Great races to run in 2012

I received some great Christmas presents this year and amongst them was the book - World's Ultimate Running Races. I've spent the last week dreaming about which far flung places I may one day travel to and take part in a race with a difference but there are a few a little closer to home that I may get to go to this year and I've listed them below. Before you read them though I should make you aware that the publishers of World's Ultimate Running Races are offering runbritain readers this book with 30% discount off RRP. To get it you should simply email

uk.orders@harpercollins.co.uk

or phone 0844 576 8122.

Use the discount code SA01 with ISBN 978000431908. Postage and packing is free within the UK and the offer is available until midnight on 29 February.

These are some of the races you will read about:

January

This year the 29th January will be the date for the AXA Raheny 5 Road Race. It is one of the most prestigious road races in Ireland and takes you on a five mile loop around the perimiter of St. Anne's Park on the northside of Dublin.

February

On the evening of Thursday 9 February the people of Armagh in Northern Ireland will bring out all of their Christmas lights again to light up the mall for the participants of the PUMA Armagh International Road Race. The race is run around the 1km road loop that makes up  the mall in the town centre. The women run three laps and the men do either three or five, depending on the level they want to race at.

March

Although this is in the book as March, 6th - 8th April will mark the 50th anniversary of the Isle of Man Easter Athletics Festival. There are three races in three days: Good Friday - 10k road race from Port Erin (an undulating and scenic course), Easter Saturday - Fell race in Peel. Easter Sunday - a relay for the men and a straight race for the women. Everyone runs 5k on the prom in Douglas. The festival is very popular with students who are there for the running and the social scene. Traditionally they run back from Peel to Douglas (10 miles) after the fell race and drink a pint in every pub on the way back!

April

22nd April is the date for this year's Virgin London Marathon. Did you miss out on the ballot?

Well you may still be able to secure a charity entry into the race.

Most major charities have a set number of entry places in the Virgin London Marathon each year through a Golden and Silver Bond scheme. They allocate these places to runners on the basis that they will raise an agreed amount of money for the charity.

The Ron Pickering Memorial Fund is seeking marathon runners to fill its guaranteed places. In exchange for each entry, you need to raise at least £1,000 for the Ron Pickering Memorial Fund. Every penny each runner raises will be given out in grants to talented young athletes aged 15 to 23 while they are in education- to help them with training and equipment expenses, thereby encouraging them to stay in the sport and realise their potential. The more you can raise the more the Fund can help the athletes of the future.

May

Belfast City Marathon - This is Northern Ireland's largest running event. It is held on the first bank holiday weekend in May and will be 7th May this year. Not doing London? This could be a good alternative!

June

Man V Horse, Llanwrtyd Wells. This race started after the landlord of the Neuadd Arms heard two customers debating whether a man could match a horse over a long distance across country. The first race in 1980 saw the horse win easily. In fact the horse won easily every year after that until Huw Lobb won £25,000 for coming home first in 2004! The prize money started at £1000 and was added to every year until Huw won it. After that, it went back down to £1000 so that the next man to win in 2007 got a measly £3000!

July

The Snowdon International Mountain Race starts in Llanberis and goes to the summit of Snowdon and back along the tourist path that runs side by side with the railway. It's usually a hot day on the first weekend of the school summer holidays. The town is full of runners from all over the world and locals from all the neighbouring villages who love the spectacle of seeing exhausted runners, wobbly legs and all, clinging on to the finish.

August

Race the Train, Wales. Let's stay in Wales for the summer and consider this unique race where you race the train over 14 miles of countryside.

September

September might be a good time to venture onto the continent for the Transalpine Run in The Alps. You need a running buddy for this one. The two of you race 250km across the Alps over eight days. It's hard work but the rewards are the amazing Alpine scenery and the camaraderie between the runners. If you can get someone to match your pace and skills you will get there faster. You have to be together at each check point so if one of you is better at climbing and the other at descending you may not be the best combination!

October

Stragglers Cabbage Patch 10. The Cabbage Patch 10 follows a fast and scenic route along the roads and towpaths by the Thames. If you're planning a fast 10 miler you surely can't go wrong with this one. Stockport's Jess Coulson ran the fastest 10 mile time by a female in the world in 2011 when she covered the course in 52:53!

November

Zevenheuvelenloop or Seven Hills Race is another fast one even though the name suggests it isn't. It's one of the fastest 15km races in the world. It's held in the ancient city of Nijmegen in the Netherlands and has a field of 25,000.

December

The Nos Galan Race is a 5km race around the Welsh town of Mountain Ash. It takes place in the evening,on New Year's Eve and this year kicked off the 2012 Run Wales Series. 

The races are run in honour fo the near-legendary eighteenth century local runner Guto Nyth Bran, a man reputed to be so fast the he could catch a bird in flight.

So, what are you waiting for. Book yourself in for the races you fancy this year. I have a strong feeling they will fill up rather more quickly than usual.