Did your New Year’s resolution, like mine, have anything to do with getting fit in 2008? Did you envision yourself taking up running, or tackling it a whole lot more seriously, in the months to come? Why not make it all the more real, and add a healthy dose of incentive, by signing up for a running-related event here and now? And if choose an event taking place in an area you’ve long wanted to see, you’ll have a trip and the chance to reach a goal rolled into one.

I’ve been toying with the idea of half-marathon, but how to choose when there are so many? My wish list is short -- not too hot, and not too hilly. Advice for me, anyone?

Marathoners are probably already familiar with the many Web sites dedicated to their chosen sport; newcomers might find their bearings by taking a peek at the Web site of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races. The site lists marathons and other distance events.

Building upon the good information provided by this site, I’ve compiled a short list of events in Europe and a couple in the Mideast that could be of particular interest to Stripes readers.

Dubai Standard Chartered Marathon, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Jan. 18.

RAK International Half Marathon, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 8.

28º Maratón Popular de Valencia, Valencia, Spain, Feb. 17.

Maraton de la Ciudad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain, Feb. 24.

Giuseppe Verdi Country Marathon, Salsomaggiore, Italy, Feb. 24.

Marato de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain, March 2.

Ferrara Marathon, Ferrara, Italy, March 9.

Lago Maggiore Half Marathon, Lago Maggiore, Italy, March 9.

City of Rome Marathon, Rome, Italy, March 16.

Hervis Prague Half Marathon, Prague, Czech Republic, March 29.

Novi Sad Half Marathon, Novi Sad, Serbia, March 30.

Treviso Marathon, Treviso, Italy, March 30.

Marathon de Monaco, Monaco, March 30.

Vattenfall Berlin Half Marathon, Berlin, Germany, April 6.

Paris International Marathon, Paris, France, April 6.

Fortis Marathon, Rotterdam, Netherlands, April 13.

Turin Marathon, Turin, Italy, April 13.

Flora London Marathon, London, UK, April 13.

Zurich Marathon, Zurich, Switzerland, April 20.

Nice International Half Marathon, Nice, France, April 20.

Vienna City Marathon, Vienna, Austria, April 27.

iWelt Marathon, Wurzburg, Germany, April 27.

Marathon Popular de Madrid, Madrid, Spain, April 27.

Maratona Sant Antonio, Padova, Italy, April 27.

Enschede Marathon, Enschede, Netherlands, April 27.

Maratona d'Europa, Trieste, Italy, May 4.

Cracovia Marathon, Krakow, Poland, May 4.

Pisa Marathon, Pisa, Italy, May 11.

Volkswagen Prague International Marathon, Prague, Czech Republic, May 11.

Marathon Treh SRC, Radenci, Slovenia, May 17.

Karstadt Marathon, Oberhausen and Dortmund, Germany, May 18.

Glitnir Copenhagen Marathon, Copenhagen, Denmark, May 18.

Nordea Riga Marathon & Half Marathon, Riga, Latvia, May 18.

Stockholm Marathon, Stockholm, Sweden, May 31.

Midnight Sun Marathon and Half Marathon, June 21, Norway.

Zermatt Marathon, Zermatt, Switzerland, July 5.

Swiss Alpine Marathon, Davos, Switzerland, July 26.

Jungfrau Marathon, Jungfrau, Switzerland, Sept. 6.

Stockholm Half Marathon, Stockholm, Sweden, Sept. 6.

Vilnius Marathon, Vilnius, Lithuania, Sept. 13.

Reebok Bristol Half Marathon, Bristol, UK, Sept. 14.

real Marathon, Berlin, Germany, Sept. 27-28.

Dexia Bil Route du Vin Half Marathon, Luxembourg, Sept. 28.

Geneva Marathon and Semi Marathon, Geneva, Switzerland, Sept. 28.

Turin Half Marathon, Turin, Italy, Sept. 28.

Maratonina "Citta Di Udine", Udine, Italy, Sept. 28.

Budapest International Marathon, Budapest, Oct. 5.

Eindhoven Marathon, Eindoven, Netherlands, Oct. 12.

Ferrari Italian Marathon, Carpi, Italy, Oct. 12.

St Denis Half Marathon (La Voie Royale), France, Oct. 19.

ING Amsterdam Marathon, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Oct. 19.

Lausanne Marathon, Lausanne, Switzerland, Oct. 21.

Venice Marathon, Venice, Italy, Oct. 26.

Marathon del Mediterraneo, Barcelona, Spain, Oct. 28.

Istanbul Eurasia Marathon, Istanbul, Turkey, Oct. 26.

Dresdner Kleinwort Frankfurt Marathon, Frankfurt, Germany, Oct. 26.

Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes, Nice-Cannes, Nov. 9.

Palermo International Marathon, Palermo, Italy, Nov. 16.

Garda Trentino Half Marathon, Trentino, Italy, Nov. 16.

Maraton de San Sebastian, San Sebastian, Spain, Nov. 23.

Firenze Marathon, Florence, Italy, Nov. 30.

Marathon of la Rochelle Serge Vigot, La Rochelle, France, Nov. 30.

These are events taking place in major cities. But plenty of lesser-known runs take place at more local levels, and these could prove more suitable for amateur runners in any event. For countrywide listings, check out these links:

Germany: http://www.marathon.de/marathon2008.html

Spain: www.mediamaraton.net

UK: http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/defaultevents.asp?sp=&v=2

Let us know where your running aspirations might be taking you in 2008.