Kent

Running clubs in Kent

There are numerous well-established running clubs throughout Kent providing those who take their running seriously an opportunity to join like-minded people for training session and race competitions.

• Ashford & District RR
• Ashford AC
• Ashford Triathlon Club
• Beckenham RC
• Beech Grove Academy CCC
• Bexley AC
• Blackheath & Bromley Harriers
• Bromley Veterans AC
• Cambridge Harriers AC
• Canterbury Christchurch Univ AC
• Canterbury Harriers RC
• Dartford Harriers AC
• Dartford Road Runners
• Deal Triathlon & RC
• Dulwich Runners AC
• Folkestone RC
• Gravesend Road Runners
• Greenwich Tritons Triathlon Club
• Hawkinge Hurricanes
• Invicta East Kent AC, Canterbury
• Istead & Ifield Harriers, Gravesend
• Jelly Legs Running Club, Deal
• Judd School AC
• Kent AC
• Kent Schools AA
• Kings Hill Flyers
• Larkfield AC
• Maidstone Harriers
• Medway & Maidstone AC
• Medway Park Phoenix
• Medway Tri Club
• New Eltham Joggers
• Newington AC
• Orpington Road Runners
• Paddock Wood AC
• Petts Woods Runners, Orpington
• Plumstead Runners
• Rebel Runners Medway
• Sevenoaks Athletics Club
• Sevenoaks School AC
• S Factor Athletics
• Sittingbourne Striders
• SLGR (So Let's Go Running), Dartford
• South Kent Harriers, Folkestone
• South London Harriers AC
• Swale Combined AC
• Swanley & District AC
• Thanet AC
• Thanet Road Runners AC
• Tonbridge AC
• Tunbridge Wells Harriers
• University of Kent Athletics + X/CC
• Weald Tri Club
• Wingham Trotters RC

Club Focus: Rebel Yell

It is rare to find a race in Kent without Rebel Runners Medway being seen and heard. runABC South has been finding out about the noisy neighbours

When and how did the club form?

A few running friends met on a freezing January morning in 2014 and decided that Facebook would be a good way to plan training and races. We called our page Rebel Runners. Within four months the response had encouraged us to register with Run England and Jenny Baldock was our first qualified leader. Six months later we were UK Athletics affiliated and now have more than a dozen Leaders in Running Fitness and 300 plus members!  

Why Rebel Runners?

The name is a bit tongue in cheek but gets us noticed. We are unlike most clubs in that we truly embrace all runners from ‘couch to 5k’ up to elite. While we were known as Rebel Runners a photo appeared in the local paper after the Paddock Wood Half Marathon. We added Medway so people would know where we were from. 

Tell us about your membership …

We offer membership from 83p a month! Members pay £10 for social membership (option to add £12 for UKA registration). We hold our well attended ‘couch to 5k’ courses twice a year and membership fees fund Run Leader courses, equipment, affiliation fees and track hire. At the end of 2014 we had 85 competing members – we now have 170. Our youngest is 12-years-old and we have 18 junior members.  

What about the training?

We meet for evening runs all over the Medway towns and support our local parkrun at Great Lines Heritage Park on Saturday mornings. This is where we met the charismatic run director, Tony Giles, one of our keenest members. Once a month we use Medway Park track at Gillingham for speed/endurance. Run routes, ability levels and other details are posted on Facebook and the club website.

Club’s best achievements …

We had 80 at the Medway 10K this year and our ladies were first and second individuals, won three age categories and first team prize – our first such success and in our ‘home’ race, too. We won the Demelza Club Shield at the Leeds Castle 10K in September with 61 runners present and were able to make dreams come true for two lucky members in the club ballot for London Marathon places in 2016.

And you are a sociable club?

We certainly have a sense of fun. We run a #RebelSpotted game each month. Rebels can get spotted whilst out running (but only if in club kit and not at a club run) and the winner gets a bottle of fizz.

‘Rebels on Tour’ is another favourite. We have had Rebels in club colours photographed at The Great Wall of China, The Kremlin and the Golden Gate Bridge. Many of our runners run for charity so there is always a quiz night or raffle tickets to buy.

