Oman by UTMB — Muscat Marathon

World-class organisation, a flat course, and one of January's best weather windows — Dubai offers a genuine PB opportunity in winter sunshine.

Qatar's flat, fast marathon along Doha's futuristic corniche — past the Pearl-Qatar artificial island, the Museum of Islamic Art, and Doha's soaring skyline above the Arabian Gulf.

The UAE capital's IAAF Gold Label marathon — a virtually flat course along the Abu Dhabi Corniche, past Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, through Yas Island's F1 circuit, and along the Arabian Gulf waterfront.

A flat beachside marathon along Tel Aviv's Mediterranean coast — through the UNESCO Bauhaus White City, along the Gordon Beach promenade, and through Jaffa's ancient port.

The flattest World Major — a loop through 29 of Chicago's neighbourhoods with the most inclusive crowd energy in American marathon running.

The world's fastest marathon course — dead flat, perfectly organised, and the site of more world records than any other race.

California's fastest marathon — a net-downhill point-to-point from Folsom to Sacramento, the most popular Boston qualifier on the US west coast.

One of America's flattest and fastest January marathons — a near-sea-level loop through downtown Houston and Memorial Park with world-class PB credentials.

One of Europe's fastest marathon courses — a dead-flat loop through Philips' hometown with aggressive pacers, elite competition, and near-zero elevation gain.