Country Half-Marathon (West Midlands, July 15)Crown Classic Telford 10K (Shropshire, July 20)Northumberland Coastal Run (Northumberland, July 15) Not your average day at the seasideDespite its humble beginnings – starting out as a challenge among 12

, as the locals turn out in force to cheer some 1,100 runners round the undulating, two-lap traffic-free course. Well established on the north-east racing agenda, this year marks the event’s 20th anniversary, and a concurrent 3K race for 11-16s and a beginners

's biggest half-marathon), a further 1,000 runners will be tackling the same distance in a distinctly different location: the market town of Macclesfield. Unlike the urban landscapes of its Tyne and Wear counterpart, Macclesfield's location on the western

toes.--Filling Up Fast...Bolton 10K, April 13Bolton 10K (Greater Manchester, April 13) While 40,000 runners head to the capital for the Flora London Marathon, another 1,000 will be travelling to the north-west for this fast and friendly road race

it became obsessive. OK, I'm never going to win anything, but I have got satisfactory results from such training. My PBs are 1:37 for a half-marathon (four runs per week), and 3:52 for the marathon. – Mr BumpUse your past experience to inform the present