With temperatures as they've been over the last few weeks, many of you will be dreaming about the cooler days of autumn and counting down the days till they make an appearance.

September is a particularly pleasant month to race in thanks to its crisp, blue-skyed days and so runners in the north east could perhaps look to the Sedgefield Serpentine Race for an autumn goal.

Taking place on 18 September, this popular 10K (approx) trail race is organised by Sedgefield Harriers Club and supported by Muddy Roads. This year’s race will be held in memory of Gail Bell.

The route is undulating, but by no means brutal. It’s multi-terrain, but mainly on pretty well defined paths/trails around East Park, Hardwick Park and the surrounding countryside towards Bishop Middleham.

The race starts and finishes at Sedgefield Cricket Club which will also be hosting a beer festival on the same day, so there is a real incentive for runners to make their way around the course and back to base for some delicious refreshments with family and friends.

It was a Sedgefield Harrier, James Oldfield, who won the race in 2021 with a time of 38:14 while the women's race was won by Emily Patterson in 45:33. If you're looking to break course records then the times you need to keep in your sights are 35:27 in the men's race and 42:21 in the women's race. James Askew of Durham City Harriers achieved his time in 2016 while Hartlepool Burn Road Harrier, Tracy Waller set her time back in 2013.

If you would like more information about the event you can find it here.

Image: Sedgefield Harriers