BRR Blog – 22 July 2024
James with his tenner handicap prize
Howdie Road Runners,
The fifth race in this year's summer handicap series took place on Thursday, and we had the new innovation of the winner providing their own tenner. Don’t worry, it was just a blip with none of the organisers having a ten-pound note available; the winner will get the ‘real’ prize tenner, we promise!
Otherwise, not many races this weekend for BRR members, so it was left to the GB elite athletes to do the running at the London Diamond League in Stratford. Those lucky enough to have tickets saw some amazing performances – details below.
July Committee Meeting
With thanks to Isabel, the Club Secretary, the Committee minutes for July can be found here. If you read the minutes you will see the reason for young George’s sudden disappearance from the WhatsApp group! Sorry George…
Athletics in the News
It was a British one-two-three in the W800m with Keely Hodgkinson setting a new national record and a new world lead time of 1:54.61 seconds, followed by Jemma Reekie in 1:55.61 and in 1:56.28 seconds, both new PBs. Laura Muir was eighth.
Niels Laros of the Netherlands caused an incident right at the start of the men’s mile (although Elliott Giles was also implicated), which saw British duo Neil Gourley and George Mills fall and opt not to continue. It seems they hoped the race would be re-started, but it was not to be. They probably should have got up and carried on rather than protesting.
Dina Asher-Smith was third in 22.07 and Daryll Neita fourth in 22.20 the W200m, both Season’s Bests.
The women's 4x100m relay squad set world-leading time of 41.55 seconds. The men’s A team fared less well, dropping the baton in the third handover, leaving it to the B team to finish third.
Matthew Hudson-Smith set a world lead of 43:74 in the M400m, with Charlie Dobson finishing in fourth with a PB of 44.23.
Louie Hinchliffe gave the best GB men’s performance in the M100m, finishing fourth with 9.97. He was disappointed as he got off to a slow start, so hopefully there is more in the tank.
Move it and a Groove it
If you like running to music but are fed up with your own tunes, head over to the BBC Sounds app and search for ‘Pace Setter’ for a selection of specially selected motivational tracks to enhance your work. There are several playlists to choose from, including a two-hour magic mix of - loosely-themed - Olympic songs.
Eat Like You’re in the Tour De France
The Tour De France has just finished, with Slovenian Tadej Pogačar winning the yellow jersey, following an unusual time trial finish in Nice (the usual sprint finish in Paris being cancelled due to the Olympic Games). The General Classification cyclists combine huge strength with very low body weight, allowing them to zip up mountains like they are on the flat. But what is the diet of an elite cyclist?
White rice. Favoured because it is high in carbohydrate but gluten-free and low fibre (you don’t want tummy trouble on a long cycle whilst in a skintight body suit).
Espresso. This is the pre-ride caffeine drink of choice. I guess it gives you the caffeine kick without too much liquid.
120 grams of carbohydrate intake per hour during each day’s race, through high-carb formulation gels.
Cherry juice and ketones for post-ride recovery and rebuilding muscle. Ketones are low-carb, high-fat/protein foods including meat, poultry, fish, dairy, eggs, green leafy veg, oily veg (e.g. avocados and olives), low-starch veg (i.e. NOT potatoes/sweet potatoes), nuts and seeds.
Haribo! It seems elite cyclists like Haribo just as much as runners for topping up their carbs.
Greg’s Race Report
Summer Handicap 5k series Race No. 5 for Barking Road Runners at Barking Park this week. James Sheridan completed his second win of the series when he outsprinted Clodagh O’Callaghan in the last few metres. Third place went to series leader Ron Vialls who along with James and Clodagh finished inside his handicap, these three will have tougher start times for Round 6. It’s quite tight between the top three but things can change as more runners complete their fifth race of the seven-race series.
BRR parkrunners
Barking - Joseph Grange 17:42, Paul Grange 17,45, Stephen Philcox 17:47, Ayoyinka Obisesan 19:48, Adrian Davison 23:20, Rosie Fforde 24:26, John Whan 26:53, Isabel Pinedo Borobio 28:44, Barry Rowell 28:54, Andrew Hiller 29:13, Louise Chappell 29:39, George Hiller 29:53, Jason Li 29:59, Joyce Golder 30:26, Martin Mason 30:45, Emma Paisley 34:12, Julie Gillender 36:22, Nikki Cranmer 37:56, Dennis Spencer Perkins 38:01, Faye Spooner 39:22, Alan Murphy 50:20, Micky Ball 51:29 and Rabea Begum 55:15.
