Cyclopark parkrun

In North Kent you will find the ancient town of Gravesend which has a population of around 75,000 people. The town was first recorded as Gravesham in the 1086 Domesday Book but was also recorded as Gravesende / Gravesend just a few years later. In 1974 the original name of Gravesham was formally adopted as the name of the borough. The town sits on the north coast of Kent and has a defensive fort which was built on the orders on Henry VIII in the 16th century.

The oldest surviving building is Milton Chantry and this dates back to the 14th century. Gravesend is also famous for being the final resting place of Pocahontas - she died in Gravesend and was buried at St George's Church in the town centre. The exact position of her grave is unknown due to the original church having been rebuilt in the 18th century following a fire. However she is commemorated in the form of a bronze statue within the grounds of the church.

cyclopark / pocahontas

The southern end of the town is bordered by the A2 motorway which broadly follows the old Roman road, known as Watling Street. In 2008 the road was widened and at the same time, moved ever so slightly to the south. This created an empty strip of land between the existing houses and the new road, the majority has been given back to nature but some of the tarmac from the old A2 has been retained as a pedestrian walkway and National Cycle Route 177.

A 48 hectare area of the reclaimed land has been developed into a purpose-built cycling facility called Cyclopark. The main feature is the beautifully smooth tarmac track which undulates and weaves its way around the site, but it also has off-road mountain biking trails, a BMX track and a skate park. Also on-site is a children's playground and various fitness suites. I've visited the Cyclopark many times over the years and have ridden both the road and off-road cycle tracks (more about my running-related visits below).

start

On 20 July 2019 Cyclopark parkrun came into existence and while I would love to tell you that it takes place on the track itself, sadly it doesn't. Cyclopark parkrun takes place on the aforementioned pedestrian footpath / cycle route which runs alongside the park. However, the Cyclopark does support the event and provides all the facilities such as toilets, cafe and car parking.

Originally the car park fee was paid via a machine inside the main entrance. This has now been changed and payment can be made via YourParkingSpace website or via their app. As of July 2025 up to 4 hours of parking costs £1.90. Alternatively, it may be worth investigating the possibility of parking next door in Morrisons for free (the Morrison's website confirms there is a three-hour time limit, but don't overstay as you will be issued with a fine). There is also a Travelodge next door which is super-convenient for anyone planning an overnight stay.

opening section

You'll be pleased, but not surprised, to hear that Cyclopark has cycle racks galore, so travelling by bicycle is the perfect option. The National Cycle Route 177 which runs alongside the park stretches right back into Dartford (via NCR1) to the west and into Rochester to the east. I've ridden this route a number of times over the years and found it to be pretty good. For anyone travelling by train you'll find the closest station is Gravesend and is just under 2 miles away.

We took part in the inaugural event, but it was not the first time I had run the course. I was invited over to the test event by the co-event director Ian Pullen. Ian was one of the first people I met when I moved to Dartford in 2013, we were probably drawn together by our common love of buggy running. In fact we once had a collision with our running buggies as we ran alongside each other one evening (the kids were both fine).

national cycle network / high five from friends

As I mentioned above, the parkrun takes place on the adjacent cycle path. Underfoot is 100% tarmac - some of it is fairly old as it is the original surface of the old A2 but it has held up pretty well over the years. The 5k is covered by effectively running a double out-and-back, but as it stands the start/finish area is not quite at the end of the out-and-back (see GPS and video for what I mean). Even though you are next to the A2, the landscaping does a good job of reducing the traffic noise.

It has a gentle but prolonged change of elevation all the way along the length of it, with the lowest point being at the far western end where there is also a very convenient loop in the path to turn around at. It is easy to underestimate the effort required to negotiate the gentle uphill part of the course and this may bite you towards the end of the second lap. Interestingly the elevation change recorded on my Garmin came out at 46 metres, which is more than I was expecting.

the course (out)

It's also worth noting some details regarding the start - the first part of the course is a 300 metre out and back to the east which results in the entire field performing a 180 turn while still heavily bunched up on a fairly standard width path. There is also a pinch point just outside the entrance of Cyclopark which is worth being aware of. Other than that, you just need to remember to stay to the left as you make your way around the course.

The course doesn't really require a lot of marshals or signs but you'll find both placed at strategic points as you work your way long it. Also don't forget that you are on a cycle route, so keep your eyes peeled for cyclists who could approach quite quickly from behind on the downhill part. You may also encounter the odd dog walker as it's quite a popular walking route for them.

the course

At the end of the 5k, barcodes are scanned just outside the rear of the Cyclopark, and once everyone has made their way around the course the team head into the Cyclopark Cafe. Over the years the cafe has been Cyclocafe, then 'Cafe 1809' which was Dame Kelly Holmes' venture into the cafe world (named after her bib number in the Athens Olympics). It is now called 'park EAT' and serves all the coffee shop staple items you would expect.

