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

:51:26Point-to-point city marathon that took a dip in 2001 on new course 2002 date: October11 Snowdonia Marathon (14) 2:37:14/3:12:13A very tough course through mountainous North Wales 2002 date: October 2712 Blackpool Asics Marathon 2:37:38/3:16:52A very fast

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

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

-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

of the above races: 2:09 Events 0870 3500 209; Sports Tours International 0161-703 8161; Nirvana 01670 859300.If you’re travelling independently, you’ll find that most event organisers speak English, although it is easier to contact them in writing via e

of an individual matter, varying from runner to runner just like favourite shoes, the following guide will clear up the merits of the various alternatives so that you can make the very best of what’s available to you. (Ratings are out of 10.)1. GrassAt its best

.Training for 18 hours a week is going to have an impact on your home life. You must make sure your family and friends are 100 per cent behind you, even if that certainty is guaranteed by a holiday-shaped bribe.8 Rest and recoverWithout rest and recovery, you