10 Top City Marathons (Preview)

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Stockholm Marathon (Sweden, June)

Known as the "Venice of the North", situated across 14 islands on the edge of the Baltic, it's not surprising that Stockholm delivers a stunning 26.2-miler - many runners consider it the world's best. With a field of 20,000, half them foreigners, and boisterous crowds cheering on, this race has an amazing atmosphere.

And while most city marathons take place on a Sunday morning to minimise disruption, this event goes off without a hitch, despite starting at 2pm on a Saturday afternoon in early June. But beware the summer heat: the 2009 race saw temperatures of 30°C.

COURSE It involves two different loops of the city, starting outside the 1912 Olympic Stadium and finishing on the track inside. There are large, flat sections of the course, but enough undulations to break your rhythm. Beware of Västerbron (right): Sweden's largest arched bridge provides the toughest ascent of the race. And you'll have to do it - twice.

FAST FACT Stockholm Olympic Stadium was built for the 1912 Olympics and holds the world record for the most world records broken at one venue: currently 81.

CONTACT stockholmmarathon.se

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