It’s not every day that you spot a woman running full speed ahead in a marathon wearing a hijab on her head to show the world her faith in such a dramatic way. After all, Nur Illiana Bte Mohamad Malek is usually surrounded by women in shorts, crop tops and singlets, yet her devotion to Islam requires her to dress modestly, no matter what she does in public. Does it get hot under that head covering? She says no – but even if it did, this vivacious teacher would probably just make a joke of it anyway!

Taupo: renowned for being one of the most stunning event locations in the world. Home of the New Zealand Ironman, this picturesque lakeside town is now home to New Zealand’s newest marathon, happening on Saturday, 1 August 2015.

Are you headed to Vietnam? You’ll want to make sure you get in your daily jog. While not exactly known as a runner’s paradise, there are plenty of trails to be followed and mountains to be scaled once you escape the busyness of places like Ho Chi Minh City. Here are just nine spots where you can flee or even utilise the crowds for a great run.

Not too far from our Singapore shores, sits an island full of natural wonders. Known for unique annual red crab migration, and rare and unusual bird sightings, it boats glorious deserted beaches where the only footprints in the sand are those made by nesting turtles. This submarine mountain summit, located 2600km north-west of Perth, Western Australia, is none other than the exotic Christmas Island.

Japan hosts several well-known and well-loved races all year round but this is one truly colourful and profoundly humanitarian initiative. Aiming to help people develop a deeper understanding of charitable activities, the Osaka Marathon encourages race participants, and even supporters on the sidelines and volunteers, to participate in various charity programs.

Even fully engaged athletes don’t always see the connection between mind and body, but Marion Neubronner does. This wise, insightful and intelligent woman spends her waking hours helping people change and heal in her capacity as a writer, psychologist, coach and counsellor. She changes people’s lives, but the overachiever – with too many undergraduate and graduate degrees to list here – considers it all in a day’s work.