BRR Blog – 20 January 2025
The BRR Team at the Orion race
Hi there, Road Runners!
After the disappointment (or not) of the Wild Forest South Essex Cross Country League race being cancelled on 12 January, it was all about cross country again this weekend. There was the Orion Chingford League race in Epping Forest on Saturday, which was the official BRR race and so gets the headline photo. Then there was the Benfleet 15 on Sunday. There is definitely a Benfleet flavour to this blog, even though it isn’t an official BRR race.
I revealed on the day that I was actually running Benfleet; well, I never said I wasn’t running it, just that you’d have to be made to do so - guilty as charged! In fact, I’d been signed up since October, but had to keep quiet it case I was carted off to an asylum.
If you ‘enjoyed’ the Benfleet 15, or like the cross country at Hadleigh, you’ll like the Hadleigh 2012 Legacy 10k, being held on 23 February. It’s called the 2012 Legacy because some of the course was used for the mountain biking event in the London Olympics. The race is described as ‘The stuff of dreams! A hugely enjoyable off-road 10k utilising the footpaths, grass fields and trails set within the grounds of Hadleigh Castle. It's trail running at its absolute best.’ More details in the BRR Diary, below.
January Committee Minutes
With thanks to Club Secretary Isabel, here are the minutes of the January Committee meeting. Please note that we have been looking at additional races to add to this year’s Grand Prix series. The series consists of eight races in total, and must include 5 miles, 10ks, 10 miles, and at least one HM. We have already chosen the Brentwood HM, the Great Baddow 10, the St. Clare 10k, and the Sikhs in the City 10k. But what other races should we choose? We will probably have the Ingatestone 5, always a popular race, but to be decided are the Big Half, the Tiptree 10, and the High Easter 10k (too many 10ks?). Any other suggestions?
Parlez Vous Francais?
Essex Water provided the water at the Benfleet 15, and handing out some goody bags too, including an interesting book called ‘Water Reflections – the History of Four Water Companies’ (well, I think it’s interesting!) It included the following cartoon – but what is the restaurant customer saying?
A cartoon from ‘Water Reflection.’ But what are they saying?
Tracksmith Marathon Training runs
The Tracksmith logo
Sunday 26 January is week two of the Tracksmith Marathon training plan. And it will be hills at Hampstead Heath. There are options of 10 km (6 miles) and 21 km (13 miles), starting at the London Trackhouse, 25 Chiltern Street, London W1U 7PW. 9.00am meet for a 9.30am start. There will be pacers from 4:20/km (7:00/mile) to 7:25/km (12:00/mile). Remember, although it is free you need to complete a run club waiver before arriving for the first time. More information can be found here: Tracksmith 26 January run. Nehal is involed and will be happy to provide further details.
Weekly tip:
Focus less on whether a run was ‘good’ or ‘bad’ and more on what the run tells you about where you are today and what you can do with this information. Even a bad running experience can teach you valuable lessons for the future.
This week in History
On 25 January 1964 Blue Ribbon Sports was founded in the Oregan, USA, by Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight. It went on to become Nike in 1971 and the rest, as they say, is history.
Magnesium – the Mega Mineral
Avocado - full of magnesium
Magnesium is a key mineral for runners, as it can help speed up recovery and improve muscle function. It also regulates the stress hormone cortisol and enhances melatonin secretion, so it can reduce stress and aid a good night’s sleep. It is well-absorbed through the skin, so try magnesium sprays and creams, or a relaxing bath in some magnesium bath flakes (Epsom Salts are high in magnesium). For magnesium-rich foods, try:
Spinach
Almonds, cashews, peanuts
Chia, flax and pumpkin seeds
Oats and quinoa
Dark chocolate (sorry, just a square or two)
Endamame and black beans
Avocado
Yoghurt
Greg’s Race Report
Chingford League Round 05 for Barking Roadrunners this week hosted by Orion Harriers. The approximately 5 mile cross country run at Epping Forest was its usual brutal, hilly, muddy, well organised event. Nine BRR members braved the course as well as Alison Fryatt and Rob Courtier who were volunteer marshals on the day.
First BRR runner to finish was Tom Brennan 43:08 followed by Ayoyinka Obisesan 43:53, John George 46:11, Belinda Riches 48:23, Lizzie-Beth Garraghan 54:12, Ron Vialls 54:13, Clodagh O’Callaghan 1:08:43, Sian Mansley 1:08:44 and Dawn Curtis 1:10:08.
Some of the Benfleet 15 runners
On Sunday 20 BRR members attended the Benfleet 15-mile race at Hadleigh Country Park. Although the weather was better than usual for this event it was still a very tough test for the runners. First BRR finisher was Paul Withyman (1:56:32) followed by Owen Wainhouse (2:09:55), Tom Brennan (2:09:47), Rosie Fforde (2:23:44), Adrian Davison (2:27:06), Belinda Riches (2:27:57), Cristina Cooper (2:28:34), Emma Paisley (2:43:43), James Hall (2:46:06), Jonathan Furlong (2:50:11), Debra Jean Baptiste (2:53:56), Lizzie Beth Garraghan (2:56:22), Isabel Pinedo-Borobio (2:59:39), Steve Colloff (3:02:27), Rob Courtier (3:10:22) Dennis Spencer-Perkins (3:25:35), Alison Fryatt (3:27:22), Veronica Barikor (3:50:02), Nick Gorman (3:50:48), and Nabeel Akram (3:51:05).
