With running becoming a serious hobby in urban India now, here are two events that are as enjoyable — because of their spectacular locations — as challenging for those people who have built up the necessary stamina, experience and mental focus. The Thar desert race, which held its inaugural edition in 2009 but missed out the next two years, is on this year. This multi-day race, which features 168 to 180 km in three days, is being held over February 17 to 19. Beginning at 6 am on February 17, it will end after 42 hours on February 19. This is for the 100-mile race; there are also 50-mile and 30-mile categories, which will start on February 18 at 6 am and end after 18 hours and 10 hours, respectively.

The starting point is Fort Pokhran and the terrain is difficult and varied, with salt flats, rocky sections and soft sand dunes. But the best of the desert will be on show, with rains in January providing some fresh greenery, which is mentally soothing to fatigued runners. There will also be changes in elevation. The two longer races will track a route into the desert and back to the fort while the 30-mile one will end in the desert. These runners will be transported back to the fort.

The race fees are Rs 10,500 (100-mile race), Rs 9,500 (50-mile race) and Rs 8,500 (30-mile race). This includes travel to the fort and back, food and drink at stations, a goodies bag, medal, certificate and the concluding dinner at the fort. It does not include the cost of travel to and from Pokhran and accommodation there. The organisers also emphasise that accommodation at the fort is limited and reservations should be made as quickly as possible — atfortpokaran.com.

For the race, participants need to take personal water bottles or drinking packs, appropriate hats, caps, long-sleeved jerseys and shoe gators. The pre-race meeting will be held at the fort on February 15 at 6 pm for the 100-milers, and on February 16 (6 pm) for the 50-milers and 30-milers. To register for the race, go to http://tinyurl.com/6odc2yq.

For the ambitious (read fit) runners, there is an opportunity to take part in the Siberian Black Ice race – the first multi-discipline race across Lake Baikal. Entries close on January 31 and the race is from March 17 to April 10 (Siberian Black Ice Marathon) and March 28 (Siberian Black Ice Sprint). The pre-race meeting will be held on March 15. The marathon event is 379 miles while the sprint event is 155 miles. The marathon has a cut-off time of 14 days while it is seven days for the sprint. The disciplines included are walking, cycling, walking/running, skiing, skating, kite skiing and kite buggying. This is an open event and both male and female categories are included. The race fee is 1,250 pounds, and does not include travel, accommodation, visa fees and other expenses.

In addition to the spectacular landscape of Siberia and the experience of racing in its extreme environment, the marathoners (though not the sprinters) will also get to travel on the fabled Trans-Siberian Express.

This is an endurance race in sub-zero conditions and only those with experience and aptitude will be allowed to enter. If you do qualify, contact the organisers at polarelitefoundation@extremeworldraces.com or +44 (0)1285 860440.