BRR Blog – 28 October 2024
Rory with his Dublin Marathon medal
Hey there, Road Runners!
It has been a quiet week for BRR competitions races, but there were still some impressive solo efforts – details in Greg’s race report, below.
The Club was also busy, with the 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday, and the ELVIS (East Lonon fiVes Interclub Series)/BRR 40th Anniversary Disco on Friday. Everyone who attended had a fantastic night and it brought back fond memories of pre-Covid times when we had a Club party alongside our own Presentation Night every year. It is too late for this year – we have already booked the Prince of Wales for our Presentation Night on 30 November – but perhaps we will resurrect the BRR Disco next year.
2024 Annual General Meeting
Thank you if you were able to attend the Club’s 2024 AGM. It was a record turn-out, at least in the years since I’ve been a BRR member. If you were unable to attend, you can find the minutes of the meeting here.
The Club’s annual report and Accounts for 2023-24 and the Club rules as amended after the meeting can both be found on the Club resources page of the BRR website (link as above).
Members’ Cup Poll
Don’t forget to vote for this year’s Members’ Cup - the member who you think made the biggest contribution to the Club over the past year. You can’t vote for yourself or for Jess, as she won last year. To vote, use the link before or message/tell Jess directly. All the rules can be found on the link. Don’t delay; the vote will close on 15 November.
https://forms.gle/wrH9TyB8J7s4yu5K8
Running And Depression: Fact vs Fiction
I know I often include articles in the blog about the benefits of running for our physical and mental health, but do we risk regarding it as a cure-all for all our problems?
There is evidence that exercise, including running, can help to reduce anxiety and depression. A recent research paper published in the Journal of Effective Disorders claimed that ‘running therapy and antidepressant medication had similar effects on mental health.’ The partially randomised study included 141 participants assigned to either antidepressant medication or group-based running therapy, twice per week, for 16 weeks.
By the end of the period, the analysis revealed that remission rates for depression and anxiety were similar between the two groups. Not surprisingly, those in the running therapy finished the study with significant improvements in several physical health metrics (e.g. blood pressure, heart rate) compared with those in the medication group.
The researchers concluded that while both interventions had comparable effects on mental health, running therapy offered additional benefits by improving several key physical health indicators, whereas the antidepressant group experienced some deterioration in these areas.
However, the conclusion of the paper has been challenged by author and podcaster Dr Peter Attia. He wrote “The claim that exercise could match the effectiveness of medication in treating mental health conditions is not supported by this study.” He pointed out that the study was only partially randomised. Participants were given the choice of being randomly allocated or placed in the exercise or medication group. An overwhelming 84% selecting their own preferred treatment method.
Baseline assessments revealed that those opting for medication exhibited statistically significantly higher levels of depression compared to their counterparts in the running group. This suggests that the severity of symptoms may have driven the participants’ choices, with those suffering from less severe depression more willing to embrace the running therapy.
Why does it matter? Because, Attia argues, the idea of exercise as a cure-all “can undermine the real challenges faced by individuals with severe depression, for whom initiating an exercise regimen can be a daunting, if not impossible, task – and may not be sufficient to keep depressive symptoms at bay. Thus, the implication that running alone can suffice as treatment not only trivializes the nuanced nature of mental illness but also poses potential risks to those who might forgo necessary medical treatment in light of these research interpretations.”
So, while Attia accepts that regular physical activity can support health in numerous ways, including enhancing mood, improving sleep, and reducing stress, anxiety, and feelings of depression, he thinks we should be careful not to over-emphasise what exercise can accomplish, especially in cases of severe depression.
Yes, We Should Have Some Bananas!
Bendy bananas? It’s all down to negative geotropism.
Bananas are a very popular fruit with runners, both pre- and post-run, and for good reason.
A typical medium-sized banana contains 27 grams of energy-giving carbohydrates and 108 calories. It has 422 mg of potassium, about 9% of your recommended daily value. Potassium is a mineral and an electrolyte that helps regulate blood pressure, water balance, muscle contractions, nerve, and heart function.
But why are bananas bendy when most fruit are round or oval-shaped? It’s due to ‘negative geotropism.’ Bananas contain photosensitive hormones called auxins which mean that, rather than being pulled downwards by gravity, the fruit flexes upwards as it strives to find the sunlight it needs to grow and ripen. The auxins are distributed unevenly along the side of the banana facing the sun, triggering accelerated growth on that side, and causing the fruit to curve away from the earth’s gravitational pull.
British Masters Championships
Lizzie-Beth posted details of the 2025 British Masters event at Mallory Park, Leicester, on 3 May on WhatsApp. The event consists of relays, a ten miler, and 50km/100km races on the three-and-a-bit mile circuit of the Mallory Park motor bike racing circuit. It sounds like a really fun day, which participants can take as seriously or as light-heartedly as they want.
There is a licensed club house serving food, with a barbecue and music sponsored by the Road Runners Club. There are camping facilities available to all to stay on after the race or to use the night before.
While the longer events attract some of the leading ultra runners from the home nations and Ireland, runners of all standards who are just keen to challenge themselves over one of the classic ultra distances are also welcome to participate. The 50km is the ideal test for anyone wanting to step up from the marathon distance and attempt their first ultra. every finisher will go home with a bespoke finisher’s medal and a goody bag.
