Autumn brings with it the arrival of the eagerly anticipated Londen marathon ballot results and subsequently a lot of marathon excitement in the UK. There's no question that running a marathon is an incredible achievement and large scale events like Londen, Manchester and Brighton attract thousands of runners every year. Whether you're chasing a PB or running for charity, it's a race you'll never forget. But if taking on a road marathon doesn't appeal to you then it's hard to know where to look for something that comes close to the classic 26.2 miles. We've pulled together our top five marathon alternatives. Whether you're looking for a tough fundraising challenge or for something a little different to get excited about then look no further.

Britain has a huge variety of 5K races to enter, whatever your running ability. From raising money for charity on the road to fleeing the undead on the trails, here are five 5K runs to sign up to today:

These kicks look so good you won't want to take them off

Road running shoes are the most common type of trainers and are usually what most people think of as 'running shoes'. They're designed to be highly shock-absorbant to help protect your joints against the impact of harder surfaces, reducing the risk of injury and giving you a more comfortable ride.

Whether you’re running along towpaths, through fields, or up and down mountain trails, having durable trail running shoes with good grip is vital. Proper footwear will give you the confidence you need in your feet to stopping second-guessing your every step, helping you run faster and more efficiently.

To help you tackle the toughest off-road terrain we’ve put together this guide on how to choose the best trail shoes for you.

During winter, it's hard to get outside with the cold weather and shorter days. However, just because it’s dark outside, doesn’t mean we have to confine ourselves to the indoors. Whether it’s going for a hike in the hills on the weekend, trying to keep fit over the winter months or just taking the dog for a walk, a head torch is an essential piece of kit for us to be able to continue all of our summer outdoor pursuits well into the depths of winter. 

Get to know what makes HOKA so special and discover some of our favourite running shoes.

We asked Pure Sports Strength and Conditioning Coach James Phillips how to reduce our risk of running injuries without compromising on running performance.

Take a look at the Runners Need team's picks of the best road running shoes for 2020.

Run the Wild's Karin Voller explains what, where, when, why and how to stay hydrated when you're out running.

RockTape UK Medical Director Paul Coker gives us the lowdown on the injury prevention and rehabilitation technique taking the world of professional sport by storm.

A half marathon is a big feat, so make sure you keep on the right track with our tips for staying injury-free.

Getting back into running after some time off always comes with its stresses. Whether you are returning from injury or just coming back after a spell of time off, it’s important to keep up motivation and train sensibly to prevent further injury. We follow Runners Needs buying director Francisco Baratta on his journey of recovery to his former fitness post injury - this week he shares with us his top 6 tips for getting back into running.