Love it or loathe it, Valentine's day is just around the corner. If you're a runner and want to combine your love of lycra with the annual day of cupid in the calendar, why not sign yourself and your loved one up to one of these Valentine's races

Return to one course over the summer, and you'll have a golden opportunity to focus on your pacing and perfect your race strategy. Lessons learnt in these shorter races will give you a head start if you want to do well over longer distances

Cardiff Bay 5 (Mid Glamorgan, May 2)Cardiff Bay is buzzing thanks to a thorough rejuvenation and now it's the perfect racing ground for the May bank holiday. Start in the bustle of the bay, soak up the sights of the historic industrial port

to distract you from feeling the burn. After flying downhill for the first few miles, your legs will face a series of testing climbs until the end is in sight. Enter online now.Folkestone 10 (Kent, April 22, Friday)Pack in a seaside race on your bank holiday

Studland Country Fair 5K (Dorset, August 29)On a bank holiday weekend there's nothing better than heading to the seaside or a country fair.  Combine both with this charming race which takes you around Poole Harbour before heading back

The Beast 5 (Leicestershire, September 19) With 33 obstacles usually designed for horses, this is a trail race with a difference. Canter along one five-mile lap or push yourself to a double ten mile challenge as you clamber and climb over high

No matter what your race distance, speedwork will help you run more strongly and easily. It’s good to do both long and short speed sessions, though it’s worth adjusting the bias of your sessions towards the particular race you’re training for. Here

Every January, Runner's World publishes a huge guide to the top 100 UK races of the previous year, all from the point of view of real runners like you and me.This year, we'd love you to add your vote online -- and we want to hear it all, good

The Beginner and PB categories in this section have been put together using a slightly altered system to the other categories. While we still only used races that notched up 25 ratings or more, we tweaked the final selection to ensure that we

1. Beachy Head MarathonEastbourne, October 23  There’s a good reason why 1,750 runners travel from far and wide to take part in this cross-country 26.2-miler: the views. The race showcases the best Sussex countryside, from picturesque villages