Run>Dartford: Thames River Path 10k

The Thames River Path 10k was the last of the 2016 Run>Dartford series and took place on Friday 19 August. Before I continue with the post about this race here are the links to the blogs for the first four races of the series..

Race 1: Dartford Heath 5k
Race 2: Central Park 4 Mile
Race 3: Darenth Country Park 2 Mile Relay
Race 4: Joydens Wood 5k

I came into this race in 5th place overall on the consolidated points table. This has mostly been possible through consistency rather than any exceptional age-grading scores. The runners in the top five positions at the end of the series were to be awarded trophies, so I had plenty of motivation to put in as good a performance as possible.

eager to get going...

Those familiar with the local area should know the ASDA at Greenhithe. Next to the main vehicle entrance to the store car park is an entrance to the Thames River Path. The meeting point for the race was found about 100 metres or so along the path. Weather conditions were nice and cool but it was also fairly windy.

The route for this race was an out-and-back with a small loop at the far end. Underfoot was a mixture of stony trail paths, grass, tarmac, and gravelly paths. The path is fairly narrow, especially at the beginning so in order to avoid congestion, runners had been organised into three waves and were dispatched at 10 second intervals - times were then adjusted after the race to reflect each runner's actual finish time.

path near the start/finish

I was put into wave A and sent off with the first bunch of runners. By the the time I reached the 1 kilometre point I had the feeling that I may have gone out a little too hard, and the 3.49 minutes that had elapsed on my Garmin confirmed this. Naturally my pace slowed after this point.

On the 'out' section of the race, the blinding setting sun made it tricky to see many details so I was extra careful as the route passed through some cycling restriction barriers during the section that passed underneath the 'Queen Elizabeth II Bridge' which is better known as Dartford Bridge.

looking back towards the start area

The view out onto the Thames was nice and despite the chaos of the Friday evening traffic 137 metres above our heads, it was a peaceful place to run. The route continued along the path past the imposing 215 metre high chimney (fourth tallest in the UK) of the now decommissioned Littlebrook D Power Station.

The last of the industrial areas to pass was the Longreach Sewage Treatment Works, after this the race entered the Dartford Marshes area. It's a small area of marshland that once streched all the way along the Thames Estuary and is comprised of arable fields, grazing areas, scrubland and drainage ditches.

sunset

The Dartford Creek Tidal Flood Barrier was soon in sight and this marked the end of the 'out' section. A small loop was run at this point which turned the runners around and sent them back from whence they came; back along the marshes, past the sewage treatment works and the power station. Under the bridge and then to the finish right at the end of the path.

My course GPS data can be viewed on Strava via the following link: Thames River Path 10k

The Run>Dartford series 2016 participation medal was awarded to all runners who completed a minimum of four out of the five races in the series. It's a great looking medal which features the Dartford Warbler. As usual, there were plenty of other runners milling around analysing their performances.

For me, I started too fast, slowed down gradually throughout the first half, then I had a stitch for about a mile from 5.5km until just after the 7km point. I managed to hold a steady pace throughout the stitch and then gradually speed up through the last three kilometres so it wasn't too bad. However my finish time was about a minute slower that I had expected to run.

medal and trophy

After some quick calculations the race director was ready to announce the overall prize winners of the series. I had ended up in fourth position overall which I would never expected at the start of the series so as some might say, I was 'well chuffed'! I received a nice trophy which I've managed to find a lovely spot for at home.

The full results were put online on the Run>Dartford website soon after and I had finished in 5th position on the evening. But of course this series uses age grading to determine finish positions and points for the table, so I was 12th overall on the evening with an age grading of 65.81%. That translated into 65.81 points to add to my tally in the consolidated points table and I finished on 320.11 points in total. It's been a fantastic series and I'm looking forward to 2017 already!

Full Results:
Time: 42.51
Position by age grade: 12/45 (5th position by time)
Full results: Thames River Path 2016
Points in the consolidated points table: 320.11 (fourth position)

Mount Ephraim 10k 2016

Mount Ephraim is the name of an Edwardian country house in Hernhill, near Faversham in North East Kent. It is well-known for its terraced gardens and is open to the public between March and September. It is also a popular venue for weddings and functions.

There are two 10k races that place here each year that are hosted by Nice-Work and support local charity Porchlight, who provide much needed support to vulnerable people throughout the county. In February there is an off-road race and in August there is a road race. This blog is about the road race.

mount ephraim

Although I had been mulling over entering this race for quite some time, it was only the day before the race that I actually entered. The Nice Work webpage linked to a few sign-up options but I opted to use the Run Britain online entry page - mostly because they do not charge a booking fee. As I am a club runner I paid the £14 affiliated entry fee while unaffiliated runners would have paid the full £17 for the pleasure of taking part.

