RUNNER’S WORLD 15←
WORLD’S BEST RACESQUEENSTOWN
MARATHON
The panoramic views
of the Crown and
Remarkable mountain
ranges rising sharply
from the shores of
Lake Wakatipu are
out of this world
on the route of this
marathon, on New
Zealand’s south
island, so it’s worth
the journey just to
experience them. The
unexpectedly flat,
70 per cent trail route
is also something of
a selling point. Many
scenes in the Lord of
the Rings trilogy were
filmed here, but do
resist the urge to say
something is ‘precious’.
November 16,
queenstown-marathon.co.nzGRAN TRAIL
COURMAYEUR
Starting in Italy’s
highest village, at the
foot of Mont Blanc,
this monster race
(105km) is held in
off-season ski territory
and comes with its fair
share of ascent –
almost 7,000m of
climb, so prepare to
go up and then up
some more, not
forgetting that what
goes up must come
down (eventually).
Panoramic alpine
views will ease the
pain. You could also
opt for the 55km or
30km distances to
whet your appetite
for the big one.
July 2020 (date tbc),
gtcourmayeur.comPHOTOGRAPH: TIM BARDSLEY-SMITH