Let's Do This Team's Top 2025 Event Picks

86,158 VOTES CAST ACROSS ALL CATEGORIES TO SELECT THE 21 CHALLENGE AWARDS WINNERS

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After 4 weeks of ferocious competition, the Challenge Awards voting period closed at midnight on Sunday, and with it 21 category winners were announced.

We’ve been amazed by the efforts our nominees made in promoting their nominations and the uptake from the general public has been immense.

We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported the awards – it would not have been the same without your reviews and votes.

We now set our sites on an evening of celebrations at the Queen’s Club on 18th October. Attended by award winners, industry leaders and 10 prize draw winners picked from the 86,158 people who voted, this will definitely be one to remember.

Runner’s World will be writing an article on each of the winners and distributing these over the coming months – so watch that space.

But for now, here is a list of all the winners and runners up.

BEST OF THE UK

FLAGSHIP EVENTS

1. The SimplyHealth Great North Run – 66%
2. Virgin Money London Marathon – 14%
3. SimplyHealth Great South Run – 6%

5K RUNS

1. Porsche Brooklands Colour Me Krazy 5k – 28%
2. Chase the Sun Victoria Park – 24%
3. The Maverick Silva Dark Oxfordshire – 24%

10K RUNS NORTH

1. Wakefield 10k and 1k Mini Run – 37%
2. SimplyHealth Great North 10k – 31%
3. Run Tatton Half Marathon & 10k – 13%

10K RUNS SOUTH

1. The Hadleigh Legacy 10k – 35%
2. Weybridge 10k – 33%
3. The Maverick Silva Dark Oxfordshire – 11%

HALF MARATHONS NORTH

1. Essar Four Villages Half Marathon – 25%
2. Leamington Spa Half Marathon – 16%
3. Run Tatton Half Marathon & 10k – 16%

HALF MARATHONS SOUTH

1. Wokingham Half Marathon – 32%
2. Surrey Half Marathon – 29% –
3. Victoria Park 5k, 10k & Half – 13%

MARATHONS

1. Cybi Coastal Marathon – 49%
2. Giants Head Marathon – 33% –
3. Maverick x TRIBE Run Free Marathon – 8%

ULTRAMARATHONS

1. Mizuno Endure24 Reading – 30%
2. Dixons Carphone Race to the Stones – 29%
3. Mizuno Endure24 Leeds – 21%

MULTISPORT

1. The London Triathlon – 51%
2. Blenheim Palace Triathlon – 23% –
3. The Islander – Middle Distance Triathlon – 14%

ROAD CYCLING EVENTS

1. The Flat 100 – 41%
2. Etape Caledonia – 24%
3. Tour De Shane – The Pembrokeshire Sportive – 16%

OBSTACLE RACES

1. Zeus Summer Obstacle Run – 55%
2. MacTuff – 33%
3. Rough Runner – Oxfordshire – 2%

EVENT ORGANISERS

1. The Great Run Company – 29%
2. Sportive HQ – 29%
3. Maverick Race – 12%

BEST INTERNATIONAL

RUNNING EVENTS

1. Great Ethiopian Run International 10K – 56%
2. San Diego Beach and Bay Half Marathon, 10k, 5k – 24%
3. Bay Bridge Half – 10%

