The BUPA Great Yorkshire Run in England is near and dear to my heart because I originally come from the British county of Yorkshire. The run also benefits cancer research in the UK, and as my uncle died of lung cancer, I like to support cancer research wherever I can.

Yorkshire is famous for its people and its scenery. Yorkshire people are a bit dour, serious and abrupt, yet, when you get to know them, you realize they are some of the kindness people in the world. Yorkshire people just don't believe in wasting time on niceties or being evasive if they can be honest. What you see is what you get in Yorkshire, and that, for me, has always been where I feel comfortable. Yorkshire scenery is bleak and cold and very bare, but beautiful in its honesty - just like Yorkshire people.

The BUPA Great Yorkshire Run is run by Yorkshire people. They're upfront and direct with the stereotypical Yorkshire honesty. But they also organize a great race and they'll make darn sure you have a good time running in it too. It does rain a lot in Yorkshire though, so make sure you wear running shoes with good grip, just in case.

The Great Yorkshire Run is a 10K race that starts in downtown Sheffield. Thousands of runners attend, but the race is usually run by Kenyan runners. Last year, however, in both men's and women's standings the Aussies did really well, and the Brits weren't far behind.

The BUPA Great Yorkshire Run is also part of the Great North Run series of races. The Great North Run itself is the world's most popular half-marathon road race, where almost 50,000 runners participate every year. The Great Yorkshire Run will be held this year on September 7th, 2008 and all runners will receive medals for completing the race. It's only the second time this race has ever been run, so get in on the ground floor and you can say you were one of the first to run in it. The run also has 2K and 3K races for kids, which means there's something for everyone in the family. And don't forget; get to know some Yorkshire folks while you're there. You won't be sorry.