Where to find THE BEST Running RACES! Tips on how to choose your next marathon/half/5k/10k/ultra!

[@BenParkes]

My top 5 lesser known races... Zevenheuvelenloop, Mont Blanc Marathon, Great South Run, South Downs Way 50 & Under The Lights 5k! Let me know yours down below!!

[@19JSC92]

A race held in the south of England called "Bratton Hilly", it's a 7 mile trail race and the first mile is a 400ft+ uphill climb 😂

[@filipec.1266]

Porto marathon due to the coastal scenery, Oxford Half Marathon due to the great atmosphere in a very fast course, SITC Dawn to Dusk Ultra due to the flexibility of distance you can run on the day.

[@RonDamstra]

Zevenheuvelenloop is cool, there is also a Zevenheuvelentrail with multiple distances! In the UK I keep coming back to Conwy Half Marathon in Wales every year!

[@willbutcher9712]

I loved the Great South Run in 2022, good choice, big race feel but still with loads of local warmth and city pride. Well organised too! With this goes a high entry cost but great medal and t-shirt came with it

[@donalcoakley2968]

Stramilano, Lake Maggiore Half Marathon, Madrid San Silvestre, any small Carrera Populare in Andalusia, Berlin 25k are a few of my favourites. I generally just google “road race” in whatever language of the country I’m going to, the more random the better.

[@erinpropas4771]

I ran the Chicago Marathon this past October and it was amazing! The crowds, the flat course, kept me going the whole way! Having said that, I just ran a 10k a couple weeks ago, small local race and also had a great experience at that, I guess I just love the whole racing experience!

[@steverostill4186]

Rhayader 30km. Hilly race in mid Wales held in March. Fantastic scenery. Big hill climb at the start . Friendly and well organised.

[@paulvymeris425]

One of my favourite races is the Ealing Half in west London, held at the end of September. It's a fully roads-closed race, and with all the locals outside their houses supporting the runners, it has a real community feel to it. Plus, on race day it always seems to be sunny, but never too hot. Makes for a great tune-up race ahead of an Autumn marathon.

[@pieter2236]

Oooh one to keep an eye out for

[@thesecretrunner26]

Completely agree with this Paul: I’ve done Ealing Half several times and always loved it! 👍 And because it’s late September, it’s great for anyone who wants to train over the summer and have something to aim for at the end of it.

[@mikew6840]

Two Oceans 56km Ultra in Cape Town. It’s a grand road race with great scenery…oh and some challenging hills 😅.

[@Auser429]

Vitality 10k always my favourite 10k to do. Two lesser known races I like doing are Eltham 5 miler and Bromley Vets 5 mile, they are 5 miles of trial and XC style routes but both clubs are very welcoming and supportive to anyone.

[@thesecretrunner26]

I really enjoyed Florence Marathon on the last weekend of November. Starts and finishes right in the middle of the gorgeous city and the course takes you over the Ponte Vecchio. It helped that the weather was perfect (sun, blue skies, but cool)

[@massspagnuolo9713]

Such a cool video! I am part of a running club in Belgium but I live in Singapore and run mostly on my own. Because most of my friends back home do not speak English, it's usually quite hard to find out all those information and they end up just running where they live. Because I always feel super inspired and motivated when I see you running in all those cool places, I decided to start organising group trips for them to experience all those races you're talking about on your channel. Hopefully, that goes well, but it's great to have a checklist of all those things to look out for. Thanks a lot, Ben!

[@royce_runs]

I had high hopes for Malaga but was a washout. Swiss City Marathon in Luncerne was great last year, with the best organisation Inc free travel, discounted hotels and a Parkruns over the German border too

[@andrewwright3676]

My fav race of the year is the Yorkshire Three Peaks Fell Race great starter for the upcoming season. It really helps me to get out the door on the cold nights during the winter months.

[@richardholmes3633]

My favourite marathon so far was Paris: interesting course in a beautiful city, great entertainment and support, no entry constraints and a bit less pleased with itself than the majors. I may be biased though as it’s where I achieved my pb!