On the day, car parking was available for all entrants in the large on-site car park within the grounds of Mount Ephraim. I collected my race number and timing chip from race HQ which was set up on the lawn outside the main house. Toilets were available for use just adjacent to the main house.

nice work race hq

The ladies and disabled toilets looked fairly nice but the gents could do with a bit of a make-over. They were also out of toilet paper which probably caught a few people out. It reminded me how important it is to come prepared for the worst at races [always bring your own toilet paper, full change of clothes, safety pins etc...].

At 10.30am there was a short briefing and the race got underway - there was a special note made that the race is run on roads that remain open to traffic and that headphones are not allowed (UK Athletics are keener than ever for this rule to be enforced than in previous years).

all ready to go

It starts on grass and features a small lap of a cricket field before changing to tarmac and heading downhill past the car park and out onto the local country lanes for one large clockwise loop. The route undulates as it passes through the villages of Hernhill, Fostall, and Dargate. There are plenty fields, animals and orchards to be seen throughout the course.

The course was marshalled at all the important points such as junctions but I was careful to keep an eye out for vehicles just to be doubly sure to avoid any conflict. The drivers I encountered were careful enough around the runners and I didn't hear of any issues.

off we go

Just after Dargate, at around 5.5km into the race, the route has its longest stretch of continuous climbing and this lasts until around the 8km point where the highest point of the course is reached. From here the red-bricked facade of Mount Ephraim's country house can clearly be seen in the distance and it looked way further than 2km away!

The final 2 kilometres of the race are largely downhill, however there is a sting in the tail as the course turns back into the grounds of Mount Ephraim. Underfoot becomes a little gravelly and there is a fairly sharp uphill to negotiate before reaching the finish line just outside the house. You can view my full GPS trace of the course on Strava, here; Mount Ephraim 10k 2016.

out into the countryside

As far my race goes, I had turned up with the idea to run this just under race pace as I have(had) the final race of the Run Dartford series just a few days later and didn't want to exhaust my legs before that. However, in the end I felt that I should really give the course an honest effort. So I did and I was very pleased with my pacing which I reckon I got spot on (ie I don't think I could have got around any faster). I'd say that runners should expect this course to add about 2 minutes to their current fast, flat 10k time.

The full results were posted online a few hours later and I had run a chip time of 43:20 (gun time 43:24). I finished in 22nd position out of 279 runners and was the 19th male finisher. At present there are a couple of issues with my result. Firstly, my name is spelt wrong.... twice. I am recorded as 'Stephen Stockwel' instead of 'Steven Stockwell' which seems a little sloppy to me.

great support at the finish line

Secondly, I registered as an attached athlete through my running club Dartford Harriers but my club's name has not been assigned to me. Again it all feels a little sloppy and I imagine that my details have been manually inputted as I registered fairly close to the advance entry deadline.

I have sent a message to Nice Work to ask about correcting my name in the results and at time of writing am currently awaiting for a response or for it to be actioned. I hadn't spotted the part about the running club when I sent the message so I haven't made a request for that to be added at time of writing. [I'll update this post when/if I have some more info].

exploring the gardens

Overall I had a fantastic morning. The weather conditions were perfect, the atmosphere was friendly and relaxed, and the course was great. I spent some time exploring the gardens with my daughter after the run and it was lovely. I'd love to run the winter off-road version of this race [seems to be held in February], so I'm just hoping that it doesn't clash with any of the cross-country fixtures.

Royal Tunbridge Wells parkrun

On Saturday 26 April 2014, Royal Tunbridge Wells parkrun became the tenth parkrun in Kent. I managed to plan my #7weeksofparkrun challenge so that my second 'r' would coincide with the inaugural event as I really didn't want to miss it.

welcome..

The run takes place in Dunorlan Park, which covers 78 acres and is located just to the east of Royal Tunbridge Wells, straddling the boundary between the town and the surrounding countryside. It used to be the grounds of Dunorlan Mansion which was built in 1862. The mansion survived until 1958 when it was demolished and the land used to build 8 new houses.

the lake viewed from the cafe

30 acres of the park were opened to the public in 1946 and it wasn't until 1996 that the remaining land, until then used for grazing and not open to the public, was incorporated into the park. The tea pavillion, which is the meeting point and the post-run social venue, has been in operation since 1966. The toilets are fairly close by.

start / finish area

The train station in Tunbridge Wells is not too far away from the park, but leave enough time to walk/jog the 2 kilometres you'll need to cover in order to reach the start line. Drivers can head to the park and use the limited free parking that is on offer using either Pembury Road or Hall's Hole Road entrances. If those are full there is further limited parking on Bayhall Road. If that fails, then you'll be looking at one of the car parks in the town centre. According to the map of the park, there is some cycling parking in the Pembury Road car park - I didn't manage to spot it so I can't tell you how many racks are provided.

