BRR Blog – 20 May 2024
Jess Collett, third woman and first VM40+ at Great Baddow.
Howdie, Road Runners!
Things are hotting up! We had Grand Prix race #03 at Great Baddow on Sunday, and a hot and hilly one it certainly was, all made up for by the summer fayre on the recreation ground afterwards. Lots of us stocked our garden from the Great Baddow Horticultural Society plant stall and, after my unfortunate experience at the Witham May Day 5 a few weeks’ ago, I even plucked up the courage to have a burger. Club kudos goes to Jess Collet with a fantastic podium finish, but everyone did well in the circumstances – details in Greg’s race report.
If you missed the fun on Sunday, don’t forget we have the first East London fiVes Interclub Series (ELVIS) race for 2024 on Wednesday - it’s the last few hours to sign up (there are usually no on-the-day entries). There’s info about some of our other running events below.
Diary Changes
Two handicap races and two different winners (John Whan and Dawn Curtis) – it’s proving to be an exciting competition! Remember, the planned race on 30 May has been postponed due to the festival in Barking Park the following weekend. The next handicap will therefore be on THURSDAY 13 JUNE. The missing handicap has been slotted in on 22 August, when we had planned to hold the relay races – we’ll come up with another date for the relays.
There are ELVIS races on Tuesday 4 June (Havering ’90 Joggers 5, Raphaels Park) and Tuesday 18 June (East End Road Runners 5k, Olympic Park), so the track sessions those weeks have been moved to THURSDAY 6 JUNE and THURSDAY 20 JUNE instead.
Finally, a reminder that there will be no Barking parkrun on 25 May and 1 June due to the festival that is taking place in the park on 1 June. I’m sure Barking regulars can find someone else to go. I’ll be at Barking just in case anyone has missed the message that we are closed, then I’ll be doing a much-needed spring clean of the parkrun kit – what fun!
While I think of it, it is always good to have positive feedback about Barking parkrun, like this comment below. But who was the very kind gentleman? None other than our Alan Cranmer!
A commendation for Alan Cranmer!
Summer Samosa Races
Do a SITC race and you could get a t-shirt like this…
If you like to run and you like samosas, the Sikhs in the City Summer Samosa Races in Woodford are for you. There are a number of distances, ranging from 10k to ultra (at least 50k within the time limit). Rewards include a bespoke race medal, event T-shirt, goody bag, and a variety of Indian food, including samosas, as part of the entry fee. The downside? The races are run on a loop of approximately 2k, about half of which is uphill! But it is always good fun, and SITC are very friendly and supportive; lots of people take part year after year. All races start at 10.00am EXCEPT the 10k which starts at 1.00pm – perfect for a quick run and then filling up with luvverly, spicy, nosh.
Sikhs In The City Summer Samosa Ultra 2024 - Sunday 30 June 2024 - Online entry via EventEntry
Chingford League 2024-25
For those who don’t know, the Chingford League is a winter athletics league for running clubs in North and East London, founded in 1955. It consists of six races (and one relay race) on a mix of cross-country and tarmac surfaces, over 5 miles or 5k. To take part, you have to join one of the member clubs (like BRR!)- then it's free to enter as the club pays an affiliation fee. The courses can be quite tough, especially for the cross-country races, but they are quite fun. For more details, see How it works – Chingford League. The main thing to remember is that you are issued a bib number at the beginning of each season which you then use for all the races except the relays. If you can’t trust yourself not to lose the number, hand it in at the end of each race!
Fixtures for 2024/25 (the initials after each fixture are for the club in charge, with ‘helper’ clubs in brackets – we are BR)
Tuesday 8 October (tarmac) - Hog Hill (Redbridge Cycling Centre) LO (WG)
Saturday 2 November - Eastbrookend (cross country ‘lite’) BR (IL, HW, DA, WG, ET)
Saturday 23 November - Fraternity/Sorority Cup at Trent Park (cross country): BA (TP, MC, ED, LH, EH, TL)
Wednesday 11 December - Stratford Velopark (tarmac) EM (EE)
Saturday 18 January - Epping Forest (cross country) OH (EC, WG)
Saturday 1 February - Victoria Park (tarmac) VP (SO)
Saturday 8 March - Wanstead Flats Relays (cross country) EL (all!!)
Let’s Go Outside
There is further evidence of the benefits to your health of exercising outdoors. Researchers from the University of Exeter Medical School have calculated that physical exercise in natural environments prevents almost 13,000 cases of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) (i.e. diseases that aren’t spread by human contact) each year in England, saving the NHS around £108.7m.
