. Be prepared for a fair stretch of uphill running, though locals claim the course presents nothing too arduous for the 10K first-timer. Rotary Shakespeare Marathon (and Half-Marathon) (Warwickshire, April 27) Enjoy a dose of Olde England in this predominantly

A spell away from the water's edge, Bewl 15Closing SoonHurry, you won't be able to enter these races for much longer...Bewl 15 (Surrey, July 1) An off-road circuit round south-east England’s largest stretch of open water, with a few tough hills

? Then round up your running friends and enter the relay event instead. Held at the same time as the main event, teams of four are invited to tackle shortened stretches of the course - between five and eight miles each – to make up an aggregated 26.2 miles

gravel trails through the 600-acre Arboretum site.--Closing SoonAsh Excellent 8 (Somerset, September 9) Now in its 11th year, this multi-terrain event takes runners along rough tracks, over stiles and up leg-busting hills rewarding them with breathtaking

- flock to the 'Pearl of the South' each year, eager to stretch their legs over what is billed as one of the fastest half-marathon (and marathon) courses in the world. But while quick times are most definitely there for the chasing, there's plenty to enjoy

) Get the estuary breeze behind you for this fast, flat figure-of-eight course and you’re sure to enjoy its PB potential.Henley Half-Marathon (Oxfordshire, October 14) Beautiful countryside, riverside stretches and just one hill of note make this a

, November 10) Canal locks and bridges comprise the only inclines in this otherwise flat, point-to-point race along the towpaths of the river Lee.--Filling Up Fast…Luton Marathon, December 2Luton Marathon (Bedfordshire, December 2) This three-lap course

: Wolverhampton City MarathonFilling Up FastOK, so these two events aren’t in August but you heard it here first, places are selling like hot cakes... Carver Wolverhampton City Marathon (West Midlands, September 2) Expect vocal spectator support at this two

Fast…OK, so these events might be months away, but you'll need to get in early if you want to get your mitts on a place...Edinburgh Marathon (Edinburgh, May 25) First-timers and hot-headed PB chasers alike are sure to enjoy the UK’s second

Deciding when and where you race is set to get even harder this year, thanks to a tantalising line-up of new events. From exclusive private locales to innovative multi-activity ideas, we’ve picked seven teasing highlights to give you a taste of what