Winter can be tough in the running game. Darkness creeps in; rain, wind, cold, ice and snow call for a whole new wardrobe of athletic clobber; escaping the outdoors for a treadmill means you have to endure the doldrums of treadmill running.

Do you, like me, find yourself questioning 'why?' more often? Fear not! We can help.

In need of a race on the calendar to provide some motivation for training? We’ve got you! Here are some of our faves, from local jaunts around London all the way up to a destination event, complete with sun and warm weather. (Sun and warm weather not guaranteed.)

London

A Top Secret Event
Date: December 10th 2025
Location: To Be Announced
Stay tuned… safe to say you might need to dig out the spikes for this one!

FNUL 5 Miler
Date: 19th December 2025
Location: Battersea Park
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Flat, fast, floodlit, the FNUL 5 miler is always a chance to tackle your 5-mile PB at a no-nonsense event.

Lee Valley New Years Day Open
Date: 1st January 2026
Location: Lee Valley Athletics Centre, Enfield
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Fancy some indoor track action? Head up to Lee Valley track on New Year's Day for a rip! Sprints and Middle Distance events for all.

Country to Capital Ultra
Date: 10th January
Location: Aylesbury to London
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62km from Aylesbury all the way in to London. What better way to spend a winter weekend?

London Winter Run 10k
Date: 15th February
Location: Central London
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Take a meander through the streets in the Cancer Research Winter 10k. One of the biggest events during the cold months.

Further Afield

Ribble Valley 10km
Date: 28th December 2025
Location: Clitheroe, Lancashire
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One of the UK's fastest and most competitive 10km races takes place between Christmas and New Year, stay focused!

Montane Spine Race
Date: 10th January 2026
Location: Edale, Derbyshire
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Not for the feint of heart, this might be one of the most brutal races in the world. Running the Penine Way in the middle of winter take your fancy?

Fred Hughes 10 Miler
Date: 21st January 2026
Location: St. Albans, Hertfordshire
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A little closer to home, this 10 miler starts and finishes in beautiful Roman town, St. Albans.

Brighton Half Marathon
Date: 1st March 2026
Location: Brighton, Sussex
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Oh, I do like to be beside the seaside! A short hop on the train from London, the Brighton Half has become one of the UK's most popular.

Liverpool Half Marathon
Date: 15th March 2026
Location: Liverpool, Merseyside
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Go see the mythical Liver bird and tackle your Half-Mara PB whilst you're at it. Boss, that, laa!

International Races

Corrida de Houilles 10k
Date: 21st December 2025
Location: Houilles, Paris, France
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Known for rapid times and holiday festivities, head to Paris suburb Houilles for their iconic 10k. You might even see some of the world's elite athletes next to you on the line.

Sevilla Marathon
Date: 15th February 2026
Location: Sevilla, Spain
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That Spanish sun will be a welcome retreat from the UK's grey days. Add to the mix one of Europe's fastest marathons and you're in for a lovely trip away.

Napoli Half Marathon
Date: 22nd February 2026
Location: Napoli, Italy
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People are saying this one has 'the most breathtaking views of the Mediterranean'. Guess you'll have to double check that yourself when you're there.

Transgrancanaria Ultra
Date: 4th March 2026
Location: Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
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How do you like your ultras? With a bit of Volcano in there? 126km, 82km, Marathon and Half Marathon events all on offer in this huge festival of mountain running.

Lisbon Half Marathon
Date: 9th March 2026
Location: Lisbon, Portugal
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How a city so renowned for hills has such a flat, fast Half Marathon course, we'll never know.

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There's only one thing that we ask: if you run, you've got to let us know how you go!

Cheers!

-Runlimited

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Written by Liam Dee

Photography by Adrian Varzaru