The autumn season really kicks off this weekend (10-11 September) with more than 50 events in runABC South's comprehensive race listing – easily the best guide around.

There are events listed as far south as Medoc in France! The Marathon du Medoc is a booze-infused race in the Bordeaux wine region and our travel partners Marathon Tours UK will be leading (and having) a party at this runABC South featured race on Saturday (10 September).

The Isle of Wight Fell Series is another opportunity to venture 'abroad' for a tough challenge. There are two races on Saturday and one longer race on Sunday. All three will set your quads on fire. St Boniface Fell starts with a Category A Short 3.8K with 235m ascent; Ventnor Horshoe on Saturday afternoon is a Category B Medium 12K with 443m gain and Sunday survivors will tackle the Category C Long Wroxhall Round at 21K with 487m to climb.  

The weekend is dominated by Richmond RUNFEST which has RUNFEST AIR:10K and WWF Richmond Kids' Mile on Saturday morning and Vist Cayman Island Richmond Sundown 5K in the evening. On Sunday, the Richmond Marathon and Half Marathon take centre stage, along with the Richmond Family Mile.

Returning to the theme of wine and running we have the 2:09 Events Bacchus Wine Half Marathon at Denbies Vineyard, Dorking on Sunday. The full marathon has been discontinued this year so the organisers can provide the full Bacchus experience for the more popular 13.1-mile and 10K events that now run more inside Denbies vineyard. Don't expect fast times but samples of up to six English wines on the course (with matching foods), prizes for the best fancy dress, and a post-race hog roast are the key hallmarks of this sociable event.

If you are not competing this weekend don't forget to organise your Sunday training around the coverage of the Great North Run where up to 60,000 people will race from city to sea on the classic 13.1-mile course between Newcastle and South Shields. The Great North Run will be televised live on the BBC from 10:00am to 2:00pm.

For details of all the weekend's events visit runABC South race listing here

You can follow the results as they come in at runABC South results here

Image courtesy Bacchus Wine Half Marathon/2:09 Events Gallery