the lake provides home to some wildlife

This is an anti-clockwise, two-lap course which you could also describe as a figure-of-eight course. It starts on the path just outside the cafe on well maintained paths. However, the surface underfoot on this course does not remain on these paths, so you may find that in wet conditions trail shoes may be required - and that's what I went for on the day I visited.

the long sweeping right-hand bend that heads down the hill

Once the run briefing is over and the timers are ready, the run is started. The runners first head down a steep path towards the lake (I would say to be cautious at this point as one falling runner could cause a pile up of runners). At the bottom there is a boathouse (boating has been in operation since 1949) and the runners simply follow the path around its natural right-hand curve.

dunorlan

The runners then run adjacent to the lake which covers 6 acres and is an impressive feature in this very well presented and elegant section of the park. Towards the end of the lake, if the runners glance to their right they might just catch a glimpse of Dunorlan the Dragon. Once at the end of the path, the course goes across a wooden bridge then the runners take a right hand turn and the surface underfoot changes.

the start of the rougher path

At present, this next section's path has suffered severely from the very wet winter and a long crack/ridge has formed along it. I'm sure the park authorities will repair this in due course, but in the meantime you'll just have to watch your step. The course gently rises along this section before turning left and leaving the man-made paths behind for a while.

part of the off-road section

The main feature/hazard/obstacle of the first part of the off-road (off-path) section is a big dip in the ground, a bit rollercoaster-ish but on a very small scale, the path here was quite rutted and splashy when I ran here so it's another place to be cautious. After this the runners enter the event field and run around about three-quarters of the perimetre before exiting the field and can then enjoy a slight downhill stretch on grass and dirt paths, which lead the runners back onto the well maintained paths.

the route that leads back towards the lake

Runners now run along the other side of the lake and the path has a meandering or slightly twisty-turny feel. Once reaching the east end of the lake, the runners are directed onto a lovely straight section with all kinds of well-presented plants, shrubs and flowers on each side. Next, the runners turn left and can see one of the main features of the park - the fountain, which sits at the bottom of the tree lined avenue which has another feature, the Grecian Temple, at its far end. The temple used to house a statue 'the dancing girl', but this was stolen in 2006. Exactly how it was removed and its current whereabouts are still a mystery.

fountain and grecian temple

From here, the runners make their way back in the general direction of the start area, which means that it is uphill. It's worth noting that the original terrace from Dunorlan mansion still exists and offers great views of the park is just to the runner's right as they climb the hill. But as they are gasping for breath on the hill they really won't be interested in that or indeed the Chalybeate Spring or the 350 year old Yew tree which are also both close by.

the course starts to head back uphill towards the end of the lap

At the end of lap one the runners only have to climb part the way up before heading back down the steep path towards the lake, but on lap two you go all the way up, and it is a tough end to a really lovely parkrun course. The funny thing is that it doesn't look that steep in the photos. The finish funnel is almost in the exact same place as the start, right next to the cafe, which is where you'll probably want to head to find a drink and a seat - that is if you can pick yourself up off the grass after running that final incline.



approaching the finish (up the incline, which felt harder than it looks)

A few days before the inaugural event, there was a news article posted saying that the course is unsuitable for buggy runners. Looking around the course, the areas of concern seem to be the section where the path has cracked and also the little rollercoaster-style dip. If, like me, you have experience running with a buggy off-road and have an appropriate buggy then these might not present too much of an issue. If you are considering buggy running here, it might be worth having a chat to the event team beforehand for their latest advice, just incase things improve.

i picked up a bit of splashy mud on the way around

I found the course to be very nice to run but I really did suffer on the second lap, I think the uphill at the end of lap 1, then the steep downhill, coupled with the gradual incline and the grass section which both felt a lot harder on lap two really knocked me for six. But somehow I managed to put in a decent last kilometre and still managed to finish under 20 minutes (official results page for event 1), which made sure that I ticked all of the boxes for my #7weeksofparkrun challenge (my second 'r' / fifth county / fifth sub-20 / fifth consecutive week).

Links:

The parkrun show - episode 138 - Dannis Mangle.
kat miller's blog - tailfish

The Kent parkrun venues

The county of Kent is made up of Kent County Council and the unitary authority of Medway Council. The pins on the map mark the locations of parkruns within the county.

The pins on the map mark the locations of parkruns within the county. The green pins show the venues I have officially visited while the red pins are venues that I still need to visit. The list below covers public 5k events only, not prison venues or junior parkruns.

