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Our selection of the best, fastest, toughest, quirkiest and most enjoyable UK races this month
Round Sheffield Run
This event has a clever format that allows every type of runner to feel at home. The overall course is 24.5km of trails around Sheffield, but it’s broken up into 11 stages, ranging from a superhilly section to a sprint one. Best of all, you get a rest between sections thanks to a built-in untimed liaison area. This is to allow those in teams to get organised, but you can run in pairs or solo and just take the time for a very quick rest. A really fun event. roundsheffieldrun.com
Race the Train – Bury to Rawtenstall
Are you one of those runners who isn’t that fussed about winning? Well, the unique prize for this event’s overall victor may motivate you: a ride back to the start in the steam train cab… plus the chance to blow the whistle and possibly even drive the train. The route is around 11 miles and the train takes about 90 minutes, so beating it should be doable for most. madbullevents.com
The Sandwich 10K
We’ve always found it hard to believe that John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, was the first to think of whacking something tasty between a couple of slices of bread. Whoever it was, runners should be especially grateful to them. We need all the carbs, as well as a decent amount of protein, and sandwiches provide all that and more. Celebrate them with this fast and flat 10K through the quaint town of Sandwich and its surroundings. sportingeventsuk.com
Dorking Tens
The ‘s’ in the name is not a typo. This event gives you two tens to choose from: one in miles, one in kilometres. Both thunder through the lovely Surrey countryside to the east of Dorking. The hills that you’ll meet along the way might not look like much on an elevation map, but on both routes, they just keep coming. It’s a good challenge, and with all the excellent runners that will attend, the chances of being sucked along for an impressive PB are decent. dmvac.org
The Great Grimsby 10K
There’s not a whole lot in the way of scenery along this 10K route through the suburbs to the south of Grimsby, but we’ve often found that to be a major bonus on the races that we’ve earmarked as possible PB runs. Fewer distractions, you see. This race checks pretty much all the PB boxes: it’s very flat, it takes place entirely on roads and there’s going to be a lot of noise and support as you approach the finish line in the historic People’s Park. tape2tape.co.uk
Strathearn Marathon
This route along quiet country roads in Perthshire is hilly, but almost all of the worst climbing is over by the halfway point. Perhaps harder is the isolation once the small field spreads out and you’re left with just your tired legs for company. That’s when you find out that mental strength is much more importa