OBSTACLE RACES

1. Terrain Race – Irvine – 62%
2. Stadium Blitz – Houston – 18%
3. Green Beret Challenge – Commando – 8%

ROAD CYCLING EVENTS

1. The Transcontinental Race – 47%
2. Pedaled Silk Road Mountain Race – 24%
3. Haute Route Alps – 13%

TRIATHLONS

1. Herbalife24 Los Angeles – 46%
2. Alpe d’Huez Triathlon – 25%
3. Austria eXtreme Triathlon – 18%

BEST OF THE REST

MOST INSPIRING WOMAN

1. Lucy Bartholomew – 23%
2. Girls Who Dare – 21%
3. Lucy Charles – 11%

MOST INSPIRING MAN

1. Millan Ludena – 34%
2. Tim Don – 23%
3. Russell Cook – 12%

SMALL CHARITIES

1. The Running Charity – 33%
2. Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity – 27%
3. Spinal Research – 12%

BIG CHARITIES

1. Children with Cancer UK – 22%
2. Teenage Cancer Trust – 19%
3. Macmillan Cancer Support – 14%

COMMUNITIES

1. Mikkeller Running Club – 35%
2. November Project – 29%
3. Midnight Runners – 8%

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We can’t wait to celebrate these inspirational winners and present their prizes at the inaugural Challenge Awards on 18th October at the Queens Club. Stepping outside your comfort zone is never easy, but we hope the Challenge Awards has helped you see that there really are no limits.

Anyone can race and anyone can be a hero, so discover your next race and be the next inspiration. If you’re looking for the UK’s best 10ks, half marathons or any other distance, as long as it has a finish line, you’ll find it on our new events listing page.

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If you’ve signed up for an event, you might be worried about how to fuel your training and race-day performance. You might also be wanting a natural nutrition option, without all the refined sugars and unhealthy ingredients in other products. In this case, Let’s Do This recommends you look no further than TRIBE.

All-Round Nutrition and Hydration

TRIBE offers a delicious range of 100% natural energy bars, protein bars, protein powders and hydration sachets. All designed for everyday performance;  to keep your nutrition and hydration covered before, during, and after exercise. All products are 100% natural, vegan (apart from one protein bar that contains honey), and gluten free, using unrefined wholefoods that are free from chemicals, preservatives, and emulsifiers. We think that’s pretty awesome!

Subscription Plan

To make things easier, TRIBE provides a subscription service, delivering tailored packs of bars and drinks to your door. They're reasonably priced as well: a 6-pack will cost you £8.65 (£1.44/bar), and an 18-pack will cost £22 (£1.22/bar). You can arrange for packs to be delivered weekly, fortnightly, or monthly, and can pause, cancel, or update your subscription plan at any time. Easy! We've teamed up with TRIBE, to offer you the chance to try their products for just £2! Just use the code LETSDOTHIS at checkout for a 6-pack subscription box.

The Products

1. Infinity Energy

What: the Infinity Bar was developed with the assistance of ultra-runners, trans-continental cyclists, and polar explorers. The bars are made with teff flour,  which Ethiopian runners swear by, and with 60% less sugar than competitor products.

3 x Flavours: Choc Salt Caramel; Apple + Cinnamon; Peanut Butter Crunch

Nutritional information: Protein, 6g; Carbohydrates, 24g; Fats, 13g; Calories, 236

2. Protein Shakes

What: This is a delicious protein shake, which is great for recovery. The combination of Pea Protein and Rice Protein provides a complete amino acid profile. Only 4 simple, natural ingredients are added to the shakes, targeting your recovery. 

3 x Flavours: Cocoa + Sea Salt; Vanilla + Cinnamon; Raspberry + Goji

Nutritional information: Protein, 20g; Carbohydrates, 12g; Fats, 0.5g; Calories, 154

3. Protein Bars

What: these great-tasting recovery bars are formulated with 2:1 carb-protein ratio for optimal recovery. All the awesome benefits of these bars are from 100% natural wholefoods. 

4 x Flavours: Bogoya Banana; Choc Brownie; Choc Peanut Butter; Coffee + Walnut

Nutritional information: Protein, 10g; Carbohydrates, 23g; Fats, 12g; Calories, 244

4. Hydrate Drinks 

What: These drinks provide performance energy + hydration with a blend of fruit, botanicals, and natural electrolytes for . Using real fruits. The coconut water provides 300mg potassium, and sea salt contains 165mg of sodium. 

3 x Flavours: Strawberry; Lemon + Matcha; Tropical Fruits

Nutritional Information: Protein, 0.1g; Carbohydrates, 6g; Fats, 0.0g; Calories, 25

5. Energy Bars

What: these fruit-based Blaze Trail Bars are perfect for quick-release energy. They are made from unrefined sources, which are then cold-pressed together to retain their natural goodness.

