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Liverpool Santa Dash, December 6

Liverpool Santa Dash 5K (December 6)
Join thousands of Santas charging through the bustling streets of Liverpool in this atmospheric event.

Trionium New Year Box Hill Knacker Cracker 10K (Surrey, January 1)
Kick off 2010 in style at this tough trail run complete with killer hills and flamboyant fancy dress.

National Highlights...

Lancaster Half-Marathon (Lancashire, November 8)

Boasting a pancake-flat course, the Lancaster Half-Marathon is the perfect opportunity for a fast and furious assault on your half-marathon PB. It even rounds off with a track finish.The out-and-back route crosses Lancaster's Millennium Bridge before leaving the city centre in favour of a tour of the quiet roads and paths alongside the River Lune. So, even if you don't have your sights on a PB, there's still plenty to enjoy - including tranquil rural stretches, rolling hills and plenty of pretty views showcasing the north-west at its autumnal best.

Barnsley 10K, November 15

Barnsley 10K (Yorkshire, November 15)

The Barnsley 10K has all the ingredients for a great road race, as its growing popularity testifies. The single-lap course swiftly heads out of the industrial town into beautiful countryside - make sure you save your legs for the notorious long incline at halfway and a cruel, short sharp final ascent that could put the brakes on a sprint finish. That said, with the right pacing, some runners have found themselves on course for a PB.

More 10K highlights...
Old Deer Park Richmond 10K (Surrey, November 8)
South London 10K (November 15)
Cotswold 10K (Gloucestershire, November 29)
Crowborough 10K (East Sussex, November 29)

Herbert's Hole 10K, November 15

Herbert's Hole 10K (Buckinghamshire, November 15)

Head off-road and rise to the challenge of this tough, multi-terrain course through the picturesque Chilterns. The hills come thick and fast, with the first climb after just two kilometres and more following swiftly behind.

More 10K highlights...
Fusion Sports Killer K: Cross-Country 10K (Buckinghamshire, November 15)
Gill Pimblott Memorial 10K (Lancashire, November 15)
Beckenham Charity Trail 10K (London, November 22)

Suicide Six, November 15 (Photo © Brian Smith)

Suicide Six (West Midlands, November 15)

The Suicide Six does what it says on the tin, attracting a growing field of mud-hungry runners each year. Set entirely within the setting of Baggeridge Country Park, the course leads entrants straight into (at least) six miles of increasingly madcap challenges, including hills, mud, steps and wet, wild water crossings. But don't forget to take a moment to catch your breath and look around, or you'll miss the beautiful sight of the country park's foliage in full autumn colours.

Scott Aztec Forest of Dean Trail Series Race 1 (Gloucestershire, November 22)

This three-race series is back for another muddy year and now it even comes complete with chip timing. The course is challenging - with a healthy dose of tough climbs - but with three distances to choose from and a friendly field, it's just the ticket for both off-road newcomers and veteran trail fans alike. However many laps you go for, you're sure to enjoy the chance to run through the heart of the Forest of Dean, a beautiful and historic former royal hunting ground. Try this first race of the series, and you might just find yourself returning again and again over the winter.

Treat yourself to a tour of Suffolk's most charming countryside at this increasingly popular fixture. The race's rolling one-lap road course is a showcase for stunning panoramic views over the Brett Vale. But be ready to get stuck in - this is a challenging course that kicks off with a "bumpy"first few miles. Get your breath back (and enjoy the views) in the flat middle section, before a testing hill at eight miles - then it's downhill all the way to the finish.

More 10-mile highlights...
Elan Valley 10 (Powys, November 21)
Saab Salomon Turbo X, Bordon  (Hampshire, November 22)
Sospan Road Runners 10 (Carmarthenshire, November 22)

Wolverton 5, November 29

Wolverton 5 (Buckinghamshire, November 29)

The Wolverton 5 has been staged on the last Saturday in November every year since 1965, and has gained its long-running status for very good reason - a pancake-flat course that has stayed more or less the same for an impressive 44 years. The winning route is packed with PB potential, leading the field around laps of flat, traffic-free paths. Of course, if you fancy taking the pressure off, you can always choose to enjoy the views instead. Its peaceful setting in parkland - skirting the edges of Willen Lake - makes for a charmingly low-key and scenic course.