(Most of) the One Tree Hill Cross Country Team

Hello Road Runners!

Well, as they seem to say on TV these days, we had a weekend full of weather. We certainly seem to be getting more than our fair share of storm disruption this year. At least this time Rob’s trip away wasn’t spoiled by his race being cancelled; in fact, I’m sure it was unpleasantly hot (Jealous? Moi? Surely not!). Those of us running in the UK didn’t have that problem.

On Saturday, Barking parkrun was one of the few to go ahead in our area. But it was pretty unpleasant, especially for the volunteers. I think we all secretly hoped that One Tree Hill, the second race in this year’s South Essex Cross Country League, would be cancelled due to the weather, but all of us who took part – except maybe Paul Withyman, who had a rather painful mishap – agreed that was fine, just a bit of light drizzle and lots of mud! A big ‘thank you to our supporters , Chris and Liz S, who did the scoring for us - it must have been pretty chilly for them standing around while we kept warm by running, and thanks also to Ron for providing his tea/coffee stall.

Well done also to those who took on the Sikhs in the City course – at least you didn’t have to contend with the strobe effect of the sun shining through the park railings this year! Still not sure I would pick it for an ultra course… All the details in Greg’s race report, below.

Essential Information - Velopark Chingford League Race

If you are not doing the Chingford League race on Wednesday, you can ignore this. If you are, it is essential reading!

Senior Women (and men who may take more than 30 minutes): start at 7.30pm
Senior Men: start at 8.00pm

No guest runners allowed. Club colours are compulsory. No club kit = no result.

There are changing rooms and lockers, if you need them. Make sure you test the locker before you put your stuff in there; they can be temperamental.

Parking (quote from venue manager): "The terminal in the tunnel (at the end and by the external lockers) can be used by drivers to claim up to 4 hours of free parking. This begins at the time the vehicle enters the Car Park – not when the registration is entered into the terminal"

Public transport runs from just about everywhere to Stratford and Stratford International, then c20 minutes' walk across the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to the Velopark.

IMPORTANT:

1. We only have use of the road circuit between 7.30-8-30pm. At other times there is danger of serious injuries from being hit by fast cyclists (there were near-misses last year). If you need to warm up, do so in the Olympic Park!

2. We will have access to the Velopark semi-circular tunnel/concourse via the big electronic gate from 7.00pm. But the gates beyond will only be opened at 7.20pm. To prevent too much overcrowding, senior women and juniors will have access to the tunnel and its lockers etc from 7.00pm, but we need to ask senior men to wait until 7.20pm before entering. The stewards on the gate will have a notice reminding everyone of this.

3. If you don’t already have your number, Rob will give it to you outside the door to the semi-circular tunnel. You will need to show your number to get into the tunnel – this is due to heightened security. Please arrive by 7.30pm, or Rob will be inside getting ready for his race!

4. The Senior Men's race starts at 8.00pm and finishes at 8.30pm after which the course must be cleared. If you are a man and think you may take more than 30 minutes and therefore need to join the 7.30pm race, please let us know and we can ask the stewards to let you into the tunnel early.

5. Senior men must NOT warm up on the road circuit during the women's race. As above, warm up in the park.

Stormy Weather

Quick quiz – we all know the latest storm to hit our shores is Storm Darragh. But what were the names of storms A, B, and C? And what will be the name of the next storm, beginning with E?

Answers at the bottom of the blog.

Cross Country in the News

While some of us were preparing to schlep around One Tree Hill, it was the European Cross Country Championships 2024 in Antalya, Turkey. The man-made course was especially constructed for the event, leading to my usual cry of ‘that’s not proper cross country!’

Although Jakob Ingebrigtsen won the senior men's title for Norway and Nadia Battocletti won the senior women’s title for Italy, Tea GB excelled in the junior and team events. As a result, we finished top of the medal table with 12 golds, seven head of Italy in second place.

Among the individual champions were Innes FitzGerald (under-20 women), Phoebe Anderson (under-23 women) and Will Barnicoat (under-23 men).

Jess Bailey and George Couttie earned silver medals in their under-20 races, while David Stone secured bronze in the under-23 men’s event.

The British mixed relay team won silver. The women’s under-20 and under-23 teams, as well as the men’s under-23 team, all claimed gold medals. The under-20 men’s squad were narrowly edged into fourth place.

