When: March 20, 2011Where: California, USFirst man Markos Geneti 2:06:35First woman Buzunesh Deba 2:26:34Last finisher 12:26:30No. of finishers 19,760Arnold Schwarzenegger, I want my money back. Swaying palm trees, golden beaches, blue seas and even bluer skies were what I signed...

3= Chicago MarathonIt may not have the crowds of New York City or the history of Boston, but in nearly all other respects Chicago now holds the edge as America’s best and biggest marathon. From its nadir in 1987 when the event was cancelled, Chicago

flight to the tip of South America, and then 11 days on a ship – four of them sailing the roughest seas on the planet.Eager for a new challenge, I spent months training in cold, snowy conditions and experimenting with clothes, kit and shoes. I even

find links to the pick of America’s best, and a few shorter race options for those who don’t want to run a marathon. Rome Marathon, Italy2010 Date: March 21For architecture and history, the Eternal City’s marathon is up there with the very best. You

to slow down to grab your drinks. America’s Steve Spence worked on this dilemma when he was training for the hot, humid World Championships Marathon in Tokyo in 1991. Spence set up a water table on his local track, and then practised drinking while running

Toronto Waterfront Marathon. Called into the editor’s office and given the opportunity, there wasn’t a chance I could say no. “You’ll be seeing a new country, Daniel. It’s a pancake-flat course. Did you know it’s North America’s fourth-biggest city, too

of people.”Last year, America’s Boston and Marine Corps Marathons had their first-ever fatalities attributed to hyponatraemia. Hyponatraemia is also beginning to appear in other endurance athletes, including ultramarathoners, Ironman triathletes and long

.www.swissalpine.ch North and Central America Hood to Coast Relay, USA This race is quite possibly the most fun you can have with your trainers on. The 197-mile team relay in the pristine North American state of Oregon pits teams of 12 runners against each other in a non-stop race

. There is one area of nutrition, though, where copying America might just be a good idea. Earlier this year the US Government updated its nutrition guidelines – the recommended daily amounts of staples such as sugars and fats. They based the new guidelines

, Ethiopians and Japanese presented an outside threat, but Radcliffe was the bookies' favourite going into the race. It was a different story for America's top runner Deena Kastor. She didn't even figure in the predicted top five, but she should have. Both