[@haggisxyzzy]

Goring Gap Ultra, Loch Ness Marathon, Clarendon Half marathon, Goring 10k

[@tweakLeeds2006]

Leeds Abbey Dash 10K is my personal favourite. End of season fast run which is often attended by some good British athletes.

[@vanessapierrelouis2755]

Thank you for this video. Is it possible if you can make a video about ankle/foot strengthening & one with a Plyometrics workout?

[@soupyruns9709]

Favourite race is definitely the Waterfoot to Ballycastle Trail marathon (Run to the Hills) here in Northern Ireland. The scenery over the Antrim Hills is amazing.

[@paulwilliams2814]

Best race I’ve run is in Wellington, NZ. The WUU 22, marathon and ultra. I’ve so far only done the 22, it includes 1000 meters vert. I ran it in ‘22 in perfect conditions… others report it’s a hell of a challenge if there’s a southerly… Wellington is a great town for tourists too. Thank for the inspiration Ben and Sarah.

[@AnthonyZafiris]

Gold Coast Marathon. Flat, fast, beautiful and great vibes

[@Jk_outdoors_]

i ran manchester to liverpool 50 miler last year with gb ultras and loved it also the pennine barrier 50 miler across the yorkshire three peaks was unbelievable

[@munny_78]

I've only done half Marathon's so far, but keen to do my 1st Marathon. My fave run so far has been the Royal Parks Half in London.. Just found your channel and love the content. I'll be ordering some merch soon as well!

[@suzanneorr9392]

Snowdonia Marathon is my favourite marathon and Tryavna Ultra 78k in Bulgaria is my favourite ultra ❤️

[@pauledgar4838]

Lough Ness marathon is my favourite.. I have my PB there at the moment.. Going back in October for the 5th time.. I live in northern Ireland 👍

[@bobyates1926]

Hampshire Hoppit half & full marathon. Lovely low key event in beautiful countryside & a free beer at the end (reward for the hellish hill at the end😀)

[@frankjacobsen6848]

Cappadocia Ultra Trail, Marathon Du Mont Blanc, Gornegrat-Zermatt Ultra, UTCT, MIUT, Soria Moria to the World End in Norway 😊

[@Gez-C]

Beachy Head marathon in October, doing the SDW 50 in April

[@Jess-Rabbit]

My favorite marathon so far (and I've only done 2 mind you, more half than fulls so far) is Cape Town. Would highly recommend it! The day I ran was clear and beautiful and its spring in South Africa in October so it was perfect

[@MarkSmith_Best-Athletics]

Cape Town Marathon looks amazing and would be a great time to get in and run it before Abbott gets it WMM claws into it. It was my aim to run a Marathon on the different Continents excluding Antarctica after I ran New York City and a small Marathon called Running the Rift Marathon in Uganda within 5 and a half days of each other in 2017. That has had to take a back seat in recent years due to work issues, financial troubles,.covid etc and then becoming quicker than I have ever been which has changed my running goals and focus. Now hoping to Boston Qualify (hopefully in Copenhagen this May) and also would love to run in Africa once more as I had such an amazing time there. This time I would be looking at South Africa and I personally would love to have a go at Comrades, or even Two Oceans, but being kind to my girlfriend I think that perhaps Cape Town Marathon should be the focus, as the Ultras are beyond her and she would also have to spectate only if I Boston Qualify (although she has been talked into that by spending some time in NYC). Beijing Marathon was to be the next big Marathon outside of Europe before getting quicker than I ever anticipated interrupting.

[@emmahayes5654]

I love the Alton Towers 10K (the HM is 2 laps of that so we stick to the shorter distance). Race entry looks steep but it includes access to the park and the rides after and it's in the off season so short queue times.

[@jasonreid6791]

Overall, Berlin marathon here, but locally I really like the Larne 10 mile race in Northern Ireland, coastal flat route. Also well done to Sarah for working a Taylor swift reference into tip 11 😅!

[@alantait8971]

St Magnus Marathon in Orkney. It's a great, small scale marathon on the first Sunday in July. Most northerly marathon in the UK.

