Fitness Training
Looking for a challenge? Set your Instagram notifications alight and get a once-in-a-lifetime running experience with one of these astounding off-road events.
Traversing pavements in most towns and cities is not always inspiring stuff – there’s only so much grey concrete, exhaust fumes and kebab shops you can run past before you begin to daydream of endless pine forests and low clouds drifting over a shimmering ocean. Handily, we’ve picked seven of the most spectacular races from across the globe for you to add to your calendar to lift you out of your urban gloom.
1. Utilív Adventure Festival, Faroe Islands
Date: 7-9 September
Distance: 13km to 70km
All that most people know about the Faroe Islands is that they are somewhere north of Scotland, house colonies of puffins and have colourful houses with turfed roofs. The new Utilív Adventure Festival is set to change all this. Pick your distance (13km, 21km, 42km or 65km) and get running exploring these remote, waterfall-laden, wildlife-packed islands. You will never run anywhere like it again.
2. Waitomo Trail Run, New Zealand
Date: 28 April
Distance: 6km to 35km
A truly unique race in New Zealand’s North Island that goes overground then underground. Now in its third year, it’s already the largest trail run in New Zealand. You’re deep in Hobbit country here – rolling hills covered in lush, green grass, interspersed with glowworm-illuminated limestone caves. And if you drop your energy gel wrapper, bear this odd warning in mind: ‘You will be tasked with clearing gorse from the hills above Te Anga road wearing only jandals, shorts and a singlet and you will be served warm cordial for sustenance. After that you will spend days crutching wet Perendales.’
3. Transylvanian Bear Race, Romania
Date: 2 June
Distance: 42km or 80km
The website’s disclaimer says everything you need to know about this race: ‘The difficulty of these routes should not be underestimated. Nor should the vibrancy of the local wildlife, which includes wolves and bears.’ Nothing like a sighting a wild predator to up your pace along the 42km or 80km that wind through the Romanian wilderness, ending at the birthplace of the one and only Vlad Dracul.
4. Tromsø Skyrace, Norway
Date: 3-4 August
Distance: 32km or 57km
This challenging event is described as “soul skyrunning between the sea and the sky”. You’ll need mountaineering skills and expertise for this one, as you’ll be linking summits and scrambling across ridges covered in boulders and scree in northern Norway. There are two races to choose from: the 57km Hamperokken Skyrace and the 32km Tromsdalstind Skyrace. Taking you from stunning forest and lakes to technical mountain climbing, it will push you to your physical limits in stunning (if chilly) surroundings.
5. The Golden Ultra, Canada
This three-day running festival in British Columbia features races for all abilities. Each day of the festival is given a snappy name: ‘Blood’, ‘Sweat’ and ‘Tears’, which pretty much sums up what you will experience at some point during each day. You’ll run (in between photo stops) surrounded by some of western Canada’s most breathtaking scenery featuring forests, mountains and lakes.
Date: 28 July
Distance: 48 miles
6. Silver Falls Trail Runs, United States
Date: 4-5 November
Distance: from 7 miles to 50km
Don’t go chasing waterfalls, warned TLC in 1995. But they didn't say anything about running around waterfalls – and even 'in' them – which is something you can do at this majestic trail race in Silverton, Oregon. Distances range from 7 miles to 50km, and it sells out quickly every year, so you need to be quick at clicking when registration opens on 1 August. One runner’s review sums it up nicely: “I ran this half-marathon in the rain with two sprained toes and did not want it to ever end."
7. Round The Rock, Jersey
Date: 21-23 September
Distance: 3km to 60km
We’ve listed one race just north of the northernmost part of the UK, so now it’s time for one just farther than the very south. Forty-eight miles around Jersey, this race is a great intro for ultra-runners looking to step up from marathon distance. It takes place in mid-summer, so the weather can be sweltering, but you’ll be skirting the circumference of a beautiful island with stunning views out to the ocean and plenty of time for the odd dip to cool you down.
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