Choosing a race to take part in can be a complex business. I’ve spent many hours trawling through race listings and reviews to find something that’s right for me. It takes almost as much energy as booking a holiday. Whether it’s your first ever race or your first attempt at a specific distance, here’s a few things to consider when finding a race.

Location – this isn’t just a question of what you’ll see as you run round on the day, but whether you’ll see the start at all. Getting to a start line can be a stressful. Think about the logistics of where your race is and how you might get to the start, hopefully without getting up before the sun is up.

Support – do you need cheering crowds all the way round to keep you going, or will a few friendly marshals suffice? And what about friends and family – will they really want to travel all the way to the North Pole to watch you?

Cost – the idea of running a big city marathon really appeals to me but, until the London Marathon people stop rejecting my entries, that’s not going to happen. Although Berlin and Paris would be great Marathons, accommodation and travel are too expensive for me to justify for a weekend away running at the moment.

Course – whether you’re looking for a PB, are just happy to get round or are looking for a bigger challenge, take a look at the terrain and the hills that you might be tackling on the day. You can usually find an elevation profile for races online and they may just make you question whether Everest marathon is right for you afterall.

Janathon Day 10
Sore knee, so 200 sit-ups tonight. Feeling the burn.