BRR Blog – 5 August 2024
The ‘proper’ BRR Team at Harold Wood.
Bonjour Road Runners!
ELVIS races are like buses: you wait ages and then two come along! Having the Harold Wood 5k and the Orion Forest 5 (miles), both trail races, within a few days of each other proved to be just a little bit challenging! The Forest Five is always on the first Saturday of the month, so I hope Harold Wood RC but decide to move their race a week forward or back next year.
We have quite a ‘woody’ blog this week, with some info about a new wood coming to our area soon, the dangers of pesky mosquitoes (though they seem to like the track and Barking Park just as much as actual woods), but and foremost, is the latest update from Dee Spencer-Perkins on the Hainault Forest-dwelling Dottie Dear, and her rather dubious ‘friend’…
Dottie Dear’s Almanac for August: Bottling
Dottie is online………
#NightSkyDude: Yo Dottie! Me again!
#EcoDot: Hello Kevin. What’s on your mind today?
#NightSkyDude: Well, I was just wondering…..
#EcoDot: Steady! Too much of that could be dangerous.
#NightSkyDude: Ha ha! LOL! I was just wondering, if you could bottle anything, what would you like to bottle?
#EcoDot: What, like fruit or pickles, you mean?
#NightSkyDude: No no! Important things – like stuff you want to be able to do and such like.
#EcoDot: Ah, you mean you’d like to bottle The Endurance of an Olympic Triathlete or The Wisdom of Gary Lineker - that kind of thing?
#NSD: Yes, yes – exactly that…
#EcoDot: Or Know what to get people for Christmas?
#NSD: Well, I don’t exactly buy a lot of Christmas presents, but I guess, yes.
#EcoDot: Or how about How to capture a flowing river in watercolour?
#NSD: That’s a bit posh for me Dottie…
#EcoDot: Kitten-taming for the terrified?
#NSD: I don’t have any kittens….
#EcoDot: Rat Whispering for Beginners?
#NSD: I haven’t got rats.
#EcoDot: No, sorry, didn’t think so, I’m getting carried away. So what would you like to bottle then, Kevin?
#NSD: Well, there are a couple of things. There’s a heavy metal band that I like very much. It’s a group of young farmers with a weird name - Bucolica they’re called - and their lead guitarist is called Sid Bruiser. So I’d like to bottle Sid Bruiser’s meanest riffs.
#EcoDot: You’d need to find a remote bit of the Forest to practise in then Kevin – don’t want to frighten the donkeys do we. So, what’s the other thing you want to bottle?
#NSD: It’s just an idea but it’s very close to my heart. I’d like the ability to attach rockets to my boots and do like Superman.
#Ecodot: So you could sail over the Forest treating all the waterfowl to Bucolica’s greatest hits?
#NSD: Dottie, you always get it – you’re amazing!
#EcoDot: But hang on a minute there, Kevin. There might be a danger of starting a few fires, what with the sparks from your boots and all. And anyway, wouldn’t that be Ironman?
#NSD: Erm….
#EcoDot: Ironman not Superman?
#NSD: Probably. I’m a bit confluffled now, Dottie.
#EcoDot: Don’t worry about it, Kevin. I think that you and I are just living in parallel universes.
Image by Alexander Lesnitsky from Pixabay
Back to Nature
Artist’s impression of the new Harold’s Wood Wildland
We ran in Harold Wood Park, off Squirrels Heath Road last week, but it appears a new park is on its way to the area, to be called ‘Harold’s Park’.
Harold Wood was so-called because Harold Godwinson, the last crowned Anglo-Saxon king, rode there in pursuit of deer and wild boar (wild? They were furious!). Over a millennium later, the Harold’s Wood site, between Waltham Abbey and Epping Forest, was owned by the Church of England and sub-let as stables and a Christmas tree farm. The tenant died in 2020 and, in 2024, the land was bought by Nattergal, a re-wilding company.
Although it has been degraded by intensive farming, Nattergal says that the park still contains several natural elements such as ponds which will help it quickly revert to nature. The site will be paid for from ‘biodiversity net gain’ payments, where new housing and infrastructure developments are required to deliver a 10% uplift in biodiversity. If they cannot be ‘nature positive’ on their own site, they are allowed to buy credits from similar sites nearby. I guess there had to be a reason why Nattergal decided to buy the land, and at least it saves it from being built upon.
It remains to be seen when the new site will open, and if any running will be allowed there. If so, it should be a good place to visit.
More information at https://www.nattergal.co.uk/harolds-park-wildland
Biting Tonight
A mosquito
After a week or so of nice weather, mosquito season seems to be with us.
Mosquitos lay their eggs in shallow, stagnant water, anywhere from lakes and rivers -hello Barking Park lake and the Mayes Brook - to containers with unattended water.