Ashford - Victoria Park, Ashford, Kent.
Course: 2 laps
Underfoot: Tarmac
Profile: Flat with one short sharp incline towards the end of each lap
Notes: A fast course - the park was refurbished in 2023
Further reading: My 2024 Ashford parkrun write-up. Also my older Ashford parkrun blog entry from 2013.
 

Bedgebury Pinetum - Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest, Bedgebury Road, Goudhurst
Course: 1 lap
Underfoot: Gravelly and stony paths
Profile: Hilly but with a great 2km downhill section in the middle
Notes: The Pinetum is a great place to visit
Further reading: My Bedgebury Pinetum parkrun blog post.


Canterbury - University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent.
Course: A double out-and-back plus a couple of laps of playing fields
Underfoot: Tarmac/hard surfaces and Grass
Profile: Initially it looks flat but the Crab and Winkle Way takes you through a valley resulting in four inclines/declines to negotiate.
Notes: One of the more challenging parkruns in Kent.
Further reading: My Canterbury parkrun blog entry and also my blog entry from the Canterbury parkrun test event.


Cyclopark - Cyclopark, Gravesend, Kent
Course: Double out-and-back
Underfoot: Tarmac
Profile: Gentle elevation change throughout the entire length of the course
Notes: Does not take place inside the Cyclopark, but outside on National Cycle Route 177
Further reading: My Cyclopark parkrun blog entry


Dartford - Central Park, Dartford, Kent (London+)
Course: 1 small lap followed by two large laps (new course as of July 2016)
Underfoot: Tarmac and grass / dirt
Profile: Mostly flat but with a slight incline during the dirt trail section
Elevation gain: 26m
GPS data: Dartford parkrun (new standard course)
Notes: My home run
Further reading: My full Dartford parkrun write-up from 2022.
Video: Dartford parkrun (freedom run) (the original course - not the current course, but quite similar)


Dartford Heath - Dartford Heath, Heath Lane, Dartford, Kent (London+)
Course: Almost two laps
Underfoot: stony paths, grass, concrete
Profile: flat
Notes: No facilities on the heath.
Further reading: My Dartford Heath parkrun blog post

Dover Waterfront - Dover Waterfront, The Esplanade, Dover, Kent

Course: 3 x Out and back (2 on waterfront / 1 on pier)

Underfoot: Tarmac

Profile: Flat

Notes: No dogs allowed

Further reading: My Dover Waterfront parkrun write-up from September 2023

Folkestone - Leas Cliff, Folkestone, Kent.
Course: A double oab course with the first one run twice
Underfoot; tarmac
Profile: slightly uphill whilst running west
Elevation gain: 133m (need to check this)
GPS data: Folkestone parkrun
Notes: takes place on the cliff top so can be quite windy
Further reading: My Folkestone parkrun freedom run blog entry and also my Folkestone parkrun official event 94 blog post.


Great Lines - Great Lines Heritage Park, Gillingham, Kent.
Course: 2 out-and-back laps with a loop at each end
Underfoot: resin paths, gravel and grass
Profile: gently undulating
Notes: Great view and impressive naval memorial
Further reading: My Great Lines parkrun 2023 venue write-up. Also My Great Lines event 1 blog and another with the running buggy on Christmas Day.
Video: Great Lines parkrun (freedom run)

Jeskyns Community Woodland - Jeskyns Community Woodland, Cobham, Kent

Course: 2 laps

Underfoot: Tarmac and gravel paths

Profile: Undulating

Notes: Jeskyns is a popular dog walking location.

Further reading: My Jeskyns Community Woodland parkrun write-up from August 2026


Kingdom - Kingdom, Penshurst, Kent.
Course: Three laps
Underfoot: Trails (former cycle tracks)
Profile: undulating / hilly
Notes: Great views across the Weald of Kent
Further reading: My Kingdom parkrun blog post

Leybourne Lakes (formerly Malling) - Leybourne Lakes Country Park, Malling Road, Larkfield
Course: Two laps around the main lake
Underfoot: Stony / gravelly path
Profile: Flat
Notes: Fast course / car park fills up / Name changed in October 2024
Further Reading: My Leybourne Lakes parkrun blog post from January 2023. There is also my original Malling parkrun blog post from 2015.

Lullingstone - Lullingstone Country Park, Castle Road, Eynsford, Kent
Course: 2 laps
Underfoot: Grass / trail
Profile: Hilly
Notes: Beautiful. One of the hilliest parkruns in the UK.
Further reading: My Lullingstone parkrun blog entry. I revisited for event 126 and again at event 151.


