Where: London When: December 5 If you like dressing up, running and Christmas, the London Santa Run is the race you’ve been waiting for. The 6K course is just the right distance for most beginners, and the race is set alongside the Thames

Great Manchester Run 10KWhere? Manchester When? MayThe Bupa Great Manchester Run 10K makes for a great introduction to racing. Not only is the organisation as slick as you'd expect from a Great Run event, but the course is a beginner's dream -  flat

1. Mull of Kintyre Half-MarathonArgyll and Bute, May 30 This race makes it into the beginner category for much the same reasons as it made it into atmosphere and half-marathon top 10 – it’s just a race that’s really good fun to run, the vibe

into Strickland Country Fair. Although some of the sandy tracks and slight undulations may seem more challenging than a typical beginner's race, the friendly marshals and stunning coastal scenery are more than ample rewards. Once you finish the race, it's time

to its detailsAnd on our wishlistRate foreign races (high time we listed key overseas events)Search by rating (eg show the most beginner-friendly races in the North)And a few secret things...

. We've divided the top-rated races into the following categories: 10K; half-marathon; marathon; and other distances. Check out this page every day this week for a new countdown - and visit the site on Friday for a round-up of the best events judged

? 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

makes for an action-packed Easter weekend - runners can also opt for the 2 X 5K relay, and children have their own chance to shine in the 2K race.Last but by no means least, the regular Windsor 10Ks put on by F3 Events offer you the chance to help raise

, offering jelly babies, orange slices, drinks and even beer to the annual invasion of runners."This is such a great event and the support from the spectators is fantastic. The buzz of the whole event seems just the thing to get any beginners hooked

’ll calculate the mile or kilometre splits you'll need to hit along the way. Print it out and pop it on your wrist for race-day; print out another and give it to your supporters so they’ll know when to spot you.The Big Day Bookmark these essential event guides