The results were soon processed and 172 people attended the inaugural event. As of 2024 the event is generally attended by around 170-220 people each week. One of the big hopes is that it will help to ease the pressure on the increasingly popular Shorne Woods parkrun (my write-up) which is just a few minutes down the road. If you have kids with you, there is a nice playground onsite, however as of May 2024, Cyclopark charge £4.50 per family group to use it.

turnaround point / finish

If you have visited and find yourself a little disappointed that you didn't get to run on the Cyclopark track, there are a number of opportunities to do so at other events. Firstly there is the free, weekly Cyclorun at 8am every Sunday which was originally set up in January 2014 by a man called Steve Cable. It is now run by my former running club SLGR and offers 2.5k, 5k, 7.5k and 10k options. Incidentally I used Cyclorun for my one-and-only true attempt at a 5k time-trial buggy run where I managed to put in a sub-20 time.

If that doesn't take your fancy there is the Gravesend Floodlit Winter Series which takes place once a month for 6 months between October and March. This is run by the excellent chaps over at Nice Work and is very much a local favourite as a midweek leg-stretcher. It has both 5k and 10k options available and I raced it twice - November 2014 and December 2014. The Kent Roadrunner Marathon has traditionally taken place at Cyclopark and it involved running something like seventeen laps on the track, but sadly this event seems to have disappeared from the calendar.

post event

There have been a few other events that I have taken part in here - Sweatshop held an afternoon of relay races here back in 2014 which was brilliant, but ended up being a one-off event. You'll also find a festive Santa Dash during December - at time of writing this is being organised by Nice Work. Also back in 2014, there was a three-part race on the mountain bike trails called The Rocky Road Trail Race Series. I only managed to make to one of them, but was in pretty decent shape and managed to win it.

Anyway, you can view my GPS data of the course on my Strava account, here: Cyclorun parkrun 1. You can also watch the course fly-by video generated using the Relive app on my YouTube account, here: Cyclopark parkrun fly-by video. A huge thank you and congratulations to Ian, Louise and the rest of the team for getting the event set up.

Update May 2024: We have re-visited a few times since this write-up was originally posted. (I even became the event's first-ever official parkwalker in October 2022). The event has a great team who have things down to a tee. We've always been very warmly welcomed, and I imagine we'll continue to visit every now and then.

Related Links:

• The Kent parkrun venues
• My GPS data
• The Relive course fly-by video

Cyclopark Christmas Cracker 2014

The Cyclopark Christmas Cracker had its first event in 2013 and I really enjoyed running at the venue. If you are unfamiliar with the event/venue, it's 5k and is run over two laps of the 2.5km cycling track which undulates throughout. What it takes from you in inclines it pretty much gives back with its super smooth tarmac running surface.

the 2014 race flyer [image courtesy cyclorun]

The event also featured a 1 kilometre fun run which took place straight after the main event. We had arrived and registered on the morning. It was £6 to enter the 5k and £3 each for the 1 kilometre fun run. The Cyclopark has all the facilities you might need during your stay - lockers, toilets, a cafe etc. Once the registrations had been taken care of I headed off for a warm up around the track.

the 5k line (btw i'm standing next to a dartford legend) [photo:dani]

At 10am the 35 runners formed on the start line and the Race Director, Steve Cable, made a few short announcements before sending us on our way. The initial lead was taken by my SLGR teammate Richey and I soon joined him and ran next to him as we approached the first hairpin corner. After this we parted company and I went off in search of a new course best time for myself.

easy does it [photo:brian page]

My previous best time on the course were 19.37, which I ran at the Cyclopark Christmas Cracker 2013. Although it was worth noting that I ran a 19.26 5k split at the Gravesend Floodlit Series 10k (December 2014) just 10 days before this event. This course was also the venue for my first sub-20 5k buggy run, which I ran back in June at the weekly Cyclorun event. With that recent 10k split in mind I was hopeful that I could possibly squeeze under 19 minutes if things went to plan.

hi-five [photo:brian page]

As the first lap went on the sound of other people's footsteps behind me slowly faded and I found myself running completely alone. It was a bit windy out there but the temperature was very mild at 8 degrees. I had worn my club vest along with my arm sleeves which I found to be the perfect upper body attire for the conditions. Along with this I had worn one of my Christmas hats, which although made my head a little warm, was pretty much compulsory for this type of event.