Flavours: Cacao + Almond; Sour Cherry; Cacao + Orange

Nutritional Information: Protein, 4g; Carbohydrates, 24g; Fats, 8g

(NB Top Tip: if you’re looking for a great dessert option, soften an energy bar in the microwave and then add to some natural/greek yoghurt!) 

The Bigger Picture

TRIBE’s mission, beyond creating delicious and great-quality nutrition, is to fight human trafficking and modern-day slavery. This year, they are organising Run For Love 3, the third in the Run For Love trilogy. It is a 280km run over 6 days in the tropical islands of the Azores, and will be aiming to raise £250,000 for TRIBE Freedom Foundation. Epic. There is the option to sign up for the final stage: Half Marathon around a volcanic crater. It will be the adventure of a lifetime!

Open water swimming is becoming increasingly popular, with people all over the world taking to the outdoors in a lake, ocean, or other bodies of open water, but the question is why are so many people taking the plunge? Let’s take a look at the benefits.

Open Space

With no pool walls or lanes, you can swim in your own space and at your own pace without the concern of anyone tapping at your heels and avoid the lane rage that some people get which can ruin a session. You also feel like you’re getting somewhere rather seeing the same wall over and over again. There is a great sense of achievement looking back to where you’ve swam from and seeing the fruits of your labour.

Being at one with nature

It is a relaxing yet exhilarating experience to be out there as nature intended with plenty of stimulus to keep your mind occupied. It’s recommended to swim in a lake in a controlled environment first before trying out the ocean.

Expanding your social circle

The social benefits are great! There are lots of groups of open water swimmers who get together on a regular basis to enjoy a nice and often cold dip. There is a camaraderie in this sport like no other. You don’t have to participate in the sport to race or even be competitive; you can do it for the sheer enjoyment of being out there.

Physically and mentally challenging

Acclimatising to the cold temperatures of the open water is pretty testing – pushing you both physically and mentally! The heat loss from your skin can be up to 70 times greater than air of equal temperature, therefore training your body's cold responses is sometimes as much of an achievement as completing the swim itself!

For beginners, wetsuits are recommended to help adjust to the water’s temperature and can improve buoyancy. It is also a great challenge knowing you have no floor to stand up on or side to hang onto, so it does offer a challenge that isn’t there in a confined pool environment.

Increases energy

Cold water can increase energy levels, nerve endings stand up and your heart starts racing - it is the best possible way to get a natural high!

Weight loss

When your body is exposed to cold, it requires more heat to warm you up. Therefore, to do so your body has to process more energy, helping you burn fat more efficiently and increase your metabolism. You will burn approximately 200 more calories per hour more in cold water than in warm pool water when swimming at a similar speed and it provides an all over body workout, so is one of the best forms of exercise there is (and you can get stuck into that bacon sarnie guilt-free afterwards!)

Minimise Pain

Cold water immersion is a healing technique used among amateur and professional athletes to help with injury and muscle pain. Swimming in such cold water temperatures can have the same desired effect, helping to minimise pain if you have an injury – reducing chronic pain, body aches and inflammation.

Personal Achievement

Whether you complete your first open water swim or your first competition - simply adapting to the temperature of the water compared to the pool and not being able to see what’s below you is an achievement in itself. The sense of personal accomplishment is pretty amazing, whatever distance you want to cover, from 100 metres to 5k or even as part of an Ironman there is no limit to your enjoyment.

Immune system boost & other health benefits

It has been proven by scientists that by being immersed in cold water three times a week increases your white blood counts which helps fight infection and boost your immune system by activating antibodies and increasing metabolic rate. It also helps flush your circulation pushing blood through your arteries, capillaries and veins as well as flushing any impurities giving you a better feeling of wellbeing. It has even been proven cold water can reduce stress levels and even depression.