The pesky bites are caused by female mosquitoes when they feed on human blood, leading to raised, itchy bumps. The sensation occurs because female mosquitoes secrete saliva into your bloodstream when they bite you. Your body views the salvia as an allergen and sends the chemical histamine to the area. While some people seem to have no reaction to histamine, others of us find the bite area will each and swell.
Antihistamines (e.g. hay fever tablets) can counter the effect of the histamine released into your body. Hydrocortisone cream contains a mild steroid that acts as an anaesthetic pain reliever to counteract irritation.
Hot or cold can distract from the pain, such as rubbing your bite with an ice cube, or putting the back of a hot spoon on it (careful not to burn yourself). Aloe vera contains salicylic acid that can alleviate the pain. I heard on an old episode of Death in Paradise that pile cream can numb pain too, but I haven’t been brave enough to put it to the test.
The most important thing is not to scratch the bite, which will result in further irritation and potentially expose you to infection. Although less likely in this country, some mosquitoes can carry diseases too. If you do scratch and break the skin, wash the area and see a pharmacist if you think it has become infected.
As always, prevention is better than cure. While there are lots of natural insect repellents on sale, experts recommend using bug sprays containing DEET, which help to repeal bugs. If you want to go down the natural route, mozzies are said not to like eucalyptus, tea tree oil, and citronella. Wearing long sleeves and trousers can help, but will be rather hot in the summer and I find the nasty so-and-so’s often bite straight through anyway. But it could be worth a try if you are in an area that you know to be prone to mosquitoes. Good luck!
Hop to It
Running - a series of hops
As runners, we often fail to appreciate that running – unlike race walking - is a one-leg-at-a-time activity. Basically, it is hopping from one foot to the other. So it follows that the most effective strengthening exercises will be those performed with one leg. For example, the single-leg bridge exercise better than doing the same exercise with ;;;
Step-ups are another simple but effective single-leg exercise for runners. They build strength and stability of key running muscles, in particular simulating the movements involved in hill running (and cycling).
Step-ups can be performed anywhere. If you go to the gym, they can be done using a plyometric box, an adjustable aerobic step, or a weight bench. Outdoors, use a park bench. The higher the step the better, but stairs are fine too (stairs are your friends!), especially if you step up a couple at a time. Most importantly, your step must be stable and the area around your step must be clear of tripping hazards. Add hand weights (or a weight vest) to your routine to increase the level of challenge.
Boot Buddy is Back!
The Boot Buddy
The fantastic Boot Buddy will be back on sale in Aldi this Thursday. Not just for mud on the pitch but for mud on the trails too. It might not be necessary at the moment but, believe me, come the cross-country season it will be £11.99 well spent.
And Now…To Bed
I’m not going to write about the Olympic events as I know you are all over those. Away from the actual competitions, the big talk at the Paris Olympics has been about…beds.
An Olympic cardboard bed
Manufactured by Airweave, who also made the beds for competitors at the Tokyo Olympics, the environmentally friendly beds have mattresses made out of old fishing nets and comprise three ‘modules’ to allow the athletes to choose the level of firmness they prefer. But the main talking point is that the bedframes are made entirely of cardboard.
Labelled by the media as ‘anti-sex’ beds, they have received a mixed reception. Some teams (Team USA’s tennis players, alongside South Korean swimmers) have claimed the beds are so bad that they have had to move out of the Olympic Village and into hotels, or complained that they have had to have massages to undo the damage done. But others have given the beds a thumbs-up, and posted videos on instagram showing the beds withstanding all sorts of harsh treatment, from gymnastics to breakdancing to having a cannonball dropped on them (where did the athletes get a cannonball from?).
Our very own Tom Daley provided a detailed review of all the different parts of the bed and concluded his video by saying that the beds were actually “pretty sturdy”, while Irish gymnast Rhys McClenaghan said that the claim of them being “anti-sex beds” was “fake news.” Whoever is right, I expect a few of the duvet covers will disappear by the end of the games…
Greg’s Race Report
The BRR Team at the Orion Forest Five
Two ELVIS races for Barking Road Runners this week: the Harold Wood race and the Orion Forest 5-mile run which also doubled as a grand prix event for the club.
First up was the Harold Wood Park 5k hosted by Harold Wood Running Club. BRR had 16 runners in attendance; six women and ten men. First BRR finisher for the women was Belinda Riches followed by Louise Chappell, Emma Paisley, Clodagh O’Callaghan, Alison Fryatt, and Dawn Curtis. For the men it was Tom Brennan followed by Craig Chappell, James Sheridan, Ron Vialls, Stephen Colloff, Tom Shorey, Gary Harford, Dennis Spencer Perkins, Rob Courtier and Les Jay.
