On the roads again

Please see this week’s update for Kent AC members – 02/03/25–

KENT AC NEWS BULLETIN
2 March 2025

After the trials, tribulations and some quick spike cleaning following the National XC last week, we’ve made the quick pivot to spring and the road races that it brings. The hard graft invested over the XC season has well and truly started to pay off already, with some inspiring runs up and down the country – and even so far as Tokyo! 

Read on for a parade of impressive performances as well as details of how you can get involved in next week’s pacing takeover at Dulwich parkrun and the upcoming road relays too.

And many of you will have noticed the WhatsApp streamlining that took place this week, with a new ‘community’ being created as well as a new channel specifically for announcements. We hope that this will make it easier to find the information you need and ensure that key club news reaches everyone.

Let’s rewind to last Sunday, where both Clare and Lin absolutely shone at the British Masters Indoors. Lin Skinner ran 5:18:98 for 1500m to take a bronze in there V45 category – a mere second off her all time PB! Bring on the Kent Counties, where Lin’s impressive form will no doubt continue to bring both smiles and medals. 

Fast forward to Thursday, when we had a strong contingent out at the Friday Night Under The Lights x Podium 5km in Battersea Park. With an incredible string of PBs and SBs: Joe English ran in 14:43, Nick Acfield in 14:52, Isaac Parker in 15:09, Simon Vaisey in 15:42, Rob Sesemann in 14:34, and Owen Hind in 14:05. All credit to Ken Pike and the group’s training over the past few months.

Just across the river on Friday lunchtime saw a navy blue peppering throughout the Last Friday of the Month in Hyde Park 5km. Clare Elms set yet another British record with 18:28 – a 101.6% age grade! Samuel Taylor ran in 17:42, Tim Sharp in 18:00, Ed Matthews in 18:14, Christopher Lydon in 20:12, John Barron in 23:01, Karen Samuel in 25:55. 

Down in sunny Brighton today, the half marathon saw Nick Acfield race for the second time this week with a 69:20 PB, Ben Clarke in 69:31, Jake Herrera in 71:51, Alex Morales in 86:33, Suzanne Spalding in 1:43:37 and Natalie Cook in 1:58:17. Hope that lots of fish and chips was consumed after. 

And across in the Dartford half, Joseph Wilkes finished in 84:59, Beki Hikton Hanns in 1:2:19, Ian Ellwood in 2:17:14, Denuse Cave in 2:20:24, and Lesley Mentink in 1:55:49. 

And over in Tokyo, Kate Williams finished in 3:53 – and with that completing the 6 majors. What an inspiration!

Remember to let us know if you have run, jumped or thrown any achievements that you’d love the club to know about. The club is here to celebrate each other!

XC BY NUMBERS

With huge thanks to Len, we can now celebrate the 2024/5 cross country season in style and award our XC club champions. So with this, a huge thank you and well done to our awesome XC captains who have shepherded runners, sorted admin, and rallied teams throughout the winter. And a massive thank you and well done also to every single person who showed up, pinned on a number, spiked up and represented the club this season. Let’s do it all again in the autumn…

This season saw a total of: 91 male and 37 female competitors for Kent AC. Thanks to all 128 of you, this helped us place:

Which gives us our club champs for each category as…

 

Which gives the grand prix winners as:

IT’S A RUN NOT A RACE… 

We’ve offered to takeover the pacing at Dulwich parkrun on 8th March. 

They have pacer vests vests for every whole minute from 15 to 40, so a wide range needed! 

If you’re keen to get involved put your name down on the sheet here!

WE RELAY RELAY RELAY WANT YOU TO SIGN UP

Road Relays Season is on the horizon and we’re so ready for it!

Dates for your diaries are: 
Sunday 30 March for the Southerns in Milton Keynes and Saturday 12th April for the Nationals in Sutton Coldfield.

If you’re interested in running in either (or both!) please add your name to the sign up sheet linked below or reach out to Alexa Parker for the women and Chris Busaileh for the men. They’re great events and always a lovely day out, especially the Nationals which is always lovely weather (without fail for the last 10 years).

For the women, teams are of 6 and the legs are about 5k in length. For the men, it’s 12 legs; 6 long of around 8k and 6 short which around 5k.

We’d love to take two teams to each event (at least two to the Southerns). The teams do NOT have to be the same teams at both events, so if you are only available for one date that’s fine.

Sign up here

EVENT CALENDAR

(please note that the dates marked tbc are provisional)

March
30 – 12/6 Stage Southern Road Relay Championships – Milton Keynes

April
3 – Assembly League – Beckenham Place Park
12 – 12/6 National Road Relays – Sutton Coldfield
26 – KYAL – Ashford
27 – London Marathon

May
1 – Assembly League – Victoria Park
10 – (provisional date, tbc) Ladywell 10000/100
17 – SAL – Dartford
18 – KYAL – Norman Park (Bromley)
29 – (tbc) Early summer meet

June
5 – Assembly League – Crystal Palace Park
22 – SAL – Woodford Green

July
3 – Assembly League – Sutcliffe Park
5 – KYAL – Medway Park
13 – SAL – Eltham
26 – (tbc) Ron Hale Open 

August
7 – Assembly League – Victoria Park
16 – KYAL – Dartford
30 – SAL – Basildon

September
4 – Assembly League – Beckenham Place Park
7 – Big Half – London
11 – (tbc) Late Summer Meet 

EASYFUNDRAISING

Please remember to use easyfundraising every time you shop online.
Over 7,000 brands pay easyfundraising a commission when you start your shop through their platform, so you can raise FREE donations for us no matter what you’re buying. These donations really help us out, so please sign up if you haven’t yet. It’s easy and FREE! You can get started at https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/kentac

You can also install a helpful Chrome extension, which prompts you to donate whenever doing any online shopping – really handy

TRACK, TRACK, TRACK

Buy your track pass here.

The usual track times are:
Tuesday 17:30 – 20:45
Thursday 18:00 – 20:30
Sunday 09:00 – 11:30

Please note that individuals are permitted to do their own sessions during club opening times, but coached group sessions continue to take priority.

Track Pass – Juniors
Please purchase your £6.50 junior monthly track pass in advance here. When purchasing the track pass can parents/guardians please enter the athlete’s name when completing the transaction.

Please see a helpful FAQs guide here

The Alex Yee Arena has opening hours dedicated to the public. While during these times the Kent AC track pass is not valid, members can pay for an individual session.

Session times are: 
Monday: 07:00 -15:00
Tuesday – Thursday: 1300 -1700
Friday: 07:00 – 15:00
Saturday – Sunday: 09:00-15:00

Price:
Adult resident: £2.70
Adult non resident: £3.00
Junior (U16): £1.30


The Kent AC track pass continues to be required for training on Tues/Thurs evenings and Sunday mornings.


Track staff have encouraged people to double check the opening hours before their training session, as they may occasionally be closed for school sport days and football friendlies. Hours can be checked here. This will likely suit members who can’t make training sessions but would like to train in the morning/lunchtime/evening.


Pay as you go fees can either be paid via cash to the desk or using the Better app (note: staff are working to add the sessions to the app).

KEEP US UPDATED

You can have your say about what goes in the newsletter and keep us apprised of your results or running adventures by emailing the comms team directly here.

The password for the club contacts page here is .

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