over the finish line in 18.48 [photo:dani]

I passed the halfway point in approximately 9 minutes and 26 seconds and picked up a great hi-five from Matilda, then headed on to complete lap two in a similar time. Eventually coming in with an official finishing time of 18.48. Once I had finished, I looked back down the long incline that I had just run along and there was still no sign of the second placed runner, he eventually come in 1 minute and 47 seconds behind me.

the 1k start line [photo:brian page]

At 10.45am it was time for the 1k fun run. Somehow between finishing the 5k and starting the 1k, I had grown a white beard! At 2013's event I ran this with Matilda in her running buggy, but over the course of 2014 she had started running herself. So this year, the whole family ran it together. All the way around she kept a steady pace and when it came to the last section on the long incline, she just plodded away as if it was a flat piece of tarmac - I'm very impressed with her natural pacing skills.

a fine finish to the 1k fun run [photo:brian page]

Once we had finished we popped into the main Cyclopark building to warm up and to have a complimentary mince pie. The official results were posted to the Cyclorun Facebook page a short while later. We had a great time and we'll be looking to be back for 2015's event!

Related: SLGR news

Gravesend Floodlit Series 10k - December 2014

Race 3 of the 2014 Gravesend Floodlit Winter Series of races took place on 11 December at the Cyclopark. This time I entered on the night and paid the special SLGR entry fee of £5. There were, as always, two races taking place. The 5k at 7pm and the much more popular 10k at 7.30pm.

kit selected and ready to go [photo:dani]

It's that time of year where the clothing choice gets tricky and I had arrived with a few options. For the bottom half I had either just shorts or running tights with the shorts on top, and for the top half I knew that I wanted to wear my club vest so it was a case of deciding whether to go for a base layer or tech-t-shirt and arm warmers combo. I also had gloves and a hat in my bag just in case.

I headed out with my SLGR team mate Adam for a warm up and to test how the conditions felt whilst running. The temperature was around 7 degrees but stormy conditions were forecast for the night and the wind had picked up significantly. After a few minutes of jogging, it was clear that the tights were not going to be required and I decided to go with the tech-t-shirt and arm warmers combo up top - this proved to be the perfect decision, unlike a few days earlier at the Alan Green Memorial 10 mile race where I got it horribly wrong!

So, although it was the third race of the series, it was only my second as I had missed the first. Anyone that read my post about the Gravesend Floodlit Series 10k November 2014 Race would know that I finished in one of those times that really annoys most runners - bang on 40 minutes. Just one second quicker would have made a massive difference. So with that in mind, I had unfinished business to resolve. The goal of the evening was to run a sub-40 10k on the Cyclopark track.

So when the race director, Martin Burke of Nice Work, started the race, I headed off down the opening downhill section at a strong pace. I'm really enjoying running 10k at this venue - the four lap course feels quite neat in my head and I love breaking it down into the four quarters. With a goal to maintain a sub-10 minute per 2.5km lap pace, which also gives me another very neat sub-4-minute per kilometre target.

the runners awaiting their starting orders [photo:dani]

Lap 1 - The course was pitch black in places and it took a while to feel confident running into the darkness. I ran it at quite a strong pace, and as the lap progressed, those that started way too hard began to fall back. Things started to feel a little more settled as I came back towards the race hq at the end of the lap. I had a Medway Tri runner (P6) a few metres in front of me and quite a way on front of him was an Istead and Ifield runner (P5).

[lap time: 9.32] [total time at 2.5k: 9.32]

Lap 2 - I started to gain on the Medway Tri runner and eventually drew level. On the downhills he would shoot off about 10 metres in front of me and on the uphills I would claw back the difference. This continued throughout the whole of this lap. It's worth noting that it was pretty windy in some parts of the course. By the time we reached the 5k point we were neck and neck.

[lap time: 9.52] [total time at 5k: 19.24]

Lap 3 - As usual, the Medway Tri runner opened up a gap on the opening downhill at the beginning of lap 3, but I stuck with what I know best and as we turned the next corner to begin heading up the incline, I nudged in front and started to edge away. Although he remained close behind me for quite a while, I never did see him again. Towards the end of the lap, the Istead and Ifield runner who had been a significant distance ahead earlier on was now right in front of me and I moved past him just before the end of the lap and slotted into fifth position.