More information about the ultramarathons can be found here.
The 10-mile race is open to anyone over the age of 17 and finishers will receive a t-shirt, bespoke medal, and goody bag. Information can be found here.
It would also be great if we could send some BRR team to enter the relays too attend. There are different gender and age categories, starting at 35+. Competitors must be first claimers and EA-registered.
Greg’s Race Report
Dawn at the Beat Box Hill 5k
The weekend started with Barking Road Runner’s Dawn Curtis participating in the Beat Box Hill 5k race. The iconic course had stunning scenery but was challengingly steep, with Dawn having to climb the hill to the start before running back down and up it in the race. She finished in an excellent time of 41:00.
Rory Burr travelled to Ireland to compete in the Dublin Marathon, his first race over that distance, finishing in a time of 4:33:12.
Stuart and Rory Burr celebrating Rory’s completion of the Dublin Marathon
BRR’s Louise Chappell ran the tough Beachy Head Half Marathon, with its spectacular views and hills. Louise did a very respectable time of 2:42:11.
Louise after the Beachy Head Half Marathon
Three of BRR’s ladies, Joyce Golder (1:01:40), Alison Fryatt 1:08:34 and Dawn Curtis (1:17:03), ran in the Leigh-on-Sea after dark spooktacular 10k. The race, which started in the railway station car park took in a loop of One Tree Island Nature Reserve before running over the cobbles of Old Leigh and up and down the slopes of Belton Way, finishing back in the car park with a celebratory glass of prosecco. Head torches were mandatory, Halloween-themed fancy dress was optional.
Alison, Dawn and Joyce at the Leigh-on-Sea Striders 10k
BRR parkrunners
Barking - Paul Ward 23:33, James Hall 23:46, Doug King 24:45, Joshua Ezissi 24:48, John Whan 25:02, Mark New 26:20, James Sheridan 26:50, Jason Li 27:35, Andrew Hiller 28:48, Sian Mansley 29:25, Martin Mason 32:49, Joyce Golder 35:27, Les Jay 45:36, Micky Ball 48:07 and Alan Murphy 54:37.
Basildon - Ron Vialls 25:32.
Chelmsford Central - Gary Harford 30:02.
Dodder Valley - Rory Burr 25:41.
Finsbury Park - Stuart Mackay 20:39.
Harrow Lodge - Belinda Riches 24:22 and Stephen Colloff 29:07.
Belinda and Steve at Harrow Lodge parkrun
Sandall Park - James Lowndes 21:48.
Storey’s Field - Sunny Bulchandani 26:23.
Valentines - Paul Withyman 20:28 and Kevin Wotton 23:22.
BRR highest gradings this week were Belinda Riches 71.48% for the women and John Whan 71.3% for the men.
BRR Diary – October/November
ADVANCE NOTICE: THERE WILL BE NO TRACK SESSIONS ON 24 DECEMBER OR 31 DECEMBER. We expect people will be otherwise occupied on those days…
7.00pm, Tuesday 29 October – Speed Session. Jim Peters Stadium, Mayesbrook Park. A session we haven’t done for a while this week: Pushing the straightaways. Thirty minutes of:
Run at 5k race pace on the straight sections of the track (known as the straightaways)
Recover (at an easy pace) on the bends.
How many laps can YOU do in 30 minutes?
7.00pm, Thursday 31 October – Club road run. Jo Richardson School/Castle Green Centre, Gale Street, Dagenham.
10.30am, Saturday 2 November – Eastbrookend 5 mile-ish (Chingford League 02). Discovery Centre, Eastbrookend Country Park, The Chase, RM7 OSS. Our very own Chingford League race, on gravelly paths and grass. A very pretty course and not too hilly. Trail shoes, not spikes. The kids’ race starts at 10.30am and the adults’ race at 11.00am. We will need enough people for a men’s and women’s team and also marshals for the course, from 9.15am please so we can show you your marshalling positions.
Cracker Corner
My neighbour and I fell out recently about the height of his new fence. Luckily, it’s blown over now.
I’m addicted to brake fluid. It’s OK because I can stop at any time.
Why did the hipster burn his mouth on a pizza? Because he ate it before it was cool.
Boom! Boom!
Quote of the Week
“Never set limits, go after your dreams, don't be afraid to push the boundaries. And laugh a lot - it’s good for you.”
Paula Radcliffe
And Finally…
“Who are you calling a trash panda?” A raccoon at the Toronto Marathon.
The raccoon is the unofficial mascot of Toronto in Canada. In recognition of this, organisers of the recent Toronto Marathon put raccoon pictures on the commemorative t-shirts. But I doubt they expected the animals – also known, rather unkindly, as trash pandas – to make a guest appearance at the event.
Video footage shows one of the furry animals stopping off at a water station, to the surprise and alarm of runners and volunteers. Whether the raccoon was scavenging for a snack or trying to join the race, is unknown. We also cannot confirm if the raccoon finished the event.
I wonder what animal is most likely to visit the BRR Mile 14 water station at the London Marathon…
Happy running!
Alison
Chair, Barking Road Runners
