5 Races Especially Worth Running (Because They’re in Beautiful Places)

Held every winter during Cambodia's dry season, the Angkor Wat International Half Marathon provides what is easily the most unusual way to experience the ruins of Siem Reap. Started in 1996 as a way to raise funds for Cambodian land mine victims, this internationally renowned running event offers both able-bodied and alter-abled athletes the chance to race alongside ancient temples at sunrise. Events include 10ks for those with artificial limbs, and a half marathon for both runners and wheelchair users. 

Held on the beautiful island nation of Malta, the annual Malta Marathon provides runners of all performance levels with an opportunity to whiz by some of the country's most beautiful historic sites. The marathon and the half marathon both start outside of Mdina, Malta's former capital (and currently under consideration for UNESCO World Heritage status); there's also a "walkathon" option for those wanting to do the half-marathon distance but who may not be prepared to run the whole thing. 

One of the more spectacular Southern Hemisphere races, the high-altitude Patagonian International Marathon takes places every spring (in September) in the Chilean part of Patagonia, not far from the Torres del Paine National Park. Running options include a marathon, half-marathon, and 10k, with challenging routes wrapping through the countryside, passing by pristine lakes and rugged snow-capped mountains. 

If you like running in nature but still prefer paved roads to all-out trail running, the Avenue of the Giants Marathon in Northern California's Redwood Forest is an excellent option. This annual forest run through the takes place on the first Sunday of May every year, and all the courses follow a mostly flat trajectory along the area's famous Avenue of the Giants, flanked by old-growth Redwood trees, some over 300 feet high.

Few people can say they've summited Mount Kilimanjaro, and even fewer can say they ran a marathon at the famous mountain. Though the Kilimanjaro Marathon isn't actually a mountaintop run, traveling to Tanzania to run a race will certainly earn you bragging rates. Full and half marathon options and a 5k fun run are available; there's also a wheelchair/handycycle 10k. Courses pass through villages, coffee and banana farms, and villages, with plenty of live entertainment at the finish line.


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