[lap time: 9.42] [total time at 7.5k: 29.06]

Lap 4 - Even though it was my slowest, this was probably one of my favourite laps of the night. I felt tired but still strong enough to continue pushing hard. I was impressed at the way I had run up until now and had received a big mental boost from knowing that I was still pulling away from my adversaries. On top of this, I had caught up and lapped some of my running buddies from SLGR and Dartford Road Runners, and just being able to exchange a friendly grunt was enough to give me (and hopefully them too) a further boost. I was almost red-lining by this point but kept pushing right through to the end.

[lap time: 9.56] [total time at 10k: 39.02]

splits and course map [image:strava]

As you can see from my total time, I achieved my goal to come in under 40 minutes by quite a margin. I'm kicking myself that I couldn't have found a few more seconds (maybe without the strong winds I would have) and got under 39 minutes! Anyway, if someone had asked before the race, I would have been over the moon with a 39.59 finishing time so I will just enjoy the fact that I exceeded my goal by such a large amount.

The splits picked up in my GPS data were really good. They were fairly even throughout the whole race, but the second five kilometres are the ones that made me smile the most. I don't think I've ever run a 10k as well paced as this. This was my second fastest 10k to date, but even though the time was twenty-one seconds off my personal best which I ran at the British 10k 2014, I felt that that I ran a much better race this time.

Going back to my duel with the other runners, it was a lot of fun (it always is when you come out on top!) and I ended up finishing over 30 seconds in front of the Istead and Ifield runner in P6 and well over a minute in front of the Medway Tri runner in P7. Because it was so dark, I couldn't see any other front runners ahead of me but it turns out that I was only 22 seconds behind the runner in P4 - I had thought he was much further away than that.

#teamslgr [photo:dani]

The official results were online by the time I got home. I finished in P5 for the second month on the trot, but this was a much better performance, knocking 58 seconds off my time from just four weeks earlier. On the night one of my teammates picked up the first prize for the 5k and plenty of others managed to run new personal bests. Another good night for #teamslgr at the Cyclopark.

Gravesend Floodlit Series 10k - November 2014

I first heard about the midweek Gravesend Floodlit Series of races, which are held at the Cyclopark (Gravesend, Kent), last year (2013/14 series) and I had always intended to enter one. In the end I never managed to build up the enthusiasm to leave the warm house to run in the cold, wind and rain on a dark Thursday evening.

the runners forming at the start [photo:dani]

By the time the weather had started to improve, the series came to an end and I had missed that season’s opportunities. So I made a note to make an extra effort to attend when the 2014/15 series came around. This series started in October 2014 and as I was a little bit injured, I sensibly sat out the first one of the series. By the week of race two, I was fit enough to run. So a few days before the race, I put my entry in via the runbritain website and paid the affiliated entry fee of £8 (unaffiliated was £10 in advance). The series features two different race distance options; the 5k or the 10k. As I have run 5k around the track on many occasions, I decided to go for the 10k.

On the night, I arrived at the Cyclopark and parked in the onsite car park (£1) and continued into the Cyclocafe to pick up my race number and meet up with the rest of my So Let’s Go Running (SLGR) team mates. A lot of runners had been delayed by the terrible traffic jams caused by a number of incidents on the roads around Dartford throughout the day, so some of the runners that had intended to run the 5k (7pm start) had gone for the 10k (7.30pm start) instead – while some other delayed runners had run 5k but started at the 10k start time. So at 7.28-ish the 72 10k (and a few 5k) runners formed on the start line – the big difference with this race to any other that I had done here was that we were running anti-clockwise; in the past I had only ever run it clockwise, so as well as running a new distance on the track, it was also like running a completely different course.

arty 01 [photo:dani]

I had lined up a few rows back from the front of the grid and after a few brief words from the Race Director, Martin Burke (of Nice Work), we were sent on our way. The 10k race consisted of four laps of the track and although my fitness was a bit off what it had been a few months earlier, I decided to approach the race with an optimistic attitude and set my sights on running under forty minutes. Another thing I had never done at the track was run on it in the dark.

The main start/finish area is very well lit and this continued down and into the first couple of bends, however when reaching the extremities of the course, the lighting was not quite the same – at best we were guided by some small beacons at the edge of the track. Fortunately I had been pre-warned of this darkness and I had brought a torch with me. Admittedly, it wasn't very bright but it threw out just enough light to help me to see the edges of the track where they border the grass.

arty 02 - it is me btw [photo:dani]

The weather conditions were good for November, but the Cyclopark suffers from being in quite a windy spot and it was blowing quite a bit at some points on the course. I ran lap one with a few other runners in close contact, however by the end of the lap it had dwindled down to just two of us and we passed the start/finish line in 9.43. The SLGR club chairman, Brian Page, was at the start/finish area to give all of the #TeamSLGR runners a boost every 2.5 kilometres and as I passed he also advised me that I was in sixth position.

