Marathon Bucket List

I'm a dreamer. 

On a daily basis I will come up with a new occupation I'd like to try, or a new destination that needs visiting. These days those destinations are more often than not places that hold marathons and the list is getting pretty long. It drives my family crazy..

In the hope of giving my family a break, here's a little post of my 'Running Bucket List'; The current top 10 races I'd love to conquer. Let me know if any of these are top of your list, or if you can think of any I should add! 

10. London Marathon

I'll be 100% honest here and say that I don't fully agree with some aspects of the London Marathon and think that it's a little overrated.. but it's still a race that I'd like to say I've run. Pounding the streets of London with epic crowds would be an awesome experience, but I'll be waiting for my ballot place to come through (in 10 years maybe!) or aim to get a Good For Age place. 

9. Tokyo Marathon

The five other Marathon Majors are on this list, so I'd love to make the set and do all six (apparently you get a certificate too!). Tokyo would be awesome.. because y'know.. Japan. It's a great country and very culturally different from the UK so I feel like running a marathon there would be a real experience.

8. Boston Marathon

Boston is definitely a dream for me, as the qualifying time is a lot faster than my current PB. Nothing is impossible though.. 

7. Berlin Marathon

We all know that the current world record was run in Berlin, and simply for that reason I would like to have a go at this one. If I've ever got a chance of breaking 4 hours for a marathon, it will be here!

6. Chicago Marathon

I was actually lucky enough to be accepted for the Chicago Marathon in 2015 with a friend, but unfortunately when it came down to it, it all got a little too expensive and would have broken the bank. This is still up there on the to-do list though and looks like a marathon with a really fun vibe.

5. Uganda Marathon

In 2015, the first Uganda International Marathon was held in Masaka. By entering, you sign up to a week in Uganda beforehand helping out with charity projects in villages nearby. I followed the journey of many runners last year and was so inspired by the unique nature of this race and the experience you are given in the week that you're over there. I would absolutely LOVE to make this trip of a lifetime and have it on my radar for 2017.

4. The Great Wall Marathon

Now this marathon is cool. Tipped as one of the most challenging marathons in the world, the Great Wall Marathon does what it says on the tin and takes you up, down and along the Great Wall of China, as well as through nearby villages. Like the Uganda Marathon, a package trip is offered for a week and looks like really good fun. 

3. Los Angeles Marathon

The idea of seeing more of LA than Disneyland excites me massively (sorry Mickey!). I feel like the LA Marathon 'stadium to sea' course is an awesome way to see parts of the city that are usually packed with traffic. It could be a very good way to kick off a two week LA break?! 

2. New York City Marathon

Watching the NYC Marathon on TV is pretty much an annual event for me. Each year I'll sit there, inspired and determined that next year I'll be there. It hasn't happened yet, but it won't be long!

1. Kauai Marathon, Hawaii

Hawaii is somewhere I have always wanted to visit but never had the chance, and I feel like the Kauai Marathon would make a very good excuse. From what I've read there are serious hills and the temperatures are ridiculous, but it looks stunning and this is absolutely number one on my list right now.