BRR Blog – 4 March 2024
Martin Page at the Leicester 10k
Hi there, Road Runners!
It was the first day of Meteorological spring on 1 March, but it certainly didn’t feel very spring-like at parkrun on Saturday morning; I’d just come back from five days in Geneva, surrounded by snow-capped mountains, the day before but it felt colder in Barking Park in the lashing wind and rain. Let’s hope the weather warms up by the time we get to astronomical spring, which starts on 19 March, the spring equinox. It’s the equinox because the sun is passing directly above the equator and the day and night are almost equal; after that, days start getting longer than night – hooray!
March Winds
Running in windy weather may not feel great but it can develop your strength and stamina. Pushing against the wind is a resistance exercise that makes your legs work harder which, in turn, makes them stronger. To try and make it feel easier, try and keep loose and relaxed (e.g. don’t tense up against the wind) and lean forward from the ankles (not the waist), like you would do when running uphill.
Parkrun in Le France? Non!
A parkrun, somewhere in France…
I am not much of a parkrun tourist, but Chris and I have splashed out on some tickets for the Paris Olympics and I thought I’d check if there were any parkruns to participate in while I was there. Imagine my disappointment at finding that parkrun in France has been closed down for the foreseeable future.
This is all related to the requirement in France for a medical certificate to take part in competitive sports activities. When parkrun was initially set-up in France the organisers were under the impression that by listing the results in alphabetical order (and not by time), parkrun would be deemed to be non-competitive and therefore a medical certificate would not be required for those taking part.
However, in 2019 parkrun Global (the charity responsible for all parkruns around the world) took over the control of parkrun France and realised that there was no written confirmation of this exemption. parkrun Global decided to take advice from experienced French sports lawyers to understand the legal position.
The legal advice was that, as parkrun is not affiliated under a sports federation in France, it has no legal obligation to request a medical certificate from each participant. However, as an event organiser, parkrun is still bound by what is known as a 'general safety requirement' and was therefore strongly advised to request medical certificates from participants. There was felt to be a risk that, if parkrun allowed participants to take part without providing a medical certificate, this could be used in evidence against it if there was a medical accident that resulted in court action.
More recently, in March 2022, there was a change in French law, giving sport’s governing bodies the ability to decide whether an event or activity required medical certificates. This change was driven by a desire from the French government to get more people physically active and remove barriers to participation in the lead-up to the Paris 2024 Olympics. But they are fast running out of time if parkrun is going to be re-instated before the Games this summer.
In the meantime, you can decide for yourself if parkrun was right to be cautious or if it is another example of over-the-top risk aversion.
Athletics in the News
It was the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow over the weekend. After the first day, it was all looking rather depressing for Team GB&NI, with no medals on the table. It didn’t get any better when Laura Muir finished back in fifth place in the 1500m, leaving us all wondering if her glory days are over (although it was a new Scottish native record, so perhaps the opposition has just got faster?).
But things took a turn for the better in the evening session. I’ve always liked the Pole Vault, although it is a discipline I can’t even imagine wanting to try myself, so it was a huge pleasure to see Brit Molly Caudery win gold in the women’s event with a vault of 4.80 metres. Caudery was competing against a strong field so her success bodes well for the Paris Olympics.
Josh Kerr at the World Indoor Champs
It was even more of a pleasure to see Josh Kerr win the men’s 3000m in front of a raucous home crowd. “I just didn’t want to short-change anyone tonight because I knew I had the support of all Scotland and the UK tonight. But I think I used more energy celebrating than I did in the race!” he joked after landing the title he coveted in a time of 7:42.98. Arch-rival, Jacob Ingebrigtsen, who has said he could beat Kerr blindfolded, was not there, so we were unable to see if his claim was true.
The last day saw our women’s 4 x 400m team take the bronze model, slightly controversially as our third leg runner collided with the Jamaican athlete knocking the baton out of her hand. Gemma Reekie finished the Team GB&NI medal haul, earning a silver in the women’s 800m, in a time of 2:02.27. Overall, the team ended the Championships in joint fifth place overall.
Membership 2024/25
A reminder that, if you want to remain a member of Barking Road Runners, you will need to pay your membership fee for 2024/25. Once again, the cost of membership is being held at just £15. If you want to be a member of England Athletics, too, that will cost an additional £19 for the year. This entitles you to a discount of £2 off all EA-certified races, and also means you will be eligible for one of the Club’s London marathon places for 2025 (see the Club Rules on the website for further information).
Please pay your membership directly into the BRR account:
Account no: 42026724
Sort Code: 40-03-33
Use Ref ‘Mem’ if only paying for membership or ‘Mem & EA’ if paying for both.
Grand Prix Competition – High Easter in June!
We have now selected the High Easter 10k to be part of this year’s Grand Prix competition. As voted at the last Annual General Meeting, the 2024 competition will consist of eight races, with trophies awarded to the top three males and females based on the best five of eight results. First-claimers only for this competition.
If you’re wondering how the village of High Easter, where the 10k race will take place, got its name, it has nothing to do with the Christian religious festival. It is derived from the 11th-century Estre (in the Domesday Book as Estra), from the Old English eowestre meaning a sheepfold, or 'a place at the sheep fold'. The 'High' part refers to the Old English heah (meaning geographically high), the place name being Heyestre in 1254.