I stayed tucked in behind the other runner until we reached the hardest of the inclines where I moved into fifth position and began to pull away. By the end of lap two I was running alone, but had somehow let the pace slip a little (I wonder if I had got caught up in running at the other runner’s pace rather than my own during our time together) and went past the start/finish in 19.53. I was still just within the window for a sub-40 finish, but my speed had dropped below the required pace. From this point the only other runners I encountered were the ones I had begun to lap.

arty 03 [photo:dani]

I came back around to the start/finish at the end of lap 3 with the clock showing exactly 30 minutes. I was still in fifth position and there was around a 40 second gap between myself and the runner in front of me, and the runner behind me was over a minute adrift. So I knew my finishing position was secure. This just left my own personal goal, I had completed the first three laps in 9.43, 10.10, and 10.07 but I now needed a sub-10 minute final lap to get a 39.xx time.

I got my head down and throughout the last lap caught up with more and more of the slower runners and had to weave through them (sometimes taking the corners a little wider than I would have liked). I came around the last hairpin bend and had about 200 metres left to go, soon after, the timing clock came into sight. I was running as hard as I possibly could at this point and as I reached the crest of the final incline I felt the course profile change to a slight downhill and I continued, now sprinting towards the ticking clock; 39.55, 39.56, 39.57… I was giving it all I had at this point. I crossed the line and as it was downhill I carried on for another 20 metres or so before I could break my momentum and stop. The clock was showing either 39.59 or 40.00 as I passed it, but I didn't know exactly which one it was as the last few metres were a blur.

some of the slgr runners that ran and our club chairman [photo:from dawn annett's camera]

Once all of the runners had finished, we headed into the Cyclocafe for the prize giving ceremony. We had a good turnout of SLGR runners (10 in the 5k and 6 in the 10k) and one of our team (co-founder of SLGR, Dawn Annett) won one of the women’s prizes (a bottle of wine), she looked very thrilled when she heard the news and it was great to see one of our club come away with a prize. The official results were online very soon after the prize ceremony and my official time was 40.00. Not the sub-40 that I was hoping to run, but still respectable and it has given me a short term goal to focus on before the next race!

Rocky Road Trail Race 2014

When I cycled on the mountain bike trails at the cyclopark, I couldn't help but wonder what it might be like to run on these trails. Then, by some strange coincidence, the Rocky Road Trail Series at the cyclopark was announced. It was to be a series of three races with one each in May, June and July. I was out of the country for the May race and the June race was two days after the North Downs Run, and I didn't want to ask any more of my body after running that. Thankfully the July race fell quite nicely and there was nothing to stop me from entering this one.

#teamslgr [photo: dani]

This race took place on a Tuesday evening, which is usually our main club night. But with this event being a one-off, I thought it would make a nice change for any of my team mates that fancied mixing things up a little. So in the weeks leading up to the race, I spread the word on the So Let's Go Running Facebook page with the goal to turn the cyclopark black and orange. In the end, we had a very respectable turnout of 11 of us from our club. I also took the family along and asked the wife if she wouldn't mind taking some photos of us all as we raced. Some members of SLGR registered (£8) in advance, but I waited until the day and signed up upon arrival at the cyclopark.

walking to the start line [photo: dani]

The series was put on by Steve Cable and his wonderful team of volunteers. Steve also organises the free, weekly cyclorun (facebook), which is 5k around the tarmac cycle track every Sunday morning at 8am. Steve was one of the first people that I bumped into and he had just finished marking out the course. I was going to recce it before the race, but time ticked by, people arrived, and in the end it just didn't happen. I did manage to squeeze in a short warmup run on part the trails with a couple of SLGR runners a few minutes before the start of the race.

the start line in the gravel [photo: steve cable]

Race start time was 7.30pm, and a few minutes before that, we were lead from the main reception building to a wider area where Steve marked a line in the gravel - this would act as the start and the finish. The course was a two-lap circuit of the mountain bike trails that run around the outer edge of park - they have different levels of difficulty with the black routes being the hardest. Underfoot the course was a mixture of some gravelly stones, dirt trail, rocky paths, and big rocks (or you could call them boulders). The terrain was mildly undulating and featured some very twisty sections of single track mountain bike trails.

and we're off... [photo: dani]

