BRR Blog - 1 June 2026
Former BRR Club Chair, Alan Bedford - Rest in Peace
Hi There, Road Runners,
As the current BRR Chair, it was very sad news that our first Chair, Alan Bedford, had passed away on Thursday after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He had moved away before I joined the Club, but I met him a few times at the London Marathon water station and can well believe that he was a very good clubmate.
Back in 1984, when Barking Road Runners was founded, Running was becoming popular, but it wasn’t yet a normal pastime. The first London Marathon had only been held in 1981, and mass‑participation road races were still a relatively new idea. Most runners were either club athletes or people inspired by the new marathon culture — but the idea of “ordinary people” running regularly was still emerging. BRR was launched right in the middle of this cultural shift, as a small, friendly, club that welcomed people of all abilities.
I like to think we still maintain that ethos 42 years later; the perfect tribute to Alan B.
Greg’s Race Report
Greg has included the Hatfield Broad Oak race in his article for the post, but I included that in last weeks blog as I set my own deadlines! So, this week, we are focusing on the amazing parkrun activity across the Club.
BRR parkrunners
Beckton - Darren Graham 42:35 and Denise Graham 50:37.
Bexley - Alison Fryatt 36:43.
Alison at Bexley parkrun
Billericay - Martin Page 22:17.
Chelmsford Central - Gary Harford 30:38.
Durlston Country Park - Mark New 32:43.
Mark at Durlston Country Park parkrun
Gunpowder - Paul Ward 24:55.
Harrow Lodge - Rory Burr 23:00, Stuart Burr 29:47, Barry Rowell 30:56 and Emma Paisley 32:20.
Rory, Stuart, and Barry at Harrow Lodge parkrun
Harwich - Louise Chappell 47:21.
Louise (and sister) at Harwich parkrun
Jersey Farm - Dennis Spencer Perkins 34:43 and Rob Courtier 42:22.
Dennis and friend at Jersey Farm parkrun. Oh, and Rob.
Mile End - Sian Mansley 37:46.
Pontypridd - Joyce Golder 27:59, Nikki Cranmer 29:14, and Dawn Curtis 38:07.
Joyce, Nikki and Dawn at Pontypridd parkrun
Raphaels - Martin Brooks 26:08.
Roding Valley - Paul Withyman 21:48.
Thorney Bay Beach - Ron Vialls 24:03.
Ron at Thorney Bay Beach parkrun
Valentines - James Lowndes 20:36, Shantelle Keech 23:01, Kevin Wotton 25:43, Richard Dudman 25:52, Martin O’Toole 29:16, Andrew Gwilliam 35:31, and Alan Murphy 52:30.
Highest BRR age gradings this week were Shantelle Keech 64.3% for the women and Martin Page 78.23% for the men.
BRR Diary - June
The highlights of the coming weeks are listed below but you can see the full diary of BRR events on the TeamUp app. Simply download the TeamUp app to your phone, then enter the calendar key: ks67p21gt8p5gzdo66 when prompted. 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.
7.30pm, Tuesday 2 June - H90 Midweek 5. Raphaels Park, Raphael Park, RM2 5PA, Romford. Sold out. TRACK CANCELLED.
7.00pm, Thursday 4 June - Road Run. Castle Green Centre, Gale Street, Becontree. We will once again be running around Castle Green and strengthening our legs on the Sporting Heroes Hill. Anyone who can’t face the hill is welcome to stay on the flat - it is mostly tarmac with a short section on grass.
7.30pm, Wednesday 10 June - ELR Valentines 5k. Valentines Park, Valentines Park, Melbourne Road Entrance, IG1 4LG. Enter at: krono:sports - Entry System & Race Timing Solutions - East London Runners - Valentines 5K
9.00am, Saturday 13 June - Barking parkrun will be back!
7.00pm, Thursday 18 June - Summer Handicap #01. Barking Park, parkrun course. Just £1 per race or £6 in advance for the series of eight races, and the first past the post has a chance of winning a tenner each time. Plus trophies for first, second, and third for the best performers across the competition (five best scores to count). We might go to The Acorn for a cheeky beverage afterwards…
7.30pm, Tuesday 23 June - EERR Olympic Park 5k. Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Enter at: krono:sports - Entry System & Race Timing Solutions - East End Road Runners - Olympic Park 5K ELVIS #4.TRACK CANCELLED.
7.00pm, Thursday 25 June - Summer Handicap #02.
Too Much, Too Young?
