Backyard Madness!
Backyard Madness!
Kent AC Newsletter 30 August 2026–
͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ –[if (gte mso 9)|(IE)]> [endif]–>View this email in your browser
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[endif]–>–[if (gte mso 9)|(IE)]> [endif]–>KENT AC NEWSLETTER
30 August 2026
It’s been a quiet week, in between track and field and cross country season, with only a couple of events to report, so this is mainly an admin newsletter.
Runner of the week is undoubtedly Alex Morales, one of our resident ultrarunners. On Saturday he took part in the London Backyard Challenge near Addington. For those that don’t know, the Backyard Challenge is an endurance event devised by Laz Lake, who created the Barkley Marathons, and involves successive laps of 4.16 miles which must be started and completed within a calendar hour. The winner is the last runner standing. Alex managed a phenomenal 15 laps (or ‘yards’ as they’re known), for 100km (62 miles) and was 22nd out of 109 starters. The winner managed a course record 37 yards or 154 miles!
Alex wondering why he did it
On Friday a few Kent runners kicked off a long weekend up North with the fast Mid Cheshire 5k. Owen Hind (14:24), John Gilbert (14:46), Dame Dibaba (15:07 PB), Chris Busaileh (15:30), Dan Pettitt (15:38), Ian Ellwood (16:42) and Jon Tipper (17:00) all had impressive runs.
We still have a need for helpers for the late summer open event at the track on 10 September. In particular we need lap counters for the 5000m, so if you’re going to be down there, or if you’re running one of the races and can be available before or after your race, please help out by contacting Richard Giles or Dan Ansell.
The next club races are the Southern 4 and 6 stage relays (including vets classes) in Aldershot on 26 September. There has been some protest at the mismatch in vet classes, in that there is no V60 category for the women. We are trying to change SEAA’s mind on this, so have set up a petition here. Please sign it if you can.
Teams are being recruited for the relays now in the usual places – with the multiple vets teams in addition to the men’s and women’s senior teams it should be a fun day out.
An additional fixture has been added to the calendar, that we haven’t done in recent years – the SEAA cross country relays at Wormwood Scrubs. It’s on October 17th, we have some interest for senior and junior teams, so do contact the cross country captains if you’d like to run in those.
Most immediately, we have the final Assembly League fixture of the season on Thursday this week, at Beckenham Place Park. Please note that the start time for the race is earlier than usual (because of encroaching sunset) at 1915, and the meeting point to collect numbers is at the Beckenham clubhouse, so do get there in time, around 1845 if possible. There will be the usual prize giving and beers afterwards.
And two final bits of social news – this Saturday there will be a parkrun meetup at Peckham, and at the end of the month, on Tuesday 29 September, will be our final track social of the year. Do come along and meet other members.
WAKE UP BEFORE SEPTEMBER ENDS
Entries are now open for this season’s last KAC hosted open meet on Thursday 10 September.
If you wish to compete in the 200m, 400m or 5000m, plus the long jump, or 150m and 800m (juniors only) then you can register here.
Additionally, we will need help in organising the event, so if you’re available, or competing and have some extra time, please contact Richard Giles or Dan Ansell.
EVENT CALENDAR
September
3 – Assembly League – Beckenham Place Park
5 – Peckham parkrun social
10 – Late Summer Meet – Alex Yee Arena
26 – Southern 4/6 Stage Road Relays – Aldershot
29 – Post-track Social
October
3 – National 6 Stage Road Relays – Sutton Coldfield
10 – Surrey League xc – Wimbledon
17 – Southern Cross country relays – Wormwood Scrubs
November
14 – Surrey League xc – BPP
17 – AGM – Blythe Hill Tavern
TBC – South of the Thames Junior xc – TBC
21 – Kent Vets xc – Dartford
28 – SEAA Masters xc – TBC
December
19 – South of the Thames Senior xc – Hurst Green
January 2027
9 – Kent County xc – Gravesend
16 – Surrey League – Guildford
30 – Southern xc Championhips – BPP
February
13 – Surrey League – TBC
TRACK! TRACK! TRACK!
Buy your track pass here.
The usual track times are:
Tuesday 17:00 – 20:45
Thursday 17:00 – 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.
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 INFORMED
You can have your say about what goes in the newsletter and keep us appraised of your results or running adventures by emailing the comms team directly here.
The password for the club contacts page hereis .
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