BRR Blog - 11 May 2026
Ron with his Age Group Prize
Hi De Hi Road Runners
No official club races this weekend, but there was still some impressive racing action going on. Thanks to Lizzie-Beth for flagging that entries have now closed to the Great Baddow 10 next Sunday so - if you haven’t already signed up - you have missed opportunity to earn points towards a Grand Prix trophy, and also towards one of the Barking Road Runners guaranteed places at the 2027 London Marathon (though worth checking for on-the-day entries). But you can still earn points from the rest of the Grand Prix races and ELVIS races. Details of the next race are in the Race Diary, below.
Greg’s Race Report
On Saturday new member Maysen Golder took on the 15k London West Tough Mudder run in Henley-on-Thames. With obstacles, 551m of climb, and plenty of mud and water, the run was not for the faint hearted but good fun all the same.
A muddy Maysen after her Tough Mudder
On Sunday Barking Road Runners members Ron Vialls and Gary Harford competed in the Colchester 10k finishing in times of 48:49 and1:03:02 respectively with Ron finishing first in his age category.
Gary and Ron at the Colchester 10k.
Derv Bartlett ran a fast time of 20:03 in the Hugo Smith Memorial 5K in Ireland, organised by AC.
Derv Bartlet at the Ferbane 5k - so fast the picture is blurred!
BRR parkrunners
Barking - Dominic Herring 20:09, Joshua Ezissi 21:24, Shantelle Keech 22:10, Mark Odeku 23:22, Jason Li 27:38, Mick Davison 29:32, James Sheridan 30:37, Tom Shorey 31:52, Clodagh Shorey 31:53, Martin Mason 33:36, Sian Mansley 34:33, Faye Spooner 35:15 and Alan Murphy 50:37.
Clodagh and Tom Shorey before their 100th parkrun
Billericay - Martin Page 22:01.
Bournemouth - Mark New 26:32.
Charlton - Rob Courtier 33:08.
Fake news - Rob at Charlton parkrun
Clacton Seafront - Louise Chappell 48:06.
Louise (and her sister) at Clacton Seafront parkrun
Fulham Palace - Darren Graham 40:37 and Denise Graham 58:40.
Stockley Country - Rory Burr 23:45.
Thorney Bay Beach - Ron Vialls 25:37.
Valentines - Richard Dudman 24:56 and Kevin Wotton 27:02.
Wimpole Estate - Martin Brooks 26:59.
Highest BRR age gradings this week were Shantelle Keech 66.77% for the women and Martin Page 79.18% for the men.
BRR Diary - May
Remember - Barking parkrun is cancelled from 16 May to 6 June inclusive. It is back on 13 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.
7.00pm, Tuesday 12 May - speed session. Jim Peters Stadium, Mayesbrook Park. This week’s session will be great for those of you doing the Great Baddow 10 at the weekend, but equally good for anyone wanting a sharpener session:
Tuesday’s session - not quite a pyramid
7.30pm, Wednesday 13 May - Crown to Crown 5k. Westley Heights Country Park. It’s not too late to join in this low-key off-road race. You can register on the night for just £2.50.
7.00pm, Thursday 14 May - Club road run. Castle Green Centre, Gale Street, Becontree. As we didn’t complete the planned, roughly four miles, run last week, we’ll try again this week:
Right out of Castle Green, right along the A13, cross using the underpass and down Renwick Road, right Ripple Greenway, right Radford Way, left Curzon Crescent, right Bastable Ave, left Renwick Road, through the underpass, and back along the A13 to Castle Green.
10.00am, Sunday 17 May - Great Baddow 10 (GP03). Great Baddow Recreation Ground, CM2 9RL. Closed to entries.
7.30pm, Wednesday 20 May - Dagenham 88 5-miles. Eastbrookend Country Park, the Chase, Romford, RM7 0SS. First race in this year’s East London fiVes Interclub Series (a competition consisting of 5k or 5-mile races between clubs based in East London). Toilets and refreshments at the Discovery Centre. Enter at: https://www.entrycentral.com/Dagenham88Runners_2026
10.00am, Sunday 24 May - Thameside 10k. A scenic route from Thameside Nature Discovery Centre along the Thames Estuary, with wonderful views of the Thames, Kent, and towards Southend. This year there is a fantastic squirrel design medal for all finishers. Enter at: Phoenix Striders Thameside 10/5/1 2026 Races - EntryCentral
11.00am, Monday 25 May - Hatfield Broad Oak 10k. Hatfield Broad Oak Village Green CM22 7HH. Held in the medieval village of Hatfield Broad Oak near Bishop’s Stortford and organised by the local school PTA the race is held on country roads which are closed to traffic but with no barriers in place. Enter at: Active Training World : Hatfield Broad Oak 10k
10.00am, Sunday 31 May - Orienteering Trial Session. Thorndon Park North (Visitor Centre, Thorndon Park North, The Avenue, Brentwood CM13 3RZ. Fancy a run with a difference? HAVOC (Havering and South Essex Orienteering Club) are offering orienteering training based on the Thorndon Park permanent orienteering course as part of the Thorndon Park outdoor activity day. Perfect for beginners and anyone curious to give orienteering a go. Dogs welcome (with their owners, of course!). Find out more: https://www.britishorienteering.org.uk/event?event=88330
Horrible Hayfever?
