There is a distinctly local flavour to the Clipston Trail Half and Country 5 Miler, where rolling Northamptonshire countryside, village fundraising and homemade cake come together on Sunday 20 September.

Both races start at 9.00am from Clipston Recreation Ground before heading immediately uphill into the countryside. The Half Marathon follows bridleways, footpaths and short sections of minor country road, with plenty of rolling terrain and wide views to occupy runners along the way. The Country 5 Miler offers a shorter introduction to the same rural race experience.

But Clipston is about more than the miles. The event is organised in conjunction with Clipston Recreation Field Trust, the charity responsible for maintaining and developing the village playing fields. Money raised helps support facilities used for football, tennis, children's play, walking and other outdoor activities.

That community involvement continues at the finish, where runners receive a medal and homemade cake. Clipston WI has a long tradition of supporting the event, providing a suitably indulgent reward after the morning's hills.

The Half Marathon costs £25 and the Country 5 Miler £18, with online entries closing at 7.00pm on the Wednesday before race day. There is no formal cut-off, although Half Marathon runners should expect to complete the course within three and a half hours.

For runners who prefer their autumn racing small scale, scenic and firmly connected to its host community, Clipston offers a refreshing alternative to the big city race experience.

You can enter here via the runABC race hub.

Image courtesy Race Harborough.