popping 55,000 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

So long as you’re well organised, come marathon day you’ll have nothing to worry about except the few miles of Tarmac linking the start to the finish. Here’s the seven-day countdown that no runner should be without – plus the tried-and-tested route

you, this race is half off- and half on-road. It features two 5K trail runs through the beautiful but bumpy terrain of the New Forest, leavened by a flat, fast 20K Tarmac bike course. www.racenewforest.co.ukTri and Run Ballbuster, 7 NovemberFancy a

/85K/21K SWIM Lake RUN Tarmac path/grass CYCLE Roadwww.pacesetterevents.com/vitruvian.phpThe Vitruvian has proved so popular in the past that they have expanded the race limit to 1,000 for the first time this year. But there is no time for sitting