Its lots of fun!

It’s a great way to push your fitness, meet new people, laugh a lot and it won’t break the bank. However, beware it is addictive and once you try it you might get hooked like I did!

Let's Do This

The ultimate training conundrum: an extra 5 minutes in bed or an extra 5 minutes on the treadmill?

Hands up, who sacrifices hours of sleep for hours of training? I know the triathletes out there definitely do. Even though we are well aware that sleep is the most valuable part of our training schedule, we all seem to set our alarms for ridiculous o’clock in the morning to get those important minutes (or hours) of training in before work. This isn't exclusive to runners, triathletes or any discipline and I know for a fact that many cyclists out there get up at silly o’clock on a Saturday morning to make it to that club ride.

Without adequate rest, athletes just cannot perform at their best. Fact. Due to the demands that training places the body, more rest is not only recommended, but can contribute to stronger performances in training and on race day. Results showed that after four hours of sleep per night, athletes metabolised glucose less efficiently. In addition, levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, were also higher during periods of sleep deprivation. So, if you are cutting out the most valuable component of your training, you will not perform at your best. Simple.

Who struggles to go to bed early the night before a race?

Whether it's a 5k, marathon or Ironman, pre-race insomnia is a very common issue. Even the pros get nervous and have difficulty sleeping the night before a race. The added stress of traveling to a race or sleeping in a hotel can also rock your sleeping pattern.

However, I can assure you that one sleepless night before your marathon won't affect your performance, if you've been able to get good sleep the week leading up to the race. In fact, the pre-race adrenaline rush will help you feel alert and ready-to-go for your race. Many racers have set personal bests despite pre-race insomnia.

So, let’s try and sleep more and sleep better during periods of heavy training and before race day. Here is how:

Take out the stress factor

Lay everything you need out the night before the race. Remember the ‘nothing new on race day’ rule. Your race outfit and nutrition should all be items that you've tried out in training.

Fuel Up

Eat your dinner a few hours before you're ready to go to bed. That full feeling does not help when trying to fall asleep. Avoid caffeine & alcohol for at least six hours before bedtime.

Get ahead of the game

Have your pre-race breakfast and snacks prepped and ready to munch. Start winding down early. Have a hot bath, read a book or listen to some music or a podcast. Avoid looking at your phone.

Top Tip: If you have to be up for your race earlier than usual, try to gradually shift your sleep schedule in the days leading up to the race so that you're going to bed and waking up earlier. That way, it won't feel like a dramatic change when you try to hit the hay much earlier than usual on the night before your race.

So, the lesson here about sleep is MORE is MORE!

Let's Do This

Over the past year we’ve been chatting to athletes nationwide to discover some of the best 10k races in the UK, and below we’ve given you a rundown of our top picks. These range from scenic to urban; hilly to flat; local to global; community-driven to mass-participation. From the simple “let’s crack out this pre-breakfast Sunday morning 10k” to the runs that are closer in tempo to a rock concert. We hope it opens your eyes to what’s out there and inspires you to try something a bit different. 

1. Weybridge 10k

Where? Weybridge - 20 mins south west of London

The route: One big flat loop, running through the historical town of Weybridge and along the river Thames. 

Why Run it?

Accessibility and atmosphere. It’s also a great place to aim for your 10k PB

With Weybridge being just 20 mins outside London, this is a super accessible race to get to. The start line is like a daytime party with nearly 2,000 athletes of all abilities lining up to blaring music creating a great atmosphere. Once the gun goes you can run at your own pace on closed road along the Thames and through Weybridge and you receive what we think is a pretty sweet medal at the end.

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2. Simply Health Great North 10k

Where? Newcastle-Upon-Tyne

The route: A scenic course up and down the River Tyne, under the Tyne bridge and finishing in the Gateshead International Stadium. 

Why Run it?