I lined up at the front, knowing that I would need a good start to avoid being caught up in the crowd once the route reached the single track which would make overtaking very difficult. So I started well, but made the slight error of being too polite as we approached the single track and I ended up out of position with no easy way to move through the field. I stayed patient and held back, then there was an opportunity to overtake on a corner, but again I was too polite and actually lost a place. I was now in 5th place, knowing that I was running at a slower pace than I would have liked and with no easy way overtake. The worst thing was that I could see the leader pulling away from us.

lap one [photo: dani]

I stayed patient as we followed the twisty path through the first kilometre of the course and then I managed to find a couple of points that were wide enough to make some overtaking moves. By the end of the first kilometre, I had made it up into third position, but was again stuck and could only watch as the leader disappeared further into the distance. Then I found an another overtaking point, moved into second place and had the task of trying to claw back some of the lost ground.

at the far end of the course about to enter a black route [photo: steve cable]

I was now 1.5km into the race, and at this stage, the leader must have had a 20-30 second lead, so I just stuck with a good strong pace and slowly I could see that I was gaining on him. As I came back past the main central area (2.8km), I had cut the gap down to about 10-15 seconds. By the 3.3km point, I had caught up with him but the narrow trail paths prevented me from overtaking. So I spent the next 1.5km on his tail waiting for the widest of the overtaking points to appear, and when it did, I took the opportunity to move past.

the final stretch [photo: dani]

I was now in the lead and did not want to lose it. I had a sense that I had opened up a little gap, but I wasn't sure if it would be enough. I was thinking about the team and how great it would be if we could get a win. With that thought in my head, I pushed as hard as I could along the final kilometre. The setting sun was behind me and I could see my shadow stretching out in front of me, I knew that if my competitor was gaining, I would see his shadow before he had an opportunity to pass. However, it never appeared and I crossed the finish line in first position and gave #teamslgr their first proper outright race win! A proud moment.

post-race analysis [photo: dani]

I had finished 22 seconds ahead of the second placed runner. I was really pleased with my efforts to catch him and then to still have enough left in me to pull away through that final kilometre (my gps data). After a few cups of water, I chatted to some other finishers and then got in position to cheer on the rest of the SLGR gang as they approached the finish line. They all looked really strong as they pushed through the last section - hopefully that's a sign that the Tuesday and Thursday sessions paying off!

#teamslgr [photo: dani]

Team SLGR results (overall position / name / time):

1. Steven Stockwell - 23.56

9. John Annett - 29.00

10. Aaron Bardoe - 30.14

16. Gary Clements - 33.02

17. Dave Reid - 33.05

18. Chris Preston - 33.07

19. David Cooper - 33.53

23. Stephanie Ham - 36.29

24. Janice Munday - 36.49

25. Rachael Bignell - 38.01

30. Stephanie Mills - 40.37

my winners' medal [photo: dani]

The prize giving ceremony took place on the patio area outside the cafe. I knew my result, and was very excited to collect my winners' medal from Steve. But there were also team prizes up for grabs. We had taken quite a large group down and I was hoping that we would be in with a good chance of another prize. In the end it turns out that we won the mens and the womens team prizes with our top three finishers of each gender picking up a bottle of wine each. The full results can be found on the cyclorun facebook page.

a perfect end to a brilliant evening [photo: dani]

This was a really good trail race - the terrain was much rockier than what you would usually find on a typical south east England trail race. The rocky nature of the course made this more like a mountain-style trail race but without the huge inclines. I really loved it and I'm already looking forward to next year's series.

To top it all off, the amazing sunset really did turn the cyclopark black and orange... What a great evening for #TeamSLGR!

Sweatshop 5 x 5km (4.2km) Relay 2014

On 29 June 2014, Sweatshop held a running event at the Cyclopark, near Gravesend in Kent. Rather than just putting on a bog-standard race, they decided to make it a relay race. The plan was for it to be a 5 x 5km event. However, on the day, there was some kind of mix up with the bookings on the track and we lost a 400 metre section of the track. As the 5km would have been made up of two laps, it meant that the 5 x 5km turned into a 5 x 4.2km relay.

team o (bluewater src 4) [photo from vikki louise russell's set]

The entry fee was £25 per team, so we paid our £5 each and collected our race bibs - I was running in one of Bluewater Sweatshop's teams (sweatshop src 4) and we had been allocated team O. The bibs were marked with the team letter and then the runners' individual number. The number referred to what leg of the race each person would run. The team decided that I should run the fifth and final leg, so I was handed the O5 bib.

In total there were 19 teams;

SRC Bluewater - 9 teams

SRC Maidstone - 4 teams

Istead - 4 teams

Runfit - 1 team

plus one other team with no name.

