Les 20K de St TropezMonth OctoberLocation St Tropez, on the Côte d’Azur between Cannes and ToulonDistance 20KWhy do it If you’ve always wanted to rub shoulders with the rich and famous, why not do it on the run in this infamous heartland of all things chic? The route is designed ...

Rome Marathon (Italy, March)It's no wonder that foreign runners make up more than a third of the field for this race, which is effectively a 26.2-mile sightseeing tour around the Eternal City. The race is held on a Sunday in March, and takes in the ancient splendours of the Colos...

Les 100K du Périgord NoirMonth AprilLocation Belvès – in the Dordogne valley (Aquitaine)Distance 100K (there is also a 50K)Why do it Billed as the biggest sporting event in Aquitaine, this is a distance to have a go at once in your lifetime. Events over 100K are surprisingly popu...

L’ultramarathon du Salève Month MayLocation Salève, in the French Alps, just south of GenevaDistance 93K over three daysWhy do it This is a tough, multi-stage mountain ultramarathon, but the scenery alone makes covering that kind of distance well worth it. The race offers three d...

Marvejols-MendeMonth JulyLocation The Cévennes (Lozère – the southern part of the Massif Central)Distance 22.4KWhy do it This is one of the French classics, attracting a wide range of runners, including a fair elite section. In case you think it’s a bit rich organising a race tha...

Le Championnat du CanigouMonth AugustLocation Vernet-les-Bains – deep in the Pyrenees (the eastern part, towards the Mediterranean)Distance 30K Why do it At the turn of the century, the locals from Vernet-les-Bains were in the habit of climbing the Canigou mountain to bring back...

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

Les 50K de la Côte des Légendes Month MayLocation Ploudalmézeau (Brittany) near BrestDistance 50K, 18K option also availableWhy do it As we know, there’s no such thing as a free lunch, and that certainly applies here where, to enjoy the post-race feast, you have to first run 50K...

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

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