of Apperley Bridge in this beginner-friendly off-road number.--Filling Up Fast... Cardiff Half-Marathon, October 19Gaz de France Leeds Half-Marathon (West Yorkshire, September 7) Encouraging locals, a PB-promoting course and finisher's T-shirt make

generous dose of hills, muddy conditions and the occasional stile or gate make this the ideal off-road challenge for long-distance aficionados.9. Meon Valley Plod 20 (95%, 95%, 37 ratings)Where? Hampshire When? March 1Leg-crumbling hills and lashings of mud

. Red Bull Steeplechase is a really tough and demanding course with a great mixture of different terrain. It tests your hill climbing fitness, technical off road descending skills and also allows for some good pace on some of the fast flat sections

confirms that you’ve just a handful of "cows and other running nutters" for company. Comprising continuous, leg-sapping inclines over tricky terrain, the pains and the strains of the course will almost certainly pale in comparison to the heart-warming glow

Round The TableName Andrew Taylor, Running High Events Organises Bath Half-Marathon (since 2000) Name Paul Magner, Trailplus Organises Off-road events including the Saab Salomon Hellrunner series, Helly Hansen adventure races and Puma Urban Escape

without them." Hereare the key core muscles you need to run. Here's how your core works for you on the road...1. SpeedAs you extend your stride or quicken the rate of your leg and foot turnover when you're trying to pick up the pace, the lower abs

of the River Teign, towards Chudleigh Knighton, before returning along gently undulating terrain. Marathon runners run two laps.North Downs 30K (Kent, June 26) Returning to the off-road theme, the North Downs 30K is another must-do-race in the long

in February with charity Love Runs taking place all over the UK near Valentine’s Day, plus 10K forumite favourites like the beautiful Longleat 10K or the Ashford & District 10K. Or give yourself a much bigger challenge, and go off-road over a longer distance

efficient at faster paces."Unfortunately, running tracks can often be unavailable, inconvenient or intimidating to many runners. So here are four other ways to get your fast fix.On the RoadTraining on tarmac simulates the conditions you'll face during road

to Golden Cap Challenge (Dorset, July 5) Competitors who didn't already know will soon realise, with the lung-busting hill at the half-mile mark, why this event is billed as a challenge and not a race. It's a true off-road fell run and includes every type