When our local parkrun was closed one weekend we deployed Rebels to parkruns far and wide. We covered every age category in the results as 76 members and two dogs visited 34 parkruns, ran 380kms and clocked 7,480 road miles, plus two boat trips.

Rebels on tour?

The club regularly goes on road trips. The 2014 Brighton Marathon saw 28 Rebels competing, with 20 running their first marathon. Looking ahead we will be present at the Las Vegas Half Marathon, Paris Marathon and there are 10 with places in London Marathon next year.

Any unusual incidents along the way …

Perhaps the wardrobe malfunction suffered by Sara who arrived at the Brands Hatch 10K with two odd shoes – different makes, colour and sizes! She did not manage a PB that day in the shoes she had to borrow.

The club in three words ...

‘One big family’.

The Retailer Network

A key resource for runners in Kent is the network of specialist retailers that serves the county from Canterbury in the east to the metropolitan fringes on the other side of the M25. While they each have a unique approach (even the running chain stores) they all share a commitment to providing their customers with great product advice (specially in the key area of footwear) and information about all those extra things that offer an added dimension to your running - GPS watches, energy drinks and bars, compression clothing, etc.

They also are happy to let you know all about the local running scene - the races, the clubs, the groups, services like physio and massage and even good running routes. Some organise weekly runs for customers and often double as a 'pop-in' centre for the local running community.

Over the last couple of years runABC South has spoken in detail to a couple of these 'local heroes'. Dominic O'Mahoney at the Running Outlet in Canterbury has added a modern twist to the staple running store offering, with an emphasis on their online presence and social media to extend their customer reach. But Dominic has kept his eye on the basics and in-store he provides a great product range, a respected 'physio-endorsed fitting service' and great interaction with local clubs and groups.

Meanwhile 40 miles away in Tunbridge Wells in the south-west corner of Kent, local stalwart, Allan Cheek - he's the club president at TW Harriers - provides a hugely personal approach. All visitors to the town's Running Hub can be assured of service from the man himself - Allan is there all day - everyday, ready to offer advice, and help you find what you are looking for. The store can be busy at times, but Allan is sure that it is this personal touch that brings people back: "The shop is decorated with personal items from my years of running such as race numbers and other bits of memorabilia, anyone who comes to Running Hub will be taken care of by myself."

The scene changes once again and on a busy thoroughfare in south-east London 17 year retail veteran David Bennett at the Runners Shop is looking ahead to 2013 with optimism: "We've just had a major upgrading at our Beckenham Road store which means we're now even better placed to cater for a loyal customer base that includes occasional park runners (the store is half-way between the Bromley and Crystal Palace weekly 5ks), the track and field fraternity and many cross-country and trail runners who head out east to the big open spaces like Biggin Hill or the West Kent Downs.

"Our suburban location means we attract lots of people who just want to keep fit and, surprisingly, we get very busy around the time of the Moonwalk. However GB international or someone thinking about one of the Race for Life 5ks, they get the same quality of service. Although staff member Abdi Amare Madar once beat Mo Farah in a cross country race so expect some good stories too!"

The knowledgeable enthusiasm of Dominic O'Mahoney, Allan Cheek and David Bennett is replicated by Kate Austen at Podplus Sports in Ashford and Tim Smith at Bat and Ball Sports in Sevenoaks. Also in Sevenoaks is the popular Up and Running store where manager Alan Pope and his all-runners team offer a great service but watch out they'll be keen to tempt you to enter the Sevenoaks 10K (March) and the Orpington 10K (June) - events that the store supports.

Sweatshop is the other big name and they have a major presence across Kent with stores at Bluewater (Chris Wright), Maidstone (Lee Kitney) and Dartford (Richard Leahy). There is a regular Wednesday evening group that runs from Bluewater - contact them directly for more details.

Check out our Retailers Page to find more places to purchase your running kit in Kent.

