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There are so many charities that you can support It can be very easy to make the wrong choice if you don't follow these 5 top tips. Remember that you don't have to raise a fixed amount unless you are running for a charity on a 'guaranteed entry'. This is when the charity gives you a spot in a race in exchange for a specific amount of fundraising. If you aren't running on a 'charity entry' you can raise whatever you can. But who should you run for? Choose a charity close to your heart You are going to be spending a lot of time fundraising so it's important that you choose a charity that is close to your heart and that you want to promote. Having a connection to the charity and especially to the nature of their work is particularly important. Talking to friends, family and work colleagues about a charity that you're not really engaged with will be very difficult and after a few weeks you will find your motivation declining daily. Ideally your charity will have provided support to you or a loved one and you know their work first hand. Being able to talk about a charity's work from experience will make the world of difference. Your potential donors will be able to sense your enthusiasm and will support you accordingly. What support do they give you? There is a separate post on this really important element of choosing a charity. Many charities offer some support for you and your training and fundraising, but only a few do it really well. It's easy to say that support is available but what is it, who does it and how much do they really offer. Ask questions and satisfy yourself that you're going to get what you need. If you're new to distance running and new to fundraising then you'll need lots of help, but if you're a regular then obviously it becomes less important. Saying that it's still great to have on the day support, especially a 'thank you' function at the end of the race. Some charities offer somewhere to store your bags and food and drink afterwards and it's these touches that can make all the difference. Who is going to be your point of contact at the charity? Some of them are really, really good and some not so much. If you're new to this you will be in contact with them a few times and you'll want to make sure that your contact is as passionate about what you're doing as you are. Find out where the money goes None of us want to run for charity and not know where the money gets spent. Finding out can sometimes be difficult but it's really important to find out. Sometimes the charity will assign funds from specific marathon campaigns to specific projects internally, but very often it just goes into a big pot to be spent as allocated by the bosses. Occasionally you'll be able to ask for it to go to certain projects, but this is unusual with the bigger charities in particular. If you're not comfortable with that approach then it's better to run for a smaller or mid sized charity where they may well be a bit more flexible. Check who has entries and how much do they want you to raise? If you are looking for an entry in a specific race then you need to find out from the official website exactly what charities have entries. All of the big races will have a list of charities that have spots and some of the charities will have ads on that site targeting runners. It's important when browsing the options that you review how much each charity expects you to raise in exchange for one of these entries. The amounts can differ significantly so make sure you're comfortable with the amount being asked for. When you're happy you will need to apply to one or more charities. There will be an application process for these entries and in some cases, where they have a few entries and there is a lot of demand, they may run their own lottery style process. In races like the New York City, Boston and London Marathons there will be huge demand and it's inevitable you will go into a draw. With some events that won't be the case and they'll be pleased to offer you an entry if your pledge amount meets their expectations. In some cases the charity may want a deposit up front and in the US they will take a credit card and charge it on agreed dates if you haven't fundraised the agreed amount at that point. This is to ensure they get the agreed amount for the spot. This doesn't happen in the UK but may do in the future. The charities have to pay for the entries and the marketing so it's important that they get the income from their investment. Are they local? This is really important to some runners and less so for others. If you are running for a local charity you'll want to know that the money you raise will be staying local. This isn't always the case, but a quick check with your charity contact will usually get you the answer. If you're raising money for a local hospice in memory of a friend or family member and you specifically want to support the work of that hospice then you won't want your monies going off to a central administrative body. Find out before you get started. Choosing the right charity Choosing the right charity is absolutely crucial and if you don't get this first step right then you'll find the whole experience danting and more challenging than it needs to be. We should all have a go at raising money for charity at some point as it can be highly rewarding and a great way of giving back. Take your time and get this bit right. Don't just choose a charity because they want the lowest pledge for a New York or London Marathon entry, choose one because it's the right fit for you.

