complete with music performed by the West End musical’s gospel choir.GDF Suez Leeds Half-Marathon (West Yorkshire, May 10) After last year's trial autumnal staging, organisers have restored this 4,000-strong city-centre number (boasting some challenging

, bustling and a fab first race for beginners. Join entrants from Manchester and all over the north-west in a sea of runners on a flat road route around Manchester’s vibrant city centre. If you’re used to training to music, the entertainment along the route

, the welcoming atmosphere gives the day the feel of a running festival. The start and finish arena features a huge array of family-friendly fun, with live music, food stalls, face painting and even a bouncy castle."Love the course - which gives you a lift

brass band to see off runners at the start and welcome them across the finish, live music playing in the woods (last year's tune of choice was Chariots of Fire) and a well-stuffed goody bag and here is a race brimming with fun."Fantastic! I can

find yourself getting bored during a session. Lots of runners swear by their mp3 players, and take their favourite music, audiobooks or podcasts with them for on-the-run entertainment. If you'd rather not use an mp3 player, you could try some simple

with potentially soaring July temperatures, but the long, shaded downhill in the second half of the race, and the carnival atmosphere at the finish with live music and a bustling crowd will soon raise runners’ spirits.  Wizard 5 (Cheshire, July 29) Take time