It’s an iconic and community powered 10k with great scenery and atmosphere

This really is one of the marquee 10k’s of the North with an epic turnout, a great family atmosphere with the whole city turning up to support you on - you will feel like a rockstar! Logistically it’s easy to get to, park, collect your race packs and (once you’re done) get to the pub for a big jar of warm Newcastle Brown. Really fun race, just as it should be. 

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3. Wakefield 10k - (North, Leeds)

Where? Wakefield, Leeds

The route: It’s an out-and-back course on closed roads 

Why Run it?

Cracking community-driven atmosphere in aid of a great cause

This is a real ‘feel good’ 10k. It’s a back-to-basics epic and all for a great cause (Wakefield Hospice). The route is on closed roads with overexcited spectators cheering you on the whole way. From the outside it looks like a pokey little event, but the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Just check out the reviews we received here! Easy to get to and a great day out. If you’re local, it’s a must.

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4. Running Grand Prix Oulton Park

Where? Oulton Park, Cheshire

The route: Laps around the actual motor circuit 

Why Run it?

Super enjoyable/niche course, easy to park and well organised

Did you always want to be an F1 driver but realised the barriers to entry are ridiculous? This could be the race for you. Really cool and novel course, great atmosphere and overall something a bit different from the usual park or city set up. Really easy to access and well-organised. It rained this year which didn't dampen anyone’s spirit as the feedback was overwhelmingly positive.

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5. Hyde Park 10k 

Where? Hyde Park, London

The route: Two laps around the iconic Hyde Park

Why Run it?

It’s an iconic and affordable run - a must-do wherever you are from in the UK

This is one of our personal favourites as its defines a great evening of running with over a thousand other like-minded runners looking for a bit of post-work fun. It has fantastic views in the heart of London and one of the most accessible 10k’s out there. The Race Organiser is known for putting on well-organised and affordable events and this is exactly what they have delivered. (It’s also very easy to get to the pub afterwards.)

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6. The Hadleigh Legacy 10k

Where? Hadleigh, Suffolk

The route: Hill and muddy 10k following the 2012 Olympic Mountain Bike course. 

Why Run it?

A great course and atmosphere - run around a piece of Olympic history

For many this is the ‘must-do’ race of the year. The feedback is that the course is a true epic as it’s both challenging and scenic. We talked to runners in their teens and some in their late 60’s who couldn’t stop banging on about how well-organised the whole event was and how friendly the marshals were. It’s a perfect trail run.

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7. Mapledurham 10k

Where? Mapledurham, Reading

The route: Hilly loop along the Thames

Why Run it? 

Challenging course and great atmosphere. 

Get some hill training as it’s short, sharp and muddy. It’s a testing yet digestible trail run, with no huge frills. You rock up and park next to the start line, run around the beautiful English countryside and get a pretty epic medal at the end. With the option to do 10 miles if you’re feeling fresh, you make what you want of it. It’s a great morning activity and we can’t recommend it more.

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8. Burrator 10k

Where? Burrator Reservoir, Plymouth

The route: Flat loop around the Burrator Reservoir in Dartmoor

Why Run it 

Scenic and a fast course on traffic free roads with a great atmosphere.

We love the Burrator 10k as it ticks all the boxes for a ‘great little 10k’. The course is free of all traffic and mostly flat so you can set down a sweet PB. It’s affordable with prices kicking off at £18 and super easy to park so convenient too. It also has a great atmosphere with a load of supporters cheering you on to the finish where you get a medal and snacks. We loved it and I’m sure you will too. 

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9. Rugged Radnage

Where? Radnage, Buckinghamshire

The route: Big loop around the Chiltern Hills - Half tarmac, half muddy hills.

Why Run it?

A fun and scenic course with a great atmosphere

‘Rugged by name, rugged by nature’ was one bit of feedback we got from this hybrid course of tarmac and muddy hills. It is testing and the debate over whether to wear trail or road shoes rages on. It does however cater for all abilities with friendly marshalls helping you along the way. Set in High Wycombe, its very close to the train station and easy to park. It’s a fun and well-organised 10k that we all think you’ll love. 