Maidstone River Park - Kent Life, Maidstone, Kent.
Course: Out and back along the river Medway with a bridge and a loop at the far end
Underfoot: Canal towpath / gravelly
Profile: Flat except for the bridge crossing and the last dash to the finish line
Notes: Maidstone parkrun, renamed in March 2024. Towpath is narrow so overtaking can be tricky.
Further reading: The 2022 Maidstone parkrun blog post. Or My original Maidstone parkrun blog post from 2014.


Margate - Palm Bay Seafront, Margate, Thanet, Kent.
Course: 2 different out-and-backs, the first short, the second long with a loop at each end.
Underfoot: Mostly tarmac but there is a short section at the far end on dirt/grass
Profile: There are a couple of undulations to negotiate during the second out-and-back section
Notes: Fast course but slowed down by the undulations
Further reading: My 2023 Margate parkrun write-up /  My original 2013 Margate parkrun blog

Mote Park - Mote Park, Maidstone, Kent

Course: Out and back plus two inner laps

Underfoot: Tarmac

Profile: Undulates throughout. Hilly.

Notes: Nice undulating park.

Further reading: My Mote Park parkrun blog post


Pegwell Bay - Pegwell Bay Country Park, Thanet, Kent.
Course: 2 laps
Underfoot: Compact gravel paths and tarmac
Profile: Flat
Notes: The course is short, full details in the 2024 write-up
Further reading: My 2024 Pegwell Bay parkrun write-up. There is also My Pegwell Bay parkrun blog from 2014.


Royal Tunbridge Wells - Dunorlan Park, Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
Course: 2 laps
Underfoot: tarmac/grass (dirt/mud/puddles)
Profile: undulating
Notes: Very nice park with an uphill finish.
Further reading: My Royal Tunbridge Wells blog entry


Shorne Woods - Shorne Woods Country Park, Gravesend, Kent.
Course: Varies depending on seasonal conditions (but usually 3 laps)
Underfoot: Compact gravel easy-access paths
Profile: Flat (not pancake flat, but close)
Notes: A fun course with some twists and turns
Further reading: My Shorne Woods parkrun 2023 write-up, My 2014 Shorne Woods blog entry and also my New Years Day 2015 blog entry


Sittingbourne - Milton Creek Country Park, Sittingbourne, Kent
Course: Lollipop-style course with two laps around the sweet part
Underfoot: Gravelly paths plus some grassy sections
Profile: Flat
Notes: Nice course - lots of turns. The marshals are crucial to keeping participants on course.
Further reading: My 2024 Sittingbourne parkrun write-up. Also my old 2016 Sittingbourne parkrun blog.


Squerryes Winery parkrun - Squerryes Winery, Westerham, Kent
Course: One-and-a-half laps (a big lap and a small lap and a tail, kinda)
Underfoot: Farm tracks / trail
Profile: gently undulating
Notes: Official page states not suitable for running buggies
Further reading: My Squerryes Winery parkrun blog post


Swanley parkrun - Swanley Park, Swanley, Kent (London+)

Course: Two laps (but see course page) - looks like a tied shoe lace

Underfoot: Grass and paths

Profile: Undulating

Notes:

Further reading: My Swanley parkrun blog post

The Leas parkrun, Minster - The Leas, Minster-on-Sea, Isle of Sheppey, Kent
Course: Double out-and-back
Underfoot: Tarmac
Profile: Flat
Notes: Seafront, so can be windy
Further reading: My The Leas parkrun, Minster blog post


Tonbridge - Tonbridge Racecourse Park, Tonbridge, Kent.
Course: Out and back with a loop around Barden Lake at the far end
Underfoot: A mixture of grass, tarmac, dirt, gravel and bridges
Profile: Flat
Notes: Flat and fast but does have sections on grass and trail which make it a little slower in the winter.
Further reading: My new/update Tonbridge parkrun venue guide,  My original Tonbridge parkrun blog entry from 2013 or my freedom run before the venue went live.
Video: Tonbridge parkrun (freedom run)


Walmer and Deal Seafront - The Beach, Walmer, Deal, Kent
Course: Out and back style (1.5km north and then 1km south)
Underfoot: Tarmac
Profile: Flat
Notes: On a clear day you can see across to France
Further reading: My Walmer and Deal Seafront parkrun blog post

Whitecliffe Lake - Whitecliffe Lake, Ebbsfleet Valley, Swanscombe, Kent

Course: Just under 2 laps

Underfoot: Gravel plus some tarmac/brick

Profile: Flat with a short incline at the end of each lap

Notes: No toilets / Limited car parking

Further reading: My 2025 Whitecliffe Lake parkrun write-up.


