BRR Blog – 12 August 2024
Handicap winner Ron Vialls
Hello Road Runners
They think it’s all over. Well, it is now. The 2024 Olympics, that is. I was fortunate the see Team GB win three Bronze medals on the final Saturday: women’s 1500m; men’s 4x400m and women’s 4x400m. I’m not sure the crowd of Irish spectators Chris and I were sitting amongst was particularly impressed when Amber Anning managed to overhaul their runner in the last leg of the women’s race!
It’s hard to imagine that there were no women’s events in the last Paris Olympics in 1924; now they are as much a part of the Games as the men’s events. Anyway, a few weeks of quiet before the Paralympics begins – something else that would have been unheard of 100 years ago but is now equally looked forward to by anyone who loves sport.
Don’t sweat it
Two men crossing Westminster Bridge, 1 August 1785. Sketch courtesy Wiki Commons
The weather is expected to cool down over the rest of the week, but it is still going to be hotter than average for the time of year (it’s the school holidays – it really should be raining!).
In dry heat, leaving sweat to evaporate cools the skin and the blood flowing beneath it. The blood then circulates, creating a cooling effect. In humid conditions, when evaporation doesn’t occur, it is best to wipe the sweat off if you can.
Cool Runnings
Brush before you run. Photo courtesy Wiki Commons
Research has found that the smell of menthol can trick the mind into thinking we are cooler than we really are, although the effects are short-lived. But perhaps cleaning your teeth with some nice, minty, toothpaste before a run might make a difference, and popping a mint while you run can’t hurt, and will give you a little carb hit too.
On the Right Track
There were some record-breaking performances at the Paris Olympics, including a few National Records for Team GB. But it could have been down to the superfast track rather than natural athletic ability, the athletes’ training regime, or even the latest super spikes.
The Stade de France running track
The first-ever purple track, at the Stade de France, is claimed to be the fastest ever built.
The high-tech track was manufactured by Mondo, the Italian company behind every Olympic track since 1976. Mondo claimed a 1-2% performance boost in Tokyo, attributing it partly to the track design, super-spike technology, and favourable weather. But the latest track - debuted at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, though not in purple —is even more advanced. Designed by chemists, engineers and physicists, it includes a new granule of ‘polymeric material’ that works with super shoes to improve performance.
It does beg the question of whether the record-breaking performances of today are really comparable with those of yester-year, when athletes didn’t have the benefit of modern technology to enhance their performance.
Greg’s Race Report
Rob at the Hilly Helmet charity race
Barking Road Runners member Rob Courtier travelled to Wiltshire to take part in the Hilly Helmet run for the Brain tumour charity. The theme for this year’s run which, as the name suggests, requires the runners to wear a decorated helmet, was Henry the 8th. Rob was pleased to manage to run the whole hilly, four-ish mile course in 56:05, without aggravating his current injuries.
Last Thursday saw the penultimate race in the Barking Road Runners summer handicap series. First across the finish line was Ron Vialls, closely followed by Emma Paisley and Clodagh O’Callaghan. Clodagh is currently leading the overall competition by two but can’t make the last race so it is all still up for grabs.
Runners and supporters after the summer handicap race
BRR parkrunners
Barking - Mark Odeku 20:50, Joshua Ezissi 24:30, John Whan 26:32, James Sheridan 27:50, Barry Rowell 27:52, Belinda Riches 30:17, Jason Li 30:19, George Hiller 30:42, Stephen Colloff 30:53, Rosie Fforde 31:00, Joyce Golder 31:01, Martin Mason 31:13, Andrew Hiller 32:18, Louise Chappell 32:42, Dennis Spencer Perkins 35:43, Les Jay 38:03, Greg Adams 40:57 and Alan Murphy 51:38.
Steve returns to Barking parkrun
Chelmsford Central - Gary Harford 29:24.
Erddig - Sian Mansley 34:25.
Hastings - Mark New 22:30.
Mark at Hastings parkrun
Lloyd - Nikki Cranmer 37:14.
Raphael - Doug King 28:12.
Southampton - Rory Burr 28:31.
Rory at Southampton parkrun
University of Northampton - Rob Courtier 33:21.
Rob at the University of Northampton parkrun. Dodgy running top…
Valentines - Kevin Wotton 23:28 and Andrew Gwilliam 34:53.
Highest BRR age gradings this week this week was Belinda Riches 56.74% for the women and John Whan 67.27% for the men.
BRR Diary – August
7.00pm, Tuesday 13 August – Speed Development Session. Jim Peter’s Stadium, Mayesbrook Park. This week it will be Jess taking the session, which is the Paarlauf Relay. Jess says:
“Everyone pairs up, ideally with someone of similar speed/ability.
Person one runs around the track, RPE 7-8, while person two takes their recovery run across the middle of the track to meet them and "pass the baton". Person two then runs around the track, while person one recovers jogging across it.
We'll do 12 minutes of 200m run, with recoveries once across the track to the other side, then 12 minutes of 400m run, with recoveries there and back, to "pass the baton" in the same place. Then back to 12 minutes of 200m run, with recoveries once across the track to the other side, to mix it up!
The aim is to try and complete as many laps as you can within the allocated time. “
7.00pm, Thursday 15 August – Summer Handicap 06. Barking Park. Second from last race, and second from last chance to win the tenner. Just £1 to enter.
11.00am, Sunday 18 August – Ingatestone 5 (GP06). Anglo-European School, Willow Green, Ingatestone, CM4 0DG. Sorry, SOLD OUT, as this is now part of the Essex Championships.
7.00pm, Thursday 22 August – Summer Handicap 07. Barking Park. The last race, and the last chance to win the tenner.
10.30am, Monday 26 August – the Phipps (August Bank Holiday) 5k and 2k fun run. Barking Park. The Club’s very own ELVIS race. We still need some runners (especially women) to make up our team (remember to use the discount code if you plan to run. You can find it on WhatsApp or ask me), plus plenty of volunteers.
Cracker Corner
What’s the most groundbreaking invention of all time? The shovel.
I went on a once-in-a-lifetime vacation. Never again.
What did Granddad say before he kicked the bucket? “Wanna see how far I can kick this bucket?”
Boom! Boom!
Quote of the Week
“It's never too late to go back to something you enjoy.”
Georgia Bell
2024 Olympics 1500m Bronze Medallist
And finally…
Swimming trunks man at the Olympics
Never mind all the fit athletes at the Olympic Games. The real hero was ‘iconic trunks man’. When a swimming cap got stuck at the bottom of the pool, he emerged from the crowds in his ‘funky-coloured’ swimming shorts to save the day, diving in and retrieving the hat before holding it aloft in the air then disappearing back into the audience. It seems not every swimming hero wears Speedos and has a six-pack…
Happy running!
Alison
Chair, Barking Road Runners