[@tworunningbrooms]

Dereham Town Centre 5k, Norfolk. Proper local club race.

[@lerniacarlberg]

My favourite race is Stockholm Half marathon. So beautiful view, central expo/start and great time of year. London Marathon is even greater, but so expensive for foreigner citizens. Agree that early mornings are not great to start races

[@seanbendell]

My favourites are the BigMud Marathon and the Midnight Marathon. Both on the trails out in the South Downs.

[@legendsofmyself]

Florence and Barcelona....That Barcelona start line opera is unmatched

[@alfdickinson1971]

Best races; Wanstead Flats PR(Home sweet home!) and Chicago Marathon (Amazing music the whole way round). Really want to race Commrades, Badwater 135, Escape from Alcatras Tri, Marathon du Mont Blanc 80km, Tokyo and Boston marathons too

[@somkitthompson9559]

Your videos are so inspiring and informative. I will run the Mont Blanc in 2024, in part thanks to your amazing video.

[@BenParkes]

Best of luck! 🙌

[@GrumpyOldEd]

How about la Rochelle marathon... Can be cold, wet in November with a fresh Atlantic 'breeze'. It's a two lapper with a sly climb 3/4 of the way round. But the crowd and atmosphere are great, the city is beautiful and you get a dozen oysters at the finish line ..

[@kimmcbirnie5747]

Hardmoors Whitehorse is my absolute favourite race, I'm trying to build up to do some of the Hardmoors ultra distances.

[@谢春晖-k4t]

I am going to try to a ultramarathon this year.I am going to prepare now.

[@ndi5670]

Just downloaded my first free running plan. It was the 5K plan. Thank you for all your doing. Keep up the good work. Cheers from the U.S.

[@joemag22]

Prob half marathon, want to get super consistent with those and then tackle the marathon distance again.

[@fourgomadadventures]

Love Seville Marathon, mainly as it’s such a beautiful city. For trail running, any of the Centurion events (perhaps not WW though 🥵)

[@iberiksoderblom]

I'm signed up for 27 races for 2023. No room left for any more 🙂

[@eleanortaylor3494]

I'd love to see an updated what I eat in a day as a runner 🏃🏼‍♀️

[@luke123death]

Fell running association website for loads of top quality races in the UK, one of note is the 9 edges fell race in the Peak District, 20 miles, 3000ft elevation, brilliant views!

[@patxtx_runs]

Wait... you'll be in Chicago too? If so: I hope we'll meet! Great suggestion. My primary sources for races is KZbin :). I pick a race and we travel!

[@BenParkes]

Yes, will do a shakeout with Mike Kofuzi I suspect! See you there Pat!

[@adamtherunner92]

Thanks for the advice and as always your positivity. I’m sure it helps everyone to get it done.

[@golrush007]

You're lucky you don't live in South Africa Ben!! Most of our marathons here start at 6AM or earlier....I hope you enjoy getting to the 5.30AM start at Comrades 😬

[@hydrosphere-diving4176]

Another good check -> is the route marked out or is it - as I found out - unmarked and one is required to self navigate with map and compass - no watch/gps allowed!…. I always wondered about the differences between trail vs fell runs …

[@eetwtszdfsregreshteshu]

Ironbridge Half Marathon - hard but rewarding, its really well organised also.

[@Veganrunner_taylor]

My favourite race is the cybi coastal marathon 🙌🏻

[@nikolaykumchev9530]

I suspect my 2 favourite races will be the same as yours: London & Valencia Marathons

[@bcusaaus4749]

Fav: Minneapolis/st Paul, grandmas, Chicago, Nyc

[@harveydean7952]

Regards Brighton Marathon I always found the fact that you have to collect your race pack from an Expo in Brighton the day before the race quite cynical. To my mind it's an obvious ploy to boost the local economy where if you're not from the immediate area you're pretty much obliged to book accommodation the day before rather than being able to arrive in Brighton on race day. Its the additional cost of things like this that quite often make Marathon racing elitist. When you're at the start line of these bigger races it's almost entirely a white, middle class demographic. I'd be very keen to see avenues open up that enable less affluent individuals to participate in these kind of events.