Some more Benfleet 15 runners
BRR parkrunners
Barking - Steve Philcox 18:13, Owen Wainhouse 21:02, Joshua Ezissi 22:23, Jason Li 27:59, Chris Muthaka 28:57, Joyce Golder 30:45, Jonathan Furlong 32:52, Martin Mason 34:19, Faye Spooner 35:26, Nikki Cranmer 37:05, Julie Gillender 37:20, Les Jay 37:40 and Alan Murphy 53:54.
Chelmsford Central - Gary Harford 31:51.
Hampstead Heath - Nehal Patel 26:12.
Harrow Lodge - Rory Burr 27:07, Stuart Burr 27:49, Doug King 28:38 and Rachel Sharples 37:32.
Rory, Steve and Stuart at Harrow Lodge
Ingrebourne Hill - Mark Odeku 24:16 and Mark New 24:31.
Storeys Field - Sunny Bulchandani 24:12.
Valentines - Kevin Wotton 24:12
BRR Diary – January/February
To see the full diary of BRR events on the TeamUp app. Just download the TeamUp app onto your phone, then enter the calendar key: ks67p21gt8p5gzdo66 when asked. If you don’t want another app on your phone, you can also find it under the ‘events’ tab on the Barking Road Runners website: https://www.barkingroadrunners.org.uk/calendar.
7.00pm, Tuesday 21 January – Speed Session. Jim Peters Stadium, Mayesbrook Park. This week we have the welcome return of John Lang to take the session, which will be a great training session for 5k races:
5 x (4 minutes race pace, 1 minute jog recovery)
7.00pm, Thursday 23 January – Road Run. Castle Green Centre, Gale Street, Dagenham. Usually between 4-6 miles.
25-31 January – Virtual Handicap 02.
11.00am, Saturday 1 February – Victoria Park 5 (Chingford League). Race HQ VPHTHAC Club ouse, Victoria Park, Cadogan Terrace, Hackney, E9 5EG. Don’t forget your bib number.
10.00am, Sunday 2 February – Hockley Woods (SECCL 04). Hockley Woods Car Park, Main Road (B1013), Hockley, Essex. SS5 4RQ. Distance 7.90k/4.90 miles. According to the organisers ‘A selection of hills, mud, pathways, fields, mud, and camaraderie has been squeezed into just under five miles of fun.’ A few of us have run in Hockley Woods before but this is a new fixture for the SECCL, so do come along and give it a go. As usual, discounted £3 entry for BRR members, payable on the day or directly into the BRR bank account.
8-14 February - Virtual Handicap 03.
10:00am, Sunday 16 February - Wild Forest XC (SECCL 05).
22-28 February - Virtual Handicap 04.
10.30am, Sunday 23 February – Hadleigh Legacy 10k. Hadleigh Country Park, Chapel Lane, Hadleigh, Essex. Organised by Castlepoint Joggers in partnership with Nice Work. Bespoke medal for all finishers. Sign up at https://www.nice-work.org.uk/e/hadleigh-legacy-10k-9886
25-31 January – Virtual Handicap 02.
Cracker Corner
I just left my part-time job at the shoe recycling centre. It was sole destroying.
I got a taxi to the launderette the other day and they charged me £50. I think I was taken to the cleaners.
I was taking the A13 out of London. A police officer pulled me over and said: 'put it back.'
Quote of the Week
'Work hard, do the best you can, don't ever lose faith in yourself and take no notice of what other people say about you.’
Noel Coward
Actor and playwright
And Finally
I was pondering as I ran the Benfleet 15 (and I had a lot of time to ponder) that running can lower your standards. While a non-runner might back out of a public toilet in disgust, we will go ahead and use it if needs be before a race. No towel or hand dryer? Never mind, you can dry your hands on your shorts. Muddy shoes after a run? No problem; clean them in the bathroom sink. But even I scraped the barrel at Benfleet. I realised at the five-mile stage that I had only put one gel instead of two, which caused psychological havoc. However, as I ran along, I saw a full gel sachet trampled into the mud. I ran a few steps past it, stopped, then ran back and popped it in my pocket. At mile ten, I rubbed off the mud and devoured it (the gel that is, not the mud, though I probably devoured some of that too). I’m sure it helped me continue and finish the race, though I hope none of my fellow runners saw what I did. Of course, as soon as I finished running I took my phone out of my running vest, and there was my second gel tucked behind it. Oh well…
Happy running
Alison
Chair, Barking Road Runners
