Howletts Cheetah 5k

Race Description

There aren't many 5ks in the country where you might round a bend and find yourself within earshot of gorillas or elephants, but that's the draw of the Howletts Cheetah 5k, run through the 90 acres of parkland at Howletts Wild Animal Park near Canterbury before the gates open to the public. The park was established by the late John Aspinall and is now run by the Aspinall Foundation, the conservation charity that breeds and rehabilitates endangered species for release into protected habitats in Africa - work this race directly supports, with recent editions built around specific rewilding stories, such as the return of park-bred cheetahs to South Africa. The course itself is gentle by trail standards, with around 45 metres of climbing through mature woodland and open enclosures, so it's approachable for less experienced off-road runners as well as club regulars looking for something different from a standard parkland 5k.

What genuinely sets it apart is the access: runners get an exclusive pre-public window inside the park, with the animals visible - and often audible - throughout, and entry includes full admission to Howletts for the rest of the day once the running is done. It suits families and casual runners looking for a memorable, slightly surreal morning out as much as anyone chasing a fast 5k time - the novelty of the setting is really the point here, and it's hard to think of another British road race with a comparable backdrop of big cats and primates rather than the usual park benches and duck ponds.