The Boston Marathon is one of the most exciting events on the running calendar, and this year will be no different with defending champions Evans Chebet and Hellen Obiri returning to defend their crowns.

Chebet is aiming to win the Boston Marathon for the third time in a row after he beat a stacked field that included Eliud Kipchoge last year. His main threat will probably be Sisay Lemma, who ran 2hr 1min 48sec at the Valencia Marathon last year, is the fastest man in the field and the fourth-fastest in history. Last year’s runner-up Gabriel Geay will also be in the mix for the win.

On the women’s side Obiri will have to face down stern competition from other past champions to win her second, with Worknesh Defaga, Edna Kiplagat and Caroline Rotich all aiming to take the tape. New York City Marathon 2022 winner Sharon Lokedi is another runner to look out for, with home interest coming from Des Linden, who won Boston in 2018, and Sara Hall.

Boston Marathon Live Streams

How To Watch The Boston Marathon In The US

ESPN will broadcast the Boston Marathon live nationally in the US, with its coverage beginning on its flagship channel at 8.30am EDT and running until 12.30pm EDT. It will also be streamed on the ESPN website. 

Live local coverage of the race will be on WCVB Channel 5 from 4am EDT to 8pm EDT, along with WCVB’s sister stations WMUR, WMTW and WPTZ.

How To Watch The Boston Marathon In The UK

Eurosport will be showing live coverage of the Boston Marathon on TV and through its website and app. If you don’t have Eurosport as part of your TV package you’ll need a Discovery+ subscription to watch, which costs £6.99 a month or £59.99 a year. Alternatively, you can subscribe to and watch Discovery+ through Amazon Prime Video. 

How To Watch The Boston Marathon In Australia

The Boston Marathon will be broadcast live through FloSports in Australia, which costs AUS$29.99 a month or AUS$150 a year. The FloSport app is available on Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick, Apple TV and mobile devices.

How To Watch The Boston Marathon From Outside Your Country Of Residence

If you’re traveling and want to watch the Boston Marathon through your usual national broadcaster then you can use a virtual private network (VPN). The team at Coach stablemate TechRadar have tested VPNs extensively and recommend NordVPN, which is easy to set up and reliable. NordVPN also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it before committing to a longer plan.

Boston Marathon Details

Whether you’re in town to spectate the Boston Marathon in person or you’re planning to tune into the broadcast and track runners from home, there are several ways you can follow the progress of runners.

If you’re going to watch the race in person to cheer on friends or family members, download the B.A.A. Racing app from the Boston Athletic Association (BAA), which is already live in the App store and Google Play.

The app relays when runners pass any of the 16 checkpoints along the course.

“Folks can track as many runners as they’d like,” says Chris Lotsbom, BAA director of race communications and media. “This is perfect for spectators to gauge what time their athlete is set to finish.”

The app will also feature leaderboards, maps, selfie frames, race information for runners and spectators, participant and spectator guides, weather forecast updates from the BAA’s partners at the local WCVB television station, and more. 

New to the app this year is tracking and results for Saturday’s Boston 5K presented by Point32Health, as well as for the B.A.A. Invitational Miles, taking place that same day.

“We annually see that [the app] is incredibly popular among spectators and athletes, often rising to the top of sports app charts in the month of April,” says Lotsbom. “Usually the most tracked athletes are either from the pro field, or celebrities who may be running.” 

You can also track participants on the race website, BAA.org, which will feature searchable results, leaderboards, splits and tracking.

“The site will switch over to a tracking race day specific page the morning of the race,” he says. “In case it’s helpful for anyone trying to plan out their spectating in person, we also have town-by-town tips on our website, too.”

And for those interested in following the professional and elite races, the Boston Marathon will air locally from 4am to 8pm ET on WCVB-TV, the BAA’s official local television partner. Nationally, the race will air on ESPN2 from 8.30am  to 12.30pm ET. The Boston Marathon start time for the professional men is 9.37am and 9.47am for the professional women.

“There will be lots of coverage on WCVB and ESPN in the lead-up to race day,” says Lotsbom. If you’re not in the US when the race starts, find out how to watch the Boston Marathon where you are.

“We encourage spectators to follow @BostonMarathon across all our platforms (Instagram, X, Facebook, Tik Tok), as well as @Boston26_2_Pro on X, and our B.A.A. accounts: @BAA and @RunTeamBAA on X; @TeamBAA and @RunTeamBAA on Instagram; and Boston Athletic Association on Facebook.”

I’ve run 13 marathons and eight of them have been my hometown race, so it’s safe to say the Houston Marathon is my favorite marathon. It’s fast and flat and it usually has favorable weather. It’s also where I broke four hours for the first time in 2012 and where I finally qualified for the Boston Marathon 10 years later. And while it might not draw nearly as many runners, I’d say the Houston Marathon has Abbott World Marathon Major levels of crowd support. 

In addition to running the Houston Marathon nearly every year for the last 12 years, I’ve also served as a four-time ambassador for the race. I also train on parts of the course all year round, so I think it’s safe to say I’m an expert on this route.

While it’s mostly flat, there are some small hills on the back half of the course that may not be much to write home about, but which can really take their toll if you haven’t run a smart race and are struggling in the final miles.

So it’s best to follow the standard advice for how to pace a marathon, which means trying to run a negative split. That’s what I do and in my best races it’s resulted in a second half that’s been two to three minutes faster than the first. 

To help with your strategy, here’s my mile-by-mile walk-through of the Houston Marathon route.

Houston Marathon Route

Miles 1-3

When it’s time for the starting pistol to fire, remind yourself that patience is key. You’ll be met by cheering crowds as soon as you descend from Congress on to Washington Avenue and it will be easy to get carried away. You’ll feel like everyone is passing you and my best advice is to just let it happen—it’s way more fun to overtake them in the final 5K than the first.

Shortly after you hit the mile 2 marker, you’ll make the first left turn onto Waugh Drive, briefly running through the Montrose neighborhood before heading into River Oaks for a few miles. This is a good stretch to settle into your goal marathon pace and start feeding off the energy of the crowds.

Miles 4-6

The River Oaks shopping district is, unsurprisingly, a popular section for spectators. The road narrows a bit after you hit mile 4 on West Gray Street, where there are also a few speed bumps, so this is another stretch to be patient with your pace. The next couple of miles are on Kirby Drive, mostly in full sun if it’s a clear day, so be mindful about conserving some energy as you head toward the Rice Village and Rice University area.

Miles 7-9

When you turn onto Bissonnet Street, you’ll find some relief from the sun. This is also another crowded spot, but not for long, as the full and half marathon courses split off before the mile 8 marker. Both the course and spectators quiet down a bit here as you loop around Rice University, but not for long. This is a good area to check in with yourself and how you’re feeling so far.

Miles 10-11

Once you run past the university and into the Rice Village shopping district, the crowds pick up again. You’ll head into West University Place, where residents will be out in full force with posters and even some snack offerings like bananas and oranges if you need a little something in addition to your own mid-race nutrition.

Miles 12 to 13.1

After you pass mile 11, you hit a long straightaway down Weslayan Drive. Around the 20km mark, you’ll make a left turn as you head up the one true hill in the whole race, which I jokingly refer to as “Mount Westpark”. People always ask me for advice on conquering this hill, as well as Allen Parkway (which I’ll get to later). After running this race so many times and having it go all kinds of ways, I’ll say this: Mount Westpark is so short (about 200 meters) that you really shouldn’t notice it at all if you’re running a smart race. If you’ve gone out too fast and have already blown up, then yes, going up this hill will probably hurt a bit.

While this hill might cause your mile 13 split to be a few seconds slower even if you’ve been running well, you’ll easily recover from it and make it up over the next couple of miles after the halfway point.

Miles 14-17

Once you’ve descended the Westpark overpass, you run on the 59 and 610 feeder roads for a short stretch then enter the Galleria neighborhood. You’re more than halfway there at this point, but this feels more like the true midpoint for me. Once I hit mile 16 heading into Tanglewood and I’ve got 10 miles to go, I tell myself it’s OK to quicken the pace slightly.

Miles 18-22

Whether you’re having a great day or a bad day, this stretch can feel so long. You are literally running down the same road for five straight miles, which at least makes staying on the tangents easier. The crowds will die down during the first half of this section because it’s not as easy for people to get to on foot, but they’ll pick right up again once you run past Memorial Park and through the street tunnels under the newly constructed land bridge and park prairie. 

Most years the race has installed speakers playing music along these miles, dubbed the “singing trees”, which has helped to keep me moving and in good spirits in what can be the toughest miles of the marathon. And while I’ve never stopped and taken it myself, others say the same thing about the Michelob Ultra beer station, which is around the 35km mark.

Miles 23-24

Once you finally exit Memorial Drive, you make a right onto Shepherd Drive and then hit the gentle ascent of Allen Parkway. You’ve got 5K to go at this point, and while these hills are child’s play compared with many other race courses, just like the Westpark overpass, they can hurt if you’ve been struggling through the race. But if you’re having the race of your life, as I did when I last raced it in 2022, you won’t notice these tiny inclines.

Miles 25 to 26.2

You exit Allen Parkway just before mile 25 and make the final two turns with a left on Bagby and right on Lamar as you arrive downtown again, right back where you started. The tall buildings will probably mess with your watch’s GPS signal around the mile 26 marker, but it won’t matter at this point. Focus on getting everything you have left out of yourself and on passing people in the final 800-meter straight. Congratulations! You’ve conquered the Houston Marathon, and I won’t be surprised if you sign up again for next year—registration opens that very same day.

The London Marathon is one of the best running events in the UK, but as spectacular as it is, it’s certainly not the only UK marathon worth doing. There are great marathons to be found across the country, which is good news, given how hard it can be to get a spot in the London event—unless you’re especially lucky, especially good at fundraising or especially quick.

All you need to do is pick a race far enough in the future to accommodate a marathon training plan, clear your schedule and get running. OK, there’s more to it than that. You’ll want to sign up for a half marathon as part of your training, for one, and invest in a new pair of marathon running shoes. 

If you fancy taking a running holiday, see if one of these best marathons around the world takes your fancy.

If you’re looking at taking part in one of the bigger events in 2024, now is the time to start planning your entry because the most popular UK marathons will sell out many months in advance of race day.

The Best UK Marathons

Brighton Marathon

Next event: April 7, 2024

Always one of the most popular spring marathons, the Brighton Marathon is already close to selling out for 2024 so it’s worth entering soon if you plan on doing it. The race changed its route in 2023 and the first 5K is now in town before you head down to run along the coast. It’s scenic and mostly flat, but you’re at the mercy of the weather once you hit the coastal part of the route, so fingers crossed for a still day.

Sign up | £69.99

Manchester Marathon

Next event: April 14, 2024

The Manchester Marathon is known for being speedy—it’s one of the flattest marathon routes in the world—and ideal for chalking up a PR. Entries for the 2024 race are 90% sold out, but you can register interest in obtaining one of the remaining 10% of spots and you’ll get an email on January 8 telling you when the places will go on sale. The route is always well-lined with supporters and you get the added bonus of running your marathon a week before all your London-running friends, so you can relax and dish out advice while they hit maximum maranoia levels.

Register interest | £65

London Marathon

Next event: April 21, 2024

The London Marathon 2024 will, as ever, be the stand-out event on the UK’s running calendar. The route is fast and mostly flat, and the support you get from the sidelines is unreal. The ballot has been and gone, and Good For Age entry has closed, so a London Marathon charity place is your only option if you’re keen to run in 2024.

Apply for charity entry | 21 London Marathon Tips For First-Timers

MK Marathon Weekend

Next event: May 6, 2024

The MK Marathon Weekend also contains a 5K, 10K and a half marathon. The marathon itself is held on Bank Holiday Monday and the mostly flat course is made up of two laps of Milton Keynes, starting and finishing at the Stadium: MK.

Sign up | £54-£58

Windermere Marathon

Next event: May 18, 2024

This event in the Lake District is a strong contender for the UK’s most scenic marathon, with runners completing an anti-clockwise loop of Lake Windermere. There are a few bumps along the way, with around 500m of climbing, so it’s not going to be the fastest course for PR-seekers, but you can still run a quick time while enjoying the views.

Sign up | £60

Edinburgh Marathon

Next event: May 26, 2024

The Edinburgh Marathon Festival week includes races from 5K to the full 42.2km, plus some shorter junior events as well, so it’s great for the whole family to attend. The route of the marathon itself starts in the city center before heading downhill to the coast, which makes it a race with PR potential, but only if the weather plays ball. Sometimes you’ll be heading into a vicious headwind during the coastal section.

Sign up | £68

The Wales Marathon

Next event: June 23, 2024

There aren’t many big marathons scheduled in the summer for fear of the race falling on an especially hot day—though in the UK it’s probably an acceptable risk. In addition, lining up this event in late June means the bulk of training is done in spring and early summer, which is a more enjoyable time to log long runs than during the winter ahead of a spring marathon. The Wales Marathon takes place on closed roads in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and has a rolling, but not brutally hilly, route with around 600m of climbing in total.

Sign up | £55

New Forest Marathon Weekend

Next event: September 8, 2024

This two-day event crams in a wide array of races: Adults can tackle a marathon, half marathon, 10K or 5K, while juniors can line up for a 1km or 200m run. In the marathon, you can expect a scenic route through the New Forest on trails that undulate throughout, though there are no truly terrifying single climbs to worry about. Make sure to look out for the famous New Forest ponies as you run. 

Sign up | £46

Loch Ness Marathon

Next event: September 29, 2024

One of the UK’s most picturesque races, this point-to-point marathon runs along the south-eastern shores of Loch Ness allowing you to take in the epic scenery of the Highlands before finishing in Inverness. Of course you won’t see any of that scenery because your eyes will be glued to the water in the hope of spotting Nessie. If you’re interested in running this race, you’ll want to know about the seven things I learned running the Loch Ness Marathon.

Sign up | £68 

London is not lacking in great running events, so for one to stand out from the crowd it has to offer something special. The Royal Parks Half Marathon does that with the most scenic course you’re likely to find at a city-center event, its route taking in four of London’s eight Royal Parks.

We have an in-depth guide to that route below, gleaned from our experience of running the event. Before we get to that, however, you’ll need to know when the race is, and how to enter and train for it.

Royal Parks Half Marathon Route Guide

While the course is flat enough to be PR-friendly, it has a lot of twists and turns, especially during the second half, so you need to watch your footing when sprinting around the bends in pursuit of a new record. You may also benefit from reading these tips for pacing the Royal Parks Half Marathon.

The race is now divided into two distinct sections: the first five miles takes you around Westminster and back to Hyde Park through St James’s Park and Green Park, and the remaining eight miles of the race is run within Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. 

From the start on South Carriage Drive, you run past landmarks such as Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament as you make your way to Trafalgar Square. Then, there’s an out-and-back along the Strand before you return to Hyde Park via The Mall. There are long straight sections in this part of the race, which give you the chance to find clear space to run in. This will prove useful in the second half of the race when the large field and twisting course can lead to congestion.

Just after the five-mile mark you re-enter Hyde Park and the route winds its way around the eastern half of the park for five miles before you head into Kensington Gardens for the final three miles of the race.

The support becomes more sporadic by the latter stages, but even in 2018 when it rained most of the morning, there were still plenty of people out cheering. Be wary of running in a pack in this section, however, because the paths are narrow at times and you may be forced onto the grass at some corners.

Finally, the Royal Parks Half Marathon has perhaps the most disheartening home straight in existence because it’s more than a kilometer long; so make sure you pace yourself and don’t start sprinting as soon as you spy the finish line. Actually, don’t even look at the finish line because it will seem like it’s not getting closer. Instead, keep an eye on the signs saying 800m/400m/200m to go to reassure yourself that you’re making progress towards the end.

More London Half Marathon Event Guides

• London Landmarks Half Marathon
• The Big Half

HYROX events are a great way to put your all-round fitness to the test. The format requires participants to run 1km and then tackle a functional exercise, eight times. The mathematically minded will have noticed that’s 8km of running in total, and you’ll actually be racking up even more distance through the exercise you do in between those runs.

The mass-participation format was founded in 2017 and puts on races at indoor arenas across Europe and the USA, with each event hosting up to 5,000 participants, plus spectators, which creates a terrific atmosphere. It launched in the UK in 2021 and after four sold-out events in 2022, HYROX is putting on three more in 2023.

The first is in Manchester on 28th January, and then HYROX heads to Glasgow on 11th February. Those events are sold out or on track to, so move fast if you want a spot, but if you miss out then the two-day event in London on 30th April and 1st May still has space. Along with these mass-participation events, the HYROX World Championship Race is taking place in the UK in 2023, in Manchester on 27th May.

If you’re excited to enter, keep in mind that it is a serious physical test. In addition to the running you need to complete the following eight challenges (we’ve included the male/female weights for the individual open category where applicable): 

1. 1,000m on the SkiErg 
2. 50m sled push (125kg/75kg, plus sled)
3. 50m sled pull (75kg/50kg, plus sled)
4. 80m burpee broad jump
5. 1,000m on the rowing machine
6. 200m farmer’s carry (2 x 24kg/16kg)
7. 100m sandbag lunge (20kg/10kg)
8. Wall ball (100 reps 6kg/ 75 reps 4kg)

It all adds up to an event that will challenge your strength and endurance to the max, and pacing yourself effectively will be crucial. 

Find a HYROX Race

How To Train For A HYROX Event

Preparing for a HYROX event requires careful planning to ensure you’re ready to tackle each and every station on the circuit, as well as all that running in between.

The best way to train for a HYROX is in person at a HYROX-affiliated gym, but if you don’t have one close by or the cost of a membership is beyond your means then FIIT, one of the best workout apps, has also launched four-week and eight-week HYROX training plans ($7.99/£7.99 a month). 

We spoke to HYROX master trainer Mintra Tilly to get some expert advice on how to train for the fitness race. 

What kind of training should you do before HYROX?

HYROX combines running and functional training which opens it up to a broad audience of fitness enthusiasts. Everyone can do it, even if you haven’t trained, though we don’t recommend that – you’ll be sore for days afterwards. 

How best to train for HYROX depends a little on where you’re coming from. If we were to start with a beginner or someone who’s not familiar with HYROX, the best thing to do is build their base fitness, building endurance and strength. 

Once you’ve built your base fitness, you can address your weaknesses and do less of what you’re good at. If you’re a great runner then you need to work on strength and the functional movements. And vice versa, if you’re stronger and a less accomplished runner.

What we don’t suggest is crazy technical lifts, like snatches or Olympic lifts. We stick with the basics.

Should you complete a full HYROX in training?

It doesn’t hurt to do the whole thing, just to know what it feels like. Obviously, it’s going to be totally different in the competition when the adrenaline kicks in.

If you don’t have all the equipment needed, then do a training session that mimics that amount of work. It’s around an hour and a half, on average, and you should challenge your body with different exercises and have some running in there.

How long does it take to train for a HYROX?

If you’re committed and you do three to four workouts a week, then eight weeks is enough, but if you really want to be well prepared, I would recommend 12 weeks.

How should you structure that training?

In an ideal world, I recommend periodisation. Take weeks one to four to get stronger. Don’t do much running or cardio. Then move on to the next phase in week five to eight, and incorporate the cardiovascular components. Keep one or two strength days, and then on the other two days ramp up the cardio. Then four weeks before the event, get specific. Do all the HYROX movements with running in between.

What parts of the event are people weakest at in general?

Exercise-wise, it’s the sled. Some people might not have the opportunity to incorporate that into their training and then it just hits you. And because it’s the second station, people go in too quick. The sled is unique: it hits your heart rate and your muscles at the same time. Do not underestimate the sled, and try to train with it so you know what it feels like.

Number two would be the lunges, because they can be overlooked. They’re towards the end, maybe an hour or an hour and 15 minutes in, and it’s 200 metres of lunging over and over again. At that point in the competition, you need to have that extra energy and your legs need to be able to manage that. So the lunges are something that you should focus on in training too. 

And then in third place, I’d say running. I mean, it’s so obvious, but people struggle!

Can you train for a HYROX at home?

My coach used to say no equipment is not an excuse, so in honour of him, I want to say it’s possible. If you have to do it all at home, think about time and muscle. Look at how long it takes to do a section, and then try to get your heart rate up and hit the muscles that exercise hits for that duration of time. 

