There is a growing interest in Friday evening races, judging by runABC South's comprehensive event listing. With more than 20 Friday night races listed this month and a similar number in August, it seems that organisers are responding to the trend of ending the working week and starting the weekend early with a spot of competitive running. The busiest Fridays in the next two months are the 11th of July and the 1st of August, when 14 events are scheduled.

The weekend begins very early this Friday, 11 July, with the 5.30 Brighton starting at 5.30am! This Italian concept now has two events in England – Brighton on 11 July and Nottingham on 18 July – with runners and walkers promoting a healthy lifestyle through movement at 5:30am on a working day, whilst the rest of the city sleeps.

At the more conventional start time of 7:00pm, we have the race with the best name in the entire calendar – the Wibbly Wobbly Log Jog – as featured in a runABC South story here. This five-mile trail run is based at High Lodge Forest Centre between Thetford and Brandon in Suffolk. The numerous trip hazards on the forest trails give rise to the unusual race name.

At the other end of the distance scale is the Hope Trail Festival. The Hope 36 is a 36-hour ultra endurance event for solo runners, pairs, or teams of 3-8 runners, starting at 9:00pm on Friday evening. The venue is Newnham Park, Plimpton, approximately five miles from Plymouth, on the fringe of Dartmoor National Park in Devon.

August gets off to a busy and varied start, with seven events listed on the first day of the new month. The earliest start time on 1 August is 12:30pm for the Ealing Mile, part of a series of mile races in Lammas Park at lunchtime on the first Friday of the month.

Torbay Velopark at Torbay Leisure Centre, Paignton, will provide the South Devon 3K Relays course. Teams of four runners will come under the starter's orders at 7:00pm.

The Rye Summer Classic Series continues at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve in Sussex, with a 10K, 5K, and Junior Run on offer. This Nice Work-managed event concludes with the fourth race on Friday, September 5.

Check out all the Friday events in runABC South's race listing here.

Photo courtesy of Hope Trail Festival Gallery