Seriously spooky autumn races

Celebrate Halloween in style by dressing up and going out for a properly scary race in the dark

THE SKELETON RUN

Five miles of undulating heathland through Beacon Hill Country Park, with two ascents of Beacon Hill, in the dark: this a very special kind of horror show. Watch out for menacing marshals and glow-in-the-dark skeletons, and save some energy for the downhill sprint finish. If all goes well – and who knows what could happen en route – you get a nice, unthreatening toffee apple at the end. October 26, Loughborough theskeletonrun.co.uk

GHOSTOBERFEST

Organisers have cleverly combined Halloween with the annual German beer festival Oktoberfest – because, well, why not – to bring you this spooky five-mile race. Look out for haunted tunnels, phantoms in Foxes Forest and an eerie mist section around Lakeside North Harbour. Are you ready to run for your life? You can choose to don your favourite Bavarian outfit – dirndl, lederhosen (not at the same time) or go for something more in tune with the ghostly side of the event. October 27, Portsmouth fitprorob.biz

THE CATTLE CREEPY 10K

The spooky sister race to the Cattle Creep, this 10K follows the same route through Ouse Valley Park, but under the cover of darkness. Pack your headtorch and prepare to navigate spectral fields and eerie farmland around Milton Keynes. What’s that lurking in the bushes? A spectre…or is it a cow? Why is a cow lurking in the bushes? Now that’s creepy. October 31, Milton Keynes fqevents.co.uk