York’s five boroughs in one of the world’s greatest city marathons or want to mix it with the best runners in the world at the Great Ethiopian Run, our pick of the top 20 foreign races to do before you die is sure to inspire you to add a few more races

. "No one gets through training without some aches and pains," says Lewis Maharam, medical director of the New York City Marathon. When you're feeling achy, try the standard treatment of rest, ice, compression and elevation. You may need to scale back

, while capital-based runners can also test their times in the Self Transcendence series in Battersea Park. 10K opportunities also abound, and those inspired by the Flora London Marathon can tread city streets in the Bupa London 10,000 and the Bupa Great

1983 and 1999, New York City Marathon finish times for top runners aged 50 and over improved more rapidly than did times for younger athletes. In the same vein, a 2008 Austrian study found no significant difference between the finish times of the top

. Build up to three hammer intervals. Combo: Tempo + HillsPayoff: Finish Strong 30-year-old Katie McGregor, the 2006 USA 10K national champion, simulated the late-race hills in the New York City Marathon by running four 400m hills, logging three miles

and 1999, New York City Marathon finish times for top runners aged 50 and over improved more rapidly than did times for younger athletes. In the same vein, a 2008 Austrian study found no significant difference between the finish times of the top five racers