Rafael (Rafa) Nadal has revealed that he suffered pain from a longstanding foot condition throughout his extraordinary tennis career. The condition is Mueller‑Weiss syndrome, which involves a bone that didn’t form or harden normally. Evidence suggests this kind of issue can be worsened by repeated stress on a still‑developing (poorly ossified) bone.
For Nadal, the condition is thought to be linked, in part, to intense training during his early years. In childhood and adolescence, bones are still forming and include areas known as growth plates, which are more vulnerable to stress. High volumes of repetitive training—especially without sufficient rest—can increase the risk of overuse injuries or longer-term issues. Nadal was coached for most of his career by his uncle, who didn’t cut him him any slack, even once making him finish a tournament despite having a broken finger. But this tough love regime resulted in Nadal having to resort to specialist orthotics, anti-inflammatories, and even anaesthetic in later life to be able to get through matches.
Running itself is not harmful for children—far from it. Regular, moderate running supports cardiovascular fitness, bone strength, and overall wellbeing. The key is balance. For young runners, best practice includes building mileage gradually, mixing activities to avoid repetitive strain, not tackling overly long distances, and ensuring proper recovery.
The takeaway is simple: enthusiasm for running and other exercise is fantastic, but it is important to avoid “too much, too soon” if kids are to enjoy activity for years to come.
#4: Master Your Fueling Strategy
Good fuelling can stop you ‘bonking’
Fueling and hydration are essential parts of any smart running regimen especially as your mileage builds.
You need to eat enough calories day to day to support your training, not just for recovery but also to keep your energy levels steady throughout your runs.
Once your workouts extend past the hour mark, it’s time to start practicing in-run fueling with water, electrolytes, and easy-to-digest carbs like energy gels or chews. This helps prevent dehydration and the dreaded “bonk,” or “hitting the wall”, which happens when your glycogen stores run low and your body struggles to keep up by switching to fat as fuel.
Even before you head out, a light pre-run snack—like a banana or a slice of toast with peanut butter—can help top off your glycogen stores and give you a stronger start.
Don’t wait for race day to practice your fuelling strategy - make it part of your training routine now.
It’s Too Darned Hot
Hot weather makes our heart work harder
Hopefully the hot spell has finished now. We will soon be complaining about the rain again. But have you ever wondered why even an easy run can feel like hard work on a muggy day?
Humidity makes running tougher because sweat can’t evaporate efficiently. When the air is already saturated with moisture, your body struggles to cool itself, so your heart rate rises and your perceived effort shoots up — even at your normal pace.
What Happens to Your Body
Your core temperature climbs faster.
Your heart works harder to pump blood to the skin for cooling.
You sweat more, but cool down less.
Pace naturally slows — and that’s normal.
How to Run Smarter in Humid Weather
Dial back the pace. Expect to run 10–30 seconds per km slower depending on conditions.
Hydrate well. Start your run already hydrated and sip a sports drink regularly on longer outings .
Choose your timing. Early mornings or late evenings are usually less oppressive.
Wear light, technical kit. Avoid cotton; go for moisture‑wicking fabrics.
Use shade where you can. Parks, tree‑lined routes, or loops with water fountains (or somewhere safe to leave your water bottle) help.
Listen to your body. Dizziness, chills, or nausea are red flags — slow down or stop.
Humidity isn’t a fitness test; it’s a weather condition. Adjust, don’t fight it, and you’ll stay safe while keeping the miles ticking over.
Cracker Corner
My friend lost her job at the clock makers. She didn’t put in enough hours.
My doctor said "I'm not quite certain what's wrong with you yet, but I think it may be the result of heavy drinking." I replied “Don’t worry, I'll come back when you're sober."
What do you do if someone rolls their eyes at you? Roll them back.
Quote of the week
"You can’t be upset at the results you didn’t get for the work you didn’t do.”
Jess Sims
And Finally…
Last week I mentioned the inaugural Enhanced Games in Las Vegas, where athletes were allowed to participate having taken substances that would normally be banned to improve their performance. As it turned out, the performances were lacklustre. But what what was the substance of choice?
The results of a clinical trial, published by Enhanced Group, Inc, the company behind the Games, showed that 91 percent of the 36 athletes in the study (that is, almost all of those competing) used testosterone or testosterone esters in the 12 weeks leading up to the Games.
Enhanced has now begun a five-year observational monitoring period to check the long-term impact of the testosterone, and other substances taken by the athletes, on their long-term health. In the meantime, Enhanced are selling their products to the general public. Of course, I wouldn’t stoop so low as taking performance enhancing drugs. But, if I start growing a beard like Dennis, you should get suspicious…