10. Medway 10

Where? Medway, Kent

The route: One loop around Medway's parkland and roads

Why Run it?

“It’s just a great event all-round.” This is one review we received from Sue Nel which perfectly sums it up. “Driving for an hour to compete in a 10km comes with a checklist & expectations, this race is now a must do on my list, perfect venue with the start & finish on a super track, changing facilities, and adequate parking. Good water points & marshals. Enjoyed the different components of the route, always like a challenge!” We loved it; Sue loved it; we think you’ll love it too. 

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Let's Do This

One of the biggest mistakes serious runners make is to just run more miles, without varying their training to drive adaptation in other beneficial ways. Here are 4 things to work on to spice up your training as you work towards that 5k, 10k, half or marathon PB. 

1. Increase your mass-specific force with a hex bar deadlift:

“Faster top running speeds are achieved with greater ground forces not more rapid leg movements”, is the title of a well-known study by Dr. Peter Weyand which concludes that mass-specific force is king. Whether you’re a sprinter or a distance runner, it’s the amount of ground force you generate relative to your body mass that’s the biggest determinant of stride length and stride frequency - in other words, speed! On average, it takes 55,000 strides to run a marathon. If you can increase your stride length by increasing your mass-specific force and your normal running gait, you can move nearly a mile further with the same number of strides.That’s a pretty significant gain towards your marathon PB.

Ok, so how can I increase my mass-specific force? 

According to the Senior Director of Performance at Nike, Ryan Flaherty, who trained Olympic medalist Meb Keflezighi for his Boston marathon win, the best exercise to increase ground force is a hex bar deadlift. As Flaherty explained on a podcast episode with Tim Ferriss; 

“the biggest thing was teaching him that by hex bar deadlift training...he could stress his nervous system, recruit larger motor units without adding any weight. He started at 127 pounds, ended at 127 pounds, and by just introducing that one exercise – I didn’t touch his running or touch anything else that he did in the weight room; it was simply that one exercise – once a week, it improved his stride length and his running gait, which in turn helped him run faster.”

Here’s a good illustration of how to do a hex bar deadlift. 

2. Midfoot strike under the pelvis:

As Flaherty goes on to say, in addition to building strength relative to body mass, the mechanics of a midfoot strike directly under the pelvis is also crucial. A lot of runners over-stride - meaning that their foot is landing in front of the pelvis, even if only by a few centimeters or millimeters, which generates less ground force with more energy. Anyone who over-strides will know how tiring and painful this is over the course of a marathon.

So how to practise striking under the pelvis? As a rule of thumb, it will normally feel like you are under-striding to begin with, and you should notice a higher cadence. Ask a friend to film you and notice where your foot lands. Also ensure that you keep working your core, which will help you maintain high hips to gain maximum power and stride length benefit. 

3. Barefoot strides:

There are pros and cons of barefoot running. Pros include development of the muscles, tendons and ligaments of the foot, lengthening and strengthening of the Achilles tendon and calf muscle and learning to strike with the forefoot rather than heel. That said, one should definitely not go all in on this without starting small and building up slowly, to avoid risk of injury. Try adding in one barefoot session a week or fortnight (be kind to yourself - find a grass field) consisting of drills and strides to maintain good form throughout. 

4. Nasal Breathing:

The simple act of closing your mouth when running can have a number of positive effects on your training, in particular for slower, lower HR zone running sessions. As most serious runners know, it's important to include slower, lower HR zone runs to build endurance and nasal breathing is a good way to restrict speed and intensity in these sessions. The natural filtration provided by the nostrils also means that cleaner, more humid air reaches your lungs. And nose breathing tends to facilitate proper diaphragm function, helping to activate the core as you run. Most important, it can help athletes to build up their CO2 tolerance and provide a feeling of a 6th gear in that big race effort when you remember you also have a mouth to inhale oxygen through!

So there you have it. Give these a go and see if you can beat your 5k, 10k, half marathon or marathon PB.

Let's Do This