What 30 mornings, 100+ miles, 1 dog, and countless cracked pavements taught me about this town (and my legs).
I’ve been running around Medway every single morning for a month. No headphones. Just me, a dog, and whatever weirdness Medway throws at us.
Cracked pavements. Foxes. Bins that move.
It started as a fitness thing. Then a mental health thing. Then it became something else – a weird ritual where I got to watch Medway wake up, fall apart, and rebuild itself in 5K loops.
This isn’t a running guide. It’s a survival log. A chaos diary. A love-hate letter to Medway’s uneven streets, surprise hills, feral foxes, and one terrifying bin that moves slightly every day.
Some moments were comedy. Like when my dog launched herself out of the Cheese Room on Rochester High Street and knocked my coffee clean out of my hand. RIP flat white.
Other times were a leg workout from hell: running up Jackson’s Field in Rochester, or that brutal incline at the bottom of Maidstone Road in Chatham that makes your soul leave your body halfway up.
Crossing the road on New Road during rush hour? An extreme sport. The pigeons on Rochester High Street don’t move for anyone. The castle is beautiful in the mornings though – empty, misty, almost apologetic.
The M2 bridge is a windy hellgate. One gust nearly took my hood, phone, and dignity. And City Way? My dog decided that was her moment to shine, pulling me full-speed uphill like she was towing a sleigh. I almost ate tarmac.
🧪 Chaos Run Rating System
| Metric | Rating (out of 10) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pavement Rage | 8 | Expect cracked slabs, disappearing kerbs, and one death trap of a roundabout. |
| Dog Distraction | 9 | Squirrels. Foxes. Children with sausage rolls. Chaos. |
| Scenery Boost | 6 | Good views if you survive to the river. Otherwise, lots of bins and hope. |
| Vibe Check | 7 | Ranges from “quiet and eerie” to “village rave energy” depending on time of day. |
| Chaos Factor | 10 | Moving bins. Staring strangers. Once saw a goose and a cat team up. |
Running Medway isn’t about time or distance. It’s about what you see. And who you become trying to outrun it.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Just don’t wear white shoes.
Liked this? 🗞️ Get future chaos delivered: