BRR Blog - 6 April 2026
Rory ringing the PB bell
Hello Road Runners
I hope you’ve had a good Easter break, despite the not-so-good weather until Bank Holiday Monday. I realised, too late, that I not only forgot to dress like a rabbit for Barking parkrun on Easter Saturday but I also forgot to do the Easter Egg track session the Tuesday before. Never mind, you have Rob’s timed mile session to look forward to, plus some speedy 300s this week. With light evenings and rising temperatures, what is not to like!
Greg’s Race Report
Plenty of Barking Road Runners’ members were participating in various events over the Easter break.
At the Pitsea RC Crown to Crown 5k race four BRR members competed, with Nikki Cranmer being the first finisher in 29:48 followed by Rob Courtier 34:54, Alison Fryatt 35:47 and Dawn Curtis 38:28.
Alison, Rob, Dawn, and Nikki at the Crown to Crown 5k
At Folkestone, in Kent, Stuart and Rory Burr took part in the 10- mile race along the seafront promenade from Hythe Green to Folkestone and back, finishing in times of 1:42:47 and 1:18:58 respectively. Rory’s time was a new Personal Best.
Rory and Stuart at Folkestone 10-mile event
In the Runthrough races at Victoria Park, Paul Manson and Stephanie Rashbrook competed in the Half Marathon event finishing in 2:29:12 and 2:36:06 respectively. Emma Paisley ran in the 10k producing a new personal best of 59:48.
Paul and Stephanie at Victoria Park HM
Emma after her 10k
BRR Diary - April
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.
Saturday 4 April - Friday 10 April - Virtual Winter Handicap 06.
7.00pm, Tuesday 7 April - speed session. Jim Peters Stadium, Mayesbrook Park. It’s time for Rob’s Magic Mile Time Trial, followed by 300s with 100 recovery.
11.00am, Wednesday 8 April - Ron’s 5k run. Barking Park, parkrun course.
7.00pm, Thursday 9 April - Club road run. Castle Green Centre, Gale Street, Becontree. This week’s run is approx 5-miles and takes in three parks:
Left from Castle Green Centre along Gale St, left Woodward Rd, cross Lodge Ave and right Lodge Ave, enter Mayesbrook Park via the car park near the Round House and follow the path left around the lake and past track, exit into Waterside Close, right Longbridge Rd, cross road then left Goodmayes Lane, into Goodmayes Park, follow the path right until the exit into Gainsborough Rd, right Longbridge Rd, cross over then left, right into Lodge Ave, left Maplestead Rd/Goresbrook Rd (taking in Castle Green park and back to the Centre.
10.30am, Sunday 12 April - St. Clare Hospice 10k (GP02). St Clare Hospice, Hastingwood, Essex, CM17 9JX. It’s time for our second race in this year’s Grand Prix competition. SOLD OUT!!!!
Saturday 18 April to Friday 24 April - Virtual Winter Handicap 07. Last chance to record a time in this year’s virtual handicap competition. But who will win the overall series?
11.00am, Wednesday 22 April - Ron’s 5k run. Barking Park, parkrun course. If you want to run your virtual handicap in company, and you are free during the day, do join in.
6.30pm, Friday 24 April - pre-London Marathon carb loading. China Friend, Longbridge Road. Come and join in a pre-LM nosh-up with your BRR friends, whether or not you are running London. We don’t book tables; just drop in from 6.30pm onwards.
Sunday 26 April - London Marathon. The usual Sunday run at Hainault won’t take place due to the Marathon. Details for those of you helping on the water station will be issued nearer the time. Don’t forget we have our post-marathon get together at The Three Travellers on Friday 1 May, starting at 7.00pm.
Holey Moly!
Ever wondered about those extra eyelets at the top of your running shoes nearest your ankle? They are not purely decorative, or ‘spare.’ They’re actually heel‑lock (lace‑lock) eyelets, and they exist for one purpose: to keep your heel from slipping and to create a more secure, blister‑free fit—especially on downhills or during fast efforts.
