Muddy trails, a few challenging hills and a glass of mulled wine at the finish. Mapledurham has a rather appealing way of welcoming runners towards the end of November.

The Mapledurham 10 Mile, 10K & Half Marathon returns on Sunday 29 November for its 13th year, with three distances taking runners through the historic Mapledurham Estate near Reading.

Organised by MST Events, the races have become a familiar fixture on the late autumn running calendar, combining woodland trails, muddy paths, private estate roads and open fields. There are hills to negotiate too, so anyone hoping for an easy Sunday morning might want to reconsider.

The event has built a history of competitive performances alongside its more relaxed atmosphere. Last year, Rob Corney established a new men's 10 mile course record of 56:31, while the Half Marathon records were both set in 2024 by Tony Parker (1:28:50) and Ida Burrows (1:35:23).

There is plenty of encouragement for runners choosing the shorter distances too. The 10K starts at 10:00am, with the 10 mile and Half Marathon fields following at 10:10am.

But Mapledurham isn't simply about the clock. The event's character comes from its mixture of challenging countryside running and a distinctly welcoming finish line.

Every finisher receives a medal, with complimentary mulled wine and mince pies providing a suitably festive reward after the muddy miles.

Entries remain open across all three distances.

For runners who prefer their November racing with a little mud on their shoes and something warming waiting at the finish, Mapledurham has the right idea.

You can enter now via the runABC race hub.

Image courtesy MST Events.