The next race was the Orion Forest 5-mile race on a challenging course through Epping Forest hosted by Orion Harriers. This race was also in the club’s Grand Prix series. BRR again had 16 runners. This time it was eight men and eight women.
First male finisher for BRR again was Tom Brennan, followed by James Sheridan, John George, Ron Vialls, Stephen Colloff, Tom Shorey, Dennis Spencer Perkins, and Rob Courtier. Belinda Riches was first for the women followed by Joyce Golder, Emma Paisley, Louise Chappell, Alison Fryatt, Clodagh O’Callaghan, Veronica Barikor, and Rachel Sharples.
First across the line for BRR, Tom Brennan
Derv Bartlett raced in the BIRR AC 5k finishing in a time of 18:43.
Derv at the Birr AC 5k
BRR parkrunners
Barking - Joseph Grange 16:01, Paul Grange 16:48, Ayoyinka Obisesan 19:54, Rosie Fforde 23:45, John Whan 27:04, Barry Rowell 28:44, Jason Li 29:34, Sian Mansley 29:50, Martin Mason 31:02, Les Jay 38:02, Julie Gillender 34.51, Nikki Cranmer 39:15 and Alan Murphy 53:23.
Eastleigh - Rory Burr 27:59 and Stuart Burr 29:10.
Rory and Stuart at Eastleigh parkrun
Gunpowder - Robbie King 20:01 and Doug King 25:39.
Robbie and Doug at Gunpowder parkrun
Maldon Prom - Paul Withyman 20:53 and Peter Jackson 21:26.
Paul and Peter at Maldon Prom parkrun
Stockley Country Park - Mark New 24:51.
Mark at Stockley Country parkrun
Valentines - Kevin Wotton 23:46 and Andrew Gwilliam 36:20.
Wanstead Flats - Joe Stacey 26:11.
Top BRR age gradings this week were Rosie Fforde 62.95% for the women and Paul Grange 84.42% for the men.
BRR Diary – August
A date for your diary!!!! This year it is BRR’s turn to organise the post-ELVIS presentation night. We have decided to combine it with our main 40th anniversary celebration.
The event will take place in the smaller hall at Barking and Dagenham Football Club (the big hall that Ilford AC hired last year was a bit like an aircraft hangar) on Friday 25 October. There will be a bar, food, and disco so you can let your hair down – if you have some – and show your clubmates your moves.
7.00pm, Tuesday 6 August – Speed Development Session. Jim Peter’s Stadium, Mayesbrook Park. This week we have the Fiddy Cent session, so-called because the recovery is 50 percent of each rep, not because it is a session favoured by the rapper (who knows, he might love it).
1 minute fast, 30 seconds recovery
1:30 seconds fast, 45 seconds recovery
2 minutes fast, 1 minute recovery
2.30 minutes fast, 1:15 minutes recovery
3.00 minutes fast, 1.30 minutes recovery
3.30 minutes fast, 1.45 minutes recovery
3.00 minutes fast, 1.30 minutes recovery
2.30 minutes fast, 1:15 minutes recovery
2 minutes fast, 1 minute recovery
1:30 seconds fast, 45 seconds recovery
1 minute fast, 30 seconds recovery
7.00pm, Thursday 8 August – Summer Handicap 06. Barking Park. Second from last race, and second from last chance to win the tenner. Just £1 to enter.
11.00am, Sunday 18 August – Ingatestone 5 (GP06). Anglo-European School, Willow Green, Ingatestone, CM4 0DG. Sorry, SOLD OUT, as this is now part of the Essex Championships.
7.00pm, Thursday 22 August – Summer Handicap 07. Barking Park. The last race, and the last chance to win the tenner.
10.30am, Monday 26 August – the Phipps (August Bank Holiday) 5k and 2k fun run. Barking Park. The Club’s very own ELVIS race. We will need to field a team (remember to use the discount code if you plan to run, ask me if you can’t find it) and also lots of lovely volunteers to make the event a success. Friends and family welcome as volunteers.
Cracker Corner
The police knocked on my door and asked where I was between 5 and 11. I said “primary school.”
I start a new job next week collecting litter. There is no training; I’ll pick it up as I go along.
My local bakery is thinking of running a pastry-making course. If they get enough interest, they’ll roll it out.
Boom! Boom!
Quote of the Week
“Ask yourself: can I give more?’ The answer is usually yes”
Paul Tergat
Former holder of the men’s marathon world record.
And finally…
I didn’t have a restful day at work, honest!
The Forest Five must have been tough; the next day my Garmin was telling me I had recovered poorly and needed to rest. It was a better story on Friday afternoon, when apparently, my restful day had helped to speed up my recovery. Good news for me, but I’m not sure my Boss would be quite so pleased that I’d been so relaxed on a work day…
Happy running!
Alison
Chair, Barking Road Runners
