TOWN boss Paolo Di Canio is set to go the extra mile – or 13 – if Swindon are promoted this season.

Di Canio has vowed to run the Nationwide Swindon Half Marathon following his side’s success in League Two.

The Italian, who unexpectedly took part in last year’s event, had said that he would run the London Marathon if the Robins had gained promotion before the date, but with promotion not yet secured he has set his sights on the Swindon race.

“I am very weak now, very tired. I have not trained since I did the half marathon in Swindon, which was the day after the Hereford game,” he said.

“I used to train before that because I still had time from my job, but the promise is even more important than a contract.

“The London Marathon comes too soon as we still have games to play, but I will do the half marathon, even if it takes seven hours – a promise is a promise.”

Last year, Di Canio hit national headlines for his antics at the Swindon Half Marathon. He had been invited to start the event, along with the five-mile terrain and two-mile fun run but decided to tackle the shortest of the three courses along with assistant coach Fabrizio Piccareta and stadium manager Mark Isaacs.

But after completing the two mile run, the trio decided to see just how far they could run.

The Italian said his competitive nature pushed him to choose to run the entire race after initially setting out to complete the considerably shorter fun run. He crossed the finish line with a very respectable time of 1hr 49 minutes – just 36 minutes behind winner Dave Roper.

Days after, Di Canio said he could be in the running for the Virgin London Marathon, on April 22, if Town won promotion by the time they play their penultimate away game of the season at Gillingham.

Despite another win away to Morecombe on Friday, which saw Town go five points clear at the top, promotion is still not secured, but Di Canio has promised he will run the half marathon no matter what.

“I wouldn’t enter it professionally, if I did the London one maybe I will be obliged to do this, but in Swindon would go the same way as we did last time,” he said.

“Any promise is not something I say and then seven months later I forget, that is not me.

“I was already thinking last week ‘mama mia, if we go up I have to do the half marathon’. It is hard but it is something I have to do because it was a promise.”

Runners across the town are already being encouraged to enter this year’s Nationwide Swindon Half Marathon. The 13.1-mile race, five-mile multi-terrain and two-mile fun run will be run on Sunday, October 14.

Anyone wishing to take part should call the registration line on 01793 465401 or log on to www.swindon halfmarathon.co.uk.