Most people never use them but, when used correctly, they can transform how a shoe fits and feels. In particular, they can help:
• Reduce heel lift
• Prevent toe‑bang on descents
• Improve stability
• Minimise friction that causes blisters
How to Use Them (The “Runner’s Loop”)
1. Lace normally up to the second‑to‑top hole using the standard criss‑cross pattern.
2. Thread each lace straight up into the top hole on the same side. This creates a small loop on each side of the shoe.
3. Cross the laces and pass each end through the opposite loop i.e. left lace goes through the right loop, right lace through the left loop.
4. Pull down and back to tighten. You’ll feel the heel lock into place.
5. Tie your knot as usual.
The loops create a pulley effect that tightens the shoe around your ankle without over‑tightening the rest of the laces. The only catch is that you might need longer cases, especially to tie a double-knot.
It’s one of those small but mighty hacks that makes you wonder why nobody teaches it when you buy your first pair of running shoes.
Zahra’s Uni Unload
The weather in London seems to be all over the place at the moment; one minute it's sunny the next it's a storm and then there's a rainbow. But, as we come into summer and warmer days are coming, it's important to know how to train in the hotter temperatures. In the heat your heart rate increases more to cool you down so you need to run by effort thinking to what RPE (rate of perceived exertion) you’re at rather than focusing on pace as you may end up running 10-30 seconds slower per km when it's hot.
Hydrate a lot but don't just chug water right before you leave, you need to be constantly sipping water the day before a run and if you’re going for a long run you need electrolytes to replace all the minerals and salts you'll lose to prevent feeling unwell and prevent cramps and dehydration. Electrolytes can be tablets or powder for water like High5 or it could be a chewable like salt stick. You can pre-cool yourself to avoid a core temperature spike by going for a cold shower or drinking something cold around 20 minutes before your run.
If it's really hot try to run at golden hours which is normally 5-7am and if that just won't happen then try to run in more shaded areas or somewhere with lots of trees.
Wear light coloured clothing that's sweat wicking. A mesh running cap can help you wick away sweat while still shading from the sun and staying cool.
Finally know your body: if you can't complete what you set out to do you can always do it another day but don't overpush yourself to get it all done on one day.
Cracker Corner
What do you call a belt made of watches? A waist of time.
My friend is making a musical about my life. I told her not to make a song and dance of it.
The only thing I take seriously in the newspapers these days is fish and chips. And even that I take with a pinch of salt.
Quote of the Week
“If you see someone without a smile, give ‘em one of yours.”
Dolly Parton
(from the playground wall of Star Lane Primary School, where Dawn and I started last week’s Canning Town Orienteering event).
And Finally…
The Marathon des Sables sees over 1,000 competitors tackle roughly 250 kilometres across the Moroccan Sahara, split into six punishing stages.
This year Harry Styles is participating in the 40th edition of race, taking place from 5th to 11th April 2026. After achieving great times at the Tokyo and Berlin marathons (2:59:13 at the latter), Styles see the MdS as the logical next step although he admits “I’m genuinely terrified, which I’ve learned is usually a good sign.”
The race requires participants to be self-sufficient. Runners carry all their food (giant croissants for Styles, apparently), sleeping gear, and essentials—except water, which is rationed at checkpoints. Packs typically weigh 8-12 kilos at the start, and competitors face daytime temperatures above 50°C, while nights can approach freezing. The infamous fourth stage, about 80–90 km, is usually run overnight, pushing participants to their limits. Styles has been training with David Thibo, a former British Special Forces operator. His preparation includes weighted pack runs, heat acclimatisation, and back-to-back long sessions to simulate running on exhausted legs.
Of course, he could have just progressed from the marathon distance by doing a 50k ultra somewhere in the UK, but I guess that’s too easy…