Running groups in Kent

• Ashford Walk/Jog 4 Life, Julie Rose Stadium, Ashford
• Ashford Group, Ashford and surrounding areas
• Balance-Running, Ridgeway playing fields, Southborough
• Bedgebury Belles Running Group, Bedgebury Forest and Pinetum car park
• Born to Run Faversham Rec. Ground, Park Rd, Faversham
• Building 510 runners, Sandwich Discovery Park, Sandwich
• Cranbrook Joggers, The Ball Field, Cranbrook
• David Lloyd Maidstone Runners (DLMR)
• Deal Running Buddies
• Fido Fitt Jogging Club, Fido Fitt, Upchurch, Sittingbourne
• Get Back On Track, Deangate Ridge Golf & Sports Complex, Hoo
• Get On Track, Deangate Ridge Golf & Sports Complex, Hoo
• GoRids Runners (Maidstone)
• Hamstreet Beginners / Hamstreet 10K Runners, Hamstreet Garden Centre, Hamstreet
• Maidstone Run England Group, Various points around Maidstone
• Meopham & Malling Ladies Joggers, Camer Park, Meopham & Wrotham Church
• MoorEnergy Runners, MoorEnery Fitness Club, Westerham
• Oaks Blokes, Hollybush Recreation Ground, Sevenoaks
• Paddock Wood A.C., Mascall School Maidstone Rd, Paddock Wood
• Pomphrey's Pacers, Various points around Maidstone
• RTW Runners, Tunbridge Wells
• Run Off Your Feet, Various locations, Southborough, Tunbridge Wells
• Run Ramsgate, Ramsgate Sports Centre
• RunFit, Green Lane Park, Paddock Wood
• Sandhurst Striders, Recreation Field, Sandhurst
• Sarah's Runners, Nevill Cricket Pav, Warwick Pk, Tunbridge Wells
• Sebastian Coe Running Club, Sebastian Coe Health Club @The Mercure Maidstone
• Sevenoaks Ladies Joggers, Hollybush Recreation Ground, Sevenoaks
• South East Striders, Thanet, Herne Bay, Ramsgate
• Take A Step Running Group - West Kent, Paddock Wood
• The Heath Joggers, Penenden Heath main car park, Maidstone
• The Natural Running Project, Mote Park, Maidstone
• Tonbridge Ladies Joggers, Tonbridge School
• Tonbridge Runners Group, Tonbridge Swimming Pool
• Wajog!!, Acacia Hall, High Street, Dartford
• Yoga Nut, Brenchley War Memorial Hall & Grounds

Go to the Run Together website for more information.

Let's start at the beginning

Four years ago Steve Grantham was worried about his fitness for work. Now fitness is his work as the MD of Beginners2Runners in Kent.

Former policeman Steve Grantham, admits he was an unhealthy, overweight smoker before deciding something had to be done, so he tried running – on his own after dark, hoping that no one would spot him! Two years later and four stones lighter he wanted to inspire others and B2R was created when 70 turned up for the inaugural session in Coxheath.

Now there are nine B2R clubs in Kent with around 2,000 members and up to 1,000 out training each week for their particular goals. Steve wanted to create a group that was fun, social and community-based so people of all shapes, sizes and abilities could have a go, without feeling embarrassed. He wanted others to feel like he did – proud to be doing something great for yourself!

runABC South sent Alan Newman along to one of the groups to see what all the fuss was about and this is his report.

I joined Leyborne B2R for an evening run as they were about to celebrate their first anniversary. The unlikely venue was KHR Recruitment Specialists, an office in a small shopping parade.

I met the local B2R club manager, a senior consultant in the recruitment business, which explains the venue but not her nickname of ‘Jinx’ Buckley. Introductions were over quickly and with around 60 members present there was just time for a few words of encouragement before we were divided into groups and set off with our leaders.

My group was the 5k to 10k improvers and Frankie Boylan led a brief but dynamic warm-up, part of which was with a partner. I found myself paired with spry septuagenarian Bernadette, who told me about her recovery from a spiral fracture of the femur while umpiring a netball match 12 years ago and her Sweatshop parkrunner of the month award for September. It seems that not even broken bones can stand in the way of a determined runner

Frankie assembled us and gave a minute for a bewildering array of apps to be sorted before we set off like a chattering mobile disco of lights, music and pace notes; head-torches creating a strobe effect in the hedgerows. It won’t be like this on my next session on the track at Paddock Wood, I mused, as we maintained a steady 7min/km, stopping for a minute walk every kilometre.

