BRR Blog – 4 November 2024
The BRR running team at Chingford League 02 (Eastbrookend Country Park)
Howdie, Road Runners!
Hope you enjoyed Diwali, if you celebrate it, and Hallowe’en. I just wish they could make fireworks with all of the lights and colours, but less of the noise!
Another BRR-organised race done and dusted, this time the Chingford League race at Eastbrookend Country Park. Thank you to everyone who was involved, whether volunteering or running for the Club. I always think these races are a bit of a showcase for BRR, so it is really important that we make a good impression, and we always do! There was plenty of positive feedback, from the Chingford League organisers and from the Chingford League member clubs. Now BRR volunteers can sit back and wait for … the 2025 London Marathon and the Mile 14 water station!
Members’ Cup Poll
Only a couple of weeks left to vote for the member who you think made the biggest contribution to the Club over the past year in the Members’ Cup poll. Jess will be compiling the vote this year as she won the Cup last year. That means you can’t vote for her, and you can’t vote for yourself either. To vote, use the link before or message/tell Jess directly. All the rules can be found on the link.
https://forms.gle/wrH9TyB8J7s4yu5K8
Athletics in the News
Ruth Chepngetech at the 2021 Chicago Marathon. Photo courtesy Clark Adams.
There has been some controversy about the new women’s marathon record set by Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya at the Chicago Marathon on 13 October. She finished in 2:09:56, breaking the previous world record of 2:11:53 set by Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa last year in Berlin. Chepngetich, who also won the race in 2023, set a blistering early pace, reaching the halfway point in 1:04:16, the fifth-quickest time in history for a half marathon by a woman. She slowed slightly in the second half of the race but still managed to beat her own personal best by over five minutes.
Very soon after the race, there were allegations that the time set was too good to be true, particularly taking into account Chepngetich’s previous performances. Critics have pointed out that elite athletes usually improve their times gradually, often by fractions of seconds, so getting a PB of over five minutes is almost unheard of. It has also been said that Chepngetich was thought to be past her best, so pulling a record-breaking performance out of the bag was highly unusual. The inference is that there was something suspicious about the result, and some have even been so bold as to make the link with Kenya’s supposedly lax approach to drug-taking. Those slightly less critical, whilst accepting that Chepngetich achieved the record under her own steam, have suggested the use of male pacers practically to the end of the race gave her an unfair advantage over her competitors, and that such a practice shouldn’t be allowed in future races.
Athletics Kenya has hit back, issuing a statement defending the athlete, and stating that “singling out” Chepngetich is “utterly unfair” and calling on “the media and the global community to give Ruth the respect she deserves and protect athletes from harassment”.
“Many world records were broken this year and to single her out is utterly unfair,” Athletics Kenya said “It is therefore disheartening to witness some sections of the media casting unwarranted doubt on her achievements. Such aspersions, made without due process, undermine not only her efforts but the integrity of the sport. It is important to note that Ruth, like all athletes in major competitions, underwent multiple anti-doping tests, both pre-race and post-race.”
Chepngetich has never tested positive for any performance-enhancing drugs or been found guilty of any doping violation. Her world record is awaiting ratification by World Athletics. So, until we are told there is evidence otherwise, let’s continue to celebrate her achievement.
New Marathon Major
The Abbott Marathon Majors Six Star Medal
Bad news if you have been trying to complete all six Abbott World Marathon Majors (Nehal?): there is now a seventh. Sydney, in south-east Australia has been chosen as the first location to join the prestigious Abbott World Marathon Major list since Tokyo in 2013, 11 years ago.
The next Sydney Marathon, on 31 August 2025, will join the Tokyo Marathon, the Boston Marathon, the London Marathon, the Berlin Marathon, Chicago Marathon, and the New York City Marathon to be part of the Abbott series.
To do so, it had to meet qualifying criteria for two consecutive years, including the quality of the race organisation and the size of its field.
At the moment, runners who complete all six of the Majors are awarded a six-star medal, and this will stay in place for those already on the journey towards its achievement. But Sydney will form part of a new journey towards a nine-star medal, with the Cape Town and Shanghai marathons the most likely candidates to complete the set of nine races. That could happen as early as 2026 and 2027 if they pass their two-year assessments.
All I can say is, you will need quite a few pounds in the bank to be able to afford to meet this challenge.
Ain’t Nothin’ Gonna Break My Stride
Ideally, we should maintain our running form throughout a training run or race, with maybe a nice kick at the end as we surge towards the finish line. In reality, we tend to lose our form as we get towards the end of our run, due to fatigue.
A recent systematic review titled “Influence of Fatigue on the Modification of Biomechanical Parameters in Endurance Running”, in the International Journal of Exercise Science, looked at this. The researchers examined existing studies in which runners covered more than 10K and found that stride length tends to decrease from about 1.3 metres at the beginning of a race to 1.1 metres towards the end.
There were inconsistencies in the research studies about stride frequency, or cadence. Some research concluded that it decreased with fatigue, while others found it increased, possibly to reduce impact forces (or perhaps as runners sprinted towards the end of their race). But there is no doubt that our running technique alters the longer we run for.
So, what is the answer? It appears that runners who have trained over long distances are less likely to suffer from a deterioration in their running form and technique than those who haven’t trained. So, the more long runs you do, the more practiced you will become, and the less you will deteriorate towards the end of each effort.