For example, it takes people roughly four or five minutes to do the SkiErg section. So that means for five minutes, you would have to do something that targets your heart rate, and then also your arms. So I would do burpees with double press-ups. Be creative.

Do you need to consider how you fuel for a HYROX event?

People underestimate what completing HYROX does to your body and some who start in the morning just don’t have breakfast. You have to eat something in order for your body to not shut down. But don’t eat too much, because you’ll throw up. And drink! Hydration is a big thing. 

• Can You Complete This HYROX Workout In Under 30 Minutes?
• Six SkiErg Workouts To Make You Love/Hate This Effective Cardio Machine
• CrossFit Workouts To Try In Your Next Gym Session
• The Best Gym Trainers

Unless you avoid all running-related news like the plague, you probably know that Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge set a new men’s marathon record of 2hr 1min 9sec at the Berlin Marathon on 25th September 2022. That time broke Kipchoge’s own record of 2hr 1min 39sec, set in Berlin in 2018.

In fact, the last eight times the men’s record has been broken, it’s been done at the Berlin Marathon, a run that stretches back to Paul Tergat’s time of 2hr 4min 55sec in 2004. It’s fair to say that the Berlin course is a fast one, but that’s just one of the reasons it’s such a brilliant marathon to take part in. Here’s everything you need to know about the race.

The most important information about the London Marathon route is that by and large it’s flat. It’s a great route for PB seekers and you can tailor your marathon training around a flat race without the fear of a climb or two knocking you off your rhythm on the day.

It’s important to note that your London Marathon start point will determine your route, because runners are split up for the first few miles to avoid too much congestion in the early stages of the race.

Another thing London Marathon runners need to know is that during the race you’ll notice blue lines on the road. These mark the fastest route and sticking to them throughout will mean you run the exact marathon distance. However, owing to the huge number of runners you’ll encounter, this is impossible for all but the fastest elites, and all the unavoidable weaving and running wide at corners means you’ll probably run slightly more than 26.2 miles/42.2km, so don’t get angry at your running watch if this is the case.

One other thing to note is that the London Marathon provides both mile and kilometer markers along the route, so you can race using whichever measurement you prefer and use the markers to help judge your pacing. More useful details about the route can be found in our London Marathon route FAQs section, below.

And if you’re a spectator looking for advice on where to stand, these are the best places to watch the London Marathon.

London Marathon Route Map

London Marathon Route Mile By Mile

The Start

Depending on the color marked on your race number, you’ll begin from one of three start zones. These keep runners separate for the first few kilometers, before everyone merges together.

Miles 1-2

Runners head east from the start in Greenwich for a couple of miles, where the aim is just to avoid going too quick and/or getting tripped up in the swarm. Stay calm and don’t worry if you feel like you’re losing a tiny bit of time in the mêlée—better to do that than expend energy weaving past people.

Miles 3-4

The Green and Blue runners join the Red and Yellow route around 2.8 miles in, and although they’re kept separate for a while eventually everyone merges, so if you’ve just escaped a crowd from your start wave, expect to be part of another. The good news here is that this section is downhill, considerably so in places. Don’t be alarmed to find you’re running 10 seconds per mile faster than your planned pace here—you’ll make up some time from the crowded first few miles by easing down the hills.

Miles 5-7

The crowds of supporters really press in on the runners at some points of this section, which makes it easy to high-five people but also means the route can be a little narrow. Just after 10K you’ll reach the Cutty Sark, one of most popular points on the whole course for supporters. Revel in the crowd and the knowledge that you’ve completed the first quarter of the marathon.

Miles 8-12

There’s not a lot going on here, to be honest. The crowds are still great, but the route is pretty bland as you wind around Rotherhithe and on towards Tower Bridge. Settle into your pace after the excitement of the Cutty Sark—you should be feeling strong during this section.

Miles 13-14

Get ready for a whirlwind of emotions. First there’s the joyous experience of going over Tower Bridge. Then there’s the slight downer of turning right after the bridge at a point where you can probably see the fastest runners coming back the other way on their way to the finish. And then you hit halfway and all the joy comes back. With runners and supporters on both sides of the road, this is one of the loudest and most inspiring sections of the race. Headphones out.

Miles 14-21

Headphones back in—this tends to be the section where it starts to hurt. Although the Isle of Dogs and Canary Wharf have more supporters than they used to, it’s still the least exciting part of the course and as you pass the 20-mile mark you’ll probably be reaching the limits of your training runs. The route winds around Canary Wharf a bit and you’ll have to watch out for runners starting to slow down as they hit the wall. Not you, though—you’re killing it.

Miles 22-23

As you pass the hordes of supporters around Shadwell, enjoy the boost of knowing you’re in the home straight now. Whip off the headphones and gain as much energy as you can from the crowd.

Miles 24-25

Just three miles (5km) to go. That’s a parkrun—you can do that. And this is the most picturesque part of the race, with landmarks aplenty to look out for as you run along Embankment. Before that, however, you run through the Blackfriars Underpass. This is a rare moment where the crowd disappears, which is a bit of a relief if truth be told, and allows you to gather yourself before the last mile or so. The other thing to know about the Underpass is that some runners will use the relative privacy of the tunnel to relieve themselves, or have a little cry, or throw up. Or all three.

The Finish

Once you turn off the Embankment on to Birdcage Walk you’re unbelievably close to the end. Buckingham Palace is ahead of you, but you have to endure a long slog of a straight to get there so we recommend keeping your head down to avoid the despair when you feel that it doesn’t seem to be getting any closer. Then you suddenly reach it, turn the corner on to the Mall, and the finish line is right there. Congratulations, you’re a London Marathon finisher!

London Marathon Route FAQs

Where can I get a GPX file of the route?

You can easily find GPX files for the London Marathon online, and organizers have helpfully posted the route on Strava. 

However, the race has three different starts which that route doesn’t account for, and only after around three miles do the routes converge. The Good Run Guide offers the route from the Red Start, but your best bet might be searching Strava for a runner’s activity from a previous event and downloading that. Here’s my 2021 run from the Blue Start.

In five years, the Big Half has quickly established itself as one of the best UK half marathons on the calendar. It gained this accolade despite initial teething problems when the first two editions of the race, held in early spring, were beset by bad weather: 2018’s “Beast from the East” storm meant the event was almost canceled and in 2019 high winds troubled runners, especially those wearing fancy dress.

The third edition had a better time of it, being one of the few half marathons to go ahead in 2020. However, the fourth was moved to autumn 2021 after COVID-19 restrictions meant its regular spring date was untenable, and the organizers have stuck with this September berth for the 2022 and 2023 events.

If you’re running the 2023 event, we’ve gathered together some useful information to help you prepare for the big day.

The Big Half Route

I’ve run the Big Half four times to date and an uncharitable person might describe the course as most of the worst bits of the London Marathon, with long stretches in Canary Wharf and Lewisham that provide little in the way of visual distraction from the hard work your legs are putting in. However, you also get two of the best bits of the London Marathon, crossing Tower Bridge just after the seven-mile mark and finishing by the Cutty Sark.

The race starts just north of Tower Bridge as runners head east towards Canary Wharf, turning at around the three-mile mark to come back towards the bridge. Once you’re across the Thames you turn left towards Greenwich and mostly follow the river’s curves down to the finish line. The course is flat and fast, but there are a couple of tough stretches.

After just a mile or so you hit the Limehouse Link tunnel, where you head underground for about a mile. There are no cheering spectators here, which is a little eerie, and the long downhill into the tunnel is matched by a long uphill out of it. Neither incline is especially steep but either can mess up your pacing, especially because your GPS signal will go haywire in the tunnel. Be careful not to overdo it on the downhill.

Then, when you’re getting close to the finish line, you hit a long straight at around mile 11. In the haze of the final few miles of a tough race, this section felt draining and almost uphill to me. The only advice I can offer is to keep your head down and power on to the finish line.

Half Marathon Training Advice

• Half Marathon Training: Plans, Advice And More
• Half Marathon Tips To Help You Train And Run A Better Race

More London Half Marathon Event Guides

• The Ultimate Guide To The Royal Parks Half Marathon
• London Landmarks Half Marathon 2023: Route, Tips And More

Whether you’ve just started cycling to work or are a seasoned club cyclist, at some point in your pedal-powered journey it’s only natural to seek out a cycling challenge to add to your calendar. The UK has a rich selection of sportives, charity cycle rides and gran fondos to sign up for. In fact, during the height of the season (April to September), it’s possible to take part in one every weekend. 

But which events deserve to be on your bucket list? From an ideal introductory event that’s been taking place since 1976 to an ultra-distance epic that takes in most of a country, here are the best UK cycling events to sign up for.

Don't miss our tips on how to train for a 100-mile sportive and how to fuel for one.

Fred Whitton Challenge

Next event: 7 May 2023

Entry fee: £95

Held since 1999, the Fred Whitton Challenge markets itself as the hardest route in the whole of the UK (although an equally punchy Welsh inclusion in our round-up could easily vie for the top spot). At 112 miles (180km) with 10,400ft (3,162m) of elevation gain, it’s a serious day in the saddle—the fastest complete it in around six hours, while it can take the average sportive rider almost twice as long. An event for those who don’t mind a bit of suffering, the route includes all the Lake District’s most famous passes (Kirkstone, Honister, Newlands, Whinlatter, Hardknott and Wrynose, and Blea Tarn), and features an energy-sapping 30% gradient with 94 miles (151km) already in the legs. Entry is based on a ballot system, and priority is given to first-timers.

Visit the Fred Whitton Challenge website 

Etape Caledonia

Next event: 14 May 2023

Entry fee: £49 (40 miles), £50 (55 miles), £84 (85 miles)

For a UK sportive with amazing scenery, it’s best to look to Scotland. The closed-road Etape Caledonia takes place on the outskirts of the Cairngorms and whether you opt for the 40-mile, 55-mile or 85-mile version, you’ll be treated to a variety of Scottish delights: lochs, forests and rolling mountain ranges. It tends to sell out quickly, so sign up before it’s too late.

Visit the Etape Caledonia website

RideLondon

Next event: 28 May 2023

Entry fee: £99

The cycling equivalent of the London Marathon, RideLondon has quickly become a “must ride” event for any semi-serious cyclist. The course shifted from the London 2012 Olympic-inspired Surrey hills to the flatter terrain of Essex for the 2022 edition, but it’s still a solid challenge and offers the chance to ride 100 miles (160km) on closed roads. It’s one of the most oversubscribed sportives around, but if you’ve missed out on the ballot for this year’s event, it’s not too late to sign up with loads of charity places still available. Read more in our RideLondon guide.

Visit the RideLondon website

Tour Of Cambridgeshire

Next event: 2-4 June 2023

Entry fees: Sportive from £40, gran fondo from £80

Want to add some competition into the equation? The Tour of Cambridgeshire hosts closed-road sportives that range from 50 to 100 miles, but it also holds a gran fondo and a road race on the longer course. While you have to hold a racing license to take part in the latter, the gran fondo is the amateur equivalent and is open to anyone aged over 19. It’s a certified event in the UCI Gran Fondo World Series, and if you finish in the top 20% of your age group this June, you’ll qualify for the 2023 UCI Gran Fondo World Championship in Glasgow and your shot at a world title.

Visit the Tour of Cambridgeshire website

BHF London To Brighton

Next event: 18 June 2023

Entry fee: Dependent on charity

While there are various events that take riders from the city to the seaside, this British Heart Foundation-organized one is the original. First staged in 1976, the relaxed 54-mile (87km) ride sets off from Clapham in south London and takes riders through the urban sprawl and into the countryside of Surrey and Sussex before finishing on the beach in Brighton. Be warned—there’s a nasty sting in the tail at mile 50 where the course goes up and over Ditchling Beacon. It’s a mile long and has an average gradient of 10%, so there’s no shame in joining the majority in getting off and walking your way to the top. Although the ballot is now sold out, it’s not too late to secure your spot with a charity partner.

Visit the BHF London To Brighton website

Dragon Ride

Next event: 18 June 2023

Entry fee: £79.95 (Macmillan 100), £89.95 (Medio Fondo), £104.95 (Gran Fondo), £129.95 (Devil)

The Dragon Ride is Wales’s most notorious cycling event, and for good reason. The shortest route on offer is the 61-mile (98km) Macmillan 100, and things only get tougher from there. The most popular distance is the 132-mile (213km) Gran Fondo, which includes eight of the Brecon Beacons’ major climbs and 3,488m of elevation, but the hardest is the ominously named Dragon Devil. This follows the Gran Fondo route but throws an additional 50-mile (81km) loop out towards the Elan Valley into the mix for 183 miles (296km) and 4,614m elevation of hellishly hard riding.

Visit the Dragon Ride website

Struggle Moors

Next event: 2 July 2023

Entry fee: £55

A sportive with the word “Struggle” in its name makes it clear from the off that it’s not for the faint-hearted. This North Yorkshire Moors-based ride takes entrants on a 112-mile (180km) tour of the national park and doesn’t shy away from some of the area’s killer climbs, including those with scary-sounding names like Glaisdale Horror (1.2km at 14.8%) and Rosedale Chimney (1.3km at 13.5%). The rest of the route is far from flat too, with more than 10,000ft (3,048m) of elevation on the undulating course making it one for climbers (or those who don’t mind a bit of pain). 

Visit the Struggle Moors website 

The Mendips Classic

Next event: 15 July 2023

Entry fee: £25 (short), £35 (middle), £40 (long)

Not all organized sportives have to include a trip to the pain cave, as this West Country ride proves. Sure, there are some punchy ascents to tackle in the Mendip Hills, and both the long (123km, 1,436m elevation gain) and medium (83km, 818m elevation gain) routes include the sweeping bends of Cheddar Gorge, but the courses’ profiles don’t resemble a concertina. All options are bookended by some gentle, level ground where you can warm up properly and enjoy the surroundings on either side of the up-and-down action.

Visit the Mendips Classic website 

Pearson Steeplechase

Next event: 17 September 2023

Entry fee: £50

New for 2023, the Steeplechase offers riders the choice of 100km of Surrey’s finest road riding or a 60km gravel route if cycling on bridleways, singletrack and farm access roads is more your thing. Whichever you opt for, each course will require you to tick off five checkpoints, which all happen to be church steeples (hence the name). Finishing at Hurtwood Polo Club, participants of both routes will have the unique treat of being able to drink in a polo match alongside their post-ride pint.

Visit the Pearson Steeplechase website 

Sidley London Revolution

Next event: 23-24 September 2023

Entry fee: From £65

London is home to a number of cycling events but the Revolution is its only weekend-long affair. Setting off from the Lee Valley Showground, the 157-mile (252km) loop takes participants through the heart of the city before linking up with some of the best lanes that the surrounding counties have to offer. The two-day ride sees you spin your way through Surrey, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire, spending the night in Windsor. Alternatively, you can sign up for the ultra edition and do it all in one grueling hit.

Visit the Sidley London Revolution website 

The London Landmarks Half Marathon is one of the UK’s most popular half marathons, taking a scenic route that passes some of London’s most notable landmarks.

Each year places are so sought-after public entry is determined via a ballot. 2024’s race will see over 16,000 runners line up at the start on Pall Mall.

The 2024 race is just around the corner, so here’s everything you need to know to prepare for the London Landmarks Half Marathon.

How to get to the London Landmarks Half Marathon start

The best way to get to the London Landmarks Half Marathon start is by using the Tube, and the best station to use will depend on your start wave.

Waves 1, 2, 3 & 4: Embankment or Charing Cross

Waves 5, 6, 7 & 8: Green Park or Piccadilly Circus

Which London sights do you pass in the race?

Part of the attraction of the London Landmarks race is, of course, the landmarks. The closed-road route through central London is adorned with musical interludes, dancers and cheer stations, as well as London scenery to take in.

The route starts by Nelson’s Column before passing a range of London’s incredible sights, buildings and monuments.

On the north side of the Thames, you pass Somerset House, the Royal Courts of Justice, St Paul’s Cathedral, Guildhall, the Bank of England, the Leadenhall Building (aka the Cheesegrater), the Fenchurch Building (aka the Walkie Talkie), 52 Lime Street (aka The Scalpel), the Monument to the Great Fire of London and the Tower of London.

The route then takes you along the north bank of the river past Big Ben, and you cross to the south bank between the London Eye and St Thomas’ Hospital. You then cross the Thames once more and finish by Downing Street.

This year’s route has been altered slightly to adapt the course for wheelchair entrants.

The London Landmarks Half Marathon Route

Cramming 21.1km into the heart of London means a fair few twists and turns, especially since the London Landmarks Half Marathon route has been designed to pass as many landmarks as possible, so while the LLHM is reasonably fast and flat there are better races out there for PR hunters. 

You won’t get as much to look at in other races, though, and changes to the LLHM route in 2023 and 2024 mean it now takes in even more landmarks. Runners start next to Trafalgar Square and, after a quick jaunt up Charing Cross road to Chinatown, continue east past St Paul’s Cathedral to take in the skyscrapers of the City of London. The route at this stage is very twisty and you’ll lose all sense of direction until you get to the Tower of London at around the 16km mark, when you turn west and follow the banks of the Thames back towards Big Ben. 

Runners then head across the river on Westminster Bridge to get a good look at the London Eye, before coming back over the bridge and heading for the finish on Whitehall by Downing Street.

If you run the race at an easier pace than normal, you’ll benefit from a range of quirky and motivational attractions the organisers have put on. There are dance acts, musicians and 350 charity cheer zones.

Training And Racing Tips From London Landmarks Half Runners

We grabbed a few of the finishers to ask them for their half marathon tips. While some of the training advice may not exactly match that you’d get from a running coach, it certainly worked for them and it does give you an idea of the work people put in to get round the course in something like two hours.

Give Yourself Enough Time To Train

It may not be a marathon but 21.2km is not a distance to sniff at, so it requires commitment. “Make sure you train well in advance. Leave about three months, at least,” says Luke, a sub-2hr finisher.

Include Long And Short Runs

Make sure you vary your sessions. “I did a few short runs – 5K max – in the morning during the week,” says Susan. “Then went for a longer run on the weekend. My longest run before this was 14.5km.”

And remember that you don’t have to slog it out alone. “Parkrun!” chorused Sarah, Af and David when we asked about their weekly runs. “A parkrun once a week and a distance run. Usually 10, 12 and 15km. Then work it back down again,” Af says.

Stretching – Do It

You’re doing a lot of training, give your muscles proper care. “Make sure to keep stretching and doing different exercises,” says Susan. It’ll make all the difference. Use these post-run stretches and stretches for runners to speed up your recovery.

Pick The Right Start Wave

Think very carefully about which wave you put yourself in. “We were in a slower wave than we should have been,” says Michelle. “It was busy,” adds her friend Kirsty, “lots of people around, so we had to do a lot of weaving and moving about.” You’ll be allocated your start wave based on an estimate of your finish time, so try to answer that question as accurately and fairly as you can. Our running pace calculator should help.

Fuel Yourself

“Make sure you have a plan for what you’re going to eat on the day,” says Luke. You’ll be running for around two hours, burning roughly 100 calories per mile, so make sure to fuel yourself properly.

Don’t Go Off Too Fast

It’s easy to get excited on race day and start too quickly. “Just take it easy,” says Kirsty. “Try not to get excited at the beginning and think ‘I feel awesome, I’m going to go really fast’ because you won’t hold it and you’ll die a painful death.”

Have The Right Mentality

Here’s music to our ears. “Just train and enjoy it. You’re never going to win it, so just enjoy it and don’t worry about times,” said Ross. “Go out there and do it!”

And Believe In Yourself

“Anyone can do it. Just keep working away at it and it’ll happen,” says Julie.

– Interviews by Jake Stone

Tips From A London Landmarks Half Marathon Pacer

We caught up with Nici Griffin from Centurion Running before the 2019 event. Griffin organised the pacers and was the tail-end pacer in both 2018 and 2019. She ran her first half marathon in 2010 and has since gone on to complete 28 marathons and four 50-mile ultramarathons. Don’t let that intimidate you though – Griffin called herself the “baby” of her ultramarathon group and said she had to remember not to compare herself with others but focus on what she’s capable of. That’s just one of many fine tips we picked up from our chat. Here are the rest of them.