The first episode in our Members Only podcast series focuses on helping runners get started It covers essential topics such as choosing the right gear, setting achievable goals, creating a training plan, finding training partners, entering events, and the motivation behind fundraising for charity. The conversation emphasises the importance of gradual progression and community support in the running journey. Find out how to access our members only podcasts here . it's dead simple; just sign up to one of our Gold, Diamond or Sapphire membership plans. Summary This podcast episode focuses on helping beginners get started with running. It covers essential topics such as choosing the right gear, setting achievable goals, creating a training plan, finding training partners, entering events, and the motivation behind fundraising for charity. The conversation emphasises the importance of gradual progression and community support in the running journey. Takeaways You're halfway there once you've made the decision to get started. Invest in a decent pair of running shoes. Set specific and achievable goals for your running journey. Training plans provide structure but should be flexible. Joining a running club can enhance your experience. Events can serve as great motivation for beginners. Fundraising for charity adds purpose to your running. Choose a charity that resonates with you personally. Start small with your running goals and build up gradually. Running can significantly improve your mental and physical well-being. Titles Kickstart Your Running Journey: A Beginner's Guide Essential Gear for New Runners Sound Bites "You need a decent pair of shoes, obviously." "Set yourself a goal and be specific. If you have a weight loss goal, how much weight?" "Join a running club with a beginner focus." Chapters 00:00 Getting Started on Your Running Journey 09:56 Setting Goals for Success 13:36 The Importance of Training Plans 17:32 Finding Training Partners and Community 21:04 Entering Your First Running Event 26:44 Fundraising for Charity Motivation

All the training in the world will count for nothing if you get your race day nutrition wrong. Your build up to the big day itself is crucial and on the day itself you have to make sure you get it exactly right. That's why we train. It's not just to get your body ready it's also to test out approaches to race day itself. Here we'll go through some do's and don'ts, all based on experience! During your training you will have learned how to take on water and you will have trained with the energy drink that will be available during the event that you have chosen. That is what should have happened. If it hasn't then you'll need to make some adaptations on the day. Getting your food and drink intake right is one of the keys to a successful event, especially a marathon. There are no magic formulas, but there are guidelines that you can follow. Remember that the big events in particular have medical directors and they ensure that what's available on the course is there for a reason. Use what they provide. You should drink at every water station How much? At every water station you should take a few sips of water. You must never wait until you are thirsty before you drink. By then you are probably already dehydrated and then you'll have problems. Water stations can stretch over two or three hundred metres in the really big events so avoid the crush and run to the far end and collect your water from there, where it will be much quieter. How your water is made available will be different at every race. Covid has changed things as have environmental pressures. You might get open cardboard cups, or small bottles with caps still on, or off, or in some cases you might be asked to refill your own bottle from a tap that the organiser has provided (there will be lots of them) or a combination of all the options. Take a small amount and if it's a bottle, dispose of it carefully, making sure you don't impact another runner in the process. Keep drinking like this throughout the event; little and often. Some runners carry a bottle with them, almost as a comfort blanket. This is fine as long as a few sips are drunk, not the whole bottle. It's better to have a small bottle on a fuel belt though as carrying a bottle could affect your running posture adversely. Very, very occasionally a runner will drink far too much water. Real excess can be devastating and lead to hyponatremia, which can be fatal. This is exceptionally rare, but be careful. Think carefully about energy drinks All big events will have a brand of energy drink available at certain aid stations, not at every station like water and generally in the second half of the course and less frequently. It will feel like a lifesaver! You must however train with the exact brand that is being used at your event, not a similar one, but the exact one. Each drink is made up of subtly different components and to an untrained stomach they can have very unsettling effects. The more you train with a specific brand the more that your stomach will adapt to it. Whatever race you are running, make sure you find out the specific brand beforehand, get some and train with it for a few weeks beforehand. That's a lot more difficult for an overseas event, but it is now much easier to get drinks from anywhere in the world thanks to online shopping. It's also important to dilute it, rather than drink it straight as it comes. This will reduce any potential negative impacts on your stomach. Other