Halfway round we tackled ‘chip shop hill’ before regrouping for a welfare check, with the enticing aroma of salt and vinegar in the air. Just before the temptation to beg a bag of scraps became irresistible, we were unleashed by Frankie to set our own pace for the final 3k dash to the finish. The session was well organised, fun and friendly and there is no doubt that everyone present was well catered for, according to their ability and ambition. While stretching, I met Sam from nearby Larkfield, who joined the group in January as a complete beginner. Sam is a mum of two energetic girls who was persuaded by a friend to join. She has since dropped three dress sizes, improved her energy levels and overcome shin splints in her quest to run 5k.

Sam is not quite there yet and is the only member still in the 5k starter programme but as she says, “I get to make new friends every ten weeks”. Sam confided that, “Beginners2Runners saved me from health problems. I was stuck in a rut, unable to play with my kids and I had no idea how to change things. Now I have none of those worries and can call myself a runner. I may be the slowest but no-one cares about that, least of all me.”

After training, I met Steve on his way back from launching his latest group in Ashford. He told me: “It makes me really proud to be part of something so incredible. Running really can change people’s lives. The difference with our approach is that we don’t just train runners, we make them.”

If you’d like to join Beginners2Runners contact Steve Grantham at steve@beginners2runners.co.uk or visit beginners2runners.co.uk

For more information about running in Kent or to find your local running group, please visit: kentsport.org/run

Leisure facilities in Kent

The UK has an abundance of leisure facilities, from gyms, to running tracks, studios providing classes to sports halls and team games. For runners, it is important to have a balance in your training and have the spaces to do this. Medway Park is a new development in Kent, which has indoor and outdoor facilities for all types of sport and training, including a running track. It's also home to the University of Kent's sports science and sports therapy suite.

Medway Park

Address	Mill Rd, Gillingham, Kent, ME7 1EF
Opening Hours	Mon-Fri 6.30am-10.30pm, Sat 7.30am-8pm, Sun 7.30am-10.30pm
Tel.	01634 336655
Facilities Available	Fitness Suite, Swimming Pool, Sports Hall, Athletics Track and Field, Dance Studio, Judo Centre, Trampoline Centre
Services	Sports Therapy Clinic, Sports Science Lab, Rehabilitation Gym, Seminar Room, Café and Bar
Classes	Spinning, Aerobics, Circuits, Body Conditioning, Pilates, Yoga, Aquafit, Kick Box- ing, Zumba, Bums, Legs and Tums
Club based at the facility	Medway and Maidstone Athletic Club

Other leisure facilities in Kent

Ashford

• Bannatynes Health Club, Ashford
• Eastwell Pavilion
• Eversleigh Fitness Centre, Shadoxhurst
• Fitness First, Ashford
• Julie Rose Stadium
• Kings North Recreation Centre
• London Beach Health Club and Spa
• Stour Centre
• Tenterden Leisure Centre
• The Elwick Club
• The Green Health Club

Bexley

• Bodyzone, Belvedere
• Changes Health Club (Ladies Only), Bexleyheath
• Crook Log Leisure Centre, Bexleyheath
• David Lloyd Leisure Club, Sidcup
• Erith Leisure Centre, Erith
• Sidcup Leisure Centre, Sidcup

Bromley

• Bannatynes Health Club (Grove Park)
• Calso Health and Fitness Centre, Bromley
• Cator Park Sports Centre, Beckenham
• Darrick Wood Sports Centre, Orpington
• Darwin Sports Centre, Biggin Hill
• David Lloyd Club, Beckenham
• Eric Liddell Sports Centre
• Esporta Health and Fitness, Chislehurst
• Fitness First Beckenham
• Kelsey Park Sports College, Beckenham
• LA Fitness, Orpington
• Langley Park Sports Centre, Beckenham
• Nuffield Health Fitness and Wellbeing, Bromley
• Pavilion Leisure Centre, Bromley
• Priory Sports Centre, Orpington
• Virgin Active, Bromley
• Walnuts Leisure Centre, Orpington
• West Wickham Leisure Centre

