The Sunburst Races in South Bend, Indiana have something for all the family - a marathon, a half marathon, a 10K, a 5K and a family walk - seriously, they have everything. More than 2,000 runners and walkers participate in all of the races, so they have everybody, too!

The Sunburst Races are held every year. In 2009, it will be their 26th year. They start every year's events with the Friday Night Family Walk. Like it says, it's a walk for the whole family (baby strollers and baby joggers welcome), and everybody who participates gets a Family Walk t-shirt. This is one of the few walks left in the country that still allows headphones, but organizers caution participants to be careful as they really don't want to scrape you up off the street later! (BTW, headphones are not allowed on the marathon or half marathon.)

On Saturday, the more serious events begin. The marathon starts at the College Football Hall of Fame (Notre Dame, of course) and is run on a pretty flat course with only one half-mile incline and a couple of minor hills.

The half marathon follows the marathon's first three miles but then veers off into Keller Park, finishing the race back on the marathon's course and on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. And participants in both races get cool t-shirts. The 5K, 10K and the fitness walk all start between 7:15 a.m. and 9 a.m.

Sunburst does a great job with services too. There are tons of water stations, Gatorade fluid replacement stations, energy gel is available on the course, and they even hand out bananas for that all-important potassium. But the best bit of all: there is massage therapy provided at the finish line by massage therapy students from Davenport University. I'd throw on my running shoes and run in any marathon if I had massage therapy to look forward to at the end of it.

The Sunburst Races also has awesome finish line food (last year provided by Meijer supermarkets,) and there was everything!

I really like the Sunburst Races. Indiana is one of the prettiest American states, I think, with its rolling hills, green fields and clear blue skies. When these races start early in the morning, you really feel like you're running in nature, so it's worth running one just so you can feel that. Right?

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.