Autumn Races
Beachy Head Marathon
Location: Eastbourne, East Sussex
Date: October
Distance: 42K/26.2 miles
Ascent: 1,066m total ascent
Price: £32
Find out more: beachyheadmarathon.org.uk
One of the UK’s most popular offroad marathons is now in its 32nd year. The course, which starts and finishes in Eastbourne, takes you through the scenic South Downs via three punishing hills, before rewarding you with panoramic sea views from the iconic Seven Sisters.
Kielder Marathon
Location: Kielder Water and Forest Park, Northumberland
Date: October
Distance: 42K/26.2 miles
Ascent: 368m total ascent
Price: £35
Find out more: kieldermarathon.com
Living up to its billing as ‘Britian’s most beautiful marathon’, the course takes you around the shoreline of Kielder Water. It’s a mix of road and trail so a good option if you’re primarily a road runner, and there’s a 10K version if you don’t feel ready for the full 26.2-miler.
La Course des Templiers
Location: Millau, France
Date: October
Distance: 71K/44.4 miles (other options: 9K-106K)
Ascent: 3,250m total ascent
Price: €65 (£51)
Find out more: festivaldestempliers.blogspot.com
The Festival des Templiers weekend offers nine different distance options, of which the undisputed star is La Course de Templiers. Inspired by the Knights Templar, the 71K route follows ‘secret’ paths, passing through hidden tunnels and ruined castles. But if that sounds like too much hard work, the other course options – starting at just 9K – are all excellent, too.
Original Mountain Marathon (OMM)
Location: varies each year,
Date: October
Distance: 35-80K/22-50 miles
Ascent: variable total ascent
Price: £110 (team of two)
Find out more: theomm.com
Though the course changes every year, the OMM is always a classic, testing navigation, mountain fitness and self-reliance. Armed with a map, compass, tent and enough food for 36 hours, you and your partner – and 3,000 others – run across fells, mountains and valleys before camping overnight to do it all again the following day.
Next page
