Runner\'s World UK - 09.2019

WORLD’S BEST RACES

RUNNER’S WORLD 7

LADAKH MARATHON

Literally ‘the land of

high passes’, Ladakh is

located in the western

Himalayas in the far

north of India. At

3,000m above sea

level, it’s worth

arriving a week early

so you can acclimatise

before tackling India’s

highest race, but once

you’ve experienced

the arid mountains,

stupas (dome-like

structures), fluttering

prayer flags and the

culture, you won’t

want to leave. Feeling

bold? Try the Khardung

La Challenge (72km),

the highest ultra in the

world, which is held

the same weekend.

6-8 September,

ladakhmarathon.com

MIDNIGHT SUN

MARATHON

The city of Tromso,

Norway, is located

within the Arctic

Circle, meaning this

event provides an

opportunity to race

at night in the

discombobulating

constant daylight of

the Arctic summer.

The start gun goes off

at 8.30pm, but due to

the endless sunshine

you can expect to lose

all sense of time as

you race throughout

the night, enjoying

fjords, mountain vistas

and dramatic sea-

scapes along the way.

You may want to work

on your sleep patterns.

June 2020 (date tbc),

msm.no

SARAJEVO HALF

MARATHON

The route through the

capital city of Bosnia

and Herzegovina is

reassuringly fast and

flat, but it also delivers

the goods on the

scenic front – you’ll

be surrounded on all

sides by the Dinaric

Alps framing the

historic landmarks

of this grand city,

including Ottoman,

Habsburg and

Yugoslav buildings,

bridges over the

Miljacka river, the old

town and the Kosevo

Olympic Stadium.

Live music along the

route adds to the

lively atmosphere.

September 15,

sarajevomarathon.ba

ANGKOR WAT

INTERNATIONAL

HALF MARATHON

One of southeast

Asia’s most precious

archaeological sites,

Angkor Wat is so

magnificent that it’s

on the Cambodian

national flag. With

temple grounds and

remains from the

Khmer Empire dating

back to the 9th

century along the race

route, you’ll soon see

why it is so revered.

This is a charity event,

with the funds helping

landmine victims with

rehabilitation, as

well as education

and healthcare

programmes.

December 8,

cambodia-events.org

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PHOTOGRAPH: MARIUS HANSENTABEV