The Big Cat Sanctuary 10k & 5k

Ashford, Kent, England
Sunday 23 May 2027
10km · 5km
Official race site →

With every step you race in The Big Cat Sanctuary 10k & 5k, you'll be helping to raise valuable funds for wild cat conservation Sunday 23rd May, 08:30 Smarden, Kent 10k, 5k Road race, flat-ishOverviewThe Big Cat Sanctuary is dedicated to the conservation and rescue of wild cats globally. The charity is raising funds for a brand-new Cheetah Conservation Centre at its Smarden site in Kent, UK. You can be part of that journey by joining them at The Big Cat Sanctuary 10k and 5k. The race will start and finish at The Sanctuary and explore the scenic countryside roads around the villages of Headcorn and Smarden. With every step, you'll be doing your part to help The Big Cat Sanctuary continue their valuable work - and you'll be part of an unmissable race with great vibes too!Running for a Cause This race raises funds for our planned Cheetah Conservation Centre at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden, Kent.Cheetahs in the wild are running out of time, with numbers having plummeted from 100,000 in the 20th century to less than 7,000 today. Cheetahs have lost approximately 90% of their historical range and face ongoing threats from habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, illegal wildlife trade and genetic bottlenecks.Captive breeding programmes, which are focused on breeding a genetically strong and diverse cheetah population, are therefore critical as a genetic insurance policy, while efforts continue to secure and restore habitats in the wild. The Big Cat Sanctuary - the only specialist wild cat conservation sanctuary in the UK and appointed Species Survival Centre for Wild Cats worldwide - is planning an ambitious new Cheetah Conservation Centre to maximise breeding sccess and contribute to coordinated conservation breeding programmes across Europe. The planned conservation centre gives cheetahs greater choice, privacy, and behavioural flexibility while enabling controlled breeding introductions, cub rearing, advanced veterinary care, and long-term behavioural monitoring. Race Highlights• Stunning countryside in Spring• Start and finish at The Big Cat Sanctuary• Warm-up with a celebrity!• Runners have free access to The Sanctuary after the runWhat's Included• Unique cheetah-inspired medal• Cheetach race-shirt• Free on-site parking• Trophies and prizes for leading runners

FAQs.

When is the The Big Cat Sanctuary 10k & 5k?

The next The Big Cat Sanctuary 10k & 5k is Sunday 23 May 2027. It includes a 10km and a 5km.

When should I start training for the The Big Cat Sanctuary 10k & 5k 2027?

The The Big Cat Sanctuary 10k & 5k is on Sunday 23 May 2027. For the 10km, Dangelo's plan is 8 weeks, so start on Monday 29 March 2027. For the 5km, Dangelo's plan is 8 weeks, so start on Monday 29 March 2027. Starting earlier than this is fine. Use the extra weeks for easy running.

What is the The Big Cat Sanctuary 10k & 5k?

With every step you race in The Big Cat Sanctuary 10k & 5k, you'll be helping to raise valuable funds for wild cat conservation Sunday 23rd May, 08:30 Smarden, Kent 10k, 5k Road race, flat-ishOverviewThe Big Cat Sanctuary is dedicated to the conservation and rescue of wild cats globally. The charity is raising funds for a brand-new Cheetah Conservation Centre at its Smarden site in Kent, UK. You can be part of that journey by joining them at The Big Cat Sanctuary 10k and 5k. The race will start and finish at The Sanctuary and explore the scenic countryside roads around the villages of Headcorn and Smarden. With every step, you'll be doing your part to help The Big Cat Sanctuary continue their valuable work - and you'll be part of an unmissable race with great vibes too!Running for a Cause This race raises funds for our planned Cheetah Conservation Centre at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden, Kent.Cheetahs in the wild are running out of time, with numbers having plummeted from 100,000 in the 20th century to less than 7,000 today. Cheetahs have lost approximately 90% of their historical range and face ongoing threats from habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, illegal wildlife trade and genetic bottlenecks.Captive breeding programmes, which are focused on breeding a genetically strong and diverse cheetah population, are therefore critical as a genetic insurance policy, while efforts continue to secure and restore habitats in the wild. The Big Cat Sanctuary - the only specialist wild cat conservation sanctuary in the UK and appointed Species Survival Centre for Wild Cats worldwide - is planning an ambitious new Cheetah Conservation Centre to maximise breeding sccess and contribute to coordinated conservation breeding programmes across Europe. The planned conservation centre gives cheetahs greater choice, privacy, and behavioural flexibility while enabling controlled breeding introductions, cub rearing, advanced veterinary care, and long-term behavioural monitoring. Race Highlights• Stunning countryside in Spring• Start and finish at The Big Cat Sanctuary• Warm-up with a celebrity!• Runners have free access to The Sanctuary after the runWhat's Included• Unique cheetah-inspired medal• Cheetach race-shirt• Free on-site parking• Trophies and prizes for leading runners

Free The Big Cat Sanctuary 10k & 5k training plan

Download Dangelo, pick The Big Cat Sanctuary 10k & 5k from the race list, and get a structured plan built around race day, with pace targets from your own running and workouts synced to Garmin, Coros, Apple Watch, Apple Health and Health Connect.

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When to start training

10km

8 weeks

Start by Monday 29 March 2027 for the full build to race day.

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Finish-focused 10km plan

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5km

8 weeks

Start by Monday 29 March 2027 for the full build to race day.

Browse 5km training plans

Finish-focused 5km plan

First 5k? Start here

Start this plan in the app →

Starting later than that? Dangelo shortens the build to fit the time you have left, and you'll still get a structured, achievable plan for The Big Cat Sanctuary 10k & 5k.

Pick your goal time

Have a finish time in mind for The Big Cat Sanctuary 10k & 5k? Open the plan for your goal.

10km

5km

How Dangelo gets you to the start line

A plan built around race day

Every week counts back from 23 May, so base, build, peak and taper land exactly where they should.

Paces from your running

Dangelo reads your recent training from Garmin and Coros and sets workout paces you can actually hold, then adapts them as you get fitter.

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