Canterbury

• Body and Mind Leisure, Canterbury
• Canterbury College Sports Centre
• DW Sports Fitness, Canterbury
• Fit4Less, Canterbury
• Kings School Recreation Centre, Canterbury
• Kindsmead Leisure Centre, Canterbury
• Pier Sports Centre, Herne Bay
• Pulse Fitness Club, Canterbury
• University of Kent Sports Centre, Canterbury
• Whitstable Sports Centre

Dartford

• Acacia Fitness, Dartford
• Becket Sports Centre, Dartford
• David Lloyd Dartford
• Livingwell Health Club, Dartford
• Princes Park Community Stadium, Dartford
• Swanscombe Leisure Centre

Dover

• Balance Spa and Health Club, Dover
• Dover Leisure Centre
• Fitness Connection Sandwich
• Fowlmead Country Park, Sholden
• Sandwich Sport and Leisure Centre
• Shapeshifters Gym, Dover
• Tides Leisure Centre, Deal

Gravesham

• Body Matters Sport and Fitness Centre, Gravesend
• Cascades Leisure Centre, Gravesend
• Cygnet Leisure Centre, Northfleet
• The Swanscombe Centre

Maidstone

• Bob Prowse Health Club, Maidstone
• David Lloyd Leisure Club, Maidstone
• LA Fitness Maidstone
• Livingwell Health Club Maidstone
• Maidstone Leisure Centre
• Old Rectory Health and Fitness Club, Maidstone
• Sebastian Coe Health Club, Maidstone
• Village Leisure Club, Maidstone

Medway

• Deangate Ridge Sports Complex, Hoo
• Fitness First Chatham
• Hundred of Hoo Leisure Centre
• Lordswood Leisure Centre, Chatham
• Old Parsonage Health and Fitness Centre, Gillingham
• Roffen Sports Club, Rochester
• Roko Health Club, Gillingham
• Spirit Health Club, Rochester
• Splashes Leisure Centre, Rainham
• The Stirling Centre, Rochester
• Strood Leisure Centre
• Virgin Active, Medway
• Waterfront Leisure, Gillingham

Sevenoaks

• Edenbridge Leisure Centre
• Moorenergy Fitness Club, Westerham
• Sennocke Centre, Sevenoaks
• Sevenoaks Leisure Centre
• White Oak Leisure Centre, Swanley
• Wildernesse Sports Centre, Sevenoaks

Shepway

• Bannatynes Health Club, Folkestone
• Firs Fitness Club, Cheriton, Folkestone
• Folkestone Sports Centre
• Hi Rep Gym, Folkestone
• Pent Valley Leisure Centre
• Scorpions Gym, New Romney
• The Marsh Academy Leisure Centre

Swale

• Reynolds Health and Fitness Sittingbourne
• Sheppey Leisure Complex, Sheerness
• Sittingbourne Community College Sports Centre
• Swallows Leisure Centre, Sittingbourne
• Syndale Park Sports and Leisure Centre, Ospringe, Faversham
• Tonics Fitness Centre, Sittingbourne

Thanet

• Bannatynes Health Club, Broadstairs
• DW Sports Fitness, Broadstairs
• Elite Fitness Studio, Broadstairs
• Hartsdown Leisure Centre, Margate
• Ramsgate Sports Centre

Tonbridge and Malling

• Angel Leisure Centre, Tonbridge
• David Lloyd, Kings Hill
• Hilden Health and Fitness Club, Tonbridge
• Larkfield Leisure Centre
• Peak Fitness, Tonbridge

Tunbridge Wells

• Blackhurst Lane Sports Centre, Tunbridge Wells
• Esporta Health and Fitness, Tunbridge Wells
• Putlands Sports & Leisure Centre, Paddock Wood
• Risebridge Health and Sports Club
• Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre
• Weald Sports Centre, Cranbrook