Whitstable - Marine Drive, Tankerton-on-sea, Kent.
Course: 2 laps along the lower and upper levels of the promenade
Underfoot: Tarmac and Grass
Profile: Flat apart from the slopes between the levels
Notes: A pretty seafront location. The first Kent parkrun venue.
Further reading: My 2024 Whitstable parkrun write-up. Also there'a My Whitstable parkrun blog entry from my 2024 visit.

Please note: Information contained within the blog posts, such as the course configuration, parking arrangements, availability of toilets etc, may change. Please always check with the relevant events' web page and social media channels for the latest and most accurate information.

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Valentine 10ish Mile Challenge 2014

After the 2014 Dartford 10 mile race was cancelled, I started looking around for alternative 10 milers and I stumbled upon the Valentine 10ish Mile Challenge, hosted by Vigo Runners. It is a cross-country / trail race and takes place in the beautiful undulating countryside just outside of the village of Vigo in Kent.

10ish miles

In the weeks leading up to the race, I had mentioned it to some other runners. The ones that had run it in previous years all responded by smiling, laughing or grimacing! I knew why because I had looked at the photos from 2013's event. It is a tough race all the way through, but the headline grabbing section is the 32% gradient hill they throw in at the nine mile point.

vigo r.f.c

I entered via the runner's world website and received my confirmation email, but that was all. No further details came through by email or in the post and the only thing I knew was that it started at 10.30am in Vigo. Vigo Runners are based at Vigo Rugby Club so I thought it would start there and after looking up the route online I could see that the start/finish was indeed at the rugby club.

heading to the start line

So on the day, I drove down to Vigo Rugby Club and was pleased that I was in the right place. I arrived with plenty of time to spare and went into the club house hoping that they would definitely have me registered and that my number would be waiting for me to collect. Fortunately everything was in order and I collected the number. The clubhouse is also home to the toilets, changing rooms, bar, kitchen serving breakfast, tea, coffee etc. There was also a back room which had some toys for children to play with. The small-but-big-enough car park was marshaled by some army cadets.

start (and later the finish)

Ten-thirty quickly rolled around and the runners assembled in the start funnel. After a short talk from the race director a cannon was fired to signal the start of the race. The first section is a lap around the rugby field which was fairly spongy and muddy due to the huge amount of water we the ground was holding. After this we left the rugby club to continue our adventure in the countryside.

off we go

I'd usually try to describe the course in detail but there was a lot of course to try to remember! The early section went through the woods which lead into a section that was single file due to the path being waterlogged on both sides with the only dry-but-muddy-and-slippery section in the middle - I almost fell a few times during this part.

heading around the rugby field

There was a long downhill stretch on a path that was made up of loose rocks at the sides or slippery mud and debris in the middle -  This section felt hard on my ankles but I made it through without falling. It flattened out after about a kilometre or so of downhill running and soon after, around the 4k point, there was the first killer hill. All of the runners around me were reduced to walking pace and to be fair there wasn't any advantage in continuing to run it - the steepest part was recorded on my gps as a 21% incline.

the last photo before i disappeared into the woods

Things get a little sketchy around the middle miles. I know we ran through a good number of fields - mostly waterlogged and muddy. There were a few short sections on small country roads. There were some twisty trail sections, there were uphills and downhills and not really anything that was flat. There were a few stiles to negotiate. There was a hydration point about half-way round (water and jelly babies were on offer). There were tree roots trying to trip me and twigs trying to poke my eyes out. I have a little cut on my knee which I think was caused by some brambles or something similar.

course map

My main goals were to finish the race uninjured and enjoy it. So the race plan was to start strong but not all out and try to work my way through the field as the miles went on, and this is how it played out. At times I found myself alone on the trail, but then I'd see a flash of colour or movement in the distance and would work hard to catch them.

taken just after the mountain climb [photo: Brian Page]

There were marshals in all the right places, and where there wasn't a marshal there was an arrow sprayed on the ground or a sign attached to a tree which meant that I navigated the course without getting lost - always a bonus! Following the strong winds a few days before the event, some trees had fallen. Most of these had been cleared to allow safe passage. There was one fallen tree at the edge of a field but it was easy enough to navigate around it.

returning for another lap around the rugby field

The last bit is etched in my mind still. From around the 14 kilometre point, there is a lot of uphill running and the stretch along a very narrow single track country path at 14.5k was where my legs finally started to feel really heavy and I felt that I was slowing. At the end of the narrow path we turned onto another road section and continued climbing. I couldn't have slowed that much because I caught up with another runner here. We were then directed back onto the trail. This was where I saw the sight that I will never forget. The hill was not a hill, it was a mountain.

done!

