It began as a countdown event to mark the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, but 10 years later the Medway Mile is still going strong.

Registration for the mass participation event opened this week and capacity has been increased by 10% with 3,300 places available.

The first Medway Mile took place on the sports field at the then Black Lion Leisure Centre, now Medway Park, in July 2007 and was attended by Olympic javelin thrower Steve Backley, Paralympian Danny Crates and boxer Duke McKenzie.

It has been held every year since, except in 2015 when torrential rain forced it to be cancelled.

For the first five years the Mile took place on July 27 – the date of the London opening ceremony.

When work started on the redevelopment of the leisure centre in 2009, the Mile moved to Rochester.

In 2012, thousands of people took part in the event before watching the opening ceremony on a giant screen in Rochester Castle Gardens.

This year’s event will take place on Friday, July 21, and the one-mile route allows people walk, jog and run around historic Rochester before ending in the grounds of Rochester Castle.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary, the evening will include a Medway Schools Mile parade, as well as the usual children’s race, mascot race, competitive race and the mass participation run.

Afterwards, there will be music, entertainment, refreshments and fireworks.

Participants will get a commemorative T-shirt and those who attended the Big Splash and the Big Ride as well will get a commemorative medal. The Big Ride takes place on June 17.

Visit www.medway.gov.uk/sport to find out more.

Have you taken part in all 10 Miles? Or are you turning 10 on July 21? Contact the newsroom on 01634 227821 or email cfreeman@thekmgroup.co.uk