BRR Blog - 9 March 2026
The three teams at the Chingford League relays
Hello Road Runners
It was ‘goodbye’ to the 2025/26 Chingford League season at the weekend, with the grand finale relays. But the end of a winter competition means only one thing - the summer is almost here! Below you’ll find the dates for the Summer Handicap competition, carefully curated by Greg around ELVIS (East London fiVes INterclub Series) races and Barking Park closures. But, in the meantime, there was a lot of racing going on at the weekend…
Greg’s Race Report
Some of the relay team(s) at Wanstead Flats
The final race in this year’s Chingford League competition for Barking Road Runners was the relay races at Wanstead Flats on Saturday. BRR entered three teams; two men’s teams and one women’s team in the approximately 3k trail races. The men’s teams were Gary Harford, Ron Vialls, Barry Rowell and Jack Stanford, and Mick Davison, Rob Courtier, Dennis Spencer Perkins, and John George. The women’s team were Emma Paisley, Alison Fryatt and Isabel Pinedo Borobio. Emma also received her mug and coaster for 100% attendance at Chingford Lague races this season.
Emma with her ever-present mug and coaster
In Sunny Cyprus three BRR members took part in the Half Marathon and 10k races at the week end. Belinda Riches ran the Half Marathon in a time of 1:52:02, whilst Martin Page 48:07 and Tom Brennan 54:24 ran in the 10k event.
Martin, Belinda and Tom Brennan in sunny Cyprus
Paul Manson and Steph Rashbrook were also competing abroad, completing the 35th Lisbon Half Marathon (part of the SuperHalfs series) in times of 2:33:14 and 2:38:47 respectively.
Paul and Steph in Lisbon
Derv Bartlett ran in a very hilly and windy Kinvara Half Marathon finishing in a time of 1:32:25.
Derv working hard at the Kinvara Half
Tom Blair completed his first-ever half - the Cambridge Half Marathon in 2:26:15.
Tom Blair with his medal and goody bag at the Cambridge Half
Barry Rowell ran in the Kingston 20-mile race finishing in a time of 3:46:27.
Alison Fryatt was the Olympic Park for the International Women’s Day 10k finishing in a time of 1:10:41.
Alison after the Women’s 10k in the Olympic Park
BRR parkrunners
Barking - Ayoyinka Obisesan 20:11, Joshua Ezissi 23:57, Chris Muthaka 26:37, Jason Li 29:12, Martin Mason 35:40, Nikki Cranmer 37:47, James Sheridan 39:09 and Alan Murphy 52:36.
Basildon - Louise Chappell 33:37.
Bournemouth - Mark New 24:40.
Cheltenham - Peter Jackson 22:53.
Peter at Highbury Fields
Gunpowder - Paul Ward 28:38.
Harrow Lodge - Rory Burr 25:09 and Doug King 28:19.
Highbury Fields - Barry Rowell 33:01, Darren Graham 47:33.
Barry, Darren, and Steve at Highbury Fields
Hillsborough - Rosie Fforde 23:24.
Valentines - Kevin Wotton 27:24, Richard Dudman 28:32 and John Mitchell 31:43.
Wanstead Flats - Gary Harford 32:32, Dennis Spencer-Perkins 35:10 and Rob Courtier 37:27.
Gary, Rob, and Dennis at Wanstead parkrun
Wimpole Estate - Martin Brooks 28:24.
Highest BRR age gradings this week were Louise Chappell 51.12% the women and Peter Jackson 64.97% for the men.
BRR Diary - March/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 7 March - Friday 13 March - Virtual Winter Handicap 04. If you haven’t already done your run and posted your time, better get a wiggle on!
7.00pm, Tuesday 10 March - speed session. Jim Peters Stadium, Mayesbrook Park. This week’s session builds on last week’s pyramid - not for the fainthearted, but I know you are not fainthearted!
3 min run @ just over 5k pace, 1 min recovery
4 min run @ just over 5k pace, 1 min recovery
5 min run @ just over 5k pace, 2 min recovery
5 min run @ just over 5k pace, 2 min recovery
4 min run @ just over 5k pace, 1 min recovery
3 min run @ just over 5k pace (or speed up if you can!), 1 min recovery
7.00pm, Thursday 5 February - Road Run. Castle Green Centre, Gale Street, Dagenham. A social run around the roads of Barking and Dagenham. This week’s run is about 4.5 miles:
The Tree Run
Left out of Castle Green Centre, past the station and right Ivyhouse Road, left Meadow Road, left Parsloes Ave, right Porters Ave (left hand side), left Wood Lane/Longbridge Road, left Babington Rod/Littlechurch Road, left Bromhall Road, left Lodge Avenue, left Rugby Road, Right Gale Street and back to base.