on course drinks It's not uncommon to be offered some different options at some events that you wouldn't expect. These are often as a result of a commercial sponsorship agreement. Treat them with caution. They include Coca Cola, sometimes flat, sometimes not, and Red Bull, amongst many others. If you're a regular drinker of Coke on your long runs, you're in luck, but you're likely to be an exception, rather than the rule. The same with Red Bull. Treat options like this at aid stations with extreme caution Energy gels: be careful Energy gels are another very useful energy source that runners rely on, especially in the latter stages of an event.There are often available at big events from half way, much more so than a few years ago, when they were a rarity. Again, make sure you train with the specific brand being made available on the course. The alternative is to take your own and for this you'll need to wear a fuel belt. If you do, then make sure your train wearing one of these belts, as it's not for everyone. Gels are concentrated carbohydrate and they must be diluted with water. They can have a real impact on your energy levels and help prevent you hitting the dreaded wall. Aim to take no more than four or five during a marathon and a maximum of two in a half. If you take more, the impact on your stomach could be bad. Check out our post on energy gels Fruit At many events the aid stations will also include fruit, often cut up bananas and oranges. The former are a great energy boost and the latter are really refreshing. Again it's a good idea to have trained with them but they won't do you any harm if you haven't, as long as you don't have too many! There will generally be a maximum of this kind of aid station so enjoy it if your event does have one. A potential lifesaver on race day! Crowd 'handouts' At big events where there are big crowds it's common to be offered sweets and other goodies from some of the spectators. Although there are times when these can be too good to turn down you must be extremely wary, especially if the product is unwrapped. You just do not know what you are eating and if for some reason you get a negative reaction your race could be over. If it's a boiled sweet, which could really help your energy levels, and it's wrapped then it's probably ok, but if there is any element of doubt, just turn it down. Take your own If you don't think you'll be able to survive the race with just water and energy drinks and you usually have more than this on your long run then invest in a fuel belt and take your own supplies. Gels, sweets and bars of all sorts can be carried in these belts. If you think this is you then start training with one as soon as you can. One of the positives is that you're never relying on the event but a negative is that you may end up consuming too much and upsetting your stomach. It's important to remember that the medical director makes sure the event organiser supplies everything you need on race day. Get your race day nutrition right and you will be well on the way to a very memorable day!

Everything you need to know about the Paris Marathon It's not one of the World Marathon Majors but the Paris Marathon is still right up there as one of the big ones; one of the marathons where you just know you're going to be seeing some of the most recognisable landmarks on the globe and where you'll be rubbing shoulders with tens of thousands of other runners. It doesn't have quite the spectator support in places, as the likes of London and New York, but it is still well worth ticking off the list. We tell you more. The Destination One of the largest cities in Europe, Paris has the well-deserved reputation of being the most beautiful and romantic of all cities, brimming with historic associations and remaining vastly influential in the realms of culture, art, fashion, food, and design. It's located in the north of France on the river Seine and has a population of 2.2 million people living in the central city and 12 million people in the whole metropolitan area. It's the most popular tourist destination in the world with 45 million tourists annually, who come to see the likes of the world's most visited tourist site the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Louvre Museum, Moulin Rouge, and Lido. A large part of the city, including the River Seine, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Paris is home to the world's finest and most luxurious fashion designers and cosmetics, like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Dior, Yves Saint-Laurent, Guerlain, Lancôme, L'Oréal, Clarins, amongst many others. If it's quality cuisine you're after, look no further. The city has more Michelin restaurants than any other city in the world apart from Tokyo. History The first marathon from the current era was held in 1976, but the very earliest on record is from 1896, when a field of 191 runners ran a 40km (25 mile) course, as opposed to the now standard 42.195km course Race Organiser Amaury Sport Organisation, a subsidiary of the Amaury Group, media and sport group that owns the newspaper L’Equipe. 500,000 competitors take part in mass events organised by A.S.O. and its British subsidiary, Human Race, every year. They also organise the Paris Marathon. When? The race is held annually in April Distances Marathon Is there an Expo? The expo, called the Run Experience Fair, is held at the the Parc des Expositions, Porte de Versailles, for three days prior to the marathon. All bibs are collected from the Fair. How many runners? 