, looking down across the moors, before passing a spectacular waterfall. After a short tarmac stretch the final two and a half miles are all downhill. What the organisers say: “Put a little bit of adventure in your sole!” Do you get it? What RW says: “With

chance to discover them. Starting and finishing in Stansted Park near Rowlands Castle in Hampshire, the race is run over forest trials and farmland with only 1,200 metres of tarmac to cover.Don't expect a pancake-flat course, though. It's littered

. 4. Choose your running surface carefullyMost runners clock their miles on the open roads. Roads aren’t the worst places to run, but try to run on the Tarmac no more than three times a week. Certainly steer clear of concrete pavements, which

two road fixtures (waterways and cycle paths rather than tarmac), one beach stretch and one cross-country course, to total 26.2 miles before lunch on Easter Sunday. Yellow jerseys are to be awarded to the leaders of each stage (as per the renowned Tour

popping 50,000 runners, the date has moved from summer to autumn and it’s the biggest half-marathon in the world. One aspect that hasn’t changed though is local runner Alistair Dickson’s commitment to competing in the race. He’s raced every single GNR

and enthusiastic crowd support.Llanelli Waterside Half-Marathon (Dyfed, March 11) The beautiful (yet blustery) Millennium Coastal Path makes a great setting for this relatively new out-and-back half, run mostly on flat tarmac, with a few mildly undulating dirt

-old race has become a county institution, presided over by the resident Town Reeve.The elliptical course takes runners on a testing tour of Suffolk’s beautiful Waveney Valley, curving to and from Beccles via a string of pretty villages. Some tough uphill

at least 26.2) away from the big city marathon experience, this is a relatively low-key event that nevertheless found itself placed ahead of the likes of London and Edinburgh in Runner’s World Top 10 Races 2007. Where the race scores highest is for its

like the social pressure of knowing that a friend or a group is waiting for you to make you head out the door. It's also often more fun than running alone, especially if you're doing a long run or speedwork.Try something newThe fitness world is full

have felt desperate seeing the train leave without them. The atmosphere amongst the runners is something unique. The crowds were immense; the only areas with no support were underground! Cutty Sark and Tower Bridge were by far the highlights for me