10th Anniversary Saxon Shore Marathon!
For 2021 we've reached the 10th Anniversary of SVN! So we're going to have something of a retro event. We're going to have a new medal and we're reprising the entry fee too! We're also reprising the limited field, so we're going to have a very hard cap for this event. So for 2021 it's going to be a marathon only event.
We do these things not because they are easy but because they are hard.
Betteshanger Country Park, near Deal in East Kent, has a two mile tarmac cycle track, leisure paths for cycling and walking and established woodlands, wetlands and reed beds full of wildlife and perhaps most importantly for our purposes a wide gently undulating trail around the edge that is traffic free and ideal for a gentle trail run!
There are slopes rather than hills, so its not totally flat, each loop has maybe 100 feet of elevation rise, but there are some lovely woods to run through, ponds, grasslands, wet lands and some wild life to spot too! If its wet there might be a chance of some mud but the trails are high quality and drain well.
(A rather younger looking bunch of folk!)
We put on marathons and challenges run exactly the way we wish they were all run. Low key, friendly and with most of the entry fee being spent on the runners. We know you like a bit of bling and a decent goodie bag. Well stocked aid station? More? Then please explore the races and consider joining us!.
South East Kent was home to a rich mining heritage and one of the legacies of that was a huge spoilage area outside of what was Betteshanger Colliery. In recent years this has been totally transformed in to what is now known as Betteshanger Country Park. (It used to be known as Fowlmead Country Park/
It's our aim that this event makes an impactful difference to the Betteshanger Country Park in a positive fashion and as such £5 from each entry fee will be donated directly to the Park to aid them in maintaining this lovely environment.
Please explore the event and consider joining us!
Course Information
We'll have a 4.37 mile loop making it 6 laps for the marathon distance.
The route is viewable on MapMyRun here.
There are slopes rather than hills, so its not totally flat, each loop has maybe 100 feet of elevation rise, but there are some lovely woods to run by, ponds, grasslands, wet lands and some wild life to spot too! If its wet there might be a chance of some mud but the trails are high quality and drain well.
The route is suitable for either road or trail shoes.
Course Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I get?
You will receive
1) A really special finishers medal, custom made and designed, not a generic one.
2) A goody bag, which has goodies in, not a bunch of adverts. There will be nothing healthy in our goody bags, things they contain for example, chocolate, crisps, cheddars
Where is the event?
Betteshanger Country Park, A258, Deal, Kent CT14 0BF. Please click here for our Betteshanger Country Park information. (Please note that the venue has also been known as Fowlmead Country Park)
When do I get my race number?
You'll pick this up on race day from the race base camp. This will be at the race start/finish area (Google Map)
Are there time limits?
Yes, a soft six hours. The park will physically close at 1630 (and it'll be dark) so that's the cut off!
Trail shoes? Road Shoes?
Either should be fine. The running surface is very good, if it's wet then maybe err towards trail, if its dry err towards road. The site drains very well being built on shale from the old mine.
Is the course closed to the public?
No. We are using the Betteshanger Country Park which is part of a network of local footpaths, cycle paths and trails and is shared with ramblers, dogwalkers, horseriders and cyclists. However the cyclists do have their own dedicated trails so shouldn't be too much of an issue. Runners do not have the right of way and need to be considerate of other users of the land. Please don't litter, we'll have a bin at the base camp and another on the far side of the course so please deposit any rubbish in these..
Can I use an ipod or mp3 player on the course?
Yes. Though please be aware that you are running on public footpaths with the general public so make sure that you pay attention to cyclists, people, dogs, horseriders, wildlife and so on.
Location Information
Please visit our Betteshanger information page for general parking, directions and local area information about public transport, hotels etc.
General SVN FAQ