50,000 Course Once you're in you need to sort your accommodation quickly. The start and finish, just like the Berlin Marathon are close together, but this inevitably means hotels in this area sell out quickly. You don't need to rely on any public transport if you stay around the Arc de Triomphe area, but you will of course be paying for the privilege. Whenever there's an event on like this prices will be higher, but for the sake of convenience you may find it worth it to spend a bit more. Alternatively you could stay near the Expo, which is held at the Porte de Versailles. It's only a 15 minute trip on the metro and about a mile walk to the start and it will be a lot cheaper. There are still plenty of options in this area, with hotels of all different grades on offer. It's a good course, but in common with many other big events it does have quiet sections where crowds thin and motivation can dip. It all starts from 8.20am, near the intersection of Avenue de Champs-Elysées and Rue Marbeuf and Rue du Colisée along the broad cobblestone expanse toward the Mile 1 marker at Place de la Concorde. It's a wave start approach, which is essential given that there are well over 50,000 runners, but still expect this part of the course to be extremely busy. At mile 5 you're on Avenue Daumesnil, passing the Porte Dorée (Golden Gate) Metro station on the right, and the Palace of the Golden Gate, a huge former exhibition hall built in 1931 and now the site of the Museum of the History of Immigration. You pass Lake Daumesnil and the Vincennes Zoo and you'll be able to see the Château de Vincennes, a huge fortified castle dating back to the 14th century. The Zoo covers an area of 14.5 hectares in the woodland of Bois de Vincennes. There is a total of 4.5 km of walkways where visitors can observe more than 1,000 animals cohabiting in this corner of eastern Paris from lions to giraffes, flamingoes and tropical fish. There are 190 species of mammals, reptiles, fish and birds to see here and it's well worth a visit. The race has thinned out considerably at this point and you'll be running at your own place comfortably by now. The route then runs alongside the Seine River for six miles so there's plenty to take in. This stretch is not crowded and is a great place to watch the race. The Seine flows for 13 kms through Paris from east to west, at 27m above sea level. Its width varies from 30 m to 200m and its depth from 3.4m to 5.7m. It's spanned by 37 bridges and you'll run past plenty of them. At mile 15 you'll see the iconic Notre Dame cathedral and then at mile 16 it's the Musee d'Orsay, the Grand Palais a mile later and then shortly after one of the real highlights. At mile 18 it's one of the most famous landmarks anywhere, the Eiffel Tower. Named after its designer, Gustave Eiffel, the Tour Eiffel was built for the 1889 Exposition Universelle. It took 300 workers, 2.5 million rivets and two years of nonstop labor to assemble. Upon completion, the tower became the tallest human-made structure in the world (324m) until it lost that title to the Chrysler Building in New York. It dominates Paris and to run past it at the 30km mark is a marathon running highlight! From that high though you then enter a period of the race where you really need to focus and stay motivated. The route enters the Boulogne Forest located to the west of Paris, and this its home for the next 5 miles. The forest is two and a half times larger than Central Park in New York and although it contains many attractions including Fondation Louis Vuitton's spectacular glass ship-shaped building, this is a tough place to run at this stage of a marathon. Crowds are very sparse, there's not a great deal to see apart from trees and the gradient gradually increases. With only a few hundred metres to go it suddenly get much better very quickly. It's onto Avenue Foch and then you're there at the finish just in front of another global landmark, with the Arc de Triomphe. Work on the Arc began in 1806, on the orders of Napoleon I to honour the victories of his Grande Armée. Inspired by the great arches of antiquity, this iconic monument bears the names of battles and generals from the Revolution and the First Empire. Every evening, the flame is lit on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier from the Great War. The terrace provides superb views both by day and night across the city and its great sweeping avenues. There are huge crowds here and you'll need to be really patient as you navigate your way out of the finish zone. It's a spectacular place to finish a race and right up there with those of the Majors. What's unique? Running on a number of iconic Parisian streets closed to traffic is unforgettable. Do charities benefit? There are a number of official charity partners but not on the scale of London or New York. Our verdict Although it's inevitably going to be an expensive weekend, this is one of the big events that you simply must do. It does have some quiet and relatively uninspiring sections but these are more than compensated for by the global landmarks like the Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. Running on closed roads in a city like this is unforgettable. How to register Online via the website. It's a 'first come first served' event, so don't leave it too late. There is no ballot. Packages are available from a number of tour operators. You will need to provide organisers with a medical certificate from your doctor. This needs to be uploaded to the account you set up when you register, or taken to the expo when you collect your number. Race website https://www.schneiderelectricparismarathon.com/en

