Which race is top of your bucket list? Most runners probably have multiple lists – trail races through stunning scenery, flat courses they reckon they can PB on, once-in-a-lifetime destination races … Now that I have done four of the six World Marathon Majors, with the fifth – Chicago – lined up for October, I’ve started thinking of other marathons I’d like to do, once I’ve got that Six Star bling. And of course, once you start looking, you can quickly get lost down a wormhole of calendar-organising and race planning – before you realise you’ll need to mortgage the house again to afford all this travel.

My own list changes almost weekly – but this week two very different races feature. Firstly the Thunder Dragon marathon/half marathon in Bhutan – I mean, who wouldn’t want to go to Bhutan? It’s the happiest place on earth after all …. But a bit closer to home is Prague marathon. This year’s race took place yesterday, it goes through the most beautiful city in Europe*, the race organisation from the RunCzech team always gets rave reviews from participants, the organisers slogan is “All Runners are Beautiful” and the post-race beer is cheap. Plus, it’s been scientifically proven** that dumplings are the best form of carb loading. Sign me up for 2018 please.

But back to this weekend – two weeks post-London it was time to try and get the legs moving a little bit faster again, so I – well, raced would be stretching it. Slogged? – my around the Sutton 10k, part of the Surrey Road League. While big mass participation races are brilliant in their own way, I love races like this. Club runners galore, low key but brilliantly organised and cheery marshals giving up their Sunday mornings. Knowing that it was never going to be a fast one, I ran it ‘blind’ – or with my watch tucked into my pocket. A far better experience than the constant dispiriting feedback of “Blimey, that was slow” from your wrist.

*Source: me. And I’ll make you do 100 burpees if you argue.

**Source: me. See above.

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