Add running to your next holiday. More and more people seem to be turning to the sport of running as a method of keeping fit and healthy. As far as equipment is concerned running comes a close second to swimming for not needing any expensive or specialist kit.

Strangely, many people are attracted to running a marathon before they have even tried racing any other distance and so large marathons are held all over the world to cater for the demand. One of the more unusual marathons in the early part of the year is the Siberian ice Marathon. Actually this is a half marathon but don't think the shorter distance makes it any easier as temperatures in Ormsk, where the race is held, can fall to 40 below. If running in a cold damp UK during the months of January and February are not too enticing here are a couple of options that take place in warmer regions.

In late February the island of Malta hosts the Land Rover Malta Marathon on a route between Mdina and Sliema. Because the race starts and finishes in different places the organisers are able to offer a mainly downhill route, which proves attractive to those chasing a fast time. Last year a Belgian runner took victory against nearly 200 other runners, including many from the UK. The event has been held since 1986 and is a great reason to visit Malta during February.

For less serious athletes, the island of Ibiza is hosting an extreme running event on 8th February in San Antonio. This is as much a fun runner's event as a serious athletic challenge. The competitions take place on San Antonio's Arenal beach, where all kinds of courses with obstacles, water traps and tunnels are built from bales of hay, tyres and other materials. Competitors race each other, some in fancy dress, along the sandy course.

Last year the races attracted hundreds of people, both locals and holidaymakers, and marked the end of the San Antonio Fiesta, which runs for a month from early January to early February. The weather was kind with sun warming the air brought in by a fresh breeze and if the island lives up to typical conditions the weather this year should be a mild, dry 16 degrees Celsius.

Flythomascook.com flies to Malta from Manchester every week during the winter and from 10 additional airports during the spring and summer.