Isle of Jura Fell Race
OFFROAD - RURAL - HILLY This is one for the stout of heart, firm of resolve and sturdy of limb – there are seven mountain summits and a total climb of 2,370m to be bested over the 28km distance. It’s a ferocious examination of your physical fitness and a
STOCKPORT 10 ROAD - TOWN - HILLY This 10-miler has become something of a cult favourite in the RW office, thanks in part to what the organisers call the ‘tongue-in-cheek approach’ (check out the race website for some fairly eccentric race-related videos). The weather’s usually challenging but the goody bag is vast (and unique) and the support even more so. This one sells out every year, so get in early. Stockport, December (date tbc), stk10.co.uk OFFA’S ‘ ORROR OFFROAD – RURAL - HILLY A shade under a half marathon, you’ll be thanking your lucky stars you don’t have to do the extra kilometre by the time you stagger to the end of this never-flat multiterrain run around Offa’s Dyke in Chepstow. No bells, no whistles, just the joy of pure, old-school trail racing. Monmouthshire, Wales, April 23, chepstowharriers.org.uk LORD MAYOR’S 5K ROAD – TOWN - FLAT How fast are you feeling? We only ask because if you’re not at the halfway point of this race in 10 minutes or under you’ll get pulled off the course, which means it’s one for speedsters. That strict rule and the race’s timing to coincide with the Lord Mayor’s parade make this a much-anticipated event in the city, and it really does bring out the crowds. Norwich, July 8, conac.org.uk GREAT SOUTH RUN ROAD – TOWN - FLAT Ten miles is a distance that isn’t raced enough – longer than a 10K, shorter than a half, it’s perfect for testing your speed endurance. And the GSR is one of the best 10-milers we’ve come across, boasting the large field, huge crowds and great organisation that are the hallmarks of a Great Run event. Portsmouth, October 22, greatrun.org/great-south-run
THE TERMINATOR OFFROAD – RURAL - HILLY The good news (or bad, depending on your point of view) is that after a review of this notoriously tough course the organisers have decided to keep it the same, which means you’re in for a series of muddy slogs uphill followed by some intoxicating collaborations with gravity on the other side. Twelve miles of love/hate running. Pewsey, Wiltshire, February 26, pewseyvalerunningclub.org
ENDURANCELIFE CTS DOVER ULTRA OFFROAD – RURAL - HILLY This 36-mile ultra provides brave entrants with a cliff-edge perspective on life. The race is rated as merely ‘moderate’ on the CTS scale, which means you’ll only cry once or twice on the way round as you use every ounce of energy in your body to tackle the mud, grass, rock, shale and sand. Dover, January 14, endurancelife.com
HARVEL 5 OFFROAD – RURAL - HILLY Friendly but competitive, beautiful but tough. This five-mile race packs a lot into its short out-and-back route, tracing a path through the beautiful Kent countryside over a wide variety of terrain, including plenty of mud. And you’ll get to refuel with a burger and beer on the green at the end. Kent, July 3, harvel5.com
SODBURY SLOG OFFROAD – RURAL - HILLY A nine-ish mile course that’s not for the faint-hearted. RW’S John Carroll ran this in 2015 and still wakes up in a cold sweat over it, sometimes even in the office. Organisers Bitton Road Runners call this event ‘a lung-busting, trainer-ruining, hill-climbing, multiterrain challenge’ – and we think that sums it up rather nicely. Gloucestershire, November (date tbc), sodburyslog.co.uk
BEWL 15 OFFROAD – RURAL - HILLY Turn up, lace up and zone out at this relaxing and very pastoral plod round the perimeter of Bewl Water reservoir. As well as a thoroughly charming route you’ll find one of the finest (and largest) cake stalls on God’s green earth awaiting your undivided attention at the finish. You’ll deserve it, so dig in without feeling the remotest twinge of guilt. East Sussex, July (tbc), bewl15.com