Get Involved On Facebook Beforehand

Being a pacer, says Griffin, is about a lot more than just setting a pace for others to follow. “If we were told we couldn’t interact with the crowd and had to just carry a flag we wouldn’t do it. The best part is interacting with the people around you, in the start pens at the beginning, even beforehand – Facebook has been amazing for that. You get the banter going, and you get people who are going by themselves on the day feeling like they’ve got a friend – they come and look for you in the wave pens at the start.” Have a look at the comments on facebook.com/londonlandmarkshalf for starters.

Be Happy You’re Running A Race In London

“London is the most ace city for running any big race in,” says Griffin. “It’s so welcoming – the runners, the volunteers, the members of the public out there… you just get so much support.” One particular supporter stood out for Griffin in last year’s LLHM. “Last year there was a child on Embankment and he had this hand-made sign which was a Power Up Power Rangers sign [which promised a ‘power boost’ if you touched it]. It was brilliant seeing all the runners purposely cross to his side of the road to high-five his sign.”

Look Forward To These Course Highlights

“I like the City of London part,” says Griffin. “There are a lot of switchbacks down side streets, and I like the historical architecture you find there with the backdrop of all the new stuff – it’s quite amazing.” Griffin also namechecked St Paul’s – “who doesn’t like St Paul’s Cathedral?” – and running along the Thames towards Big Ben. “When you get to the Tower of London and turn around that’s a real high spot, especially because you think, ‘that’s it, I’m heading for the finish now’. But for me the most beautiful bit is along Embankment. You’ve got all the people out walking along and they’re all cheering – it’s just brilliant.”

But Prepare Yourself For This Bit

Griffin said her “dark part” of a half marathon was always around the nine-mile portion, which happens to coincide with what she says is the least pleasant part of the course for the London Landmarks race. “Coming out of the City going down to the Tower of London, that to me is quite dire and lonely.”

Whether you’re struggling or flying at that point, odds are the going will get tough for you at some point. When that happens try this technique Griffin picked up from Paula Radcliffe. “I count my footsteps – 1-2-3-4 1-2-3-4. It’s mind-numbing, but it just gives me something to think about rather than look ahead and think, ‘Oh my God, Big Ben is so far away’.”

Enjoy It

No matter what happens, try to enjoy the day. And if you’re thinking that’s easy for an ultramarathoner to say, Griffin confessed that she got her first half all wrong. “My longest run in training for that first half marathon was maybe five miles – it was shocking preparation and I got overtaken by a lady with a pushchair, but I still loved that first one.

“At this stage it’s too late to panic about anything anyway – just enjoy it. It’s an amazing memory. There are 13,000 other runners, the pacers, the team that put it together, all out there supporting you. Just enjoy the day.”

And Be Proud Of The Achievement

“A lot of people shrug it off – ‘I’m only doing a half’. No, no – don’t put yourself down. And don’t be fooled, 13 miles is a long distance. It’s just as admirable as a marathon, a 50-miler, a 100-miler. You wouldn’t pop out and do a half marathon distance on a Saturday morning for fun!”

– Interview by Jonathan Shannon

The UK plays host to some of the biggest and best half marathons in the world, and you’ll be sure to find whatever kind of event you’re looking for. Whether you’re just starting half marathon training and are lining up an end goal, or are plowing through marathon training and looking for a half to do as part of that, we’ve picked out an array of excellent UK half marathons for you.

The Best UK Half Marathons 2024

Cambridge Half Marathon

Next event: March 3, 2024

This is one of the most popular half marathons in the UK, evidenced by the fact it always sells out months in advance, but you can still run for charity in 2024. The Cambridge Half Marathon has a fast course and is the ideal tune-up race ahead of a spring marathon. For 2024 the route has been tweaked to visit two additional Cambridge University colleges, which join other landmarks like the Bridge of Sighs and the Wren Library on the course.

Run for charity

London Landmarks Half Marathon

Next event: April 7, 2024

As you’d expect from the name, the route of this half marathon is littered with the capital’s top sights. Runners start on Pall Mall, finish on Downing Street and pass pretty much every notable building in central London in between. The route has a lot of twists and turns but it’s still reasonably flat and fast if you’re trying for a PR, although this is an event where it’s worth focusing on enjoying the atmosphere and raising money for a good cause. The ballot for the 2024 event has been and gone, but you can still run for charity. 

Run for charity | London Landmarks Half Marathon event guide

Reading Half Marathon

Next event: April 14, 2024

In 2024 the Reading Half Marathon is right in the heart of spring marathon season, so if you have no intention of running 26.2 miles but want to get involved at a time when everyone else is racing and your social media is laden with medals, it’s the perfect option. The course has a couple of lumps and bumps but is fast enough for PRs, and it finishes in Reading FC’s stadium where a big crowd will be waiting to cheer you home.

Sign up | £47

Hackney Half Marathon

Next event: May 19, 2024

There’s a whole lot more than a half marathon going on at this event in east London, with a festival of fitness that spans the weekend. The running starts with 5K on Saturday, and then there’s the small matter of the Hackney Half on Sunday morning. The race has a route that winds through the borough, including the Olympic Park, as well as one of the best atmospheres of any race in the capital with supporters coming out in numbers in all conditions. Alongside the running you can get involved in fitness classes at the festival, which goes well beyond the usual runner’s village at the start/finish area. General entries are now sold out but you can still run for charity.

Run for charity | £59

Great Manchester Run

Next event: May 26, 2024

There are entertainment zones every kilometer along the route of this half marathon, which starts and finishes in central Manchester, and visits the grounds of both United and City as well as Salford Quays. The entertainment includes music and cheer buses, and large crowds of organized support and locals line the route to cheer you on your way.

Sign up | £46-49

Edinburgh Half Marathon

Next event: May 28, 2023

It’s not always advisable to look at the elevation profile of a race, because you might find the ups scare you more than the downs delight you, but it’s definitely worth checking out the graph for the Edinburgh Half Marathon before you run it. That’s because the elevation line dives almost 90m as you head from the city center to the coast over the course of the race. Almost all of that downhill is in the first five miles of the event, so you can enjoy a fast start and a shot at a big PR on the day.

Sign up | £42.25

Race The Train Tywyn

Next event: August 17, 2024

This race on the north Wales coast is actually 14 miles, so a little longer than a half marathon, but we’ll hope you forgive us because it’s a unique event that’s well worth flagging up. Participants in the main Rotary Challenge event race a steam train on an out-and-back course alongside the Talyllyn Railway—the train takes around 1hr 47min to complete the route. The course is a mix of road and trails, and it can get very muddy in the hilly second half, so you need to be well ahead of the train at the halfway point to bring home the win.

Sign up | £38

Scottish Half Marathon

Next event: August 18, 2024

The route of the Scottish Half Marathon runs along the coast of East Lothian, just outside Edinburgh, and finishes at Musselburgh racecourse, which has been holding horse-racing events since 1816. PR-hunters will be pleased to learn that the course is a very fast one, with runners heading downhill for the most part in the first three miles before settling into the flat along the coast.

Sign up | £43.75

The Big Half

Next event: September 1, 2024

It launched as a spring event, but in 2021 The Big Half moved to a late summer date and the organizers have opted to stick with that berth since then. The course starts at Tower Bridge and finishes in Greenwich, following a similar route to the first half of the London Marathon, and organizers make an effort to involve runners from the four boroughs it passes through—Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Lewisham and Greenwich—with discounted entry for residents.

Sign up | £56 | The Big Half guide

Great North Run

Next event: September 8, 2024

The world’s biggest half marathon is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the UK running calendar, and if you want to be on the start line in 2024 you’ll need to enter the ballot for the race when it opens. You can sign up to be notified when that happens, but it will probably be in January. The route starts in central Newcastle and runners head out to the coast to finish in South Shields, with incredible support lining the course to roar you on.

Sign up to be notified about the ballot 

Ealing Half Marathon

Next event: September 29, 2024

This popular event takes runners on a tour of west London, starting and finishing in Lammas Park and visiting many green spots in between. The route has a lot of twists and turns and some considerable bumps as well, so it’s not the flat-out fastest option to choose, but the Ealing Half Marathon always offers runners a great atmosphere and consistently earns rave reviews from participants.

Sign up | £42.11 early bird

Cardiff Half Marathon

Next event: October 6, 2024

Runners seeking a cracking atmosphere and a PR-friendly course should head to Wales’s capital for one of the biggest races in the autumn calendar. Early bird entries sold out within three hours, and the rest of the places will go well before the event in October, so don’t delay in signing up if you fancy running this one.

Sign up | £48

Oxford Half Marathon 

Next event: October 13, 2024

This autumn half marathon has a scenic route that takes in Oxford’s historic city center and the charming village of Old Marston, though if you prefer to get your head down and race it’s also a quick enough course to log a PR. A ballot for the race will open later in the year, but you can bypass that by grabbing an early bird entry now.

Early bird sign up | £45 early bird

Any runner who has earned a medal or two will know that there is always a special atmosphere at the end of the best running events. Usually you can only stick around for an hour or so to luxuriate in that atmosphere and enjoy connecting with your fellow runners—but at a running festival, you can enjoy that feeling for a lot longer as the party continues into the night.

There will also usually be music, food and drink to enhance the party atmosphere, and because running festivals are usually set in beautiful locations, the runs you do will be especially scenic and focus on enjoyment of your surroundings rather than smashing a PR.

We’ve picked out a selection of the best running festivals from around the world, with events to suit all kinds of runners including ultramarathon trail runners and track run spectators. 

Love Trails 

Enjoy four days and nights of trail-running action around the gorgeous Gower Peninsula and Brecon Beacons in South Wales. The range of runs is extensive; the shortest is a 5K and the longest an ultramarathon, and running is just one of the activities on offer—there are also opportunities to go kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, climbing and more. The trail runs are a mix of guided trips and marked-course events, and some of the UK’s leading trail and ultramarathon runners will be giving talks to inspire you to get out there.

Buy tickets for Love Trails Festival

Atjan Wild Islands

This five-day event in the Faroe Islands includes four trail races, with distances ranging from 10K to an ultramarathon. The rugged island scenery is sure to thrill those keen on escaping busy cities in particular. Outside of running, those brave enough have ample opportunity for wild swimming in the Atlantic Ocean, and once the day is done festival-goers congregate around the campfire for live music and dancing.

Buy tickets for Atjan Wild Islands

Keswick Mountain Festival

Running is just one of the activities available at this event in the Lake District in the north of England, with hiking, cycling, swimming and full triathlons also on offer. You can run a 5K, 10K, half marathon or 50K ultramarathon, and there is also a mountain run up Skiddaw in which you climb over 3500ft. There is live music in the evenings, along with talks and workshops to help you get even more out of the mountains.

Buy tickets for Keswick Mountain Festival

UTMB

The biggest event on the ultramarathon calendar, the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc in Chamonix, France now comprises eight races including the big one itself which is over 100 miles and requires participating in other ultramarathons plus luck in a lottery. There are much shorter and easier events to consider though, like ETC, which is 9.3 miles long (though still packs in almost 4000ft of climbing). Even if you don’t enter an official event, simply being in Chamonix to enjoy the festival atmosphere surrounding UTMB and do some solo runs will be enough of a thrill.

Buy tickets for UTMB

Night Of The 10K PBs

A wild night of 10,000m racing at a track on Hampstead Heath in north London, with a frenzied atmosphere on the sidelines where spectators embrace the #Lane3BeerNCheer ethos demanded by the event. You have to be very fast to qualify to enter the races themselves, which run from the afternoon to the evening and are capped off by men’s and women’s elite races, but this is one festival where it’s almost more fun to not run, but simply to enjoy the atmosphere and cheer on the runners. You don't need to book tickets to spectate, just turn up.

More info about Night Of The 10K PBs

Anchorage Runfest

This two-day event in Alaska features a big slate of races, with distance ranging from a mile up to a 49km ultramarathon. There’s a marathon and a marathon relay option on the Sunday, and runners can double up on events by doing a mile race on the Saturday before something longer on the Sunday. Along with the runs, there’s a movie night in the week before the races, showcasing the Trails In Motion Film Tour, which has films about trail- and ultra-running.

Buy tickets for Anchorage Runfest

In This Series

• UK Running Events
• UK Half Marathons
• UK Marathons
• UK Virtual Running Events

We love running races here on Coach. They give your training a focus and the event itself is a great day out to boot. For those like us, the lack of running events was another reason to curse the last two years, so we are enjoying seeing the racing calendar return to some kind of normality in 2022.

If you’ve got itchy running-shoe-clad feet and want to sign up for something right now – this very instant – this round-up should help. We’ll highlight the events that you’ll need to start training for ASAP (choose from 10K training plans, half marathon training plans and marathon training plans for every level) – along with the popular ones which usually sell out months before race day.

And do keep checking this page because we’ll update it with new races at the start of every month.

London Winter Run 2022

Date: 13th February 2022

The route of this popular central London 10K takes you past a host of landmarks and entertainment zones laid on by the organisers, with live music and people kitted out in fancy dress to suit the wintry theme. There’s even the chance you’ll get a high five from a penguin if you want it – and who doesn’t want that? The race raises money for Cancer Research UK and starts in Trafalgar Square before finishing on Whitehall, heading to St Paul’s and the City of London in between.

Sign up | £42

Local Landmarks 10K

Date: 20th February

The Local Landmarks 10K is a partner event to the London Landmarks Half Marathon, which is a tricky event to secure a place in because of its huge popularity. Everyone can enter the Local Landmarks 10K, however, since you plot your own 10K route near you to show off the landmarks in your neighbourhood. All profits from the event go to baby charity Tommy’s, and although the 10K is planned for 20th February, you can also run on another date to earn your postbox-themed medal.

Sign up | £17.50

Kew The Run

Date: 9th-10th April

A new event with a 10K on the Saturday and a half marathon on the Sunday, Kew The Run takes place in Kew Gardens, which proved its credentials for runners by hosting the Olympic Marathon trials in 2021. The 10K is entirely contained within the gardens, while half marathon runners have an out-and-back section along the Thames in the middle of their course. The routes are flat and fast, though a little twisty, and both runners and their supporters (up to two adults, and two children under 16) get free access to Kew Gardens afterwards. 

Sign up | £39.50 10K, £47.50 half marathon

Great Birmingham Run

Date: 1st May 2022

This event features a 10K and a half marathon that start and finish in central Birmingham. Both races take place on the same day and the 10K follows a similar route to the start and finish of the half marathon. That means you can expect the excitement and feel of a large-scale event and – hopefully – the crowds will come out in great numbers to cheer you on.

Sign up | 10K £31, half marathon £39

Hackney Half Marathon

Date: 22nd May

It’s worth signing up as soon as you can to secure your spot in this extremely popular event, especially since you can get an early bird discount. Crowds and musicians line the streets of the borough as you pound past local landmarks like Hackney Downs and the Olympic Park, ensuring a brilliant atmosphere throughout the race. If you do miss out on a spot in the half marathon you can still get involved in the festival weekend by running a free 5K on the Saturday.

Sign up | £49 early bird

Asics London 10K

Date: 10th July 

This landmark-laden 10K winds its way around the streets of central London, and while it doesn’t take place until the summer, it’s worth bagging your entry soon to take advantage of the early bird discount. The route is flat and reasonably fast, though there are a fair few twists and turns, and there are musicians at regular intervals to keep you entertained without the need for headphones.

Sign up | £40

Richmond Runfest

Date: 10th-11th September

Places at this London running festival seem to sell out quicker every year, so if you’re keen to run in any of the races at Richmond Runfest it’s worth booking a spot now. On Saturday there’s a flat and scenic 10K set entirely inside Kew Gardens, along with a 5K and a kids’ mile race, and then on Sunday there’s a half marathon, a marathon, and a family fun mile. The marathon starts in Kew Gardens and follows the Thames to Hampton Court Palace before returning to finish in the Old Deer Park. 

Sign up |  £44.50 10K, £47.50 half marathon, £49 marathon

Great North Run 2022

Date: 11th September 2022

The Great North Run went virtual in 2020, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. The live event returned in 2021, with an adjusted route, and in 2022 the route is set to return to normal. The ballot for the race is currently open and will close on 21st February, so if you want to be part of it you need to move fast. With a field of 57,000 runners and incredible support lining the route from central Newcastle to South Shields, the Great North Run boasts one of the best atmospheres of any event in the world, so it’s certainly worth trying to bag a spot if you can.

Enter ballot | £59 (charged if successful)

London Marathon 2022

Date: 2nd October 2022

It’s never too early to start thinking about grabbing a spot in the London Marathon, and since the ballot for the 2022 event has already been and gone it’s worth looking into charity spots ASAP. Like the 2021 event, the 2022 London Marathon is being held in October rather than the event’s usual April berth owing to the pandemic. While some runners will lament the break with tradition, it does mean you get to train for the marathon during the long, balmy days of summer rather than ploughing through your runs during the cold, dark, wet British winter. So that’s a big plus in our book.

Apply for charity places

Loch Ness Marathon

Date: 2nd October

Falling on the same day as this year’s London Marathon, the Loch Ness Marathon offers a compelling alternative. It’s a very different but no less brilliant experience from London, with a stunningly beautiful point-to-point route that mostly runs alongside the world’s most famous loch before finishing in Inverness. There are some hills along the way, but it’s still a fairly fast course by virtue of the fact it’s net downhill, with the first half in particular containing a lot of descents. Just keep some energy in the tank for the big climb out of Dores at around 29km and you’ll be golden.

Sign up | £62 | Seven Things I Learned Running The Loch Ness Marathon

After a successful first event in 2019, RunFestRun was put on ice in 2020 like every other mass gathering, but it made a triumphant return over the 2021 August bank holiday weekend (with safety measures in place, of course).

People starved of running events were delighted at the return of this three-day festival, which combines races with music, food and general merriment. If you missed out this year then it’s worth booking early to get in on the fun in 2022.

This time the festival will be held in the scenic grounds of Englefield Estate in Berkshire. Runners tackling the various events held over the weekend can enjoy rare access to the Estate’s expansive grounds, which are usually closed to the public.

The runs start with an easy 3km event at sunset on the Friday, then on Saturday there’s a family-friendly 2.5km road race, plus a 5K and a 10K. Then on Sunday there’s the Big Bug Fun Run and a half marathon. Apart from the family road race, all the events involve a mix of on- and off-road running around the grounds of Englefield Estate and you can take on as many as you like.

See related 

• Running For Beginners: Free Couch To 5K Plan
• 10K Training: Plans, Tips, Advice And More
• Half Marathon Training: Plans, Tips, Advice And More

You can choose to be part of one of the four teams during the festival, adding some friendly team spirit to proceedings. With each run you’ll earn points for your team’s overall tally, and the winning team will be crowned at the end of the weekend. Team captains include legends like Colin Jackson, Paula Radcliffe and Steve Cram, adding some extra motivation into the mix.

Running is just part of the attraction of RunFestRun, though, and there is lots to do apart from the various events. Each night there is live music, and although the line-up is yet to be announced for 2022, it’s sure to feature some major artists and bands – 2021’s roster included Rick Astley, All Saints and James Blunt. In the daytime there are fitness workshops with experts, plus stalls where you can try and buy all sorts of running kit and tech.

Tickets for RunFestRun 2022 are on sale now. Weekend tickets start at £130, or you can buy individual day tickets for Friday (from £40), Saturday (from £65) and Sunday (from £45). It costs an extra £25 if you include camping for the weekend. The event is designed to be family-friendly and children’s weekend tickets are £55 for kids aged six to 16, and £15 for those under six.

Buy tickets for RunFestRun

For those not familiar with the word ekiden, it means a running relay in Japanese. These races are wildly popular in Japan, where regular high-profile events feature teams powering through a long-distance race, passing on a tasuki (sash) to a teammate at the end of each leg.

They’re taken very seriously, but the free Asics World Ekiden virtual event is a fun opportunity for everyone to give ekiden racing a go this November.

In 2020’s inaugural Asics World Ekiden, 56,000 people from 179 countries took part. This year there’s an extra incentive to join in: Asics will donate £2 to the mental health charity Mind for every participant that registers.

The event takes place between 10th and 22nd November, during which time teams of up to six will complete a marathon between them. It’s all done virtually, so you log your leg on a tracking app and pass the virtual sash, or baton, on to your teammate to run the next stint of the 42.2km.

There are six legs in total: three 5Ks, two 10Ks, and one 7.2km leg, so achievable distances for most runners. A team of six makes the most sense, but you can enter with fewer runners and get some of them to run twice.