The event was taking place in the afternoon and there was a really good turnout of runners and their families. The cyclopark has a playground to keep the children occupied, plus it has a cafe and toilets all located in the main building at the entrance.

the start [photo: 7t]

At some point just after 12 o'clock, the teams gathered next to the track for a briefing. Once done, all of the teams' first runners headed onto the track to get the race underway. As I was the fifth runner to go, I would have a wait of over an hour before it was my turn to run the two lap course. In the meantime, there was plenty of banter between the teams on the sideline.

As time went by, each of my fellow team members were called into action to put in their best effort around the track. First it was Dave Tyler, then Jodie Rawlinson, Lee Edwards, Simon Hassett, and then it was my turn. With the team counting on me to do my best, I started at an aggressive pace. As the track weaves its way away from the crowd, things become much quieter and even a little lonely at times.

me with fellow slgr runner, chris preston [photo from vikki louise russell's set]

The wind around the back of the course was blowing. Not too much, but enough to wish it would stop. Then of course there's the uphill section at the end of each lap. But the support from the other runners was fantastic coming up the final incline and into the start/finish area.

Once I had completed my leg of the race, I took a few moments to recover, then resumed my position at the side to encourage the other teams' remaining runners. Not too long after, all the runners were back and the race was over. The results were soon ready and the Sweatshop organisers held a little presentation ceremony where spot prizes were awarded and lastly the winners were presented with their trophy.

the full results

The full results were posted online. We finished in a total time of 1.25.37, only 4.8 seconds in front of the next team. I was pleased to see that our team had finished in 4th position overall. It also worked out that we were the top placed of the 9 Bluewater teams. I'm very proud to have run with such a fantastic team - thanks for having me.

Looking at and analysing my own time, if each leg had been the full 5k, I may well have been on for a new 5k personal best. My overall average pace was 3.39 per kilometre (5.52 per mile), which if I could have maintained for a full 5k would have given me an 18.15 finishing time. According to my gps data on Strava, I set new best times for half mile, 1km, 1 mile, and 2 miles during the race. Not a bad afternoon's work at all.

our individual splits

Just as the presentation ceremony had finished, the rain started to fall. I think everyone agreed that the rain couldn't have timed itself any better. It was a great little event, which we were promised would be bigger and better next year. I can't wait!

Buggy Running 5k Time-Trial at the Cyclopark

I wouldn't usually write a blog post about the 5k cyclorun, which takes place at 8am on Sunday mornings at the Cyclopark near Gravesend in Kent, but on this occasion it was special. Instead of turning up for a normal run, I took my daughter and our running buggy. After two years the time had finally come to do a proper buggy running time trial effort.

The goal was to try to run under 20 minutes, and I was confident that I could get close... on a flat course. However, the cyclopark track is not completely flat. It has undulations most of the way around and I wasn't quite so confident that I could break the magic 20 minute barrier.

So on Sunday 8 June 2014, we lined up on the start line with 14 other runners (including another buggy runner). At 8-something sharp we were sent on our way to complete the two-lap course. I started politely (that means that I gave the other runners some space and didn't crash into anybody with the buggy wheels) and after 50 metres or so, the runners fell into their desired paces and positions.

We were in third position at this stage and we stayed close behind the runners in positions 1 and 2 until just before the 1 kilometre point when we edged into the lead - which is where we remained for the rest of the run. We completed the first lap in 9.49 - within the time window for running a sub-20 time, but I was exhausted.

I pushed (pun intended) as hard as I could around the second lap, but I knew I was a little slower than the first. The last kilometre of each lap is largely uphill, and as we ran up the incline towards the finish on the second lap, it was as if the finish line kept getting further away - a feature of this course! My daughter was loving every minute of it, and I usually talk to her as we go around, but at this stage of the run, and at this pace I just didn't have enough puff to talk and run at the same time!

Finally we crossed the finish line and I instantly parked the buggy and sat (or fell in a heap) on the floor to recover. I was in complete agony during the last incline and was relieved that it was all over. I had stopped my watch as we crossed the finish line and I now had a chance to look at it. It read 19.49, this was followed up by confirmation from the official timer that I had indeed run a sub-20 buggy run.

The second lap had indeed been slower than the first (10.00), but we still managed to keep it within the buffer zone. Over the moon, we took the buggy back to the car, packed it away and then went to the cinema to celebrate our first sub-20 5k buggy run! We're now on the look out for a flat course to see how much faster we can go.

