News from Medway Council website
Thousands of people are expected in Rochester for the grand finale to the Medway Festival of Sport 2013.
Up to 3,000 runners and walkers of all ages are due to take part in the Medway Mile on Friday, 26 July in Rochester.
The event marks the culmination of a three-month sporting extravaganza featuring some 50 events in 70 days and involving 12,000 people and hundreds of volunteers.
Events have ranged from international sporting events to schools competitions, mass participation events and community have-a-go days.
The Medway Mile – first staged in 2007 – was Medway’s annual signature countdown event to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
After last year’s hugely successful event, which also involved a screening of the Olympic opening ceremony, Medway Council decided the mass participation event should continue as a legacy of the Games.
The action on Friday evening centres on Rochester Castle Gardens, with the one-mile route weaving its way around Rochester’s historic streets.
From 5pm there is free entertainment in and around the castle gardens including a sports and activity zone, inflatables’ zone and a healthy lifestyles zone run by the A Better Medway team.
Highlights include an urban boxing arena, inflatable golf roadshow and an appearance by Gillingham FC with their League Two trophy and cheerleaders.
At 5.30pm hundreds of youngsters aged five to 13 will take part in children’s races around the castle gardens, with medals available to every young participant.
At 6.30pm it’s the turn of the mascots to race along the home straight before the serious business of the competitive adult mile race at 6.45pm. This is open to pre-registered runners aged 16 or over who can complete the mile in eight minutes or less.
British Military Fitness will lead the massed crowds in a warm up from 7.10pm ahead of the mass mile at 7.30pm.
The fun doesn’t stop when the mile is over. As the countdown to the next Olympic and Paralympic Games continues, there will be a mass zumba cool down, then a Rio-inspired Brazilian dance and music show ahead of a grand fireworks finale at approximately 9.30pm.
Food and drink stalls including a hog roast, barbeque and coffee and cakes will be open throughout the evening.
The Medway Mile is free to enter and every participant receives a free souvenir t-shirt.
Pre-registration is available until Thursday, 25 July. Registration on the day will be subject to availability as the race capacity is 3,000 runners and walkers. No pre-registration is required for the children’s races.
To enter online visit www.medway.gov.uk/medwaysport
The Medway Mile is organised by the Medway Sport team and is proud to be a smoke-free event, supported by A Better Medway, Southern Water and the Medway Messenger.
Mike in Medway 