Spring miles are gorgeous… until your eyes stream and your nose runs faster than you do. If hayfever hits you hard, you’re not alone — but you can keep running comfortably with a few smart tweaks:
1. Check the pollen forecast before you lace up - Apps like the Met Office pollen tracker can help you plan. If levels are high, aim for an early‑morning or late‑evening run when pollen drops closer to the ground.
2. Wear wraparound sunglasses - They’re not just for looking speedy. They act as a barrier to stop pollen irritating your eyes — a small change that makes a big difference.
3. Try a thin layer of balm around your nostrils - A dab of Vaseline or HayMax can trap pollen before it gets into your airways. It’s simple, cheap, and surprisingly effective.
4. Stick to roads not parks, fields, and trails - Grass pollen is the biggest culprit. If you’re sensitive, swap woodland or meadow routes for pavements and paths during peak season.
5. Shower and change straight after your run - Pollen clings to skin, hair, and kit. A quick rinse stops you carrying it around for the rest of the day.
6. Keep your medication consistent - If you use antihistamines or nasal sprays, take them regularly rather than reactively. Consistency helps keep symptoms under control.
The Art of Not Getting Tired
Being able to run further - and faster - without getting exhausted is all about building stamina. But how do you do that? Coach Amber Sayer, who writes for the Marathon Handbook website, has 11 top tips, which we’ll look at over the coming weeks. Starting with…
#1: Run Longer by Slowing Down (Yes, Really)
One of the simplest ways to run longer without feeling wiped out is to slow your pace right down. For long runs, you should be moving at an easy, conversational effort — the kind where you could chat to a fellow BRR runner without gasping between every word.
If you train by heart rate, that usually means keeping things between 60–75% of your max. This can feel surprisingly slow, and quite difficult if you are used to always running at a faster pace. You might even find your heart rate climbs unless you mix in some walking. That’s completely normal.
This is similar to the Maffetone Method, which we have looked at in the blog in the past, with its “run slow to run fast” philosophy. It asks runners to keep their heart rate under roughly 130 bpm on easy and long runs. If your heart rate drifts above that, you switch to brisk walking until it settles, then ease back into running. Rory Burr has used this method with a lot of success.
Even if you don’t follow a specific method, the principle is the same: run your long runs at a genuinely easy effort. If you can talk comfortably, or sit around RPE 3–4, you’re in the right zone for building endurance that lasts. Over time, as your fitness improves, you’ll be able to hold an easy run for longer without as many walk breaks. Result!
Managing Your Heart Rate
While keeping your heart rate low when training is a good tactic, a high heart rate when racing is not a bad thing. But what if your heart rate is high when you are just going for an easy jog? What is the cause?
When you head out for a run, your heart rate can be influenced by a surprising number of factors. Understanding these can help you train smarter and avoid unnecessary stress on your body. Here are 11 important factors that impact your heart rate during running:
1. Caffeine Intake: Consuming coffee or energy products before a run can raise your heart rate beyond what’s normal for your pace, as caffeine stimulates your system.
2. Poor Fitness Level: Beginners often experience a higher heart rate at easy paces. As set out above, as your fitness improves, your cardiovascular system becomes more efficient and your heart rate drops for the same effort.
3. Overtraining: Training too hard without recovery can lead to overtraining syndrome, causing persistently elevated heart rates both at rest and while running.
4. Dehydration: Lack of fluids makes your heart work harder, boosting your heart rate even at moderate exertion.
5. Temperature: Running in warm conditions or humidity requires extra effort to cool your body, increasing your heart rate.
6. Stress: Mental or emotional stress can increase your resting heart rate and affect running performance.
7. Lack of Sleep: Fatigue from insufficient sleep raises your heart rate and decreases overall performance.
8. Medications: Certain medications, such as stimulants or those for asthma, can affect your heart rate.
9. Altitude: Higher elevations mean less oxygen, causing your heart to beat faster to deliver adequate oxygen.
10. Illness: Being unwell, even with minor viruses, pushes your heart rate up as your body fights infection.
11. Nutrition: Running after a heavy meal or with low blood sugar can lead to a higher heart rate as your body manages digestion and energy supply.
Being aware of these influences helps runners interpret heart rate data more accurately and adjust training plans for optimal health and performance.
Cracker Corner
My friend’s pet food business has gone bust. She had to call in the retrievers.
I went to the doctor and he told me my DNA was completely the wrong way round. I said ‘AND?’
My ex-boyfriend used to make his own clothes out of old maps. I always knew where I was with him.
Quote of the Week
“There is magic in misery. Just ask any runner.”
Dean Karnazes
And Finally…
An 11‑year‑old boy - Ben Dick - made headlines last weekend after running the Indianapolis Half Marathon in a staggering 1:20:14, a pace most adults would be happy to achieve. His performance sparked admiration, but also concern about whether children this young should be racing 13.1 miles at all.
While the achievement is impressive, paediatric sports medicine specialists consistently warn that long‑distance racing can place significant stress on developing bodies. At 11, growth plates are still open, bones are more vulnerable to overuse injuries, and young athletes fatigue faster, increasing the risk of poor form and strain. Heat regulation is also less efficient in children, making endurance events even tougher. This is why UK Athletics places strict limits on when kids can race legitimately, and official bodies like teh Guinness Book of Records don’t ratify records for runners this young.
Personally, I think it’s great to see youngsters out enjoying sport, but serious distances can wait until they are older and their bodies can handle the strain. Especially if they can run a half marathon more than an hour quicker than me…
