Runners

092 RUNNERSWORLD.CO.UK JULY 2018THE START LISTOur selection of the best, fastest,toughest, quirkiest and mostenjoyable UK races this monthNO GUTS, NO GLORYSummer Gut Buster 10KThe original Gut Buster event – a mud-drenched racein December that’s ideal for restless runners sufferingfrom cabin fever during the festive break – has developedinto a favourite. To cater for a growing fan base, the firstedition of the Summer Gut Buster follows the same 10Kcourse...minus the mud. And the cold.Berkshire, July 7, thegutbuster.co.ukRURAL IDYLL``````TRI THIS FOR SIZE``````The Festival of Endurance Castle Run SeriesIf the extra faff of triathlon training doesn’t appeal, but you’re still keen tojoin the party, you will be pleased to hear the organisers of the Castle TriathlonSeries have launched a standalone full marathon (there’s a half, too). Runthrough the grounds of Hever Castle along a mixture of closed roads and trails,and all without a wetsuit or bicycle in sight.Kent, July 8, castletriathlonseries.co.uk/castle-run-series``````in the countryside, before you returnto the town for a snappy tour of itsparks and gardens. Sounds idyllic,but the course is full of ups anddowns – there’s a fairly challengingascent at the six-mile mark, so paceyourself accordingly and enjoy thelong downhill to the finish.Warwickshire, July 1,leamingtonspahalfmarathon.co.uk``````Eccup 10 MileThis one starts in the village of Eccup,just north of Leeds – some sightswill be familiar to fans of Emmerdale.The long-running TV soap oftenmakes use of the truly gloriouscountryside around the Eccupreservoir, as does this undulating10-miler on closed roads. Now inits 25th year, it continues to beone of the most popular eventson the Leeds running calendar.Leeds, July 1,abbeyrunners.co.uk/eccup-10``````Leamington SpaHalf MarathonA new event for this handsomeWarwickshire town. With theprovisional route heading out oftown, you’ll see quaint villages,picture-perfect farms and rolling hillsSway Carnival 5-Mile RunPart of a week-long carnival in thevillage of Sway. If a rolling trail racethrough the New Forest NationalPark isn’t enough to persuade you toenter, the carnival procession, kids’disco and village fete should do thetrick. This year’s route will take in boththe wooded Wilverley Inclosure andthe more open Markway Inclosure.Hampshire, July 1,swayvillage.co.uk/carnivalThe Great ScottishTa t t i e R u nRunners love potatoes, so you’ll bepleased to hear you can combine thetwo at The Great Scottish Tattie Run.The only catch is you have to carrythe spuds on your back (20kg formen, 10kg for women) and runfor a mile. Fortunately, you get totake your bag of tatties home andturn them into chips/mash/roasties.Edinburgh, July 1,greatscottishevents.org.ukRW POLL``````The optimumnumber ofpre-race poos is:``````49%None, I like to live onthe edge``````22%One works for me``````22%I follow thetwo-poo rule``````7%As many as I cansqueeze out!``````Race the NeighboursLondon’s Muswell Hill and EastFinchley residents go head-to-headin this friendly neighbourhood 10Krace, which is now in its fourth year.Join over 450 local runners (plus afew from further afield) at thissurprisingly hilly event around theleafy suburbs of north London.Runners declare allegiance to onepostcode or the other, all times aretaken into account and the victorsare awarded the Cherry Tree Cup.London, July 1, racetheneighbours.com