As the incline got more severe I dropped into walking pace and tried to find a good route to negotiate the climb, sadly I had left my crampons and ice picks at home today, but they would have come in handy! Looking towards the top I could see a congregation of supporters cheering the runners on - it was nice to have the support here and it also meant that the finish line wasn't far away! While going up the mountain you cover about 150 metres, so it was a relief to finally reach the top... But wait! It wasn't quite the top. Once at the top of the slope you then have a set of steps to negotiate which do eventually bring you out at the top!

goody bag, water, medal (hidden)

After this hill, I was pleased that my legs appeared to be working. And not only working, I was able to get back into a fairly decent pace and managed to move up another place during the last kilometre or so. It was along this stretch where I saw a photographer getting ready to take my photo so I tried to put on my best running face, and as I passed I realised that it was Brian from So Let's Go Running - it was a nice boost seeing someone I knew and during our quick exchange he advised me that two runners were on my tail, so I got to work in keeping it that way. The final section is another lap around the rugby field. This time the soggy, muddy grass felt much more difficult to run on. The last 10 miles had taken its toll. However I managed to keep up a half-decent pace and crossed the line feeling strong.

i was expecting to pick up more mud than this

At the finish line the race director had been informed of the incoming runners and it was really nice to hear him congratulate me by name over the megaphone just as I was approaching the finish line. Once past the finish line, I was handed a bottle of water, a goody bag and my finishers' medal. The first thing I wanted was the water, then I went to the car to retrieve my post-race banana. After this I took some time to walk around and get a bit of stretching in.

ahh.. there it is

It was a tough but brilliant race and I'd love to come back and do it again. The variation of surfaces underfoot and the undulations mean that there is never a chance to become bored. I found that I was fully engaged the whole time. There were some amazing views across Kent throughout the run. I mean really amazing. And the whole thing was made even better by the gloriously clear and sunny weather that we were lucky enough to have!

the hill profile

On the flyer for the event, it was billed as 10ish miles - my gps registered it as 16.8km, which I think works out at about 10.5 miles. The file was uploaded to Strava where you can view the hill profile and route in more detail. Plus if you're interested in my kilometre splits you'll also find them there.

The official results (direct link) were posted in a news report the next day.

I finished in 13th position out of 98 runners in a time of 1:24.34.

Tonbridge parkrun (inaugural)

Please note: As of August 2019 there is an updated venue guide: Tonbridge parkrun new blog

My history with Tonbridge began in 2009 when me and the-soon-to-be-mrs7t rented a flat just off the High Street. In early 2010 we were married in Tonbridge Castle and later that year our daughter was born - in Tonbridge of course. Around this time, I took up running and spent many a happy hour plodding around the local streets.

Tonbridge Castle

My first (and to date, only) half-marathon was the inaugural Tonbridge half-marathon back in 2011. The only other race I took part in in Tonbridge was the Tonbridge Wells Mental Health Resource 5k, and is held in the private grounds of Tonbridge boys school (the Australian Olympics team stayed here during the London 2012 Olympics) , which you can see across the river during the early and late stages of the parkrun.

The River Medway

I first discovered parkrun while I was living in Tonbridge and for 18 months I commuted - mostly to Riddlesdown - to get my weekly fix. While it did cross my mind to look into setting one up in Tonbridge, the time wasn't (and still isn't) right for me to take on the responsibility of being an event director. When we finally moved away, we had our check-out and handed the keys back to our former landlord on Friday 9 November 2012 - Exactly one year before the inaugural Tonbridge parkrun!

A view from the course

So, on Saturday 9 November 2013, I and the ladies drove down to Tonbridge. There is ample car parking near the start line but you do have to pay. The first car parks you'll see as you approach the park are the Castle Grounds and Upper Castle Field car park. However, if you continue past these and take the next left hand turn, you'll arrive at the Lower Castle Field car park - this is much closer to the start line. Another option for parking would be to park in Haysden Country Park, which is at the far end of the course, but it is much cheaper to park there (70p for up to four hours as of Nov 2013) and you can enjoy a lovely 2km walk to and from the start line.

Tonbridge Juddians

Those travelling by train will simply alight at Tonbridge train station and take a short walk down to the park. On the other hand, if you fancy cycling, the closest bicycle racks (approx 8) are just outside the swimming pool, which is also right next to the main car park. The main toilets are in the rugby club house, but there are also some public toilets within the park and are located just on the other side of the car park (across the footbridge). If you were to park in Haysden Country park you'll also find toilets there.

Start/finish area (feet already feeling a little wet)

If you wander around the immediate vicinity of the start/finish area, you'll find Tonbridge Castle, the swimming pool, the miniature railway track, and a few separate meandering branches of the River Medway. Walking a bit further across the park, you'll find a children's playground, crazy golf, outdoor gym, tennis courts and just outside the park, the Tonbridge war memorial gardens. Tonbridge is also famous for being the birthplace (Pembury) and home (Hildenborough) to double Olympic gold medallist, Dame Kelly Holmes.

