Summer and Autumn Roundup 2025
Sun, 19 Oct 2025 00:00
Summer/Autumn 2025 Roundup and News
Off the back of a brilliant Wingham event last month, lots of fabulous parkruns and a very successful Friday night lights run, I’m keen to keep up the energy and get our summer/autumn roundup out to you. So here it is, boil the kettle, it’s time review the last few months and let you know what exciting things we have coming up!
Some changes are afoot as our leadership team has a reshuffle to better support the group, so make sure you read the run updates below for any changes to your favourite session.
Annual Autumn donation drive thanks
Thank you to those who responded to our annual donation drive, your voluntary donations are so important to the ongoing development of RunTogether Canterbury. If you missed the email you can still donate at Lloyds Bank Account name: RunTogether Canterbury, sort code 30-99-50, account number 66222362. Thank you again to our donors.
Winter running reminder
First things first I’d like to ask that you all start digging out the high viz and the lights. As we are already hitting the streets in the dark and need to make sure we are visible to traffic and pedestrians around the City. Your safety is our priority. Speak to your run leaders for advice/recommendations re kit and/or lights.
Upcoming Running and Walking events
Keep your eye out for events and races that members of our community are sharing on the #rtc-events-and-races channel on slack.
Mental Elf Run 2025 - Sunday 30th November 2025
We did it last year and had a blast so we’re going again. This year we will be donning the elf costumes, hats and bells to support our local Mind East Kent Charity. The website tells us “The day will be full of festive cheer for everyone. The 5km route is perfect for families and is accessible to all. You can run, walk, or hop, skip or jump along the route! The event is open to all abilities/ages (children under 14 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian). All participants will receive a special 2025 Mental Elf medal!” It really is a lovely way to step into Christmas together doing what we do best.
Christmas run tour – Thursday 4th or 11th December 2025 (bookable in the next few weeks)
Back by popular demand is our annual Christmas run tour led by Andy of Canterbury Running Tours. This year for the nominal fee of £5 we will be using one of our December Thursday social runs to enjoy this fun and educational tour around the City learning about the links between Canterbury and Christmas followed by a drink afterwards somewhere. I am in the process of organising this run so it is not yet bookable but keep your eyes out and we’ll let you know as soon as it’s confirmed.
Christmas party run – Thursday 18th December 2025 (bookable in the next few weeks)
On this date the 5k run and jeffing groups will join together for the annual Christmas party run dressed up like Christmas trees and singing like Mariah around the City. The 8k run will go ahead for those who prefer not to run like a disco elf on too much mulled wine!
Canterbury 10 Mile – 25th January 2026
New route next year so who knows what it’ll be like but it being arranged by our friends at Invicta East Kent so we know it’ll be awesome, and you’ll have heaps of RTC support at the water (party) stations!
NB for those not running we NEED YOU! We’ll be asking for about 16 volunteers to man the two water stations as part of our annual commitment to give back to the running community who look after us at the events we attend each year. Join #rtc-canterbury-10-volunteers to express an interest 😊
Reverse Marathon 2026 – April 2026 – Date and details to be shared soon.
Wingham 5.4 or 10k 2026 – September 2026 – Our annual pilgrimage to our favourite annual local event. Date to be confirmed so we will let you know nearer the time.
Social events roundup and news - by your fave ray of sunshine and member of the social events committee Laura.
Our summer social started off a little unexpected but ended up as a success. Cold, grey skies with no beach at high tide and a bit of a walk to the next pebbley bay we continued with positive attitudes. We had a lovely little picnic with some games. Despite the chill in the air a few of us braved it with a dip in the sea where joyous laughs and shrieks could be heard. We headed back for a classic seaside treat - fish and chips before heading back on the quaint Dymchurch railway. Thanks for those who came and hope to see you at the next one!
Next socials event – Christmas night out Saturday 13th December and Christmas brunch Sunday 14th December.
