National Highlights
Victory 5 (Hampshire, December 3) 
For those inclined to traditional short-distance racing, look no further than December’s Victory 5. While many races date back to the running boom of the mid-1980s, this fast, flat five-miler on the south coast is over 60 years old and still going strong. Run over a pleasant route, with a moderate field and no hills in sight, a PB is not out of the question.
Santas' Claws: Santa Runs throughout the month
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Santa Runs (London, Liverpool, Powys, Inverclyde, and various others in December)
Here’s a festive game for the holiday season. Take a map of the UK, close your eyes and pick a region. Chances are you’ll be just a few grid references short of one of the many Santa races that take place over the festive period, from Liverpool’s world recording-breaking field (last year there were over 4,000 Santa-suited runners, and entries close at 1pm on Friday, November 24) to the small but cosy feel of Inverclyde’s 5K dash.
This year London has joined the club, with former London Marathon winner Mike Gratton organising the capital’s first Santa 5K in Battersea Park. Since all races provide costumes as part of the entry fee, all you have to do is click here to find the Santa Run for you. Ho ho ho!
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Hogs Back 8
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Hogs Back 8 (Surrey, December 10)
Now in its 47th year, the Hogs Back 8 is one of the UK’s longest-standing road races. Its testing and unusual course distance is run over a circular route, heading out from Quardrun Park and along country roads.
The first four miles are all uncompromisingly bumpy, with a climb up the Hogs Back – a 500ft high chalk ridge - that offers fabulous views over Surrey. You’ll then be doubly-rewarded with a long downhill stretch and a finish in Loseley Park, home to one of the longest driveways in England (who measures these things?).
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Nos Galen 5K
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Nos Galen 5K (Rhondda Cynon Taff, December 31)
For some of us the idea of celebrating New Year’s Eve is enough to fill our festive bones with dread. There are the drunken parties, the almost fanatical levels of enforced joviality and the prospect of toxically-inebriated relatives to entertain into the small hours. So here - and there’s no need to thank us - is your New Year’s Eve get-out clause.
The Nos Galen 5K is a race of cult status. Held in the Welsh valley mining town of Mountain Ash, its 1960s incarnation was short-lived before a resurrection at the turn of the millennium.
The TV coverage that used to surround the race may have gone, but much of the fantastic razzmatazz remains, with thousands of spectators and a mystery celebrity runner (last year it was Dave Bedford) lighting a beacon to celebrate the race start. For all you party-popping enthusiasts there’ll still be plenty of time to herald in the New Year with a firework display and funfair afterwards.
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New Year Box Hill Knacker Cracker 10K (Surrey, Jan 1)
Have you made your New Year's resolutions yet? Because entering more races in 2007 has to be one of them. And why not start with this cracker of a race?
Picture the scene: you awake from your New Year's Eve celebrations, don the race kit you unwrapped at Christmas and head for the start line at the wonderfully striking Box Hill in Surrey.
In store is possibly one of the UK’s toughest 10Ks, covering four hills from which you'll see views right across the North Downs. Just one day into 2007 and you'll already have a medal around your neck and a carrot in your hand (yes, that’s part of the goody bag!). Is there any better way to kick-start your year?
SELECTED SPRING MARATHON BUILD-UP RACES
January 21 (Sun)
FOLKSWORTH 15
Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
February 4 (Sun)
ASICS WATFORD HALF-MARATHON
Watford, Hertfordshire
February 4 (Sun)
GREAT BENTLEY HALF-MARATHON
Great Bentley, Essex
February 11 (Sun)
LIVERSEDGE HALF-MARATHON
Liversedge, West Yorkshire
February 11 (Sun)
DOVER MERCURY HALF-MARATHON
Dover, Kent
February 11 (Sun)
MEON VALLEY PLOD 19.5
Petersfield, Hampshire
February 11 (Sun)
WOKINGHAM HALF-MARATHON
Wokingham, Berkshire
February 18 (Sun)
ST PETERS GREAT EAST RUN
Bungay, Suffolk
February 18 (Sun)
RAS CORS CARON HALF-MARATHON
Tregaron, Ceredigion
February 25 (Sun)
RODING VALLEY HALF-MARATHON
Woodford Green, Essex
February 25 (Sun)
THE EASTBOURNE HALF-MARATHON
Eastbourne, East Sussex
February 25 (Sun)
MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY BURY 20
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
February 25 (Sun)
GREAT NORTH WEST HALF-MARATHON
Blackpool, Lancashire
February 25 (Sun)
SLEAFORD HALF-MARATHON
Sleaford, Lincolnshire
March 4 (Sun)
THE GREAT DAFFODIL RUN - MARIE CURIE CANCER CARE
Northamptonshire
March 4 (Sun)
BERKHAMSTED HALF-MARATHON
Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire
March 4 (Sun)
THANET 20
Sandwich, Kent
March 11 (Sun)
ASICS FLEET PRE-LONDON HALF-MARATHON
Fleet, Hampshire
March 11 (Sun)
ESSENTIAL SPORTS BANBURY 15
Banbury, Oxfordshire
March 11 (Sun)
LLANELLI WATERSIDE 1/2 MARATHON
Llanelli, Dyfed
March 11 (Sun)
HASTINGS HALF-MARATHON
St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex
March 17 (Sat)
RHAYADER 'ROUND THE LAKES' 20
Rhayader, Powy
March 18 (Sun)
ASHBY 20
Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire
March 18 (Sun)
FINCHLEY 20
Ruislip, Middlesex
March 25 (Sun)
LIVERPOOL HALF-MARATHON
Liverpool, Merseyside
March 25 (Sun)
CRANLEIGH 15/21
Cranleigh, Surrey
March 25 (Sun)
BRENTWOOD HALF-MARATHON
Brentwood, Essex
April 1 (Sun)
ASICS 16 MILE KINGSTON BREAKFAST RUN
Kingston, Surrey
April 1 (Sun)
BOURNEMOUTH BAY HALF-MARATHON
Bournemouth, Dorset
April 1 (Sun)
BEDFORD HARRIERS OAKLEY 20
Bedford, Bedfordshire
April 1 (Sun)
WHITE HORSE HALF-MARATHON
Grove, Oxfordshire
