WORLD’S BEST RACES ← ← LAVAREDO ULTRA SPARTATHLON ECO TRAIL DE PARIS MONGOLIA SUNRISE ACHILL HALF SATARA HILL HALF THE LAUGAVEGUR TRAIL SEVILLE MARATHON With an 11pm start, One of the first – A ‘trail’ festival with TO SUNSET MARATHON MARATHON Come prepared for all Thanks to a new and almost 6,000m of and still among the a difference – it’s A singletrack 42km Achill is an island just Starting at 678m four seasons and improved route that gruelling ascent and toughest – ultra races held in an urban and 100km ultra off County Mayo in above sea level, constantly changing doesn’t rise more a 30-hour cut-off to in the world – only 40 metropolis, albeit one starting at sunrise on the west of Ireland. the route for this terrain on this trail than 10 metres above contend with (the per cent of the field of the most beautiful the shores of Lake It’s just about as far out-and-back race ultra, staged in the sea level, Seville is average finish time typically finish this cities in the world. Hovsgol in northern west as you can go held in the western southern highlands of the flattest marathon is 23 hours), you will 246km single-stage With over 6,000 Mongolia. You’ll run in Europe without Indian city of Satara is Iceland. The 55km in Europe. With have to live and race along roads, runners entering the through moss-laden getting your feet wet almost entirely uphill route is the perfect temperatures in breathe ultrarunning trails and footpaths four events on offer forests, windblown in the Atlantic – which until the halfway mark opportunity to race winter (such as it is) just to get to the start from Athens to (18/30/45/80km lowlands, rocky makes it every bit as (indeed, walking is through an other- hovering around 15C line of this 120km race Sparta. Speed (and options as well as a mountain passes, river wild and windswept suggested for some worldly landscape. and plenty of sights to across the Dolomites, incredible endurance) race up the Eiffel valleys and fields of as you might imagine. of the more vertically From the lava fields at enjoy – including the in northeastern Italy. is of the essence, with Tower), this popular wildflowers, aiming to This gorgeous race aligned sections). It’s a Landmannalaugar, stunning bell tower And what do you minimal support and a event has something finish before sunset. follows a mixture of tough course but the the route goes up of the Cathedral of get for your effort? spicy 36-hour cut-off. for everyone. As the Look out for camels, country roads and views are captivating: and down hills flanked St Mary of the See; Woodland that Yiannis Kouros, the name suggests, the yak herds, ibex, picturesque portions highlights include a by volcanic-rock La Maestranza, a seems even more winner of the first run, focus of the race is ovoos (traditional of coastline through series of waterfalls mountains. Other 12,000-capacity enchantingly magical in 1983, still holds on environmental monuments linked to rugged mountains and and the Kaas Plateau treats on the route bullring; and several in low light, emerald- the course record, a awareness, so bring the cult of mountains rolling hills, and along – a UNESCO World include geothermal renaissance plazas – coloured lakes and remarkable 20:25:00. your own water cup and sky) and yurts craggy cliffs, with Heritage Site packed hot springs, testing it’s a destination race towering, jagged His motto? ‘When and get ready to run in this breathtaking, charming views of with wild flowers in a descents and icy that’s only a couple of peaks to nourish other people get tired, the secret trails of unspoilt land that Camport Bay along riot of colours. Set rivers, which you have hours from the UK. the soul. they stop. I don’t.’ the City of Light. needs to be seen the southern side. your alarm: the race to cross the hard way. No excuses. June 2020 (date tbc), September 27-28, March 2020 (date tbc), to be believed. July 2020 (date tbc), starts at 6am. July 2020 (date tbc), February 23, 2020, ultratrail.it spartathlon.gr paris.ecotrail.com August 7, ms2s.dk TROEST PETER PHOTOGRAPH: achillmarathon.com August 25, shhm.co.in laugavegshlaup.is zurichmaratonsevilla.es 12 RUNNER’S WORLD RUNNER’S WORLD 13.