calendar, run along quiet country lanes and through a handful of quaint villages, as well as the historic market town of Newport Pagnell. Some taxing undulations in the opening miles make for a stirring start, but fast times are still possible.Filling Up

, November 10) Canal locks and bridges comprise the only inclines in this otherwise flat, point-to-point race along the towpaths of the river Lee.--Filling Up Fast…Luton Marathon, December 2Luton Marathon (Bedfordshire, December 2) This three-lap course

-side spectators and camaraderie among the mixed-ability field are givens. Later in the month, Swansea's fast and flat, out-and-back promenade fixture - voted third best race in the UK by our magazine editorial team – holds equal appeal for both the hard-boiled PB

this month and continues to attract an ever-growing number of competitors despite its mid-week staging. Quiet country lanes take runners on a single anti-clockwise loop out of Hungarton, via a couple of testing inclines for which you’ll have to dig deep

- such is the popularity of this flat, fast course that places are going like hot cakes.--National Highlights North Downs 30K (Kent, June 10) Kent: the garden of England, June 10 Few races in our event listings receive such consistent and unanimous praise