Chippenham - Vicky Cooper 34:00 and Rob Courtier 36:02.
Rob, Oscar, and Vicky at Chippenham parkrun.
Cranbrook Country Park - Belinda Riches 28:53.
Raphaels - Doug King 29:32.
Southend - Mark New 23:22, Rory Burr 23:56, Stephen Colloff 27:57 and Ron Vialls 28:01.
Rory, Steve, Mark, Ron and friend at Southend parkrun
Valentines - Kevin Wotton 23:58 and Joe Stacey 33:33.
West Mersea - Lisa Cannings 38:59.
Lisa and friend at West Mersea parkrun
Westmill - Paul Ward 27:57.
Highest BRR gradings this week were Rosie Fforde 61.19% for the women and Stephen Philcox 88.66% for the men.
BRR Diary – July/August
7.00pm, Tuesday 23 July – Speed Development Session. Jim Peter’s Stadium, Mayesbrook Park. This week we will be doing a pyramid session:
1/2/3/4/5/4/3/2/1 minutes with the shorter times at 5K race pace and longer times at 10K race pace with 60-second jogs in between.
7.00pm, Thursday 25 July - Club evening run. Jo Richardson School/Castle Green Centre, Gale Street, Dagenham. If Nigel is up to leading it, a road run of up to five miles around Barking and Dagenham. All abilities welcome.
7.30pm, Wednesday 31 July – Harold Wood 5k (ELVIS 5). Harold Wood Park, Harold View, Harold Wood, RM3 0LX The race is run on a one-lap multi-terrain course (some grass, some gravel paths, some tarmac) in and around Harold Wood Park and Pages Wood, Harold Wood. If the weather is dry, you should be OK with road shoes. Not suitable for spikes. There is a clubhouse where we enjoyed a drink and chat afterwards last year. Enter at https://events.kronosports.uk/event/323
10.00am, Saturday 3 August - Orion Forest Five (ELVIS 06/GP05). Race HQ, Orion Harriers clubhouse at Jubilee Retreat, Bury Road, Chingford. Double bubble points for this race, if you are competing in the Club’s ELVIS and Grand Prix competitions. C’mon, give parkrun a miss for a week and do a real race instead! Enter at https://www.entrycentral.com/Orion_Forest_Five_Race_3_ELVIS.
7.00pm, Thursday 8 August – Summer Handicap 06. Barking Park. It’s the penultimate race. Even if it is too late for you to be in the top three in the series, there is still the chance to win an individual race. Just £1 to enter, with the chance of winning a tenner.
11.00am, Sunday 18 August – Ingatestone 5 (GP06). Anglo-European School, Willow Green, Ingatestone, CM4 0DG. Sorry, SOLD OUT, as this is now part of the Essex Championships.
7.00pm, Thursday 22 August – Summer Handicap 07. Barking Park. Yes, it’s the last race, and the last chance to win the tenner.
Cracker Corner
A friend asked if I’d seen the film ‘The Tractor’? I said no, but I’d seen the trailer.
I took my friend the electrician to dinner. I asked if he wanted a starter but he went straight for the mains.
I bought some camouflage trousers, but I can’t see myself wearing them.
Boom! Boom!
Quote of the Week
“Motivation is what gets you started, habit is what keeps you going”
Jim Ryun,
1968 Olympic 1,500m silver medalist
And finally…
Don’t eat me!
As the article above about elite cyclists shows, high protein intake is considered essential for building and maintaining muscle strength. But people are becoming increasingly aware that the intensive farming of livestock has a negative impact upon the environment. So what is the answer? Python meat!
Pythons can be farmed with a relatively low environmental impact. In fact, experts say ‘python farming may offer a flexible and efficient response to global food insecurity.” Surprise, surprise, the meat tastes like chicken. I think I will just slither off to Sainsbury’s to buy some. Snake and kidney pie anyone?
Happy running!
Alison
Chair, Barking Road Runners