See related 

• The Best UK Virtual Running Events To Sign Up For Right Now
• Great Running Challenges
• The Best Running Apps

The race will be tracked through the Asics Runkeeper app. You’ll be able to log your leg and see how your team is doing compared with others on the live online leaderboard from 11th November.

While doing an ekiden virtually isn’t quite as atmospheric as tackling one in real life, the Asics World Ekiden is a great chance to connect with running friends. And if you ever needed motivation to go out and run hard by yourself, doing it for your team during the ekiden will provide that in spades.

You can sign up for the event now, so get moving and enlist some running buddies to join you.

Sign up | Free

During the COVID-19 pandemic all live running events were cancelled, but many moved into the virtual sphere. This allowed runners to complete the race distance on their local routes, log their time and still collect that precious medal (in the post). These virtual running events proved so popular that many events continue to hold virtual versions alongside the real thing. Signing up to one of these is also a great way to support charities and running event organisations which may have struggled during the pandemic owing to the lack of real-world events. So if you want a motive to sign up that isn’t just a medal, there’s a very good one.

Asics World Ekiden

Gather up to five of your best running pals and tackle this virtual relay event between 10th and 22nd November. You’ll be completing a marathon between you, with the distance divided into six legs of three 5Ks, two 10Ks and a 7.2km. You track it all via the Asics Runkeeper app where you can also see how others are getting on via the global leaderboard. Getting a team of six together is the best approach, but you can have runners doing more than one leg if need be.

Sign up | Free

The Conqueror Virtual Challenges

This series of virtual challenges brings you distance goals tied to real-world routes, such as the Inca Trail, a climb up Mount Everest or a marathon to Athens. Each time you run (or walk, swim or cycle), you log your distance in the Conqueror app to progress towards your overall goal. There’s a map with virtual postcards to enjoy along the way, and it makes for an engaging way to stay motivated to train, especially when running alone. You can choose a shorter distance like the 34km across the English Channel, or line up a long-term goal like the 3,167km Appalachian Trail. Entry is expensive for a virtual event, but you get a pretty snazzy medal at the end of it.

Sign up | From £24.95

Great Run Solo

Great Run organises a range of virtual challenges, some of which are tied to its real-world events like the Great North Run, but others are stand-alone, ongoing challenges like its Couch to 5K event. There is also an ongoing Distance Challenge, which can help keep you motivated to hit certain targets over a seven- or 28-day period.

Sign up | From £10

Strava Challenges

Keep an eye on the Challenges tab of GPS tracking app Strava and you’ll see virtual running events appear frequently, including the recurring Strava challenge of running a half marathon at some point in each month. There are usually also several challenges sponsored by brands, with the chance to win kit or other goodies as a reward for your endeavours.

Download Strava on App Store or Google Play | Free, premium £5.99 a month

See related 

• The Best Running Apps
• 5K Training: Plans, Race Day Tips And More
• 10K Training: Plans, Tips, Advice And More
• Half Marathon Training: Plans, Tips, Advice And More

RunThrough

If you want to keep a steady stream of medals arriving in the post then work your way through RunThrough’s long list of virtual events. There are always races going on (with leaderboards) so you can scratch your itch to challenge yourself with a speedy effort, and there are distances to suit everyone. There are also special challenges related to big marathons around the world, so you can tackle events like London, Berlin or New York solo or as a team.

Sign up | £20

The best day of the year is Christmas Day. Ignore the Scrooges – that’s just a fact. The second best day is probably your birthday. The third best day is, without any doubt, National Fitness Day. Of course if your birthday falls on Christmas Day both are ruined (half the presents, half the attention) but if your birthday coincides with National Fitness Day, well, you might just be the luckiest person alive.

This year National Fitness Day falls on Wednesday 22nd September, so it’s well timed to provide some motivation to get moving just as the weather starts to turn wetter and chillier. It’s also a great opportunity to try a new activity free of charge, because gyms, studios and other organisers of exercise will be putting on events all over the country.

We also expect many home workout apps to offer some kind of deal or free access to celebrate the occasion, and one that’s already confirmed is the TRX Training Club app, which will be free for 24 hours. The TRX Training Club offers live classes over a video call, so the trainer can interact with you. You don’t even need a suspension trainer to take part, since many of the workouts will use bodyweight moves only, and there are yoga and cardio classes available alongside strength sessions.

See related 

• This Website Makes It Easier To Find A Fitness Class Near You
• Fiit Workout App Review – The Best Way To Bring Fitness Classes Into Your Front Room

If you’d rather participate in some live exercise then you can use the activity finder on the National Fitness Day website to see what’s happening near you. At the very least you’ll be able to get a free day pass to your local gym.

As well as throwing open its doors to all comers, nationwide gym chain Anytime Fitness has also organised a challenge for the day. The overall aim is to travel the entire distance of the coastline of Great Britain, which is 31,368km. Every kilometre run, walked, rowed or cycled at any of the chain’s 175-plus clubs will count towards the goal, and clubs will also be competing against each other to see which can cover the most ground. To take part and get your free pass, sign up on the Anytime Fitness website.

There are so many advantages to cycling to work that before long you’ll begin to regret not starting sooner. It’s good for your physical health, of course, and it will also save you a packet on public transport or petrol.

Those are the obvious benefits, but there are also a couple of other notable ones. The first is that in many cities, cycling is actually quicker than most other modes of transport. The second is your mental health, because a little physical activity before and after the working day does wonders for clearing your head.

Naturally there are some negatives too. The danger posed by careless and aggressive drivers tends to be the thing that puts most people off, but rush hour traffic is much lighter at this time of year because schools are out and people are on holiday. In the UK another off-putting thing is the weather, but in summer – aside from the odd freakishly heavy downpour – the weather is great for cycling even here.

That’s why Cycle To Work Day traditionally falls in the summer, and in 2021 it’s on Thursday 5th August. Whether this is your very first time cycling to work, your first time since the last Cycle To Work Day, or your fourth commute of the week, it’s well worth taking part in the event and helping to share the joy of riding to and from the office.

See related 

• Six Real-Life Benefits Of Cycling To Work
• What Is The Cycle To Work Scheme?
• Of Course Cycling To Work Is Healthy, But We Were Surprised By Just How Healthy

The big day is partnered with the Love To Ride campaign, which encourages people to ride to work by offering prizes to those who do so (and log their rides on the website). The whole scheme is free and designed to motivate you to keep cycling, so it’s worth signing up before you take part in Cycle To Work Day.

If you’re looking for more ways to keep you motivated to commute by bike, then read our interview with Chris Bennett, head of behaviour change at walking and cycling charity Sustrans. Here are a couple of the top tips Bennett gave us to help people get into cycling regularly.

Avoid busy roads

“You don’t need to go the quickest route while you build up confidence,” says Bennett.

"Route-planning apps are ideal when looking for traffic-free routes – things like traffic-free cycle paths, canal towpaths and parks, which are all much easier.”

You don’t have to ride every day

“There’s nothing wrong with being a fair-weather cyclist,” says Bennett. “Start doing it on the nice days or when you have time the night before to prepare, or when you don’t have a nine o’clock meeting.”

Make it social

“Cycle with somebody else or chat to people about your cycling – about gear or routes, that kind of thing,” says Bennett. “There’s a great social element to it that all cyclists should enjoy.”

After 18 months of restrictions on fitness facilities, mass-participation events and indeed fitness festivals, we have all come to realise just how enjoyable exercise can be. Absence makes the heart grow fonder and all that.

So if we all agree exercise is enjoyable, then why not enjoy it all day, or even all weekend? Now you can, because fitness festivals are returning to the calendar after taking most of the year off in 2020. Here are some of the UK’s best.

Salomon Festival (7th August)

There’s an awful lot to cram in at this one-day festival in the Chilterns, with guided 5K, 10K and 20km trail runs, plus one- or two-hour hikes for those who prefer to travel at a more sedate pace. Once you’re back at the festival village you can attend talks, try yoga classes, and learn useful trail running and hiking techniques at practical workshops. salomonfestival.co.uk

Buy tickets | £30

Soul Circus (20th-21st August)

“Put yourself back together and recalibrate” is probably the advice most follow after a festival, but that’s what you’ll be focusing on at this celebration of movement, music and food in the Cotswolds. The festival hosts over 250 daytime classes across 12 venues, with sessions in yoga, mindfulness, tai chi and more. Soul Circus is also family-friendly with kids’ yoga, circus workshops and other activities, plus children under 15 years old get in free. At night the event opens up to numerous live acts, experiences and music, with a variety of genres and all kinds of exercise intensity featured so you can find the vibe you’re looking for. soulcircus.yoga

Buy tickets | Day tickets from £79, weekend tickets from £125

RunFestRun (27th-29th August)

Running-focused festivals for all the family are rare indeed, so RunFestRun in Laverstoke Park Farm in Hampshire is a welcome addition to the calendar. The festival starts with an easy 3km welcome run on Friday called the Sunset Shuffle, then on Saturday there are timed races across distances ranging from 2.5km to a half marathon. Sunday takes itself far less seriously with a fancy dress fun run. As well as all that, there’s music in the evenings: the line-up for 2021 features All Saints, James Bay and a DJ set from Faithless. runfestrun.co.uk

Buy tickets | From £120 for the weekend | RunFestRun preview

See related 

• The Best UK Cycling Events For 2021
• The Best Running Holidays In The UK And Abroad
• 32 Great Outdoor Challenges

Verve Festival (25th September)

Not many festivals leave you feeling better afterwards than you did when you arrived, but the inaugural version of this festival makes that promise. There are yoga and Pilates classes, meditation sessions, runs and workouts to take part in, as well as a wild spa, all held in the glorious surroundings of the Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Wiltshire. The festival is also family-friendly with a range of children’s activities, including foraging, fire-building and craft workshops. feeltheverve.com

Buy tickets | Day tickets from £71.37

Balance Festival (12th-14th November)

You’re sure to find something to your taste as well as something new to try at this indoor festival in London, with sessions spanning everything from HIIT workouts to ancient yoga and breathing techniques. There are workouts (from £6), free yoga sessions, and talks from the best instructors and boutique fitness studios the capital has to offer. There’s also a chance to browse the latest trends in fitness clothing, beauty and wearable tech, as well as helping yourself to samples of healthy food and drink. balance-festival.com

Buy tickets | From £39.50 for a half day, early bird tickets from £34.50

The Tokyo Olympics are just a month away and to celebrate the occasion Team GB has partnered with Toyota to put on a series of free events throughout the summer.

These activities are all part of the I Am Team GB Festival Of Sport, and they include bigger events at venues like the Olympic Park in London and the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, as well as smaller local ones. Everyone is encouraged to create their own public or private activity to do on the weekend of 14th-15th August.

The festival is a great chance to try a new activity, especially at the bigger events where you’ll be able to take part in taster sessions for Olympic sports. These “hero” events are all taking place all weekend, and along with the activities you’ll have the chance to meet Olympic athletes. If you attend the event at Paultons Park in Hampshire you get to meet the greatest hero of them all, Peppa Pig.

See related

• Train Like An Olympian With These Tips From A Top Coach
• Five Lessons In Motivation From Olympic Champion Jason Gardener

There are four hero events, three of which fall on Saturday 14th. The event in London’s Olympic Park lets you take a lap of honour on the concourse of the London Stadium before trying a host of activities in the event village. There’s also a 5K Your Way run at the University of Hull, and a family sports day at the Stadium of Light.

If you can’t make those, then the community events offer a far wider range of dates and locations. Filter local events by location on the I Am Team GB website to find what’s on near you, or search by keyword for the exact type of activity you’d like to do. The likelihood is you’ll be able to check out some activities at your local leisure centre for free.

As well as these free events, you can also organise your own activity as part of the festival. This can be a public event open to all (if COVID restrictions allow) or a private one just for you, your family and friends. The festival is all about encouraging people to exercise in new ways, so if there’s a great activity that you think people should learn about, put on your own public event and share it with the world. If you can guarantee Peppa Pig’s attendance then all the better.

Signing up for an epic challenge is a classic way to raise money for charity. But if you’re intimidated by the idea of running a marathon, climbing a mountain or getting in the ring to go six rounds with your toughest workmate, there’s no need to be – charity walks are a more accessible and inclusive way to push your physical limits while funding good causes.

That doesn’t mean they’re easy, though. In fact, a longer walk of 100km or so will be very challenging indeed. We tackled the 100km British Heart Foundation Glasgow to Edinburgh trek in 2018 and after spending almost 27 hours on our feet with 20 minutes’ sleep, we can assure you it is no joke. If you’re new to the long-distance walking game it might be wise to start with a marathon distance, a 50km, or a walk you can break up into several separate efforts.

It is, however, an undeniably rewarding experience to conquer such an epic distance. And because you move more slowly than you would if running or cycling, you can enjoy your surroundings and company far more.

While many walking events have been cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic, there are ways to take part virtually, which should help you keep your motivation levels up. There are a lot of events planned for later in 2021 which we hope will go ahead as normal – although spring walks in particular are liable to be cancelled or postponed depending on the pandemic situation.

Here are our picks for the best charity walks scheduled for this year in the UK.

1. Walk All Over Cancer (March)

If you’d rather spread out your walking than take on one epic trek, sign up for this month-long challenge raising money for Cancer Research UK. The goal is to average 10,000 steps a day throughout the month of March, and it’s up to you whether you do that by hitting that number each day or by racking up regular long walks, as long as you hit a total of 310,000 steps. And if that number seems like a cakewalk to you (we might walk that far for a really good cake), you can double it and aim to average 20,000 steps a day.

Sign up | Free, plus £150 fundraising

2. British Heart Foundation Easter Challenge 50 (10th April)

You can sign up to walk 25km or 50km at this event, which starts and finishes at Windsor Racecourse. Both routes take advantage of the racecourse’s proximity to the Thames Path, where most of the hike takes place. If you opt for 50km you’ll start with the same loop as the 25km walkers, then enjoy a free lunch at the racecourse before heading out for another 25km.

Sign up | £5-£10, plus £245-£395 fundraising

3. Jurassic Coast Challenge (15th-16th May)

You can enter the Jurassic Coast Challenge without signing up to fund a cause, but if you’re going to walk 100km from Poole Harbour to Bridport, you might as well drum up some moolah for one of the event’s charity partners along the way. There are also 50km and 25km walks available, but this is one where it’s definitely worth tackling the full distance so you get to see as much of the astounding World Heritage Site as possible. You can take on the distance in one go, or do the 100km in two stints so you’re always walking in daylight hours – the smartest pick for those looking to enjoy the views.

Sign up | £5-£99, plus £245-£595 fundraising, £79-£198 self-funded

4. Great Strides 65 Surrey Hills (12th June)

This scenic walk, which raises money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, involves covering 65km on foot in the Surrey Hills. That means some splendid scenery but also some uphill work, including one particularly nasty little spike at the 50km mark. We checked the route on Garmin Connect and it told us the total elevation is almost 900m, which is tough, but remember every step uphill brings you closer to both the end and some terrific views. The circular route starts and finishes on the Hampton Estate, near the village of Seale, and you need a team of between four and six people – as well as a support driver – to enter.

Sign up | £80, plus £1,000 fundraising target per team

5. Macmillan Cancer Support Mighty Hikes (Various Dates, June-September)

There are 24 events to choose from in this series, each of which involves trekking through one of the UK’s most picturesque spots, including the Lake District, the Gower Peninsula and the Jurassic Coast. The hikes are either 13 miles (21.1km) or 26 miles (42.2km) long, and they run throughout the summer so you can sign up to more than one and – government guidelines permitting – treat yourself to some epic trips around the UK.

Sign up | £25 plus £250 fundraising

See related 

• Stroll With It: The Best Men’s Walking Boots
• Great Charity Challenges For 2020: Do Good, Feel Good
• The Benefits Of Walking: Nine Reasons To Pound The Pavement
• The Best Hiking Backpacks To Carry Your Gear In Comfort

6. Thames Path Challenge (11th-12th September)

This event allows you to choose between 25km, 50km and 100km walks, all starting at Putney Bridge. From there you follow the Thames past Hampton Court and, if you’re going the longest distance, all the way out to Henley. The route is fully supported, with medics at rest stops to help care for your feet. You can pay for your place, or raise money for a partner charity to bring the cost of entry down.

Sign up | £5-£99, plus £245-£545 fundraising, or £79-£198 self-funded

7. Shine Night Walk London (25th September)

See the sights of London as you’ve never seen them before by walking a 10K, half marathon or full marathon around the city centre at night. Cancer Research UK, which stages this event, reckons fast walkers will get through a marathon in around nine hours while strollers will take 14. Make sure to bring glowsticks and don any neon clothing you own, because the aim is to light up the night.

Sign up | £19.99-£39.99, plus fundraising

While treadmills are in constant use and people fall over themselves to sign up for spin classes, all too often the gym’s rowing machine is left neglected.

This is a huge shame because, when done correctly, 25 minutes on an indoor rower provides a full-body workout unlike anything that can be achieved on the more popular gym machines.

The machine works muscles all over your body, and it also provides a strenuous cardio workout. It’s vital to get your technique right, though, so here’s some advice from four-time world champion and triple Olympic gold medal-winning rower Andrew Triggs Hodge, who is an ambassador for the Cancer Research UK Great Row.

RECOMMENDED: Rowing Machine Workouts

1. Use Your Legs For Power

Rowing might seem like an upper-body workout, but a good rowing stroke comes from the legs, and yanking the chain too early will only result in inefficiency and injury.

“Think legs, body, then arms,” says Hodge. “Push through your thighs to power yourself back and your body will open naturally. You don’t want the arms to work too early in the stroke otherwise your upper body will get fatigued very quickly and this could cause injury.”

2. Stop Slouching

While this may sound obvious, you need to be sitting upright when rowing on the machine.

“Take a moment to check your positioning and make sure you’re not leaning to one side,” says Hodge. “Try to avoid slouching through the stroke and recovery. Ask your gym mates to let you know if you slip into this.

“One good tip is to feel yourself rock over your sitting bones – then you know you’re staying upright.”

3. Make Each Stroke Long

Short strokes will see you flame out after a few minutes on the rower, so don’t pull too hard and ensure you’re sliding as far back as possible.

“One of the most common mistakes is to pull far too hard and power straight back,” says Hodge. “Opt for long strokes, pushing as far back as you can in as smooth a motion as possible.”

4. Row Barefoot

Long, loose clothes are only going to get in the way when you’re on the rower – and according to Hodge, you might even want to dispense with your shoes.

“Shorts and a slim-fitting T-shirt are ideal because they won’t catch in the seat as you power back and move forward. I’d recommend rowing barefoot too if you can – you’ll get your feet strapped in snugly and it saves space in the gym bag!”

5. Don’t lose your breath

Rowing is tough, especially if you’re new to the discipline, but the key to travelling long distances on the machine is staying slow and steady, and not losing your breath.

“If you’re out of breath all the time while you’re rowing, you’re going too fast,” says Hodge. “You should be able to hold a short conversation with the person next to you at the same time. It’s a social sport too!”

RECOMMENDED: The Ultimate 2k Rowing Plan

Cancer Research UK Great Row

If you fancy a target for your training, the Great Row is just the thing. Participants aim to conquer a certain distance rowing solo or as part of a team during the challenge week, 25th March to 1st April.

You can opt to row 2,000m, the distance of the Boat Race (4.2 miles/6.75km), a half marathon (13 miles/21.1km) or a full marathon (26 miles/42.2km). It’s free to enter, with a minimum fundraising target of £25 per person.

Head to cancerresearchuk.org/thegreatrow to sign up and for more information and training plans.

Triathlons might seem daunting to the newcomer, but at the core of these events are three types of cardio exercise that most people can manage individually. Consisting of a swim, cycle, and run, the multi-sport discipline is actually a lot more accessible than it seems. And if you’re already cycling to work or are a regular at parkrun, the shortest type of triathlon (a super sprint, which is made up of a 400m swim, 10km bike ride and 2.5km run) probably wouldn’t require too much training. Browse our sprint triathlon training plan, Olympic triathlon training plan and half Ironman triathlon training plan to see if you can fit in the appropriate amount of training to your schedule.

The UK has a great variety of races throughout the season (April-September) that cater for all experiences and fitness levels—from super sprints through to full, official Ironman events (3.9km swim, 180km bike, 42km run). But there are a handful of triathlons that are heads and shoulders above the rest, and these should be on your bucket list.

Whether it’s the world’s biggest mass participation triathlon in the center of London or a unique take on the multi-sport discipline that sees competitors toil their way from Windsor to Brighton under their own steam, here are the best UK triathlons to sign up for.