The time rolls around again where we talk about Christmas and winter holidays/festivals. We like to celebrate making it through another busy year with a social where we all get the chance to get together and chat! By popular demand we will have a similar set up as last year.
Saturday 13th December we will meet in a pub for some drinks and nibbles. Then we will do a little pub crawl having a good time!
Sunday 14th December we will book somewhere to have a nice, chilled breakfast/brunch (potentially hanging) hang out!
Any recommendations of places would be appreciated. But please PUT THESE DATES IN THE DIARY so you don’t miss out and get too busy!!!
Jeff’n’breakfast by Laura and Kerry
We noticed a bit of a gap that people were missing the couch to 5k Sunday morning routine of starting the day positively with fresh air and movement, so we thought we’d add a monthly ish jeff with a social breakfast afterwards. People can join for one or the other or both, entirely up to you! The next date is 16th November and is now bookable on the app. Hope to see you there. For more information join #rtc-sunday-social-jeff-and-breakfast
Run roundups
Due to some very exiting edits to the run sessions and leadership line up you may notice some small changes over the next month or so, so please be patient as your leadership team settle into the new routines and roles.
- Monday Speedplay – managing run leaders Sally and Ben, with run helper support.
(slack channel - #rtc-speedplay)
Speedplay is taking a change in management, and the dream team Sally and Ben will be looking after you through the Autumn and Winter. The sessions will remain similar but at different locations so keep an eye on the slack channel and details on the app and website.
- Tuesday 5.30 min/km group – managing run leader Dev with leader support from Nick and run helper assistance
- Tuesday 6.00 min/km group – managing run leader Hannah with leader support from Ben and run helper assistance
(slack channel - #rtc-tuesday-runners)
Tuesdays are offering two options from November so take a look at the pace options and pick your favourite!
First and foremost these are still social runs but also meet the need to those speedier runners amongst us who also enjoy longer distances (7 – 10 km). These sessions have been as popular as ever, but you spoke and we listened and there is now a longer distance for two different speed groups. Please note: These sessions are not suited to beginners due to the increased pace and distance. If you have any questions, join #rtc-tuesday-runners on slack.
- Thursday social run night – managing run leaders Dev (8k), Emily (5k) and Kerry (Jeffing group), with leader support from Hannah, Carolyn, Laura, Tony, Kerry, Ben and Sally (and Nick too soon), with run helper assistance.
Thursdays are now made up of 3 social run groups and as of now are based in and around the city where we can benefit from the street lighting over winter. We will be meeting in the Sainsburys Coach park over the winter season.
Social Jeffing group – 6.15pm (slack channel - #rtc-jeffing-group)
Social 7-10k run group – 6.15pm (slack channel - #rtc-thursday-run-night)
Social 5k run group – 6.30pm (slack channel - #rtc-thursday-run-night)
- Wanderers Walking Group – managing leader Emily, and walk helper Theresa (slack channel - #rtc-wanderers)
Our wanderers continue to wander once a month, usually the last Sunday. Theresa and her new recce partner Sue, have been out checking routes to add some new walks to our growing list of ‘places to walk before the important tea and cake bit’. She welcomes any ideas (walk or cake stops) and will happily talk to you if you have a walk you love and would like to share. Join the slack channel to ask any questions you might have. We look forward to seeing you at the next one. Walks are bookable up until the end of the year.
- Trailblazers – managing leader Hannah, with run leader Dev and run helpers supporting (slack channel - #rtc-trailblazers)
Hannah will continue to arrange these weekend 5 – 10 mile runs as and when her diary allows. These runs are popular with the distance runners amongst us and are, as with all our sessions, very social and treated as such, with the pace staying slow and steady and allowing for plenty of opportunities to enjoy the route, take photos, stop and have a drink. The runs tend to finish at a pub for a drink and bowl of chips or ice cream and sometimes include a trip on the bus or train at the beginning or end of the run to get to the start point or get home, so bring some pennies.
