Sevenoaks Rotary 10km, Kent, 2012, by trekandrun.com

The Sevenoaks Rotary 10km was held on Sunday 11th March, 2012. Below are reviews of the event, and a film, by 5 of us from Trek and Run.

This was my third time running this event, and it won't be my last, I hope, as it's one of my favourite 10k races here in Kent. The race HQ at Sevenoaks Leisure Centre is really easy to get to and has plenty of parking, the number and timing chip collection is very efficiently organised, it's well attended by both runners (around 750 runners this year I believe) and their families which makes for a nice friendly atmosphere and the route - twice around the inner section of Knowle Park - is extremely scenic. I always see deer as I run, galloping off into the trees, which is a lovely sight.

The marshalls are exceptionally cheery and enthusiastic as well, which helps as its a tough course. My best time over 10km is just under 40 minutes but I never manage this race in anything under 43, and this year I was way off, coming in at over 45 minutes (I slacked off on winter training and I really paid for it!). About half of the race is on grass, the other on compacted mud or cinder track, and there's a lively hill at about the 2km mark, then again at 7km, which really takes it out of you and seems to slow down the entire field.

My only slightly negative observation is that I reckon the bag drop could be closer to the start and finish line. As it is, it's at the race HQ, which is a 15 minute walk away. Maybe this is for some logistical reason, but it would be nice to be able to wear the tracksuit right up until the last moment, especially as it's early in the year and invariably a little chilly. Everything else was spot on though, I really enjoyed the race, and afterwards enjoyed lazing in the park as we waited for the field to finish. I should have bought a picnic as it was really sunny and warm by then. I said this last year as well, but forgot to do it. Next year I'll remember the sandwiches...

As someone who had never ran a trail race before, after hearing that the 'Sevenoaks Rotary Knole Park 10k' involved two laps and some harsh hills I was initially worried, but as the race has been given such good feedback in the past on 'Runners World' I was happy to give it a try and make it my first trail event.

When I arrived onsite parking was no problem with the help of the marshalls and it was great to see the leisure centre was available pre-race for the runners - nothing against port-a-loos but it's great to have proper facilities available sometimes! Outside in the registration area there were plenty of members of the organising team helping people to get their numbers and chips, the ladies at the baggage drop area were nice and friendly, and the start was only a short, well signed walk from the reception area.

Heading down to the course was quite busy and slow moving but as soon as I entered the beautiful open green field all fears evaporated. The start area was well laid out and the race started on time, and apart from the one big hill just after 2k (and again just after 6k, but unfortunately with the pre-knowledge it was coming the second time around!) the rest of the course was a nice balance of gentle uphill climbs followed by much-appreciated downhill sections to gain back some time, and it was excellent to see the final stretch consisted of a nice long downhill slope marked out with signs for 400m to go and 200m to go enabling a nice sprint finish! Although I forgot to check my results in the leisure centre where I was informed they were placed on a board straight after the race, they were uploaded on-line within a few hours of the race finish and I was happy to see that I managed to finish in 50 minutes 15 seconds - a few minutes over my usual 10k time of around 47 minutes but still a time I'm very happy with!

Overall the scenic views of the course as well as the huge levels of support and friendly marshalls throughout the race helped to carry me through to the finish line on what I'd consider quite a tough course, but also one that's very rewarding. The race was very well organised with plenty of members of the organising team around to offer assistance, and combined with a great medal and plenty of bananas at the finish line this was one of the best races I've ran so far since I started racing last year. Roll on March 2013 so I can beat my time!"

Golden rule of running number two: Always prepare and wear the correct footwear.

These golden rules of running apply to anyone, whether a novice or amateur runner, but even more so if, like me, you�re something of a keen amateur runner who�s managed to get woefully out of shape during the past year. Always prepare.

Despite having signed up for the race at the start of the year in a post-New Year�s Day abstinence from alcohol and euphoria of getting fit and healthy in 2012, I hugely underestimated what a challenge the course would be. I thought the Sevenoaks 10k would be a realistic and achievable goal to set myself. After all, how difficult could it be?

On the day of the race, it turned out to be quite difficult, actually. Despite being warned that there would be a few hilly terrains to compete with, the first five minutes actually did more to put me off the race than psych me up. After warming up on the flat that approaches the first steep incline, myself and my running partner faced a steep, uneven and muddy incline that was quite slippy and difficult to climb in your bog standard gym trainers without sufficient grip.

Having participated with 5 and 10ks before, and spent a considerable amount of time running outside with a trainer during the past two years, I wrongly thought the trainers I wear to the gym would be more than adequate to withstand this course. However, I would defiantly recommend running shoes with a suitable grip on them to anyone contemplating running this course, particularly during spring when the ground has the tendency to be muddy and soft.

The steady incline continued for the first 1k, after which the ground was quite uneven and added more pressure. The course flattened out during the next 4k and gave me a chance to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Knowle Park and the surrounding woodland, which was definitely a bonus of the event. The event marshals should also get a nod, providing words of encouragement during the race.

This was a difficult course to run, something which I overheard other competitors remark. It was also something of a wake-up call that, if I were to compete again, probably shouldn�t be attempted having only done a couple of weeks training. That, combined with some shoes with suitable grips, might make the course�s many dips and bumps easier and more enjoyable to navigate.

Just do it, says Nike. Just do it? It�s never pleasing to take orders from a multi-national but Nike is right; when it comes to sporting endeavours, just do it. Forget the doubt. Block out the niggles. Taper the field of vision and focus.

This is all well and good for the pros but when you�re an un-toned man approaching the middle ages, with a running muscle memory fading back to twenty years ago, then 'just finish it' is perhaps more appropriate.

And the Sevenoaks 10k course is challenging enough for born-again beginners to cling on to that mantra for dear, breathless life. A steady incline presses the calves before a spirit-sapping hill. All in the first 2k. But then it�s flat and downhill for the rest of the course; before the incline and hill looms large again on lap two. Just do it, as the energy gel kicks in. Just do it, as the legs pick up and the back markers are sighted, targeted and passed. Just do it, as the 400 metres to go sign looms large. Just do it, in just over an hour.

The Sevenoaks 10k is a fantastically-run event, with enthusiastic marshals, clear signage and splendid scenery. Just done it!

This was my third year running this race but, sadly, I am not sure it was third time lucky for me. I only say this because I have got slower, not faster, each time I have done it :(. However, on the positive side, the weather was the nicest it has been and it was great to be part of the Trek and Run team on this occasion; all 5 of us running at different paces, but coming together at the finish line to compare notes.

I think this is a rather tough course, partly because of the immediate and pro-longed up-hill climb from the start and partly because you go around the course twice to achieve the 10K distance; and unlike a goldfish I have a very good short-term memory and so knew what was coming after the 1st lap :)�

The organisation of the Race was spot-on as usual and the marshals were ever cheery and supportive. Having said it�s tough run, I would recommend it to beginners based on the location - the park is lovely and the race HQ is very central in the town - and the fact that the number of runners (about 750) wouldn�t be too overwhelming it you hadn�t done an organized 10K before. All in all another really enjoyable morning at the Sevenoaks Rotary 10k, thank you!

To find out more about the Sevenoaks Rotary 10km race, and how to enter the race in 2013, go to