Running
The Bupa Great North Run is one of the world’s biggest half-marathon (56,000 runners last year). It’s a really interesting course (you run over the Tyne Bridge) and a good starting point for training up to a full marathon. It’s often suggested running a half marathon first, rather than just training for the full 26.2 miles. It’s a good way to assess your fitness and understand the physical/mental demands of running over longer periods. If you do pick up the running bug and want to challenge yourself here’s a list of five interesting runs across the globe:
Cape Wrath Challenge
This is a quirky series of events run in the north west corner of Scotland. Five Different running events take place over a six day period (the marathon is known to be particularly tough). It’s a remote setting, the local village has a population of just 320 people. Strangely, it also includes a ferry journey to the start point.
Date: May 11th
Website: www.capewrathchallenge.co.uk
Bay to Breakers
First held in 1912, the course begins near the centre of San Franciso and winds down to the Pacific Coast. It’s only 7 ½ miles long and attracts a huge crowd (Over 100,000). It’s a party style run - Be prepared for bizarre outfits, costumes and public nudity.
Date: May 18th
Website www.baytobreakers.com
Marathon of the Midnight Sun
Hosted annually in the Norwegian town of Tromso. As the title suggest this marathon is run at night, but in broad daylight – courtesy of the midnight sun, which doesn’t set in this part of Arctic Norway from mid-May to mid-July. The marathon itself is the main event, but there is also a half-marathon, a 10-kilometre race, a 4.2-kilometre fun-run, and a children’s race.
Date: June 21st
Website: www.msm.no/
Safaricom Marathon
This event is unique, it takes place in rural Kenya, within the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. There are no physical barriers separating the runners from the wildlife. The event helps to raise money for Tusk, the wildlife conservation organisation supported by the Duke of Cambridge. There is a half-marathon too, and all abilities are encouraged.
Date: June 28th
Website: www.safaricom.co.ke/safaricommarathon/
Mizuno Uphill Marathon
Sometimes words aren’t enough. This event can be best summed up by this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOdjTKDYPkI. The race is run along the Serra do Rio do Rastro mountain range in Santa Catarina. The good news is that this year (and hopefully next) entry is open to the general public.
Date: October 19th
Website: www.mizunobr.com.br/home/esportes/running/corridas/uphill/maratona-2014