Runners assemble!

The start of the run is in Tonbridge Racecourse Sportsground and starts on the grass next to Tonbridge Juddians Rugby Club club house but before the inaugural run could get underway, there was quite a long list of people to thank for helping to make this event a reality. The course is flat and is on a mixture of grass, tarmac, trail, gravelly paths and a couple of wooden bridges thrown in for good measure. In fact, there are seven river crossings during the course of the run and as it is an 'out and back' (or even a lollipop) route, you do them all twice. Some of the crossings are very narrow.

My biggest and littlest fan

Although road shoes could be worn on this course, my preference is for trail shoes - especially during wetter weather conditions. The wettest/muddiest part of the course is the start/finish area which tends to hold onto quite a bit of water. The trail section can be a tad muddy or slippery when covered with leaves. Buggy runners will be fine on the course but there are a few pinch points to watch out for.

262 runners heading towards a tiny hole...

Once under way, the runners (262 at the inaugural event) make a 90 degree right hand turn on grass and head towards a hole in the hedge that leads onto the tarmac river path. As the hole is only suitable for one runner to pass through at a time it does create a bit of congestion and it took over two minutes for everyone to pass through, which is a shame but unavoidable as the alternative route would see runners negotiating a bridge which has trip and slip hazards and was recently damaged by the fire brigade rescuing a dog from the river. However, I have heard that the event director is looking at options to resolve this issue.

262 runners filtering through

The first part of this section along the river is pretty much single file (unless you venture onto the grass verge) so lining up sensibly is crucial (ie line up approximately where you think you'll finish). However, the path does open up a few hundred metres later where it joins Regional Cycle Route 12 (quite a nice ride from Tonbridge Castle to Penshurst Place and almost takes you all the way to Penshurst Off-road Cycling Centre - read about my visit here).

The first part of the path through the park

The course then takes a quick detour around the edge of one of the rugby fields before returning to the cycle path and immediately leaves the park by passing underneath the main railway line. Runners may need to slow slightly while passing through as there are some bicycle calming barriers in place at each end of the short underpass. An additional point to note is that while the underpass has sufficient headroom for the vertically challenged (that's me), taller runners may feel the need to duck whilst passing through.

The trail section

The run now enters its trail section where runners cross a small bridge and again run alongside the river (take caution, as there are some short wooden posts in the ground along this path), a few hundred metres later the course swings left, passes over two more bridges and continues along the river - eagle-eyed runners may notice the small world war 2 pillbox hidden within the line of trees. The next significant point you'll reach is Lucifer Bridge...

Lucifer...

... which is very narrow and may require runners to stop to let other people cross (not great for your 5k time, but crucial for the reputation and future of the event). On my way back across the bridge, I and another runner who was on his 'out' section as I was on my 'back' section managed to squeeze past each other. This is followed immediately by Little Lucifer Bridge. A slight right hand turn through a forest path takes runners into Haysden Country Park.

Barden Lake

The country park is a beautiful, peaceful area with the centrepiece being the glorious Barden Lake, which runners will see as they cross the wooden bridge upon exiting the trail section. Runners will now need to complete one clockwise loop of the lake. They turn left and where the path splits in two follow the outer path where there is the ever-so-slight suggestion of an incline, before passing the duck feeding area at the far end (roughly at the half-way point) and then on the north bank, fishermen (or fisherpeople). Interestingly, the lake is not a natural feature but the remains of a sand and gravel excavation pit which was in operation between 1974 and 1980.

Almost finished

Once the loop of the lake is complete, it is just a simple case of following the previously trodden trail, grass and paths all the way back to the rugby club house. As runners near the end of the course they will have to negotiate the hole in the hedge in the opposite direction, which is slightly tricky because it involves taking a sharp blind right hand turn through the hedge - thankfully there are marshals here. After this it is a frantic dash on the (waterlogged, muddy) grass towards the finish line.

The final bit

The post-run social gathering takes place in the rugby club house, but as the rugby takes priority, the swimming pool cafe may sometimes be used as an alternative. Sadly I couldn't stay for the post-run fun because I had to be in central London by 11am. Tonbridge parkrun brings the total of Kent parkruns to eight and rounds of 2013 nicely for the county. It's definitely worth getting yourself down to Tonbridge to give this one a go but definitely bring a spare pair of shoes and socks!

Please note: The course has been modified and the start-finish is now in a slightly different location. Please see the official Tonbridge parkrun course page for the latest information.

Edit: I made a video of the new course and it can be found on this page.