Interestingly, the senior races showed that, for cross-country, teamwork really is the dreamwork: neither the men’s or women’s team had anyone who placed highly, but the senior women’s team earned silver, while the senior men’s team took home bronze, due to their overall, collective, scores.

You can find the highlights of the Championships on BBC Iplayer.

Knees Up!

Thanks to John Lang who pointed me towards an interesting article in the Guardian about the impact of running on your knees.

In the article, Richard Blagrove, senior lecturer in physiology at Loughborough University, says that any connection between osteoarthritis of the knee, or other chronic joint pain, is “very much a myth”.

In fact, studies have shown that some runners have a much lower incidence of developing bad knees compared with those who don’t run. Research from 25 different studies, encompassing around 115,000 participants, has shown that recreational running actually appears to be protective against hip and knee osteoarthritis as we age. While exercise causes very slight damage to muscles, tendons, bones and cartilage, this is actually of benefit as it helps them grow back stronger and healthier. As a result, older runners are likely to have less knee pain than their non-running counterparts (yes, you are allowed to feel smug).

That said, as you might expect, runners are more likely to suffer from short-term knee injuries, or ‘patellofemoral pain’. Between 14% and 42% of us will have a knee injury at one time or another – think yourself lucky if you have missed out so far. Usual culprits are poor running form, dodgy running shoes or, most likely for newcomers, increasing the volume or the intensity of running too fast. “It’s not the running that’s bad for their knees, it’s the fact that they’ve done too much, too soon” Says Blagrove.

To avoid pain around the knees from running, build up intensity slowly. Run at a slower pace, opt for shorter distances and take longer breaks between workouts. If your knees hurt, take some rest and recovery as soon as possible and you should bounce back quickly. Like all injuries, if you continue to run on it, you will make matters worse, so ignore the stupid phrase ‘no pain, no gain’ and take your rehab seriously.

Did you know?

Rob did the Lanzarote Half Marathon at the weekend, but did you know Lanzarote was given its name by the Italian-Majorcan cartographer (map maker) Angelino Dulcert? He called it ‘Insula de Lanzarotus Marocelus’, after the Genoese navigator Lancelotto Malocello. So, really, in English it should be called Lancelot!

Greg’s Race Report

Round 2 of the South Essex Cross Country League this week for Barking Road Runners. The race at One Tree Hill organised by Pitsea Running Club went ahead despite the best efforts of Storm Darragh to prevent it.

First finisher for BRR was Peter Jackson followed by Daniel Plawiak, Tom Brennan, Adrian Davison, John George, Martin Page, Ron Vialls (whose teas and coffees were much appreciated on the day), Steve Colloff, Mick Davison, and the unfortunate Paul Withyman who was BRR’s lead runner until a fall near the end resulting in twisted ankle which meant he had to be helped to the finishing line by other BRR runners.

First BRR woman was Rosie Fforde followed by Belinda Riches, Lizzie-Beth Garraghan, Alison Fryatt, and Veronica Barikor.

At the Sikhs in the City Dawn to Dusk races at Woodford Hannah Hilton and Emma Paisley ran the 50k ultra finishing in times of 5:47 and 6:21 respectively. Clodagh O’callaghan and Tom Shorey ran the Half Marathon at the same event.

Further afield, in a balmy Lanzarote, Rob Courtier ran the Font Vella Half Marathon in a time of 2:43:54 whilst Derv Bartlett ran the 10k finishing in a time of 43:55.

Derv and Rob after the Lanzarote 10k and HM

BRR parkrunners

Barking - Joe Stacey 23:23, Owen Wainhouse 23:46, Rory Burr 24:32, Belinda Riches 25:06, Mark New 26:01, Faye Spooner 26:39, Kevin Wotton 27:44, Chris Muthaka 28:16, Jonathan Furlong 30:37, Stephen Colloff 32:45, Nikki Cranmer 35:27, Martin Mason 36:43, Les Jay 40:10, Dawn Curtis 40:11 and Alan Murphy 53:42.

Mattheiser Weiher - Stuart Burr 28:10.

Roding Valley - Paul Ward 27:37.

Highest BRR gradings this week were Belinda Riches 69.39% for the women and Owen Wainhouse 58.77% for the men.

BRR Diary – December

To see the full diary of BRR events on the TeamUp app. Just download the TeamUp app onto your phone, then enter the calendar key: ks67p21gt8p5gzdo66 when asked. If you don’t want another app on your phone, you can also find it under the ‘events’ tab on the Barking Road Runners website: https://www.barkingroadrunners.org.uk/calendar.