[@MarkSmith_Best-Athletics]

It's the same at many Marathons around the world and it is definitely a ploy to have thousands of runners stay in a City longer than is absolutely necessary (also often any friends or family travelling with them). That's not going to change ever and that's coming from someone who is far from middle class. I have chosen running as a healthy hobby and I try not to think too much about the money spent, would rather focus on the experiences it has given me plus the impact it has had on both my physical and mental well-being. Associated costs can make it more challenging but I usually factor my holidays etc in around my yearly running plans. This Spring I am entering the Copenhagen Marathon, which is far from a cheap place to stay for those on limited funds. I have chosen to spend 12 nights away in the end but I will only be spending 3 of those nights in Copenhagen (or Denmark). I will be staying in Malmö for a few nights the week before the race (hopefully getting the chance to see Lund and Helsingborg without wearing myself out too much pre race). Will stay in Copenhagen race day weekend, before travelling to Ystad on the South Swedish Coast of Skane for a few days rest and recuperation. Then travelling up to Stockholm for a couple of days before flying home from there. My original plan was to run Stockholm Marathon this year but I decided on Copenhagen due to me thinking it's possibly a quicker looking course for me.

[@clarehazell2097]

I’m running London and would love to know which warm up prep races you intend to do as I haven’t got a clue what to enter prior to the main event. Tia

[@BNBsBrainCancerJourney]

Been using raceroster in Canada

[@nrjonesy]

Got vertigo just watching at 1:25, where was that?? That'll be on my avoid list.. I'd be crawling on my hands and knees or simply accept the DNF!!! 🤣🤣

[@overmyheadphotography6186]

Chester any of them 10k half or the marathon just such a well organised and lovely people in a lovely city

[@jamesotto7884]

Isn’t Chicago a 7:30am start Ben 😝. As you mention the thinking about field size and potential for bottle necking. The last thing you want (and can often happen if inexperienced) is you’ve trained so hard for 3 months in training to find you having to walk in sections! If you are forced to take corners wide you will also end up running considerable more than the race distance!

[@LouisePotter]

Please tell me this is a joke I’ve got a place for Chicago and this is far from ideal 😂

[@jamesotto7884]

@@LouisePotter just double checked and it is! Corrals open at 5:30 😂

[@mckinleyp13]

California International Marathon (CIM)

[@welcometomathy]

Im thinking about doing my 1st ultra 100Km, but I need atleast 6 months to train to finish so in the between will probably fit in a couple 10Ks a couple marathons every month and half just to practice, Rly wanted to do the lake district ultra but its too soon, also the London to brigthon ultra looks good but not enough time to get ready or ill take the full 48 h to finish and be in bed for the next 5 days in pain xD

[@gregjohnson5791]

I’d say my favourites are probably Wilmslow Summer or Festive 10k (great course and brilliant organisation) and maybe Manchester Half (relatively easy course and has got better in terms of organisation).

[@MihaliWheeler]

Great tips. Cheers

[@johnbeard5093]

The Fell Runners Association.

[@ozziejed]

Mate, I don't think you will appreciate the start time of the Melbourne Marathon then! Plenty of accommodation options very close to the start, though.

[@jkraner]

any Maverick Race event

[@bh4560]

Thanks

[@BenParkes]

Thank you very much. Too kind 🙌

[@bh4560]

@@BenParkes Thank you. You are by far my favourite content creator. We can all see the work you guys put into these great vids. 👍

[@michaelbfree2run883]

Pikes Peak Mountain Ascent

[@vincewarne228]

I don’t know why but if the course is several laps it puts me off. Better 1 big course.

[@AliceOnARun]

I like number 11 😎🐍

[@BenParkes]

When you let a swiftie edit your video and don’t check it!!

[@mrmalteser24]

chester marathon

[@hahaheslop]

London hands down the best marathon I've ever ran, Berlin was terrible, awfully organised, asked a steward for water in German and English, and he didn't understand me! 🤦‍♂️

[@bespokesportsmedals7094]

❤

[@anthonyb7418]

SiEntries is another good site to use for finding races 🏃