Located in the densely forested Brazilian state Para, the Jungle Marathon offers runners a 100km or 200km race through some of the world’s most challenging, awe-inspiring jungle terrain. Competitors have to carry all their own food and equipment and spend nights sleeping in hammocks along the shore of the Amazon River. Team Men’s Fitness will be running the Jungle Marathon later this year, so look out for reports on it in the mag and on the site.

Taking its name from the five biggest South African game animals – lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffalos – this course meanders through the Entabeni private game reserve, located halfway between Johannesburg and the Kruger National Park. Reassuringly, the route is patrolled by armed rangers to ensure you don’t become a lion’s lunch.

Starting and finishing outside the Superdome, this flat, fast 26.2-mile run through the Big Easy takes in the world-famous French Quarter. You can return to the latter once you’ve finished the race for a Bourbon Street celebration of your new PB.

Taking place at 66° North, this marathon takes runners over a permanent 3km-thick ice cap. It takes place in autumn when there’s almost 24 hours of daylight and it doesn’t get much warmer than -10°C. 

If you're going to take on any of the above, you'll want to perfect your running technique and do these endurance running exercises.