Royal Windsor Triathlon 

Next event: 11 June 2023

Entry fee: From £85 (Sprint and Olympic)

It doesn’t get grander than this Berkshire-based event, which takes place in the shadow of Windsor Castle, with Sprint (750m swim, 20km cycle, 5km run) and Olympic (1,500m swim, 40km cycle, 10km run) courses on offer for both individual and team competitors.

Visit the Royal Windsor Triathlon website 

Castle To Coast

Next event: 22 July 2023

Entry fee: £195, £215 with return bus

Participants in this point-to-point event start with a 1.2-mile (1.9km) swim in Dorney Lake in Windsor, then embark on a 66-mile (106km) bike ride through the Surrey Hills down to Hassocks in East Sussex, rounding off the day with a 14-mile (22.5km) trail run through the South Downs to Brighton. The route means you can expect significantly more ascent than in most triathlons, with over 1,000m of climbing in the saddle and just shy of 400m on the run, but that work will be rewarded with both epic views and long downhill stretches as you return to sea level. Once there you can choose to stay in Brighton and toast your achievements all night long, or enjoy a shorter celebration before jumping on a bus back to the start in Windsor.

Visit the Castle to Coast website 

London Triathlon

Next event: 6 August 2023

Entry fee: £70 (Super sprint), £77 (Sprint), £109 (Olympic), £116 (Olympic plus), £205 (Warrior)

The world’s largest triathlon sees more than 11,000 participants make their way around the central London course while being cheered on by 30,000 spectators. There are Super Sprint (400m swim, 21.2km cycle, 5km run), Sprint, Olympic (1,500m swim, 42.4km cycle, 10km run) and Olympic Plus (1,500m swim, 80km cycle, 10km run) races, as well as a Weekend Warrior pass if one of those alone won’t suffice. The swim is held in the Royal Victoria Dock and the run section also takes place in Docklands, while the longer cycle legs take you along the Thames to Westminster and back.

Visit the London Triathlon website 

Blenheim Palace Triathlon

Next event: 3-4 June 2023

Entry fee: £106 (Super sprint), £107 (Sprint)

This popular triathlon enjoys about as pleasant a setting as you could ask for: Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, a Unesco World Heritage site. There are Super Sprint (400m swim, 13.2km cycle, 2.9km run) and Sprint (750m swim, 19.8km cycle, 5.4km run) options available, and its relatively flat bike and run legs make it a great choice for those new to multi-sports.

Visit the Blenheim Palace Triathlon website 

Outlaw Nottingham

Next event: 29-30 July 2023

Entry fee: £325

Looking to take on a full-distance Ironman triathlon (3.9km swim, 180km bike, 42km run) without having to stump up the entry fee for an official, branded event? The Outlaw has been offering an alternative for ultra-distance athletes since 2010, and its numerous awards suggest that it knows what it's doing. Setting off at the National Water Sports Centre’s Regatta Lake, participants are then tasked with an undulating ride (featuring two calf-burning climbs) before two out-and-back loops along the banks of the River Trent for the run. Breathtaking views and support are guaranteed throughout, whether you’re going for a PB or just looking to finish.

Visit the Outlaw Triathlon website

Superfeet Sandman

Next event: 9-10 September 2023

Entry fee: £89.99 (Sprint), £105 (Standard), £199 (Legend)

Not many triathlons can claim to take place on their very own island, but in the Sandman series participants swim, cycle and run their way around Anglesey in north Wales. The event hosts Sprint, Standard and Legend (70.3) races, and the latter is the best pick for those who want to experience Anglesey fully with a cycle leg that circumnavigates the island. It’s worth noting that the bike and run legs of each event are slightly different from “official” distances if you’re targeting a new PB, but the epic backdrop should more than make up for it.

Visit the Sandman Triathlon website 

Ironman 70.3 Weymouth

Next event: 17 September 2023

Entry fee: £339

It would be remiss not to include at least one Ironman-organized event in a round-up of the UK’s best triathlons, and this 70.3 half-distance (1.9km swim, 90km bike, 21.1km run) event is probably its most accessible—and, importantly, still has availability for 2023. Although an ocean swim does come with the risk of the swim leg getting canceled if the sea is choppy, the cool, late summer conditions and a rolling cycle with only one monster climb make this Dorset-based event a real winner.

Visit the Ironman website 

Dorney Lake Triathlon

Next event: 18 September 2023

Entry fee: £54.95 (First Timers), £79.95 (Novice), £89.95 (Sprint), £99.95 (Olympic)

A range of distances is available to competitors of all abilities and ages at this event held in the environs of Dorney Lake in Berkshire, which was known as Eton Dorney when it was used to host the rowing at the 2012 Olympics. Triathlon newcomers can pick from First Timers (200m swim, 5.3km cycle, 2.5km run), Novice (400m swim, 10.6km cycle, 2.5km run) and Super Sprint options, while more experienced triathletes can opt for an Olympic distance event. Its September date makes it a great season-ender or gives you time to start training if you only decide to give triathlon a go halfway through the summer.

Visit the Dorney Lake Series website 

After the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, organisers of running, cycling and obstacle course race events are treating 2021 as the earliest opportunity to return to some sort of normality. It may feel a long way off, or even a long shot, but hope springs eternal (here at least) and right now is the perfect time to start filling your weekends with events too, before the backlog of delayed weddings and other celebrations does it for you.

Spartan Race is a successful, well-established mud run event which has just released its UK schedule for next year. It’s one of the tougher races available, with distances up to 50km (the Ultra) available, as well as the Trifecta challenge in which you tackle three obstacle courses – a Sprint (5K), Super (10K) and Beast (21K) Spartan – in one weekend.

You have two opportunities to complete a Trifecta in 2021 – at the events in Wales in June and London/South East (in East Sussex) in October. If you pull off the feat, you’ll qualify for the Trifecta World Championships in Sparta, Greece, held over 4th-7th November.

Of course, if you’re not a Spartan junkie you can just do one of those events in a weekend, and there are also trail running events available at three of the meets. The race weekends in Wales, East Sussex and the Midlands (July) will have trail runs if you don’t fancy the obstacles and punishment burpees for failing to complete an obstacle.

The Stadion event at Twickenham Stadium also returns in 2021. This is a short Spartan course – 5K, with 20 obstacles – that you tackle in the stadium rather than in a vast country park. This normally creates a cracking event atmosphere and makes it easier for most people to take part in a Spartan race without having to train for months.

The full line-up of races in 2021 is below. Sign up on the Spartan website and do so now to take advantage of early bird prices.

See related

• The UK’s Best Adventure Races Of 2021
• Nail Your Spartan Race With These Tips From Shaun Stafford
• Prep For Your Obstacle Course Race With This Spartan Workout
• Spartan Race Launches Two UK Trail-Running Events

Spartan Wales, Glanusk Estate, Brecon Beacons (19th-20th June)

Trifecta, Sprint (5K, 20 obstacles), Super (10K, 25 obstacles) and Beast (half marathon, 30 obstacles) obstacle course races, plus 10K and half marathon trail runs.

Spartan Midlands, Marston Lodge, Market Harborough (24th-25th July)

Sprint and Super obstacle course races, plus 10K trail run.

Spartan Scotland, Hopetoun Estate, Edinburgh (25th-26th September)

Sprint, Beast or Ultra (50km, 60 obstacles) obstacle course races.

Spartan South East, Pippingford Park, Ashdown Forest (9th-10th October)

Trifecta, Sprint, Super and Beast obstacle course races, plus 10K and half marathon trail runs.

Spartan London, Twickenham Stadium (11th December)

Stadion (5K, 20 obstacles) obstacle course race.

Every race you tackle in any sport is an adventure. Even if you’ve cycled a hundred sportives and run dozens of 10Ks, the next one will find a way to surprise and delight you. However, some races are undoubtedly more adventurous than others. For example, running, cycling and kayaking across Scotland is more likely to throw up unexpected challenges than running around a city centre.

Some go further still, like the truly epic 11-day adventure race created by Bear Grylls for the TV series World’s Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji. It’s fair to say that none of the races on this list are quite as adventurous as Eco-Challenge Fiji, and you’re much less likely to speak to Bear Grylls during these UK events, but you can be sure you’ll still find something to take you well out of your comfort zone.

In what will be a surprise to no-one given the COVID-19 pandemic, all this year’s events have been cancelled, but you can and should sign up for next year’s adventure races now. You’ll need plenty of time to prepare for them and who doesn’t need something to look forward to at a time like this?

Race The Sun Brecon Beacons (27th March 2021)

Teams of four race to complete this race before the sun sets, starting at dawn to give themselves as much time as possible. The event starts in Talybont with a cycle along the Brecon and Monmouthshire canal, before a 13km hike up to the 886m summit of Pen y Fan and then a 24km ride to Lake Llangorse for a 3.2km canoe. After you leave the water you’re almost done, with just a 17km cycle back to Talybont for the finish.

Sign up | £195, plus £1,800 fundraising target per team of four

Man Vs Coast (4th July 2021)

The particular part of the coast you’ll be pitting yourself against is on Cornwall, with a 25-mile (40km) route that goes from St Michael’s Mount to Land’s End. You’ll run as much of that route as you can, but you’ll also have to swim some sections and clamber over a few cliffs to complete the race.

Sign up | From £150

See related 

• Six Top Tips For The Rat Race Coast To Coast Adventure Race
• The UK’s Best Obstacle Course Races And Mud Runs Of 2021
• 32 Great Outdoor Challenges
• The Best Action Cameras

Man Vs Lakes (17th-18th July 2021)

How does one best a body of water, or indeed several of them? By running 26.2-30 miles (42.2-48.2km) around them – the exact distance will depend on how you go about crossing the quicksands of Morecambe Bay to start the race. After that you’ll be running up and down some of the many mountains and valleys of the Lake District, with 4,200ft (1,280m) of climbing to tackle in total, before you finish with a relatively relaxing kayak loop on Lake Coniston.

Sign up | From £99

Race The Sun Lake District (11th September 2021)

Sunrise marks the start of this team event and the objective is to complete the three sections of the race before sunset. Those sections are a 64km cycle, a 3km canoe on Derwentwater and an 18km hike to the summit of Skiddaw, which at 913m is England’s sixth-highest mountain. No mean feat, but you have got almost 14 hours to get it done.

Sign up | £195, plus £1,800 fundraising target per team of four

Coast To Coast (11th-12th September 2021)

Run, cycle and kayak from Nairn on the east coast of Scotland to Ballachulish on the west coast. The 169km route takes you past Loch Ness and through plenty of rugged Highland terrain. It can be tackled in one go or as a two-day event, with a night spent camping at Fort Augustus. As you’d expect, you cover the bulk of the distance on two wheels, but there are both on- and off-road sections to tackle, and you’ll still be running over 32km in total as well as finishing with a 1.6km kayak – the difficulty of which should not be underestimated, as we found out the hard way.

Sign up | Solo: One-day event £300-£400, two-day event from £350-£450. Pair: One day £280-£380, two day from £330-£430. Prices rise every month

Photographs: Alex Broadway (male rider), Leo Francis (female rider); Red Bull Content Pool

In a normal year, Red Bull TimeLaps is a stand-out cycling event that pits teams of riders against one another to see how far they can go in a 25-hour period. Part of the success of TimeLaps is that everyone is at the same location, cycling through the night and creating a superb atmosphere. However, even more important is the fun of tackling the challenge in a team of four friends.

The event has gone virtual for 2020, which means there’s no special event atmosphere, but on the other hand more riders get to experience that camaraderie than ever before.

The TimeLaps virtual event will take place over 25 hours spanning Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th October. The aim is to log as many miles in the saddle as possible with only one cyclist riding at any time. You can do this outside or in, so if you have a top-notch indoor set-up then maybe pick out the fastest route on Zwift and have at it, jumping on and off the bike as each rider gets tired – once you’ve wiped down the handlebars with antibacterial wipes of course.

Make sure you keep the best rider fresh for the vital 2am-3am slot, because this is a Power Hour where the distance covered counts for double to mark the extra hour available to you as the clocks go back.

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You can sign up for TimeLaps for free on Strava for 28 days before the event, and you’ll also need to register on the Red Bull website, where you’ll have to upload proof of your rides to the live leaderboard during the event itself.

There will be prizes for the best teams and individual riders, and those prizes naturally include a lot of Red Bull. The teams finishing first, second and third will all get special jerseys, medals and 24 cans of Red Bull apiece, and the winners naturally also get a trophy. And we hope the individual rider who logs the most distance in the event loves Red Bull, because they’ll be getting a fridge with a year’s supply of the stuff. Don’t drink it all at once.

Register for Red Bull TimeLaps | Free

With the cancellation of so many huge fundraising events, 2020 has been a tough year for charities. It’s also been a tough year for anyone who loves to get involved in mass participation events and uses them as motivation to exercise all year round.

If that’s you, then the Cycle 300 challenge is something you should definitely take part in. The event raises money for Cancer Research UK and involves covering 300 miles (482km) on your bike throughout the month of September.

You can do this in whatever way most appeals, whether it’s logging 10 miles (16km) every day for 30 days, or opting for three epic 100-milers on Sunday long rides with friends.

See related 

• Great Charity Challenges For 2020: Do Good, Feel Good
• The Best UK Cycling Events For 2021

The best way to keep your total ticking over is to commute by bike, if indeed you are heading into the office at the moment. And if you’re someone who enjoys spinning classes then make sure you have a way to track or at least estimate your distance covered during those, because you’ll be amazed at how much ground you cover giving it your all in a sweaty HIIT session.

If 300 miles sounds a little much you can also sign up to ride 200 miles (322km) over the course of the month, or you can ride the 300 as part of a team, splitting the distance between you.

When it comes to your outdoor rides you can track them using any number of free GPS apps such as  Strava or MapMyRide, or you can use a bike computer or sports watch to keep tabs on your progress.

This year Cycle 300 has integrated with Strava, which means you can link your JustGiving page to the app so your rides show up there automatically, making it easier to track the distance you cover during the month.

Cancer Research UK estimates that it will suffer a 30% decline in fundraising income in 2020, alongside hefty cuts to research budgets as a result of the pandemic, so any money raised will be very gratefully received. On top of that, you also get the perfect motivation to stay active this September, so head to the Cancer Research UK website and sign up for the Cycle 300 challenge right now.

A lot of people were disappointed when the organisers of the London Marathon were forced to postpone the 2020 event to October owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, while it might be frustrating to have done a lot of training for an event that was then postponed, that’s really small fry compared to the impact the change of date has had on the UK’s charities.

The London Marathon is the world’s biggest one-day annual fundraising event, and brought in £66.4 million for charities in 2019. That’s a lot of money suddenly not going to good causes in 2020, which is why the 2.6 Challenge has been created to help make up some of the shortfall.

Starting on Sunday 26th April – the date the 2020 London Marathon was due to take place – everyone is encouraged to run 2.6km, or walk for 26 minutes, or hold a plank for 2.6 minutes (or 26, if you’re feeling strong), or do any kind of activity related to the numbers 2.6 or 26, and raise funds for or donate to Save the UK’s Charities. The only other guideline when it comes to your activity, and it is an important one, is that it must follow government advice on social distancing.

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• How To Get A Charity Place For The London Marathon 2022

“For many of the UK’s charities, the day of the London Marathon is the biggest fundraising day of the year,” said Hugh Brasher, co-chair of the mass-participation sports organisers group and event director of London Marathon Events.

“One of the founding pillars of the London Marathon was ‘to show how the family of mankind can be united’. We hope that the 2.6 Challenge, which starts on the day our 40th race should have taken place, will embody that spirit and inspire people, families and communities to fundraise for their chosen charity to help Save the UK’s Charities. Right now, our vulnerable members of society need the help of charities more than ever before. We are asking everyone to create a 2.6 Challenge of their own and raise funds or pledge a donation.”

The money raised by the 2.6 Challenge will be proportionately distributed to all the charities involved by the Charities Aid Foundation. Head to the 2.6 Challenge website for more information and to get involved.

It’s perfectly understandable if it’s escaped your attention, but Cyclist magazine is going to be 100 issues old next month. That’s a reason to celebrate – and we all need more of those right now – so Cyclist has partnered up with Strava and dhb to create the Cyclist x dhb 100km Challenge.

The challenge is simple: ride 100km in the two weeks between 6th and 19th April 2020. Given the circumstances, there’s no need to do this outside if you’re self-isolating – you can log your distance on a turbo trainer instead if you have one. And if you’re just observing social distancing rules, remember that you should minimise your outside rides (and keep checking official sources like this UK Government FAQs for the most up-to-date advice).

To get involved you need to join the challenge, which can also be found under the Challenges tab on Strava as Cyclist 100.

If you complete the distance, you’ll earn a Cyclist x dhb 100 Challenge digital badge on Strava, which is nice, but what’s even nicer are the following rewards that you’ll also unlock:

• Six issues of Cyclist for just £10 (RRP £35.94)
• A free digital copy of Cyclist Off-Road
• 25% off dhb’s premium Aeron kit (valid orders over £150)

There’s an extra reward on offer for those who knock it out in one week. You’ll be entered into a draw to win an outfit of your choice from the dhb Aeron range (up to the value of £300), plus Cyclist goodies worth over £100.

We’re still not done! There are yet more prizes on offer throughout the two weeks for people who upload photos of their ride to Instagram and use the hashtag #cyclistdhb100. Each day there will be a prize draw for those who do, with jerseys, socks, books and plenty of other cycling goodies up for grabs.

Join the Cyclist x dhb 100km Challenge | Free

It’s all very well making a commitment to get fitter, but sometimes you need a little something else to spur you on. If that something is raising cash for a good cause while you hone your muscles by running up stairs, swimming in the sea or racing to the top of Snowdon under moonlight, then these charitable events might help you reach your fitness goals – and give you a pang of pride that you’re doing some good, too.

While it’s obviously doubtful that challenges in the next few months will take place, we’ve still included them because we can’t predict how events will unfold. Plus, we trust that you’ll check and follow public health advice and your own common sense. 

Swimathon (27th-29th March)

The late March date of this pool swimming event makes it perfect to train for if you’re dead set on kicking off a new fitness regime in January. You can swim a range of distances from 400m to 5K, and if even 5K isn’t enough for you then there’s the option of doing it three times across the event’s three days. The event raises money for Cancer Research UK and the Marie Curie charity.

Sign up

Sierra Leone Marathon (20th-25th May 2020)

This race winds through forests and villages in northern Sierra Leone and gives participants a chance to see first-hand how their fundraising is put to use, with visits to several sites operated by international development charity Street Child on the itinerary. If the full 42.2km seems too much, there are also half marathon, 10K and 5K events available.

Sign up

Uganda Marathon (24th-31st May)

The stunning race you undertake at the end of a week in Uganda is just part of what makes this trip special, with participants able to work on the projects they have raised funds for in the days leading up to the event. The race itself is tough, with an undulating route taking place at an altitude of over 1,200m that includes a particularly savage climb known as The Beast. There are 10K and half marathon options available if the full marathon seems too daunting – and if you’re on the fence about joining this trip, this nugget from the organisers might swing it: one of five participants described it as the best week of their life.

Sign up

The Broadgate Tower Run Up (5th July 2020)

There are quite a few annual tower running events in the UK now, but this one distinguishes itself in a number of ways. One is that you can run for any charity of your choice. Another is that there will be elite tower runners present, so you can see how the world’s best tackle stairs at speed. Perhaps most intriguing, however, is that you can climb the 877 stairs of the Broadgate Tower more than once if you wish. There are one-, three-, six- and 12-climb events, and participants in the last of those cover a full vertical mile, which has got to be worth some extra sponsorship. You can also enter as a team for the Sprint Challenge, in which three team members each do one climb, or the Everest Challenge, in which you aim to complete 60 climbs in total as a team of at least five.

Sign up

Glasgow To Edinburgh Trek (25th-26th July 2020)

Trek 100km through the day and night from Glasgow to Edinburgh via the Falkirk Wheel to raise money for the British Heart Foundation. You’ll be following the Union Canal for most of the 100km, and there are aid stations at regular intervals where you can grab a snack or a nap and let a medical expert patch up your feet. We did this one in 2018 and our top advice is to not take it lightly – you’ll be on your feet for more than 24 hours and won’t get much, if any, sleep. That’s good to know, though, because it’ll make you more demanding when it comes to sponsorship.

