A look ahead – East Kent Road Relays
The East Kent Road Relays are back for 2022 after suffering the pause of the pandemic.
This years competition will follow the traditional structure as the best runners across Kent prepare to clash over the five meetings.
With the support of event organisers Nice Work, the annual Relay gives local clubs the chance to showcase their talent and club spirit.
These races give each club runner a chance to stand toe to toe with other clubs versions of themselves. It does not matter what your ability is, you will have a nemesis that you just need to beat.
The Fixtures
17/05/2022 ——– 19:00 ——– Marine Parade, Folkestone Directions
31/05/2022 ——– 19:00 ——– Minnis Bay, Birchington Directions
14/06/2022 ——– 19:00 ——– Victoria Park, Ashford Directions
28/06/2022 ——– 19:00 ——– Samphire Hoe, nr Dover Directions
12/07/2022 ——– 19:00 ——– Victoria Rec, Canterbury Directions
Folkestone - Marine Parade - 17th May 2022
To kick off the competition, clubs will assemble their teams in Folkestone for a 7:00pm start. The out and back course measures up at around 4Km.
The course has two notable climbs with the first being early on as you leave the promenade and venture into the treeline. The second being just after the turnaround. Luckily this will not come as a surprise as you should still be carrying some momentum from the decent.
You can recover as you return through the trees before building pace back down to the promenade. It is then a flat and fast finish where you can really empty the tank.
Minis Bay - Birchington - 31 May 2022
The second fixture is held at Minis Bay over a similar style course. The distance is usually logged the be around 3.6Km.
Athletes head off at 7:00pm down a long stretch of the promenade before curving around the rocky coastline.
The route takes a right turn up a short but steep hill to the overlooking hillside before joining the adjacent road.
Runners are then gifted a fast decent back down to the promenade at the furthest point before the return journey to the finish line.
Ashford - Victoria Park - 14th June 2022
The home fixture for A&D is staged at the very familiar Victoria park, home of Ashford Parkrun. The Route follows a similar two lap loop with variations to the start and the turn around, The start accommodates a rolling change of the baton and the turnaround is shorted to bring the distance in line with the other races at around 4Km. There is only one small climb which of course you will have to complete twice.
Dover - Samphire Hoe - 28th June 2022
The fourth fixture at Samphire Hoe has a bit of everything. It starts and finishes on the flat and fast sea wall. At the furthest point the 3.8Km course takes a turn into the nature reserve as you follow the white cliffs to the base of the first hill. A sharp and gravely climb will split the field before continuing to a hairpin right turn.
The course then zig zags up a double crested hill as the path crosses small bridges to the highest point. You can then recover on the go as the long twisty path falls back down to the sea wall passing the small lake pictured above. It’s then a case of holding on until the finish.
Canterbury - Victoria Rec - 12th July 2022
The final fixture is set out like a scalextric track. It starts and finishes on the grass playing fields near the Invicta East Kent Athletics track.
It first loops the field before joining the cycle path running down the main road towards the town. A swift right and across a small bridge finds you passing a play area before passing underneath the main road from before.
After emerging the course takes a left turn where you start to climb before quickly dropping down to the other side of the main road.
There is then an out and back section where you can see the entire course ahead and the pain sets in. Once complete you will dive through a second underpass before reversing the outward route before. A great course for spectators as there are plenty of chances to see your teammates.
Being the final fixture, club members come prepared with a picnic and some beers to celebrate with each other whilst the results are being processed.
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