Runner’s World UK – September 2019

RUNNER’S WORLD 17

WORLD’S BEST RACES

TEL AVIV MARATHON

The whole of this

Israeli coastal city

comes alive on race

day and the streets

are packed not just

with runners (of which

there were over

25,000 across the

10K, half marathon

and marathon this

year) but also with

excited crowds, who

love to come out on

race day and whip up

a carnival atmosphere.

You’ll run alongside

the beach, including

through the historic

town of Jaffa, in

picture-perfect

weather, before

joining the nonstop

after-party.

February 28, 2020,

tlvmarathon.co.il

NAPA VALLEY TO

SONOMA HALF

Staged in the heart of

the Sonoma Valley

region in California,

this race features a

fast and scenic route

in the heart of wine

country (the area is

known as the birth-

place of the California

wine industry). Enjoy

running along trails

and tranquil country

roads, and through

vineyards – possibly

in cooling morning fog

• before a party finish
  in the sunshine at the
  historic Sonoma Plaza,
  the largest plaza in the
  Golden State and a
  National Historic
  Landmark.
  July 2020 (date tbc),
  motivrunning.com

GALAPAGOS MARATHON

If the majesty of the

natural world on a

volcanic archipelago

in the Pacific Ocean

isn’t enough to

persuade you to enter

this singular race,

the altruistic element

just might. Every

international runner

sponsors a local by

paying their entrance

fee and sending them

running kit. Each

runner has a caddy/

driver, who stays

ahead to provide

hydration. The race is

so popular, it’s held

twice a year. Entry

includes a 10-day tour

of the islands

August 4 and

October 13,

cometogalapagos.com

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RUN CATALINA ISLAND

Santa Catalina is a

popular tourist island

just off the coast of

California. There’s a

half marathon or 10K

and both allow you

the chance to lap up

the region’s rugged

coastline, sweeping

valleys, rocky hillsides

and plateaus covered

in island scrub oak

trees. The island is

home to several

animal species found

nowhere else in the

world and, strange as

it might seem, this is

also bison country:

there are 150 of these

magnificent beasts

roaming free, so

you never know...

November 16,

runcatalina.com