Sign up

See related 

• Seven Great UK Charity Walks For 2021
• How To Get A Charity Place For The London Marathon 2022
• What It’s Like To Run The London Marathon For A Charity
• 32 Great Outdoor Challenges

Race The Sun Lake District (5th September 2020)

You have from sunrise to sunset to get through this unique triathlon, a fundraiser for Action Medical Research For Children. That works out at roughly 14 hours of daylight to complete a 64km cycle, a 3.2km canoe on Derwentwater, and a 17.7km hike to the top of Skiddaw mountain. You’ll be going in a team of four, so recruit three pals and get training.

Sign up

BHF London to Brighton Off-Road Bike Ride (5th September 2020)

The British Heart Foundation claims its 110km city-to-coast mountain biking pedal-pusher has it all. And since Europe’s largest charity off-road cycling event includes steep forest inclines, technical descents, rocky paths and muddy single tracks, this is no exaggeration. Cough up the very reasonable £35 entry fee and raise over £100, and you not only get a marshalled route to romp over, mechanical support at all times, training tips, drinks and eats en route, and a big finishing line party, but a bloomin’ massage once you hop out of your saddle, too. They’re talking our language.

Register for notifications when entries open

SAMH Stomp (10th October)

Head to the BT Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh on World Mental Health day and tackle a stair-climbing challenge to raise money for the Scottish Association for Mental Health. There are three challenges to choose between. The Classic Stomp involves climbing 4,200 stairs, covering the south, west and north lower stands, and the lower and upper east stand. If you feel like you’re selling yourself short by not covering every stair in the stadium, then opt for the Extreme Stomp, where the count rises to 7,500 stairs as you take on the Classic Stomp plus the remaining upper stands. And if 7,500 steps still seems too low then consider the Ultimate Stomp, where you do the Extreme Stomp three times over for a total of 22,500 stairs. Crivvens.

Sign up

Royal Marines’ Charity Commando Series (7th-8th November 2020)

Coming straight out of the Commando test book, this 6km or 12km test of endurance is littered with 18 of the toughest obstacles the UK’s hardiest servicemen tackle in their training. Yep, you’re right to cower in fear. There are cave crawls, mud slides and suspended river crossings to take on around Hever Castle in Kent. If you fancy going full Commando, there’s the option to make it a two-dayer thanks to an ace-sounding Bivouac Experience.

Sign up

Elite runners all over the country are working their socks off to prepare for the Olympic trials, hoping to be selected for Team GB and Paralympics GB in Tokyo. A far easier way to run for your country, which requires zero preparatory work, is to sign up for the Vitality Running World Cup and track your runs for the next month. The virtual event is free to enter and begins on 5th March, finishing a month later on 5th April.

The more you run, the better – a country’s score is determined by the total amount of kilometres logged, although that’s divided by the population of that country and how widespread smartphone use is in that country, in order to allow smaller nations to compete.

A smartphone is required to enter the competition because you need to download the Running World Cup app (App Store and Google Play) in order to choose the country you’re competing for, and log your runs either on your phone or by linking up your fitness tracker or running watch if you have one.

The competition starts with a seven-day qualifying round. After that 16 countries will enter a knockout competition, with three rounds to get through to qualify for the final, which runs for two days from April 4th.

Once you’ve signed up and downloaded the app you need to log a minimum of 3km in 30 minutes during the qualifying round in order to contribute to your country’s total. Once you’ve done that you’ll also get a goody bag containing $100 worth of digital gifts and discounts.

There is also a prize for the winning country, which is likely to take the form of digital goodies and discounts for participants from the victorious nation. The organisers expect a million people to join in, so the prize for the thousands competing for the winning country can’t get too flashy.

See related

• The Best UK Virtual Running Events To Sign Up For Right Now
• The Best Running Apps
• The Best Running Watches Of 2021

Many countries have team captains leading the charge, including famous names like Jessica Ennis-Hill for the UK, Usain Bolt for Jamaica and Wayde Van Niekerk for South Africa.

“Nothing made me prouder in my career than running for my country – and this event is giving everyone the chance to do the same, no matter their level,” says Bolt. “I hope by being part of this and leading my country, I can help inspire people across the world to get involved. Good luck to all the countries taking part – especially Jamaica!”

“Whether you’ve never run before, or are an experienced runner, I hope you’ll all come together with me and start clocking up those runs,” says Ennis-Hill.

If this all sounds like great fun, you can sign up now to be ready for the qualifying round. Make sure you log your 3km in 30 minutes during the first seven days of the event to take part and help your country make the knockout rounds.

Sign up to the Running World Cup | Free

Pictured: Two-time Olympic Gold medallist Alex Gregory taking part in Shelter’s Vertical Rush

Take the stairs. It’s an absolutely classic bit of fitness advice, but when people bring it up, they generally mean a couple of flights here and there to avoid using escalators – not charging up the 932 steps of Tower 42 in the City of London.

Coach did just that with Shelter’s Vertical Rush in 2017. Well, charged is probably not the right word. We plodded up the stairs. Crawled. Collapsed. Can you collapse up a staircase?

Despite the difficulty involved, tower running is surprisingly good fun, not least because you’re rewarded with a cracking view at the end. If nothing else, an event has more novelty value than a 10K or marathon.

There are other benefits to opting for a tower run over a long run or cycle too. The events are generally pretty short – the tallest buildings in London will take less than 15 minutes to conquer – and if you’re already exercising regularly, you don’t really have to train specifically for a tower run unless you’re dead set on smashing a past PB or target time.

If you are keen on emulating Piotr “Showtime” Łobodziński (that’s right, tower runners get glitzy nicknames), the tower running world champ who clocked an absurd 3min 59sec at Vertical Rush 2017 (Coach’s times were, ahem, slower), we’d recommend building up your general endurance through regular running, as well as strength work in your quads and glutes.

See related 

• The Best Quad Workout To Build Up The Front Of Your Legs
• The Best Glutes Workout
• Great Charity Challenges For 2020: Do Good, Feel Good

In terms of tactics on the day, start steady rather than opting for an all-out sprint in the first few flights, and make as much use of any bannisters as possible. Pulling yourself along shifts some of the burden from your legs to your upper body.

For more specific training, run up some stairs (obviously) or, if you’re a Londoner, join in with the occasional sessions organised by Tower Running UK.

Got all that? Good. Now here are some UK tower running events to sign up for.

UK Tower Running Events

Walkie Talkie Tower Climb

Date: 29th February 2020

Location: Walkie Talkie, London

Stairs: 896

Sign up | £25, plus £250 fundraising

Vertical Rush

Date: 12th March 2020

Location: Tower 42, London

Stairs: 932 (single-climb event), 9,320 (ten-climb event)

Sign up | Single climb £30, plus £180 fundraising; ten climbs £35, plus £350 fundraising

The Broadgate Tower Run Up

Date: 5th July 2020

Location: Broadgate Tower, London

Stairs: Single climb 877, three climbs 2,631, six climbs 5,262, 12 climbs 10,524

Sign up | Single climb £40, three climbs £60, six climbs £70, 12 climbs £90

Guy’s Urban Challenge

Date: 26th September 2020

Location: Guy’s Hospital, London

Stairs: 2.4km run, 15km spin then 648-stair tower run

Sign up | £30, plus £200 fundraising

SAMH Stomp

Date: 10th October 2020

Location: BT Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh

Stairs: Stomp 4,200, Extreme Stomp 7,400, Ultimate Stomp 22,500

Sign up | Stomp £20, plus £100 fundraising; Extreme Stomp £30, plus £150 fundraising; Ultimate Stomp £40, plus £175 fundraising.

The Gherkin Challenge

Date: TBC 2020

Location: The Gherkin, London

Stairs: 1,037

Sign up | £20, plus £250 fundraising target

More fitness festivals are popping up each year, and online sports retailer Wiggle is getting in on the act with something a little different to the wellness weekend escape scene, or sport-specific events like RunFestRun. The Festival of Sport is a long weekend of open-water swimming, cycling and running events, centered around the Avon Tyrrell Activity Centre in Hampshire.

It takes place from 7th-9th August, and each sport spends a day in the spotlight with multiple distances available for each. The festival starts by laying on coach travel to the nearby New Forest Water Park for 500m, 1km, 1.2-mile [1.9km] and 2.4-mile [3.9km] open-water swims, although if you’re not getting your feet wet the main festival site will get going with various CrossFit, Zumba, yoga and Pilates sessions, mountain bike demos and rides, and live music. As the festival is based in an activity centre there are also adventurous diversions like zip lines, treetop courses and climbing walls to enjoy.

The main events on the Saturday are all in the saddle, with chip-timed and signposted 102-mile [164km], 82-mile [132km] and 38-mile [61km] sportives. The terrain is pretty flat so you should be able to speed along at a fair clip – just make sure you brake for ponies.

See related 

• The Best Fitness Festivals Of 2021
• Tickets For RunFestRun 2021 Running Festival Are On Sale Now

Running events close the festival on the Sunday, although if an ultra takes your fancy there’s one that starts on the Saturday evening and goes through the night. There’s a range of distances to choose from, but all are run on loops within the festival site because of New Forest restrictions on mass running events. That’s why the organisers are selling only single-day tickets for Friday and Saturday, to keep the number of participants down on the final day and make sure the experience is enjoyable.

There are other advantages to getting a weekend ticket too. Chiefly, if you swim, cycle and run, no matter the distance, you get three interlocking medals.

The festival culminates with a family-friendly colour run (remember that? A paint-splattered fun run!), and there will be plenty of diversions for young kids throughout the weekend, with free entry for under-fives.

Buy tickets | One day £50, weekend ticket £130, accommodation options available

The London Marathon is one of the best running events in the world, but it’s not the easiest marathon to get a place in, with the ballot heavily oversubscribed every year. Of course, if you are struggling to land a London entry, there are plenty more marathons to sign up for in the UK, from big-city races to country trails and coastal paths – but if you fancy something a bit different you could do worse than treat yourself to a running holiday. These marathons from all over the world all come highly recommended by runners, plus you get to enjoy exploring a new destination – once you’ve got the small matter of 42.2km out of the way, that is.

Marathon de Paris

Great for sightseeing, the Paris route starts on the Champs-Élysées and winds its way past the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre Dame and along the banks of the Seine. Next race 3rd April 2022, schneiderelectricparismarathon.com

“I took my mum with me for a long weekend in Paris when I ran as she’d never been before, so she got to see the sights and I got some support as well.

“It’s a good way to see a lot of the major landmarks and starting with the Arc de Triomphe behind you is pretty amazing. Paris is a beautiful city and the run takes you through some of the parks, which you probably wouldn’t see on a standard visit to the city. It’s a very international race with all kinds of runners from all over the world.

“My only disappointment was that it wasn’t as well supported as London. You can’t beat a London crowd.” – Royston Crandley, security trainer

Boston Marathon

The world’s oldest annual marathon, Boston holds a certain prestige among runners as you need to gain a qualifying time to register, with only the fastest runners in age and gender groups selected. For men aged 18-34, the qualifying time is 3hr, and for women 18-34 it’s 3hr 30min, with the target times rising for older age groups. Next race 18th April 2022, baa.org

“When I ran it in 2015, it was as part of a challenge to run eight marathons in 20 days on three continents. I’d finished the Marathon des Sables [250km across the Sahara] five days earlier and after Boston I was coming back to run the London Marathon. I went to just get round but ended up having one of those runs where everything clicks and got a good time.

“The course is tough but, like most US marathons, the support is brilliant – the crowds whoop it up to 11. You hear a lot about the notorious Heartbreak Hill that comes 20 miles into the race and has taken down many a runner, but it’s not until you hit those last six miles that you realise just how much impact the hills have had.

“Boston has a special finish. It’s marked on the road year round and is a symbol of how the race has a special place in the hearts of the people of the city.” – Kieran Alger, journalist

Street Child Sierra Leone Marathon

Organised by UK charity Street Child, the Sierra Leone Marathon raises money to provide education and support children devastated by Ebola. Next race 1st-6th June 2022, sierraleonemarathon.com

“I went to the first Sierra Leone Marathon in 2012 as my company, Tokio Marine Kiln, was the main sponsor. I’ve since done the half and this year I’m going to volunteer.

“One of the great things about going with Street Child is that you have a couple of days beforehand to see the projects you’re raising money for. Seeing that the money you or your company have raised is enough to build a school in a rural area where they don’t have electricity and have never had a school before makes all the running just fall into the background. You only need to raise £40 to send a child to school for a whole year.

“On the marathon itself you pass through a wide range of scenery, incredibly beautiful countryside and jungle, and mud-hut villages where the kids come out and start jumping up and down and high-fiving you. Street Child has a big presence in the city of Makeni where the race finishes, so people will say ‘thank you’ as you run past – the whole atmosphere is amazing. The main challenge is the heat. You set off early in the morning but when I ran it got up to 38°C with 90% humidity, which can be hard to cope with when you get to mile 20.

“The race has lots of local runners as well as international runners, and 2016 is the first big marathon since Ebola, so it’s important for helping people gain confidence in visiting the country.” – Simon Bianco, energy underwriter

Rio Marathon

If Rio de Janeiro isn’t near the top of your holiday bucket list then we’re going to assume you’ve already been. And what better place to relax after a marathon than the white sands of Copacabana beach? We’d recommend taking the train up to the statue of Christ the Redeemer though – your legs won’t appreciate the hike. Next race June 2022 (date TBC), maratonadorio.com.br

“My favourite marathon in the world is the Rio Marathon. It’s a top-tier experience while a little exotic and different compared with the more obvious major world marathons.

“The start is 42km away from Central Rio, so you have a chance to mingle with the locals and calm your nerves on the bus ride to the start.

“The mostly flat point-to-point course runs along the beach the entire way through the most famous beaches in Rio – Barra, Leblon, Ipanema, Copacabana, Botafogo and Flamengo – while Christ the Redeemer and the Serra do Mar mountains provide an excellent backdrop for your marathon photos.” – Jessica Frey, CEO, Virgin Sport

Midnight Sun Marathon, Tromsø, Norway

Because of the city’s location within the Arctic Circle there’s 24-hour daylight, so you get to run in the light at night. Next race 18th June 2022, msm.no

“For me travelling and running go hand in hand. I try to steer away from the mainstream races and go to cool places for the stories and the adventure.

“At Tromsø the race starts at 8pm so you finish around midnight, but it’s still light. Even though the sun’s out the temperature drops at night so it’s cold – it’s all very surreal. You lose all sense of time.

“The course crosses the island through villages and past churches, and even though it’s late people are sitting outside their houses cheering you on. All the bars and restaurants are still open, so when you approach the town centre you get some very loud support and, of course, you can join them when you finish. You have to take it in.” – Alan Li, elevated service and support engineer

Lewa Safaricom Marathon, Kenya

Set on dirt roads across savannah plains and through acacia woodland, the Lewa Safaricom Marathon is held in a wildlife conservancy home to elephant herds, buffalo, giraffes and more. Runners raise funds to support conservation, education and local community programmes. Next race 25th June 2022, lewa.org

“I was in Kenya researching my book Running With The Kenyans when I took part in the Lewa Marathon. It’s not often you get to run through a wildlife conservancy where lions are roaming. Not to mention cheetahs and rhinos. For safety there was a helicopter circling above and spectators were only allowed to stand at water stations where there were armed guards on hand. Luckily I didn’t see any lions, but I did get a bit too close to an ostrich, which was rather nerve-racking.

“Lewa is quite a tough race: it’s hot, hilly and at altitude, but the epic scenery and being out in the wilds on foot was thrilling – and occasionally a bit scary. It’s amazing to race in Kenya, the country of the world’s greatest marathon runners, and the supporters got particularly excited every time I passed because I was the first mzungu (white person). The whole thing was an experience I’ll never forget.” – Adharanand Finn, author of The Way Of The Runner and Running With The Kenyans

Le Marathon du Médoc, Bordeaux

The slowest marathon you’ll ever run, Médoc takes in Bordeaux’s vineyards with 23 wine stops and local specialities such as foie gras served up on route. Fancy dress is mandatory and the atmosphere is “party”. Next race 10th September 2022, marathondumedoc.com

“I honestly believe Marathon du Médoc is the best race in the world – and I’m saying that as someone who doesn’t like wine. Marathons are hard and typically they’re solo ventures, you’re running in your own little world, but Médoc is big groups of people running together in fancy dress and having a huge party.

“The weather’s great and the scenery as you run through local vineyards and past chateaux is beautiful. You stop off at each vineyard to try the wine and there’s an amazing atmosphere at each one with bands, cheese, ham, oysters, bread… And every village you pass, people are out cheering and offering you snacks and drinks. I’ve run it three times now and I tend to go with a massive group of friends. We usually have a big night the night before, but this is the type of race that it’s absolutely fine to do with a hangover.

“All of my personal worst marathon times have been at Médoc. In fact, I was the last finisher a few years ago. I could have gone slower but there was a group of monks ringing bells bringing up the rear. You had to stay ahead of them to stay in the run.” – David Hellard, member of the British Military Fitness Race Team and co-host of the Bad Boy Running Podcast

Berlin Marathon

Flat and fast, Berlin is the race where most marathon world records have been set, including the current one – 2hr 1min 39sec by Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge in 2018. Along with Tokyo, Boston, London, Chicago and New York City, Berlin is one of the World Marathon Majors, a series of six of the largest and best-known marathons in the world. It’s not easy to get a spot in the Berlin Marathon and this year’s ballot results have already been announced, but you can secure a place by signing up with a running holiday company like Destination Sport Experiences who will also sort out your accommodation. Next race 25th September 2022, bmw-berlin-marathon.com

“Berlin attracts some of the best runners in the world but it’s not just for PB chasers. Just like in London you get all kinds of people taking part – people with different speeds, people dressed as dogs and spacemen, people from all across the world… Plus it’s a great city to celebrate in afterwards.

“The course starts in the city centre on a dead straight road, which is cool as you can see crowds behind and in front so you get a sense of just how big it all is and how many people are running. The route loops around the outside of the city and finishes under the Brandenburg Gate, where the crowds are massive and hundreds of people are out cheering you.

“I’d definitely recommend it, even if just to say you’ve run on a world-record course.” – Ben Rajan, automotive engineer

New York City Marathon

Everything’s always bigger in America, including their races. With more than 51,000 finishers in 2016, New York is the world’s largest marathon and one of the six Marathon Majors. Next race 6th November 2022, tcsnycmarathon.org

“The race begins on Staten Island. You get the ferry to the start and as you pass the Statue of Liberty you get a real sense of where you are. The race itself crosses five bridges and goes through all five boroughs of New York – Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Manhattan. You’re running through neighbourhoods so you get a chance to see a different side of the city and I think it’s the local communities that really make the race. Everybody lines the streets and cheers, and church choirs and bands come out in each neighbourhood. It’s definitely the best-supported marathon I’ve run.

“As you come into Manhattan there’s just a big wall of noise and the last five miles as you’re coming to the finish in Central Park are packed with supporters. It’s such a great place: the expo is brilliant, the streets are wide and hardly anyone runs in fancy dress so you’re not going to get beaten by Buzz Lightyear.” – Simon Hazel, geologist

Athens Authentic Marathon

This is where it all began. The marathon was introduced in the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896. The race between the town of Marathon and Athens follows the route run by the messenger Pheidippides in ancient Greece to announce victory in battle over the Persians. Next race 13th November 2022 (date TBC), athensauthenticmarathon.gr

“I signed up for Athens two days after my first marathon in London. I’d run my home marathon and I liked the idea of running in the home of the marathon.

“On the day of the race, coaches take you to the starting point in Marathon. Local families come out of their houses with olive branches [a traditional symbol of goodwill], handing them to as many runners as they can. You’ll see some people trying to run the whole distance carrying them.

“The route itself is one long road back to Athens; you don’t pass many villages, there’s a 12km hill, and until you get to the city the crowds are sparse, but you don’t care because you’re running from Marathon to Athens and that’s always in the back of your mind. You finish in the original Olympic stadium with the Acropolis over your shoulder, and you forget all about the 42km before because you’re in this amazing, historic place. Plus you get to eat your way around the city afterwards, which is exactly why I’m hooked on running.” – Sasha Watson, management consultant

Walt Disney World Marathon, Florida

You run through the Disney parks and get cheered on by Mickey! Next race 8th January 2023, rundisney.com

“You run through all four parks – Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and Epcot – and everyone dresses up, plus you get to go on a roller coaster in the middle of it. You start running early in the morning before the parks open and have your photo taken as you run past Cinderella’s castle. At Animal Kingdom you can ride the Expedition Everest rollercoaster, which gives you a major energy rush, and all the way round there’s so much awesome stuff to look at and Disney characters you can stop and have your photo taken with. Once the parks open, all the people visiting are cheering you on, so there’s great support.

