Deciding when and where you race is set to get even harder this year, thanks to a tantalising line-up of new events. From exclusive private locales to innovative multi-activity ideas, we’ve picked seven teasing highlights to give you a taste of what

the train on foot means taking on more than 14 steep and muddy miles of roads, fields, hills, stiles, tracks and agricultural land. Book family and friends on the return train journey for support, encouragement – and witnesses to your feat!With over a

, Surrey Hill (Berkshire, May 31) Push yourself to the limit by tackling mud, hills and bogs galore in this extreme off-road event.   City of Manchester 10K, July 5 Filling Up Fast…Birmingham and Black Country Half-Marathon (July 4

(September 13) Diss 15 (September 27) Wycoller Hoof 18 (September 27) Victory 5 (September 20, Hampshire) The fleet of foot should head to Portsmouth for this swift and slickly run five-mile road race. With a suitably grand start and finish

to Abergynolwyn and back might sound madcap, but its devoted followers just keep coming back - 2009 was the 28th staging of this much-loved event. Following the train on foot means pitting yourself against 14 steep and muddy miles of roads, fields, hills, stiles

, sand and intensity of the MdS, but smart training will get you as close as possible. Nail down a long-term training plan and sign up for an ultra or two (there are a growing number of multi-day stage races on our events listings). For a pre-race multi

the whole race weekend. But if you don’t overdo it, fast times are possible. This year’s Ballycotton 10 should have taken place on March 11, but like so many other events in the UK and Eire it was postponed because of the foot and mouth outbreak. Contact

finished.The top end of the list was predictably strong and fast; RichardM, Nick Rose and Cartman all between 3:30 and 3:50 for the marathon, with half the PSOF managing sub five hours. Even Oxymoron, suffering from a painful foot injury and a blister

punishing climbs, including the infamous "Coffin trail" at 11K, passing the bones of previous competitors who failed to complete the race.What you say "Once again another superbly organised event with absolutely nothing that could be faulted." Fent 98 99

. The Pirates were out in force cheering everything that moved. I ran a bit, walked a lot and ran again until I barely knew how to put one foot in front of the other. I knew in my heart that I would finish – even if I was on my hands and knees. By the end