- Easy Saturday trail run - managing run leader Ben with Emily supporting (slack channel - #rtc-saturday-blean-trail-runners)
These easy-paced, relaxed 5k trail runs continue to take place up at Blean, mixing up the routes a little as we fancy on the day. The run takes place on the last Saturday morning of the month and is a laid back relaxed plod through woods.
parkrun update – by Tony, Run Leader (slack channel - #rtc-parkrunners)
August saw our Parkrun away trips continue as a fair number of us made the short journey to Margate to take on their new course. We also had the pleasure of celebrating a birthday for one member of the RTC family, and who doesn’t like to run wearing a pink birthday sash!
An earlier than normal September trip took us to Leybourne Country Park for a two lapper around the lake and the collection of a letter ‘L’ (if you know, you know!) A lovely, fast course, saw a number of PB’s achieved by those in attendance.
October saw an ‘away day’ double, with trips to Walmer for possibly the flattest parkrun in the country and the Isle of Sheppey at The Leas. Next parkrun is a return to Canterbury in November to tackle those ‘hills’ as a team.
What has been nice to see is a number of unscheduled trips being undertaken by smaller groups of RTC parkrun fans, car loads of RTC members have made it to Folkestone, Orpington and Royal Tonbridge Wells to name but three this summer.
There is NO better way to start your weekend, so why not come and join us in November for a hometown parkrun.
Mental Health Champions update – by Emily and Laura
Thank you to everyone who came to support our run-and-talk mental health run up at Gulbenkian. It was lovely listening and joining in with conversations all about friendships, hobbies and prioritising our own happiness. We really appreciate every one of our members for making it so special, thanks for being such a great lovely lot!
As the days get shorter and the temperatures drop, it can be easy to hit pause on your runs, but keeping up with your winter miles can actually do wonders for your mental health. Running in colder weather helps boost your mood, reduce stress, and combat those winter blues by releasing endorphins. Plus, staying active can keep your energy up and improve your sleep. Just make sure to stay safe! Bundle up, and if you're running in the dark, don’t forget your run lights! Reflective gear and bright lights help keep you visible to drivers, making those early morning or evening runs a lot safer.
So, keep lacing up, even when the weather gets chilly—it’s a great way to stay connected with yourself, with us, your RTC family and your goals, all while enjoying the fresh winter air!
As always, please come and chat with one of us if you need to. We, your mental health champions, Kerry, Amy, Laura and I are always here for you.
Annual volunteer committee meeting
Our volunteer committee meetings are for anyone who would like to support the groups development or lend their skill or expertise to the behind-the-scenes running of RunTogether Canterbury. The meeting will be held on Wednesday 29th October at 7.30 pm at the Curzon Cinema cafe. All welcome.
RunTogether Canterbury Kit **Including high viz yellow with reflective print for winter **
Our kit supplier, Print Matters, have recently moved to their new premises at Unit 9 City Business Park, Canterbury, CT1 1DX (near Asda). We have a catalogue which I try to keep a copy of in my car, and we have an online catalogue that you can view here at RTC Kit Catalogue. If you have any specific questions or requirements, Chloe, our contact there, has all the details and will be happy to help you, call her on 01227 765031. You are completely free to personalise your kit and choose other colours if available.
Member information
Please do refresh yourself with the Members' information page on the website.
Google reviews please!
If you haven’t already, please review the group on Google. It helps others to get a better picture of what our group is about and whether it would suit them, so your opinions are valid and helpful. Thank you in advance! Click to review
As always if you want to contact me, please do, via slack, WhatsApp or give me a call 😊
Emily 07770 479589
As a small charity, we are reliant on donations, small grants and fundraising events to raise money for training run leaders and various expenses, including things like first aid kits and marketing materials. If you feel like you would like to make a financial donation to RunTogether Canterbury, we would be extremely grateful. Our bank details are as follows: