Dartford Running

By local resident, Silvie Mazacova

Spring is in a full swing and it’s time to get out and enjoy the blooms. Excuses we make all the way through winter - such as; it’s cold, it’s raining, it’s wet – are not good enough anymore.

Spring is in a full swing and it’s time to get out and enjoy the blooms. Excuses we make all the way through winter - such as; it’s cold, it’s raining, it’s wet – are not good enough anymore.

Gyms are still shut and the majority of them won’t see their doors opening until 12th April.

How about going out for a run?

It’s an incredible way to burn off some extra calories you may have accumulated during the cold months. Running is a quick and effective burner – even a 20 minutes long run will set off a decent afterburn effect, which means that you’re burning calories for hours after you finished exercising.

You are basically burning them off while sitting on the sofa! How effective is that? All this for only 20 mins? I’m sold. Try this two or three times a week and you’ll feel and look much better.

Where to go?

I have recently visited the Central Park in Dartford after a while – parks are not my favourite destination in winter, I have to admit. I’d suggest Central Park as a number one location – there are fresh, beautiful and colourful blooms being planted everywhere.

Just about anyone can choose a running track there – whether you are a seasoned runner and need 5k, or whether you are a beginner and 1k or 2k is just about enough.

Enjoy the smooth terrain with no hills and gorgeous green environment. One go around the park using the paths gives you around 1–1.5km. For me, two goes are just about right, but there is a good solution if you need a longer route and don’t want to run around the park several times.

Try extending your run by carrying on through the underpass under Princess Road (yes, through the park, no need to deal with traffic) and extending your run all the way to the Brooklands Lake. Starting at the High Street entrance to Central Park and going all the way down to and around the lake and back, gives you decent 4–5km, depending on which way you go and you don’t need to cross a road once!

Make the route shorter or longer using a great variety of paths.

Unsure about where exactly the paths go or where is the Princess Road underpass?

Google Maps is an excellent tool – it will show you everything. All the paths are there – I checked.

So, get out today! Don’t be scared of running – you don’t have to be a record breaker. Feel tired? Slow down, walk and enjoy the fresh air. No lives depend on your speed, which unfortunately can’t be said about the poor Greek messenger Pheidippides who ran from Marathon to Athens. I bet he had no idea he’d be so famous 1,500 years later.

He collapsed and died on the spot, so take it easy. Enjoy the fresh air, but don’t go crazy. And don’t forget to stretch before and after!