RW Pocket Race Guide - May

Chasing the Grand Prix, May 8

Has your schedule hit skid row? Is your training more turgid than turbo-charged? Why not rev up your running by registering for the Silverstone 10K on May 8?

Whizzing round two laps of the home of British motor racing are a wizard way to pass a spring evening, and while Murray Walker may not be on hand to cheer you round the chicanes, beginners could hardly hope for a flatter track, and for F1 fans the atmosphere alone should get you back in top gear.

ASICS Cure Leukaemia Run 10K (West Midlands, May 13)

You're sure to be bowled over by Birmingham’s third Cure Leukaemia Run – England and Warwickshire cricketer Ashley Giles will be there. And you might spy 400m hero Iwan Thomas, too. But there are lots of other reasons to sign up for this terrific 10K, now in its third year.

The out-and-back road route winds through the city’s beautiful Sutton Park, and although there are a few cheeky hills around the 8–9K mark, it’s generally fast, flat and beginner-friendly. There’s also a 5K and a 1K for under-8s; medals, T-shirts and chocolate; and the chance to boost the total of £30,000 raised so far for a new Leukaemia Centre at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Sleaford 10K (Lincolnshire, May 20)

Say Sleaford to seasoned road racers and they will instantly think "Half-marathon, February". But now they’ve got a new reason to leg it to Lincolnshire later in the year.

The Sleaford Striders have devised a one-lap 10K that meanders past pretty villages on quiet country lanes, “with some mild undulations”, and may well present you with a surprise springtime PB.

Feel like one of GB's elite, May 20

Sheffield Half-Marathon (South Yorks, May 20)

At last year’s Sheffield Half-Marathon 4,373 runners sped through the city with steely determination, and this year’s race is on track to be just as sharply contested, by up to 5,000 from as far afield as Argentina, Canada and the United States.

The start and finish in the famous Don Valley Stadium generates a thrilling atmosphere in front of crowds of spectators, while just as many cheering supporters – and bands – line the circular route that’s fast, flat and friendly to both beginners and hard-boiled PB hunters.

More Half-Marathon highlights...
SiS Tewkesbury Half Marathon (Gloucestershire, May 13)
Stornoway Half-Marathon (Western Isles, may 26)
Blackpool Half Marathon (Lancashire, June 3)

Follow in the footsteps of this Hay Hotfooter, May 27

Whether you attempt the first-ever Magic Roundabout at snail pace, as Brian would, or boing around Zebedee-fashion, it looks likely to be, well, magical. The multi-terrain (roughly) 10K race, organised by Hay Hotfooters, is entirely off-road, with some farm track, and covers an undulating, challenging route in glorious countryside four miles north of Hay-on-Wye.

The eponymous roundabout is a circle of trees atop a hill, which you will be able to see for most of the race, not to mention panoramic views of the Black Mountains.

Raby Castle 10K (Durham, May 27)

The best way to fortify yourself before making an assault on the Raby Castle 10K is to do lots of hillwork in your training – there’s a long, slow hill that really opens up the field, then a short, steep one. And as it’s a two-lap course, you have to go through the agony again.

Still, the scenery offers some solace, as the mainly tarmac course (there’s a brief section on woodland paths) takes you through the stunning grounds of the medieval castle in County Durham, and the prospect of a picnic in the park later should spur you on.