try harder.'This event is one of the venerable fixtures in the UK race calendar. Long renowned for its riverside route and early start (8:20am), the breakfast run always draws a big crowd, and this year total numbers topped the 3,000 mark for the first

and food and drink for any RW member who wants to contribute a few pounds to the cost of it. All organised by the forum members themselves.All you have to do is add yourself to the list on the forum (there's lots of chat on the thread, but just copy

. If their support can’t inspire you, you don’t have a heartbeat.Lows: The long walk from the finish near Copley Square to the baggage buses.Watch out for: Junk food served up at Hopkinton fair in the hours waiting for the midday start.Contact: Boston Athletic

. Competitors often end up in informal pairs or teams, and this year there's an official team prize. The race provides and transports tents, breakfast and an evening meal, but you have to run with your week's food and the rest of your kit.A few more things you

for money; fantastic organisation; friendly runnersApril 4 Bungay Black Dog Marathon, Suffolk Flat, riverside courses; being scared by local ghost stories; events with a post-race beer tentApril 18 Flora London Marathon Crowds; atmosphere; fancy dress

, Cornwall New event Multi-terrain challenges; environmental issuesOctober 11 Leicester City Marathon, Leics 80% (see more) Predominantly flat courses; city running; hot food served at the finish October 18 Abingdon Marathon, Oxon 90% (see more) Late

battling against a crippling, hostile landscape.The Marathon des Sables is a 151-mile endurance race across the Sahara Desert - equivalent to 5½ marathons in less than a week. Competitors are required to carry all their clothes, food, first aid kit

shores. Each has its own charms, such as pre-race campfires, mid-race junk-food stops, and bottles of wine to sip at the finish line. And with fewer runners, you can expect more individual attention from race organisers, aid-station volunteers

: medal, food and beverages, and Continental Airlines/Foot Locker Heat SheetOfficial finisher certificateOfficial Results Magazine published by New York RunnerPrices:£859 inclusive of the Guaranteed Race Entry Fee of £299 per person (any flight combination

it was the first mass marathon – not exactly a fun run – but all runners will understand the sort of help and support they must have been giving each other, and the reception of the Athenian populace who came out onto the Phaleron road to bring food and supplies