for a post-race treat.Race website: www.fortiscpcloop.nl Runner's World Zandvoort Circuit Run, Zandvoort (March) 2009 Date: March 29Runner's World's own race at the former Formula 1 race circuit is one of the most exciting new events on the Dutch running

to the country’s top 10 races, chosen by Runner’s World Sweden’s editor Richard Kingstad. The majority of the websites we’ve listed have English translations, but you might want to go ahead and invest in a Swedish dictionary anyway – and until you do, the Swedish

Rome Marathon, March [Getty Images] From the thrill of running on the Formula One track at Monza to the more visceral delights of some of the world’s greatest cities, Italian races boast both ancient and modern pleasures for the visiting runner

12,000 runners, and is internationally recognized as one of the world’s greatest races. Unsurprisingly, the point-to-point race from Pietermaritzburg to Durban is the pinnacle event of the South African road running calendar, with many local runners

and vineyards. The Medoc region's world-famous chateaux – including familiar names like Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Chateau Mouton Rothschild and Chateau Latour – opened their grounds and cellars to offer runners some of the world's most respected wines at 23

and blisteringly boiling. In a departure from the norm for the Marathon des Sables, the final stage was to finish in the small town of Tazzarine (rather than on a sand dune). The last 2K would take runners through the narrow streets of the town to the finish line

and gain a glimpse into what makes Spain special. Whether you’re keen to race around traditional fishing villages or through the streets of the vibrant capital, this top 10, chosen by Runner’s World Spain’s Editor Alejandro Calabuig García, will have you

the world but it's the Brits who have made the race their own and are now the most represented nationality. The MdS - as it's known  - has become a rite of passage for British runners who want to explore the scary territory of a self-supported stage race

of them.My running historyLike many runners, I didn't discover running until my late twenties when I became senior writer at Runner's World in 2004. Since then I've completed 16 marathons, from Beirut to Bhutan, Nice to New Orleans, and have run the London

of the country’s top races, selected by Runner’s World France’s Editor Gaël Couturier. Start planning your fancy-dress costume now.La Champenoise (May)2009 Date: May 16This half-marathon through the vineyards of France’s Champagne region features 'revitalising