ON your marks, get set, go! The Primary Schools Challenge has been launched and it's time to get racing.

The Primary Schools Challenge is a 2km "Fun Run" for primary school-aged children, on Saturday July 16, in Airlie Beach.

With just three months to go, it's time to lace up those shoes and get running with your school mates to try and beat the other schools in the area - the school with the most entrants wins!

Last year was the first ever Kids Fun Run - which forms part of the annual Airlie Beach Running Festival - and teams from Cannonvale State School, Whitsunday Christian College and St Catherine's Catholic College took part.

PE teacher, Annette Munckton, said the overall winning school was Cannonvale State School and they are determined to hang on to their crown.

"All the children are really excited and are determined to win again this year," she said.

"I have the Schools Challenge trophy from last year sitting in my office at school and it inspires the children to go out there and retain the title this year!"

Ms Munckton said the Primary Schools Challenge fitted in well with the school calendar as term two, in the run-up to the festival, was athletics and cross-country, with the school's athletics carnival a week after the festival.

Now in its fourth year, the Airlie Beach Running Festival draws runners from all over Australia with more than 600 people taking to the streets and beaches last year.

The inaugural Kids Fun Run, in 2015, attracted almost 200 children and organisers are hoping this will increase in 2016, with the popular event brought back thanks to the support of Bendigo Bank.

To register your school's interest for the 2016 Primary Schools Challenge on July 16 email info@runairlie.com.au