UK Trail Running Championships, Cotgrave: Sunday, May 20WHY RUN IT?Held over a scenic course (over an approximate marathon distance), this figure-of-eight route is extremely tough with 1500ft of climbing. There are also races over eight miles and 44

Belfast Marathon: Monday, May 6WHY RUN IT?Speed, atmosphereNorthern Ireland’s only marathon is run from the Maysfield Leisure Centre. It is held with a relay, and is celebrating its 21st anniversary and hosting the Irish Championships this year

Halstead Marathon, Essex: Sunday, May 19WHY RUN IT?Scenery, value for money, spaceA low-key marathon, over undulating country roads that strays across the Suffolk borders. This year’s race hosts the 2002 Road Runners Club Championships.FEES£9

seasoned marathon veterans. Even the armchair fan is catered for with the kind of elite field that even the Olympics or World Championships envy. The inaugural event in 1981 was inspired by the New York City Marathon, but its ongoing success has made

in church."When runners were runners “D’yer remember Daffyd Thomas from Pontypridd?”“Aye. I wuz out with ’im, night before t’ ’73 European Championships. Sixteen pints he put down, an’ an ’alf pint of creme de menthe in the taxi. I ’ad to carry ’im upstairs

competing in this year's race.To help them achieve their targets, triathlon coach Ralph Hydes will be offering them advice and tips on the Runner's World forums. (There's more about Ralph below.)His advice to them will work for you, too - and you're welcome

festive touch, pumping out Christmas carols at the start and finish.Any extras?AAA County Championships and Fun Run.How to enter:Click here:

.Experienced half-marathon runner and UK club coach, Steve Smythe, has been dishing up real-time training advice live in the forums and each of the runners have been getting their teeth into personalised nutrition guidance from the sports scientists at Lucozade

was possible and accomplish great things. No one demonstrates that better than the Running Heroes honoured by Runner’s World and Aviva in 2008 — they were seven people who achieved something or gave back in a monumental way. Among that group

half-marathon, with Bristol (boosted by being a World Championships venue), making a big advance. Others with significant improvement were Bath, Stroud, Robin Hood, Norwich, Jersey and Tunbridge Wells.1 BUPA Great North Run (1) 1:00:30/1:08:40The world’s