KNEE surgery may have dashed her hopes for the Beijing Olympics, but Esperance marathon runner Lauren Shelley intends making an almighty comeback next month – as she lines up to win her fourth consecutive HBF Activ City to Surf.

Shelley first won the HBF Activ City to Surf’s Channel Nine 12km Run in 2003. She later made it three in a row, with wins in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Shelley will again line up for the Channel Nine 12km Run, which tracks from St Georges Terrace in Perth’s CBD to City Beach.

“My ultimate goal is to break the event record,” she said.

“I’ll give it a good shot, but my main aim this year is to be right up there in the placings. The quality of runners is always great.

“With WA’s top runners in the field and a growing number of interstate and international runners it will be a tough task, but I’m up for it.”

Shelley travels from Esperance each year to compete and says she loves catching up with the many friends, from both metro and regional WA, that she has made along the way.

“It’s particularly pleasing to see such a large regional contingent in the event,” she said.

Shelley underwent knee surgery in May this year, after an injury-hampered Hamburg

Marathon in Germany. She had hoped to post a strong time at the event to force her way into the Australian Olympic team, but an injury, sustained in training two weeks out from the race, left her with an uphill battle to be fit.

Despite running in the event, her 42nd place and troubled knee left her out of contention for Olympic selection.

Activ has owned and hosted the HBF Activ City to Surf since 1975. This year the event features a special guest, sporting legend Cathy Freeman.

To be held on Sunday, August 31, the City to Surf hopes to attract more than 35,000 participants across its five events; the 4km Walk/Run, 11km Wheelchair event, 12km Walk, Channel Nine 12km Run and the BankWest Half Marathon.

Money raised on the day will help Activ create a better life for people with disability and their families.

Registrations are now open and for the first time, participants registering online can simultaneously create their own fundraising web page at www.mycause.com.au