Saturday 21 March - Friday 27 March - Virtual Winter Handicap 05
11.00am, Wednesday 25 March - Ron’s 5k run. Barking Park, parkrun course. If you’d like to record your virtual handicap time under proper handicap conditions.
Saturday 5 April - Friday 10 April - Virtual Winter Handicap 06.
11.00am, Wednesday 8 April - Ron’s 5k run. Barking Park, parkrun course.
10.30am, Sunday 12 April - St. Clare Hospice 10k (GP02). St Clare Hospice, Hastingwood, Essex, CM17 9JX. Second race in this year’s grand prix competition, a 10k through nice countryside that raises money for a worthy cause at the same time. There is usually an ice cream van and refreshments available afterwards. Enter at St Clare 10k 2026 - St Clare Hospice.
Advance Notice
Barking parkrun will be closed for the following dates, due to a festival in the park:
Saturday 16 May
Saturday 23 May
Saturday 30 May
Saturday 6 June - to be confirmed.
Magic Mile
Back on 31 January, Sam Ruthe’s 3:48.88 mile at the John Thomas Terrier Classic inside Boston University’s Track and Tennis Center, broke New Zealand’s long‑standing national record. It also made the 16‑year‑old the fastest U18 miler in history. Days later he was back to his normal training routine
His workout opened with a controlled 2K tempo - a sustained run at a “comfortably hard” pace. Many coaches place this around 25–30 seconds slower than 5K pace, or roughly 10K to half‑marathon pace, depending on the athlete.
This was followed by two 600s at roughly 1:33 pace, two 400s at 57 seconds pace, and two 200s at 25.5 seconds pace. His recovery isn’t recorded, but is likely to be a couple of minutes gentle jog between each rep.
Ruthe’s total weekly mileage typically sits around 70k, occasionally reaching 90K, having built up from a weekly average of 60k last year.
Rob’s next track mile session will take place on Tuesday 7 April. So you have just under a month to put Ruthe’s workout to the test.
Keep On Running
Amby Burfoot, former editor of Runners’ World magazine in the USA, has competed in the Manchester Road Race (in Connecticut, not the North of England) for 63 years in a row. That’s an unofficial world record for consecutive-year race streaks (there are no official world records for this category). Here are the six strategies he has used to keep himself running through the six decades.
1. You Must Have a Mantra
Lifetime running is mostly mental, so find words that inspire you when motivation fades. A personal mantra—borrowed or original—can carry you through tough miles and keep you coming back. See’s Burfoot’s mantra in the Quote of the Week, below.
2. Find a Training Partner, Then Find More
Running partners (single, or a group) turn hard days into good ones and keep you accountable when it’s tempting to skip a run. Even if most of your miles are solo, shared runs can be the most motivating of all.
3. Cross-Training Is a Necessity
To run for life, you can’t just run. Smart cross-training and strength work reduce wear and tear, keep injuries at bay, and help you stay pain‑free for the long haul.
4. Listen to Your Body
Small aches are early warning signs, not challenges to ignore. Respond early with rest and smart adjustments, and you’ll avoid turning minor issues into long layoffs.
5. Beware the Dangerous Decades
Midlife weight gain and lost fitness creep up quietly but have lasting consequences for health and running. Staying active and attentive in your 30s, 40s, and 50s protects your ability to run—and enjoy life—later on.
6. Always Have a Comeback Plan
Lifetime runners aren’t the ones who never stop—they’re the ones who keep starting again. Setbacks are inevitable, but the courage to return is what makes running a lifelong gift.
Cracker Corner
I went to the cashpoint and the man in front of me was standing on one leg. I asked him what he was doing and he replied ‘I’m checking my balance.’
My friend and I had a long conversation about recycling the other day. Of course, we were talking rubbish.
I was let go from my job making sugar. My redundancy was a lump sum.
Quote of the Week
“Motion is lotion.” It keeps the body fit and functional.”
Amby Burfoot
And finally…
Is this the most selfish behaviour of all time? Possibly.
Dom Stroh, founder of the travel-run community RETREATURE decided to complete a 5k run…inside an aeroplane toilet during an 11-hour flight. Armed with a Strava watch and a camera propped in the corner, Stroh began his challenge at 35,000 feet, carefully looping around the tiny space, stepping onto the toilet seat to maximise each stride. Fifty-nine minutes and 32 seconds later, he’d clocked 5.53 kilometres—at a 10:46 per kilometre pace—earning tongue-in-cheek membership to the “MILES high club”.
The video quickly went viral, sparking a flurry of comments. While some admired his dedication, most people were less amused, questioning the etiquette of monopolising the loo for nearly an hour on a packed long-haul flight. There is no shortage of people completing strange running stunts for social media, but this one really took the p…
