Hereford Marathon: Sunday, May 20WHY RUN IT?A long-standing, scenic, good-value, no-frills event that enters the city, but is mostly on country roads through orchards and farms. Fast times are possible if you don’t mind running alone. The entries

Halstead Marathon, Essex: Sunday, May 19WHY RUN IT?Scenery, value for money, spaceA low-key marathon, over undulating country roads that strays across the Suffolk borders. This year’s race hosts the 2002 Road Runners Club Championships.FEES£9

Shakespeare Marathon: Sunday, April 28WHY RUN IT?Scenery, speed, value for money This is the Midlands’ alternative to London, and is held on the weekend nearest to Shakespeare’s birthday, in Stratford-upon-Avon. It is a pleasant,reasonably fast

Tresco Marathon, Isles of Scilly: Sunday, April 23WHY RUN IT?The complete anthesis to flat and crowded London. There are three hills on the lap (one big and two small), but unfortunately the size of the island requires eight laps, so with 24 hills

1. London MarathonThe Flora London Marathon is genuinely a marathon for every runner. The huge field, large, enthusiastic crowds and party atmosphere appeal to first-timers, while the speed of the course and faultless organisation continue to draw

6. Stockholm MarathonStockholm is an unusual marathon. It challenges your preconceptions both of Scandinavia and of marathon running. It starts at 2pm on a Saturday afternoon in early June, when the weather is warm and balmy and the city is full

8. Paris MarathonParis has never struggled to attract visitors in the springtime. It’s just that in the past, not many of them came to run the city’s marathon. With a reputation for organisational incompetence and indifferent support, the Paris

2. Berlin MarathonBerlin has established its world-class marathon credentials with a record-breaking course and a slick and efficient race organisation. But it does offer far more. The crowds are large, loud and enthusiastic (if sporadic

5. Boston MarathonBoston is the world’s oldest marathon, steeped in tradition and history, with fabulous crowd support, a top-class elite field and a surprisingly quick point-to-point course. Sadly it’s also a marathon that the majority of runners

7. Rotterdam MarathonRotterdam is not high on anyone’s list of must-visit European cities. But every spring, thousands of runners flock to this modern, industrial port and city to take part in its marathon. They are drawn by a pancake-flat course