Training on hills will make you a stronger, faster and healthier runner, improving your leg-muscle strength, boosting your cardiovascular system, and protecting your leg muscles against soreness. Knowing these benefits won't make tackling them any

Path, the predominantly flat course is sure to prove popular among the hill-averse, though gusty headwinds and the occasional shale stretch may thwart those chasing fast times. Panoramic views over the Burry Estuary and Gower peninsula also offer a

) Get the estuary breeze behind you for this fast, flat figure-of-eight course and you’re sure to enjoy its PB potential.Henley Half-Marathon (Oxfordshire, October 14) Beautiful countryside, riverside stretches and just one hill of note make this a

history...Leith Hill Half-Marathon (Surrey, March 9) "Not the toughest, but tough enough" reads the strapline to the latest addition to Trionium’s punishing fixture list – news that will come as music to the ears of fans of the relentless hills and rough

-busting, leg-crumbling hills are offset by stunning rural views as the route weaves through woodland, fields and parkland, while the ground adjacent to the track is carpeted with crimson-red poppies and ox-eyed daisies. Enter now to avoid disappointment

gravel trails through the 600-acre Arboretum site.-->Closing SoonAsh Excellent 8 (Somerset, September 9) Now in its 11th year, this multi-terrain event takes runners along rough tracks, over stiles and up leg-busting hills rewarding them

A spell away from the water's edge, Bewl 15Closing SoonHurry, you won't be able to enter these races for much longer...Bewl 15 (Surrey, July 1) An off-road circuit round south-east England’s largest stretch of open water, with a few tough hills

constant (1:45 for a half-marathon and 45-50 minutes for 10K). Eighteen months ago I joined a club, trained properly (speedwork, hills and long runs) and trained outside my comfort zone. At 43 years old I ran a 1:40 half-marathon and WILL beat 40 minutes

energy by shortening your strideI recommend taking a shorter stride and a quicker cadence when hill climbing. This makes hills a lot easier and less tiring, enabling you to run freely when you get to the top. Taking larger strides fatigues me quickly

, 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