woefully under-represented. Only the winner made the top 100, though the other two races are building up their popularity.1 Stevenage Fila 5K (1) 14:11/16:04Fast, town-based event 2002 date: May2 Bath Druck 5K 14:13/16:41Another quick event 2002 date: March

successful return in 2001. Last year’s winner, the Alsager 5, was a clear second. However, all the others in the top five are new.1 Victory 5 23:18/26:31Fast and flat Portsmouth event with excellent facilities 2002 date: December2 Alsager Asics 5 (1) 23

-established point-to-point race 2002 date: November6 Thames Towpath 10 (6) 54:11/59:12A towpath-based pre-London event 2002 date: March 177 Leyland 10 49:13/57:43A fast, Northern town-based race 2002 date: July8 Derwentwater Ronhill 10 52:50/1:01:15A scenic, long

-centre event made an impressive debut 2002 date: September 153 Puma Dewsbury 10K (2) 29:41/33:07Reasonably flat out-and-back Yorkshire town 10K 2002 date: February 34 Nike 10K not timedAn exciting, highly publicised debut that filled its 10,000 limit within

an objective set of criteria to judge every race. Each race has been marked out of 1000 (the number you will see after the race in the list). There were 200 points available for organisation and quality of course and 100 each for atmosphere, potential for fast

12 Stroud 1/2M (17) 769 13 Lake Vyrnwy 1/2M (14) 766 14 Glasgow Women’s 10K (11) 763 15 Robin Hood 1/2M & Marathon (39) 762 16 Ballycotton 10 (9) 760 17 Cheltenham National 10K 757 18 Dewsbury 10K (12) 756 19 Nike 10K 755 20 Waterloo 15K (23) 755 21

Marathon (5) 2:30:17/3:06:47A solid London alternative on a fairly tough two-lap course 2002 date: April 289 Belfast Marathon (9) 2:26:00/2:56:05Northern Ireland’s top race over a quickish town course 2002 date: May 610 Manchester Marathon (5) 2:25:23/2

despite the strong challenges from the Grizzly and the assault-course-style Tough Guy.1 Waterloo 15K (2)Fast and flat Merseyside multi-terrainer 2002 date: May 2 Tough Guy (3)A unique challenge of mud, water, and obstacles Usual month: January3 Grizzly

Robin Hood 1/2M (16) 1:08:15/1:17:09An interesting race around the city of Nottingham 2002 date: September 159 Windsor Nike 1/2M (11) 1:07:51/1:18:37Tough and testing route through Windsor Great Park 2002 date: September 10 City of Norwich 1/2M (34) 1:05:10/1:18:35

clear lead over the big three women’s 10Ks, with newcomer the Great North Women’s 5 taking the other top-five spot. (See Biggest Series, for Race For Life.)1 Flora Light Challenge 5K (1)Big, atmospheric event run through London’s Hyde Park 2002 date