BRR Blog - 3 August 2026
The team at the Harold Wood 5k
Hi there, Road Runners,
I can’t believe we are in August already - this year is flying by. With two ELVIS (East London fiVes Interclub Series) races in the last week, that competition is almost over for 2026, except for our race, The Phipps (August Bank Holiday) 5k - see below for a shout out for volunteers and runners. Then it will be time for our winetr competitions, the South Essex Cross Country League and the Chingford League. There’s always something to look forward to!
Phipps 5K - Volunteers Needed !
BRR runners and volunteers at last year’s Phipps 5k
The August Bank Holiday is approaching, which means it is nearly time for one of the highlights of the Barking Road Runners calendar, the Phipps 5K. The race, held in Barking Park and forming part of the ELVIS series, returns on Monday 31 August 2026 and once again gives us the opportunity to showcase our club to runners from across East London and beyond.
However, events like this do not happen on their own. To make the day a success, we need plenty of club volunteers to help with marshalling, registration, results, setting up, course supervision and cheerleading. Previous reviews of the event have highlighted the need for more helpers on race day, and every extra pair of hands makes a real difference. Do help out if you can.
We also want a strong Barking Road Runners team on the start line. As agreed by the club, first-claim BRR members can receive 50% off the entry fee. If you'd like to race, please contact me for the discount code before entering.
Greg’s Race Round-Up
Busy week for Barking Roadrunners with two Elvis races one of which doubled as a Grand Prix race too.
The first race, Elvis #06, was a 5k run at Harold Wood Country Park hosted by Harold Wood Running Club.
BRR had 15 members running on the night and their first finisher was Martin Page followed by Tom Brennan, Paul Ward, Jason Suddaby, John George, Belinda Riches, Jean Bridgeman, Joyce Golder, Barry Rowell, Louise Chappell, Emma Paisley, Steve Colloff, Dawn Curtis, Alison Fryatt and Darren Graham.
The second, Elvis Race #07, doubled as BRR’s Grand Prix race No. 5 and was a 5-mile trail run at Epping Forest hosted by Orion Harriers .
First BRR finisher was Martin Page followed by Paul Ward, Jean Bridgeman ( 1st place in her age category), John George, Kevin Wotton, Joyce Golder, Debra Jean Baptiste, Louise Chappell, Dennis Spencer Perkins, Alison Fryatt and Dawn Curtis.
The fabulous BRR Team at the Orion Forest Five race (missing Paul Ward)
Jean with her V60+ trophy, and a very unconvincing Elvis lookalike
BRR parkrunners
BRR parkrunners
Barking - Tom Matthew 20:59, Dominic Herring 21:01, Joshua Ezissi 21:18, Shantelle Keech 22:45, Daniel Plawiak 23:01, Trevor Cooper 26:33, George Hiller 27:37, James Sheridan 34:24,, Martin Mason 34:24 Lizzie Beth Garraghan 36:18, Astrid Effendi 37:46 and Nikki Cranmer 39:05.
Bournemouth - Mark New 25:29.
Chelmsford Central - Gary Harford 30:00.
Riemer - Owen Wainhouse 21:23.
Southend - Rory Burr 21:32, Ron Vialls 24:37, Belinda Riches 25:44, Barry Rowell 29:31, Steve Colloff 33:26, Darren Graham 43:03 and Denise Graham 54:04.
Thornbury - Tom Shorey 26:17 and Clodagh Shorey 33:02.
Valentines - Martin O’Toole 30:31 and Andrew Gwilliam 48:59.
Wanstead Flats - Stuart Mackay 20:17.
Wimpole Estate - Martin Brooks 30:13.
Highest BRR age gradings this week were Belinda Riches 68.52% for the women and Ron Vialls 75.69% for the men.
BRR Diary - August
The highlights of the coming weeks are listed below but you can see the full diary of BRR events on the TeamUp app. Just 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 Runnerswebsite: https://www.barkingroadrunners.org.uk/calendar.
7.00pm, Tuesday 4 August - Speed Work. Jim Peter’s Stadium, Mayesbrook Park. This week, we have the Traffic Lights - Eight times the following (total 30 mins):
Green = 2 mins hard
Amber = 1 min steady
Red = 1 min easy jog
7.00pm, Thursday 6 August - Summer Handicap #05. Barking Park, parkrun course. Handicapping means everyone has a chance of winning the crispy tenner, all for a £1 investment.
9.30am, Sunday 9 August - social run. Discovery Centre, Eastbrookend Country Park. To check out the course for the BRR-hosted Chingford League race later this year, and for a change of scenery.
7.30pm, Wednesday 12 August - Crown to Crown 5k. Westley Heights Country Park (at the rear of the Miller & Carter – Crown Public House), High Road, Laindon, Essex. A nice, no-nonsense, mainly off-road 5k. Enter in advance or on the night. Pitsea RC 5k Crown to Crown - August - EntryCentral
7.00pm, Thursday 13 August - Summer Handicap #06. As above.