Here are the five GP races selected so far:
24 March - Brentwood Half - https://www.brentwoodhalf.org/
7 April – St. Clare Hospice 10k - https://stclarehospice.org.uk/event/st-clare-hospice-10k-2024/
19 May – Great Baddow 10 (mile) - https://baddowraces.co.uk/
16 June – High Easter 10k - https://www.nice-work.org.uk/e/high-easter-10k-9482
18 August – Ingatestone 5 (mile) - https://www.entrycentral.com/ingatestone5mileroadrace
Greg’s Race Report
Another week of individual success for Barking Road Runners with several members competing in various events.
Alison the Road Runner with Ronnie the Roadrunner
Alison Fryatt ran in the High Performance London 10k on an undulating course at the Olympic Park which including a lap of the Olympic training track at the start and finish. Alison finished in a time of 1:04:24.
Martin Page took part in the Leicester 10k which included an English Masters race. Martin finished in a time of 44:31 which, although he was disappointed with, was enough to qualify him for the Brighton 10k Masters Race in November.
Derv Bartlett ran in the Kinvara Half Marathon finishing in a time of 1:26:26 in tough conditions including 7 miles into a strong headwind. Derv’s excellent time was good enough for first place in his age category.
Derv at the Kinvara Half
BRR parkrunners
Barking - Mark Odeku 20:22, Adrian Davison 25:34, Rosie Fforde 26:51, John Lang 27:40, Joyce Golder 28:33, Jason Li 28:34, Sian Mansley 28.46, Isobel Pinedo Borobio 29:23, Paul Molina 30:25, Martin Brooks 30:26, Dennis Spencer-Perkins 30:32, Andrew Hiller 32:38, Nikki Cranmer 33:44, Lizzie-Beth Garraghan 33:56, Les Jay 35:01 and Rob Courtier 55:59.
Chalkwell Beach - Ron Vialls 28:00.
Fulham Palace - Belinda Riches 24:40.
Pymmes - Stuart Mackay 21:37 and Jess Collett 21:44.
Raphaels - Doug King 25:53.
Roding Valley - Paul Withyman 21:29.
Rushmoor - Owen Wainhouse 22:16.
Southall - Mark New 23:42.
Storey’s Field - Sunny Bulchandani 24:05.
Valentines - Kevin Wotton 27:41 and Andrew Gwilliam 43:44.
Highest BRR Age gradings this week were: for the women Jess Collett 70:40% and for the men Mark Odeku 67.51%.
BRR Diary – March
w/c 2 March - Virtual Handicap 05. Remember to post your result by close this Friday, 8 March.
7.00pm, Tuesday 5 March - Speed development. Jim Peters Stadium, Mayesbrook Park. This week the session will be ‘chasebacks,’ led by Jess:
We start at the same place. When the first person reaches Jess again after the first 1,2, or 3 laps, she blows her whistle and we all stop and rest for the allotted time then on the next whistle, we turn around and run back. If you have paced yourself properly, you should get back to the starting place ready for the next rep.
· 1 lap out, 30 sec rest | 1 lap back 30 sec rest
· 2 laps out, 60 sec rest | 2 laps back, 60 sec rest
· 3 laps out, 90 sec rest | 3 laps back, 90 sec rest
· 2 laps out, 60 sec rest | 2 laps back, 60 sec rest
· 1 lap out, 30 sec rest | 1 lap back 30 sec rest (if time allows)
Laps are taken from the fastest person, so we are all doing the same thing at the same time. Some of us may not make it round the whole lap, but we will be running for just as long and getting the same fitness benefit.
7.00pm, Thursday 7 March – Road Run. From the Castle Green Centre/Jo Richardson School, Gale Street, Dagenham. A run of 5-6 miles, all abilities welcome. Fingers crossed Nige is feeling OK to lead the run.
11.00am, Saturday 9 March – Chingford League relays. Wanstead Flats. The last Chingford League race of the season, on trails/grass. 4 x 2 miles relays, male and female teams. We can enter as many teams as we like, but will try and group people by ability.
10.00am, Sunday 24 March –Brentwood Half (GP01). Beckett Keys Church of England Secondary School, off Sawyers Hall Lane, Brentwood, Essex. CM15 9DA. First race in this year’s Club Grand Prix competition. Entries close 18 March if places are still available. Enter at https://www.brentwoodhalf.org/
Cracker Corner
I went to a record shop and bought a single by Elvis Presley called Wooden Leg. I said to the man behind the counter ‘I thought it was called Wooden Heart.’ He replied ‘This is the pirate version.’
My brother drank some invisible ink. Three days later he’s still at the hospital waiting to be seen.
My father always said he marched to the beat of his own drum. That’s why he only lasted a day as a librarian.
Boom! Boom!
Quote of the week
‘Run the first two-thirds of the race with your head and the last third with your heart.’
Anon
And finally…
If you want to move on from the squat challenge, how about a plank challenge? Doing the plank with proper form will improve your core strength, important for keeping good form during running.
The big question is: how long should you hold the plank for, to maximum fitness benefit? The experts seem disagree on what is optimal. One back specialist recommends 3 x 10 seconds is enough for the average person. Another suggests 30 seconds to one minute, or 20 seconds at a time if you are doing multiple reps. The good news is that 2 minutes seems to be the maximum recommended, with longer holds not providing any additional benefit. Unless of course, you are trying for a new world record. The current record stands at 9 hours, 30 minutes and one second, so good luck with that…