“Runners stop off at the bars and food stalls to get something to eat or drink. People cross the line holding margaritas and beers. I went for a giant turkey leg.

“If you’re going to Disney don’t run for a good time, run for the amazing experience instead.” – Rhia Docherty, volunteer refugee worker

London Marathon

With crowds as raucous as New York’s and a course that’s almost as fast as Berlin’s, the London Marathon is a truly great marathon both for PB-seekers and for those just looking to have a good time. It’s not the easiest to get into as a result – the ballot for the 2022 event is already closed, but you can still apply for a charity place.

The route starts in Greenwich and finishes in the shadow of Buckingham Palace on the Mall. Two of the biggest highlights along the way are passing the crowds at Cutty Sark and going over Tower Bridge, where the noise of the crowd is almost deafening. Next race 2nd October 2022, tcslondonmarathon.com

“I very much enjoyed the race – what an experience! The crowd were immense and my fellow runners were very supportive. Everyone is cheering you on and that was without doubt the main reason I got myself over the line.” – Marc Gadian, journalist

Running The Jerusalem Marathon

One of the best ways to discover a new city is to put on your trainers and just run. Yes, you need to be aware of no-go areas and have a rough idea how to get back again, but there’s a lot to be said for getting a little bit lost. Going out and exploring gives you a real feel for the city on the ground; you discover hidden parks, interesting restaurants and tiny shops, winding backstreets and neighbourhoods you’d miss on the main tourist trail.

Wherever I go in the world I pack my trainers, and it’s now an excuse to travel in the first place. Pick somewhere you’ve always wanted to go but haven’t really had reason, find a half marathon or marathon to run and book it. In March this year, that’s how I found myself in Jerusalem. Not a place I’d ever really thought of visiting, but when Coach asked me if I wanted to run the marathon there… Well, of course I did.

My knowledge of Jerusalem was limited to a vague recollection of Bible stories at primary school. I didn’t realise until the taxi pulled up after the transfer from Ben Gurion Airport just how hilly it is. Really, really, chuffing hilly! Jerusalem is built on seven of the things. All I could think was: “Shit, I have to run up those hills!” The highest point on the marathon course, Mount Scopus, home to the Hebrew University, is 826 metres above sea level, rewarding runners with amazing views across the city and over to the Dead Sea.

And no hill is just a hill: the Mount of Olives is the spot where Jesus is said to have ascended to Heaven. Similarly no church just a church: the Church of the Holy Sepulchre marks the site of his crucifixion. But to think of Jerusalem only in terms of history is to do it a disservice. Just like every city, people of all ages live and work here – there are modern shopping centres, office blocks and a fun nightlife. And the food is fantastic.

Unfortunately, two days before the race a long-standing medical problem flared up and I found myself in an Israeli hospital. It left me exhausted with haemoglobin levels too low to run 26.2 miles and, weirdly, I was gutted that I couldn’t take on those hills after all. Luckily the marathon is part of a whole day’s festival of running.

Founded by the mayor, a keen runner, in 2011, the marathon festival is designed to bring people of all faiths and backgrounds together to enjoy being active. Alongside the full marathon there’s a half marathon, a 10km and a 5km course designed for families, with around 30,000 people taking part in all the races this year (2,000 for the marathon). I figured if I couldn’t do the full, I could at least have a crack at the half, which covered much of the same route.

The race itself took place on a Friday, to allow for the sabbath, and started at 6.45am (ouch) before the heat of the day hit. While I couldn’t run the whole way – rather, shuffle for 30 seconds then walk for five minutes – once I’d got over the pride factor of being overtaken by someone running in flip-flops, I loved this race. It was one of the most interesting official routes I’ve run, taking you through local neighbourhoods, along cobbled streets on the outskirts of the Old City and past the Western Wall where worshippers gather to see in the sabbath singing, dancing and praying every Friday evening. At certain points the marathon and half marathon course merge and you find yourself running alongside the elites – this year’s winner was Shadrack Kipkosgei from Kenya in 2hr 16min 33sec.

The atmosphere was great throughout. The streets weren’t crowded but the support was joyous and enthusiastic; there were people on stilts giving you high fives, supporters dressed as superheroes crouching on the ancient city walls and big groups of young people running together singing. I finished in around 2hr 42min – a massive personal worst and more than an hour slower than my usual half marathon time – but there was so much to see it felt like one of the quickest races I’d ever done. It taught me that pace isn’t everything. When you’re running abroad the best advice I can give you is to look around, enjoy it, and run for a good time not a fast time. That, and get insurance. Next year, Jerusalem, I’m coming for those hills properly.

jerusalem-marathon.com

Five things I've learned racing abroad

1. Get insurance

You might only be going away for a couple of days, but if you lose your luggage and have to buy new trainers, or end up needing medical care outside the EU, you’re going to have to shell out. If I hadn’t spent £30 on annual insurance I’d be down around £600 after my hospital trip.

2. Leave time to pick up your race number

Check when booking whether you have to collect it from the marathon expo. Going to a race in Paris, I booked a Eurostar that got in about 8pm the night before, only to realise I needed to pick up my number by 5pm. If you don’t get your number in time you may not be able to run.

3. Take food and race nutrition with you

Stuffing your face with local food is all part of the fun, but if you always have porridge on the morning of a race and use tried and tested gels throughout the run, trying to find what you’re looking for overseas can be an added stress. So take some with you.

4. Plan something relaxing for the next day

The day after a race your legs may well be useless, so it’s not the best time to be hiking to the top of a mountain and climbing a tower. In Jerusalem I took a trip to the Dead Sea and just floated about for the day, before heading to Israel’s second city, Tel Aviv, for a night out.

5. Read the race info before you go

Some countries, such as France, require you to have a medical form signed by a doctor saying you’re fit to run. Make sure you check this and contact your local surgery before you go – most doctors charge a small fee for this service.

More About Marathon Running

• Can anyone run a marathon? With the right knowledge and training almost anyone can.
• All the marathon training plans, gear and nutrition advice you need to make training for and running 42.2km easy. Well, easier

If you’re about to embark on a New Year health kick, stop for a second and ask yourself one question: are you going to be doing a type of exercise that you’ve already tried and hated in the past? If so, then you might well be setting yourself up for failure.

We at Coach firmly believe that there’s a type of exercise for everyone. One that you’ll enjoy so much that it becomes a joy, rather than a chore. So if you’ve struggled to maintain an exercise routine in the past it’s well worth trying something different this year. With that in mind, we offer up England Rugby’s Warrior Camps as a new way to get fit in 2020.

The camps are designed to introduce women to rugby union, teaching an array of skills specific to the sport while also improving your general fitness and ensuring that you’re having a lot of fun.

More than 100 rugby clubs around the UK offer Warrior Camps, and all have scheduled at least one or two free taster sessions. However, between 11th January and 9th February that number has been increased to five free taster sessions at 13 clubs up and down England, so you can have a real go at rugby and decide if it’s for you without having to spend a penny.

See related

• This Girl Can Has A New Campaign To Get Mums Moving
• Tamsin Greenway On Why Women Should Play Sport This Summer
• Why I Love Football: DJ Monki

“It can often be daunting to try a new sport or get the motivation needed to go along to the gym for the first time,” says Sarah Hunter, England Women captain. “That’s why Warrior Camps are the perfect opportunity to challenge yourself and as a result, you can have fun and get fit all at the same time!”

You can find the nearest club to you offering the Warrior Camps on the England Rugby website, and these are the 13 clubs offering five free sessions:

• Bedford Athletic RFC, Bedford
• Blaydon RFC, Newcastle
• Eton Manor RFC, London
• Harpenden RFC, Hertfordshire
• Horsham RFC, West Sussex
• Ivybridge RFC, Devon
• Keighley RFC, West Yorkshire
• Leicester Forest RFC, Leicester
• Lymm RFC, Cheshire
• Stourbridge RFC, West Midlands
• Walsall RFC, West Midlands
• Whitley Bay RFC, North Tyneside
• Yarnbury RFC, West Yorkshire

Sign up to a Warrior Camp | Free

We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming to bring you this message from our colleagues at stablemate Cyclist.

Whether you are thinking of buying a new bike, or just want the thrill of thrashing the world’s most advanced road bikes from the likes of Cannondale, Pinarello, 3T / Moots, Ribble, Factor Bikes, Swift Carbon, Scott Sports, Orro, Bianchi, Rose and others around a purpose-built track, you should be thinking of putting a Cyclist Track Day in your 2020 diary.

There are six dates at six different venues to choose from.

• 3rd May: Castle Combe Circuit, Chippenham
• 16th May: Mallory Park, Leicester
• 31st May: Fife Cycle Park, Scotland
• 7th June: Brownlee Centre, Leeds
• 20th June: Cyclopark, Kent
• 21st June: Valley Velopark, London

Early-bird tickets cost £35, are available until the end of January and include:

• 15+ of the world’s best bike brands, all in one place
• The opportunity to test bikes on purpose-built circuits
• Cyclist coffee + lunch
• A goody bag worth over £30

In partnership with premium cycle clothing brand ASSOS of Switzerland, additional ticket options are available that include a pair of ASSOS’ iconic mens or womens shorts. Choose from classic comfort with MILLE and UMA or a more performance-orientated design with EQUIPE and LAALALAI.

Keep an eye out for more bike brands to be announced.

Grab your early-bird ticket now for just £35. What are you waiting for?!

If you can’t complete an obstacle at a Spartan Race, you have to do burpees before you carry on to the next one. We’re telling you this in the hope it will sharpen your mind and encourage you to put in the proper training before your event. Obstacles are fun, burpees are burpees. We know which we’d rather do.

To help ensure you don’t waste your training time (however much you do), Spartan Race has teamed up with gym owner and fitness influencer Shaun Stafford, who has provided five top tips to help you prepare for the day.

1. Get Running

“This might seem obvious, but a lot of people get so caught up in the fun obstacles that they forget about the running in between them,” says Stafford. “Whether you are doing the Sprint or Stadion [5K], Super [10K] or Beast [half marathon], you want to make sure that you have the distance in your legs.

“It is also definitely worth trying the hill program on your treadmill. Very few – if any – Spartan Races are flat.”

2. Work On Your Pulling Power

“There are some exercises that you can do in the gym that will translate really well to the Spartan course, but some won’t,” says Stafford. “From my experience, doing a lot of pushing and pressing moves in your training will largely be wasted on a course where your ability to hang tough is more important.

“Make sure you focus on grip, arm and back strength, and build up to being able to hold and lift your own bodyweight. If you have access to monkey bars give them a go and hone your technique – I like going sideways whereas others like to go head-on.”

3. Jump Around

“Running on a treadmill or around your local park will help you build up those vital miles in your legs, but there are times on the Spartan course where you’ll need to be more dynamic,” says Stafford. “This might involve jumping over tree roots, bounding from side to side through bushes, or even taking a run and a jump over small streams and rivers on the course.

“Make sure your knees and ankles can take the impact and perform when you need them too. Practice some standing broad jumps, lateral hops and plyometric bounds as part of your preparation.”

4. Teamwork Makes The Dream Work

“You can run the race on your own but it is much more fun in teams, not least because some people need the odd bit of help along the way,” says Stafford. “Get used to working in a team by planning a group session or two at the gym, or take your Spartan squad out for some practice runs together. Seeing everyone work hard in the team beforehand will help you get the most out of the day when it comes and highlight where you might need some help.”

See related

• Prep For Your Obstacle Course Race With This Spartan Workout
• Spartan Race Tips from the UK’s Jonathan Albon
• The UK’s Best Obstacle Course Races And Mud Runs Of 2021

5. Practise Your Burpees

“It’s probably the worst exercise, but burpees are something you might want to practise in case you slip from the monkey bars or can’t complete an obstacle,” says Stafford. “Getting your body used to hitting the floor and then getting airborne will only help you navigate the course – and prepare you for the brutality of SPARTAN!”

Spartan Stadion is taking place at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday 23rd November. Visit spartanrace.uk to buy tickets

The scenery is not something that’s usually a big draw with a road marathon. Many events take place in city centres to ensure sizable crowds and there are landmark buildings to supply interest for the eyes, rather than stunning natural landscapes, which are usually reserved for off-road events.

One event that bucks this trend is the Loch Ness Marathon. The paved route runs alongside the famous loch in Scotland and even if you don’t spot Nessie along the way, you are treated to an incredible view for almost the entire course, with only the final few kilometres in the urban environs of Inverness.

As a result, the Loch Ness Marathon has been on my race bucket list for some time, so when running gear brand Hoka One One offered me a chance to run in the 2019 race, I jumped at it. Here are seven things I learned about the event which may come in handy should you ever decide to run it.

1. Be Prepared For An Early Start

The Loch Ness Marathon is a point-to-point race that finishes in Inverness and starts 42.2km away near Whitebridge. Getting all 5,000 runners to the start line in what seems like the middle of nowhere involves an awful lot of coaches and an early start – runners need to get to the main departure point in Inverness for just before 7am. This means you’ll need to change your pre-race routine, because when you might normally be having breakfast and lining up a trip (or trips) to the loo, you’ll be on a coach.

I ended up staying in Drumnadrochit, a town on the northwest side of Loch Ness. This meant I had to travel into Inverness to get my race number on the Saturday and make a longer trip home after the race, but it was closer to Whitebridge and meant my bus pick-up wasn’t until 8.15am on race day.

2. The Start Is Beautiful, But Chilly And Lacking In Loos

Of all the epic views you’re treated to during the Loch Ness Marathon, the best come at the start, because it’s the highest point of the course. However, that also means you’re quite exposed, and it’s the windiest and coldest part of the course. While waiting for the starting gun, wear bin bags and old jumpers you’re happy to ditch. Fortunately, the race starts with a long downhill in the first two kilometres, which quickly gets you out of the wind, so don’t base your expectations of the weather on how it feels at the start.

There also weren’t enough toilets at the start, with queues stretching a long way and not moving fast enough for many runners, who decided not to wait and instead took a trip into the woods beside the road. Announcements will ask you not to do this, but in truth there’s little choice – if everyone waited for the Portaloos a sizable proportion of runners wouldn’t have made the start on time.

3. Don’t Go Bananas On The First Downhill

The race starts with around 90m of downhill in the first two kilometres, which is lovely. However, if you’re someone who already tends to start races too fast this can be like a red rag to a bull. Downhill running might feel easy, but if you’re going a minute per kilometre faster than expected, that may well come back to bite you later on.

4. The First Half Isn’t As Easy As It Looks

If you examine an elevation profile of the Loch Ness marathon you’ll immediately be struck by the general downhill trend of the first half of the race, especially the first 16km or so, where you descend almost 300m in total.

However, the course actually undulates a lot, and there’s a sharp hill at around 8km that caught out a lot of runners expecting an easy ride for the whole first half. My advice is to run the first half of the race cautiously, enjoying the benefits of the downhills without pushing yourself too hard. That way you’ll have more energy for the second half, which has more uphill sections, and you’ll probably find you’re passing a lot of runners who blew it all on the downhill.

5. Enjoy The Scenery

This really can’t be stressed enough. The Loch Ness Marathon is beautiful, with long stretches through forests and constant views of the Loch itself and the hills around it. I ran the first 25km with a huge smile on my face just looking around at the scenery. The time and the kilometres flew by.

6. Be Ready For The Hill

This is the real Loch Ness monster – 3km of almost entirely uphill running starting in kilometre 28. It sounds brutal, and if you’re struggling with your race then it can be, but if you know it’s coming and keep some energy in reserve the Dores hill can be conquered without it derailing your race plan. For the most part, the gradient is not actually too steep and there are a couple of breaks in the hill along the way, so focus on getting to those to break it up rather than worrying about getting to the very top.

See related

• The Best UK Marathons
• Marathon Training: Plans, Gear, Nutrition Advice And More
• The Best Marathon Running Shoes

7. There Are Still Ten More Kilometres To Run After Dores

Once you crest the hill just outside the town of Dores you’ll see a helpful sign saying something like, “It’s (almost) all downhill from here”, and you might well start to relax. The biggest hill in the race is done and you can roll right down into Inverness to the finish line.

Not quite. Running ten kilometres is never easy and especially not at the end of a marathon. All the undulations will have beaten up your legs to the point that even downhills start to hurt, and there are a couple more uphills after Dores too, even if they’re relatively mild. Stay focused and don’t start celebrating the finish line until you see it.

Early bird entry for the 2020 Loch Ness Marathon is open and costs £54. Sign up at lochnessmarathon.com

There’s no reason to worry about making mistakes when you first try a new sport – everyone was a beginner once, after all. However, the quicker you overcome these mistakes the quicker you get to the fun bits. And when the sport is boxing, you have to try extra hard not to persist with poor pugilistic habits you’ve picked up from boxing fitness classes when you join a proper club.

One like the Rathbone Boxing Club, which is encouraging people to get into the sport with the new Rathbone Amateur Boxing Club (RABC). There are three RABC sessions each week, one for juniors aged 5 to 17 and two for seniors aged 18 to 40, all led by experienced boxing coaches.

It costs £40 a year plus £5 a session to join the RABC (£25 a year and £3 a session for juniors), which is just about as good a fitness deal as we’ve come across in central London.

To make sure you shine in your first session, use these tips from Rathbone Boxing Club’s head coach Greg White.

1. Don’t Throw Arm Punches

“A lot of the time in boxing fitness classes, you’ll throw arm punches and won’t use your legs and rest of your body,” says White.

“To master a strong punch, you need to generate power from your waist, hips and legs. By using your full body, your punches will have more impact and put less stress on your shoulders.”

2. Breathe

“Don’t hold your breath while throwing punches and combos,” says White. “Make sure you exhale through your mouth when you punch, especially for combinations. Focus on making a noise when you breathe so that you know you’re doing it. This will allow you to generate more power and not ‘gas out’ quickly.”

3. Don’t Break Your Stance While Throwing Punches

“This makes a boxer come off-balance and hinders proper boxing technique,” says White.

“Make sure you stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, left foot turned to point toward your opponent. Make loose fists and hold your right hand by your chin and left hand in front of your face [reverse if you’re left-handed]. Chin down, eyes up.”

See related :

• How To Get Fit With Boxing Training
• Four Boxing Drills To Punch Up Your Fitness
• Punching-Bag Workouts for the Gym
• The Best Punching Bags For Your Home Gym
• The Best Boxing Gloves, As Recommended By A Top Trainer

4. Keep Your Hands Up

“People drop their hands away from their face, especially on the return after the punch, which makes the next shot poorly executed,” says White.

“Focus on slowing it down and make sure that after every punch thrown, your hand returns to the face so that the top of the boxing glove is eyebrow level. Don’t throw the next shot until the previous shot has successfully been returned.”

5. Focus On Footwork

“Boxing fitness classes don’t teach any footwork or defences, which are integral parts of the sport of boxing,” says White.

“For anyone trying to improve their skills, I’d recommend paying attention to your feet. Staying light and on your toes, using the back foot to generate power, trying to move around the bag. You don’t want your feet to be glued to the floor.”

First held in 2013 to build on the success of the London 2012 Olympics, the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 sportive has established itself as one of the best mass-participation cycling events in the world. This is thanks in part to shutting down large swathes of central London so riders can enjoy pedalling past iconic buildings without dodging black cabs and the like.

The event is also part of the London Classics: finish this 100-mile ride, plus the London Marathon and the two-mile event at Swim Serpentine, and you’ll earn a special medal. And who doesn’t want a special medal? That’s just one more reason why the RideLondon-Surry 100 is hugely oversubscribed every year, so to have a chance of cycling the event you have to enter a ballot.

RideLondon will take place over the weekend of the 15th-16th August in 2020, with the 100-mile sportive falling on Sunday 16th August. The ballot for entry into the 100-miler opened on race day 2019 and will remain open until Friday 3rd January 2020 or until 80,000 entries have been received. With it being such a popular race, we’d bet on the latter coming first, so don’t count on being able to pop your entry in late 2019 or very early 2020, because you could well find the ballot has shut. Instead, head to prudentialridelondon.co.uk right now and sign up for your shot to ride this incredible event.

