BRR Blog – 19 February 2024
Lizzie-Beth, Les, Martin, and Joyce at a rather wet Hainault.
Hi there, Road Runners,
This week’s blog was supposed to be all about the last cross-country race in this year’s South Essex Cross Country League race. Unfortunately, as you’ll know, the race was cancelled due to parking issues at Weald Country Park. The organisers, Billericay Striders, have said they hope to be able to re-arrange the race for this coming Sunday, 25 February, the reserve date. I’m rather doubtful this will be possible, as the Country Park website says:
“Please be aware that there will be reduced car parking space in the Visitor Centre car park until March 2024 whilst some building works take place in this area. Visitors might want to park in the Belvedere car park and walk round if the park is busy.”
I’ll let you know on WhatsApp as soon as I get an update, so please keep a lookout.
In the meantime, I’ll just have to find other things to talk about…
Pride Cometh Before a Fall
Rivals Josh Kerr and Jakob Ingebrigsten in the 1500m at the 2023 Athletics World Championships in Budapest. Credit: Erik van Leeuwen
Recently Great Britain’s Josh Kerr set a new indoor two-mile world record of 8.00.67 at the 2024 Millrose Games, shaving nearly three seconds off the previous record time, set by Mo Farah in 2015. Kerr’s record-breaking return to the track since winning a world championship title in the 1,500m last summer in Budapest garnered widespread praise—except from rival Jakob Ingebrigtsen.
In an interview on Norwegian TV, Ingebrigtsen was asked about Kerr’s new world record. “It is very positive for me that my competitors are getting better. Then I don’t have to run alone,” said Ingebrigtsen.
The Olympic 1,500m champion, who holds the two-mile world record [outdoors] of 7:54.10, was dismissive about Kerr’s performance. “It is not certain that he runs any better now than last year at the same time; he did not run two miles then,” said Ingebrigtsen. “I would have beaten him in that race, blindfolded… But it’s good that people run better than they have done before.”
I know that every sport involves some gamesmanship, to gee up the opposition, but doesn’t it just make you want to see Ingebrigtsen get beaten?
The Only Way is Up…
Teamwork is the dreamwork at track
…when it comes to prices, that is. We have just been told that track hire costs will be increasing from 1 April, to £64.50 an hour. However, you’ll be pleased to know that we will not be increasing track subs.
Keep up-to-date on TeamUp
I know that there has been difficulty loading up the Club Calendar on mobile phones using the TeamUp app. Hopefully the following instructions will help.
Here’s how you can open your Teamup calendar with a link in the Teamup mobile app:
Download the Teamup mobile app for your device (iOS or Android).
Open the Teamup mobile app.
Tap the Continue without account link below the green buttons.
On the next screen, paste or type in your calendar link. The calendar link for Barking Road Runners is: https://teamup.com/ksc3wo2key9h6c2jb8 to see all BRR’s agreed fixtures for the year.
The app should remember your link, so the BRR calendar should now open each time you use it. Still not working? This article provides more detailed instructions for iOS (Iphone) and Android mobiles: https://blog.teamup.com/2020/08/05/how-to access-your-teamup-calendar/#adminno
PS – you are not the administrator, that’s me!
Better Late than Never?
If you are running a marathon this spring, how is the training going? If the answer is ‘it’s not’, it’s still not too late. Here is a training plan from the Marathon Handbook website, designed to get you marathon-ready in eight weeks. But beware: it is pretty intensive, so you would need a good level of base fitness before taking it on.
Not-for-the faint-hearted 8 week marathon training plan
Greg’s Race Report
With the cancellation of the South Essex Cross Country League race No. 05 at South Weald due to parking issues there were no team events for Barking Road Runners this week. Hopefully the race will be rescheduled for the reserve date next week.
Colin Jones ran over 35 miles in the Run Believable Lucky Dip 6-hour challenge near Ramsgate. Colin’s partner, Emma, and daughter, Isabella, also took part each walking a half marathon.
Colin Jones, Emma and Isabella at the Run believeable challenges.
Barking parkrunners
Barking - Tom Brennan 19:56, Mark Odeku 19:59, Joshua Ezissi 24:35, Doug King 25:04, Martin Brooks 25:55, Jason Li 27:22, Joyce Golder 27:45, John Lang 29:31, Andrew Hiller 31:16, Les Jay 34:08, Alan Murphy 50:36 and Micky Ball 50:44.
Maldon Promenade - Mark New 23:03, Stephen Colloff 27:42, Dennis Spencer-Perkins 29:42 and Rob Courtier 30:02.
Some likely lads at Maldon Prom: Dennis, Rob, Steve C, and Mark N.
Royal Tunbridge Wells - Rory Burr 26:46.
Rory and friends at Tunbridge Wells
Storeys Field - Sunny Bulchandani 23:33.
Sunny at Storey’s Gate
Valentines - Andrew Gwilliam 52:40.
Highest BRR age gradings this week were, for the women, Joyce Golder 61.92% and, for the men, Mark Odeku 68.81%.
BRR Diary – February/March
It’s the penultimate week of our 30-day squat challenge. We should be doing the following squats each day: 115/120/125/rest/130/135. If you are doing the challenge, are you managing to do them all in one go? Ideally, you shouldn’t be rushing them; the slower you squat, particularly in the upwards phase, the more benefit you will gain.
w/c 17 February - Virtual Handicap 04. Remember to post your result by close on Friday 23 February.
7.00pm, Tuesday 20 February - Speed development. Jim Peters Stadium, Mayesbrook Park. A nice, simple session this week, but don’t let that fool you: it will be tough if you do it right:
Session: Billat 30/30s (35 minutes total)
2 minutes gentle jog then…
· 9 x (30 seconds 8/10 effort, 30 seconds 5/10 effort)
· 2 minutes recovery
· 9 x (30 seconds 8/10 effort, 30 seconds 5/10 effort)
· 2 minutes recovery
· 9 x (30 seconds 8/10 effort, 30 seconds 5/10 effort)
· 2 minutes recovery
7.00pm, Thursday 22 February – Road Run. From the Castle Green Centre/Jo Richardson School, Gale Street, Dagenham. A run of 5-6 miles, all abilities welcome.
TBC: 10.00am, Sunday 25 February – SECCL XC05, Weald Country Park. Weald Rd, Brentwood CM14 5QS. Nearest main road is the old A12 (Brook Street) from which Country Park signs direct you to Weald Park Road. If Billericay Striders Running Club is able to rearrange the cancelled XC race to the reserve date.
w/c 2 March - Virtual Handicap 05. Remember to post your result by close on Friday 8 March.
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. More details nearer the time.
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
It is good to take up new pastimes as you get older. Last week I started ballet lessons and learnt how to pirouette. It’s keeping me on my toes.
Does anyone want to buy some glove puppets? I’m trying to get them off my hands.
I’ve fallen head over heels in love with a ventriloquist’s dummy. Unfortunately, he’s already spoken for.
Quote of the week:
“The best way to cheer up is to cheer someone else up!”
Mark Twain
And finally…
Tom Brennan’s budgie smugglers at Barking parkrun on Saturday reminded me of an anecdote by Chas Newkey-Burden, author of The Runner’s Code:
“I once interviewed the Arsenal Captain Tont Adams at a media event at which he had been decked out in promotional kit that included very short shorts. I suggested to Adams that we sit down for the chat and he replied ‘Let’s keep standing. These shorts are ever so short and I’m worried me old potatoes might fall out.’
Tom, you have been warned…