The most common NCDs include heart and chronic lung disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes. Together, these illnesses cause 74% of global mortality, according to the World Health Organisation, and cases are rising.
The Exeter University research looked at exercising in places such as the beach and coast, countryside, and urban open spaces like parks, alongside a survey of the English population. Using this data, they estimated how many cases of six major NCDs – major depressive disorder, type 2 diabetes, ischaemic heart disease, ischaemic stroke, colon cancer, and breast cancer – are prevented through nature-based recreational activities. They found that, in 2019, 22 million adults (16 years and over) in England visited natural environments at least once a week, and concluded that this prevented 12,763 cases of NCDs, particularly major depressive disorders.
There have been plenty of studies into the benefits of exercising outdoors, but this is the first one conducted on a national scale. One of the researchers, Dr James Grellier, said ‘we have almost certainly underestimated the true value of nature-based physical activity in terms of disease prevention.’
The team is hoping that their research results in greater investment in spaces like parks to make it easier for people to exercise outdoors. Unfortunately, I’d say that trend is in the opposite direction, with many green spaces being sacrificed for housing.
Greg’s Race Report
The third race in Barking Road Runners’ 2024 Grand Prix series was the Great Baddow 10-mile event at the weekend.
With plenty of hills and hot conditions making it a tough run, 1st Male finisher for BRR was Stuart Mackay in a time of 1:11:27. 1st BRR Female finisher was Jess Collett in a time of 1:16:15 for a podium place as 3rd female overall and 1st in her age category.
They were followed by Nehal Patel 1:16:25, John George 1:30:30, Sunny Bulchandani 1:31:18, James Sheridan 1:39:59, Louise Chappell 1:40:55, Rob Courtier 1:43:37, Joyce Golder 1:44:09, Steve Colloff 1:44:21, Alison Fryatt 1:48:06, Sian Mansley 1:52:52 and Les Jay 2:13:27.
After the Great Baddow 10. It took three people to help me up…
Round 2 of BRR’s Summer 5k Handicap Series was won by Dawn Curtis. The race formed part of a best 5 of 7 competition run over the Barking parkrun course. Dawn finished well inside her handicap time of 6 minutes 30 seconds. Of course, this does mean she will have a tougher race next time along with 11 others who also bettered their handicap.
Dawn with her Handicap #02 winnings.
Derv Bartlett followed up his excellent 5k last week with a 4-mile run in the Ashling Murphy 4-mile race. Taking place on a sun-drenched morning in Tullamore, midway between Galway and Dublin, the race saw participants climb for the first 600m before leveling off to the two-mile mark. A little downhill brought the runners to a roundabout on the 3-mile mark where they were welcomed by a traditional music group entertaining everyone in the bright sunshine. A stiff climb past the railway station tested the fitness levels before turning left towards the town centre and then a welcome downhill for the remaining 400m. Derv finished 50th in a field of 700, in a time of 24:07.
Derv Bartlett, racing abroad again.
BRR parkrunners
Barking - Daniel Plawiak 21:46, Belinda Riches 24:36, James Hall 24:48, Doug King 25:11, John Whan 25:18, Adrian Davison 25:47, Faye Spooner 26:17, Martin Mason 29:54, Louise Chappell 30:38, Nikki Cranmer 34:23, John Lang 34:32, Stephen Colloff 34:33, Dawn Curtis 36:01, Cristina Cooper 36:43, Les Jay 38:39, Micky Ball 50:54, Alan Murphy 51:19 and Andrew Hiller 62:21.
Chalkwell Beach - Antony Leckerman 21:05.
Eastbourne - Owen Wainhouse 21:04.
Harrow Lodge - Rory Burr 53:36.
Hoblingwell - Mark New 24:11.
Mark N at Hoblingwell parkrun
Pymmes Park - Paul Ward 24:30.
Roding Valley - Paul Withyman 28:28.
Rushmore - Lauren Garvey 29:56.
Southend - Ron Vialls 26:41.
Ron at Southend parkrun
Valentines - Kevin Wotton 24:43.
Highest BRR age gradings this week were Belinda Riches (69.85%) for the women and John Whan (70.55%) for the men.
BRR Diary – May/June
7.00pm, Tuesday 21 May - Speed development. Jim Peters Stadium, Mayesbrook Park. Some of us have the D88 race the next day, so we have a session that can be gentle (keeping your legs ticking over) or hard (blasting out the reps) depending on whether you are racing or not.
5 minutes warm-up
6 x (2 mins run, 2 mins recovery)
5 mins cool down
If you are racing on Wednesday, the reps should be at race pace, with the recoveries a very gentle jog or even a walk. If you’re not racing, you can up the pace, going at just over 5k race pace for the reps and jogging the recovery. Both groups should keep the warm-up and cool down at an easy pace -if you can chat, you are probably going at the right pace.