Honolulu is a tough place to run, unless you're used to heat and humidity If you live in somewhere like Singapore this one would be fairly straightforward but coming from the mainland US in December it's tough. But then 'tough' is a challenge and challenges are good. The Honolulu Marathon weekend is made up of 4 events, a mile and 5k on Saturday and the 10k and the Marathon on Sunday. We tried out the 10k. We'll do the Marathon another time :) The Destination Located on Oahu Island, Honolulu is the capital of Hawaii, with a population of around 350,000. Known for its long board surfing at Waikiki Beach, it offers world class shopping and dining and some of superb natural landscapes, including Diamond Head, that plays such an important role on this stunning Hapalua Half course. more on that later. There is so much to see in Honolulu, even though many visitors find it hard to pull themselves away from magnetic Waikiki. The beaches are breathtaking and with surfing lessons on offer in multiple locations, this is a great place to have a go for the first time. Try snorkeling at Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, or experience ocean kayaking at Kaneohe. If that's not your thing there are plenty of sightseeing opportunities. Don't miss Iolani Palace, home to Hawaii's last two monarchs and the only royal residence in the US. Over the road is the bronze King Kamehameha statue, created in honor of the monarch who unified the Hawaiian Islands. Another important statue and one you'll see on race morning is the Duke Kahanamoku statue in memory of the surfer who popularized the sport around the world. West of Honolulu is Pearl Harbor, a sombre place, but an essential visit to understand its global significance. It's a National Historic Landmark that includes the USS Arizona Memorial, a battleship sunk in the 1941 attack. There's plenty to see outside of the main tourist areas, including areas like Kalihi, where you'll find markets serving poké, a very local delicacy; cubes of seasoned, raw fish served with pickled vegetables. There's also great food in Chinatown, where you can grab dim sum and barbecued ribs. At night, this is one of the cool places to experience Honolulu nightlife. However you want to celebrate after running the half, you'll be able to do it in Honolulu. History The first event was held in 1973. In 1995, the Honolulu Marathon enjoyed the distinction of being the world's largest marathon when it drew 34,434 entrants and had 27,022 finishers. ] Unique to the Honolulu Marathon among American marathons is its popularity among runners from Japan and in recent years, the majority of entrants have been from Japan. In 2008, 14,406 of the total 23,231 entries were from Japan, which made up nearly 62.0 percent of the field. The 2012 40th Honolulu Marathon was held on Sunday, December 9, 2012 and the field reached 30,898. Race Organiser The Honolulu Marathon Association, a not for profit organisation. When? Held annually in December Distances Marathon, 10k and 5k Is there an Expo? The Expo is held a couple of miles from the beaches of Waikiki and is pretty easy to get to. You need to head there to get your race number and you can also enter the events themselves, right up until the last day. The Expo is smaller than it was pre Covid, like most, but it will get bigger over time. One of the highlights (in the picture below) was a display of original shirts from down the years. The expo How many runners? 20,000 across all distances Course Race morning starts nice and early in Honolulu. The 10k and Marathon go off together at 5am! Setting the alarm for 3am isn't great, but this is one of the coolest places on the planet so you do what you have to do. It's a 30-40 minute walk to the start, which is held on the Ala Moana Boulevard, which in Hawaiian means “path by the ocean.” This phrase is an appropriate description for the entire race course. At the start line is Ala Moana Beach Park, a local recreation area encompassing over 100 acres of park, beaches, swimming and surfing spots. There didn't seem to be much in the way of organised corrals, even though we were allocated colours on our bibs that corresponded to a particular start area and it's all pretty relaxed, unlike most events of this size. After the usual motivational talks we had a real treat; those fireworks, wow! You don't get many events that start in the dark with a firework show like this. Very impressive. It's one of those very early starts! The second mile of the course runs through downtown along Honolulu Harbor and the historic Aloha Tower, a ten- story clock tower which was the tallest building in Hawaii when it was erected in 1926. Runners turn right into Chinatown and proceed through Downtown Honolulu on South King Street. This historic stretch of the course passes Iolani Palace, the only royal palace on American soil; the gilded statue of King Kamehameha; Kawaiahao Church, built with coral blocks from nearby reefs; Honolulu Hale, city hall; and Mission Houses Museum. The race forks right onto Kapiolani Boulevard through urban Honolulu and in the fourth mile turns right down Piikoi Street. The course returns to Ala Moana Boulevard, this time passing Ala Moana Center, a huge, open-air mall with more than 250 stores. The bridge spanning the Ala Wai Canal marks