But it takes some thing else to full the feat wearing a sweltering head-to-toe fancy outfit costume.

Every year, thousands of London Marathon runners take for the streets of the capital in weird and wonderful fancy outfit costumes to raise money for charity, or merely for the fun of it.

Celebrities and royals even get involved within the outfit drama with Princess Beatrice completing the circuit dressed as a caterpillar.

And Emmerdale actor Tony Audenshaw raced home in an striking 3hrs 13mins dressed as a giant baby.

Some runners even go above and beyond with elaborate fancy outfit structures.

In 2010, 21-year-old Jean Paul Delacy bagged the Guinness World Record for the ‘tallest costume, running the marathon’ by completing the course in 5hrs 55mins wearing a 23ft giraffe outfit.

Whatever the reason, individuals runners resulted in the London Marathon bringing a smile for the faces of fellow runners and spectators alike.

Whether you are training on from Six Foot Track or aiming for The North Face, this race should suit you. Hope to see a few of you out there.

For anyone not familiar with the area, the course circles the Jamison Valley and takes in portions of The North Face course. The most significant part of the course, as the name implies, is the traverse over Mt. Solitary.

There are qualifying standards contained in the information pack. All cuts are designed to ensure that runners complete the course in daylight hours. There will be a fair degree of self sufficiency in the first portion of the 45km course. There is no other way to describe this portion of the course, other than rugged, steep and technical in parts. The course will be fully marked, but there will still need to be a degree of self navigation to remain on course.

http://www.runningwildnsw.com/mt-solitary-ultra/

Incorporating The Canberra Times Canberra Marathon along with a Half Marathon and fun runs, the Australian Running Festival offers an event for all abilities, from serious runners to joggers, wheelchairs, pushers and walkers.

The following runs will be held in the Nation’s Capital this April:

• Saturday, April 14, 2012 – 5km and 10km fun runs.

• Sunday, April 15, 2012 – Half Marathon, Marathon and Ultra Marathon.

Australian Running Festival aims to raise much needed funds for charity. Last year the event raised more than $80,000 for charities across the country and you can help us raise even more in 2012.

http://www.runningfestival.com.au/

http://www.coolrunning.com.au/fatass/hq/index.php?title=Cliff_2_Cliff

Cadbury has been the major partner every step of the way. The current course starts and finishes at the picturesque Cadbury Estate in the northern suburbs of Hobart, taking in many of Hobart’s scenic delights such as Mt Wellington and the Derwent River.

http://www.cadburymarathon.com.au/

According to Lord, the XTERRA Lite was great. “The swim was nice and flat. I think I was second out the water. I didn’t see the guy ahead of me on the mountain bike. I only saw him for the first time on the run, passing him on the ‘beach’ section. I much rather want to race XTERRA over road triathlon. It’s a lot more fun and has more depth to it. I love it and will definitely be back next year,” says Lord. Craig Andrews came in second, while Bradley Schuit finished third.

For Weber the single track was the highlight of the day. “The XTERRA Lite was awesome. I loved the single track both on the bike and the run. When it comes to swimming I feel like a cat in water, but I absolutely loved the mountain bike and run routes. This is my fourth XTERRA. I love the atmosphere and will definitely be back next year,” says Weber. Madelie van der Westhuizen came in second, while Monique Nel finished third.

Totalsports XTERRA Lite Warriors had to complete a 400m swim, 12.5km mountain bike and 5km trail.

New Balance Trail Run: Just over 150 runners took part in the 5km and 10km New Balance Trail Run in Grabouw on Saturday, 25 February 2012. Dawid Visser took no prisoners in the 10km men’s race, while Nicole Marais was the runner to beat in the ladies race.

According to Visser the route was really technical. “I don’t think the XTERRA Full athletes know what they are up against tomorrow. The run route is seriously technical with a lot of ups, downs and loads of obstacles. I went into the race with the idea of using it as a speed session. Rohan Kennedy and I stuck together until the 5km mark. It was on the hill section that I pulled away. Although I managed to make up time on the technical sections, Anele Mnukwa was really fast on the flats, managing to stay behind me. As a result I was pushed the entire race. The New Balance Trail Run fits really well with the XTERRA weekend. Families are able to join in the fun either by participating or relaxing and showing support,” says Visser who completed the run in 44minutes42seconds. Anele Mnukwa came in second, while Rohan Kennedy finished third.

Nicole Marais was pleasantly surprised when she managed to finish ahead of Landie Visser. “Although I don’t run a lot, I really love trail running especially the technical aspect of having to get a strategy in place. Today’s run was awesome with short hills and technical sections. It was different to other routes. I really enjoyed it and will definitely be back next year,” says Marais who completed the 10km route in 53minutes44secs. Landie Visser came in second, while Yolandi Visser finished third.

Kirsten Hahnebeck was the first lady home in the 5km New Balance Trail Run. Emily Hodgson came in second, while Orianne Wallace finished third.

Stefan Botma took gold in the 5km New Balance Trail Run men’s race. Graeme Cherry came in second, while Richard Haller finished third.

South African XTERRA Championship: Excitement builds as XTERRA Warriors prepare for the Totalsports XTERRA South African Championship presented by REHIDRAT® SPORT on Sunday, 26 February 2012.

Venue: Grabouw Country Club, Western Province

Event Start: 08h30

Event Format: 1.5km swim, 25km mountain bike and 10km trail run

Pro athletes to watch out for on the day will include four-time XTERRA World Champion Conrad Stoltz, South African multi sport legend Dan Hugo, German XTERRA Warrior Nico Pfitzenmaier, Stuart Marais, Justin Porteous, Tyronne White, Daniel Carleton, Carla van Huyssteen, Carina Wasle and Lezandre Joubert.

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For more information on the TOTALSPORTS XTERRA presented by REHIDRAT® SPORT contact Stillwater Sport & Entertainment on 086 138 3591, email entries@stillwatersports.com or visit www.stillwatersports.com.

For example a T-shirt design was organized earlier during the year which bore the theme of Runniny by the Sea and saw the entries of more than 120 children from all over Sussex.  Samuel Blackwell, 13, from Hove who was the winner will get a pair of Brooks trainer and a cash voucher for art equipment while at the same time have the privilege of seeing his design being printed on the T-shirts of runners for this year’s event. 

The races will accommodate runners from ages 8 to 16 and is organized by the Sussex Beacon, which is a charity that supports people with HIV/Aids.

The event organizer Darryll Whaley of Walnut Creek said that participants are coming from countries as far as Mexico and Australia.  The half marathon which will kick off at 7 a.m will start on South Broadway near Whole Foods and run about seven miles east of downtown Walnut Creek.  They will subsequently run in reverse direction on Ygnacio Valley Road and head back downtown to finish the track at Civic Park. i

As far as the 10K race is concerned it will start at the corner of Broadway and Civic Drive and cover the same track as the half marathon but turning around at Oak Grove Road.  For the 5K the start will be at Civic Park and will go downwards to Iron Horse Trail to the Junction with the Contra Costa Canal Trail and to Walden Park.  

Registration is already open for interested runners and you have to register prior to the big day since there is no race day registration.  All funds which will be raised for the marathon will be donated to local high school athletics.