Mount Ephraim 10K 2015

First time I've covered this race.  Tough one with a good few hills starting and finishing at Mount Ephraim Gardens and taking in the pleasant lanes of Hernhill, just outside Faversham.



Mount Ephraim 10K 2015 (452 pics)

Harbour Wallbanger 2015

Grey skies and typical bank holiday weather gloom didn't put a dampener on this popular and unusual beach race.  Almost 150 runners turned out for the 8th annual Wallbanger, which was won comfortably by Tom Millard of Canterbury Harriers.

Harbour Wallbanger 2015 (288 pics)

Kent Christmas Cracker 2014

A mixture of serious athletes and fun runners donned assorted festive outfits for the annual Christmas Cracker, which this year saw a record field of over 200 taking part.  The light was challenging, as it always seems to be for this race.

Kent Christmas Cracker 2014 (440 pics)

Alan Green 10 Miler 2014

A dull and frequently damp day with strong winds greeted the runners (and snappers) in Margate as 230 or so hardy souls took in the popular Alan Green Memorial 10 Mile race.

Alan Green 10 Miler 2014 (465 pics)

Ashford 666 2014

My first time covering this event.  Heavy rain the previous day meant the course was extremely muddy indeed.  The light was pretty poor, especially with so many wooded areas, and the standard of the snaps reflects this.  But it was good fun to photograph, and the loonies running about in the muck seemed to be enjoying themselves no end too ;)

Ashford 666 2014 (389 pics)

Alternative link, bigger pics

Deal 5 Miler 2014

Windy and very grey day, but the rain pretty much held off.  170 runners completed the race, which was won by Phil Hurst in the extremely fast time of 24min 26sec.



Deal 5 Miler 2014 (339 pics)

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Sittingbourne Striders Chas Ryman Memorial 10 Mile Race 2014

The first time I've covered this race, which has possibly the longest title of any UK event ;)  Lovely sunny day with a cool breeze made for ideal conditions.

Chas Ryman Memorial 10 Miler 2014 (394 pics)

Wingham 10K 2014

Yet another lovely sunny day greeted the runners for this popular race around the picturesque village of Wingham.

Wingham 10K 2014 (382 pics)

Faversham 10K 2014

The popular Faversham 10K...



Faversham 10K 2014 (626 pics)

Charing 10K 2014

Around 100 runners took part in the 2014 10K around and through the pleasant village of Charing.

Charing 10K (221 pics)

Kent Coastal Marathon & Half Marathon 2014

First time I've been able to cover this race.  It normally clashes with another event I do.  Glad I made it this time, it was a cracker.  The warm sunshine made it a pretty arduous race at times, particularly for the half marathoners - those doing the full 26 miles had the luxury of a bit of cloud cover later on.

The course is pretty much perfect from a snapping point of view.  You can cover the start, then the runners loop back the same way about 15 minutes later.  Jaunt up to North Foreland to get some shots of them struggling up that steep hill, then back to Palm Bay in time for the first of the half marathoners to start arriving back.  Just as those towards the back of the pack finished arriving, the first of the full distance guys began to return.

Hence a somewhat larger than usual haul of pics...

Kent Coastal Marathon/Half Marathon (1120 pics)

Folkestone Race For Life 2014

2500 ladies, girls and boys bedecked in pink took to The Leas once more for the annual Race for Life, in aid of Cancer Research.  £135,000 was raised and the day proved to be one of great fun, though as ever tinged with a certain sadness.

Folkestone Race For Life 2014 (230 pics)

Larkfield AC 10K 2014, East Malling

The first time I've covered this particular race.  Turned out to be a good one - weather was pretty decent from a running point of view.  Somewhat less so if you were snapping.

Good atmosphere, with friendly marshals and runners who were clearly enjoying themselves.



Larkfield AC 10K 2014 (264 pics)

Folkestone 10 Miler 2014

Traditional Good Friday event.  Large turnout and a bit of sunshine here and there.  Highlight of the race was the sight of 'Tall Paul' Williams of Sittingbourne Striders running with an ice cream ;)  Not sure if he managed to eat it all...

Folkestone 10 Miler 2014 (275 pics)

Hartfield 10K & 5K 2014

London Marathon day.  But no one in their right mind would be up there in the midst of all that madness.  The more sensible among us were in the beautiful village of Hartfield for their annual races.

There was no sign of Mo Farah, or any Kenyan Olympians looking for a crack at a world record.  But there were some people basking in the glorious East Sussex sunshine and reflecting that size is indeed not everything.

The ride out on the old fossil was fabulous.  It's a very long time since I've been to Hartfield, made famous by its association with AA Milne and Winnie the Pooh.  But there are few places more scenic.

The day was pretty much the exact opposite of the London Marathon.  No worldwide press coverage.  No household names taking part.  A starting field just a little under the 36,000 mark.  No hype.  No heaving crowds.  No smog.  No road blocks.  But a nice fun day in the glorious April sunshine as a group of hardy runners took on the very tough route with a willing smile.



Hartfield 10K & 5K 2014 (171 pics)

Paddock Wood Half Marathon 2014

This race (or at least, my coverage of it) can be summed up in two words...oh dear.  New camera, difficult conditions, poor light etc.  Never been to any race where so many people will just walk through shots without giving a toss.

Paddock Wood Half Marathon 2014 (378 pics)

Brett Lydd Half Marathon 2014

Glorious day to be out and about.  Felt more like summer than early spring and the weather couldn't have been more different to this time last year, when the Lydd Half Marathon was run under iron grey skies, with a bitter wind blowing after a major downpour.

Decent turnout again, over 440 finishers.  The only real down side was the number of cars, cyclists and pedestrians using the road back into Lydd, but I guess life ain't perfect ;)

Lydd Half Marathon 2014 (414 pics)

Eastbourne Half Marathon 2014

A mixture of sunshine and dark cloud greeted the runners, along with a strong, persistent and very cold wind.  Turnout was high, and a large number of spectators lined the prom and Princes Park throughout the race.  Various charities were particularly well supported - always nice to see people out there doing their bit.
Eastbourne Half Marathon 2014 (560 pics)

Headcorn Half Marathon 2014

The first Headcorn Half Marathon turned out to be an interesting experience and probably the most difficult race I've ever snapped.  I couldn't work out which way the runners would start so couldn't get into the course little, like I normally do.  Snapping at or near the start/finish is never the easiest of tasks.

The big issue was getting clear shots of the runners.  There were obstructions everywhere.  Parked cars, moving cars, cyclists, pedestrians, spectators, dog walkers...for sale signs, gaudily painted kiddies climbing frames, bright yellow cones...and just to make things even more fun, the light changed constantly, from sunny and deeply overcast ;)

A strong head wind made the return to Headcorn difficult for the runners, and the pace was slower than expected for a relatively flat course.  There were various teething problems - the start with a lap of the green, the too-small race HQ and general confusion over the route of the course among them.  But enthusiasm was high, turnout was excellent and there were smiling faces everywhere, which is always a good sign.

With a little bit of tweaking, this race could become one of the best half marathons, set as it is in one of the most picturesque areas of Kent.

Headcorn Half Marathon 2014 (337 pics)

Deal Half Marathon 2014

After snow stopped play in 2012 and bitter cold blighted the 2013 race, this year's Deal Half Marathon saw plenty of sunshine and mild temperatures.  Anthony Jackson of Sittingbourne Striders came in more than five minutes ahead of the second placed runner.

Deal Half Marathon 2014 (305 pics)