7.00pm, Tuesday 10 December – Speed Session. Jim Peters Stadium, Mayesbrook Park. This week Jess will be taking a fartlek/speedplay session:

4 x (3 minute run, 1 minute recovery at 10k/HM pace)
4 x (2 minute run, 1 minute recovery at 5k/10k pace)
4 x (1 minute run, 1 minute recovery at faster than 5k pace)

7.30pm, Wednesday 11 December – Chingford League 04. Lee Valley Velopark, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Abercrombie Rd, London E20 3AB. Women and plus 30-minute men start at 7.30pm, sub-30-minute men at 8.00pm. Please remember your bib number, if you already have one, and note all the important information above.

7.00pm, Thursday 12 December – Club road run. Jo Richardson School/Castle Green Centre, Gale Street, Dagenham. Usually around 4-5 miles.

10.30am, Sunday 15 December – Southend Rudolph Run. Starts adjacent to Ness Road on the Esplanade, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS3 9HG. A flat and fast seasonal 5-mile run along the Promenade, along an accurately measured course. Five of us have already signed up (Alison, Steve C, Martin P, Ron, and Rachel), so why not come along and join in the fun too? Enter at https://www.nice-work.org.uk/e/southend-rudolph-run-9240

9.30am, Sunday 22 December – Royal Parks Run. Meet at Matthew Parker Street, Westminster. Either meet at 8.00am by the Faircross shops or go straight to Westminster (nearest tube is St. James’s Park). It’s a Christmas tradition: the Club’s Xmas run through the Royal Parks, starting in St. James’s Park, then Green Park, Hyde Park, and Kensington Gardens, before wending our way back. We usually have lunch in the St. James’s Park cafe afterwards. A very gentle run of around 10k (more if you want to loop back). Nobody gets left behind.

10.30am, Saturday 28 December - Ilford AC 10-miler. The Plain, Chigwell Row, Lambourne Rd (opposite Millers Lane), IG7 6ET. Three laps of an undulating route comprising the tracks and grassland of Hainault Forest. The race is held as a tribute to Kevin Newell, an Ilford AC left with terrible head injuries after a fall from a ladder. A donation will be made to his charity. Entries are £7 or on the day for a tenner. There will be a cut-off time of 2 hours. Runners likely to exceed this time may still complete the course, but it may not be marshalled and you may not get an official finish time. Prizes to the first three men/women and veteran categories. Enter at

https://www.entrycentral.com/IlfordAC-10milesXC

10.00am, Sunday 29 December – Hadleigh (SECCL 03). Hadleigh Country Park, Chapel Lane, Hadleigh. The third race in this year’s South Essex Cross Country League series. Who can resist the water features on this course? You will definitely need trail shoes; make sure they are securely tied on. Entry is £5 but BRR members just pay £3.

Cracker Corner

My brother the lion tamer has gone bankrupt. But at least he still has his pride.

What did the sad-looking pancake say to the other? “I’m feeling a bit flat.”

My friend asked if I’d seen her dog bowl. I didn’t even know it could play cricket.

Quote of the Week

"It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up."

George Herman (Babe) Ruth

Legendary US baseball player

And Finally…

Thanksgiving takes place in the US, Canada, and several other countries on various dates in the autumn. What began as a harvest festival celebration has now, in the US at least, become an excuse to gorge on large quantities of food, particularly turkey.

Maybe a bit like Christmas Day parkrun, there is a tradition in America of taking part in a morning race – usually 5k - on Thanksgiving day, called a Turkey Trot. But those taking part in the Turkey Trot at Watertown, New York, got more than they bargained for, when the race turned into a reindeer run.

A herd of deer came sprinting at full speed through the runners. Some runners kept going but others froze in fear, which resulted in several getting violently ploughed over by one deer that evidently didn’t have much regard for anyone’s personal space.

Deer carnage at the Watertown Turkey Trot

Of course, this isn’t the first occasion we have heard of runners getting injured in a deer-related incident, with our very own Martin Page having been bowled over by a rolling deer a few years ago. I hope nothing similar happens at our Rudolph Run next Sunday…

Happy running!

Alison

Chair, Barking Road Runners

Quiz answers

The storm names so far this season have been:

Ashley
Bert
Conall
Darragh

The next storm will be called Ěowyn.

BRR Blog – 9 December 2024