Goodbye Commonwealth Games?
The Commonwealth Games has come to an end, but its long-term future - beyond the 2030 Games in India - remains in doubt. This is mainly due to the rising cost of hosting. Several cities have withdrawn bids, and the 2026 Games in Scotland only went ahead after major streamlining.
The Games sit between the Olympics, World Championships and continental events, and some nations and athletes are asking whether it still carries enough sporting prestige. At the same time, the relevance of the Commonwealth itself - with its roots in the old British Empire - is being debated, adding another layer of uncertainty.
The lack of free-to-view coverage in the UK for Glasgow 2026 didn’t help, but the packed stadiums showed there is still interest in the Games, and it gave para‑athletes, smaller nations (see below), and emerging athletes a chance to shine. And, of course, golds for home athletes, like Josh Kerr (3:54:12 in the mile) and Georgia Hunter Bell (1:59:51 in the 800m) , helped to sprinkle some fairy dust on proceedings. Let’s hope that there’s still room for the Commonwealth Games in the sporting world...and next time it gets better TV coverage.
Terrifying Trees
The recent hot weather has brought an unexpected hazard to parks and green spaces. Prolonged heat and dry conditions can place trees under significant stress, making branches more likely to weaken and fall without warning. Experts have reported an increase in incidents of large branches dropping during the heatwave, even from otherwise healthy-looking trees.
While shade under trees can seem like the perfect place to escape the heat, it is worth taking care. Avoid sitting directly beneath large branches, particularly on very hot or windy days, and be aware of any signs of damage such as cracks, dead wood or hanging limbs.
When enjoying parks, woodlands or running routes this summer, a little extra awareness can help keep everyone safe while making the most of the sunshine.
To Carb-Load or not to Carb Load?
For decades, runners have been told to "carb-load" before a marathon: eat as many carbohydrates as possible in the final days before race day to maximise glycogen stores and delay fatigue. But emerging research suggests the story may not be quite so simple.
A recent review of carbohydrate-loading studies has questioned whether aggressive carb-loading provides additional benefits for runners who already eat a carbohydrate-rich diet and follow a well-planned race fueling strategy. Many of the classic studies that established carb-loading as best practice were conducted when runners consumed little or no carbohydrate during exercise. In those circumstances, starting with fuller glycogen stores made a big difference.
Today's runners, however, often take gels, sports drinks, and other carbohydrate sources throughout a race. This constant supply of fuel may reduce the importance of maximising glycogen stores before the event. Interestingly, the few studies that closely resembled modern racing conditions – where athletes consumed carbohydrates during exercise – found little evidence that extreme carbohydrate loading improved performance beyond normal pre-race fueling.
That doesn't mean carbohydrates are unimportant. Far from it. The evidence still supports arriving at the start line well-rested and well-fuelled. But rather than obsessing over huge pasta portions or forcing down excessive carbohydrates, runners may benefit more from maintaining a sensible high-carbohydrate diet, tapering properly, practising their race breakfast, and executing a consistent fuelling plan during the race itself.
In short, the latest thinking is not "don't carb-load" – it's "don't overdo it." Good nutrition before the race and smart fueling during it may matter more than trying to cram every last gram of carbohydrate into the final 48 hours.
Cracker Corner
A man went into a police station and said ‘two men hit me over the head with a bag of potatoes and stole my phone.’ The police officer said ‘do you think you would recognise them again?’ He replied ‘yes, they were Maris Pipers.’
I’ve taken up DIY. I went into the library yesterday and asked the librarian if they had any books on shelving. They replied ‘yes, all of them.’
I think I’m allergic to my 1970s style trousers. My legs have flared up.
Quote of the Week
“That’s the thing about running: your greatest runs are rarely measured by racing success. They are moments in time when running allows you to see how wonderful your life is.”
Kara Goucher
And Finally…
What a mullarky. David Mullarkey, that is. The runner has written his name into Isle of Man sporting history after winning the island's first-ever athletics medal at the Commonwealth Games. The 26-year-old claimed bronze in the men's 10,000m in Glasgow, clocking 27:50.28 in torrential rain, and becoming the first Manx athlete to reach the athletics podium since the Isle of Man began competing at the Games in 1958. The medal was also the Isle of Man's first Commonwealth Games medal of any kind since 2018.
The Commonwealth Games is one of the few occasions when Isle of Man athletes compete under their own flag. At most other major championships, Mullarkey represents Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Speaking afterwards, Mullarkey said he hoped the achievement would inspire the next generation, proving that athletes from a small island can compete with the very best in the world. But I’d like to know if he’s a rumpy or a stumpy… (sorry, Manx cat joke).