7.30pm, Wednesday 22 May – Dagenham 88 5 (EL01). The Discovery Centre, Eastbrookend Country Park, The Chase, Dagenham (Note: parking is in the May and Baker car park, not at the Discovery Centre). The first race in this year’s ELVIS series. Part of the course is on grass so trails may be best if it has been wet. Sign up here: https://events.kronosports.uk/event/310. Entries close on 12:00 on 20 May.
7.00pm, Thursday 23 May – Thursday night road run. Castle Green/Jo Richardson School, Gale Street, Dagenham. Usually around 5 miles.
10.00am, Sunday 26 May 2024 – Thameside 10k / 5k and a 1k Tinies Toddle. The Essex Wildlife Trust Thameside Nature Discovery Centre, Mucking Wharf Road, Mucking, Stanford-Le-Hope, SS17 0RN. With fantastic views of the lake and the Thames Estuary, this is one for those of you who like fantastic scenery. Enter at: https://www.entrycentral.com/Thameside10512024Races
11.00am, Monday 27 May - Hatfield Broad Oak 10k. Village Green, High Street, Hatfield Broad Oak. This is not a Club competition race, but it’s a nice way to spend a Bank Holiday Monday. There is a kids’ race too, and village fair, which is quite fun. More info and entries at https://broadoak10k.co.uk/
7.00pm, Thursday 30 May – Road Run. Castle Green Centre/Jo Richardson School, Gale Street, Dagenham.
10.00am, Saturday 1 June – Orion Forest Five (NOT ELVIS). Race HQ Jubilee Retreat, Bury Road, Chingford E4 7QJ. You can sign up for the three-race series, on the first Saturday of June, July, and August for just £18. The August race is also an ELVIS race. https://www.entrycentral.com/Orion_Harriers_Forest_Five
7.30pm, Tuesday 4 June – Havering ’90 Joggers Midweek 5 (EL02). Raphaels Park, Main Road, Romford. The second race in the ELVIS series. Sign up here. NOTE: there will be no track session, but…
7.00pm, Thursday 6 June – Replacement Track Session. Jim Peter’s Stadium, Mayesbrook Park.
7.30pm, Wednesday 12 June – Crown to Crown. Not a club race but fun if you fancy a midweek run through Westley Heights Country Park, near Laindon. https://www.entrycentral.com/Crown-to-Crown
7.00pm, Thursday 13 June – Summer Handicap 03. Barking Park. On the parkrun course. Just £1 to enter with the chance of winning a crispy tenner, plus trophies for overall first, second and third in the competition. Note: there will be no Thursday night run from Castle Green/Jo Richardson School.
10.00am, Sunday 16 June – High Easter 10k (GP04). High Easter Village Green. The fourth race in a grand prix competition. The website is showing the race is sold out but says there may be entries on the day. Do contact the organisers before you turn up on spec. https://www.nice-work.org.uk/e/high-easter-10k-9482
7.30pm, Tuesday 18 June – East End Road Runners 5k (ELVIS 03). Olympic Park, Hopkins Field (near the Velodrome). Enter at https://www.nice-work.org.uk/e/high-easter-10k-9482. NOTE: there will be no track session, but…
7.00pm, Thursday 20 June – Replacement Track Session. Jim Peter’s Stadium, Mayesbrook Park.
Cracker Corner
My friend told me he’d bought a new hearing aid for £5,000. I said “£5,000! What type is it?” He replied “half past two.”
I’m teaching my friend’s dog to fetch tools from the shed. He’s not perfect but he knows the drill.
With all this warm weather, I bought a rocket salad for dinner yesterday. It went off before I could eat it.
Boom! Boom!
Quote of the week
“The deepest personal defeat suffered by human beings is constituted by the difference between what one was capable of becoming and what one has become.”
Ashley Montagu
And finally…
It’s probably a good thing us Brits are so modest and self-effacing – it avoids us getting into trouble. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said of Canadian 400m runner Canadian 400m sprinter Michael Roth
Roth thought he had won the National Collegiate Athletics Association conference 400m title with a huge personal best of 45.78 seconds at last Sunday’s Outdoor Championships in San Antonio, Texas. He rounded the bend to the last 100m with a significant lead but, instead of just carrying on and finishing the job, he decided to turn around and make a hand gesture at his competitors, resulting in him being disqualified for unsportsmanlike behaviour and losing his PB. I’ll leave you to guess what the hand gesture was…
