first-timers when the Launceston Running Club event was last held in 2019.

Denied the chance to run again in 2020 when the 16.6-kilometre hilly race fell victim to COVID-19, the pair can't wait to try again when it returns on May 29.

"It was our first run as official members of the club," said Natalie, 42.

"Josh was the first junior to do it and they gave special permission for him to do that. It's probably the hardest run of the season and very challenging.

"It's a great family club and very welcoming to children so has a great social atmosphere and caters for all abilities which suits us."

In 2019, Launceston Christian School student Josh completed the race in one hour, 57 minutes, and Natalie clocked 1:44.

Both have improved their fitness considerably since then with Josh running the Scottsdale to Bridport Half Marathon when the 2020 season resumed in 2:08, improving his overall race speed from 7.06 minutes per kilometre to 6.10.

Meanwhile, at the Sidmouth 11km, Natalie improved her previous best of 1:49.59 to 1:47.15 while Josh took 83 seconds off his 2020 time to finish in 1:05.35.

The pair have been coached by Tim Reese and train every day with Josh also joining the Launceston Running Buddies twice a week.

"Josh is pretty confident and keen to beat his last time," Natalie said. "We've done a bit of hill training so are better prepared."

Beechford's Dave Thomas holds the Lope race record of 52:59 set in 2015, which beat the 2006 benchmark of 53:17 set by Hobart's Kim Gillard.

The Gillard family also sit second in the women's records with Kim's wife Jenny's 2006 time of 63:26 bettered only by Launceston's Kate Pedley who clocked 61:06 in 2013.

The race's distinguished honour roll also includes athletics world championship representatives Lee Troop and Josh Harris and ultra-running phenomenon Amy Lamprecht.