Cycloterrain

When I ran at the Cyclopark Christmas Cracker 5k Race I was given a voucher for a free cycling session at the Cyclopark. So with a break in the rain and a gloriously sunny winter's day on the cards, I decided to use it! The Cyclopark has a number of different options for cyclists. From the smooth surface of the main circuit, to the BMX track and then the mountain bike trails - or Cycloterrain as it is called here.

map of the cyclopark - you can see the mountain bike trails marked in blue, red and black

For my first visit on the bike, I decided to try out the Cycloterrain. So I gave the mountain bike a quick once over and slung it in the car. If I was going alone I would have cycled there, but my wife and daughter were coming with me so that's why we drove.

part of the blue trail

These three different tracks all have the same entry price (adults: £3 off peak / £3.50 peak) and for each you get to play on your chosen activity 2 hours. The entry fee only covers one activity. Once you have paid, you are given a wristband as proof of payment and it shows your entry time. It's worth noting that helmets are compulsory for anybody riding any kind of wheeled device within the complex.

this was one of my favourite sections (red route)

As my daughter and wife were here, they decided to use the playground, which is called Cyclokids. This has an entry fee of £2 per family and covers the whole day and covers up to 2 adults and 3 children. My daughter had brought her scooter so in order to comply with the health and safety regulations of the Cyclopark, she had to have a helmet. These are available to hire at the main reception for £2, plus you have to leave a £10 fully refundable deposit.

scooter, daughter, helmet, reception.

After making sure my daughter was settled in the playground, I headed off the try out the 6 kilometres of trails. Although they are all linked together, there are different routes you can take depending on your skill level. The trails marked with blue arrows are the easiest, red arrows point the way for intermediate riders, and the black arrows show the experienced riders where to go.

the section of the blue trail that passes the playground

I spent my time on a combination of the blue and red trails. I did on one occasion start to follow a black arrow but very quickly remembered that I am not an advanced mountain biker and abandoned the attempt! The big difference with the black trails is that they contain quite a lot of obstacles to ride over in the shape on boulders and are quite technical.

one of the blue trail waymarkers

I spent about 50 minutes riding round the different sections before taking a break to hang out in the playground with my wife and daughter. A short while later I went out and did a second session on the trails, this time I only managed 35 minutes before realising that my two hour session was over.

So I rode back to the main building, removed as many items of wet, muddy gear as I could without becoming naked and joined the ladies for a spot of lunch in the Cyclocafe.

we had a race. she won.

We had a great time over at the Cyclopark and the thing that surprised me the most was that I didn't fall of the mountain bike (I have a habit of doing this, but it usually occurs in August, so I'm safe for now). I'll be back soon for the free, weekly 5k run - Cyclorun, but for my next visit on two wheels I plan to take the road bike for a good session around the tarmac circuit.

Cyclorun

Cyclorun is a weekly 5k run on Sundays starting at 8am (arrive at 7.45am for registration). It is free of charge, open to all abilities and takes place on a traffic and dog-free course within the Cyclopark in Gravesend, Kent. They had their first run on Sunday 12 January 2014 and I was there to join in with the fun.

it must be a sign

When you arrive at the Cyclopark you have to pay to park your car. There is a machine just inside the main entrance. It costs £1.

There are toilets, lockers and changing facilities onsite. The lockers require a £1 coin to operate but this is refunded once you have finished using it.

 21 chilly runners all ready to go [photo: Louise Pullen]

Any new runners will need to fill in a quick registration form (today, that meant everyone), and each week the runners that turn up will be allocated a number for that week only to help the organisers allocate the correct finish time to you.

The route is the same as the Cyclopark Christmas Cracker, which I ran a few weeks earlier. It's two laps around their full 2.5km track. Underfoot is beautifully smooth tarmac. It's an undulating course with the hardest of the uphill undulations at the end of each lap (although it is possible that the route could be reversed on occasion, which means the beginning and end of each lap would be downhill).

the end - the cones mark the start/finish line

The Cyclorun has use of the track until 9am, but at that time it opens for cycling so the runners must be finished and off the track. As mentioned in the run briefing, even those that walk the course should be able to complete it within the hour.

After the run there is the option of popping into the Cyclocafe for refreshments, including the £2.99 breakfast offer which I'm told was very nice (thanks, Ian). I only eat raw fruit for breakfast so didn't try any of the food on offer - I didn't really look at the menu, but next time I'll check to see if there are vegetarian or vegan options.

The best way to contact the organisers is via the cyclorun Facebook page. The runners' times will be logged and posted on the facebook page each week after the run.

There are occasions when the cyclopark may be in use for another event. On these weeks the run will still takes place but using the surrounding paths and lanes around the local area. Week four of cyclorun was the first week where this was necessary and the alternative route was very nice indeed.