Entry to the 100-mile ballot event costs £79, a £10 increase on the £69 it cost to enter 2019’s race. If you are unsuccessful in the main ballot you can choose to donate the £79 to charity. Aside from being very generous on your part, doing so gives you a second chance at getting a spot in the sportive. Last year a further 1,000 places were given to people who donated their fee but didn’t get a place in the original ballot. These were chosen via another, smaller ballot.

If you enter the ballot you’ll be told in February 2020 whether or not you have secured a place in the event. Should you be successful but realise that you’re not actually all that keen to ride the 100 miles that year, you can defer your entry to 2021. You only get one chance to defer entry though, you can’t keep kicking the can down the road indefinitely. If you fail to secure a place in the 100-mile event via the ballot, there remains the option to ride for a charity. There are listings for all the charities that have places in the RideLondon sportives on the event website.

Another possibility if you are unsuccessful in the 100-mile race ballot is to try and get a spot in the shorter 46-mile (74km) event. The Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 46 takes place on the same day as the 100-mile ride and follows the same route for the first 27 miles of the course, before splitting off on a separate two-mile section leading onto the final 17 miles of the 100-mile route, including the grandstand finish on The Mall.

Although not quite as popular as the 100-mile sportive, RideLondon-Surrey 46 is still oversubscribed and you will also have to enter a ballot to have a chance of riding in it. In 2019 that ballot ran in early May, with winners informed shortly afterwards. Entry to the ballot for the 46-mile ride cost £46 in 2019.

Enter the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 Ballot | £79

Training Advice For RideLondon

• 100-Mile Cycle Training Plan
• How To Train For A 100-Mile Sportive
• How To Fuel For A 100-Mile Sportive

Taking part in Cycle To Work Day is, in many ways, its own reward. You get to exercise on the way to work, save money on public transport, and hopefully ignite or reinvigorate your love of cycling so that you keep on riding.

However, for those who want more tangible prizes, you’re in luck, because this year riding to work could see you rewarded with a brand new Specialized electric bike.

Cycle To Work Day 2019 falls on Thursday 8th August and to celebrate the occasion the organisers are giving away £10,000 worth of prizes over a seven-week period around the day. The prize-giving started back in early July, with different rewards up for grabs each week.

Some impressive prizes have been handed out already, including a Ribble AL e electric bike, but the real bonanza comes on the 8th itself. If you cycle to work on that day and log your ride on the Love To Ride website, your name goes into the hat to win one of four prizes: a Specialized electric mountain bike or electric hybrid, or £250 worth of Endura gear, men’s or women’s.

See related 

• How To Turn “Cycle To Work Day” Into “Cycle To Work EVERY Day”
• Save £££s On An E-Bike Using The Cycle To Work Scheme
• The Best Electric Bikes For Commuting
• Six Real-Life Benefits Of Cycling To Work

We reckon an electric bike is just about the best commuter option in most cities, helping you cruise to work without having to use public transport or sit in your car in traffic. An e-bike will help you cycle without sweating, since it still requires some effort but helps with the toughest bits – getting up to speed and getting up hills. It’s the ideal level of exertion to get you set up for the day without needing to hit the showers before your desk.

If you miss out on the Cycle To Work Day prizes there is still one more chance to win something. If you update your cycling story on the Love To Ride website at some point between 12th-16th August, you’ll have a chance to win one of five £100 Rapha vouchers to put towards some new kit from the premium British brand.

To get involved in the competitions you’ll need to register on the Love To Ride site, which is easy because you can use either your Facebook or Strava account (or create a dedicated username and password if you wish). Use a Strava account and your rides will be automatically logged on Love To Ride.

If you’re keen to get involved in Cycle To Work Day but aren’t so sure about your cycling ability, check out our tips on how to breeze through your first bike commute. Then read this advice on how to turn Cycle To Work Day into cycle to work every day.

Wimbledon is here and there are three time-honoured ways to celebrate the occasion. One is to spend several hours queuing to get into the All England Club to watch the matches live. A second is to spend those hours eating strawberries and cream, and drinking Pimm’s on the sofa while watching on TV. And the third is to go and actually play some tennis.

If watching Andy Murray pairing up with Serena Williams in the mixed doubles isn’t inspiring enough to get you playing tennis yourself, how about the prospect of free court time and coaching? That’s what you get if you participate in any of the Big Tennis Weekends and other free events being held all over the country this summer. Granola bar brand Nature Valley has partnered with the LTA to put on the events, details on which you can find on the LTA website.

If you’re new to tennis you might have some entirely natural fears about making a fool of yourself on the day. The first thing we’d say is don’t worry – everyone had to start somewhere and there are loads of ways to make tennis accessible to beginners. It’s not as if you’ll be going straight into a five-setter against a big-serving monster.

To help you feel a bit more confident in heading for the court we've also enlisted Leon Smith, captain of the Great Britain Davis Cup team and Nature Valley ambassador, to provide his top tips for complete beginners.

See related :

• How to Be a Better Tennis Player
• Four Gym Exercises That Will Improve Your Tennis
• Scratch Your Wimbledon Itch With This Handy Guide To London Tennis Courts

• “Always start with a good warm-up! The last thing you want is to pull a muscle and limp off the court,” says Smith. “Do a slow jog to start and then gently warm up the main muscle groups. Try some sidesteps and light backwards running, then stretch the calves, hamstrings and quads as these will be used a lot when you’re running around the tennis court. Finish with forward and side lunges.”
• “The key thing is to not swing too fast or too big, with very little backswing – by keeping swings smaller you will control the ball better.”
• “Using a practice wall is a great way to gain good racket control and rhythm, and develop hand-eye co-ordination.”
• “Use a softer ball – these move more slowly, which gives players more time to set up for shots. Rallies are more fun and a softer ball can really help make them happen.”
• “Play in a smaller size of court to start with, such as just the service box areas, and focus on controlling the ball with shorter swings. This again will help sustain a rally which means you get lots more practice.”
• “Mix in different hand-eye co-ordination exercises like throwing and catching. Developing hand-eye skills will really help when learning to hit a tennis ball.”
• “As with all sports, introducing competition – even for first-timers – is part of the fun!”

Obstacle course races may have hit peak popularity a couple of years ago, but there are still plenty of chances to heave yourself up, over and through things if you want to. And just in case you feel like you’ve been there and done that, you’ll find that some events are a bit different now – shorter, less muddy and without quite as many electric shocks, if no less obstacle-y! After Tough Mudder launched its series of urban 5Ks last year, another big name in the OCR scene, Spartan, is bringing its Stadion series to the UK.

The Stadion events – which take the OCR concept and cram it into a stadium – are touring venues across the US and in select European capital cities, including London. Twickenham in southwest London to be precise, home of England rugby, on 23rd November. Don’t expect to finish by diving across the try-line though (a bit of shame, that) because this is a mud-free course, probably for the groundskeepers’ sakes more than yours. The event does take advantage of the setting, however, with the route winding its way through the stadium’s innards, and up and down the stairs.

See related

• Prep For Your Obstacle Course Race With This Spartan Workout
• Tough Mudder Training Plan
• The UK’s Best Obstacle Course Races And Mud Runs Of 2021

It adds up to an easy way for urbanites to give OCRs a go, and CrossFitters of all levels will also take to it like ducks to water since the obstacles include rope climbs, box jumps, slamming balls and plenty of carries.

The day kicks off with an elite race, where competitors will be looking to get round in about 40 minutes for a shot at the prize money. You’ll have plenty more time in the open morning or afternoon session, and if you fancy making a day of it you can sign on as a group and get a discount – 10% off the ticket price if there’s three of you, 15% if you’re a quartet or 20% if you roll five or more deep.

Buy tickets | From £60

There are less than two weeks to go until Balance Festival, a health and fitness weekender in Shoreditch, east London. Those attending are in for a treat: not only can they stock up on their favourite beauty products while supping on a protein smoothie, but the best classes from the hottest fitness studios and instructors around are available for them to enjoy. However, as with any festival, the jam-packed schedule makes it tough to know what to pick to get the most from your day. To help, we’ve rounded up five must-try classes. In no particular order…

1. KXU – The Games

The new kid on the block brings a strongman/woman ethos to proceedings. Expect a full-body assault from this 25-minute class that will have you wielding a sledgehammer, flipping a tyre, working a rope and pushing heavy stuff around as you test both your strength and endurance. It’s not for the faint-hearted – the phrases “I can’t” and “I’m done” are banned, and heavy sweating and DOMS are guaranteed.

2. Method Movement – Bondi Method

Take inspiration from the lithe folks who strut along Bondi Beach with this 45-minute workout that promises to deliver all of the three Ss – sculpting, shaping and shredding. The mix of weight training and cardio moves will target your glutes and set your heart rate soaring to help you feel more confident when it gets so hot that clothes come off.

3. UNIT – Squad

There’s no “I” in “Squad”, and this calorie-torching 25-minute class focuses on teamwork as much as fitness. The mash-up of strength, cardio and mobility moves should provide enough of a challenge to have you bonding with your new pals – as long as you take your share of the load.

See related 

• The Best Fitness Festivals Of 2021
• Tickets For RunFestRun 2022 Running Festival Are On Sale Now

4. Blok – Blok Party

If all of the above sounds a bit intense (because it is), how about doing your best Beyonce impersonation in a pulse-pounding dance-based workout? Enjoy fun routines worthy of a music video that will work your body hard without it feeling like hard work. Hair flicks are optional, sass is not.

5. Boom Cycle – Pussycat Dolls vs Spice Girls

Don’t cha wannabe in this spin class? Of course you do – it’s the ultimate celebration of girl power… on a bike. If you’ve tried Boom Cycle before, you’ll know how much a laugh you can have while shaping your legs and bum. Sing along to your favourite tunes and pound the pedals – you’ll be having too much fun to realise you’re even working out.

Buy tickets | From £24.50

Whatever level of football you play at and however unimportant the game you’re playing is, conceding a goal is always a gut punch. However, at the Red Bull Neymar Jr Five tournament it’s especially upsetting, thanks to its unique twist to the rules of the game – masterminded by the Brazil striker.

Every time you concede a goal, your team loses a player, with the match lasting either ten minutes or finishing when one team completely runs out of players. Your team wears bibs numbered one to five, with number one being the first forced to the sidelines when you concede, then number two and so on. Have fun sorting out who gets to be number five and who has to be number one.

There are also no keepers in matches at the tournament, with your team of five outfield players aiming to score in small goals that encourage precise finishes after slick passing moves rather than hopeful blasts from the halfway line.

Teams from 40 different countries have to negotiate local qualifiers to represent their country at the world finals that take place at Instituto Projeto Neymar Jr in Praia Grande, Brazil.

There will be 19 different qualifiers in the UK run over seven weeks, most of which are held at branches of Powerleague. The first events are on the 17th March with the events held at Powerleague centres in London and Manchester. You can find the full list of qualifying events on the tournament website.

See related

• 8 Five-A-Side Football Crimes
• The Best Five-A-Side Football Boots
• Five-a-Side First Aid: Beyond the Magic Sponge

You can enter a squad of up to seven, most of which have to be 16 to 25 years old – only two players in your squad can be over 25. There are tournaments for both male and female teams, with the first women’s tournament taking place last year, where the Eagles were the UK’s representative in Brazil.

“Often tournaments like this are restricted to just men’s teams so it’s brilliant to see girls getting a chance to showcase what they can do on the pitch,” says Harriet Pavlou, the Eagles team captain. “Our team came together through social media but we’ve made lasting friendships because of it. I’d encourage anyone thinking about it to sign up – we definitely will be!”

It costs £21.79 per team to enter and once you’re past the awkward moment where you tell a team-mate they’re going to be the first out when you concede, it’s sure to be a lot of fun.

Sign up at redbullneymarjrsfive.com

The public ballot for the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 is long gone, but here’s a second chance to cycle past some of the London’s grandest sights on closed roads with the opening of the ballot for the 2019 Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 46.

For those who are unfamiliar with it, the 46 was added to the main RideLondon event in 2016, and is a shorter (unsurprisingly, 46-mile) version of the full 100-mile route, geared towards newer and younger cyclists. It also costs a pleasingly symmetrical £46.

It’s a great chance to ensure that those who’d find 100 miles challenging – or simply don’t meet the minimum age of 18 for the 100 – can still enjoy a similar experience.

The non-competitive event starts at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, with a route that follows the 100 course for the first 27 miles to take in Richmond Park, Bushy Park and Thames crossings at Kingston and Hampton Court, then takes a neat two-mile shortcut to avoid the steep climbs of Box Hill and Newlands Corner, rejoining for the glorious final 17 miles. The route takes riders along the Embankment and up through Parliament Square, then turns on to Trafalgar Square and goes through Admiralty Arch before finishing at The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace.

The 2019 sportive will take place on the weekend of 3rd and 4th August, and is expected to welcome over 100,000 riders across seven events. On the Saturday there will be the Prudential RideLondon FreeCycle, the professional women’s Prudential RideLondon Classique race and the Brompton World Championship. The 100, 46 and 19 run on the Sunday, as does the Prudential RideLondon Classic, which will see the best male riders on the planet battle out for glory.

If your ballot application is unsuccessful, all is not lost. There is the option to take a charity spot and raise money for a good cause. Bookmark this list of charities with RideLondon-Surrey race places just in case.

Enter the ballot | Race place £46

Advice For RideLondon

• 100-Mile Cycle Training Plan
• What to Eat and Drink to Ace RideLondon
• Race-Day Tips To Help You Nail A Scorching RideLondon

With summer behind us, are you looking for a new fitness challenge to give your training some renewed focus to end the year fitter and stronger than ever? If so, you need to sign up for FitBrit 2017, the UK’s biggest fitness challenge, created by Men’s Fitness and Women’s Fitness in association with Fitness First and DW Sports gyms.

What is FitBrit?

It’s the ultimate test of speed, strength and stamina, requiring you to perform eight different exercises back to back in the fastest time possible at a Fitness First or DW Sports gym.

A member of gym staff will record your time and upload it to the leaderboard so you can see how you measure up against other athletes around the UK. The amateur athletes with the best times will be invited to the FitBrit grand final in London later in the year.

Where can I enter FitBrit 2017?

Simply go to your local Fitness First or DW Sports gym and take the challenge. It doesn’t matter if you’re not a member: you can get a free three-day pass so you can enjoy all the facilities as well as trying to set a new FitBrit PB! Share your results on social media with the hashtags #FitBrit and #Risetothechallenge.

What are the categories?

The Open category is open to everyone, giving you the chance to compete against the fittest in the country. The Masters event is for people aged 40 or over on or before the final date for submitting your time. There’s also a Team category and while the individual categories require you to complete all the events in order, Team requires pairs of participants to alternate between exercises.

What are the nine events?

Here’s the full FitBrit 2017 challenge:

1. 800m run (0% treadmill incline)
2. 20 barbell front squats (30kg men/20kg women)
3. Alternating one-arm med ball press-ups (20 men/10 women)
4. 20 alternating dumbbell snatches (16kg men/ 10kg women)
5. 1.5km bike (L14 men/L10 women)
6. 30 kettlebell swings (24kg men/16kg women)
7. 20 chest-to-floor burpees with lateral deck jump
8. 30 barbell push presses (25kg men/15kg women)
9. 400m row (drag factor 130-140)

How can I set a fast time?

To train smarter for the 2017 FitBrit Challenge and set a lightning-quick time follow these tips from Paul Cheesman, health and fitness manager of Fitness First Ilford

Event 1
: 800m run


“To improve this, work on four to six rounds of 200m sprints with minimal rest,” says Cheesman. “Getting the heart, lungs and legs used to working at a faster pace is the key to improving your time here. As you progress, increase to rounds of 400m sprints and then 600m sprints.”

Event 2:
 Front squat

“Foam roll your triceps and forearms to give you the flexibility to hold the bar in rack or clean position. When getting into front squat position shrug your shoulders forwards to give the bar a better place to rest. If you can’t hold the bar in this position hold it in place across the front of your shoulders with crossed arms.”

Event 3:
 Med ball press-up

“Keep your core tight! Letting your hips drop will make this move harder. To help keep a tight core include dynamic planks in your training. Working from a plank position resting on your elbows, lift one hand at a time to push up and lower. Also work on explosive press-ups (hands leaving the floor) to improve speed.”

Event 4
: Dumbbell snatch

“Struggling to control the weight above your head? Try working on a dumbbell swing all the way above the head. Work with three sets of ten reps with each arm until you can perform the snatch.”

Event 5: 
1.5km bike

“Keep your RPM high! Like the sprint training for the run, work hard on a high RPM for 20 to 30 seconds then ease off the pace for 20 to 30 seconds and repeat until you’ve completed 1.5km. Gradually increase the time of your intense efforts while reducing the time of your recovery efforts.”

Event 6: 
Kettlebell swing

“Can’t do 30 swings in a row? Build up to multiple sets of swings with the target weight, going above and beyond the total reps needed for the event. That way 30 will seem easy in comparison when you’re doing the swings and trying to set a fast time. Try four sets of ten reps, three sets of 15 or two sets of 20.”

Event 7: 
Burpee box jump

“As your hands land and feet jump back, let your hips come down to the floor as you lower your chest. Then pop back up onto your feet and allow the momentum to take you straight into your lateral jump. Work on your jumps so you can clear the deck easily – try four sets of five with a few seconds’ rest between sets.”

Event 8:
 Push press


“Add wall ball shots to your training to improve your push press technique. Stand facing a wall and hold a medicine ball at chest height. Perform a squat and then stand up, explosively throwing the ball as high up the wall as you can. Catch it and go straight into another rep. Do as many as you can in a row.”

Event 9: 
400m row


“Work on generating more power with the pull. Perform ten explosive strong pulls and five easier pulls. Continue this for the full distance. To progress, decrease the easier reps each session. Remember that length and strength is the key to a fast finish: shorter pulls take longer and require more energy.”

Eton Dorney is a regular haunt for triathletes, with many mass-participation multisport races hosted at the lake in Windsor every year, but this weekend’s event is different to most in that it is open to everyone – disabled and non-disabled alike.

The Superhero Tri features three distances – Sprint, Half and Tri – all of which can be tackled solo, as part of a team, or with a Superhero Sidekick, who helps a participant around the course.

There will be some famous faces on the start line, including newly minted World Para Athletics T44 100m champion Jonnie Peacock, who won gold in London to add to his impressive collection of medals, which also includes Paralympic golds from 2012 and 2016.

Peacock is running ten times his usual distance at the Superhero Tri, tackling 1,000m as part of a team in the Sprint event, so we were keen to get an insight into his tactics for the event.

What’s your plan for the run – cane the first 100m, then jog the rest?

I’m trying to think what to do, whether it’s best to start at a good pace and try and hold on, or to take it nice and easy, and keep it for the sprint finish.

Have you done mass-participation events like this before?

This will be a first for me. The Superhero Triathlon is the first event of its kind, where every single person can get involved. I’ve never been involved in anything like it.

Why is it important for these inclusive events to exist?

There are so many mass-participation events around the UK and globally, but very, very few are for everybody. They are all more… not elite, but for able-bodied people.

This is the first one where anybody can get involved. People with different kinds of disabilities and different severities of disabilities. Their Superhero Sidekick can help them, whether that’s a family member or a friend, providing moral support or a physical push through some of the course.

I think it’s completely new, completely different and really important.

There are quite a few celebrity teams lined up – is it getting competitive?

I don’t think so. I’m sure there will be some competitiveness on the day, but for now it’s about getting people involved. That said, I don’t want to let Team npower down – but I’m not feeling too confident about my endurance!

What advice would you have for beginners looking to become more active?

Find something you think is fun, that’s the main thing. Try lots of different things because you don’t know what you're going to enjoy. I never tried sprinting until a talent identification day where I tried out lots of different sports. One of them was sprinting and it turned out I was OK at it and I fell in love with it.

Nobody really knows what they might enjoy so give everything a go at least once. And don’t go too hard too soon – lots of people do loads for a month, then they don’t do it for six months. Take it nice and steady.

The Superhero Tri takes place on 19th August 2017 and will also be held next year on 18th August 2018. The Superhero Series also includes Winter Wonderwheels on 3rd December, which has 1km, 5km and 10km events. For more info and to sign up head to superheroseries.co.uk