Have you got your plans sorted for New Year's Eve? And what about New Year's Day? There is something special about being a runner as the year ends and thoughts turn to new beginnings.

One way to start 2025 runner style is to enter one of the New Year's Day races in the runABC South calendar. There are seven to select from in London, Sussex, Surrey, Kent, Dorset, Somerset and Norfolk.

The capital choice for your New Year resolution run is the Serpentine New Year's Day 10K and Fun Run in London's Hyde Park. This event originated in the mid-1980s and was organised by the now-defunct London Road Runners. It was taken over by the Serps in 1990 and often attracts 600 runners. The 10K records are 29:39 by Seyfu Jamaal this year and 33:53 by Emma Pallant in 2018. For more information and to enter click here...

The greatest New Year challenge could be to tackle the infamous Trionium Knacker Cracker – billed as Britain's toughest 10K – with 473m of ascent and 335m descent on Surrey's Box Hill. This fully inclusive 22nd annual event welcomes female entrants for the Knicker Knacker 10K and there's a Kid's Fun Run called the Nipper Knacker! Click here to enter if you dare!

A quarter of a marathon is a quirky race distance but that's exactly what is offered at the Junction Broadstone Quarter Marathon. This race will bring 500 runners to rural Dorset for the 39th running from The Junction – Broadstone's Leisure Centre. This Poole Runners event is often fully subscribed and further information is here at the official website.

Hangover 5 is an obvious name for Worthing's contribution to getting us back in action after seeing in the New Year. This is another hilly off-road race, part of the West Sussex Fun Run League, from Hill Barn Recreation Ground to Cissbury Ring and back. Entries open on 1 December. Click here for info.

The remaining options at the time of writing are the New Ash Green 10K in Kent; the Chard Flyer New Year's Day 10K in Somerset or the Wymondham New Year's Day 10K in Norfolk.

Further details on all 2025 pipe openers are available at the runABC South race listing here.

Photo courtesy Trionium Knacker Cracker 2024