the entrance to Waikiki. The Ala Wai Canal is a favorite training area for outrigger canoe paddlers and the Ala Wai Harbor hosts international yachting competitions. Mile five races through the concrete jungle of Waikiki high-rise hotels and condominiums, by the Hilton Hawaiian Village and the U.S. Army’s Fort DeRussy. The course turns right onto Kalakaua Avenue lined with shops offering everything from tacky souvenirs and t-shirts to high- priced designer merchandise. Just past the Sheraton Moana Surfrider, Waikiki’s oldest hotel built in 1901, is a spectacular ocean view: world-famous Waikiki Beach. Tourists, beach boys, sunbathers, and surfers flock to this stretch of white sand, often crowding around the statue of Duke Kahanamoku, a renowned surfer and Olympic gold medalist. If you're running the 10k you run the whole time in the race in the dark, which is pretty unique. The 10k attracts a big crowd with many of them taking their time and enjoying a different side to Waikiki and a much different way of seeing it. There is absolutely no stress in the field with some runners taking over 3 hours to finish. Everyone is having a good time and enjoying the relaxed vibe that this part of the world specialises in! The 10k splits off from the Marathon at the end of Waikiki Drive and we headed to the finish at Kapiolani Park, whilst the marathon runners still had a very hot and sticky 32km to go. Having breakfast at 6am after having just run a 10k is a great feeling! The Duke Kahanamoku statue What's unique? Running through Waikiki is a great experience and while other events do come through this part of the island, when combined with the uniqueness of the Japanese field it's pretty special. Do charities benefit? There are some official charities that you're encouraged to raise money for. Our verdict Honolulu is an amazing destination and a great place to travel for a running event. Staying in destinations like this and combining your running passion gives travel another angle. it's very expensive however so make sure you plan well in advance and look at other options to the big hotels in central Waikiki. Self catering is an option well worth looking at. Flights from the mainland are also creeping up in price but the earlier you book the better the deal you'll generally get. How to register Online via the event website. You can also enter the event at the expo up until Saturday. RACE WEBSITE https://www.honolulumarathon.org/

The importance of running for charity Have you entered a running event but are not using your event to raise money for charity? Why not? It's easy and with our new charity running programme where you get thanked properly by the charities, like getting your entry fee refunded and a pair of free running shoes. Welcome to Run.Raise.Thank You. Why? There are so many reasons to run for charity if you have an entry in a running event. We're now giving you more. Welcome to our post on raising money for charity with Run.Raise. Thank You. Be part of a team Running can be lonely at times, but knowing you're part of a group can give you a real lift. Many charities have training sessions and WhatsApp groups where you can meet others and share your experiences. Motivation Long, dark nights putting you off? A cold that lingers for days more than it should? There are so many excuses for not running, but knowing you are making a difference will be a major motivator as you train for your next event. The feel good factor Imagine how good it will feel finishing your next event, hitting your goal, but also raising funds for your preferred charity. Raising money at a running event gives you a dual goal; you'll be helping others as well as doing something special for yourself. Get rewarded Now you can do all this, run your event for free (if you raise £200) and potentially earn yourself a free pair of £150 running shoes (if you raise £1000). There are lots of other incentives in-between as well and this differ by charity. How? It's really easy. All you need to do is head here and find out more details on the incentives and rewards that are available. Each of our partners charities have a slightly different package of incentives, but all offer a new pair of £150 pair of running shoes if you hit £1000 of fundraising and the majority will refund your entry (up to the value of £40) if you raise £200. There are also plenty of other incentives, including shirts, hoodies and teddies. Have a look at each charity and then join the team that you prefer using the button on their page. Once you get going you'll hit £1000 in no time and a pair of running shoes will be yours. Here are some of our charity partners. More are being added regularly. What fundraising platform do I use? There are a number of different platforms available but most charities will have one that they will ask you to use. It makes it easier for them to keep track of donations and to monitor how things are going. Most of our charities use Just Giving, but we'll let you know as soon as you sign up. Where do I get fundraising support? Each of our charity partners will have fundraising resources available to you, including fundraising packs that contain lots of great ideas. We also have a Fundraising Hub where you can access podcasts, videos and more that will give you plenty of support and inspiration. Be inspired by others To find out more on how to go about fundraising for charity and how it has made a difference to other runners head to our RUNNER STORIES PODCASTS. Thank you!