Greg’s Race Report
Chingford League round 2 was hosted by Barking Road Runners at Eastbrookend Country Park. The approximately five-mile course had a few changes from last year but was enjoyed by the runners and well organised by BRR, with runners from all clubs enjoying refreshments at the Discovery Centre café afterwards.
First finisher for BRR was Ayoyinka Obisesan 28:50 he was followed by Joe Stacey 29:38, Paul Withyman 30:04, Stuart Mackay 30:15, Adrian Davison 34:09, Jess Collett 35:17, John George 35:50, James Hall 37:55, James Sheridan 40:17, Barry Rowell 42:30, Steve Colloff 42:43, Louise Chappell 43:24, Sian Mansley 45:09, Isabel Pinedo Borobio 45:41, Emma Paisley 47:18 and Zahra Akram 57:28.
The Billericay 10k crew, plus friend (i.e. Chris’s finger)
A good turn out by BRR members at the Billericay 10k, where runners had to negotiate a flooded ford as part of the course through the undulating Essex countryside. Martin Page 45:47 was first of the members to finish followed by Ron Vialls 50:57, John Whan 52:51, James Sheridan 55:15, Jason Li 57:16, Steve Colloff 1:00:48, Dennis Spencer Perkins 1:01:42, Mick Davidson 1:01:51, Alison Fryatt 1:04:35, Rob Courtier 1:06:51, Dawn Curtis 1:15:15, Les Jay 1:20:10 and Zahra Akram 1:24:54. Times were measured gun to chip, which added up to 30 seconds to each runner’s finish time.
Nehal, before the New York City Marathon
Nehal Patel travelled a bit further to run the New York Marathon. Nehal managed to finish an excellent time of 3:43:13 which is a new Personal Best.
Isabel at the Chase the Moon event
Isabel Pinedo Borobio did the run through chase the moon 10k finishing in a time of 1:04:07.
BRR parkrunners
Barking - Joshua Ezissi 24:23, Stuart Burr 27:21, Andrew Hiller 29:15, George Hiller 29:55, James Sheridan 29:59, Stephen Colloff 30:03, Faye Spooner 34:32 and Alan Murphy 51:39.
Clacton Seafront - Joyce Golder 30:29 and Rachel Sharples 37:31.
Rachel Sharples at Clacton Seafront parkrun
Moors Valley - Mark New 24:57.
Mark New at Moors Valley parkrun
Pennington Flash - Melissa Lowndes 39:42 and James Lowndes 39:43.
Melissa and James Lowndes at Pennington Flash parkrun. Someone clean that pop-up…
Storeys Field - Sunny Bulchandani 25:30.
Valentines - Kevin Wotton 24:00 and Andrew Gwilliam 38:30.
Highest BRR age gradings this week were for the Joyce Golder 56.31% for the women and Kevin Wotton 64.58% for the men.
BRR Diary – November
In case you don’t know, you can find the diary of BRR events on the TeamUp app. Just download the TeamUp app onto your phone, then enter the calendar key: ks67p21gt8p5gzdo66 when asked, to see all BRR’s agreed fixtures for the year. If you have trouble accessing the diary via the app, you can also find it under the ‘events’ tab on the Barking Road Runners website: https://www.barkingroadrunners.org.uk/calendar.
7.00pm, Tuesday 5 November – Speed Session. Jim Peters Stadium, Mayesbrook Park. Zahra will be taking the track session this week, and it looks like a good one. After a warm-up, the main session will be descending intervals:
4 min run, 2 min recovery
3 min run, 1.30 min recovery
2 min run, 1 min recovery
1 min run, 3 min recovery
4 min run, 2 min recovery
3 min run, 1.30 min recovery
2 min run, 1 min recovery
1 min run, 30 sec recovery
Followed by cool-down stretches.
7.00pm, Thursday 7 November – Club road run. Jo Richardson School/Castle Green Centre, Gale Street, Dagenham. Usually around 4-5 miles.
11.02am, Sunday 10 November – Stebbing Remembrance Day 10. Explores the quiet lanes and farm tracks around the village of Stebbing, the race starts after a two-minute silence. RACE FULL.
2.30pm, Saturday 23 November – Chingford League 03. Trent Park, Cockfosters Road, EN4 0PS (nearest tube: Cockfosters on the Picadilly Line). A tough 5-mile cross-country race but satisfying when you finish it!
7.00pm, Saturday 30 November – BRR presentation night. Prince of Wales Pub, Green Lane, Ilford. Either come along to collect your trophy if you were a winner this year or, if not, to cheer your clubmates who were! There will be a buffet too.
Cracker Corner
I got a new job in a lifebelt factory. The pay isn’t great but it keeps my head above water.
Last night I dreamt I was eating a giant marshmallow. When I woke up my pillow was gone.
I walked past a man crying as he mowed his lawn yesterday. I asked him if he was ok, and he said he was going through a rough patch.
Quote of the Week
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”
Albert Einstein
And Finally…
Astounding research coming from the USA. A study examined more than 1,600 college students from large universities in the south of the country who had experienced at least one hangover in the last three months and who exercised at least 30 minutes a week.
You will be amazed to learn that the more alcohol the students consumed, the worse their hangovers were (doh!). However, on the positive side, the more intensely the students exercised, the less severe their hangover symptoms.
So, if you wake up with a hangover, the answer may be to go for a nice, hard run. Alternatively, perhaps drink less alcohol, avoid the hangover, and just enjoy the run. A mad idea, I know…