The perfect adventure marathon The Big Five Marathon is a real adventure. In one of the most spectacular game reserves in Africa this challenging route crosses right through the habitat of the African game, including the famous Big Five: Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo, Lion and Leopard. There are no fences, no rivers, nothing at all separating the runners from the African wildlife! It's a package only trip but could it well be one that's worth the investment. The Destination The Big Five Marathon is held in South Africa, among the wildlife of the African savannah. in Entabeni. It is deep in the heart of the malaria-free World Heritage Waterberg biosphere in the Limpopo, only three hours' north of Johannesburg. The Waterberg biosphere is the first region in the northern part of South Africa to be named a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. It covers an area of 4170 square kilometres and includes a number of protected areas that include the Lapalala Wilderness. Entabeni Game Reserve is privately owned and is roughly 250 square kilometres of bountiful bushveld typified by wide open grassland accompanied by sandy wetlands, surprisingly defined and beautiful crags, and ravines through which pretty streams run. It boasts five different ecosystems within one reserve and promises solid big game viewing and superb bird watching. This malaria free area, set within the most beautiful mountain scenery offered by the ever present Waterberg, is now a major attraction to visitors and locals alike, particularly locals from t he Johannesburg area for whom getting away to the Waterberg to see game, without the need for anti-malaria medication, is a real bonus. This area used to be home to a rich variety of wild animals like giraffe, lion, hyena, buffalo and elephant that due to both farmers and hunters were fast depleted. Now, due a concerted effort to reverse the loss of animals for whom this is their natural home, large areas in the Waterberg biosphere have been restocked. Race Organiser Albatros Adventure Marathons, an adventure marathon specialist from Denmark. They organise many other similar events, like the Polar Circle Marathon and the Great Wall Marathon. When? The race is held annually in mid June. Distances Full and half marathon Is there an Expo? No, but there is a race briefing the evening before the race that will give runners all they need to know, including a discussion on likely weather conditions. How many runners? As it's a tour package event the field is relatively small - 250 to 300. It sells out quickly. Course Every step of the marathon is inside the Entabeni Game Reserve. Throughout the course runners are able to experience spectacular 360 degree views of African Savannah. The Big 5 game are amongst some of the many wild animals that could be seen on route. The start and finish line are situated at Lakeside Lodge on the upper escarpment. After the start, the marathon and half marathon routes take the runners past Ravineside Lodge, the Entabeni Monolith and further on to the lower plateau. This first section is run on dirt roads made up of red sand. The first 11km has a lot of climbing, followed by 5km of quick descent. After 8km of flat running there is a steep climb from kilometres 25-30 km. The Yellow Wood Valley is the toughest part of the course. First up is a very steep decline and later runners come back up it! This sharp descent is on a paved surface for around 3 km, which is tough on the quads. Although the next nine kilometres are flat, the terrain changes to deep sand and it's lion country! Full marathoners do a 9 km loop, whereas half marathon runners run a 2km loop. And then it's back to Yellow Wood and time to head up the hill! It's really tough and walking is the best option here. The route carries on to Long Drive, a narrow valley, where marathon runners do a 6km loop. Half marathoners run across the valley and reach the final section of the route. This section is run on dirt trails, a welcome respite from the deep sand and loose stone terrain earlier on. The end of the run is fairly hard (final four kilometres). The surface is challenging, consisting of hard uneven stony ground with plenty of large rocks and stones of all sizes. This final part has quite a few hills and as the surface is loose, it pays to keep a careful watch on the ground as we run towards the finish. With the finish line at Lakeside Lodge in sight it's finally time to take it nice and easy. The total elevation is 1145m. There are no fences, no rivers, nothing at all separates the runners from the African wildlife! The weather is very dry, sunny and cool at this time of the year. Participants can expect an average temperature of around 15-20 Celsius, but with variations due to sun, shade, wind and altitude. What's unique? Being up close and personal with some incredible wildlife and much more! Do charities benefit? There is no official charity programme for this event but of course runners can still raise funds for their favourite charity by setting up a fundraising page and seeking donations from their friends and family. How to register There are few ways to register for The Big Five Marathon, depending on your place of residency. To sign up you must besides the race entry purchase one of two holiday packages: the 6-day itinerary or the 8-day itinerary. The same packages are available for spectators. It’s not possible to sign up for the race only unless you are a permanent resident of South Africa. If you are a permanent resident of South Africa, contact the organisers for information about registration by writing to marathon@albatros-adventure.com . Race website https://big-five-marathon.com/